Playing Catch Up

Funny how much a newborn, a toddler, and a teenager can distract you from things :)

Since I last wrote I've endured Halloween without a single bite of candy, seven (SEVEN!!!!!!) boxes of Girl Scout cookies without a single crumb, a child's birthday with my prized Chocolate Peanut Butter cake without a single licked spoon, and now coming upon Thanksgiving. If I can get through the holidays, I think it's safe to say I've got this under control. But in all honesty, if I do have a little cheat, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. The point of this has not been to live with guilt over food on a daily basis or fight a constant battle of depriving myself.

Speaking of cheats...now that I think of it, there was a slipped moment. Another one of my beloved baked goods happens to be Red Velvet Cake. I had absolutely no idea that red food dye was made from beetle blood (I guess I thought it was paint or something). I had already committed to making them and discovered this after I had them made with every other ingredient being vegan. So I dubbed them '99% vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes'.

Having said that, I had my 2nd moment of beaming pride (after getting multiple approvals from The Boys on recipes I'd made) when the MOMS group I served them to gobbled them up and loved them. Not only were they my first attempt at baking vegan, but my first attempt serving this type of food to people not accustom to this way of eating. I will say that while they were delicious, I am following much more of a 'plant based' vegan diet and could physically tell the difference consuming so much more of a processed dish.

In other news, we also had a lovely dinner with the friends that are ultimately responsible for kick starting my new eating lifestyle. It was so much fun to be with people who ate similar diets and the food was AMAZING. Lasagna, salad, bread and vegan Hotess Cupcakes & Carrot Cake Cupcakes! Soooooooooo good.

I know I need to update more as things are actually happening, but until then backtracking will have to do! Here are a few dishes made over the past several weeks:

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Burritos

 

 Black Eyed Pea Burger over Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Greens

Veggie Pot Pie

I can't believe I didn't get a pic of the cupcakes! But there will be others, I'm sure. Now - on to finalize the Thanksgiving Feast list!