Vegan pot pie

The picture really doesn't do it justice, but I just had to share.

We are have been fasting for almost two weeks now. My husband has been doing the daytime fast (basically he can eat if the sun is down). I have been doing the Daniel Fast, which is bascially vegan with additional restrictions. I can have fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and legumes. I can't have meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine or baking powder (which seems like such a minor thing, but I'm really missing it!).

Tonight I made a cross between a pot pie and a shepherd's pie. I used my mom's pot pie recipe and vegan-ized it. Here's what I did

Topping
6 smallish potatoes, peeled, diced, boiled with salt and garlic in the water, drained
Canola oil (probably a couple of tablespoons)
Almond milk (eyeballed it...half a cup, maybe?)
Salt/pepper

Filling
3 T. canola oil
1/4 cup onion, finely diced
1/4 whole wheat flour
1 cup almond milk (might reduce this just a bit)
1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
salt/pepper
poultry seasoning...eyeballed it, but it was a little too much
1 large can Veg-All

Heat oil. Add onions until transparent. Add flour to make paste. Slowly add milk and broth, whisking constantly. As it thickens, add seasonings and vegetables.

Place filling in a round casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Broil at the end of the cooking time if you want the top browned.

I served it with chicken for the rest of the family, but this was so good! If I make it again, I think I'd add white beans for some protein.

This was definitely comfort food tonight. Now, if I could just figure out how to have some chocolate :)

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G Touch

Fave Five

(This another post in Fitness Cheerleader's blog challenge.)

While thinking about five foods I couldn't live without, I really had a hard time...which just cements the fact that I really love food.

But, if I had to narrow my list down to five foods I just had to have, here's what I'd have:
1. Milk, especially chocolate after a run
2. Eggs
3. Yogurt
4. Bananas
5. Coffee

I eat (or drink) those pretty regularly. There are a lot of other foods I wouldn't want to be without...cheese (I'm seeing a dairy trend here)...fruit in any form...veggies of all kinds...oatmeal...potatoes. And that's far from my absolute favorite foods...because let's face it, that's a category where "healthy" might not be the best description. But, these are the foods I couldn't live without.

That hit the spot!

The rice pudding was yummy! Here's what I did (after looking at tons of recipes):

I made brown rice last night.

Then, this morning, I peeled and chopped some apples and cooked them in a couple tablespoons of butter with a dash of cinnamon and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.

Once they were tender, I added 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 2 cups of milk, a large box of raisins (as opposed to the mini boxes) and 2 cups of the cooked brown rice. I brought this to a boil, reduced it to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. I loved it! Ryan was sick this morning so he didn't even try it. Sarah Beth ate some of hers, but not as much as I'd hoped.

The only thing I'd do differently is add a little vanilla when I add the milk. I wish I'd thought of that sooner.

Estimated nutritional value- For 1/6 of the recipe: 190 calories, 5g of fat, 2g of fiber, 4g of protein.

Hello again

It's been a while since I've been on here...life does that.

I'm in a happy homemaking kind of mood today...I want to cook yummy things, like Pioneer Woman's Berries and Sweet Cream or her Lazy Chile Rellenos (with added ground beef for a meal). I want to make healthy snacks for the kids...one has already eaten homemade banana bread, carrots, string cheese and fruit snacks...the other has had fruit snacks, shredded cheese and a granola bar. I want to have a clean house. Please note: I did not say I wanted to clean house...just that I want one. I want to spend time outside...but it is so blessed hot out there! But I might not mind a little sweat if I was swaying in a hammock in the shade.

So, the snacks I have in mind for the next few weeks:
Tortilla wraps (ham and cheese, cream cheese and fruit, peanut butter and apples)
Quesadillas (same as above)
Smoothies
Yogurt parfaits
Trail mix
Dippers or skewers (meat, cheese, veggies, bread)
Pita pockets
Wonton chips (both sweet and savory)
Mini pizzas
Veggies and fruit with dips

We're headed to the Farmers Market tomorrow and I can't wait! I want some zucchinni and squash and anything else that looks good...tomatoes, beans, fruit. I have to be careful not to get too much since I will be out of town next week, and I know it will just go to waste if I'm not here to fix it.

What is it about summer that makes me want to eat healthy and light? Is it the heat, the lazy days, or the swimsuit I have to wear? I'm in the mood for some lemons to add to my water as well...just light and refreshing.