Vegan Cabbage Rolls, Healthy Vegan Challenge Start, Norwegian Mustard Sauce, Silly Pups, and Stuff

First things First!  Hello Monday!  Today is the FIRST Day of the Healthy Vegan Challenge over at Carrie On Vegan and I'll be participating as I mentioned before!  I'm rather excited about it!  So keep an eye out on near future related posts!  Today's post includes several attempts that fit within this challenge as well!  Such as - one of my goals was to make at least one home made salad dressing per week!  I already accomplished this for THIS WEEK.  More on that below.  Another goal of mine was to continue on with the World Foods Veg*n Style!  I also am doing this!  BECAUSE...this week is Vegan Foods of NORWAY Week!  But before I get to that I have these Cabbage Rolls to share with you!

I was super happy with my very first attempt at Vegan Cabbage Rolls!  They took a long time to do which I am NOT known for at all!  I like quick and easy!  But I would 'treat myself' with these on occasion!  Here is what I did!

For the filling I used:

1 C Cooked Quinoa
2 C Black Beans
1 T Garlic Galore from Wildtree
and I cooked down in some of the sauce.

For the Sauce I used:
1 Medium Onion
2 Smaller Cans of Diced Tomatoes with Green Chili's
About 6-ounces of Tomato Sauce
1/4 C Agave Nectar

I covered the rolls in the sauce and baked for about 45 mins at 375.

 And now for my first Norwegian Addition for this week!  I'm part Norwegian!  I've done a lot of research on my Norwegian Roots with the help of an online friend named Ann!  She's wonderful and I couldn't have done it without her!

When I saw a recipe for Norwegian Mustard Sauce recently I was excited because many of the ingredients I had in my pantry but I wanted to tinker with some of my alternative products, too!

So I ended up doing this recipe last night that I altered quite a bit!  I also ended up using some of my Wildtree Products in this!

3 T Wildtree Dill Blend
2 T Yellow Mustard
1 T Agave Nectar
2 T Apple Cider Vinegar
2 T Wildtree Garlic Grapeseed Oil
1 T Lemon Juice

I added this all to my Ninja and came up with the photo you see here!  BOY OH BOY!  It packs a powerful punch!  I could probably do with 1 to 2 T at the most of the Dill in this case but I'm going to enjoy it regardless!

I can picture this on a salad, as a marinade for Kale Chips or Tofu, or even as a coating for Spinach or Cauliflower!

I had to add a few weekend photo's of the dogs!  They were overly silly this weekend!  The cats were pretty low key but still as cute as ever!  This morning Gabby freaked out a little and it made me laugh out loud!

Anyhow...here is Riley and Suzie!

Suzie's been doing this thing were she'll get REALLY close to Riley either on the floor or on the sofa...I mean, we have a large floor space and The sofa is pretty big, too, but were ever Riley is she'll nearly sit on him as if there were 'no room'.  Here...Riley was laying on his back.  He lays on his back more than any dog I have met!  Suzie went up to him and nearly sat on his shoulder!  Silly Kids!

And over here...is Paco!  If you look really close his tooth is sticking out!  He was totally attached to his "daddy" this weekend!  Even more than usual.

He's surely NOT a afraid of the camera!  He's a HAM.

Some of you know I am not the best at Meal Planning so I often call it Meal HOPE.  Here is what I have in mind for this week so far!

Monday -
Breakfast - Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
Lunch - Vegetable Soup
Snack - Flax Crackers
Dinner - Leftover Cabbage Rolls

Tuesday -
Breakfast - TBA Oatmeal
Lunch - TBA Veggie Stir Fry
Dinner - Tofurky Kielbasa
Snack - Crackers & Maple Peanut Butter

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Fruit Smoothie
Lunch - Leftover Veggie/Rice/Stirfry
Dinner - Falafel with sauce
Snack - Apple

Thursday -
Breakfast - TBA Smoothie
Lunch - TBA Cauliflower Dish
Dinner - Leftover Falafel and rice
Snack - Dates & Maple Peanut Butter

Friday - TBA Oatmeal
Lunch - Leftovers OR Soup
Dinner - HUGE Salad
Snack - TBA Crackers

Saturday & Sunday - TBA

I already have TONS to post for tomorrow but realize this post is long enough for the day so I will wait.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I LOVE comments - drop me one - if you have time!  Thanks! 

Participating In: Meal Plan Monday - Mellow Yellow Mondays - Catching The Light - Mandarin Orange Monday - Hello Monday - Mix It Up Monday - Macro Monday - Miscellany Monday - Sunday Snapshot - Camera Critters - Pet Pride - Just Another Meatless Monday - Made By You Monday - My Meatless Mondays - Project 52 - Simple As That - Veggie Mama's Meatless Monday - Marvelous In My Monday  - Clever Clicks 

Mealplan & Mailbox Monday

Hello Traveling Vegan Food Box!  Hello Mealplan Monday!

I was just going to post my Meal Plan for this week but I got 3 packages in the Mail and couldn't wait until tomorrow to share so I thought I would do a double purpose post, here!  First I wanted to say that over at Steepster a few of us have started a few Traveling Vegan Food Boxes!  Stacy from Butiki Teas started this one and it already got to me! 

As you can see this box had some Israeli Couscous which I do have some left in my stash at home and I do like it so I am passing it along for someone else to enjoy!  The Wasabi Edamame I have also tried and passed along!  Another great product!  She included two snack bars in there and I grabbed one!  I will blog about that down the road I am sure!  Then I noticed some Eggplant and Sundried Tomato Tapande and I GRABBED IT and giggled because I have been wanting to try it!  She also included a Snack mix but the bag was HUGE and I didn't want to take it all so others could enjoy so I took about half.  I had some for a quick breakfast (see below).  It sure is unique!  LOTS of goodies in there!  WOW!  So I grabbed a few things out and added a few things to the box for future recipients!

I added some Bob's Red Mill's Pancake & Waffle Mix as well as a Gluten Free Simple Organic Pizza Dough.  In addition, I added some Vegan Fruit Leathers, and a Panda Brand Black Licorice Stick AND some Vegan Chreese Sauce packets!

 Here's another shot of some of the stuff I got last week for the Traveling Vegan Food Boxes!  What I didn't add to the box above I will be adding to another box!  You can see more Fruit Leathers, and Chreese Sauces, a few other snacks, etc.  I have some more stuff I haven't taken pics of yet and that will go in that other box, too!

What else did I get in the Mail?
Well, LOTS of fun stuff, really!

Carolynn sent me a box of Tea goodies including some of her own blend!

I've had this blend before and it's a good one!  I've reviewed it on Steepster!  This time around she did an ornament but I think I might use as a Center Piece!  It think it's wonderful what she did with this tea tin in the center and the sparkly snowflake underneath!  WOW!

She threw in other teas as well!  She's a cool cat!  I'll be sending her a Tea Package down the road as well!  I LOVE swapping tea!

Last week I placed a small order with SeedsNow.com mainly because I wanted to get some sprouting seeds that I didn't have and from a company that accepted PayPal.  This company did both.  YAY!

Mind you...I spent UNDER $11 with the shipping included!

And I received it within DAYS and inside they sent me a $5 coupon for my next order over $30 AND a FREE Sample of the mini Carrot Kit!

They really made me feel like I spent hundreds of dollars!  Their wonderful gesture did NOT go unnoticed!  I will surely buy from them AGAIN...and probably within the next month or so!  I can't wait to jump in with at least one of the sprouting seeds I bought from them.  I'm thinking the Broccoli ones, first!

So...Now...on to my Meal Planning HOPE for this week!

Monday:

Breakfast - Coconut, Almond, Quinoa, Amaranth Crunch

Lunch - Bowtie Pasta with Walnut Sauce

Dinner - Mixed Veggies with Sauce, small leftovers as a side (tofurky/veggie saute - see previous post)

Snack - Maple Peanut Butter and Celery Sticks

Tuesday:

Breakfast - Maple Spice Oatmeal 

Lunch - TBA Rice Dish

Dinner - Vegan Italian Sausage in Bun with side of beans and potatoes
Snack - Dark Chocolate/Strawberry Granola

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Grapenuts with Coconut Milk
Lunch - Leftovers
Dinner - TBA Salad, Leftovers
Snack - Mango Chia Smoothie

Thursday:
Breakfast - Mango Chia Smoothie
Lunch - Rice or Quinoa Dish (TBA)
Dinner - Artichoke/Cashew Burger
 Snack - Nachos

Friday:
Breakfast - TBA Oatmeal with Sugar & Spice (Wildtree)
Lunch - Rice or Quinoa Leftovers
Dinner - HUGE Salad
Snack - TBA

Weekend - TBA

Participating Post:
Meal Plan Monday
Menu Time Mondays
Hello Monday
Miscellany Monday

Meal Plan Hopefuls

I enjoyed blogging about my Meal Plan HOPES last week and it seemed other liked that twist I put on it.  I'm going to do it again today...this is what I HOPE to have for my meals this week - at least it's a starting point, eh!?

Monday
Breakfast: Coconut Chia Granola

Lunch: Whole Wheat Flatbread with Almond Butter

Dinner: Vegan Mac & Cheese, Whole Wheat Bread, Earth Balance w/ Nutritional Yeast Sprinkle

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cinnamon Raisin Granola
Lunch: Rice & Veggie Dish (Type TBA)

Dinner: Falafel, TBA Veggie, maybe Hummus

Wednesday

Breakfast: Chia Waffles

Lunch: Leftovers (TBA)

Dinner:  Artichoke Cashew Burger (Maybe in a Casserole)

Thursday

Breakfast: Mango Chia Smoothie 

Lunch: Tabouli Salad

Dinner: Leftovers

Friday

Breakfast: Chai Waffles

Lunch: Tabouli Wrap or Pita

Dinner: HUGE Salad

Saturday:

Breakfast: Mandarins

Lunch: Leftover Tabouli

Dinner: TBA - Out

Sunday:

Breakfast/Lunch: TBA Smoothie

Dinner: Veggie Salad (maybe Sub)

Participating in:

Meal Plan Monday

Menu Time Mondays

Vegan Meal Ideas from Oprah's Website

Source:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Week-One-Kathy-Frestons-Vegan-Menu-Plan

Monday

Breakfast: Clif Bar; apple

Lunch: Eggless tofu salad (buy prepared at health food store) on brown rice bread; prepared green salad

Dinner: Frozen brown rice, microwaved; organic black beans; brussels sprouts, microwaved

Tuesday

Breakfast: Frozen oatmeal, microwaved; blueberries on top

Lunch: Morningstar Farms Grillers Vegan Veggie Burger, wrapped in lettuce; sweet potato tortilla chips

Dinner: Amy's Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggies Bowl

Wednesday

Breakfast: Soy yogurt; banana

Lunch: Veggie hot dogs on whole-wheat buns; prepared salad

Dinner: Soy cheese pizza, from freezer section; salad

Thursday

Breakfast: Morningstar Farms Sausage Patties on bagel with vegan cheese; fruit

Lunch: Amy's Non Dairy Bean & Rice Burrito

Dinner: Frozen veggie stir-fry, microwaved; frozen brown rice, microwaved

Friday

Breakfast: Amy's Mexican Tofu Scramble

Lunch: Organic vegetable soup; multigrain bread with Earth Balance butter

Dinner: Morningstar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets; frozen vegetables

Saturday

Breakfast: Multibran cereal, almond milk, blueberries

Lunch: Frozen vegetable samosas; salad bar

Dinner: Amy's Veggie Loaf - Mashed Potatoes &Veggies

Sunday

Breakfast: Organic frozen waffles with peanut butter; banana

Lunch: Meatless deli slices on brown rice bread; organic blue corn tortilla chips

Dinner: Kashi Frozen Tuscan Veggie Bake entrée; salad bar

Monday

Breakfast: Steel-cut oatmeal, sliced bananas, walnuts, rice milk

Lunch: Whole grain pasta with veggie sausages, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli; salad

Dinner: Seitan Parmesan with tomato sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes

Tuesday

Breakfast: Bagel with Earth Balance butter

Lunch: Sandwich with vegan cold cuts, nondairy cheese, avocado, pickles; tomato soup

Dinner: Tacos with "meat" crumbles, nondairy cheese, guacamole; salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: Bagel with almond or peanut butter

Lunch: Split pea soup with tempeh bacon, (nondairy) cheesy toast; salad

Dinner: Stuffed butternut or acorn squash with tofu; sautéed collard greens

Thursday

Breakfast: Frozen waffles with Earth Balance butter, maple syrup

Lunch: Black bean and soy cheese quesadilla with guacamole; salad

Dinner: Pan-seared Gardein fillet with shiitake mushroom sauce; mashed potatoes and braised brussels sprouts

Friday

Breakfast: Brown rice (I make several days' worth at a time), chopped dates, almonds, nondairy milk poured over

Lunch: Cabbage, thyme and meatless ground beef soup; 7-grain garlic bread

Dinner: Coconut curry tofu with whole grain wild rice and green beans

Saturday

Breakfast: Brown rice with blueberries and almonds; hemp milk

Lunch: Smoked paprika pinto beans with quinoa and sautéed kale

Dinner: Charred seitan skewers, wheat berries; chili broccoli

Sunday

Breakfast: Whole grain pancakes and blueberries;tempeh bacon

Lunch: Chili with pinto beans, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, soy sour cream; salad

Dinner: Seitan Parmesan (seitan fillets with melted nondairy cheese, tomato sauce), collard greens, mashed potatoes

Monday

Breakfast: Soy yogurt with blueberries and almonds

Lunch: Oven-roasted stuffed zucchini flowers on top of fig and walnut salad

Dinner: pasta with porcini mushrooms; salad

Tuesday

Breakfast: Quinoa (I make a big batch that will last a few days), chopped dates, almonds, nondairy milk poured over

Lunch: Flax-seed and whole grain pizza crust with classic margherita topping

Dinner: Portobello mushroom and cannelloni bean burger with roasted peppers and sautéed Swiss chard

Wednesday

Breakfast: Smoothie with avocado, agave, lime and mint

Lunch: Beefless stew (Gardein beefless tips); salad

Dinner: Veggie hot dogs with sauerkraut; salad

Thursday

Breakfast: breakfast cookies (recipe in Quantum Wellness Cleanse)

Lunch: Tempeh tuna salad over greens; crackers

Dinner: Mediterranean platter of hummus, baba ganoush, tabouleh, pita bread

Friday

Breakfast: Breakfast cookies

Lunch: Bean burrito with salsa and guacamole; salad

Dinner: Grilled tempeh with fresh oranges, shallots and garlic; mashed sweet potatoes, sautéed spinach

Saturday

Breakfast: Scrambled tofu with onions and sun-dried tomatoes; tempeh bacon

Lunch: Vegetable gumbo with soy sausage; salad

Dinner: Soba noodles with vegetables and tofu

Sunday

Breakfast: Vegan French toast with strawberries

Lunch: Tostada with rice, beans, and avocado

Dinner: Pasta puttanesca with summer squash