When In Doubt...DIP It OUT!

Sometime life gets in the way!  Lately - life has been getting in the way A LOT!  So sorry!  Just another quick post to say HELLO in the meantime!  Food has been uninspiring as of late.  I have been eating out a lot which has been a lot of salads, wraps, and such.  When I am home I have been so lazy.  I haven't wanted to do much around the house with the little time I have or am there.  Recently I busted out these Birds Nests and instead of having the soy based sauce that came along with it I wanted something creamy so I did a basic Cashew Sauce.

The Cashew Sauce was basically Cashews, Water, Onion, Garlic, Black Sea Salt, Nutritional Yeast.

When I have been home I tend to being throwing anything and everything into a wrap or burritos still.  Yes - I have been on a kick!  I ran into Aldi and grabbed 3 items.  My total was $3.99.  I grabbed an Avocado for 99 cents (which is high for Aldi but not as expensive as the $1.50 to $2.50 I have seen in other places) and I had to do something about my Avocado Craving (it was at an all time high)!  I also bought  Wheat Wraps and Mango Salsa!  In my freezer I still had TJ's Organic corn and spinach!  This combo was AMAZING!  It was both sweet and savory!  YUM!  Plus I was able to include greens!  And there were black beans in the salsa, too!  Greens, Beans, Fruit, Veggies, YUM!

Last week I finally busted into those Carrot and Potato fries!  They were pretty good but I like the Broccoli and Potato even more!  For the dipping sauce for these I did a Vegan Aioli!

3 T TJ's Vegan Mayo Spread
1 T TJ's Tahini
1 tea Minced Garlic
Liquid Smoke to taste
Lemon Juice to taste
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste

Another Day - Another Dip!

This past weekend was weird.  I was OFF.  I couldn't really tell you WHY I was OFF I was just...OFF!  One of the things that happened hasn't happened to me in 20 years.  Apparently I had an asthma attack.  Scared the crap out of me.  Just when I think I have won a personal battle something else seems to pop up!  My sleep is getting better.  I was able to FINALLY sleep in bed - haven't done that in YEARS so that is pretty awesome!  I was able to get many of my aches and pains under control - so I'm thrilled about that!  Next up I am going to try and lose a couple of pounds - I think!  Between getting a bit lazy and going with convenience items and winter weather and not moving around much I have gained more than I am comfortable with.  So that's my next mini goal.  I will be doing more salads, soups, RAW Foods, etc.  I think I gained weight because I wasn't preparing almost 100% of my own foods and dropped back into vegan convenience items - as well as NOT doing as many RAW FOODS like I was prior to last year.

Anyhow...today the only photo I have to share with you is the one you see above!  Not overly exciting but it's a Cashew Cilantro Dip that I made for the Broccoli Potato Fries I found a while back.  They were pretty YUMMY and they almost tasted CHEESY but they were clearly marked VEGAN and GLUTEN FREE!

Cashew Cilantro Dip & Salad Dressing

1 C Cashews

1/2 C Water

2 T Lemon Juice

1/4 C Cilantro

1 T Apple Cider Vinegar

1 t Wildtree Garlic Galore (or Minced Garlic)

1 Powerful Squirt of Dijon Mustard

Pinch Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Optional Sprinkle on top Smoked Paprika 

Everything in the high speed blender.  It was a little thin but after refrigerating for a while it thickens naturally.  This is also a great Salad Dressing, too!

I had a few kitchen fails over the weekend, too, or else I would have posted more.  I am not giving up on the cracker appetizer!  I am going to experiment with them more and if I can get them to where I want them I will post about them at a later date!

Cannellini Bean & Red Pepper Dip

I don't often buy Cannellini Beans but when I do it's usually by mistake.  It's not that I don't like them it's just that I don't LOVE them like some of the other beans I tend to use.  I have similar feelings when it comes to Black Eye Peas but that is another post for another day.

Perhaps it's a texture thing or maybe it's the aquafaba left behind from this white bean that I don't jump, jive, and wail over.  OR maybe it's just that I don't know what to do with them to make them SHINE.  Regardless - I think I found at least one solution.

Cannellini Bean & Red Pepper Dip.  So far - this is my favorite NOM NOM that contains Cannellini Beans.  Recipe below.  It's not quite a hummus but it could be a distant cousin.  It's not really a vegan cheese dip but it might be reminiscent of one.  Either way - it was a WINNER!

All in a high speed blender...

1 can Cannellini Beans
1 Sweet Red Bell Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1/4 C Basil
1/2 t Smoked Paprika
1 t Balsamic Vinegar
Handful Cashews
3 T Almond or Cashew Milk
2 to 3 T Nutritional Yeast

Optional but a splash or pinch of the following if you choose...

Pink or Black Himalayan Sea Salt (or Miso, Braggs Liquid Aminos, or Coconut Aminos)
Crushed Red Pepper
Nutmeg
Grapeseed Oil (or Pumpkin Oil or Hemp Oil)

Sweet Earth Curry Tiger Burrito & Homemade Vegan Curry Dipping Sauce!

Yesterday I mentioned that I will be blogging about various things I have been grabbing at MANY stores as of late.  One of the things I have stocked up on is Sweet Earth Burritos thanks to TARGET in Erie!

I've had a few of the Sweet Earth Burritos before and have enjoyed them BUT I think they are even better with dipping sauces!  So...I have taken it upon myself to create a Curry Dipping Sauce to go along with their Curry Tiger Burrito!  I have to say - it was pretty YUMMY if I do say so myself!

I know it's NOT the best photo I have ever taken but you will get the idea!

Here is the recipe for this Homemade Vegan Curry Dipping Sauce:

3/4 C Vegan Mayo

Drizzle of Oil (I used Pumpkin Oil but it's optional)

2 t Curry Powder

1 T Lemon Juice

1 Clove Garlic, Minced

1 t Dill

Pinch of Cayenne

Pinch of Smoked Paprika

Pinch of Lemon Pepper

Pinch of Black Sea Salt (optional)

I was able to get about 6 of the Sweet Earth Burritos and 2 of their Bowls on sale!  Woot!