Vegan Fajitas and The Best Cookie I Ever ate

BAREFOOT BONUS:  Substitute chicken nuggets for a soy version.  They're about half the price and calories but they taste just as good.  A healthy, nitrate-free alternative to the classic "Happy Meal."  Pick up a pack in the Trader Joe's freezer section.  They're the most cost effective I've seen.

My son Jonah loves cookies.  More specifically, cookies and milk.  In a desperate ploy to get him to use the toilet I promised him the special treat and he most certainly hasn't forgotten.  So now I'm like, screwed.  Every time he goes on the potty I feel I have to deliver.  Truly it can be as many as 6 times a day.  Ughhh....so how do I cheat? 

I went with my grandmother to the market last week and it was probably the most stressful trip of my life.  She's hammering down the aisles with the baby and I'm trying desperately to find the cart so I can unload the 12 items I'm balancing.  Of course, she's 5 aisles away completely oblivious.  An hour and a half later we're still in frozen food.  My cart is filled to the brim with expensive garbage "health" food, Jonahs throwing a tantrum, I hear him scream and turn around just in time to see him take a swing at his 80 year old great grandma.  Conveniently, she thinks his fit is the cutest thing she's ever seen.  I want out of this store and we promptly leave, dodging dirty looks the whole way. 

And to interject a side note here; when the hell did it become an anomalie to discipline your child?  I'm not a mean mom.  Jonah's relatively well behaved but for chrissakes he's 2 and needs to be taught how to behave in public.  Every time I reprimand him in a store everyone looks at me like I'm committing a mortal sin.  He is, after all, "just a baby."  What a joke.  Maybe I should just stick with pinching his inner thigh until he gets the point.  That way, nobody will see,  I wont go to jail for child abuse, and I can appear to be mother of the year while comforting a tearful toddler.   Funny.

Anyway,  Jonah goes home with Yaiyai (my grandma)  and I go home to put away the food.  I notice a cookie that's the size of my face.  Well, almost.....Pumpkin Spice?  Weird....I don't remember adding this but remember Jonah can do no wrong with Yaiyai and conclude that its her doing.  An Alternative Baking Company........after the day I have I dig in....and thank God for grandmothers because this is truly the best cookie Ive EVER tasted.  Moist, almost to a fault, and fresh.  Not too sweet and absolutely nothing like pumpkin pie.  So great.  As I read the nutrition info...I become aware that its VEGAN.  What the H-E- double hockey sticks?????  So strange.... If you have an inclination, please try these.  I cant say enough about them......Almost as good as when I first discovered LUSH cosmetics.....

www.alternativebaking.com/index2.cfm

To stay on the same course as yesterday I wanted to share a recipe I created for vegan fajitas.  Before you turn your nose up I want to emphasize that they do not in fact, have to be vegan.  You can substitute any lean chicken, beef or shrimp.  I happen to prefer chicken substitute simply because its an easy way to get one of the two recommended servings of soy protein per week.  And mixed in with all the veggies, you don't really taste the "chicken".  Its helpful merely for texture and the 15 grams of protein with 110 calories....

3 pack of organic bell peppers (yellow, orange, and red), sliced
1 organic onion, sliced
1/2 package of button mushrooms, sliced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (organic)
1 package fake chicken strips
chili powder to taste
pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp oregano
2 cloves of garlic, pressed or chopped
sprouted grain tortillas (6 inch round)
Salsa ( Tomato-less corn and chili salsa Trader Joes-STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)
1/2 cup shredded Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Nacho "Cheese"
1/2 recipe Green Pea Guac (optional-see yesterdays blog)

1.  Heat oil on medium heat in a large skillet.  Add garlic, spices, bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes.  Pepper mixture should begin to caramelize before they are done.
2.  Meanwhile, heat chicken over medium heat aprox 3 minutes
3.   Its that easy.  Just build your own fajitas from here with warm sprouted grain tortillas. 

Irish Mexicans Green Pea Guacamole

Ok, so I don't like green beer. Cabbage I can do. Corned beef?? Sure...as long as its safely tucked away in a Reuben sandwich. I'm kind of Irish....like that 4% that everyone in America seems to be and the part that counts on St. Patrick's Day. I added this recipe because its green. That my friends, is just about the only Irish contribution I can make.

This comes from Whole Foods. Its a take on Guacamole, which I LOVE. I should preface this by saying that I could eat avocados for breakfast lunch and dinner. On chips, fajitas, in sandwiches, on veggies, or crackers.....Ive even used this particular recipe on top of poached salmon....Divine.

I also, in that breath, am aware of the fat content in avocado. Ok ok ok...they say its good fat but seriously?? When was the last time ANYONE ate the recommended serving of anything? I am an absolute advocate of being full, satisfied, and making food choices that will enable me to gorge myself without that guilty sinking feeling.....So please, try this. At 60 calories per 1/4 cup....and 2.5 g of fat, you can prob get away with the chips. As long as they are organic...and fat free....DUH...

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2874

A few notes about preparation. I found this to be very grassy in flavor. Not grassy like fresh cut grass but grassy like I dropped my Easter Bunny grass in the blender by mistake and made guacamole. That will go away after the first day but really, I recommend adding lemon juice to offset. I used a Meyer lemon but any lemon will do. Like 2 tbsp. Again, its not real. Its made from peas. But on a burrito or sandwich its fantastic.

I made sandwiched last week that consisted of this, an heirloom tomato, whole foods fire roasted tomatoes (omg soooo yum), fresh spinach, and sprouted tortillas. I must say.....far better than mayo. Keeps for about a week.

Id also like to take this time to glorify a favorite salsa of mine...No.  you dont have to make it...just unscrew the lid....

Trader Joes Tomato-Less Corn and Chili Salsa.  This is more than I like to spend on salsa...between 3 and 4 dollars in Michigan....but its worth it.  You get almost 14oz worth while most commercial salsas will give you 8-10oz.

The flavor is sweet with a hint of spicy.  Its not mild by any means but its that subtle sweet smoky hot flavor that makes this fantastic.

 Please make breakfast burittos with this.  Trader Joes has corn tortillas (the small ones) for a dollar.  Just add scrambled eggs with a bit of cheese (Smoked Gouda from TJoes is wonderful) and the salsa. in the frying pan.  Wrap in a warm tortilla and whoa.....you have aprox 12 breakfast sandwiches for around 12 bucks......and organic eggs to boot.....

Enjoy and Happy Saint Patty's Week!!