chinese chicken salad and vegan fake chicken egg rolls

Well this one was QUITE an experiment, and the picture does NOT do it justice. I found thin rice paper for eff rolls/spring rolls at shaws this week that were vegan; I wanted to try to make something with them but wanted a side dish to go with it, so I made a vegan fake chicken chinese salad. Then to make the rolls, I wanted there to be meat in them, but wasn't sure what combo; I had mangoes in the house, what I did was choppped the mangoes up in to tiny pieces, made some white rice, and fried up some gardein mandarin flavored fake chicken. For each roll I put some rice, mangoes, and gardein mandarin chicken, then rolled it up like a burrito. Mark was horribly skeptical when he saw them, which I can't blame him, the rolls were translucent and looked gross, but he admitted they were DELICIOUS! We are totally going to make them again, but to make them even more unhealthy will have to fry them in my fryalator I haven;t used yet. For the chinese chicken salad: Fry a package of TJs fake chicken strips in a small amount of peanut oil. In a large serving bowl mix 1 package romaine lettuce, 1 package shredded purple cabbage, 1 package shredded carrots, 1/4 cup cilantro, 1 package shaved almonds, and 2 TBsp sesame seeds. In a small bowl whick together 3 TBsp vinegar, 3 TBsp sugar, 1 TBsp rice wine, 1 TBsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ginger, and 2 TBsp peanut oil. In the large bowl mix together the salad with the dressing and the chicken strips. The salad was ok, but not great, and the rolls were SO good they made the salad seem crummy, but it was ok.

another version of vegan fried rice

Not sure why I tried this version of vegan fried rice, I think cause i had brown rice in the house I wanted to use, but it was super tasty, probably really unhealthy though, packed with calories I am sure. In 1 TBSp peanut oil fried some sliced up tofu or fake chicken, for this recipe I used trader joe's fake chicken strips. Once browned remove from oil. Cook the rice as usual while you are doing this. A 3 TBsp peanut oil to wok and fry some chopped white onion in it until translucent. Once translucent add 1 TBsp ginger and 4 TBsp garlic; then add 2 cups brocolli, 3 red bell peppers chopped in to small pieces (I had one red, yello, and orange bell pepper), 2 cups shitake mushrooms, 1 package of shredded carrots, 1/2 cup frozen peas to the wok. Cook through. Then add the fake chicken and rice to the wok. Mix well and stir in 6 TBsp soy sauce, 2 TBsp rice wine, 1 TBsp mirin, and some pepper to taste. Then enjoy! I definitely loved it!

sun dried tomato pasta

I also had some sun dried tomatoes in the house the other day that I needed to use so tried this quick and easy recipe. Cook 1 package of spaghetti as usual. For the pesto blenderize 2 TBsp garlic, 1/2 cup packed and shredded fresh basil leaves, 1 jar oil soaked sun dried tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, 6 TBsp water, 4 TBsp walnuts, 1 TBsp nutrional yeast, and 1 TBsp red pepper flakes. Once the pesto is made and pasta is done mix the two together. It was ok, but a little spicy for me (and I am normally a medium lean towards hot spicey person) so next time I might back off on the red pepper flakes if I make it again.

side dish potato salad

The side dish potato salad I made for the meal in the last post was a really good salad recipe so thought i would put it here: Asparagus and Potato Salad Roasted Potatoes: 8-10 small potatoes chopped and doused in olive oil (I had a mixture of purple, red, and yellow potatoes); roast at 425 for 30 minutes. Asparagus: chop up one bunch of asparagus in to small pieces and douse in olive oil, then sautee for a couple minutes on medium heat in oil. Dressing: Whisk together 1Tbsp olive oil, 1/4c lemon juice, 1 TBsp lemon pepper, 2 TBsp garlic, 1 tsp maple syrup, 2 TBsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp pepper, chopped up chives and 1 TBsp water. Mix all the ingredients together; it is good warm or cold; I had it both ways.

fake hot dog and baked bean casserole

I had bought these mini fake hot dogs from May Wah vegetarian so decided to make a baked bean and fake hot dog casserole. The casserole was good, but the best part was the beans, the hot dogs were a little gross; will use smart dogs cut in to small pieces in the future if I ever make it again. The recipe involved mixing together the fake hot dogs as well as 1.5TBsp margarine, 1 tsp allspice, 1 16oz can of vegetarian baked beans, 1/3 c. ketchup, 1/3 c. brown sugar, and 1/2 a package of Daiya cheddar cheese. Mixed all together and baked at 350 for 30 minutes.

As you can see, I served some corn on the side, as well as potato salad, making it a good summer meal.

The gender gap/inequality...

I have heard some stuff on NPR this past year and more recently read some articles on the gendedr gap, and inequal opportunities for women, and I will admit I was skeptical at first but the stuff I have read and heard this year convinced me otherwise, now if only I could convince my boyfriend...so I am posting all the articles/news stories I have heard here as a plea for all people, men and wommen, to read and understand that there is a GENDER GAP and it is not because women get pregnant, or don't have a work ethic. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/unofficial-prognosis/2012/09/23/study-shows-gender-bias-in-science-is-real-heres-why-it-matters/ http://www.sharayurkiewicz.com/2011/02/dont-rule-out-sexism-so-quickly.html http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Bioethicsforum/Post.aspx?id=5255&blogid=140 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/12/156664337/stereotype-threat-why-women-quit-science-jobs http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1983185,00.html