Tuesday, February 23, 2016
A Walk in the Woods
During Kaleigh's February school break, we took a winter hike through the locals woods on one of the warmer days! It was still a little chilly and there was some ice but it was still a fun time. It was right after a hard rain which melted off much of the snow and made the water flow incredible!
Monday, February 15, 2016
Seitan Chick-un Nuggets!
While Ashley was gone for the week Kaleigh and I made a favorite of ours, sietan chick-un nuggets! Since Ashley has been gluten free we have avoided this dish but took the opportunity to make it when she was gone.
Kaleigh likes her nuggets with a buffalo sauce where as I am a BBQ kinda guy. They came out great and it was a great meal that we had been missing. When Kaleigh was that we were having them she got super excited!
We ate them with some fries and a side of steamed broccoli while watching our newest TV program. We were really living it up.
Kaleigh likes her nuggets with a buffalo sauce where as I am a BBQ kinda guy. They came out great and it was a great meal that we had been missing. When Kaleigh was that we were having them she got super excited!
We ate them with some fries and a side of steamed broccoli while watching our newest TV program. We were really living it up.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Jerk!
Ashley recently went to Wisconsin for a special job training. It was a pretty big deal that she was chosen to go and she got a lot of good information.
Kaleigh and I stayed home and spent the week gorging on gluten. Ashley has been gluten free for several months now so we do our best to all eat gluten free. However, when she left town, Kaleigh and I splurged!
One of the first things I made was my seitan jerky. For the holidays Ashley got a really nice dehydrator. I pulled that beast out and made some jerky! It was fantastic! In the past I had used the oven but nothing compares to the dehydrator! The results were night and day. I can not wait to make this again!
Kaleigh and I stayed home and spent the week gorging on gluten. Ashley has been gluten free for several months now so we do our best to all eat gluten free. However, when she left town, Kaleigh and I splurged!
One of the first things I made was my seitan jerky. For the holidays Ashley got a really nice dehydrator. I pulled that beast out and made some jerky! It was fantastic! In the past I had used the oven but nothing compares to the dehydrator! The results were night and day. I can not wait to make this again!
Monday, February 8, 2016
Frobscottle!
A long time ago, Kaleigh found a Ronald Dahl cookbook at the thrift store. On and off since then she has asked to make Frobscottle from the BFG. We generally dismiss it since it has some weird ingredients that we do not often have on hand. This time she asked as we were heading to the grocery store!
After picking up everything we needed for the fizzy burping drink we set out to make it. Half a dozen kiwi's, a lime, a can of cream soda, some lemon-aid, and raspberry soy yogurt, tossed in the blender and we were done. It was not the most appetizing thing and honestly it tasted about as good as it sounds. However, it was a fun things to do, I just hope it quenches her thirst and we never have to make it again!
After picking up everything we needed for the fizzy burping drink we set out to make it. Half a dozen kiwi's, a lime, a can of cream soda, some lemon-aid, and raspberry soy yogurt, tossed in the blender and we were done. It was not the most appetizing thing and honestly it tasted about as good as it sounds. However, it was a fun things to do, I just hope it quenches her thirst and we never have to make it again!
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Tofu Eater!
I eat tofu. I get asked all the time if I like tofu, the answer is yes. Maine is a fairly isolated place and when people find out I am vegan, it is generally the first question they ask. Recently, I have been going crazy for Bar B Que tofu. The girls? they are getting a little sick of it.
The solution? new wave Bar B Que tofu! I made a great chipolte Bar B Que sauce, breaded and fried, then baked triangles of tofu and the girls loved them! I still got my Bar B Que tofu and they did not have to groan about another night the same old dish! It was a solid win all around, not to mention the sides of roasted brussel sprouts and smashed sweet potatoes!
The solution? new wave Bar B Que tofu! I made a great chipolte Bar B Que sauce, breaded and fried, then baked triangles of tofu and the girls loved them! I still got my Bar B Que tofu and they did not have to groan about another night the same old dish! It was a solid win all around, not to mention the sides of roasted brussel sprouts and smashed sweet potatoes!
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Kaleigh turned 9!
Kaleigh turned 9 on Saturday! We had her birthday party at her karate dojo and it was a huge turn out. Last year we let Kaleigh invite 15 friends, thinking about 10 would come and (aside from family) only 2 came. Ashley and I felt awful so this year I gave her 40 invitations and hoped to get about 10-12. That number ballooned up and nearly 25 kids were at her party!
It was a lot of folks but she had a blast and I think most of the kids did as well. They got to break boards, throw ninja starts, play dodge ball, eat cake, open gifts, ect. It was great to see Kaleigh have so much fun!
As she requested, I made Kaleigh a triple layer chocolate cake, with chocolate icing, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate ganache on top. Sadly, every picture I took of the cake was either blurry or too dark. I did however also make a dozen cupcakes since there were going to be so many kids. They were vanilla cupcakes with purple and white vanilla swirl icing.
After Kaleigh's party we drove to Portland so we could eat at Silly's and get vegan milkshakes! We all had a great day. I feel fortunate to be in Kaleigh's life, she is a great kid with a great mom to boot! Thank you to both of those girls for letting me in!
It was a lot of folks but she had a blast and I think most of the kids did as well. They got to break boards, throw ninja starts, play dodge ball, eat cake, open gifts, ect. It was great to see Kaleigh have so much fun!
As she requested, I made Kaleigh a triple layer chocolate cake, with chocolate icing, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate ganache on top. Sadly, every picture I took of the cake was either blurry or too dark. I did however also make a dozen cupcakes since there were going to be so many kids. They were vanilla cupcakes with purple and white vanilla swirl icing.
After Kaleigh's party we drove to Portland so we could eat at Silly's and get vegan milkshakes! We all had a great day. I feel fortunate to be in Kaleigh's life, she is a great kid with a great mom to boot! Thank you to both of those girls for letting me in!
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Buffalo Tempeh Salad!
We have been busy this week with loads of orders for Squashed as well as planning Kaleigh's birthday that is coming up on Sat. I have not had a lot of time for blogging and it got me thinking, is blogging dead? Is it too dated now? Is it all on the social media sites now? What are folks thoughts on this?
Ashley has joined a 12 week fitness challenge so we are trying to figure out some good foods for us all to eat. One of the go to's was the Buffalo Tempeh Salad. It is hearty enough to fill you up but light enough to not feel too full.
Ashley has joined a 12 week fitness challenge so we are trying to figure out some good foods for us all to eat. One of the go to's was the Buffalo Tempeh Salad. It is hearty enough to fill you up but light enough to not feel too full.
What are some other ideas folks have for some really healthy foods?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
We had company!
To say that we rarely have guests over for a visit would be an understatement. Yes, Ashley, Kaleigh and I do punk shows during the spring summer and fall but we are not really inviting those folks in for dinner and conversation.
In fact, I think we have only invited folks over for dinner and conversation about a half dozen times since moving to Maine over a year ago. Last night, we invited our good friends, Lily and George over for dinner!
I made some curry and Ashley had to work late so she joined the gathering late but it was a really fun night! Filled with loads of fun as well as challenging conversations, not to mention some throwing star action!
In fact, I think we have only invited folks over for dinner and conversation about a half dozen times since moving to Maine over a year ago. Last night, we invited our good friends, Lily and George over for dinner!
I made some curry and Ashley had to work late so she joined the gathering late but it was a really fun night! Filled with loads of fun as well as challenging conversations, not to mention some throwing star action!
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Vegan Egg...
We tried it. Vegan Egg. All the cool kids are raving about it so we needed to join the fun. I picked up a couple "dozen" online and we tried some scrambled "eggs" with a Saturday brunch. The pancakes were great (egg free), the home fries were also great (also egg free) then Ashley, Kaleigh and I decided to all try the egg together.
Kaleigh thought it was decent, Ashley thought it was not great and I felt like it was under seasoned but the texture was cool. I think we should have cooked it a bit longer and added more black salt but I enjoyed it. They were definitely a little on the powdery side but that may have been operator error.
Has anyone else tried these and have any tips? We did make some gluten free vegan brownies with them and those were great!
Kaleigh thought it was decent, Ashley thought it was not great and I felt like it was under seasoned but the texture was cool. I think we should have cooked it a bit longer and added more black salt but I enjoyed it. They were definitely a little on the powdery side but that may have been operator error.
Has anyone else tried these and have any tips? We did make some gluten free vegan brownies with them and those were great!
Thursday, January 7, 2016
I am not the only cook in the house!
Last night I was planning to make a simple meal for the family but Ashley said she wanted to make some eggplant. For no good reason, I rarely cook with eggplant but I do enjoy it. Ashley is also a very good cook but does not make many home cooked meals anymore so I jumped at the chance to take the night off in the kitchen and let her create!
The results were outstanding! She made some of the best breaded (gluten-free) eggplant I have ever had. It was incredible. It was breaded with corn chips and spices then deep fried and topped with a homemade tomato sauce. We had some broccoli and pasta salad on the side as well.
I hope she makes this dish again. I went for seconds but did not take too much because I wanted the girls to be able to have it for their lunches today. I would have loved to have another plate full!
The results were outstanding! She made some of the best breaded (gluten-free) eggplant I have ever had. It was incredible. It was breaded with corn chips and spices then deep fried and topped with a homemade tomato sauce. We had some broccoli and pasta salad on the side as well.
I hope she makes this dish again. I went for seconds but did not take too much because I wanted the girls to be able to have it for their lunches today. I would have loved to have another plate full!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Corn Chowder!
Growing up in Maine, chowder was a popular dish all folks ate. Clam, fish, corn, we ate it all when I was young. To this day, I miss this creamy, milky, goodness of a great chowder. Occasionally I work on my own chowder in the kitchen.
My most recent attempt was a smokey corn chowder. The girls, both being southern born, do not quite understand what is so comforting but they humor me and Kaleigh actually really enjoyed this sweet, smokey soup. It came out fantastic and I even considered adding it to the Squashed menu sometime!
My most recent attempt was a smokey corn chowder. The girls, both being southern born, do not quite understand what is so comforting but they humor me and Kaleigh actually really enjoyed this sweet, smokey soup. It came out fantastic and I even considered adding it to the Squashed menu sometime!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
As 2015 ends we give Kaleigh a gift!
The girls went off to Georgia for the Holidays and I took a short break from blogging. 2015 was a great year for me and this blog. I posted over 150 times which was the most since 2011! It feels good to be back in a healthier mindset and motivated to write, cook, experience, and share. In 2015 Ashley and I launched a new business, Squashed, which has been doing really well, Kaleigh started karate which she loves, Ashley got a new vehicle, we started doing shows at our house, and we grew lots of food.
It was a great year and I am confident we will have an even better 2016! For a holiday gift, we converted Kaleigh's old unused playroom into a small in home Karate dojo. We video taped her seeing it for the first time and thought it was worth a share.
It was a great year and I am confident we will have an even better 2016! For a holiday gift, we converted Kaleigh's old unused playroom into a small in home Karate dojo. We video taped her seeing it for the first time and thought it was worth a share.
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