Foodie Pen Pals Reveal - November!

   Hi Friends!

   It's that time of month again when I get to reveal my amazing goodies from my pen pal.  This month I recieved a package from Stacie who is a blog reader from B.C.  She happens to have a dairy and egg allergy which worked to my advantage!  I must admit, I was super spoiled this month.

Wanna see what I got?

A sweet letter from Stacie...

Kettle Corn from Trader Joes... I loved this and I may or may not have eaten half the bag as soon as I opened it! 

Sweet and Salty!

Roasted Coconut chips - I haven't opened these yet but I'm looking forward to using them soon!

Dark Chocolate Crisps - these are really decadent... I had to tuck them away so that I didn't eat them all in one go!  Plus, I want to bring them out for the next girl's night which is just around the corner...

Raspberry and Boysenberry fruit chews... can't wait to try these!

Vanilla Rooibos Tea - I've made this tea for a few people and they've all liked it.  I haven't tried it yet but it smells good!

All of my wonderful goodies...

Packed away in the Christmas cookie jar!  Well, except for the Kettle Corn... that's all gone!  Ha.

Thanks again, Stacie!

For more info on the Foodie Pen Pals program head on over to The Lean Green Bean.  Next month Lindsay has something special planned for those that were affected by hurricane Sandy.  If you want to get involved, head on over to see how you can help.

Enjoy the last day in November and TGIF!

Love,

Ves xx

Pecan Tarts - Recipe!

   Hi Friends!

   I made this recipe over the weekend and absolutely loved it!  Plus everyone who tried it loved it, too.  Pecan Tarts are amazing, but definitely full of fat and calories.  I was thrilled when I found this recipe on SparkPeople.com and was even more thrilled when I only needed to tweak it a bit. 

Here's how I made it:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Layer the Phyllo dough and brush a bit of coconut oil between each sheet.

Cut out circles using a round cookie cutter (if using mini cupcake pans) or the bottom of a bowl.

Place each piece of dough into the greased well of the cupcake pan.

Add the filling into each piece of dough and bake in the oven for 23-25 minutes.

Allow to cool before removing them from the muffin tin.

Enjoy!

Pecan Tarts 

(adapted from a Spark Recipe)

Makes 12 OR 24 Tarts 

depending on the pan that you use

Ingredient: 
8 sheets phyllo dough, thawed 
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
+ 1.5 tbsp for greasing the pan and extra for the phyllo dough
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 
1/2 cup pure maple syrup 
2/3 cups old fashioned oats 
1 cup pecans, chopped 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
pinch salt 
2 Flax eggs (2 tbsp flax mixed with 6 tbsp water)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two mini muffin pans (or 1 regular sized muffin pan) with a bit of coconut oil.
2. Place one sheet of the phyllo dough on a cutting board. Brush lightly with remaining 1 tbsp of coconut oil.  Repeat with 3 more layers, brushing the coconut oil between each layer. Cut the dough into circles using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter or using the bottom of a bowl and a knife.
3. Place one piece of dough into each well of the muffin pans.   Repeat with the remaining 4 sheets of dough.
4. Combine all the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Spoon a large tablespoon of the batter into each prepared dough shell. Bake for 23-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature.  Refrigerate after cooled if serving the next day.

   Promise me that you will make this recipe for your upcoming Holiday party?!  You will not be disappointed and everyone will love you.  It is so unexpectedly (yet so obviously) delicious!

   And speaking of the holidays, I put my Christmas tree up on Sunday and guess who helped me with the decorations?

You'd think it was her first tree!

Patchie - so curious about what is occupying her couch!

The finished product!

Happy Monday everyone!

Love,
Ves xx

Thanksgiving Recap... OR: WIAT

   Two Thanksgiving Dinners down and one full happy belly!  I hope everyone enjoyed some yummy food and fun family time on Thursday.  We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday and Saturday, since I had to work on Thursday.  Yes, two Thanksgivings!  My belly was doing a happy dance all week.  Which is probably how long I've been planning and preparing this meal!  Ha.

   Even though I planned and prepped ahead of time, it still wound up being a race to the finish.  And I must admit, even though both parties were a success in terms of yummy food, Saturday's was way more calm and relaxing for me.  I served the Stuffing and Lentil Loaf from the day before, and made the Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Gravy fresh.  I also made the Appetizers and Pecan Tarts on Saturday, as well.  So, it's not like I did any less, but maybe I was just less stressed on day two?  Hmm?

Here's What I Ate on Thanksgiving:

Appetizers: 

Grilled Cheese and Apple on a baguette (click here for the recipe)

Herb and Cheese Drop Biscuits

The Sides:

Garlic Mashed Potato and Parsnips, Biscuits, Brussels Sprouts and Gravy + a bevy of fun juices and of course, some wine!

 Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The Main: 

Glazed Walnut Apple Lentil Loaf and Apple Sage and Sausage Stuffing (click here for the recipe)

My Dinner Plate - Day 1

We had a simple green salad with Balsamic dressing because I ran out of time to make a dressing.

My Dinner Plate - Day 2:

We started with an Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad with a homemade vinaigrette. 

PLUS the usual suspects!

The Dessert:

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecans and a Gingersnap Crust (click here for a similar recipe... I tweaked it a bit)

Apple Pie Pudding with Ginger cookie crumbs (click here for the recipe)

Pecan Tarts

Deconstructed Sweet Potato Pie

Nephew approved!

   So there you have it!  What we ate on Thanksgiving (or the day after, and the day after that!)

For more yummy meal pics head over to Peas and Crayons and check out other mouthwatering Thanksgiving dinners!

I'm off to go decorate my tree and work off some of these holiday calories... before stuffing my face with leftovers!  Ha.  

Love,

Ves xx

WIAW #20 OR The Day Before Thanksgiving!

   Hi Friends!

   It's the day before Thanksgiving and I'm feeling a little odd that my actual gathering isn't until Friday (oh, and did I mention that I'm also having a Thanksgiving Lunch on Saturday? Yeah.).  But, that doesn't mean I'm feeling any less stressed.  I just finished the rest of my shopping tonight, save for a few ingredients that I'll be picking up tomorrow, and I'm a little overwhelmed!  My menu is a little ambitious (3 desserts!) but don't worry, I'm making a game plan.  I know exactly what I'll be making and prepping tomorrow so that I won't be doing everything on Friday.  I also stopped by the DollarStore tonight, for a few extra serving dishes, napkins, etc. I'm trying not to leave everything for the last minute.  So far, so good.

   But, let's get on with the eats, shall we?  This is kind of mish-mash, a What I ate while grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, and what I ate while watching the Season Finale of the Amish with my sis, if you will.

As always I start my morning off with some sort of water concoction.  Wouldn't have it any other way!

Not sure why this GREEN smoothie looks gray, but it was SO yummy regardless of the color!

Coffee on the go!

Snack/Lunch:  Grilled Cheese and Apple on a Baguette.  I needed to sample what my Thanksgiving appetizer would taste like!

Dinner: A Whole Foods Picnic!  I raided their salad bar during my shopping trip in the morning.

What my sister and I ate while watching the Amish finale... Triscuit Nachos!

What we drank while watching the finale... well, not this exact wine, but you get the idea!

   Well there you have it.  My yummy eats leading up to this amazing day.  I know it may look pathetic, but everything was super delicious!  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you celebrating tomorrow (or Friday, or Saturday...)!  And stay tuned for my What I Ate on Thanksgiving post.  It's the biggest food day of the year, so I've got to devote a post to it, right?  Right!

Love,

Ves xx

The Menu (maybe)

   Hi Friends!

   If you're living in the States there's only a couple of days left until Thanksgiving!  I hope you're all ready for it... or at least almost ready!  Ha.

   I think I have pretty much finalized my menu for our dinner, but I'm sure something will change.  Here's what my menu looks like as of today, and if there are any changes I will definitely update it.

For Starters

Grilled 'Cheese' and Apple on a Baguette

Herb and Cheese Drop Biscuits

On the Side

Spinach Salad

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Apple Cider Sauce

Main Attraction

Chestnut, Cranberry and 'Sausage' Stuffing

Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf

Sweets

Sweet Potato Pie

Petite Pecan Tarts
Apple Pie Pudding Parfait

Bevies

Mulled Wine with Cider

Assorted Vegan Wines:

MASI - Pinot Grigio

Yellow Tail - Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon

Water

Tea/Coffee

   After seeing my menu items all written in one place, it seems pretty ambitious.  But, I have faith, and if it doesn't all work out, well, at least I tried!  Ha.  I'll do my best to post pictures and recipes later this week.  Our actual Thanksgiving dinner will be on the Friday this year because I'm working on Thursday, so the recap will be after that.

Good luck with your menus and I wish you all a very happy, successful, and kind Thanksgiving!

Love,

Ves xx

Adopt-A-Turkey, Take 2

   Hi Friends!

   It's that time of year again.  Last year I participated in Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-a-Turkey project for the first time and this year is no different.

   It's not too late for you guys to join in!  Visit Farm Sanctuary to find out how you can save a Turkey this year and enjoy a kinder Thanksgiving.

Me and Raphael at last year's Thanksgiving!

Love,

Ves xx

Sheesh, What's Up With the Silence?

   Hi Friends!

   I'm so sorry for the silence around here.  I have been totally preoccupied with work, meetings, and Thanksgiving preparations that I haven't had any energy to devote to my blog.  I actually have quite a few posts on the go but no desire to finish any of them!  What the...? 

   I should explain that by "Thanksgiving preparations", I really mean surfing the interweb and watching The Chew.  Ha!  I don't have a set menu yet so I've been searching for inspiration and loving what I'm seeing.  Because this is only my second all vegan Thanksgiving, I don't actually have a traditional menu.  I will be making one repeat from last year - my Grilled Cheese and Apple Crostini.  I was already thinking of making this appetizer and then my sister-in-law requested it and I knew it had to go on the menu officially.   So I have one appetizer figured out and two possible desserts, but no idea what to make for my main and sides.  Obviously I'll be making a stuffing and gravy, but not sure what else.

   I have to admit that this is my favorite part about menu planning.  I love reading recipes and looking at the mouthwatering photos that accompany them.

Here's some of the yummy recipes that I've been drooling over:

New-Style Thanksgiving Potatoes with Walnut Guacamole à la Mode - Vegetarian Times
This looks like an adorably easy recipe and we all know how much I love anything to do with avocados!
Sweet Potatoes with Collard Greens and Aduki Beans - Whole Foods Market
This recipe looks so fresh and delicious.  It also happens to combine my two favorites: Sweet Potaoes and greens!  Yum.
Superb Squash Soup with the Best Parmesan Croutons - Jamie Oliver
This recipe sounds so good and can easily be vaganized.  Plus, it's by Jamie Oliver, my imaginary husband.  Ha.
Smokey Pumpkin Grits with Maple-Roasted Pepitas - via One Green Planet
I love polenta and would totally use it in place of traditional grits.  Otherwise, this recipe looks super yum!
Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf - Oh She Glows
I know that I've already made this for Canadian Thanksgiving, but I couldn't resist adding it to this list.  It's so yummy!
Vegan Pumpkin Pie - Kathy @ Healthy Happy Life
I absolutely love her recipes and this one looks sinfully delicious! 

   I've just given you a bunch of drool worthy recipes to feast your eyes on, and I hope that if you try one of them you will let me know how they turn out.  If you are attending Thanksgiving at my house next week and are thinking that you have an idea what the menu will look like, you don't.  I'm not making any of these recipes.  BUT, as soon as I figure out my menu I will post it here!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Love,
Ves xx