Les Bouchées Quotidiennes

This is an extra-long post because I am posting all of the things I've eaten before my wisdom teeth surgery, which is in two days! This blueberry cobbler smoothie will probably be perfect after I get my teeth out too, even though I made this last week. This smoothie is super easy, lemony and delicious! I've been using a lot of my local blueberries as much as possible lately, which I'm storing in the freezer.

I made Kara's delicious vegan omelette last week, which I stuffed with a smoky balsamic mushroom and spinach filling. I love how ridiculously filling these vegan omelettes are and they only have a few ingredients, minus the fillings! It kept me full for more than a few hours. For the filling: I just sauteed some thinly sliced cremini mushrooms in a pan with some olive oil until lightly browned. Then I added a heavy splash of balsamic vinegar and a few drops of liquid smoke, then stirred in some chopped spinach, until everything is soft and flavorful!

Probably my favorite recipe I've tested for the cookbook: spicy almond butter noodles with edamame, ribbons of cucumber and carrots, steamed broccoli and peanuts.

Another delicious blueberry smoothie! This one has vegan yogurt and GF rolled oats for some extra sustenance. 

I made some very flavorful deviled eggs as a snack last week using sriracha, hard-boiled egg yolks, some vegan mayo and leftover homemade garam masala hummus. I then topped each one with a Thai basil leaf. These were amazing!

I LOVE trying new variations on Caesar dressings, and this one from Veganomicon is incredible because it's made with silken tofu and finely processed almonds. The best part of this salad was definitely the roasted garlic croutons, which I made GF by using Udi's GF whole-grain bread. I also added chopped cucumbers, chickpeas and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast to make one delicious and filling salad!

A mushroom, green onion and thyme omelette I made for breakfast!

I made a very quick and filling smoothie at work: one green superfood chocolate packet, 3 frozen bananas, a heaping spoonful of peanut butter and a few splashes of hot water. I loved this chocolate superfood packet and I can't wait to try the other flavors!

I haven't had a samosa in years, so these samosa-stuffed baked potatoes were a great substitute (since I can't have the pastry dough)! They didn't take too long to make, but I certainly wouldn't cook them on a week day. The flavors of the samosa filling were absolutely delicious and very authentic! I'd recommend this for anyone who loves samosas, but doesn't want to go through the process of making samosas. This recipe originally comes from Veganomicon. 

I recently snagged some local okra from a produce stand, so I finally broke down and made these okra fritters again! I made them GF by using Bob's all-purpose GF flour and added some Cajun seasoning in order to add a little more flavor. I made these years ago, and they are still delicious and very easy to make! I topped mine with some vegan mayo and a few more sprinkles of Cajun seasoning.

I haven't made banana bread in a while, but this summer squash banana-oat loaf with an almond streusel really caught my eye! I have never used summer squash (except zucchini) in desserts. I used local two-tone summer squash. Of course, I also love that this recipe is already gluten and dairy-free, so no substitutions needed! I also can't believe I've never baked anything with a streusel topping before this! This loaf was super easy to make and very lightly sweetened, which I really love. 

I made another wonderful recipe from Veganomicon this morning, which was this corn and edamame sesame salad. It took only ten minutes to make and is a great lunch served with some rice crackers! I love anything that is flavored strongly with sesame, and anything with edamame!

July Favorites

I'm trying to do some new things with the blog lately to keep it interesting! Monthly favorites is something a lot of my favorite blogs do (see here). So here's a roundup of my favorite things I made in July! I hope I can still post a lot even with school and other various activities. 

 1. garden corn chowder with basil + chives//the PPK
     I'm mildly obsessed with corn chowder and the many variations that exist on it, so this obviously had to be made. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the lime juice and coconut milk paired with the corn/potato mix. I'll still be dreaming about this one when fall rolls around.

 2. Foil-packet soy lime salmon with green beans, cajun corn salad + herb potato salad
     //J + S, Budget Bytes + Thug Kitchen
      I made salmon for the first time (finally)! All three of these meal components are incredibly easy to pull together. I made an easier version of the corn salad by just using what I had on add and adding a LOT of hot sauce. The potato salad was a refreshing and incredibly garlicky twist on the mayo-laden side we all eat in the South. The salmon can be made on any weeknight since it takes little prep. 

 3. The 5-Minute Cajun Grit Bowl//here!
      I have been making this grit bowl since I learned how to make polenta grits and microwave eggs. Together, they make an easy, hearty, and spicy breakfast. I can be half awake and still be able to pull this together. 

 4. Summer Squash Soup with Tofu Croutons//Super Natural Every Day
     I'm pretty sure I have mentioned this book a few times. Heidi Swanson is the first cookbook author I discovered when I was 17 or so, and her recipes have really impacted how I cook food. I highly recommend her book to anyone who wants to experience more with vegetables, grains, beans, and eat more vegetarian food. This soup is exquisite. It's the only word I know that fits. You make a coconut oil/curry paste mash to cook potatoes and squash in, then make a coconut milk broth, finished off with crispy pan-fried tofu croutons. All of the recipes in both of her books are just as amazing.

 5. Blueberry-Raspberry Cobbler with Oat Biscuit Topping//Sprouted Kitchen
     My first cobbler! July seemed to be filled with a lot of 'firsts' for Infinite Zest! I had fresh, local, organic blueberries from a farm that my parents have been going to for years here in the Triad, and I wanted to make something special. I also had some raspberries to throw in. The oat biscuit topping pairs perfectly with the berries and lemon juice/zest. 
[For substitutions: 1/2 C oat flour, 1/4 C sorghum flour, 1/4 C tapioca starch, 1 tsp xanthan gum, 1/2 C GF rolled oats, 5 T Earth Balance baking sticks, 1/2 C plain coconut milk yogurt]

 6. The Balm 57 Cocktail//here!
      It's pretty obvious that I love cocktails. I mean, next to food, I really love reading blogs like The Boys Club that post extensive info on liquor and classic drinks. This is also my first cocktail creation, recreated from a drink I had at Sticks & Stones! Dreamy blackberry whiskey pairs with agave, lemon juice, and mint for a refreshing summer drink. Bottoms up!

 7. Peach Arugula Salad with Lentils, Avocado + Roasted Jalapeno Vinaigrette//Sprouted Kitchen
     I'm trying to be better about making lunches for myself. Sometimes the day just gets away from me, then 4 rolls around, and suddenly I'm starting dinner with out having eaten since breakfast. Whoops! It's horrible. But I have SO many recipes saved that it makes no sense for me to just skip lunch. This decadent, perfect salad is everything I want for lunch. NC peaches, arugula from Guilford College's farm, French lentils, avocados, and the best roasted jalapeno shallot vinaigrette. The dressing will burn your nostrils a bit, but what's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. Go make this pronto!

8. Zucchini Fritters//Smitten Kitchen
    Perfection in the kitchen is not easily reached, but when it is, it creates quite a sensation. You labor over something for so long: shredding the zucchini, pressing just the right amount of water out, cleaning your cast iron skillet for the first time JUST for these perfect little fritters, watching them like first-time parents to make sure they don't burn too much. It may seem tedious, like, who cares that much about some damn fritters? Well, when you take all of these extra precautions and treat it carefully, you are rewarded with this: the perfect fritter. Golden brown, puffy, and to-die-for with a cashew sour cream. Sometimes the extra effort really is worth it.