Vegan CHALLENGE

On Tuesday my husband began a 30-day vegan challenge.  He's eating lunch at Arnold's Way, so all I had to do was provide breakfast and dinner.  I am undergoing my own challenge as I try to pull together nutritious and delicious vegan meals...I have cooked vegetarian entrees, but vegan is the next level.  It's even more challenging because of Arnold.  Each day my husband texts a picture of his lunch with a caption raving about how delicious and filling it is...how can I compete with an expert, and of course my meals aren't raw...

I've literally been winging it...and that doesn't work for me.  I like to plan my meals and I try to be organized when I cook.  This week I've found myself cooking late in the day and things are haphazard because of all the dishes.  There's no way I can sustain cooking multi-component vegan meals and our regular meals without a sous chef and a larger kitchen.

My husband is loving veganism and plans to take a raw foods prep class so that he can ease the burden on me...I will likely take the class as well because I certainly wouldn't mind having "carrot cake" for lunch.  Thus far he's enjoyed everything that I prepared, but I have no idea what I'm making next week.  He loved the beans for breakfast and requested that the buckwheat sweet potato 'grab and go' be layered like a parfait to maximize the flavor.  Making that was more than a notion...first I made almond milk to cook the buckwheat, then I pressure cooked the sweet potatoes with coconut cream and pineapple juice, and I topped it with walnuts and chia seeds; everything else was relatively simple - lentils, sautéed vegetables, and roasted cauliflower leek soup.  My favorite is the raw apple sauce.

Greensgrow was selling unsightly apples 6 for $1, I bought them thinking I'd use them in green smoothies or perhaps I'd pull out the juicer again.  Then I thought about apple sauce, which the kids love as a lunchbox or after school snack.  I gave it a shot with 3 apples and literally had applesauce in less than 5 minutes (including the time it took to cut and core the apples) thanks to my trusty Vitamix.  My son said it was the best applesauce he's ever tasted...the best part is that all of the nutrients are maintained because the apples aren't cooked. We enjoyed it so much that my husband went back and bought a dozen more apples.  If all goes well, the kids and I will go vegan...with meat on the side.  It wasn't too bad tonight with our Eritrean meal...timtimo for him and zigni for us.  I'm up for the challenge...just not every night of the week.

Mixing it up with my Vitamix

It is clear to everyone who knows me that I am tethered to the kitchen...I enjoy cooking creatively and I am fond of tools and gadgets. Last year after undergoing a major de-cluttering process, I began to avoid kitchen stores because I did not need another thing. I must say that I have been successful, only acquiring a mandoline and a box grater...and I got both items on clearance at Target (obviously not professional grade, but they serve the purpose).

 I did however, take the plunge and purchase a Vitamix.  As I previously mentioned, this was a year long process. I finally settled on a basic model and then I just had to have a Second Generation because of the preprogrammed settings and the variable speed. I waited patiently for refurbished models to become available and when I finally decided to place my order using the installment plan, they were completely out...since I was already mentally committed, I went for it...and then had to wait almost a month to receive it...it was torture.

This is no gadget and it certainly isn't a blender...it's a vital piece of kitchen equipment and in many ways has transformed my cooking.  We are consuming far more veggies because of our insatiable desire for soups and green smoothies...I have only begun to explore the other food prep capabilities, such as shredding/chopping, which is perfect for pita pocket sandwiches.  I will save a fortune on hot chocolate because I no longer have to buy it from Williams-Sonoma...I simply run the soup cycle with whole milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla...delicious.  I have yet to try any frozen desserts but that is certainly on the horizon.

So many people that I know are interested in the Vitamix after seeing demonstrations in various grocery stores, seeing my pictures, or sampling my soup.  However, I do have one friend who can't seem to understand what all the fuss is about...I just chalk that up to a lack of comprehension skills.  My 86 year-old grandmother wants to buy a Vitamix and is not quibbling about the cost because of the ease of making soups...it's perfect for someone who lives alone and doesn't want to spend the day simmering.

I honestly don't know how I survived all of this time without it...I certainly wouldn't have all of the gadgets had I went for it years ago...and I am using both containers, regularly....I'm thinking I might even need to get a third (perhaps a dry container to make flours and nut butters since my husband has gone vegan and seems to be leaning towards raw).

The Vitamix is easy to use, easy to clean, and it makes eating vegetables a breeze.  Despite popular belief, you're not limited to "pureed soup."  The sky is literally the limit...just about anything can be whipped together and will taste great.  I learned that this morning when I wanted a smoothie and was out of all of my staples...I tossed in carrots, coconut cream, a pear, some frozen mango, and a splash of pineapple juice and it was delicious...just like the random potluck soup I made Friday night - corn, leeks, garlic, and carrots.

If my husband continues on his vegan path, I'm certain that I will get even more creative with the Vitamix.  The kids and I are "Type O" so I will continue as an omnivore but with vegan tendancies.  Check out the Vitamix selection and choose one that fits your budget and your needs.  I recommend the Professional Series (I have the 750) but at the minimum you need one with variable speeds.  Be sure to use Coupon Code 06-009144 for free shipping.