Tofuligans

After nearly a week of sleeping at other peoples houses and eating other people food, I’ve finally reclaimed my house from the sublet and got back to cooking and comfort. Being in Portland for over a month I was eager to have my own space back, and to stock up on food and cook in my own kitchen again. The first thing I did to get back in the groove was stop by the Old Strathcona Farmers Market on Saturday and get some veggies!

Not my biggest haul, but pure quality. I particularily like how badass the kale looks, like he’s holding back an anxious brussels sprout while he goes to do the ass kicking himself. Kale is tough. You can almost see him balling up a fist with the other hand. Mr. Kale has been making his way into smoothies and getting sauteed since he showed up at my place. Mmmm mmm. The leeks will be finding themselves in the Legendary Cassoulet, and the brussels I bought because I promised myself the next time I saw brussels on a stalk I would buy them, so I did. They cost six fricking dollars, but look at how awesome they are! Plus, how great is it biking home with them sticking out of your backpack?

One of my return to Edmonton goals was to stick to the weekly meal planning that I’ve done off and on for the last year. It saves me so much time, frustration and money to buy all my weekly food at once rather than going to two different grocery stores every night while I’m hungry from work. Usually that ends with me being too hungry to prepare anything, and eating fried frozen pierogies instead. Not cool. So this week I made the plan, got the groceries, and cooked myself a wholesome meal. Monday nights selection was Smoky Grilled Tempeh from Veganomicon, with the aforementioned brussels sprouts roasted on the side, and some roasted blue potatoes straight out of my backyard garden! Prior to peeling, the potatoes looked like some crazy moon rock, with craters and shit. My roommate tells me they are a symtom of nutrient dense soil. I guess that means my dirt is awesome! YES!!

Once the peel is removed, you get what looks like a cartoon dinosaur egg, all purple and white spotty. Such a nice looking potato, also one of the tastiest.

I usually make my brussels Isa style, roasted with olive oil and garlic. If you think you hate brussels, give the recipe in Vegan with a Vengeance a try!

Next it was grill time for the marinated tempeh. I was really digging all the tasty tempeh I’d been having in Portland, and was eager to give it another try in my kitchen. Not that I didn’t like it before, I just wasn’t crazy about it the way I was about some of the dishes I had in PDX.

Applying grill marks is one of the most appealing things that can be done to food. Look at this effing tempeh! Lookin’ all smoky and glazey like.

I’d say this was a dang fine way to welcome myself home, and remind myself that not all the good food is in Portland.

Oh, I also got a free portable dishwasher! I sense a revolution in my cooking and baking life.