Cheesesteaks, Trader Joe’s, and Brussels Sprouts!

Hi everyone! Last week my sister and I went to Seed & Soil again after I saw online that they had added cheesesteaks to their menu. We each got a cheesesteak and a pineapple lemonade, as well as the mac & cheese bites to share – the cheesesteaks were great and the mac & cheese bites were really fun! 

On Monday, I finally made it to Trader Joe’s, hooray! I stocked up on some of the fun things I’ve seen recommended on other blogs, as well as fall/Halloween goodies. If there’s anything I missed, definitely let me know so I can keep an eye out next time! 

I found these vegan and gluten-free hamburger buns at Giant on Tuesday, so I figured I would give them a try, and they’re so good! I’ve been using the buns for the Morningstar cheezeburgers, which are also delicious! 

Served with homemade pickles, carrots with Daiya ranch (I want to finish up that bottle before opening the Trader Joe’s ranch dip), and Trader Joe’s tater tots with ketchup.

I also tried a new recipe this week – it was my first time making Brussels sprouts, and it was a success overall! For the Brussels sprouts, I used half frozen, half fresh; the thawed frozen ones were small enough, but some of the fresh ones were a bit too big and didn’t cook all the way through. Also, to make things simpler, I combined the tempeh and its marinade with the Brussels sprouts instead of making a separate sauce for the sprouts. It was really tasty, and I’ll definitely make it again! 

Served atop white rice.

The pumpkin Joe-Joe’s were really good; we finished them off at D&D on Wednesday, haha! I also tried the Pumpkin O’s with some unsweetened soy milk and added dried cranberries as well, which was nice… 

And now it’s kitty time! Here are two sketches I did this week… 

Leela keeping me company while I was meditating…

And Daisy, apparently waiting to be served a meal at the table… 

Peace. :)

Elementary, My Dear Vegan: Fruit Loops and a Banana

Hi everyone! Today’s “Elementary, My Dear Vegan” is from S2E17 (“Ears to You”). Lestrade is seen eating fruit loops while working his case; later in the episode, Watson finds Holmes in the kitchen and asks him why he is working at the table.

Holmes: I’m here, Watson, because this is where we keep the food, and I’m hungry.
Watson: You’re not eating.
Holmes: I’m awaiting a breakthrough. Once I have one, I shall eat that banana.

So here’s a simple but delicious breakfast of Fruitful O’s and a banana… 

Leela’s vet called yesterday evening with her blood work results, and everything is good overall; a few of her levels were off just slightly, but he said nothing indicated a problem, so yay, Leela! She decided to join me for yoga yesterday, settling right in the middle of my towel and keeping a watchful eye on the birds at the window… 

Peace. :)

Elementary, My Dear Vegan: Corn Puffs

Hi everyone! Today’s “Elementary, My Dear Vegan” is from S2E8 (“Blood is Thicker”). Watson has some corn puffs cereal for breakfast while talking to Holmes at the kitchen table about their current case, so I enjoyed some Nature’s Path Gorilla Munch corn puffs; they were very simple but very good! 

Some bonus quotes: Holmes talks a lot about food and eating in this episode because Mycroft keeps inviting him to his restaurant Diogenes. Holmes keeps standing him up, however, and when Watson reminds him about meeting his brother for dinner, Holmes goes on a rant about taking food too seriously: “You must by now be aware of my opinions regarding food. My wants in life are simple: a loaf of bread and a clean collar. The ritualization-slash-fetishization of eating is as egregious a waste of time as I can think of.” Later, after they finally have had dinner together, Mycroft asks Holmes how it was; Holmes replies that “just because I tend to forgo epicurean pleasures doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them. It was exquisite.”

Here’s Leela hanging out with her little mousies… 

Peace. :)

Elementary, My Dear Vegan: Bran Flakes

Hi everyone! Today’s “Elementary, My Dear Vegan” is from S1E18 (“Déjà Vu All Over Again”). Holmes decides that Watson is ready for her first solo case, but she checks in with him when she begins to suspect that the missing woman she was tasked with finding has actually been murdered by her husband. Holmes takes a pause from eating his bowl of bran flakes to discuss Watson’s suspicions with her and eventually offers to “tag in.” Watson wants to continue working the case on her own, however, so when she declines his help, Holmes simply goes back to eating his cereal (which, like eggs, is something he seems to eat often).

So for a simple Holmes-inspired breakfast this morning, I had some Arrowhead Mills oat bran flakes with unsweetened Silk soy milk… 

Bonus quote from the episode:
Watson: I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong about this, too. Maybe, it’s just a coincidence that he has that jacket with a patch.
Holmes: Have I told you how distracting I find self-doubt?

P.S. Tonight is the series finale of Elementary :o (I’m planning to watch it online tomorrow; my fingers are crossed for a good ending!)

Rogue likes to weigh herself on my kitchen scale… 

Peace. :)