Mushroom & Garlic Ravioli

Anyone who knows me is aware of my faithful and undying love for Stephen Colbert.  I was there during his years as a Daily Show correspondent and eagerly watched the first episode of The Colbert Report. I repeatedly creeped out my friends by informing them that he looks just like my father.  My loyalty is infallible!

That is, it was infallible until PETA's outraged response to Vice President Joe Biden serving hot dogs to U.S. troops on an episode of The Report.  They encouraged choosing the "lifesaving benefits of delicious vegan food" and  Mr. Colbert had the audacity to say that food cannot be "vegan" and "delicious" at the same time. I WAS OUTRAGED!

Actually, I laughed, because it was funny.  Still, it often surprises me that so many people have yet to experience the culinary delights of the vegan world.  

This stuff will cause your muffin top to spill over your jeans just as easily as an Egg McMuffin®.  I promise.  I was thinking about this today while enjoying another sugar overload from Flying Apron Bakery over in Fremont [see above...]

My adventures aren't limited to the occasional stop at a local Seattle restaurant, either; I'm feeling even spunkier in the kitchen!  On Monday, after a stressful interview, I decided to throw my energy into something I've never done before.  The results were fantastic.  Enjoy! :)

Mushroom, Spinach, & Garlic Ravioli

Before Monday night, I was a ravioli virgin. That's right.  I had never cooked dough in hot water before.  It was delicious.  It's pretty easy, too, although it can take awhile so I wouldn't recommend it after a particularly long day.

Pasta:
1.5 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon Ener-G Egg Replacer + 2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce

5 tablespoons water

Filling: 

2 tablespoons olive oil 

2-3 garlic cloves (depending on how garlicky you like it)

1.5 cups of your favorite mushrooms, chopped

1 bunch of spinach, chopped fine

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon oregano

2 tablespoons chopped kalamata olives

1/4 c. unsweetened marinara

salt, to taste 

To serve: 

Marinara, either homemade or from a jar (but make it organic and local if you can!)

Begin with the pasta dough. Mix the flour and salt together, then set aside.  In a separate bowl, combine egg replacer & applesauce.  Add to the flour mixture until all the liquid is incorporated.  Then, one tablespoon at a time, add the five tablespoons of water.  Sprinkle some flour on clean counter space and knead the dough for ten minutes.  [Think of the big muscles you'll have afterward!]  After ten minutes, wrap the ball of dough in cellophane and refrigerate for thirty minutes. 

Now, it's time to tackle the filling.  Heat the olive oil in a medium pan and then add the garlic.  Let it sizzle for a minute or so, then add the mushrooms.  Cook for two or three minutes, until the mushrooms start to soften, and add the spinach.  Add the oregano, basil, kalamata olives, marinara, and sea salt.  Turn the heat on low and let the ingredients get to know each other!  Just don't, you know, let them burn.  

At this point, it would be wise to set a big pot of water on the stove to boil.  It can take awhile!

When the dough is done sitting for a half hour, bring it back out to the counter.  You might want to add a little more flour, depending on how sticky things are.  Roll out the dough until it's about 1/2 inch thick.  Grab a little glass or a round cookie cutter and cut out pieces of the dough. 

To fill your ravioli: take a tablespoon or so of the filling and place it below the bottom half of the circle of dough.  Then, fold the entire circle in half, bringing the bottom half of the dough up to the top.  Use your fingers to press the edges together.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat. Drop 4-5 ravioli at a time into boiling water.  You'll know they're done when they float to the top (cool, huh?!). 

Serve them on a plate or in a bowl with marinara and a side of roasted vegetables.

Kamut-Stuffed Bell Peppers with Medjool Dates

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are getting brighter, and my patience in this job market is just about spent.  I think the words “Everything will work out!” have passed my lips a thousand times in the past week, getting shakier with each repetition.  I’m taking a break from doubt; this is supposed to be the best time of year!  We came off the high of summer, ready to breathe newfound inspiration into goals that were shoved to the back shelf to collect dust.  It’s time to take our predicaments out to the dance floor to show ‘em our stuff.

One of the hardest things to do when you’re stressed is maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.  Let’s be honest: the last thing you want to do when you’re worried about the roof over your head is go for a damn jog or scribble out a veggie-packed meal plan that will protect both your arteries and your pocket book.  Before you resort to the dollar menu at McDonalds (or break down and order a vegan pizza with breadsticks at a local pizzeria…*ahem*), take a deep breath and let natural foods come to your rescue.  After all, they can be both cheap and healthy.  And, if you sort of know what you’re doing, they’re quite yummy too!

So, with this in mind, I decided last night to revive a dreary day with a simple dinner that packs some big flavor.  This recipe is a favorite of ours because of the delightful combination of dates and a grain called Kamut.  Kamut is not a commonly-known grain, and I think that’s unfortunate because it really kicks ass.  It’s extremely hearty, flavorful, and will keep you full for awhile!  Plus, doesn't it just look yummy?!

Give it a try!

Kamut-Stuffed Bell Peppers with Medjool Dates

My first experience with Kamut was in this easy, cheap recipe.  The only thing to mention is that Kamut takes a little longer to cook (soaking helps speed this up) so I recommend cooking it the night before if you're looking for "fast food" on a busy weekday evening.  It’s up to you!

4 medium sized bell peppers
2-2 ½ cups cooked Kamut 
4 dried Medjool dates, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Sea salt, to taste
Dried basil 

Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Cut off the top of each bell pepper and scoop out the seeds.  Arrange them in a large casserole dish or on a couple of cookie sheets.  I used a Pyrex pie plate and a small glass casserole dish.

Combine the Kamut, dates, olive oil, a good splash of balsamic vinegar, and sea salt in a medium-sized bowl.  Measure out ½-¾ c. of the mixture into each bell pepper.  Sprinkle a little basil on top.  (I’m not sure why this sounded so good to me; if it seems like an odd spice to use for this dish, experiment with something else!)

Roast peppers at 375 F for about 30 minutes, or until they start to blacken a tiny bit.  Serve alongside some stir-fried broccoli and garlic, roasted asparagus, salad, or whatever else sounds good!

See? Easy peasy.

Serves 4.

Electrified

Sometimes, I can't help but sit back and be amazed that we are able to survive our culture.  Have you ever stepped back to realize how many cues are in our environment?  I've read articles insisting that we are being brainwashed.  I've also read articles reassuring us that it's not really that bad.  Still, we're convinced that fashions change with the season, so we must update our wardrobes.  We are assured that, in moderation, eating pre-packaged goods with mile-long ingredient lists is okay.  After all, it's unrealistic to expect Average Jane to go to so much effort (and money) to ensure that she is eating naturally in this day and age.  We hand our lives over to the experts, ignoring the age-old advice given by many a concerned parent: "look both ways before you cross the road."  Are you looking both ways before you make a decision that could have a significant impact on the planet and on your health?

Yes, I'm in that place this morning.  I had a slip up with the processed fare again, and I still find myself repeating  "Holy SHIT!" when I realize how profoundly I am affected by it.  Anything that happens to be made by someone else for commercial purposes seems to poison my soul.  It sounds dramatic, and it is.  I feel the walls closing in, and I am transformed into a purely reactive being.  I've gone through this hundreds of times, but it's as though the realization is brand new.  I am bombarded with guilt and a feeling of helplessness.  A feeling that I am incapable of controlling my behavior.  Ever been there?  It really blows.

So, why are some of us stuck in this response set, yanking the same lever even though we aren't rewarded?  Hell, we're given a shock when we pull that lever.  But the shock is going into the nucleus accumbens.  We are addicted.  My brain is wired from the jolt of dopamine caused by the extreme stimuli.   We also become addicted to the social acceptance of consumerism, whether it's eating at restaurants or indulging in retail therapy.  It's hard to think when you're getting off on that pecan cinnamon roll, isn't it?  I certainly think so.

The fact that the American lifestyle favors obesity and disease is not news.  Yet, we are taught to cure consumerism-gone-wild with...drum roll...more consumerism.  This time, it's gym memberships and pills and consultations with "experts."  Books, magazines, and videos.  I have seen obese and overweight people treated like the scum of the earth.  They are seen as incomplete, incapable objects that have no ability to control themselves.  I was treated that way when I was overweight.  Imagine the progress we could make if we offered more education about self-care.  Imagine what would happen if we taught everyone how to cope with stress and negative emotion in a healthy way.  A way that excludes food and drink.  

I have been a slave to diets for a decade, all based on the assumption that I am less of a person and cannot possibly make informed decisions about how to take care of myself. I know the wisdom of listening to the Earth Mother because I've experienced the freedom in it.  However, getting there is incredibly difficult.  You have to bypass society, addiction, and your own personal hang-ups.  I've heard fierce criticism about my vegan lifestyle, and even more criticism about weeding out all the packaged stuff.  The criticism starts to feel like fear, but the seed of doubt germinates and I'm back to spending hours "getting high on information." I'm tossed between contradictory advice from dozens of registered dieticians, forgetting that the number one priority isn't my well-being.  

And that, my friends, really sucks.

A Grain of Rice for Your Thoughts?

No recipe to share today!  Just some thoughts.  The sun is out, the sky is clear, and we just got back from exploring thrift stores in the U-District--"getting our educations on the Ave," to quote Blue Scholars.  We didn't spend a penny other than on parking, and I'm feeling pretty damn good.  I'm also pretty sure I need to add a 70's style disco dress to my wardrobe. 

I’ve begun an activist kick over here.  Something about the people, the vibe, the energy—the chi of this place has been enough to germinate the seed of compassion and humility.  After several years of developing a rather jaded, cynical view of humanity, I’m actually kind of surprised.  I have a newfound interest in volunteering in the community garden to help produce organic veggies for the food bank.  I’m volunteering at a non-profit café that hosts a number of great live shows, which directly supports local music and ethically produced coffee beans.  Did I mention I live a stone’s throw away from an animal shelter?  The Universe plopped me down in a great spot!

We’ve been spending the past few days in the throes of great conversation.  One of my best friends (Eliza, the Cross Country Vegan) is in town and the evenings are full of philosophy and discussions about sustainability and getting back to nature.  Simplicity.  It’s a revolution.  Sure, we had these talks over decadent meals from Sage Café, but at least we’re thinking about this stuff, right?  And the food was all vegan and local.  Baby steps.

Mother Earth is opening her arms to me and I’m being pulled closer and closer into her embrace.  Lately, I’ve been forced to step back and acknowledge the entitlement and wastefulness of my own behavior.  The attitude that because something is easily obtainable and quite appetitive, we have the right to possess it.  To consume it.  It’s the newly-grown child in each of us saying, “Hey, I don’t need to ask permission for this anymore.  It’s here, and I have the money, so I can have as much as I want!” 

I am broke right now, but superbly wealthy compared to the majority of humans competing for resources on this planet.  I can have the occasional tempeh Reuben, chocolate chip cookie sandwich, down some coffee, or a Jamaican Jerk burger topped with plantains and served with a side of macaroni and cheese.  But am I truly making a difference?  There are many people in this world that can’t even gain access to the resources they need; it’s not just a matter of not having money.  I, however, have access to as much water and local grains and vegetables that I could dream of.  Eating locally and naturally is sustainable, healthy, kind, and I have to ask myself… 

Why am I not doing this instead?

Until next time...