i always find it interesting to come up with random meals when i'm trying to use up the food i've stored throughout the semester or even year. i had a can of black beans, some hashbrowns, and a little over a half onion left. i also had some soy vay teriakyi sauce leftover and that with liquid smoke was my ultimate recipe. it is so good. i know it looks quite gross in this picture, but i can assure you that i can't wait to get home to eat the rest of it. the BBQ flavor of liquid smoke mixed with the soy sauce and sesame seeds is just divine.
cucumbers have a fresh, spring taste to them, don't you think? i've been having those for lunch b/c of their perfect portability. also i like them for the way they taste sitting on a bench in the sun.
i've moved on from my oats with bananas to toast with bananas and pumpkin butter. i think i have to retract my statement about the oatmeal, banana, syrup being my absolute favorite. the pumpkin butter is from an orchard at home that i used to work for a year before high school and into high school. the place holds such great memories. not only that, but there's something truly delicious about the crunch of toast with the soft banana and pumpkin flavor.

this ugly little picture is a pre-made package of noodles and such. i wasn't feeling well last sunday and this seemed like a perfect little dinner.

i heart salsa

as i have mentioned before, i am trying to use up the items i have lying around. tonight, i opened a jar of salsa. i really liked target's black bean and corn salsa but they discontinued it. this still has corn and black beans in it so i take what i can get. as i was cutting up the carrots for the rice, i dipped one in salsa. how come i have never tried the combo before?? i realize it's nothing quite new or original, but what i didn't realize was how delightfully simple yet scrumptious it is! YES, WIN FOR MEEEEE.i made a serving of instant white rice because i am trying to use that up as well. i microwaved it [soooo lazyy] with cajun seasoning and a few dabs of hickory liquid smoke. i didn't cook the carrots because i hate cooked carrots--just threw them in after.

this is the result: a slightly smokey, spicy, tomato-y, sweet [carrot] goodness. i will definitely use this little concoction to finish off the rest of those items.

a love letter to liquid smoke

i am absolutely amazed at liquid smoke. it is glorious! i am such a fan of the smokey flavor that it provides and it has become an addiction for me. i want to put it in every single thing i make. i feel craZy.

i made baked beans the other night. i contemplated baking them, but ended up just heating them on the stove top. i put a couple pinches [actually too many pinches] of brown sugar and then added the mesquite liquid smoke. oh so delicious!

last night, i made chili. i used WAY too much liquid smoke in that. it was a bit salty. but smokey and spicy which are two perfectly delightful flavors for chili. i made it for some non-vegan friends...hope they liked it....

i couldn't stop eating it regardless of its slightly salty taste.

also, on the menu today was sugar free rockstar [disgusting might i add?]. i thought it would help motivate me to get all the school work i needed to do this week finished. not so much even if i did get some important work out of the way...

regardless, liquid smoke...i need to stay away from youuuuuuu b/c you make everything much too delightful.

yay time to bake!

although i am not supportive of the university's requirement for professors to take furlough days, i am happy to have some time to bake.

it proved extremely difficult because of the lack of use in my right wrist, but i think baking is really great exercise for it. i need it to bend in ways it isn't used to anymore and what better way than kneading bread/crust/etc!

i made two different pizza crusts. although, my intention is to make breadsticks for dipping in spaghetti sauce. i opened the liquid smoke for one batch--i wanted to bake it RIGHT away because it smelled so delicious, but i'd already decided to make the sweet cinnamon/sugar combo first.

i made both 'pizza crusts' with the following: onion powder, garlic powder, southwest seasoning, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil.

the bread loaf, i threw a bunch of ingredients together including: vanilla, flour, sugar, maple syrup, coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. i broke the dough into two portions. i laid the first one in the bread pan and then spread coconut milk on top. then i sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top. next, i put the other portion on and repeated the cinnamon/nutmeg/coconut milk mixture.

it smelled so yummy and tasted soooo yummy. however, i am so full and think that i probably used WAY too much sugar in it...

ooops!