Veggie Feijoada

Had an am class with Cardio Lady. Great energizing class. Ended up doing my version of a veggie feijoada. Seasoned the pot with EVOO, garlic, red onions and tricolor peppers. Cooked the beans with cracked black pepper, salt, some chipotle chili powder, and some "west African" pepper that's maybe a tad more intense than cayenne. Used seitan instead of pork and chipotle-flavored field sausages instead of meat sausages. Pretended the quinoa was farofa.

The heat of the west african pepper ran under the smokiness of the chipotle, the beans and quinoa gave it a solid middle, and the garlic, peppers and onions were like the tinkling high notes. Maybe that's why I'm dancing around the house like a fool.

It was kinda good, though....

Again, I'm noticing that I use the kitchen more and so have to clean it more. And while the food costs a bit more initially, I only used half the beans I bought, and I have at least enough feijoada to last all week. As a matter of fact, I put it into two large containers, one of which I'll think about freezing tomorrow. Not sure how seitan and veggie sausages will hold up to being frozen and reheated.

Wonder why I never knew about almond milk before? My Bishop and his wife were discussing it when we were somewhere -- she was talking about soy milk and he was talking about almond milk. Almond milk is amazing! Silk makes one which I haven't yet tried, but Blue Diamond (the almond people) make an unsweetened almond coconut milk that is to die for! It is simply divine!

So I still gotta sauté my collard greens, but the feijoada had me so full I forgot about them. But either tomorrow or Monday I'll sauté my greens and make a salad for a coupla days.

Attempting to eat clean and vegan is an adventure, but is SO worth it to me. I started out talking about Cardio Lady. I used to think her classes were too much -- too much extra activity, too loud, too hard -- and at 8 am on a Saturday morning, DEFINITELY too early. She subbed for our regular 9 am teacher today. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy her class, but I'm thinking it might be worth getting up early for, and making Saturday a double water day. If I do that and do Bosu Ball before Kettle bells on Friday, that will make seven classes in five days.

Can't even believe I'm saying that. Lord help me if I start to take the creatine....

it's been a great day, though. Very productive.

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