2012

I am ashamed to say it's been nearly a year since I last blogged!

I don't even know where to begin.....

For starters I'll update my personal happenings. I recently got another job at Home Instead Senior Care, working for the elderly, I have been there 5 months now, and it's going very well.

My first client will be 90yrs in July, and I am so excited for her! I want to make it a very special birthday ;) She loves bowling and I was thinking maybe going out with her to bowl, we'll see.
My other client (I only have one hour every tuesday) is going to be 91yrs in April. She uses a walker and isn't very mobile, but I'd love to do something special with her! I was very excited to find out that my aunt (who works for the company, and actually told me about it) worked for this client several months back, when her husband was still living. My spirit leaped for joy when I found out that just before her husband passed away my aunt was able to wittness to him, and he got saved!

I do not believe she is saved, so it is my personal goal to help reach her with the gospel - please pray for me to be a bold wittness!

Hopefully I can be more deticated to updating before next year ;)

TLT

Tempeh, lettuce and tomato is better than a BLT!!!!

Snow and Keys...

Ring in the new month with heavy wet snow!! Lost power this morning for almost 5 hours...glad it wasn't any longer! It was a nice (probably last) snow for April!

Work was great, learning how to take orders and answer phones....well, not so great. Why can't that just come easy for me?! I am so thankful for an absolutely aMaZiNg boss! She has so much patience. I am now an official key holder and opener! Monday I will be opening, and doing the morning routine by myself as much as I can without help. The goal is for me to open by myself eventually, so hopefully I can remember everything!

Today I tried the unsweetened almond milk, and it wasn't bad at all, just a little bit of palate adjusting. Hey, for 20 calories less....I can adjust for some things :p

Break!

Ahhh.....the work weekend is over! I get monday off this week and it's school vacation so the family is home. I am hoping we'll be able to do something fun together.
I can't believe it will be April in just six days! That's just crazy how fast my first month of work is almost over. I have to smarten-up, since I'll no longer have "the new girl" excuse!
Tonight I am going to try a pumpkin ice cream (I have looked up some recipes, but none using tofu/soy milk combo), so I am on my on for this one, which gives me a whole world to explore, I love experimenting! If it's a success I'll have to post it!

Work today went really well, I have been getting used to the register/customers/prices/flavors a little more, and I am sure it will get much easier as I do it more. I fear those customers with all the questions (that I don't know)!

Well.... off to prepare dessert!

P.S. Just realized I didn't comment on the tofu "freezing method". It was pretty good however it really absorbs like a sponge, so I suggest marinating in something MILD. Will have to try it again and see what I come up with, that works.

So you think ice-cream for breakfast can't be healthy?

Ok, so this morning I ended up having oatmeal, w/ a side of ice-cream! No, it's not what you are thinking!

While my oatmeal was cooking this morning, I decided to try a new "one ingredient" ice cream recipe for snack later, can you guess the ingredient? Banana's, yes, that's right!

• Take a bunch of very ripe (mine were black) and stick em' in the freezer until frozen (mine had been in there for a couple months) then peel and place in a food processer and pulse until smooth and creamy (several minutes).


• I prefer to make this with more pizazz then just banana's, so I added vanilla, honey, cocoa and a last pulse with peanuts for some crunch. This turned out just like ice cream!

I was very skeptical at first, how can frozen bannana's taste anything like ice-cream?? I really don't care for banana's all that much either. But to to my surprise it really doesn't taste very banana-ee, it taste's just like ICE CREAM!! It's definitely a keeper. So after much "taste testing", I put it away in the freezer (for later), and finally had my small bowl of oatmeal! Hey, it's actually not a bad breakfast :) Go ahead try it!

Crazy Monday and the weekend

What a crazy day at work on Monday!!!
I started learning the cash register and dealing with customers. I was SO nervous, there was a lot to take in and that made my mind draw "blanks" when it came to the customers purchases. I am glad that is over, and now I just have to worry about the time I start answering phones :( Not soon I hope.

Vegan-living is going well, I made it through the weekend and I am lovin' it! I grilled the tempeh from last Tuesdays shopping -after it was marinaded in a honey-soy combo! It's the next best "find" after the almond milk!
The hardest part is coming up with new meals for one person, on a regular basis, so I usually have leftovers -which is great if it's a hit (like the tempeh), but not so much if it's a flop!

Tonight I am trying a new method of preparing tofu, where you freeze then marinade, and bake it. The freezing changes the texture of the tofu, giving it a rougher, chewier (meatier) texture, as oppose to the soft & smooth. If it comes even close to the tempeh I'll be thrilled. For lunch today, I am going to pan roast the spaghetti squash from last weeks leftovers and maybe roast up some veggies to put on top. Should be tasty!

Just over a week!

It's been just over a week working at the bakery and I am finding it a wonderful opportunity! I haven't been dealing with the customers or answering phones....but I just learned yesterday that I will be as of Monday!! Yikes! As long as I don't get a complicated question or order I should be fine.

I was able to try "firm" tofu yesterday and it was good. I diced it, pan fried it in a little olive oil and light seasonings and added it to my salad, great way to add some protein!

Today I made "tofu-balls" (meatballs) and spaghetti squash with homemade vegetable spagehtti sauce and a slice of wheat garlic toast.....not bad! I think I will just add tofu in the sauce instead of the tofu-balls, since it didn't quite have the flavor expected, and I don't think there's a way to get that flavor. Oh, and lunch was a roasted, summer squash and tomato wrap! That was fantastic!