Cream of Wheat Berries with Cranberries and Cardamom

I had every intention to put this together last night to have for breakfast this morning but I was so tired and crashed on the sofa until the partly sunny sky came through my window.
So, this morning, I decided to have breakfast for dinner.  It was so good the wheat berries was so yummy with the cranberries and maple syrup. You can add a splash of milk if you want, add brown sugar!

I used the smaller slow cooker (4 qt).  It serves 4 or even more if you like having a big breakfast with pancakes, toast, etc.

1/2 cup wheat berries
1/4 cup cracked wheat *I had to use bulgar because I could not find the cracked wheat*
1/2 cup rolled old-fashioned oats
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cardamom *you can use cinnamon or allspice if you like*
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

in a 3 1/2 - 4 qt slow cooker, combine the wheat berries, cracked wheat, oats and water.
stir in the salt and cardamom.
cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours *after 5 1/2 hours it was ready so you might want to have a timer installed or keep an eye on it*
stir in the cranberries just before serving.

From the Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Enjoy!

How to Build a Better Vegetarian Lunch/Dinner

Breakfast is easy.  Cereal with nut milk (soy, almond, coconut) or rice milk.  Oatmeal with fruit, brown sugar or maple syrup.  Toast with peanut butter and jam.  Easy Peasy.
The problem, people ask me about is lunch and dinner.  Sure a salad is great but it doesn't really fill you up when you have kids to run after or when you are running around to the different business meetings or when you are working retail on the sales floor for hours and hours or running around to get to appointments, classes or auditions.
This is an easy guide you can print out and have in your wallet or refrigerator door.

1. choose something from each category
2. be mindful of portions
3. include as many colors as possible

Protein                                                                Whole grains
nut butter                                                               whole grain sandwich bread
vegan cheese                                                         whole grain pita bread or chips
beans                                                                     whole-grain tortilla
edamame                                                               whole grain English muffin
hummus                                                                 whole grain chips or crackers
tofu seitan                                                              whole grain pasta or couscous
tempeh                                                                   brown rice, quinoa or millet
nuts                                                                        whole grain muffin
sunflower seeds                                                     granola
                                                                              corn

Healthy Fats                                                        Vegetables
almonds or almond butter                                      Fruits
walnuts                                                                
avocado                                                                 Calcium
flax oil                                                                   non-dairy yogurt
flax seed                                                                vegan cheese
olives                                                                     tofu
extra virgin olive oil                                              dark leafy greens
                                                                              almonds or almond butter
                                                                              beans
                                                                              hummus
                                                                              nut or rice milk
                                                                              100% fortified orange juice

The list might look a bit scary but you should notice that there are repeat "offenders" like beans and avocado.
For example my lunch today is black beans (protein, calcium), 1 slice of flax seed whole wheat bread (whole grains, healthy fats), orange bell pepper, onions (vegetables), tomatoes (fruit), extra virgin olive oil (healthy fats) aka black bean chili with a side of bread.
No big whoop ;-)

I made a huge pot of the chili so I will be having this with cornbread for dinner.
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                         
                                                                           
                                                                             
                                                                             

I am often asked what do vegetarians or vegans eat.  
Being a vegetarian was easy for me but I have been trying to go vegan but I am addicted to cheese.  
You know the stuff for grilled cheese, quesadillas, macaroni and cheese, etc.  
Cheese is always in the house.  
Keeping vegan cheese at home is easy but when I run out of cheddar cheese for some peanut butter grilled cheese, I have to have the dairy kind.  
I was talking to a friend about it and she suggested I blog about it.  My struggle with staying away from dairy cheese and what I eat (what about protein?).  
For example, for breakfast I had tofu scramble with sauteed red peppers, with daiya cheese, green onions, and spinach.  Lunch was oatmeal w/pumpkin spice syrup.  For dinner we're having black bean chili.  
This weekend will be challenging since both of my daughters are filming.  I stay with the tween while the husband stays with the teen.  
Lots of peanut butter sandwiches for me to make tonight!

Barley, Kamut, and Oats....Oh My!

I'm giving my slow cooker a break from making us dinners and making it work overnight for breakfast.
I've made only oatmeal in it.  Sometimes fruit and agave or brown sugar and maple syrup.
Trying new things is my goal for 2012 and hoping to open the door to other tastes for the family to enjoy.
This recipe is from the Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker using ingredients I've never used.  Looking for them in the store was a challenge.  Most were found in our local Ralph's Supermarket.
I had it this morning and it took 3 spoonfuls to "get it".
The 1st spoonful was interesting.  I've never had this before so it was a little meh.
The 2nd spoonful left me thinking it can be a little bit better.  So I added a bit more maple syrup.
The 3rd spoonful and I was HOOKED.
You can adjust it to how sweet you like your morning hot cereal.
I used my small 4 qt. slow cooker which was THE PERFECT SIZE.
Having 2 slow cookers (4 & 6 qt) had me thinking....
Why am I not using one for breakfast and the other for dinner?

Barley and Kamut Breakfast Pilaf

1/3 cup kamut, soaked in water 6-8 hours
1/2 cup pearl barley
2 tbsps cornmeal
1/2 cup chopped mixed dried fruit (I used a 1/2 cup of a bag marked "mixed dried fruit" you can probably just purchase whatever dried fruit that tickles your fancy)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups water
1 tsp vanilla extract
maple syrup for serving (when I say maple syrup, I don't mean Aunt Jemima.  Buy the good grade A quality.  It is so much better for you and the taste is out of this world)

in the slow cooker, combine the kamut, barley, oats, and cornmeal.
stir in the dried fruit, cinnamon, and salt.
stir in the water and vanilla.
cover and cook 6-8 hours on low.
stir then spoon into bowls and drizzle, to taste, with maple syrup.

*Side note: The prices to the unusual ingredients were a bit more than what I would have wanted but you don't use much of it so it will last a long time.  So looking at the price and dividing it per serving size and it was a lot more settling.

Enjoy!

The Deliciousness that is Double Chocolate Cinnamon Bread

Yesterday I was inspired after cleaning my pantry and seeing all the flour I had there. 
My daughters and I are BIG fans of the cacao bean.  Everything from hot cocoa to the ever loving s'mores, we are all over it!


This recipe I tweaked to fit my dietary needs.  
The original recipe is from the Better Homes and Gardens More Bread Machine Bounty.
This makes 1 lb of Double Chocolate Bread...
2/3 cup unsweetened soy milk 
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer plus 2 tbsp water (mix well before adding)
1 tbsp Earth Balance Coconut Spread
2 cups bread flour
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsps brown sugar
1 tbsp Hershey's Cocoa Special Dark powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup 365 Dark Chocolate Mini Chunks


Add ingredients to the bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.  My machine is about 10 years old and I don't know if the new machines (or older machines) are different.  Mine is wet ingredients then dry ingredients.
The 1 lb loaf serves 16.  
LOL Yeah ok...