This week's menu

It's tradition in the new year to cook something with black-eyed peas as a symbol of good luck, and greens as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.  A recipe that many people make is Hoppin' John, a flavorful southern dish made with black-eyed peas, onion, carrot, green pepper, and seasonings such as thyme and bay leaf.  It can be eaten cold as a salad or warm right off the stove top.

This southern specialty has its roots in African cuisine, and this particular dish is descended from a Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew from Senegal.  It's incredibly easy to make, and despite the minimal ingredients, it's also surprisingly flavorful.  You can cook it in a pot on the stove, or simply start it in the morning in your slow cooker and have it ready for the end of the day.  It's the perfect way to welcome a happy and prosperous new year!

Pan-fried Tempeh with Cremini Mushroom Gravy, Wild Rice Pilaf, and Brussels Sprouts

Senegal Sweet Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Stew with Sauteed Kale

Baked Tofu with Dijon Glaze, Mashed Potatoes, and Stringbeans Amandine

2nd Annual New Year's Brunch

Want to kick off the year in grand style?  Have a vegan brunch!!  After a night of partying (or just dreaming away the past year), the trick to recovery is to sleep late, lay back, relax, and enjoy grazing on fabulous vegan fare the next day.  Or all weekend.

This was the second New Year's Brunch for Well on Wheels and I learned from my past experience that it was going to be a potluck.  This chef needs a little break after the holidays, too!  So, I offered up three of my favorite brunchy items:  Southwestern Tofu Scramble with salsa and guacamole, Apple Walnut Pancakes with real maple syrup, and Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cranberry Pecan Streusel.

Southwestern Tofu Scramble

Guacamole

Guests contributed some equally delectable treats to the buffet table:  Blueberry Scones, Banana Muffins, Die-and-Go-to-Heaven Tofu Quiche, Peach and Berry Cobbler, Fruit Salad, Cole Slaw, Italian Stew, Spiced Rice with Raisins, Salad, and fresh salsa.  The colors and flavors brightened the room on this cloudy winter day.

Luscious Fruit Salad

A Mix of Muffins

Die-and-Go-to-Heaven Tofu Quiche

Blueberry Scones

Cole Slaw

Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating the start of the new year (and new decade).  I think it's gonna be a good one!

Vegan Resolution 2010

It's the New Year, and as we all know, the time for resolutions. In a recent guest column for the Milford-Orange Bulletin, University of New Haven philosophy professor, Dr. Joel Marks, celebrated his one-year anniversary as a vegan. He writes about his conscious decision to make his actions reflect his beliefs, his successful transition to veganism, and the many unexpected benefits (the food really does taste good!).

I myself decided to take the plunge a year ago. It was my new year’s resolution. I did not exactly go cold turkey, so to speak, because I had abstained from eating mammals for decades. But my original motivation had been health and humanitarian. I had read about the cholesterol advantages of avoiding meat, and also about the inefficient production of protein by feeding grains to animals in a world where millions of people were starving.

Only much more recently did I learn about factory farming, and also that by far the most numerous abused creatures on this planet are poultry and fish. There was nothing for it, then, but to give up eating all animals as well as dairy and eggs.

If you're determined to fulfill a Vegan Resolution in 2010 -- for your own health, for the sake of the animals or because you care about the planet -- let me offer a few tips for staying on track. Remember, be specific. Every journey begins with that first step.

1. Set specific goals. Decide if you want to go "cold turkey" or take it slow and steady. Do what will work best for you.

2. Make a specific plan. Maybe you might want to give "Meatless Mondays" a try. Then gradually add one more day each week. Or maybe you could start with that favorite food that is impossible to give up (like cheese, for example - always a tough one!).

3. Follow up on a daily basis. Check in with yourself to see how you're doing and how you're feeling. Those who keep food diaries have the most success when changing their eating habits.

4. Be mindful of what you eat. The simple act of thinking about food and where it comes from has a tremendous impact on what goes into your mouth. When you find yourself saying "do I really want to eat that?" you will have come a long way.

5. Do some research. Vegan cookbooks and websites are plentiful. You could spend a lifetime reading them. Fortunately, most of the work has been done for you. [Check out my "Great Reads" in the Sidebar. One of the best for jumpstarting a vegan journey is Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin].

6. Discover new restaurants. Make dining out a pleasure by experimenting with new ethnic cuisine (Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese, and Indian have many delicious options) or go to your favorite places and ask the chef if he/she can create a vegan dish for you. There are many vegetarian restaurants in the New Haven area and New York City and Boston are vegan meccas. Explore!

7. Experiment at home. Try one new recipe a week from those fabulous vegan cookbooks you found. Go to vegan potluck dinners. Share your favorites with friends and family. They'll love you for it (especially if you bring desserts!)

8. Find a buddy. It always helps to know someone who is struggling at the same time so you can help each other out. Talk to someone who has been there before (I've been through it all, just ask). Or look online for vegan meetups in your neighborhood and make some new friends.

9. Enjoy your food. Really. It's new. It's different. And you don't have to feel deprived. You will soon discover an amazing array of options you never dreamed existed. Now, who could possibly be upset about eating these Sweet Nothings?

10. Be kind to yourself. Your choice to adopt a vegan diet is a big decision and will require dedication. Don't worry if you "fall off the wagon" or "cheat." It's not a guilt trip. It's not about perfection. Every little thing you can do to minimize the suffering of animals, improve your health and respect the environment has a positive impact on all those around you. The effect multiplies. And you'll feel pretty good in the process.

Vegan Resolution

It's the New Year, and as we all know, the time for resolutions. In a recent post, Katie Molinaro of the Huffington Post writes about her resolution to go vegetarian. Like many who make the shift, she admits it can be tough at first. But then once the ball is rolling... it just gets easier.

I had a couple of false starts when I became a vegetarian. The morning after I decided to try vegetarianism, I ate bacon for breakfast. A few days after getting back on my vegetarian plan, I ate chicken ramen. But I had promised myself I was going to stop eating meat, and I stuck with it until I went one week without meat, which turned into two weeks, then a month and then years. I had a couple of false starts when I became a vegetarian. The morning after I decided to try vegetarianism, I ate bacon for breakfast. A few days after getting back on my vegetarian plan, I ate chicken ramen. But I had promised myself I was going to stop eating meat, and I stuck with it until I went one week without meat, which turned into two weeks, then a month and then year.

If you're determined to fulfill a Vegan Resolution in 2009 -- for your own health, for the sake of the animals or because you care about the planet -- let me offer a few tips for staying on track. Remember, be specific. Every journey begins with that first step.

1. Set specific goals. Decide if you want to go "cold turkey" (so to speak) or take it slow. Do what will work best for you.

2. Make a specific plan. Maybe you might want to give "Meatless Mondays" a try. Then gradually add one more day each week. Or maybe you could start with that favorite food that is impossible to give up (like cheese, for example - always a tough one!).

3. Follow up on a daily basis. Check in with yourself to see how you're doing and how you're feeling. Those who keep food diaries have the most success when changing their eating habits.

4. Be mindful of what you eat. The simple act of thinking about food has a tremendous impact on what goes into your mouth. When you find yourself saying "do I really want to eat that?" you will have come a long way.

5. Do some research. Vegan cookbooks and websites are plentiful. You could spend a lifetime reading them. Fortunately, most of the work has been done for you. [Check out my "Great Reads" in the Sidebar. One of the best for jumpstarting a vegan journey is Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin].

6. Discover new restaurants. Make dining out a pleasure by experimenting with new ethnic cuisine (Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese and Indian have many delicious options) or go to your favorite places and ask the chef if he/she can create a vegan dish for you. There are many vegetarian restaurants in the New Haven area and NYC is a vegan mecca (and just a MetroNorth hop away). Explore!

7. Experiment at home. Try one new recipe a week from those fabulous vegan cookbooks you found. Go to vegan potluck dinners. Share your favorites with friends and family. They'll love you for it (especially if you bring desserts!)

8. Find a buddy. It always helps to know someone who is struggling at the same time so you can help each other out. Or, talk to someone who has been there before (I've been through it all, just ask).

9. Enjoy your food. Really. It's new. It's different. And you don't have to feel deprived. You will soon discover an amazing array of options you never dreamed existed. Now, who could possibly be upset about eating these Sweet Nothings?

10. Be kind to yourself. Your choice to adopt a vegan diet is a big decision and will require dedication. Don't worry if you "fall off the wagon" or "cheat." It's not a guilt trip. It's not about perfection. Every little thing you can do to minimize the suffering of animals, improve your health and respect the environment has a positive impact on all those around you. The effect multiplies. And you'll feel pretty good in the process.