It's time for another post on What Vegans Eat.
People often assume that being vegan is time consuming or expensive. So once a month I share my ordinary, everyday meals from one day to show that it can be as easy as grabbing what you have on hand from a well stocked pantry or refrigerator.
Breakfast:
For breakfast I made a chickpea flour pancake from the cookbook, Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen. Richa also posted the recipe on her blog.
I love these savory and filling chickpea flour-based pancakes, which are also called pudla. They are gluten-free, packed with protein, and have a nice light crispness to them. They are spiced with turmeric, cayenne, and cumin.
Also from Richa's cookbook, I made a triple batch of mint cilantro chutney to go with the pudla. Whatever I don't finish, I'll freeze for later use. (The chutney is also terrific with pakora, samosas, or as a cooling dollop on a spicy curry.)
Snack:
Sometime around 11:30 I was feeling a little peckish, and so I grabbed a snack.
One of my favorite simple snacks is a handful of peanuts & a banana eaten simultaneously – a pinch of peanuts and a bite of banana. I could spread peanut butter on the banana instead, but I really like the crunch factor this way.
Lunch:
For lunch, I roasted some asparagus, made a batch of hummus, and a salad with strawberries, carrots, cucumber, and pistachios.
When the asparagus was almost done, I threw some pita triangles onto the baking sheet to toast. I used them for dipping into the sumac-topped hummus.
As happy as I am that asparagus season is finally upon us, no one is happier than Jezebel. In the past, she's been known to snag asparagus straight out of my shopping bag before I could put it in the refrigerator.
Once the asparagus is roasting, she waits by the oven, so close that it's hard to open it. If I’m grilling asparagus, she stands with her face pressed against the patio door.
Don't worry, Jezebel. I’m not going to forget about you.
Here's Jezebel waiting anxiously for her roasted asparagus…
And here's Avon when he realizes that the "treat" they'd been waiting on was asparagus of all things…
You can see the palpable mixture of confusion and disgust on his little kitty face as Jezebel happily gobbles down the asparagus in the background.
Dinner:
For dinner, I pulled out one of the Vicolo cornmeal crusts that I always keep in the freezer for an impromptu pizza.
I roasted a ridiculous amount of garlic cloves, sautéed kale and onions, and browned thinly sliced potatoes in a skillet. Then I layered all of those things on the crust along with some jarred pasta sauce and chopped Castelvetrano olives.
David and I split this pizza, and it was the perfect amount for two.
For more everyday vegan meals, check out these posts from the "What Vegans Eat" series: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and May.
Kelly W
I love that you add photo’s of your cats in what you eat in a day, ( even when no food is involved for them and they are just lounging). But Avon’s face! Priceless! Our cat Clancy who has long ago passed away loved corn on the cob and would beg for it, we’d hold a cob of corn out for him and let him nibble the corn kernels off, then whisk the cone away as it isn’t good for cats to eat. Most of our cats through the years have liked peas and or corn, but our last cat, Duffy gives me that exact look like Avon when I set some down for him “what….I thought you were giving me something good”?
Cadry
That is so cute, Kelly! What a funny memory about Duffy’s disapproving looks over peas or corn. I’ve never tried giving those to any of our cats. I’ll remember that the next time I’m cooking with either of those ingredients. This post is from a couple of years ago. I so wish that I was giving Jezebel asparagus this year, but sadly, she passed away at the beginning of March. I’m glad to have so many photos and memories to remind me of our life together.
Cadry
Oh, I just realized which Kelly this is! I’m sorry it didn’t register with me before I responded. Thank you for your message!
Nikki
A cat that loves asparagus?! Hilarious! My dog goes crazy for crunchy vegetables. Bell peppers are his favorite.
Cadry
That’s funny, Nikki! I’ve never heard of a dog who goes crazy for bell peppers. I love the little quirks that animals have.
Little Vegan Bear
Jezebel! Asparagus! How funny! 😀
Cadry
Thanks! The kitties never fail to amuse me. 🙂
Caitlin
your meals are the best. yes to the peanuts and banana- if not whole peanuts, then definitely crunchy peanut butter 😉
Cadry
Thanks, Caitlin! 😀
Susan
Avon’s face… priceless!
Sahara loves broccoli, she always comes running when she smells it and will steal it right off your plate! Sadly, because she has a pretty nasty case of IBD, broccoli is generally off the menu for her because I have to be super strict for her diet. As a result I don’t eat it nearly as much as I used to, because I feel bad for her not being able to have it.
Cadry
Yes, Avon wasn’t hiding his disgust and disapproval. 🙂
Aw, poor Sahara! I don’t blame you for refraining from making broccoli. I would hold back on eating asparagus too if Jezebel had IBD issues. Jezebel also likes mushrooms, and so I take some out of the pan before adding garlic or wine. Occasionally I’ve forgotten and she hasn’t been able to have any mushrooms. It’s a bummer when she misses out. I like giving her treats.
Amey
OMG this post. First of all, your pics are getting fancier and fancier. I’m so impressed. Plus your “impromptu” pizza looks totally magical. Damn that looks good. I love Avon’s look of dismay about the asparagus. Ha ha. Poor guy. Such a let down. xo
Cadry
Thanks, Amey! That’s so nice to hear. I’m always trying to improve my food photography. I’m glad to hear it’s working!
Yes, we weren’t sure what we’d have for dinner, but I didn’t want to go to the grocery store again. Lo and behold, there was plenty of good stuff for a pizza!
Ha! Avon really wasn’t hiding his disapproval. His look seems to say, “You’re joking, right?”
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition
Great eats!
Your kitties are so cute. I don’t think I’ve seen cats eat veggies before. My pups like broccoli and sweet potatoes. 🙂
Cadry
Aw, that’s cute, Mary Ellen. Jezebel is also a fan of potatoes, but nothing makes her as obsessed as asparagus, much to Avon’s dismay.
Richa {VeganRicha.com}
lol the expression on his face!! I hear you avon about the roasted asparagus 🙂
Cadry
Ha! He was not at all hiding his disapproval. I’ll let Avon know that he’s in good company. 😉