Veggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiie

So, I guess I should bring out my dirty laundry. This is my place to talk about food. So here goes. In Feb, I went Vegetarian. I cheat from time to time, but in general I do not buy, cook or eat meat. I still consume dairy though. I also eat invertebrates (shrimp, crabs, etc) and fish.

It all started with a "diet book" that was really a book about animal cruelty. I love animals. Hence, I couldn't look at meat the same way. The first week was hard. The second week was easier. But then, I started to feel better... a lot better. Then I started to notice how much I was saving on groceries.

It is hard in some ways. I don't want to be judged as a vegetarian. I don't care if other people eat meat. Every once in a while, I crave meat usually bacon or lamb, but mostly it is really no big deal. Basically, I take my favorite recipes and omit the meat.

So, here's what I'm cooking this week:

Monday - Greek Salad and Corn on the Cob

Tuesday - Awesome Burritos
I saute onion. Add garlic. Add one chopped jalapeno. Add a can of diced tomatoes with green chills. Throw a potato in the microwave for 3-4 mins until almost fork tender. Give it a rough chop. Add it in. Add about 2 tsp. whole cumin seed. Remove from heat. Add a handful of chopped cilantro and squeeze a lime over it.

Serve on tortillas with cheese and sour cream.

Wednesday - TJ's Margarita Pizza and Fruit and Goat Cheese Salad

Thursday - Shrimp Risotto with broccoli

Friday- Leftovers

Brown Butter Baby!!

I love all things brown butter. I still have not found anything with brown butter that I will turn my nose up at. So when I saw this: Roasted Banana Cake with Brown Butter Frosting, I was in! I did make a few small changes. Here is the recipe:

Roasted Banana Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium) (I freeze mine when they start to turn. So mine were frozen)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup buttermilk (I used a little less than 1/2 c milk w/ about 3/4 t vinegar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon (My addition. What is a banana cake w/o cinnamon!)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar (I used baker's sugar. It is addictive.)
2 large eggs (Next time I think I'll add another egg white)
Baking spray with flour (I just used Pam.)

Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened (I used 3 oz)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (Didn't use these. Claron hates nuts)


Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine banana, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes, stirring after 17 minutes. (I didn't stir. It looked alright.) Cool slightly.
Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.
Combine 2 1/4 cups flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl. (Uhhh... I just combined in the baking dish. Why dirty another bowl?)
Place 1/2 cup butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix well.
Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with baking spray.
Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (Mine took more like 35 mins) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly.
Combine browned butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth.

Spread frosting over cooled cake.

Sorry. It was all eaten before I could get pictures.