Never Shop When You're Hungry (Score!)

I wasn’t really hungry, just food deprived. Monday I had to take my car back to my mechanic, who for the first time in 10 years didn’t service my car properly. He apologized profusely, said he would fix it right away, free of charge of course, but he would need about an hour. While waiting, I could walk to The Room Store, Fry’s Electronics, the Dollar Store, or the brand new Half Price Books. I had been to this particular bookstore once before when it first opened and only found 2 veg cookbooks, but I decided it was the best way to kill an hour so off I went. Oh, my, I hit the jackpot! I narrowed my choices to THIRTEEN cookbooks (one not shown for my sister) and 2 yoga books. One book, Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian, cost $20, but I got all these books for $120 – each between $4 and $8. (I also got a free tote bag for spending over $30!) I figure with the free car service and all the food I can’t buy at the moment, I came out about even.




I’ve read almost all the books. My favorite by far is Peanut Butter Planet, because I am crazy for peanut butter and peanuts. So is Chase. I’ve decided I must go to Costco and get a gallon of peanut butter to try all the yummy looking recipes.

Half Price Books originated in Dallas about 30 years ago, I think. There are several locations here in Austin, and Emmy recently found one in Chicago. I’ve got a box of meat books I’m going to take over and see if they’ll buy from me.

I haven’t cooked anything from the new books, of course, but here’s the mush I’ve made.

Kale Soup – by far the best thing I’ve been eating. Bazu posted about VeganYumYum’s recipe for this soup. I added a half cup more lentils to mine for a heartier version, since it would be a meal for me. It is incredibly delicious. Sometimes if I need a snack, I just go eat a couple of spoonfuls. I will never get tired of eating this soup!

Baby Food Chili – just mashed up some leftover chili beans.

Pasta Sauce over Shredded Zucchini.

Cauliflower Puree I morphed into Arugula Soup. I miss my salads so much, so this really hit the spot.

Mashed Black Beans and Rice with (a not so good) Avocado.

Red Lentils.

and two treats -

an Oatmeal Smoothie made with a frozen banana, ½ cup chocolate soy milk (I found chocolate milk in my fridge – thanks, Mom!), a dash of vanilla, 1 t. agave, and ¼ cup raw oats. I got my chocolate fix and the oats made it very filling.

and Peanut Butter Oatmeal – prepared oatmeal with a teaspoon of creamy pb, a dash of cinnamon, and a little agave. I got my pb fix, and again very filling.


What boring pics. I promise not to post any more mush. Unless it’s something amazing, but nothing could surpass the kale soup – try it!