Wednesday, March 07, 2007

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!

18 comments:

Kris said...

I hope you are feeling top shape again soon! At least you have loads of new yummies to look forward to.

I got Jim that Peanut Butter Planet book for Valentine's Day and it's amazing. There is a great peanut butter oatmeal recipe in there, I promise you won't feel deprived!

Amey said...

ha ha... I love the post of mushy food! :) I'm glad that you are healing!

The books look fantastic!! I see that you got Erich Schiffman's yoga book, it's one of my favorites. He is a great yogi and yoga teacher. Also, I like that Madhur Jaffrey book.

Also - I don't think I got your mailing address for a cookbook! Can you email it to me again so that I can be sure to send you one??

thanks!

Emmy said...

Ooooooooh, I LOVE Half Price Books. You got all those fantastic books plus a free tote bag...What a deal!!! I think they must have bought a closeout lot on the Foods That Don't Bite Back cookbook...I bought my copy at Half Price too and they had a bunch of them. It's a good cookbook. The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is terrific...the cornbread recipe from that cookbook is my favorite. I have Asian Vegan Cookbook.too (just made the Spicy Lemongrass Tofu from it not too long ago). It can be hit or miss...and when it says it's a spicy recipe...I find it to be a little wimpy so I usually up the spices. Looking forward to all your posts about the yummy food you make once you heal from your oral surgery :)

Let us know how the book buy-back experience goes too. I want to try taking some books there as well. I've been to two of the three Chicagoland locations so far. Rob likes going to Half Price too, although he can check out the entire store before I've even left the cookbook section. LOL

That Kale Soup looks so yummy! I've had it on my to-make list since I saw it on Bazu's blog :)

Twisted Cinderella said...

I have never thought of trying pasta sauce over shredded zucchini. Mmm . . . I must give that a shot. those books look awesome!

bazu said...

I'm glad you tried the kale soup- it really is soothing!
And what a score on books! I don't own any of them, but I would love the Madhur Jaffrey...
I'm glad everything went well: the car, the books, and the contintued healing of the mouth.

You'll feel so good when you get to crunch on salads and veggies again!

Judy said...

You know, as I was reading this post, I couldn't figure out why you were referring to your food as 'mush' or why you missed salad so much. That is, not until I read the post below and remembered that you had surgery. All the food looks and sounds amazing, even if it is 'mushy' food.

What a great deal on the books - it sounds like you got some really great ones.

I can't wait to try the kale soup of which I have been hearing so much praise. This weekend, maybe.

Mikaela said...

Those dishes are *not* boring - maybe they don't look pretty, but they are very, very clever recipes! If it were me, I'd be eating applesauce and mashed potatoes, *that's* boring :)

Kati said...

Aww so much mushy food! I hope your mouth is healing well. You really had quite a haul at the bookstore! I usually have the same problem when I go to those kind of stores - no veggie cookbooks. I'm so glad you got the Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics. I learned a lot from it. Your Rice & Spice book looks different than mine. I wonder if it's a different edition or another book entirely. Hmmm. I would love to check out that peanut butter book - I'm crazy for the stuff, too. :)

scottishvegan said...

Hope you’re feeling a bit better now. I think your mushy food looks pretty good and it’s creative too! That book shop sounds so good…It’s probably a good thing that there isn’t one near me or I would spend a fortune!

Anonymous said...

I truly hope your mouth is healing well. wow so much books, they looks great.

MeloMeals said...

SCORE!

I have a bunch of kale... I am going to revisted that recipe..

If you ask me, mush is underrated!

Sheree' said...

Wow, that is a score. I love cookbooks. DH is always telling me that I can vegnaize anything. Your food looks great. I am sure I would end up doing smoothies, applesauce, and very runny oats. The Kale soup looks good.

laura k said...

Wow, now you've got A LOT of cooking to do! As always, I love seeing your photos and hearing your stories. I'm glad your surgery went well and that you seem to be recovering nicely. I hope things continue to go well. I won't be blogging and commenting a whole lot for the next couple of weeks, but I'll keep checking in as always--I enjoy your posts!

erica said...

I don't mind mush, if it's yummy mush :)

urban vegan said...

Oatmeal smoothie? What a creative idea.

You really hit the jackpot. I love places like that! I also got More Soy Cooking at a book bargain place--I think I padi $3. You'll love Madhur Jaffrey's cookbook--it is one of the most complete cookbooks I know, and the few recipes that aren't vegan are easily veganizeable.

JENNA said...

you make mush look quite appetizing! i am so jealous of your cheap book store finds! i hope you can start eating your salads soon..i know what it's like not to eat salads for awhile.

JENNA

KleoPatra said...

Hope you're feeling better from the surgery! You'll be back smiling soon, i'm sure... keep taking good care of you, Diann.

I'm always up for bargains and i love having lots of recipe books from which to choose. Very nice soup there, too.

Again, please take care of you and heal soon!!!

Candi said...

What a great deal you got on all those books! I immediately noticed that peanut butter one!! Lol! :)

I love all the creative mushy foods you are coming up with! I hope you are feeling better!!