Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Perfect Sunday

Today was a delightful day. I woke up at around 9am and cooked some soup for breakfast (Christmas lima beans, carrots, and celery). Sundays are my day to clean up the house a bit, so I cleaned the bathroom and swept the floors and cleaned the baseboards. Then I snuggled with the animals on the couch and worked sudoku puzzles. It was so warm (maybe 50?) and the sun was streaming in the windows.
Then I whipped up some wheat-free chocolate chip cookies for desserts this week. At around noon a friend came over and we did yoga for a couple hours. Then I did a little grocery shopping and got started cooking. I took my time and decided to cook exactly what I wanted, even if they didn't really go together.
This is Tinkyada pasta with Tofu-Walnut Balls. I remember seeing a recipe for these balls that called for baking them first and then covering them in an apricot glaze and baking them again...but I can't find the recipe for the life of me. But these were really good, too.

Tofu-Walnut Balls
In the food processor, combine:
1 1/2 cups oats
1 package of firm tofu
4 Tbsp tamari
1 cup walnuts
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp sage

Then scoop up balls/blobs of the mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400F for about 20 minutes, flip and bake another 10 minutes.

I served these with a nice sweet & smoky tomato sauce- kind of a hybrid between a usual tomato sauce and barbecue sauce.

Sweet & Smoky Tomato Sauce
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
6 drops liquid smoke
2 Tbsp. apricot preserves
a splash of tamari

Saute the onions in the olive oil until the onions begin to brown, then add remaining ingredients and simmer about 20 minutes.



I also really wanted sushi. This sushi has steamed tempeh marinated in tamari, carrots, chives, red pepper strips, and wasabi veganaise. Yum!

While everything was finishing cooking, I had time to work out on the elliptical machine. Then Mike and I ate dinner out on the deck (we had to wear jackets, but at least it was kind of warm). After dinner we played boggle- Mike won, but it was really close.

Then I took a long bath while working sudoku puzzles. And then Dirt was on TV. And throughout the day I got about 3 loads of laundry done.

Can a day get any better?

8 comments:

trina said...

Ack. Tonight's my night to clean up the house a bit. Instead, I'm having a couple cocktails and reading blogs. Poor house. Pour laundry. I don't think I ever told you how much I love you for making miso in your basement.

Sarah said...

That does sound like a good day. That sushi looks especially tasty. I am jealous that it was warmer in MN than it was in BC today, but glad that you and Mike got to enjoy it.

Anonymous said...

hmm.. Sundays are sudoku days for me too..

J said...

That picture of the streaming sun on your couch. I'm imagining being there with critters and a good book (soduku would be just fine too!).

I'm loving your recipe for the tomato sauce. I can imagine all sorts of things a smoky sauce like this would go well with. And I love the addition of the apricot preserves. I love apricot so much but get so uncreative with ideas of what to do with it!

Mmmmmm, that sushi!

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

i really need to get over my fears and try to make vegan sushi!

Steffi said...

that sounds like a great day indeed. can I come over next sunday?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a nearly perfect day! Don't you love days like that?!

Courtney

Anonymous said...

I also had a great Sunday--but I don't think what I did is appropriate for your blog. Nothing bad--just silly.

I want some of your homemade miso when it's done. I love that South River Miso--I am almost done with my jar! I must be a miso addict.