Vegan Brunch – It is finally spring?

Hello there, Sunday bloggers!

Now that the weather is getting nicer, my weekends are suddenly feeling much shorter than before. Hmmmm….

Either way, Matt and our friends Matt and Emily and I headed north to the capital of New Hampshire – Concord. It is here, in Concord, a vegan restaurant holds brunch on various Sundays. If any of us hadn’t wolfed down our food without thinking, I would have taken some pretty amazing pictures of the spread at our table.

When you arrive at Cafe Indigo, you are promptly seated amongst their mismatching chairs and tables. A nice, cold bottle of water (previously a wine bottle, or something close) is placed on the table with a variety of cups. For $15, you can eat AS MUCH AS YOU WANT of all the various items spread out on the brunch table. These typically include potato salad, pea salad, homemade hummus and tortilla chips, black bean salsa salad, wheat-free udon cold noodle salad, tons of desserts, coffee, and tea.

ALL VEGAN. ALL! And, 99% gluten-free!

So, not only can you eat all of this food, but included in your $15 is an entire meal – from the brunch menu. ALL of the food on the menu can be made gluten-free! It is seriously a gluten-free vegan’s heaven. Hands. Down.

Needless to say, all of us were VERY full and VERY happy.

Except Matt was not only happy, but continued to stuff his face. Love him 🙂

The day started out quite rainy, but drastically changed by the time brunch was over. It ended up being a beautiful day for a walk.

In general, I think we are all ready for summer. I mean, I love you spring, but bring it on, heat!

I am off to enjoy the “Cosmos” series on Fox and read some Vegetarian Times (new 2-year subscription!) — enjoy your Sunday night.. here’s to a productive, sunny, and exciting week!

xoxo,
Kelsey

Hair with flare!

Well, another week has passed us by. All in all, it was a good one. The warm weather is slowly starting to move in (although, this is New England and I’m always certain that can change drastically at any moment) and attitudes everywhere are starting to change.

Spring is a rebirth of sorts (clearly for plants, but I’m talking people here). I feel our darkest months often coincide with the winter months over here in the Northeast. It is time for making changes – big or little (and anywhere on between).

And, well – here is my most recent change:

New hair!

It is so much shorter than I have had my hair in YEARS – possibly since I was 17. Much needed, though, as curly hair can get pretty tangly and dread-y once it starts to get long and unmanageable. Can I get an “amen”, curly girls?

Anyways, despite the warm weather approaching, Matt and I continue to cook soups. With Matt in the final throws of his graduate program, and me working, consulting, and beginning another degree certification program (started Sunday!), we don’t have too much time for cooking right now.

What do all of you do when you are in a time crunch? How do you get creative? Breakfast is easy… It is the lunch and dinners that kill us lately.

An aside – Silly has healed so nicely from her surgery. Her scar is slowly disappearing and her fur is even more slowly starting to grow back. So grateful!

My next post will feature a spring meal – something yummy coming your way friends!

Xoxo,
Kelsey

Where are you, spring?

Anyone else feeling this lately? Where is spring? I would be totally okay surpassing the inevitably wet, muddy, and spongey spring this will likely be… take me right to summer, please!

Ok, ok. I do not hate all things spring. I like wearing my rain boots I bought for $10 at a crummy department store — they are actually cow-milking boots, which I find hysterical. These boots will never, ever see my hands milking the udder of a precious cow. 😉

Anywho – we have been cruising along, barely making it through these last two months. Matt is desperately trying to finish graduate school by writing his final paper, apply for jobs, and maintain his sanity. I am definitely not as busy as I used to be, which is slowly killing me and keeping me on my toes for all new options and possibilities on the horizon.

I’ve had my mind on private practice recently. Slowly, I’ve been looking at office spaces. I would love to build up a practice over time – although I would never be interested in leaving the school system altogether, I would just love a consulting/evaluation/treatment business on the side.

Oh the possiblities! Anyone looking to share an office? 😉

In the midst of all this dreaming career-wise, I’ve had chocolate on the brain, as well. Sometimes its a cure for all the insanity.

This dessert is truly one of my favorites. It is SO simple – it takes about 10 minutes to make from start to finish. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls (serves ~8)
Ingredients:
1/2 c. peanut butter (we make our own – make it/buy it crunchy for a little extra zazz!)
1/2 bag dark (dairy free) chocolate chips
1 tbsp flaxmeal
1 tbsp sugar

Directions:
1. Lightly grease a mini cupcake pan (or lightly grease a pan where the peanut butter balls have no chance of slowly falling off!)
2. In a medium sized bowl, mix the peanut butter, flaxmeal, and sugar.
3. In a microwavable bowl, heat the dark chocolate in 30 second incraments, making sure to stir it well between each one.
4. Using a spoon, dip the peanut butter balls into the melted dark chocolate and cover them well. Place the covered balls into the mini cupcake pan (or baking sheet, etc.).
5. Place in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
6. Serve! 🙂

Voila! Enjoy, mi amors.

xoxo,
Kelsey

Today = “sick day”…

I took a sick day, today.  The first one yet at my “new” job!  I was feeling under the weather most of the day yesterday and am so glad I had this moment of reprieve today.  I’m feeling a lot better!  READY TO GO.   We even took a little moped ride for some fresh air.  I think this made me feel even better than my multiple naps today.  😉

It was a beautiful day.

The sun was shining, birds were singing (not that I could hear it over the sound of my moped’s engine, but I just knew they were there).  We stopped to take a few pictures – I just couldn’t get over how warm it was!  A whopping 50 degrees!

So many wide open spaces in Maine

It is safe to say I cannot wait until I am melting again – I love the warm summer nights for moped riding by the ocean or various tributaries.  There are so many out here!  I just can’t wait.

Right now Matt is off on an 8-mile run with his twin, Matt (not really twin, but they look alike, come from similar backgrounds, are both obsessed with running, both vegan, both musically inclined, etc. etc.).  He and his wife, Emily, will likely be making the most appearances on this blog – just because I love them both so much!

While he was running, I had a chance to hang out with our other cat, Ellum – the forgotten cat.  We stopped to smell the “roses”… really sunflowers and pretty purple thingies.

Just another reason I cannot wait until summer – we will be growing some tall sunflowers in our backyard.  I’ve already put out the hummingbird feeder in the hopes they will show!

Anyways, Ellum and I had our quality time.  He made sure to sit right near me while I cooked.  We cooked something just marvelous: Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza.

I used my nice camera today – can you tell? 😉

Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza (serves 8)

Ingredients:

• one pre-made gluten-free crust (or make your own! I do this when I have more time) – I used Abigail’s Bakery’s gluten-free crust (out of Weare, NH)
• 1/2 to 1 block tofu (depends how much you want)
• 2 tbsp tahini
• salt (to taste)
• pepper (to taste)
• garlic powder (to taste)
• onion powder (to taste)
• nutritional yeast (about 2-3 tbsp)
• lemon juice – about 1/4 c.
• 1 c. nondairy milk (I use almond, but soy/rice/etc. would work fine)
• 1 c. gluten-free all-purpose flour (I use bob’s redmill, but whatever works)
• 3/4 c. hot sauce (I use RedHot)
• 1 tbsp earth balance butter
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• 1 head cauliflower, broken in florets, washed

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
• Grease a medium sized baking sheet
• In a medium bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and block of tofu (crumbled) – place this into the fridge for now
• In a small, microwavable bowl, mix together the hot sauce, corn starch, salt, pepper, and butter – heat in the microwave until butter melts and mix with a spoon – set aside
• Put the florets into a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl, mix together garlic powder, flour, and nondairy milk.  Pour this mixture into the florets while slowly mixing together.
• Place the covered florets on to the baking sheet (spread out)
• Place the florets into the oven for about 15-20 minutes (or until brown)
• Once done, put the florets back into the bowl and add the hot sauce mixture – cover well.
• Take the tofu out of the fridge and spread over the crust.  Place the buffalo cauliflower over the tofu spread.  Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
• Let cool about 5-10 minutes.  Serve warm!

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kelsey 🙂

Weekends come and weekends go…

Sometimes my weekends feel like they fly by, leaving me trying to catch my breath and figure out what exactly just happened. Other times, like this weekend, I feel really good. Calm, cool, collected – ready to face another week.

I think part of this weekend went so well because my week was anything but ordinary. It consisted of week night conferences in Massachusetts, meetings galore, and – worst of all – Silly’s bladder surgery.

Her surgery was Wednesday, and she is doing quite well! The worst part is she needs to be quarantined in a tiny place (the bathroom) where she cannot jump on and off of things. This has kept her away from Ellum, her best friend, and causes Matt and I to get well acquainted with doing school/work inside of our bathtub or on the bathroom floor. The other terrible part? She hates her new appendage:

Aside from our little girl and her icky surgery, we soaked up the warm (cloudy) day yesterday by getting our mopeds up and running! Went on a lovely, long ride with friends – out to lunch (Dos Amigos in Portsmouth, NH) and stopped for tea at a local German cafe.

I’ve been really into flavored tea, lately, and found this baked apple tea incredibly warm and comforting after a chilly moped ride:

As for a rainy (soooo so rainy) and windy (even more windy than rainy) New England Sunday, I am stuck inside reading junk email and doing laundry at the laundromat. Feeling very content, however.

Thinking of making a potato and leek soup tonight in the slow cooker – getting ready for another long week! Of course, we will be making the infamous granola, as well.

How did you spend your weekend?

Xoxo,

Kelsey

I may need an allergist…

Happy Sunday Evening!

I hope all of you have enjoyed your weekend thus far, I know I have. Besides my typical Sunday morning heavy duty allergy attack (I don’t know what it is.. but every, SINGLE, Sunday this happens), it has been busy and full of food and play. Tomorrow, however, begins the crazy week of work ahead. How did I prepare?

quinoa burgers.

They were delicious! And, most importantly, so easy to make. Just grab your food processor and whip it up.

Quinoa Burgers

Ingredients (serves ~12 – only 2 WW points/burger)
1 c. quinoa, cooked
1 red pepper
1 can black beans (or kidney)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 c. quick oats, dry
1 small onion ( I used yellow – doesn’t matter!)
spices to taste (I used red pepper flakes, black pepper, and herbamare)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Grease 1 large (or two small) baking sheets.
Cook the quinoa (1 c. quinoa in a pot, add ~2 c. water, bring to a boil with lid on – at boil, tilt lid and turn to simmer until quinoa bubbles on top and water is evaporated)
Chop the red pepper and onion.
Put quinoa, red pepper, onion, black beans, garlic, and spices in food processor. Pulse/mix/pulse/mix.
Empty into a large bowl and add the quick oats.
Mix until mushy/sticky.

Evenly distribute the mixture into about 12 patties onto your baking sheet. Bake for about 10-15 minutes per side (you will have to flip them) or until browning. Don’t forget to let cool then serve!

I ate mine crumbled into a lettuce wrap with mustard and Joseph’s red pepper hummus (yummy). I also love it on a bun with avacado, red onion, lettuce, and mustard. Lots of options!

I must say, I am also lucky that Matt made black bean soup (delish!).

In other news, my cats have a new friend. Sort of:

I say “sort of” because I really bought him for my classroom at work. They named him “Spots” (I had previously named him Betty because he is a beta fish, and well, I’m not that creative). Anywho, the cats were in awe of him for his short stay in my house. I suppose they will see him in a few short weeks when Spots comes back home during vacation week!

All I know is that it is IEP season for me at work, which means crazy, hectic, and totally wonky. Come May 1st, things will be a bit easier on that front. In the meantime, I am just doing my job, zenning out, and petting kitties.

Oh, yes – speaking of kitties. Silly is getting bladder surgery on Wednesday, as she need a stone removed. If you’re looking to donate to a good cause, please think about helping us out! Good vibes and thoughts are also appreciated. We just love these fur babies oh so much.

DONATE HERE

I hope you all have a lovely week full of beautiful surprises. And that NO more snow comes your way. 😉

xoxo,
Kelsey

Here’s what I’ve noticed… (+ granola)…

I’ve noticed I’m a creature of habit.  Granted, many are short-lived habits, but still habits nonetheless.  I have little fads that I hold onto or try (i.e., blogging, running, Zumba, straightening my hair) and then watch them trickle out of my life, becoming nothing like a habit. Or, I have “yearly” habits, such as this blog.  When I signed in today, I noticed the last time I signed in was just over a year today!

There is, however, one change I have made that has never faltered (intentionally, that is):

being vegan.

I contribute much of my success in maintaining this healthy lifestyle for over 3 years to my boyfriend, Matt.  Through two graduate programs, his own graduate program, new jobs, and moving around New England, Matt has always made eating right a priority for us.

Over the last year a lot has changed.  I completed my masters degree program in Speech-Language Pathology, started a photography business (www.prettythingphotography.com) with a fellow colleague, landed an awesome job where I can use both of my graduate degrees (speech-language pathology, deaf educator), started a consulting business, and volunteer time at a local university.  I suppose each of these things are daily “habits” – even though in many ways, they are requirements.  I mean, I have to pay my bills (at least I very much enjoy my job!).

My new “habit” endeavors are now: (1) trying to keep up with this blog in a way that I can manage, and (2) better understanding portion sizes in the food we eat.  That being said, I hope you can welcome me back (with the understanding I have no idea how this blog will turn out) and join me once again.

That being said, Matt and I have modified a basic granola recipe to make it our own.  It is hearty, crunchy, and super delicious.  We make it on Sundays so we can have it for breakfast each day of the work week.  So, so simple.  Enjoy!

Hearty Homemade Granola (vegan/gf):

Some possible ingredients, but so easy to finagle to make it your own!

Ingredients (serves ~12, Weight Watcher’s points = 8):

• 4 c. gluten free oats (Bob’s Red Mill is a good brand if you need gf oats, we use quaker)
• 1/4 c. brown rice syrup
• 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
• 6 tbsp. unsalted peanut butter (we make our own to cut down on oil/salt)
• 1/4 c. flax meal
• 1 c. millet (uncooked)
• 1 c. slivered almonds (unsalted)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar (can be less)
• cinnamon (to taste)
• nutmeg (to taste)
• any other spice you love!

Extras:

• 1/4 c. blueberries (to add on top)
• 1/2 banana (to add on top)
• coconut flakes

Instructions (30-35 minutes):

Mixing the wet ingredients into the dry, carefully.

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
• Line one very large (or two medium sized) baking sheets with parchment paper
• In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients
• In a small bowl, combine wet ingredients
• Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix by folding together until somewhat sticky and combined
• Spread the mixture over the parchment paper and place baking sheet(s) into the oven
• Bake for 20-25 minutes
• Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving/storing (we store ours in a large Tupperware container)

It smells so good when it comes out of the oven. Don’t forget to let it cool!

Served with fresh blueberries and Trader Joe’s Original Almond Milk!

Let me know what you think about the granola by leaving me a comment below. 🙂

xoxo,

Kelsey

Tick Tock

Time is flying by —

This weekend was a whirlwind.  Nothing new, really.  I spent most of my weekend at the State House talking with legislators and preparing to make change.  However, despite all the work, work, work, I managed to have some fun.

After our long night, we cracked open some wine, ate too much popcorn, and painted nails like you wouldn’t believe.

Today was rather lovely, too, as it was our second Book Club meeting!  We read:

“It Chooses You” by Miranda July

Quick, easy read – complete with photographs!  I love quirky books.  This was indeed a quirky book from cover to cover.  It had a lot of random and it had a lot of heart.  Give it a shot?

Of course, we always digress in book club and end up just 4 ladies having a lovely chat.

I’ve continued to make things for “Kelsey Welsey Designs” (www.facebook.com/kelseywelseydesigns & http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelseywelseydesigns).  Sarah was amazing and modeled some for me (below is a dress):

We have fun.

In the meantime, I made some yummy things today – here’s a glimpse at one:

Cornbread Muffins

How was your weekend?

Handmade with Love.

So, as if I don’t have enough going on in my regular life, here is something new:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelseywelseydesigns OR like me on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/KelseyWelseyDesigns

I made an Etsy website!  Lately I’ve been really getting close with my sewing machine.  We’ve made a lot of great things together.  It is the start of a beautiful, new relationship:

Thank you SO much to my beautiful friend Emily for offering up her body for my new clothing.  I’ve started with skirts and headbands – but soon, I’ll be heading on to bigger and better things: dresses.

Eventually, my Etsy will also hold some knit purses, soaps, and candles.  All good things come in time.  In the meantime, perhaps you’ll spread the word?

Other than taking 3 classes, completing an internship, writing my thesis, working, sewing, taking photos, and baking, I’ve been trying to see a lot of the worlds loveliest ladies.

It is especially fun when the get-together is for birthday related reasons.  Happy birthday, Teresa & Sarah, it is so special to know you both.

What are you all up to?  Any suggestions for what I should sew next weekend?

XOXO,

Kelsey Welsey

It’s not about how many times I post…

…so much as what I post… right?

I’m not lying when I say I am terrible at blogs.  I never seem to keep up – I also feel quite a bit of guilt when I don’t.  I suppose that makes me even less apt to post?

Anywho – here I am today – a new day – with a new post.

Instead of apologizing and rambling on about my blog inadequacies, I am instead going to talk about today.  Today, though only 3:30 in the afternoon, has been lovely.  As of 2 weeks ago, a group of my friends and I started a Book Club.  Yes, we joined in on the fad – but, despite it being a fad, it is FUN.

Today was our first meeting!

We read “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin as our first book.  I won’t go into detail about it here, but has anyone read it?  What were your thoughts?

 

Other than the obvious reasons this is fun (getting to read different books and hang out with lovely people once a month for a few hours), we also eat some really, really good food.  Luckily, my group of friends have eclectic palates.  Of course, my food choices are generally much different than mainstream society’s, but my friends are not only accommodating, they make it FUN.

Sarah brought the most delicious tofu veggie scramble I have ever eaten.  Andrea brought us some delicious fruit as a side, and Rita supplied us with some delicious Trader Joe’s maple syrup to go with our assortment of plain, banana, and banana chocolate chip pancakes.

Delicious.

Also, if you’re curious about why every single one of us was wearing a similarly made headband in the first picture, it is because I just learned how to use my sewing machine and am desperately trying to get through some super simple projects. IDEAS AND BEGINNER PATTERNS WELCOME. I had some scrap fabric lying around from some purses I knit and lined for Xmas gifts this winter – thus, headbands!

Anyway, nothing beats a book club.  More-so, nothing beats lovely, beautiful friends with excellent insight.

Thanks for an awesome time, ladies.  Next month will be just as awesome.

How is everyone out there in blog land?  HOW IS LIFE?!  

[Also, book suggestions welcome.. :-)]