Vegan Diaries - Vegan Manicotti

I wanted to make something different for dinner.  I haven't made manicotti in a long time and thought tonight's the night.  Only problem?  It has dairy (ricotta cheese).  No problem for three of the family.  But, then there is the one that has dairy problems and the one (me) that has been trying to avoid dairy.

I thought I would search a vegan substitute for ricotta cheese.  My search came back with silken tofu.  I couldn't find silken tofu and decided to try firm tofu.  I placed the tofu inside a paper towel and squeezed out the excess water.  Crumbled up the tofu into a bowl, so it looked like ricotta cheese, and mixed in the rest of the ingredients.   Of course, I don't remember the website that I found the recipe  on (Sorry!).

Here's the recipe:


Vegan Manicotti
(taken from unknown website)

For the tomato sauce:
1/2 red onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped,
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce

"ricotta cheese"
1 container firm tofu, crumbled
2-3 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 box manicotti shells

1 bag/box frozen chopped spinach, thawed, water squeezed out

vegan cheese (optional)


Make your sauce (using the above recipe, your own recipe or you can use a jar of spaghetti sauce).

Rinse tofu and place on paper towel and squeeze out excess water.  Crumble tofu into a bowl (so it looks like ricotta cheese).  Add the apple cider vinegar, oregano, pepper and garlic.  Mix in the spinach.  I added some of the tomato sauce so it wasn't so dry.

Start stuffing your manicotti shells and place in a baking dish.  Cover the manicotti with the sauce.  Add some water to the bottom of the dish (so it covers the bottom, plus a little more).  I use a covered baking dish so the shells don't get dried out and the water in the dish can boil a little and cook the manicotti shells.

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.  Checking to make sure the shells are cooked.  And, serve.


* * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * *


*You can use your own homemade sauce or a jar of sauce.

*You can add as much garlic as you want (I like a lot of garlic).

I didn't tell anyone that these were vegan.  I was a little nervous how they would turn out.  I was lucky.  They were delicious!  And, there were not leftovers!  (and no questions!)  Success!

If you decide to make the Vegan Manicotti, let me know how it turned out!

Enjoy!

The Shorts

I'm sure you remember the infamous pair of shorts.

These are the sweatpants RT cut and made into shorts about 22 years ago.  I thought the "shorts" would be around for a month or two and then would disappear.

Here we are, twenty two years later and the shorts are still around.  

RT decided to put "the shorts" into his pile of clothes to be donated/thrown out.

These "shorts" have a HUGE history.  I mean, they have stuck around for 22 years!  So many memories!  RT wears them and the kids get embarrassed.  In fact, the kids beg me to not let RT wear these "shorts" when he picks them up from friend's houses or activities.  They are so famous, that people from all over the world come, just to get a glimpse of these shorts.

I saw "the shorts" in the pile of clothes that RT was getting rid of, and, I had to say something.  

Me:  You can't get rid of these shorts!  They are an historic treasure.

RT:  I thought you would be happy that I was getting rid of them.

Me:  Kids  Dad wants to get rid of his cut off shorts.

Kids:  The sweatpants shorts?

Me:  Yes.

Alex:  Family meeting!

All the kids came into the hall to discuss the future of "the shorts."

Bella was all for getting rid of them.  I reminded her that he has to wear them to walk her down the aisle.  She said she would rather see him wear something else.  (anything but the shorts!)

There was a vote.  Three for keeping the shorts and two (RT and Bella) for getting rid of the shorts.  (RT's vote doesn't count, thought.  He just has to go with whatever the majority decides).

I'm happy to inform you that "the shorts" are here to stay.  They are on display for all to see.  

Get your tickets today and get in line to see a part of history.

Black Friday

It's here again!  

My Black Friday post!

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day and is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

For those of us working, it's a crazy, long, tiring day.  Make sure you take lots of vitamins and try to have fun.

If you are shopping, it can get a little crazy out there.  Be safe.

Also, be nice to the store employees.  

Last year's song title suggestions:

Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea

Write in's from my fans:

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Black - Pearl Jam


This year's add on suggestions:

Blackbird - The Beatles
Black Betty - Ram Jam
Black Gold - Soul Asylum


Do you have any suggestions for this year's list?

Thankful Thanksgiving Day 4

Today I am thankful for friends and family and traditions.  (I did say family on day 1, didn't I?) 

 I'm thankful for memories of friends and loved ones who can not be with us today.  I'm also thankful for family and friends who are here to share Thanksgiving with us.

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.  They invited the great Indian Chief, Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food.  Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.  Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this:  "We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Linus van Pelt

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Thanksgiving - Day 3

After yesterdays post, I am thankful for indoor showers.  I couldn't imagine having to shower outside.  What do you do when it's freezing outside?  Not shower?  I guess we would all be wearing a large amount of perfume or cologne.

Thankful Thanksgiving Day 2

I'm thankful for modern cooking conveniences, like a stove/oven and refrigerator.  I don't think cooking over a campfire for every meal would be fun.  Well, maybe the first couple of times.  But, having to find wood and kindling before you build the fire and keep the fire going while cooking?  That might be a bit much.  Oh, and you would forever smell like a campfire.  

Thankful Thanksgiving Day 1

Thought I would reflect on something/one that I am thankful for in my life.  I know I've done this many times before on my blog (remember my list of 100 things that I am Thankful for?), but, it's Thanksgiving Week, the perfect time to reflect on all things that we are grateful to have in our lives.

So, here we go...

Today I am thankful for my family.  As weird, crazy, strange and scary they can be, I still love them and am truly thankful that they are a part of my life.  Yes, I complain about them and all of the annoying things that they do, but, without them, my life would not be complete.  And, hey, what would I write about if they weren't in my life?  This blog would be SOOO boring!  Ha ha ha.