Weight Watchers Points for Recipes

I am quite aware that no one reads this blog but me. Nevertheless, in the event that anyone does happen to stumble upon my humble lil' blog, I wanted to let you know that I'm going to post Weight Watchers Points for my recipes. I've been an on-again/off-again Weight Watcher for the past few years, and I'm currently back on. So far, like I said yesterday, I have lost nearly 5 pounds in a month. I credit that with two things: WW and veganism.

Carmelized Onion-Dill Green Beans

Makes 2 servings
2 WW pts/serving

1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp sugar (or Splenda sugar mix)
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 (14-oz) can green beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

In a small skillet, heat oil and add sugar over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Once sugar is dissolved, add onion. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, or until onion very tender. Add remaining ingredients, stirring to coat. Cook over medium-low heat for another 5 minutes, or until green beans heated through.

Mustard Mashed Cauliflower

This is a great low-cal alternative to mashed potatoes. I got the idea to add mustard from some episode of Barefoot Contessa. It is really yummy.

Serves 4

1 WW pt/serving

1 head cauliflower

1/4 c. unsweetened almond milk

1 Tbsp Earth Balance buttery spread

2 Tbsp whole grain mustard (such as Grey Poupon)

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Bring large pot of water to a boil; add cauliflower. Boil for 20 minutes, or until very tender. Drain and return to pot. Add cooked cauliflower and remaining ingredients in mixer (I am partial to my tangerine-colored Kitchen Aid), and stir on low speed until well blended. Serve immediately.

Sunday Dinner

Day 28. I can't believe January is almost over. This has been a really phenomenal month. So far, I have lost nearly 5 pounds. I have not had a Diet Coke in 28 days. I am sleeping better and have boundless energy. Overall, I pretty much got the bill of goods all you other vegans sold me. Consider me convinced.

Today, I did another marathon cooking session to get us through this week. Yes, we still have frozen sweet potato gnocchi in the freezer - maybe I'll finally make it this week. I also made two types of lasagna: roasted vegetable and mushroom-artichoke (recipes forthcoming). For tonight, I decided to go old-school and do meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Although, with a twist: I did Chow Vegan's Home-Style Vegan Meatloaf, mustard mashed cauliflower, and carmelized onion-dill green beans (the latter two being recipes of my own creation). A decidedly delicious and homey way to end the weekend!

Peasant-Style Siberian Pierogies

When Chris and I lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, one of our favorite restaurants was a place called Moscow on the Hill (also the only Russian restaurant in St. Paul). They serve a dish called Siberian Pelmeni Dumplings (Peasant Style), which are beef-and-pork filled dumplings in a mushroom and cheese cream sauce. They are the ultimate in comfort food - creamy, cheesy, savory, and rich. I'm also half Polish, so they taste kind of like something my grandmother would make.

I've been making a lightened-up non-vegan version of this dish since 2007, after we first ate at Moscow on the Hill. If you are a vegetarian, it is still friendly to you. But I figured out how to make it vegan. It is so easy and quick when you've had a long day and don't want to spend a lot of "hands-on" time in the kitchen.

Peasant-Style Siberian Pierogies

Serves 6

8 WW pts/serving

3 c. button mushrooms, roughly chopped

One (8-oz) container non-dairy sour cream (such as Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)

1 tsp vegetable bouillon (I use Better Than Bouillon)

1 Tbsp cooking sherry

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp dried sage

1 pkg frozen potato pierogies (such as Mrs. T's)*

1 c. cheddar-style veggie cheese*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and saute for 1-2 minutes until nicely browned. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Lower heat to medium and add sour cream mixture to mushrooms. Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until just slightly thickened.

Coat a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Place frozen pierogies in baking dish (DO NOT cook or defrost them!). Top with mushroom sauce, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese melted.

* If non-vegan, can use potato-and-cheese pierogies and real cheddar cheese.

A more successful day today.

Day 24. I have bounced back after the McIncident. Today, some co-workers and I went to a local chain restaurant (Taco Mac) for another co-worker's birthday. I pre-scouted the menu online so I could make informed decisions. I ended up getting bean tacos, no cheese, and a house salad, no cheese, with olive oil vinaigrette.

After work, I hit up the store because we were out of nearly everything and I hadn't planned a menu yet (oops). Here's the plan for the next five days:

Thursday - Gnocchi with pecans and collard greens

Friday - I Eat Food's Mexican lasagna (I've got Friday off, so I can make this ahead of time and then run to the store to pick up coconut milk (see below))

Saturday - Some type of lentil-cauliflower curry (s*!t - I just realized I forgot coconut milk! Drats!)

Sunday - Vegan meatloaf and cauliflower mashed "potatoes"

Monday - FatFreeVegan Kitchen's Favorite Lasagna (I can make this over the weekend and pop it in the fridge).

I've also got the ingredients for black bean brownies, which I think look wonderful and substantially lower in calories than my more recent dessert endeavors. I've found it beneficial to have sweets on hand to keep Chris happy with this lifestyle change. It kind of softens the blow.

"I Feel Like I Ate a Greasy, Salt Lick of Death."

Day 22. Last night, I was really bad. Really, really bad. As in going-to-vegan-hell bad. And my body is hating me for it today.

I sabotaged myself from the start. I wanted pizza. So we went to a local pizza place and got a pesto-feta-jalapeno pie. One of my favs. And it was trivia night. So we played and drank two pitchers of beer. Afterwards, for some unknown reason, I decision that I wanted McDonald's. (Why?! WHY?!) I got a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and fries. Ugh. Not only am I a terrible vegan, but apparently also a huge fat ass.

I woke up this morning with the worst stomach ache. My body is in revolt. At this point, I give you complete latitude to judge me.