Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Eats

My family doesn't really celebrate Easter anymore, but I spent plenty of time with family and friends over the weekend anyway. Not really in an Easter celebration, just hanging out and eating a lot.

On Saturday afternoon, I drove to Jonesboro, Arkansas (my hometown) to have a picnic with my best friend Sheridan (we've been best friends since junior high, but now she lives in Little Rock ... she was also in Jonesboro visiting her family). Here's Sheridan enjoying a Vegan Bologna Sandwich with Tofutti American Cheese and Mustard:

We picnicked in the huge empty field beside my parent's house. It was a little chilly, but still really fun. Her boyfriend Drew took this picture of Sher and I:

We also had chips and bean dip ... and this awesome Vegan Strawberry Bread Pudding:

It was supposed to be strawberry/rhubarb bread pudding, according to this recipe (click the link to see for yourself). But we couldn't find fresh rhubarb. Didn't really matter though because this was perfect without it.

Even though I'm 28, my parents still give me Easter baskets. Though my dad ordered me a vegan chocolate Easter bunny last month, my parents gave me another Easter gift on Friday — cute new PJs, an iTunes gift card, a Kroger gift card, and this Oster 12-speed blender!!!

My dad read my last post about my stupid old blender and felt sorry for me. Now I can crush ice, make super smoothies, and puree soups! Thanks mama and daddy!

On Sunday, my parents and I stopped by my Granny's house because she'd made a few dishes that she wanted me to test for my cookbook, like this Beans and Greens Soup:

It was comforting and wholesome, and we decided the final recipe would be even better with added diced tomatoes. She also perfected her tasty Vegan Strawberry Pie, another cookbook recipe:

And Granny gave me an Easter basket filled with her home-canned goods — tomatoes, cucumber relish, pickles, green beans, and some garlic from her garden:

Happy Easter!!!

36 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

FABULOUS FUN!!

Mmm, bread pudding.

Anonymous said...

Now I want bread pudding...yummy!

HAPPY EASTER!

nora said...

Bianca! you look so beautiful in that pic--glowing with veganness and way to rock the bangs! (i'm biased bc i have bangs and think they're the best thinge ver invented). that bread pudding looks wonderful, so fresh and spring like!

Jenn said...

Granny ROCKS! Nice picnic. I can't wait for it to get warm.

Mike K said...

Looks like a great Easter weekend - it's so cool that your grandma is doing recipe tests for your cookbook, which I can't wait to see! Her basket with the canned goods is such a cool gift.

T said...

That strawberry bread pudding looks completely sublime, wow. What a cool weekend- wish it was nice enough here to have picnics!

Sheridan said...

YAY for picnics and madlibs and best friends!!! I love you!

ahyajriah said...

all this food on your page is making me hungry....mmmmmmm :D

Mihl said...

An Easter picnic sounds like a great idea. Yay for spring and strawberries!

Anonymous said...

Happy Easter, Bianca! Right on for adorable parents, new blenders, easter baskets full of deliciousness and picnicks!

Gena said...

That strawberry bread pudding looks ridiculous! (As in ridiculously good).

Lisa said...

your family is so sweet! And that's cool that you got to catch up with a childhood friend. I know you'll enjoy those homemade canned goods!

Macie said...

That's probably the best gift ever: a basket of home canned goodies! That is the sweetest thing I've heard all day :D

I love picnicking, and it looks like you guys had a great time. I'm so happy it's getting warmer.

Vegan_Noodle said...

I love celebrating Easter even though I'm not really religous. A good excuse to eat food and get cute things!
How cool that your folks gave you an easter basket... mine gave me one too :-)
That strawberry bread pudding looks fantastic.

A_and_N said...

Looks like you guys had a great time picnic-ing :) The bread pudding looks superb!

Virginia said...

you sound like you have a great family! what a lovely pie and generous gifts!

Leslie Richman said...

Everything looks wonderful, but I must say, that PIE!!! It looks Granny-perfect. I can't wait for your cookbook!

jessy said...

oh my gosh - there's are so many goodies in this post! wahoooo! your grandma's beans 'n greens soup & strawberry pie look divine! i can't wait to test them out, Bianca! ooooooooh! the strawberry bread pudding looks most fantastical & now i want a vegan bologna sammie. i'll hold on the cheeze and smother mine in ketchup (like i used to when i was wee! ahahahhahha!). hooray! that's too sweet of your parents to hook ya up with more easter goodies (and your grandma, too!) and rock on with the new blender! superw00t!

Unknown said...

Happy Easter Bianca! Your Easter basket sounds awesome. Great pics, too. =)

Hello Veggie

Chelsea said...

What an awesome family you have! And oh man, that strawberry pie looks delish! I just realized I've never had strawberry pie. Tear :(

Binx said...

WOW! You're family is adorable. How great that your Granny is so involved. :) It's a constant battle with mine-- she's always trying to sneak butter and chicken broth in my food. For 15 years.

jd said...

I love that you still get Easter baskets, even as an adult! (I actually got one this year, too, which was surprisingly cool.) But I especially love that your dad is such a dedicated blog reader that he knew you needed a new blender. Sweet :)

BTW, your grandma's Easter goodies look awesome. And that Strawberry Bread Pudding looks fantastic, too.

Cyn said...

Awwwww, your family is adorable! I love the basket from your Granny, that looks fantastic. And your new blender looks awesome!

I can't wait to test the stuff for your cookbook. Your biscuit recipe finally let me produce actually puffy, delicious biscuits!

Gina said...

Love Easter! The best part is finding stuff. Like, I'm still a sucker for finding my Easter basket, and doing Easter egg hunts. I got to do neither this year, which made me sad. I did help my brother find his though. Apparently, according to other people, I am "too old for that". I did have a make-shift plastic egg hunt with my 5 year old cousin though!

That bread pudding looks to diiie for!

Kristen's Raw said...

I love all of the pictures :)

Cheers,
Kristen

River (Wing-It Vegan) said...

What a lovely picnic, even if it was chilly! You girls are so cute and happy with your vegan goodies!

I'm loving that strawberry bread pudding! And the new awesome blender! Aww, your dad is so sweet! I think we all wanted to buy you a blender after reading your last post. YAY! Enjoy!

You and your granny work great together! The strawberry pie is too much, I can't take it! Gimme!!

Your Easter basket of goodies is awesome! Your granny rocks!

Thanks for all the awesome book recommendations, Bianca! And thank you for your super sweet comment! :-)

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

hahaha bianca my parents are the same way!!! ill get presents from santa claus till im 40 ahah

Jamie the Foodie said...

i am in the market for a new blender & am curious how you like your new one...please keep us posted. i am jealous, i didn't get any easter treats!

vegan bologna? i have never seen that...but i want some NOW!

Sal - AlienOnToast said...

That bread pudding looks so tasty and your dad is so sweet to buy you a new blender.

The soup and strawberry pie both look amazing too!

Vegan In The VI said...

I'm sure sales of vegan bologna sky-rocketed after this post. I know I just bought some.

jenny said...

That looks like fun!!

aTxVegn said...

Yay, you got a blender! And granny's homemade goodies - what a great Easter for you.

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

What a great Easter & YUM strawberries!

Erin said...

Oh my gosh - I ate bologna, cheese and mustard on white bread way too much as a child. Oddly enough, it sounds pretty good now.

Hooray for having a new blender! Mine has been on the fritz for so long that I'm used to using the food processor for everything.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful weekend. I'd love to try the beans and greens soup. Looks like Italian Wedding soup a little bit :)

Eileen said...

I'm so jealous of your basket of canned veg! I can't remember the last time I got an easter basket, but it certainly didn't look like that. :)