Monday, December 27, 2010

Xmas Wrap-Up

Hope y'all had a happy holiday. I certainly did! On Friday night, my boyfriend Paul and I went to Jonesboro, Arkansas to spend Xmas Eve with my family. We went out for Chinese buffet at a place called Hibachi. They actually had a ton of veg options, like spring rolls, fried rice without egg, kimchee, seaweed salad, and miso soup! Then we headed home to open presents. My first gift was this super-duper, crazy-awesome Electra Ladies Cruiser bike in mint green. I named it Falcor because, like the flying luckdragon in The Neverending Story, this bike will take me magical places:

Datsun also enjoyed opening gifts from his grandma and grandpa. This package contained his favorite brand of bouncy ball:

After my family present time was over, my BFF Sheridan (who was also in town for the holidays) came over to exchange gifts with me. We sipped spiked Silk Nog and ripped open our matching gifts. We made a pact to buy each other Isa's new low-fat vegan cookbook — Appetite for Reduction!

I also scored some bad-ass cookbooks from my parents — Color Me Vegan, Party Vegan, Viva Vegan, Skinny Bitch: The Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, the Vegan Rustic Cookbook, and Dr. Neal Bernard's Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook.

On Xmas morning, we drove to my Granny's house for a big ole Xmas Breakfast. Although Granny makes traditional breakfast foods (eggs, ham, non-vegan biscuits, etc.), my mom always prepares a special vegan breakfast for me — Tofu Scramble, Vegan Biscuits, Gimme Lean Sausage, and White Gravy:

After breakfast, Paul and I hopped in the car for the 4-hour drive to Nashville, where his family was having Xmas dinner. I prepared this Vegan Holiday Ham from Caribbean Vegan the day before and took it on my journey. My seitan-based ham wasn't nearly as pretty as Taymer's, but still tasty:

Paul's mom made mostly meat-based food. There was even bacon in the green beans! But she did save me some plain white taters before mashing the rest with milk and butter (I seasoned mine with soy sauce). And she left the butter out of the green peas just for me. Also, the crescent rolls were accidentally vegan! Here's my plate with veggies, bread, and the sliced holiday ham:

After dinner, Paul's sister's cat Kira helped clean the plates when no one else was looking (okay, except for me):

22 comments:

Cera said...

That cookbook is awesome (Appetite)! You must make the Chipotle brussel sprout chili, and the thai green curry stew. I am going to devour the entire cookbook. Or food, made according to each and every recipe.

Ainslie Greig said...

I can't decide which is cuter - your new bicycle, or your Vegan Holiday Ham!

My BFF and I frequently buy each other matching gifts on purpose, it's an awesome and hilarious tradition when you share a brain with someone, ha.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

LOOOOVE that bike!

The Health Sensei said...

my fam does bacon with the green beans too, it disgusts me to no end. looks like you had quite the consumerist holiday, glad you had a blast.

foodfeud said...

Ooh I haven't heard of Rustic Vegan before! I work at a bookstore and make every vegan cookbook that comes in my business to know about. I'm still waiting for Color Me Vegan to come in too. Once you finish testing yr own recipes, let us know what's good in yr new cookbooks!
Sounds like you had a good time.

Unknown said...

Rawk on the bike and the cookbooks. Falcor is a beaut. Soy sauce on the potatoes is something I need to try.

The Slow One said...

I could tear up that vegan breakfast right now...

Tami said...

I love your shirt and your bike! It sounds like you had a lovely time with Paul, your families and the BFF.

Boo for bacon.

MeloMeals said...

Oh I love your bike! and your ham looks great.

Lynn Barber said...

I have to agree! AfR is an AWESOME cookbook. I also got it for Christmas. Now I am super hungry! :)

VeganCraftastic said...

That bike is so awesome! And all the food looks yummy too :)

VeggieLow said...

jealous of all the cookbooks you got! the new isa book is awesome - hope you have fun w/ it!

Babette said...

I love your bike. It looks terrific!

I also got Appetite for reduction for Christmas. I tried the lasagna with cauliflower and it was pretty good, but not as good as Vcon's lasagna.

Great food pics.

Just Us said...

Yay for new cookbooks....that is one rad bike! :o)

Anonymous said...

You have to be careful with Kimchee, a lot of it has dried shrimp in it.

Anna said...

Yumo! And I love the bike. Such a fantastic color.

Jessica said...

That bike looks so fun! I'm always surprised how much room they seem to take up in the house.

You know, getting the un-baconed green beans is always a challenge. I'm always so happy to see how well your Granny feeds you.

lynzieloo said...

glad to hear // see you had a great xmas!
i'm seriously jealous of that bike, and pretty much everything you've pictured...
also, i have the same heart sweater... it's my favorite :)

Emma said...

Never understood the ham in the greenbeans...way to ruin a vegetable.

Sheridan said...

Yayyyyy for Christmas! Love my cookbook by the way. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I made the Taco Salad last night and Drew and I are trying the Brussels Sprout-Potato Hash tonight with your Tofu Scramble! I'll let you know how it goes!

Claire said...

Oh wow!!!
I am inlove with your bike!!
And that vegan breakfast looks so yummy!

Eric said...

liking the bike! i hope it takes you on some great adventures.