Now, back to our regularly scheduled post:
For a food addict like myself, a delicious meal serves as sanctuary. Food is safe place where all the troubles in the world melt away, at least until my plate is licked clean (and yes, I have been known to lick a plate). Maybe that's not the healthiest attitude to have toward food, but it's the one I've got and I've learned to live with it. When I'm not eating, I'm thinking about my next meal or reading a food blog or perusing a cookbook. Yes, I live to eat.
And nothing says "sanctuary" like great big ole dinner salad topped with all sorts of veggies, baked tofu, and vegan ranch dressing. Naturally, I had to make Isa's Sanctuary Salad from Appetite for Reduction:
This was the first recipe that caught my eye when browsing the salad chapter. It's got all kinds of goodness — romaine, herbed roasted cauliflower, eggplant bacon, baked tofu, carrots, radishes, sprouts, and a homemade vegan ranch made with silk tofu, Vegenaise, and spices.Let's talk more about that eggplant bacon. OMG. This is from another recipe in Isa's book. It's smoky and crispy, and it's freakin' eggplant. By the way, I learned the hard way that eggplant is way out of season. I looked at three stores before I found one and then paid $5 for it. Yes, $5 for one eggplant. But I really, really wanted to make eggplant bacon.
What's your food attitude? Do you live to eat? Or just eat to live?
It may be 4:15 am in my time zone, but I am now absolutely certain that at some point today I would like to eat a salad.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a live to eat type too. I constantly think about what I'm going to eat next, and I read cookbooks like people read real books, except with a handy stack of post-its nearby to mark anything I am excited to try. This salad looks like a real meal with all those goodies in it, so I am psyched to try it!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty eat-to-live too, it's kind of obsessive sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI was just eyeing that salad in the book last night. (Yes, I peruse for fun too). I've heard awesome things about that eggplant bacon AND all her dressings in the book!
EEE I'm so excited to have won <3
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a live to eat type, although my waist line would probably thank me if I was an eat to live type of person. I've been making a lot of Happy Herbivore and AFR recipes lately though; so I don't have to control myself quite so much. I still haven't made that eggplant bacon; I'm waiting for the days when giant eggplants are 2 for $1 at the farmer's market.
The eggplant bacon sounds great! 5 $ for an eggplant? Ouch
ReplyDeleteI have been eying that salad since I got the book months ago! Not sure why I haven't made it yet...
ReplyDeleteI try to strike a healthy balance between "live to eat" and "eat to live." I definitely think it's important to derive pleasure from our food, but I try not to get *too* obsessive with looking forward to a meal. I used to be the type to think about my next meal while I'm still eating my current one... :-D Now I think I've gotten much better in enjoying the moment, then moving on with my day - and when the next meal comes, I'll enjoy that one, too.
But I still read cookbooks in bed instead of novels. :-P
I made the Cesar Chavez salad a few days ago and had the same eggplant problem! The local Whole Foods actually had a section of eggplant for $2.99 but it was all gone! I got some Japanese eggplants instead, which worked well to just cut into rounds.
ReplyDeleteYour salad looks great!
Yummy salad... There have been times that I lived to eat and thus I weighed over 300 lbs. Now I eat to live.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Debra
Raw Vegan Diet
I'm pretty much always thinking about what I'm going to eat next, reading a cook book, or looking at food blogs.
ReplyDeleteI've had eggplant bacon at raw restos, but never actually made it myself. Sounds like a new project to conquer! Also, now I want vegan ranch dressing. Two projects. See, this is why I'm always thinking about food!
I am obsessed with food.. live to eat.. and unfortunately it shows!
ReplyDeletere pressure cooker.. I totally get what you're saying.. it is a different way of cooking and there is a disconnect of some sort!
I definitely live to eat. It's not just about the food though, it's about celebrating and spending time with friends.
ReplyDeleteThat salad looks wonderful btw!
-Amanda
http://vegancents.com
I'm cheap! I just bought frozen eggplant cutlets for an eggplant and zucchini lasagna because the fresh eggplants are soooo expensive now. I'll file this one away for summer testing.
ReplyDeletePeople that eat to live are missing out.
ReplyDeleteI sort of follow both- i live to eat and eat to live..sometimes one more than the other.
ReplyDeletexoxo