Thursday, January 25, 2007

Stuffed in green with a lunchbox

I made stuffed green peppers in the crockpot using a recipe from The Vegetarian Slowcooker, although I once made them in the oven several years ago and didn't like them I was pleasantly surprised this time. I like these alot. The stuffing is basically brown rice, salsa, minced onion, and red beans with salt and pepper. I cooked the red beans in the crockpot to (way easy!) and was impressed with how easy this was and how the flavor improved when onion, garlic, and a bay leaf was added during the cooking process. Although the recipe adds a sauce made from canned tomatoes and seasoned I happened to have some homemade pasta sauce leftover in the freezer that I added some cumin to. I had three large green peppers that fit well in my 4 quart pot and divided the stuffing equally between the three... the stuffing was supposed to make 4 peppers but my three were large and all the stuffing was used for that purpose.

I cut the green pepper to make a " flower so it would spread out in a bowl that would contain all of the stuffing. I spooned extra sauce on the top and sprinkled it with some veg Parmesan sprinkles (Bryanna's homemade stuff using English walnuts). Today's lunch is a bowl of this. I attempted using the laptop lunchbox to carry this, but it just isn't made for this style of feast... back to the Tupperware. I added a chocolate soy protein bar to complete this meal.

Next I present pictures of my last couple of days lunch that did fit in the little box. I had another lunchtime meetings (the one that I starved at last time, but it is the day I also ordered my lunchbox) and received many compliments on the box as well as the "really healthy food".... I don't like to be set apart as though my food is somehow "different", I think my food should be the standard against what all food should be compared to. I think comments should be made about when other people choose the dead, preservative packed, etc, etc... like somehow IT stands out and needs to be mentioned. Anyways, I smiled and said it is tastey when the comments were made.

Wrap containing leftover dahl with sprouts, a small plastic "roll" of my zucchini relish (blue ribbon county fair stuff) to add to my wrap, and Dreena's Curried chickpea with sweet potato she calls it a casserole (made in my crockpot) but I think it is more of a hearty stew - I liked it.

Then I have a pumpkin seeded lentil burger (Dreena recipe) with a side container of homemade rhubarb chutney, a salad with more pumpkin seeds and currants, soy yogurt, two dark chocolate pieces, and a wrap all folded up and ready to be used for the burger with some salad. However, when lunchtime came I actually didn't feel like making a wrap using my pretty burger so I folded the chocolate inside the wrap and ate it dipped in my stevia sweetened soy yogurt.... not quite what I had intended but a nice change non the less.

The weekend will soon be approaching, my New York sis will be flying in again to share my "detox" stew as she calls it .... the clam style chowder from Bryanna's 20 minute cookbook. I have some seitan steaks cooking in my slow cooker right from Bryanna's latest Vegan Feast Newsletter. I'll be sharing this sometime this weekend. Have a great one too!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

That looks really yummy. Reading about your lunchboxes, inspires me to take a closer look at mine to see how I can improve. (well, beyond getting one of your cool lunchboxes, I mean. LOL)

Nikk said...

Your lunchboxes look absolutely delicious!

bazu said...

I love this quote of yours, and totally agree:

"I think my food should be the standard against what all food should be compared to. I think comments should be made about when other people choose the dead, preservative packed, etc, etc... like somehow IT stands out and needs to be mentioned."

Once, my brother mentioned that I didn't have any milk in the house. I answered, yes I do have milk, but not cow's milk. How's that for perspective?!

Valentina said...

Hi Dori, I'm going to post many more pictures of the sea and I hope you'll get to go to the ocean soon!
(i love filled peppers!!! yummy!!)

erica said...

Dori, did you really win a blue ribbon at the County Fair?!?

I've been so lazy about lunches lately, you put me to shame. I usually try and have some kind of leftovers to bring with an apple or carrots, yours are like mini-feasts.

Anonymous said...

crock pots rock

Anonymous said...

Your lunches put the Vegan Lunch Box to shame! They are amazing and beautiful and colorful.

Did you cut the peppers before you cooked them or after?

Sheree' said...

I love stuffed peppers. I was just given 4 large ones. I think I will have to make them this weekend or tomorrow.

Your lunches look fantastic. I get the same comments at work. "oh, look at all your healthy food and so many vegetables" I would love to say back to them your quote on dead,preserved nasty stuff. haha

I just got Drenna's book today in the mail. I am so excited to try everyones favorite picks.

Dori said...

Hi all, Glad you stopped by.

VV - I cut the peppers after they were cooked. They are cooked in the crockpot on low for four hours and that was perfect or the green pepper would not have been able to maintain it's shape.

Veg-a-nut: I'm looking forward to seeing whatyou try from Dreena's books. I have enjoyed them very much.

Dori said...

Erica... I did win a blue ribbon at the county fair, twice. The zucchini relish I had in my lunch actually won over the entire food class the year that I entered it.

Anonymous said...

Your food looks amazing, as always. The lunches look so pretty. I wouldn't have thought to put dal in a wrap -- I'll have to try that.

I agree with Bazu, love your quote. The hardest thing about being vegan is that everyone examines your food so closely. I always feel like I'm on "display".

Have a great weekend with you sister.

Anonymous said...

Hi! Thanks for coming and visiting my little blog. I see we have a mutual blog-buddie; vivacious vegan. I also noticed that you homeschool, and you're a Christian- I homeschooled until last year (a total of 6 years) and I am also a Christian. I used to be vegan, but now I am lacto-ovo.
Come by any time- I love your pictures!

Emmy said...

Wow, I could sure go for some vegan stuffed peppers right now. You don't have any plans to bring any to Chicago soon do you? LOL Your lunches look really tasty too.

erica said...

WOW!! The whole food class is pretty dang impressive.

Kelsey said...

Your lunches look fantastic!

laura k said...

I love stuffed peppers--I should try them in the crock pot sometime. Your lunch boxes look so healthy AND delicious--and you're right, your food should not be exceptional, it should be the norm. Bob and I find that people are often asking us for advice about how to "eat healthier," which strikes me as funny because we are by no means health professionals, we just choose to eat balanced, whole-food meals and it's drastically different from what most people are used to. Oh well--I think the healthier food thing is catching on, slowly but surely.

Carrie™ said...

More great lunchboxes! Stuffed peppers in the crockpot? What an excellent idea! I dug my crockpot out and started using it again. Maybe I'll try doing peppers in it. Thanks Dori!