salad

Here I am, the stereotypical vegan, taking a salad (with sprouts!), fruit, and steamed vegetables for lunch. Half a cinnamon raisin bagel on the side.

I also made a peanut butter sandwich and I'll probably grab some chips and a soy yogurt when I leave the house because I'm staying at school until 9PM tomorrow for band rehearsal. For now I'm just hoping that there will be enough snow tonight to cancel school for tomorrow.

I'm really excited because last night I convinced my family to sign up for a community supported agriculture program for the spring through the fall. From mid-May until November, we will be getting weekly shipments of local, seasonal, organic produce from a family-run farm. I can't wait to get started!

Right now I'm into my busiest time of the year. I probably won't be around much the rest of this week. Between my classes, jazz band, wind ensemble, a performance for the Chinese department at my school, and a few other extracurriculars, I won't particularly be home. Happy Monday and I hope everyone has a less stressful week than I'm sure to have!

Quinoa with black beans

What's a girl to do when the cupboards are bare? Make quinoa! I've been in a bit of a rut lately with my lunches (and with cooking in general) so I decided to be a little more interesting today with the meager fixings I found around the kitchen. I sauteed a carrot, some garlic, and bell pepper with some salt and pepper, then added most of a can of black beans, 1/3 cup of quinoa, and 2/3 cup of water. Put a cover on the post and let it simmer for 15 minutes and a meal is ready. This made about twice the amount that you see here in the lunch box.

While the quinoa cooked, I made a potato with black pepper in the microwave and grabbed a carrot raisin muffin. I was a little disappointed with these muffins. They are edible, but I probably won't make them again. I had to cook them about 15 minutes more than the recipe stated and they still didn't all completely cook. I'm not sure what was going on, the recipe was from Vegan with a Vengeance so I was really surprised that it didn't work.

Some fruit on the side, an orange, some grapes, and a not-in-season, not local, not very tasty apple. That'll teach me not to eat grocery store apples.

I'm thinking about finally purchasing a Laptop Lunch Box. They're cute and more convenient than the container I currently use because the sections don't leak into each other. Anyway, if shmoo uses one, I want one, too! According to an email I got today, the new laptop lunch box is improved and will be going up in price soon. I guess I should get on it if I'm really going to order one of these.

Veggie pancakes, cucumber salad

For tomorrow I have some comfort food: cucumber salad (thinly sliced cucumbers and mushrooms with vinegar, olive oil, and kosher salt) and mini veggie pancakes with ketchup. The veggie pancakes are Ratner's brand from the freezer section, not homemade, but are delicious regardless.


We found dried apple chunks at Costco. They are pretty soft and chewy and remind me more of fruit snacks than dried fruit, but are good either way. Alongside the apples are some carrots.

Fruit on the side includes pineapple, cantaloupe, and apple.

First lunch of the new year

Starting out the new year with an actual lunch. Hopefully soon I'll get back to things that are a little more interesting soon, but for now I'm in a bit of a rut. I have mint double stuff Oreos, a pumpkin cranberry muffin, and a pita bread with natural peanut butter.

If you ever find yourself in New York near Queens it is imperative that you take a trip to Queens Pita in Flushing. The thick pita there is the closest to Israeli pita that I've ever had in the US. They make it fresh and you can buy it by the bag to take home. If you think pita is a dry crumbly bread you are in for a surprise. Queens Pita is soft and absolutely delicious.

One of my friends carries around a big bag full of fresh fruits and veggies and just snacks all day. Since tomorrow is one of the days when I have to stay at school until 5PM, I decided to follow her lead. Next to my lunch I have a container with an apple, cantaloupe, and carrots.