Murphy’s Law of Vegan Baking:
When you desperately want a new recipe to work out, it won’t.
This is why you got a 1,000 words post yesterday instead of the recipe that Eric and I made!
We made vegan banana bread and while it turned out pretty good, it needs a few tweaks until I am ready to post the recipe. I think I used too much baking soda!
It will be coming soon though. I already picked up some ripe bananas on the drive home.
Yesterday was Boxing Day and boy did we ever have a feast! My mother-in-law, Margaret, always has her big Christmas dinner on Boxing Day and it was pretty much a full day of face stuffing from breakfast until dessert around 10pm. I’m feeling like I have a bit of a ‘food hangover’ today!
As per usual, she rocked the table decor once again. My MIL is the queen of table settings.
Every holiday she does something completely new and it always looks stunning.
I was in charge of the name tags. ;) It has been so long since I have used cursive hand writing though, I felt a bit rusty!
We polished off many bottles of wine! Yes, yes, we did.
And we feasted on incredibly delicious food!
Classic Stuffing, turkey, asparagus..
Caesar Salad…
Brussels sprouts & carrots…
My MIL’s famous Croquettes (her mom’s Irish recipe) are below. We also made a vegan version this year using almond milk and Earth Balance (on the right) and Eric said he could barely taste the difference between the two! I was really happy to be able to enjoy them again.
My MIL also surprised me with this amazing vegan wheat berry and navy bean salad that was TOP SECRET until dinner was served!
It was absolutely amazing and everyone raved about it. If you guys are interested, I will get the recipe and do a recipe post on it.
I was quite hungry when dinner was served and I STUFFED myself until I was literally uncomfortable. I just couldn’t help myself!
I had a huge serving of the vegan salad (plus seconds), croquettes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, asparagus, salad.
I ate every bite!
For dessert I had 2 Nanaimo squares and a couple vegan gingersnap cookies.
And wine.
Too much for my belly!
We worked our dinner off with a couple hours of Kinect, dancing and boxing the night away! It was really fun playing it with a group of 10 adults, all drinking wine. ;) We laughed and laughed and the good times were a rollin’!
I lost a slipper in all the excitement! lol
I win. bahah
That would be the look of defeat on Eric’s face. LOL!
We drove home late this morning and the first thing I did when I got home is 1) Make a Green Monster, and 2) Convince myself that a workout would make all the difference. I hadn’t worked out in 3-4 days and it was really started to hit me and I was feeling so sluggish. I felt so much better after running a few miles, even if it wasn’t all that fun while I was sweating! It is hard getting back into the groove, but I find if I just focus on doing a bit at a time and not setting my goal too high, I am more likely to just do it.
I have a lot of unpacking and organizing to do the rest of the day. See you soon!
What a beautiful Boxing Day! I love that the big dinner is on boxing day so you get 1 extra day of holiday fun in the family :)
I felt the same way with the lack of workouts, so today I got enough energy to get some leg exercises on ;)
I need to know what is in these croquettes! YUM!
xxoo
That feast looks wonderful and I’d love the recipe for that salad. I’ve been thinking about buying the farro that has recently shown up at Costco and I think it would probably work well in that dish. Are the croquettes made with potato?
Sounds like you had a lovely time :-)
Yes they are made with potato + herbs and traditionally cream and butter. Deelish both ways vegan and non vegan :)
I almost forget the best part..they are deep fried!!!!!!
what a beautiful table scene! And I LOVE wheatberry salads!
Good job on hitting the treadmill. I need to! And I have that same magazine to keep me company when I do. :)
Gorgeous table setting! Your meal looks amazing! :)
Wow, that table looks beautiful!
Recipe for the salad please!
Would love to see the recipe for the salad. Looks so colorful and pretty!
Also pretty are those brussel sprouts and carrots tureens. Anywhere to find them in the US?
[email protected]
That salad looks amazing! I’d be very interested in the recipe.
Are wheat berries what is used to grow wheat grass?
Your MIL is really sweet for making dishes that are for you to enjoy!
How sweet of your MIL to make a vegan entree for you!! I’ve been mostly vegan for a year now, but I’m seriously considering taking the full-on plunge starting in January. Your posts always inspire me to do so- I just get nervous about dining at others’!!
it’s tough at first, but once others get used to the idea it becomes a lot easier over time.
That table is simply gorgeous! What a talented MIL you have :)
I’m interested in the salad recipe — looks light, fresh, and tasty!
Angela,
I just discovered your website and am very inspired by you and your story as well as your talent to bake, take amazing photographs and write.
I would love to subscribe for your blog, but wasn’t able to find a link (?)
Also, would love to hear about wheat berry salad.
Thank you,
Zivile
Thanks Zivile! :)
There is a ‘follow’ tab on the right hand side of the blog. If you click the tab you can find the RSS subscription. :) Hope this helps!
The table is gorgeous! Looks like a great Boxing Day :)
I have had my fair share of baking disasters. I used to get so upset and now I just laugh it off. There’s always worse things in life.
I love the pictures of your family playing Kinect. Looks like you guys had such a fun time :)
Everything looks great. And yes, please, reveal the wheat berry recipe to us!
Oooh, so much good food!
Hey, one day wont kill you!
Hi Angela!
It looks like you had a great boxing day! I can’t wait to go for a run tomorrow! :-) I just wanted to say that I think your blog is fab! You’re an inspration and I’m really enjoying trying out some of your recipes. Tomorrow I’m gonna try your “Carrot cake oats” for breakkie :-)
Thankyou for your beautiful blog. Hugs from the UK x x x
thanks! I hope you enjoy the oats. I think I will make them tomorrow AM too!
Oh yes please post the recipe of your MIL’s salad! It looks amazing!
Love the pics of you and your family jammin in the living room! Oh those are classic, love em!
Recipes never turn out when you reallllly wannnnnnt them too. Instead, it’s the random throw it together and this is never gonna work ones that end up turning out great…and then those types, when you try to duplicate it again, well, they dont work out as well the 2nd/planned time as they do the 1st/random time…well, for me at least :)
I make a vegan GF banana bread but it’s very dense! Heavy. Not light like traditional banana bread…can’t wait to see what you come up with !
haha or you lose the recipe that you wrote down (as in the case of my s’more cake in a jar recipe that I can’t seem to replicate again! )
I had to force myself to exercise today, too. Something about the snow and the chocolate consumed just makes me want to lie down and not move!
What an amazing time and beautiful pics!
I love family Wii Time, haha! :)
What a great spread of tasty food!
This post reminds me of two things: 1. My dad danced to Britney Spears’ Womanizer through the Wii game “Just Dance” over the holiday and it made my life. 2. I need some cardio in my life as well :)
I love how creative the table setting is!! So festive!!
I hear ya on the wine. My family and I went through quite a few bottles too hehe ;)
ohhhh, yes please share the recipe
Those table photos really “glow!”
Fun times with the video games! We enjoy playing the Wii, it seems like the Kinect takes it a step up!
Oh my goodness that game looks hilarious.
I can only imagine how much you guys must have been laughing.
Too cute!
Those photos are hilarious! I love that the whole family got involved. And delicious meal – I love all the vegan options. I ran today and it felt so good to get my body moving!
What exactly does one do on Boxing Day? Just that? Eat and chillax with family and friends? I’ve always wondered if there was a specific purpose to the holiday.
I’m an American. I’m dumb about these (and many other) things! ;)
The feast looks wonderful though! And I feel you on the workout. I just ran a measly 1.8 miles today (have been away from running for a little bit), and I didn’t enjoy it while it was happening, but I felt SO much better after! So good in fact that I decided to walk the 4 miles to work and get a little extra activity in. Activity is good!
I’m wondering the same thing. What is this “Boxing Day” you speak of? Actually, I’ll just google!
And yes, that navy bean recipe please!
Gorgeous!
Ps. My fiance looked over my shoulder as I was reading and thought the sidebar on your treadmill was your leg. Very impressed. “She’s really running!!”
Banana bread recipe? Yes please. Wheatberry salad recipe? Yes please!!!! I need some new recipes to get me back into good eating :)
All the food looks soooo delicious! & YES to the salad recipe pleaseeeee!! :D
Those Kinect pictures are priceless!!
That Murphy’s Law ALWAYS happens to me with recipes!!
I’m trying to get back in the workout groove after 4 days off, too. It’s tough!
yesssss it is, isn’t it?
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve made those pumpkin/brownie cupcakes over the past few weeks (and how many of them I’ve eaten myself. I think my boyfriend got one. Once.) Can’t wait to see what goals you are setting yourself this year/New Year resolutions. I’m trying to write mine but feeling very uninspired!
Love the action shot of you at the end! Merry Christmas!
Oh my gosh, please get the recipe for the vegan wheat berry and navy bean salad!! It looks absolutely amazing!
Ahh, what a fun day! Adult games + adult beverages always make for the best of times. For the record, I’d love to see the recipe for that wheatgrass salad – it looks amazing!
I can’t believe you can look so beautiful on the treadmill. When I’m on the treadmill I vaguely resemble a Christmas ham.
Such a beautiful post…love the delicious food pictures and your vegan loaf…looks fabulous!
Happy Holidays.
The food looks delicious!!! And it looks like the time after dinner was a blast!
Nice! The food looked great :)
What a beautiful table spread!! LOVE the wine glasses!
Looks like such a fun night of food + family. The Kinect photos are HILarious!!! :)
It all looks great!!! And your cursive writing is wonderful :-) Those nametags are beautiful!
And I loved the pictures of the Kinect game!! Hahahaa :-) and I LOVE the photo of your slipper flying off! Thats great!!!
I’m glad you had a blast!! And yes one day at a time and you’ll get back into the groove :-)
I always love reading!
that salad looks aaaaaamzing. recipe PLEASE. you blog is a nice inspiration. i have been having trouble with the people in my life accepting my veganism .. the holidays are especially hard. knowing there are other compassionate people out there is really comforting. BOOKMARKING your blog for sure~
I just had the Little Penguin wine for Christmas and I was really impressed! I think it was a Pinot Noir.
What a fun night playing Kinect! Your family looks like so much fun :-)
I love that you are reading a food mag while on the treadmill! I’m so going to try that! :D
It makes me happy to know that I’m not the only one who has recipes that don’t turn out =)…I’ve been experimenting so much lately and haven’t had any luck! It was really discouraging until I talked to quite a few good cooks who have experienced the same thing!
I have to tell you though…if that vegan banana bread was sitting in front of me I’d eat the whole thing in one sitting! It looks so good! =)
oh and one more thing–how do you control your appetite duing the holidays and even in general? Because I’m supposed to gain weight, I’ve been allowing myself treats and this has caused me to eat way past the point of feeling full…where I feel completely sick. I’ve been giving in waaaay too much lately and have been sliding back into my old habits of binging and this scares me =/ How did you finally overcome your “binging days”? Any advice for someone like me? =)
Hi Danielle,
I wrote two posts on binge eating that may help you!
FAQ Installment 15 (binge eating: Part 1: http://ohsheglows.com/2009/02/04/the-unspoken-issue/
FAQ Installment 16 (Binge eating: Part 2: http://ohsheglows.com/2009/02/05/the-unspoken-issue-part-2/
Thank you so much Angela!!! =)
that is barely anything they were mostly vegetables :) christmas is all about eating!
and i am definitely interested in the wheat berry and navy bean salad!