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!