A GAL NAMED RANIA

I've decided to start a weekly wish list. Here goes!


My Weekly Wish For


Society: is for more people to realize that possessing things is not what's most important in life. Sure it's fun to spoil yourself every now and again, but who cares if you can't have it all. Stop worrying so much about buying every designer purse or the newest piece of technology. Go out and enjoy the beauty of nature and the company of good people. Material things are just that - material. Delve into a more physical and spiritual life. Everyone would be better off. 


Myself: is to try and worry less about the future. I would love to just be able to focus on the here and now: today. I think by doing this a lot of stress would be avoided. 


I would love to hear all your thoughts and wishes as well. Leave a comment and let me know what you're currently wishing for this week.

A GAL NAMED RANIA
As you can tell from the date on the photo, I have been meaning to post this for a very long time. My father was very impressed but a lot more amused by how much they appreciated his business. I felt the same.
Who knew that one extra penny could get you a postcard that cost a bit more than one cent plus a free magazine!?! All those in the service industry please take note :)

I hope you too enjoy the sheer absurdness yet amazing customer service of TIME magazine.

**OH NO! I just realized that Regina Evans left an "r" out of what I believe is meant to be YOUR in the first sentence. Oh well, still great customer service, TIME Magazine! Just hire a better proofreader. I am available and can start tomorrow!
A GAL NAMED RANIA

So in 21 minutes this damn Vegan diet will be over. I cooked a huge Vegan dinner tonight for a group of my friends to finish off the week with a bang! Good food. Good company. Good time watching the Grammy's and crapping on celebrities! Go Lady Antebellum! 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2011

Breakfast

Cup of Medium Roast Columbia Supreme Coffee with Almond Milk

Half a Grapefruit

Glass of Water


Lunch

A few Multigrain Crackers

Baba Ganoush

A few Chips

Guacamole

2 Glasses of Water


Dinner

Homemade Asian Feast:

Brown Rice

Fresh Sprouts

Mushroom Miso Soup - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Miso Powder, White Mushrooms, Straw Mushrooms, Tofu, Scallions, Water

Vegetable Curry - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Cardamom, Tumeric, Cayenne, Salt, Black Pepper, Water, Coconut Milk, White Potato, Carrot, Green Bell Pepper, Peas, Baby Corn

Garlic Eggplant - Chinese Eggplant, Garlic, Fresh Bamboo Shoots, Water Chestnuts, Salt, Black Pepper

Bok Choy - Steamed in Salted Water, Black Pepper 

Garlic Noodles - Garlic, Olive Oil, Scallions, Black Pepper, Soy Sauce

Wine and Beer



A GAL NAMED RANIA

If you don't have a bucket, then I guess I would have to say that yes, this is natural! 

Geez Vegans! 

Stop your judging.

Haven't you heard? Milk does the body good.


On a lactose free note, it was a beautiful warm Saturday full of beautifully delicious food! Take a look!



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011 


Breakfast

Bowl of Organic Corn Flakes with Organic Almond Milk

A few Red Seedless Grapes

Half a Gala Apple

Cup of Coffee with Almond Milk


Lunch

Falafel Pita Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato, and Tahini

Some Baba Ganoush with Half a Pita 

Glass of Water


Afternoon Snack

A few Glasses of Water

A few Red Seedless Grapes


Dinner

Organic Quinoa with Fresh Cilantro and Chives Mixed In

Homemade Spicy Petite Peas

Tabouleh Salad

Glass of Water

A few Glasses of Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 


Spicy Petite Pea Recipe

Saute some Diced White Onion in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add in some Cumin, Cardamom, Tumeric, Cayenne, Salt, and Black Pepper

Add Two Tbsp. of Mango Ginger Chutney (Trader Joes)

Continue to Simmer with a Bit of Water

Add Half a Bag of Frozen Petite Peas

Simmer and Cover to Steam until Cooked - 5 Minutes or So



A GAL NAMED RANIA

Day Five Vegan Recap! 

Can't ramble on too much tonight because it's Game Night at the house!

I am excited to eat all my vegan snacks though - which I would be eating regularly, anyway - Vegan or not!

Hope you enjoy today's menu!


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 


Breakfast

Cup of Dark Roast Sumatra Coffee with Almond Milk and a Touch of Honey


Lunch 

Fresh Spinach Topped with Last Bit of my Homemade Salsa, Spicy Hummus, Fried Onions, and Cayenne

2 Slices of a Gala Apple

2 Glasses of Water


Snack Attack Game Night Dinner

Persian Cucumber Slices

Homemade Guacamole

Low Fat Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips

Pita Bite Crackers

Chunky Olive Hummus

Classic Red Tomato Salsa

Red Seedless Grapes

Glasses of Water

Wine and Beer


Dessert

Sour Patch Kids 


Guacamole Recipe

4 Large Haas Avocados

1/2 Cup of Diced Red Onion

About a Cup of Diced Tomatoes

2 Finely Chopped Serano Chilies

A Handful of Roughly Chopped Cilantro

Salt and Black Pepper

Fresh Lime Juice

A GAL NAMED RANIA


So today was definitely an interesting one! I made a quick breakfast this morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. I then met my friend Shane at The Veggie Grill on Sunset where I had a delicious Vegan sandwich for lunch. The "chicken" or as they call it: chickin': was not that bad, surprisingly. It was a bit flaky like a tuna steak, but if blindfolded, I would guess it was a soft piece of chicken - maybe - I think. Regardless, it was very yummy! But then came dinner :( The boyfriend and I found a place that sells Vegan pizza and apparently, the best Vegan pizza in town. However, when we got there, it was closed. The place hadn't been open for 4 weeks, and I was pissed, to say the least. 


Long story short, we head to Trader Joes to pick up a few items. The dinner plan turned from Asian themed to the boyfriend saying, "Hey, I found Vegan cheese. Now we can make our own pizza." We gather the ingredients, but when we get to the cashier, a former Vegan, she informs us that the cheese is vegetarian and not Vegan because it is made with casings. So she directs us to a Henry's nearby, where she knows they carry Vegan cheese. It was a few cents shy of five bucks. 


Get home. Prepare my ingredients. Cut into the gelatinous "cheese" with "It Melts" all over the label. I never knew melting was such an esteemed quality that deserved advertising. Anyway, I decided to taste this Vegan Mozarella before sticking it in the oven. Bad idea. So gross. Not anything like any cheese on this earth - and as you know, there is a plethora of cheese in this world. But I put my happy face on, and prepare the mini pizzas thinking, "It will taste way better once it melts. Plus, all the other ingredients will mask the heinous flavor." Boy, was I wrong. 


My thought at that moment in time, "Great! I just wasted five bucks on something that tastes like shit. I could have bought a beer with that."


In short, Vegan cheese ruined my night. It also DID NOT MELT AT ALL. You know what I call that? FALSE ADVERTISING. I should sue their asses! I knew that I should have stayed away from any food trying to be something else. But the chicken substitute was so good, I figured the cheese one would be the same. I was wrong. Vegan cheese is so bad compared to the real thing. It was so bad, I made the next batch of pizzas without the cheese. Despite that, I was still left in a bitter mood because the cheese completely ruined my pleasant experience with the Vegan diet. And despite the encouraging words of my lovely boyfriend, the only thing that brought me back to a good mood was my trusty friend - a good ol' glass of vino :) 


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011


Breakfast

1 Hashbrown Topped with Leftover Homemade Salsa

2 Slices Gala Apple

Cup of Coffee with Almond Milk


Lunch

Bayou Chickin' Burger

Chillin’ chickin’, lightly blackened with 

cajun spices, lettuce, tomato, red onion, 

avocado, spicy vegan mayo. 

Side of Red Cabbage Slaw

Glass of Water


Afternoon Snack

Glass of Carrot Juice


Dinner

Homemade Pizza

Arugula, Hothouse Cucumber, and Organic Cherry Tomato Salad with a Vinaigrette made from 

Dijon, Black Pepper, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and White Balsamic

A few Glasses of Benefactor Red Wine


Pizza Recipe

Pita Bread Crust Topped With:

Tomato Sauce with Garlic, Olive Oil, Black Pepper Whisked in

Vegan Cheese (I suggest no cheese at all)

Fresh Spinach

Fresh Basil

Sliced Brown Mushrooms

Sliced Red Onion

Bake in a 300* Oven till Slightly Crisp - 5 - 8 minutes


A GAL NAMED RANIA

Day three of the Vegan diet, and I must admit that I ate very well today. I feel good and am excited to make some veggie burgers later this week. Till then, do take a looksie at my mid-day menu! 


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011


Breakfast 

Lightly Salted Rice Cake

Cup of Dark Roast Sumatra Coffee with Almond Milk and a Touch of Honey


Lunch

Toasted Pita filled with Dijon, Mixed Baby Greens, and Hot Sauce

Small serving of Leftover Lentil Soup

Glass of Water


Afternoon Snack

Tortilla Chips and Leftover Homemade Salsa

Glass of Water


Dinner

Homemade Orzo Pasta

A few Glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon 


Pasta Recipe

Saute Garlic, Sliced Brown Mushrooms, and Halfed Cherry Tomatoes in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add a Cup of Marinara and Bring to a Simmer

Season with Salt and Black Pepper

Add in Al Dente Orzo

Stir in Fresh Spinach

Serve and Top with Crushed Red Pepper