Today is my Mister's forty-first birthday :) Considering the Gluttony Fest that precedes his day, we typically do leftovers and a yay birthday dessert... he should have
something special, non?
Just after his birthday three years ago, he joined me in vegetarianism and also began trying to avoid eggs -- tough to do when you are grabbing snacks in convenience stores -- because of his spiritual beliefs. Since I had only been doing egg white omelets when trying to cut some fat and had conducted a fair few experiments in egg replacement, giving up eggs wasn't much of an ordeal. Dairy, however, unf.
He hasn't any spiritual qualms with dairy, directly, but I'm sure if he were to be exposed to the industry, he may feel different. I, on the other hand, lean more toward the health-nut end of vegetarianism.
in my mind the scale goes as such:
buddhist_________________animal hugger_________________health nut
we meet at animal hugging :)
Through volumes of reading, I have concluded that, while dairy is tasty, the commercial industry is awful, dairy doesn't
do the body good, then, through exposure and the failed attempts over the past year to kick it, it is quite addicting. ... and super hard when everyone else in the house is having tasty cheeses.
So(!), when the final approach began for this new year (after we both mega failed over Christmas, indulging in my mother-in-law's deliiicious Christmas Cookie Extravaganza, containing both eggs and butter), I struck a deal with the Mister:
no eggs. no dairy.
Essentially, we're going dietary vegan. Ok, it wasn't much of a deal, more of a proclamation, but he agreed. Fingers crossed we can both stick to reading labels, at least long enough that we work out replacements for the things to which we are accustomed. Fortunately, avoiding dairy will be fairly easy, as I have sufficient practice in making my own tofu ricotta / tofu feta / crock-style (spreadable) "cheeses" and veggie shreds melt well enough for our stromboli needs, IF my laziness doesn't push me to cave into ordering pizza.
Recipe du (naissance) jour: bittersweet pot de crème, chilled (no need for baking if you don't use eggs)
Pot de Crème
1-14 oz can (full fat) coconut milk
5 oz bittersweet chips (read the ingredients if avoiding dairy, we use SunSpire 65%)
2 tbs turbinado sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of salt
Put everything except coconut milk in your blender/processor canister (please hold on pureeing). In a small saucepan, heat coconut milk to a simmer; pour milk into blender (over other ingredients) and puree until smooth. Divide mixture between 4 small ramekins or teacups. Chill at least 5 hours.
(this one is a baddy!)
Servings: 4 | Calories: 451.6 | Total Fat: 36.5 g | Cholesterol: 0.0 mg | Sodium: 54.8 mg | Potassium: 243.3 mg | Total Carbs: 30.7 g | Dietary Fiber: 5.2 g | Sugars: 19.7 g | Protein: 4.8 g | Vit. A: 0.0% | Vit. C: 1.9% | Calcium: 2% | Iron: 25.5%
Full nutrition can be found here.
Tonight will ring the end of indulgence and the resumption of trying my best to take care of us, so we are going out with a *BANG*. Mmm!
Buenas noches, hasta luego :) Mañana, it's back to the pillow makery for me!