Brussel Sprouts, Tofu, and Kale, Oh My!



Cooked Brussels sprouts

A few months ago, I stepped out of my food {pasta} box when a friend pointed out the Brussels sprouts with olive oil and garlic at Trader Joe's. I instantly turned my nose up to the idea, I could practically smell the dirty gym socks I associated these mini cabbages with. Then I decided to step out of my pasta box and give them a try. Wow. No, I mean wow! In an instant they became a favorite. I eat them weekly, sometimes more and often as a meal. I pan fry them instead of steaming them {can you smell the gym socks?} and that sealed the deal.

Ugh, tofu. I won't lie, I'm not a fan of the Big T. For me it's a texture thing and honestly it makes me gag. I know, being a vegetarian I'm supposed to love it, but it's a hard one to love. It gets mushy in your mouth when you expect it to be firm and maybe a bit of a crunch to it. Nope. Nada.  Gag.  Well, that is not until I discovered baked tofu. Thank you to whoever came up with that brilliant idea! I've tried baking tofu before but it's a lot of work and honestly it's just annoying. Enter, the goodness of someone else baking your tofu. It's smaller in size than your normal packed in water tofu, probably because there isn't any water in it. I don't pretend to know what it's about, I just cube it, pop it on a frying pan with a little olive or coconut oil and poof, I've got a delicious salad topper, snack, or the protein of a meal. I honestly crave this. And Bug enjoys it too so I really can't complain.

Sesame Kale

Kale. That nasty, bitter green that's so good for you but tastes horrible. You know it, the super food that's been all over the news. The one that's packed with all those amazing vitamins and nutrients and blah blah blah. I tried doing kale chips, those were good but you have to eat them in one sitting or they get soggy and that's no good. I tried blending it in a smoothie, I couldn't choke it down and there was no fooling Bug. But then a few weeks ago I came across sesame kale at the co-op. It was amazing. Seriously! It didn't even taste like kale and the ingredients were simple enough I decided to give it a go at home. Seriously, I ate 3 huge bowls of it {in one sitting} and I can't wait to eat more tomorrow. 



Ice water with a cucumber slice. Refreshing on a hot day!

These are three things I've thought we're less than palatable but have come to my vegetarian senses and now love them. Have you found yourself doing the same thing? Have you previously turned your nose up to something only to realize you really love it? I raise my fork to stepping out of the box and trying something new. 

-Jess



Deliciousness cooking



Brussels Sprouts

Olive oil

Fresh garlic, minced

salt and pepper

Parmesan cheese

Wash the Brussels sprouts, remove the bottom part and cut in half.  Add olive oil in a pan and heat over med heat.  Add garlic, Brussels sprouts and salt and pepper and cook until tender-crunchy and browned on some sides.  Add some Parmesan cheese just before serving.  

Sesame Kale

Bunch of Kale

sesame oil

soy sauce

garlic

pepper

sesame seeds, toasted slightly

Wash and dry the kale, tear it into bite sized pieces.  Mix equal parts sesame oil and soy sauce together in a bowl.  Add garlic and pepper and blend together.  Toss over kale.  Add sesame seeds and get ready for something you totally wouldn't expect!