Easter Sunday for the List

Happy Easter. We’re having a small family gathering that I have been struggling to get motivated to be creative in the kitchen for, or in the holiday spirit at all this year. I had initially planned to make a vegan seitan ham, but found my vital wheat gluten was expired and could not locate any locally yesterday afternoon, so it’s going to be some sort of smoky ham flavored soy curl dish instead which should be interesting.

Miko had a rough few days this week with increased coughing, bad sleep for us both, and lacking energy and appetite. A few calls to his regular vet and I found out he was supposed to have a medicine adjustment from his echocardiogram last month to go with the added afib medication from the expensive specialty/emergency vet, but that was never communicated to me due the recommendations of the ER vet and chaos around that. Ugh! So we’re making those adjustments now with a new diuretic medication and seems to be going okay so far. He has been enjoying his long walks and backyard time between the rain storms this week and happy to snuggle up in blankets.

Our garden has been happy with the rain, the cabbages and grapes are going crazy. We’ll need to add an additional trellis for the grapes soon to expand along the back fence from the garden bed when that plant was a scrawny single vine last year.

Motivation has been a struggle this week with work being busy, trying to get help for Miko, and just feeling deflated with everything going on that I’m trying to work through. Ron has been sweet with making meals and getting takeout this week, there has been more simple salads, beans and rice with veggies added, simple curry potato and soy curl sauté, and Ron made a great BBQ soy curl sandwich with homemade sweet potato fries. I have a new subscribe and save shipment of soy curls from Amazon since they’re hard to find locally and we’ve having fun with them.

More salad, curry Thai tofu takeout, and a simple veggie rice noodle dish with miso and jalapenos.

Recently we got a new Mendocino Farms location much closer and Ron and I stopped by for lunch yesterday before shopping since he has never tried their vegan options. I got the Impossible Taco Salad and he the Vegan Banh Mi sandwich with the Spicy Dijon Potato salad.

Both were awesome, the salad was very hearty packing a lot of kick in the dressing. The potato salad had a daring level of kick pairing nicely with the sandwich. So thrilled to have so many vegan dine out options in the area now that continue to grow.

I hope you have a great Easter and week ahead starting with the list.

• Benefits of a vegan diet can be dramatic.
• Vegan diet for reducing greenhouse gases.
• Must try these Turmeric Lemon Squares.
• Best IKEA vegan options.
• Guess I need to try this Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Ice Cream.
• Guide to vegan boxed mac n’ cheese.
• Vegan diet may be best for dogs.
• Vegan brands are dominating.
• 15 best vegan lip balms.
• Guide to a vegan Mediterranean diet.
• Still need to try these.