No, not flowers! These were actually my little wild flower “feel better soon” bouquet Guppy picked with Monsieur Fish on Sunday. They did make me feel better.
I hope you had a lovely weekend (long weekend for some of us) whether you were celebrating with friends and family or simply celebrating friends and family (as we were). I have some Lenten Confessions (yes, that means baking!) coming for you in my next post, but for now, I’d like to share the vegan goodness this weekend had to offer!
As a child, our traditional Easter weekend meant a visit from the Spring Fertility Rabbit (aka Easter Bunny), and a gigantic family dinner comprised of ham, potatoes and cabbage salad (and other random things that no one could eat for the glut of chocolate but a few hours before…).
We were almost always with my grandparents, divorced since before my birth, but somehow always together for the holidays – a forced reconciliation benefiting everyone involved. In fact, I was at least 5 years old before I really understood that my grandparents had witnessed a mammoth shift in their marital status, that they had been married, but no longer were. I had no idea how much bending-over-backwards was happening, the adults accommodating their very real and still fresh wounds. Somehow their living apart, but being together for the key moments of the year, when we made the journey North to spend the holidays tas a family, just seemed normal. Only now as an adult can I really appreciate just how much my grandparents loved my parents and my sibs and I. It was by no means a masquerade, but they put aside their differences and were able to enjoy the moments which became some of the most important memories of my lifetime. Way to go, Rita and Joe!
My Papa Joe was in charge of the cabbage salad. He would sit at the dining room table and carve the thinnest of slices before adding vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. I have some of the most beautiful memories of him at that table, the sunshine coming in from behind him, giving his tall frame an even more impressive aura. He always wore a suit and a bow tie, without exception, and he smelled like tobacco and peppermint.
I loved the family gathering, the sugar high, the gifts… but as for the dinner…I liked the cabbage salad, and that was about it.
Enough reminiscing, what did you eat for Easter dinner? What do you mean you didn’t have veggie burgers? Well, you should have, because they were darn tasty! These just happen to be the Black Bean Grillers from the much-anticipated 500 Vegan Recipes Cookbook by Joni & Celine. I know, I’m driving you crazy, but the testing is almost done, and they are just so good and easy to throw together at the last minute… I feel morally obliged to tell you about their awesomeness.
And what could possibly go better with burgers? More comfort food of course!
Here we have some steamed broccoli (which I think is Guppy’s very favourite non-fruit food) and rosemary mashed potatoes smothered in “Soppy Gravy”, a delicious mushroom-gravy with a kick, also soon to be featured in 500 Vegan Recipes. Considering that mashed potatoes have been one of my favourite foods since my introduction to solids, I fancy myself a bit of a gravy-expert. Not gravy making expert, mind you, but official gravy tester would be lovely on my CV next to my diplomas and work experience. I have made many a mushroom gravy in my day, but this one had a little somethin’ somethin’ that made me say wow!*
My modest little point-and-shoot doesn’t do the test recipes of 500 Vegan Recipes justice, so do scoot over to visit the 500 Vegan Recipes Flickr group and see what real photographers can do. For now, I’ll stick to eating taters and gravy.
Thanks for all the sweetness and advice on my respiratory woes. I’m still on a cortisone-high, but should feeling better soon. I will try to get past my loath for doctor visits and get to the bottom of this, and need to track down one of those nettie-nettle potty deals. It’s a little crazy how many women seem to have this random surge of sinus infections entering into their 30s…humm…Internet research calling my name…
*I did indeed say “Wow”.
Musings From The Fishbowl 
Wow am i hungry or does that food seem really good.
Happy belated Easter! We just got sushi over here, since we don’t really celebrate. 🙂
Hi Shelly,
I was thinking … if you have been avoiding all sweets for lent, your body may now be detoxing it. I still had a lingering candida infection so decided to do a two month period where in addition to my standard macro diet I had no bread, “sweets”, like rice syrup, barley malt, not even fruit. I ate lots of plain whole grains, beans & many veggies. And … I just had something similar except it didn’t turn into a sinus infection, but it was pretty miserable for about 10 days.
Shellyfish,
That was such a sweet story about your grandparents! Cool that you liked the cabbage.
what a wonderful memory – and that cabbage recipe sounds soooo good. i’m such a cabbage nut.
i can’t wait for this book – it feels like it’s been in the testing state for yearS!
Oooh, yum yum! 500 vegan recipes is going to be great!
I hope you’re feeling better.
Such a sweet gesture to bring you flowers. They are lovely. I think your Easter meal looks absolutely wonderful. I’ve really been enjoying reading about everyone’s feasts since our family has always gone out for dinner – same fabulous food at the same lovely restaurant for as long as I can remember.
Your mom left the nicest comment on my blog thanking me for her birthday gift. What a sweetie! Thanks for letting me be a part of her special celebration.
Aw, I hope you continue to be on the mend. Comfort food sounds perfect for you! I haven’t had gravy in ages and your cooking makes me miss it!
Oui, c’est beaucoup mieux de feter de la famille et des amis!
Soigne-toi bien! J’utilise un neti pot pour mes allergies.
haha… i did have veggie burgers for my pre-easter dinner with my parents! nothing as spectacular as yours though.