Leftovers!

Ah, leftovers. Sometimes a good thing (like when you work really really hard all day outside on the estate grounds and would rather not have to cook); sometimes not so good (when you've eaten the same thing for three days in a row...)

Remember the grahams I made for our camping trip? There were some stragglers who were quite frankly, overstaying their welcome. Need I mention they were also getting somewhat stale? I took them, crushed them up good with the ole' rolling pin, and mixed in some melted Earth Balance. I pressed them into some muffin tins I had also lined with these little gems, then baked for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until they were nice and browned.

Once cooled, I made some mini coconut cream pies with Vegan Lunch Box Around the World as my inspiration. Here's the recipe for the filling:

1/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 can coconut milk (I used full fat, not light--make sure to shake the can before you open.)
1/3 cup sugar
5 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup soy, almond or rice milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Toast the coconut in a 350 degree oven (or in your toaster oven, like me) until brown--watch it closely, I almost burnt mine! In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch, then add your coconut milk and other milk. Whisk on medium heat, being careful not to let the pudding stick on the pan bottom. Once it gets thick, I mean really thick, remove from heat, stir in the toasted coconut and vanilla, fill your graham cracker crusts and chill.

This made eight mini coconut pies and one nice warm bowl of pudding for me to sample. Does anyone else like their pudding best warm?

I also melted some vegan dark chocolate and drizzled it over the top. It didn't NEED it, but sometimes you have to go big. Whilst eating one I commented to Nature Boy I think I was meant to live in the tropics; I would eat coconut and mango every day and swim in the ocean for hours. It was a mini-vacay, that tasty little treat was.

Ok--more on leftovers. I save all the odd bits of veggies, like the onion ends and broccoli stems and green pepper caps and mushroom stems, etc., etc., and freeze them. When I have a good amount, I throw it in a big pot, cover it with water, add some spices or not, and let it simmer for anywhere between 1-2 hours. I strain it when it's done and I have veggie broth.


So some of the veggie broth was used in the Mujaddara recipe from Vegan Lunch Box Around the World. Really, it's lentils and rice. This recipe features lots of fried onions which I opted out of. I threw in a small amount of chopped onion with the rice and lentils to saute, then added my veggie broth in lieu of the water she recommends. To be honest, it was ok. Not great, not horrible, just ok. I have a ton of it in the fridge which is now the "I'm tired of eating it" sort of leftover, so it may be frozen for a quick meal down the road. I served it with some chipotle-flavored tostada chips from our local Mexican grocer down the street and they gave it some pizazz.

Onward to leftover fabric. I bought a bunch of some Asian-inspired cheap stuff at Walmart some time ago. It has moved with me a least once, I think, maybe twice. It has been used to make a knitting bag and that is it. It's cousin was used for some pillows and later the backdrop for my jewelry holder thing. But I digress...

Threadbare in spots...

You see, the Vegas Vacation Bag, now two years old, is in very poor shape. I use her every day so I'm psyched she's had such a good life but sad to see her go. She went with me on my last holiday (to Vegas) before we began to hope for a Wee. Then a Wee was on the way and she held prescriptions for sonograms and snacks (I was hungry every three minutes it seemed). Finally with the Wee One, she holds Wee snacks and toys. She's come full circle with me and I will miss her.

Front

Lining with pockets...

Back

Here is the new bag. I will call her the Five Bag as she has five pleats, five topstitched rows on the strap piece and consists of five cut fabric panels. I saw a bag on Prudent Baby with pleats but it's construction and look wasn't for me. I am the need-a-big-roomy-boho-bag-to-sling-across-my-body-so-it-doesn't-fall-off-when-doin'-stuff kinda gal. I need a large strap to hold the heft of all that is crammed in said bag. I did like the pleats but wanted them to be on the back and on the top piece that flaps over the front. She is made pretty much the same as the Vegas Vacation Bag except she is much deeper. Now I can carry all my crap and maybe the wipes and diapers at the same time. I haven't tried her out yet so we shall see...

Now to figure out what to do with the leftover hours until bed...don't worry, I'll come up with something...

EDIT: I entered The Five Bag in Tea Rose's Link Party. Go check out the cool stuff other crafty folks have made!