Daily Archives

I've been terribly absent from this blog recently and have decided to put my focus elsewhere. For vegan-specific blogging, please follow spokanevegans.wordpress.com. I'll also be blogging about more personal matters and non-vegan topics at my new blog, dailyarchives.wordpress.com. Thanks!

One World

The Spokesman Review published an article last week about One World, one of my favorite places to eat in Spokane. I was interviewed for the story and was happy (and flattered!) to share my thoughts on this great organization. I'm quoted in the article, but those quotes are not accurate, so I'd like to set things straight.

“I think if you’re used to eating food that comes out of a box or your standard dining out fare is at one of the chain restaurants or fast food you might not like One World,” says Crystal Clark, organizer of Spokane Vegans, a social group for vegan eaters.

“I think this kind of dining experience is intimidating to people, but I also think some of the fun of dining at a place like One World is the surprise. You don’t know what you’re going to get.”

I would never suggest that people would not like One World. When I spoke to the journalist, I suggested that the unique dining experience at One World may be a little intimidating to some less adventurous eaters, but that it didn't have to be. I explained that the model that One World uses - cooking with whole, local, in-season foods is not as predictable as eating at one of the many chain restaurants in Spokane. It's a bit of a surprise every time you eat there – it's always good, but the menu is never the same – and I like that! The friendly volunteers and chefs are knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. They might even share a recipe with you!

I think everyone in Spokane should eat at One World and I can't imagine anyone not liking it. The food is delicious, creative and gives a real sense of place because you know exactly where it came from. Spokane has a lot of great local restaurants serving delicious food and One World is definitely one of them. They always have vegan options and do fun things like tapas nights and guest chef nights. Visit their website and Facebook page to learn more. (Hint: They'll have vegan meatballs tomorrow night.)

Spokavore Challenge Round 2

I really had the best of intentions when I signed up for round two of the Spokavore challenge. Round one was a lot of fun–even though I didn't make it to the end–and I was looking forward to giving it another shot. However, as the first day dawned, I found my self completely unprepared. I could give you all sorts of excuses about how I've been busy with this and that and how challenging it would be for me to limit my diet even more, considering I'm gluten-free and soy-free (more on that another day) this time around. But really, I just wasn't prepared.

So yeah, I was out before the challenge even started. But I wish all the other contestants luck! I'll be following everyone's progress as the week goes on.

Pasta with White Bean Sauce

I'm broke. I get paid at the end of the week, but until then I'm being very thrifty and getting to know the contents of my kitchen cupboards. At the request of my son, tonight's dinner was originally planned to be one of our favorite soups, but I realized I was missing a couple of key ingredients. And since I'm determined not to go shopping this week, a special trip to the store for only two ingredients was out of the question. I had the white beans and the pasta though, and thought a white sauce would be nice. I did a Google search for recipes and soon found my inspiration. I added a few ingredients, increased the recipe, and in less than 30 miuntes dinner was on the table with a side of red kale.

This was really easy to make, calls for simple ingredients and is surprisingly satisfying. The flavor is delicate and just slightly "cheesy" with a nice smooth texture. I hadn't made a bean sauce before tonight, but now I'm a huge fan. I know I'll be playing around with this one some more. With a little adjusting, I think it would make a great base for a Stroganoff, too.


You'll Need:

6 T Earth Balance
3 large cloves garlic, minced
3 C or 2 15oz cans white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
2 C soymilk
1 t Spike seasoning
2 t nutritional yeast
splash dry vermouth or dry white wine (optional, but recommended)
salt and pepper to taste

Your favorite pasta–I won't try to guess ounces this time. Plan for 4 - 6 servings.

Method:

While pasta is cooking according to instructions, get started on the sauce. In a deep skillet, melt margarine and saute garlic for 2 minutes. Add a splash of vermouth and cook another minute or so. Put beans in food processor and add margarine and garlic, soymilk, nutritional yeast and Spike seasoning. Puree mixture until completely smooth, adding more soymilk as needed to reach desired consistency. Return mixture to the skillet and simmer on medium-low, stirring frequently for 6-8 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pasta.