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Ok, not really, but I’ve had an overwhelmingly large number of people ask me that question in various forms

“Are you a vegetarian?”

“Have you drank the CA kool-aid?’

“Have you denounced the east coast yet?”

and my personal favorite:

“Are you guys living in a commune?”

People, I have written posts on bacon and steak.  I’m pretty sure two months of California living isn’t going to make me turn away filet mignon anytime soon.  That said, I think I went a little overboard with the beef jerky while hiking in Yosemite last weekend.  I haven’t eaten any meat, poultry or fish in four(!!!) whole days.  This evening’s dinner was no different, I threw together some veg-friendly products into what my roommate called, “A Vegetarian Super-Protein Dinner.”  It was pretty good.  If I didn’t like steak so much, I might consider being a vegetarian.

It started with veggies:

and more veggies:

and ended with a delicious well-rounded meal

Vegetarian Super-Protein Dinner

• 1 cup uncooked Quinoa
• 9 oz. Firm Tofu, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 Zucchini, diced
• 1 Bell Pepper, chopped
• 1 can Artichoke Hearts, halved
• 1 1/2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, halved
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.
2. Saute onion in 1 tbsp olive oil until tender.  Add zucchini and bell peppers.
3. Once all the vegetables are tender, add the artichoke hearts and tofu and heat until warm
4. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining olive oil, Dijon mustard and vinegar
5. Combine the cooked quinoa and warm veggies.  Drizzle the Dijon dressing over the mixture, add the cherry tomatoes and carefully stir.
6. Serve hot or cold, with a side of bacon.

is best served with

Donut Holes from Citizen Cake and

Blue Bottle Coffee

Plain Yogurt + Farmer’s Market Berries

Hmm…methinks I’m forgetting something

Ah yes…the honey.

Delicious.

So I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I looouuvveee farmer’s markets.
They take place on weekend mornings. A time when you can slow down, relax and wander around (did I just write “slow down?”…I can’t remember the last time I actually did that). The variety of food is fantastic and ever-changing. I’m very sad I won’t be here in California during the Fall when the strawberries and corn transition into apples and squash. It’s a great way to change up your meals and get creative with new recipes. Plus, once you get home, you can eat everything, clearly my favorite part.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find an assortment of lettuce options, all of which would be great for a salad. The temperatures have been 90+ recently and my house lacks air conditioning. Any measure I could take to avoid turning on the oven was taken. Plus, I found a great recipe for Shallot Vinaigrette at the market. I made the dressing yesterday and ate the salad today. Simple, yet delicious salad of leaf lettuce, bibb lettuce, arugula, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, strawberries and vinaigrette.

Shallot Vinairgrette
Adapted from a Coke Farm Recipe

-2 tbsp red wine vinegar
-1 shallot, diced
-1 tbsp dijon mustard
-1-2 tsp honey
-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
-salt and pepper to taste

Add vinegar to shallot and let sit for 10 minutes. Add mustard and whisk in honey and olive oil. Will keep for a couple of days in the fridge.