My random eats

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share some random dinners that I have been making and eating lately. As I am typing this, a big pot of lentils, onion and fire roasted tomatoes stew is simmering in my kitchen.

Red cabbage, edamame, almonds and pineapple salad. Beautifully colorful, protein packed dinner that was very easy to prepare.

Israeli couscous, red quinoa, orzo pasta and baby garbanzo beans medley cooked in vegan "chicken" broth and topped with caramelized onions.

Fried rice on a bed of steamed kale

I finally splurged on an endive, but I was quite disappointed with the taste. Not sure if I will ever buy it again. I made these cute endive boats filled with homemade white bean dip, guacamole and cherry tomatoes.

Sauteed chickpeas, onion and red bell pepper seasoned with gyros seasonings, on a bed of steamed chard. The chard part was not my cup of tea, I could not eat a whole leaf, but my dog Shelly happily ate my chard leftovers :-)

Israeli couscous, red quinoa, orzo pasta and baby garbanzo beans medley sauteed with fresh spinach, onion and red bell pepper.

Rice medley with Hungarian mushroom sauce

I also made several batches of very tasty massaged kale salads. I did not used to like kale, until I learned how to massage it and make it more tender and tasty. I will blog about massaged kale later. Stay tuned for my kale dressing recipes.

Vegan BLT sandwich with Tempeh Fakin' Bacon

I am not a big tempeh lover, I am a tofu girl :-) I do eat tempeh from time to time, because it is an excellent source of protein and my husband prefers tempeh over processed mock meats and tofu. Tempeh bacon is our favorite way to enjoy this protein packed soy product.

I have tried other mock bacon products, but nothing tasted as good as Lightlife "Tempeh Fakin's Bacon" so far. I even tried to marinade my own tempeh strips in liquid smoke, soy sauce and spices, but the taste was never as good as the original product. One of the reasons might be the fact that the original product is marinated for weeks or longer at a time so the tempeh is soaked with the yummy and smokey flavor.

It is so easy to prepare, just pan-fry the strips for few minutes in some hot oil, until the edges are crispy and serve warm in your BLT sandwich or over salads. I love it as a topper on "Mock Chicken Cordon Bleu" or crumbled in potato salads.

I have never had the real BLT sandwich so I cannot compare this vegan version to the real thing. However, there is something deliciously amazing about this simple vegan bacon, lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo sandwich. So simple and yet so tasty!

Do you like vegan BLT sandwich? What is your favorite vegan bacon substitution?