What a Sunday we had. First of all, we made darned sure Shane was going to let us sleep Sunday morning. After drinking too many gulps of water to count around 8 pm, we decided trouble would be brewing if he didn’t go outside before bed. Shane and I took a dark and creepy stroll around the yard at 11:30pm until all was “said and done”.
The three of us slept until 6:20 am. That’s called sleeping in in this house. We were out the door by 7 for our morning stroll. 4.3 walking miles plus some Frisbee toss. Now it was time for cycling. The weather was prime for a ride.
Approximately 18 miles on the bike. First to breakfast then the long way home. There were some challenging gradual inclines and some fairly steep descents. It was good ride.
Breakfast at Creekside:
The Sunday Sandwich on a Kaiser.
For me…my taste never changes…..
Those are great big drops of hot sauce on top. Dry Rye on the side.
It was back on the bikes….
Whoops! Wrong bike.
we had a long ride home. It was 5 miles to breakfast and we were taking a long route home through Sauquoit and up Mohawk. The result was a great breakfast and good workout.
This weeks workout is unscheduled. This is a week when I will set my alarm, get up and whatever I feel like doing is what I will do. We’ll play it by ear or better yet….by foot and leg.
Today (Monday) I got up and went back to bed. At 5:30 am Shane and I went for a walk, no Garmin, just us. Estimated 3 1/4 miles covered.
| THE RECIPE : Vegetarian Pate or Foie Gras |
By any other terms “Faux Foie Gras”. If you’re a foodie, you have heard of foie gras. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you don’t want to hear anything about foie gras. If you are watching your waist line or have a penchant for healthy eating, foie gras is strictly forbidden.
Foie is pronounced “fwah” and is French for liver.
Foie Gras is pronounced “fwah grah” and is an enlarged liver of a duck or goose that has been fattened (hence very HIGH fat content) through feeding a corn based diet.
The pate, if made using the duck, offers a winy flavor. The pate, if made using a goose, is pale in color with a delicate flavor. Whether it is made from the duck or the goose, it is a highly prized delicacy in French cuisine. It may be served with lightly toasted artisan bread or toasted brioche ( a soft bread make from a yeast dough enriched with eggs and butter).
Why is it such a delicacy and presented at the most lavish of parties? Because of this curiosity, I made my own version that I could enjoy with passion.
Vegetarian or Faux Foie Gras: Serves 4 *Based upon a recipe found at Oprah.com
- 4 TBS Promise “Healthy heart” Margarine (you may want to add and additional 2 TBS at the end of puree).
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 2 tsp capers, rinsed and rough chopped
- 1/4 cup Chambord
- 1 (15 oz) can Garbanzo beans
- 1 tsp white truffle oil – divided (1/2 tsp – 1/2 tsp)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
In a saute pan over low to medium low heat, melt the butter with the onions and let cook about 25 minutes. This will caramelize the onion. Add the capers and the Chambord. Let cook about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool 30 to 45 minutes.
In a food processor, add the garbanzo beans and the butter-onion mixture. Add 1/2 tsp of the truffle oil and puree into a paste. Add the remaining truffle oil, salt and pepper and if you would like it a bit thinner, melt another 2 TBS of butter and add at this time.
Put into a bowl and allow to chill well, approximately 1 1/2 hours. Serve with toasted buttered bread points.
If you used to eat meat, how long have you been Vegetarian, Vegan, …etc? If you currently eat meat, have you ever tried to go a week without?
Joanne
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Breakfast looks fantastic!
I was a vegetarian for about 5 years, never ate a ton of meat before or after then either. During that time I got stress fractures and my doctor recommended starting to eat some meat. I figured it couldn’t hurt so I gave up being vegetarian and haven’t regretted it. I don’t eat red meat though, just fish and chicken/turkey.
.-= runnerforever´s last blog ..Everything Passes… =-.
That’s really interesting. Thanks for sharing. That protein is important. Hopefully I eat enough fish to keep injuries at bay.
Oh my gosh Joanne…when I saw Foie Gras in the name I didn’t even SEE the vegetarian at first and had to stop myself. Is Foie Gras not one of the most horrible things ever?! This looks SOOOOO amazing the only thing is I don’t have chambord or the white truffle oil…any suggestions on what would be a good sub?
.-= Dawn Hutchins´s last blog ..Summer Quinoa Salad with Orange Vinaigrette =-.
You can use any dessert wine. I’ve seen Madiera used in some real Foie Gras recipes. But the Chambord made the pate kind of sweet which I liked.
As for the white truffle oil, since it is made from olive oil and truffles, try putting some dried mushrooms into some olive oil for a few days to infuse the flavor. Use that oil as a substitute.
I’ve tried to go without meat, but I’ve never made it a challenge for myself.
Maybe I should? makes it more interesting to have a goal / challenge if you have to give up a food you like A LOT 🙂
.-= Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear´s last blog ..Iloista Vappua! =-.
Maybe start with simply cutting down a little. It all helps…not only us but makes for happy animals. 😉
Ha. I love the bike joke.
I cannot even think about Foie Gras long enough to look at that recipe though. What they do to the animals is just disgusting, imho 😉
I’ve been a vegetarian for 9 years and a few months and a vegan for almost a year 😉
I think “doing what you feel like for exercise” is a good idea every once in awhile! 🙂
.-= kilax´s last blog ..It feels like summer already / Calpahlon Pans Giveaway WINNER =-.
It was only recently that I really looked into the making of foie gras. I really don’t know why people have to engage in such cruelty to eat something that isn’t even good for them.
oh that looks great!
.-= Simply Life´s last blog ..Eating Animals… =-.
the ride sounds great! i got out for one today 🙂 sleeping in is about the same for us too-i wish i could sleep later! i prefer to eat less meat and just stick with fish most of the time-ocassionally i may have meat though…….
.-= kalli@fitandfortysomething´s last blog ..Lucky Enough =-.
I like the idea of doing what you feel like each day – but unfortunately it may not happen! I need my set goals or I may just stay in bed! 🙂
Sometimes I think I am on my way to being vegetarian! 🙂
.-= Judi´s last blog ..Monday run and cow’s milk =-.
What an interesting recipe! I am vegan and always shudder at the thought of foie gras, but now I can try your version without feeling bad about it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂