We were visiting Marc's parents who always send us home with parting gifts of items that they buy from Costco.
I tell them every time not to do it. This time we are almost broke waiting for our first paycheck after not working for four months. I gladly accepted the items given.
It included yellow and red banana peppers. They don't consume vegetables themselves, except for a little lettuce and tomato in a sandwich.
They are 78 and 80 years old. His father has been a dialysis patient for over 14 years. He received a kidney from my partner, and after two years it stopped working. Two weeks ago the father received an operation for his appendix.
Miraculously afterwards, the kidney started working again after 14 years. He hasn't told his dialysis provider yet. It's quite a miracle. We thought after all these years the kidney was dead. We are in shock and worried that it will stop happening but so far it's been over a week.
This inspires us to make sure we eat some fresh raw items everyday, to lessen our chance of being in a situation with health. We are by no means health nuts, but try to be aware of what we consume and how we feel.
After a couple of weeks at a new job in a vegan sushi restaurant, we have not been eating enough raw vegetables. The sushi is quite decadent. This is why it's so popular. We vow every shift, not to eat it anymore, but it's handed to us at the end of the night. By this time it's late and we're starving. We end up eating it.
With the gifted banana peppers I decided to make a salad along with cabbage. Savoy cabbage was a good price. We purchased one zucchini as well. The rest of the vegetables were in our fridge.
I prefer savoy cabbage to regular. Not that I mind the other. Cabbage always makes me feel full yet it's low in calories and high in minerals. No I don't count calories. I don't believe in that personally. Cabbage was also a successful weight loss item for me personally. I don't know if it works for anyone else, but if I eat enough cabbage I can usually lose a pound or two. I also don't think fast weight loss is a good idea. I've learned from my past experience.
I used a mandolin to shred the cabbage, even though I have a food processor that does the job. I didn't feel like getting it out then cleaning it. For the same reason I shredded the carrots by hand.
The banana peppers are not spicy. In fact they taste the same as the bell peppers.
The veggies were all shredded. These items could vary depending on availability of items and personal preference. For me I feel these are quite basic. The cabbage works well to hold a thicker dressing like the one I would make.
The items were all mixed together and set aside.
I chose to make tofu to add to the salad, instead of a starch. I sometimes have starch free meals.
Many people don't like tofu for various reasons. I can get into their head and understand them. It sometimes is the texture that they don't like and also the lack of taste or both.
I cook my tofu differently each time. This time I started by boiling it in a shallow pan covered in vegetable broth that was well seasoned.
It simmered until the liquid was totally absorbed. Afterwards it was coated in cornstarch.
I browned it in a shallow pan with oil.
When I went to buy peanut butter, I realized that a whole jar was not really suitable for my current budget. I passed by a bulk store and purchased a small amount just for the dressing. It only cost me around 2 dollars.
Peanut dressing
Peanut butter 120g
Soy sauce 45g
Rice vinegar 50g
Ginger 10g
Garlic 10g
Fermented black bean (see note)
Cilantro 10g
Agave nectar (sweetener) 50g
Juice of a lime
Chili 15g
Note:
I use fermented black bean as a fish sauce substitute. It's not accurate taste, however it has a salt factor similar to fish sauce.
Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth. I didn't cook this but you could cook it if you use sugar or if you don't like the taste of raw garlic. Adjust the seasonings to your liking.
I garnished with steamed broccoli which Marc found for a good price.
I also added cucumbers which were part of our food gift from Marc's parents.
It was placed on a bed of greens, dressed with a little of the dressing and extra squeeze of lime to top it off. I would have sprinkled some roasted peanuts on top, but I didn't have any.
Thank you for dropping by and have a great day.
Photos taken with a Nikon D7500 by me, except for the ones of me, taken by my other half