Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Christmas...? & Behind the Apron



I really need to get my blogging act together, but I just realized that I don't want January to end without a post about Christmas! To add to the hurry, I only have a few more minutes before the deadline for the "Behind the Apron" Round-up hosted by Fiber over at 28 Cooks.

We spend Christmas with Daiku's family in St. Louis. We asked both our families not to buy us gifts this Christmas, and for the most part, they were really good about it.

Daiku's brother L. decided to wow us with a vegan chili as our present. We were so thrilled when we saw the smoky chipotle and mushroom chili he cooked for us, a recipe he found on the Vegan Chef website. This was some serious chili! Those members of the family adventurous enough to try it thought so too. Now this is my idea of a present!



Here was our contribution to the holiday meal:



A big salad of mixed greens, carrots, radishes, red onion, oranges, and toasted pecans with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Here is someone who really got into the festive mood: Daiku's cutie niece, G.












During our stay in St. Louis, we stopped by Calvary cemetary, one of the oldest cemetaries in the city, where notable people are buried going back to the 18th century. It was a warm, peaceful day, and we enjoyed seeing the antique headstones and reading each person's personal story. The above headstone is from the childrens section of the cemetary, and it was touching to see the love that these families showed for their lost children, which was constant through the decades.



We visited Daiku's sister, who lives in the hip city neighborhood of Soulard. Above you can see just one of the examples of the unique architecture that sets this neighborhood apart, and which residents work hard to preserve and maintain.



Daiku's sister, L., was kind enough to take us out to lunch in the neighborhood. We went to Tanner B's, a small neighborhood restaurant/sports bar, with a surprising amount of vegetarian options to choose from. We started off with this hummus appetizer. It was really fresh, and the warm soft pitas didn't last long between the three of us!



Both Daiku and I ordered the California burger, a chickpea patty topped with sprouts and avocados and served with a mustard sauce and corn/pea salad. I love whe veggie burgers are filled with veggies instead of being a scary brown! And these were freshly made, too.

So there you have the last installment of my holiday posts- I promise! We enjoyed spending time with both of our families and sharing some good food and good times (and some freakishly warm weather).



Onto Behind the Apron. As I'm sure most of you know, this is the event where we are invited to come out from behind our aprons and share a little bit about ourselves besides our food. (Although I'm no stranger to posting photos of ourselves on this blog!) Click here to see the original post at 28 Cooks.



Most of the food you see on this blog comes to you courtesy of Daiku (left) and me, Bazu (right). On our first date, 9 years ago this month, Daiku wowed me with a vegan curry. A boy that can cook? I was hooked! Between then and now, I fell off the vegan bandwagon, only to hop back on about 3 years ago. Daiku is not a vegan, though he can cook and eat vegan like the best of them and for the most part, that is how we eat at home together. We live with our 2 old cats, Bijou and Marble.

Daiku: is a professor of philosophy, loves old airplanes, used to own an art gallery in St. Louis.

Bazu: is a Ph.D. student, lover of trashy t.v., and votes Green.

Both of us: are eagerly awaiting the revolution!


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15 comments:

Jackie said...

Great to see a picture of you both.

What a great Christmas you had. Thanks for the St Louis photos. When I hear the name St Louis I always think of Judy Garlands song.

As you say Daiku's niece is a real cutie.

Thanks also for the baked bean recipe. I love baked beans on toast for a quick supper.

Anonymous said...

nice to "meet" you both. those meals look wonderful!

village mama said...

Cuties indeed! And the names of your cats rock!

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you are watching your trashy tv and the professor walks into the room ;-)

Amey said...

Fun! I love reading your Behind the Apron entry! Neat that Daiku used to own an art gallery... and that he's such a good cook! Hoorah!
:)

laura k said...

Wow, holiday pictures--I was not expecting that! The vegan chili was a really nice gesture, though, and sounds just wonderful!

I love old cemeteries--it's wonderful, as you said, to read the inscriptions that tell people's stories. Somehow it keeps their memory alive, even after so many years.

Great Behind the Apron too! That's a groovy picture of you two, and I think it's so sweet that he "hooked" you in by cooking for you!

Kati said...

First, that neighborhood in St. Louis really took me by surprise, but I guess it was a teensy bit ignorant of me to think that the entire city would be as run down as it looks from the highway... Every time I drove through I would think what a depressing place it was - thank goodness it's not all doom and gloom!

I couldn't help but notice that the whites of your eyes (both you and Daiku) are so clear! A testament to a detoxed lifestyle - way to go!

And yay for Behind the Apron!

P.S. I appreciate your salad dressing suggestions - I think my main salad-oriented goal right now is to step away from plain lettuce :P, so your salads always serve to inspire me. I would definitely like the instructions for the oven version of the baked beans, too. Thanks!

aTxVegn said...

What a great picture of you and Daiku! Your veggie burger meal snd the chili look really good, but the best looking food was the salad you made!

urban vegan said...

Kudos to the St. Louis relatives for wowing you with all that vegan yumminess. Love the photos.

You and Daiku are such an adorable couple. I wish you two the best of luck in academe

Judy said...

Great looking food from Christmas! And nice to see a picture of you too - You've got very beautiful eyes.

Anonymous said...

You and Daiku make such a wonderful couple. I love how you compliment each other so well - especially in the kitchen. It's so fun getting to know everyone more personally through this Behind the Apron. I think it's also kind of funny how everyone's cramming to get them in before the deadline. Reminds me of high school term papers!

Theresa said...

Hey, don't feel bad about your belated xmas posting. I have been meaning to post a better update from PNG, but I keep putting it off--and I got back from there 2 weeks *before* xmas.

And, in that picture, you look so much like my friend Nicole it's kinda scary!

Emmy said...

Yay! You went to St. Louis. I've been there a few times. Have you even been to Crazy Bowls and Wraps? I love that place! I'm not sure if they're in the actual city or just the 'burbs.

Vegan Chili = awesome gift! Daiku's niece is adorable!!!

Love the architecture pic from Soulard. That's really neat you explored the old cemetary.

Your Behind the Apron post is great. And Happy 9th Anniversary!!! That is so cool Daiku used to own an art gallery in St. Louis. Also impressed that Daiku hooked you with a vegan curry. That's so sweet :) You two make a great looking couple!!!

Anonymous said...

Great to see a picture of you both. i love your blog and im happy to see photos of you!

KleoPatra said...

LOVE this post. Wonderful food, terrific photo. Altogether Just Beautiful...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting Tanner B's, Glad you enjoyed it, hope you will be back on you next visit to the Lou.

Dan Brown
Owner
Tanner B's