I recently read Unorthodox, by Deborah Feldman. I was so into this book that I couldn't put it down. I think I read it faster than I've ever read a book. I knew virtually nothing about the Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn, so I had a lot to learn from the book. If you're into feminism at all, I highly recommend this book. I already gave it to my sister, an avid feminist and literature fan, because I knew she would be into it. It is so completely interesting and horrifying at the same time. I literally could not put it down.



I don't have the clearest of memories to describe my bachelorette, but I did manage to photograph this margarita at one point during the evening. Needless to say, it was tequila-themed. I woke up foggy-headed feeling like a junior in college again wearing a veil and couldn't have been happier.


More from Thug Kitchen, I have been wanting to make these BBQ Bean Burritos with Grilled Peach Salsa for sooo long. Now that it is burrito season, I found an occasion to do so. I decided to lose the tortilla and pile all my food in a bowl á la Patton Oswalt, figuring that I can fit way more food in a bowl than inside a wrapped tortilla. I was right.


This bowl was the biggest win. It did require a lot of steps, like making the Baked Spanish Rice, first. It was totally worth it, because I loved the baked spanish rice and have made it twice since then. It goes like this: Make sauce by throwing stuff into your blender. Blend sauce, pour over rice. Bake. So obviously, I was into it. The beans came together in a similar fashion, except replace "bake" with "simmer." While the rice was baking and beans simmering, I made the grilled peach salsa. Turns out there was so shortcut to peeling and cutting unripe peaches while they aren't in season yet. I had to slice off the skin and carefully cut the peach away from the pit. In August, when the peaches are perfect, the skin easily slips off by hand, and the peach slides right off the pit. We're not quite there yet... But anyway I loved the salsa, and loved the bowl. I will make it again many times throughout this summer. Especially in August.


Another summery dish I'd love to share with you is this little pizza I made! I would share the recipe but it is not totally my own. I took the concept from this age-old favorite of mine but used the White Bean Rosemary Hummus from Thug Kitchen as my spread. Then I sprinkled chopped tomatoes, chopped olives, and fresh basil. While I was putting this all together I was thinking it was maybe missing something, and I had worked too hard to have my pizza be missing something. So I sautéed some tempeh crumbles with some thyme, oregano, basil and soy sauce. This made my pizza complete.

As if we didn't waste our hard earned rent-dollars being out of the city enough this month, we re-escaped again last weekend to CT where our family rents cottages for a couple weeks every summer. Teachers, right? WTF why did I not become a teacher? Highlights of that included a long walk with my Dad on Father's Day weekend, many margaritas, outlet shopping, and petting dogs. This dog is a husky, super friendly and cute and at the height of shedding season. He covered the floor in a rug of his fur. His name is Atlas. His brother, Apollo, is bigger and fluffier and I wanted to pet him so bad, but he is scared of Alex :(.. Since I was sitting next to him, I was guilty by association and couldn't pet him. Next time...


I love to go visit them at the beach. I have been every summer of my life and would be so sad if I didn't get to go one year. It has a special scent that reminds me of childhood. Whenever I smell anyone grilling, I always think of 4th of July cookouts in the backyards of our cottages here. Maybe someday my kids will smell grilling and think of veggie burgers and grilled mushrooms.


I think I made this on Monday. We were going for our typical chickpea salad and baked potato night combo, but I had extra veggies in the fridge so I cooked all of them! I can eat straight veggies all day every day as long as I can eat them with a giant scoop of guac.

 Even though I just shared 1,000,000,000 pictures with you all, I still have more (gasp)! I will post soon and talk about May. Swear.

 My original thought was to cook chickpeas, collard greens, brown rice and use the leftover cashew lemon dressing I made last night. Like, I literally went to the store to buy collard greens and only that. And since BF was not in town, I know he hates squash, and I love squash, then all of a sudden I have squash. I really heard a voice whispering, "Marsala mushrooms," softly into my ear and so I took said ghost's advice and made them. I guess I thought pesto would maybe make Alex eat this. That's all I can remember about the pesto decision.

Our fellow vegan mofo blogger, Cadry, from Cadry's Kitchen, had organized a Vegan Postcard Swap. All you had to do to sign up was comment with your name and address, and she assigned us all postcard buddies! I sent mine out on Friday and received one today! My postcard buddy was from California, and sent me some cards, stickers, ribbons and a recipe that she really likes! What a nice package of gifts! It was very sweet and I adored them! So Thanks to my postcard buddy and thanks to Cadry for organizing it!

 Just two more couldn't hurt. Plus Pumpkin Beer is Back!



It's really huge. When it boiled, it boiled over and I had to put some in a separate pot. Now, I have 30 cups of stock, which means I have ten mason jars in my fridge. Do you want some?


Alex had a stroke of brilliance and suggested we make chowder for dinner. I love the Glam Chowder recipe from Isa Does It, and so does he. Plus, it's one of the only ways to get him to eat a ton of mushrooms happily. Me? I will eat my weight in mushrooms happily, in any way, any kind of mushroom, on any vehicle, so you can gather that this chowder is my jam. Plus, I'm from New England, where the chowder is abundant. But you don't have to be from New England to love this chowder. You don't have to be vegan to love this chowder either, but I heard that if you love it, you should go vegan, because it will taste better. Someone told me that.

Guys I think Magic Hat replaced their Octoberfest beer, Hex, my FAV, with this pumpkin beer! It's good but not as good as Hex. It does have a cool title and cool picture on it, so I'll allow it. BF doesn't like pumpkin either, so I'm obviously guzzling this in my moment of solitude. So anyways, what's your favorite Vegan Mac recipe?? I've tried like 1 of the 8 zillion, but I'm always open to new ones!
Happy Fall/Mac/Monday!
<3 KZ

Do you guys know that when someone else cooks for you, the food tastes so much better? Your soul isn't hardened by the labor of all that chopping, stirring, dripping with sweat in a hot kitchen and the thought of how you're going to have to clean all this up later. You can just relax, taste homemade food, and look forward to eating this chili six more times before you have to cook again. Nye mean?
My chili recipe is on my blog, but very easily adaptable to suit what is in your fridge.

 One night we went out for Mexican food and got several margaritas. They are a once-in-a-while thing, but damn, frozen margaritas sure are one of the best pleasures in life. These are both for me, of course, followed by at least two more...