Polenta Casserole With Seitan

Polenta Casserole With Seitan
Vegan; Serves 6

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This dish is elegant, delicious, and satisfying–great for brunch. Because it incorporates a grain, vegetables, and seitan, it’s a complete meal. A nice side of greens would make it absolutely perfect.

1 1/2 cups polenta or cornmeal or 1 cup millet
1 medium-size head cauliflower cut in large pieces
1 cup peas, fresh or frozen and thawed
2 pinches fine sea salt
1 (8-ounce) package seitan, sliced
Kernels from 2 ears corn or 1 cup thawed frozen kernels (organic)
6 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons roasted sesame tahini
1/3cup soy milk
1 1/2 tablespoons shoyu plus more for sprinkling on top
2 teaspoons umeboshi vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Fresh basil leaves for garnish

1. Place the polenta or millet in a large pot. Add the cauliflower, peas (if using fresh), salt, and 5 cups water (add just 3 cups if using the millet). Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer the polenta for 30 minutes (cook for 25 minutes if using the millet). Polenta must be stirred frequently as it cooks to prevent it from sticking or becoming lumpy, but you don’t need to stir millet.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8×8 casserole dish.

3. While the cauliflower mixture cooks, arrange the sliced seitan in the casserole dish. Layer the corn kernels on top, and then add the asparagus.

4. Remove the polenta mixture from the heat. Add the tahini, soy milk, shoyu, and umeboshi vinegar, and mash with a potato masher or fork until the mixture resembles mashed potatoes. Add the chopped parsley and peas (if using frozen) and mix well.

5. Spoon the mashed mixture into the casserole dish over the vegetables, and smooth the top. Poke a few small holes in the surface, and sprinkle with a little extra shoyu (this makes the top crispy).

6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Let the casserole cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares. Garnish with the basil, and serve.

From The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

Getting to the clean of things....

In the process of helping Bruce move into the new place, I brought over my cleaning supplies to help clean his old place. He was impressed with the natural clean smell and how they worked. (He already was cleaning his floors with vinegar, so his carbon footprint is better then most, however his use of bleach and other products leaves much to desire.) So, here is my list of items that I've found works around 2 four legged furry babies and 2 nieces along with the rest of my family....

Method (I LOVE this company! Never tested on animals and biodegradable, plus they have a factory/plant here in America)
Restroom Cleaner: Tub-N-Tile Soap Scum and Stain Remover (Eucalyptus and Mint)
Cleaning the grout-2 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water (wear gloves, may cause irritation. It will stain clothes)

Fridge: I use 10 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil in a spray bottle with 2 cup water. This keeps the fridge smelling fresh and cuts through any kind of grease, plus it helps with mold control. (Bruce was really impressed with this!)

Here is a recipe my friend Michelle and I use to make my laundry detergent:
1 cup soap flakes (I use olive oil soap-a little on the expensive side, but will last you!)
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax

Soap flakes can be made from grating your favorite pure vegetable soap with a cheese grater (use the smallest grate). Mix the ingredients together and store in a glass container. Use 1 Tablespoon per load (I use 1/2 a Tablespoon) and 2 for heavily soiled laundry, wash in cold or warm water. **For soft water: Use 1 cup soap flakes, 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. **For hard water (What I had in San Antonio): Use 1 cup soap flakes, 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax. (Borax should not be ingested.
Gloves are recommended as washing soda may irritate skin after prolonged contact; not to be used with silks, woolens or vinyl.)

www.womenandenvironment.org

**Tip: Add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to rinse as a fabric softener.
**Tip: For whites: Use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach. Soak your clothes for 30 minutes in the washer with 1/2 cup 20% peroxide, then launder as usual.
**Tip: I add 3 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil to the dogs bedding/blankets laundry for an extra fresh and it helps repels fleas.

For other articles of clothing I use Method Free and Clear laundry detergent.

For dusting and polishing wood furniture (and my wood hangers) Wood for Good from Method (it smells like almonds). There is also a wood floor cleaner that they sell, as well....

For mopping Squirt & Mop (no bucket is needed and smells like lemon and ginger) I feel that my dogs can walk on the floor and lick their paws without ingesting a toxic that will cause adverse health problems. They are often the first (along with children) to experience damage caused from toxic "cleaning" products.