Foods for Vegans without Power
By Monica on August 8th, 2008
I think Illinois is telling me that it’s time to go, time to pack my bags and move on to greener pastures. A few weeks ago a storm came through delivering 5.75″ of rain in less than 3 hours.
We had 6″ of water in our basement, which thankfully receded when the sun came out - but it destroyed almost everything stored in our basement. There was even a feline rescue when one of our cats was stuck atop a wooden box, floating and meowing like mad. Extra thanks to American Family Insurance for their very helpful reply during this, which was basically “too bad, you don’t have flood insurance, stop calling here.” I truly feel for the folks in Iowa dealing with real flood waters after seeing what a mere 6″ can do.
Then earlier this week a tornado passed through, and I am so grateful that it didn’t injure anyone, but it brought 80mph winds and left 565,000 people without power and craploads of wind damage. Lightning struck a giant evergreen tree about 100′ from our house, splitting it in half and sending sparks and horrifying electrical noises through all of the outlets inside the house. The TV is smoked, all the standard AV equipment is ruined, screen doors were literally ripped off their hinges, and worst of all, Ray lost his Mac and specialized art printer. Well, worst of all if you don’t consider that my KitchenAid convection oven is also fried - constantly beeping at me, locking the oven door, and showing me error messages about inserting “probes”. I haven’t heard back from our insurance company yet on how they’re going to screw us on this one, but I’m sure they’ll figure out a way…
Ok, enough whining! I know that we are very lucky no one was injured, our electric was only out for 2 days, and it’s just “stuff”. But it does not make for very exciting meals, be forewarned! Here’s what I was able to drum up with no electricity, no ambition, and a bad attitude:
Fajitas. A fine way to use up the once frozen veggies now thawing and dripping in your freezer.
A no-heat-necessary taco-pie of sorts, utilizing now un-frozen corn, Spanish rice that needed immediate eating, TVP (which reconstitutes just fine without heat, eventually), a can of refried beans, onion, and assorted salsas, olives, guacamole, and condiments that the FDA advises one to dispose of after 24 hours without refrigeration.
With all those ingredients handy and needing to be used, I was pleasantly surprised to have enough left for taco salads. It may have all been the same regional cuisine, but I think we ate pretty well, considering!
However, the thought of my new bottle of Vegenaise warming up in the refrigerator was highly disturbing, and given that the large bottle is now almost $7 at Whole Foods, I was determined not to let it go to waste. With this enormous cabbage I scored at the farmer’s market for $2, I knew what had to be done. (For reference, that is a 10″ chef’s knife in the cabbage, and yes, stabbing a cabbage repeatedly is very cathartic in times of stress…)
Obviously cole slaw needed to happen, and in times of stress, there is no better coleslaw than Sarah Kramer’s sinful concoction of cabbage, pineapple, mandarin oranges, vegan marshmallows, raisins, walnuts, and other good stuffs. A dessert-slaw, if you will!
And because that didn’t even make a dent in my monster cabbage, a batch of my old standby Dilly Garbanzo Slaw was in order. With that, the Vegenaise was spared from the garbage bin, and there was plenty of slaw to share.
Dilly Garbanzo Slaw
6 cups cabbage, finely shredded
1 medium beet, shredded
2 carrots, shredded
1 medium red onion, diced
1 15oz. can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1T dried dill
1t dried mustard powder
1t white pepper
1t salt
3/4 cup Vegenaise
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
Mix everything together and refrigerate (you know, if you have electricity) for 2-4 hours prior to serving.
And lastly, many, many thanks to Shellyfish and Veggie for awarding me the Brilliante Weblog award. As always, I am in awe of the amazing online veg*n community and cannot wait to get caught up on all of your blogs so I can be inspired by delicious foods I can make now that the power is back on!
Jennifer says:
You poor thing! I’m so happy to hear that you all are alright, and I hope you guys get your life back in order soon.
You are right, it is just stuff, but a lot of it was stuff you guys needed - you know to cook your food and such, so I don’t see a problem with your being a little upset. Especially since insurance companies suck so bad.
I have to be honest, you managed to feed yourself some really tasty looking food for not having power!
Glad to hear your power is back, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed it stays on!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
trina says:
Wow. I am so impressed with how well you ate. I am so glad that you all are okay, you resourceful lady.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Animal-Friendly says:
I’m so sorry to hear about your flooded basement! I hope that your insurance company doesn’t screw you over like they always seem to do.
However, tt seems like you still managed to eat pretty well. That dessert slaw sounds really interesting!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Vivacious Vegan says:
Wow, I’m really impressed at the ingenuity and creativeness of your meals during such a crazy time. I think we’d be living off of pb&j for the most part.
I feel really bad for everything you’ve had to go through recently. I hope you’re able to pull through it ok. You’ve shared some valuable information though. Next time we have a huge storm ripping through here I’m going to try to unplug everything. I never would have thought about it frying the appliances/av stuff.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
VeggieGirl says:
I was in Chicago when that massive storm hit (outside, no less!) - I’m thankful that YOU weren’t hurt in it!! Hang in there!!
Congratulations on the award!!
August 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Erin says:
Geez–I’m really sorry about all your stuff! And insurance companies…don’t get me started! (I’m in FL…we were hit hard by 3 hurricanes in a row in 2005!) I hope everything works out for the best!
At least ALL of your food looks fabulous! I’m a sucker for anything Mexican!
~Erin @ “Vegan & the City”
August 9th, 2008 at 6:58 am
eatavegan says:
Illinois: only for the strong in constitution.
If anyone can stand it, we hearty midwestern girls can….
Both your slaws look delicious — enjoy your first cucumber (and the hundreds that will follow if they took over your garden like they did mine)!
August 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am
sheree says:
I am truly glad that only stuff was hurt and not people or animals. So sad that this happened. On a brighter note, your emergency meals are incredible. Boy I love it all! YOur monster cabbage turned into some mighty tasty slaws. I need to try Sarah’s recipe. CAn you please tell me where to find it! I pray that the ins co. has to come through this time for you. Hugs!
August 9th, 2008 at 9:56 am
thedalyn says:
Sure, but you have an excuse–natural disasters and all. I sure hope things get better for you soon, but at least it looks like you’re eating well!
August 9th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Jackie V says:
I am sorry for all you’ve gone through lately, but the food you’ve created looks absolutely amazing!
August 9th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Teddy says:
Those beautiful pictures of food are just proof that SOME good can come out of a terrible situation.
Sorry to hear the weathers been harsh there.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Virginia says:
Wow! Those meals look better than what I eat even WITH power! Glad nobody was hurt!
August 9th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Amy says:
You deserve more than just one award! I’m jealous of your food improvising skills; everything looks delicious. I am so sorry about the damages from the storms. I have a 15″ Mac monitor you are more than welcome to, if you need to replace one. Just let me know!
August 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
jes says:
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you’re ok! Mother nature hasn’t been very loving to the midwest at all this year. I can’t believe you guys managed to eat so well considering!
August 11th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Victoria says:
WOW! Very impressive indeed. My attitude would have probably been much worse and my food way less appetizing. Glad everything is returning to normal!
August 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Lisa (Show Me Vegan) says:
So stressful! You show grace under pressure though with those delicious and creative meals. Great photos.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Mihl says:
I am sorry that you/ your family and your kitties had to go though all this. A flooded basement and a tornado sounds like too much! I hope you won’t have to deal with similar things again.
Your Mexican food looks so beautiful but the cabbage/knife picture scared the hell out of me.:)
August 12th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Mihl says:
Oh, I forgot to tell you that you can totally make the coconut ginger pear ice cream without the agar! For a creamy version just use some more coconut milk.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:15 am
jessy says:
oh my goodness, Monica! i’m glad you’re okay! holy batman - 6″ of rain in just 3 hours is absolute madness! and that super sucks about the insurance a**holes. jerks.
you responded to all of this a helluva lot better than i would have, that’s for sure. i would have crawled into a hole and cried a lot - but you turned the madness into some glorious creations! i love the taco salads & the taco pies. they both look colorful, tasty, and glorious! and the slaws look most amazing! dayyyyyyuuuuuuum - your dilly garbanzo slaw is something i’m gonna have to try! thanks for the recipe!
hang in there, and i’m glad that things are get’n back in order!
i’m sending happy thoughts and a big hug your way!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Vaishali says:
So sorry to hear about your troubles- I do hope everything works out. I am happy to have found your blog: you have such lovely pictures. Will be back!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Cakespy says:
I love the “Mexican mille-feuille”! I don’t love the flooding though.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Amey says:
whoa.
I’m so sorry about all you’ve been through. What a shame.
I hope you’re beginning to bounce back slowly… in spirit, if nothing else.
And like everyone else, I gotta say that I’m seriously impressed with what you threw together. Rural Vegans are tough!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Shellyfish says:
I’ve been wrapping up my US vacation and am only now back home and beginning to catch up on my blogger buds, and I see this!! I hope all is well, drying out, and you’re able to figure out a way to stick it to the evil insurance freaks!!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Liz² says:
are you okay?? well, I guess you are okay… you have the best sense of humour ever, in the face of all this… and I agree about stabbing cabbages. delicious looking food, as always… I hope your oven survives.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Erin says:
So sorry all that happened to you! The food looks good, at least you were able to use some of it up and eat decently.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
happyherbivore says:
you are so inspirational - I hope you are okay, drying out and keeping that positive spirit you show through your blog!
(and the food looks awesome!)
August 16th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Melisser says:
This is what you make with no power?! You’re making those of us with power look bad with the amazing food! I want that taco pie, please!
August 17th, 2008 at 3:24 am
bazu says:
wow… possibly most delicious food EVER in this post.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Nikki says:
I sure hope if I lose power one of these days that I can make food that awesome! That Dilly Garbanzo salad looks really good!!
August 26th, 2008 at 12:28 am