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It’s Easter today. Which means nothing to me given that I’ve followed a strict diet of atheism for much of my adolescent and adult life. But Fialonia celebrates Easter so I made apple pancakes this morning to celebrate. They were more like fried apple muffins in the end, but we both still enjoyed them with heaps of maple syrup and (in my case) a big mug of hot coffee.

Fried Pagan Bunny Apple Cakes:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 large granny smith, peeled and diced (or shredded)
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup soymilk (I used the leftover unsweetened kind but vanilla would have been awesome)

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add the apples and soymilk and stir together until ‘just mixed’. Pop some oil in a frying pan and put on medium heat. Fry up your apple cakes. Makes 4 small(ish) or 2 giganto pancakes. Serve with maple syrup and black coffee. Yummy!

And last night I made the new stew I was yammering about in a previous post. I liked it but Fialonia found it a bit too spicy. It does have a bit of kick but if you like medium spicy food, it’s a great stew. Bulgur, in my humble opinion, is an under-used grain. I like it better than couscous and it cooks almost as quickly. Bulgurific!

Kickin’ Bulgur Chilistew:

1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 14 oz tin of diced tomatoes
1 tin black beans
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp tamari
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
3/4 cup bulgur

+red kale
+whole wheat bread

=hearty dinner

Chop up your onion, celery, and garlic and toss in a big pot with the olive oil. Saute until onions are translucent. Add your spices and tamari, then add the black beans and the tomatoes and mix it up. Add the vegetable stock and bulgur, mix and bring to boil. Turn down the heat to let simmer for 30 minutes. Done! This makes about four servings I’d say…five if you are having bread and vegetables (which you should be!) with it. I may or may not have enjoyed this stew with one of JW’s bottles of beer that was left in my fridge from A.’s going away party…

Off to work now!