Another scorcher today.  This extremely hot day called for food that we did not prepare. Although my mother and I went grocery shopping this morning we decided cooking was not smart for this weather.

My boyfriend and I went for a walk down to Panda House Taco and Chinese. We’ve eaten at this fast food spot for its burritos for a few years.  I usually get black bean burrito while my boyfriend opts for the chicken.  When we enter they recognize us and immediately know our order without our saying so.

I have not eaten one  of these ginormous burritos in a long time.  It was heavenly and incredibly filling.  I must warn you, burritos of this caliber usually require a fork and knife.  I don’t know how he does it but my boyfriend is able to conquer this massive monster without the use of utensils.  I think there is a proper etiquette for food of these epic proportions.  I guess I was more afraid of it falling over and collapsing since it was rather messy, messier than normal.  This burrito was loaded with black beans, spanish rice, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and guacamole.  I always add their pico- de- gallo sauce/house salsa to add a kick since I love my food spicy.  The best part was the cheap price for this grand burrito: $4.75.

Lately there has been a surplus of Asians in my neighborhood making Mexican food.  I have no complaints.  I wish we had a more legitimate Mexican spot but for now this is suitable.  I guess it is the poor mans version of Chipotle.

Next time you are in the Bronx around the 205th street area go to the Panda House and taste its huge burrito (no pun intended).

I need to make some trips to other restaurants soon!

Peace, love and no beef!

Guramrit

I spent yet another day on the beach relaxing.  After a bowl of cereal with some blueberries and almond milk I was ready to make my way to the beach for an hour of sun.  I could not tolerate the blazing sun and intense humidity so my mom and I decided to head home early and grab a Chai Frappuccino.  Once we got home we had a light salad for lunch.

This salad was easy and perfect for such a hot day.  Cooking a meal was not an option today.  For our salad we got some arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers, an avocado and a half cup of shredded cheddar cheese and tossed it together.  We make our own dressing, a combination of plain yogurt, tahini (a sesame seed paste common in middle eastern food), soy sauce and  some garlic powder. We tossed the salad in this dressing and topped it with Smart Strips Chick’n (a seasoned vegetarian version of chicken strips which we sautéed in a little vegetable oil to get them to a crisp).

Surprisingly this salad was rather filling and I decided to order some Mixed Vegetables with Tofu from my local Chinese food restaurant later on for dinner.

That’s all for now.

I think I should cook tomorrow.

Peace, love & no beef.

Guramrit

I simply adore veggie meatless balls.  I decided to try the same brand I have purchased before and serve it to my family.  I know I like them but trying to please my entire family was a little difficult especially with my brother as such a picky eater.

Today I wanted to eat simply and cook quickly since it was such a hot day.  I cooked a box of Rigatoni, which serves up to four people (perfect for this family).  I took the entire carton of meatless veggie balls and sautéed them in olive oil infused with garlic.  I let it brown and crisp up a little before add a jar of marinara sauce.  I always add my own spices to the sauce to create a new flair and uniqueness.  I added salt, pepper, basil and a little garlic powder to taste.  Tres magnifique if I do say so myself.  My parents were quite satisfied with my creation but my brother was not fond of the veggie balls.  Since he recently started eating meat he felt the veggie balls tasted like straight soy bean.  My parents had no complaints and I definitely loved the garlic flavor of the meatless veggie balls.

I was satisfied but maybe next time for meat eaters I can try something different.

Happy Eating Readers!

I am thinking of concocting a fruit salad tomorrow since it is going to be a high of 92 tomorrow.  It will be an adventure.

I leave you with happy tummies full of peace, love and no beef.

Guramrit

So as you all know today was Father’s Day so cheers to the Daddy’s out there.  Today was actually a success in comparison to other years and my dad actually discouraged me from cooking (which made me a little sad since I wanted to create something delicious for daddy day).

We went to Patang, an Indian restaurant on Central Avenue in Yonkers.  A few years ago we took an oath to never go there again because of their ridiculously priced buffet.  Today we took a chance and decided to give the restaurant a second try.  For big eaters like my brother and my dad we got a pretty good deal on a lot of food for a decent price.  It was basically $15 a person but we got a good amount of food for that price.

I ordered some lip smacking good paneer (an unaged home-made cheese which is made by curdling hot milk with lemon) floating in a delicious makhani sauce, a buttery tomato sauce infused with traditional Indian herbs.  I was in awe with what my mouth was tasting.  I almost cried because of how good it tasted.  Sappy much? I ordered a side of garlic naan (seasoned pita bread) and a mango lassi (a yogurt drink, almost milk shake like but not as thick and the ice is not blended).  The combination of the naan, paneer and lassi was perfect.  I ate at about 5 p.m. and I am still full.  My stomach was more than satisfied.  The best part?  I still had food left over and I can eat it again tomorrow!

Here is a picture of what our food looked like (sorry it looks half-eaten, I was too excited to eat to worry about taking an enticing picture)

Compliments of my Blackberry & Patang Restaurant

Here is what my prospective family ordered (all vegetarian minus my brother)

Mom: Vegetable Biryani- a traditional Indian fried rice full of spices and mixed Indian vegetables

Dad: Baingan Bartha- a traditional Punjabi dish made from grilled smokey eggplant cooked with spices and a few other veggies. It looks a little mushy but my dad loves it especially with a side of Naan or Tandoori Roti (bread made inside of a Tandoori Oven).

Brother (the skinny fat boy of the family): Paneer Makhani (just like me), Raita (yogurt seasoned with cilantro, cumin, cucumber, spices), Basmati Rice and Tandoori Chicken (he was unable to eat more than one piece because of the extreme spiciness of this dish)

Next time you want some good Indian eats order yourself a Mango Lassi, eat some Paneer and finish with a Gulab Jamin (a fried milk and rose-water dessert served with a delectable sweet syrup).

But for now readers I leave you with peace, love & no beef

Guramrit

After four days away my mother finally returned from a little retreat. My brother and father immediately asked what was for dinner. Tired yet fully relaxed my mom came up with an easy solution that never fails to result in satisfied tummies and smiling faces: Taco Bell.

Yea, I know it sounds a tad gross because it is fast food and fast food tends to not cater to the vegetarian audience. But if you’re craving cheap mexican food and you have a Taco Bell near by, don’t hesitate to sweep in and grab some grub.

The best part about Taco Bell for vegetarians like myself is the ability to replace the beefy grossness with some refried beans. Talk about a healthier alternative.

Next time you’re near a Taco Bell give these tasty meals a try:
Bean Burrito, 7 Layer Burrito, Mexican Pizza (with beans no beef) or a Crunchwrap Supreme (with beans no beef).

Just thinking about food makes me hungry.

But for now readers keep on eating veggie and stay cool in this summer heat.

Peace, love & no beef.

Guramrit