not chorizo

Life has been busy.  I have been traveling a lot to my Dad's.  Not so much for him but for me.  A partial cornea transplant is now being seriously talked about for being in my future.  A second opinion is next.

I feel sad.  Sometimes depressed, but mostly sad.  I keep trying to do the things that make me happy and healthy but it is hard.

So I walk.  I try to sew and crochet.  Sometimes I read and watch videos.  I am giving myself the grace to just feel what I feel.

We did take two fairly impromptu road trips.  One to Abilene.  Abilene was just because.  How many back roads in Texas can you hit between Houston and Abilene.  That is how it felt.  We saw some beautiful scenery and ate some good food.  But the wind was brutal.  I had hoped to go for a walk in Abilene but I felt like I was going to be blown away!

We also took a road trip to the Salida, Colorado area.  My Beloved wanted to test a long trip on his motorcycle.  I basically put a pin in the map and said here.  The area was gorgeous.  We did some camping.  Too many hotel rooms and too much food out were the only real issues for me.  But I realized that I woudl rather eat my own cooking and sleep in a tent.  I would do the trip again but differently.

Because of my eye, because of my arthritis, I am trying to do everything I can do without drugs to lower inflammation.  One of the things that helps me a lot is much less animal foods in my life.  I will probably never be totally vegan because I eat what people offer me when they cook and I like traveling.  Some of the places we have started to research have had the comment that being vegan is difficult.

I borrowed Unbelievably Vegan from the library.  The author has some really excellent ideas.  My Beloved, who loves beans, has had it suggested to him that he needs to eat less.  I decided to try her chorizo recipe.  

Now I like chorizo.  But I do not like how grease it usually is.  This not chorizo based on walnuts and sun-dried tomatoes tasted right to me without the grease.  I did not heat it up but it can be.  I was also thinking I could season it differently and it could be taco meat too.  This is definitely something I will make again.

not chorizo

From Unbelievably Vegan but with my own variations because of course I did not get everything from the grocery store when I was there!

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes and then drained (not oil packed!)

1 cup walnuts

1 teaspoon ground ancho

1/2 teaspoon ground chipolte

1 teaspoon salt (I use Real Salt)

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teasppon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Put everything in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse unit well combined and kind of looks like chorizo.  You may need to scrape down the sides.

I served this directly on the salad that is pictured.  You could fry it for breakfast or heat it for tacos.  I am going to make it again tonight for dinner with taco seasonings instead.  Since this can be served hot or cold, I have been pondering if it would not be good camping food.  I am seriously thinking about trying it in a couple week.