I think that all the posts I’ve written and revised in my head should make up for the lack of posts these past few days. No? Oh well, just take my word for it, they were great even if I can’t really remember them. So, rather than give you four half-assed posts… I present.. Friday Potpourri!

Eating with the Dark Lord of Fake Meat … Seitan!

Ok, yes, I’m a nerd, but I think Seitan is kind of pronounced Sa-tan, and that was the least offensive word play I could think of.

I know this looks like a grilled chicken salad, right? But no, that's just delicious wheat gluten!

I tried Seitan, or wheat gluten, recently for the first time. They don’t carry it at my normal grocery store, but I found this at Earthfare with with tofu and tempeh. I’m not big on faux meat normally, but I’ve been wanting to try this for a while. It came in a package like tofu, in liquid, and I drained it and chopped it the same way.

The texture is different than tofu or tempeh, and it actually does like look chicken, kind of. I sautéed it with a tiny bit of olive oil and salt and pepper and threw it on my salad. I might have cooked it too long, but I liked it a little bit crispy.

Verdict: I still have some left that I want to try to prepare more creatively, but  I think this is a good protein replacement.

Seitan!

More questions you didn’t actually ask… answered!

So after my last questions you didn’t directly ask me post, more thought-provoking google searches have come in.

a. How to keep collards from smelling when cooking.. When I was growing up, I hated the smell of collards cooking and I was pleasantly surprised that when I made collards the other week, they didn’t smell! The biggest difference I can tell between the way my family cooked collards (Smelly) and the way I cooked collards (not smelly) is that they boiled and cooked them for a long time. I cooked mine with a little liquid and a little oil in a sauté pan, and they didn’t smell.

b. Where can I buy see-through clothing? I’m going to respond with a question: Why would you want to?

c. What does “open minded” mean on craigslist? I think this came from my red flags for your roommate hunt post, and in my opinion, “open minded” means freak nasty even if it is a listing for apartments, secretary work, or dog walking.

My new camera came!

I still have my hand-me-down Rebel, that I love, but until I win the lottery and someone buys me a T2i, I decided to get a new point and shoot with better video than my old one. I got a Canon SD1400 with help from it being on sale, having a coupon AND having Christmas money from ZenMama, and I really like it.

I’m still trying to figure out the settings, but until then, I present you with fisheye setting Moneen:

Yeaaauuus?

And here is “miniature” Moneen:

Ok she doesn't look very mini, but I'm not exactly sure how that setting is supposed to work.

And finally…

Fans of The Lizzie and Michael show, formerly appearing at the FloMo, have been clamoring for photos from our recent reunion. OK, maybe just our former boss Kim, BUT, he did come to visit me in Columbia and it was great catching up.

Mr. Huntastic! We went to the Gourmet Shop for lunch and then Cupcake for dessert.

Cue angels singing.

Also, Michael gave me this hottt True Blood calendar. Swooon.

Ok, I think that covered at least 37% of the posts I’ve “written” without actually writing.

Hope everyone is having a happy Friday and a great weekend!!

Have you ever tried seitan? Would you want to? Or maybe an easier question… What is your favorite kind of cupcake?