Thank you so much for the kind words from my last post. New friendships take a while to develop, at least for me. I am definitely keeping my chin up… and moving forward. Or perhaps trying just to enjoy what is. It really was a stressful whirlwind last year and it might be nice to embrace the emptiness. Thank you, Anna, for pointing me to this lovely video.
One thing is for certain: I couldn’t do this without Rob. I could not imagine doing this year apart.
Since Rob works from home, and I labour in the hospital, it is funny how the roles have reversed slightly. I swear, Rob has been more adventurist in the kitchen than me. Rob is cooking up a storm, while I am relishing in my quickie salads, hehe.
And the best part? If we time it just right, I can come home to freshly cooked food. Some foods are just not meant to be eaten as leftovers, which is why they are such a treat.
Case in point: arepas. The moist and fluffy arepas with a crispy shell only happen when you make them fresh. We long learned not to make leftovers since they are very lacklustre. They are one of Rob’s specialties, although previously reserved for the weekend when we have more time for food prep.
They seem to fit with most any dish, at least in our fusion household. We like to make it with tofu scramble, but this time Rob went all out with the bean-quinoa chorizo crumbles from The Great Vegan Bean Book. I found them a bit spicy, so I threw together a spin on vegan egg salad: tofu-avocado salad. The avocado, tahini and Dijon make for a creamy dressing while chunky avocado and tofu are surprisingly reminiscent of eggs. The dill adds a nice spin, too. I used dried but I think fresh would be best.
This is my submission to this month’s Bookmarked Recipes and to Deb for this week’s Souper Sundays.
Tofu-Avocado Salad (Vegan Egg Salad) with Arepas
Salad adapted from Never Homemaker
Arepas
(see recipe here)
1/2 package firm tofu, cubed
1 avocado, cubed
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp tahini
juice of 1/2 lemon (1/4 cup), or to taste
2 tsp dried dill or 2 tbsp fresh dill (fresh would be best!)
salt and pepper, to taste
1. Make your arepas. See directions here.
2. While the arepas are baking, combine all salad ingredients in a small bowl. Mix to combine, leaving the avocado slightly chunky. Season to taste.
Serves 2.
the taste space 
Janet, you are awesome!
These look AMAZING! Must make them soon. Consider them pinned 🙂
When I’ve been in a new place, often in a (very) foreign country, where I don’t speak or understand the language, and everything not only looks, smells, feels, seems very different, it IS very different, things that help:
Talk, email, phone, write, “skype” often with friends and family back home.
Immediately plan visits – me to home, or them to my new locale – even if those visits aren’t going to take place for months. Talk about what we’ll do. Sights to see, restaurants to eat at, museums, excursions, activities, etc., we’re going to enjoy.
Find a like-minded group to join. Houston has many, many clubs and groups. There are Vegan cooking groups, lessons, discussions. There’s a displaced Canadians Club that I’m sure would welcome you, and many of their members undoubtedly felt similar to you when they first arrived. http://www.canadianclubofhouston.org/ Rob could join you at a Houston Cycling Club event, such as riding through Memorial Park some morning, and you would feel better with him by your side. http://www.meetup.com/HoustonCyclingClub/ There are many gardening and composting clubs where you might find kindred spirits.
There might be some negative stereotypes you’ve heard about “United Statesians,” and, since there are over 300 million of us, you’ll undoubtedly find some of us that fit it. But with that many of us, surely there are one or two that do not. And one stereotype about Texans that usually holds true is that we are very friendly. If you do show up at a Houston Cycling Event, or a vegan cooking class, or gardening club, and can just say “Hi” to someone, I’m sure there are at least a few that won’t be too paranoid and self-centered to say “Hi” right back. At least I’d think it’s worth a try.
Have you been to Ruggles Green? It’s generally considered to be the very best vegan restaurant in town. They shop local – hitting up the several farmers’ markets (where you will definitely find local corn). They also recycle and compost. There are three (I think) locations around town. I suspect you and Rob might enjoy an occasional meal there. http://www.rugglesgreen.com/
Oooh, these look good. I’ve made a tofu-avo salad before and loved the creaminess. I bet paired with the spicy crumbles and arepas it was a great meal all round. I want to try making arepas- just read the instructions and they sound easy- just need to get some masa.
Trust me, Rob’s repeater recipes are usually very easy. I don’t have the patience to make pancakes like this, but Rob does. Woohoo! 🙂 You need the right flour, though.. otherwise you end up with pupusas. 😉
You’ll settle in soon! the great thing about Southerners is that no one is a stranger. 🙂
I may just fly to Houston for an arepa though!!
Come on over, Laura! Arepas for all! 🙂
Go Rob! Who da man! (I’d’ve taken the extras of the spicy mix 😉 )
I love that you guys have been making arepas! There’s a super fun arepas place here that I love so I’ve never attempted to make them myself…but now I really have to try.
I have eaten arepas with many things but never tofu! Something to keep in mind.
I’ve never heard of arepas but now I want them! They look so fluffy – and delicious with tofu I am sure. Great effort on Rob’s part 🙂
While the food looks delicious, I want to comment on that video. Thank you so much for sharing that. As you probably know, I am fairly introverted and I genuinely enjoy being alone. Sometimes though my love for being alone makes me feel bad, that I should be seeig other people and isn’t sad that I would rather honour by myself than with others? I really loved this video because it was a great reminder that being alone is ok! Being alone can bring a piece of mind that other people can’t! It recharges you and makes you that much more appreciative of others. It gives you time for what you need.
I had to learn that the hard way when I moved to Dublin. But eventually you start to enjoy going out by yourself- having dinner alone or going Tina movie is wonderful! In time the friends will come but for now, enjoy doing exactly what YOU want to do without worrying about what others want. Revel in it and enjoy every second. Soon enough you’ll have to share your time. Make the most of your own private time while you have it 🙂
I read this before but didn’t comment. *HUG* That is all. 🙂
Alone time is good. I haven’t had much of it… honest to goodness alone time. But now the love for Houston is picking up. I am very excited about the possibilities now. 🙂
Please excuse some of the weird auto-corrected words in there. Reading and commenting on blogs on an iPad is tricky 😉
Being new to a plant based diet I am learning how to cook with tofu and this looks like a wonderful recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
I have bookmarked these arepas to try with my tortilla flour but have been remiss – these look fluffy and delicious – and I love the salad topping. It might sound odd but I think having good meals is a great way to feel happy about being in a new place.
Loving that tofu-avocado salad and those arepas look like a fabulous way to serve it. Thanks for sharing (and keeping me company) this week at Souper Sundays! 😉
[…] Tofu-Avocado Salad with Arepas […]
[…] Just like guacamole, it is a great dip and a flavourful topper paired with flavourful dishes like pupusas. […]
I’ve never heard of these before. I am intrigued.
Nice to have food made for you. It is a rare thing in this house. I am the only one that cooks. Just as well I am teaching wee Cooper.
Thanks for submitting it to Bookmarked Recipes, the roundup is now live.
Jac
🙂
[…] like this may be found as the year Rob fed me, but judging by how often we make arepas, this is definitely a winner in our books. Here it is paired with a dill-intensive […]
[…] Tofu Avocado Salad […]