#Challenge22 – Day 1 + 2 (the New Year train wreck edition)

Okay – so maybe it wasn’t exactly the best decision to start a vegan challenge the day before New Years Eve… Being on the road for most of the weekend. But I absolutely learned some priceless lessons.

First of all – I learned how hungry you can get when walking around in an airport smelling all things sweet and cheesy – and then arriving at a hotel craving roomservice just to see that they have no dishes without meat or dairy. I ended up ordering a Canja (Brazilian veggie and chicken soup). Sorry….

Second – I learned that I don’t know how to explain in Portuguese that I need something without meat and dairy. I had a situation the second day where I ended up giving a waitress my best chicken impression – arms flapping, neck out and all – because she didn’t think chicken was meat (I’ll let that one slide). And she finally laughed and nodded like she understood perfectly. I ended up with a ham and cheese sandwich… which I ate ’cause I was starving. Whoops…

On New Years eve we had delicious food served back stage where S was playing – and I ate that too. Mostly beans, rice and veggies. But some dairy was absolutely in there. Again whoops…

Train wreck aside

My mistakes aside I actually had fun with it the first couple of days and ate primarily plant based. Prepared some of my favorite recipes, found some new ones. Google translated a thousand ingredients (my in-laws call me GoogleLine). Went to the supermarket for hours. Cooked great food – I’m definitely doing my banana bread and sweet potato pancakes again this week.

It feels awesome to get into the lifestyle again – and the next time we are on the road I’ll bring some vegan bars for snacking, some peanutbutter and maybe even make a bucket of rice with beans and veggies if I can’t find meals at restaurants.

The Challenges Day 1 + 2

Im doing the Challenge22 (being 100 percent vegan for 22 days) – and every day there is a new challenge. I like that – makes it fun. Maybe you wanna join me in this challenge. If so – stay tuned.

Challenge Day 1: Introduce yourself to the community

I did that here – and on Instagram @mylittlevegancrush. Effective to make a public commitment – kinda makes you obligated in a way. You wanna stay consistant, you know?

Challenge Day 2: Make a vegan pasta dish

I made my favorite tomato-garlic sauce. So easy and so yummy.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of soy
1 cup (250 ml) coconut milk
1 can diced tomatos
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves
2 small onions
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cherry tomatos
Pasta of you’re choice (I love quinoa pasta)

Cook

Set the oven at 200 degrees for the tomatoes
Cook the pasta while making the sauce
Cut the tomatoes, put them in an oven dish and spray a little olive oil, salt and pepper on top. Put them in the oven bake them about 15 minutes
Cut the onions and garlic and roast them in a wok with a little pepper
Add the rest of the ingredients and cook it for some minutes
Add the pasta to the sauce and mix it well
Serve the pasta with the baked tomatoes and fresh basil on top.

Tomorrow I will spill the lentils about Day 3 and 4. Talk soon.

Love, Nikoline