Eleven Eleven

 Hodgepodge On Wednesday

1. It's the 11th day of the 11th month and bloggers often make lists on days like today. Let's go with a list of eleven things you're feeling grateful for today.

    My eleven things for which I am grateful:

        1. food

        2. shelter

        3. clean water

        4. electricity

        5. paved roads

        6. car

        7. husband

        8. children and grandchildren

        9. friends

      10. Bible

      11. books

       and I could go on for another eleven!

2. What's something you decided to do or act on at the '11th hour'?

        I changed my life's direction in July after I graduated from high school.  I was set to attend college in San Francisco Bay area of California.  But I applied to and was accepted to a college in northern Los Angeles County and, sight unseen, enrolled there.  My brother drove me there which was an adventure in itself since neither of us had ever been farther south than San Jose.  He dropped me off at the dorm and drove away.  There I was in a place I'd never seen, committed to spending the next four years there.  Truthfully, it was one of the best eleventh hour decisions I could have made.  I met my husband my senior year.  I still keep in touch with two of my profs and many of my college friends.

3.  Apparently the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe contains 11 herbs and spices. What's a dish you make that calls for exactly eleven ingredients? Feel free to share the list and/or recipe. 

        This is a tough one because all my cookbooks are still packed.   But I have this recipe in my computer files.  Wah-la!  It has eleven ingredients!  I realize that few people would care to try a vegan recipe, but truly, it is delicious.

Easy Vegan Lasagna

Adapted from https://www.hummusapien.com/easy-vegan-lasagna/

Ingredients

For the lasagna:

15-18 lasagna noodles (Trader Joe’s Italian lasagna noodles)

Virgin olive oil

1 medium zucchini, shredded

8oz package mushrooms, sliced

12oz spinach, chopped

5-10 cups marinara sauce

Trader Joe’s vegan mozzarella style cheese shreds 

For the tofu ricotta:

2-14oz pkg extra firm tofu, drained and pressed

10oz tub roasted garlic hummus

½ cup nutritional yeast

¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped (optional)

 Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.  (If you are using different lasagna noodles, cook them al dente.)

Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet.  Once hot, add zucchini, mushrooms and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Saute for 5 minutes or until softened.  Add spinach and saute for another 5 minutes.  Remove pan from heat.

Place drained tofu in a large bowl.  Crumble with hands.  Add hummus, nutritional yeast, and basil.  Stir together until it is semi-smooth and resembles ricotta.

Place about 1 ½ cups of marinara in the bottom of a 9x13in baking dish.  Top with 4-5 noodles.  Next add half of the ricotta mixture, mozzarella shreds, and half of the vegetable mixture.  Top with 1 ½ cups or more of marinara sauce.  Repeat with more noodles, tofu mixture, shreds, and veggies.  Then top with one last layer of noodles and more sauce.

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

4. Something you remember about your 11-year old self?

        When I was eleven, I got my first pair of glasses.  That event changed two things.  I could see clearly!  Also, I first became self conscious of my physical appearance.  If you wore glasses, do you remember being called "four eyes"?

5. The 11th of November is Veterans Day in the US of A. This is a day to honor those who have served their country in war or peace-dead or alive-although according to the government's website it's largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. 

Memorial Day is when we honor military personnel who died in service to their country. 

Share a thought relating to Veterans Day or tell us something about a Veteran you know-love-admire. 

        I come from a long line of veterans.  My father, three uncles, husband, brother-in-law, former son-in-law, and son have served in the military.  World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.  My son currently serves as a USAR Lieutenant Colonel Chaplain.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

        That LC Chaplain?  It's his wedding anniversary today!  Happy Anniversary to Chaps and The Princess!