"Bacon" Explosion Burritos (and my first ever recipe blog!)

Breakfast burritos are one of my favourite foods EVER. I could seriously eat one every day and not get sick of it. However, when I became vegan, I had to alter them. Luckily, I discovered that tofu mimics the taste and texture of scrambled eggs quite well, and there are loads of bacon alternatives. Now, you don't have to be vegan, or even veggie to enjoy this delicious recipe, as it is much healthier than a traditional bacon-and-egg breakfast too.

"BACON" Explosion Burritos (3 very generous burritos)

1 (12 oz) block of firm or extra-firm tofu

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon turmeric (this helps give the tofu that eggy yellow colour, optional)

1 tsp margarine or oil (I use Earth Balance or canola oil)

2 tbs tamari (Soy sauce works too, but tamari has a stronger flavour)

6-8 slices imitation bacon (I recommend Lightlife)

1/4 cup imitation bacon bits (not the nasty hard ones used in salads)

cheese of your choice, to taste

3 burrito-sized tortillas

OPTIONAL:

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 bell pepper (red or green), diced

1/8 cup green chile sauce or salsa

1 cup cooked o'brien or hash brown potatoes

1) Drain tofu and press. To press, put the tofu on a plate, put another plate over it. Now place something heavy like a textbook on top of the plate. Wait about 30-45 minutes so all the liquid can drain. This step is essential! If you don't press out the water, the tofu won't be able to absorb flavours and will be a soggy mess. Once tofu is pressed drain off all the water and crumble with your hand.

2) In a large skillet, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Then saute tofu, bell peppers and onions (if you are using them) for about 3-5 minutes. Now add turmeric, salt, pepper, tamari and bacon bits. Reduce heat to medium and cook for another 5 minutes.

3) Whilst the tofu is cooking prepare the bacon in a different pan. Cook according to package directions. When done set aside.

4) Heat up the tortillas. I like to heat them up directly on the burner when I have a gas stove. But if you don't, just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds.

5) Now it's time to make the burritos. Lay the tortilla flat and line up the bacon in the center. If you made potatoes, add these as well. They'll probably overlap. Now add a small heap of the tofu mixture on top (not too much, or you won't be able to fold the burrito!). Sprinkle as much cheese as you would like on top, and add salsa or green chile sauce if you're so inclined.

6) Roll up and enjoy!

Wasn't that easy and delicious? I hope to post more recipes in the future. Stay tuned!

M.

The Last Love Letter I've Ever Gotten

Found in my Saved email folder whilst doing a routine spam purge. Here it is in its entirety.

It took me a long time to

get to a place mentally where it

didn't upset me to think about you.

From very early on when we met, I

wanted nothing but to just be with

you, around you, etc. I would have

gone anywhere, and done anything,

just to see you smile.

I don't know if I told you

this, I may have. I think I told

you this as you were telling me to

stay out of your life and how (name withheld)

was such a great guy. On that one

night when I walked to your house

really late, just as I was coming

to the roundabout that divides the

two mesas, I turned around. A

shooting star went across the sky.

I had never, ever seen one before.

I decided that it must be a good

omen, and I thought that if I had

just one wish in life it would be

to be with you. True story.

Well, I think everyone

knows what happened. For every

minute we were together you've

spent at least 6 trying to keep me

away from you, trying to get me to

leave you alone. And for every

minute we were together I've spent

6 as an emotional train wreck. Was

it worth it to me to spend 6 times

the time we were together with a

broken heart and a withered soul?

I don't know. I had become a

zombie. I didn't talk anymore then.

I walked around with one expression

on my face and was never more than

2 and a half seconds away from a

total breakdown. My boss finally

noticed that my soul had been

crushed out of existence and I was

now just an automaton. So people

tried to help me.

I spent *years* wanting

nothing else but to be with you.

And at every single step of the way

you had some method, motivation or

reason to reject me. Suppose I

should have learned to take a hint.

I'm not very smart though. At some

point I did get to a place where I

recognized that just staying away

from you and not getting

emotionally involved in anything to

do with you was the best path.

And then, much later, you

started your whole "fox-hound"

thing. I was highly suspicious that

it was bait for an emotional bear

trap. But it went on so long and I

wanted to believe it so badly that

I took it. And now I'm emotionally

maimed again.

I love you way too much for

my own good, obviously. Not very

long at all after I accepted your

efforts you discarded the entire

thing. I don't know the real reason

why but I can't believe it would be

over calling you the wrong name.

I was rejected, yet again.

I was given the "just

friends" routine.

This time was a little

different though. This time was

especially heart wrenching because

of everything else going on in my

life. I just couldn't find anything

in my life that I had to look

forward to. Nothing to give me at

least a little hope that one day it

would all just be better. I had

"us" to hope for. And I tried so

hard to keep that in my mind, to

focus on it and not have to think

about everything else in my life.

But it was just a mirage. There is

no water at this oasis, just more

sand.

Sorry about everything. I'm

sorry I've bothered you for so

long, and for whatever I did to

make you want to do this. I have no

heart to open up to anybody

anymore. I love you, since the

beginning of it all, love too much

for me, whether I hide or show it.

Like a dried out twig, I can only

bend so far before I break.


I love you and I'm sorry,

-(name withheld)
11/22/2010

**************************************************************************************

I want you all to know something. I learned a very important lesson. When a love this strong, this powerful, and this enduring comes along, for the sake of all that's green DO NOT LET IT GO. No matter what anyone tells you. No matter how difficult things may seem at the time, they can always get better. Relationships are hard work, and you have to be wiling to put in a lot of effort to make them last. People are so obsessed with the fairy-tale notion that you'll be one hundred percent happy when you're with the right person. I wish that were true but it's not.

Love letters are a lost art these days. If you love someone, write them a letter and tell them so. It means so much more than a cutesy "143" text.

M.