When Inspiration Strikes

Yesterday was a dreary, rainy day here in Seattle, but instead of spending time in the kitchen, I ended up doing a deep scrub of my apartment. All those nooks and crannies that get ignored. It's winter in Seattle, so there are plenty of rainy days to come! I decided to make mushroom bacon another day, because as I was cleaning I developed a serious craving for tofu.This is one of the many reasons I am horrible with menu planning. I baked some tofu my regular way with a little coconut oil in the oven, but this time halfway through cooking I stirred in about two tablespoons of the Mapo sauce I had, and let that bake in. That was a good decision, it made the tofu nice and spicy.

I served it with some rice, and carrots, cilantro and green onions and made lettuce wraps with butter lettuce. In my humble opinion, butter lettuce is the best for wraps and raw tacos and such. The leaves are perfect little cups, and the lettuce is flexible and bendy. I love all the different textures, and the warmth of the rice and tofu with the coolness of the lettuce and vegetables. Plus, I love to dip and eat with my hands!
I made a super easy dipping sauce by mixing two tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of agave, 1 teaspoon of sriracha, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. It was a super easy and satisfying dinner. It felt both indulgent and healthy.
I was thinking last night how funny it is when people question vegan food and feel like it must be so restrictive, but I find it to be the opposite. I feel like my food world opened after going vegan. I feel like I eat fruits and vegetables that I never ate before, and also I really started improving my own cooking skills. I don't think I ever ate lettuce wraps before, and that's too bad. I never feel bored as a vegan, and as a matter of fact I can't keep up with all of the new vegan foods on the market!
Before I sign off for the day, I want to show you a picture of some Portobello  mushrooms lounging in a pool of delicious, smoky marinade! I just took a break from this post because inspiration struck for a marinade!

If these turn out like i want them to, I will for sure post the recipe tomorrow. The marinade tasted really good, so I think it should be a success!
Happy Saturday!