Just a little movie snack-Pepitas!

Pumpkin seeds are great-I bought these raw and I wanted a little salt.  I put them in a pot with a little olive oil and salt and cooked them up.

Organic Carrots, Ginger and Orange Zest

You must excuse the next few posts.  I got a new Cuisinart so everything is going to be pureed.

I ate this like a soup but  it was really better as a dip with a a baked chip.

It's a cold summer-so I made soup.

All is well in this Vegan household.  This is a first.  Two brother cats that hate one another cuddled up for a nap.  It was a 55 degree day in the Bay Area so I made soup.

Potato, Onion and Garlic Soup with Vegetable Broth and a soy sour cream to bring it all together.  Tons of cracked pepper at the end.

Wasabi Potato Salad

I attempted to re-create a recipe of my favorite potato salad from Delica http://www.delicasf.com/salads.html to make it a vegan potato salad

Ingredients Included are:
Baby Potato
Edamame
Napa Cabbage
Green onion
Aioli Zesty Garlic by Wildwood (Egg and Dairy Free)
Wasabi

I don't get too concerned about how much of each, I just throw in what looks good.
You can make it really spicy by adding lots of Wasabi but I just like to give it just a little kick.

It's pretty good...try it out.

Banana Soy Vegan Restaurant

I'm planning to go here this week.  I will write a short review when I'm done.

http://bananasoy.com/

Thoughts about being Vegan-30+ days

So far, so good.

Some highlights...
1)  I have a very good internal system working (so to speak)...that's a fantastic improvement.
2)  I feel more relaxed
3)  I don't need coffee because I have enough energy in the morning to do the things I need to do.  I think all the cheese and saturated fats were weighing me down.
4)  It's fun running around town finding all the vegan hot spots and hot products.

On the downside...
1)  I really have to stay on top of what is in my refrigerator.  I find if I forget to go to the store to have everything I need, I fall off the wagon.  I even ordered a small pizza (somehow it never arrived?)  Maybe that was some higher power making sure I don't really fall too far off the wagon.

2)  My finger nails are not looking as good as they once did.  I started to take Calcium but now I read that may not be good.  So, I'm eating more greens.

This weeks culinary delights:

Carrots pureed with ginger and orange

Wasabi potato salad with Edamame & Napa Cabbage

I'm not sure what else just yet but I will let you know.

Organic Girl Good Clean Greens

Super Greens! www.iloveorganicgirl.com These were terrific as you can see from the empty container.  I started to take a handful of greens and add them to my smoothies this week.  Mixed organic berries, greens and Basil make my smoothie taste chocolaty-seriously.  I think I came up with a new invention..mixed berries and basil = chocolate.

Try it yourself:

Rachel's Chocolate Concoction

1 Bananna
1/2 cup mixed berries
Handfull of Super Greens
6-8 basil leaves
flax seeds
Almond Milk

Oh Yeah Baby...That's what I'm talking about!

Apple Cranberry Fiber Mini Cakes-Trader Joe's

I found these this week at Trader Joe's.  They're Vegan and I like them more than the other option because they are smaller and just enough to eat as a snack.  I froze them and pull one out as I need it.  Still, a little butter would be nice.  Actually, I'm craving butter less and less.  However, I ate some buttered pop-corn at the movie theater and I felt so sick. In the past I could gobble that down with ease.

Brown Rice-Super Nice!

I love to throw garlic, shallots, ginger and miso into my brown rice.  It's so nice.  A little Bragg's helps it out too.

Alternate Stir-Fry for Grandma

Grandma may not like the first stir-fry because I used maybe too much chili oil to give it a kick.  Another choice for her is the organic red kale and tofu with garlic and shallots.  These were cooked with vegetarian broth.

Stir Fry for Grandma tonight!

I must learn how to take a proper picture!   Here you have an Asian inspired stir-fry with tofu, mushrooms, and snap peas.  Tons of garlic always included.

Jicama and Orange Salad with Corn

Happy Monday!

This was much better than my first attempt where I used pineapple.  I really chopped the jicama and the flavors blended so much better.  The mint, lime, chili, and onion really give it a great kick.  I had some extra corn so I threw that into the mix.  Corn is also wonderful with lime and chili just on its own.

Natures Express-Bean Chili

I have no idea why I got Chili on a 90 degree day but it was still terrific.  Those folks really aim to please.

The Girl and the Fig

I visited Sonoma, CA this weekend with two sweet friends.  We had a fab dinner at The Girl and the Fig "Country Food with a French Passion".  http://www.thegirlandthefig.com

This was not a vegan restaurant because everything on the menu had cheese or meat.  I asked the waitress if they could put a vegan dish together for me and low and behold the chef whipped this up.

I felt like a rockstar ordering off the menu but I can do that since I'm a rocking the vegan lifestyle.

I think the waitress said this is farro and chickpea puree, and some vegetables?  As you can see I almost dug in without taking the picture.

Here is the dessert a sorbet of raspberry, cucumber and mint..em, em good!

Just a salad bar to go from Whole Paycheck

This is great on the go.  It's a little too drenched in Vegan Cesar dressing.  I love raw beets as you can see.  Again, pictured at almost the end of the meal.