Sweet and Spicy Roasted Acorn Squash

This work thing isn't working out! As you may have noticed, I have been a wee bit absent, since starting a new job. Today is the day that changes. I have been making excuses, telling myself that I will start again when I get used to my new schedule etc., but the reality is I don't think that will ever happen. Each weekend, as I am sure you know, I set off to do one or two things on my to-do list only to realize the couch feels so good! And let's get real Candy Crush won't play itself! Anyways.... I have decided to make a conciouse effort to do at least one post a week. If I cant do that....well then I guess I will just quit this ol' J-O-B of mine and get back to cooking! Along with that big change in my life, I have also decided to try the vegan thing again. I wouldn't say 100% vegan, but a solid 95% at least. I feel like life without cheese will be like amputating a leg rough to say the least, but I am stopping at the health food store on the way home to pick up some nutritional yeast, which I hear from vegans is a good cheese substitute. We will see.....we will see.

And of course I get out the dusty old camera to snap a pic.....and it is dead. Camera Phone it is!!

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Acorn Squash
1 acorn squash
1-2 tablespoons of chipotle sauce (depending on how spicy you prefer)
2 tablespoons cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon hoisen sauce
2 tablespoons ov olive oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut your acorn squash in half and then into 6 wedges. Scoop out seeds and discard. Place on a lined baking sheet and set aside.

In a small bowl combined chipotle sauce, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, and pepper. Using a cooking brush, cover squash wedges generously in the sauce. Place in oven and bake for 40-50 minutes until fork tender, removing every 15 minutes to glaze with remaining sauce.

Once done top with chopped cilantro, green onions, or sesame seeds or all three!!!

Red Kale, Asparagus and Mushrooms with Romano Cheese Polenta

I know, I know. I have literally been absent for months. I would come up with an amazing excuse....but I think it is just winter wearing on me. I only have so many hours of good lighting to take pictures with, and if I am not feeling the cooking vibe...well I think you know what happens. But now Spring is just around the corner. It stays light until almot 7:00pm! Despite the fact that there is a snow storm looming on the horizon because I live in Antarctica.... I mean northern Canada.... it seems like I can almost taste summer coming.  But since the first day of spring here.....is very different than the rest of the world I am doing a warm and cozy recipe with mushrooms and hot polenta.  A little asparagus in this recipe is just the spring I need to hold me over, until real spring gets here

Red Kale, Asparagus, and Mushrooms with Romano Cheese Polenta

2-3 cups purple kale, torn into bite sized pieces

1 cup dried porcini mushrooms*

1 cup asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces

1 cup hot water

1/2 yellow onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup corn meal

1 cup mushroom or chicken broth

1/2 cup low-fat milk

3/4 cup shredded romano cheese (optional)

2 tablespoons chives, chopped

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

If you don't have dried mushrooms (and mushroom broth) , just used your favorite fresh mushrooms and chicken broth. I used a combination of dried and fresh. 

Place dried mushrooms in a bowl. Pour 1 cup of hot water, or enough to cover mushrooms in bowl. Set aside.

In a large pan heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes until softened. Drain mushrooms, and reserve liquid for polenta. Add mushrooms and kale, along with a splash of mushroom liquid, stir reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until kale has begun to soften. Add asparagus, cover and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. 

In a medium pot,  bring mushroom liquid and broth to a boil. Whisk in cornmeal and milk and reduce to a simmer. Continue to whisk for 5-10 minutes until desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese, until melted. Immeditely plate and top with the kale and mushrooms. Sprinkle with chopped chives and some extra cheese.

Poached Eggs and Brussel Sprouts

This is what nightmares are made of. For kids. Runny yolks and mini cabbages. Ever since I started making  brussel sprouts this way I literally cannot stop. I have had them 1-2 times a week for a month. I recently added the poached egg for a great little lunch. I really need to invest in an egg poacher....because as you can tell from the picture....not my best performance. 

Speaking of performances I did a workout today that was the bee's knees. I will post it below this recipe!

Poached Eggs and Brussel Sprouts

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 shallots, thinly sliced

3-4 cups brussel sprouts

1 tablespoon butter

Salt and Pepper

2 lemon wedges

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vinegar

Makes 2 servings

In a large pan melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until soft.

While garlic and shallots are cooking, peel off any damaged leaves of the brussel sprouts. Cut off ends, and then slice as thin as possible. If you have the slicing attachment for your food processor this works great too. Add sliced brussel sprouts to pan and stir. Cover and cook for 1 minute, then stir. Repeat 6-7 times, always stirring after a minute to prevent burning or sticking. Once the brussel sprouts have softened, season with salt and pepper and set aside. 

You can poach your eggs however you please. If you have the old fashion tools, bring water and vinegar to a simmer in a small pot. Slowly crack eggs into the pot, using a slotted spoon to help keep their shape. Cook for 2-4 minutes, depending on how runny you would like them. Remove from water with a slotted spoon and drain. 

Place a heaping spoonful of brussel sprouts on a plate, create a small crater with the back of the spoon and place egg inside. Squeeze a lemon wedge over egg and enjoy!

Thursday Burpee Pyramid

For this workout there are no breaks. You move from one exercise right into the other. I think that is why I almost puked felt amazing. The only pyramid part are the burpees, everything else is always a set of 10. 

10 burpees

10 squats

10 push-ups

10 box jumps

10 calf raises

9 burpees

10 squats

10 push-ups

10 box jumps

10 calf raises

8 burpees......

and so on down to 1 burpee

Death by burpees!

Red Quinoa, Apple and Carrot Ribbon Salad with Curry Citrus Dressing

I am sure one of you resolutions this years is to work out more, eat less junk food, or lose weight. I think 90% of resolutions made involve one of the above mentioned topics. My resolution is to eat more greens and to not get wrinkles  have at least 3 vegan days a week, along with some others you probably don't care about. Whatever you resolution is, I hope it last longer than the end of January and if it is to eat more healthy here is a great recipe for you!

Red Quinoa, Apple and Carrot Ribbon Salad with Curry Citrus Dressing

2 large carrots, peeled

1 medium apple

1 cup cooked red quinoa

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon yellow curry powder

1/4 teaspoon cumin

pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup fresh mint

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

In a small bowl whisk together shallot, garlic, honey, lime juice, olive oil, salt, curry powder and cumin. Set aside. 

In a large bowl use a vegetable peeler to create carrot ribbons with the two large carrots. Cut apple into matchsticks and add to bowl, along with cooked quinoa. Roughly chop mint and cilantro and add to bowl, reserving a few sprigs for garnish. Pour dressing over carrots, apples and quinoa and toss to coat. 

Remove salad to a serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs a some fresh cracked pepper. 

Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Kale Salad

I am borderline psychotic in need of a nap so without further ado..... a recipe full of winter veggies and roasted seeds. BAM.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Kale Salad

1 spaghetti squash

2 cups kale, torn into small pieces

1/2 medium yellow onion

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the insides, setting the seeds aside. Place skin side down on a pan along with the onion and brush with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 35-45 minutes until flesh of the squash is tender. 

Remove from oven and allow to cool. While squash is cooling place seeds in a bowl, and toss with olive oil and sea salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, until they begin to brown. Remove from oven and set aside. 

In a large bowl add kale and a little olive oil. Massage the oil into the kale leaves for about 2 minutes until they begin to soften. You could alternately sautee the leaves if you didn't feel up to giving a plant a rub down. After leaves have softened, use a fork to remove the flesh of the squash from the skin and add to the large bowl. Chop cooked and cooled onion and add to bowl along with parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Top with toasted squash seeds.

Coconut-Carrot Tahini Soup

So can we just talk about "it" foods real quick? This past year it was quinoa, goji berries,  and butternut squash. More recently the "it" food is kale. You literally cannot read an article on the good ol' in-tro-net without someone telling you how kale will make you skinny, have glowing skin, and your babies will be born with a full head of hair. K maybe I stretched that last one a bit. All I am saying is that people go through fads with food almost as frequently as the next hot diet or exercise craze. (P90X, Zumba, or Crossfit anyone?) The point of this rant is.... you should really be eating these "it" foods all the time,  because Gweneth Paltrow does they are always good for you! 

When my parents visited a few weeks ago they made so delicious carrot ginger soup. Fairly simple but so so so good. I thought I could add a few item to their original (i.e. spices and tahini)......mainly because lately I am using tahini like a sesame addict. It is my new "it" food. After I found out they are a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids....I basically put that ish on everything. 

Coconut-Carrot Tahini Soup

1 pound washed and peeled carrots (6-7 large carrots)

1 medium yellow onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 inch piece ginger, peeled and minced

4 cups vegetable broth

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/2  teaspoon corriander

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon tumeric

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

1/3 cup tahini

Cilantro for garnish

Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add butter and melt. Roughly chop onions and carrots and add to pot. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic, ginger, spices, salt and pepper. Cook for an additional minute until spices are fragrant. Add vegetable broth, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until carrot are very soft. 

Remove from heat. Using and immersion blender (or regular blender if you don't have one) blend until smooth. Add coconut milk and blend until incorporated. Let cool for about 5 minutes, add tahini, and blend again for about 30 seconds. Serve with a few sprigs of cilantro on top. 

Carrot and Sweet Potato Lasagna with Basil Tomato Cashew Cheese Sauce

After my first experience with cashews used as a sauce, my mind was overflowing with ideas on how to change creamy sauces (which I usually hate) to something healthy and delicious. I love, love, love lasagna. It can be made vegetarian without meat eaters batting an eyelash. You can add any type of meat, vegetable, or cheese and usually you will get an amazing result.

My veggie friend Lacey made me some yummy vegetarian lasagna the other day, which included carrots and I loved it so much a had to expand on it. Carrots add a great texture that lasagna is usually missing. So then I thought..... why not substitute the ricotta with some sort of cashew cream sauce? The textures are similar enough....and like I said.... pretty hard to mess up....hopefully :)

Carrot and Sweet Potato Lasagna with Basil Tomato Cashew  Sauce

1 medium sweet potato*

2-3 large carrots

1.5 cups Basil Tomato Cashew Sauce (recipe below)

2 cups Roasted Tomato Sauce (recipe below)

* Next time I may just use carrots. The sweet potatoes make this dish a little too sweet for my liking. 

Basil Tomato Cashew "Cheese" Sauce

1 cup cashews

1/2 cup fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

1/2 cup water

Soak cashews in water for 4 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse, and add to a blender with remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth, adding more water if necessary. IT should be about the same consistency of ricotta cheese. Set aside.

Roasted Tomato Sauce

3 cups tomatoes  ( I used assorted cherry & roma)

1 large yellow onion, cut into wedges

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

salt & pepper

1 cup tomato sauce

2 cloves garlic, peeled

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss tomatoes and onion in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and place in a food processor along with tomato sauce and garlic and pulse until almost smooth.

To assemble :

Peel carrots and sweet potatoes. Using a vegetable peeler cut this ribbons with carrots and potatoes and set aside.  Using a 8x8 inch pan, add a thin layer of sauce. Continue with a layer of carrots and sweet potatoes, making about as thick as a standard lasagna noodle. Spoon half of the cashew cheese and spread evenly over the top. Next add a generous layer of sauce, followed by carrots and sweet potatoes and remaining cashew cheese. Follow with a layer of sauce, carrots and sweet potatoes, and remaining sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until sweet potatoes and carrots are tender.

Jicama and Grapefruit Salad with Persimmon Dressing

Your first thought: What is a persimmon? Your second thought: What is a jicama?

Both legit questions. I only know the answer to one. Jicama is a root of a ....vegetable/bean plant? It sort of taste like a cross between an apple and a potato. Super crunchy, slightly sweet, really confusing on your taste buds.

Persimmon....not so much. I grabbed a few because at the grocery store there we tons of them, so I figured they must be in season....and I love fresh fruits and veggies in season. After some google work I discovered that is is a fruit, with two varieties, that can be made into puddings. Not much help, so I just decided to cut a piece off and go for it. Surprise! For some reason I was expecting a tomato. It is a mildly sweet, smooth textured fruit.

So I thought I would make a salad out of two fruits/vegetables you will never see. But in case you inherit a jicama farm from your Latina grandma.... you are set.

Jicama and Grapefruit Salad with Persimmon Dressing

2 cups jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks

1 grapefruit

1 handful cilantro

1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 avocado, cubed

1/2 persimmon

1/2 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon grape
seed or olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Over a small bowl, peel and cut grapefruit into segments, catching juices in the bowl. Add grapefruit segments to a large bowl along with jicama, cilantro, red onion, and avocado.

To the small bowl add juice of 1/2 lime, agave nectar, grape seed oil, salt, and garlic. Chop the persimmon into tiny cubes and add to dressing. Whisk until combined and pour over salad. Toss to coat and serve!

Sweet Potato and Oat Falafel

 

Healthy comfort food is sort of an oxymoron. "It is so cold out there today! I could really go for a salad" - said no one ever.  Well it is officially winter here and I was in dire need of a way to get some comfort food that wasn't loaded with cheese or made from chocolate. These aren't your traditional falafels, mainly because they are not deep fried, and do not contain any flour. But they do have chickpeas and are served with a delicious tahini sauce that is a great alternative to the greasy falafels you might be used to. You can stick 'em in a pita or enjoy them all by themselves.

 

Sweet Potato and Oat Falafel

 

2 medium sweet potatoes

1 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 cup oats

2 cloves garlic

1 handful cilantro

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon coriander

Salt and Pepper

 

First you need to cook your sweet potatoes. You can do this by roasting at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, peeling and boiling, microwaving, whatever works for you. Once they are cooked, scoop only the orange insides into a food processor.

 

Add all of the remaining ingredients, except for the oats and sesame seeds. Pulse until mixture is smooth.

 

Remove from food processor and add to a large bowl along with oats. Fold oats in until they are evenly incorporated.

 

On a non-stick baking sheet, place heaping spoonfuls about an inch apart and top with a few sesame seeds. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until you see the tops to get a little crunchy and golden brown.

 

For these bite sized treats I made a lemon tahini dip! See below:

 

Lemon Tahini Dip

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons parsley

1/2 teaspoon cumin

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup water

 

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth .

 

 

 

All inspired by the awesome recipe below!

My New Roots

Raw Pad Thai

 

 

I recently stumbled on the most amazing website. I literally spent hours browsing through these amazing recipes, and when I saw this one I knew I had to try it. The unique thing about this website, is that is not only gave you a recipe, but it also gave you a breakdown for the nutritional value or secrets of certain foods. And it does this for all the recipes. Seriously guys, its amazing. So I made this Raw Pad Thai recipe, fully expecting it to be awesome. It was. The only thing I couldn't find was kelp noodles, so I used rice noodle instead, which I could have left out all together and it would have been just as delicious! There are a lot of ingredients, but don't let that scare you.  If you are on a clean eating challenge, wanting some more veggies in your diet, are vegan, or just want a good recipe, give it a try!

My New Roots - Pad Thai

Raw Pad Thai

 

1/2  package Rice Noodles

½ head purple cabbage

2 carrots

1 zucchini

1 bunch green onions

1 each red and yellow bell pepper

1 serving marinated mushrooms (see below)

1 bunch cilantro (reserve a little for garnish)

Raw Pad Thai Sauce (see below)

sesame seeds

lime wedges for serving

 

Marinated Mushrooms

2-3 cups of mushrooms, roughly chopped (I used crimini and portabello)

¼ cup soy sauce

2 Tbsp. maple syrup

2 Tbsp. olive oil

 

Whisk all ingredients together and fold on mushrooms. Allow to marinate, refrigerated, for a few hours, or overnight if you can. Stir occasionally.

Raw Pad Thai Sauce

1 cup cashews, soaked

1 inch ginger root, peeled

1 clove garlic

½ red chili pepper, seeds removed

1 Tbsp. maple syrup

1 ½ Tbsp. soy sauce

juice of 2 limes

1 tsp. ground turmeric

10 coriander seeds, or 1 tsp. ground coriander

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup water

 

 

Directions:

 

Pad Thai

 

1. Remove rice noodles from package and rinse. Place in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, let sit 3 minutes then rinse and drain and set aside.

2. Here is were all the work is. I used a vegetable peeler, potato peeler and knife. Peel the carrots, then use the potato peeler to make thin ribbons. Use the vegetable peeler on the zucchini, then cut those ribbons into thin, noodle like strips. Julienne the bell pepper. and thinly slice the cabbage. Slice green onions and roughly chop cilantro, including stems. Place all veggies in a bowl, along with marinated mushrooms (see below) and set aside.

 

 

Dressing

 

1. Soak cashews for at least 4 hours, overnight is best.

2. Drain and rinse cashews well. Place in a blender and add all other ingredients . Blend until smooth (this may take a minute or two).

 

When ready to serve pour desired amount of dressing over the veggies along with noodles, and toss to coat. After plating add cilantro, sesame seeds, and lime wedges.

 

Sweet Potato and Lentil Curry

Continuing on this journey of veganism..... I needed something that was going to fill me up. I find the one big problem with the whole vegan thing is that no matter how much I eat I am always hungry an hour later. Like last night I made Tofu and Bean Sprout Lettuce Wraps and ate about 6 of them. It was a lot of food. But and hour later it was like I never ate! TJ would tell you this has to do with my "hollow leg". Apparently this leg is why I can eat 14 cookies in one sitting.

Anyways I wanted something hearty, but still good for me (aka not a huge plate of pasta) and what is more filling than potatoes and beans? This dish is so flavorful and works really well on its own or over rice. It is also an excuse for me to eat raw cilantro....

Sweet Potato and Lentil Curry

2 small sweet potatoes

1 cup lentils, rinsed and drained

1/2 yellow onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 inch piece ginger, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons red curry paste

2-3 cups vegetable broth

1 medium zucchini, cubed

1 teaspoon cumin

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons coconut or olive oil

Green onion, sliced

Cilantro

In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Dice onions and add to pot, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften.

While onions are cooking peel potatoes and dice into small cubes, and set aside. 

Once onions are soft add curry paste, minced garlic and ginger. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring until fragrant. Add broth, potatoes, lentils, salt and pepper, and cumin and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. 

Remove lid and add zucchini. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, until zucchini is barely tender. Top with green onions and cilantro and serve over warm basmati rice or by itself!

Baby Greens and Roasted Beet Salad

This might be my new all time favorite salad. I had it 3 times in Summerland, with all ingredients fresh from my husbands parents garden and it was to die for. It is sooooo simple too. 

You can easily jazz this up with your choice of dressing, bacon, nuts. 

You could also question my judgement because I just used the phrase "jazz this up."

And you can also tell by this recipe that I occasionally falter on this vegan diet . But goat cheese and beets are made for each other. So I had to. 

2-3 cups washed baby greens

1 cup arugula 

1 large beet

1/4 small red onion

1/2 cup parley or dill (or both)

1/3 cup of goat cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Salt and Pepper

First you will need to roast your beets. Pretty Simple. Cut off the greens and the bottom and place on a sheet of foil. Top with a little olive oil, wrap up and put in the oven for 45 minutes on 400 degrees. Once roasted, allow to cool and the skin will peel right off. Then chop into wedges or slices and set aside.

Next place all of your washed greens and arugula in a large bowl. Chop herbs and slice onion and place in the bowl, along with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat. 

Plate greens on a nice dish and top with beets and chunks of goat cheese! 

That is it! So simple and so tasty. 

Red Curry and Ginger Tofu and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps

I have decided that the only way I can really enjoy tofu is when it is deep fried (surprise) or if it is cut into tiny pieces. If it is soft, or too large then it is gross. Thats what she said. Sorry, I had to! 

So since I don't own a deep fryer and don't ever plan on getting one I have to stick to cutting tofu into tiny pieces then dry frying it. Still just as delicious and so much better for you! Mixed with mushrooms this tofu dish is filling, healthy, and exotic. I had 4 in one sitting that is how much I enjoyed them. Next time I think they would go nicely with some sort of sesame vinaigrette sauce or Sirracha sauce. 

Red Curry and Ginger Tofu and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps

1 cup extra firm tofu, cut into 1 cm cubes

1 cup mushrooms, halved and sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 inch piece ginger, minced

1 tablespoon of lime juice

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon red curry paste

1/2 cup carrots, cut into matchsticks

2 tablespoons fresh basil

1 tablespoon fresh mint

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3-4 large green lettuce leaves

In a medium pan add tofu. Dry fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes, tossing occasionally until all pieces are golden brown

Remove from pan and set aside. Add oil to pan and add mushrooms, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and curry paste. Cook until mushroom begin to release their juices, then return tofu along with lime juice to pan and stir to combine. Set aside.

Rinse and dry lettuce leaves. Chiffonade basil and mint. To each lettuce leaf add a few tablespoons of carrots, a large spoonful of tofu/mushroom mixture, and top with fresh herbs. 

Mashed Cauliflower and White Beans

Have you ever had a brilliant idea only to find that weren't the one who thought of it? Well that just happened to me dammit. I have had mashed cauliflower before but I was thinking or ways to get some protein in my diet and I thought, "HEY! I will add some white beans because they are pretty neutral tasting and the same color and will add a little texture as well." So I write up a neat little recipe, and right before I post it I google "mashed cauliflower and white beans". Only to see that it is some recipe from the biggest loser Thanksgiving show? What in the hell is going on? So I still post it (obvi) and add some leeks like the recipe I saw online. Pretty good and I guarantee it will fool most people into thinking it is regular mashed potatoes. What is the moral of the story? Biggest Loser stole my idea before I even had it. 

Mashed Cauliflower and White Beans

1 head cauliflower, broken into florets

1 can white beans, rinsed and drained

1 leek, sliced into rounds

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Place cauliflower in a large pot with 2 inches of water. Cover and cook on high heat until water begins to boil and then let boil for 3-4 minutes. Drain and add cauliflower to a large food processor along with white beans. Pulse until smooth. 

In a large pan add olive oil on medium heat. Add leeks and garlic and cook until soft. You can either add these to the food processor and pulse to combine, or serve over the top. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you wanted to de-vegan-fy this adding some shredded romano or parmesan cheese would be delicious!

Tabouli Quinoa Salad

I just watched 20 minutes of Kristin Wiig video clips so I am in a fantastic mood. I also fell asleep for 20 minutes while in corpse pose at the end of yoga. So if my math is right I am 20 minutes away from the best hour in the history of man kind. Booya.

Starting Vegan week #1 off right is my take on tabouli salad.  I think bulgar wheat is sorta gross and chalky tasting so I added quinoa instead for a great vegan + gluten free side dish. You also better be sure you like tabouli salad, because i think it is a bit of an acquired taste. There are so many fresh herbs that it can be overwhelming. My husband said it tasted too much like nature. <--- whatever that means. Be sure to have lots of fresh parsley and mint on hand! 

Tabouli Quinoa Salad

2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa

1 cup flat leaf parsley

2 tablespoons mint

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1 lemon

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Finely chop parsley and mint and add to a large bowl. Slice cherry tomatoes and mince garlic and add to the bowl along with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into bowl. Stir until all ingredients and combined. Add quinoa and toss to coat.

The long lost blog.....

This just in.... I am not dead. Just back from the worlds longest vacation! I was about to write a bunch of awesome post with recipes made from fresh summer vegetables, then Oscar ate a soccer ball so I have been busy with that for a while (which made and appearance today, I leave you to guess how). But now here I am!

Summer has been great and we have been all over the place! Hawaii, Pennsylvania, British Columbia....nothing like flying through 7 different time zones in less than a week. And by flying I mean eating. Delicious fresh fish in Maui, $2.50 breakfast plates in Lehighton, and fresh Okanagan Valley peaches. The point is I haven't cooked in a looooooong time. And now that I am back even making a sandwich seems like work.

With summer dwindling down though.....I must take advantage of all these delicious fresh veggies! And what's a better way then doing a 3 week vegan challenge. Let's get real, anything is better than a vegan challenge. Like cheese. But I have heard so many amazing stories about people feeling and looking great after going vegan that it is worth a try. And I figure I am already half way there considering I don't eat most meat or drink cows milk. I just have to get rid of cheese.... and eggs.... and greek yogurt..... and butter.... and chocolate. On second thought maybe I don't do it.

Vegan diet restrictions:
Anything that contains anything having to do with animals. Ever.
So even though it is a natural thing for a chicken to lay an egg..... No.
Jello, gummies, or anything with pectin (aka ground up hooves or something)..... No.
Yummy, delicious, magical cheese...... No.
Wendy's Junior Bacon Cheeseburger..... Hell to the No.

But whatever. It's worth a try.... and the worst thing that could happen is I fail miserably and T.J. finds me in the corner of the bedroom surrounded by chocolate and slices of swiss cheese, while I dip hard boiled eggs in a peanut butter milkshake. 

Warm Sesame Green Bean and Quinoa Salad

My mom used to make a recipe similar to this when I was growing up. I think instead of quinoa it might have been brown rice though, obviously, because quinoa is now the trendy thing to eat. And no one had heard of it until about 2 years ago. And now I put it on my face at night as a cleansing mask. Just kidding :) I wish I had a badass story to go along with this but I just got back from a mega long run and I think I just might take a nap instead. Happy Wednesday!

Warm Sesame Green Bean and Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa, cooked

3 cups green beans

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 teaspoon chili paste

In a large bowl combine rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, honey, and chili paste. Whisk to combine and set aside.

Place trimmed green beans in a steamer basket and place over  boiling water. Steam for 3-4 minutes until barely tender. Drain and add to bowl with dressing,  along with cooked quinoa. Toss to coat. This salad is best when served warm, but not hot.

Lemon Blueberry Oat Pancakes

I know it is burger week but..... My friend Lee-Ann always has creative, healthy dishes that she puts on Facebook. She calls these little gems protein pancakes! I have been making them for a bit, but she recently posted the addition of oranges and blueberries. YUM! I didn't have and oranges but who doesn't love the combination of lemons and blueberries. These pancakes are super dense and very filling as well. You could substitute any thing for the lemons and blueberries....chocolate chips, bananas, strawberries. Just know you are replacing the refined sugar and flour of a classic breakfast dish with nutritious oats and protein packed eggs! It's a win-win and a great way to start your day!

Lemon Blueberry Oat Pancakes

1 cup quick cooking oats

1/4 cup vanilla soy milk

1/4 cup egg whites (approx. 2 egg whites)

1 egg

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1 cup blueberries, halved

The stars of the show!

Put all ingredients, except blueberries,  in a food processor and blend until smooth. You may need to play with the ratios until you get a batter that is to liking. Pour into a bowl and fold in blueberries. 

Heat a pan over medium heat and add coconut oil, butter, or vegetable oil. Whichever you can afford :) I know coconut oil is super expensive, but so good for you! Pour about 1/2 cup into pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. These take a little longer than traditional pancakes to cook because of the oats. 

Serve with extra blueberries and your favorite syrup. 

Brown Rice Mushroom Burger

Continuing with the awesomeness that is burger week, we have a nice hearty burger, that is even brown like a real meat burger for you! This one combines protein packed quinoa and some ingredients you might find in a real beef burger like Worcestershire, garlic and onions. The deep brown color of the Worcestershire really make these have a nice color and the bright green parsley adds some nice freshness. They are a little more delicate than our last burgers, because there are no mashed beans for glue. But have a light hand and these are just as delicious! 

Brown Rice Mushroom Burgers

1 cup cooked brown rice 

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

1/2 cup oats

2 cups chopped mushrooms

1/2 yellow onion

3 garlic cloves

1/2 cup fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

*You will want rice that is more on the sticky side. So add a little extra water when cooking :)

In a medium pan heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add chopped mushrooms, garlic, and onions. Cook for 15-20 minutes on medium-low until mushrooms have released their juices and onions are soft. Remove from heat and add to a food processor. Along with mushrooms add cooked rice, oats, parsley, and egg. Pulse until mixture is combined. 

Remove and add to a large bowl along with quinoa, Worcestershire, mustard, hot sauce, salt and pepper. stir to combine. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Form 3 inch patties with hands and add to oil. Cook for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown, then transfer to a baking sheet. These are a little more delicate then the last burgers, so flip with caution!

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. This will make your burgers nice and crispy and mush more stable!