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Friday, January 10, 2014

Caramelized Onions in the Crockpot

They may seem simple but onions add quite a pop to whatever dish they're added too.  Eaten raw onions carry a bite, yet have a sweet savoriness when caramelized.  In addition, they're very low in calories so you don't have to worry about piling them on to other dishes.  I even like to eat these caramelized onions by themselves sometimes.  The best part about this recipe is that the preparation takes all of 5 minutes.

I put these on veggie burgers or other sandwiches, on top of grilled portabello mushrooms, alongside a plate of other veggies, or thrown in pasta sauces.

 Caramelized Onions

Raw ingredients in Crockpot

Cooked Caramelized Onions


Ingredients:
-5 medium-sized yellow onions, thinly sliced
-2 Tbs coconut oil
-1 tsp sea salt
-Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:
Spray inside of Crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.  Add sliced onions, followed by salt and coconut oil on top.  Cover and cook for 8 hours, stirring halfway through.

Serve and enjoy!



Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Millet, Avocado, and Corn Salad

Millet is known as being the grain of the poor.  Able to grow in dry and infertile soil, millet is incredibly popular in highly impoverished or populated countries.  Don't let that deter you, though.  Here are just some of the benefits of this humble grain and its comparison to another popular grain, quinoa:

1) Gluten-Free
2) Lower in fat than quinoa
3) Cholesterol-Free (as any grain is)
4) Lower sodium than quinoa
5) Same protein value as quinoa
6) Higher in carbs than quiona
7) Equal in calories per unit of weight as quinoa
8) Half the price of quinoa!!!

The price of of millet is what's particularly appealing to me (look for it in the bulk bins of your local health food store for the best value).  As a certified health nut, I love to eat fresh and organic.  I choose to invest in my health and what I put into my body as I know that, in return, I have more energy, look better, feel better, and will have to spend less on doctor fees and medication in the long run.  However, eating healthy can be expensive so when I like to save where I can. 

This millet salad is hearty and satisfying and can be served as a meal or side dish. 


Millet, Avocado, and Corn Salad

Ingredients:
-1 cup millet
-2 cups water
-3 avocados, cubed
-1 ear fresh corn off cob
-1/2 large red onion, chopped
-1 handful cilantro, chopped
-1 tsp black pepper
-2 tsp sea salt

Instructions:
Cook millet either on stove or in your rice cooker.  I used a rice cooker on the "white rice" setting with two parts water to one part millet.  Follow instructions that come with your rice cooker.  Allow millet to cool, add all remaining ingredients, and stir gently.  Chill and serve!  I would recommend adding the avocado right before serving the salad so that it doesn't oxidize and turn brown. 

Enjoy!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Roasted Broccoli & Tofu

This is one of my go-to dinners.  Easy, filling, and savory, I especially enjoy eating this in the fall and winter for dinner.  The best part is that, beside the spices, this recipe only uses two ingredients (broccoli and tofu).  You can roast other ingredients in this as well.  I have used carrots, cauliflower, and fingerling potatoes in the past.  Potatoes require a little extra time, so if adding them I would recommend boiling first or roasting a little in the oven before adding the rest of the vegetables.



Roasted Broccoli & Tofu

Ingredients:
-1 lb frozen broccoli
-2 Tbs olive oil
-1 tsp turmeric
-1 tsp sea salt
-1 tsp black pepper
-1 tsp minced garlic
-1 tsp onion powder
-2 tsp crushed rosemary
-1/2 block extra firm tofu, cubed
-Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425˚.
In a gallon sized Ziploc bag, add the broccoli, olive oil, and spices.  Close bag tightly and shake until broccoli is coated with oil and spices.  Add the tofu and lightly shake. 
Evenly spread ingredients on a large cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Bake for 35-40 minutes, flipping broccoli and tofu halfway.  Broccoli and tofu should be lightly browned and crispy.
Plate and enjoy!  I often eat this with half an avocado, brown rice, or marinara sauce for dipping on the side.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Breakfast for Days

People always asks what I typically eat for a meal.  It's a tough question to answer for a few reasons.  First of all, I don't always eat a "meal," as I'm a huge snacker and am constantly picking on foods throughout the day.  Secondly, I'm one to get stuck in a rut with my meals and can eat the same thing every day for a month.  These past two months it's been banana smoothies for breakfast.  However, I do have a few go-to's in my breakfast arsenal.  So without further adieu, here are three of my favorite breakfasts:

Banana Smoothie 



2 frozen bananas (out of the peel)
1.5 cups almond milk
1 Tbs cocoa powder OR 1 Tbs Pb2 OR 1 tsp cinnamon

Blend until smooth!

Tofu Scramble

1/2 block extra firm tofu
1 handful of fresh spinach
1/2 red pepper- chopped
1/4 red onion- chopped
turmeric
garlic powder
sea salt
black pepper
1/8 cup Daiya chedder vegan cheese (optional)

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium heat.  Crumble tofu into the skillet using your hands.  Add spices, red pepper, and spinach.  Keep ingredients moving just until the spinach is wilted.  Sprinkle the Daiya vegan cheese on top of the scrambled tofu mixture and cover skillet until the cheese is melted, about 1-2 minutes. 

Plate and serve!  I usually eat these with gluten-free toast spread with avocado. 

Golden Spice Pancakes (recipe here)

These have been a staple for years with me and my family.    They're also a huge hit with non-vegans, as they don't necessarily "taste" vegan, whatever that means (that's what I've been told when I've served to others).  Eat these with real maple syrup or topped with some agave nectar.  I also put some sliced bananas on top sometimes.  I use regular raisins instead of the golden raisins that the recipe calls for and they come out great.



Thursday, December 26, 2013

Review: Benefit's "They're Real" Mascara

Benefit's "They're Real" mascara has been the buzzword all over YouTube, makeup blogs, and magazines for a while now.  Having been wanting to pick it up for a while now, I never have because of the $23 price tag.  Ouch.  I couldn't justify spending that much on a high-end mascara when there were good enough ones for under $10 at the drugstore.  Recently, though, I received a 20% off coupon from Ulta and originally went in there for some bright new lip colors and a BB cream for my Caribbean cruise.  Didn't find a BB cream that sounded like it would be good for my oily skin but that's beside the point.  I did pick up a tube of the mascara, though, and was so excited to try it and see if it lives up to the hype.  


The brush is pretty standard and is used like a normal mascara wand but has a spiky ball on the tip, used vertically to help separate the lashes and reach the small ones in the inner and outer corners.  


Before
Before 

The formula itself seems somewhat watery upon just opening (but really any mascara does in my opinion) and then thickens up later.  I didn't curl my lashes beforehand, as I wanted to see how the mascara would do in that department on it's own and it passed the test!  After a day of running around with the mascara on, my lashes held their curl.  However, I do have to say that my lashes are pretty curled naturally.  In addition, the mascara doesn't flake or smudge either, which is a big deal as almost every mascara I try ends up flaking on me after a long day. 

After
After

You can layer this while still wet but don't try to layer once the first coat is dry, I tried that.  After a day of wear, I attempted to add a few more coats when going out at night, which resulted in clumps.  I do have to say that the formula is tough to get off at the end of the day.  Water-based eye makeup remover is normally sufficient for me but this one definitely needs an oil-based one, which I found strange because this mascara is not marketed as being waterproof.

Overall, this mascara is a huge hit for me, but the price tag is just too high for regular repurchasing.  I can see myself buying "They're Real" periodically but not as my everyday go-to mascara.  Only taking two coats to achieve my desired lash intensity is a plus and I'm glad I've found something that doesn't flake.  It will be interesting to see how it holds up as my bottle dries out a little more.  Let me know if you guys want a second review on Benefit's "They're Real" mascara.  Also, what mascaras work well for you for adding both volume and length?


Monday, December 23, 2013

Domino's Releases a Vegan Pizza


Who else wishes they could move to Israel?  Ok, maybe I don’t want to MOVE there but a trip would be nice.  The culture and history are out of this world with museums, religious sites and beaches.  Traveling there can be pricey and dangerous, though (but what country doesn't have some dangerous areas?), so for now I'm just going to have to hold off on that trip.  Besides culture and history, Israel could also lure vegan tourists in with a new vegan pizza they're offering up, compliments of Domino's!  After vegan Israeli lobbyists pushed for a dairy-free pizza, Domino's finally caved and has a new addition to their menu with soy chesse and vegetable toppings.  



I'm so jealous!!! Apparently, the pizza chain has no plans to bring this new recipe to the U.S. anytime soon.  If I do ever travel to Israel, I'm for sure going to order this pizza in one night.  Looking up restaurants with options I can't get from my go-to restaurants is a highlight of any trip I take.  Does anyone else plan their vegan meals out when they travel? 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Cruisin' in Paradise

After a week of being away in paradise, I'm back at home sweet home.  

This cruise had been on my mind for months!  Working out to look good in my bikini and researching shore excursions were towards the top of my priority list.  One thing that I was slightly worried about, though, was the food on the ship.  Here's the thing: when I travel I often count on being able to run to a grocery store to grab something simple to eat.  Fruit, smoothies, a salad from a salad bar, or even some frozen veggies patties to pop in a hotel microwave are always pretty accessible no matter where I am.  However, I knew that a cruise would be different.  Besides the beautiful views, fun in the sun, cruise entertainment, and gorgeous ports, I had also heard about the rich food offered and corresponding 10 pound weight gain.  Rich food usually means not vegan... Womp Womp.  

Upon boarding the ship at about 3:30 in the afternoon, I was worried.  Dinner wouldn't be served until 5:30 and lunch had already passed, so we grabbed something to eat in the promenade.  The restaurant offered a variety of pre-made sandwiches (with meat), pizza, pastries and cookies, and fruit cups, so I ordered five fruit cups... Yes, five.  "Worried" would be an understatement with regards to how I viewed my diet for the next 7 days.  Would I be eating only fruit for my stint on this boat?  Don't get me wrong, I truly respect the fruitarian lifestyle and have even tried it myself and lasted a few days.  I just wasn't planning on starting on my vacation! 

Luckily, I was happily surprised on the first night of dinner.  The menu boasted countless fancy-schmancy meat dishes, BUT I had hope!  There was one lone dish, Grilled Vegetable Tacos with Soy Chili, that I could have.  


It was exactly what it sounded like... Flour tortillas with a variety of grilled veggies including zucchini, peppers, carrots, and onions all atop some chili made of soy crumbles and beans.  Of course, I would have loved to have some sort of sprouted grain, corn, or at least whole wheat tortillas but beggars can't be choosey.  I was just happy to have something other than fruit and lettuce.  However, the best part was having a the wait staff supervisor (shout out to Gianni!) approach me at the end of the meal (and every ensuing dinner) to ask what I would like to eat the following day!  Now that's some GREAT service!!!  

More cruise meals to follow!  How do y'all stay vegan/ healthy while traveling?