Delights!

First, a confession. Matt's been gone a week now and I tend to have weird eating habits when he's gone. Weird habits in general. I can't go to sleep until 3 AM or so (I'm usually a 9 o'clocker!), I sleep like poo, and have wacky eating schedules. For example, breakfast happens like normal, but then I skip lunch, consume an ungodly amount of chips and salsa around 4:30, and inevitably eat about two handfuls of candy. And I NEVER eat candy!!!

This results in a knotted stomach, and once I don't feel full to the brim, I consume 2-3 cups of peppermint tea to ease the discomfort.

It's depressing. And my body feels it, too, because I've felt terrible all week! Sluggish, tired, downright nasty.

So today I FINALLY received Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet" in the mail, and dug right in. After reading for two hours (it is phenomenal!), I looked up and saw it was "normal" dinner time, or 6 PM in the Cole home.

Lucky for me, they actually had fresh collard greens at the commissary today! So I made steamed collards and quinoa.

Scrumptious indeed!  It took me back to the South and my childhood.  Collard greens have always been my number one favorite food, and though they are usually stocked well in the freezer section at the commissary, it is really hard to find them fresh.  Seeing those big green leaves brightened my day!

I then indulged in leftover fudge babies courtesy of Chocolate Covered Katie (you must check out her blog).  Last week I brought the babies to the Zima's house for dinner, and have been munching on the remaining few this week.  Mine don't look as good as hers because I have a dinosaur of a food processor (hint hint hubby); but they still tasted pretty delicious!

Just dates, walnuts and cocoa powder!  Sugar free and to die for :)

Because I have been feeling lethargic, I decided to add a little life to the living room.  We already have a few thriving plants, but they are all green and leafy.  Which is great, they serve their purpose (ie. oxygen, energy, etc).  However, I experienced plant envy last Saturday evening at Brett's house and decided I must get some pretty little lovelies.

I just happened to find scarlet begonias (I must admit, I only bought them because it's one of my favorite Dead songs) and some kind of yellow beauty.  Can you tell I know nothing about plants?

Happy yellow flower :)

Scarlet Begonias

Right away they brightened up the room.  Gosh, I love plants!

And that is about it.  Now I'm off to read some more.  YIPPIE!

Dinner at the Zimas

Last night we had dinner with our friends Brett and Shawn. Brett even cooked an all vegan meal! Risotto with veggies. Amazing :)





We have a lot in common with the Zimas, and it's great that we have good friends on this side of the pond.

We talk about our best friends Sarah and Minda a lot, and I like that we both know what the other is feeling since we both just moved here after BOLC.

After dinner we played Cranium and Scattegories, which was an absolute blast!

Well, I better get to bed. Tomorrow is a big day!

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Recovering from Venice

This past weekend Matt and I visited Venice with our friends Shawn and Brett. We had an absolute blast, and I urge everyone to try to make it to that enchanting island one day.

Now, I am a strict vegan. There is no meat in our house, and none of our meals have any animal products in them. Sometimes Matt adds cheese, but that's his thing. As you all have seen with my meal posts, there are many vegetables as components to our lunch and dinners. But when you're on vacation, you may have a hard time finding vegan friendly restaurants, or at least variety when it comes to dishes.

This happened just a bit in Venice, but it is really my fault, as I gorged myself on pasta all weekend.

And, confession. While I am a strict vegan in every day life, I refuse to pass up on things I've always wanted to try, especially in other countries. For example, gelato. My entire life I've been longing to try Italian gelato. Yes, it contains milk. And yes, I tried it. Scrumptious beyond belief! I also tried tiramisu which has dairy, as well. But I'm sorry, they are iconic Italian desserts that I've been enamored with since childhood - I wasn't going to pass it up.

I believe that if you have always wanted to try something (exception: veal, just don't do it!!!!), you should. Especially when traveling. And everyone has different rules for their diet. I refuse to eat any meat, but if it's something like gelato, yes, I will try it.

Back to erratic diets...

When you return from holiday where you consumed unusual meals (especially starchy ones) you may have digestive issues. It's hard for someone with such a thoughtful diet to eat different foods and expect no problems. I knew this, and I did it anyway. After four days of eating nothing but pasta, well, it didn't bode well for me. So I came up with a "cleansing soup" to help one to return to normal.

I took a carton of organic veggie broth and started to simmer. Then, I added a chopped onion, red pepper, half a head of cabbage, a bag of cut baby carrots, four stalks of chopped celery, and a can of kidney beans for substance and protein. After it all started to simmer, I added a can of Rotel, and added about 2 cups of water. Simmer for 2 hours and you have a cleansing brew!

Now, I leave you with some pictures from our trip :)

B-E-A-utiful!

Me on the gondola

My husband, Matt (and me)

Brett and me in Murano

A wee bit Irish

Yesterday Was St. Patrick's Day, and Matt and I had a fun time with it.

Our FRG had a St. Patty's luncheon, complete with corned beef and cabbage, Irish cream brownies, and shepards pie. I brought white chocolate and mint cupcakes as well as vegan shepards pie. Meat lovers were surprised that there was no meat or animal products involved!

And I made this cake



Can you tell I rushed this? Haha! The shamrock looks like broccoli or a tree. Quite humorous.

Also, I found out this week that I am Irish and Scottish! So this March 17th was extra special for me :) In fact, my grandmother's maiden name, Patterson or Paterson, comes from St. Patrick himself. Cool, huh?

So here I am, eating our very Irish dinner of cabbage, spinach and beans, and shepards pie



Twas a fantastic day :)

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Scrambles and Shepards Pie

I tried a few new dishes this weekend, one for breakfast and one for dinner.  Are you ready for some pretty delicious recipes?

First, put on your apron :)

I've mentioned the blog Eating Bird Food before, and it is absolutely amazing!  It was there that I found the recipe for tofu scramble.  It's a vegan's version of scrambled eggs, and is quite delicious.  Find the recipe here.

Ah-maz-ing.  I really liked it, but Matt didn't fancy it too much.  He will eat just about anything, but he's not a big tofu fan.  If we would have had kale, like the recipe calls for,  it would have been a little more hearty.  Still pretty good, especially with hot sauce!

Then there was the waffles Matt made, with veggie sausage.  Don't have a recipe for those, since he put them together.  But they are one of my favorite foods, so I will be making more in the future, and surely post those recipes.

I stated on the previous post on sloppy joes that I like taking comforting meals I loved growing up and transforming them into vegan delights.  That's exactly what we did we Shepards Pie tonight.

Just saute onions and veggie crumble, add in a bag of frozen peas, carrots, and corn, and a teaspoon of low sodium soy sauce (worcester has anchovies, so steer clear!).  Then put in a pyrex or oven safe pan, top with mashed potatoes, and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or so. 

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

This is going to be a regular in our home.  And I can't wait to fix it for friends on St. Patty's!! WEE!

Enjoy the last precious moments of your weekend, and have a most wonderful Monday!

Vegan Fashion

Being a vegan isn't just about eating animal-free foods.  It means creating a better life for yourself, the planet, and the inhabitants of the world, human or not.  That means being conscious of what we wear and the products we use.

This does not mean you have to trade in being a fashionista to be a veganista!  In fact, there are many trendy vegan companies and designers, so fear not.

There is always Stella McCartney, who is an inspiration as a person and a designer.  It also helps that she's the daughter of my second favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.  Paul is a vegan and a steward of the environment, which is probably why Stella turned out how so well.  Her story is amazing.  It makes me smile to see someone with such great fashion sense making a difference :)

Love her!!

So if you don't eat meat, why would you wear leather?  Some people think this is crazy, but it is very important.  One of the first things I did when I started my new lifestyle was rid my closet of all leather.  I didn't have fur - it has ALWAYS freaked me out.  But now some of my friends have the leather jackets and nice shoes that I felt guilty wearing.

And there are plenty of alternatives!  I mean, my closet isn't in shambles because I got rid of leather.  There are plenty of cute things out there.  And I adore my Coach purse, but it no longer accompanies me when running errands.  Instead, my $15 pleather Target purse does.

Look at these adorable handbags by Stella McCartney.  Or shoes?!  My god, I'm obsessed with shoes.  If it's Steve Madden, I'm probably going to try to buy it, after the "sniff" test, of course.  Matt makes fun of me because I smell shoes/bags/furniture before purchase if there is no tag to insure that it's not leather or suede.  

Steve Madden makes some shoes that are vegan, and freakishly cute!  But the best place to go is Target.  I have an awesome pleather jacket from that little gem, and countless pairs of shoes.  They are cheaper and animal free :)

I was reading one of my favorite blogs today, The Skinny Vegan.  She just posted a piece about vegan nail laquers which I found very interesting.  The product is by SpaRitual, and their website is phenomenal.   Yup, I'm probably going to buy into that one.

Other than that, make sure you check labels to make sure there are no animal byproducts.  For example, I used to have a nail polish drying solution that I found had mink oil in it.  Goodbye!

Make up is also very, very important.   Not only for the animals, but you put it on your face!  If the company doesn't test on animals, they are probably higher quality. 

One of my favorites is NARS.  I have their lip gloss and eye shadows.  It applies like a dream!  And NARS has never, and doesn't ever test on animals.  They even state it on their website; read it here.

Bare Escentuals (makes Bare Minerals) is another company that doesn't test on animals.  They, along with NARS, are very high quality.  I hate that makeup that feels like you have a mask on.  I prefer feeling like there is nothing on your face.  And besides being kind to animals, these products are luxurious and beyond comfortable.  Love!

Make sure that there is a seal on the products (usually on the back where they list the ingredients) that insure no animal testing.  Or you can check out a number of websites and blogs, such as Peta and The Vegetarian Site. 

When in doubt, check their website, or just call the company. 

It is a learning process for all of us, but the most important thing is to be vigilant and read labels. 

Chef Chloe's Chocolate Mousse

My favorite chef is none other than Chloe Coscarelli. You may have seen this beautiful brunette dominate Cupcake Wars with all vegan delights. She kicks tail.

This is her chocolate mousse recipe I've been wanting to try for a while. And it was my favorite dish of the evening :)

First you'll need...

1/2 cup non dairy milk ( I used rice)
1 tsp Expresso powder ( enhances chocolate, but I left it out)
1 cup non dairy semi sweet chocolate chips (I use Bakers)
1 13.5 Oz can of coconut milk, chilled
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Raspberry Sauce:
2 cups fresh raspberries
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 tbsp water
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt

Whisk milk and Expresso in medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Or skip, and just warm milk, and whisk chocolate in until melted.












Stop here, and you have what I call "lightening ganache", the perfect topping for dairy free ice-cream!

But you want mousse, so chill this chocolate in the fridge until it's cool to the touch.

Grab chilled coconut milk from the fridge as you put the chocolate in it's place, and combine it with the powdered sugar in a standing mixer.




When it's fluffy, add the chocolate and again, whip until it looks like heaven.





Now cover and put in the fridge over night.

As for the raspberry sauce, combine raspberries, agave ad water over medium heat.




Leave over heat until warm and ooey gooey delicious!

And the finished product:




Delicioso!
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Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes

I found this Whole Foods recipe via my favorite blog, "Eating Bird Food".

This side is a mixture of two ingredients all vegans should have in their homes - sweet potatoes and quinoa.

Gather these things...

2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
1 cup quinoa, cooked
1 cup wild long grain rice, cooked
1/2 cup sliced spring onions
1/2 cup craisins (I left them out this time)
1 tbsp dried sage
1/2 tsp sea salt (always use sea salt!!)
1/2 tsp black pepper

Sauce:
2 tbsp vegan mayo
1 tsp spicy brown mustard
1/2 tsp dill
1/4 tsp paprika

Steam sweet potato chunks, and cook quinoa and rice.








Do I smell sweet potatoes???!

Purée sweet potatoes in a standing mixer.




Add quinoa




And rice




Now you know my secret!!

Add onions and spices, then form into patties on parchment paper, and put them in a 350 F oven for 15 - 20 min.




Serve warm, room temperature or cold.









Leftovers are perfect for breakfast!

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Vegan Tater Salad

Last night we had some friends over for a vegan dinner. These are two meat loving guys, so I always look at preparing their meals as a challenge.

I'm going to list the recipes in separate posts for convenience.

For my original recipe of VTS ( we're a military family, and thus embrace acronyms) you'll need...

8 regular size red potatoes
1 tsp dill
1/2 cup Vegenaise, or Spectrum light canola eggless mayo
1-2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch sliced spring onion
1/4 bunch chopped fresh parsley
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 tbsp capers

Cook taters (we're also from the South, can you tell?) until just done. Drain, rinse with cold water, and when cool, chop into bit sized bits.




Add onions, capers, pepper, and salt.




In a separate bowl, combine these fellars




Add the separate mixture to the potatoes




Combine and chill until ready to serve :)




The guys loved this so much, that they cleaned the bowl!

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Easy Peasy Chili

This is the yummiest, easiest chili you'll ever make/eat.

First, get these boogers together:



1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can whole tomatoes
1 can Rotel
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 spring onions
1 green or red bell pepper

First, wash all the veggies. I suggest this organic fruit and veggie wash, especially if you are not able to use organic treats.



Then chop onions and pepper, and sauté them in a large pot with a tablespoon of olive oil.


Add all ingredients except the beans to the pot. Drain and rinse beans, and add them as well.



Simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.

And you have...



It is just fantastic! We didn't even have to add salt, just a little chili powder.

Enjoy!

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Spinach and Beans, and a Vegan Banana Split

Tonight we had vegetarian schnitzel (which is traditionally a fried pork chop type dish) and sauteed spinach and white beans. Delish!

I started off the side by sautéing garlic...






And then added fresh spinach, and the rinsed Northern Beans.






I seasoned it with Mrs. Dash and a smidge of salt and pepper. This is going to alternate with broccoli and sweet potato fries as a favorite side in the Cole home.






Then we splurged and had some soy based "ice cream" for dessert.






I added sugar free spreadable fruit, strawberry, and slices of banana for a banana split. You could always add dairy-free chocolate (like vegan ganache made with Ghiradelli).






A lovely dinner indeed!

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Fawaz Hummus

Today was a great day! I ran out of hummus today and decided to whip up a fresh batch.

My friend Lara Introduced me to hummus in college. It is an absolute staple in our home, and I consume my body weight in it every single day. Whether it's dipped with pita or fresh veggies, or spread as a healthy alternative to sandwich condiments, hummus is amazing!

Not only is it delicious, but it is chock full of protein. I've tried many different brands and flavors. My favorite, hands down, is Lara's Mom's hummus. And so, this is how you, too, can make Mommy Fawaz's hummus:

You'll need...
1 lemon or lime
3 cloves of garlic
2 cans of chickpeas, liquid reserved
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp Tahini






In a blender (or food processor), combine garlic and lemon juice.






Then add chickpeas, Tahini, and salt. Add reserved liquid by the teaspoon to thin it out. Process until creamy :)





I like to add a touch of paprika or chili powder to the top for a color.


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