Food(less) Journey

Im craving salad. This is very weird for me. I rarely eat salad. I never crave salad. I think I ate way too many wimpy sad salads made of the somewhat nutrient deficient iceburg lettuce. Dont get me wrong I love a bowl filled to the brim with yummy fresh veggies drizzled with a fresh vin, but it's not something I crave. I think the prevalence of snow is causing a longing for the days of summmer...hence the salad craving. I would try the whole "eat local" thing, but I feel like I have SAD and the summery country imports in the grocery store are just what I need to make me feel better. A fruit smoothie is just what the doctor ordered. Of course the doctor in this case doesnt have an MD, but thats how i like it. Strawberry Spoon Smoothie So thick you'll need a spoon for it!! 1 frozen banana, sliced 5 frozen strawberries 1 t cinamon 1 c almond milk 5 dates 2 T flax meal Blend til smooth top with flax meal and grab a spoon.

Mmm..Tofu. Admittedly the first few times I had tofu I said "eww..tofu" But then I had it prepared just right for my taste at the time and I havent looked back since. My first impression of tofu was as it looks above: a white block of flavorless "stuff". But then I came to realize that it is really a blank slate of endless food possiblities Fried tofu, General tso's tofu, shake and bake tofu, tofu scramble. These were my first encounters with tofu after i started liking it. Three of these ways i prepared myself. Look what tofu can turn into: veganyumyum.com tofufortwo.net When i started eating a more plant based diet tofu was $3 and I was broke. I knew I had to get the cooking right or I would have to eat something that was inedible rather than waste $3. Witht he advent of diet acceptance the market value of tofu has changed and you can find a tub of tofu for $1.50 at you local Trader Joe's (I love you Joe! Call me! Let's make lunch!). So go buy a few tu...

What do you do when you've got $4.00, a hungering for lunch, and a few minutes to get to work? Go to Trader Joe's of course! There are lots of excellent option for a fast and cheap (not to mention tasty) lunch at Trader Joe's. If you are going home for lunch the options of what you can purchase for under $4 are nearly limitless, but I'll have to save that for another post. So, on to the good stuff. This is what I got for a little under $4. 1) Seaweed Snacks $0.99 Look at this beautiful green rectangle of salty crunchy love. Nom nom nom! And yes that is what you think it is hiding behind the Seaweed snacks bag in the above photo. 2) One Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar $1.29 and One Cashew Cookie Larabar $1.29 Doesn't this picture just scream "bite me"?? But in a good kind of way of course. Someone was kind enough to buy me a black tea while I was out in field service (Thank you R!). And I brought two clementines this morning just in case I couldnt get lunch,...

What could possibly be better than sitting down with a smudge of freshly made hummus and sesame seed encrusted pita chips? Possibly, sitting down with a bag of Hummus Chips and not even pretending to share or stop at one serving. Throw some fresh veggies on the side and a glass of ice water and you've got what I call a balanced, if not incredible lazy) snack. Enter the Humbles Baked Hummus Chips . Remember how I told you I bought lots of goodies at Soergels Natural Store? Well this was one of them. For authenticity's sake I tried the Sesame Garlic flavor and was completely blown away by how tasty they are. They have a wonderful burst of flavor in each chip and are deliciously crisp. A visit to their website provided quite the education for moi. CHeckout how these babies are made: Preparation Method: Vacuum Baking This process utilizes very small dough pellets (called micropellets) which are placed into a device that looks similar to a miniature waffle iron. As this device is h...

I can no longer hide my feelings for you. They are too strong and deep to deny anymore. My adoration is becoming quite obvious to my friends. I talk about you all the time and its not hard to ascertain that you are the reason I smile so much. You are a bit rough around the edges. But inside you are so smooth and sweet. Some would say you arent much to look at, but I could stare at you all day and night. You are so sweet! I can't imagine my life without you. We've been working together for quite a few years now, but only recently did I realize how deep my feelings are for you and how wonderful you make me feel. Some would say your personality is one dimensional, but you have so many sides. You seemed only one way when I met you but i have seen so many sides of you. You beautiful bowl of oatmeal! You boost my iron and brighten my morning. You warm me up and help me face the cold winter morning. But there is so much more to you than just a breakfast cereal. You make a delicious co...

There is something about this cold weather we are having that makes me want to visit a farm stand. In that spirit I am revisiting a trip taken when the summer weather was still here and in full swing. September 5th to be precise. We visited Soergels specifically for their annual corn roast. Hence the beautiful first picture of this post. Pictured below is the unique corn roasting machine that looks rustic and innovative at the same time. It appeared to have been constructed from other machinery to form this hybrid machine just perfect for roasting corn. I wonder if its good for roasting anything else. An added perk to going to the agricultural wonderland known as Soergels is their store "Naturally Soergel's". As if it wasn't enough to have a beautiful farmhouse market stocked to the brim with an exquisite variety of vegetables and fruits Soergel's also has a mini-shop that features loads of allergen free food including gluten free and dairy free. They sell my favo...

Have you ever been afraid to purchase a food item because it seemed tricky to prepare? Honey its 2010! You can find a tutorial for almost any food on the internet so don't be afraid to experiment and play with your food. Today we will address a very serious topic. De-pitting an avocado. You will save oodles of pennies learning how to do this yourself instead of relying on a restaurant to prepare your avo-based goodies for you. Cut along the pit: Twist the two sides and seperate them: Hack knife into pit and twist to remove (If that sounds too intimidating use a spoon and slide it around the edge of the pit to pop it out): Optional Step: Create a funny face with your avo sides: Slice length wise then cross-wise being careful not to pierce the skin of the avocado: Slide a spoon along the inside edge of the avo skin to release the pieces into a bowl, onto a plate, or directly into your mouth. Not wasn't that easy? Have fun with your new power over the avo. And remember "with...

Another relaxation tool that beats stress and keeps my hands busy is jewelry making. Crafts that involve your hands can distract you from stressors. More importantly they can keep your hands busy so that you cannot put food into your mouth with them. Although I have heard that people who are desperate for a nosh will eat without their hands... How odd... No offense... Okay actually I dont care if that offends you because 1) that is quite odd 2) there are some things you should never do with your feet when you have hands 3) because i said so. But I digress... I know you are just chomping at the bit to see what I've made. Okay maybe you arent but im going to show you anyway so... The bottom three bracelets were made using a weaving technique that I may or may not show you how to do in a future post. Depends on how generous Im feeling when I do or dont get around to typing that posting... Did I mention I also sell do-it-yourself jewelry making kits? Call me! Seriously!

I have a very serious adoration for all things Greek, culinarially speaking. A current food obsession of mine is mujadara, a yummy dish of lentils and rice cooked with cumin and topped with carmelized or frenchfried onions. The classic Greek flavors are fresh and vibrant including olive oil, lemon, oregano and thyme so that even something heavy like lentils taste light. Never being one to settle for delicious i took it to the next level adding avocado. But then I got a little crazy and decided to try a further variation by cooking the lentils with quinoa adding tomatoes mushroom and Trader Joes 21 Seasoning blend then topping it with avocado and adding some Food Should Taste Good Olive chips on the side. This would make a great dip for an easy appetizer tray, but its so yummy in a bowl eaten with a spoon, which is how i had it for lunch today. Very yum! Confused Mujarada 1) Add 1/2 c lentils and 2 T quinoa to 2c boiling water. 2) When the lentils are half done add in 1t of seasoning...

A few weeks ago a good friend and I took a little field trip to a lovely little spot that serves a lovely spot of tea. Upon arriving at Parkers UK Connection , a tea house that is quite literally a converted house, we were greeted by the owners and ushered into the tea room. We were the only customers as it was quite near closing time, but you would not have known closing time was so emminent from the fine greeting we received. Pictured above is the very pretty table arrangement including fresh cut flowers and charming sugar bowl. The excessively obliging hostess (Mrs. Parker to be precise) suggested I try the beans on toast and offered to include a baby greens salad with vin to round out the meal. I have wanted to try this inherently UK dish for ages, but was hesitant to say the least. It was surprisingly good! And doesn't it look adorable: In the background of the above picture my tea bag is in its proper place. Resting peacefully on its own little plate. Very cute indeed! My f...

In my attempts to reduce my stress load I have rediscovered one of my favorite de-stressors: relaxing with a hot cup of tea. Ive read wonderful things about the relaxing benefits of Earl Grey tea spiked with Bergamot. I have to admit I'm a bit of a tea snob. I like to be able to see the composition of the tea in the bag. I find it thrilling to look in the tea bag and see bits of dried orange and lemongrass. This, of course, can do terrible things to ones wallet. So, in the interest of pinching pennies (sounds gruesome for those poor pennies) I considered the lower costing teas. To be perfectly honest I was not hopeful when I selected this tea. But for a change the tea that cost the least ($2.99) was surprisingly good (Mind you i was shopping at Whole Foods and its pretty hard to buy an awful product there). Bigelow Tea has a wonderful quality to its taste even though it is not a whole leaf tea. And as I was perusing the tea boxes I noticed that it is one of the few teas that has ac...

Don't you love it when you discover a great new site?? Well I didn't exactly discover it like Columbus. I wasn't on a boat. And there was no attempt at a hostile takeover. I didnt give anyone the flu. Ummm... You get the point. The website is called Auntie's Beads. To be perfectly honest (not that I am anything but that) the name immediately endeared them to me. I make jewelry with my aunt. Awww.... They don't have the biggest collection I've ever seen, but that definitely works to their advantage since everything they have is beautiful and so much of it is very unique. Definitely check out their "pendant section"! Just click on the logo below to go straight to the site. You won't be sorry! I can't wait to get my first order in! I will show you what I make with all my beading booty!

This post is not about that cutie in the cubicle near you because 1) it's kind of creepy to describe people as yummy unless the people in question are made out of gingerbread 2) this is not a dating blog 3) because i said so. "Yummy coworkers" are foods that work with your body and not against it. Agave - Sweet, Yummy and low glycemic Almonds, Walnuts - Beneficial for cardiovascular health Almond Butter - Delicious Decadent with all the benefits of almonds Flax Seeds and Flax Oil - Fiber, heart healthy, skin, hair, nails and rich in Omega-3's Tofu - protein, calcium Whole Fruits and Vegetables- fiber, vitamins, nutrients, water and so much more. Another great thing about these yummy coworkers (sometimes called secret weapons) is that they are so versatile in their uses. Nuts for example are delicious roasted and ligthly salted or mixed with dry seasoning for added flavor. In their raw form they can be made into butter or cream (i.e. cashew cream, more on that later)...

For the record no I have not suddenly become rich and started buying expensive processed food! These were on sale at whole foods and i downloaded a $1.00 off coupon from the Gardein website (no longer available). I've had another of their products (the marinara Chicken Good Stuff...weird name but delicious product) so I decided to use the coupons. I had two coupons so i bought one package of the Marinara chicken and one package of the buffalo wings. Here's how you prepare them......... Brown them in a pan with 1T oil over medium high heat: Throw on the sauce (which has been thawing in a bowl of hot water): Plate it (with Trader Joe's "Water" and "Flax" crackers): In my opinion... They were pretty good. The sauce was spicy, but the spiciness didn't overpower the flavor at all. The texture of the chicken was spot on for a boneless chicken wing. I'm going to have to try springing them on a meat eater to see just how convincing the texture is for the...

Plain Soy yogurt with dates and ground flax seeds.... Yum! Soy is not my favorite yogurt, but who can afford coconut milk yogurt? Maybe if i got a coupon book i would buy it more regularly..... *hint* *hint* *hint*

There are so many uses for the wonderful avocado. A few of them I have not tried yet (such as using an avocado in a smoothie), but I have tried them sliced on a sandwich, sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper, mashed and mixed with diced tomatoes and onions, guacamole, etc There are so many ways to eat an avocado. If you google "avocado recipe" you get over 3 million results, so obviously Im not the only one with an obsession. And not only is it delicious it has loads of health benefits as well. According to those expert fellas they have vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, fiber, iron, potassium, lutein and beta-carotene. Here's one use: Verde Avocado Salad Vin: 1/4 c olive oil 1 t sea salt 1/4 c HERDEZ® Salsa Verde Veg: 2 avocado's chopped 1 cup chopped cucumber 1 c cherry tomatoes sliced in half 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed Toss the Veg ingredients in a bowl. Mix the vin ingredients in a seperate bowl. Pour the Vin over the Veg. How to use it: 1) eat it out of...

Another common question veg people get is: What do you eat for breakfast? Although I would like to reply tree bark, I have become very efficient of rattling off my list of favorite breakfast foods: pancakes, hashbrowns, veggie tofu scramble, smoothie, oatmeal, cream of wheat, fruit soup, leftovers, quiche, cereal and almond milk. All of these things are pretty run of the mill food-wise, but they always elicit surprised looks from my listeners. I think this is mostly because people think of eating Veg as being very restricted. But at this point i eat pretty much everything i did when i wasnt veg, but in a healthier vegetable based form. My fave brunch menu: Quiche, blueberry pancakes, Tofurky italian sausage, fruit compote and hashbrowns. Blueberry Pancakes: makes 6 regular sized pancakes 1 cup flour 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 t cinnamon 1 t vanilla 1 cup soymilk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 c frozen or fresh blueberries Mix dry ...

It is so important to start the day by breaking fast. Think about it. When you wake up when was the last time you ate? If you stop eating at a reasonable hour it might have been 10 hours since you body was refueld. What would happen if you didnt refuel your car for 10 days? Our bodies need fuel to run properly. It really disturbs me when I ask someone what they had for breakfast and they say coffee. Not that you have to have a full 3 course meal when you wake up , but please give your body something to work with. Coffee has enough caffeine to give us a false sense of energy, but think of the strain you are putting on your body. Im not a fan of eating in the morning and the less sleep i get the more I feel this way. But I have come to accept that food really is fuel for the body. So, if i really can't deal with having food I will make a smoothie (frozen blueberries, fresh bananas, dates and almonds if i feel like chewing). Or just have tea and toast with a fruit spread or drizzled w...

Pictures! Naughty Pictures cake made with white flour and sugar ice cream Nice Pictures coconut milk ice cream larabar pb cookie yogurt with dates and agave Im afraid of getting sued tho so most of the pictures will be of food ive made unless i can get permission. If you like what you see then you should hire me to cater your next dinner party. Or hire me to teach you to incorporate more veggies into your families diet. Call me! My rates are very reasonable and drop when you purchase food items. Need help with shopping? Field trip! I also do shopping consultations.

Hi. My name is Stephanie....And Im addicted to CHipotle. ITs been 30 days since the last time I got high off that delciousness...er I mean that terrible burrito bowl. Sike! Im so not quitting Chipotle. But Im going to be a semi-traitor and show you how to make your own at home. Ingredients for everything: -2 cups Steamed rice -2 tomatoes, chopped or diced - 1 cup sweet corn -2 lime -1 lemon -2 jalepenos, diced - 1 red pepper - black beans - cumin - garlic -sea salt - romaine lettuce -2 big red onion, one sliced the other chopped -1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped stems and all -2 ripe avocados, chopped or cut into chunks or mashed, however you like it Black Beans Simmer 1 can black beans sprinkled with 1t cumin and 1t garlic powder (or 1 cloves of garlic) and 1/2 t sea salt. Rice Cook the rice Remove from heat Mix in the juice of 1 lime, half the lemon, 2t of sea salt Put the lid back on and let the heat of the rice cause the flavors to become one with the rice. While that happening make...

I often hear this question in two context: 1)a non-vegan being snarky about my unfamiliar looking meal 2) a new vegan befuddled by what rolls off my tongue as a somewhat experienced veg-head. I think the biggest mistake you can make in any new endeavor is immediately starting at level 3. Think of a brand new skier hopping on the slopes and immediately going for one marked with a jack rabbit. Stupid and disheartening when said skier is run over or simply out skiied. Food is the same way. If you are incorporating new vegetable based foods in your diet why not try decreasing meat intake slowly and simply eating more healthful plant based foods (i.e. Have a chicken salad for lunch instead of a burger. Have fish tacos for dinner instead of a steak.). Since meat is addictive it requires weaning for some. Quitting meat cold turkey (pardon the pun) and running to the store to buy tempeh and seiten is bold, but can be disheartening (i.e.gross) if you dont know how to prepare these items. To sta...

Recipes! Ive included some very off the cuff recipes in previous post, but I will try to get better at including actual recipes with suggestions. Okay? Im not a recipe perosn per ce. When Im experimenting in the kitchen I literally add a dash of this and that until it taste right and i usually dont know how much precisely, but I will make a concerted effort for any novice cooks or novice veg lovers reading this. Is anyone actually reading this? :-)

#5 is Popcorn! With a chaser of ice water! Its salty, full of fiber (but who cares about that healthy stuff) and its super filling. It can kill cravings by filling you up. If you feel full you are less likely to indulge. It's also got the same satisfying crunch as those potato chips you are craving. But Im not talking about just any popcorn. Im talking about gourmet popcorn. And as we all know "gourmet" is just a fancy sounding word that means "throw some flavor on that sucker and charge an arm and a leg for it". Except in this case you will be doing the gourmeting and actually save yourself some money. Heres how: Step 1: Drive yourself to the store. Unless you are a licenceless loser like me, then go catch the bus...loser! Step 2: Buy popcorn kernels. (bulk is cheaper of course Take your own container and score points with everyone who cares) Step 3: Return home. (Did you really need this step? It's okay if you did. I will still be your fake virtual friend....

In case you havent realized it yet, other than the first secret weapon these arent really ranked in order of importance. They are simply in the order I feel in the mood to share them. That said.... Secret Weapon #4: Pilates And no I am not claiming Pilates is the miracle slimmer that will take you from a size 14 to a size 4 in 4 weeks. I like the number 4, dont you? Anyhoo, it does wonders as far as keeping you limber (i.e. less workout injuries or kinks in the neck from sleeping). It is also a great stress reliever, which helps with the sleep area as well as the stress-based overeating. And apparently they have proved it in the lab that people with high levels of stress retain weight. Something about a creepy substance called Cortisol. This is not an educational blog so go google it for yourself.

Hips Replacement . No not the literal surgery. So do not go telling your real life friends (or your imaginary ones) that you read a blog today by a crazy lady who suggested surgery to lose weight. That doesnt make sense in my mind (especially since hip replacements are made of metal so that would make you gain weight..duh!). So, now that that's out of the way let's focus on what I do mean: Replace those foods that are adding weight to your frame and replacing your womanly curves(hips) with unsightly fat deposits (HHIIPPSS aka hippo hips). Another name for this is craving replacement. When you crave something naughty try to find something that will fill the craving without throwing your body into a junk food tailspin. The replacement should be similar in taste or texture or you will just keep craving that thing. Some examples: -When I am craving potato chips I have a baked potato topped with veggies and hummus. Its filling and really hits the spot. But if that is too healthy I...

I have been in the land of the Silently Going Crazy. Well maybe not so silently! Good news first: My official weight loss is 30lbs! That is an amazing amount of weight, but I am not done yet. I have about 15 more until I think I will be comfortable. In 10 lbs I will have a healthy BMI, but I would like a 5 lbs cushion for the occasional emotional eating or recipe testing. That's right dear readers! Being the brilliant creative lady that I am, I have decided to create a cookbook right in the middle of a weight loss adventure...Wait maybe that is not a good idea at all...lol This is actually a very good thing as it is a test of my willpower and creativity in creating recipes that are good for your whole body and not just your taste buds. Secret Weapon #2 : Agave Syrup is delicious and sweet and doesnt cause those nasty blood sugar spikes that make you want to clean out your refrigerator after you have dessert. It's also all natural and derived from the Agave plant so no scary aft...

My # 1 secret weapon is being able to get food quickly (i.e. fast food) without ruining my healthy eating goals or undoing weeks of progress. CHipotle is definitely one of my secret weapons. It is technically fast food (i.e. usually inherently evil) but they offer fresh and deliciously seasoned vegan options. My favorite is a burrito bowl or a salad. The burrito bowl takes away the carb load of a tortilla, but includes all the burrito fixins: lime cilantro rice, seasoned black beans, Fresh Tomato Salsa (Mild) Chopped red, ripe sweet tomatoes, mixed with red onions, jalapeño peppers and freshly chopped cilantro for a mildly tangy, refreshing taste. Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa (Medium) Sweet, succulent corn, blended with roasted poblano peppers, jalapeño peppers, red onions and freshly chopped cilantro. This unique, robust salsa is both sweet and mildly hot, and Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa (Medium). With a generous scoop of guacamole on top! It is basically "delicious" in a bowl...

This post could easily be titled "how to stop eating your emotions". I mentioned in an earlier post how food is closely connected to my emotional responses. So, over the past few months I have been training myself to react in different ways to emotions. I also have stopped buying things that trigger overeating (one snack leads to another). Instead of Happy= Eat a piece of cake, the equation is now happy= share the love with someone else. Usually stress means overeating for me, but now it is just the opposite. Rather than eating when stressed I pray, try to eliminate the stressor and move on. If it is a problem I cant fix I just keep praying and leave it in Jehovah's hands. Why stress myself into a tizzy over something i cant change anyway. I also had to learn to replace the foods i loved to binge on with healthier options or just new options. That whole want something sweet eat a piece of fruit works sometimes, but sometimes i want the chocolate or a cookie. So, I use foo...

Looking at the date I see it has been approximately 3 months since I wrote my first entry. Good news: things have been going well in the weight loss department. Otherwise it's been a whirlwind of happenings. With the surgeries and deaths and moving and learning languages I have been a very busy girl. But through prayer I have been able to maintain my weight loss goals. I haven't done the official measurements yet, but I have managed to lose about 4 inches from my waist, which as anyone who knows me knows is my mortal enemy. The most popular question: How did you do it? (Actually it usually goes more like: "Girl you gettin so skinny? What you doing to lose all that weight?") Well, you will just have to tune in tomorrow to find out...See you then!

Bonjour! This is day one in my attempt to eat healthily and deliciously as I work to lose weight. People automatically assume vegans are emaciated, anemic people. Looking at my frame is a clear contradiction to this theory. I wish I had some excuse like a medical condition, but I just really like to eat. And my emotional shifts are usually met by a plate full of something. Feeling happy? Have a piece of cake! Feeling sad? Eat a whole cake. But more than that eating can be a bit of a hobby for me at times. I really like to cook. Seeing that I really need to lose about 40 punds I am going to combine my Foodie status with my desire to reduce calories without depriving myself. We'll see how this goes. Stay tuned!