Food(less) Journey

I'm Back Internet!! That is still the most commonly asked question I hear when people find out I'm a plant based foodie. The simple answer to that question is "Food. Specifically plant based foods". But the concept of a food being "plant based" is somewhat foreign to the American Public. And that's okay. Each one teach one. A plant based diet excludes eggs, meat and dairy, but includes everything else. Fruit, vegetables, and grains in all their marvelous varieties. I could tell you what I eat, but isn't it easier to show rather than tell? So, here are a few of my recent meals. Most of my meals have been eaten at home lately, but the last four items are at local non plant based restaurants. Pittsburgh is secretly a veg based paradise. The items I show aren't even at one of the many vegan exclusive restaurants in the area. But enough chatting..... Sanoma Gluten Free Flatbreads Dairy Free Fire Roasted Veggie Pizza Van's G...

What do you eat for breakfast? In Italy it was tea and a pastry Or leftover pasta... What's for breakfast? Common vegan question #13. Cracklebred topped with nutbutter, jam, dried fruit and nuts.. Cracklebred topped with Fakin' bacon, tofu eggs...   Scrambled tofu with tempeh bacon and a side of whole wheat toast..     Pancakes for one topped with maple syrup or warm fruit compote..   Oatmeal with coconut butter, peanut butter and strawberry rhubarb jam Oatmeal with nut butter, nuts and dried fruit, jam, etc.. Rice and vegetables.. Leftover pasta... Cold cereal and almond milk... Puffed Kamut with soaked Goji berries and maple syrup  Loaded sweet potato... Sweet Potato with peanut butter, dried cranberries and sliced almonds    My favorite especially when Im trying to control cravings is a smoothie. To add protein my favorites are protein powder, hemp seeds, nutmilk base and/or nut butt...

This recipe was accidentally gluten free. I just didnt have any flour, but did have a crazy craving. I had these beauties to carb up for Zumba class. So tasty! Oatmeal Pancakes for One Ingredients: 1/2 c Oatmeal flour (oats ground in a smoothie maker) 1t baking powder 1T sticky rice flour (optional) 1 pinch salt 1t vanilla 1/4 c milk or water 1/4c frozen blueberries (or any frozen fruit) Topping: 1 T honey 1/2 T coconut oil Process: mix all dry together slowly stir in wet stir in blueberries cook like a pancake top with coconut oil and drizzle of honey But while we're on the subject...... Here is a yummy burrito I had on Saturday (the day that never ended). The filling was exactly like the original bean and rice  (delicious) but the wrap is different. It reminded me of a more solid crepe. On its own it had in interesting sweetness. But all together it was delicious! Unfortunately I...

It's March! Yay! Lots of exciting and wonderful things going on this month! Are you auxilery pioneering? Leave a comment below if you want to meet for service.  Or email me. Did you do your taxes yet? Only 6 weeks left. Better get on it. On a related note, Am I the only one who gets excited when they e-file and get the "Your return has been accepted email"? Who have you thanked today? Have you thanked your childs bus driver? Think about the valuable service they perform and show some gratitude. Notice what one article said: "Many people feel that their efforts go unnoticed by others.. Sincere words of commendation are not the norm in today's world. This is hardly surprising, for the Bible foretold: 'In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves..unthankful,disloyal' - 2 Timothy 3:1,2... The world would be a different place  if everyone showed pe...

Okay so Im not really that greedy, but sometimes I would like a cupcake or muffin and don't feel like going through the process of making a full pan. Solution? Just make one. This recipe has been seen in various places under various names, but here is my own variation. And I know what question is burning in your mind : What's the dif between a cupcake and muffin? Sugar! As in the batter of a cupcake has more sugar and it's often topped with a sugar-based icing. Im apparently more of a muffin girl since I hardly add an sugar (if any). I prefer the honey or agave drizzled on top. Also: - coconut oil - peanut butter with pomegranate cherry preserves - throw in some fruit before "baking" and drizzle with honey Im thinking this would be great in a savory version (maybe with zuchini or squash , spinach and tomatoes) but I have yet to try that out. I'll let you know when I do. :-) Lazy Tea Cup Apple Muffin Ingredients : 3 T spelt flour 1 ...

Ive been a fan of Raw Rev for quite some time now. I discovered them when I was going through a "raw" eating phase.  But unlike my desire to eat Raw all the time (I'm too anemic to avoid a piping hot bowl of soup in the wintertime and my blender stinks but if i had an awesome (i.e. not made in the 1950's) blender I know i could do more "raw") certain "raw" products like this one stayed in my repertoire.  Their bars are seriously decadent, delicious, and chock full of "good for you" things. They are great for an on the go meal or snack. Alas, I had a not too pleasant experience with one of their bars (story withheld to protect the innocent bar) and I wrote to inquire "what the dealy yo?" (did i spell that right?). And guess what happened.... No really. Guess what happened. You give up? Quitter.... Well what happened is that this really awesomely nice guy who works for Raw Rev sent me a box full of lovely good...

I always like to think im above the hype. Like that old "an apple a day.." rant that teachers figuratively (if you went to public school) pounded into students about how they would magically avoid all forms of illness if they ate the apple that came with their lunch instead of chucking it across the lunchroom**. BUT....I feel a bit healthier for eating an apple. Not being one to enjoy following the crowd I try to eat my apples in a very naughty way. This makes me feel better about feeling better for eating an apple. BUT....Being that I strive to only eat things that work with my body, you know I had to take a naughty recipe and make it Healthy Coworker. With the recipe as-is you can eat it for breakfast, be fueled til lunch, and not feel bad about it. **I was more of an apple chucker and not because I didnt like fruit. The apples they served us were obviously Genetically Modified to perfectly fit our hands and to be mass produced (there were so many apples!!!!). And even thou...

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...