May 2013
6 posts
Greek Salad with Creamy Dressing
My daughter says that a Greek Salad should have at least as much “stuff” as lettuce. I agree. I made this one for a little Mother’s Day dinner, and it was a huge hit.
Creamy Greek Dressing
1 cup raw cashews, soaked 20 minutes or longer, up to overnight
1-2 T fresh oregano
2 T nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
about 1/2 cup juice from a jar of...
Power Bites - My Favorite Healthy Energy Snack
This is not a post about the evils of too much power… It’s about food, of course!
With only a few short weeks until the See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon in Alameda, CA, I’m starting to think about what sort of fuel I’ll want to carry with me on race day. I don’t want anything to do with packaged bars, gels, or drinks. Yuck. I want something real. This recipe is a cross...
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Stew is Perfect for a...
This easy dish was inspired by a big, lonely sweet potato, a busy day with no time to cook, and a neglected slow-cooker. It’s perfect for a busy Meatless Monday! To cook it on the stove, I think I’d steam the sweet potato chunks first, and then throw it all together.
Sweet Potato Stew
serves 4
1/2 onion, chopped
1 large sweet potato, cut into bite-size pieces
2-4 cups chopped...
Everything-Free Banana Oat Cookies
I’m so excited this morning! I just launched the new Positive Motion page on my website! It’s designed to help you get up off the couch, get moving, and keep moving. We all need a little extra motivation sometimes, and I’m here to be your very own Personal Motivator. Come check out Positive Motion! We’re going to have a lot of fun!
Now, to get you going on a new healthy...
Calabacitas Make a Great Taco Filling
Calabacitas are a particular type of squash, similar to zucchini. A favorite restaurant here serves up a mix of zucchini, yellow squash, onions, and other goo things, and calls it “calabacitas.” I usually order it because I like saying the name. And because they’re delicious! These tacos are easy to throw together on a week night, and fun for a weekend gathering. Use sprouted...
Double Ambassadorship
I have wonderful-fun news! I’ve just found out that I’ve been selected as a See Jane Run Ambassador! What the heck is that, you ask? In a nutshell, from the SJR website, ”An ambassador is someone who is all “Jane”. A Jane can be someone who embraces fitness as a lifestyle and brings it into all aspects of their life. Ambassadors include bloggers, trainers, teachers,...
April 2013
8 posts
Mom's Sour Chili Chick'n Get Veganized
I took another stroll down Recipe Lane, flipping through my ancient recipe box, and pulling out an old favorite I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Mom used to make Sour Chili Chicken for the family back in the 70’s. It’s one of those good old meat-and-diary-bombs we used to think of as “healthy.” Clearly there was no health whatsoever in recipes like these, for...
Finding Vegan on Travel Days
As I mentioned in my last post, we were able to find a wonderful abundance of vegan food in Las Vegas. I’m now quite certain that with a few polite questions and a willing server, a hungry vegan can find a good meal almost anywhere. We have to ask though. They can’t read our minds.
Travel days can be a little bit more challenging. Airports still have pretty limited options, although...
Eating Vegan in Vegas
There’s a new book on the e-shelves I think you should know about. Paul Graham’s Eating Vegan in Vegas is the e-book extension of his super-popular blog by the same name. Paul spent an entire year eating at least one meal a day in Las Vegas restaurants, in search of every tasty morsel of vegan fare he could find. And, surprisingly, at least to me, he found more than plenty!...
Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes
My pancake-lovin’ sweetie fell hard for these, and didn’t even think to ask if they were gluten free until he’d polished off a huge stack of them and gone back for seconds. You could serve these to anyone, whether they care about them being vegan or gluten free or not. Everyone at the table will be happy.
Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes
makes about 16 (1/4 cup) pancakes
1 cup...
Vegan Between Parties
I’ve only been vegan for three years but it feels like much longer. In a good way. I’m remembering back to when I “attempted vegan” the first time, and failed pretty miserably within about two weeks. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to be vegan, or because I felt unwell, or because I didn’t know what to cook or eat. I failed for social reasons, which I...
Oil-Free Lentils and Caramelized Onions
Lentils. Yum. They’re one of my favorites. One of my favorite recipes comes from Chris Maher, and a wonderful Middle Eastern cooking class I took with him last year. The original recipe is drowning in oil, so I took it upon myself to health it up, and simplify it while I was at it. The result was nothing short of clean-your-plate goodness. This is not only vegan, gluten free, and oil free,...
Being Vegan Isn't Just About the Food
If you’ve been enjoying a vegan diet for a while, you’re probably pretty well in tune with what foods are vegan, and which ones aren’t. Most of the time it’s fairly obvious, and we learn to spot the sneaky non-veg ingredients in things like mock cheeses and meats, packaged foods, and even wine and beer as we go along. Like I always say, it’s all baby steps, and...
There's No Such Thing as Too Many Cheese Sauce...
It’s Meatless Monday, and our gluten free month of March has come to a close. It was a good experiment for Rick and me, and we’ve decided to stick to eating mostly gluten free - particularly wheat free - here at home, saving our gluten for special times out on the town. Since when did gluten become a “special” sort of food? Well, there we are. And here we are in April.
I...
March 2013
8 posts
Grilled Eggplant Roulades with Vegan Hollandaise...
I know some of you are planning a nice Easter Brunch for this weekend. Here’s a dish you might want to consider adding to your menu. Eggplant fills in quite nicely in place of meat in this elegant rolled-up dish. It’s perfect for brunch with hollandaise sauce, and would be just as nice for dinner with a marinara or vegan alfredo sauce. I served it up this time with oven roasted...
Easy Vegan Gluten Free Bread
One of the first things that comes up in a conversation about gluten free (GF) eating is the lack of really good bread. I’ve been pretty unimpressed with commercial GF breads, and many of them are not vegan. So the obvious solution - other than giving up on bread completely - is to make my own.
Gluten free baking is not exactly like “regular” baking. It takes a lot of blending...
Vegan, Plant Based, or Plant Strong?
Vegan, Plant Based, and Plant Strong are all terms for more or less the same thing - someone who eats plants and not animals. But it’s possible to be plant based without being really vegan, or vegan without being plant strong. Confusing, I know. But I’m going to try to help you sort all this out. The simplest explanation is this: vegan is about what we don’t eat, and plant strong...
Zucchini Linguini with Glam Sauce
Yes, I said Glam, not Clam, because this is a very glamorous sauce, and because it is not made with clams. For this recipe, use any kind of fancy mushrooms you like, or just plain old white ones if that’s all you can get. I particularly like the addition of the oyster mushrooms, because they have a nice firm texture that’s a little bit, well… clam-ish. And if you’d rather...
Revenge of the Veggie Benny
We’ve been on a hollandaise binge around here lately. After trying it on asparagus and rice, the next logical step was a Veggie Benny. We used to order this at a favorite breakfast spot in Seattle, but it was only vegetarian, not vegan, and had regular hollandaise on it. Once I went vegan, I thought I’d never enjoy my beloved Veggie Benny again. Happily I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I was...
I can’t believe how good this is. No really. Like I just want to eat this same meal over and over, every day. I actually did make it two nights in a row, just to be sure I wasn’t mouth-halucinating when we ate it the first time, and no, I wasn’t. This is officially one of my favorite things to eat, ever.
You have to make all three parts of this dish, but they’re all...
Easy Gluten Free Rice Ravioli
The secret to this simple recipe is the rice wrappers, which I use rather than pasta. These are the thin, dry wrappers you can usually find in the Asian section of your market. Different from egg roll wrappers, which need to be refrigerated, rice wrappers need to be soaked before using them, and can be eaten raw or cooked once they’re stuffed. And because they’re made from rice,...
Super Simple Oil-Free Kung Pao Veggies
I’ve already done two versions of Kung Pao on this blog (Kung Powerful Tempeh, and Everyday Kung Pao), but I wanted one that was super fast and easy to make, and that had no oil in it. I had this on the table in no time the other night, because I already had some cooked rice to throw in. You could substitute quinoa if you don’t want to take the time to cook rice, or make the dish...
February 2013
13 posts
The Best All Fruit Ice Cream Ever
Did you know you can make ice cream out of frozen bananas? I knew it could be done, but for some silly reason I though I needed a Vitamix to make the magic happen. I’m still waiting patiently for my Vitamix to appear, but maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have one yet, so I can show you that you don’t need to spend $500 on a blender just so you can make the world’s...
Heavenly Vegan Hollandaise
Rick and I ate buckets of hollandaise last week, all in the name of research and good recipe development. Not exactly a terrible thing to have to do, and a whole lot healthier than if I were making the stuff out of butter and eggs. The recipe is ready to share, so in preparation for our Gluten Free March, here’s a lovely sauce that can dress up darn near anything you choose to drown in...
Braving Bikini Season with a BMI Check
Many thanks to Olivine’s Charm School for the wonderful photo.
I will probably always cringe when I hear the words, “bikini season,” but I know a lot of people are starting to think about showing more skin soon, and for some, the post-holiday shape-up is still underway. One of the reasons I decided to try a vegan diet in the first place was to lose weight. I was over 50, and...
Another PV Giveaway!
Ready for another PV Giveaway? Me too! Enter to win this super happy, sterling silver necklace by leaving a comment on my blog. Comment on any, and as many posts as you like. I’ll randomly pick the winner next Tuesday, February 26th. Please be sure to sign your name to your comments. If I don’t know who you are, I can’t announce you as the winner!
PS - Get another chance to...
There's a Guest Chef in My Kitchen
Rick used to do all the cooking around here, back when I was a beadmaker with my nose to the torch day in and day out. He still likes to cook, but I rarely let him into “my” kitchen anymore. That’s just mean, right? So when he said he wanted to make his famous Curried Black Eyed Peas last night, I untied my apron and stepped to the other side of the counter, camera and notebook...
Naked Cupcakes for Breakfast
I made cupcakes for my sweetie for Valentine’s Day, and updated my old favorite recipe for Chocolate Black Bean Cupcakes to come up with this new version, which I think is even better. Like the original recipe, these have some rather odd ingredients, but don’t be afraid. They’re totally delicious, and incidentally, full of healthy goodness. I replaced the oil with apple sauce,...
the Gluten Free Experiment Needs Your Input
Heads up, my Gluten Free Friends! Rick and I are going GF for the entire month of March, not because we have to, but because we’re curious to see if we’ll feel better without the gluten. Neither of us has a gluten sensitivity that we’re aware of, and we already feel pretty darn fabulous. But if it could get even better, we’ll take it.
So many people are off the gluten...
Everyday Dressing
It was a busy weekend, so all I have for you today is a salad dressing. But maybe you need a little nudge to eat more greens, hmm? Even though the weather is still cold, Rick and I have a big salad for lunch almost every day. Eat salad, be happy!
This is a “hybrid” dressing - a cross between the thick and creamy Cheesy Basil Dressing that Rick loves, and the lower-fat Kim’s...
Vegan Cashew Oyster Burgers
Don’t panic, vegan friends - I’m talking about oyster mushrooms here! Burger week at my house has turned up two real winners - the Walnut Burgers from Monday, and these fabulously fishy (but not too fishy) patties. These were great on grainy buns with the usual trimmings, but I also think they’d make lovely little appetizer-sized oyster cakes or sliders.
Cashew Oyster...
Enter the Positively Vegan Giveaway!
I love to enter online giveaways. I rarely win, but it makes me feel connected to join in the fun. Since I have my pretty new Etsy Shop open now, I though it would be fun to celebrate with a giveaway of my own. Good idea, yes?
I’m offering this sweet little Bird-on-a-Branch necklace to one lucky winner. It’s sterling silver, with a little XO on the back, and comes on a stainless...
Team Mates
I want you to meet my husband, Rick. This slightly goofy picture was taken on New Year’s Eve. I like it because it shows us looking shiny and healthy and ready for all the good things a new year has in store. As you know, I’ve been vegan for almost three years now. Rick has been along for the ride the whole time, although he was a little less enthusiastic than I was for a while. I...
Recipe Box Revival - and Walnut Burgers for...
Another Meatless Monday! Let’s get this week started with some fun inspiration and something good to eat…
Like many of you, I have an ancient recipe box, stuffed full of ragged little cards, handwritten with recipes that tell the story of my early cooking life. Most are written in my own handwriting, and many are in my mom’s, which always makes me feel a sense of happy...
Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
A cupful of dried banana chips that my grandson wouldn’t eat were the inspiration for this recipe. I bet he’ll go for the cookies!
Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
Dry:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 cup unsweetened dried banana chips, chopped
...
January 2013
15 posts
Spinach-Mushroom Enchiladas
These are my favorite enchiladas yet, and can be made simple or extravagant, depending on how many of the ingredients you choose to make yourself. I’ll give it to you both ways!
Spinach-Mushroom Enchiladas
Green Chile Sauce or Red Chile Sauce or canned enchilada sauce
Spicy Cashew Cheese Spread or 1 package Daiya vegan cheese shreds, any flavor
1 - 2 dozen organic corn tortillas...
Taos Green Chile, Vegan Style
When asked the Official New Mexico Question, Red or Green?, meaning what kind of chile sauce do you want on your food, you can pick your favorite, or choose “Christmas” and sample both. I was a Green girl for years, but then switched over to Red for some reason. I got my Red Chile recipe down to the way we like it at our house, but somehow never got around to making a Green version....
3 tags
Cool Animal Rescue Cards at Crankbunny
I love Crankbunny. They make some of the coolest cards on the market, says me, as well as nifty paper puppets and “other goodies.” They have three dandy dog cards, the sales of which go to animal rescue organizations. I like that a lot. Check out the pop-up pups, and snap one up for your favorite dog-lovin’ Valentine.
Go Crankbunny!!!
3 tags
Subversive Veganism
I have a friend who keeps McDonald’s gift certificates in her car, to give to people who ask her for money “for food.” I like the idea, but obviously can’t support a burger chain, so I’ve taken to carrying a peanut butter sandwich along with me when I go into town, just in case I run across someone who’s hungry. All questions aside about whether the guy in the...
3 tags
Homemade Salsa, in a Snap
There’s really no reason to buy expensive tubs of salsa from the store when you can so easily make it yourself, fresh and wonderful, and spiced just the way you like it. Also known as pico de gallo (“rooster’s beak” - hmmm), or salsa fresca, this is something I like to keep on hand most of the time. It’s great as a dip, sure, but I also like it on salads, nachos,...
3 tags
Tomato Bruschetta
Bruschetta is one of those things that doesn’t really need a recipe, but if you’ve never made it, it helps to have a little nudge in the right direction. You can use all sorts of things for toppings, like tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, or any other veggies you might have on hand. I made this garlicky tomato version last night, and when a friend walked in the door, she sniffed the air and...
5 tags
I Like Laika
I just got the premier issue of Laika Magazine, and right off the bat, I’m smitten. It’s really beautiful, but it’s more of a vegan lifestyle magazine than a fashion magazine, so it has something of interest for just about anyone. It includes cruelty-free fashion, cool new products, food, animal rights stories, and articles about interesting people who just happen to be vegan. I...
4 tags
Cream of Mushroom Soup Goes Vegan
This is an elegant soup, perfect for a first course when you want to show off without working too hard. Or go for a great big bowl full and call it dinner, because a little taste just might not be enough.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup raw cashews, soaked 20 minutes or longer, then drained and rinsed
1 pound mushrooms, coarsely chopped (I used baby portabellas and button mushrooms)
1 onion,...
2 tags
Wizpert
I was recently invited to sign on as a Vegan Expert on Wizpert. Never heard of it? I hadn’t either, so I did some checking. Wizpert is a place where you can instantly chat with “experts” on just about any topic you can think of. As I write this, experts are available, this very moment, in the categories of health and fitness, technology, leisure, learning, home and garden,...
3 tags
One New Habit
You hear it all the time - when trying to change diet or lifestyle habits, it really helps to replace what’s being left behind with something new. From a vegan standpoint, that would mean finding new substitutes for all the animal foods you’re cutting out of your diet. It’s not as hard as you might think. There are plenty of good vegan alternatives to things like cheese, milk,...
3 tags
Using Up Those Broccoli Stalks - Vegan Cream of...
We go through a lot of broccoli around here, but usually the pretty little tops are what get used in stir-frys and such, leaving the stalks feeling unloved. My dogs come begging for them, but there’s really only so much broccoli you should feed a dog… if you know what I mean. My solution is to save up three or four bunches worth of stalks, and make soup out of them. I love how nothing...
3 tags
Spicy Smokey Cashew Cheese Spread
I decided to jazz up my Basic Nut Cheese recipe for New Year’s Eve, and this is what resulted - a super smooth, cheesy spread that tastes a lot like a slightly spicy, smoky cheddar. Spread it on crackers, layer it in a sandwich, or thin is down with nut milk to make a cheese sauce for pasta. The use of soaked cashews instead of the original almond pulp is what gives this version its...
2 tags
I Love PBS Food
A while back the PBS Food Facebook Page used my humble photo of hummus in their header. That was so exciting, I decided to regularly share my food pics over there. The odds of them using mine very often - or ever again - seemed slim, with all the gorgeous food photos out there. But it never hurts to throw a dash of shameless self promotion into the day. Well, I was just posting a nice picture of...
Don't Throw Away Your Old Calendar - Make Gift...
This time of year everyone has a new calendar, which means we also have an old one (or two or three) to take down from the walls and fridge, and wonder what to do with. We spend a whole year with these beloved collections of images, and then most of us toss them in the trash come January first. Well, don’t throw out last year’s calendar just yet! And while we’re at it, hang...
Banana Blueberry Muffins
Happy New Year! Let’s start the year with something nice for breakfast.
I’ve let a bit of oil sneak into my recipes over the holidays, but a new year usually calls for some diet cleanup, so here we go. I’m not big on extreme “cleanses”, but I do like to health-up favorite dishes when I can. To me, an oil free muffin carries the same virtuous health benefits as a...
