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Safely Vegan
Recently I was asked for a few tips to help out with a new vegan diet. I can understand wanting to be safe, because many times people set out to become vegan or vegetarian and without knowledge, they become discouraged or even in poor health and they end up switching back to their old ways. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying a pescatarian, paleo, vegan, or vegetarian lifestyle–it needs to be an informed decision. It is good to know your body and your current state of health before starting, and to have a plan. I’ll share with you my tips, and I’d love to hear some feedback on what has…
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Henry, Jessie, Violet & Benny's Stew
As a child I became a bookworm very shortly after I learned to read. Books were a way to cozy up during cold weather and let my imagination run wild. My all time favorite children’s novel is The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. The book starts out with four hungry orphans, Henry, Jessie, Violet & Benny, of which no one knows who they are and from where they came. Family or no family, they were most importantly hungry and homeless. The story carries on as the four children, so closely knit find a way to survive and take care of one another as they live in an old abandoned…
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Fresh Mex Salad
Beans are a great source of healthy fat and provide a great serving of fiber and protein. They are found in many types of cuisines and one of my favorites is the role they play in Mexican cuisines. Usually pinto beans are used for refried beans, but the are also fantastic cooked and drained. Beans in the canned form can shave significant time off your cooking preparation. I used organic canned beans for this recipe, but that should not deter you from cooking your own if you have the time. This cool salad is an antioxidant-packed blend of the flavors most of us have come to know and love when…
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Quick Tip #1: Washing Fruits & Veggies
When washing your vegetables & fruit, a solution of 3 parts water+ 1 part white wine vinegar can remove pesticides and dirt that made hide in the crevices of certain fruits and vegetables. Add to a spray bottle or soak smaller loose organics such as grapes or cherry tomatoes in a bowl. This is especially good practice for ones with the highest exposure to pesticides such as peaches, apples and bell peppers. White wine vinegar has so many other household uses that it will benefit you greatly to always have this in stock.
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A Divine Brunch
More than eating out, going to movies, or hitting a nightclub….I love events that take place at home. Think about it: no lines, no entrance fees, no one saying, “last call”, and most importantly, the perfect volume to have a conversation. What could be better? There are so many advantages to at-home events. These days, it seems to be like pulling teeth when it comes to getting someone to RSVP for an event– even if that person is your roommate! I do not know what it is. There are other mediums to invite people and to get a feel for whether or not you need to plan for their attendance.…
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10 Great Pantry Items
Whether you are a novice cook or budding international chef, there are some items that can be very beneficial to keep in stock. 1. Extra virgin olive oil: great for sauteing and frying, olive oil’s unique properties allow you to fry food at 350 degrees while minimizing the amount of oil that the food actually absorbs. 2. Flavor-infused oil: My current favorite is sesame oil because it brings a deeper and more genuine flavor to my Asian cuisine. 3. Balsamic vinegar: I have a good bottle of aged balsamic as well as the standard. It can be can be used for salad dressings, marinades and reductions. 4. Sea salt (coarse…
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Capellini Verdi
I was watching one of Alton Brown’s episodes of Good Eats a few months ago and he mentioned that the average person never deviates from about 100 food items when they shop at the grocery store. It makes sense, too. Even if we use our groceries in different ways, for the most part what we buy is exactly the same each time. I think some of us have even a shorter list that we never stray from! Aside from not knowing about different items or how to use them, no one really has that much time to spend in a grocery store. Even if we do not write a list…
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Mediterranean Salad
“A lot of times we eat salads that are drowned in ranch or italian dressing and we hardly stop to look down at the withered heap we so poorly categorize as healthy food. A good salad won’t need to be drowned by dressing. A good salad will be the main event–crisp, zingy, refreshing, and the dressing will only serve to compliment…” -Fifi When I go to restaurants, there isn’t a type of salad that I don’t like. At Japanese restaurants I enjoy cool seaweed salad, & I have had the assortment of slaws in American & even Thai cuisine. My irritation is with salads that are soaked soggy with dressing,…
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Marinated Kabobs
Marinades can be a great way to dress up otherwise undesirable vegetables, or to marry the flavors of the main dish and side by complimenting the spices used. If for instance you are serving these kabobs with grilled fish, and an Asian-style pasta, you could use an Asian-inspired marinade to bring everything together. The possibilities really are limitless. I especially loved the sweetness of the yellow bell pepper balancing out the zing of the red onion. Some of my guests even pulled the grilled vegetables off the kabob and used them as burger toppings. What you will need: 1 large zucchini 1 large red onion 1 red bell pepper 1…
