tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72857638497333629282026-05-24T03:16:44.865-04:00Finding the perfect balance of guilty pleasure and healthy livingDeena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-92063749283651897002018-05-21T21:37:00.000-04:002018-10-10T10:25:15.326-04:00

Strawberry Apple Vegan Gelatin with agar agar There's a song I can't get out of my head. My 2-year old listens to a Nursery Rhyme playlist on Spotify, and there's this one song that keeps playing. It goes like this: "Jelly on a plate Jelly on a plate Wibble wobble, wibble wobble jelly on a plate! Sausage in a pan Sausage in a pan Sizzle sizzle..." It starts out cute, gets stuck in your

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-2541816978785665232018-04-29T09:15:00.000-04:002018-10-10T10:23:51.605-04:00

As we try to eat healthier in our household by eliminating frozen, prepared or highly processed food and snacks, I've been quite busy keeping up. Cooking nearly 3 meals per day, many from scratch, leaves little time for much else. Once the pile of dishes is cleaned (if there's any time left for that), I'm pretty much wiped out. On a good day, I may have enough time to toss my plate on the

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-7758775435202823442018-04-06T14:01:00.002-04:002018-04-06T14:01:51.680-04:00

I didn't even stop to rinse my dishes before sharing this delicious recipe with you. That's how good it was. I've been craving grilled cheese and tomato soup for some time now, what with the dreary days of lingering winter weather. I wanted to add a little spice to the soup, especially since I'm looking for ways to utilize a big bag of peppers passed to me by my mother-in-law. But, you

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-79273054125553039352018-04-02T10:12:00.000-04:002018-04-02T10:14:59.341-04:00

We are having yet another snow day, here in Long Island. This calls for a warm batch of muffins, don't you think? This was supposed to be my son's first day back at school after a two week break. It was nice not to have to rush out of the house this morning, but it has been a long two weeks for two bored kids. My daughter is off from school this week, for her Spring break. More snow,

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-58110208501498926162018-03-27T17:02:00.000-04:002018-03-27T17:03:31.218-04:00

I've made so many yummy delicious things lately, but haven't had time to write anything down. Today I made these cookies and I just have to share the recipe. We're up at our vacation house (we call it "The Log House"), and I haven't done a full grocery shopping trip yet. We have nothing sweet in the house right now, and are desperate for cookies. I have limited tools to use, and only what is

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-49060974960934924812018-03-18T09:47:00.001-04:002018-03-18T12:48:37.823-04:00

It's so challenging to come up with interesting meals for the family every day. I'm trying to break a years-long cycle of preparing separate meals for everyone. It takes a little creativity to plan dinners that everyone will eat at least some part or variation of, without too much hassle. (It's also very challenging to write anything about it, as between snow-days, constant injuries, and

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-61777983782288937142018-03-07T09:54:00.000-05:002018-03-07T10:01:47.651-05:00

Lo Mein with Vegetarian Beef Nothing can really compare to the dependable flavors and convenience of your favorite local Chinese takeout spot. It tastes great, costs little, and we don't ask questions. I rarely cook Chinese takeout style food at home, for this reason. When I was in my 20's and totally broke, with no job and lots of time on my hands, it's actually the first cuisine I

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-24730994625337157892018-03-06T12:32:00.000-05:002018-03-06T21:28:20.128-05:00

You know what buzzword really irks me? "Challenge". It's a call-to-action to do something out of character, inherently difficult, or temporarily uncomfortable. The latest dieting headlines are touting a "vegan challenge". Healthy eating should not be referred to as any of these things, so can we just STOP with the whole "challenge" thing, PLEASE! Fine, you want to try out a vegan diet.

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-49076712997453888382018-03-05T14:32:00.002-05:002018-03-06T21:41:01.604-05:00

Healthy and Flavorful meal: Injera, Kik Alicha, Tikil Gomen, Fosolia, Ye'Abesha Gomen and Misir Wot Are you familiar with Ethiopian cuisine? It can be rather hard to come by, unless you live in a major city here in the U.S.. New Yorker's are no strangers to this North African treat, that can be found in several restaurants around the city. My favorite was Awash on East 6th street, and

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-65643059817581440262018-02-17T16:03:00.000-05:002018-02-17T16:03:37.483-05:00

This mushroom risotto is a favorite recipe in our home. Dried mushrooms and their soaking liquid lend a deep, earthy, flavor. Fresh mushrooms, if available, add a satisfying texture. Barley works excellent here, if you’re not averse to gluten. It has less calories, more fiber and more iron than rice – although a bit less protein and more carbs. Risotto night is a great excuse to

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-33186813135255950462018-02-10T10:44:00.002-05:002018-02-10T10:44:40.440-05:00

Mushrooms and nuts are my favorite sneaky protein foods. They're easy to prepare and add to other dishes for texture and flavor, without much forethought. Together, they make a delicious and satisfying vegan main course that pairs well with vegetable or grain side dishes. As we work to eliminate processed foods, we are having a tough time parting with fake meats as the protein in

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-68479518250576066992018-02-05T10:38:00.000-05:002018-03-10T10:43:40.813-05:00

Cauliflower Tikka Masala and Matar Ka Nimona (Vegan) - Potatoes in a Green Pea gravy EDITED 3/10/18 - Cauliflower Tikka Masala comes out great using vegan cashew yogurt in place of regular yogurt and cream. Recipe has been updated with the vegan options. As we continue to convert, ever ever so slowly, to cleaner eating, I've been finding various ways to dress up the magical blank canvas

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-19562763263070402102018-02-03T12:26:00.000-05:002018-02-03T12:26:07.416-05:00

Fresh, homemade lentil balls in creamy mushroom gravy. It's a bit seasonally inappropriate to post a Swedish Meatball recipe after the winter holidays have ended. However, this hearty and satisfying meal is one we enjoy year-round. I think I made it four times between November and January - mostly due to the fact that we keep getting stuck with a few lingonberries left in the jar and need

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-2292329446368170692018-02-01T15:04:00.000-05:002018-02-01T15:04:55.499-05:00

One of initiatives in eating more nutritious "clean" food is upgrading oils for cooking. I keep a jar of organic unrefined coconut oil that I mostly use as a home remedy for any number of skin issues. This week, I tried replacing vegetable oil with it. We are still pretty hooked on flour and sugar, but sneaking in an oil upgrade was received well. I baked cookies using coconut oil, and added

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-35214999044602537062018-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:002018-01-30T07:00:09.559-05:00

Pie crust, masquerading as cheese crackers. Nope. I've been collecting Pins of beautiful looking homemade crackers, flatbreads and crisps that I wanted to try making. I'm totally obsessed with artisan Sea Salt Firehook Crackers, but the simple ingredient list and the $8 price tag had me wondering if I could make my own. As I began to amass ideas for homemade crackers, I thought now

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-83763396562418612982018-01-29T07:00:00.000-05:002018-02-05T10:46:37.424-05:00

Moroccan Lentil Stuffed Eggplant - Recipe from the Minimalist Baker I cook vegetarian meals for my family, so we actually eat vegan meals all the time, without giving it a thought. That is, until we actually want to eat vegan, for health reasons. As I begin to look over all of my vegan and nearly vegan recipes, I realize it will be quite challenging coming up with whole food options that

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-21667599782132454452018-01-25T13:42:00.002-05:002018-01-25T13:42:50.809-05:00

"Do you hear that? It's the honk-honk horn of the fire station. Is there a fire? No, it's 12 noon. Maybe they honk the horn at twelve so that all the firemen know it's lunchtime in the firehouse. One of them cooks a big pot of soup for lunch. Big enough to share with allll the other firemen. Then he rings the bell and all of the hungry firemen go to the firehouse kitchen where they have a

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-40828855544421920942018-01-23T20:56:00.000-05:002018-01-23T21:04:38.640-05:00

Adding color, flavor and nutrients to an old favorite: Quesadillas. As we move towards transitioning to cleaner eating, I'm being more mindful of ingredients. One easy change, which became habit in my pregnancies, is adding nutrient-rich foods to what we are already used to eating. I'm not sure where I read it, or who told me, but the idea is to always ask this question when preparing a

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-83106134215678774772018-01-20T10:40:00.000-05:002018-01-20T10:41:23.207-05:00

Avocado: a perfect food! We all have different reasons for making lifestyle choices, especially when it comes to diet and exercise. Maybe we want to lose weight, maybe we suffer from conditions or diseases, we'd like to improve our energy level, or we'd like to exclude foods for religious or ethical reasons. But don't we all just hate the word "diet"? I chose to follow a diet and exercise

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-51542023647036576462018-01-19T12:41:00.001-05:002018-01-19T12:44:35.276-05:00

Here's a simple way we are improving breakfast this week. I mixed up a container for the week with plain quick-cook oats with just a tiny bit of brown sugar, dried fruit-sweetened cranberries and raisins. Along with some fresh blueberries my kids decided they weren't interested in, I invested in two new ingredients to add nutrients and protein to breakfast: fresh almond butter and sunflower

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-66476355073583640142018-01-18T10:57:00.002-05:002018-01-18T11:00:46.943-05:00

I'm not a person who jumps head first into change or something new. I'm a planner. I have to psych myself up. Whether it's planning every possible vacation activity (on TripAdvisor) before leaving the house, organizing my 300 Pinterest boards into new sections, or creating a timing and action calendar for my Etsy merchandise, I must be in control. Control brings me the peace I need to embrace

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-85322068059581670812018-01-16T14:07:00.000-05:002018-01-17T10:14:25.742-05:00

Hello there. Long time no speak, eh? It's been about... well exactly, actually... 3 years since I last posted. A couple months ago, I received a letter informing me of unclaimed Google Ad dollars generated by this blog, and by the way, I need to show my digital presence for a moment to collect them. Oops! I guess people are still finding value in my rants, raves and recipes. Who knew?

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-4133202816304727892014-12-20T12:22:00.001-05:002017-06-09T09:22:39.245-04:00

My 2-year old took a 3 hour nap yesterday. It is something that happens fairly unpredictably in the last few months. Whenever that nap matches up with a day that I actually don't need one myself, I am amazed at how productive I can be. I might have written the day off as a bad one, based on our morning. As we ran out to get cranberries from the store, I ran into some car problems. This meant

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-60079573059875552172014-12-05T07:30:00.000-05:002014-12-05T07:30:02.179-05:00

I can cook a lot of things, but for whatever reason, I just can not poach a proper egg. My husband asked if I could do it one day, and my answer was: "Nope, I can't do it. Not gonna happen, I just SUCK at poaching eggs. I need that special contraption like my mom has, from 1965." He could hardly believe me, like, how the heck can't I of all people, cook a stupid little egg. Why on earth is it

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285763849733362928.post-81526915949639434302014-12-03T15:56:00.000-05:002014-12-03T15:56:14.086-05:00

I love the idea of stuffing things for vegetarian meals. It's a little more exciting than a casserole, but pretty much the same thing. Just prettier. Topping things with colorful salsa doesn't hurt either. Anyone know what the skinny one is? It's medium hot, but I don't know the name! The day I made these peppers, I had been to the farm to buy vegetables. They had a whole table of peppers

Deena Mehtahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06008819541412482407noreply@blogger.com0