The Southern Vegetarian Chronicles

Yummy Breakfast Treat

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:31:00 +0000

I saw this yummy looking breakfast treat/desert and thought I have got to try this! The only thing I may have trouble finding is the vegan puffed pastry. If anyone knows where I can get some, please leave me a comment or drop me a line at germaine.gordon@gmail.com. Also if you try this recipe let me know how it turns out. In the meantime, check out the recipe below.

> Vegan Almond Apple Flowers <

The Southern Vegetarian Revolution Continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:35:00 +0000

Check me out in the local e-zine 225 Dine.

Local Vegetarian Blogger

I am a Part of the Revolution!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:57:00 +0000

Source: mindbodygreen.com via MindBodyGreen on Pinterest

My Favorite Whole Grain Pancakes for Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Pancakes

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1/3 cup spelt flour
3/4 tablespoon agave
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups Almond Milk
Egg replacer for 2 eggs
1/4 cup Earth Balance buttery spread melted plus additional for brushing griddle
Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl, then add milk, egg replacer, and oil and whisk until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes (batter will thicken). If batter is too thick to pour easily (whole-wheat flours vary in how much liquid they absorb), thin with additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Pour batter onto hot griddle, flip, and Enjoy!

adapted from epicurious.com

Tips for How to Keep Food Fresh

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I have heard people say they don't like to buy organic foods because they go bad quickly. Well here are some tips to keep your veggies fresh.

For more information click here!

A Diet Change for the Former President

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:52:00 +0000

Check out this short article on President Clinton's decision to go vegan here.

Great Food from Humble Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Recently, I moved to a neighborhood that doesn't have the fanciest supermarkets or an abundance of health food stores. There are two food stores within 5 minutes of my driveway. One store I only went to once because my Aunt likes the potato chips that are sold there, the other, is a locally owned joint that has a nice sized produce section and some healthy choices on the shelf. Now, I could drive an extra 15 minutes to go to fancier stores but there is something to be said for the small local market. I made polenta cakes with marina and sauteed spinach with items bought from my neighborhood grocer. I bought oatmeal with flax and found free range eggs. No, it's not perfect, and there wasn't any organic produce but for the folks who live in the area it's where they buy their weekly groceries and have a little piece of community. It's big enough to shop for the week and yet small enough to see your neighbors. I know most folks, including myself, talk about the importance of organic and all natural but what if you don't live close to that type of store? What if the local grocer only has a few healthy items that could help a person transitioning to a better food lifestyle, feel comfortable about shopping? How about the local folks, the local economy, and keeping the money circulating in the community instead of it being shipped to headquarters in Texas or Arkansas? Just my rambling thoughts. What do you think?

Below are the simple steps for my polenta dinner.

1. I made Bobs Red Mill polenta according to package directions and place in a large oiled rectangular baking dish. Place in freezer for ten minutes to set.

2. In olive oil, saute' green onion and garlic. Add spinach, salt and pepper to taste, cover and cook on low. Allow the spinach leave to wilt slowly.

3. Heat favorite marina sauce. Add a little agave or honey to help mellow the acidity of the tomatoes. Season to taste.

4. Once polenta is firm cut polenta into squares. Place marina at the bottom of plate, place polenta square on top, top square with marinara and the place some spinach on top. Enjoy!

Homemade Pop Tarts!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:08:00 +0000

I saw this today on my Facebook feed via Oprah.com. It just reminded me of how much I love to bake. I must try these soon!

check it out > http://www.oprah.com/food/Toaster-Pastries-Recipe <

Thankful for my Garden and Cookies!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:17:00 +0000

The return of my stevia

This past Friday I decided to go to my Mom's house and take a look at all of my plants I neglected in the winter. Some had shriveled leaves and others looked plain dead. But to my surprise, Most of my plants were still growing. When the plants had turned to seed, those seeds fell on the soil and laid dormant until spring. Now my stevia plant is back, I had seeds from some of my greens mix, I saw basil popping up despite the weeds, and flowers on my strawberry plants. Don't you just love plants! They may lay dormant in the winter but in the spring they come back. Sometimes if they don't make it through the cold, they leave a seed that sprouts and continues with the life giving qualities that the plant supplies. Life is so awesome that way! We all go through seasons and plant seeds that will grow even when we are no longer around.

Tarragon

Right now some say America is going through a winter. Well in this winter I've grown stronger and learned how to do a lot of things with less. One fun thing I learned is how to make oatmeal cookies from packets of instant oatmeal. One day I wanted to bake some cookies. I love to bake, I must admit (The other night I baked some awesome bread, pics are below.) and that night it was a cookie night. All I had were the basic ingredients and plain oatmeal. No raisins, no nuts, not chocolate chips. What I did have in addition to plain oatmeal were packets of raisin, date, and walnut oatmeal. Hmm... so, what I ended up doing was substituting some of my flour with oatmeal packets instead of doing like I used to and buying all the extra ingredients separate.

Here is my recipe below
1/2 cup butter substitute or Earth Balance Coconut Blend
1 cup sugar
egg replacer mixed for one egg
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of flour
2 packets of oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together for about 5 mins. Add egg replacer and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and mix in with butter and sugar mixture. Scoop about 1 tbs of dough per cookie on to a cookie sheet and press down slightly. bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Enjoy!

The next thing I want to try is the organic oatmeal with flax and maple and make that into cookies. On sale I've seen a box of 5 packets for about $1.50. Not bad for organic, and I don't have to buy the flax seeds, oatmeal and maple syrup separately. Just a little something to get your week started on a sweet note and to also remind you all that no matter the season, we can always survive and grow.

my strawberries

Aloe

My bread in a bundt cake pan, all of my other pans are in storage. Gotta make the most of what you have!

Tonight's Dinner!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Photo: Hannah Whitaker-oprah.com

I saw this recipe on Oprah.com and decided this was going to be dinner tonight. Hmm, let's see if I can get the kids to make it. You can sub the cheese and add what you choose. Check it out!
>Pan Fried Pizza<

Christian yoga: Trading ’om’ for ’amen’

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Since I was in college I've been told that I was a healer. From the lady who felt my hands while on vacation in the Carribean to the reiki healer who told me that if I don't use my gift that it will literally burn inside of me. I've studied reiki, ashstanga yoga, intuituve cooking, and as of late I'm studying nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and taking bible classes at night. I choose not to limit my views on healing and my gift to others is the ability assist in healing the whole body, mind, and spirit. With that said I saw this article on Christian yoga and wanted to see what some folks think. I don't think I am less of a believer in Christ because I practice yoga. Some disagree. Your thoughts?

Christian yoga: Trading ’om’ for ’amen’

Holistic skin care — You are what you eat!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:29:00 +0000

Me with a pregnancy glow!

I've had skin problems most of my life. Recently though, my breakouts have subsided with the addition of daily garlic to my diet, acidophilus and ceasing my tea runs to Sonic. With my recent enrollment at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition I've had access to more health information and been keeping a journal of what I eat. I came across this informative article which I wanted to pass along. It is so true, you are what you eat!

> Holistic skin care — healthy skin from the inside out <

Homemade Almond Butter

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:51:00 +0000

photo: www.123rf.com

I saw this almond butter recipe on a Facebook feed from my Institute for Integrative Nutrition classmate. Her blog is Full Plate/ Meals in a Snap. The website is www.mealsinasnap.com . The recipe, actually came from a another website called Color Wheel Meals. Thought I would pass this along since almond butter can be pricey. Enjoy!

---> Homemade Almond Butter | Color Wheel Meals

This is the Number One Thing to Remove from your Diet!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:36:00 +0000

For more information on the possible danger of drinking soda pop click below.

credit: istockphoto

Soda May Cause Cancer

Great Cookies, A GoodBelly, and Greater Things to Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:56:00 +0000

Yes I've been MIA lately. Usually during the beginning of the year I like to take the time to revamp, rethink, and retool my mission. There are going to be some great things coming from Southern Vegetarian Productions this year!

During my down time I decided to take the GoodBelly 12 day challenge. If you didn't know GoodBelly is a probiotic juice drink*. It taste great and comes in many awesome flavors. I like the GoodBelly Plus in the little shot cups because it gives me a measured amount that I can throw in my purse on the go. Admittedly I didn't notice a difference until after I finished the challenge. About 2 or 3 days afterward I noticed the stomach bloat that had subsided returned. I started thinking, Wow, it does work! I personally felt lighter and didn't have a sluggish full feeling that I often experience by the end of the day. So today armed with a few coupons I am going back to get some more. My only problem is that I have to buy extra because my kids looove it. In fact at day 12 of my challenge I ran short because my oldest son took my last one. Thanks to the folks at Good Belly for the coupons for my 12 day challenge and a great product.

Oh, and I almost forgot, for Valentines Day I made the best cookies for my hubby. Here is a pic below. Made with coconut sugar and spelt flour my husband ate most of the batch in one night. I made 20.

In South Louisiana it is Mardi Gras weekend. Have a safe and great time and I'll chat with ya'll soon. Take Care!!!!

*Some studies suggest that GoodBelly's probiotics may help balance bacteria in your gut when consumed daily as part of a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle. GoodBelly is a food product and not a treatment or cure for any medical disorder or disease. If you have any concerns about your digestive system, you should consult your healthcare professional.

Gluten Free, Friend or Fad?

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Avocado and soy cheese
on spelt bread (not gluten free)

Not long ago I posted a great article for folks who have embraced a Gluten Free diet. Now before I go any further I will let you know, I knew about Celiac Disease and the dangers of gluten 15 years ago before they were both popular catch phrases. I remember my grad school classmate sharing the stories of her long hospital stays and her constant battle with the disease. When I once visited Atlanta, a very knowledgeable elder told me about gluten using the analogy of how water and flour are used to make the "glue" for paper mache'. Needless to say, I do have some understanding about the gluten free label. Today, I am writing about the issue because while reading my daily food news, "gluten free" was announced as being one of the food trends of 2012. It sparks a hot debate in the comments section and many are offended that it is considered a fad. Well here is my two cents. Like the low-carb diet and various others before, the gluten free craze could be considered a fad. When people jump on the bandwagon looking for a magic bullet for weight loss or are followers of the newest diet trends of celebrities then fads emerge. But for those who have serious allergies and reactions to food, it's a lifestyle. It's a way a living that affects the health and well being of at least 10% of the population. Though not totally gluten free, I am mindful of the products I choose. My body is not a big corn fan so I steer clear of gluten free products that contain corn. But I can have nuts so I use almond flour in my recipes. It's all about personal choice and what works for us as individuals. I can't say being a vegan, vegetarian or gluten free is for everyone. Everyone's body is different. I think once we understand that without judgement what works for one person doesn't work for the other the argument over fad or lifestyle will no longer be an issue. So choose a food lifestyle that makes you feel great, for a healthy body and life is not in any way a fad.
Check out my blog post from October on gluten free living.

Gluten Free? No Problem!

Food News: Agave!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:30:00 +0000

(Kim Raff- The Salt Lake Tribune)

Just thought I would share this article about a natural sweetener called Agave. It registers low on the glycemic index and it's sweeter than sugar with half with calories. So, for every cup of sugar, you would need about 1/2 cup of agave. I've been using it for years in my smoothies but like any sweetener, it should be used in moderation. Take a look at the article below and Enjoy!
Agave growing in popularity

Something New and Healthy for the Holidays!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:03:00 +0000

I don't know about you all, but I love cooking around the Holidays! This year I've decided to shake it up a bit and look for different recipes with ingredients I love to work with. Some of these recipes are vegan and some are vegetarian but can easily be made vegan. All of them look great and I will be sure to take pictures after I make them. Enjoy!!!

Kale and Tomatoes

Spiced Pumpkin Lentil and Goat Cheese Salad

Tofu Vegetable Loaf

Collard Rolls

Raw Apple Crisp

A South Louisiana Fall~ Oranges and Strawberries!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:36:00 +0000

A few things I love about fall in South Louisiana is the weather and the harvest, especially the greens, strawberries, and oranges. Yesterday I visited the Farmer's Market and bought some great berries and the sweetest navels. As you see in the pic, my children ate the first small basket of berries in the car and by the time we got home my youngest was covered in strawberry and orange juice.
While we were in the car, my son came up with the idea of a strawberry and orange pastry tart. Interesting flavors and cool idea so here is the recipe:

Louisiana Strawberry and Orange Tart
(makes about 6)

One package of individual pie crust dough or you can make your own
Strawberry jam
6 to 8 Fresh strawberries
1 tbsp Fresh Orange juice
1 tsp Orange zest
1 tbsp Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop strawberries, add orange zest, a tablespoon full of sugar, and 1 tablespoon full of orange juice. Set aside. You can play around with spices if you choose.

1. Roll out the dough and cut it into squares
2. Add 1 heaping tsp full of jam in the center of every other square.
3. Add a few strawberries without liquid on top of jam in center.
4. Cover with plain dough square and press together with fork (we used a pastry edger).
5. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.
6. Let cool a bit and Enjoy!

Brownies!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Martha Stewart Living

This is my favorite brownie recipe! I love to veganize it with egg replacer and Earth Balance Coconut Spread.

Enjoy!
Click here for Healthy Fudge Brownies.

Never Apologize for Who You Are, Just Keep Cooking!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:22:00 +0000

So today I posted a video of me talking outside of the kitchen. Actually I am in the laundry room so I could get a little peace and quiet from the kids! I've been having a recurring dream with Oprah Winfrey, Iyanla Vanzant, and Whoopi Goldberg. It's a great message and I hope you Enjoy! Have a great weekend!!!!

Saturday Night Pampering!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

Here is a bath salt recipe from Whole Foods.
Enjoy!
Lavender Bath Salts

Southern Vegetarian Love~Atlanta!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:53:00 +0000

It's Friday! Hope you all are gearing up for a wonderful weekend! Just wanted to pass along this information on a great vegetarian/vegan friendly city, Atlanta! It was the only city in the South voted most veg-friendly by PETA. In the future, I would love to see other Southern cities featured not only for their healthy restaurant choices but mindful and healthy places to shop. Atlanta has great local health food stores like Sevananda , Return to Eden, and Rainbow Grocery and my last visit I got my yoga fix at Kashi Ashram-Atlanta. So, check out the link below and enjoy!

http://blog.integrativenutrition.com/2011/12/healthy-living-guide-atlanta

We need a Revolution!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:48:00 +0000

I often state on Twitter we need a Southern Vegetarian Revolution! Fortunately, there are a lot of folks waking up to the fact that we need a change in the foods we eat and how we feed ourselves. Next weekend I will be attending a training on food justice, and can't wait to gather more information and meet other people on the forefront of the food revolution. I've jumped in and made it my mission to educate people young and old on the fundamentals of a great food lifestyle and healthy cooking. Care to join me? Below is Chef Jamie Oliver speaking on the need for change.

Fresh is Best!

noreply@blogger.com (Germaine Sibley Gordon) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:31:00 +0000

Leftover beans and Brussels.

So yesterday I wrote about my Winter, well, like I said I did find something to cook. Red beans and brown/wild rice blend and brussels sprouts. The brussels were frozen so I simply sauteed a little onion and garlic, added salt, pepper, and a little water and added the sprouts. I guess I've become so accustomed to eating as much fresh as possible that I wasn't too crazy about how the frozen veggies tasted. Well, it's all good because everyone was well fed and that's what it's all about! And the adventure continues...

Fried Won Tons and salsa for an appetizer