VEGGIN' OUT WITH CHRISTA

Love Is...

2012-02-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Valentine's Day, or love day, as I've been calling it. As you know I made a plea for some thoughts or quotes on love and didn't get as many as I anticipated I would. :-( However, I am happy about those that sent me some to share!

My mother says: "I would say patient, gentle, kind and compromising. It definitely needs to be reciprocal with a give and take attitude."

My dear friend HH shares one of her favorite quotes: "All love is sweet. Given or returned. Common as light is love. And it's familiar voice wearies not ever." -Percy Bysshe Shelley

Lady Latricia says: "Smiles, hugs and veggies!"

Monique of Brown Vegan says: "Love is patient and kind. Love is working through the difficult times, so you're able to enjoy the good times together." (be sure to Monique some love by visiting her fabulous website and check out her meal planning services for families)!

and lastly, my thoughts...

This day is not one to be had once a year. We should all be going the extra mile on a daily basis to show ourselves and others as much love as possible. Of course it's nice to have a special day when you emphasize your affections, but it should really feel like another passing day. Love should be ever present and so you shouldn't even notice a change or shift in what happens due to a holiday because it should be exuding at all times. Remember you must love yourself first before you can pass it on to others. It doesn't matter if you don't have that special someone to celebrate with today. Celebrate life, your family and your friends. You are never alone when love runs through your veins, it is an unfailing companion, always and forever.

Sending all my love to you and one thousand strong hugs and smooches!

In love and health,

C

Come Learn It Live With Me!

2012-02-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Monday to you! I hope your weekend was fabulous!

I am so very excited to tell you about my new venture with Learn It Live! I will be conducting classes on vegan living live where you can watch and participate in real time from your computer! I am so pleased to have this opportunity and platform to share with you more intimately.

Please head on over and check out my profile and join my community of learners. I will be conducting my first class this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. PST. and this first class session is free! Who doesn't love the word "free"?! I promise it will be fun and informative and I look forward to seeing you there! Please pass on the information to anyone in your network who may be interested!

Look forward to seeing you live! www.learnitlive.com/vegginoutwithchrista

P.S. I'm still in search of some more thoughts and quotes on love for tomorrow's Valentine's Day post! Be sure to email me at christa@vegginoutwithchrista.com .

More Veg-Friendly Valentine's Day Ideas

2012-02-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Hey folks and happy Friday!

I really don't mean to be overdosing on Valentine's Day, I promise. ;-) However, I did do another feature on this week's Vegiquette to give you some more cruelty-free ways to celebrate the holiday. Head on over and check it out!

Also, remember I'm still looking for those love quotes, so don't be shy! E-mail me your thoughts!

Now on to Vegiquette! http://goodveg.squidoo.com/columns/vegiquette/celebrate-valentines-day-the-veg-way

Calling All Lovers- I Need Your Voices!

2012-02-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope your day is moving along in a great direction!

Staying within the spirit of Valentine's Day coming up, I would like to do a special feature on the big day. So, I would like your thoughts on love. That's right, I want to feature you on Valentine's Day! I would like to collect and share 10 love quotes on the blog. The quotes don't have to strictly be about romantic love either- just your thoughts on love in general will suffice. I will select 10 of the most thought provoking and original to showcase.

So, get those love thinking caps on and hit me up at christa@vegginoutwithchrista.com with your entry! I can't wait to hear from you!

How Do I Spell Love? V-e-g-a-n

2012-02-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there!

I hope you slid over the hump with ease!

Well, Valentine's Day is now less than a week away and I wanted to round up some vegan ideas for you if you plan to celebrate love day! The following feature I found has some great suggestions for you and your sweet!

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/02/02/5-tips-for-a-sexy-vegan-valentines-day/

Also remember that even if you don't have a sweet to celebrate with, you can still enjoy Valentine's Day by treating yourself to something extra special. We should always show ourselves extra love whenever we can and you can also make it a point to show extra love to friends and family as well!

I also found the following recipe for homemade truffles from VegWeb that sound like a sure winner!

Photo by Laur B (VegWeb)

Tasty Truffles

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

8 ounces vegan cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups vegan chocolate chips
1 tablespoon flavored liqueur, optional (I use hazelnut)
chocolate chips, melted, to coat, optional
almond bark, to coat, optional
chopped nuts, to coat, optional
coconut, to coat, optional
cocoa, to coat, optional

Directions:

1. Blend vegan cream cheese and powdered sugar, slowly adding the sugar to the cream cheese (I use a food processor).

2. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave. Add the melted chips to the cream cheese mixture, and blend until it's all mixed in.

3. If desired, put 1/2 the mixture in a glass bowl and refrigerate, then add flavored liqueur (hazelnut is nice) to the remaining mixture, and blend a little longer.

4. Put the mixture in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. Roll the mixture into little balls.

5. Roll the balls in the optional toppings, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

"Celebrate Vegan" with Peppermint Bark!

2012-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope your week is going fabulously so far!

I was thinking this morning about how certain treats seem to be only relegated to certain times of the year. Well, I'm going to be rebellious today and talk about the delicious peppermint bark that I made for my family on Christmas Eve and it was a hit! I got the recipe from Dynise Balcavage's second cookbook "Celebrate Vegan", which you must run out to get as soon as possible! Peppermint and chocolate happen to be one of my favorite combos so trying this was a no-brainer for me!

So, why not ditch the chocolate covered strawberries and make some peppermint bark for yourself or your sweet this Valentine's Day? C'mon, let's be rebels together shall we?! Be sure to pick up a copy of the cookbook for some other scrumptious meals ideas for many other common and uncommon celebrations as well!

To see a full review I did of "Celebrate Vegan" and get Dynise's recipe for her Linzer cookies (another fab idea for Vday), be sure to read the latest issue of Thrifty and Green's digital magazine for free! Get it here!

More Workout Songs To Keep You Moving!

2012-02-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope your Saturday is going well! I had a fantastic morning with my friend HH. We started it off with a great walk around the L.A. Reservoir followed by lunch at Flore! The weather is beautiful today so it was perfect! Since I had company on my walk today, music was not needed but it's always good to have a good playlist for the days that you are solo. Chris from RunHundred.com has again hooked us up by sending the top rated songs for February. If you missed January's list, you can get it by clicking here.

So, let's check out what songs can keep us moving this month!

Flo Rida - Good Feeling (Jaywalker Remix) - 127 BPM

Jay Sean & Nicki Minaj - 2012 (It Ain't The End) - 126 BPM

Cobra Starship & Sabi - You Make Me Feel... (Felix Leiter Remix) - 127 BPM

Beatfreakz - Somebody's Watching Me - 129 BPM

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away (R3hab Club Remix) - 128

Train - Drive By - 123 BPM

Adele - Set Fire To The Rain - 109 BPM

Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera & Mac Miller - Moves Like Jagger (Remix) - 128 BPM

Outasight - Tonight Is The Night - 120 BPM

Selena Gomez & The Scene - Love You Like a Love Song (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club Remix) - 130 BPM

Do You Want Pork Grease To Go With Those Fries?

2012-02-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Happy Friday! It's that time of the week again! Time to go over to Vegiquette and check out this week's piece of advice. I'm discussing the importance of planning ahead on a veg diet and avoiding fast food joints even for "vegan" items. So, please head on over and check it out and weigh in with your thoughts! Also, if you have any questions you want answered, please let me know!

http://goodveg.squidoo.com/columns/vegiquette/avoid-meal-concerns-by-planning-ahead

Love, Peace and Soul!- My Commentary On the Passing of Don Cornelius

2012-02-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I wanted to take a little departure from the usual today to discuss something on my heart. As many of you already know, Don Cornelius was found dead in his home yesterday after an apparent suicide. This was very shocking news to say the least and it really made me reflect on some things. First, he leaves behind an incredible legacy of creating a television outlet where black culture was celebrated in a time where that wasn't happening. I remember watching Soul Train as a little girl on Saturday afternoons and marveling at all the performers and dancers. Even now, watching the clip below of Don Cornelius himself grooving down that line is so nostalgic.

Although he is not the first trailblazer or celebrity to come to a tragic end, I couldn't help but reflect on what makes someone feel that taking their own life is the only option upon hearing the news of his passing. I feel tragedies such as this only further highlight that it doesn't matter how much fame or fortune one acquires if the soul is not at ease.

I think it's crucially important that we all check in with ourselves frequently and really examine where we are spiritually. I think it's vital to take an honest assessment of our lives and make sure we are doing what we can to address any broken places or unhealed wounds so that they don't fester and come to light at the worst times. I feel we need an abundance of love and laughter daily to fill us up when times are difficult to help us through.

I just ask each of you to be gentle with yourselves and love yourselves fully. If you need help, ask for it. If you need a hug, give one. Mostly, don't live in fear. I know we all have moments when fear sneaks in, but it only has the power that you give it. Your life is precious and has meaning and you are needed on this earth. I pray that no matter how difficult times get, that you always remember that it's never too late and no situation needs to take you to the point of no return. Rest in peace to Mr. Don Cornelius and all others who felt there was no other way.

Always remember that you do have options even when you feel there aren't any. Keep your head up, keep pushing, keep believing and keep dreaming.

Just as Don Cornelius did, I wish you all love, peace and soul!

Love,

C

Vegan Superbowl Eats!

2012-01-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope the day is treating you splendidly! I had a great hike this morning, so I'm feeling great!

I can't believe it's the end of January already and Superbowl Sunday is creeping up on us. This is another day where I think many go overboard on the fattening foods and drinks! I think it's fine to indulge a little in moderation, but let's not go crazy! So, below are some vegan finger food options for you to consider for game time. I think weekends in general can be the culprit in undoing a lot of progress made during the week, so let's all try to keep it all in perspective and not overdo it..okay? Okay!

Now on to the food ideas:

1) Chips and guacamole- You can get some store bought guac or make some at home. Guacamole is very easy to make. I make mine with avocados, tomatoes, red onions, fresh lemon juice and sea salt. Peel the avocado, remove the seed, scoop out the insides and mix all ingredients together. Sea salt to taste! When I'm being lazy, I skip the tomatoes and red onion all together and it still tastes good to me!

Photo from myrecipes.com

2) Vegan Nachos- If you're looking for a little more substance, you can kick it up a notch and make vegan nachos! Layer your tortilla chips with some seasoned black or pinto beans, guacaolme, salsa, chopped green onions and sour cream with some Daiya cheese shreds melted on top!

Photo from PETA

3) Vegan Spring Rolls- This is another finger food that can be a winner. The following recipe from VegWeb sounds like the real deal and these are some that you can actually bake instead of fry! http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8827.0

Photo from fooddiary.blogsome.com

4) Vegan Buffalo Wings- Yes, they do exist. The ones I really like are the ones pictured below which I know Whole Foods carries for sure. You can also make your own as I found many online recipes when doing a search so that is another alternative.

So, these are just few easy examples for you to give a shot! Enjoy!

Hash Isn't Only For Tags..It's for Breakfast!

2012-01-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Sunday to you! It looks like it's gearing up to be another beautiful day in L.A.!

I was digging through the crates (i.e. old blog posts) in search of some good recipes for breakfast because at 7:00 a.m. it's what's on my mind and came across this delish dish! I had found this one over on meatlessmondays.com. So, how about hashing it up this morning?

Photo from Book Of Yum

BLACK BEAN SESAME VEGGIE HASH

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced

1 carrot, sliced into thin diagonals

1 sweet potato, diced into 1/4 inch cubes

2 green onions, sliced

6 ounces firm or extra firm tofu

2-4 tablespoons low sodium tamari

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1-2 teaspoons hot chili oil

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1/4 head red cabbage, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 broccoli stalk, cut into small chunks

1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained

salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, carrot, sweet potato and green onion to the pan. Cook, stirring intermittently, for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.

Crumble the tofu into the pan, breaking it up with your fingers as you add it to the vegetables. Stir to combine. Season the vegetable mixture with the tamari, sesame oil, chili oil and sesame seeds.

Add the cabbage, garlic, broccoli and black beans to the pan. Stir until well combined and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the flavors have fully melded together. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Creature of Habit?

2012-01-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday folks!

You know what time it is! Well in case you don't, Friday is Vegiquette day! Head on over and check out today's column where I'm helping out a vegan newbie get out of their habitual eating rut and addressing increasing weight concerns. So, please give it a read and leave your thoughts as well!

Have a great weekend!

http://goodveg.squidoo.com/columns/vegiquette/advice-on-eating-a-healthy-vegan-diet

Tofu Is Sexy..ask Zoe!

2012-01-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope all is well on this fine Thursday!

I'm very excited to be featuring the first guest blogpost of 2012! Please meet my fellow VegNews street teamer, Zoe and learn how she makes veganism sexy and fun!

Zoe and Squash!

My plant-based journey first took root back in high school with vegetarianism. I have always been an animal lover, but that connection came later. My first interest in vegetarianism came when I noticed my diet affected my moods. I battled with severe depression when I was younger, and found that by nixing meat and eating more veggies and grains, I felt a lot better. The more I learned about it, the happier I was with my choice. My senior year, I attended Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC, and that led me into veganism—although the actual change didn’t take place until nearly 4 years later!

Since my switch to veganism, I have learned more and more about the way our dietary choices affect so much more than just our body—our planet and even our economy are affected! It’s powerful stuff, the things we put on our forks.

Now for the sexy part! I have always been pretty open about sex, and have a sense of humor like a 15 year old boy—sort of like that sassy friend in rom-com’s who is always half-drunk and making penis jokes about the waiter. My friends have always come to me with sex questions, and during my Junior year of college I started up a Sex Column in my campus newspaper with the idea of tackling some of the issues my friends brought to me on a regular basis. The column was a big hit, and as my senior year came to an end, I was bummed not to have the outlet anymore, so I started tossing around the idea of a blog. This was around the same time I officially went vegan, after flirting with it for a while. So, SexyTofu was born!

For me, sex and eating both meet primal needs for nourishment. They are both very basic, in terms of survival, yet so complex! Think about how many people have issues with both. Plus, eating to me is really sensual because of the way it consumes every sense, from touch to smell to taste—much like sex does. It’s always been difficult for me to explain the correlation because the connection came so naturally to me, so I hope that makes sense!

For me, the best part about SexyTofu—aside from the creative outlet—has been that I know I am helping people, if only in a tiny way. I get emails from people with questions and sometimes I am really moved by it. Of course, I get the odd pervert in there every now and then, but mostly they are from people with legitimate concerns. I have started a back-and-forth correspondence, which has gone on for quite some time now, with a young woman who originally emailed me asking for sex toy recommendations. From there, we have talked through some inspiring stuff, from coming to terms with her sexuality to losing her virginity. it’s really cool to build relationships with readers.

Also I am excited about my Fetish Friday posts, where I explore some different fetishes that most people outside of the fetish world don’t often hear about!

Follow me on Twitter at @sexytofublog, and be sure to subscribe to my feed on www.sexytofu.com!

Thanks for sharing Zoe! Everyone, be sure to head on over and check her out!

Betty's Vegan Mac and Cheese!

2012-01-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Wednesday!

Who doesn't like mac and cheese? Yes, you can still indulge in this decadent dish from time to time with the plethora of veganized options out there these days! The following recipe comes from my new friend Betty and she says and I quote that "it's the bomb!" and I believe her! lol! Unfortunately, I don't have a picture, but Betty promised to snap one next time. ;-) When I make it, I will also be sure to snag one too! So, without further delay, let's check it out!

Betty's Mac and Cheese

Servings 4-6

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of soy milk

2/3 cup of water

1/4 cup soy sauce

1cup nutritional yeast

1tsp "SMOKE" paprika

1tsp garlic powder

1tsp salt

4 ounces of firm tofu

2/3 cup canola oil

1 tbsp mustard (regular or spicy) optional- I add it in

1 pound of macaroni noodles

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cook pasta according to package directions

Put all the ingredients except for noodles in a blender and blend until smooth

When macaroni is cooked, place the noodles in a deep baking dish and pour cheese mixture on top of noodles and mix very well.

Cook for about 15 mins or so in the oven until top looks slightly brown and crispy.

Enjoy!

I'VE GONE MAINSTREAM AND SO SHOULD YOU!

2012-01-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday folks!

I hope your week is off to a jumpin' start!

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of being featured on Vegan Mainstream in their "Weekend Blog Reads" feature! Check it out here where I discuss why I started Veggin' and my mission through this blog. I know, I know, the mission is clearly stated up above, but I do go into a little more detail in the article, at least I hope I did. :-)

In any event, aside from the feature, if you're not familiar with Vegan Mainstream's website, I suggest you add it to your to-do list! It is a great hub of vegan information which includes the following:

Marketing Blog, Vegan Shirts, VStream Zine, Social Media Coaching, Consulting, Webinars and Ad Network .

So, head on over and check 'em out! If you're a blog writer, you could also score a chance to have your blog featured as well!

Here's to a fantastic week!

PANCAKES ON THE BRAIN!

2012-01-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday to you! I was just over on Facebook and shared a recipe on my page that I saw posted for some pancakes and now I have them on the brain! VegNews delivered the following recipe via my inbox (if you have yet to sign-up to receive the VegNews newsletter, I highly recommend it) and these sound great! I have nothing in my cabinets with which to make pancakes this morning, but a girl can dream right? Maybe next weekend! :-)

Photo by PETA

SPICED BANANA PANCAKES- recipe by VegNews columnist Robin Robertson

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1-1/4 cups non-dairy milk
3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
Pure maple syrup or blueberry syrup
Blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and allspice and set aside. In a food processor or blender, combine non-dairy milk and half of banana slices and process until smooth. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mixing with a few swift strokes until just combined. Fold in remaining banana slices.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Ladle about 3 tablespoons of batter onto hot griddle. Cook on one side until small bubbles appear on top, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with a metal spatula and cook until other side is lightly browned, about 1 minute more. Top with maple or blueberry syrup or sliced fresh fruit as desired.

YUM!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK!

2012-01-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Happy weekend to you! I hope your week was great and prosperous! Speaking of prosperous, one of the many concerns I hear often about switching to a vegan diet is the cost. I addressed this issue over on Vegiquette yesterday, so please head on over to get my take on this and please leave your thoughts. I love hearing what others have to say about these various topics, so don't be shy!

http://goodveg.squidoo.com/columns/vegiquette/going-vegan-without-breaking-the-bank

A GREAT VEGAN PRODUCT GUIDE!

2012-01-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I hope your week is moving along fabulously! ;-) I decided not to blog yesterday in an effort to show my support of opposing two bills (SOPA and PIPA) that are in front of Congress that would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. To learn more and take action, click here.

Now, on to today's post. A while back, I had posted a link to Trader Joe's guide to vegan products in their stores. I think the list they provide on their website is so valuable that I felt it constituted repeating-especially for any new Veggin' readers! This is very useful for any newbies out there and even for seasoned vegans to take the guesswork out of selecting products before heading to the store.

Who doesn't enjoy having a personal "tour guide" from time to time? Check it out here!

DO YOU NEED AN EXTRA PUSH?

2012-01-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I hope your day is going well!

I'm very pleased to officially announce my foray into health coaching. This has been in the works for quite a while, so to be ready to get things off the ground is definitely exciting to me. As I've mentioned before, when I started this blog, I had no idea I would be where I am today and be so passionate about spreading the word about the benefits of the vegan lifestyle with others. A new site is in the works as we speak and I can't wait to officially launch all of my services.

However, right now I am offering my services for free in exchange for honest feedback about one of the programs that will be available. So, if you or anyone you know has been curious about the vegan lifestyle and needing that extra push and individualized support, then this is a perfect opportunity to take advantage for FREE! I will give you all the tools you need to succeed and get jumpstarted in the veg lifestyle! Menu planning, e-mail and phone or skype support and in-home and in-store visits available for those in the Los Angeles area are some of advantages that will be provided.

I'm only offering complimentary services to three people, so act fast to secure your spot! The first three people to e-mail me at christa@vegginoutwithchrista.com will be enrolled in the program. I only ask that you e-mail if you are really serious to committing to the program for 7 days.

I really look forward to hearing from you and sharing even more exciting developments on the horizon and the official launch in a few weeks!

In love and health always,

C

YOU CAN'T EAT JUST ONE!

2012-01-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Monday!

The other day at the natural foods store I picked up a bag of banana chips from the bulk section for snacking. I decided to look online to learn how to make my own version at home. The following recipe I found on food.com provided from Dole, seems very simple and pretty nutritious without a lot of additives.

Check it out and have a new kind of chip that you can't just pop one of!

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons lime juice

DIRECTIONS:

Cut bananas into thin slices.
Coat slices in lemon juice.
Bake banana slices on a greased pan in a 200 degree oven, turning every half hour and watching out for burning. Remove when they are crispy, cool, and store in an airtight container.

KALE SALAD ANYONE?

2012-01-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Hope you enjoyed the weekend! Sometimes you just want something quick but also a little different. So, instead of a salad with romaine or spinach leaves, why not try one with kale? I happen to LOVE kale and it's good so many ways. I found the following simple kale salad on VegWeb posted by "veganmiss" and it sounds simple and tasty!

RAW KALE SALAD

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1/2 bunch kale, chopped
2 tablespoons dried cranberries, divided
2 tablespoons pine nuts, divided
1/2 medium tomato, diced, optional
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Divide the kale into two salad bowls. Top each bowl with 1 tablespoon cranberries and 1 tablespoon pine nuts.

Add 1/2 the tomatoes to each bowl, if using. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Add more olive oil or lemon juice to taste, if desired.

Top the salad with the dressing.

RISE ABOVE ALL VEGAN JUDGEMENT!

2012-01-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Friday to you! Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am! :-)

Today over on Vegiquette, I'm giving advice to a new vegan about taking their new journey in stride and not being concerned about the thoughts and opinions of others. Click here to check out the article and let me know what you think in the comments.

I'm also still always open for questions! So, if you have something on your mind, please don't be shy about asking!

GET MORE NATIVE FOODS!

2012-01-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

You ready for Friday yet? I hope your week is going splendidly!

I was reading through some veg headlines and came across some news that Native Foods is slated to open several new locations! They are set to open up in Boulder, Newport Beach, San Diego and Santa Monica! Now, I know for those of you that don't live in these areas, this may not do anything but make you roll your eyes, but I gotta try to cover everything. :-) I think it's important for all to know this news because it is so great to see and celebrate a wonderful vegan restaurant continuing to grow! They are reported as having a 16% boost in their 2011 sales which contributed to this 2012 expansion!

Native Foods also has locations in Portland and Chicago as well! To get a full list of all locations, click here and to get a sneak peek at the fab menu, click here! I happen to L-O-V-E their Nuevo Native Nachos! If you live in or visit any of these spots, I highly recommend a visit!

Kudos and congrats to Native Foods!

CHIA PUDDING!

2012-01-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

Happy Wednesday to you! I hope you're getting over the hump fabulously so far!

Now, some of you may be a little concerned about the title of this post. For those of you not familiar with chia seeds, you may have immediately thought of a chia pet, lol! No worries, those have nothing to do with the pudding. :-)

When I went to Vida Vegan Con last August, this pudding made an appearance at each morning breakfast and I found it to be very good. It is also very healthful due to the chia seeds, which you can read more about here.

I found the following recipe from "veganmontana" over on VegWeb to try out at home and of course wanted to share it with you as well! She seems to put a little twist on the recipe from one she adapted from veganrawfood.net. If you do a search for chia pudding, you are sure to find many variations, but hers seemed to pique my attention and got rave reviews.

So, take a look and be sure to let me know if you end up trying it!

Photo from Raw Freedom Community

RAW VEGAN VANILLA CHAI CHIA PUDDING

INGREDIENTS (use vegan versions):

1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup cashews, soaked
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 dropper Stevia vanilla creme
8 dates, pitted
1 teaspoon lucuma powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

Mix together chia seeds and coconut. Blend all remaining ingredients.

In a glass dish, mix blended mixture with chia mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Add additional water if needed. Keep refrigerated.

Makes: 2-4 servings, Preparation time: 15 minutes

MAKE THE PLEDGE TO HELP FIGHT THIS EPIDEMIC!

2012-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

As most of you know, obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions. More than 60% of adults and nearly 1 in every 3 children are overweight or obese. It's even reported that children today may have a shorter lifespan than their parents. This is alarming to say the least. What can you do? Well, fruitandveggiesmorematters.org has a campaign currently going to help get you to make a pledge to incorporate more fruit and veggies into your dietary lifestyle.

I know this may not apply to some of you reading, but it may to someone close to you. So, I encourage you to first take a closer look at your own plates and make sure you are truly getting enough and then pass this information on to someone else! The great thing about this campaign is that whatever you pledge to do comes with tips and resources to help you stick with it!

Check it out: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=12135