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Vegan Challenge. Should you be eating vegan?

By Jen, on February 1st, 2011

Oprah did it. Are you up for a vegan challenge?

It’s hard to ignore all the buzz about eating vegan. From stories about the eating habits of vegan stars (like Ellen DeGeneres, Alicia Silverstone and Sara Gilbert) to bookstore shelves filled with vegan cookbooks. Over the past few years veganism inched out of the obscure to merely fringe status. (Interesting that vegan eating gained popularity during the same time bacon had America’s unwavering attention. I love food trends, often opposing and always fascinating.)

Expect to hear a much louder buzz about vegan eating after the Oprah Winfrey Show airs today, February 1, 2011. It seems Oprah has taken an interest in vegan eating. Oprah and 378 HARPO staffers went vegan for a week. Today’s show promises to highlight the experiences of Oprah and her staffers following a one week vegan challenge of eating “no meat, no milk, no animal anything”. Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma)and Kathy Freston (author of Veganist) are also guests on the show.

Let me know what you think of the vegan challenge. I’ll be watching. And, if you’re looking for more information on vegan recipes and vegan eating I’ve listed some of my personal favorite recipes and great resources for vegan cooking.


A Few of My Favorite Vegan Recipes:
Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
Vegan Banana Bread
Chocolate Almond Smoothies
Easy Vegetarian Chili
Edamame Hummus

Vegan Cooking and Recipe Resources:
Vegan Recipes from Heidi at 101 Cookbooks
Recipes and Vegan Baking Tips from Post Punk Kitchen
Vegan Recipes from Vegetarian Times
Vegan Recipes and Resources from PCRM 21 Day Vegan Kickstart Challenge

Products Links (Amazon):
Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World (by Kathy Freston)
Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook (by Terry Hope Romero)
The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet (by Alicia Silverstone)
Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes (by Isa Chandra Moskowitz)

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Berry Chocolate Smoothies

By Jen, on January 30th, 2011

Here’s a new recipe for blueberry banana smoothies. A spoonful of cocoa powder is a tasty addition that pairs well with the berries. The result is like sipping chocolate covered blueberries through a straw.

Berry Chocolate Smoothies
1 cup unsweetened vanilla or original almond milk or soymilk
2 medium bananas, sliced
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or agave syrup
Few drops pure vanilla

Add almond milk, bananas, blueberries, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla to blender container. Cover and blend until smooth.

Makes 2 servings

Tip: If you like a thicker (and colder) smoothie, blend in a few ice cubes.

Product Link:
Get Vitamix 5200 Blender with Free Shipping Code

Leave a comment   Drinks, Eat Clean Recipes, Vegan   , , , , , , , , , , , ,  

Food Blog Camp 2011, Notes and Gratitude

By Jen, on January 16th, 2011

“What’s your blog about?” I’ve been wrestling with that question for awhile, especially during the past few weeks. Attending Food Blogger Camp 2011 was an important step to help me figure it out. And really, what better place to focus on my blog than at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all inclusive resort in Mexico.

Sure, I enjoyed the fine dining, poolside margaritas and daily dose of guacamole. But the best thing about food blog camp was the people. Our leaders were top bloggers and food professionals who generously shared their time and expertise. We attended lectures on photography and food styling, the business of blogging, building traffic and “What’s my blog about?”. (I was particularly interested in the last topic.) Cooking demonstrations by the Grand Velas chefs and hands on photography sessions were a great chance to practice our camera skills. In addition to the planned sessions, I learned tons from my fellow campers and had plenty of laughs along the way.

So, here’s my current answer to “What’s your blog about?”. My blog is for vegetarians who are looking for simple and healthy recipes that taste delicious. It’s a work in progress, but that’s the beauty of blogging. I have time to work it out.

Gratitude:
Thank you Jaden (Steamy Kitchen) for creating Magical Moments.

Thank you Elise (Simply Recipes) for showing us how to paint with our elbows to unleash creativity.

Thank you David (David Lebovitz) for your advice on building community and for telling me the name of my blog reminds you of a colon. (Not the punctuation mark.)

Thank you Matt (Matt Bites) for making me proud of my iPhone photos.

Thank you Adam (Adam C Pearson) for telling us to stick our hands in the pasta.

Thank you Todd and Diane (White on Rice Couple) for making me dance on video. (At least I was in the back row…clapping off beat.)

And, thanks to all the fellow food blog campers. Your friendship and community was worth the trip.

Links to Campers:

Organizer & PR contact
Prose and Co Kate

Participants
A Communal Table Nancy
Acorns and Apples Aimee
Adventures of an Amateur Foodie Marie
Angela in Provence Angela
Awake at the Whisk Amber
Bake Cupcakes Sally
Confections of a Foodie Bride Shawnda and Jason
Couch Surfing Cook Wylie
Daily Nibbles Sarah
Deliciously Organic Carrie
Dianasaur Dishes Diana
Family Fresh Cooking Marla
Fast Feasts Lillie
Food for the Thoughtless Michael
Food Woolf Brooke
Frantastic Food Fran
Garlic Escapes Robin
Indigo Days Nancy
Kitchen Conundrum Renee and Ari
Kitchen Corners Damaris
Ladles and Jellyspoons Lucy
Loaded Kitchen Maggie
Mommie Cooks Julie
One Scary Vegetable Adrienne
Pinch My Salt Nicole
Recipe Renovator Stephanie
Sally Cameron: In the Kitchen | On the road | Through the lens
SaVUry and Sweet Rosa
Spoon and Chair Diane
The Urban Baker Susan
Together in Food Stephanie
Undercover Caterer Sarah
What’s Gaby Cooking? Gaby
(Campers- please let me know if I missed you and I’ll add your link.)

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Simple Tomato Soup

By Jen, on January 15th, 2011

Lately, I can’t seem to get enough soup. Maybe it’s because the subzero temperatures and snowy, icy roads have left me stuck at home. Good thing all it takes to make a homemade winter tomato soup is pantry basics like onion, garlic, canned tomatoes and good olive oil. (Oh, and some fresh basil…everyone has that on hand, right?)

Simply saute onion and garlic in olive oil until softened. Then add the onion mixture to a blender along with canned crushed tomatoes and fresh basil. Return to the pot along with some water and let simmer until the soup is reduced and the flavors are blended. That’s it. Simple tomato soup that’s ready to eat in about 30 minutes.

This isn’t fancy tomato soup. I wouldn’t serve it at a dinner party…but I would gladly dunk my favorite sandwich in it and call it dinner. Especially if I don’t have to leave the house.

Simple Tomato Soup
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup coarsely chopped white or yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
6 large fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 cups water
Freshly ground black pepper
Sweetener, such as sucanat or organic cane sugar
Garnishes: chopped fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil

In large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir 5 to 8 minutes until onions are softened but not browned (reduce heat to medium-low, if necessary). Remove from heat.

In a blender container combine cooked onion mixture, tomatoes, basil leaves, salt and 1 cup of the water. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour blended tomato mixture into pot; stir in remaining 1 cup water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes until soup is desired consistency. Taste for seasoning. Add freshly ground black pepper and additional salt, if needed. If the soup tastes too acidic, add a teaspoon or two of desired sweetener. Garnish each serving with chopped fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.

Makes about 5 cups soup.

5 comments   Dinner, Eat Clean Recipes, Vegan   , , , , , , , , , , , ,  
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