Neapolitan Bean Soup: Alessi Soup Mix

It is getting a little chilly outside and that means it is time for a big pot of soup.  Alessi makes a Neapolitan Bean Soup that is simply delicious! It is hard to believe that it is a dehydrated soup mix.  Alessi offers other flavors as well such as Tuscan White Bean.  These soups are hearty, flavorful and budget friendly.  You can find these in the soup isle at WalMart.

I make two pouches at once so that I have left overs for lunch the following day.  Yummy!

Terra Chips: Another way to eat your vegetables

This is just a quick post to tell you how much I enjoy Terra chips.  I cannot get enough of the Sweets & Beets flavor which are sweet potato and beet chips .  These unique "chips" are crunchy and so delicious.  Terra has a full serving of vegetables in every ounce.  There are many different flavor combinations to try such as Sweets & Carrots, and Terra's line of Exotic Vegetable Chips.

I pick these up at my local Publix and/or Whole Foods.  Yummy!

Vegetarian Frozen Lunch Options: Vegetarian Pad Thai

Do you find yourself searching the frozen food isles to find new and exciting vegetarian lunch options?  Hurry to Publix and grab one of these Tandoor Chef Vegetarian Pad Thai frozen lunches.  Wow!  This entree is filling, loaded with veggies, tofu and full of great pad thai flavor.  This Tandoor Chef lunch is sure to sure your pad thai craving! 

On a side note be careful not to overcook the Vegetarian Pad Thai like I did or the noodles will end up crispy.  I suggest checking your lunch halfway through the cook time. 

What is your favorite vegetarian frozen lunch?

  

Indian food: My favorite!

My absolute favorite food is Indian food and my favorite dish is Dal Makhani.  Although, Dal Makhani may seem simple, the layers of flavor are delightful.  Dal Makhani is from Punjab in India and consist of black lentils, red kidney beans, cream and/or butter and various spices.  Makhani means "buttery" and the Dal is cooked for hours to give it a buttery and creamy texture.  I enjoy my Dal with basmati rice and naan.

Indian food offers many flavorful and filling vegetarian dishes.  I am confident that when I go to an Indian restaurant, I will have vegetarian options and my non-vegetarian friends will have many options as well.

If you are passing through Fort Lauderdale, Florida and looking for some delicious Indian cuisine, stop by the Bombay Cafe for the lunch buffet or dinner.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers: A Budget Friendly Slow Cooker Recipe

Here is a budget friendly vegetarian crockpot meal.  Serve these peppers with a side salad and fresh bread.

Recipe courtesy of Melissa McCabe published in Taste of Home.  Photo by Taste of Home.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers 

6 Servings

Prep: 30 min. Cook: 3-1/2 hours

Ingredients

• 6 large sweet peppers
• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 3 small tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped
• 1/3 cup canned red beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives
• 4 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 cup meatless spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions

• Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the rice, tomatoes, corn, onion and beans. Stir in the Monterey Jack cheese, olives, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Spoon into peppers.
• Combine spaghetti sauce and water; pour half into an oval 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the stuffed peppers. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Cover and cook on low for 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until peppers are tender and filling is heated through. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

30 210

Blueberry Snow Holiday Dessert: Too easy!

Blueberry Snow is a dessert that has always been a hit when I take it to events.   Even the worst non-bakers can make blueberry snow.  I have made this dessert for office parties and it goes fast!  It is a nice dessert for the holidays as well.  The best thing about blueberry snow is that this dessert has few ingredients, but it tastes light, airy and delicious.

This is the recipe that I use which is from allrecipes.com.

Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1 (10 inch) angel food cake
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (21 ounce) can blueberry pie filling
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Break angel food cake into small pieces, and spread into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
2. Mix together confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and milk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Pour over cake pieces. Pour blueberries over all. Chill for 4 hours or overnight.

Top 10 Gift Ideas for Vegetarians

Unsure about what to get the vegetarian and/or eco-friendly person in your life this holiday season?  Here are my top 10 gift ideas:

10. Magnetic Spice Kit

For the vegetarian cook Gneiss Spice offers a herbivore spice kit.  This is not your average spice kit, it is a magnetic kit.

9. Olive Oil Lamp

I ordered two of Lehman's olive oil lamps a couple years ago.  They have come in very handy during hurricane season.  This is a cost effective alternative to candles considering these burn up to 20 hours.  Olive oil produces no smoke or odor.  You can use Lampante oil,which is olive oil not suitable as food or culinary olive oil in these lamps.

 8. Crossing Trees Oil Drum Wall Hanging

An indoor/outdoor piece made from an recycled oil drum.  This piece is another great example of reusing materials to create gorgeous works of art.  As an added plus, your purchase benefits a Fair Trade organization called Beyond Borders 

7.  SUNNAN Table Lamp (solar powered) from Ikea

These LED table lamps from Ikea transform sunlight into energy.  LEDs last 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  The lamps come in a variety of cheerful colors to choose from.  These lamps also come in black and white as well. 

6. Recycled Billboard Bags

Do you have a fashionista in your life?  Are you looking for a unique work of art? Vy and Elle utilize reclaimed billboard vinyl to create unique bags, totes, wallets and more.  Another example of a creative way to keep waste out of landfills. 

5. Vegetarian Inspired Art

Be inspired with vegetarian inspired art.  Colorful prints can add flare to any home or office.  Check out Raw Art Letter Press to view more designs.

4. BLUEiQ Customizable Miniature Ecosystem

BLUEiQ is a miniature ecosystem environment that you design by creating your layout and plaint choice.  The kit includes 2 snails, 5 dwarf shrimp and an aquatic plant and substrate type of your choice.  The ecosystem requires little maintenance and feeding is not required.

3. Hemp Sneakers from Simple Shoes

Simple Shoes are made from hemp and organic cotton for men and women.  At Simple Shoes you will find a variety of colors and styles to choose from. 

 2. The Nomad Solar Bicycle Trunk Bag by Eclipse1.

The Nomad Solar Bicycle Trunk Bag lets you power while you peddle. Solar panels let you charge cell phones, GPS, iPODs or other hand-held devices. This is a great gift for the bicyclist in your life.  The bag mounts to a standard rear bicycle rack.

Give a gift that someone can enjoy all year.  Vegetarian Times magazine is filled with vegetarian recipes, products and articles.  VT offers some Vegan recipes as well. 

Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Sandwich

This is my favorite sandwich.  It is quick, budget friendly and vegetarian. 

Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil Sandwich
Serves: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• Italian bread or Cabatta bread
• 8 fresh basil leaves
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 4 to 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Slice the bread and sprinkle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on each side.

Next layer the basil, tomato, a sprinkle of salt and pepper and the mozzarella.  You can press the sandwich on a grill press or broil until the mozzarella starts to melt.

Serve the sandwich with a side balsamic tomatoes.   Place sliced tomatoes in an 50/50 olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture.  Let this marinade for an hour and serve as a side dish to accompany your sandwich.

Vegetarian recipes and so much more!

Are you looking for vegetarian resources, recipes, nutrition information, articles and events?  The Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit organization, offers all this and more.   The amount of information packed into the VRG website is impressive.  The website is an excellent resource for someone who is considering vegetarianisim and an informative guide for vegetarians and their families. Check out the Vegetarian Restaurant Guide which lists vegetarian restaurants throughout the U.S.  It is a helpful tool for finding vegetarian restaurants in your area or when traveling.  Also, the VRG website offers tips, books and recipes for vegans as well.  In addition to the site you can also check out the VRG Blog here.

A $25.00 contribution to the The Vegetarian Resource Group will get you the Vegetarian Journal for one year and a copy of Meatless Meals for Working People: Quick and Easy Vegetarian Recipes. 

I spend countless hours on this informative site and highly recommend it.

Eco-Friendly Indian Tiffins

We have dabbled in the world of Bento Boxes, so now let's take a look at tiffins.  So, what is a tiffin? 

A tiffin is an Indian lunch box and can be used for hot and/or cold foods.  In India, these home-cooked lunches are delivered to city office workers from their homes/wives by a delivery person called a dabbawala.  These Indian tiffins consist of stackable aluminum containers that are reusable and easy to clean.  The lids are secured at the top by a clasps that hold the tiers tightly in place.  In India these usually contain meat and/or vegetable dishes, dal, rice, etc.  Not sure where to get your hands on one of these awesome tiffins?  Check out companies such as Green Feet and/or Happy Tiffin for their selection of eco-friendly, stainless steel tiffins.  

Baked acorn squash is sure to please the entire family

It is that time of the year again - time for family, friends and....baked acorn squash.  Not sure how to cook these?  I have a simple, classic recipe for you:

Serves 4
Cook time: 1hour and 40 minutes 
You will need:
2 acorn squash
butter
brown sugar (light or dark)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Start with 2 acorn squash and halve them.  Take each half, scoop out and discard the seeds.  Using a fork poke tiny holes in the orange flesh.  Next place 2 tablespoons of light or dark brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of butter in the middle of the squash.  Bake the four halves cut side up so that the flesh is tender and starting to brown for approximately 1 hours and 40 minutes. 

Some recipes start with the halves side down, turn them over halfway through cooking and then add the brown sugar and butter mixture.  I prefer cooking with the cut side up and end up with perfectly cooked squash each time. 

Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Sandwich

For lunch today I had a roasted red pepper hummus sandwich.  This is an easy sandwich that I prep the night before and then build at work.  It is much easier to eat healthy when I can just grab my lunch for the day and head off to work. 

You will need:

Bagel Thins, Sandwich Thins or a baguette

Roasted red pepper hummus

Tomato sliced

Sprouts

Cucumber sliced

Spread the hummus on each side of the bread (you can toast it if you like, but let it cool before adding the hummus).  Next layer the cucumber, tomato and sprouts and that is it!  A quick, healthy and delicious sandwich.  Also, as a side I cut some red and yellow bell pepper and take some of the hummus to dip them in.  Enjoy! 

Now anyone can make sushi!

I stumbled upon a product called the Sushezi.  It is listed on Amazon.com for $18.00 and has a 4 and 1/2 star rating.  This seems too good to be true - quick, easy, perfect sushi rolls?  If this is, in fact as good as it seems, I will have to stop by my local Japanese Market for sushi supplies!

I further investigated this product and found that overall, it has a good rating and can be used to make desserts as well.  I am adding this to my wish list! 

Have you used or would you use the Sushezi?

Sweet Tomatoes

I want an affordable, somewhat healthy buffet with options for vegetarians and meat eaters.  Sounds like an impossible task right?  Wrong!  Sweet Tomatoes a.k.a Soup Plantation offers all this and more.

Sweet Tomatoes has a seasonal/themed menu which is available on their website.  Vegetarian options are clearly labeled online and in the restaurant.  When you enter the restaurant your first stop is the salad bar.  Choose the salad of the month, or to create your own salad with plenty of fresh veggies.  The salad bar features deli style salads as well.  Next stop, soups - Sweet Tomatoes usually offers between 5 and 7 different soups to choose from so even the pickiest of eaters will be pleased.  Moving down the line you will find baked potatoes with toppings such as chives and cheese, muffins, breads and pastas are offered as well.  Save room for yogurt with chocolate and/or caramel sauce, brownies, jello and/or the dessert of the month (e.g. lemon lava cake).  Oh and please don't forget to try the strawberry lemonade!

Overall, Sweet Tomatoes gets it right with a monthly menu, healthy foods, vegetarian options and affordable prices. 

So what is Bento?

 


Asanoha Bento Box available at Bento & Co.

 

Ok, so you are wondering what is Bento? Bento is a Japanese boxed lunch and/take out meal box.  Traditionally, Bento would be packed with rice, fish or maybe noodles.  It can be used as a creative way of making lunch exciting for kids.  Bento makers offer various accessories to accompany your Bento Box and assist you with your food art.  The boxes come in different shapes, sizes and styles.  One, two or three tiers are available to suit your needs.  These boxes can hold fruits, veggies, pin wheels, rice, sandwiches, etc. You can also purchase Bento condiment cups and food dividers to assist you with packing lunches. These boxes are good for portion control and using leftovers. 

On a side note, when ordering your Bento Box make sure to read the description and check the product specifications.  Some Bento Boxes are not microwave and/or dishwasher safe. 

Bento is not limited to square and rectangle containers.  For soups and pasta check out Bento style bowls at http://en.bentoandco.com/. 

Bento & Co.'s prices are reasonable and the boxes are gorgeous!  They ship from Japan to all countries. 

Get creative with your Bento Box!

Clip Coupons & Save Money

Who loves saving $$$? I do!  Here are some helpful saving tips:

Check out your local Sunday paper for savings. 

Walgreens and CVS provide helpful hints in their circulars as to matching their store sales with Sunday coupons.  I often get deals on dish washing liquid, laundry detergent and paper towels by pairing coupons with in-store sales.  Walgreens also has an in-store coupon booklet that is filled with savings, so the next time you are in the store keep an eye out for it.

Publix offers printable store coupons at http://www.publix.com/.  The Publix website even breaks down their B1G1 savings and has a convenient shopping list feature as well.  They also accept competitor coupons such as Target and Walmart. 

Walmart and Target offer online coupons.  CheckTarget's end caps for clearance deals.

Iphone and Droid users can download apps from Saving Star, Valpak, Coupons.com, etc.

Another helpful tip is purchasing a coupon organizer to make your coupon sorting easier.  You can find these organizers on Etsy.com.  Check out glowgirl16's awesome assortment of organizers here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/glowgirl16

Take time to search for savings and match coupons with in-store deals.  Plan meals around what coupons are available.  In the end, you may be surprised at how much you save.  An "extreme couponer" I am not, but a little effort to find the best deals will go a long way. 

Sites I visit to get the latest deals:

http://www.raininghotcoupons.com/

http://offbeatmama.com/2010/10/extreme-couponing

http://www.coupons.com/

http://printablecouponsanddeals.com/

Where can I find a good veggie burger?

Where do I have to go to get a good homemade veggie burger?  Burgerking offers the Veggie Whopper which features a Morningstar Farms veggie patty.  Johnny Rockets uses a Boca patty for their veggie burger and adds caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce, pickels and mustard to spruce it up.  But, I do not want a Boca or Morningstar Farms veggie burger.  I want a "homemade" veggie burger experience! 

A good place to get a homemade veggie burger is California Burgers and Shakes.    http://www.californiaburgersandshakes.com/menu.html

Another place to grab an excellent homemade veggie burger is J. Alexanders.  I enjoy the texture and flavor of their veggie burger.  An added bonus is that it does not fall apart as some veggie burgers do.  http://www.jalexanders.com/index.php

What is your favorite spot to grab a great tasting veggie burger?

Not in the mood for another boring lunch? Try Amy's frozen meals.

Do you find yourself searching the frozen food section for tasty vegetarian and/or vegan lunches? Well look no more because Amy's Kitchen offers a variety of vegetarian products including lunches, pizzas, breakfast burritos, soups, etc.  My absolute favorite Amy's product is the Country Cheddar Bowl, but the enchilada dinner is close second.  The Country Cheddar Bowl is pasta with cheese sauce, potatoes, tofu, broccoli and red peppers.   It is a bowl full of cheesy, yummy goodness!  Without Amy's frozen vegetarian options lunch would be pretty boring.

Amy's offers some gluten free options such as Garden Vegetable Lasagna, Rice Mac & Cheese and Rice Crust Pizzas.   

Visit http://www.amys.com/ for recipes, coupons and to learn more about the history of Amy's Kitchen or check them out at http://www.facebook.com/AmysGoOrganic 

Using Meatless Crumbles - Get Creative!

It is the time of the year for a nice big pot of vegetarian chili.  Meatless crumbles or TVP (textured vegetable protein) look and taste like ground beef.  There are a few vegetarian crumble options at your local grocey store, but I prefer MorningStar Farms Meal Starters Grillers Recipe Crumbles.  I find that the Boca brand of cumbles seem to cook away too much.  I use two packages of Morning Star crumbles for the chili.  You will find a vegetarian chili recipe using crubles here:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/the-best-vegetarian-chili-in-the-world/detail.aspx

Other uses for vegetarian crumbles:
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Tacos
Spaghetti
Sloppy Joes
Lasagna

Share your meatless crumble recipe ideas below!

Coco Craziness

Have you noticed the coconut water craze? Recently, SOBE has followed the trend with their Lifewater Coconut Water beverage. I purchased the Pacific Coconut flavor with only 80 calories. When I returned, home upon further inspection, I found that the coconut water contained 110mg of sodium and 160mg of potassium. Companies are pushing coconut water as a sports drink alternative. Consumerlab.com conducted a coconut water review of three competitors. Check out the report here: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/coconut-water-one-vita-coco-zico-review/coconut-water/

If you want to real deal coconut water stop by and see Wilson at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida Swap Shop. He is serving up cold, young, green coconuts daily!

Vegetarian House

I lived in Portland, Oregon for a short time, but there is a place that I will always remember. The Vegetarian House is located in Portland's China Town area. The entire menu is vegetarian and/or vegan. If I could order the veggie orange chicken, have it packed and shipped to me I would! Other tasty dishes are the veggie chicken with broccoli, veggie lemon chicken and the veggie shrimp. They offer a "family style" option as well. The service is great, prices are reasonable, the decor a little dated, but I felt it had personality.

http://www.vegetarianhouse.com/index.html

"Hello Portland" is a video of me in Portland, Oregon.

So, if you find yourself hungry and in Portland's China Town stop by the Vegetarian House and enjoy.

Let's talk Tofurky

With the holidays approaching I wanted to express my love of Tofurky. I have spent many anxiety filled holidays at the dinner table. My mind would race as I wondered what I would be able to eat. My boyfriend's family member would ask the dreaded question "is that all you are going to eat?" Needless to say I do not like turkey. That means no turkey sandwiches for me, or so I thought.

I admit I was hesitant to try Tofurky Deli Slices. The not-so-natural looking dark brown color was not appealing to me. I took the Tofurky leap and I am glad I did. Tofurky really does taste like...turkey. Now I can enjoy Tofurky sandwiches at lunch time. I often get the million dollar question at my work of "what kind of meat is that?"

The makers of Tofurky offer different holiday options for a vegetarian holiday meal. Check them out here:

http://www.tofurky.com/tofurkyproducts/holiday_products.html