Update

Just a brief update, in case anyone's checking... I've been completely consumed with my latest "project." ;-) My husband and I welcomed our daughter to the world in early December, and we've been transfixed with her since. Not much time for cooking, though plenty of family members have been helping out, whipping up quinoa or wheat berries & veggies, vegan kale soup, black bean soup, and other veggie-ful meals for us.

Hope to get back to cooking in a bit, but for now, all my attention is blissfully on our new little one. It's a truly amazing time and I am so in love with her!

Baby Shower Bites

Last weekend my mom and my good friend Paula threw me a baby shower. This was just ONE of the food tables! The cake with the giant cupcake on top of it in the pic above my mom ordered from a bakery, but despite the fact they were both skeptical that I'd want to make anything, I insisted on making vegan cupcakes, of course. And, in what's becoming my go-to wower for parties, I whipped up some of SMBP's black & white truffles.

NYC 2: Cafe Blossom

Top right: Delicious black-eyed pea cakes; Bottom right: Mushroom Phyllo Pastry

We were recently back East for a wedding, and had one night in NYC. This pass-through was even less time than my last trip to the Big Apple, but still enough time for a (vegan!) dinner night out with friends and a run in Central Park! Two of my must-dos when vising the city now.

After my other trip, I was hoping to go to Candle 79 again, since it was one of my best dining experiences EVER. Seriously, out of this world, whether you are vegan or not. But, I was coming in off an evening flight, and my husband reminded me I'd probably be pretty tired since I'm now entering my 3rd trimester (!)- he was right. Plus, I did want to try out somewhere new- NYC is just such an amazing food mecca. So, we picked somewhere more convenient to where we were staying - Cafe Blossom on Carmine in the West Village. I had been to the Cafe Blossom on the Upper West side my last trip, but each of the Blossom locations has a different menu and vibe, so it was still a completely different experience, which I was excited to try out! Read on for my take on Blossom...

Banana-Strawberry Waffles

I don't know what it is about Sundays, but I almost always wake up wanting pancakes or waffles. ESPECIALLY now that I'm pregnant, if I get something in my mind that I want to eat, I just gotta have it. Today, it was waffles. Thick, fluffy, Belgian waffles, with fresh banana and strawberry. Numnumnum. ;-)

This recipe is simple and easy to throw together on a lazy weekend morning.

Ginger Peanut Soba Noodles with Maple Tempeh

For fourth of July this year, one of the dishes I made was Oh She Glow's Rad Rainbow Raw Pad Thai. It had an amazing lime-peanut dressing that I thought would go great on a soba noodle dish. I added a bunch of veggies, some sweet maple-glazed tempeh, and voila! A yummy, easy new dinner favorite!

My Smoothietude Prize Pack!

Last week, I got a great gift in the mail- my Smoothietude prize pack! In case you missed it, Kathy from Healthy.Happy.Life hosted a smoothie photo contest, with tons of great prizes. My smoothietude entry came in just below the grand prize winner- I was one of two "first place" winners.

Here's what I found in my prize pack:

It included (all products raw, vegan, and from One Lucky Duck - which I definitely felt like!):

• Acai powder (so excited to try this in smoothies!), maca powder, and raw cacao powder
• A glass straw, complete with hemp bag to store it in and brush for cleaning (I thought this was a great addition, since I have been trying to avoid BPA-laden plastics, and paper straws often get too soggy)
• Almonds and a straining bag to make almond milk- I have been wanting to do this for a while so was really excited to get this!
• Himalayan salt
• A few yummy samples of raw cookies and bars
• A $50 gift card to spend at One Lucky Duck

I also received a signed copy of Kathy's new book, 365 vegan smoothies. So excited to try out these recipes!!

I quickly whipped up a smoothie of my own, and enjoyed it through my new glass straw ;-)

Looking forward to trying out more of these great prizes! A big thanks to Kathy and Gena for choosing me as one of the winners, and to One Lucky Duck for the great prizes!

Baking Buns! And some changes...

So, over the past 5 months I've been baking something pretty special. I've hinted at it a bit ("more to come on that later...") but wasn't ready to share the recipe until now. So what's the recipe? It involves love, patience, and 9 months of baking....

Yep, I'm preggo! There's a bun in my oven. My husband and I are so excited, happy, and let's be honest, a little freaked out!

Read on for more of my experience with food and pregnancy, if you are interested!

Red Velvet Stars and 4th of July Buffet!

Happy (belated) 4th of July! We had some friends over yesterday for a sunny backyard BBQ, and plenty of vegan treats. Red velvet brownies covered in vanilla icing and fruit, mini cupcakes (of course), white cheddar popcorn, salads, veggie burgers, and more!

Thai Mango, Tofu, and Green Bean Salad

I'll admit, it's a little shameful I've had a copy of Vegan Eats World on my bookshelf since January  without any use. It's not for lack of great recipes in it, I just haven't been as prolific in trying out new recipes of late. But a few weeks ago I was searching through the index for a seaweed salad recipe (more to come on that later), when I spotted the Thai Shredded Mango Salad. It was one of those "I Must Make This ASAP" moments.

Smoothietude Contest!

I love smoothies, especially when the weather starts to get warmer. They are so refreshing, and- if done right- filling, nutritious, and delicious too. Plus, they are quick and easy. I learned the great trick of using frozen banana in smoothies to help make them thick & creamy from Kathy from Healthy.Happy.Life., and when I saw her smoothietude contest, I thought I'd finally enter one of these things (especially since the prizes are awesome, including a Vitamix- I have been lusting after one for soooooo long)! The above pic is my photo entry for the contest.

I tend to keep my smoothies pretty simple, but I do love trying out new ones too. Some staples in my smoothies:

• Vega One Powders- Vanilla Chai is my fave, I think.
• Frozen banana
• Other fresh or frozen fruits
• Superfood mix-ins, such as chia seeds, maca or lucuma powder, etc... a little can really boost the nutrients you're getting!
• Almond milk &/or water for the base

The above smoothie recipe, for the contest, also uses some banana coconut "soft serve" - I simply mixed together frozen banana with some (light) coconut milk, and then re-froze it. Thawed a tiny bit, this actually makes for a surprisingly nice dessert on it's own (or even better with fresh berries!) Added to a smoothie, it adds a nice creaminess.

Wish me luck! And enjoy a smoothie ;-)

**Updates:

• I recently tried using frozen watermelon (another great recommendation from Kathy- the smoothie queen!) in my smoothies and it seriously rocks my world. My NEW fave is: frozen watermelon+coconut water+ Vega One vanilla powder (and sometimes some frozen banana too). It's incredibly delicious and so refreshing.
• I can't wait for Kathy's smoothie book:  365 Vegan Smoothies. Every smoothie of hers I've had I've loved- they are always innovative (frozen canteloupe? Yup!), delicious, and easy.
• I was nominated as a finalist for the above contest! So excited! EEK! (I would love your vote if you have a sec- trust me, I have a really, really, really good reason for needing a Vitamix- more to come on that later!!)

and PS- looking for the absolute star of my photo entry? That's my Vizsla Captain, and he has his very own blog too: It's a Vizsla Thing. He's my really, really, really ridiculously good-looking love bug ;-)

Spain Eats

I have been shamefully absent in the food-blogging world for a while now... busy with work, life, and some traveling too. I was lucky enough to have a conference in the beautiful Basque region of Spain, in a beach side town called San Sebastian. Afterwords, I did some traveling with my sister, to Barcelona and Seville, and then stopped in to the UK, where she lives. It was an amazing trip; Spain is a beautiful country!!

My favorite food item on the trip? It's a toss up between these beautiful white asparagus, which were all over the place in San Sebastian, and..... mango sorbet. Hey, I'm predictable. Gelatarias were all over the place, and when it comes to mango, I'm a sucker. But, Fruitarias - fruit & veg stands, like the one below, were also a great find. As for the rest, well.... I can't exactly say Spain was a mecca of vegetarian- let alone vegan- options. It was a challenge. Read on for more, as well as a few completely food-unrelated Spain pics.

Orange Spice Chia Oatmeal

I am on some kind of crazy orange kick here. I've been craving orange like you wouldn't believe and putting it in just about everything- my water (a great refreshing way to start the day!), my farro & kale salad for dinner last night, cookies I made this weekend, and now my oatmeal too.

Vanilla-Cardamom Orange Spritz Cookies

These pretty little cookies are completely easy to make. Lightly crispy, sweet vanilla cookies made a little more exciting by orange and spice.

Random Recipe Round-Up

Here's a random array of dishes I've been whipping up in my kitchen recently:

Easy Asian meals (always a quick, healthy go-to!), pumpkin salad pizza, mini quiches, kale chips, desserts, and more.... if you are looking for vegan, healthy, and easy recipe links, ideas, quick options, and inspiration, read on!

Super Apple Salad

This simple apple salad is light and refreshing, but filling and nutritious. Crisp, slightly sweet Gala apples with a savory twist.

Healthy Tropical Granola

I'm a cereal girl- I used to prefer cereal to any other meal. Back when I was in college (yes that was 10 years ago), when I'd come home, my mom would ask me what I wanted for dinner, and I'd just shrug and say "cereal." She thought I was joking (or maybe just wouldn't allow it)- but I wasn't. I love cereal. And granola has always been a favorite, with its sweet oats, crunchy clusters, and mix of textures. Granola is also the perfect multi-tasking cereal- breakfast with milk; lunch with yogurt and fruit; snack-time in your hand; mixed with chocolate chips or on top of froyo for dessert.  And luckily, it's so easy to make, and easy to alter the flavors. This "tropical" variation I love, and I included some healthy add-ins too.

Smoothie & Juice "Cleanse"

Last week I tried out a 2-day mostly smoothie "cleanse." Things have gotten hectic and a little stressed, so I thought it would be a good time to reset and mix things up- literally ;-)

I did 2 days- rather than 3, or 7, or longer- because I'm a pretty active person and I didn't want to feel drained, and I didn't want to put a lot of time into planning.  I also didn't want to pay a lot for a juice cleanse through a company.  I just wanted to refresh, reboot, and refocus. I've been curious about juicing/cleansing for a while, and when I get curious about something, sooner or later, I just have to try it for myself. So when my hubby was away for work last week, I figured, what better time? While everyone else was posting about Valentine's chocolates and decadent desserts, I was doing this...

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

In addition to s'mores cookies, I also made Chloe Coscarelli's Vegan Ginger Molasses Cookies this weekend. I was totally pulled in by a picture of them I saw, along with the description- chewy and sweet. I love a good chewy cookie. Plus, I've had some molasses in my cabinet for a while that just needed to get used.

Nearly Raw Broccoli Slaw

Before I get to the other cookie recipe I made this weekend, let's have some greens, shall we?

Ok, so this technically might not be a slaw, but I just thought it had a nice ring to it ;-) This broccoli salad contains mostly raw ingredients, and just barely steamed broccoli, in a very light, slightly tangy and sweet, dressing. Barely-there dressing, but just enough to bring it all together. Crunch+sweet+fresh veggies= filling healthy meal love.

S'mores Cookies!

I went cookie monster crazy this weekend for the Super Bowl. There were so many cookies they seemed to be flowing out of the oven. Two recipes, two teams, too many cookies? No way. They were too good.

Power Energy Bites and "Super Foods"

These little bites are packed full of nutrients. Small and mighty. Easy grab & go. A little bit chocolatey, chewy, and just a hint of sweetness. Perfect for popping before a trip to the gym, a long run, or just when you need a little energy kick.

Banana Oat & Date Scones

The local bakery in our town makes amazing vegan oat scones. I was thinking of them when I woke up Sunday morning. I love baking on Sunday mornings, so I set out to make some scones this time. I  ended up making a lower fat, banana version that was lighter, and cake-ier than our bakery's - a bit more like a muffin. This is likely, at least partially, because I accidentally ended up leaving out the all-purpose flour that the recipe I was adapting from called for. Oops. I clearly needed coffee. But, the result was still delicious, and possibly even more flavorful than those bakery scones. Cinnamon spice, a hint of  banana, whole wheat goodness, wrapped in maple-dipped oats, and naturally sweetened by dates and raisins.

Birthday Sugar Cookies

Some of our good friends had a birthday party for their one year old last weekend, so I brought along these sweet frosted treats to help celebrate! These roll-and-cut sugar cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate. They taste sweet and sugary, and just a little buttery, with just the right crunch-to-chewiness consistency.

Vegan Hot Cocoa, "Cheez," and More New Vegan Finds!

I'm a big fan of trying new things. Especially new vegan foods. Usually, it's new fruits, veggies, and grains that make it into my basket (in addition to my favorite staples, of course!) But every now and then there are certain products I just have to try too. So I thought I'd share a few vegan food items I've found and tried recently!

French Toast TWO!

This is an update from my earlier posted recipe for vegan French Toast with date compote.  Like the last version, I whipped this up in no time, and also used banana. Both recipes are incredibly easy, and trust me, you don't miss the eggs at all. But with this version, you can actually get some "eggy-looking" bits, sans any dairy products at all. This version also adds in a bit more flavor. Soft, sweet, toasty French toast. Simply made, and simply vegan.

Coconut Collards with Spiced Chickpeas

Collard greens. Not something I tend to think of as a go-to green. If anything, collard greens make me think of a greasy-spoon, down-home Southern cooking restaurant we used to go to in New York called Mama's. They aren't something I'd really go out of my way for, usually. But they do work beautifully in my black bean very veggie soup. And now, I have another great recipe they shine in: coconut collards, complemented by spiced, nutty, hearty chickpeas. A filling side dish or meal.

My Holiday Vegan Eats

One thing I was both looking forward to and a little anxious about was making meals while home over the holidays. I live a 6 hour flight from where my family is, so it's not like I could just pack up my car and bring home all my favorite ingredients. I really wanted to share dishes with my fam that showed off how delicious & flavorful vegan food can be, but I didn't necessarily want to buy the wide array of oils, grains, and products I've collected over the past year of being vegan. I found a good balance- buying a few staples like non-dairy milk and margarine, flax seeds for baking, a little nutritional yeast, and using what was already in my mom's pantry to pull together some holiday meals I was happy to share with my family. It was definitely a little more challenging to find some of the fresh veggies and vegan items I've grown accustomed to, but with some helpful grocery store employees and a few modifications, I whipped up some great vegan eats while home for the holidays!

New Year's and Veganiversary!

Happy 2013! It's also been one year since I decided to officially go vegan! My one year veganiversary! ;-) It seems to have flown by!

We hosted yet another party last night, for New Year's Eve. Lots of fun, lots of food.  Read on for the spread, and a few veganiversary thoughts!