Bryan's Taco Salad

Ok, so Bryan, my boyfriend, doesn't know how to cook a whole lot. He grew up on mac n cheese, grilled meats and what I have labeled "white american food." Basically, everything that American's have been taught are good for them that really aren't, like white bread and cheese from cows. So most of the time he feels lost when he sees the ingredients in the fridge. However, there's one classic from his childhood that he's successfully veganized so far, and it's mighty tastey. Its a recreation of his mom's ground beef taco salad. Super simple, super yummy! Hope you enjoy!

Bryan's Taco Salad:

1 package garden veggie tempeh, sliced into thin 1x2 pieces

1 package Vegan Gourmet Cheddar Cheese (optional, I know it's kinda pricey, but if you feel like indulging I'd add it!)

1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized shreds

1/2 red onion diced

1pinch cayenne

1/2 tsp chili pepper powder

1 Tbl Ortega taco seasoning

2-3 cloves garlic

1/2 bag mission corn tortilla chips, crumbled into bite size pieces

1 Tbl corn oil

Salsa to taste

1. In a medium sized sauce pan heat the oil. Once hot, add the tempeh and fry on both sides briefly. Turn down heat to low, add spices and garlic until well combined. Turn off heat.

2. In a large serving bowl, combine Romaine, chips, onion, tempeh and cheese until well combined. Serve with a topping of salsa!

Super Simple Tofu Scramble!

Okay ok, so maybe your not that into tofu! That's ok! I never used to be a big fan either! But I just discovered super firm tofu from wildwood, and i'm loving it. I dont have to bother draining it, it's super high in protein, and it makes the perfect tofu for my scramble! It's simple, and perfect for those mornings when you really need to fill up! I know they've been done before, but hay, this is a basic recipe for you, feel free to adjust and add accordingly!

Tofu Scramble:

1 pckg wildwood superfirm tofu (find it at whole foods or trader joes, comes vaccuum packed, not sitting in water), cubed

1 handful spinach, stems removed

4-5 garlic cloves, minced

2-3 tsp tumeric (this gives it that lovely egg color!)

1/2 an onion, diced

1-2 tblsp olive oil

pinch of cayenne

salt and pepper to taste

(sometimes i also add a little bit of salsa or diced fresh farmers maket tomatoes after its done cooking!)

In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Make sure to prep all your ingredients before you begin cooking as it will be ready quickly. Toss in cubed tofu (you can crush it up more if you want it to look like scrambled eggs) and gently brown slightly in pan. Add tumeric and cook 5min or so more until all of tofu is coated. Turn heat down a little and add your onions and garlic, sautee until onions are nicely browned. Add spinache and cook just until wilted. Add in salt, pepper and cayenne, stir, and serve. I like to be fatty sometimes and have my scramble with gf waffles, topped with agave syrup and earth balance soy butter, and a side of hash browns! yummy!

A Vegan Deli?

Yes it's true my friends, right off of sunset boulevard there lies a small little hole in the wall vegan deli called Flore. While I am always anxious about traveling to places completely unknown to me and far far away, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The entire surrounding area of the restaurant seemed to be a meca for the starving artist types. College age and a little older people were everywhere, and it seemed this was their turf. Indeed I felt the art scene was alive and well here.

The place was small, but probably could accomodate atleast 20 people. Taking up most of the space was a large glass case lined with fresh produce and home made organic vegan deli items! Things like potato salad and baked tofu and cupcakes filled the case to the top. I knew right away this was going to be yummy. All of the staff seemed in their early 20s, and while they were friendly they weren't overly social...and I find that's true of most delis. I was confused at first if we just sat down or waited to be seated, but it became aparent most just came in and sat and waited for someone to notice them. ;p

I ordered the potato tacos....one of my favorite fatty foods to indulge in that I hadn't had since a trip I took to San Diego last year. So good! Probably could've used hot sauce (which I was offered but declined because I really wanted to taste the food first), but I loved the cilantro sauce that came with it. Yummy! Bryan wasn't too pleased with his broccoli burger, but only because he seemed to think it would be more veggie than grain (he doesn't cook much, and I'm sure has no idea how hard it is to make veggie patties! Let alone ones chock full of vegetables!)

I wish I had had time for desert or to ask him if any of the cupcakes were gluten free but alas, we had to be back to meet friends at Universal City Walk. Oh well, guess i'll just have to make another trip shortly! I do urge all of you to give the guys at Flore a visit, you won't regret it! Oh and try the ginger ale, very refreshing! (pictures coming as soon as I get them off of bryan's phone!)

Going Veg For Beginners

I really love when people compliment me on my ability to maintain a vegan diet, as if I'm a cancer survivor or someone who was fasting. I really have a hard time not laughing actually, as I sit there thinking of all the food I eat and how often I pig out. Its really not that hard people, you just have to want to commit yourself enough to do your homework. Life doesn't have to be boring or limited if you think outside the box about your meals, and just be aware of what you are buying. Educating yourself is the best way to go about it. The reason that people fail at being vegan/vegetarian is the same reason they fail at diets, they give in to temptation...they dont focus on this simple question "why am I doing this?" Even I fell down once when i first started being a vegan because I really didn't know why I was on the diet. Was it for me? Was I helping the planet? I really just had a vague idea and no concrete proof to show people, and so I felt like a person without a purpose and stopped. This is where step one of my plan to help you go veg begins:

1) Get yourself a good book. Yes, PETA might have lots of stuff on their website, but oftentimes people think they're overzealous and might be stretching the truth (I dont believe that). Get yourself a book written by respectable people. I highly reccomend Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating because it's got testimonials from Drs and PHDs in it, and it looks at all the reasons to go veg: health impact, planet impact, animal cruelty. And it does this without going overboard and extremist or showing you graphic photos of animals being tortured. Some people need the scare factor to get them motivated (in which case, go watch a few PETA videos)...all I need to know is that it's done cruely and I believe you.

2) Get a basic understanding of nutrition. Many people feel starved or deprived or even make themselves sick on this diet. We have all met that vegetarian who eats nothing but french fries and pizza. Don't be that guy! Know which foods to combine in a meal to fill you up and keep you nutritionally balanced. Sure, we all may have that off night we call a plate of tater tots dinner...but that should be reserved for an 8hr work day where its all you can do to crawl to the oven and pop em in....and honestly if you can do that, roast some veggies instead. I highly reccomend the Vegan for dummies book. Basic nutritional understanding dumbed down for us non-pre med students.

3) Learn to cook. I can't tell you how many times a day I get asked "What do you eat??" And I answer, "anything you can think of, just sans animal product and wheat". There are a lot of cookbooks out there for the super healthy vegan and that's fine if you want to focus on being super healthy, and dont care about taste...but lets face it, sometimes we crave a pre-veg type meal and a bowl of tofu and veggies aint gonna cut it. If I had to pick just one vegan cookbook to get you on your way to eating well : Veganomicon (the vegan bible, many of your favorite dishes veganafied, plus instructions on how to cook vegetables that might be foreign to you) by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. All of their books are great actually, go pick em up! Buy it used on Amazon and save some moolah, or do what I did and copy a few recipes from the book in the store before you buy it to see if you really like their stuff.....(trust me, you will though).

4) Be Prepared. We all have our lazy days, and I have a lot of them. That's when you stock your freezer with go 2 meals. I love trader Joe's bean and tofu enchiladas ($2) and their little microwaveable soup bowls ($1) Or if you wanna spend a lil extra cash Amy's has a whole line or gluten free and vegan options (I especially love their shepherd pie and their soy cheeze gf pizza). I also like to splurge and get a big jug of naked juice and drink a huge glass before work. You'd be amazed how combining that and a couple trader joes toaster waffles ($1 a box) and that will keep you full til lunchtime when you're in a hurry.

5) Take a vitamin. Don't go crazy. Most people make the mistake of overdoing it and feel sick when they take vitamins. Most companies put way too much in adult vitamins and your body doesn't even absorb them. I take a childrens gummy vitamin because they have usually only 50% of your daily need (pectin of coarse, little hard to find but they do exist!!) and a chewy calcium-D supplement. They'll make you feel less hungry between meals and make sure you're getting the very few things you won't get from a balanced vegan diet. And believe me, this diet is way more nutritionally rich than a meat eaters.

6) Treat yourself. Sometimes we miss the joy of eating out, and this is where the wonderful internet comes in soooo handy. Look up and see if there's veg friendly places in your area. Even if its a half hour drive, grab your boyfriend or girlfriends and make a day of it! Its so much fun to try new restaurants and usually the people running these veg friendly places are super friendly and will be much more willing to make modifications to the food for you! In general they are very aware of food, allergies, etc and started their business to make a difference. Don't forget to see if your favorite haunts have veg options too! I just recently rediscovered Chipotle (3 vegan tacos for under $6) and many places like Chilis and BJs and even fast food chains have vegan options.

7) Get Involved. While you will probably never find me protesting outside a McDonalds you can find me every day reading emails from PETA, the Humane Society, Farm Sanctuary and others, sending emails to stop animal cruelty and raising awareness. I have vegan stickers on my car that say cute things like "fish are friends not food", and try to find cute yet not "in your face" pieces of clothing. I am not a pushy person, but making the vegan lifestyle your own gives you even more a sense of purpose. Sure, you might get a few jerks who give you crap about your vegan necklace, but I have got to say most of the time I am pleasantly surprised by who has questions for me. You never know, the guy in the breakroom eating a double decker might just be looking for a way to change his lifestyle, but he doesn't even know where to begin and needs your help. The more you know about the lifestyle, the more you can offer help, guidance and support to others. The more you do, the more you will see your actions making a difference. You will meet others who feel as passionately as you do, and you won't feel alone. And keep reading my blog and leaving comments, I am here to support you as well my friends!!!

Good Luck, Hope This Helps!

Vegan Ice Cream Shop & Vegan Mexican Food!

Perhaps it's a throwback to my childhood or a reminder of allergy free times, but whatever the reason, visiting an ice cream parlor holds a certain unmistakable appeal! So when I saw the sign KindKreme on a shop near Universal City Walk, I simply had to go in for a closer look! The first time I stopped by they had yet to open, so we waited patiently. Nearly a year went by and I quite forgot about it. Then the other day my boyfriend decided he wanted to spoil me by taking me out for a date around Hollywood! "And" he said in the car, "we should see if that vegan ice cream shop is open yet!"

My heart raced with anticipation of possibly getting to eat ice cream from a shop, but I held in my excitement as best I could for (as many of us with allergies know) it's no fun to get worked up about something only to be disappointed. After a romp around Universal City Walk, and an appletini at a restaurant that sells nothing but beer, and beer flavored foods (which I couldn't eat of coarse), we decided to see if KindKreme was open for business.

Boy was I not disappointed! Inside they had at least 10 flavors, all of which were vegan, raw and soy free! Most of them were made from coconut, but atleast 3 of the flavors they had on hand were almond milk made! They let us sample, and my personal favorite was the coffee flavored one! I couldn't believe it, I was in hog heaven! We split a bananna split, and boy did they not scrimp on the portions. I'm sure just one scoop wouldve been enough, but the split had 2, a whole bananna, and we got a choice of toppings! I had vegan caramel sauce with dagoba chocolate chips on top! I felt like a little kid again! I urge all of you wishing to have a nostalgic moment to make your way to studio city and try out this little shop! It's well worth it! Or check out their website at KindKreme.com!

After KindKreme we went to the Archlight cinema to watch The King's Speech. If you're interested it was a fascinating look into the royal family, ww2, and people in general. Then we headed over to a little Mexican hole in the wall restaurant called Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant. It was late, about an hr before closing and we were greeted and served by what I assume was the owner. An older, kind, unassuming man who reminded me a little of my grandfather. He brought me coffee with cinnamon in it (which was the most fantastic concoction i've ever come accross). Then we got combination plates of tamales. Bryan had the cheese, while I had the vegan veggie. While things dont always say "vegan" on the menu, just ask them if they can make something vegan and they will be happy to oblige. Let me tell you reader, that tamale was sooo good. So soft and warm,smothered in tamatillo sauce, perfectly juxtaposed with the BEST black beans I have ever had. No joke, and I love me some frijoles!

They offer desserts too, but by that time I was much too stuffed! Not sure if the desserts had gluten in them, but I'm positive my rice, beans and tamale did not contain gluten as an ingredient. It was so nice to have a mexican meal in a restaurant, and not have to make it at home. Especially since I have no idea how to make tamales! (Hint: If you are willing to teach me I will be willing to learn!) Both the ice cream shop and the little mexican restaurant were amazing! It was one of the best dates I have ever been on , made that much better by being able to eat safely!! ( Have I mentioned I have the best boyfriend ever?) Enjoy reader! Make sure to stop by both these vegan spots. You won't regret it!

Cinnamon Rolls, Hugos, and Kirsten Dunst? Oh my...

So my day started off on a shaky note. My mom just gave me this awesome cookbook called the Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook and I have been dying to make the cinnamon rolls listed inside! All the recipes are vegan, gluten and soy free! YAY! So I got halfway through the recipe when, silly me you'd think i'd learn, I realize it's going to take about 1hr 45 minutes ; ; They have to rise before you bake them....I just sorta missed that when I read the recipe the first time. Tip: Always read the recipes all the way through!! But it was worth the wait, they were divine! It's been soooo long since i've had cinnamon rolls! You all simply must go out and buy this book if you love to bake! No i'm sure that the recipes are not super low cal, but they're good!

Later that same day, after battling beuracracy and becoming thoroughly frustrated, we decided to end our day at Hugo's. If you haven't been here you simply must go! Yes, it's expensive (Think $20 a person if you aren't gettting an alchoholic drink). Yes, it might be a drive for you if you're like me and live outside of Los Angeles. But believe me the ability to walk in and order from a vast array of gluten free and vegan gourmet menu items and NOT have the waitress give you a dirty look....oh it's priceless. I highly reccomend the Shepherd Pie.

If you are super sensitive be warned, they try to be cautious, but they do also cook gluten containing foods. So be warned! But I myself have never had a problem. There are two locations, one in West Hollywood and one in studio city. Both have great service and the restaurant is very nice. I particularly like the glass patio of the Studio City one. It's nice to get breakfast there, sip my soy chai tea and watch the clouds roll past. AND!!! EXCITING! After 23 years of living in Hollywood's backlot as we call it, I finally saw my first celebrity! Apparently Kirsten Dunst enjoys Hugo's delicious vegan menu options as well! Or atleast it sure looked like her!

Anyway I cant recomend the restaurant or the book enough! Everything I've had from both have been real winners!

Now That's A Salad!!

Hello there again my loves! It has recently come to my attention (based on dinners with friends, restaurant visits, and fast food stops) that the world has no idea just what should be considered a "salad"! Growing up my mom always made me a colorful confetti containing atleast 6-7 veggies, and likes to tell me that my dad used to woo her with his own delicious salad combinations in their early marriage years. But I realize that not everyone's parents are wannabe hippies, and that some have simply not been educated on what is good and healthy for them. And while its very amusing to have to explain to people that iceberg lettuce has little to no nutritional value, it also makes me sad and want to help!

So here is my down to earth instructions on how to make a salad that will qualify as a meal not just a sad side dish, and not bust your belt buttons (my brother tells me the salads at BJs restaurant are more caloric than some of the pizzas!) Lets banish those McDonalds style salads from our homes that nobody likes to eat! A few tips as you foray into the world of salad: My grandma used to say this and it's true, the deeper the color of the vegetable, the better it'll be for you! Get the greenest cucumbers, the deepest purple cabbages!! Experiment! Go out on a limb and try that armenian cucumber (they're delish) and have something new in your salad. Go to the farmers market and ask for samples!! There are so many varieties you should never get bored with your salad!

Now That's a Salad!

SALAD:

Base: Atleast 2 leafy green type substances. Romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, spinach, cabbage, etc are all good choices. Mix it up!(at the very least make it a Romaine salad not an ice berg base...bleh!)

Fiber and Vitamins!: Atleast 2 of the following: Broccoli, celery, cucumber, cauliflower, kale, peas, edamame, cooked asparagus etc. Something green with lots of fiber! Broccoli is especially high in vitamins!

Color! Add atleast 2 (Things that add additional vitamins that might be lacking in your diet) Tomatoes (go for the heirloom or organics, and skip the beefsteak they're mostly water...try the little orange ones!), carrots, bell peppers, avocado, crookneck squash

Something extra: To add protein, or more heartiness to a salad that will be a meal not just a dish, add a handful of nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc), or beans (I love garbanzo) black beans, lima beans, green beans, etc.

Sugar and Spice: Add a little kick to your salad by tossing in some sliced red onion, or a handful of dried cranberries. Or maybe add a few slices of your favorite fruit (apple, tangerines, pear, etc)

Finale: Finally, finish it off with your favorite organic dressing!! I am particularly fond of vinagrettes (high in flavor, low in fat ;p, but remember a little fat in the dressing will help you better absorb the nutrients in the veggies!)

Hope this helps y'all! Here's a pic of tonight's dinner! Made with fresh organic veggies from the farmers market (thanks mom and dad for picking these goodies up for me!) I had romaine, red cabbage, heirloom tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, celery, spinach, black beans and italian dressing! (bryan doesnt like black beans so he had a little apple and a handful of mixed nuts!)