2 Weeks of Photos: Work and Home Delights!

One of my last entries, I talked about the learning process of going vegan and raw while integrating that learning process into every day simple tasks. Tasks such as making a healthy lunch to eat at work to resist the temptations of unhealthy food like french fries!!

So the day after I made that post, this was my lunch. Sprouted grain tortillas slightly toasted, with homemade raw vegan pesto, tomatoes, mushrooms, sprouts, and some raw sun-dried botija olives. When I ate them at work I was so happy with myself and I wished I had brought enough for everyone! There was also some leftover pasta alla marinara that I ate.

They were so delicious that I made them again a few days later... But for dinner:

Orange juice beer??

That same night I wanted a citrusy kind of ale but only managed to get some Blue Moon (Not so tasty from a bottle, I recommend getting it draft only!!) I am a huge fan of any beer that can be paired with citrus such as orange, lemon and lime. So, I cut up some grapefruit, blood orange, regular orange, and lemon, put it in a glass and poured some Blue Moon. The fruit was tasty but like I said, draft is better. I thought I would share it anyway. Beer and fruit is the best!!

Spicy Bean Soup. A perfect match for a pepperjack Daiya grilled cheeze

The next day I was craving a spicy bean soup so inspired by the canned mediterranean soup that I buy from Whole Foods, I made my own! Black beans boiled with onions, garlic, Better than Bouillon vegetable base, El Pato Jalapeno tomato sauce, tomato sauce, chipotle to taste, salt and pepper to taste, red bell peppers, carrots, corn, a little bit of frozen veggies for color (I didn't have extra corn or green beans), and mushrooms! I was shocked how well I made it. There was a lot of flavor. A bit of a spicy kick and a little smokiness. I took some leftovers to my future mother-in-law.

For breakfast

I used another recipe from my Carol Alt book Eating in the Raw, under breakfast cereals. David Wolfe's Basic Breakfast Granola . It was okay. Not amazing but edible. I probably won't be making this again but it was a tasty morning treat before heading off to work.

Recipe:

2 cups raw almonds, soaked for 8 hours and drained

1/2 cup raisins

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Raw honey to taste

1 tablespoon distilled water (optional)

Place the softened almonds, raisins, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a blender, and chop until crumbly. Add honey and a drizzle of distilled water.

I topped it off with "Juliano's Whipped Cream". Juliano, Raw: The Uncook Book.

Recipe:

1 1/2 cups raw germinated walnuts, cashews, or nuts of your choice. (I used cashews)

1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoons dates, chopped

a few drops of almond extract (optional)

In a blender, combine the nuts, orange juice, dates, and, if you wish, a few drops of almond extract. Blend, and using a rubber scraper, scrape the sides to help the cream blend. Stop and check for sweetness and consistency; add more chopped dates if the cream needs sweetness; add more water if the cream is still too stiff. Continue blending until fluffy and smooth. Use immediately.

That same day I made a cashew cheeze!

Vegan Cashew Cheese

Ingredients:

2/3 cup cashews (raw is best, roasted is still great, and try flavored cashews too)

1/2 cup water (or slightly more)

1/4 cup red bell pepper (raw or roasted)

1/4 small red onion (if you're cooking for a date, or more otherwise!)

1/4 cup yeast flakes

2 garlic cloves

3 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos (on the health food isle everywhere, or use lite soy sauce)

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tsp sea salt (optional) if the cashews are unsalted

Put everything in a food processor and blend it until it's creamy. If it's too thick, add more water. If it's too watery, add more cashews. It should have a Cream of Wheat-like consistency, or just a bit thicker.

So for lunch...

So my lunch was made from my raw "meat": walnuts, sunflower seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, onions and spices (Cayenne, salt and pepper..) A pretty good combo so I put them on a sandwich with sprouted grain bread, topped with tomatoes and sprouts. I really enjoyed my lunch that day!! On the side some leftover sauteed asparagus.

Now on to my reuben craze!!!

Here is a photo of what I needed for a vegan reuben sandwich. Sprouted rye bread toasted with Earth Balance vegan butter, smokey tempeh "fakin bacon", sauerkraut, I can't use swiss so I just used some vegan american cheese. Then I made my own 1000 island with vegenaise, ketchup and sweet relish.

It was FANTASTIC! AND it cured my reuben craving!! Will be making this again tomorrow, yup.

Satisfied,

Wendy

So at my work, we serve a Reuben sandwich and even though I haven't eaten the ingredients (corned beef, swiss cheese, 1000 island...) for over a month... The sandwich calls out to me. My wonderful experience with sauerkraut on Memorial Day has led me to want this sandwich even more. After researching some recipes online for vegan versions, I am going to attempt to make my own.

It probably won't be too much like the actual sandwich, so I'm going to just make A sandwich instead of a "Reuben" sandwich... All I really want is the sauerkraut anyway....

wish me luck!

Wendy

Circle of Life

A few minutes ago as I was folding up the "100% recycled material" paper bag from whole foods, I realized that my decision to be vegan has not just been recent, it's been my whole life.

I grew up always very sensitive to things around me. I cared a lot about the needs and feelings of others and usually had high expectations of myself to do things above-average. It is my belief that my decision to be vegan, to live animal-friendly and help the environment, was actually not a decision at all, but a realization of how I have always been.

Here are some things that stand out to me when I look back at my childhood:

-The Land Before Time. Yes it is about dinosaurs, but they were still animals. Even though I cried and cried when Little Foot's Mom died, it was still one of my favorite movies ever. Though my tears for the mother's death were in some part due to my broken home, I think a lot of it had to do with my empathy for animals.

-Bambi and Dumbo, Disney movies. Once again, animal death and sad feelings. These two movies as I recall were really hard for me to watch even as a very young child. I would cry so hard when Bambi's mother died, and forget about Dumbo. I remember when I was a child, I would get so mad at those people that tied up Dumbo's mom, all because she was trying to protect her baby. Those stupid kids teased Dumbo and she got upset, so the circus chained her up as a "Mad Elephant", UGH! I used to turn the movie off and storm out. I really didn't like those feelings that I had when watching those scenes. I was too young to understand but I do now, and I still feel the ache in my heart when I remember those moments.

-Another movie, Never Ending Story. The part when Artax dies in the Swamp of Sadness. I really didn't feel as much emotion with any other character in the movie except for Artax in that scene. And when I was a child, I didn't understand why he wouldn't move to save his life. Why Artax?? But he didn't move, he died... And I felt that sadness!

-FernGully. Save the rainforest. Plant seeds. Respect animals.

-Milo and Otis. They have to find their home!

-Lion King (Circle of life, death of Simba's dad).

-The Lorax. A powerful book!!

-When my mom brought home live lobsters to boil for dinner. I begged her to let me free them into the lagoon that we lived right next to at the time... (I was very young). I cried when she boiled them. Would YOU like to be boiled alive??

-One of my first pets was a turtle named Samantha, and a guinea pig named Laura Ingalls Wilder (Yes, at 9 years old I named my pet after a famous author)

-I really hated milk as a child but only for its taste. Then after I had children, I learned that dairy cows are constantly impregnated to keep their milk supply going. To make it worse their babies are taken away for veal or livestock. It kills me to think of how it must feel to be impregnated against your will and then the baby be taken away. So it has not been hard AT ALL to give milk up.

-Any kind of scene in a movie where an animal gets hurt or killed... Even movies where aliens get hurt such as E.T. and Mac and Me. Sadness!!

All of these moments (That I can think of at the top of my head) had big impacts on how I feel about animal cruelty and environmentalism.

More to come another day. I can't stay on the computer too long,

Wendy

How to Handle This

I feel like it has been forever since I updated. I have lots of great photos to share! I started my new job and it has been kind of a big change for me, schedule wise. I am used to working late nights and now I work early mornings. The first week I barely got up in time to get my oldest ready for school and my others fed and dressed all while getting myself ready for a 6-8 hour shift. This means me scarfing down a bowl of raw cereal. Yep, that's right, and NOT making myself a lunch for work. I work at a restaurant that is pretty popular, and it has a large menu, but among the 11 pages of food choices, there is only about 2-3 things I can eat, and only if I alter it such as removing cheeses or meats. Therefore, I don't eat lunch. What does this all mean? It means that I come home from work starving and very tired. My energy level at this point is pretty low and any motivation to whip up something raw and tasty, is pretty much non-existent.

Me being a slow learner sometimes when it comes to being responsible, I have set my alarm for a half an hour to an hour earlier so that I may have some time to get myself ready, my food, and my kids, all without rushing through the door 5 minutes before I have to be at work. This really is a learning experience people. I really am learning how to change my lifestyle A LOT. Eating raw and vegan takes some preparation and I think once you get the hang of it, it gets easier. It's the same with when you were a kid. Learning how to tie your shoes, brush your teeth, get dressed, etc. It becomes easier. So I am trying to be patient and always keep my mind and eyes open for new ways to make better choices.

Here's to getting to bed extra early!! *Rolls eyes*

Cheers

This what has been getting me by at work. I feel full for a good 5 hours. I got the idea for this from my Carol Alt book. The reason why I didn't do this recipe exactly is because it says I need to chop it up in my food processor first at 8 in the morning, it's just too early. I really need to blend this the night before and have it on hand.

What I made: Oats, germinated almonds, germinated walnuts, raisins, strawberries, bananas, cinnamon, raw agave, raw almond milk. The book includes lemon juice and less milk to make a kind of granola.

Before I mixed it up by hand:

One of the best snacks I have discovered on this raw food journey. I highly recommend it for those who are switching to a more raw food diet and are having trouble with resisting sweets and bread. I used manna bread. Manna bread uses all sprouted grains, seeds, nuts, fruits and berries. Very moist, a lot like cake. Delicious and great with pairings.

I discovered this sweet blend of ingredients. Multigrain Manna bread, raw almond butter, banana slices, and raw honey drizzled on top. I seriously. Can't. Believe. How. Freaking. .... Delicious. In fact, today I had another helping of it. This is my newest "guilty" pleasure. Please, try it.

Then my Mom arrived for another weekend visit! I always love her visits, we have a lot of fun and the kiddos love seeing their "Puma" (Grandma).

After picking up the boys from school, I was really craving a fiesta-like meal. I got these sprouted grain tortillas so I made some homemade raw guacamole. So simple.

Avocados, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime. Bam. You're done. I threw some sprouts on there for a little extra texture. I will be making this again except I will also throw on some raw taco "meat" (Refer to Raw Burger entry).

Not the greatest picture yeah but at least I got a picture before scarfing it down.

Still somewhat hungry and wanting something slightly warm, I dove into this recipe thanks again to my Carol Alt book Eating in the Raw. I really need a new recipe book. Next paycheck thanks!

1 cup boiling water poured over some unpasteurized miso and Braggs Liquid Aminos to make a semi-warm broth. I did not have any seaweed so I improvised by tossing in some raw kale. I also included some raw mushrooms and carrots.

For those who don't know, miso is apparently a good source of B12 for vegans, FYI!

And, the Braggs liquid aminos is a good source of the amino acids that are the building blocks for our bodies. It brings a lot of flavor to salads and I think makes a very tasty broth. It's live too, not cooked.

Saturday, we went to one of my favorite farmers markets!

I got a Falafel sandwich with hot sauce sans tzatziki sauce. IT WAS SO GOOD I ATE THIS WHOLE SANDWICH!!!

I got some oranges at the farmers market, the boys made fresh squeezed OJ. Nothing beats fresh squeezed juice!!

I tackled the "Pasta Alla Marina" recipe (Yet again, Carol Alt book)... It was the most meticulous recipe I have attempted thus far.

This was the before photo. Everything I needed.

It required like 5 different fresh herbs all which needs to be stripped off the stem and chopped. This alone took me a good 20 minutes to half an hour because I am a rookie. Please do not let me scare you away because of my inexperience, because it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. My mom calls it the "Italian salsa" because it really did look like salsa with a complete italian flare. I doused some yellow squash strips with this sauce I loved it. I mean, I really, really, loved it. The recipe makes a huge batch so I have lots of leftovers. I enjoyed it more than plain spaghetti. I feel great after I eat it.

The recipe:

5 lbs yellow summer squash

marina sauce:

6 large tomatoes

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes

2 garlic cloves

1/2 bunch fresh basil

1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh oregano

2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup cold-pressed olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

5 dates, pitted

1 tablespoon evaporated sea salt

topping:

1/4 cup olives, chopped

1/4 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup red bell peppers, chopped

1/4 red onions, chopped

Carol Alt referenced this recipe to one of her fav restaurants in NY, Quintessence.

This entry took forever. I need to get up early tomorrow. My next post I will share my adventures in... Eggplant

lovewendy

Marinated Kale

Been super into kale lately and I doubt that it will ever really stop. It's so good for you and I love the taste. I eat it every day in smoothies, salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

I found this recipe while browsing. I just need some flax oil and hemp seeds.

Marinated Kale Salad

Marinade:

• 1 clove garlic, finely diced
• 1 lemon, juice from (about 3 tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar (you can substitute your favorite sweetener)
• pinch Himalayan salt
• pinch pepper
• 1/4 cup flax seed oil

1.Whisk together the garlic, lemon juice, agave, salt and pepper.

2. Slowly pour oil into the mixture while still whisking. Set aside.

Salad:

• 1 bunch kale (I used dinosaur kale for this recipe. see: dinosaur kale)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 2 avocados, chopped
• 1/4 head purple cabbage, chopped
• 1/4 purple onion, diced
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds

1. Remove stems from kale leaves and tear into bite sized pieces.

2. Combine kale with marinade. Massage for a few minutes to well coat, set aside.

3. Prepare tomato, avocado, cabbage and onion.

4. Stir into kale mixture and mix well.

5. Top with 1/4 cup hemp seeds and mix in.

Raw Burger

One of my favorite places to eat here in San Diego is Evolution Fast Food. It's a fast food drive thru alternative that offers all vegan food and smoothies with some raw options. I absolutely love their "raw burger". It's wrapped in cabbage and the "meat" patty is this like... nut mixture... and there is this raw "cheese", topped with onions, sprouts and tomatoes. UGH! SO GOOD.

I really wanted one today but I didn't have all the ingredients. So what? I made it anyway... I have cabbage and some nuts, with a little research online, I managed it.

"Meat":

Walnuts

Sundried tomatoes rehydrated

Cayenne

Chili powder

Sea Salt

"Cheese":

Germinated Cashews

Garlic 1/2 clove

Cayenne pepper

Sea Salt

Unpasteurized miso

Water

The "meat" and the "cheese" mix separately in a food processor.

Wrap it in cabbage. sweet and tanginess of the sundried tomatoes flavored nice with the miso flavored "cheese". This batch made enough for about 4 "burgers" and I don't have any tomatoes or sprouts but I did have some avocado. It turned out just fine. Can't wait to get paid!

Love

Wendy

Getting to 50% Raw; A Long Way to Go

My new favorite breakfast: uncooked oats with raw almond milk, strawberries, bananas, and a drizzle of raw agave. I think I like uncooked oats better.

My new love: Radishes. I have been eating them every day for the last week.

I got a recipe from a movie I watched (I'll talk more later about the movies I have been watching lately, as they are food related). This is called "orange pudding" though all that is in it are sweet potatoes, brown rice, and vanilla almond milk (But you can use other dairy-free milks). Deelish. I don't remember the exact recipe so I just used 1 sweet potato and about 1 cup brown rice, with enough almond milk to get the consistency I wanted.

Today I was feeling kinda down in the dumps and was really craving a hearty, feel-good kinda meal. I made a nice grilled cheese sandwich on rye bread, with earth balance vegan butter and pepperjack daiya cheese. For the soup I used a canned organic "Mediterranean veggie soup. You gotta love the grilled cheese dipped in soup. Brings back that little girl eatin her "girl cheese". ahhh le sigh

I am trying to up my raw intake but I have been about 90% vegan for the last 3 weeks. The only time I have had any dairy was some raw cheese I bought from whole foods.

i am tired.night.

Post 3-Day Weekend Vegan Cupcakes

On Tuesday, after Memorial Day, we made some vegan cupcakes. I just got the Arrowhead Mills brand organic "Bake With Me" cupcake mix. Substituted Ener-G Egg Replacer, and vanilla almond milk for eggs and cow's milk. Good to go!

So easy

My mom making the icing. Tofutti cream cheese (1 container) and about 1 stick of Earth Balance vegan buttery sticks, with as much powdered sugar as you want.

I didn't have any berries to make the icing a different color, so I just dropped some green food dye in it. Not the best I know, but... I am learning.

Here is Joaquin getting a taste of it while icing the cupcakes

Johnny gets a turn now

A little sprinkle of coconut and voila! I ate THREE of them!! The boys got to take some to their pops house. I hope they enjoy them like I have!

Feeling more confident in making vegan sweets

Love

Wendy