MEATLESS MONDAYS: 2 Recipes This Week!

Since my computer decided to be difficult last week, I wasn't able to blog in the way I and you have gotten used to. So, since there was no "Meatless Monday" recipe for last week, I'm giving you two this week!!!! As usual, I sure would like to hear your thoughts on the recipes, what you will do or did do to make it more your own and anything else you want to add! Thanks guys, can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Recipe #1: (pictured above)

Mango and Avocado Salad with Black Beans and Lime Vinaigrette

Serves 6

Tropical flavors of mango and citrus complement black beans in this colorful salad.

Ingredients

2 ripe but firm avocados, halved, peeled and cubed
3 tablespoons lime juice, divided
2 ripe but firm mangoes, peeled and cubed
1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained

Method

Gently toss avocado with 1 tablespoon of the lime juice in a medium bowl. Add mango, jalapeño and salt and gently toss to combine. Set aside.

Whisk together remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice, zest, sugar and cilantro in a large bowl. Whisk in oil until thoroughly combined to make a thick vinaigrette then season with salt and pepper. Add black beans and avocado mixture and toss gently.
Add black beans and avocado mixture and toss gently. Spoon salad onto plates, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 7oz/204g-wt.): 240 calories (130 from fat), 15g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 210mg sodium, 27g total carbohydrate (8g dietary fiber, 11g sugar), 5g protein

Recipe #2

Quick Vegetarian Gumbo

Serves 4

Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available in the Whole Foods Market Family of Brands.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil*
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 (16-ounce) package frozen bell pepper strips*
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes*
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed*
1/2 to 1 tablespoon blackened cajun spice*
1/2 pound vegetarian sausage links, Cajun or spicy variety, cut into 1-inch slices
3/4 cup rice (white or quick-cooking brown)
8 ounces frozen cut okra*
Hot sauce to taste*

Method

Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot until warm. Add garlic and sauté briefly. Stir in peppers. Cook another 4 minutes then add tomatoes, beans, seasoning and sausage. Bring to a boil and add rice. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Add okra and simmer another 10 minutes or until rice is cooked. Serve with hot sauce on the side.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 21oz/583g-wt.): 530 calories (170 from fat), 19g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 23g protein, 69g total carbohydrate (13g dietary fiber, 11g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 830mg sodium

MEATLESS MONDAY- Grilled Avocado Sandwich

I don't know about you, but to me, there is just something so yummy about avocados. Of course here in Iowa, we can get them, but since they have a California or warmer kinda climate sort of appeal and I'm a real warm weather kinda gal (yes, I've often wondered what the heck I'm doing in Iowa from time to time), that might be another reason why I love them so much. And, I remember my mom eating half an avocado with a big dollop of Miracle Whip in the middle and that would be a special treat/meal for her (but wrong on SO many levels.... but that is another story....)

Avocado's are really one of the super foods out there. If you aren't including avocado in your diet, you really are missing out! Try out this yummy recipe and let me know what you think!

Grilled Avocado Sandwich

Ingredients:

~1 large, ripe avocado, preferably Hass or another "fatty" one

~4 slices of sandwich bread (whatever kind you like)

~vegan "buttery" spread

~optional:whole grain mustard, vegan mayo

Directions:

Cut avocado in half and remove pit. Slice into thin wedges. Set aside. Spread the buttery spread on one side of all the bread slices. Place one slice, buttery side down, in a preheated frying pan over medium-low heat. If you want to add vegan mayo, mustard, or other "dressings" now is the time! Otherwise, lay the avocado slices from one half of the avocado on the bread, covering well. Place another slice of bread, buttered side up, on top. Let cook 3-5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden to your liking. Carefully flip the sandwich over and grill the other side 3-5 minutes. Repeat the above to make the second sandwich.

This is best when you have a really fatty, good avocado (like Hass). If you use a Florida or other "low fat" or "wet" avocado the flavor is still there but it isn't as good in my opinion. This goes well with soup.

Makes: 2 servings, Preparation time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 10 minutes

I added some banana peppers (LOVE those on sandwiches; give it a try and let me know what you think!) and a slice of tomato. This would be great with some yummy tomato soup or a nice fresh green salad. Stay away from the junkie chips and stuff though!

Let me know how you like it and anything you do to make it your own! Enjoy! :)

Meatless Monday- Black Beans and Rice

I'm starting something new, seeing it is the beginning of April and seems like a great time to add new kinds of posts to the blog. This is going to be a Meatless Monday post and I will be planning on adding a new one each Monday. Being vegetarian or vegan isn't for everyone, but having some meatless meals a week is not only doable for everyone, but it healthy and cheaper than the meals with meat. So, without further ado.....

One of my favorite meals is variations of beans and rice. Not only is it tasty and filling, but it is one of the ultimate meals for health. This is one I made yesterday for Easter, because I wanted to be sure there was something I was able to eat, besides veggie tray and salad. Have to say, I really loved it!

Black Beans and Rice

1 C Brown Rice

1 1/2 C Water

1/4 C Lime Juice

1/8 C Chopped Cilantro

2 Cans Black Beans, drained and rinsed or

3 C dry Black Beans, cooked

1 T Olive Oil

1 Green Bell Pepper, diced

1 Onion, diced

3 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 T Jalapeño Peppers, minced

1 t Oregano

2 t Cumin

3 C Vegetable Broth

Cayenne Pepper sauce (optional)

Cook the rice, adding the water, lime juice and cilantro per directions (I use my rice steamer and it takes 1 hour).

In a separate dutch oven, sauté green pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeño peppers, oregano and cumin for around 5 minutes. Then add the beans and vegetable broth and cook for 30 minutes.

Once rice is done, either mix into the bean mixture or serve the bean mixture over the rice.

Time for tea!

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Let me know what your favorite kind of tea is and why. I'd love to hear what everyone is drinking and learning about some that I might have not tried yet!

My New, Crunchy, Vegan Life

About the middle of December, I saw this little ad on Facebook about a 21-Day Vegan Kickstart. Well, it intrigued me, so I clicked on it. It was for a PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) and is also being supportive by lots of the more well known vegans, like Alicia Silverstone, Rory Freeman (Skinny Bitch), Bob Harper and Marilu Henner.

I actually started a little early, kind of a test run to see if I could handle it before I really committed to it. So, on December 27th, I went vegan. It has now been 22 days, and I can honestly say that I am really loving it. Not only do I feel lighter, calmer and more energized, but I lost 5 lbs. almost immediately. In addition to that, I've become even more aware about what the animals go through to become part of our diet (it's not pretty, not at all).

I've been cooking with many new things that I haven't used before, like miso, tempeh, brown rice sugar, tofu, mirin, TVP, nutritional yeast and more. All of these things can be found in a health food store or Amazon, so it's pretty easy to get set up. Some have been hits and some misses, but it has been fun.

Today, I had oatmeal with some organic brown sugar, ground flax seed, maple syrup and almond milk. Also had a almond granola bar, salsa and chip and homemade tomato soup and grilled "cheese" sandwich with fakin' bacon and tomato. For dessert, I had vanilla soy yogurt with some strawberry jam and Fiber One mixed in. Pretty normal meals and all really good!

I really think I'm going to be sticking with this. I've already read "The Kind Life" by Alicia Silverston and now "Vegan Freak". Quite interesting stuff and must reads if you are even a bit interested in the idea of being a vegan.

Going out to eat has been a bit more interesting. I've had veggie pizza without cheese, veggie sandwiches, and yesterday, nachos without any meat, cheese or sour cream (poor waitress was rather confused....). At lease the nachos were already coming with black beans and the usually nacho veggies. So it all worked out :)

I plan to continue writing about my experience and things I learn, so stay tuned!

21-Day Vegan Kickstart- Would You Like To Join Me?

I recently found this ad on Facebook that I decided to click. It was the "21-Day Vegan Kickstart". Now, I am not a vegan, or vegetarian, but I try to eat several meals a week that would fall under either of these categories. So, I was intrigued when I saw this ad & wanted to check it out. I've been feeling a bit more tired, face breaking out & feeling bloated lately, so something like this might do the trick to get me back to my old self.

I joined this challenge as well as their Facebook group, of the same name. This is what is listed under the info tab on Facebook:

Get Ready to Kickstart Your Health in 2010! Join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's online 21-Day Vegan Kickstart and win the food fight in 2010. Sign up: http://21DayKickstart.org The Kickstart will give you an all-access pass to: *Celebrity tips providing guidance and inspiration *Nutrition webcasts *Daily e-tips *A 21-day meal plan *Social support through a message board where nutrition professionals answer your health questions

          Mission:

Based on research by Neal Barnard, M.D., one of America’s leading health advocates, this program is designed for anyone who wants to explore and experience the health benefits of a vegan diet.

          Products:

FREE online 21-Day Vegan Kickstart: http://21DayKickstart.org

Now, there are some GREAT vegan cookbooks & websites out there that can help you get started. Some are:

The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet

This book is by Alicia Silverstone. She has been vegan for quite a long time & has some really great recipes in this book. It is definitely one to add to the library if this is a way of eating you are committed to.


The 30-Minute Vegan: Over 175 Quick, Delicious, and Healthy Recipes for Everyday Cooking
 
 Now, who in this day & age does not like quick & easy meals? After all, isn't our love affair with fast food drive thru's at least partially to blame for the obesity epidemic? Check out this book & get rid of the excuses!

Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Food: 65 Everyday Meal Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Over 150 Great-tasting, Down-home Recipes

Then there is the comfort food. I can tell you that when the weather is cold & icky here in Iowa, I love nothing more than some kind of comfort food. Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, a big bowl of some hearty stew.... Mmmm..... So, here's one that will prove that veganism & comfort food CAN go together!


These are just a handful that are available. I will share more as we go along. In the meantime, get yourself signed up. After all, it is only for 21 day, starting January 1st. You can do anything for 21 days, & who knows? Maybe it will be the change you & your body has been needing!

Let me know that you have signed up so we can partner up & help each other out!