Vegan Spinach "Risotto" and Butternut Squash Mash

Hmmm…risotto might be overstating it a bit.  However, that's what I think it tastes like so that's what I'm going with.  This recipe is great to make at the beginning of the week, because it yields tons of leftovers.  It also works cold as a salad topper.  

-♥ J :)

Vegan Spinach "Risotto" 
(serves 4)
Ingredients:

• 2 packets Trader Joe's Frozen Organic Brown Rice (approx. 4 cups)
• 4 cups organic frozen spinach
• 1 1/4 cups organic vegetable broth
• 1 1/4 cups Rawmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup Earth Balance Soy-Free, Dairy-Free "butter" (But if you add more, I won't tell…)
• lemon juice

Optional:

• halved cherry tomatoes
• garlic
• lemon pepper

Directions:

1. In a pot with a lid, combine frozen spinach, brown rice and vegetable broth.  
2. Being sure to stir occasionally, cover and cook on med-high heat until spinach and rice are thoroughly cooked (5-10 minutes).
3. Reduce to a simmer and fold in "butter."
4. Add Rawmesan cheese.
5. Add any optional ingredients like garlic, cherry tomatoes and lemon pepper if so desired.
6. Plate and garnish with a squeeze of lemon.
7. Eat and Enjoy!

 

Butternut Squash Mash

(serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen butternut squash (I got this brand at Whole Foods.)
• 1/4 cup organic vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup Earth Balance Soy-Free, Dairy-Free "butter" 
• 1/2 cup organic mixed greens
• Trader Joe's Balsamic Glaze 
• cinnamon 

Directions:

1. Cook butternut squash the same way we cooked the broccoli, but instead of water use vegetable broth.
2. When cooked fold in "butter" and mash squash.
3. Plate over mixed greens.
4. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon and a drizzle of Trader Joe's balsamic glaze.**
5. Eat and Enjoy!

**This balsamic glaze is my new favorite thing.  Not only does it give every dish a delicious tangy sweetness, but it really makes you feel like a fancy pants chef. ;)

Vegan Blog Lovin'

pictures and illustrations via The Vegan Stoner

Feeling the need for some vegan inspiration???

Take a trip to The Vegan Decision* where you can find "thoughtful essays from people who made the decision to stop eating animals." There people write about "what led to that decision" and how it has affected their world.  The writers also share links to some of their favorite vegan things.

After you are done, hop on over to the blog that Vegan Decision called the "coolest vegan recipe blog, by far." Introducing: The Vegan Stoner.  This blog will show you how to "cook cheap, fast, and vegan"  with mouthwatering photos, simple instructions and adorable illustrations.  (Those are their yummy pics up above...)

I'm so in love with these blogs.  Fall in love, too, right here and here.

-♥ J :)

*Want to share your vegan story???  Email The Vegan Decision here.  Be sure to check the website for essay guidelines.

Organic, Vegan Meals…$2.36 a pop.

Me: "You can't get the Sweet and Savory."

My husband stared at me blankly.
He looked down at the bag of delicious, chocolatey trail mix in his hands.

Him: "Why not?"

Me: "It's not on the list."

Him: "What list? What are you talking about?"

Me: "I'm trying to see if we can eat three meals a day, for a week for less than a hundred dollars and the Sweet and Savory is not an essential. Besides it's not vegan."

Him: "I'm not a vegan."

Me: "I know, but this week you are going to eat vegan, too."

Him: "What?! Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!?!"

I will spare you the lecture that I then proceeded to unload on my husband.
The lecture included a commentary on the great food divide that is growing in this country and this ARTICLE and the fact that more than 50 million people are what is known as "food insecure" and are not sure if they will have enough food to last the week let alone concern themselves with all the luxurious trivia we debate over like "in season" and "locally grown" and "organic"…which, by the way, should NOT be a label or a description because ORGANIC is the way ALL FOOD SHOULD BE GROWN and not a privilege for those can afford it…and we can not ask people to change their eating habits if the system makes it literally impossible for them to do so and those of us who do have the luxury of choice need to fight for the weaker amongst us and demand food equality for all and if we truly want to see things change we need to…as Gandhi said… be the change we want to see in the world.

I carried on all the way to the canned goods aisle.

I'll just give you the cliff notes...

Bringing Home Baby

We have a very special new addition in our house.

She is 20-1/2" tall, a healthy 10 lbs. 9 oz., and she blends like a Mo-Fo.

Meet…Ruby!

My New Vita-Mix!!!

Gaahh!!!

I am so giddy with excitement I can barely stop blending things long enough to write this.  So far I've made broccoli and lentil soup…broccoli, lentil and avocado soup…a banana, almond butter, cacao smoothie…banana, blueberry, orange juice smoothie…dijon vinaigrette dressing…avocado raw-vegan ceasar dressing….I'm a woman possessed!  My poor husband has been eating pureed foods for three days straight.  I'm actually glad I'm stuck at home with a cold because that means I get to stay in and blend juice all day.

Let me tell you about my little sweet-pea Ruby.  Ruby is quite the overachiever.  She turns everything into yummy, blended loveliness in record time.  She chops, juices, purees, grinds.  She can make nut butters and heat soup!  And cleaning her is super easy.  No parts to dismantle.  Just squirt her with some dish soap, fill with warm water, blend on high and rinse.  I am so in love.

I'll be sure to keep track of all my blending adventures and post the ones that I think turn out the best (e.g. the avocado raw-vegan ceasar…AMAZING!).  Today, in honor of the cold that I am battling, I will leave you with my favorite smoothie recipe. This recipe is so cheap and easy it's ridiculous.  Not only is it my go to cold remedy, but it's pretty much my breakfast all summer long.  When my friend Erika was pregnant with her son she couldn't get enough of this smoothie and…well…her son turned out friggin' adorable(!!!).  Coincidence????  Well, maybe.  Erika and her husband are very attractive.  But it's still a really good smoothie.

Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

You will need:

1 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries

1 and 1/4 cup water

Juice of one whole lemon.

Half a packet of Nu Naturals Stevia.

Makes 1 serving.

Put all the ingredients into Ruby… I mean...a blender.

Blend and drink.*

* I like to add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds to this smoothie.

(But, full disclosure, I'll add chia seeds to anything standing still…)

Any berries can be substituted for blueberries.

Just make sure they are frozen and (if possible) organic**.

Agave or (a touch of) maple syrup can be substituted for Stevia.

If you add more water to the recipe it turns it into blueberry juice!

Much love, my Veggies!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Yes, that is me cradling my blender.

Don't judge me.

-♥ J

**Non-organic berries are often listed in "The Dirty Dozen" foods that have the highest pesticide residue.

Guest Post: You Are What You (Don't?) Eat.

"Ninety per cent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat." -- Victor Lindlhar, Author, You Are What You Eat: How to Win and Keep Health With Diet,1942

You are what you eat.

There's no denying it's a popular phrase, uttered by moms and nutritionists alike over the last 70 years. It's a pretty well agreed upon notion.

So why are we vegans and vegetarians defined by what we don't eat?

Cheater, Cheater Cheese Eater

My name is Jen and I'm a vegan.  Kinda.

If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago if I was a vegan I would have most cheerily, most virtuously responded: "Definitely!!! Totally a vegan. Yup, that's me."  "Oh, about ten years. "  "No! It's not hard at all. You should really try it. It's amazing. It will change your life."

But I am about to share a dirty little secret with you.  Blow the whistle on this whole veg eatin' operation.  I am about to go all Norma Rae on your be-hind…..