Tag Archives: vegan

{thirsty thursday} — still lovin’ the vitamix

7 Feb

when i tell people i have a vitamix they usually ask two questions :

1. do you love it?

2. how often do you use it?

and i always say, “yes.  and every day!”

and i really do.  i use it at least once a day to make a smoothie.  usually for breakfast or with it or before i head to work in the afternoon.  i use my vitamix every single day.  and i love it!  i’m working on perfecting recipes to share on the blog of other amazing things it does.  for example : nut butters, soups, flours, and sorbet to name a few.

but it was still love at first sight and i’ve been falling in love more every day. how can i not?!  heavy duty, all one-piece, little to no food waste, easy cleanup – what more can you ask for in an all-purpose kitchen appliance?!

this creation was one of my favourites to date :

vitamixsmoothie-6 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — “this is the healthiest superbowl party i’ve ever been to”

4 Feb

hA! i’m still sort of giggling from the comment one of my friend’s made at the superbowl gathering my former roomie had this weekend.  and what a game!  way to go, ravens – so well-deserved!!

since going pretty much 100% vegan recently, it’s hard to eat out or even go to a friend’s house to eat, because basically everything that is prepared has some form of dairy or animal product in it.  so i brought over my own food and made something easy to munch on for the big game.  it was a hit!

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i also toasted some falafel in the oven and chopped up some celery, carrots, and mixed sweet peppers as well as some fruit.  one healthy spread, indeed. and all 3 dudes gobbled it up!

“this is the healthiest superbowl party i’ve ever been to”  – one of them exclaimed.  i laughed so hard, it was so great.

salsaguac-web-1 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — another vitamix smoothie!

31 Jan

vitamix – i highly recommend investing in one.  they are incredible machines!  i juice every day now!

i whipped together a different blend of juice this time from random stuff i had inside the fridge…

vitamix1-30-1 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — an easy make-ahead meal : rainbow rice

28 Jan

greetings, you faithful readers, you.  and thanks for reading 🙂

here’s a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge – one you can take to lunch during the week or add to your plate at dinner time. nutritious, colourful, and budget-friendly – that’s quite a trifecta!

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rainbow rice – because it’s so colourful 🙂

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– about a cup wild rice, rinsed

– 3 small zucchini, chopped

– 3 small bell peppers, chopped Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — my morning vitamix smoothie

24 Jan

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this has been on the menu for a few weeks now.  eventually i’ll switch it up and try new things.  but i have had a lot going on in my life as of late – however, i believe the dust is finally starting to settle.  and no, i don’t have measurements for you – i just wing it! 🙂  i try to use all organic products, as well… for many reasons.  i ought to write a blog on organics soon…

– frozen strawberries

– frozen blackberries

– frozen cherries

– fresh kale or spinach

– 1/2 banana {a whole one takes over the flavour!}

– 1/2 pear {seeds included}

– a few dates {pitted}

– orange juice

– grape juice

– almond milk

– raw protein powder {this is my favourite}

– flax seeds

– maca root powder {a smidge – stuff is potent!}

throw it all in that amazing vitamix machine on high and blend for about a minute – the consistency is so awesome with the vitamix!  i highly recommend investing in one.  it’s totally worth it!  i can’t wait to experiment more with other things like soups and nut butters… !

SLAINTE!

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{try-me tuesday} – a pomelo fruit

22 Jan

ever seen one of these? you may have passed them in the produce section and wondered what that odd-looking grapefruit type thing was… well, it’s a pomelo – or, pummelo. they aren’t exactly inexpensive, i will say.  this is because they are usually sold by the pound and are rather heavy.  i paid about 4 bucks for this one… but i bought it with the specific intent of sharing it on the blog with all of you.  they are super yummy.  if you like grapefruit, there’s a good chance you’ll like a pummelo… the rind is very thick {about a half inch to inch} and the flesh is usually pinkish, but can vary depending on size, origin, etc.

try one!

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this guy weighed about 2.5 pounds – i’ve seen them as big and as heavy as 4 pounds – that’s like a 9 dollar piece of fruit! haha

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check out that rind!  {and that pretty colour!}

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so yummy. and so good for you : fiber, vitamin c, and potassium all come with pummelo’s yummy flavour.

try one, for real!  eat them by the slice, throw them in a smoothie {white part too, it’s full of fiber!}, add to a fruit salad, freeze and throw in some soda water… whatever you do, enjoy it!

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{meatless monday} — spaghetti squash primavera; it’s kind of one of my favs.

21 Jan

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i make this meal a lot.

it’s basically just a bunch of vegetables.  have you ever had spaghetti squash?! it’s amazing.  i want to make some kind of soup with it soon… ideas are welcomed!

i moved recently, as i think i mentioned… and i’m still getting used to my new kitchen.  i will admit i very much miss the kitchen i used to live in – i just loved how big and open it was and with LOADS of counter space… but i’m grateful for my new home and once we get the garden going, i will be extra joyous!  and yes, i will be blogging all about that adventure!

here’s today’s simple meatless monday recipe.  takes a bit longer to make than most of the dishes i feature on this blog, but this is well-worth the wait! so good for you, packed with nutrients and vitamins and yanno, it obviously tastes amazing or why would i bother?! 🙂 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — shitake mushroom and cippolini onion risotto w/ an authentic abbey

17 Jan

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i’m extra excited about risotto now. wanna know why?! besides the fact that it’s kinda fun to make – i just found out that risotto is naturally gluten-free… hooray for that!  it’s a rather starchy grain, and makes for an outstanding vegan dish such as this.  simple ingredients, simple cooking, COMPLEX flavour!  delicious.  i super heart risotto, and you should too… it’s easy to fall in love with it.  here’s what i made for this dish :

mushroomrisotto-web-1 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — “amazeballs” – a new year’s resolution-kinda snack you can enjoy 7-days a week!

31 Dec

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a new year is ahead of us. {hooray!} this means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  for me, it means manifesting only good things derived from light, happiness, peace, honesty, community, harmony, respect, and most of all – LOVE. because that’s just how it has to be… and it will be.

and for a lot of people, new year’s resolutions are a common theme – many of which include things like “living a healthier lifestyle” or “eating better” and the like.  so in the spirit of new beginnings and living a healthier, simpler, easier life – here is a recipe i came up with a couple weeks ago that will blow your taste-buds away.  they’ll want to be calling more buds and be like, “dude, you gotta try this!”

easy. healthy. simple. delicious.

that’s how i roll. just like these “amazeballs” – and they’re sweet and savory – like me 😉 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — “vitamix breakfast cookies” and another vitamix smoothie

29 Nov

these are always always always a hit.  i’m not much of a baker, but when i find something that is easy to make and that people like, i try to create it into my own.  i have yet to quite create the perfect consistency for these {i’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to anything i make or do}, but i do think i found the right name for them.  the ingredients are so simple and healthy that you could literally eat them for breakfast – and not feel at all guilty about it!! they are also great for holiday parties or after school snacks. a good source of dietary fiber and protein as well as healthy fats. Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — meet the latest in supergrains : kaniwa

26 Nov

i discovered this grain in the bulk section.  i’m always looking for new grains to try… i’m not much on rice, i’m kind of burnt out on cous cous, and quinoa can be expensive and a pain to have to rinse every time.  kaniwa is fairly new to the united states, and therefore not a lot of nutritional information is yet available on it.  however, according to this site, it is high in protein much like its quinoa cousin.  kaniwa does not contain saponins like quinoa does, and therefore it does not have to be soaked or rinsed prior to cooking.

kaniwa is so itsy bitsy – a tiny little grain with a big earthy taste.  according to what i’ve read, kaniwa is best served as a porridge, with butter and maple syrup.  so that’s exactly how i prepared it. Continue reading →

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{whatever wednesday} — batch cooking

14 Nov

okay…

this week has been epic for me.  why? you ask… well, i’ll sum it up in my usual cryptic style :

i’m transforming and it’s really kind of kicking my ass. and as some of you may know, i’m a huge astrology buff, and boy is there some major stuff going on up in those beautiful stars… and it’s totally changing my life!  good stuff, but also a lot of purging.  i’ve been meditating longer than normal, and it actually takes a lot out of me, physically.  which is fine because i’m manifesting some BIG changes that need to occur.  i started to blog about it and realized it was a little heavy for some… so maybe i’ll open those doors again later, but for now we’ll stick to the basics – food and fotos. meanwhile, i’ll continue to lovingly work on this planet from behind the scenes…

you’re welcome.

so, having said all that – i bought a car recently and that means reconfiguring my food budget a little.  it’s a good thing, because it kind of forces me to do what i always said i liked doing anyway… batch cooking ahead of time and packing my lunch for work 4-5 days a week.  it’s so easy to spend 5, 10, 15 dollars a day at work just buying food on-the-go and i’ve found i spend half my breaks just buying food.  so, why not plan ahead, save some money, AND save time in the long run… you know how we roll here at food and foto, we KISS – Keep It Seriously Simple.

i’ll just give myself 3-4 hours on my day off in the kitchen and just work my pots and pans out!  i throw on some music or some bad TV in the background, pour a mimosa, and plan my meals for the week.

Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — overnight lentil soup

12 Nov

happy monday, ya’ll!

sorry for my absence – i missed you.  i was away last weekend in the mountains, and i didn’t get the chance to blog remotely on monday or tuesday and by the time mid-week rolled around i just decided to take the rest of the week off from blogging.  with the holidays rapidly approaching, my “day job” will get more demanding of my time and energy, and thus i will appreciate the “calm before the storm,” if you will.

so, we’re back on track and here is today’s meatless monday recipe. it’s all about soup in the audrey michelle household.  soup is all the things i look for in a meal : simple, healthy, easy, filling, and delicious. cost-effective, too!

see, i just bought a car.  i think i mentioned that?  well, a car means a car payment for me and that means reconfiguring my budget.  i typically just splurge on food – it’s just my thing, i don’t shop, i don’t go out, i don’t eat out – my “treat” is food, always has been.  and it will continue to be that way, i just have to be a little more aware and plan ahead.  i plan on posting a blog about batch cooking, which ultimately saves time and money… just need to allot some time to yourself to plan ahead and just do it!

soup is a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge and is friendly with the wallet. so, on with the recipe!

Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} – homemade roasted pumpkin seeds w/ a belgian tripel

1 Nov

hope you all had a safe and happy halloween!  i just LOVE this time of year, don’t you?!  i love being in the kitchen more than normal… and i love busting out my crockpot… and i’m even more eager to bust out my vitamix!!  i will be doing that this weekend when i am basically a personal chef for my best friends in the rockies 🙂

i also love making my own pumpkin seeds.  they are one of my favourite snacks, and when pumpkins are on sale –  so what better time to make some?!  i paid 2 bucks for my pumpkins on a one-day sale.  i would say these average sized pumpkins yield about 2-3 cups of seeds – that’s a decent value! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} – another spaghetti squash meal

29 Oct

look at that colourful plate!

i heart vegetables.  i especially heart spaghetti squash, it’s seriously one of my favourites!  and it’s hard to get it all year round, but i try anyway.  right now is the best time to buy it – totally in season, and they are HUGE.  i like that there is usually a variety in size with spaghetti squash… i typically buy a smaller one just for myself and my roommate, although it is still very good as leftovers, so make extra if you want!

i also realized, when browsing through previous posts to make sure i wasn’t duplicating this one, that i eat a lot of tomatoes.  i mean, A LOT!  i cook them, which i’ve read is actually better than eating them raw because they are more bioavailable that way. in other words, your body uses the nutrients more effectively because they are cooked… i don’t fully understand it all, but this fact i found online was interesting :

Lycopene, the antioxidant found in tomatoes in large quantities, is located in cell walls. Cooking tomatoes releases lycopene to do its work. A combined analysis of 21 studies published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention showed that men who ate the highest amounts of raw tomatoes had an 11% reduction in risk for prostate cancer. Those eating the most cooked tomato products fared even better: their prostate cancer risk was reduced by 19%.

so – hooray for cooked tomatoes! Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — pasta primavera w/ a local oktoberfest lager

18 Oct

if you’ve been a reader for a bit, you probably know by now that i do not often cook pasta.  i am getting better, but for the longest time it just seemed like i couldn’t make a decent pasta dish to save my life.

mostly, i just throw together stuff in my fridge and call it a “primavera” — and i’ve been on this kick where i just make my own sauce fresh every time i make a pasta dish or spaghetti squash dish.  i’m all about things in one pan… make it easy! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} mushrooms as the main dish

1 Oct

i seriously LOVE mushrooms.

i could eat them with every meal.  and sometimes it seems like i do. contrary to what many people think when they meet me, i’m not a vegetarian or vegan and i do not follow a rigid diet plan of any kind — however, i do try to eat about 80-90% fruits and vegetables every day.  i find that mushrooms make a great meat substitute, mostly for the texture. some of my favourite meat substitutes are mushrooms.  the texture is great, there is such a variety, and i just LOVE the flavour!  of all kinds, really… i don’t necessarily find the need to “substitute” my meat, it’s just that i find my body doesn’t crave the meat as much as it does fish or beans or other proteins.  every now and again i’ll have a burger or once in a blue moon i’ll have a steak, however i can’t remember the last time i did that. point is – mushrooms are great!

Continue reading →

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{meatless monday – peewee potatoes}

24 Sep

look at these adorable little potatoes.  aren’t they cute?!  when i saw them i let out a little squeal and snagged them up.  they are in fact called, “pee wee potatoes” and rightfully so, they are itty bitty!  like, no bigger than a small pebble, i love it.

 

i just kept them whole, smothered them in EVOO and a S&P and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for about a half hour or so, until tender.

then take them out and let them cool a bit… {isn’t it interesting how the colour changes}

serve as is.  i ate this entire bowl, they are out of this world delicious!  sweet and creamy and they ‘pop’ when you bite into them… so much fun.

 

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{meatless monday} — audrey michelle’s simple house salad

17 Sep

sometimes, i just want crunch, texture, tangy, salty, slightly cheesy, light food.  and usually i crave a salad.  i eat really well, generally speaking.  i have a healthy, well-balanced diet.  and so if i’m craving something, i listen to that craving.  i have noticed i’ll crave something like this simple salad after i’ve loaded up on too many carbs or rich proteins.  it’s like my body finds a way to tell me i need the balance… so cool.

i’ve been kind of a slacker eater this past week.  i was up in the mountains for work a couple weeks ago and the company gave us a pretty hefty per diem for food, so i just splurged.  plus, it’s a 3-hour ride so we snacked and snacked! also, uhm… continental breakfast!?  yes, please.  every morning! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — creamy sauteed leek and shitake mushroom risotto

10 Sep

i have been wanting to try to make my own risotto for weeks now.  there seems to be a stigma attached to making risotto – like it’s the hardest thing in the world to make or something. i don’t know, i think it’s just time consuming, so many people don’t want to bother with it.

when i batch cook, i don’t mind taking a little extra time to make something i can eat for a few days. also, someone recommended another sweet recipe for leftover risotto, which i plan to make this week for thirsty thursday – so stay tuned for that!

i was inspired by leeks. i never really use them and yet i love the flavour. mushroom risotto is kind of classic, so i figured i’d just toss the leeks in with the familiar favourite.  shitake mushrooms are loaded with flavour as well, and they have wonderful healing properties.  plus, they were one of the only organic and local mushroom selections available, so i opted for them. Continue reading →

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