Tag Archives: vegetarian

{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!

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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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{meatless monday} – simple and colourful pasta salad

27 Aug

i heart italian dressing.

and i’m always trying to find ways to put in on things.  i would like to come up with a recipe of my own and just make it at home, but somehow i don’t seem to get the combinations right, it’s frustrating.  so i just buy whole foods’ brand.  and it’s probably just about the same cost as buying the ingredients to make yourself, to be honest.  plus i love a light summer salad for dinner, but those days are almost over – womp womp.

mostly i just had this stuff lying around, so i put it all together with some veggie pasta and VIOLA!  something to put italian dressing on!  Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} – homemade black bean & tomato hummus w/ a pumpkin ale

16 Aug

too soon?!

it’s not quite autumn, i do realize that — but the air in colorado has been changing and i even saw some yellow leaves on a green tree on my walk around the lake the other day… just sayin’ – pretty soon, they’ll be tons of corn and pumpkins!

and besides, i love blue moon beer.  i’ve tried {almost} all of their beers and i have enjoyed each one.

simple black bean hummus : 

 

– chickpeas {“this” many}

– 1 can or box black beans

– some tomatoes {did i mention how i don’t measure…}

i used these delicious little cherry tomatoes and golden nugget tomatoes. how incredible do just their names sound?!  yum.

throw those three simple ingredients in a food processor, add in a little S&P, and spin in some EVOO as needed – start with a little, add as you go if necessary…

blend until desired texture… you know, like – hummus 🙂

serve with whatever.  for lunch, i smeared some on a slice of naan bread.  pita would work, too. add in some falafel and make a wrap out of it…

or, dip some blue chips in it.  YUM!

i accompanied it with this yummy brew.

who cares if it’s kind of an autumn beer?!  it was spicy-ish, less pumpkin than spicy – at least according to my palate.  i love the colour and i really enjoyed it. warm and complex, it would be good alone as an after-dinner drink, or with a mild dish like this hummus or even a mild cheese.

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{meatless monday} – spaghetti squash w/ spinach

13 Aug

i heart spaghetti squash.  a lot.

i love the texture, the colour, the crunch… it’s a great vegan option — in fact, why didn’t i make this on my cleanse?! i think it wasn’t available in organic at the time… anyway, here are the {uber-simple} ingredients i used :

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{meatless monday} – sweet potato, carrot, & falafel open-faced pitas

6 Aug

good morning, happy monday, hope you all had a nice weekend.

i was delightfully lazy yesterday, glued to the couch and the olympics most of the day.  i completely heart sundays for that reason.  if i want to go somewhere, i can – but mostly it’s just my day to rest… and eat.  🙂

this dish was created because i always keep falafel in the house – it’s one of my protein staples, and i love love love it!  i also had another bunch of the purple carrots – and i know they compliment sweet potatoes well.  i had almond milk in the fridge, and i keep the spice on hand because i love curry spice!  i didn’t have any tomatoes around, so i used tomato paste for a little extra flavour : Continue reading →

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meatless monday – “nutri-tatoes”

30 Jul

i’m not feeling very well at all today.  so this is going to be a quick and to-the-point post.  a simple vegan recipe that i feel the whole family will love…

super easy to make, too. keeps well in the fridge, can be reheated, and of course – good for you! i had these quite a few times on my cleanse, as i could feel my body needing the protein. Continue reading →

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black bean quinoa w/ heirloom tomatoes and pale lager

23 Jul

yep, that says pale lager.  i had beer, too!!  🙂

so, this was my first “solid” meal after my cleanse.  this was the first grain and/or legume i had in 7 days!  so weird. hard to believe i made it through that cleanse.  the middle ground was definitely the hardest, but today i feel great!  i also did a ton of “other” cleansing last night to include a calcium bentonite clay mask, mustard seed bath, sage-smudging, and meditation by candlelight and incense.  i literally feel anew today.  it’s a weird space to be in, actually. i’m not entirely sure what the next step is.  kind of a void, if you will.  but it’s not a negative thing. it’s just that i feel so fresh and new and it’s like i want to reinvent myself and the world around me… i can’t help but think of one of my favourite bloggers when i say that – it’s like i want to create a new mantra for my life… and so i will.

today it started with gratitude, snuggles from my kitty, yoga {this video is similar to my morning practice – also what got me started doing yoga!}, and a detox tea.

last night for dinner, this is what went down : Continue reading →

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{palate pleasing padron peppers}

13 Jul

that was fun.

and as we all know, i love to try new things. so, i saw these little pretty peppers hanging out in the produce section one day and i immediately snagged them up, got on my phone and googled how to make them!

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zucchini pizza strips

11 Jul

food can be fun.

i love it when i see a recipe or look at a vegetable a different way and say, “what if i tried it like this…”  because typically, i’m a creature of habit.  when i find something that works for me, i stick with it.  i often don’t sway.  in fact, i had been using the same ranch dressing for like, 7 years.  annies organic cowgirl ranch.  i love the stuff.  but then one day a co-worker suggested this other brand {with less fat, made from yogurt, and still so tasty} and now THAT is my new favourite – haha.  i guess my point is, sometimes i get tunnel vision. but this blog has helped me to rethink ways of preparing food.  i always chop my veggies into 1-2 inch pieces, and steam them or saute them.  sometimes i’ll roast them all together.  but never did it occur to me to cut zucchini into strips and serve it like a pizza slice!!  what! Continue reading →

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easy “cheesy” {vegan} kale chips

28 Jun

these always disappear fast!

have you ever tried nutritional yeast?  i actually kind of love it.  a lot.  many of my vegan friends would tell me about it and i never really tried it on anything until someone suggested i put it on popcorn.  which, as you know, is totally what i do now! nutritional yeast is a great cheese substitute, as it has a creamy flavour that is almost nutty or buttery.  i find it to be amazing on kale chips. you can usually find it in the baking isle or in bulk, at most health food stores including whole foods market. Continue reading →

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batch cooking – roasted veggies

27 Jun

have you heard the term “batch-cooking”?  well, i hadn’t really heard of it, but i mean it makes sense – especially in today’s world.  i am a single gal with no kids or hubby, no one to really take care of but myself. though, i do have a lovely roommate with a big appetite and two sweet kitties with insatiable bellies. my point is, i am fully aware that i have more time than most to spend on preparing meals and fun dishes and blogs, etc.  many people do not have the time to really spend in the kitchen… for me, it’s like not only a kitchen – it’s my music hall, my therapist’s office, my sanctuary, and my dance club.  i love to cook so much that it does so much for me – on a personal and spiritual level, as cheesy as that may sound… 🙂

plus, my whole philosophy is “time is money.”  so i may have to spend a little time to cook all this stuff, which is “money,” as time is valuable.  but i also save time and money by having my meals prepared in advance.  i don’t spend money on my lunch break, and i save time on my lunch break.  plus, the meals i make are healthy and not loaded with junk – and eating the latter could actually cost me more money and time down the road…. make sense?!  – eating well is an investment in your health!

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product endorsement #3 – whirley pop

26 Jun

whirley pop.

do you remember this?  i actually don’t.  but apparently it’s old school cool and marvelously classic.  i’ve loved having it and we now make more popcorn in the house than anything, i swear. low fat, low carb, whole grain, and if you buy it in bulk you save tons and it’s a snack with variety that everyone will love!

the whirley pop itself is so easy to use. you can make your popcorn with any good quality high heat oil and it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to pop a large bowl to share.  fun for kids, too — just make sure they are always supervised!

my roomie and i love to drizzle a little coconut oil over ours and then smother it with tons of nutritional yeast.  it makes for an almost cheesy flavour.  it’s SO GOOD!  i know you’ll love it too – so try it! and go get a whirley pop!  20 bucks is a good investment for a 25-year warranty, right?!

one more thing i want to add — sort of a shameless plug here — please consider always and only buying organic NON-GMO corn.  if you aren’t sure why, please read one of my rants about GMOs… and do your own research, then decide for yourself.

thank you always, for reading 🙂

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stuffed belgian endive leaves w/ seasonal english peas

25 Jun

this was a seriously fun dish!  easy to make – fresh, light, healthy, perfect for summer on the patio.  easy clean-up.  can be served as an appetizer or main course if you make extra and serve with a light salad or steamed veggie. perhaps some organic carrots or corn would compliment this nicely… stick with the whole texture theme 😉 Continue reading →

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italian qrunch patty smothered in homemade tomato sauce

19 Jun

as i’ve mentioned before, i love love love my Qrunch burgers. i was thrilled to discover this week that they are locally made here in colorado!  hooray!  the owners were super kind enough to even feature my last qrunch blog on their facebook page!

i was thrilled to discover a new flavour had come out! the italian version is similar to the original but with a little extra kick and spice and goes so well with this dish i created!!  🙂   Continue reading →

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celery root mashed potatoes w/ seasonal garlic scapes

18 Jun

i have to say, these were pretty amazing!!!! i wanted to try two things with this dish – both the celery root and the garlic scapes.  i had been told by a few people that celery root goes well in mashed potoatoes.  and i love to experiment with mashed potatoes – definitely one of my favourite vegetarian staples!  so, i did 🙂 Continue reading →

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poblano, tomato, and brie stuffed portabello mushrooms

13 Jun

so – just to preface this real quick — apparently one can spell the mushroom in this photo either way – portobello {which spell-check recognizes}, portabella {which i personally think just sounds prettier}, or even portabello {meet me half-way?! – i like this one best}.  — all acceptable spellings.  i swear — read this if you think i’m nuts.

anyway… i’m going to always call them portabello because i think it’s a nice medium… just so you know 🙂 Continue reading →

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another {vegan} Qrunch burger meal

10 Jun

i am quickly becoming addicted to these tasty delights.  Qrunch burgers are yummy quinoa patties and are great source of complete proteins without any dairy, soy, gluten, or wheat and they are vegan. frozen, but previously cooked, delicious qrunch burger patties are a marvelous and easy way to get whole grains into your diet — and seriously, they taste SO GOOD!

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