Pita Perfection

Last weekend, I had a falafel pita for the first time (thank you Samm and Kristie!!). It inspired me to make my own version for a quick, easy, healthy, and delicious lunch. So, I bought some sprouted, gluten-free pockets (thank you Sunflower Market in Roseville!) and while I was getting ready for work, I sauteed bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions on low and threw them, along with some fresh spinach and chipotle hummus into the pocket and warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Some other great pita ingredient ideas:
Mexi-Pita: Corn, diced tomatoes, salsa, diced carrots, guacamole, black beans, peppers
Veggie Overload Pita: Carmelized zucchini & squash, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, sprouts, hummus
Asian Delight Pita: Tofu, eggplant, rice, plum sauce
Breakfast Pita: Potatoes, onions, soy-rizo (vegan Chorizo), refried beans
Summer Salad Pita: Spinach, sunflower nuts, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, kidney beans, vegan ranch
Fancy Deli Pita: Sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, hummus, spinach, capers, vegan feta

On A Budget? 5 Ways to Eat Ramen for Dinner

I always keep Oriental flavored Top Ramen around the house and/or the office. It's cheap, and it comes in handy on those days I forget to bring my lunch to work, or I just don't feel like cooking once I'm home. Below is an article I found w/5 recipes revolving around this 17 cent wonder. They aren't vegan-friendly, so I'll be adding suggestions after each one...

On A Budget? 5 Ways to Eat Ramen for Dinner

• by Babble.com, on Wed Jul 6, 2011 7:53am PDT

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Times are tight, budgets are pinched. We had two dollars left in our food budget on Tuesday of last week, so I buzzed to the store and bought the only thing I could think of.  Ramen. At 17 cents a package, ramen has to be the best food deal out there. And, it’s a fun deal, too. Because a packet of ramen isn’t just soup waiting to be made. It’s actually a blank canvas ready to be turned into art. Here are 10 super-simple ways to pimp out your ramen and make it into a simple, satisfying dinner.

1. Veggie Ramen (pictured above) . Toss a tablespoon of butter into a skillet. Add 2 tablespoons each of thinly-sliced carrots, frozen green beans, frozen white corn, and edamame. Cook just until softened. Add a packet of Pork Ramen, 2 cups of water, and cook until the noodles are cooked through, about 6 minutes. Add seasoning packet. Serve and enjoy.

SUGGESTION: Add Oriental Ramen instead of Pork Ramen

2. Egg Foo Ramen. In a small bowl, whisk an egg with 1 tablespoon of water until well beaten. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour egg into the water, then add the noodles. Cook just until tender. Season with seasoning packet. Garnish with sliced green onions.

SUGGESTION: Use egg replacer instead of the egg

3. Chinese Chicken Salad. Shred 1/4 a head of cabbage, 1 breast of chicken, and 1/4 white onion. Add 1 package of crushed Chicken-flavored Ramen.  In a small bowl, whisk together the seasoning packet, 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Toss dressing into salad, serve and enjoy.

SUGGESTION: Use a vegan chicken breast, as well as Oriental Ramen

4. Ham Fried Ramen. A simple take on Fried Rice, cook a packet of Pork Ramen until the noodles are tender. Drain completely. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon olive oil until sizzling. Add 1/4 cup diced ham and 1/4 cup of frozen peas & carrots to the oil. Immediately toss in the noodles. Crack an egg into the mixture and stir until well cooked and distributed around the noodle mixture. Season with soy sauce, garnish with a handful of diced green onions.

SUGGESTION: Use Oriental Ramen, vegan ham or sausage, and egg replacer.

5. Parmesan Ramen. Cook a packet of ramen noodles. Save the flavoring packet for another day. Once the noodles are cooked, drain the water from them completely. Top with a pat of butter, a bit of freshly-shredded parmesan, and some chopped parsley.

SUGGESTION: Use vegan parmesan cheese & vegan butter.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/on-a-budget-5-ways-to-eat-ramen-for-dinner-2508159/

Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches

This vegan take on ice cream sandwiches improves everyone’s favorite summertime treat by dipping it in chocolate and covering it in sprinkles.

By Chloe Coscarelli

Makes 8 sandwiches

What you need:

• 2 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon Ener-G egg replacer
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup non-hydrogenated margarine
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups chocolate chips, divided
• 1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream (see recipe)
• 1 cup topping of your choice (sprinkles, toasted almond silvers, coconut, etc)

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment.
2. In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, egg replacer, salt, and cinnamon. In mixer, beat margarine, sugar, brown sugar, water, and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour mixture ½ cup at a time, then add 1 cup chocolate chips.
3. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time and flatten with the palm of your hand. Repeat with remaining dough, and space on ungreased baking sheet. Bake until desired brownness (about 5 to 10 minutes).
4. Let the pint of ice cream soften in the refrigerator for about 15 to 30 minutes while the cookies cool.
5. Between 2 cookies, sandwich 1 scoop of ice cream and freeze. Repeat with all remaining cookies.
6. While these sandwiches firm up in the freezer, melt remaining chocolate chips over a double boiler or using the microwave.
7. Dip half of each ice cream sandwich in the melted chocolate and roll in desired topping until coated. Refreeze immediately. Enjoy!

I got this from VegNews.com 

http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=2280&catId=11

I think I'm gonna try it out this weekend! Looks delicious!

Refreshing Vegan Summer Snack/Beverages

I hate summer. Unless I'm submerged in water, I'm grumpy throughout the entire season. I'm probably the only person that actually gains weight for swimsuit season because I refuse to exert myself past walking from my air conditioned car into an air conditioned building. So, when I'm holed up in my home, air conditioner blasting, I do not want to cook. Below are a few easy snack ideas to help keep ya full and cool. 

Homemade popsicles. Channel your inner kid and buy some cheap popsicle molds from Walmart or Target. I like to make my own juice w/my juicer for the molds (I swear, the juicer is the best invention ever! I love my Jack LaLanne!). Voila! Delicious, healthy goodness!

Speaking of my juicer, I also make my own fruit and veggie juice. You would think veggies would taste bad juiced, but you are wrong! Well, celery tastes awful. If you buy a juicer (which I recommend because this is the best way to have a cocktail. Add vodka and you are in heaven!), make sure you add your favorite fruit first and second, then a half of a vegetable (squash, zucchini, and carrots taste great), and alternate until the end. Make sure you also put your fave fruit in last. I swear, the order you put the items in your juicer affects the flavor!!!

Tofutti Cream Cheese and crackers (just watch the label for milk, whey, any form of cheese, and honey). Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and the natural food section of Raley's and some Safeways have some great options.

Fruit Salad. Summer is the perfect time to throw some pineapple, mango, watermelon, grapes, apple, banana, orange slices, kiwi, etc. into a big bowl. It's always a hit at BBQs and brunches also.

Fancy lemonade. I usually buy an all natural lemonade rather than a zillion lemons to try to juice. Simply lemonade is great. I then add a handful of frozen blueberries and/or raspberries. Let it sit a few minutes (but don't forget about it for a coupla hours, cuz then it's disgusting). 

Chips and salsa are a fave of mine. My favorite is Herdez salsa with fresh cilantro and a buncha avocado. Yum!

Iced tea w/pineapple. When I went to visit my family in North Carolina, I became addicted to the tea. They sweeten it with pineapple slices. Word to the wise, don't plan on keeping the pitcher overnight, the pineapple breaks apart and becomes a mess. Serve it at a party, or just add a slice as you go.

Vegan ranch and veggies. I eat this all year round actually. I make my own veggie tray to take to work for lunch. Carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, etc. I have a fantastic recipe for vegan ranch in one of my earliest posts. DO NOT BUY VEGAN RANCH AT THE STORE. It is revolting. I repeat, revolting!

I used to love grabbing an ice cream cone during or after work (in fact, I'm sure I'll break down a few times this summer, as I work next door to a coffee shop that sells phenomenal cones!). Now, I keep either sorbet or ice cream made with coconut milk on hand instead. I'm surprised at how fantastic some vegan ice creams are! It's like a delicacy!

Strawberries dipped in chocolate. This. Is. Amazing. Melt some dark chocolate and either drizzle over the berries, or do what I do and submerge the entire berry up to your knuckles.

Hansens Natural flavored drink mix. 100% Vitamin C. It's the healthy version of Crystal Lite on the go packets. I freeze my bottle of water until it gets a thin coat of ice to break up. I then add a packet, shake and go.

Kudos to Kale

I had never heard of kale prior to becoming vegetarian. And I hadn't knowingly tried it until a few months ago at the urging of a good friend. Mainly because I didn't know how to cook it, and I was too lazy to put much thought into it. Well, it turns out that kale is such a great vegetable, the British have decided to devote an entire website to our leafy friend (http://www.discoverkale.co.uk/). 

Kale is part of the cabbage family, and is considered a "superfood", providing beta-carotene, vitamin C, and folate. In fact, kale is one of the vegetables most rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. It also provides sulpher phytochemicals, which is thought to help protect against some cancers, as well as reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration by way of providing the phytochemicals zeaxanthin and lutein.

As discoverkale.co.uk points out, kale contains four times more magnesium and five times more calcium than brussel sprouts! And really, who wants to eat brussel sprouts (unless you have had my sisters! That woman is an angel with brussel sprouts!). Kale also carries 17 times more vitamin C than carrots, and four times more than spinach. And that's just naming a few of the benefits!

Kale is easily introduced into ones diet. I'm gonna tell ya right now, remove the leaves from the stalk!!! It's really bitter. I don't care for it at all. I use kale almost on a daily basis. I have a juicer (which I highly recommend to anyone remotely interested in losing weight or getting healthy!) and I juice my daily servings of fruits & veggies (including kale) for breakfast and lunch. Kale is also great to just saute a bit with some other veggies, alone, or to have raw over a salad. I expect you to put kale on your grocery list! And let me know what you thought of our new friend.

Don't Plants Have Feelings, Too?

All vegetarians/vegans hear the question "Don't plants have feelings, too?" Most of the people asking this question ask as if it's a joke. I hope you want a serious answer, and that you are not trying to belittle my way of life. Well, here is the short answer: Plants do not have pain receptors, nerves, or a central nervous system. If you do not have pain receptors, you do not feel pain. Although those are the facts, that usually doesn't satisfy folks. Why? Because many people that ask that question are really wanting to know how far one must go to become vegan. Where do they have to draw the line? Unfortunately, instead of asking their questions in a constructive way in which we may seriously discuss the need and/or desire to stop eating animals, they phrase the question to make vegans like me seem absurd. And when it's friends and family that do this, it truly hurts. Sure, maybe we will learn something about plants in the near or distant future that we do not know now. But for now, we do know that they lack pain receptors, thus feeling no pain. We do know that humans and animals have pain receptors, nerves, and a central nervous system. Therefore, we know that they feel pain, they can suffer, and they struggle to live when being forced to die. That is the bottom line. All I can do, all any of us can do, is make the best of the information that we have here, that we have right now.

Vegan's Daily Companion

I Like Animals Because...

One of my favorite books right now is "Vegan's Daily Companion: 365 Days of Inspiration for Cooking, Eating, and Living Compassionately" by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. When I start to get overwhelmed by the sadness I feel from living in a world in which animals are so mistreated and unappreciated, I pick up this book. It reminds me that I am not the only person out there trying to save lives and that strives to make a difference in an indifferent world. So far, I haven't tried any of the recipes, as I've been combing the 320 pages for the stories and photos of rescued animals, incredible tales of how meat eaters were awakened by an event in their life to switch to a vegan lifestyle, and essays such as the one I have included below that share my inner compassionate voice. This book is also a great tool for the kitchen, with information on how to optimize your health for the body, mind, and spirit. We hear from Mark Twain (a huge supporter of animal advocacy), Roald Dahl, poet William Cowper, Richard Adams (author of Watership Down, and president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from 1980-1982), Walt Whitman, and Mary Wollstonecraft (author of Frankenstein, which she published under the name Mary Shelley), just to name a few. The stories of hope, rescue, and transformation are spell binding, tear inducing, and beyond inspirational.


"I Like Animals" By Laura Moretti, founder and editor of The Animals Voice


"Why do you suppose you like animals so much?" was the million-dollar question put to me Christmas Eve (and one I hadn't provoked). I knew my family was expecting me to say something like, "I like animals because they're cute and cuddly and furry and fun to play with." But instead I said, "I like animals because they are honest."

My observation triggered a facetious comment from one of my brothers. “About what?"--as if honesty were merely about telling the truth, and everyone knows animals can't talk! His notation was met with hearty laughter; for once, they thought they'd repaid me for all the discomfort I'd caused them at other family gatherings.

"I like that animals don't pretend to be someone they're not," I continued in my reply, hushing the crowd. "To quote a phrase, 'Dogs don't lie about love.' Animals don't fake their feelings. I like that they're emotionally fearless."

We were lounging on sofas and armchairs after our feast and present opening. Coffee was being served, so I seized the opportunity. "I like animals," I added, "because they only take out of life what they need. They don't abuse their environment, annihilate species, pollute their water, contaminate the air they breathe. They don't build weapons of mass destruction and use them against others-particularly members of their own species. I like animals because they have no use for those things, or for war or terrorism. They don't build nations around genocide."

My uncle seemed momentarily lost in thought. He had been born and raised in New York City. "That's because they don't know any better," a brother-in-law argued. "They don't do those things because they don't know how."

"A pride of lions doesn't get together," I countered him, "and decide how to exterminate zebras-their very source of nourishment. I don't think it's because they don't know how. I think it's because it's counter-productive." They laughed. "

I also like animals," I continued," because they don't punish themselves for their perceived inadequacies. They don't dwell on things of the past, nor use them as excuses for behavior in the present. And they don't plan to live some day in the future, they live today, this moment, fully, completely, and purely. I like animals because they live their lives with so much more freedom than humans live theirs."

"That's because they don't think," one of my cousins offered.

"Is that the difference?" I wondered. "'I think therefore I'm cruel, destructive, insecure, abusive?' You meant to say they don't think the way we think." The room had become strangely quiet. I was amazed at how closely my family was listening, despite the occasional grunt to the contrary.

"I like animals because they don't bow down to imaginary gods they've created, nor annihilate each other in the name of those gods; gods, they say, who are all-knowing and all-loving and just. I like animals because they only know how to give unconditional love and implicit trust. I mean, animals either extend those things to you or they don't; there are no shades of gray. They have the best of what makes us human and, as one observer put it, "none of our vices.'" "And thank God," someone injected.

"Lastly," I added, remembering why I was an animal rights activist, "Animals are the most victimized living creatures on earth; more than children, more than women, more than people of color. Our prejudice enables us to exploit and use them, as scientific tools and expendable commodities, and to eat them. We do to them any atrocity our creative minds can summon. We justify our cruelties; we have to or we can't commit them. I like animals because they don't do to themselves or to others the things we do to them. And they don't make excuses for unethical actions because they don't commit unethical acts."

"And finally," I finished, "I like animals because they're not hypocrites. They don't say one thing and do another. They are, as I've said, honest. Animals-not humans-are the best this planet has to offer." And, interestingly enough, despite my soapbox rant, not a one of them made a snide comment or a hint of laughter. The conversation actually rolled into shared stories of animals they've known, stories of animal loyalty and intelligence, their humor and innocence. And it was me who'd become the listener with the occasional comment: "Now, if only humans could only be, well, like animals." And that is why I fight the good fight; I rise on behalf of the best among us.”

Meet Rambo, Charlie, Barbie, and Malachi—four adorable, lovable, rescued animals. Read about their story, and others, in Vegan's Daily Companion.

Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta

This pasta dish is one of my new fave meals to make at home. As I've mentioned in the past, I hate to cook. HATE IT! But, I'm really trying to stay away from processed foods and the evils of spending boatloads of money on take out. Thus, my search for fast, healthy meals that I can make at home on a modest budget (I have a bad habit of spending mucho dinero on food). This pesto literally takes 5 minutes to make. You can't beat that.

Most of these ingredients already lurk in my kitchen, so any time I'm too lazy to run to the store, or I have last minute visitors, I throw this together. It's always a hit! What's great about this meal is that you can serve it over any type of pasta, and it's great hot or cold. Perfect for picnics, summer BBQs, or romantic dinners for two at home.

What you need (serves 6):

1 lb pasta of your choice (I've had it over whole wheat spaghetti, penne, those corkscrew lookin' noodles, etc.)

1 bunch basil leaves (about 2.5ou)

1/2 cup pine nuts

2 ripe avocados, pitted & peeled

2tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes to throw over the top (the pesto tastes great if you add them directly into the food processor w/everything else, but make sure you then cut back on the olive oil, or it turns out really oily)

Directions:

Cook pasta per package instructions. Once you throw the pasta into boiling water, mix everything else into a food processor and blend. Toss pesto w/hot pasta. If you're feeling fancy, add a basil leaf and the chopped sun dried tomatoes for garnish.

For more delish dishes, check out: http://vegnews.com

Bottomless Vegan Brunch

My new favorite place to get brunch, lunch, dinner, and/or dessert is the Sugar Plum Cafe in Midtown (Sacramento). Boasting a completely vegan menu, Sugar Plum uses organic, mostly local produce and products which I love. I'm always in favor of supporting local farmers, businesses, etc. This quaint little cafe is tucked into an adorable Victorian house with lovely outdoor seating in the front yard. The laid back staff, cozily worn furniture, and interesting artwork throughout create an extremely relaxed environment that has one forgetting that they aren't casually hanging out at a friends house.

Every time I go into Sugar Plum, I agonize over the menu. Everything from the Portobello Street Tacos (served on fresh corn tortillas with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro) to the delectable raspberry and mango cupcakes, look and sound mouth-wateringly delightful. I've personally tried the award winning tuna melt (trust me, get the fries on the side! Yum!!), the above mentioned cupcake, the bacon cheeseburger (which is my favorite so far), and just about everything offered in their all-you-can-eat brunch. Unfortunately, it doesn't start until 11:00am (contrary to the 10:00am time listed on their website). But believe me, the jalapeno cheddar biscuits and country gravy, breakfast potatoes, tofu frittata, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip or blueberry pancakes (they like to change it up!), french toast, etc. are worth getting up a little late on a Saturday or Sunday morning! I will say this, they ran out of syrup and french toast last time I was there, and they did not mention it prior to my paying the $12. So check out the buffet-style brunch for your favorites before paying! The donuts and muffins (not offered in the brunch) are scrumptious as well if you want a snack while waiting for brunch to begin. You can view most of the menu online, but they are always featuring new goodies, so scour the menu of the day when you walk in as well (it's usually on the counter next to the register). 

Sugar Plum also offers a large selection of gluten and soy free foods, treats for those with allergies or currently on a raw diet, full service catering, wedding and party menus, and they sell their goodies at the local farmers market. They have a shop next door with clothing, accessories, etc., but it's been closed the last few times I've stopped by the cafe, so I can't give you much info on that end of the business. I truly love this little midtown gem, and even my meat and dairy eating friends enjoy the food! So stop by the Sugar Plum Cafe after work with friends for a casual dinner and dessert before walking across the street for a drink at The Golden Bear or drop by on a lazy weekend and start your day out with a filling, healthy, great tasting meal.

Sugar Plum Cafe, 2315 K Street, Sacramento, 916.706.3302

Hours: Closed Mon, Tue-Thu 10a-7p, Fri-Sat 10a-9p, Sun 10a-3p.

http://sugarplumvegan.com/Sacrament_Vegan_Bakery_Cafe.html

Photo from: http://sugarplumvegan.wordpress.com/

I'm baaaacccckkkk!!!!

Ok. Several of you are wondering why I dropped off the face of the Earth. Honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone was even reading this. So, after NUMEROUS requests, I am going to get back to blogging about delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes, restaurants, meal plans, book reviews, etc.

First, I should let you all know that I am eating 100% vegan now. No more vegan Mon-Thu w/vegetarian weekends. Like I always tell all of you: Being vegan doesn't mean giving up your fave foods... It just means adopting an animal/health friendly way of cooking it, or you cut back on how often you consume it. For example, I've been craving crab cakes for about 2 months now. So, next time I vacation on the coast, if I still have the urge to eat them, I'll eat them. 

I've been trying out some new vegan recipes, foods, cafes, etc. so I'll start jotting things down ASAP. Also, I've been trying to eat more raw foods for a healthier lifestyle. More on that as well.

To all of you that have been bugging me about getting back into this... Thanks. It's nice to know you're reading this, and that you are trying to improve your health, our planet, etc. And I love knowing that you are contributing to a more compassionate future for our animals!

Jamba Juice

This morning, I ran out the door w/out breakfast or lunch. I had to stop & get gas on my way back to work, so I decided to run into the Jamba Juice next door to see what they had to offer for vegans. I was pleasantly surprised! Although their traditional smoothies have dairy in the sherbet, they can make them w/out it. They also have quite a few all fruit smoothies to choose from as well. The oatmeal is made w/soymilk, but make sure to order it w/the brown sugar on top! It has butter in it :( I chose the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, which was really good! Minus the brown sugar, it's only 250 calories! They also have Blueberry & Blackberry, Fresh Banana, and Plain Oatmeal. I also ordered one of the newer tea infusions, Passion Fruit. Delicious! Only 150 calories. Total for my entire breakfast: $4.88! On a side note, a lot of Jamba Juices offer delicious vegan & vegetarian wraps & salads also, but it varies upon location. Find out more about Jamba Juice, & locations near you at: http://www.jambajuice.com/

Vegan Sack Lunch

My favorite sack lunch:

1/2 a vegan sandwich: vegenaisse, spicy brown mustard, lettuce, tomato, avocado, sprouts, pickles, and sliced bell peppers on wheat bread (just check the ingredients for dairy & honey!).

1/2 salad: mixed greens, avocado, tomato, diced bell peppers, green onions, sprouts, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, chopped apple, sunflower nuts, cilantro, and your choice of vegan dressing (see a previous post for an easy, 10minute recipe for the best ranch EVER!), or a simple mixture of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, & a dash of seasoning.

Fruit (today I had strawberries and apple slices)

Mid-afternoon snack: Slice of vegan carrot bread from Whole Foods

Don't forget to drink lotsa water!!!

Great Greek Dining: Petra

First of all, I wanted to apologize for my absence over the last few weeks... I just started school back up after the holidays, and work has been crazy-busy! 

Second, I wanted to announce that I was one of the winners of 3 boxes of Primal Strips vegan jerky from Primal Spirit Foods (http://www.primalspiritfoods.com/) in the contest I mentioned from an earlier post that I entered through the folks at Vegan Backpackers (http://veganbackpacker.com/). I'll post a review after I try 'em out!

Third, I want to mention my new favorite place to snag a delicious pita. Petra in downtown Sacramento is to-die for! Serving the best Greek food that I've ever had, this is a must for both meat eaters, as well as vegetarians and vegans! My favorite is the Vegi Souvlaki Pita with seasoned vegetables (the mushrooms were mouth-watering!) on scrumptious pita bread and filled with tomatoes, parsley, onions, and tzatziki sauce (or, as a friend pointed out, you can turn it vegan by replacing the sauce with hummus). Get this, they also put french fries in the pita! French fries! So good! Petra uses traditional family recipes, so you are getting a great taste of authentic Greek food at a great price.

They also have a tasty selection of appetizers: grilled haloumi, hummus, dips such as Tyrokafteri/Fiery Feta (this spicy feta cheese dip is next on my list to try!), etc.,  burgers (I know a few meat-eaters that would love the Grecian Burger: 1/3lb beef & pork, charbroiled with Kasseri cheese on a bun with tomato, lettuce, & onion), a la carte items such as Vegetable Souvlaki (seasoned fresh veggies skewered on a stick, charbroiled, and served with a pita), Spanakopita (Spinach pie with feta cheese & wrapped in phylo dough), lamb chops for your meat eating friends and family, a long list of plates (vegetarian/vegan options are on the menu as well), soups, salads, and much more! 

After a night out on the town, skip your usual Taco Bell and Jack in the Box! Petra is open until 3:00am Wednesday through Saturday!! Leave the bar a coupla minutes before last call to beat the crowd at Petra, as the line goes out the door! They also serve wine and draft beer :) Check out their website for more info! http://www.petragreek.com/

Petra: 1122 16th St., Sacramento 916.443.1993

To read another review of Petra, as well as a few other midtown vegan locations, check out the latest article in "Sac Midtown" by Danielle Carlson: http://www.sacmidtown.com/2011/01/2014/ 

Beef jerky for vegans

I used to love beef jerky (or any type of jerky, actually). It was a great snack to have on long road trips, plane rides, hiking, etc. Well, I just discovered a vegan alternative in Primal Strips. I haven't tried it yet, but the Vegan Backpackers (mentioned in a previous post), have a free 24 piece variety pack giveaway to three lucky winners in the US. With flavors such as Texas BBQ, Teriyaki, Hot & Spicy (it has shiitake mushrooms! Yum!), and Thai Peanut, you're bound to discover a few that will quickly become a favorite on your next travel excursion! Follow the below link to enter today! And even if you don't win, definitely check out the Vegan Backpackers site, and try Primal Strips! I know I will :)

http://veganbackpacker.com/blog/primal-strips-giveaway/

National Blood Donor Month

Guess what?! It's National Blood Donor Month! Yay! Ok, seriously, I just got nauseated thinking about blood and needles... However! Part of my new years resolution is to do things that I wouldn't normally do. Such as give blood. Sweet jesus, I'm already hyperventilating just thinking about it!  Although 38% of us are eligible to donate blood, only 8% do. As long as you are over the age of 17, weigh at least 110lbs, and are in good health, you are good to go! Don't want to rough it alone? Get friends and co-workers to go with you. In fact, when I mentioned my brave tour of duty to my co-workers, several decided to join me! And we're not stopping there! We are going to challenge other businesses in our community to do the same. A few moments of your time could save a life! For more info visit: http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/01/06/how-to-help-national-blood-donor-month

Obesity

According to the surgeon general, obesity has become an epidemic. This problem is actually costing our health care system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three out of every five Americans are overweight, and one in those five are obese! Wow... How sad. We even had to rename adult-onset diabetes because our countries children are practically running rampant with it (it's now named Type II diabetes, which typically occurs when your body's ability to manage glucose wears down from overuse). So, in other words, your general laziness when it comes to health is killing your children. As Achoo said in Robin Hood: Men in Tights "Look at yourselves! I said take a look around!" Or something to that effect, anyway. 

Because of diabetes, and other health problems that go hand in hand with obesity, today's kids could actually end up with shorter life expectancies than their parents. What?!! Just when we thought our fat asses couldn't get any worse, the United Nations has reported that the billion people suffering from overnutrition now outnumber the 800 million suffering from malnutrition. Did someone say "gluttony"?

Research has proven that people, as well as animals, will eat up to 30% more than they normally would when presented with larger portions (Do you really need to super-size your meal?). Unfortunately, thanks to a little something we call evolution, human appetite is elastic. In other words,  our "hunter-gatherer ancestors" would pig out when the opportunity presented itself, which allowed them to build up reserves of fat against any future famine.  But guess what? With our current fast food nation, as well as our complete and total access to food, we are allowing our bodies to store fat reserves for a famine that will never happen! 

With the new year upon us, it's the perfect opportunity to make a New Year's Resolution to eat less junk, and work out more. Have kids? There are Farmer's Markets everywhere! Take the kids to pick out their own healthy snacks, and rediscover the simple joys of a fresh orange, homemade breads, and support your local farmers by enjoying incredible honey, delicious nuts, etc. While you are already out enjoying the morning with your family (or alone!), take a walk around the neighborhood. You may just discover a new cafe, coffee shop, antique store, etc. along your travels! Make a pledge to eat out less and decrease your junk food, and try new healthier foods and recipes at home more!

Websites to Visit

The Kind Life (http://www.thekindlife.com/). I've loved Alicia Silverstone for years. I must have watched Clueless a zillion times before an ex stole my beloved VHS tape (the bastard!). So, when I heard Silverstone had a book out about her road to becoming vegan, as well as tips and recipes for maintaining a vegan lifestyle, I was stoked! I completely recommend the book (I will be doing a review in the near future). If you want an insight to how informative our gal can be, check out her website. It has recipes, facts, helpful hints, blogs, food reviews, links to online shopping, and much more!

VegNews Magazine (http://vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=1456& catId=7) is one of my new favorites! There are book reviews, articles with interesting info such as baking substitutions, gardening, living eco-friendly, vegan traveling, favorite veggie people, places, trends, products, etc., blogs, videos, online shopping, sanctuary stories, and much more! 

VegWeb.com (http://vegweb.com/) has over 13,000 recipes! You have access to an extensive list of delicious appetizers, great beverage ideas (even cocktails!), scrumptious breads, delectable desserts, crock pot recipes, casseroles, soups for any occasion, and anything else you could ever want or need!

Vegan Backpacker (http://veganbackpacker.com/) is a fun blog written by a vegan couple traveling all over the world. Not only do they give great tips for traveling while sticking to a vegan lifestyle AND a budget, they write about all the delectable foods and beverages they've come across on their adventures. This is a fun site to check out for mouthwatering photos, ideas, inspiration, maps, travel guides, etc.

I find that Take Part (http://www.takepart.com/) is a great site to go to for interesting articles on politics, health, food, schools, green living, lifestyles, etc. For example, they have this fun map where you click on your state, and it tells you what that state is doing best. Fyi, California received a frown face for having bad energy policies, but on the plus side, we have the most UFO sightings every year (6,331). For my Nebraska folks, you're producing the most commercial red meat than any other state! Egad! 

Pyramid Tracker (http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/) is great for those of you wanting to assess your food intake as well as your physical activity. We used this site during my nutrition class.

Week 1 of no grocery shopping...

In an earlier post I mentioned my bad habit of buying groceries when I already have food at home. I also stated that I am going to attempt to eat everything else in my pantry, fridge, & freezer before going shopping again (except for small items that would finish off a meal). Well, I started yesterday. I have this week all planned out! Keep in mind, I spend about $200-$300 a month on groceries. For just me!!! When I was in my 20s, I could live on $50! So, let's see how much I save throughout the month of January! I'm hoping to use the money saved for a mini vacation!

Sunday: I slept in late, so I skipped breakfast & went straight to lunch, which was brown rice & vegan Kung Pow Chicken (it was so good that I had it for dinner too!) 

Monday: I had a packet of oatmeal that I found crammed in the back of the pantry (don't worry, it was still good!). Lunch was a slice of leftover vegan pizza from Sat, & the leftover tidbits from the above mentioned rice & "chicken". For dinner tonight, I'm making spaghetti w/vegan buttered sourdough toast. 

Tuesday: Breakfast will be an apple that I forgot all about, but it happens to still be thriving! & a piece of peanut butter toast. I have salad fixin's for lunch, & leftover spaghetti w/vegan parmesan cheese is on the menu for dinner.

Wednesday: I forgot about a bag of potatoes that I've had sitting around, but luckily they're still in good shape. I also found half an onion, so I'll be making breakfast potatoes. Yum! For lunch, I'll finish off my bag of salad. I've had some vegan burgers & buns in the back of my freezer for about a month now, so I'll stop by the fruit & veggie stand near work for an avocado & a tomato for toppings. Looks like some of those potatoes will be turned into fries!

Thursday: Breakfast will be more breakfast potatoes (hey, I love 'em & there's enough for 2 days!!) Lunch: along w/potatoes, I also have some frozen corn, so I'll be chowing down on a baked potato & corn smothered in vegan butter. Dinner will be leftover burgers & the smackle of sweet potato fries stuffed in the back of my freezer.

Friday: I have some veggie bacon, sausage, & english muffins, & since today is 1 of my vegetarian days (as opposed to vegan Mon-Thu) I'll be enjoying a sausage mcmuffin! I have an eggplant parmesan frozen tv dinner, so that'll be a delicious lunch! I have a corner of a wedge of sun dried tomato & basil brie left from last wknd, so for dinner I'll finish that off w/the rest of my pita chips.

Saturday: Breakfast will be another mcmuffin (really, I love these so much, I'd eat them every day if they were vegan!). Lunch will be a can of french onion soup that's been in my pantry for about 3mo! I think I'll make pesto pasta for dinner... I need to check the exp. date on the jar of pesto!

Sunday: Another mcmuffin (I'm not kidding, I love these!). Lunch will be leftover pasta, & dinner will be mashed potatoes & corn.

As for snacks & dessert, I have lots of trail mix ,as well as vegan ice cream, sorbet, & gelato.

Z Pizza

I don't know about the rest of you, but I spent most of this last wknd recuperating from New Years Eve. I didn't even want to change out of my pj's, let alone cook! So, a friend & I managed to drag ourselves from out of our caves to Z Pizza at 3984 Douglas Blvd in Roseville. Luckily, it's 4min from my house, so I didn't have to drag my ass too far. Founded by Sid Fanarof & originating from Laguna Beach, CA, Z Pizza provides 100% organic wheat flour the staff prepares every day, which is then hand-thrown & fire-baked to crisp perfection. 

I had been looking forward to trying this place out all week, after discovering them online while searching for vegan & vegetarian restaurants, bakeries, etc. in Roseville. Z Pizza boasts salads, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, rusticas, etc. Offering vegan cheese, this cozy little place has a few great options in the pizza department. Unfortunately, they were out of vegan cheese the night my friend & I stopped in. Which, I'll admit, pissed us off. But, we ordered the Berkeley Vegan pizza (veggie burger crumbles, zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, & bell peppers) anyway, sans "cheese". On top of our initial annoyance over no vegan cheese, I also felt the service was severely lacking (but then again, like my friend & I, the staff was probably hung over from the night before). 

Anyways! The pizza turned out great, even w/out the "cheese". We also had to ask for a side of marinara sauce because apparently, when we said no cheese, they assumed we also meant no sauce! However, the crust was delicious. They offer three types: gluten-free, regular, & wheat. And, although I was initially pissy about the service & the lack of vegan cheese, I will definitely go back! The menu is just too mouth-watering to not return for more! I want to try the Penne Pesto, the Yuppie Veggie Sandwich (I'm a sucker for carmelized onions!), veggie calzone, the Pear & Gorgonzola salad, & several of their pizzas substituting for the vegan cheese. To view their menu, click here: http://www.zpizza.com/food/download_menu