It may not be possible to duplicate the mexi-bean flavor because they often put bacon grease/lard into their beans when they drill them or fry them in a little of this. You might try adding roasted garlic as this can add another dimension of flavor that is awfully good.

broccoli salad
 

Had an amazing broccoli salad the other day that had sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, celery, and a little purple onion..The dressing was some sort of lemony mayonnaise..This is worth a repeat, yuM

A good way to get a smokey flavor in the beans would be to use Brewers Yeast. It adds a lot of nutrition and flavor to food.

Last night I made the Tamarind Lentils from Veganomicon. I LOOOOVE that recipe. It always takes my lentils a lot longer to cook than the recipe says. I am vegetarian but I cook a lot of vegan dishes.

Green
 

Morning Veggie Lovers,

am green smoothie:

pears apples brazil nuts spinach
green powder soy milk (organic, non-gmo)

added red powder for after run


Discovered something this morning when grocery
shopping at Trader Joe's in my neighborhood...

the apples were from Chile, S.A. and the pears
from Argentina, S.A. so much for local food

I discovered this after I had brought them home

I don't have an issue that this country is importing
from other countries. Its the idea that so much
oil was used to get those pears and apples here.

Its about walking my talk...so yes its local for me
because I want my neighbors to be supported, and
care for Mother Earth in all the ways I can as an
individual even if that means changing my green
smoothie to only what is local.

Next Sunday I'll check the Farmer's Market and see
what is being sold that is local.

enjoy your day, Greco

Thank you! Same to you.:tea:

freeze?
 

Dominique, I've no idea if you can freeze them, but why not? I'd give it a try and see how it works out or not...avocados...how I love them, but not in season here yet so I'll wait until June...good luck on the asparagus...someone on here must know...Greco

I am not currently a vegan or vegetarian, although I do love and eat this cuisine often. I used to be really strict and "force" myself into being vegetarian, but it made me feel rebellious. And I thought how silly to rebel against myself????? Now I am trying to listen to my body and delight her in what she calls for. It's been a long process for me making peace with food, as I can be an emotional eater. So I am an omnivore with wicked vegan desert tendencies. Love veggie cuisine, but also the grounding of animal products.

I just wanted to say I am so enjoying the recipe ideas! Yummy, it's so yummy......


This recipe sounded intriguing, so I went looking for them online, and voila very cool site/blog with lots of recipes, TY I'm loving it <3

Veganomicon


kittygirl these sound amazing, I can't wait to try them!!

Classic Macaroons

2 cups dried, unsweetened coconut
½ cup almond flour
¼ cup coconut butter
½ cup maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
Sea salt to taste
Mix all ingredients together. Roll into balls. Refrigerate until solid. If you're not totally raw, try these dipped in nutella..you will thank me

Greco: Try steaming the Asparagus till it is firm but just turns bright green, then freeze. That is how I do green beans, and it may just work for Asparagus as well?

Off to fantasize about coconut macaroons....AYE!

meals
 

Hi Veggie Lovers,

Today's lunch/dinner: organic, non-gmo

red onion, olives/capers, garlic, ginger
broccoli

sauteed in coconut oil (very little just enough
to make onions translucent, black pepper (ground)

over

angel hair pasta and tossed w/a little olive oil
and ground walnuts

with a celery and cucumber salad
w/lemon olive oil dressing

and green w/mint tea

delicious.

enjoy having am green smoothie
and one meal these days

with a tea and a slice of spelt bread
with fruit spread later in the day
if I'm hungry.

enjoying cooking again.

Also FYI the brand of Westsoy
has soy milk that is organic
and verified non-gmo

enjoy your Sunday, Greco

greco
 

This smoothie combo sounds so good, so i am trying it tomorrow. with a little lemon juice & minus the Omega 3/6, which i don't have..thanks!

cook book
 

Yes kittygrrl it was delicious...for tonight's dinner

Italian rice and beans

brown rice Italian herbs basil oregano pine nuts

sun-dried tomatoes (packed in olive oil) balsamic vinegar

northern beans (canned) baby spinach zest from 1 lemon

and romaine/celery/carrot salad mint tea.

yep I finally got a cook book! It makes a difference.

"Vegan yum yum" by Lauren Ulm

great photos of the meals in this one

enjoy your evening, Greco

VLs
 

Hi Veggie Lovers,

Haven't posted here in a while, hope you all are doing well.

I thought this was a cool idea especially now in the Heat of
this Summer

enjoy, Greco


How-To Make Spinach Pops (For Smoothies & Protein Shakes)

I have a great greens recipie.


Greek Greens

Take 4 cups of greens, any will do and steam in a little bit of water until they are wilted, and tender, but not mushy. Obviously Spinach will take much less time than beet greens or collards for example. Drain them and press a bit so they are not soggy and water logged.

Sautee 1 to 2 cloves minced garlic(I prefer more as I love garlic, but you may use less) in 2 tablespoons Olive Oil. Satuee until tender, 2 mins aprox. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt to taste.

Mix the greens and the Olive Oil mixture together, add Feta Cheese crumbles, about 1/4 cup will do.

Sometimes I crisp up some tofu and add that also. It tastes great and even my kids adore them this way.



I also don't make Sloppy Joes with meat or crumbles. I use Green Lentils instead and add sloppy joe mix, some brown sugar and a bit of ketchup. I cook in the crock pot and leave burger buns on the counter for the kids when they get home from school.

Both sound like great recipes! How do you make your tofu when you do it for this first recipe? You have good ideas!

Made a new dish that passed the "Husbutch Test." I nearly-dry-sauteed french beans in fresh ginger, garlic, and sesame oil (very, very little oil) for a long time (gave it a smoky flavor). I separately sauteed mushrooms, then poured the juice from the mushrooms into the pan with the beans and also added lite coconut milk. It was quite mild, because BB doesn't like spice (I love spice!) yet flavorful, a bit Thai-like.

Green Heaven
 

Femminator, your Greek Greens recipe sounds delicious and right
up my alley since I love garlic thanks, Greco

Mozzarella
 

Veggie Lovers

This evening had a strong desire for

Mozzarella cut med thin

Roma tomatoes

a bit of salt black pepper

but where were my olives?!

No olives no capers so

added my own hot salsa

which is made from green chillies
a bit of lemon juice and jalapenos

Cool sensual dish for this hot weather

and very satisfying.

Greco

I use the pre cubed type(I cheat) and put some olive oil in a pan and toss the cubes in when the oil is hot. I add some garlic or onion powder and fry each side until crisp. You can add anything at all to Tofu. Sometimes I add curry powder or Cumin, anything goes. Tofu soaks up what you put on it.

I have made a great Hot Lime Tofu. You just take slices of Tofu, and dip them into lime juice, then you dredge into Cajun seasoning(I get it from the store) and put on an oiled dish to bake. Turn them after a bit and both sides get crispy. Sometimes I spray the Tofu with a non stick srapy oil of some type to help it crisp in the oven. I use it in sandwiches, for a main dish etc. Just remember to press you Tofu first so it is not too wet.

Sounds really good! How long do you bake the tofu and what temp?

I usually bake it at 375 and about 15 mins a side. Keep a watch on it however, as it will really depend on your oven. It will also need to be flipped one time so both sides bake. It is actually easier to use a broiler, but I don't prefer to, so I bake it instead.

Mornin Folks; I've been eating Cream Of Wheat (Red box) for breakfast since I was a kid, and I love it! One half cup in three cups of milk will make you a good breakfast or snack for two days.

olives
 

Hi Veggie Lovers,

Today's dinner everything organic

simple inventing a combination of things
no recipe

pasta

red onions, manzanilla olives, garlic, grapes,
black beans, broccoli sauteed in coconut oil
crushed/blended tomatoes

we'll see how this combination turns out.

very glad I haven't invited anyone to dinner
tonight

with green thoughts, Greco

greco it sounds amazing..someone is missing out!

I have been mostly vegan this summer. For health reasons. I still haven't increased the number of vegetables I eat a day as much as I need to. I still eat too much processed food and way too many carbs.

Twice I have eaten meat and a few times dairy. The meat is less of a temptation than the dairy.

I do not feel tons better. I recently had an allergic reaction to something. I actually think it was caffeine. I also went off caffeine for the most part this summer. Anyway. I am not sure it's working out. I imagine I would be doing a lot better if I were eating many more green things and fewer carbs. But I haven't been able to make that happen.

one step at a time
 

Hi Martina,

Sounds to me like your taking the steps you need to get where you want to go. Getting off caffeine for example is an incredible step in lessening the toxic load on your kidneys, way to go for getting off it as much as you can.

What I did last year was simply add green smoothies to what I already was eating. At that time I was eating meat, some cheese(I'm allergic to dairy), and rice mostly. So I added the green smoothies and they made me less hungry for carbs, and after watching "Earthlings" I quit eating meat altogether.

So, take yourself off the hook and continue to do what your doing. It sounds to me that your on your way to healthy living one step at a time.

Hope this helps.

Greco

dinner
 

Hi kittygrrl, and veggie lovers,

Actually, it was delicious...I was really surprised because of the addition of the red grapes...thought the combining of fruit and pasta was not going to be a good idea...well, it was so my inventions carry on. Next time I will invite someone, or more then one friend for this dinner.

with green thoughts, Greco

Mandy is a "seagan"
 

Amanda doesn't do dairy or egg yolks, but DOES do seafood. Anyone have good recipes?

something nice..
 

Take a red bell pepper, seed & cut in half. You have an option (at this point) of roasting it with a little olive oil or preparing a semi-raw meal by keeping it as raw as possible. When you have decided, fill with a raw/cooked hummus, top with purple onion, slices of avocado/radish, greek olives, and spicy pumpkin seeds. drizzle olive oil on top (if you like). w/:wine: and super company-Perfection~!

new to this
 

Ok let me say first I love meat however in the last yr or so some of it is showing me IT hates Me. I have met and fell in love with the most incredible vegetarian who loves me back which in itself is a miracle

I have decided that I'm going to try and wean myself off all meat except fish and seafood. I'm a diabetic so I'm hoping it will help me with that also

So any tips on where to find cookbooks for a beginner and one for diabetics would b helpful. I could also use tips on,how to fight the cravings for meat.

Any input will b appreciated

I think your decision is awesome !!!!!! It's the healthiest way to go. You know all heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the result of bad nutrition!!!! . May I suggest you read the book The China Study, by T. Collin Campbell.
This is my first year to eat less meat and diary. It is a process...One meal at a time.....

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...s_go_vegan.jpg

Thank you. I will c if I can find the book I know if I'm unable to read ir mt beautiful and talented baby can and then help me put it in practice. We are getting ready to start juicing I have to say that has me a bit worried but I have to try u know

::subscribing::

I am not a vegetarian or vegan -- but I can go months without eating meat.

Linus, the banana bread sounds delish-- and the cake, yummy.

This is so awesome! As time passes, you will be happier and happier that you made this choice! Also, I find that you will be more sure of the ethics of it too. Distance from engaging in cruel eating makes one think more about how awful that it's the cultural norm to begin with!