Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[Greco]

I've been juicing once a day for about two weeks maybe three anyway do see a little change in my skin hair still silver at the temples but I don't have an issue with that so looking forward to other positive changes.

The biggest change I noticed almost immediately has been the energy increase. And I also juice my greens, and for my smoothie add super green powder. I think the spirulina is delicious as well.

My juicer is one Jack Lalanne had been selling, don't laugh works alright for now smiling soon though I want to invest in a better one. Champion I understand is one of the best juicers out there so I'll see.

Thanks Semantics that photo of the juice looks tempting.

Have a terrific week, Greco

Originally Posted by Semantics

Absolutely.

I notice changes in energy levels and also in the health of my skin and hair.

I've never tried the store bought green juices. I have a Champion juicer and make my own and sometimes add super green powder for the spirulina and chlorella.

Kale, broccoli, spinach, carrot, apple, beet:



Happy juicing!

[WolfyOne]

This recipe came in an e mail from Better Homes and Gardens

Linguini with Fresh Veggies


Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients
16 thin stalks fresh asparagus
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
6 medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, seeded and chopped (21/4 cups)
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter*
1 9-ounce package refrigerated linguini pasta, or substitute angel hair pasta
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil

Directions
Trim asparagus. Remove tips; set aside. Bias-slice asparagus stalks into 1-to 1 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes and cook about 2 minutes, stirring often.

Add asparagus stalks, wine, and salt. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Add asparagus tips; cook uncovered, for 1 minutes. Add butter; stir till melted.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta. Return to pan and toss with asparagus mixture and basil.

Note: The butter is used in this recipe to bind the sauce. Margarine might not be an effective substitute.

[WolfyOne]

Another BH & G recipe for grilling

Southwestern Black Bean Cakes with Guacamole


Ingredients
1/2 of a medium avocado, seeded and peeled
1 tablespoon lime juice
Salt
Ground black pepper
2 slices whole wheat bread, torn
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
2 cloves garlic
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1 to 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 egg
1 small plum tomato, chopped

Directions
For guacamole, in a small bowl mash avocado. Stir in lime juice; season to taste with salt and black pepper. Cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Place torn bread in a food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend until bread resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer bread crumbs to a large bowl; set aside.

Place cilantro and garlic in the food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend until finely chopped. Add the beans, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and cumin. Cover and process or blend using on/off pulses until beans are coarsely chopped and mixture begins to pull away from side of bowl or container. Add bean mixture to bread crumbs. Add egg; mix well. Shape into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Lightly grease the rack of an uncovered grill. Place patties on rack. Grill directly over medium coals for 8 to 10 minutes or until patties are heated through, turning once halfway through grilling.

To serve, top the patties with guacamole and tomato.

[wolfbittenpoet]

Nearly homemade veggie soup

No salt added Vegetarian Vegetable Broth 1 to 2 boxes depending on size of batch you want to make
No salt added corn 1 can
No salt added green beans 1 can
No salt added tomato paste
No salt added fireroasted tomatoes
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 fresh cloves of garlic
2 carrots one julienned one finely diced
1 stalk of celery diced
1/2 medium onion diced
1 cup of cooked pasta (optional)
1 cup of cooked rice (optional)
2 tbsp worchestire sauce
1 tsp of tabasco sauce
Pepper to taste preferably fresh ground
salt to taste (optional)
Italian seasoning

Place garlic, celery, and onion in pot with small bit of olive oil. Allow to saute while you open your cans and drain the veggies. Open your broths. Place broth over the garlic, celery, and onion. Add your veggies both canned and fresh. Add tomato paste. Stir well. Start adding the seasonings and worchestire sauce. Allow to cook for an hour or so stirring occasionally. When veggies are tender add the pasta or rice and the hot sauce. Add more pepper or worchestire sauce if desired. Allow pasta to heat through. Serve with fresh bread or rolls. Homemade croutons are also awesome.
Sometimes I add diced potato or kale or collards to this mix. I only warn if you don't like garlic this soup is probably not for you.

[Greco]

Today took green juice and a green smoothie to work

still working on the last of the green juice all delicious.

Thanks guys WolfyOne, and Wolfbittenpoet for the great
and EASY recipes you posted today.

I'm cooking brown rice and black beans (frijoles negros)
which I love last evening found the Veganrican on
youtube and he made a lot of our traditional food which
can absolutely be made vegan

like yucca w/mojo (garlic, olive oil) and onions

And about that Energy thing was awake at
2am I kid you not

and I wondered now what?

I wrote, read, had breakfast (Lean Crunch w/soymilk)

headed for the gym at 5am and was out by 7am

worked all day now home to work a little more

then read and head to sleep

yeah that ENERGY thing is something I really need
a new schedule for

and no I'm not giving up my cigars

I'm a cigar smoking vegan go figure

Greco

[Greco]

Well, today I took my green smoothie to work it is staple now for me.

And a zip lock of walnuts, and raisins for snacking, feel I have to have something to bite into and not only liquid.

Tonight will juice cucumber, dill, lemon, and pineapple we'll see how it turns out.

Looked at the fake franks, and fake bacon but decided they didn't look very appetizing so I'll be sticking to fresh, and powdered green veggies, grains and legumes, nuts and seeds.

Still drinking coffee, and smoking cigars about one a week at most.

enjoy your evening, Greco

[Chancie]

I make pizza a lot, and

Pete likes sausage on her pizza, so

I buy Yves, which is spicy and delicious.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Chancie

I make pizza a lot, and

Pete likes sausage on her pizza, so

I buy Yves, which is spicy and delicious.

Do you find that Yves is a bit high on the salt content? I've always found their "faux" stuff to be somewhat "saltier"? (maybe my tastebuds, however)

[Chancie]

I don't like many faux products in general, and

I forgot the brand of the hot dogs I really like,

I am pretty sure that Yves pupperoni has less salt and junk than the original.

[Greco]

My green smoothie for the day is a given at this point
It is delicious, gives me energy for the whole day

This early evening made a quick chopped spinach
with mushrooms and roasted garlic (love garlic)

over about a cup of quinoa

Very fast cooking, and easy

As I'm feeling my body with these greens I notice a
difference in cooked and the green juices/smoothies
and how I feel, my energy levels.

On the green juices = lots of crazy, wonderful energy
green smoothie= sustained energy

cooked veggies and grains= very comforting quiet energy

I am usually in touch with my body and the way it feels
and since going completely vegan this body awareness
has really increased.

Waking early, very early, and toward the end of this week
have dialed it down a bit.

I'm seeing that I like very simple, fresh meals, and juices
really good with just these who knew?

Other positive changes as well.

So, anyone else find any changes you'd like to share?

Sensing people even more then usual, this may not be
a great thing, but I'd rather know than not so its good.

Have a good one, Greco

[nycfem]

Hey, greco, I've been loving your posts on this thread (and elsewhere, of course). What is the recipe for this green smoothie that you like so much? Jennifer

PS Quinoa is the only grain that is both a complex carb and a protein, so it's a great one to have!

[violaine]

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/...uten-free.html

[Greco]

nycfembbw,

In answer to your question about the green smoothie:

#1

banana
tofu (some days no tofu)

soymilk

green veggie powder
includes spirulina, chlorophyll

red stuff
includes lots of berries

Vit C powder (approx 5,000mg)

aloe vera (every other day)

#2

dill

banana

pineapple

green powder

red stuff

Vit C same as above

aloe vera same as above

spring H2O


green juices are

fresh leafy greens

tomorrow:

green chard

cucumber

lemon

carrot

apple

Quinoa is light and tasty.

thanks, Greco

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

Hey, greco, I've been loving your posts on this thread (and elsewhere, of course). What is the recipe for this green smoothie that you like so much? Jennifer

PS Quinoa the only grain that is both a complex carb and a protein, so it's a great one to have!

[Greco]

craving for oysters hit today
I love seafood but haven't had any
since the Gulf oil disaster

and now am vegan so they are a sweet
memory so

instead am having sauteed green chard
with garlic onions olives

and boiled sweet plantain (platanos maduros)

delicious and easy

My juicy juice#2 was unbelievably good
I wasn't sure it would be and used the
rest of the chard for dinner cooked

Enjoy your evening, Greco

[hpychick]

I love love love quinoa! It's so very versatile!

I make a lovely banana applesauce cake with ground quinoa.

I will also use it like rice or noodles.

And...for breakfast it's super yummy with some raw sugar (I can't eat refined sugars in the morning )

I think besides the banana, quinoa is a perfect food.

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

Hey, greco, I've been loving your posts on this thread (and elsewhere, of course). What is the recipe for this green smoothie that you like so much? Jennifer

PS Quinoa is the only grain that is both a complex carb and a protein, so it's a great one to have!

[Greco]

still craving oysters

banana/pineapple juice I thought about adding vanilla and coconut
milk to make it a dessert but today had the juice only delicious


for dinner as follows:

spinach green chile enchiladas

with mozzarella cheese
(no queso fresco tonight)

brown rice frijoles negros

picante sauce invented
will see how it turns out
so far so good

enjoy your Sunday
and week ahead

Greco

PS How have you dealt with cravings for other foods since
becoming vegetarian/vegan?

[violaine]

i drained and cracked, peeled, & shredded a coconut. thinking about making a creme brulee this afternoon. i've had it before, and not only are the recipes simple, they are delicious!

greco, i've never juiced- usually, i eat so many fruits and veggies throughout the day there's no issue with getting my daily requirements [and then some!]. today, with the weather being 97 degrees Fahrenheit, an ice cold fruit juice [with coconut milk] sounds good!

happy week coming to you all.


http://vegangoodeats.com/2010/07/la-...pour-le-vegan/


http://veganvisitor.wordpress.com/20.../creme-brulee/


soy-free-
http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving....llenge-14.html

[Greco]

violaine,

that dessert sounds good I love coconut

appreciate the links as well.

Greco

Originally Posted by violaine

i drained and cracked, peeled, & shredded a coconut. thinking about making a creme brulee this afternoon. i've had it before, and not only are the recipes simple, they are delicious!

greco, i've never juiced- usually, i eat so many fruits and veggies throughout the day there's no issue with getting my daily requirements [and then some!]. today, with the weather being 97 degrees Fahrenheit, an ice cold fruit juice [with coconut milk] sounds good!

happy week coming to you all.


http://vegangoodeats.com/2010/07/la-...pour-le-vegan/


http://veganvisitor.wordpress.com/20.../creme-brulee/


soy-free-
http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving....llenge-14.html

[violaine]

they are really good. i used- carob powder, carob molasses, agave power, xanthan gum, baking soda, vanilla, bananas, wheat-free/gluten-free all purpose flour mixture = i make the flour blend, egg replacer, earth balance, almond milk, sunflower oil, and love!


i found the places [french] with farm animals at a tag sale, and they are so wonderful to use.

[nycfem]

Originally Posted by greco

still craving oysters

PS How have you dealt with cravings for other foods since
becoming vegetarian/vegan?

I deal with cravings in a lot of different ways.

1) In some instances, I give it up altogether! For instance, I gave up all caffeine, including chocolate (which was very hard!), four years ago, and now I can be around it and not go crazy! Sometimes I think it truly takes a good two years to lose cravings, so it's a question of really waiting out those intense cravings. It helps that I gave up meat, fish, and chicken as a teenager and stuck with it all these years. It makes me know that it is possible to give up something one loves and to eventually be completely content without it! I did the same thing with "movie theater popcorn." It trains the brain to not say, "Should I? Shouldn't I" I like knowing certain things are off limits for me. I know this doesn't work for everybody but for me it makes life less complicated.

2) Imitations sometimes satisfy cravings for me. Since I live in a big city, there are a lot of vegan diners that do all kinds of impressive imitations of the stuff we miss, including seafood. There's even an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that's all vegan. If you want to make your own meat imitations at home, seitan and tempeh are great to use. You can even make your own seitan. The web is full of great recipes to satisfy cravings (e.g. google vegan seafood alternatives).

3) Think about the meaning a certain food has for you, like whether it's associated with family memories or vacations or a certain time in your life or a way one comforted one's self. Mindfulness helps me to redirect my cravings to considering my feelings related to their origins. Then I can focus on satisfying the craving in another way or sit with the uncomfortable feeling and accept it with better understanding.

4) I notice that I crave certain things when I'm sleep deprived or hungry or sick or before my period. Sometimes just realizing this helps me get through the craving because I know it is likely to diminish once I get through whatever is particularly activating it. Remember that every time you make it through a craving you train your brain to make it through the next time. It also builds confidence that you have the power to make your own decisions.

5) When possible I try to stay away from situations that are going to increase a craving. For instance, if I'm out at a restaurant that is not veg friendly and all there is is a basic salad, I bring a tupperware container with all the ingredients to turn it into a "wow" salad. On vacations I try to stay in places with kitchens so that I am able to make sure I have good veg meals whether in or dining out.

I hope some of this is helpful . Just give it time