Vegan Mofo - Neal Barnard

Next in line for review is my collection of books from Neal Barnard.

I must admit that I am also in love with all things Neal Barnard. I had the book "Turn off the Fat Genes" sitting in my bookshelf at the time that I read Skinny Bitch & it was only that it was mentioned in the book that a light-bulb went off as I remembered having it and I then picked it up to read it also.

Neal Barnard comes from a more 'health' side of veganism, not just being vegan for the sake of animals. 
He encourages following a low fat vegan style of eating and explains in details links between various diseases in society that are seen as "normal" as we age, but are in fact dietary related. 

These books are easy to read & yet so very full of information.
They all have FANTASTIC recipe sections in the later part of the books - and not just a few recipes, HEAPS of recipes! I think it's fair to say that the books are about 2/3s info, 1/3 recipes. 
I have cooked many many meals from all these books & there are only a very few that I have come across that I haven't totally LOVED.
These have often been my fall-back recipes when I need to make a bunch of salads to take to events. 
I make this "Couscous Confetti Salad" below for EVERY occasion we host and each time I am asked for the recipe! It is loved by omni's and vego's alike! I may have to say that it's my favourite recipe in the book "Turn off the Fat Genes".
You can access the recipe online here.

I recently enjoyed the "Curried Chickpea Spread" from "The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook."



This is one of the books that I got and had every hope of cooking all the way through from beginning to end and I must say that I have tried about 70% of the recipes in this book! This was the first time I had tried this spread so I was quite pleased to be able to tick it off my list ;-)

Delicious! I even went to the effort of roasting a single onion to use in the recipe! Usually I'm lazy when recipes require effort like that and I would just dry-fry it instead!

I also must speak very highly of his book "Program for Reversing Diabetes". 


I have had the privilege of helping two people use this program (based on a low fat vegan diet) to reverse their T2 diabetes. It is so wonderful watching people heal themselves with food. If you, or someone you know has diabetes then I definitely recommend getting this book.
To see if this is the type of program that could be of interest to someone you know you can view a summary here on youtube.   


Neal Barnard is the president of an organisation called "The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine" (PCRM). They encourage preventative medicine using the method of "The Power Plate". Their website in full of wonderful resources and publications you can download and print. They also have great information regarding children and feeding them healthfully. I highly encourage you to check it out here. You'll also find links to other websites run by them including NutritionMD where you'll find many delicious recipes like the ones shown above. If you're tempted to try a vegan diet but don't know where to start, I encourage you to try their 21 day vegan kickstart program. I have often followed this program in the past when I want to get my eating back on track or want my meals planned out for me. All the recipes are super easy, super delicious and use easy-to-find food items.
Give it a try! 

The Same but Different

The great debate:

Feeding omni's and vego's in the same meal..... is it possible?

The answer is simply YES.

It might take a little bit more work but its not 'hard'.

Over Christmas I read a long debate on a discussion website about how many vego's still cook meat for their friends and family even though they hate doing it! 
I regularly have to practice this skill since there is NO WAY I could convince family members to eat vegan meals with me!
So in this post I'll give some practical tips on how to make meals that compliment both appetites!

Below you'll find a list of great ways that you can share a meal that is "The Same but Difference" - a phrase that my hubbie and I often have a little laugh about ;-)


Shepherds pies - made with lentils in place of the meat. Try this recipe for a fab lentil shepherd pie.

Enjoy a meal of mash and pies together. Pie fillings can be as creative or as simple as you please! Same goes for 'bangers and mash' - plenty of faux meat options to make easy similar meals.

Left - meat pie                                    Right - mushroom pie

           

Another easy option is to have burgers together. I love a good veggie burger! Why not try this lentil pattie recipe.

Bolognese - Try using a bean or lentil bolognese over pasta, along with a mince bolognese.

Meat balls are another great option that can easily be turned vego! Try using lentils, red kidney beans, okara or gluten flour to make meatless balls.

   Left - regular mince meat balls                           Right - okara 'meat' balls

Pizza! - this has got to be one of the easiest meals to share together. Vego pizza options are endless - just make sure you top it with pizza cheeze sauce.

Stir fry's are also easy to just make the same vegetable base & just top with either tofu or other.

Roast Dinner - can easily keep everyone happy - esp on a cold winters night. Veggie roast are endless, try using legumes of all kinds, nut roast or if you're having a lazy day there are some amazing premade store-bought roast available too.

Left - chicken roast dinner                                                                Right - seitan roast dinner

Baked Loafs - along with a meat loaf  you could serve a lentil loaf or bean loaf.

Lasagne - another great dish that can easily been turned veg. Try this version for a very 'meaty' option!!!

Check out this version of home-made 'Cheese and Bacon Muffin' breakfast:

Tofu bacon with tofutti cheese slice & hash browns. Now surely that is "The Same but Different" to an omni's meal!!!


Is that enough meals to make you feel like you can eat veg in an omni setting???

Better still - why not tell your friends and family about all the benefits of a plant-based diet???

You never know - they may just look at your meal and decide it's equally delicious!

Not only for their health, but for the many lives of animals that suffer for our dinner plates.

Decide on a vegan resolution you won't regret it!

After Christmas come down...... 2012 - A Year in Review!

I LOVE this poem! It always gives me a little chuckle when I read it!
 
     ‘Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
     Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
     The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste
     All the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
     When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
     When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

     I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared;
     The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
     The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
     And the way I’d never said, “No thank you, please.”
     As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt
     And prepared once again to do battle with dirt–
     I said to myself, as I only can
     “You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!”

     So, away with the last of the sour cream dip,
     Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
     Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
     ‘Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
     I won’t have a cookie, not even a lick.
     I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

     I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
     I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
     I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore—
     But isn’t that what January is for?
     Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
     Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

If you've been following my blog but aren't vegan - maybe you'd like to consider making a vegan resolution!
The PCRM - Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, have set up this new website to help people make the transition. It has many helpful tools including recipes, started kits, health information, programs to follow, even inspiration from others who have made a resolution! 
Check it out here -  http://veganresolution.org/

And of course if you want any help along the way - feel free to ask me anything you want :-)

I usually don't make an official resolution - but I do often take the time to reflect on the year that's been & decided if there is anything that I want to change for the coming year.
For next year I have decided to try & not let life get me down so much. I do think that I am the kind of person who views things in a way that seems to have such a negative twist on ~everything~ and its really hard for me to stop my mind from over-thinking things. This coming year I am going to aim to be a more positive person. A more positive wife & a more positive mother in particular!

I guess that leads me to the question.....

Is it possible to re-train our way of thinking???

I'll give you an example from my kitty!!! Not really....but I just love these pictures ;-)

So if you're like me.... let's try and aim to see the positive in situations in the coming year!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE 

xxx Sandy

2012 - A Year in Review -->
Here's my 12 favourite recipes from 2012:
 

Lentil loaf - I think I've lost count of the amount of times I've made this recipe now! 

 


Pina-colada doughnuts - these have become a favourite in our household (and in our neighbours too!).
 
 
Tofu bacon  - this is now one of my favourite fall backs. It has so many uses - a great salad topper, sandwich filler or heck - just eat it by itself cause its so tasty ;-)

 

Winter curry and couscous - I think I can still smell the amazing aroma that this dish fills the house with!!!



Asian lunch salad - because we all to have a favourite salad! 
 


Strawberry mousse - I didn't think I could ever love a dessert as much as this life-is-good dessert until I came up with this mousse!


 


Tex-mex pizza  - we all need a favourtie pizza topping!
  

        Spiced lentil burgers - I love a good veggie                          burger, this one is so easy & so delicious.

 
Fruity yum cookies  - these were sooooo tasty I couldn't not include them. 




Cheezey brown rice with green beans - something a bit different yet amazingly tasty.

 

Mashed sweet potato with mexican spiced black beans  - all the amazing flavours of a mexican restaurant in your own home.
 


 Cranberry apple joy - can't forget a drink in this collection. This one is so satisfying!
 

Mushroom sauce on beans, greens, grains

This evening's dinner on the 21 day kickstart meal plan was DIY Beans, Greens, Grain.
I love experimenting on the DIY days.
I have never cooked millet before so decided that would be my experiment. 
It is so tasty & incredibly filling too. I will make this a regular now for sure! :-)

Here's what I made:

My choice of bean, green & grain is here:

What I did:

Place 1 cup millet in a pot & pour over 3 cups vegetables stock. Bring to the boil & simmer for 20-25 minutes until all moisture is absorbed and millet has 'puffed up'. It will look similar to couscous in texture.

For the zucchini bean mixture I sliced the zucchini & sauteed in a frying pan with a teaspoon of cumin and a crack of black pepper. Add beans & saute until zucchini is soft & beans are warmed through. If the mixture begins to stick you can add a little water. 

For the mushroom sauce:
Chop 10 button mushrooms and one small onion very finely.
Saute until the mushrooms and onion are cooked through.

Transfer to a pot (you can saute them in the pot if you want to) and add a Tablespoon of soy sauce and some cracked black pepper. 

In a mixing bowl combine 1 Tablespoon cornflour & 1 cup cold water. Stir until cornflour is completely dissolved.

Pour the cornflour mixture into the pot with the mushrooms & simmer for approx 10 minutes until hot and the sauce thickens.


Combine the millet and zucchini-bean mix on a plate or bowl & pour the mushroom sauce over the top.

WIAW - Kickstart

This is the first time I've taken part in WIAW - What I Ate Wedensday.

You can read about it here and also sign up if you want to be involved!

As you may already know, I am currently following the 21 day kickstart. So what better way to start up WIAW with a kickstart day!!!

My breakfast was:
Fruit salad.....

and a piece of toast with fruit spread.












Lunch was my spiced lentil burgers with salad

Dinner was leftover Israeli Couscous with Carrots, Peas, and Red Wine Vinegar with steamed silverbeet and almonds.

Dessert was "ice-cream". Made by blending a frozen banana, blueberries, spinach & milk.
I love a good dessert :D mmmmmmmmmmmmm

    Here's something to remember about WIAW - directly from this link.

----What WIAW isn't about----

Comparison - Judgement - Restriction - Guilt

----What WIAW is about----

Celebrating one of the glorious things we all have in common: We all eat!

You can join in the fun too!

Just click here to follow the links!


I found out about WIAW from a blog that I really enjoy reading! Its all about healthy living & I encourage you to jump across and check it out. Some great fitness tips, tasty recipes and other odds and ends to make a girl smile :-)
Check it out here:  You+Me=Fit You won't be disappointed you did! :-)

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

DIY Thursday

Who's joining in the 21 day kickstart?

Thursday evenings suggested meal is: Kickstart DIY: Green, grain and a bean

 

                                         Green: Silverbeet

                                         Grain: Quinoa

                                         Bean: Chickpeas

Here's the DIY adventure that I had:

Today at Coles I picked up this awesome McCormick recipe-creations spice pack for only $1.14! Of course that meant I had to incorporate that into my meal too.

This mixture of herbs & spices was just AMAZING! They really complimented each other & I will definitely be using these recipe-creations packs again.
This blend contains ground coriander seeds, coriander leaves, chili, garlic, paprika, and lemon pepper.
I used only a third of the pack and have stored the rest in a glass jar use at a later date.

To make my DIY meal I chopped a whole bunch of silverbeet, added water and placed in the microwave for 5 minutes. 
I boiled half a cup of quinoa in 1 cup of water for approx 15 minutes until the quinoa was cooked through.

I chopped a yellow capsicum & an onion. Placed them in a pan to water saute with the spices provided in the pack (except the coriander leaves).  I sauteed for 5 minutes til the onion was soft then added a drained tin of chickpeas and a teaspoon of lemon juice.

I assembled my collection of "green, grain & bean" on my plate and topped with the coriander leaves provided by the marvellous spice pack!

Result:
AmAzInGlY delicious meal that was quick & easy that will now become a regular!