Category: Vegan

Bean Soup

I was shopping at Trader Joe’s several weeks ago, and I picked up a bag of 17 Bean & Barley Soup Mix. I was on a mission to begin stocking my pantry for the fall/winter, and I really wanted to move away from canned beans, which are loaded with sodium.

You’ll remember from earlier posts that beans are one of the most healthy and economical things you can eat. Just 1/4 cup of this mix contains 52% of your daily fiber requirement. For vegetarians, beans are also a wonderful and much-needed source of protein. I know beans are not the most popular thing to eat, and some people are down right afraid of them.

Inspiration type II diabetes Vegan Vegetarian

Want To Get Healthy?

This weekend will mark the end of the summer. Even though school started today in my area, I’ve always felt like summer hangs on until Labor Day. After that, the leaves start falling, cool weather returns, and I start thinking about soups, stews, and heartier fare. I can’t wait! Don’t get me wrong, I love summer. But fall is my favorite time of the year.

About this time last year, I learned about a great program called the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. Produced by a team of experts led by Dr. Neal Barnard, the kickstart is a great way to explore changing your diet. There are on-line cooking demonstrations, meal plans, recipes, and basic health tips that will change the way you look at food. I participated last year, and I continue to reap the benefits of this new way of eating. Please look around their website.

Gardening Main Course Vegan Vegetarian

Try Something New

Over the last couple of trips to the local Farmer’s Market, I’ve been eyeing they array of tomatoes at the various tables. Yesterday, I decided to take the plunge and bought two pounds of the heirloom variety known as Yellow Brandywine. The farmer told me that they were slightly sweet and less acidic compared to the red varieties. Since Yellow Pear tomatoes are one of my all time favorites, I was pretty sure I would like these too. I was right.

When I got home, I jumped on-line to find out a bit more about heirloom tomatoes. I bet you didn’t know that over 80% of the tomato varieties that were around in the 1940’s are now extinct. Thankfully, a few wise tomato lovers started saving seeds, and now we get the juicy benefit of their forethought.

Inspiration type II diabetes Vegan Vegetarian

Watch What You Eat

Several weeks ago, I was shopping at a Walmart Supercenter with a college student. He was helping me buy food for a college retreat we were setting up. This young man has several relatives with diabetes in his immediate family, and he’s become more aware of the importance to taking care of himself. It’s been great for me, since I bounce a lot of stuff off him, including the feel of this blog. He has great insights.

As we were picking up things on our shopping list, we both paid close attention to the food labels, choosing healthier and less prepared items. At one point, we stopped and I asked him to look around at the people with us in the store. If there was a person there who was not overweight, we didn’t see them. Both of us were shocked. I’m quite sure if you did this little experiment in a grocery store or mall near you, the scene would be pretty much the same. What has happened?

Inspiration Mind Vegan Vegetarian

Dream Big

By now, you’ve figured out that I have a growing addiction to all these cooking shows that are on cable. Tonight, it was the season finale of The Next Food Network Star. You’ll have to find out who got their own show, but this last episode was pretty engaging. I didn’t watch the show each week, but just catch it from time to time.

The funny thing is, I’m not interested in most of the food that is prepared on these shows. I don’t eat that way anymore, and a lot of it is “heart attack on a plate” kind of stuff. So, if it’s not the food, what is it?

Inspiration Vegan Vegetarian

Bon Appetit

A year ago this weekend, I became a vegetarian. Based on the research that’s currently out there, many illnesses, including Type II diabetes, can be reversed in most patients when they switch to a this type of diet.

Just because the experts tout the benefits of something doesn’t make it easy. I wasn’t convinced, mainly because I didn’t want to give up something that I really enjoy. I decided that I would pray about it while I was on my annual silent retreat. Before heading out to the retreat center, I went to Mass at my church. As it turned out, the celebrant was Fr. Hector. Prior to becoming a priest, he had been a world-class chef, even landing the job as the personal chef to the President of Columbia! This man knows food.

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Balancing Act

Do you ever feel like this donkey? You’re plugging away, doing the best you can to keep your balance, and then…

It seems like life is just one big balancing act. Whether it’s trying to balance work and family, good eating and unhealthy eating, exercising too much and not exercising at all, watching your spending and putting everything on a credit card. Whatever the situation may be for you, I know the balancing act isn’t easy.

But when our bodies start talking to us, reminding us that we’re not taking care of ourselves, we have to pay attention. When we change our diets, we have to be sure we’re getting balanced nutrition.

This morning, I was reading an online article in the Los Angeles Times about a vegan couple. On the surface, you would think that they were paying attention to what they were eating, and that they were choosing the right blend of foods to keep themselves in peak shape. But they weren’t, as the article tells us (be sure to read it). Yes, a bag of potato chips might be considered vegetarian, but that doesn’t mean that’s all you have for lunch. Or that you’re taking care of yourself by just eating bean burritos from Taco Bell. Dumb.

So, keeping ourselves in proper balance, body, mind and spirit can make all the difference. You have to work on it, every day. If you messed up yesterday, get yourself back on track. Whatever you do, don’t give up! What needs to get balanced out in your life?

Soups and Stews Vegan Vegetarian

Summertime Favorites

Hot and humid. That’s the kind of weather we’ve been getting here in Maryland for the last few weeks. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time eating when it gets like this.

But I have a hard time getting enough of one of my favorite summertime treats, Gazpacho.

This soup, served cold, is really easy to prepare and very refreshing. Sadly, my homegrown tomatoes are not quite ready yet, so I had to improvise. My guests and I were really impressed with the results, and I hope you’ll try some soon.

Gazpacho

serves 4

1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped

2 14.5 oz cans Mexican style stewed tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped, more for garnish

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1 bell pepper, cored, seeded and roughly chopped

1 small yellow onion, chopped

3 tb orange juice

1 1/2 cup croutons

3 tb red wine vinegar

Put tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, jalapeno, red bell peppers, and onions in a large bowl and toss to combine.

Working in batches, puree vegetables in a blender or food processor until smooth, adding a little water if the mixture seems too thick. Strain puree through a medium sieve to remove peels and seeds, discarding any solids.

Transfer smooth puree into a large bowl and whisk in juice and red wine vinegar. Cover and chill well. Place 1 cup croutons in food processor. Pulse several times until croutons have been reduced to medium fine bread crumbs.

Before serving, whisk bread crumbs into puree . Transfer to individual bowls and serve immediately, sprinkling remaining croutons on top, if desired.

Gardening Inspiration Vegan Vegetarian

Farmer’s Markets

About now, Farmer’s Markets are up and running just about everywhere. I did a quick search and, impressively, there will be 113 open in Maryland this week. Every single county in our state has at least one, and I’m pretty sure it would be about the same where you live.

These opportunities to get good, local produce at a decent price shouldn’t be missed. In our big grocery store age, it’s nice to be able to speak to the person who is growing the food we eat.

If you have the chance to check one out in the next couple of weeks, don’t be afraid to try something new. I recently tried some kale which was labeled smokin’ hot. I asked the farmer just how hot it was, and he pulled off a leaf and told me to find out myself. More peppery than hot, I liked it and bought a bunch. Sauteed with a bit of olive oil, onion and garlic, it was delicious. Even if they’re busy, these farmers love to talk, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you buy something, ask them how they prepare it. You might just walk away with a new family favorite:) If you remember, don’t forget to thank them for doing what they do. Small, family-run farms are fading fast. It’s hard work for very little compensation. They deserve our thanks.

We’re moving into the height of the growing season, and fresh fruits and vegetables are bountiful. Try and make some time in the next few weeks to visit a farmer’s market in your area. I think you’ll be glad you did! Enjoy the weekend.

Main Course Vegan Vegetarian

Summer is Here

Tomorrow marks the “official” start of summer. Around these parts, its felt like summer for several weeks now, with plenty of heat and humidity. While I love the heat, I can do without the humidity, thanks very much.

It seems like forever ago that I mentioned that Morningstar Farms website has a bunch of summer burger recipes on their website. I can’t decide which one to try out first, but the Black and Blue burger seems to be calling my name. I don’t eat much cheese any more, but I think I’ll use some blue cheese dressing, then bring the bottle in for my coworkers to use on their salads.

Morningstar even has a pdf document covering the basics of grilling veggie burgers. They think of everything 🙂

Although the photo above doesn’t quite fit the image of a veggie burger on the grill, it was too nice looking not to put up. Sadly, it was probably taken of some beach on the Gulf Coast before the oil started washing ashore. We need to keep praying for some Divine intervention with that unending crisis.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone, especially my brothers!