BEST PLACE ON EARTH

We are off tomorrow morning to:

SAN FRANCISCO...BEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!

Restaurants to visit:

Alive

Cafe Gratitude

Cha-ya

Judahlicious

Juicey Lucy's

HERBIVORE

Mijita's

Millennium

Out The Door

Slanted Door

We will also be visiting Napa Valley for 2 days.

But the irony is that we don't drink alcohol.

I just want to check out UBUNTU, the newest vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Napa.

We will also be visiting:

Copia

Dean and Deluca

Then we are off to SAFARI WEST  in Santa Rosa,for an overnight stay.

Just found out about this place...a safari in the heart of wine country?

Check out the link.

It sounds amazing.

Then we are back to San Francisco to visit family, then San Jose to visit more family.

So in total, we will be gone for 2 weeks.

Hope to post pics here and there of our trip.

MANZANA CHILI VERDE

Today I Made:

MANZANA CHILI VERDE for DINNER.

Recipe from VEGANOMICON by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

Jalapenos, poblano pepper, tomatillos, cilantro, and Granny Smith apples, give this chili its awesome green color.

Potatoes and navy beans add substance.

Topped with avocado, green onions, and cilantro.

What an interesting combination of flavors.

Sweet, tangy, and spicy.

This is definitely a keeper!!!

ASPARAGUS QUICHE WITH TOMATOES AND TARRAGON

Today I Made:

ASPARAGUS QUICHE WITH TOMATOES AND TARRAGON for DINNER.

Recipe from VEGANOMICON by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

A blend of navy beans, walnuts, asparagus, spices, with a home made whole wheat pastry crust.

Topped with thinly sliced tomatoes and whole wheat breads crumbs.

As I was removing it from the oven, I DROPPED it!!!

It landed on the oven door and folded in half.

We still ate it and it was DELICIOUS!!!

HARVEST CORN CHOWDER

Today I Made:

HARVEST CORN CHOWDER and SALAD for DINNER.

Chowder recipe from RAWvolution by Matt Amsden.

Fresh cut corn, raw walnuts, raw pine nuts, lemon juice, coconut water, nama shoyu, garlic,and spices.

Smooth with very strong flavors.

This is the salad I've been making these days:

Organic salad mix, shredded carrots, cucumbers, red onions, and goji berries with ASIAN MIRACLE DRESSING.

RAW SOFT TACO WITH FRESH TOMATO SALSA

Today I Made:

RAW SOFT TACO WITH FRESH TOMATO SALSA  and GUACAMOLE with FLAX SEED CRACKERS for DINNER.

Walnut meat, shredded romaine lettuce, topped with fresh tomato salsa and served on a romaine lettuce leaf.

Taco and salsa recipe from RAWvolution by Matt Amsden.

With a one substitution:

Romaine lettuce instead of collard greens.

This dinner was WONDERFUL!!!

I can't rave about it enough.

So full of flavors and textures.

So fast and easy to make.

The guacamole is a family recipe:

AVOCADOS+DICED RED ONION+ DICED TOMATO+MINCED JALAPENO (with seeds for some heat)+CHOPPED CILANTRO+LIME JUICE+SALT=HEAVEN

The flaw seed crackers were store bought.

Whole Foods LEAF CUISINE brand.

RAW FOOD ROCKS!!!

The more I research it, the more it makes sense to me.

My goal is to make at least 3 RAW dishes this week.

I'm so excited!!!

RAW CHEESE PIEROGIES AND CREAMY COLE SLAW

Today I Made:

CHEESE PIEROGIES AND CREAMY COLE SLAW for DINNER.

Both recipes from RAWvolution by Matt Amsden.

Thinly sliced jicama, filled with a creamy, lemony, garlicky cashew filling.

The slaw consists of red and green cabbage, carrots, and radishes.

The dressing for the slaw is garlic and ginger based.

Both dishes were pretty good.

Full of flavor and textures.

We're venturing into the world of RAW living.

So, expect to see more RAW dishes and desserts.

WILTED KALE SALAD WITH CHIPOTLE DRESSING

Today I Made:

WILTED KALE SALAD WITH CHIPOTLE DRESSING and CAULIFLOWER CAKES for DINNER.

Salad recipe from GLIVING.COM.

Cauliflower recipe from Vegetarian TImes.

The kale salad was so full of flavor and completely RAW.

Spicy, sour, creamy and full of nutrition.

The dressing was avocado based, which we absolutely love.

If your love chipotle and avocado, make this salad NOW!!!

The cauliflower cakes are a repeat recipe from Feb.20.

Creamy and crunchy at the same time.

One of our favorite dishes.

CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP

Today I Made:

CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP and  SALAD for DINNER.

Recipe for soup from EVERYDAY FOOD MAGAZINE.

Oatmeal makes this soup creamy.

ORGANIC THROAT COAT TEA

My husband and I caught a cold this week!

We can't even remember the last time we were sick... maybe twice in 10 years or so.

With our throats killing us and our heads about to explode, we had to make a trip to our local market.

Walking thru the tea aisle I suddenly remember seeing something about a tea for sore throats in Veganpr0n's blog.

And not a second later, I make eye contact with the box pictured above.

Well, we've been drinking it for 2 days and it sure has made a difference.

My sore throat is completely gone and I'm almost back to normal.

Husband is also doing a little bit better.

This tea is prepared differently from all the others:

You pour 8 oz. boiling water over the tea bag in a cup.

Cover cup and steep for 10-15 minutes.

Gently squeeze the tea bag to release any remaining extract.

Drink 4 to 6 cups daily or as needed.

It has a really strong licorice flavor, which I didn't care for.

Next time you get sick, give this tea a try:

Traditional Medicinals ORGANIC THROAT COAT.

By the way, its caffeine-free.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

Today I Made:

PASTA PRIMAVERA for DINNER.

Recipe from COOKING LIGHT.

Whole wheat spaghetti with asparagus, peas, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and yellow bell peppers.

Topped with julienned basil.

Made with a creamy, spicy sauce.

Perfect dish for a mild June day.

KATHY'S CHOCOLATE PARTY CAKE

Today I Made:

KATHY'S CHOCOLATE PARTY CAKE for DESSERT.

Recipe from COOKING LIGHT.

I made a few substitutions:

-Whole wheat flour instead of white flour.

-Soymilk with 1 teaspoon apple cider instead of buttermilk.

-SOYATOO instead of frozen whipped topping.

I used to make this cake all the time before we went vegan.

I wasn't able to make this until I found SOYATOO.

This cake is so full of chocolate flavor with a slight hint of coffee.

I recommend making this for your next party/gathering.

Easy and delicious.

SPICY THAI VEGETABLE WRAPS

Today I Made:

SPICY THAI VEGETABLE WRAPS for DINNER.

Recipe from RAW FOOD by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis.

Collard greens stuffed with spicy almond butter marinated napa cabbage, julienned carrots, thinly slice mangoes, and sesame seed cashews.

Dipped into Jennifer McCann's ASIAN MIRACLE DRESSING.

*The original recipe called for a tamarind dipping sauce, but I couldn't find  tamarind paste at Whole Foods.

The wraps were so full of textures and flavors.

Crunchy,creamy, sour, and spicy.

I can't wait to make these again!