STUFFED CHILES WITH WALNUT SAUCE AND HOLIDAY RICE

Today I Made:

STUFFED CHILES WITH WALNUT SAUCE AND HOLIDAY RICE for DINNER.

Recipe from VEGETARIAN TIMES NOV/DEC. 2005 ISSUE.

Roasted poblano chiles stuffed with a tomato mushroom sauce and topped with a walnut sauce over a bed of brown rice with green bell peppers.

Both my husband and I aren't mushrooms fans, but in this dish you can't even tell that they're the main ingredient.

Overall this dish was a hit.

Great combination of flavors.

GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SPLIT SANDWICH

PHOTO COURTESY OF COOKING LIGHT MAGAZINE

Today I Made:

GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SPLIT SANDWICH for BREAKFAST.

Recipe from COOKING LIGHT MAGAZINE.

Thinly sliced bananas and strawberries, peanut butter, vegan chocolate chips, apricot jam and Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread.

This was one of the BEST sandwiches ever!

You have your fruit, protein( peanut butter), and sprouted grains ( from the bread), and every now and then , a taste of chocolate.

We loved it so much, we forgot to photograph it (hence the borrowed pic).

Kids of all ages will love it.

C'EST LA V

Yesterday we Bought:

tons of C'est La V Bake Shop cookies, biscotties, and scones for DESSERT!

C'est La V is an ALL vegan bake shop based in the Los Angeles area and owned by professional baker, Kim Garr.

She just started selling her baked goods at the Topanga Canyon Farmer's Market on Friday evenings.

My husband works just a few minutes away, so I decided to spend the day with him just so we could visit (and buy) C'est La V.

I think we ended up buying everything they were offering:

-Chocolate chip cookies

-Snickerdoodles

-Oatmeal Cranberry

-Ginger scones

-Cranberry Orange scones

-Chocolate Almond biscotti

-Pistachio Anise Seed biscotti

-Fudgy Brownies

We tried them all tonight and loved each and every one.

The fact that they are bite-sized makes them almost guilt-free.

I'm sure will be back for more next week.

CACTUS GUMBO

Today I Made:

CACTUS GUMBO for DINNER.

Recipe from THE ARTFUL VEGAN by Eric Tucker and Bruce Enloe.

Roasted cactus, carrots, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and fresh corn in a mildly spicy broth and topped with thin crispy tortilla strips, avocado and cilantro.

This gumbo tastes more like a tortilla soup.

I LOVE IT!!!

The main ingredient in this gumbo is CACTUS, which is not found in many recipes, but works really well in this one.

When you cut into the cactus, a slimy discharge is released, which in turn helps to thicken the gumbo.

So in this recipe, the cactus replaces okra, the traditional thickening ingredient in gumbo.

FRESH BANANA CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Today I Made:

FRESH BANANA CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING for DESSERT.

Recipe from the March issue of VEGETARIAN TIMES.

2 layers of banana cake, chocolate frosting and thin slices of fresh banana.

This is another recipe my husband asked me to make in the past, but I always thought it looked a little boring.

Last night, he mentioned it again.

And he even threatened to make it himself.

So SURPRISE!!!

Can't wait for him to get home.

CHOLESTEROL FREE MINI BAKED DONUTS

Today I Made:

CHOLESTEROL FREE MINI BAKED DONUTS for DESSERT.

Original recipe from VeganYumYum.

Last time I made these was a year ago and ever since then my husband has asked me repeatedly to make them for him.

I always hesitated and now I know why.

THEY ARE SO AMAZING, I COULD EAT THE ENTIRE BATCH BY MYSELF!!!

But I can't because I have to share with my husband.

The batter was super easy to make and so was the coating (melted high quality chocolate).

They are cholesterol free and lower in fat than traditional donuts (since they're baked and not fried).

You do need a donut pan, which you can easily get thru Amazon.

LOVING HUT

Finally a NEW VEGAN restaurant has opened up in our area.

I present to you all LOVING HUT!

Loving Hut is a 100% vegan restaurant specializing in Chinese food.

They have 4 branches in California:

-Alhambra ( our branch ), San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Milpitas.

They also have more locations in Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

The food is delicious and the restaurant has a real fresh vibe.

We loved it so much, we went back 2 days in a row.

They also have the coolest drinks (non-alcoholic).

Make sure to check out their website ASAP.

And you if you live in the Los Angeles area, YOU must visit LOVING HUT!

We recommend all of the dishes and drinks you see in the pictures below.

DRAGON ROLL VERMICELLI BOWL-crispy deep-fried rolls,soy protein,lettuce, mint, bean sprout,carrots, and peanuts over rice noodles with a special sweet and sour sauce.

ROYAL NOODLE SOUP-Spicy rice noodle soup with tofu, soy protein, mint, cilantro, and bean sprouts.

BLISS CHOW MEIN-Stir-fried noodles with baby bok choy, broccoli, celery and carrots.

SPICY CHA CHA-Stir-fried seasoned yam flour crescents crumbled with hot spicy pepper, bell pepper, onions, and garlic.

GREEN BEAN DELIGHT-Stir-fried green beans and pine nuts with a spicy sauce.

GOLDEN ROLLS-Crispy deep fried rolls with carrot, onion, bean thread with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

CLASSIC VEGAN BURGER-Grilled soy patty, onions, fresh tomato, served with fries.

CHEESECAKE-Rich,decadent tofu cheesecake with blueberry topping.

ICED CAPPUCCINO

SUNNY FORREST

KIWI DELIGHT

PINK CONNECTION AND MANGO DRINK

PINA COLADA