March 2011
28 posts
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WatchOh Yea! Erin McKenna is at it again with sexy video to promote her new cookbook: “BabyCakes Covers the Classics: Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes from Donuts to Snickerdoodles.” I am a huge fan of BabyCakes NYC, especially after my recent visit to the original location!
A note from Erin:
“Hello again, Friends & Loved Ones. I have a new cookbook! I featured but a small sampling...
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Carrot Ginger Soup & Green Goddess Muffins
After listening to Kris Carr’s inspirational message tonight on the “Crazy Sexy Miracles” lecture, I felt a little bit guilty about the “Carrot Ginger Soup” I was about prepare, as I would be boiling the all the raw goodness out of my beautiful yellow carrots!
But the recipe doesn’t call for “over-cooking” the carrots, so I justified it that way....
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Fresh Lemon, Herb & Chickpea Salad
I mentioned in a previous post that my friend, Shelly, brought be some lovely goodies from her garden! She gave me a wonderful idea for an “herbed chickpea salad.” I love chickpeas, so for today’s lunch, I prepared my own version using her fresh lemons & herbs.
“Fresh Lemon, Herb & Chickpea Salad”
1 15 oz. can chickpeas
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
...
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Spicy Collard Greens with Rice
My friend Shelly & her husband have the most beautiful backyard garden! Today, she shared the bounty & surprised me a bag of gorgeous herbs, lemons & hearty collard greens! I whipped up this dish (adapted from this recipe) with the collards & juice from the fresh lemons.
“Spicy Collard Greens with Rice”
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup jasmine rice
1 Tbsp vegan...
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Curried Scrambled Tofu with Wilted Arugula
I love to make breakfast! It is not often that I have time to do more than a quick bowl of oatmeal or smoothie, but I have the day off today & feel like treating myself to a new twist on one of my all-time faves: the tofu scramble!
“Curried Scrambled Tofu with Wilted Arugula”
I have too many cookbooks. It’s kind of an obsession. I get it from my Mom, as she is obsessed...
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Barrio Star Restaurant, San Diego
Barrio Star, the latest culinary brain-child from Chef Isabel Cruz, is quickly becoming one of my favorite dining haunts. For a month or so now I have dined here quite frequently, which really says something, as I don’t dine out very often! Today, my Mom & I chose this to be our location for our monthly business (& my post birthday) lunch!
I’d first read about Chef Isabel...
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Fresh Stawberry Sorbet
Organic Locally Grown Strawberries from Oceanside, CA
With fresh strawberries now in season in Southern California, I cannot think of a more gorgeous way to celebrate the first week of spring than with a heaping bowl of this:
“Fresh Strawberry Sorbet”
2 cups water
1 cup organic sugar (evaporated cane juice)
1 quart organic strawberries, hulled
1/3 cup fresh squeezed orange...
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Hot & Sour Cabbage Soup
Cabbage is abundant in Southern California this time of year, as the CSA keeps throwing loads of it my way!
Never a big fan of traditional coleslaw, I am usually at a loss for how I am going to make use of cabbage, but one thing is for sure…this soup recipe from Vegan Yum Yum is a staple in my household during cabbage season…
“Vegan Hot & Sour Cabbage Soup”
This...
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Cri de Coeur Spring 2011 is Here!
Oh…Cri de Coeur, j’adore your shoes & bags! I dream of the day when I might be able to afford anything from this line, even on sale! Until then…I’ll browse the new Spring 2011 line with admiration & lust for these….
Cri de Coeur “Finn” in Black - Vegan, Eco-friendly, low-VOC breathable PU upper. Reclaimed wood sole. $430.00
I’m not...
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This Week's CSA Share & a Recipe!
Here we go again! Fresh from Suzie’s Organic Farm: a whole lotta spring greens! This is a good thing, I suppose, as I am trying to be extra healthy right now!
This week’s share:
Leeks
Lettuce
Carrots
Arugula
Napa Cabbage
Beets
Radicchio
Spinach
Purple Kohlrabi
Sorrel
Chard
Red Frill
Parsley
Onions
Purple Kohl- whhhaaaa? Kohlrabi!
This is a brand new veggie for...
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St. Patty's Pesto & Pasta
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! While many of you are out & about enjoying green beer & festivities, I went to yoga & came home & cooked! I have an important job interview tomorrow, so I’m taking it easy tonight, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get into the spirit with some green food!
I love pesto & I love that there are so many creative & flavorful...
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"The Stanford Inn" an Eco-Resort on the Mendocino...
I know, I just got back from “vaction,” but I was in lively New York, so there was little R&R! So yes, as they say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!”
Recently, a client of mine was telling me about the weekend she spent with her husband at “The Stanford Inn, By the Sea” & said it was fabulous! She had the “best veggie enchiladas of her...
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"Paiigge" Gladiator Sandals
I saw these Steve Madden Sandals at Nordstrom yesterday & jumped for joy to learn that they are constructed with “all man made materials!” These come in an array of lovely colors, but I really have my eye on the mustard color featured below, & black of course!
Steve Madden Paiigge Sandals in “Mustard” - $69.50
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Candle Cafe - NYC
I finally have a moment to recap my lunch at the Candle Cafe in NYC! This was one place I’d been dying to go, as it is rated one of the best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the country & was the first Certified Green Restaurant in NYC.
MISSION
We at the Candle Cafe are dedicated to your health through our commitment to excellent vegetarian cuisine. Our inspired creations are...
"Vegan Cuts"
Who loves a good deal on quality products & services? I know I do! When I heard about “Vegan Cuts,” the new vegan discount website, I had to sign up!
WHAT IS VEGAN CUTS? Vegan Cuts is a website for vegans who love to save money. Once we officially launch in late April, we’ll be sending our members a weekly email featuring exclusive deals on vegan products & services.
WHAT...
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"Hearts of Darkness" Spring 2011 Collection is... →
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Local Farm to Home Table...
Back to the grind! It’s been a long week & will be a long weekend, as I have to work to make up for time off in NYC! But, one of the great things about being home is getting back into my kitchen! While I enjoy the restaurant experience, there is nothing like a home cooked meal - especially when using ingredients that are local, seasonal, organic & fresh from the farm!
Yesterday was...
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Finally...BabyCakes...NYC!!!
Ok…it’s official: I have a massive girl crush on Erin McKenna! I mean, who wouldn’t? She’s super cute, smart, quirky, & (now I can personally attest) makes a kick-ass vegan, gluten-free, agave sweetened cupcake!
I’ve been dying to go to BabyCakes NYC! Yeah, there is one closer to me in Los Angeles, but the NYC shop is where it all began! Needless to say, it was...
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"Winter" Salad/"Summer" Night
It’s been absolutely perfect here in sunny San Diego. The last few days have felt like summer! One thing is for sure, the season is changing…flowers are blooming, days are longer & nights are warmer! Yay! Where the root veggies & winter squash once filled the tables, the booths at the farmers’ market today were abundant with succulent strawberries & juicy heirloom...
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"Small" CSA Box
Got a fantastic memo from my CSA today:
“Our community has spoken, and we have listened! Starting March 14, we will offer a small size box. Small boxes will cost $18 and will contain between 6-10 items. We will continue to offer the large boxes at $25 containing 11-15 items. Both will be available for weekly or bi-weekly pick up.”
Thank you, Suzie’s Farm!!!! This solves my...
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"Pure Food & Wine:" Purely Divine!
For quite some time now, “Pure Food & Wine” has been on the TOP of my list of NYC vegan eateries to try! So lucky, lucky me…my dear friend, Anne, who I went to visit this past weekend, made a reservation to treat me to a birthday dinner there! She’s been a few times with her husband & said it was wonderful, & was it ever! For me, this place truly lived up to...
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This Week's CSA Share!
I can’t wait to pick up my CSA box tomorrow! I am down to the nitty-gritty in my fridge & am ready for some fresh veggies! Yay, watermelon radish!!! One of my faves!
Red Frills
Cilantro
Lettuce
Carrots
Arugula
Red Savoy Cabbage
Beets
Watermelon Radish
Redbor Kale
Baby Broccoli
Sugar Snap Peas
Mix Bean Sprouts
Also…I received Colleen Patrick Goudreau’s...
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Hey There!
Apologies, I know it’s been a while! I’m on my way to JFK & headed back home after a quick trip to NY to visit one of my besties!
I will be posting some pictures of my birthday dinner & New York trip over the next few days! I’ve got lots to update you on after two trips to BabycakesNYC (cupcakes, brownies, chocolate frosted pumpkin bread - oh my!), a mind-blowing raw-vegan dinner at...
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Birthday Taco Tuesday Style!!!!
“Ugh. Yes, 35!!!”
Many moons ago, my Grandpa started a ”birthday taco tradition.” We either go out to a favorite restuarant, or build them at home, which I find to be much more enjoyable! It took me a while as a child to jump on the bandwagon, always preferring a mac & cheese or spaghetti feast to the Mexican fiesta. Soon into my teens I succumbed to tradition, yet...