Let's Use the Microplane Gingerly!

It's another glorious day in South Louisiana!   Today I am sharing a kitchen tip, via video, on using ginger.  This little nugget of info came from my experience at the School of  Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado.  I hope you all enjoy!

Salmon and Seeds

This morning I used my leftover wild caught salmon from last nights dinner to add a little kick to my yellow corn grits for breakfast. I don't do grits too often but when I do I get my grits from a local vendor at the farmers market.

On another note, I had the honor of attending a groundbreaking ceremony at Truman Elementary School for their school garden.   In addition,  there will be an eight week summer program for youth to learn about gardening. I will be one of the artisan chefs on board teaching our young people how to cook their wonderful harvest! I'll keep you posted on this and other community programs I am involved with. Check it out below!

We Have Got to Do Better!

Just read this article where it seems in the future states will be fatter.
To get more information click Here!

Sipping...Just Sipping

photo from mindbodygreen.com

I've been sipping on hot to warm water daily and noticed a difference in my digestion, skin, and cravings.  Even though I still like sugar, I don't crave it as much anymore and also noticed I am not as bloated.  I learned about this and other interesting healthy lifestyle tips while taking classes at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  I know I haven't posted much lately, been going through some growing pains.  All is well though.  Click to your right for info on the health benefits of sipping warm water.

Yummy Breakfast Treat

I saw this yummy looking breakfast treat/desert and thought I have got to try this!  The only thing I may have trouble finding is the vegan puffed pastry.  If anyone knows where I can get some, please leave me a comment or drop me a line at germaine.gordon@gmail.com.  Also if you try this recipe let me know how it turns out.  In the meantime, check out the recipe below.

 > Vegan Almond Apple Flowers <

The Southern Vegetarian Revolution Continues...

Check me out in the local e-zine 225 Dine.

Local Vegetarian Blogger

I am a Part of the Revolution!!!

Source: mindbodygreen.com via MindBodyGreen on Pinterest

A Diet Change for the Former President

Check out this short article on President Clinton's decision to go vegan here.

Great Food from Humble Beginnings

Recently, I moved to a neighborhood that doesn't have the fanciest supermarkets or an abundance of health food stores.  There are two food stores within 5 minutes of my driveway.  One store I only went to once because my Aunt likes the potato chips that are sold there, the other, is a locally owned joint that has a nice sized produce section and some healthy choices on the shelf.  Now, I could drive an extra 15 minutes to go to fancier stores but there is something to be said for the small local market.  I made polenta cakes with marina and sauteed spinach with items bought from my neighborhood grocer.  I bought oatmeal with flax and found free range eggs.  No, it's not perfect, and there wasn't any organic produce but for the folks who live in the area it's where they buy their weekly groceries and have a little piece of community.  It's big enough to shop for the week and yet small enough to see your neighbors.  I know most folks, including myself, talk about the importance of organic and all natural but what if you don't live close to that type of store?  What if the local grocer only has a few healthy items that could help a person transitioning to a better food lifestyle, feel comfortable about shopping?  How about the local folks, the local economy, and keeping the money circulating in the community instead of it being shipped to headquarters in Texas or Arkansas?  Just my rambling thoughts.  What do you think?

Below are the simple steps for my polenta dinner.

1.  I made Bobs Red Mill polenta according to package directions and place in a large oiled rectangular baking dish.  Place in freezer for ten minutes to set.

2.  In olive oil, saute' green onion and garlic.  Add spinach, salt and pepper to taste, cover and cook on low.  Allow the spinach leave to wilt slowly.

3.  Heat favorite marina sauce.  Add a little agave or honey to help mellow the acidity of the tomatoes.  Season to taste.

4.  Once polenta is firm cut polenta into squares.  Place marina at the bottom of plate, place polenta square on top, top square with marinara and the place some spinach on top. Enjoy!

This is the Number One Thing to Remove from your Diet!!!

For more information on the possible danger of drinking soda pop click below.

credit: istockphoto

Soda May Cause Cancer

Great Cookies, A GoodBelly, and Greater Things to Come!

Yes I've been MIA lately.  Usually during the beginning of the year I like to take the time to revamp, rethink, and retool my mission.  There are going to be some great things coming from Southern Vegetarian Productions this year! 

During my down time I decided to take the GoodBelly 12 day challenge.  If you didn't know GoodBelly is a probiotic juice drink*.  It taste great and comes in many awesome flavors.   I like the GoodBelly Plus in the little shot cups because it gives me a measured amount that I can throw in my purse on the go.  Admittedly I didn't notice a difference until after I finished the challenge.  About 2 or 3 days afterward I noticed the stomach bloat that had subsided returned.  I started thinking, Wow, it does work!  I personally felt lighter and didn't have a sluggish full feeling that I often experience by the end of the day.  So today armed with a few coupons I am going back to get some more.  My only problem is that I have to buy extra because my kids looove it.  In fact at day 12 of my challenge I ran short because my oldest son took my last one.  Thanks to the folks at Good Belly for the coupons for my 12 day challenge and a great product.

Oh, and I almost forgot, for Valentines Day I made the best cookies for my hubby.  Here is a pic below.  Made with coconut sugar and spelt flour my husband ate most of the batch in one night.  I made 20.

In South Louisiana it is Mardi Gras weekend.  Have a safe and great time and I'll chat with ya'll soon. Take Care!!!!

*Some studies suggest that GoodBelly's probiotics may help balance bacteria in your gut when consumed daily as part of a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle.  GoodBelly is a food product and not a treatment or cure for any medical disorder or disease.  If you have any concerns about your digestive system, you should consult your healthcare professional.

Food News: Agave!!!

(Kim Raff- The Salt Lake Tribune)

Just thought I would share this article about a natural sweetener called Agave.  It registers low on the glycemic index and it's sweeter than sugar with half with calories.   So, for every cup of sugar, you would need about 1/2 cup of agave.  I've been using it for years in my smoothies but like any sweetener, it should be used in moderation.  Take a look at the article below and Enjoy!
 Agave growing in popularity

More Cooking Tips!

You know what?  I just can't get enough of great cooking tips and tricks especially when they are vegan.    Here are a few tips from www.chooseveg.com.  Hope they help you make something yummy as we move into the weekend.  Take care of yourself and enjoy!

vegan cooking tips

What is a vegan alternative for eggs to use in making cakes etc. and in what quantity?

Eggs in a recipe act as either a binder, thickener, or leavener. There are numerous egg substitutions depending on what you are trying to achieve with the replacement. For instance, in veggie burgers or casseroles, you would want a "binding" or "thickening" effect, so you could add arrowroot, cornstarch, flour, oats, or breadcrumbs to reach your desired consistency. However, when trying to substitute eggs in baking, it can be a bit trickier. When making cookies, breads, and baked goods you can use applesauce, pureed bananas, pureed dates, or Ener-G Egg Replacer when you need the "binding" properties of eggs. To achieve the "thickening" qualities of eggs in pie fillings or custards, I use agar-agar, kudzu, arrowroot, cornstarch, or flour. Here are a few basic suggestions for substituting one egg: 1/4 C. Mori-Nu silken style, firm or extra firm tofu, pureed until smooth 1/4 C. applesauce or pureed bananas + 1/2 t. baking powder 1 T. cornstarch or flour whisked with 1 T. water 1 T. finely ground flax seeds + 3 T. water blended in a blender until frothy, and let rest 30 min. - 1 hour 1 1/2 t. Ener-G Egg Replacer whisked with 2 T. water Try experimenting with these, some work better in some recipes than others; for example, use the flax seed or powder replacements in a chocolate cookie recipe so that your cookies don't have a fruit taste, and use the fruit-based replacements in a banana bread or oatmeal cookie recipe. To see the rest of the article click here.

Here's 2 a Healthy Louisiana!

Check out this event happening at the Whole Foods Markets in South Louisiana.
Get more information on a plant based diet by clicking below.
Engine 2 Diet! event at Whole Foods
http://engine2diet.com/ Engine 2 diet information


Disclaimer:  I am not promoting this particular diet, I am just passing along this information for folks who would like to know more about plant based diets.

"Chew" On This!

My Mother-in-Law called to tell me about this new show called "The Chew".  She said with all of the food information on there she didn't hear anything about vegetarianism.  I guess foodies, the folks who would watch this show, love all types of food and being a non-meat eater would be restrictive.  Well, I have seen a lot of the new reality food shows and food talk shows, in fact I do reviews of them and honestly, I couldn't do it.  Some of those situations are a little over the edge (I did Dr. Phil, and that was enough!) and honestly,  the food love thing I get from my family and friends (and yes you folks out in the blogsphere) is honor enough.  Now, if someone wants to offer me a guest spot on their show, I will kindly take it (no drama please :-), but ultimately,  I am looking forward to my home and land where I can grow my veggies and share my cooking techniques with folks in a great kitchen, both live and on YouTube.  Attached is a little information on the ABC T.V. show which is taking the place of some cancelled soap operas.  Love you guys, and just keep cooking.  "The Chew" television

P.S.  I will be posting a new video soon.  We have had a bit of a cool spell here in Louisiana and I made some veggie soup.   :-)

Good Belly Coupons!

I have a few coupons to giveaway.  Take the GoodBelly 12 day challenge with a buy two get one free coupon.  Go on over to my Facebook page and give me a shout (www.facebook.com/southernvegetarian).  I will gather everyone's info and send out your coupons ASAP.  I have about 11 left so hit me up quickly!  There will be more good things to come from Southern Vegetarian Chronicles.  I've been on a little break this summer gathering ideas and deciding the direction of the blog.  Will keep everyone posted.  Thanks for your support.

Dance on, Eat well!

Out on a Limb!

There are a lot of things going on here in Southern Veg land and one of them is my dive into cooking for other folks.  Yes, I am going to cook some of my favorite dishes for the public.  I got the idea or inspiration to do this while thinking about what would make my life easier.  Well, during the holidays, I find myself scrambling to cook a separate vegan dinner for my family and I.  Past the obvious veggies and salad, a lot folks in the South don't know how to cook a decent healthy vegetarian meal.  Oh how I've wished I could order a vegetarian dinner for the holidays with some of my southern favorites.  Thus the idea of Southern Vegetarian  Eats.  I've placed my ad on Craigslist and don't have a clue as to where I am going to cook.  I just know this needs to be done.  There is a family out there with vegetarian kids who come home for the holidays, and the parents don't have much for them to eat.  There is an event out there that needs some vegetarian items at the reception.  There is a need for great vegetarian food that doesn't sacrifice the flavor.  Check out my ad on Craigslist and let me know what you think.  http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/hss/2524978515.html

Making it Stretch: Creative Food on a Budget

I know it's been a while since I've blogged!  My Southern Veg life has been in transition lately and I have found myself been pushed to give and do more for others.  I've been volunteering and gave away huge bags of clothes and things I don't like and wear anymore.  Why was I keeping that stuff anyway?  At one point I was into this flower phase where I had flower glasses, bowls, and plates.  As I was organizing my kitchen I looked at those things and thought, "What was I thinking"?

Needless to say, I promply gave them away :-). 

Another thing that has been going on is that I've had to work within a tighter food budget.  Lately my local Whole Foods has been carrying Nature's Burger in the bulk section (just add hot water and you got a meat free burger).  Well,  I found that if I put a vegetable boullion cube in the water and add frozen chopped spinach that has been sauteed in onion and garlic to the mix, it makes for a hearty burger.  With the spinach I got a little more out of my burger mix and also beefed up the taste.   I also do this with the Lightlife vegan sausage mix by adding things like mushrooms, carrots, and other veggies to add just a little something more to make things stretch.  Just becuase you have to spend less doesn't mean food has to be taste-less:-).  Take care of yourselves folks and if you have a great veg cooking budget idea, let me know!





Smoothie or Cold Soup?



(Deb Lindsey/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST) - Left to right: Cool and Spicy Mango Soup (or Smoothie) and Green Gazpacho (or Smoothie) photographed on June 28, 2011 in Potomac, MD.

Interesting article. Is it soup or smoothie? To decide click here.

Check this out! A Day with Edible Schoolyard Founder Alice Waters

Photograph by Melissa Barnes

This is a nice read about a great food pioneer.  Check it out here!