Haiti

We all have to do our part.  Here's a link that I found on CNN.com that lists the top charities providing aid in Haiti. 

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004

Grilled Cheese Please

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Daiya Cheese.  I really hope you are within a reasonable distance from a whole foods.  If not, find it online.  It will change your life.  Daiya Cheese is a new vegan cheese that tastes like cheese, looks like cheese, and yes, actually MELTS like cheese.  For non-vegans, you might be thinking, no big deal.  If you're a vegan, you will probably have to go change your pants.  Seriously, this is amazing!!!!

Ingredients:
Tomato Basil dressing from salad in previous post
Daiya cheese (Italian herb and cheddar flavor - use both!)
Spelt Bread
Butter

Directions:
Spread butter on both sides of the bread and toast BOTH sides of the bread.  Pile on ingredients as you wish and get it toasty and golden brown.

YUM!

Cucumber Pesto Salad w/Tomato Basil Dressing

This salad is as healthy and delicious as it looks.  Michael and I have been reading a book called Thrive by Brendan Brazier.  Brazier is a professional Ironman Triathlete and a vegan...just wanted to make sure ya got that ;)  I haven't finished the book yet, but we're trying to bring our "healthiness" to a whole new level.  This salad is from that book.  So if you want to be uber healthy for the day, include this as one of your meals!

Salad
Ingredients
1⁄2 clove garlic, chopped
1⁄2 Cucumber, grated
couple handfuls broccoli florets
1 bag mixed greens
2 Tbsp pine nuts
Nutritional Yeast and Sesame Seed Topping (1 part nutritional yeast flakes, 1 part unhulled sesame seeds ground together in coffee grinder.  This mixture imitates parm cheese)

Dressing (makes about 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients
2 tomatoes
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp hemp oil
1 Tbsp dried basil or 3 Tbsp fresh
1 Tbsp agave
salt and pepper to taste

- Blend ingredients in a blender or food processor to desired consistency (we liked ours a little chunky)

Toss salad ingredients with desired amount of dressing.  You will have extra salad dressing.  Save it for the next recipe I post!! Top with a little extra "parm cheese" mixture.

What's the deal with...

Hemp oil?
Nutritional Yeast Flakes?

check out the "intriguing ingredients" page to learn about 'em!


You can find Nutritional yeast flakes usually by the vitamins in health food stores.

Gluten Free!

Kale Chips

(I stole this image off the internet..shhhhhh)

Kale Chips are surprisingly yummy - and extremely addicting.  And of course super duper healthy!  I've made them a few times and they're always a hit.  Even for the non-believers.  And they're easy peasy.

Ingredients:
1 bunch kale
few Tbsps extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
tsp Garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°F

1. Wash the kale.
2. Dry the kale thoroughly.
3. Pile on cookie sheet
4. Drizzle with olive oil, and mix with hands until olive oil JUST coats it.  You don't want too much oil or they will be soggy.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, mixing kale around on sheet half way through baking.  Make sure they don't burn. You want them a nice light golden brown on the top.  You'll be able to feel when they're crispy.

Serves two hungry people or three kind of hungry people as a side dish.  The kale cooks down to about half of what you start with.

Happy New Year

My resolution:

Enjoy the journey :)

What's yours?

more recipes to come!