The Smoothie Vegetarians

Quick and Easy Stuffed Artichoke First, let me apologize for not posting last week but I was literally at my wit's end. What does that even mean? To be at your wit's end means that you are so worried, confused or annoyed that you don't know what to do next. I am sure everyone has felt this way from time to time. Have you ever wondered what to do when you are in this state or where you can turn to that you won't be judged? Many times you feel like you are alone and although you will get through it. It would definitely be easier if you had supportive people around you during the journey. Could you sit with a group of women and be totally honest?   Would you feel totally confident that anything you said would not be repeated or discussed outside the group?  Do you have a place where you can freely speak your mind and not be judged?  Not many people have this type of outlet but you can have it if you create it. Two of my very best friends wer...

Hope everyone had a great holiday! If any one saw this picture on my Instagram last week and wondered what it was, as promised here is the recipe. Mediterranean Pasta 1 box of your favorite pasta ( I used Ditalini ) 1 bunch of  broccoli rabe 1/2 lb of sun dried tomatoes Yellow and Red roasted peppers ( made them myself but you can used jarred roasted peppers if you have them on hand ) 1 can of black olives I washed and trimmed the broccoli rabe with scissors. I used to hate this vegetable because of its stringy nature and tough stems. For this recipe I cut it into small pieces and did not use the thicker tougher stems. As a side note, you can save the pieces you do not use and add to other leftover veggies to make a stock. I then steamed them in water until they were tendered and drained and put them to the side. I cut up the sun dried tomatoes into pieces, sliced the olives lengthwise and cut the roasted peppers while the pasta was cooking. Once the pa...

Hope everyone had a great week! Do you get tired of hearing "What's for dinner?" and then getting the response "Not that again!"  Are these common phrases in your house? I may have a solution for you! This week's creation! Sometimes I feel like I am a contestant on the Food Network Show "Chopped". I used to have random ingredients and struggled to come up with a meal. Over the years I have gotten pretty good at this and at this point enjoy challenging myself to come up with quick, easy and inventive meal that tastes good. I am not one for planning meals in advance so a lot of times I make up things as I go. I often incorporate leftovers into new creations. Todays recipe is simple but made a delicious meal. The idea originated last night when I walking around Chelsea Market in lower Manhattan. Chelsea Market is full of history and was the original home of the National Biscuit Company also known as the Nabisco Factory. It is now...

            When my friend Madison cooked me this mac and cheese for the first time, I was shocked at how delicious it tasted. It reminded me of that Velveeta mac and cheese because its so rich and creamy. She made it again for a pot luck we went to and EVERYONE (even the non-vegans) at the event was raving about it and saying it was the best mac and cheese they have had. I wanted to make it for my mom, aka the biggest cheese lover I know, and see if even she would like it. I asked Madison for the recipe, she sent it to me, and I was shocked! It was basically the easiest recipe I have ever seen. I would not even call it a “recipe”, just throwing some things in a pot. Long story short, I made it in like 15 minutes and even my mom loved it. So, I thought I should share it with everyone!             I know Daiya vegan cheese gets a bad reputation in the vegan community,...

It has been a long winter and I don't know about anyone else but I can't wait for the warm weather. Late Spring, early summer is not only time to shed your winter clothing but the perfect time to explore the many farmer's markets that will start appearing. I know in my area some of them set up at the local train station or in various parking lots on the east end of Long Island on the weekends but you may want to even make some of these markets as part of a road trip. Here are some "must visit" markets. Union Square Greenmarket, New York It is absolutely amazing that farm fresh produce can be found in the middle of New York City but it can at the Union Square Greenmarket. This is an outdoor oasis of freshly picked fruits and vegetables. The great thing about this market is that is open during the winter months. If you are travelling to New York City, this is definitely a place that you need to check out. Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington ...

Raise your hand if you meditate. First off,  what is mediation and what does this have to do with being a vegetarian?  Actually, these two things complement each other and are very closely related. Meditation has many different meanings. It can mean thinking or contemplating, it can be part of a religious activity or just as a way of becoming calm and relaxed. It can be practiced in a variety of ways as well. Some people choose to make it part of their morning ritual and have a designated space for it, others practice it at various times throughout the day or when they just need a moment of tranquility. I even know someone who meditates when she is ironing. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. Some people repeat mantras or words while meditating, others meditate in silence and focus on their breathing. One of my favorite way to meditate is to cook. I love to chop my vegetables, grind my spices and just put a lot of love into my dishes. Some say vega...

"keto" friendly eggplant serving suggestion I was hanging out with a friend the other night and she looked absolutely fantastic, I had to ask what she was doing and she told me that she was following the keto diet. Now just to let everyone know up front, she is not vegan or a vegetarian, I immediately thought of having to eat lots of heavy, fatty foods. When most people (including me) think of the keto diet, since it is high fat, they automatically think of  cheeses, meats, cold cuts and alike, but ladies and gentleman don't be fooled, the keto diet can work for everyone whether you eat meat or not. First off, I am not condoning or endorsing this diet but wanted to share some of the information that I found interesting. This particular diet turns your body into a fat burning machine, carbs are limited and  about 70-80% of your food intake is made of healthy fats. Very simply, here is how it works, the human body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, whi...

Hope everyone had a great week! I have a great easy meal that takes only minutes to prepare and is sure to be a hit with the entire family. It contains one of the most versatile ingredients I have found which is canned jackfruit. What is jackfruit? Jackfruit is an exotic fruit which many people consider to be an excellent vegan or vegetarian meat substitute based on it's texture which is similar to that of pulled meat. It is perfect as a filling for sandwiches or tacos as a filling and resembles pulled pork. Since jackfruit doesn't have a strong flavor on it's own, I like to marinade it in BBQ sauce to give it a burst of flavor. I have not yet experimented with the actual fruit itself but I am a huge fan of the canned variety that is sold at Trader Joe's. If you are anything like like me, I love recipes that can be used as a basis for multiple meals, which is why I am doing the jackfruit tacos today. I find that different kinds of bean salads are a stapl...

With the cold weather this time of year, I am craving warm and satisfying meals. If you know me, I am such a sweet tooth. My days are usually filled with fruit and acai bowls. However, this snowy and cloudy weather has me freezing. I am trying to warm my insides with hot tea and home-cooked meals. I have been seeing acorn squash recipes for a while now on Pinterest and have been dying to try one for myself. Since acorn squash is in season, I decided this would be the perfect time to create a nice healthy recipe with it! It is nutritious, filling, and very tasty. I cooked this for myself, my brother, and my mom and we all thought it was delicious. Feel free to change up this recipe to satisfy your own taste buds. You can add in veggies such as green beans or chopped carrots, or change the quinoa to wild rice. Taste as you go to see if you want more spices, go crazy! This recipe does takes a while to cook, but it is not difficult at all. Since the dish looks very fancy, it is...