Soul Food Junkie Rehab

 

The Movie "Soul Food Junkie" is being shown this afternoon at the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. See the trailer and director interview above to learn more about the film, but the title is reflective of the message the film conveys. I have to confess, I love soul food as much as the next person (minus the pork, yuck). I also love sweets, Trader Joe's Mango Lemonade, staying up late on work nights and many more things that are not good to indulge in on a frequent basis, but can be fine when enjoyed on a limited basis. The list of things that I love has changed over the years as I've matured, adapted to healthier approaches to having fun, enjoying life and dealing with stress or loss, changed relationships, experienced life threatening illness, read more and the like. One of many benefits of being open to change is the process of investigating, discovering and embracing new, healthier, satisfying and enjoyable things to love. This is something that we need to do as soul food junkies or western diet junkies (white carbs, meat, sugar, fats, salts). With this in mind, I've posted some links to websites that can help you transition from garbage based soul food to garden based soul food. So get on board, join in and enjoy the ride.

1. PETA Vegetarian Soul Food
2. Pinterest - search vegan soul food
3. Vegan Soul Kitchen
4. The Sweetest Vegan
5. VegNews - search soul food
6. Vegan Crunk - more of lifestyle of a Dirty South Vegan 
7. I Eat Grass
8. By Any Greens Necessary
9. Vegetarian Times - Cajun Food

What are your favorite sources for creating healthy soul food?

 

 

 

 

 

Hungry Man Tested Black Bean Veggie Burger

Black Bean Veggie Burger on Toasted Bun

So my handsome son is home for winter break and has announced that he is eating a more plant based diet - this from the person whom lived to argue vegetarians down about the value of meat,  even though our meat was limited to poultry and fish. I was quite pleased that he has taken the first steps towards more humane and environmentally friendly eating. My uncle likes to tease that me and my dad eat like goats. LOL! One more to add to the herd, I guess. The problem was that my son is very tall and requires some filling food on a college budget and with beginner cooking skills, so I knew veggie burgers were the answer. Being the loving mother that I am, I searched high and low on the web for a simple, budget and man friendly veggie burger recipe. Alas, pictured above is the black bean burger recipe that I felt worthy of this momentous occasion. I added some of my own touches, including, spices, mustard and Worcester sauce.The plan was that we would prepare the veggie burger together, so I could teach him the basics. He had other plans. :(  Being that I was hungry, I commenced to whipping up this recipe on my own. The first hint that this was a success, was the comment, "That smells good". They were quite beautiful, I must admit. After a few bites he exclaimed, "These are really good." Ya Yuh! The final test of a man friendly burger is when the hungry one departs from the couch and the Internet to come into the kitchen and utters these words, "Now how do you make these?" VICTORY IS MINE!!!! It was a great day in my household. We discussed veggie burger basics, variations and eating strategies. I put another batch in the frying pan, while he watched and did the flipping and he ate a second one. That is when you know it's getting real in here....

Hit me up with your favorite vegetarian college food recipes.

 

Another Reason To Eat Your Greens To Kick Off The New Year!

Preventing Breast Cancer Risk By Any Greens Necessary? Watch This! | byanygreensnecessary.com




Perhaps our ancestors thought we should eat greens on New Year's Day is not only to hope for some ends in the new year, but to also be prosperous in health. By Any Greens Necessary is sharing the above article in the hopes that we eat leafy greens and cruciferous veggies like broccoli, throughout the entire year! What are your New Year's Day traditions?

Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes: Black Eyed Pea Nut Loaf with Sweet Potato Gratin &...

A Profound Hatred of Meat: Black Eyed Pea Nut Loaf with Sweet Potato Gratin &...: Another great meal from the prolific vegan chef, xCarly of the blog, A Profound Hatred of Meat. Of course she is from Portland! I gotta visit that place one day. Anyway, back to the meal. It features my favorite foods...black eye peas, nuts, fruit and sweet potatoes. The vegans at your Thanksgiving meal, will really be thankful if you surprise them with this feast! Could be a great Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Years meal too.

Soul Food Vegan Black Eyed Pea Meatballs

A Profound Hatred of Meat: Chipotle Tomato Soup, Black Eyed Pea Meatballs wit...: Soup again!? Yes! Get into it! Spicy tomato soup with chipotle peppers, garlic, black eyed peas and red onions served with tender meatballs...

Okay, here is one more meatball recipe from the blog, A Profound Hatred of Meat. It features black eyed peas and kale greens! Couldn't pass this one up. With the bounty of kale from my garden pictured below, I must prepare these meatballs this fall.

Easy Veggie Burgers from "The Best Veggie Burgers On The Planet" by Joni Marie Newman

Start with a 15oz can of BPA free beans of your choice and a cup of cooked rice

Add cup each chopped tomatoes and onions, 1/2cup corn meal, 1/2 flour, tsp cumin, TB garlic, 1 jalapeno chopped

Smush together with your hands or a potato masher

Oops, this is what it looks like before the smush.

Post Smush, form into eight flat patties

Fry on medium heat for 4-5 minutes each side in peanut or canola oil

Or bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or when you think they are ready

. Enjoy with your fav topping.

 

 

 

Chicago: Green Jewel of the Midwest

Green Chicago: Green Restaurants Hey Black and Into Green People! I'm in the amazing city of Chicago for a few days and loving it! I'm pretty proud of myself, because I took the Megabus here for a really green and cheap transportation option.You could not ask for 60 degree weather and sunny days in March in ChiCity and expect to get, but I got it! Spending time hanging out with my wonderful son, who is just maturing so nicely into the young man that I prayed for. He just finished finals for winter quarter at DePaul U. (one of the greenest colleges in the country) and we are going to hang out for a bit. On the agenda so far (very fluid):

• Dine at some of the restaurants on the Green Chicago list
• Enjoy some raw food at Karyn's
• Vintage clothing shopping (more for him as I can only get so much back on the Megabus)
• A trip to the Field Museum of Natural History
• Go for a run to the lake

Have you been to Chicago? What suggestions do you have for cool and green activities?

I hope you are doing something fun to enjoy spring this week.

Au revoir, mes amies!

A New Twist on a New Year's Favorite: Black Eyed Pea Cabbage Rolls

I dutifully purchased some black eyed peas the other day. In most African American households, these are a must eat food for New Years. I haven't been that excited about preparing them, as I was getting pretty bored with some of the traditional recipes. Though I have successfully experimented with black eyed pea salad and fritters, I think I will try out this new recipe I found on one of my favorite vegan blogs, A Profound Hatred of Meant. Check out the blog post here. A Profound Hatred of Meat: Black Eyed Pea Cabbage Rolls: Black Eyed Peas are traditional to eat at the end of the year/beginning of the new year and they happen to be one of my favorite beans so I ...


As a follow-up to this post, read another post on what to do with all of those leftover black eyed peas, here.

Finally, A Raw Food Holiday Recipe Book!

I love this website, "Raw Food on $10 a Day" for so many reasons, great pics of delicious and easy to prepare raw food, budget friendly and fun to read. One more reason....I discovered that there is a cookbook for raw food holiday recipes. Check it out.

Heirloom Tomato Pie - Teen Approved

Heirloom Tomato Pie on the Food Network This is the recipe for the tomato pie I featured yesterday that my son liked. I used a store bought Marie Calendar crust to save on time. It makes for great leftovers for breakfast too! You can veganize it by using Daiya brand non-dairy cheeses.

Teen Approved Vegetarian Food

This is a slice of the Heirloom Tomato Pie that I made this morning. Got the recipe from the Food Network magazine (July issue). You can veganize it by using Daiya brand vegan cheese. Gave it to my son topped with olive oil and a slice of toasted sourdough bread without telling him what it was and he shouted from upstairs, "This is good, Mom!". Nuf said my friends.....
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Fancy Vegetarian Event at Veggie U!

Toasting to a Fresh Future Veggie culture is alive and well in Cleveland, Ohio. So much so, that we have our own vegetable university to help educate the fourth graders and special needs kids on everything there is to know about vegetables and veggie culture. Vegetarians, don't get to geeked, because this is not a vegetarian curriculum. Don't turn your noses up too much, because educating children about the wonders of nature, gardens and vegetables can provide a gateway to vegetarianism and/or more plant based diets. If you want to promote a veggie based curriculum in your school, through Veggie U's "Earth To Table " science kits, click on the link.

Viva la Veggies!

Desperately Seeking Teen Friendly Meatless Monday Recipes

In my ongoing attempt to move towards a planet friendly and animal friendly diet, I have decided to incorporate Meatless Mondays into our lives. This is proving to be somewhat of a challenge, given the fact that I have a very tall and well built teen male in the household. In addition, he is not feeling the vegetarian argument. So I am easing into Meatless Mondays with cheese products, ie. spinach lasagna, mac and cheese. Can you share some of your most successful hearty man and teen friendly, preferably vegan recipes? My fellow is not much of a bean eater, though he is opening up to legumes as of late. The black eye pea dish with rice and cornbread, played well this New Year's. In the meantime, see the delish Allotment 2K butter bean and leek dish that I made for myself, below.

Who Needs Meat When You Have These Delish Vegan Gluten and Soy Free Burgers?



Made in Ohio and Eco-Friendly Packaging

 While not quite a vegetarian (I don't eat red meat or pork), I am learning how to incorporate more vegan and vegetarian sources of protein into my diet. Eating more raw foods, has been helpful in achieving that goal. I'm practically hooked on almonds! However, there comes a time when you want a nice, savory and fulfilling burger. Not happy with the soy filled vegetarian options that are on the market, I have been seeking a delish veggie burger alternative. Alas, I have hit the jackpot with not just one delish vegan soy and gluten free veggie burger option, but two! Oh, yeah. Check them out:

Foodies Artchoke Burger

Original Sunshine Burgers (Southwest Flavor also available)

These veggie and nut based burgers are so good. Our local raw food restaurant/grocer, Optimal Wellness Center, makes an excellent nut based spread that just adds to the taste excitement of these babies. I also like the premise taken by Original Sunshine (sunflower seeds), that they aren't trying to mimic the taste of a meat burger, but just make a good burger. I must say that they are favorful, dense and filling. The artichoke burgers are less dense, but packed with a savory goodness that I yearn for at lunch time. I enjoy these burgers with lettuce, tomato, avocado, cukes, onions and bbq sauce, mustard or the raw ranch spread I mentioned earlier. Usually I will sandwich between whole wheat pita or Ezekial bread. You could also enjoy the Artichoke burgers over a portion of brown rice and veggie gravy. Because both of these choices are soy free, I think your kids will enjoy them. My son hates the after taste associated with soy based vegetarian products. I found these burgers in the freezer section of Whole Foods, but check out the attached links to find out where can find them in your neighborhood.

Five Star Foodies - Offers a host of vegetarian products, recipes and testimonials

Original Sunshine Burgers - All organic, gmo free and lots of recipes

Bon Appetit!

Two New Blogs I Like

I have been rewarded for posting this week, with the discovery to two wonderful blogs. The first is by a sister in Birmingham, Alabama with a passion for green living. It is Life The Green Way. She does a great job of covering eco-friendly products and gift ideas and she will knock your socks of with more amazing uses of vinegar! The other is from Scotland and is called Allotment 2 Kitchen. Grab yourself a cup of tea and a pen for taking notes, because you will enjoy the colorful photos of great vegetarian delights (recipes included), gardens and nature. I personally want to try to brussel sprouts pie and the lavender brownies!

How Women Use Social Media to Practice Conscious Living

Tune in to "Sisterhood: The Blog Radio" on Monday, September 13th, 9pm EST to listen to a panel of amazing women discuss how they use social media to practice conscious living. Topics discussed will include, healthy living yoga, reiki, massage, holistic practices, physical fitness, spirituality, life coaching, vegetarianism, veganism and green living. Click here for additional details.

Raw Food Picnic Hit: Peach Pie

Check out the peach pie with almond crust that I made for a raw food picnic this weekend. Of course, I was late and got there just in time to share my dessert. The last few folks were packing up, but when I told them I had some peach pie, they sat back down and pulled out their eating supplies. I actually made two, one with raw honey and another with agave. They tore it up people! Major grubbin was going on with this pie! Seconds were had by all. The sponsor of the picnic, Good N Raw Cafe, wants to include my recipe in the online cookbook. I will have to get back to you on the recipe. It is actually a modification of two recipes from different uncookbooks, one of which is "Raw Food Made Easy" by Jennifer Cornbleet. I used her almond pie crust recipe, but added a splash of almond oil. The filling was from a book called "Raw Food" by Erica Palmcranz and Irmela Lilja, but a reduced the cinnamon and added some lemon juice.

Planning a Vegan Picnic: Familiar and tasty stand-bys for picnics and barbecues

Planning a Vegan Picnic: Familiar and tasty stand-bys for picnics and barbecues This beautiful summer weather inspires thoughts of picnics. Fresh and flavorful produce is bountiful this time of the year, so why not try out a new and healthier picnic theme?

Raw Food Tacos

Okay I'm back into the groove of eating lots of raw food after a fun time in our nation's capital. My latest recipe is from the book "Raw Food A Complete Guide for Every Meal of the Day". I really enjoy these recipes. So I am trying out tonight, tacos made with pistachios, walnuts, a chunk of leek, carrot and nama shoyu. I made my own taco spices using coriander, cumin, garlic powder and cayenne. Then I whipped up some guacomole, to which I added some leftover mango. Super food kale, will replace the traditional taco shell. There is also a very simple recipe for sour cream made out of cashews, but I'm out of cashews.

Green Travel: Washington D.C.

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Washington, D.C. with my son to attend an open house on the campus of George Washington University. We were quite impressed with the campus and the experience. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my son Michael was going to stay overnight in the JJ Building, an eco-friendly dorm. I couldn't have planned that if I wanted to! While he was safely snoring away in the green dorm, I drove my eco-friendly (it was billed that way by Budget) rental car down the street to The Kimpton Hotel Palomar on P Street in Dupont Circle. I enjoy staying in Kimpton hotels due to their sustainability and social responsibility policies. They also let you bring your pets. How nice is it to have a recycling trash can in your room? Sweet. The next day,  I went for a sight seeing jog around the neighborhood, so quaint and charming with its rowhouses, front yard gardens, cafes, boutiques and restaurants. Heaven. Needing some nourishment, I stumbled upon an eco-friendly restaurant called Sweet Green that sold fresh soups and salads made with local in season produce and frozen yogurt. I thought it was so cool that it actuall had a bin in whci to place compostables. Even the utensils are compostable. It was great. Apparently, others felt the same way, as there was a major line. That afternoon, I picked up my son from GWU, where he was treated to a nice tee, a BPA free water bottle and a boxed lunch. After settling him into the hotel, I enjoyed a cup of tea with my friend and fellow social mediaite, Ananda Leeke of Go Green Sangha and BAP Living at a charming restaurant in Dupont Circle called Teaism. It was divine. Ananda took me down to her neck of the woods in the U street area, where I really enjoyed the beautiful greenery of the pocket gardens. The next day, Michael and I walked to the Georgetown area, where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at another green restaurant, Farmers and Fishers in Washington Harbor, owned by a collective of farmers in the region. He said that their fish sandwich was awesome and I really enjoyed my veggie sandwich, "the farmers daughter", made with grilled rye bread, avocado, roasted veggies and brie. Amazing. After enjoying the Potomac River, we checked out some of the shops, including a cool vintage clothing store called Annie Creamcheese. The items were a bit pricey compared to what we can find in Cleveland, but there was a nice selection of vintage clothing for men and women. That evening we dined at B Smiths restaurant in Union Station, where I was pleased to find vegetarian ribs. On Sunday, we dined at another green restaurant, The Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue in Foggy Bottom and had a great brunch of chicken and waffles (I broke my meat free fast that day). I must say, by that point, I was getting used to a complete vegetarian lifestyle. I think I will be there completely once my son takes off for college. Anyway, I digress. There was a wonderful eco-friendly French bakery that we stopped at before heading back to C-Town, called Le Pain Quotidien. I ordered the chocolate brownie and the pistachio marzipan tart. To....die....for. I have never tasted store baked goods that were that amazingly delicious. I don't think I will be buying many baked goods, since I have been introduced to such refined deliciousness. I must say, that this was a pretty green trip, the only thing that was missing was the lack of fresh fruit. As soon as I arrived home, I killed a juicy green apple. Ahh, raw is good again. Green travel tips:

• Drive or take the train to your destination
• Rent an eco-friendly vehicle
• Pack your own snacks, including lots of fresh fruit, for the road and late nights in the hotel
• Fill up your own water bottle to stay hydrated while driving to your destination
• Stay in hotels that support the environment and give back to the planet
• Don't buy new clothes for your trip or purchase from vintage or consignment
• Stay in walkable areas, with plenty of public transportation
• Walk, walk, walk - try to go on walking tours if possible
• Take advantage of eco-friendly cab services
• Support local green businesses and restaurants
• Check out the cool vintage and thrift stores in the area

Bon voyage!