Monday, September 12, 2011

Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Okra Gumbo


We've had a surplus of okra growing in our garden this summer, so I've had to come up with several new recipes for okra since curried okra (my favorite) is starting to get "boring" around here.  I was so happy to find several great recipes including this one on the Fat Free Vegan Blog.  Of course Susan's photos are way nicer than mine...but hey, it looks pretty similar doesn't it? 

This dish would be great to serve to a hardcore southern crowd along with some vegan cornbread and sweet tea!  You definitely need to get the "Liquid Smoke" to acheive the smokey flavor that makes it taste like real cajun gumbo.  I found a bottle at Whole Foods for under $3.00.  

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Gluten Free Vegan (Mostly Raw) Meal Plan #3

I'm breaking this weeks Gluten Free Vegan Meal Plan out to show you that I am eating differently this week because I'm on a raw cleanse! 

And that means two things...I'll be spending more time in the kitchen than I care to AND my grocery bill will be higher this week :(  Well, my body will thank me at least!



Breakfasts
For the Family:
Kaia Raw Granola and Raw Almold Milk
French Meadow Bakery Sprouted Bagels with Raw Tahini and Maple Syrup

For my cleanse (but also shared with the family):
Banana Cashini Butter and Shredded Coconut Lettuce Wraps (pictured above!)
Raw Chia Breakfast Porridge
Raw Juice (Mostly Carrot, Celery and Ginger and pictured below)


Lunches
For the Family:
Millet Bread with Raw Cashini Butter and thin organic apple slices
Chopped Bok Choy and Carrots with Shiny Happy Hummus
Ezekial 4:9 Pita Pockets with Creamy Chickpea Salad
Amy's Organic Low Sodium Lentil Soup

For my cleanse (but also shared with the family):
Asian Raw Kale Salad
Canton Crunch with Ginger Zing Dressing
Basic Salads with Romaine, Red Leaf Lettuce, Avocado, Sesame Seeds, Bell Pepper, and Cucumbers served with Raw Salad Dressings: Miso Orange (substituting water for oil), Balsalmic Tahini



Dinners
For the Family:
Curried Okra with Brown Basmati (Recipe to follow soon)
Quinoa Polenta with Gia Russa Low Sodium Tomato Basil Sauce and Broccolini
Taste of Thai Curry (from Vegan on $4 a Day) (Recipe to follow soon)
Pesto Primavera (using Tinkyada Brown Rice Spiral Noodles)
Cosmic Cashew Kale with Confetti Quinoa

For my cleanse:
Green Smoothies using Mango, Frozen Bananas, Blueberries, Kale and Bok Choy (I will probably throw in other fruits but these are the main ingredients I will use)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Figs are in Season!

I picked up some Black Mission Figs on a Buy One Get One Free Deal at my local Publix.  Besides eating them raw and putting them in smoothies and oatmeal, I wasn't really sure what to do with them.  I know you can make desserts with them and cook with them in certain dishes, but most of those include servings of meat.  I can't imagine how figs and tofu would work together?!

I know if I had a food dehydrator I would have bought a lot more and dehydrated them all! 

Please share in the comments section if you have any links to creative recipes that include figs :)