Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[Greco]

off to the gym in a couple of mins still dark out
green smoothie in hand...smoothies are delicious
and nutritiously age defying YB but you already know
that...the iron/oxygen fact is interesting I wasn't aware
of that...do know that the smoothies and the exercise
have had a transformative effect on my sense of clarity,
and physical fitness...I'm loving it.

Well, time to get going...have a great day, Greco

[Dominique]

Roasted Root Vegetable Soup
5 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
5 parsnips, peeled and roughly chopped
1 small butternut swash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped
2 leeks, washed and sliced (white and light green parts only)
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
2 whole heads of garlic, tops removed and skins left on
¼ cup olive or canola oil
2 teaspoons sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
4 cups veggie stock
½ cup light cream
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the carrots, parsnips, butternut squash, leeks, onions and garlic on a large unlined baking sheet.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables, sprinkle on the salt and a few grinds of pepper, and toss everything together ensuring the veggies are evenly coated with oil and spices, and laying flat on the tray.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the leeks and onions are golden brown and the root vegetables are fork-tender.
Remove the vegetables from the oven and transfer them to a stock pot or dutch oven. Cover the soup with the stock and puree using an immersion blender. Alternately, puree the roasted vegetables and stock in a blender, and transfer to the pot.
Add the cream and warm the soup, lightly seasoning if needed. Serve warm with fresh bread or topped with crumbled feta.

Susbtitute vegetables as you please. I am still growing root veggies. Also, they are STILL very affordable at the market and this CAN be frozen.

ONE OTHER SUGGESTION: Instead of adding stock and turning into soup,
use immersion blender, ot your actual blender and puree the roasted vegetables and you will have a wonderful FRESH and fat free dip for a
football crudites. Very easy!

[Greco]

YB,

I now KNOW your psychic...I have been pondering winter soups(you know why I cannot look online)...and you've given it to me this am...this sounds delicious.

So, I'm adding carrots to my green smoothie now filling filling filling

this am
green smoothie

carrots
ginger(warming)
tons of spinach
broccoli

juiced celery juice
apples

and H2O

makes enough for before and
after 5mi run in park on this
gorgeous Fall morning

turning 60 is exciting and
I'm grateful for all I've
discovered since viewing
"Earthlings" on youtube

sending you green thoughts this day, Greco
yes I am weird sometimes...smiling

[Dominique]

No stranger than I.....

People thought Einstein and Freud were strange. I'm glad people put me [us] into that classification.

You will never have ulcerative colitis if you incorporate a small amount of ginger into your diet. I often grate the fresh root right into hot water, as if it was tea.....and drink it as such.

I got a bushel of Apples. October in Pennsylvania is Applefest like you wouldn't believe. All kinds too. I'm going to make some applebutter and sugar free applesauce. Apples hold up for a pretty good amount of time, and the way I incorporate them into my diet, I bet I'll get another bushel before October ends. The crock pot is my friend. In fact right now, I'm making vegetable stock with my almost limp vegetables. I do eat more cooked foods in the winter than I do the rest of the year. Before starting the stock, I had to go see how much junk veggies the worms had....(the things I talk about) as I like them to have balance in their diet too.....that gives me the best damn soil around. And thats where the vitamins need to begin. Enjoy the soup. I'd leave the cream out if you are going to freeze...
I think the cream is always best if added fresh. It doesn't break down on you.

Your up to 5 miles running now! Good for you! Thinker has started a running thread. Keep your eye open for it. He's catching the running fever!
enjoy your day surrounded by your *fun* books.

[Greco]

Your right YB I won't be getting ulcerative colitis or any of the other chronic diseases...but I am developing something really strange, namely, clarity, emotional balance, physical endurance, and fun...imagine that!

Yes up to 5 mi and prefer running in the park then on the treadmill...but in the dark 5am morning the gym is perfect. I'll look up the new running thread before getting off of this thing.

will be leaving the cream out and blending the carrots, and adding yuca of course...wonderful recipe YB keep 'em coming my friend...and happy biking.

with fresh green thoughts for you, may you and yours have a great Sunday, Greco

[Dominique]

Butternut Squash, Spinach and Mock Feta Pizza

Ingredients

2 cups cubed butternut squash, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 (16-ounce) ball store-bought whole-wheat pizza dough, at room temperature
1 (14-ounce) jar pizza sauce
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup mock feta
2 tablespoons cornmeal

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat pizza stone on bottom rack (or use an inverted 11" x 16" cookie sheet, not heated). On the sheet, toss together the squash, 1 teaspoon oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 25 minutes, or until squash is soft and lightly browned, stirring halfway through; set aside.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion onion, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook while stirring for 10 minutes, or until onion is light brown. Add water; cook while stirring for 5 minutes, or until onion is fully brown. Remove from heat.

3. Turn oven up to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle flour on the counter top or other flat surface. Press dough into a 15-inch circle or 10" x 16" rectangle. This pizza can be made with or without sauce (I did half and half, I much preferred the half with sauce) Top with sauce, squash, onion, spinach, and mock feta. Dust stone or inverted sheet with cornmeal; place pizza on it.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until crust is crispy and cheese melts.


Source of recipe: this recipe was a SELF.com Recipe of the Week...and I slightly altered it to fit my diet

Makes: 1 pizza, depends on how you slice it, Preparation time: about 30 minutes , Cooking time: 10 to 12 minutes

[Dominique]

The Magic of Greens: 8 Benefits of Drinking Green Smoothies

• posted by Michelle, selected from AllThingsHealing.com (ETA: visit http://www.care2.com and register there for more details and more recipes)
• Jul 16, 2011 6:00 am

by Linda Loo
Do you want to feel happy, peaceful, calm and in control no matter what happens? Do you wish that somehow, you knew a way to stop all those crazy cravings for sweet, fatty snacks at erratic times of the day?
Would you believe it if I tell you that this is possible, permanently, and can happen in the comfort of your own home?
And while you are doing this, you are also building your body with the best life-giving brand new raw materials available!
Greens are leaves that contain chlorophyll, and they are probably the most neglected food group in the entire supermarket.
But yet it is these humble green warriors which make magic for our cells.
Why is drinking a green smoothie better than just eating greens?
Because the blending actually breaks down the cellular walls of the leaves, leaving you with the finest particles of nutrients which are delivered straight to your cells.
And of course, all these living nutrients are still intact and not destroyed by heating.
1) You feel calm and peaceful
The chlorophyll in greens deliver oxygen to your cells and puts the body in a slightly alkaline state. This is a state in which optimal health is achieved and in which cancer cells do not thrive.
Degenerative diseases like cancer thrive and grow in an acidic state.
2) You feel happy for no reason
A healthy body is a happy body. Research has proven that subjects who are in an optimal health condition still feel in control and calm even in the face of seemingly tough life events; while those who are not healthy, tend to feel unhappy even when they are rewarded with promotions or striking the lottery.
3) You adopt a more positive outlook in life
Things which you used to sweat over now seem smaller. You have grown in capacity to handle things because your body is now constructed with newer, better materials.
And did I mention that your cells are rejoicing with the change?
4) Get rid of Unnecessary Addictions.
Your body is made up of billions of tiny cells. Every cell is You; they combine to make up your tissues, organs, bones, face, hair, legs etc.
When nutrition is improved, the body is strengthened on a cellular level.
When your cells know what it is like to receive first class nutrition, they will not want to go back to the old ways!
They will resist old substances like nicotine which does not do the body good.
5) Beautiful and Radiant Skin
Do you want smooth, blemish-free skin? Within weeks of constantly drinking blended greens, countless subjects reported lightening of spots, smoother skin and radiant complexion.
6) Smooth Bowels
This is probably the most common benefit experienced by far. Blended greens add a whole lot of fiber to the diet, and fiber is essential for smooth bowel movements.
Constipation now becomes a thing of the past!
7) Energy, Energy and more Energy!
If you think that green smoothies cannot give you energy for that workout, think again! Or better still, try it before you judge it.
It is true that due to the low caloric levels of greens, they cannot fill us for long. But the trick here is to combine it with sweet fruits – which supplies us with simple sugars.
This is one of the best pre-workout foods and supplies us with simple sugars to burn immediately as fuel.
Release Unwanted Weight!
For those who have reached a plateau in releasing weight, try this!
When your cells are nourished, cravings for unhealthy food become less or non-existent. Proper nourishment of the cells is vital to maintaining a healthy weight.
This list is non-exhaustive, and we at Raw Food Lifestyles believe that “doing” is more important than anything else! So here’s a simple green smoothie recipe for you.
Popeye’s Mango Smoothie
2 Large Sweet Mangoes
1 Cup Spinach
1 Cup Water
When you are done, don’t look, just drink. You will marvel at how delicious it actually tastes!
(C) Copyright 2008, Linda Loo