book reviews

So as you know, I'm a non-meat-eating person now (since January) and I'm totally happy as such. I actually don't miss meat at all. And I really liked it before. I feel a zillion times better without all that flesh in my body and I love cooking with veggies and what not so, yay.

Baking without dairy is actually pretty simple too (I made vegan cupcakes for O's birthday party) and those post-punk kitchen girls really know their stuff. 

Anyway, even if you aren't going meat-free (maybe just one day a week with no animal/fish? it would make a huge difference!) those two books up there are awesome to have.

Here's a recent fave from the vegan cookbook that you MUST try:

Quinoa & Sweet Potato Croquettes w/ Black Bean Salsa

(from This Crazy Vegan Life)

black bean salsa

1/2 red onion, cut into small dice

2 plum tomatoes, seeded, cut into small dice

1 jalapeno chili, finely minced

1/4 tsp salt

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1 cup cooked black beans (I used a whole can, rinsed)

3 scallions, finely minced

1 T fresh lime juice

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well, cover and set aside for flavors to develop.

quinoa & sweet potato croquettes

2 cups water

1 small sweet potato, peeled, diced

1 cup quinoa, rinsed very well

sea salt

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

3 scallions, finely minced

4 sprigs parsley, minsed

1 jalapeno chile, seeded, finely minced (leave some seeds for heat)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced

1/2 cup pureed silken tofu

3 T grated vegan mozzarella cheese alternative (Follow Your Heart is a good one, or just regular moz.)

avocado oil, for frying

whole wheat bread crumbs (I used whole wheat panko)

Bring water to boil and add sweet potato and quinoa. Add a pinch of salt; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook until quinoa has absorbed the water and has opened, about 20 minutes.

While the quinoa cooks, place olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add scallions, parsley, chile, cumin, oregano and garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Mash cooked sweet potato and quinoa together. Fold in scallion mixture, tofu and vegan cheese. Mix very well. For quinoa mixture into 2-inch patties.

Heat 1 T of avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Dredge croquettes in crumbs to coat. Fry until each side is golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. 

Serve with 1-2 T black bean salsa on each croquette.

A couple of things:

1. in case you don't already know and need to ask @ the store, you pronounce quinoa (keen-wah)

2. don't hate on quinoa. it's yummy! just make sure you rinse it REALLY well or you will hate it. 

3. Cutting up veggies takes time but so worth it. I whipped up the salsa and the croquette mix, took Maya to the pediatrician right when Woody got home from work, came back home, made the patties and served us dinner before 7ish. Still had plenty of time to bathe them, play a few rounds of UNO (totally addicted), read stories, brush teeth and get them in bed.

I didn't know I liked Jillian Michael's so much but I really do like her so, so much. I had read a random article in an online fitness magazine about her and she had mentioned something about her screwy thyroid. And I'm in the screwy thyroid club so I was intrigued. The book on the right goes into a lot of endocrinology and even if you have a perfectly working thyroid (LUCKY!) it's still packed full of fascinating information.

The book to the left is supposedly going to make me look like her:) We'll see.

This last book, by Louise Hay was recommended by my coworker who is in Naturopathic Medicine School. It's good stuff. I am definitely on board with the idea that the things we tell ourselves inside are reflected physically. Lots of people tend to think negatively and she gives some ideas for re-programming to produce a healthier mind and body. Dig it.

In case you were wondering what I did with all of the pom-pom's from her birthday. I actually dislike OM's bedroom very much. It's too 'mixed-up chameleon' for me...a little of this and a little of that. I really need to neutralize but haven't made the time. It's blue meets pink and it just looks awful. How do you combine the girl boy thing without being too much of one thing yet staying true to their preferences? Working on that...