Pasta Party

So I've been trying really hard to avoid pasta during this month without meat.  I know that it's an easy and filling alternative...but I also know that carb loading is not going to do me any favours in the long run-and if I let myself get too far down that road, there might be no turning back.  Pasta has always been a staple of my diet, having parents who immigrated from Italy meant that I was exposed to the glory of pasta in so many ways, at so many turns (for further proof see my grade 5 class picture...gives new meaning to the word meatball).  I found this recipe for Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy on Tumblr, and although the recipe originally called for chicken, it was easy to omit the meat without sacrificing the taste.

Some tips:
-I used vegetable stock instead of the suggested chicken stock
-I dumped the cherry tomatos in with the butter and garlic to soften them up and give the "gravy" some colour and a sweeter taste
-I added the basil at the very end, I personally think basil tastes the best when it is fresh and hasn't been too affected by heat.

Anyway, it was delicious...and as an added bonus-my house smelled like garlic for 2 full days afterwards ;)

Shady Business

Every summer I spend an obscene amount of time searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses.  I'm not picky about many things in life, but sunglasses seem to be one of the exceptions (along with hair products and spicy foods).  I love love love my TOMS shoes and the premise behind the company, so I was excited when they unveiled their newest project "One for One," featuring eyewear that follows the same model as the shoes.  Buy a pair and someone in need is helped.  I hate ordering sunglasses online, since you never really know until you try them on-so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon the "Vitual Try-On" application on their website.  From the comfort of my office at work I could (and did) spend a solid half hour "trying on" shades!  Now if only I could do this with bathing suits...or, maybe not?!

Which pair will I choose?!

 Read about TOMS "Summer of Sight" project for a little more info!

Weekender

Spent a lovely Saturday booting around town with my patient (poor Charlie had to get nose surgery for a deviated septum). I love that there are two major markets to choose from in the city, the gigantic St. Jacobs Market and the smaller but still fantastic Kitchener market. Charlie and I disagree on which market is better-but today I won out and we hit up the KW market for mother's day brunch making supplies, fresh squeezed oj, flowers and the best organic bagel breakfast sandwich you will ever try. Ever.

Happy weekend everyone!

Que Sera Sera

Last night I was lucky enough to have one of my best ladies pay me a visit from the fine city of Burlington for a quick dinner date.  Living away from home sometimes takes it's toll;  it's the nicest to be able to sit and chat idly without having to even say much at all.  I miss that the most about my friends from home. 

I decided to try my hand at modifying a recipe I found for Spinach and Mushroom Quesidillas on Martha Stewart's Website.  I am starting to get a little sick of Indian inspired dishes...I overloaded a little on the cumin last week and was craving a meal with less of a flavour blast.  I used good old cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and sweet onions instead of red...but all in all, I think they turned out wonderfully.  I whipped up a little spinach and strawberry salad with feta to go along with the meal and voila! Dinner.

I have to admit that I am starting to miss eating meat just a little.  I've really enjoyed the challenge of coming up with creative dishes and trying new things...but every now and then I get a pang of longing for a New York Strip-loin ;)

A Foray Into Falafal

Here we are at week 2 of my meatless month, and so far things are going well.  It was a challenging weekend with a wedding and shower...I hadn't planned ahead for these so I ended up eating a whole lot of salad and green beans! 

Tonight's dinner was falafals.  The recipe is from my friend Andrea's website tasty and practical vegetarian cooking.  I met Andrea though her husband Josh-who I worked with in the History departement at Bluevale.  Josh's tasty and delicious smelling lunches were always the envy of everyone in the history office, so needless to say I was thrilled when Andrea started posting her recipes online.  Even before I decided to forgoe meat, Charlie and I enjoyed the occassional recipe from her site.

Here's what Andrea has to say about their reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet:

Josh and I have been vegetarians for about 5 years now and there were a lot of factors that went into us making this decision.  Health reasons were definitely an important one.  The hormones and other additives in grocery store meat are a huge concern.  Second, we were concerned about the impact of meat production and transport on the environment.  Not only do animals consume a lot of grain and water but the transport of animals and meat has a lot of negative effects on the environment.  Third, the factory farming of animals and horrible butchering practices are quite disgusting upsetting.  We realize that we could buy local free-range, hormone-free and ethically butchered meat.  It is way more readily available now than it was even 5 years ago but we feel that we are able to meet our dietary needs quite adequately with our vegetarian diet and we feel good about the things that we eat.

If I could have Andrea move in with me and work as my personal chef, I would eat like a queen every day!  I have a few more of her amazing recipes to try out over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, check out her website for some tasty vegetarian meals.



Tips of the Trade...

It's been a low key week in my kitchen since the vegetarian challenge kicked off on Tuesday...a few extra long soccer games and some school commitments kept me from my more ambitious vegetarian cooking ideas.  We've had left-over minestrone and a vegetarian pizza from the place down the hill; so gourmet, I know.  I'm hoping to try out some of the (many) recipes that have landslided my way over the next few weeks...stay tuned! 

So, as promised I've invited a few of my more seasoned (he-he, get it?) vegetarian friends to offer up some expert advice and share some tips as I move forward with this.  My darling friend Ashley has offered up a top ten list of must-haves for going veg.  Ashley and her husband Oliver are a sweet little family of three (with one more on the way!) and are by far the most adorable, fashionable people I know.  They are both longtime vegetarians...so I knew they'd have some great insight for me.  Here are Ashley's top 10 vegetarian must haves:

1. Edamame - soy in its purest form. So delish and takes 3 minutes to make. Even my 22 month old can get the edamame out of the shell with his mouth. A great bedtime snack or add on to any meal.

2. TVP - Textured Vegetable Protein. Great meat substitute and has literally no taste. It does need to be re hydrated before eating in a little water but again can be added to any meal. I like to add it to spaghetti sauce that's chunky already because the texture isn't amazing. Its very inexpensive at under $4 for a bag that will last for months.

3. Nuts - any kind of raw nut, great snack for veg heads and very filling.

4. Peanut Butter - organic if possible and raw. The Kraft brand IS delicious but packed with sugar and if you're going to eat it as much as I do, you want some real peanut butter. Occasionally I DO add some butter to my toast for a treat because it tends to be dry, but once you get used to it, you'll forget all about your friend, Skippy. Add it to any fruit or veg or spread it on while grain toast. Or as Oliver does, eat it straight with a spoon as a treat.

5. Avocado - Although they ARE high in fat (approx 15grams for half an avocado), they are delicious and so so good for you. They are great for pregnant woman because they are full of foliate which can combat birth defects in an unborn child. They are also good for your heart and they keep you feeling full so no bad snacks in between meals.  We like to spread an entire avocado on 2 pieces of toast with cheese and salt and pepper or just mash it inside it's half shell and dip tortilla chips for a snack.

6. Vitamin B12 and Iron supplement - vegetarians normally lack in iron and so I find a supplement is necessary. Low iron can cause you to bleed more and really make you feel tired all the time. Vitamin B12 is not commonly found in plant foods so it's another supplement I recommend taking as it’s required to make red blood cells. It's not a huge deal to take if you are going to eat a lot of fish or dairy products ie. eggs but if you are planning on a vegan diet, this might be a good idea.

7. Beans - high in protein, iron and fibre. I like beans in any form, raw or cooked green beans, browned beans or Chick peas.

8. Chia Seeds - magic food! They are high in protein, calcium and potassium (no more leg cramps) and have 3x more iron than spinach. You can add them to anything, we even add them to mashed potatoes. They don't have much of a taste and can be added to ultimately anything from any meal to dessert. They are gluten free as well if you have an intolerance to gluten. Chia seeds also swell in water so they make you feel full.

9. "Meat" substitutes - These aren't an every day thing. Yes, they are soy products so they will have the protein needed, but mostly they are soy by products which there is a lot of controversy in the media for the past couple years whether it's good for you or not . They are great because they are pretty good at mimicking the texture of real meat as well as the flavor. My favourite line is the Gardein products, specifically the beef bits and orange chicken. I also love Yves veggie dogs. They are the same ones hot dog vendors use in Toronto that taste so good. They're delicious, but again, in
moderation.

10. Quinoa - I don't personally love quinoa, but Oliver does and it again is packed full of protein. It has all 9 Of the essential amino acids. It's best used as a rice supplement. Good in a stir fry with mixed vegetable and a little soy sauce. Quinoa is also gluten free.

Another tip for being a veg is careful on the carb intake. Most people will loose weight and feel amazing after only a couple meat free days, but if you are filling your mouth with bread, it can have the reverse effect.  Becoming vegetarian is so easy, just skip the meat and make sure you are supplementing the protein. Many vegetables are packed with protein and iron. In fact, many vegetarians get more protein than meat eaters because they are more conscious eaters.
Cutting meat out of your diet will give you more energy and allow you to sleep less as well as keep a trim waistline ;)

 Amazing right?!  If you know me, you know I love a good list...so this was the perfect jumping off point for me.  If you have any other "must haves" to add to Ashley's list, I'd love to hear them!

Nonna's Minestrone

Today marks the first day of my vegetarian challenge. I was all set to make sweet potato enchiladas, but my little sister (and current live-in house guest) surprised me with a pot of my Nonna Sera's homemade minestrone. Minestrone is a traditional Italian dish and literally means "big soup"(cute eh?). There is no set recipe for this soup as it's usually made with whatever seasonal vegetables are on hand.

At one point or another, both my two younger sisters and I have lived with my Grandmother; and since minestrone is one of the cornerstones of Italian cooking, we were treated to this hearty meal at least once a week. There really isn't anything like walking into your house and being hit with the distinct smell of this "big soup" simmering away.

Nonna's Minestrone

1  8oz can chopped tomato (or if you're lucky, 1 jar of Nonna's canned tomatoes)

3 cups water

2 zucchini

1 large onion

1 can red kidney beans

1 large potato

3 stalks celery

3 large carrots

2 cups green beans

1 clove garlic

4-5 fresh basil leaves

orzo pasta (or whatever pasta you have on hand)

salt and pepper to taste

Chop your veggies and combine all ingredients in a large pot.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium letting the soup simmer for about an hour.  Add your orzo about 15-20 minutes before you are ready to eat!