Lemon Tofu/Chicken Soup #Recipe #vegetarian

Lemon Tofu soup is a light, refreshing soup that is healthy but also hearty. 

This is one of my favorite soups to make!

Ingredients

• 2 carrots, diced
• 4 ribs of celery, thinly sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 packs firm tofu, grated
• 1 Tsp salt
• 1 Tsp pepper
• 1/8 Tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 6 cups chicken or veggie broth
• 1 lemon, juiced and peel grated
• 1 Tsp dried thyme
• 3 Tbsp fresh dill
• 1 cup noodles (any small kind)

Instructions

Lentil Bulgar Salad #recipe #vegetarian #potluck

This is perfect to bring to a potluck and keeps for a few hours. This makes for a light summer time meal.

1 can lentils (rinsed)	1 cup dry bulgar wheat
1 cup boiling water	1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice	2 medium cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. salt	1/2 tsp. oregano
2 tbs. freshly minced mint (or 2 tsp. dried mint)	2-3 tbs. freshly minced dill ( or 2-3 tsp. dried dill)
fresh black pepper, to taste	1/4 cup packed freshly minced parsley
1/3 cup finely minced red onion	1 bell pepper (any colour), diced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped	1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tomato, diced	1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Method:

1. Place bulgar in a small bowl. Add boiling water, cover with a plate, and let stand for 10-15 minutes while getting the other ingredients ready.
2. Add everything together except tomato chunks and walnuts. Mix gently but thoroughly. Cover tightly and refrigerate.
3. Just before serving, top with tomatoes and walnuts.

**This item is great to bring for a potluck!

Tomato Topped Cheese & Been Dip #recipe

I love serving this when I have company... they will devour it in minutes!

1 19oz can chickpeas	1 1/2 cups 3-cheese casseroles shredded cheese, divided
125g (1/2 package) cream cheese, softened	1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper	2 green onions
1/2 cup chopped tomatos

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*F.
Place chickpeas, 1 cup cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and cayenne pepper in blender. Blend until smooth. Stir in green onions.
Spread into a 9" pie plate.
Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and tomato. Serve with crackers, pita or chips.
Best served hot.

Recipe tested and is perfect for company!

Cabbage and Pea Curry #recipe #vegetarian

1 green cabbage , cut into long shreds	1 cup green peas
1 medium tomato, chopped in to small pieces	1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 fresh hot green chili, finely chopped	salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon garam masala	2 tsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds	1 tsp Mustard seeds (black)
7-8 curry leaves	coriander/cilantro leaves to garnish

Method:

Core the cabbage and slice into fine long shreds. Preheat the oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. When hot add the cumin seeds ,mustard seeds and curry leaves. After a couple seconds, add the cabbage. Add the turmeric powder and green chili, mixing well. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

When cabbage is half cooked, add green peas and tomato to it. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Finally add Garam masala and salt. Remove it from heat. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with chapati.

Stuffed Green Peppers (Vegetarian Option)

These are a family favorite that I make on a regular basis... enjoy!

6 green bell peppers	salt and pepper to taste
1 pound ground beef or ground fake meat	1/3 cup chopped onion
1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped	1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup uncooked rice	1/2 cup water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese	1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup	2 tbsp white vinegar
Water as needed	2 cloves of garlic

Method:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the tops off the peppers, and remove the seeds. Cook peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes; drain. Sprinkle salt inside each pepper, and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, saute beef and onions for 5 minutes, or until beef is browned. Drain off excess fat, add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes, rice, 1/2 cup water and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat, and stir in the cheese.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C). Stuff each pepper with the beef and rice mixture, and place peppers open side up in a baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine tomato soup, vinegar and with just enough water to make the soup a gravy consistency. Pour over the peppers.
4. Bake covered for 25 to 35 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.

** If you want to make this in a slow cooker, skip the boiling peppers portion. Continue to prepare using directions above. Cook on high for 2-3hrs depending on your slow cooker. Take a toothpick and pierce pepper to see if done.

Watermelon & Cucumber Salad #salad #vegetarian #recipe

Preparation time 10 minutes
Makes 12 Servings

Whenever I'm having someone over for a BBQ, this is an easy and quick salad to throw together. It's refreshing and feels like summer on a plate.

Ingredients:

2 English cucumbers 

1/4 large watermelon 

1/4 cup lime juice (3-4 limes) 

2/3 cup torn mint leaves 

2 tbsp tarragon leaves, finely chopped 

1/2 tsp salt

 

Company is Coming: Baked Avocado Rolls! #recipe #vegetarian #vegan

Love Avocado Rolls but want a healthier version than the fried kind you get dining out. Try this healthier baked version of avocado rolls that pack the full flavor of the fried version. I've made this recipe so many times... it's my go to snack and appetizer... I can't get enough!

My Famous Italian Spaghetti Sauce #recipe

This is my personal recipe that I make the most out of all my recipes. It's my go to whenever I'm cooking for the family, especially New Years Eve dinner. This is better then any bottle of sauce... and I always double it and freeze some.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Large onion 

8 large cloves of garlic (minced) 

2 28-fl-oz/ 796 ml cans plum tomatoes 

3 whole roasted red peppers (chopped)

2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil 

1 Bay leaf

 

Cauliflower Tater Tots #recipes #healthyalternative

Brianna, © 2023 thismomneedswine.com

My mother made this recipe in the past and my daughter loved it... so I had to share it with you. Since it was a huge hit with the little Munchkin, I will be making this sometime next week. It's great for freezing, so I will be tripling the batch. The picture is from when my daughter was a toddler... she's now about to turn 8!

Ingredients

1 large head cauliflower, broken into florets
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 egg 1 egg white
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste
canola oil
cooking spray

Directions

Cauliflower Tater Tots #recipes #healthyalternative

Brianna, © 2016 aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com

My mother made this recipe tonight and my daughter loved it... so I had to share it with you. Since it was a huge hit with the little Munchkin, I will be making this sometime next week. It's great for freezing, so I will be trippling the batch.

Ingredients

1 large head cauliflower, broken into florets
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 egg 1 egg white
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste
canola oil
cooking spray

Directions

Top 10 Sources of Veggie Protein

Top 10 Sources of Veggie Protein

New Vegetarian, Body Changes?

When most people give up meat, they are losing a number of vital nutrients that need to be replaced in other ways through diet. usually, you're losing fat, protein, heme iron (which is more absorb-able than non-heme found in vegetables), B12, and a myriad of other micro-nutrients.

So, in your diet, you need to make certain that you're getting enough protein (beans, nuts, seeds, pulses), and enough fats (nuts, seeds, oils such as olive, coconut, flax seed, hemp, etc). If you don't consume any animal products (eggs and dairy), you'll need to consume more vegetables rich in non-heme iron and possible increase your vitamin C intake to increase absorption. You'll also need to fortify your diet with B12 fortification, the best of which is to take a 1000 microgram sublingual tablet daily.


Your body is probably processing and passing the food more quickly because of your new-found higher fiber content. This may also be leading to stomach pains, as the body learns to process this amount of fiber. It will pass in a few days/weeks.

If you are experiencing hunger pains frequently, it is likely because you aren't getting enough fat and protein with your meals. Many new vegetarians practice 'nutrition by subtraction'--eating what they would normally eat without the meat. So, for example, if you normally eat chicken with rice and broccoli, you would eat just rice and broccoli. Well, no wonder you're hungry--that's not a balanced meal. Instead, practice 'nutrition by addition'--start with a whole grain, then add beans, nuts, or seeds to it (sometimes, I add all three--for example, curry with mixed veggies, chick peas, cashews, and watermelon or pumpkin seeds). next, add in your vegetables. make sure that you add some fats to your meal (at least 1 tbsp. of fat with each meal). If you're ovo-lacto, consider adding a moderate amount of dairy (for example, 1-2 tablespoons of cream is great in curries; or add a chopped hard boiled egg to your salad).

This will help you feel more satisfied and make certain that you're getting enough nutrients.

New Vegetarian, Body Changes?

When most people give up meat, they are losing a number of vital nutrients that need to be replaced in other ways through diet. usually, you're losing fat, protein, heme iron (which is more absorb-able than non-heme found in vegetables), B12, and a myriad of other micro-nutrients.

So, in your diet, you need to make certain that you're getting enough protein (beans, nuts, seeds, pulses), and enough fats (nuts, seeds, oils such as olive, coconut, flax seed, hemp, etc). If you don't consume any animal products (eggs and dairy), you'll need to consume more vegetables rich in non-heme iron and possible increase your vitamin C intake to increase absorption. You'll also need to fortify your diet with B12 fortification, the best of which is to take a 1000 microgram sublingual tablet daily.

6 Reasons to Go Vegan

Take this 6 facts:

1. Worldwide over 852 million people go hungry.
2. 79% of annual world cereal + soy harvest is consumed by the 20billion "farm- animals".
3. To produce 1 kg of meat, you need 7-16 kg corn or soy beans+ 15.000 litres of water.
4. On the surface, which is needed to harvest 1 kg of meat, could generate, in the same period, 200 kg of tomatoes or 160 kg of potatoes.
5. 50% of water pollution in Europe are caused by factory farms.
6. The contribution of livestock to the greenhouse effect is the same as that of the entire global, auto, air and waterway together.

GO VEGAN ! ♥

Redirecting even a portion of the grain used to fatten cattle could feed every hungry mouth on the planet.
- Forks Over Knives

View original here!

6 Reasons to Go Vegan

Take this 6 facts:

1. Worldwide over 852 million people go hungry.
2. 79% of annual world cereal + soy harvest is consumed by the 20billion "farm- animals".
3. To produce 1 kg of meat, you need 7-16 kg corn or soy beans+ 15.000 litres of water.
4. On the surface, which is needed to harvest 1 kg of meat, could generate, in the same period, 200 kg of tomatoes or 160 kg of potatoes.
5. 50% of water pollution in Europe are caused by factory farms.
6. The contribution of livestock to the greenhouse effect is the same as that of the entire global, auto, air and waterway together.

GO VEGAN ! ♥

Redirecting even a portion of the grain used to fatten cattle could feed every hungry mouth on the planet.
- Forks Over Knives

View original here!

Earth Balance: the perfect balance in my life!

For those of you who have been following me on my crazy weight loss journey, then you know that I've been more strict when it comes to what I put on and in my body. Not only am I still looking to lose more weight, but I also want to be as healthy as I can. I'm very picky when it comes to using butter or margarine, as well as many dairy products. In the past I've noticed a product line called Earth Balance, and was always curious about the quality, as well as the taste. For some reason when you're picking out products that state that they're more healthy, all natural, etc., you somehow expect it to taste... not as yummy as the original unhealthy versions. To my amazement, Earth Balance is actually good!

With a wide range of products, they're the perfect vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free, trans-fat free, casein-free, which make them the healthy, yet yummy choice.  Here are some of the type of products that they offer:

• Soy milk (original, unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate).
• Spreads (original, olive oil, soy free, soy garden, and whipped).
• Dressings (original, organic, and olive oil).
• Soy Nog
• Nut Butters (crunchy coconut, creamy coconut, creamy peanut, crunchy peanut, creamy almond).
• Baking Sticks/ Shortening
• Coconut Spread
• Food Services (wholesale items for businesses)

I tested out a few products that they offer: Earth Balance Olive Oil Spread, Soy Milk Unsweetened, as well as the Earth Balance Baking Sticks. All of them were excellent, and to be honest I enjoyed them more then my usual brands.

The soy milk I prefer to actual dairy milk. It has a natural creamy and smooth texture to it, yet it's not gritty like some other soy brands. It also doesn't leave any aftertaste, so it doesn't leave you thirsty after. I love to use this for my morning cereal, drink as a replacement to a glass of milk, and use for tea/coffee as well as cooking creamy soups.

The Olive Oil Spread had the consistency similar to butter. It wasn't super soft like other margarine, probably because it didn't have all the added garbage to it! It was mild in flavor, melted nicely, and was able to spread it easily on my toast. It wasn't overly salty, and actually had a clean taste. The Baking Sticks were the same as the spread, just conveniently measured out for easy baking. I made banana bread with it, and it turned out as good as usual!

So if you're looking for a healthier alternative to some of your favorite grocery shopping items, try out Earth Balance... trust me, your body will thank you for it! Where can you find their products? They should be available at your local grocery stores. I know that Metro, Loblaws, and Whole Foods carry them.

Check out their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Coupons for product(s) were provided for the purpose of review. I am not paid to write this review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Earth Balance: the perfect balance in my life!

For those of you who have been following me on my crazy weight loss journey, then you know that I've been more strict when it comes to what I put on and in my body. Not only am I still looking to lose more weight, but I also want to be as healthy as I can. I'm very picky when it comes to using butter or margarine, as well as many dairy products. In the past I've noticed a product line called Earth Balance, and was always curious about the quality, as well as the taste. For some reason when you're picking out products that state that they're more healthy, all natural, etc., you somehow expect it to taste... not as yummy as the original unhealthy versions. To my amazement, Earth Balance is actually good!

Why Go Vegetarian?!

Why Go Vegetarian?!