Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal.

I used to LOVE prepackaged oatmeal, so sugary and flavorful, but I know it's not as good for you as making your own. Plain oatmeal to me is just that, plain, boring, flavorless. I was brainstorming ideas to make the plain, boring oatmeal, sweet and tastey and here is what I came up with.... And it's VEGAN FRIENDLY!

TAH-DAH Chocolate peanut butter oatmeal. Here is the recipe.....

1/2 cup rolled Oats

1/4 cup coconut milk (Canned full-fat makes the oatmeal creamier)

3/4 Cup Chocolate Almond milk

1/2 frozen ripe banana

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp peanut butter

1/8 tsp salt (do not omit)

2 tsp Stevia

a sprinkle of chocolate chips

Cook the oatmeal, coconut milk, and almond milk on stove according to package directions. While oatmeal is cooking microwave banana for 20-35 seconds in microwave (until mostly defrosted). Mash together banana, vanilla extract, peanut butter, salt, and stevia until well mixed. When oatmeal is finished cooking transfer to serving bowl, top with peanut butter mixture and a sprinkle of chocolate chips. ENJOY!!!

Happy New Year! Let's cook!

Hello and happy new year, have you stuck with your resolutions? I hope so!
 I hope to update this blog with a yummy recipe at least once a week (starting today) in this new year. I have been posting lots of photos of my creations on Facebook, friends have been been asking for my recipes, and I am sure some of my friends are getting sick of my food photos, so I will post them here! I have also been very inspired by a fellow blogger Chocolate Covered Katie and would like to try to be more consistent with my blogging. Ok enough about me and on with the food!

This week's recipe I will share is BBQ Chickpea burgers.

This recipe makes 4 medium-sized burgers

1 Can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
2tsp minced garlic
1tsp onion powder
1/4. Cup whole wheat flour (any flour will do)
1tsp parsley flakes
1 egg
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
BBQ sauce of your choice

In a bowl, mash chickpeas until all are smashed. Slowly smash in egg, flour and breadcrumbs until well mixed. Add garlic, onion powder and parsley flakes. Once all ingredients are mixed, form into 4medium  sized burgers and dust with breadcrumbs on the on outsideCook on George Foreman grill for 7 minutes on med/high heat, coat burgers with BBQ sauce and cook another 1-2 minutes.

**If cooking on BBQ, make sure to put foil on grill as burger may fall through. Cooking time may vary.

Well that's all I have for now, have a great week!

Vegetarian traveling to Disney? No problem!

As a Walt Disney World passholder I am constantly traveling to Disney for weekend fun! I am happy to say that my recent visits to the park as a vegetarian have been very pleasurable. Vegetarians know how frustrating it is to go to a restaurant, and have only a salad as an option as your meal. You will not have to worry about that at any of the Walt Disney World parks!

In October hubby and I did out annual trip to the Epcot Food and Wine fest. I was a little nervous because I was hoping that each country had a vegetarian option so I can get the same eating around-the-world experience as the non-vegetarians do. I am happy to say that MOST of the countries had a vegetarian option on the menu, and there was even a vegetarian booth amongst all the others! I am also happy that at the food and wine fest they give you small portions of food so you can try all the different food from around the world. It was a delicious experience and my mouth is watering just typing about it! Below is a photo of one of my favorite vegetarian options. It was from South Africa and it's called a Spinach and Paneer cheese pocket.

This past weekend hubby and I went to the Magic kingdom to celebrate my mom's birthday. For lunch I was able to get a delicious veggie burger (YUM)! You can tell it was homemade and not frozen. I was a little nervous about dinner. I made reservations at a restaurant called  "Liberty Tree Tavern," which is a sit-down restaurant with table service buffet, which basically means they bring the buffet to your table. The menu only showed Pork, Turkey, and Roast beef on the menu with mashed potatos, mac and cheese, and seasonal veggies. I figured I would be fine with that and just eat everything but the meat, but when my dad mentioned to the waiter that I was vegetarian, the chef came out to our table and explained she was going to prep a meal especially for me (and it was vegan!). It was a fried quinoa burger that had peas and carrots inside with sweet potato fries. Such great service and it was DEEELISH!

So my fellow vegetarians if you are planning a trip to disney in the near future, have no fear you won't have to only eat salad and you will not starve!!!

Thanksgiving Feast

Sorry I have not blogged in awhile! It's November, my favorite time of the year and my favorite holiday is this month. No, it's not my birthday... it's Thanksgiving! So what do vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving? Well there is so much more to this holiday besides the Turkey. In this blog I will be giving you some yummy ideas to create your perfect vegetarian Thanksgiving feast!

Here is a list of Thanksgiving staples, put them all together or mix and match for your own perfect meal :)

1. Tofurkey
If you are just missing having your turkey at the table this is a tasty alternative. Everything you need comes in the box (Including stuffing and gravy) and this product is GMO free! I will be making myself Tofurkey this Thanksgiving. Save a Turkey, eat Tofurkey!!!

2. Sweet potato casserole

Who doesn't LOVE a sweet potato casserole? Ok I'll admit it, I did not when I was little (I never tasted it when I was little it was just one of those things I said I didn't like) and boy was I missing out!! Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants, fiber,  and vitamins E and C, add a little cinnamon, almond milk, and a little brown sugar, and you have yourself a delicious treat! You may even add Pecans or marshmallows on top if you feel a little more daring :)

3. Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower

These were always my favorite veggies at thanksgiving time (and all the time). To make them special, drizzle a little hot cheese sauce on top (Don't go too crazy, cheese sauce can be fatty) and vola! YUMYUMYUM!

4.Garlic Rosemary Mashed potatoes

I like my mashed potatoes how my mommah makes them... a little lumpy and with the skins! YUM

5. Green Bean Casserole

Need I say more?

6.Baked Stuffed Mushrooms

Mom always made the best! I will have to ask her for her secret recipe and post it!

I think you all get the idea of how you can be vegetarian and still enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal without the Turkey. There's so many veggies out there that you can mix and match as many as you want. What is your favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving dish??

Next blog I plan on posting my mom's delicious stuffed mushroom recipe (if she is willing to share).

Until next time... Happy, Healthy Eating!!

Healthier!

It's been 3 weeks since I decided to become a vegetarian and it's been going pretty well. I feel more energized and healthier. My food is more colorful and I don't feel bloated after a meal anymore. I recommend this lifestyle for anyone looking to make a healthy change, but make sure you do your research and eat the right foods so you get all the nutrients your body needs. I will end this blog with a photo from tonight's dinner. This is another dish I made up. Greek inspired! Whole grain couscous, Greek olives, chickpeas, snap peas, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and feta cheese in an olive oil, garlic, parsley sauce ;) it was deeeeelish!

Recipe time!

So my vegetarian lifestyle has been going pretty good so far. I want to share a recipe I came up with full of flavor and that is also a healthier alternative to a meat dish. Vegetarian sweet potato shepherd's pie. This is actually considered vegan because there is no animal products in this dish. I used almond milk instead of regular milk for the mashed sweet potatoes because I am lactose intolerant.

Serves 6
2 large sweet potatoes
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of black beans
1 pack of frozen mixed veggies (you may also use fresh)
Cinnamon
Almond milk (or reg )
Garlic
Cumin
1/2 diced yellow Onion

Preheat oven to 350.

Skin and cube the sweet potatoes, boil for 20 mins (or until soft and you can stick a fork through). Strain and pour into a bowl. Add about 2/3 cup of almond milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon, beat until consistency of mashed potatoes. Set aside.

Drain and cook black beans and kidney beans together. Sprinkle in garlic, cumin and diced onion.

While beans are cooking, prep frozen veggies according to package directions.

In a medium-sized casserole dish layer the beans on the bottom, veggies in the middle, and spread sweet potatoes on top. Sprinkle the top of the sweet potatoes with cinnamon, bake in over for 25 mins.

I hope you all enjoy this yummy recipe I made up ;)

Hello World.

Hello world. I decided to create this blog to share my journey into vegetarianism. I know, I have been a vegetarian before, but with much research and watching a few different documentaries (no not from PETA) I have decided to do it again, but the right way this time.  I say the RIGHT way because the first few times I became vegetarian I did it without much research and knowledge of what I should be eating.  On this blog I plan to share my recipes (both the ones I have created, and ones I have found), helpful info, and support for others wanting to become vegetarian.

Here are a few helpful books to read (some also include yummy recipes), to help you with you vegetarian journey:
Forks Over Knives- Gene Stone (also a documentary to watch... you can find it on netflix)
The Kind Diet- Alicia Silverstone



Here are a few reasons I have decided to become vegetarian:
-I LOVE animals and don't want to eat a furry or feathered friend
-Health Reasons, lots of health benefits, lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels
-Makes me feel better
-I feel less bloated, yet still full after eating a meal.
-Better for the environment
-Lots more flavor varieties with fruits and veggies, than cows, pigs, and chickens
-I LOVE fruits, veggies, beans, and nuts.

I could go on FOREVER.... So now I ask you this question my fellow vegetarians, why did you become vegetarian? How long have you been a vegetarian?