yikes!

Gardein makes GREAT vegan "meat" alternatives...

www.gardein.com

They are processed, but not as much as many other foods. Local Canadian company too!

Hey Carol,

For all of Yves products, just check the front of the package. It will clearly say if it's veggie or vegan. The Yves chicken burgers, meatballs and even their new turkey dinner all have vegan written right on the front. As a general rule, if something says it's vegetarian, it'll have either milk ingredients or eggs in it. Yves and Amy's are one of the few companies that are clearly labeling their products. Like I said, the life of a vegan involves a lot of label reading until you get your list of stuff you can (and want) to eat down pat. By the way, I do not cook my stuff to death. Most of it can be microwaved in a minute or less, or cooked on a Foreman grill for 1 to 2 minutes. So Good's ice creams are quite good, you'll see! Another simple but fabulous dessert is a banana dipped in Hershey's chocolate syrup - simple but good...on top of the ice cream - GREAT! Don't forget your protein though: chickpeas, lentils and beans. All easy to prepare. You'll find that the longer you go vegan, the simpler you'll eat. The smoothies in the morning are a fabulous start. I normally have 25 grams of protein for breakfast (half my daily requirement). You'll hum along if you try that.

You should take a multivitamin, 2000 units of vitamin D (1/2 in the am, 1/2 in the pm) and the vegan B12 every day. Also, 2000 milligrams of flaxseed oil and vegan calcium w/magnesium and you should be fine. Take 1/2 of your multivitamin in the morning, the other half at night along with 1000 of the vitamin D. You can only absorb so much at one time, it's best to spread out.

Here is my veggie burger recipe, and a few other friendly food choices for you. I promise they are delicious! (And if you have a food processor, they are super easy!!) :)


1) If Anyone Asks, It Was the Veggie Burgers

One of our favourite recipes! These burgers can be frozen or consumed immediately. We suggest serving them on a kaiser bun with veggies, spicy mustard,and jalapenos. To really make them special, slather them with My Honey's Hummus! Add in your your favourite cold drink (they go great with beer) and you're set!

Ingredients:
1 TBSP olive oil 1C sunflower seeds
1 onion, diced 3C fine bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced ½C soy sauce
1 TBSP cumin 5 eggs
1 ½TBSP chili powder 1 can black beans, pureed
1 tsp oregano ¼C parsley & cilantro
2 TBSP sesame oil ½C almonds, chopped
2 C. oats flour for dredging
2 TBSP olive oil

To make:
In large skillet, saute onions and garlic in oil. Place in large mixing bowl and let it cool a little. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and shape in patties. Dredge lightly in flour. Heat oil in pan and brown the burgers on both sides. Enjoy!



And here's my hubby's hummus recipe:
2) My Honey's Hummus

If you haven't had Gabriel's hummus yet, you really haven't experienced the best life has to offer where food is concerned! This is good anytime, anywhere, for any occasion. Results are best when this recipe is approached in a mad scientist fashion.


Blend until Smooth:
1 can well-cooked chickpeas, drained
1/8 C olive oil
½ C tahini paste
3 garlic cloves, minced
juice of 1 large lemon
1 TBSP cumin
(add water as you go for proper consistency ? until it flows, then don't add a drop more)
Add love, lots of it


Garnish:
With fresh, chopped parsley and thyme


Refrigerate:
For an hour in order to improve texture

Enjoy:
Thoroughly.


And a yummy curry (crock-pot makes this one a breeze!)
3)How to Curry Favour with Your Love
This curry is a staple in our freezers during the work week when neither one of us has time to cook really awesome food. For this one we recommend a crock pot, but a supervised stock pot works just as well!

Ingredients:
2 TBSP vegetable oil 2 onions, diced
3 carrots, diced 1 TBSP garlic, minced
1 TBSP ginger, minced 1 red pepper, diced
1 TBSP red curry paste 1 can sliced water chestnuts
2 tsp ground cumin 3 medium Potatoes, diced
2 yams, diced 2 C vegetable stock
1 stalk lemongrass 3 cans coconut milk
2 limes, juice and zest
1 can chickpeas
4 TBSP cilantro, chopped
2 C basmati rice
1 can sliced bamboo shoots

To Make:
If using a crockpot: toss all ingredients in and let sit overnight. Enjoy next day.
If using a large stockpot: saute onions, carrots, garlic, ginger, and red pepper in oil. When soft, add curry paste, garam masala, and ground cumin.
Add potatoes, yams, galangal root, and lemongrass. Saute five minutes.
Add lime leaves, lime zest and juice, coconut milk, and vegetable stock. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Add chickpeas and cook for 10 more minutes.
Serve over basmati rice with fresh cilantro just before serving.



Hope these help!

Justus

Your new diet is inspiring me...

Try tofu burgers, Carol. Buy firm, organic tofu. Slice thin. Fry in olive oil and tamari (Soy sauce) and stack two or three in bun with avacodo, ketchup, relish, pickles, whatever. Delicious! Vegan!!
See you Sat. morning.