Vegetarian Tostadas

We were about to go on a Memorial weekend trip so you already know what was not happening. A trip to the grocery store. No one is even about wasting food and coming back to a spoiled mess. The hubby was like, how about some tostada salad. Don't mind if I do!!!

P.S. These pics cannot possibly convey how satisfying this nonsense was.

Vegetarian Tostadas (serves 2-3)

Never tried this seitan before but it did the job well!

Homemade Guacamole

2 avocado

2 garlic cloves

1/8 cup chopped onion

salt + pepper to taste

Juice from 1 Lime

Mash avocado with fork in a bowl

Chipotle Sauce

3 tablespoons Veganaise

3 tablespoons Kroger Private Selection Restaurant Style Salsa

seasonings to taste:

  1/2 tablespoon adobo seasoning

  1 tsp coriander

  1 tsp garlic Powder

  1 tsp chili Powder

juice from 1/2 of a lime 

Mix all in a small bowl.

Tostada Prep

romaine Lettuce (5-6 leaves), shredded

6 tostada rounds

guacamole (see above for recipe)

chipotle Sauce (see above for recipe)

2 tomatoes, chopped in large pieces

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 pkg Sweet Earth Chipotle style seitan (Whole Foods)

3 tablespoons ginger salsa (see rice & beans w/ ginger salsa recipe)

Heat large skillet on medium with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sautee seitan & corn for 5 minutes then torn off heat. In a separate bowl, mix chipotle sauce with shredded romaine lettuce.  Place 6 tostada rounds down either 3 each for 2 people or 2 each for 3 people. Equally disperse the romaine mixture on top of the tostadas. Then do the same with the seitan and corn as well as the tomato then the ginger salsa & guacamole. 

Voila!!! Yummy, fresh dinner.

Youtube, I'm Back & Ready to Attack

Let's be honest. I only created a few videos but I really enjoyed helping others with their hair woes and sharing my hair story. I feel like even when you think you have it down pat, then you find out what works for someone else and the whole journey starts anew. Below is just a "hey y'all" vid.

More Native Foods Please

Not sure if everyone spotted our happy faces while we were at Native Foods restaurant in Denver. If so, you must know that is when being vegan just got real. I don't think I've ever been to such a yummy place with nothing on the menu that appears to be something I can dupe. I had a real conversation with the hubby that went something like this, "I mean, should we look into franchising this in Atlanta?" The hubby, "I think that's the only way we can hijack the recipes. Maybe it's a good idea, how much money do think it would take?" We concluded we don't have the start-up money for it but hey if any of you are investors and would like to have us run it for you then we're all about it all day long. Haha....

Recommendations: BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger(the fakin bacon was like whoa), Fish Tacos and this Mushroom Sausage Sandwich was on point as well.





In conclusion, everyone please visit this yummy place and then tell me that you couldn't become a vegan because I'm almost on the bandwagon if I could have food like that all the time...

Brown Rice and Beans with Ginger Chile Salsa

I love some rice + beans. This version is that new-new though. It has like everything I want. Fresh ingredients, spice, filling and it's simple. Additionally, cheese is all kinds of optional so it's perfect for my Ryan or when we don't have any cheese left. Sometimes I outfit the dish with goat cheese instead of Feta, too. Oh and don't forget the avocado. We just didn't have one available at the time. Please believe we see this dish like a once a week-er. 

Enjoy y'all!

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divide
• 1 medium onion, chopped, divided
• 1 cup brown rice
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup water w/ 1 tablespoon of Better Than Bouillion: Vegetable Bouillion
• 2 red/green jalapeños stemmed, halved (seeded if you'd like it more mild)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon chopped peeled ginger
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 avocado, halved, pitted, chopped
• 1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or feta
• Lime wedges (for serving)

PREPARATION

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/4 of onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat. Add 2 cups water and season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is just tender, 40-50 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork. Fold in 1/4 cup cilantro; season with salt and pepper.
• While rice is cooking, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/3 of remaining onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add coriander and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add beans and vegetable bouillion and a cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, occasionally mashing beans, until thickened, 8-10 minutes.
• Pulse chiles, garlic, ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and remaining onion in a blender until a chunky sauce forms. Season salsa with salt.
• Serve rice with beans; top with salsa, avocado, cheese, 1/4 cup cilantro, and lime wedges.

Denver Trip with the Fam Bam!!

2012/2013 has been HUGE for me! It included a move to Atlanta from Denver so I determined it was time to go back. My family & friends that hadn't been able to visit our sweet little baby girl, got a chance to love on her. BTW big thanks to my sister for letting us stay with her :x. Here are some pics from the trip. We were there the weekend of Apr 26th!

 

Left: cousin - Krystal, Myself & Avery... Right: Krystal's babies - Shay & Athan w/ Avery

 

Left: the Bestie, Lizbit at her finest

Right: Hubby + Myself and Avery

Lizbit, Sepideh, Lauren

Lauren, Horace (brother in law), Joaquin (nephew), Sister

Sepideh, Lizbit, Hubby, Myself, Lauren, Avery, Kri

NOM NOM NOM!!!!

Sister w/ Avery

Grandma holding Avery

Throwback Thursday: curly hair UPDO

Clean Living

Hola everyone! I'm all about some clean living, because realistically who wants to be poisoned by some really ridiculously "chemicalled" out food, hair or cleaning products. I just can't be about that life.

What's more is that my hubby is a "pescatarian" (fan of the fishies & anything vegetarian) so I've inherited his lifestyle too. Come to think of it we could almost be vegan because he doesn't do egg or cheese either but sometimes I do slip those into our food ;). Anywho, we're constantly trying new recipes from blogs because there aren't a large array of do-able vegetarian recipes that have protein and other good mess in it. I will most certainly share recipes as I test them!!!

Also, I've started making my own hair/body products and cleaning products. It's good to know what's going into my products and that it won't kill anyone should they accidentally be caught in a non-ventilated room with them. Below is a pic of a cheap spray water bottle I got from Walmart to house some cleaning product. I still can't believe a place sells a spray bottle like that but whatevs.

<insert pic of cleaning product bottle>

Anywho let me know if you all have any ideas on yummy recipes or clean living ideas I need to try. :D

Toodles