Monthly Archives: September 2013

Sep30

Casa De Luz Sun Cheese

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Just got back from a week-long Ashtanga training in Austin, Texas. Got to study with David Swenson and his wife Shelley Washington. David wrote the book on Ashtanga yoga that we used in my 200-hour training. It was an honor and privilege to spend time with him. David brings an amazing depth of knowledge and a delightful sense of humor to his teaching.

There were nearly 50 students in our class. I walked in not knowing a single person and left with several special friends. Yoga has a funny way of doing that. One night a group of us went to Casa De Luz for dinner. It’s a macrobiotic, vegan, gluten-free, seasonal, locally-sourced, organic restaurant. I’ve never been anywhere like it. Not far from downtown Austin, but it feels like it’s a world away.

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Sep18

Lots of Veggies Sushi Rolls

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When I was in yoga teacher training, veggie sushi saved my life. I would come home late, tired and hungry after a long day of practicing yoga. Although I was super hungry, really the only thing I wanted was vegetable sushi rolls…a little seaweed salad was okay too. I’m not sure I can explain this, looking back. Maybe it was the salty taste from the nori and soy sauce. Maybe it was the fact that sushi rolls can be light and filling at the same time. For me, it was a craving that could not be denied.

On these evenings, I usually had rolls from my favorite asian restaurant or really I was not that picky, grocery store sushi was fine too. But now that I have a little more time, I really like making my own rolls. And what’s fun is that I get to come up with weird combinations that I wish I could find on a menu but I never can, like mango/cucumber.

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Sep15

Black-Eyed Pea Stew + GF Vegan Biscuits

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I almost never eat black-eyed peas (except for good luck on New Year’s day) and now I am wondering why. Because they are SO flipping awesome. Like other beans, there are a great source of protein for a vegan or vegetarian diet. And they have a mild almost sweet flavor.

The inspiration for this recipe came from Chloe’s Kitchen, one of my all time favorite vegan cookbooks. Her recipe is called Southern Skillet Black-Eyed Peas with Quick Buttery Biscuits. It’s a winner of a recipe. I played with it a bit. Changed some of the veggies and spices. Added butternut squash, carrots and turnips. The result is the perfect fall stew with a little twist.

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Sep10

Green Smoothie Deconstructed

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I love it when people ask me what I put in my green smoothies. This is the kind of conversation that I truly look forward to having with someone. It’s a fun give and take. I know the way I make my smoothies has been influenced by what I have learned from other people and a lot of experimentation.  ‘Cause, let me tell you, I have made some pretty yucky smoothies in my time.

So I thought I’d break down the different components of my smoothie. This is SO not scientific in any way. I’ll share some nutritional info, but do your own research and trial and error to see what is right for you.

Liquid Base

Nut milk

Rice milk

Coconut milk

Coconut water

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Sep4

Fresh Fig + Rosemary Focaccia (gluten-free)

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When we moved to Houston three years ago, we planted a fig tree in the backyard. Planting a tree is such a hopeful act. Will it take root? Is it in the right spot? Will it flourish and grow?

Well our little tree has tripled in size since we planted it. However, for the first two years the figs it produced tasted terrible. Really awful. Like nobody wants to eat these things. I tried roasting them and tossing them with honey, which helped a little but not much.

Something special happened this season. Bam! The figs are awesome. They are so sweet and taste wonderful. I love going out into the backyard and finding the ripe ones and twisting them off the branches.

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