As you all know, I’m a proud VEGA Ambassador and I recently created a tasty recipe and video demo for the VEGA website sharing my vegan protein patties.

Be sure to take a look at my Vega Ambassador Interview, Recipe and Video.

Ingredients

• 1 packet VEGA Sport
• ¼ cup steel-cut oats, cooked
• 1 cup black beans, cooked
• 2 Tbsp. nut butter
• ¼ cup canned pumpkin
• 1 Tbsp. raisins
• 1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar
• 1 medium ripe banana, sliced
• Pinch of each sea salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp. agave nectar
• ¼ tsp. smoked paprika
• 10 walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a food processor, combine all ingredients; process until smooth.
3. Using a tablespoon, drop the batter into your hands; mold into patties and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown and crispy.
5. Enjoy!

And Now…I am happy to announce my Marx Foods Palm Leaf Plate Giveaway.

I recently had the opportunity to test out these Palm Leaf Plates, which are incredible and great for entertaining. I was quite impressed at how well these plates held up as I was a bit skeptical since they’re disposable, but to my surprise they held up like a charm.  These beautiful pates are an eco-friendly and biodegradable plates are a unique alternative to conventional plates.  The plates and the disposable cutlery are even compostable!

To Enter:

1). View the Marx foods website and tell me what Palm Leaf plate shape you’d like to try.
2). Post this giveaway on your blog. Leave a comment telling me you did.
3). Tweet this Giveaway post! Leave me a third comment telling me you did.

Each comment counts as an entry.

Good Luck; I will be picking a winner on Friday, September the 10th at 5PM EST.

Yep, You Guessed it…Me….

I am one of the winners for the Expressions of Hunger Video Contest who will be featured on the front of  Cheerios Boxes, sold exclusively at nationwide ShopRite stores this Fall 2010!

The Expressions of Hunger Video Contest focused on sharing emotions, thoughts and feelings through music, poetry, performance, art and storytelling to enlighten others about hunger in our community.

I am looking forward to my Cheerios photo shoot and I’ll be sure to let you all know when my picture and name are in the cereal aisles!

Keeping in line with my cereal theme of the day, I thought I’d share with you a tasty breakfast idea that is an easy go-to-snack and convenient on-the-go breakfast idea…Enjoy!

Amie’s Homeade ‘Oaties’ Bars

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup rice milk
• 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed or wheat germ
• 2 Eggland’s Best egg whites or egg substitute
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from a large orange)
• 1 tsp. orange peel zest
• 1 tsp. vanilla (gluten free)
• 2 Tbsp. raw cacao or dark chocolate chips
• 3 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• Dash of sea salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and blend well.
• In a separate bowl, combine rice milk, egg whites, orange juice, vanilla, and applesauce.
• Combine dry and wet ingredients; mix well.
• Spread mixture evenly onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake until edges are crispy and brown.
• Cut into bars.

Plant some new seeds into your diet and reap the health benefits.  If you are looking for an alternative to your ordinary bean and nut balls or perhaps looking for a way to get more nutrients in your diet, take a glance down the ‘seed’ aisle of your local market.  Unlike nuts, seeds are not common allergens- which is great news for those of you who suffer from food sensitivities.   Furthermore, seeds are packed with nutrients such as Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Last week, I was venturing through the aisles of Whole Foods Market when I stumbled upon the ‘seed’ section…suddenly, a tiny light bulb went off in my head and I began brainstorming seed recipe ideas…(yes, these are the crazy things that I do in the food store..and the reason that it takes me hours to get through one trip).  I whipped out my handy-dandy tiny note pad and started jotting down seed recipe ideas…Let’s just say you’ve gotta lotta seed recipes coming your way because I literally bought five different types of seeds because I simply couldn’t decide on one.  Plus, it’s more fun when you have five fun seeds to choose from in the pantry instead of one lousy option, right? Well, that was my thought…I had created eleven recipes right there in the seed aisle of Whole Foods Market…I finally had to move out of the way since I was ‘hogging’ the aisle amongst many rushed Manhattan folks.  Eleven recipes was enough, I thought, so I tossed the five different seeds into my cart and went on my way…Can you take a guess as to what the other four seeds are?  Well, you’ll see them soon enough…they’ll be popping up in my recipes within the next few weeks because I have ten more exciting seed recipes to share with you.  I hope you enjoy baking these delicious balls; let your imagination run wild and toss in a new grain or seed of your choice…let me know how your balls turn out!

This recipe can easily be made with sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and flax seeds.  I enjoy using sunflower seeds with these balls, however, your seed opportunities are endless- get creative and have fun. Many of us are familiar with the mild nutty taste of sunflower seeds, which make a great snack and can easily be tossed into salads, stir fries and baking recipes.  A handful of sunflower seeds will curb your hunger while supplying you with a healthy dose of vitamin E, selenium and magnesium. So, go ahead…have a ball in your kitchen and create these tasty balls for your dinner tonight!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2  cup rolled dry oats
• 2 cups water (to cook oats)
• 1 Tbsp. sea salt
• 1 cup brown rice, cooked
• 1 cup crispy whole grain cereal
• 1 cup bran crumbs
• 1 Tbsp. oregano
• 2 cups finely ground sunflower seeds
• 2 Tbsp. wheat-free tamari
• 1 tsp. spicy mustard
• Dash of cumin
• Dash of pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well until texture resembles cookie dough.
• Roll mixture into golf-ball sized balls and place on baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Serve with tomato sauce and vegan Parmesan cheese topping.
• Enjoy!

A big thank you to the kind folks over at The Lazy Baker for sending me a wonderful package of their delicious baking mixes.

The Lazy Baker’s mission is ‘To help individuals discover their inner baker through the art of lazy baking: a fun, simple and contemporary approach that doesn’t sacrifice quality, taste or your time.”

Each of The Lazy Baker mixes provide you with consistently tasty cookies in no time at all!  We are always looking for ways to streamline our days and make life ‘easier’ for us, so why not give yourself a break from your hectic schedule and try The Lazy Baker cookie mixes in your oven?  Instead of slaving in your kitchen for hours making homemade cookies, The Lazy Baker mixes take just minutes to prepare.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love my homemade cookies and I often take the time to make my very own homemade cookies, however, if you are short on time and the baking needs to get done…look no further than The Lazy Baker!

I assure you, they will not disappoint.  These cookies are perfect for a birthday dessert, bachelorette party, dinner party, children’s dessert… the opportunities are endless and the best part is that they taste homemade and not processed as many packaged baking brands do.

My clients and I were  lucky enough to sample The Lazy Baker’s delicious mixes:

Chocolate Chip

Oatmeal Cherry Raisin Spice

Double Chocolate Chip

Brown Sugar Pecan Shortbread

Coming soon….

Gingerbread Cookie Kit

and

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread!

After sampling these freshly baked, warm and gooey cookies, my clients and I had a hard time deciding which we liked the most…My choice: The Oatmeal Cherry Raisin Spice because it has such a unique flavor and I love the fiber from the oatmeal and antioxidants in the dried cherries and raisins….Yum.

Thank you again to The Lazy Baker for sending my clients and I a generous box of your easy to bake and tasty cookie mixes! We’re looking forward to your gingerbread and cranberry pistachio shortbread flavors!

Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy the delicious flavor and velvety texture of this root veggie.  Branch out from the traditional mashed potato side dish and enjoy this recipe atop a salad in lieu of dressing, as a dip for chips and pitas or as an accompaniment for sliced cold meats.

I am always searching for unique toppings and condiments… lately I have been using this tasty mash as a spread for burgers, wraps and sandwiches.  Not only is this recipe perfect for lunch and dinners, but it pairs perfectly with breakfast.  Use a dollop atop your oatmeal or spread a few tablespoons on a few slices of toast and drizzle with honey.

Ingredients

• Juice from 2 large oranges
• 1 Tbsp. orange zest
• 2 fresh plums, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. agave nectar
• 3 large sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup Greek plain yogurt
• 1/2 ripe avocado, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• Dash of star anise
• Dash of cinnamon
• Dash of nutmeg
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• Dash of Nu-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

• In a medium sized bowl, combine avocado, agave nectar, balsamic vinegar, Greek yogurt, juice from the orange, Nu-Salt and pepper.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until it forms a smooth consistency.  Slowly add in nutmeg, cinnamon, basil, and orange zest.  Continue to beat for 30 seconds until mixture is ‘whipped.’
• Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine plum and sweet potato chunks.  Slowly add in avocado mixture and mix well.  Transfer mixture to baking dish.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until completely cooked.
• Sprinkle with ground flax seeds.
• Enjoy!

How do you enjoy making sweet potatoes?

A delicious way to enjoy your morning oatmeal- keep in the fridge overnight and wake up to a surprise! This recipe is wonderful if you are short on time in the mornings since you can prepare it the evening before.

Ingredients (Prepare the night before, combine in a bowl and set in fridge overnight)

• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup (raw milk, soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, etc.)
• Cinnamon (to taste)

Directions (Prepare in the Morning)

Microwave for 3 minutes and add your desired toppings:

• Dry Nuts/ Seeds
• Organic Nut Butter (Cashew, Peanut, Almond, etc)
• Dried Fruits
• Fresh fruit
• Agave Nectar
• Honey
• Ground Flax Seed
• Wheat Germ
• Coconut
• Stevia
• Mashed Sweet Potato
• Canned Pumpkin
• Greek Yogurt
• Vanilla Extract
• Nutmeg
• Wheat Berries
• Granola
• Wheat Bran

Quick and Easy Oats.  It’s simply breakfast in a flash! What are your favorite quick go-to breakfast recipes?

These balls are a nice alternative to your classic meatballs…they’re packed with heart healthy rolled oats and pair well alongside pasta for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Rolled Oats
• 1/4 cup Greek plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup Vegan Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg white
• 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
• Nu-Salt/Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1/2 cup Kale (Steamed and chopped)
• 1/2 lb. ground (your choice of protein: turkey, chicken, bison, seitan, tempeh, tofu, etc.)
• 1 can Eden Organic Pasta Sauce
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/4 cup Pine Nuts (mashed)
• Chili Powder to taste

Directions

• Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Mix steel cut oats with warm water until oats form a nice consistency. Add steamed kale, Vegan Parmesan cheese, egg white, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, dried cranberries, chili powder, Nu-Salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Add in desired protein source; continue to mix well.
• Form mixture into balls and place into a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. 
• Bake until balls start to brown and have a crisp outer layer.
• Serve atop of whole wheat/gluten free pasta with more Vegan Parmesan Cheese and heated (in microwave or on stove top) Eden Organic Pasta Sauce.
• Enjoy!

Breakfast Doesn’t Always Have to be “The Traditional Meal”

  –Branch out and incorporate last nights left-overs into your morning dish!

Many of my clients come to me complaining of “No energy” or exhaustion and they cannot figure out why.  The first thing I ask is, “What do you usually eat for breakfast?” Unfortunately, this question is usually followed by a simple, “Umm, breakfast? I don’t have time for breakfast…I grab a coffee on my way to work and maybe a bagel if I have time.

Well, first off this is a huge problem.  Not only do many Americans wake up without eating breakfast, they wouldn’t have the first idea as to where to start in preparing this easy meal.  What many people do not know is that breakfast is the easiest meal to prepare…you don’t have to make yourself a huge omelet with fresh herbs and veggies, toast, and freshly sliced fruit…(Who really has time for that when you are running out the door for work?) There are numerous foods that can be quickly prepared and keep you satisfied until your mid morning snack or lunch time.  Who said breakfast has to consist of breakfast foods?  For instance, use left over items such as beans and grains from dinner the night before.  Easy to prepare items such as oatmeal, wheat berries, pilaf, brown rice, grits, cream of wheat, risotto, barley, polenta, Chinese rice porridge (Congee), the opportunities are endless.  You can top these simple dishes with a sweet or savory mixture.  For instance, some may prefer beans (chickpeas are my favorite), cheese, nuts, coconut, all natural peanut butter,  fresh fruit, cinnamon, canned pumpkin, sweet potato, dried fruits, all natural honey and seeds.  These dishes can simply be prepared overnight and placed in your refrigerator until the morning where you can add a touch of your choice of water, raw milk, soy milk, hemp milk, silken tofu or rice milk.  These will ensure a perfect consistency.  You can also use your slow-cooker to prepare these grains in large quantities and store in your fridge for every morning of the week ahead.

Take advantage of these unique breakfast ideas…branch out and don’t be scared to try sweet on Monday and savory on Tuesday…let yourself get creative and most importantly have fun.  Try to plan the week’s dinners on Sunday night and make sure to cook a large batch of your grains at night so you can be sure to have left-overs for your morning breakfast.  You can even combine left over grains in the morning with some freshly made rolled oats to get a unique consistency in your dish.  Moreover, these breakfast grains are incredibly easy to transport  to work in a Tupperware with all of your fixings added on top…when you get to work mix in your favorite nuts  and fruit for an added sweet burst of flavor and crunch!

As noted in my previous post on Whole Grains (see Whole Grain post), benefits of whole grains include reduced risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, better weight maintenance, reduced risk of asthma, healthier carotid arteries, healthier blood pressure levels, lower risk of colorectal cancer, reduction of inflammatory disease risk, and less gum disease and tooth loss.  Whew…if that list doesn’t make you want to include whole grains into your first meal of the day, then I don’t know what will….Give it a try…be adventurous!!!

Here are a few ideas to get you started.  Mix and Match the following toppings with the following grains.

Grains

• Steel Cut Oats
• Porridge
• Brown Rice
• Millet
• Buckwheat
• Wheat Berries
• Amaranth
• Hulled Barley
• Cornmeal
• Quinoa
• Rye
• Sorghum (Also known as Milo)
• Teff
• Triticale
• Wheat: Spelt, Emmer, Farro, Einkorn, Kamut, durum and forms such as bulgur, cracked wheat and wheat berries
• Wild Rice

Toppings of Choice

• All Natural Peanut Butter or Nut Butter of choice (Almond, Cashew, etc.)
• Egg Whites
• Raw Nuts
• Coconut
• Miso
• Nutritional Yeast
• Bee Pollen
• Lemon/Lime Zest or Fresh Juice
• Wheat Germ
• Granola
• Beans: Chickpeas
• Fresh Herbs
• Oat Bran
• Ground Flax Seed
• Cheese
• Vegetables: (Cooked or Left-overs from Stir-Fry)  tomatoes, spinach, onions, peppers, etc.
• Raw Honey
• Canned Pumpkin or Sweet Potato or Squash
• Cinnamon/Nutmeg/Coriander
• Dried Fruits
• Fresh Fruit
• Raw Milk, Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Rice Milk, Silken Tofu, Oat Milk, or Hemp Milk
• Greek Yogurt

Here are a few recipes to use to get you started…

Overnight Oats

1 1/2 cups whole grain (use a mixture from the below list or one). Use gluten-free if necessary.

1 tsp. salt (if desired)

4 cups water

Place in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn crock pot on HIGH.When crock pot is hot, pour grain, salt, and water inside.Cover immediately and reduce heat to low.  Cook overnight.

Note 1: If making your meal in the morning, you can simply use a rice cooker, or  your stove top sauce pan.

Oven Surprise

2 1/3 cups cooked rice

Add in any of the above toppings of your choice and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.   This is delicious with granola and fresh cut fruit.

Any takers? Share your thoughts and the concoctions that you have created for your morning breaking of the fast from the night before…believe me, your left overs will never have tasted better!  Enjoy!

We all know the feeling…it’s 3pm…your blood sugar is catapulting…you’re getting light headed…you need Something-but steer clear of the vending machine and try some of these great Go-To Snacks when you need a little pick me up …

• Cottage cheese and an apple sprinkled with cinnamon
• Butternut Squash Fries (see my recipe)
• Sweet Potato with Greek Yogurt or Cottage Cheese
• Low fat yogurt with berries and nuts mixed in
• Crisp bread with salsa and humus
• Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries, wheat germ, and flax seeds
• Cup of frozen grapes and 10 almonds
• Honey-Broiled Grapefruit with walnuts
• Crisp Bread with (or almond butter or cashew butter)
• Shrimp cocktail
• Agave drizzled Tofu
• Pickled Beets (Cooked Beets, Balsamic vinegar, scallion, salt)
• Eggplant chopped with Greek Yogurt and Mint
• Frozen Grapes
• Radishes with Greek Yogurt and Scallions
• Dried Figs
• Peanut Butter ontop of Celery with Flax Seeds sprinkled on top
• Whole Wheat English Muffin with melted cheese and tomato
• Fennel with Oil and Lemon
• Dried Fruit and Nuts
• Air popped Pop Corn
• Brown Rice Cakes with Agave Nectar
• Steamed Veggies and Guacamole
• Baked Sweet Potato with Vegan Grated Cheese and Greek Yogurt
• Nori and hummus
• Brown Rice Cakes and Nut Butter (Almond/Cashew/etc.)
• Radicchio, Peanut and Raisin Salad
• Bell Pepper with Cottage Cheese
• Ham-Wrapped Cantaloupe
• Deviled Egg (Made with Veganaise or Greek Yogurt)
• Grape Tomatoes and Chickpeas
• Greek Yogurt with Prune Butter
• Dried Apricots and Pumpkin Seeds
• Light Popcorn (use coconut oil to pop in a covered pan)
• 2 Large Bavarian Hard Pretzels with hummus
• Wheatgrass
• Sprouted Date Bread with Jam
• Organic Dark Chocolate Chips or Carob Chips
• Olives
• Pickled Vegetables: Pickles, Daikon, Beets, Lotus Root
• Tabouli and Hummus with Whole Wheat Bread
• Oysters
• Sardines
• Steamed vegetables with Tamari/Shoyu or Umeboshi Vinegar
• Whole Grain Tortilla Chips and salsa/guacamole
• Sauerkraut
• Organic Cheese
• Rice Pudding
• Pureed Soups
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Coconut Milk
• Puddings made with Silken Tofu, Avocado or Mashed Banana
• Almonds and Dark Chocolate
• Agave Nectar, Sunflower Seeds, Peanut Butter on Bran Cracker
• Fresh Fruit with Greek Yogurt
• Roasted Cauliflower with chili powder and hummus
• Cup of steamed veggies with Parmesan cheese
• Cantaloupe with cottage cheese and soy nuts
• Slice of whole grain bread with humus
• Pureed vegetable soup
• Handful of nuts
• Poached egg with tomato and whole wheat toast
• Humus and organic fresh pita wedges
• Banana and Greek yogurt mixed with honey
• 1/2 cup rice porridge with nuts
• Apple with 2 Tbs. organic peanut butter
• 15 Almonds- Dry roasted/unsalted/sprinkle with cinnamon
• Banana with 2Tbs. organic peanut butter
• 1/4 cup steal cut oats made with warm water or soy milk
• 1 String cheese with bran crackers
• 1/2 cup Trail mix
• Smoothie: Ice, Banana, Soy Milk, add any nuts/fruits/veggies of your choice
• Dried Fruit
• Serving of edamame
• 1 toasted Organic English muffin with 1 Tbs. nut butter
• Oatmeal Pancake: Rolled Oats, canned pumpkin, egg whites (mix together and put into microwave), top with Greek Yogurt and almonds.