3.31.2012

Tabbouleh Salad




I love the simplicity of a basic tabbouleh, especially with some hummus and fresh pita, but as I continue on my quest to fill my arsenal with fresh tasting whole grain salads I wanted to come up with something that could stand alone. This is nothing more than a dressed up tabbouleh, great as a side dish yet also good enough to stand alone as a meal.





3.24.2012

Healthy Granola Bars





These granola bars are soft and chewy. They're not your typical sugary treat, but they make a good snack. I have a feeling kids would gobble these down without so much as a clue that they're a healthy snack.






Basic Hummus







This is basic hummus. Simple. Good. Food.








Sriracha Garlic Hummus






I'm a slave to the hummus. It's the truth. One of my favorite meals to take to work is a bunch of chopped up vegetables with whatever hummus we have around for dipping. It's light and fresh, and since I work nights it's important my dinner doesn't bog me down and put me into an unwanted food coma. If you know me, you know I love spicy food so it was only a matter or time before this concoction made it's way into my life. Now I'm in love. This will always have a place on hummus making day.






Kalamata Hummus








My husband is a fiend for olives. While I was on a recent hummus making mission he requested a Kalamata Hummus, and this is it, flavorful without being overbearing.
I'll send him your thanks. 









Roasted Red Pepper Balsamic Hummus








We love the hummus. Seriously, when I buy a container it's gone in a day, two days max. I hate spending $5 or $6 on something I can make for a couple of dollars in ingredients so I'm writing off store bought hummus, with the exception of the rare, but very real, hummus emergency of course.









3.23.2012

One Month

Hello Whiskers!
It's been a month now that my family and I have been eating a 99% (we allow ourselves one cheat per week) plant based, whole foods, diet. Yes, this means vegan, but never fear, I promise not to spend my time preaching to you. Some pounds have been lost and we're enjoying the new foods we've been creating. I often feel like people don't want to hear about the "boring" meals we eat every day, but more and more I find my co-workers wondering what looks and smells so good. So, I'm going to start giving you what I've got. If there are things you love, let me know. If there are things you don't love, well.. suck it. Just kidding, let me know. I'd like to give you what you're looking for here.

3.18.2012

Zucchini Muffins






I love zucchini bread, so why not zucchini muffins? They're appropriately portioned and portable, what more can I ask for?! Well, if you were going to say they should also be moist, delicious, and full of flavor then we've hit the proverbial nail on the head.










3.12.2012

Chocolate Chips Ahoy!





For days I was craving something sweet and I just couldn't quite put my finger on what was going to satisfy. Of course it was sometime around 3am when I realized what it needed to be, and this was it. The picture is bad, but these cookies are awesome! They have great flavor and remain soft yet crisp. It's too bad they're gone, because I could really go for one right about now!










3.07.2012

Brown Rice Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing





I thought this would be another delightful cold salad I could keep in the refrigerator and pack for lunch several days in a row. Then I put it out onto the dinner table to see if I could get the family to try it. Well, let's just say this was a definite success in our new foray into a plant based whole foods diet. Most of it was gone the first night and what was left disappeared sometime in the early morning hours the following day. I'm not complaining.








Soy Ginger Dressing

This dressing is so awesome I put it on everything for a straight week and I'm still not tired of it!!

Sundried Tomato Polenta (Slow Cooker)






I certainly do love me some polenta. This is super easy and uses the slow cooker (a.k.a my new best kitchen friend) so I'm extra excited about it. I made this quite awhile ago so it's veggie, not vegan, I'll update you when I have a dairy free alternative.