Juice Cleanse Day #1 of hopefully 7!

Ok so I know I've been absent but my sister came to visit and we had a FANtastic time!

We ate out a lot (only at vegan places...ok I had sushi one night...sue me)

But it was really just an amazing perfect time!

Here are some pictures!

Sister's first step in the Pacific Ocean

My breakfast in Laguna Beach! Oats with soy milk, bananas, and a dried cherry and almond topping!

Lentil Burgers

Happy Friday (and Good Friday) to everyone!

I've been in a pretty awesome mood all day today :)

And I had my first Cardio Barre class today! It was so much fun and definitely a burn!

I'm gonna have to be doing more of these lately because I just went to the doctors and found out that I have piriformis syndrome and IT band syndrome...so I have to cut back on lifting and running :(

But my sister is coming in 3 days!

Ok ok I know...ADHD...the recipe..

Vegan "Beef" Stir Fry

Ah I've been so M.I.A lately! Super busy but i'm making money so that's good.

A tiny update on my life if anyones interested...I'll make it short and sweet (mmm sweet)

Ok sorry I get distracted...

A few things:

• I got an awesome new babysitting job that pays well and the parents not only need me to babysit but they want me to make sure the kids are more active and that they eat healthier...how perfect for me!

• My car got towed the other day because of unpaid parking tickets...I got help from my dad but had to pay about $700 that day to get everything taken care of. Lesson learned for sure.

• My sister is coming to visit in 6 days! I'm SO excited. I haven't had any family visit me since I moved here. I'm such a mom too because I have everything planned down to a T. From where we are going and how long we are staying there and of course healthy snacks packed for long days!

Ok that's about all I will bore you with :)

Now onto the reason you are even here...the recipe.

Cinnamon Kettlecorn Popcorn

Late night snacking...I'm the queen at that.

And a sweet tooth? 

Yes, why yes I cannot control it. I feed it when it needs to be fed because if not, it will attack with a vengeance later

Ok so this is another one of those simple recipe posts, but I just discovered a little secret that I'm such I'm not the first person to discover this, but here ya go.

To Die For Coconutty Coconut Cake

So you're probably wondering what that Panang Curry is doing in this post...

Well when I made this bread, I took it over to my friend Natalie's house for her birthday and we ordered out from the Vegan House in Hollywood.

And let me tell you...this was AMAZING. Both dishes that is.

Holy Moly! Cauliflower Vegan Mac and Cheese

So you're about to witness the tastiest recipe EVER.

Ok, like usual, I'm exaggerating a little...but this is so good

Too bad it isn't mine :'(

BUT I did make it my own by putting my own little twist on it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

AH Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!

Ok I'm turning into my mother with these cheesy internet pictures. Oh well :)

Ok so I'm super late with this post (and others which I'll hopefully be able to post later today)

But here's one that I put up on my instagram a little bit ago

They were SOOOOOOO GOOD. You should definitely give them a try.

Tofu Omelette

Oh my,

I've been waiting to try out a tofu omlette recipe after looking at a few online and after concocting my own this is what I can up with

And it was way better than expected!

Wild Rice & Avocado

Strange..yes, I do like strange things from time to time.

Sometimes I find myself putting together some really weird concoctions. 

Most of the time, I'll admit, they always turn out great...but there are definitely times when I just sit there...looking at the one and only bite I'll take and promptly erase that from my personal cook book.

This, was not one of them :)

Baked Apple Steel Cut Oats

This. Was....just..oh

Baked Apple Steel Cut Oats! A-MA-ZING

So my roommate lately has been watching me meal prep and eat clean and he REALLY wants to try it out..but baby steps, I must take with him (ok, Yoda)

Anyway, I made these for him, but not vegan because he obviously is not ready for THAT step yet.

But like I said, baby steps. So after I made it for him, it smelled so good and sounded like it was just fantastical (yes I made that a word) I just HAD to make it vegan!

Fruit Pizza Wrap

So as apart of @hellohealthy and @watch_me_shrink from Instagram's Make it Happen March post the other day which was to eat the rainbow (which all of you should be doing anyway!)

I decided to make a fruit pizza/wrap! And even use black and white colors :D

It was my first time making this and I kinda just winged it but the end result was super yummy!

Blackened Cajun Lime Tempeh

So I wanted to add tempeh to my salads for this week. But I obviously wanted them to have some flavaaa...and some spice!

I've never cooked tempeh before but I think it was pretty good first try :)

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oatmeal

As you can see from most of my posts...I have a sweet tooth.

Everything I make seems to be sweet :/

I promise I eat more veggies than it seems!

I'm going to try and post more of my lunches and dinners so you guys can believe me :)

But a las, here is another yummy, sweet (but healthy) recipe

Lemon Blackberry Cheesecake Bars

I AM SO EXCITED TO POST THIS

I used to make these bad boys at home for birthday parties and 4th of July get togethers and they always disappeared the first time I passed them around (Yes, when I make desserts for parties, I tend to like to carry them on a tray and pass them out, telling people what they are and asking them if they like them haha)

So I got the bright idea yesterday to try and make them healthy...and vegan of course!

Only thing is....I really need to stop baking. It's taking a toll on my body.

Ok so with less complaining and more deliciousness, let's get on to how to make this amazing creation.

Peanut Butter, Banana, & Jelly Challah French Toast.

Now that's a mouthful...well the name of the recipe AND this dish.

I had made some Vegan Challah bread for the first time last night and it was delicious  I'm not posting the recipe though because I still want to perfect it, it definitely could use some work.

But this I made for my roommate when I had a revelation and wanted to get rid of the challah because I couldn't stop eating!

So this is what I whipped up (My roommates love me :D)

Mean Green Smoothie...with PB

So on instagram (mine is lekiss_renee if you would like to follow) I joined into eatworkoutrepeat and watch_me_shrink 's makeithappenmarch photo challenge.

And today's first post is in celebration of National Peanut Butter Lover's Day!

I had something exciting planned but I have been running late all day (which I of course am now...I have work in an hour and haven't showered.)

But quickly I'll share what I made!

Mother's Market Grocery & Restauraunt... (AKA the greatest place on earth)

So on this blog, I plan to have some reviews...I guess you could call them...of different local whole food stores and vegan restaurants and then I'll post a bit about them and what not.

So what better place to start than with my first (and definitely not last) trip to Mother's Market in Costa Mesa!

Before I went perusing around the grocery part of the store, my friend and I visited the restaurant in the back, which was vegan.

And I had this:

It was a (my first) vegan burger made with high protein tempeh, vegenaise, tomatoes, bean sprouts, lettuce, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, and the most delicious guacamole I ever tasted. And a side of steamed veggies. That burger was in the top 5 burgers I've ever had. I canNOT wait to (at least try) and recreate this at home. Seems simple enough.

So NOW onto the grocery part of the place.

Almond Butter & Caramelized Banana Sandwich

I know, I know...I need to post something that doesn't contain bananas or nut butter....

Hopefully (and reluctantly) after this week, when I go meal prep shopping, I'll force myself to not buy PB or bananas....or maybe just less? 

Anyway, I don't usually eat bread that often. I try and stay away from carbs when I can...at least the bread kind :D

But since I had to carb up for a crazy glucose insulin test last week I had to buy a loaf of bread (which I have not done in months)

So since I do NOT waste food (thanks, mother) I did not want to just toss the bread! I decided to use it.

Peas and Squash

So you want to eat more veggies now, do ya?

Well I have a solution....or at least another way to add them to your diet!

Simple, yet delicious idea and I really like the combo

The colors! Love em'!

Ok, so I know it sounds like something your mom had to force feed you when you were a kid, but come on! We are adults now (or at least we are trying to act like it)

Our taste buds have expanded past the chicken fingers and PB&J sandwich horizon!

Onward now! To the veggies!

Simple Peas and Squash Bowl:

8oz (1 cup) frozen peas

1/2 yellow squash, thinly sliced

1 tbsp oil (I used safflower)

red pepper flakes

turmeric

black pepper

sea salt

garlic powder

cooking spray (I use Spectrum's Coconut Oil Spray) I found it at Ralph's and I use it ALL the time

1. Cook frozen peas according to bag

2. While the peas are cooking take the sliced squash and toss into a bowl with the oil and seasoning and coat evenly

3. In medium skillet, spray with cooking spray, lay the squash down and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, flipping until both sides are cooked and the squash becomes soft.

                                           

4. After both the peas and squash are done, toss them both together and enjoy!

Strawberry Pistachio Vegan "Chicken" Salad with Maple Coconut PoppyseedDressing

Oh this is DEFINITELY a favorite...

And the dressing is to DIE for.