Happy 4th (kinda 5th) Birthday Healthy Voyager!

It's that time of year again - birthday time!  I'm taking a little break this week to celebrate a few anniversaries that all occur this wonderful Spring month of April. First, the 4th (kind of 5th) anniversary of Healthy Voyager. 4th since I began to develop and pitch the show in '05 but 4th since the blog & web show launched.  Next, this April marks my 11th "vegan-iversary". Time has flown and I've loved every moment of my time as a plant eater! And last, but not least, I re-launched  Healthy Voyager Radio this month since my holiday and wedding hiatus ; )  I'm in the throws of a website re-design as well as neck deep in a bunch of new exciting projects coming soon under the Healthy Voyager brand.

So I thank you for "voyaging" with me all of these years and may the next 5 be just as, if not even more, adventurous!

Great New Healthy Living Products & Foods from Expo West 2010!

Natural Products Expo West weekend is virtually like Christmas for a foodie & healthy product junkie like me!  The expo is so big that it really does take about 3 full days to check out every booth.   There is a natural, healthy and/or green product for virtually everything you can think of. Tons of great product launches, new companies and even old favorites.  I get to taste and try lots of incredible goodies but only a few (out of the thousands of products there) make my highlights list. It's a tough gig, but someone's got to do it ; )  Here are some of the products that rocked my world, products that you should be looking out for soon! In no particular order:

Food & Beverage

Daiya Cheese Retail Package - I've raved about them for the last year and now, this phenomenal, allergen free, vegan cheese will be available nationwide for consumers! Finally, a retail package of the yummiest, meltiest cheese around ; )

Tofurky Vegan Pizza -Yep, you heard right! Tofurky is launching it's frozen vegan pizza line, featuring none other than Daiya cheese! A plain cheese option as well as "The Works" (veggies and Tofurky sausage) will be available in natural food retailer freezers very soon. be on the look out because they are dang good!

Gardein Meals - Here is another one of my faves adding to their already awesome line. The people who brought you vegan Beef Tips and vegan Chicken Scallopini have now come out with complete meals. Each meal comes as a trio of chicken or beef, rice & veggies. Look for the Thai trio, Burgundy trio or Sicilian trio. No excuses anymore for a quick and healthy dinner that tastes great! Also check out their new Crispy Mandarin Chicken!

Amy's Kitchen Vegan Mac & Cheese w/Daiya Cheese -Hands down, one of the best mac n' cheese dishes around. Not only is their new recipe gluten free, it features Daiya cheese (of course) for the creamiest, cheesiest, mac n' cheese jubilee ever. A must for kids and adults of all ages ; )

So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt - Growing up, I loved yogurt and when I became vegan 11 years ago, I never found a vegan yogurt that knocked my socks off. But now I have.  This coconut milk yogurt is so light and flavorful, it really does feel sinful! In plain, vanilla, blueberry, and passionate mango, your snack time will once again be a happy time. Soy free and an excellent source of B12, you can't go wrong.

Tempt Ice Cream - I love vegan ice cream and it's gotten so much better over the years. So much so that Tempt made me think twice about what I had just eaten! My choice of chocolate biscotti was so creamy, I thought for sure I had been duped! But no, not only is it vegan, this hemp ice cream is pretty much allergen free!


Field Roast Meatloaf -  Grazing is what you prep for at Expo West. And grazing was what I did at the Field Roast booth. I sampled their insanely delicious vegan sausages well more then once and probably downed and entire vegan meatloaf, new to their tasty line.  I also sampled a phenomenal vegan cheese and am hoping to get it down in LA as for now, it is a specialty food item available in the Seattle area only. Do yourself a favor and stock up on some Field Roast grain meats!

Organic Mashups by Revolution Foods - Talk about traveling healthy, Revolution Foods has it nailed! Offering snack items for healthy on the go and school time snacks, their organic mashups are the perfect choice for youngsters. Guilt free, nutritional snacking that is convenient and fun? Yes please!

Picabi - As you can imagine, walking around a gargantuan convention hall and chatting for hours can render you quite thirsty.  I had plenty of water and other tasty beverages but my unquenchable thirst was instantly refreshed with a swig of Apple Picabi. 100% sparkling apple juice, Picabi uses the entire apple, including the rind, so that 1 an the nutritional equivalent to eating 8 apples. And it's super thirst quenching too! Coming soon to a store near you ; )

Magic Pop - This booth drew me in with their neat popping machine. What I first thought to be a popcorn maker was actually a disc popper. In the popping dish they add brown rice, wheat and corn, top it and pop it! Out pops a light as air, Frisbee sized snack with virtually no calories. A great alternative to chips, this is a wholesome way to dip - so ditch the chip!

Carrot Cake Rice Divine Ice Cream - I would say this is one of the most innovative vegan ice creams I have had in a while. Vegan or not, I had never had carrot cake ice cream before I tried Rice Divine at Expo. OMG! Not only is it soy free, it's gluten free AND has chunks of carrot cake in the creamy goodness. This organic, frozen bit of heaven is a must have in your freezer!

Sweet Leaf Tea - I'm a sucker for a good Arnold Palmer but not so much for chemicals, preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. Lucky for me Sweet Leaf Tea makes an all natural version of it called Half & Half! Until now, you could only find these tasty libations at natural markets. But soon you will be able to find canned Sweet Leaf Tea at convenience stores nation wide. That is great news for a road tripper like me who had a lack of healthy beverage options before Sweet Leaf came along and took over the rest stop fridge!

Chocolatl - Who knew raw cacao superfood energy could be so tasty! Chocolatl offers three varieties of raw, fair-trade chocolates. Each cacao square is an energizing snack between meals or an after dinner delicacy. With flavors like Goji-Maca, Cordyceps-Maca, Mystic Mint & Chocolate Maca Sauce, you just might die by raw chocolate ; )

Pure Bars - With their rockin' new packaging and yummalicious flavors, I really like the light yet satisfying snackability of Pure! Raw, vegan and certified organic - it's the smart way to snack.

Health, Beauty & Lifestyle

Diva Cup - For all of my male readers, go ahead and skip to the next listing ; )  For the ladies, read up!  For health reasons, we really shouldn't be using tampons but pads feel like we're still potty training.  Enter the Diva Cup! An eco-friendly, cost effective and healthy alternative to it all. This non-leaching, chemical free, silicon menstrual cup.  Check out their site, throw out the rest of your feminine products and get one today!

Life Factory Bottles -For some time, I have been singing the praises of glass bottles. Over bpa-free, over aluminum, glass is king for all sorts of food and beverage storage.  Life Factory ahs a great line of baby bottles, silicin teaching rings and wide mouthed beverage bottles for adults. They are large but lightweight and come with a great silicon grip cover so you don't drop your precious drink!

Better Life Floor Cleaner - I'm sure we can all agree that mopping is a pain. Filling the pail with cleaning solution and water, mopping, rinsing the pail, mopping with water, repeat. Or worse, swiffering ourselves into a giant landfill.  Better Life floor cleaning product, Simply Floored, not only takes all the steps out of the equation, but it's also all-natural.  All you need to do is squirt and mop with this essential oil rich solution and voila, sparkling floors!

Kids Konserve Ware - Sure, it's called "Kids Konserve" but this product line is great for all ages.  Eco friendly and super convenient, this line is great for sack lunches, road trips and even food prep. They've got everything from thermoses to eco-snack wrappy things called the Kozy.  Start stocking up for road trip season and get extras for back-to-school!

Feelgoodz Flip Flops - I was drawn to this booth because I dug the story behind the brand. A kid goes backpacking in Thailand, breaks his flip flops, gets a new pair at a market, loves the new pair, finds out it's natural rubber that comes from that region and brings the line to the states. Since then, he's grown his brand and hasn't forgotten the people and the land that helped him get here. Feelgoodz starts in Thailand, and their areas of focus are Environmentalism (Planet), Fair Trade (People), and Community Development/Micro-Finance (Phitsanulok, Thailand). The y feel good on your feet and you feel good giving back. Rock a pair this summer ; )

Acai Energy Chews by ToGoBrands - If you've followed me for a while, you know I'm a big fan of To Go Brands. Their Go Greens powders join me on every trip I have been on since I discovered the company at Expo West last year.  Their new Acai chews are a great alternative to candy with all the sweet taste but full of B vitamins and natural energy boosters. Toss these in your bag and when you need something sweet, go for a To Go Brands treat ; )

Booda Organics -This booth caight my eye cause I love me some buddha cartoons and Booda Organics has a cute one as their logo ; ) In addition to their cute marketing, I really enjoyed their vegan products. Their yummy booda butter and booda balm is a nice addition to your beauty regimen because it's full of good stuff for your body!

I could go on for ages but I figured I would just share a few of my faves. Be sure to look out for more Expo product recommendations in upcoming posts .This year's expo was a lot of fun and I'm already excited for next year!!

Spring Flings - Easter & Passover Tips & Treats!

The flowers are blooming, the hill sides are green, the air is fresh - Spring has sprung! And with spring comes friend and family gatherings, Passover chocolates and Easter bunny treats ; ) As per usual, you can find past year eco tips & healthy recipes by checking the 2008 & 2009 postings. There you will find lots to add to this year's menu along with the goodies & tips I'll be sharing below ; ) You ready? Let's "hop" to it!

If you are looking for some new goodies & candies that are eco, vegan, healthy and/or fair trade, I've found some new ones this year like:

• Try goodies from The Natural Candy Store - gummies, eggies & chocolate for all ages & special diets
• You can never go wrong with cookies, brownies, fudge, coffees & chocolates from Allison's Gourmet. Single orders as well as delicious gift baskets ; )
• Looking for raw treats? How about Living Chocolate!
• Skip the candy and give creative gifts this year. Re-use a basket by covering it in left over, festive fabric. Fill basket with paints and crayons, small sketch books, stickers and blank t-shirts or socks to personalize. Add some seed packets and celebrate spring with a new garden!

In addition to goodies to give as gifts, for baskets or to have at your festivities, here are a few recipes that will put some "Spring" in your step : ):


Hot Cross Buns
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp allspice
1 T sugar
1.1 lb raisins
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/3 cup warm water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Vegan butter
Powdered sugar

Put flour, salt, allspice, 1 T sugar and raisins in a bowl. Leave in a warm place.
Mix yeast, 1 tsp sugar and water. Leave yeast mixture to rise. Stir yeast mixture into flour mixture. Knead, roll into buns and leave in a warm place to rise. Bake 10-15 minutes at 425F/220C.  Brush cooling buns with butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.


Spring Jubilee Juice

1 (48-ounce) bottle cranberry juice, chilled
1 (32-ounce) bottle apple juice, chilled
1 (6-ounce) cans frozen limeade concentrate, thawed and undiluted
1/4 cup lime juice
3/4 to 1 cup of organic vodka (optional)
Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients, stirring well; serve over crushed ice.


Chickpea Cakes With Beet Horseradish Salad

Cakes:
2 large shallots
2 T olive oil
Dried thyme
Red pepper flakes
1 15oz can chickpeas
1/4 tsp lemon zest
Salt & pepper to taste
Coconut oil

Sauté the finely minced shallots in 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a pinch of dried thyme and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Add the rinsed chickpeas, cover and simmer until just heated through. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Add freshly grated lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Mash the peas with a potato masher and form into 1/4-cup mini-footballs. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. cover the bottom of a hot frying pan or skillet with coconut oil. Add the cakes in and lightly brown on each side.

Beet Salad:
2 1/2 pounds beets without their greens trimmed, leaving 2 inches of the stem ends intact
1/2 cup finely grated peeled fresh horseradish or 1/3 cup drained bottled horseradish
2 T sugar
2 T wine vinegar
3 T water

In a kettle cover the beets by 2 inches with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, and simmer the beets, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain the beets and under cold water slip off and discard the skins and stems. Cut the beets into wedges, in a bowl combine them well with the horseradish, the sugar, the vinegar, the water, and salt and pepper to taste, and let them marinate, covered and chilled, for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days.

Serves chickpea cakes with a few spoonfuls of beet salad. Enjoy!


Grilled Veggie Pesto Matzah (or Pasta) Lasagna

2 boxes of matzah (substitute cooked lasagna noodles if you so choose)
13"x9"x2" baking dish
1 package of firm tofu, crumbled (seasoned with Italian seasoning, salt & pepper)
4 cups pesto (I like Le Grand Maison Brand, it is vegan an convenient)
olive oil
1/4 c. chopped garlic
2 bags of prewashed baby spinach
4 Asian eggplants
4 zucchinis
2 yellow bell peppers
3 large portobello mushroom caps or 6 shiitakes
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Slice eggplant in half lengthwise, lay skin side own on paper towels and sprinkle salt on top. Let sit for a half hour. Cut squash in half lengthwise and along with the mushrooms, place into a large Ziploc freezer bag. About a half hour before cooking, press water out of the eggplant. Marinate eggplants, squash, yellow peppers & mushrooms in balsamic vinegar for about a half hour directly in the ziploc bag.

Preheat oven to 350. Grill the eggplant, squash, & mushrooms. Allow to cool slightly.

In a skillet, sauté spinach in olive oil with chopped garlic. Cut eggplant, squash, & mushrooms into bite size pieces.

Cover the bottom of the baking dish with 1 cup of the pesto. Add one layer of moistened matzah (run under water). Layer half the grilled vegetables, 2/3 cup of the pesto sauce and 1/4 of the crumbled tofu mixture in dish. Repeat layers twice, the second time using the spinach as your vegetable, and the third time using the rest of the grilled vegetables. Cover with a final layer of moistened matzah, brush to coat with olive oil and add about 2/3 cup of pesto sauce on top.

Bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil & serve with additional pesto or tomato sauce if desired.

Death By Chocolate Toffee Matzoh

4 to 6 sheets unsalted matzohs
1 cup unsalted vegan butter
1 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
big pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

Line a rimmed baking sheet completely with foil, making sure the foil goes up and over the edges. Cover the foil with a sheet of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Line the bottom of the sheet with matzoh, breaking extra pieces as necessary to fill in any spaces.

In a 3-4 quart heavy duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the butter is melted and the mixture is beginning to boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add the salt and vanilla, and pour over matzoh, spreading with a heatproof spatula. Put the pan in the oven and reduce the heat to 350F (175C) degrees. Bake for 15 minutes. As it bakes, it will bubble up but make sure it's not burning every once in a while. If it is in spots, remove from oven and reduce the heat to 325F (160C), then replace the pan. Remove from oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes, then spread with an offset spatula. Let cool completely, the break into pieces and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

I hope that you enjoy these, as well as past, recipes, tips & treats this festive Spring holiday!! A very happy Pesach & Easter to you all!

Serving up a Healthy St. Patrick's Day

A few years after starting the Healthy Voyager blog, I decided to share more then just my travel tips and began to share holiday ideas and recipes.  I've made it a point to cover most of the biggies and fun ones and St. Patrick's Day always makes the cut ; )  This year is no different! I'm collected a few recipes to help you feel luck, as well as a bit healthier, this coming day of clover, green & liquor overload. In addition, you can find some more eco tips & fun recipes from past posts here: click here for 2008 and click here for 2009 ; ) This year, the recipes will not only be Irish themed, but will help prevent or help hangovers while keeping you healthy, slim & trim!

• Start your morning with these:

IRISH SCONES

1 cup white flour
1/4 pound vegan butter -- softened
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg replacer
2 ounces sugar
2 ounces white raisins
Walnut halves (optional)

Mix flour and baking powder. Add butter, and blend until the mixture is butter-colored. Add sugar and continue to mix well. Add half the egg replacer and all the milk. Add raisins or some nuts, if desired, mixing well to make a sticky dough. Turn dough onto floured board and knead for at least 5 minutes or longer. Cut dough into rounds and place on greased baking sheet or hot frying pan. Brush tops of scones with remainder of the egg replacer. Place walnut halves on top, if desired. Bake at 350 to 375 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until brown. If preparing over an open fire, heat frying pan till very hot . Place scones in pan and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Turn and cook for another 7 to 8 minutes.  

• To chow on before your big night out so that you fill up on some tasty starches. Starches slow down alcohol absorption ; ) This is also good to fight off your bludgeoning headache the morning after!

IRISH POTATO SOUP

9 potatoes, peeled and diced
6 stalks of celery, sliced
4 large carrots, sliced
2 small onions, chopped
3 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
3 better then chicken bullion cubes (or any vegan chicken bullion brand you like), dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water
6 cups unsweetened soymilk
1/2 cup flour
1 stick of vegan butter

Combine the potatoes, celery, carrots, onion, water, and seasonings in a large pan. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Combine a small amount of milk and flour until smooth. Add this mixture and the rest of milk to the potato mixture. Stir in the butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until the soup thickens.

• For a sweet treat at your festivities or to bring to a party. Again, the potatoes help with alcohol absorption.

ST. PATRICK'S POTATO AND APPLE PUDDING

2 T vegan butter
8 oz self-raising flour
6 oz freshly mashed potatoes
4 T soymilk
5 medium cooking apples
Brown sugar
Whole cloves
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 T Cider

Mix the butter into the hot mashed potatoes, add a good pinch of salt, and the flour, and mix well, then add enough milk to make a soft, slack dough. Roll out and line a 1-qt bowl with some of it, reserving enough for the lid. Fill with the apples, peeled and cored and finely sliced, and sweeten to taste with sugar. Add 2 whole cloves, the lemon juice and the cider (or water), taking care not to make it too wet. Dampen the pastry edges, lay the lid on and press down. Cover with foil and secure well. Steam, or cook set in boiling water up to the rim, for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Serve cut in wedges with vegan whipped cream and/or vegan ice cream.  

• Have a nice cup of Milk Thistle Tea with your meal as it will aid in your liver's ability to process alcohol better ; )

• For the morning after, to replace electrolytes & rehydrate ; )

HOMEMADE GATORADE

2 QTs filtered water

1/2 cup Orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

Mix all the ingredients together and serve chilled.

• Have some Ginger Root Tea, bananas & saltines handy for upset tummies.

Be sure to check out last year's posts for more health & greening your holiday tips as well as heaps more St. Patrick's Day recipes.  Have a very happy and healthy celebration!!

Great Finds at Go Green Expo 2010!

I really enjoy attending all sorts of expos from health to adventure, fashion to food, as there is so much to learn, try & see! I was excited to be in town for the Go Green Expo, 1 of many they have year round in major cities around the U.S. The one here in LA is the largest green expo in the area so I did my very best to squeeze in all it had to offer in 1 day.  I've decided to share my top finds from this year's expo, so with no further a due, here they are!:

• Eco Panda Swim Suits - Not only are these swimsuits stylish, cute & comfy, they are 100% eco! Made from recycled nylon from fish nets, these suits for all shapes & sizes are sure to please the wearers as well as the lookers ; ) They also carry cute cover-ups, bags that tuen into your beach towel and other cute beachy accessories. Visit them & shop at www.eco-panda.com.
• Sovereign Earth Water Bottles - Weather you're an adventure seeker or just a concerned mom, don't let the quality of you water keep you awake at night. Not when you have a Sovereign Earth Water Bottle! Each bottle is produced using only 100% recyclable, food grade materials - non-leaching and BPA-free. The Sovereign Earth water filter removes up to 99.99% of common contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, industrial and agricultural pollutants, and pharmaceuticals, leaving you with only the healthy vitamins and minerals naturally found in the water. Not your average water bottle and soon, medical grade filters will be available for those of you who are big time adventurers ; ) Buy 1 for everyone you know at www.sovereignearth.com.
• ReGreet Cards - Ever get a card that is so cute but you can't find it anywhere to gift it to someone on your list? Not in the mood to spend $4 for something that might just end up in the trash after the cake is all but gone? Well ReGreet has found a way to help both scenarios while also helping the environment!  Greeting card kits are sold so that you are able to re-use greeting cards while offering the same choice to your giftee if they choose to "ReGreet".  Check out their innovative, eco & money saving kits at www.regreet.com.
• People Towels - How frustrating when you've washed your hands in a public restroom and there are no paper towels or even so much as a hand dryer? Fret no more with People Towels? These colorful hand towels fold up nicely and come with their own little case that can fit snug in your pocket or purse so that you are drippy no more ; ) Clean & green! Pick out your People Towel today at www.peopletowels.com.
• OrganicKidz Bottles - I don't have kids yet but I loved this product line. These bottles are not only eco-friendl and super healthy (BPA free, etc), but they grow with your baby! Use a baby bottle nipple, a sippy cup top and then on to sports bottle top - all with the same bottle.  And if you need to measure anything like formula, cut juice with water, etc, the top is a measuring cup as well. I thought this was really innovative and I know what will be at the top of my registry once I'm preggers ; ) See what I'm raving about at www.organickidz.ca.
• Bayes Waterless Car Wash Soap - Not only will you save time with this product, you will save money & conserve water! No more rinsing, soaping, rinsing again & toweling off your 4-wheeled baby. Nope! Just 1 step saves you gallons of water & oodles of time. Keep your car sparkling clean and your conscience green with Bayes Waterless. Find this and other Bayes natural cleaning products at www.bayescleaners.com.
• Glee Gum - I grew up with Chiclets, Bubble Yum, Chewels, Big League Chew & the fruity one with the zebra ; ) By far, Chiclets were my fave and Glee Gum brings that back in an all natural way. No chemicals, artificial flavors or sweeteners, Glee is the best way to chew. Check out their flavors and other products at www.gleegum.com.
• Froobi Non-Stick Pan -Yep, a healthy & eco non-stick pan!! It's not Teflon or some other toxic material. The secret is that it's ceramic!  Healthy, even cooking without the headaches of scrubbin' off stuck on food.  Yay!! Lots to check out at www.froobi.com
• Harnessed Humidity - Ok, so it might be a little pricey but I like the idea. This water dispenser doesn't need a jug or a hook up to a tap. It just needs a little air! Taking the humidity from the air, this device harnesses water, filters it and dispenses great tasting H2O in minutes! Cold, hot or room temp, I was razzle dazzled. See how neat this machine is at www.harnessedhumidity.com.
• Fresh Snack Pack - I really like this next product for its simplicity. Wrap up your sandwiches in this reusable, BPA-free, non-leaching pouch and use it as a mat to enjoy your food on when it's chow time. Easy to wrap up, simple to eat on and a cinch to clean, save money & the environment with www.freshsnackpack.com.
• Go Green Oil Filter - Besides computer and cell phone trouble, car trouble takes the cake. Save money and frustration while saving the earth with the Go Green Oil Filter. GoGreen oil filters are reusable and have zero landfill impact. The earth-friendly GoGreen oil filter reclaims 100% of the oil in the filter, allowing you to recycle all the waste oil. Get one asap at www.gogreenoilfilter.com.
• SorbentGreen - Oil spill? No problem. Hazardous waste? No problem. Blood? Yep, no problem. GreenSorb is a phenomenal product for medical offices, mechanic shops, and even your home.  The patented materials are 100% eco friendly and toxin free. So much so that no matter what it absorbs, it renders it non-toxic. Oh yeah, that makes it much easier to dispose of as well ; ) See the demo at www.sorbentgreen.com.
• OmGym - Fun, portable fitness, all in one cool pouch. Work out, stretch or just have some healthy fun withe the OmGym. Use it at home or on the go! View all the ways you can use your OmGym at www.omgym.com.

My next Expo coverage will be from The Natural Product Expo West so be sure to check back for a ton of great healthy & eco food, health, beauty, home, lifestyle products & more in just a few weeks!!

March Madness Giveaway!

Spring cleaning isn't just for your closets & junk drawers anymore ; )  Spring time is a great time to get your diet on par with the season and get you healthy & vibrant in time for swim suit season.  One great way to get started is by cooking healthy meals with healthy cookware. It's time to get rid of that toxic, non-stick stuff and move toward ceramic or stainless steel.  And to get things started, I'm going to be giving away a brand new Emerilware Pro-Clad 8" Frying/Saute Pan to one very lucky reader!

Between today and next Wednesday, March 10th at 5pm PST, you can enter for your chance to start Spring Cleaning your kitchen and your diet!  How can I win this awesome pan, you ask? It's easy! Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment on this post with the first thing you would cook with this pan ; ). Please include an email address, so I can reach you if you win.  A random winner will be chosen by www.random.org and notified shortly after the contest has been closed. Be sure to also check out what else www.cookware.com has to offer while you're there!! In addition, if you're looking to spruce & eco up your kids bedding, their sister site offers some great eco bedding, toys, furniture & lamps ; )

Good luck!!

A Very Yummy Valentine's Day

Yep, we have arrived once again to the day of hugs, kisses, chocolate and all around romance. For some this is a nauseating and even infuriating Hallmark holiday while others live for the hearts filled with sweets & gestures of love. Either way, in year's past I have illustrated ways to make your accompanied, as well as unaccompanied, Valentine's day a healthy and eco hit.  You can check out past tips & recipes right here and here ; )

But for a few quick eco &/or healthy gift ideas, check out the Valentine's Gift Guide at EcoStiletto.com as well as some of these unique goodies:

• Thrive Fitness by Brendan Brazier - Show the one you love that you want them around for a long time! The book just came out & is a great idea for the one you love.The couple who works out together, stays together!
• Eco-Panda Swimsuit - A great bikini for the upcoming swim season will be a sure hit for the lady in your life. And she'll love you for finding a cute, sexy & super eco-friendly suit ; )
• Sovereign Earth Water Bottles - For the adventurous sweetheart in your life, this is the perfect thing. These bottles are not only healthy  & eco (no bpa, no plastic, no leaching) but they have built in filters that can save you from harmful chemicals, bacteria and more. Take this baby camping, hiking wherever, and your water supply will always be pure & drinkable. Keeping your honey safe is just another way to say I Love You ; )

This year I'm getting right to the recipes because some may choose to drown themselves in indulgent food, alone, until the morning of the 15th while others might want to share it. Either way, no sense in blowing your New Year's resolutions whether you're happy or sad, so at least enjoy yumminess with these healthier than usual V-Day treats!:

Passionate Pomegranate
6 ounces organic vodka (remove for a non-alcoholic beverage)
2 ounces seltzer
4 ounces Triple Sec (remove for a non-alcoholic beverage)
4 ounces pomegranate juice
2 lemons, juiced
1 pomegranate, seeded

Combine vodka, seltzer, Triple Sec, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker over ice; shake. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass; garnish with pomegranate seeds.

My Heart "Beets" For You Salad
1 bunch of beets (4-5), leaves removed
2 large navel oranges, peeled and sliced
1 bunch of arugula leaves, cleaned, and stems removed
Sliced red onion
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Dressing
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
(mix all the ingredients in a glass container)

Salad Prep
Cook the beets with their peel on. Cover the beets with water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes or until beets can easily be pierced through with a fork.  After cooking, allow the beets to come to room temperature and remove their peels and then slice them. Place them in a small bowl and marinate them in half of the dressing recipe above. On individual salad plates place the arugula, a few slices of orange, a few beets, a few slices of red onion and some chopped walnuts. Sprinkle dressing over the individual salads.

Sweetie "Shepherd's" Pie
1 T olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 large carrots
2 T thyme chopped
1 cup red wine
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
2 vegetable stock boulion cubes
1 16 oz can green lentils
4 cups sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into chunks
2 T vegan butter
1/3 cup vegan cheddar cheese, grated

Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the onion until golden. Add the carrots and all but a sprinkling of thyme. Pour in the wine, 3/4 cups of water and the tomatoes, then sprinkle in the stock cubes and simmer for 10 mins. Tip in the can of lentils, including their juice, then cover and simmer for another 10 mins until the carrots still have a bit of bite and the lentils are pulpy. Meanwhile, boil the sweet potatoes for 15 mins until tender, drain well, then mash with the butter and season to taste. Pile the lentil mixture into a pie dish, spoon the mash on top, then sprinkle over the cheese and remaining thyme. The pie can now be covered and chilled for 2 days, or frozen for up to a month.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 20 mins if cooking right away, or for 40 mins from chilled, until golden and hot all the way through.

You Make Me Melt Molten Chocolate Cake
5 - 6 ounces dark chocolate
6 T vegan butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg replacers
1/2 cup flour
Vegan whipped or ice cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease four 4-ounce custard cups. In double boiler, melt chocolate and butter. Stir in sugar. In a small bowl, lighly beat egg the replacer. Add some chocolate mixture to eggs to temper eggs. Carefully, stir "egg" mixture into chocolate mixture. Add flour and combine completely. Add batter to custard cups. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Centers should be soft but sides should be done. Invert cups on individual serving plates. Remove cups after 2 minutes. Serve warm with whipped or ice cream.

Make it special no matter who you may be with - your sweetheart, your friends or yourself - after all, every day is what we make it & if we love ourselves first & foremost, then all the rest is gravy ; ) Happy Valentine's Day!!

Best of 2009

2009 was definitely the year of the Veg & Green lifestyle.  From Ellen to Oprah, Tal Ronnen to Alicia Silverstone, Gardein to Daiya, the last year of the decade was a veritable vegan, health & eco fireworks extravaganza! So I figured I'd compile my faves of the last year in case any of you missed them so that you can enjoy them well into the new decade ; )

Restaurants

• Veggie Grill -  www.veggiegrill.com - Los Angeles & Orange County, CA -Hands down, Veggie Grill made it's biggest waves in 2009.  One of the best vegan fast food chains, everyone is hoping to spread out nationwide in the new decade.
  
• Pizza Fusion - www.pizzafusion.com - Nationwide - Angelenos were so excited when Pizza Fusion came to town from the North East! Featuring all sorts of pizzas including vegan and gluten free, you can't go wrong here.
  
• Z Pizza - www.zpizza.com - Nationwide - Yet another Pizza chain that has crossed the country and delighting the dairy free folk! Z Pizza switched to the remarkable Daiya Vegan Cheese this year bringing smiles to their new vegan patrons nation wide ; )
  
• Cruzer Pizza - Los Angeles, CA - A local pizza joint that got wise to the untapped vegan market and began offering vegan pizzas, lasagnas, chik'n parms & more! In addition, their first location ditched traditional pizzas and went completely vegan - woohoo!
  
• Locali - www.localiyours.com - Los Angeles, CA -  This awesome convenience store has everything a veggie and/or treehugger could need in addition to a rockin' deli and ice cream cart! So glad they came on the scene strong in '09!
  
• Portobello Trattoria - www.portobellopdx.com - Portland, OR - Having just opened before my visit to this vegan mecca of a town,  Portobello has been filling up  every day since they opened their doors.  And rightfully so, incredible food!
  
• Plum - www.plumbistroseattle.com - Seattle, WA - One of the newer veggie locales in Seattle, it's  chic and cool and stands out amongst the wide variety of veg options in the capital of the great North West.
  
• SAF - www.safrestaurant.co.uk - London, England - The premiere, all raw, vegan joint in old blighty. Classy, gourmet and delish, Great Britain is really picking up speed in the veggie food world.
  
• V Bites - www.vbites.com - London, England - Another new and rockin' veg spot in London Town. Owned by Ms. Heather Mills, whether you like her or not, V Bites is pretty boss ; )
  
• Loving Hut - www.lovinghut.fr - Paris, France - There are Loving Huts all over the world but finding vegan fare in France is next to impossible. They were smart to open up in the city of love in '09 so if all else fails, you know you've got at least 1 spot to chow ; )
  

Hotels

• Kimpton Hotels - www.kimptonhotels.com - Nationwide - Some of the hipest, neatest, artsiest hotels around that are hugely eco, greatly accomodating to veggies & special diest on top of being uber pet friendly. Check them out to see if there is a Kimpton at your next destination - they've got the U.S. covered and continue to grow!
  
• Olive 8 - www.olive8.hyatt.com - Seattle, WA - Brand spankin' new in '09, this is a state of the art eco hotel in the heart of Seattle. So awesome!

Food & Beverage Products

• Daiya Cheese - www.daiyafoods.com - To vegans, this has become the holy grail of vegan cheese. Melty, yummy and totally allergen free, it's no wonder we are all head over heels for Daiya!
  
• Gardein - www.gardein.com - Made most famous by Veggie Grill & Tal Ronnen, this line of mock meats is to die for.  Made with wonderful ingredients and not processy or chemically like most phony bolognas, '09 was a great year for Gardein. We're all excited to see more from their product line as well as finding them pop up in all sorts of restaurants.
  
• So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream - www.turtlemountain.com - Debuting their non-soy ice cream alternative, the pioneers of non-dairy ice cream did it again. And even better if I do say so myself!
  
• Veev - www.veevlife.com - Accai Spirit, great straight or mixed! A great spirit that is eco and even healthy!
  
• Go Max Go Foods - www.gomaxgofoods.com - Vegan Candy Bars! Need I say more??
  

Health Products

• To Go Brands -  www.togobrands.com - One of my fave fins of '09. Packets such as Go Greens that gives you 6 servings of green veggies in 1 pack as well as Green Tea Energy, Vitamin C and more, you can't pick a more healthful option this year!
  
• Vega - www.sequelnaturals.com/en/vega -I know vega has been around for some time however, it has gotten some big attention this year by so many veggie advocates. it is THE best whole food supplement out there being allergen free and full of the best stuff on earth ; )
  
• Psi Bands - www.psibands.com -  I used these all years for all my crazy road trips and they rule! Acupressure wrist bands for the relief of nausea due to morning sickness (pregnancy), motion sickness/ travel, chemotherapy, and anesthesia. They are stylish, drug-free, adjustable, comfortable, waterproof, reusable,  and affordable.

Lifestyle Products - Home

• GameWhys -  www.thegreenboardgame.com -Anotehr one of my absolute favorites of 2009. The prettiest, smartest, most entertaining & beautifully messaged games I have ever played.  I love the board games as well as the card games. Fun for all for years to come!
  
• Wow Green - www.wowgreen.net -I fell in love with these enzyme based household cleaning products this year and so will you. Eco friendly, safe for your family & pets and the best part is that they really work!
  
• Ionator - www.activeion.com - The coolest, eco & money saving cleaning product ever! The ionator is a powerful appliance that uses ionizing technology to convert tap water into a safe, effective cleaner and sanitizer.
  
• Pillo1 - www.pillo1.com -  It's unique design is built for side and back sleep and gives ultimate neck support which keeps your back aligned all night long.  Great sleep equals great days, health & productivity.
• Pong - www.pongresearch.com - After much research, the Pong Iphone case came out this year to keep us safe from cell phone radiation. Coming soon for blackberry, this stylish case reduces over 85% of "hot spot" radiation, redirecting the flow of energy away from the head. And it's the only FCC certified case on the market!

Lifestyle Products - Travel

• To-Go Ware -  www.to-goware.com - Fabulous utensils & containers to take with you anywhere you go! Made of bamboo and recycled materials, a To-Go Ware set is the perfect stocking stuffer for the eco person on your list. Definitely in my top 5 fave finds of the year!
  
• Love Bottles - www.lovebottle.net -  The rage is BPA free bottles and the slick aluminum ones with neat designs. But drinking from glass is the best way to imbibe your daily H2O and Love Bottles has the neatest designs around.  Carry your healthiest water in style and be the envy of all your work out friends ; ) I use mine every day!
  
• Select Wisely Cards - www.selectwisely.com -The neatest thing for travelers with dietary restrictions. Affordable, portable and smart - select wisely!!
  
• Green Garmento -www.thegreengarmento.com - This eco bag is a hamper, laundry bag, duffel bag and also a great way to pick up your dry cleaning without wasting so much plastic.
  

Fashion

• Annatarian -  www.annatarian.com -Again, this line has been aorund but in '09, their PeaceLoveEarth eco jewelry line took the cake.  Gotta love the 7 wishes bracelet no matter what time of the year.
  
• Matt & Nat - www.mattandnat.com -  For luxury, vegan & eco handbags and accessories, you can't go wrong with anything from Matt & Nat.  Super chic bags, no one will know they aren't fresh off the European runways. From clutches to diaper bags, introduce your gal to accessorizing the eco way! (they've got some nice goodies for men too!)
  
• Espe -www.espe.ca - I found them this year as well - 100% vegan, cruelty free accessories such as wallets, cell phone pouches, computer bags and more, their colorful and handcrafted designs are great for gals of all ages. And they too have not forgotten about their male counterparts. Super cute stuff!!
  
• Beyond Yoga - www.iambeyond.com -  Their new organic line is beautiful! From yoga pants to jackets, built in bra tops to wraps, they've got it all. For your work out or you night out, Beyond Yoga helps you strike an organic and stylish pose ; )

Books

• The China Study - www.thechinastudy.com - It will change your life, enough said. Best book of '09!
  
• Why We Don't Eat Animals - www.wedonteatanimals.com - Adorable, sweet and thought provoking.
  
• Quantum Wellness: A 21 Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Body, Mind & Spirit - www.kathyfreston.com - Kathy explains her ideas so well and in an easy to understand fashion that anyone can grasp how to help themselves live better. With help from lots of health pros, this is just a great read with tons of helpful advice.
  

Cookbooks

• The Conscious Cook - www.talronnen.com - One of the yummiest vegan cookbooks around
• The Kind Diet - www.thekindlife.com - A nice intro to veganism from beginners to advanced plant eaters. Filled with delish recipes too ; )
• Vegan Cookies Take Over Your Cookie Jar - Dude, how can this brand new book not rock with a title like that!
  

Cooking Products

• 360 CookWare -  www.360cookware.com - Vapor cooking technology in beautiful, eco-friendly pots and pans that are not only durable and sustainable but healthy ; )
  
• Eat Cleaner - www.eatcleaner.com - This is a great, affordable and health promotion gift. The coolest is the "Wash & Dryer" kit for veggies!
• Green Pots - www.greencookingpots.com - Giving La Creuset a run for their money, these eco-enamel pots and pans are the healthiest, most stylish way to cook ; )
  

Shopping Websites

• Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe - www.cosmosveganshoppe.com -A virtual vegan market
• Allison's Gourmet - www.allisonsgourmet.com - Who can deny that the gift of killer chocolate isn't on their top 5? Allison's offers a wide variety of scrumptious vegan confections and cookies that are available as single items, gift baskets or "of the month" club deliveries.
  
• Herbivore -  www.herbivoreclothing.com -Vegan clothing, books, accessories, nick knacks and more!
• Vegan Collection - www.thevegancollection.com - Guys get left out a lot when it comes to shopping, especially for vegan clothes, shoes, etc.  Not anymore thanks to these guys!
  
• Healthy Voyager Wine Club - www.healthyvoyager.com - Featuring organic, biodynamic & sustainable wines, delivered to your door, every month!

Resource Websites

• VegNews.com - www.vegnews.com - Their new and improve site offers up everything from great recipes to veg celeb gossip - great stuff!
  
• VegWeb.com- www.vegweb.com - Sister site to VegNews, this site is chock full of great recipes and other veggie goodies ; )
  
• PCRM.org - www.pcrm.org - Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine is one of the best resources of 2009. From their 21-day vegan kickstarts to directories of holistic physicians, PCRM is the place for ultimate health.
• Vegetarian Times Magazine – www.vegetariantimes.com - Eat green, live well
  
• Ecofabulous – www.ecofabulous.com - All you need for a chic, sustainable lifestyle
• EcoStiletto.com – www.ecostiletto.com - Making your carbon footprint small & fashionable
• FitMenu – www.fitmenu.net - Find low fat, low cal, healthy, meals a your favorite eateries

Movies & TV

• Food Inc. - www.foodincmovie.com - You'll never look at dinner the same way again!
  
• The Cove - www.thecovemovie.com - An unabashed look at what goes on when big business meets the deep blue sea
  
• Planet Green - www.planetgreen.discovery.com - The station for everything Eco
  
• Sea Shepherd - www.seashepherd.org - On Discovery as well as Animal Planet, this groundbreaking show has made a big splash in prime time ; )
• District 9 - www.d-9.com - I loved this movie just for pure entertainment value but it's also such a great illustration of spec-ism!
  

Celebs

• Ellen Degeneres - www.ellen.warnerbros.com - Coming out as a vegan this year and launching her Halo brand of food for pets gets her tied for my #1 spot.  People love Ellen and I love what she is doing for the health of her viewers ans their pets. Keep dancin' girl!
  
• Tal Ronnen -  www.www.talronnen.com - Tied with Ellen for 1st place is my buddy Tal.  Helping Gardein become the yummiest meat substitute around, helping Oprah with her 21 day vegan cleanse and writing and insanely awesome vegan cookbook all in '09? I can't wait to see what he's got up his sleeve in 2010 and beyond ; )
  
• Dr. Oz - www.doctoroz.com - Getting his start from the queen of daytime, Doc Oz has shed light on healthier living and knows how to get folks to listen. Taking us all to the emerald city of health & eco-ness!
  
• Alicia Silverstone - www.thekindlife.com - Making her big comeback in the most positive of ways was former teen sensation, Alicia Silverstone.  Launching her Kind Life blog and her beloved new book, The Kind Diet, she sure knew how to make her re-entrance ; )
  
• Kathy Freston - www.kathyfreston.com - Another gal who made her way into our healthy zeitgeist. She has aligned herself with the health world's top people and been able to connect with the top celebs to get the healthy word out. Keep on keepin' on!
  
• Jason Mraz - www.jasonmraz.com - The vegan songster has done it again with a new hit record and tour (named after a raw vegan restaurant in San Fran). He's just fun and uplifting and so I thought I'd give him some props for a good show in '09 ; )

Cities

• Los Angeles - Having lived here as a vegan for more then a decade now, I saw LA blow up the vegan landscape this year like no year that preceded it. My few options are now almost to many to choose from!
  
• Portland - I've said many times before that Portland is Vegan Heaven. And having freinds in the area over the years, I know that this year it held on to its title by continuing to add more for us health nuts ; )
  
• London - England has always had a bad reputation when it came to its cuisine. I'm here to say that that they have overcome that with flying colors and this year, the advent of even more Veg friendly options and eateries puts London in my top 10 best cities to dine ; )
  
• Bogota, Colombia, S.A. - I never thought I'd see the day that my home country of meat, potatoes and rice would be growing into it's own little vegan paradise.  I've seen so many veggie spots pop up there this year and I'm so very proud!
  

Charity

• HOW - www.helpinghow.com - Growing exponentially this year, HOW is a wonderful organization. Check in to how to donate time or money to helping orphans all over the world.
  
• Talk About It - www.talkaboutit.org - Founded this year and helped along my Hollywood's elite, this organization is doing wonders for those who suffer from epilepsy. Help those who have trouble coping with epilepsy as well as helping spread awareness.
  
• Generation Rescue - www.generationrescue.org - Jenny McCarthy's loud mouth helped this foundation quite a bit this years. Help families affected by autism by donating time and money to help promote therapies, awareness and more.
• Twitter-A-Critter -  www.adoptapet.com - Also launched this year as a spin off of adoptapet.com and using the booming social networking site Twitter to its advantage.  A quick and easy way to help an animal in need, genius!
  

I urge you all to look into these products, services, places & people as they are all helpful in living a healthier and happier life. I'm sure 2010 will be even bigger and for that, I'm uber excited!!

Healthy New Decade

We have not only arrived at a new year but a whole new decade, welcome 2010! I'm sure many were more then happy to bid 2009 good riddance and are looking to the teen years of the 21st century to bring us all better luck.  There is also plenty we can do to help move our lives into more positive, happier and healthier places this year so that by this time next, we can look back and know that we did our best to make it a great one ; ) Here are a few things that might help kick start the new year on a good note!:

• Do the best you can to adopt healthier eating habits.  Food is your medicine and watching what you eat both in portion size as well as what is and isn't on your plate is the best way to stay healthy.  Try to increase your veggie intake on a daily basis as well as whole grains and complete proteins while decreasing your sugar, fat & animal product consumption. Your body will thank you as will the earth!
• Fit in fitness wherever you can.  Be it a 20 minute walk after dinner or a dance class a few times a week, find ways to get the blood pumping and it will help you cope with stress and might even be something you look forward to every day. Especially when you make your exercise social like a class our group hike!
  
• Go green as lightly as you can. Some people are able to go green easier and faster then others but every little bit helps. Recycle bottles, cans and bags at home; watch your water and electric usage and try to carpool, ride your bike or walk when you can. Making a difference doesn't happen over night and no one expects you to live completely off the grid - yet ; )
  
• Watch your spending. 2009 was a financial bust for many so let's learn from that and make 2010 a more financially responsible year by implementing healthier money habits at home. Cut down on impulse buys and services you don't really need or use; make a list of what you can and can't do without and find alternatives (i.e. quit your Starbucks habit & make healthier lattes at home - you can save up to $150 a month this way!); see how you can barter services and/or items for things you need (i.e. baby sitting for house sitting, etc). Get creative and see the savings!
• Make this the year you go for what you love. 2009 also taught us that sometimes we need to adjust our lives depending on our finances. Many folks lost their jobs and used that to their benefit to start their own business.  If you've always wanted to be a chef, look into affordable classes. If you want to start a home business, make time to do the research on what you need to get started - and don't be afraid to ask for help. Be the Phoenix that rises from the ashes of 2009!
• Surround yourself with a good support system. No matter what you situation, nothing is worth having without being able to share it with people you love. Remember what is truly important in life & no that when times are tough, you have people to lean on & that you can be supportive to others. Bad times shall pass and we can all be, and use, a hand to hold for better or for worse; )
• And as Ghandi once said "Be the change you want to see in the world"
  

Here are some sure fire ways to not only implement your best resolutions but also how to keep them!:

• Be realistic - The surest way to fall short of your goals is to make them unattainable.
• Plan ahead - If you wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mindset that particular moment & might not afford you the time you need to make it happen.
  
• Outline your plan - Decide how you will deal with the temptation to skip that exercise class or have one more cigarette.  Find positive ways to reward yourself when you meet your goals (try your best to not make them food or over spending related!)
  
• Make a "pro" and "con" list - It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Visual aids help you stay accountable.
  
• Talk about it - Don't keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better.
• Track your progress - Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal.
• Don't beat yourself up - Obsessing over the occasional slip won't help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take each day one at a time.
• Stick to it - Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. You can do it!
  
• Keep trying - If your resolution has totally run out of steam by mid-February, don't despair. Start over again! There's no reason you can't make a "New Year's resolution" any time of year.

Here's hoping 2010 is a great one and that we can all look back fondly on the beginning of this new decade next year!

Healthy Voyager Holidays!

Here we are again, another year behind us and a new decade just days away. Sure we've been inundated with holiday spirit since the latter part of November, but we still have a few weeks to go until we kiss the festive season goodbye until next year. As I have in year's past, I have compiled some tips, suggestions and recipes to help make these next few weeks brighter, happier and healthier. They are my gift to you in wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season and an even better new decade year!

In years past, I have written about eco, healthy and affordable holiday ideas and you can check them all out here: 2006, 2007, 2008.

But this year, i thought I'd share a few tips to just make this joyful, yet stressful season, a little lighter.  Seeing as how 2009 has been a rough year for many, we should close out the year on a high note so that we can all enter the new year happy and optimistic ; ) I hope that some, if not all of these can help make your, and those around you, holidays merry!

• Let go of a problem you can't solve. Enjoy the season ; )
• Don't despair if you are short on cash. Be creative. Sometimes thoughtful gifts are better than store bought ones.
  
• Organize a neighborhood holiday dinner. Have appetizers at one home, the main at another and dessert at the next!
• Remember our feathered friends! Roll pine cones in peanut butter and bird seed and hang them out side a window where you can enjoy them feasting on your treat.
• Don't wait until the last minute to wrap gifts or write all your cards. Wrap as you buy and divvy up your cards to do 10 a night until they are done. Don't make yourself work harder then you have to.
• Sing!
  
• Give your loved ones, friends and everyone you encounter the gift of a sweet disposition ; ) We are all stressed over the holidays to some extent but try to be the first to spread the holiday spirit! a person wrapped up in himself is a very small package.
• Give instead of receive. Pick some charities you would like to help out and try to donate some time or funds to help those less fortunate.
• Remember the best solution for holiday blues is to do something nice for someone else! Give anonymous gifts and be kind without expectations.
• Start collections of recipes and decorations for your children, adding one to each collection every year. When they are all grown up, they will have a nice collection to get them started along with wonderful memories attached to them.
• Plan ahead, be prepared and keep it simple.
• Curl up in front of a blazing fire with someone you love.
• Take the long way home and enjoy neighborhood lights.
• Start your own traditions, however small they may be ; )
• If you have the time, bake double batches of your holiday goodies to share with friends. Having extra baked goods is also great to have as an impromptu gift to take to a party. 
• If you have children, have a decorations craft night and help them decorate their room for the holidays.
• Dance!
  
• Get the names of local military personnel and send holiday cards thanking them for their service. Do the same with nursing homes and find out who doesn't receive much mail. Send them a card and sign it "Love, Santa"
• Have hot cocoa, apple cider ans popcorn on hand for unexpected guests ; )
• Give yourself the gift of slack. No one expects perfection, especially during the holidays. Even Santa needs helpers!
• Make sure to make time for yourself to enjoy the season, to reflect on the past year as well as some goals for the new one ahead.
• Remember the best gift is a person filled with love & understanding ; ) 

And enjoy the flavors of of the seaon!! For  a hearty and healthy holiday meal, try some of these recipes! If you're in search of seasonal sweets, be sure to visit my recipes page on my website for some yummy ones under holiday, beverages and even the sweets page ; )

Cranberry Chutney

8 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (2 pounds)
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons whole mustard seeds
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons salt

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer, uncovered, stirring often, until the cranberries have broken down and the mixture has thickened somewhat, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely and serve or store in glass jars.

Cranberry Spinach Salad

1 (6 ounce) package fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup olive
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons red wine or balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon sour cream
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

In a bowl, combine the spinach, pecans and cranberries. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the remaining ingredients; shake well. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat; serve immediately.

Holiday Shepard's Pie

Filling:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground soy beef (boca, ives or sub with marinated tempeh)
16 ounces canned tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups cooked mixed vegetables (peas, diced carrots and corn)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mashed Potatoes:
5 russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
1/2 cup vegan butter
1/2 cup vegan sour cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cornbread Crust:
1 (12-ounces) boxed cornbread mix (follow instructions but sub eggs with egg replacer, butter with vegan butter & milk with unsweetened soy milk)

Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute the onion in vegetable oil. When the onion is soft add the soy ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon and brown. Stir in tomato sauce and mixed vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.

In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the potatoes about 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain well and return to the pot. Whip the potatoes with an electric mixer until moderately smooth. Add milk, butter and sour cream and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Adjust consistency with more milk, if desired.

Follow directions on box to make cornbread batter.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease 6 (8-ounce) ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.

Spoon the mashed potatoes into the bottoms of each prepared ramekin, spreading them evenly with a rubber spatula. Then add the meat filling, spreading that evenly over the mashed potatoes. Pour the cornbread batter evenly over the meat layer in each ramekin.

Bake for about 30 minutes until the cornbread is cooked through and golden on top.

Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, halved and seeded
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 parboiled brown rice
1 3/4 cups water or 1 14-ounce can vegetable broth
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chopped fennel fronds (leafy tops)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of cinnamon
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Grate the squash through the large holes of a box grater.

Heat oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft and lightly colored, 10 to 12 minutes. Combine 2 tablespoons water and tomato paste in a small bowl and stir it into the pan. Add rice and stir to coat. Add the squash, in batches if necessary, and stir until it has reduced in volume enough so that you can cover the pan.

Increase the heat to medium-high, pour in 1 3/4 cups water (or broth) and wine, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered, stirring once or twice, until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and the squash is tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

Add fennel fronds, oregano, salt, cinnamon and pepper; gently stir to combine. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

I wish you very happy & healthy holidays as well as a wonderful new decade! See you in 2010!!

Thanksgiving Throwdown ; )

We are here once again! The holidays have made their way around again and for most folks, evoking mixed emotions. While most people enjoy the onset of the holidays because it means time with family, good food and a time filled with cheer, 2009 has taken its toll on folks so it may seem as not so merry a season this year. However, this Thanksgiving, it is more important then ever to be thankful of what we do have and look towards the new year & decade with hope and positivity. Sure there maybe less gift giving and some may have to skip the trip home but I've got some ways to help you salvage & enjoy this Thanksgiving and holidays season! For tips to green up your holiday as well as additional recipes, be sure to check out past Thanksgiving posts from 2007 & 2008.

• If you aren't able to make it home this holiday,  gather up a group of others who can't make it home and have a potluck dinner.  It's great fun to cook together to create a beautiful meal and enjoy the eclectic menu. Make it an event to look forward to with games, movies or even holiday crafts or even host a "Thanksgiving Throwdown" cooking competition a la Food Network style. Whether you are hosting or going to a dinner, make a full day of celebrating so that no one is feeling lonely. It is also great fun to host a Thanksgiving leftovers brunch so that the food does not go to waste and it is a way to continue the fun with your friends for a lovely holiday weekend.
• Be creative with your menu.  If you can't afford all of the usual holiday fixings, cook up a more affordable menu like pasta, salad and rolls. Or if you're looking for something different, try a themed dinner. No matter what is served, it's all about the company ; )
• If you don't have time to cook, make it a semi-homemade dinner and plan ahead.  It's always smart to cook a few things ahead of time and freeze/refrigerate them until the day of.  And for labor intensive parts of the meal, be sure to check your local markets to compare pricing on pre-cooked holiday meals.  In addition, if you are invited to a dinner where you know you're dietary needs will not be met, bring your own meal (which can be ordered as well) along with a dessert or a bottle of wine for your host. Then everybody wins ; )
• Give instead of receive. Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen and help those who are less fortunate.  Clear your cupboards of non-perishable food you know you will never make and donate it to a food bank to help feed a needy family this year. Rally your friends to do the same and make a day out of it ; )
  
• A big tip that tout year round whether it's the holidays, you're traveling or just hangin' at home, it is sticking to your routine.  There are so many helpful resources that can help you with everything from menu planning, fitness planning, recipes, etc. Outside of healthyvoyager.com, a wonderful site that can help you now as well as year round is Vitaljuice.com. They are promoting their Happy Healthidays and if you are one of the first 100 people to sign up for their free daily newsletter from this Vitaljuice.com link, you will be entered to win $2010 on January 1st! Cash along with a healthy new year? You can't beat that!
• And always make healthy choices! Be sure to check out my Winter Wonderland Holiday mini Ecookbook, available here. And as an added treat, enjoy these recipes this day of thanks:

Pumpkin Stuffing 


1 medium sugar pumpkin
6 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dark rum (optional)
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Position rack in the center of the oven.
Cut out top of pumpkin, and set aside. Scoop out seeds with a metal spoon.

In a large bowl, stir together the apples, walnuts, cranberry sauce, pineapple, brown sugar, raisins, and rum. Season with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the cleaned pumpkin, and replace top.

Set pumpkin directly on a baking stone or a thick baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until pumpkin begins to soften. Remove from heat, and stir, scraping the sides gently, so that some pieces of pumpkin fall into the apple mixture. Serve & enjoy ; )

Sweet Potato Fries

9 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup agave
3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (205 degrees C).

In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, agave, ginger, oil, cardamom and pepper. Transfer to a large cast iron frying pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

Turn the mixture over to expose the pieces from the bottom of the pan. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized on the outside.

Apple Pound Cake

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 egg replacers
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups chopped, peeled tart apples
1 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins


Apple Cider Glaze:

1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegan butter

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; add to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in apples, almonds and raisins. Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire tack to cool completely.
In a saucepan, combine glaze ingredients; cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Prick top of cake with a fork; drizzle with glaze.

Butterscotch Cocoa

3/4 oz Butterscotch Schnapps   
3/4 oz Coffee Liqueur   
5 oz Vegan Hot Cocoa  (prepared)

Mix ingredients in coffee mug, and top with vegan whipped cream.

Fizzy Apple

2 oz Apple Juice   
4 oz Soda Water   

Pour the apple juice into the old-fashioned glass filled previously with 3 to 5 ice cubes and add the soda. Stir before you serve.


I'm wishing you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!  See you soon with the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide!

A Green & Good for You Ghoul's Day!

For those of you who don't know, I LOVE Halloween ; ) Dan and I love dressing up as a fun and famous duo each year - last year it was Bonnie and Clyde! The crisp air, the colors and onset of the holidays season, Halloween is nothing but a big ol' treat for me!! From October 1st on, I relish each day by burning pumpkin candles and planning which haunted houses to hit up while helping Dan build one of our own in front of our house to entertain the neighborhood ghouls on all Hallow's Eve. For the past 2 years I have offered up some healthy as well as eco ideas for a slim and trim as well as green Halloween  - you can view the past posts right here - 2007 and 2008.  Lots of fun tips and recipes to make this a rockin' Halloween for all.  Below I have also compiled some new tips and recipes to try out this year at your own or if attending any spooky festivities!!

• The best new vegan chocolates on the market are by Go Max Go Foods - they are hoping to roll out the holiday fun size bars in 2010 but for now, hand these sweet treats to the best dressed kids in your hood ; )
•  Another great healthy candy find are Surf Sweets! Healthy, naturally sweetened, gluten free and mostly vegan (a few items aren't so make sure you read the ingredients) gummy and jelly beany treats. Awesome!
  
• Visit and sign up for Green Halloween - it's a great resource for parents & schools to help make Halloween healthy and safe for our most precious goblins ; )
• Visit school and community organized Halloween events, pumpkin patches and haunted houses.  It's a great way to help out your community while having some good clean fun.
• If you are hosting a party, opt for the weekend after Halloween. This way, you can enjoy the actual Halloween night as well as the competing parties and you have an excuse to wear your costume 1 more time!  It's also a great way to rid yourself of left over candy and be able to enjoy the fun for a bit longer ; ) Or maybe, celebrate Dia De Los Muertos Day on November 1st with some creepy pinatas and fun Mexican style cuisine!
  
• Make creative and healthy treats for your guests as well as opting for home made or recycled decorations.  Please visit my previous posts for some green decoration as well as yummy recipes to go withe the ones below:

Spooky Juice
1 oz Organic Vodka
2 splashes Blue Curacao
1 splash Grenadine
Fill with Orange juice

Mix with ice and serve in a scary goblet!

The Great Pumpkin Punch
1 Pumpkin
1 part Apple cider
2 parts Ginger ale
1 part Rum
Sprinkle with nutmeg

Serve in a hollowed out pumpkin with floating pumpkin chunks. (make non-alcoholic by removing the rum)

Cranial Cream Cheese Dip
Plastic wrap
1 small party favor plastic skull candy container
1 package vegan cream cheese
1 jar chunky salsa (or fresh home made salasa!)
crackers or chips for spreading/dipping

Set the cream cheese out to warm to room temperature. Line the inside of the plastic skull dish with plastic wrap leaving enough edges to wrap around later. Spoon the softened cream cheese into the plastic-lined skull dish, mashing in as much cream cheese as possible to pick up the most detail in the mold. Scrape any extra cream cheese off the top so it is flat. Close the plastic wrap over the flat cream cheese top and place in the freezer to set. Once set, remove the plastic wrap from the skull dish, and serve. Place the skull in a shallow dish, garnish with the bloody salsa, including inside the eye sockets, and stab with your favorite spreader. You can extend the time before needing to refill by placing the skull on half a block of cream cheese, but cover the plain cream cheese with enough sauce so you can only see the skull above the "blood."


Pump-cicles
2 1/2 lbs. butternut squash
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2/3 cup vegan whipping cream
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Cut a butternut squash into quarters and scoop out the seeds.  Boil or bake the squash until soft. Let the squash cool a bit before scooping its flesh into a medium-size bowl.  Add pure maple syrup, vegan cream, and pumpkin pie spice to the bowl. Use a potato masher to mush the squash and blend all of the ingredients. Spoon the mixture into ice pop molds, add sticks, and freeze for at least 6 hours before serving.


Healthy & Haunted Graveyard
1/2 cup fresh spinach
10 ounces garlic hummus
Broccoli and Celery (for trees)
Pretzels (shirt, thin sticks & mini twisties for the fence)
Tofu (marinated in clear or white marinade like italian dressing & cut into ghost shapes)    
Crackers (square for tombstones)
Black olives
Paint brush and black food coloring

In a food processor, puree the spinach and hummus.

To make the tofu ghosts, cut slits and insert black-olive facial features. Use the small paint brush and food coloring to turn crackers into tombstones.

Mound the dip on a tray and top it with veggie trees, a pretzel fence, tofu ghosts, and cracker tombstones to create your graveyard!

Dead Gingerbread Men
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegan shortening
1 egg replacer
1 cup molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons warm water
1/4 cup raisins for decorating

In large bowl, cream vegan shortening, sugar, egg replacer and warmed molasses. Dissolve baking soda in warm water and add to egg replacer mixture. Beat until smooth. Slowly add flour, spices and salt. Mix until well blended. Cover and chill for 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Roll out dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a floured surface. Cut out gingerbread men using cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.

Use black icing to make an "X" where the eyes should be, you can also make a frown for a mouth using the icing. Break off some of the heads & use red icing for blood around the neck on the heads & bodies ; )

Have a very happy and healthy Halloween!! OOOOHAHAHAHAHA!!!