It's a Nice Day for a Green Wedding!

As wedding season approaches, I thought I would share some pearls of wisdom with bubbling brides-to-be; ) As some of you may or may not know, I was a wedding and event planner for many years. And as of a few months ago, I planned & put on my own wedding! I took what I learned over my years in the biz and put it all together with our limited budget to host the most eco-friendly and affordable weddings I had ever planned. If I do say so myself, it was quite beautiful and I missed none of the elements that come with a large and expensive event.  So I figured I would share some insider tips and secrets with you in the case that you or someone you know is headed down the aisle and is frantic about finances and/or their carbon footprint ; )

• Plan Ahead & Be Flexible -  I've planned many weddings within all kinds of time frames. From a couple of years to a couple of weeks. Depending on the size and style of your wedding, you may only need a few months but I typically advise on a year.  Especially if you are looking for a specific date or venue, in which case I advise 18 months.  This is why I say, be flexible. More often then not, the perfect date and/or venue will not be available at the same time so be sure to have options. And a lot of times, getting 1 and or both come at a premium cost. Consider an off day like a Friday or a Sunday, as well as an off season date. Many venues have lower rates on off days and seasons so try to plan around those dates to get the best possible rate in your dream location. Also, think outside of the box. Traditional venues come with many rules and stipulations that can either jack up the cost of your day or force you to use vendors that aren't at the top of your list. In my instance, we chose to do our ceremony at a park overlooking the ocean. We had our guests stand, created an aisle with flower petals and let the scenery be our decor. Price tag - $0. Afterward we had some champagne with our guests, sent them on their way to dine and freshen up while we took our photos, making it back home just in time for our backyard reception. Lucky for us we have a fun patio complete with a tiki bar but if you're looking for affordable, consider asking a friend to use their house or yard for the reception.  It can be their wedding gift to you. Stringing up some market lights will do wonders to a backyard, making it look simple and elegant for the cost of dinner & a movie, if not less.  We saved time, a ton of money, frustration and added to our eco-karma by not renting chairs or having anything delivered. So again, be flexible with your times, dates, themes, etc. because you may be surprised at how great it turns out if you give yourself some options ; )
• Pool Your Resources & Get Creative - There are many elements to a wedding: flowers, music, dresses, food, photos, videos and on and on. And having been a part of the wedding world for almost a decade, I will tell you that as soon as you mention the word wedding, vendor prices sky rocket.  What makes a regular portrait session any different then an hour of wedding photos? Or why is a wedding cake boatloads more then a  birthday cake? Because it's your "special" day and why shouldn't you have the best, right? Wrong! You can totally have the best and save money too! Get together with your honey and see between the two of you, who might be able to cover what. Do you have a buddy who is a an amateur photographer or budding film maker? Do you love your aunt's cupcakes? Is your neighbor a phenomenal seamstress? Put your heads together because you might find out that you've got a handful of vendors within your circle of family and friends! Fill in the blanks with vendors you don't have covered but do it wisely.  Don't have a dj? Consider making your own play list, adding it to your ipod, renting a speaker system for $50 and hitting shuffle. Rent a microphone for an additional $20 or less for toasts and announcements & you've just saved yourself a good $2k or more! Know how to sew? Make your dress or find one at a second hand store and tweak it.  Do your own hair &have a fab friend do makeup. Have the guys wear suits they already own, not tuxes. There are a number of ways to get the same result for a lot less, just get creative and don't be afraid to ask.
• Make a list of "Must Haves" & "Could Do Withouts" - As I mentioned above, see what you've already got and what you don't. You may have a few photographers in your contact list but you may not like their style. No worries, make a list with your sweetheart of what elements have to be perfect and what don't. You may find that all you really care about is what your dress looks like and the cake, everything else can be average or even be left off the itinerary entirely.  We opted to not have seating the ceremony and asked a friend to marry us. We decided to have cake and cocktails instead of serving dinner. We hired DJ Ipod instead of a real dj. For us, we chose to skimp on certain things that for us, didn't make or break the wedding. For some, getting a friend ordained may not cut it so be sure that a church wedding makes it in the must have list. But if you can do without printing programs, do so. If you do want a program but can't afford to print up 150, print one big one and display it at the ceremony site. Make a copy for you to keep in your scrapbook but don't worry your pretty little head about what the guests take home (it usually ends up in a landfill).  There are many things that make up a wedding but it is important to choose what makes up YOUR wedding. Just because a wedding check list says you need x,y and/or z, doesn't mean you need the entire alphabet. Customize your wedding the way you want it and don't feel guilty if you don't have wedding favors, open bar, a chocolate fountain, etc - it's ok!
• Reuse, re-purpose, recycle & re-imagine - Here is where you can save some serious cash ; ) There are so many ways that you can be green and save green while wearing white! For instance, making your own centerpieces, sign-in book, favors and more.  This may sound like a lot of work but really, it's a snap. If you're crafty, you will enjoy it and if not, have your girls over for some wine, snacks and Martha Stewarty time.  What I chose to do was make my own card drop box, favors, and sign-in book. I gathered some cardboard boxes, in different sizes, and wrapped them in wrapping paper that matched my wedding colors. Instead of buying a card box for $50 that I would never use again, I cut a slit at the top of the box, wrapped the whole thing and printed the label on my computer. I decided I didn't want a traditional sign in book so I used an old photo album and decorated the pages with wedding themed stickers & scrapbook goodies. I used recycled construction paper to have people write their wishes & messages on and stuck those to the blank pages of our book after the wedding. I wrapped a tea canister with the matching wrapping paper and voila, a cute pen holder! Lastly, we didn't have favors in mind but I had plenty of neat construction paper left over. So I created a recipe that reflected Dan & I's fave combined dessert and printed them up for our guests to take home as their gift. All of this cost us about $15 total, if not less, and I did it all in 1 evening ; ) You can create your own everything from your invitations to your bridesmaid jewelry. It's all a part of the must have vs. do without step along with a touch of being creative, green and budget conscious. I will add that my dress was 100% green and made by my one of my closest friends, Anna of Annatarian - we bought no fabrics to make the dress, just what she already had in her incredible eco-studio!
• Have a potluck meal or a cocktails & cake reception - For many, this might not fly, but again, consider it. To be frank, most guests don't care about what their eating, they are there for the party & the couple. A lot of the times, wedding food is less then average and if it's not, it cost more then half of the wedding budget. If you're spending a third to half of your budget on catering, it's time to re-think it.  You can still have a beautiful, sit down meal if it is a buffet style, potluck. You would be surprised how many people enjoy potlucks because of the variety of foods as well as the feeling of inclusion that they have been able to contribute to your celebration. You cut out a big chunk of the budget so that you can put it towards a better photographer or a few more days on your honeymoon. Again, what do you really want and what can you do without? In our case we opted for cake and cocktails. We bought booze and mixers at Costco and had some chips, salsa, guac and hummus to nosh on. We offered our favorite cocktail choices (Margaritas and Jack N' Cokes), serve yourself style, as well as beer and wine so we didn't have to spring for stocking an entire bar. Remember we had a few hours in between ceremony and reception so folks could grab a dinner of their choice and meet back up with us for the fun part.  In addition, we had people voluntarily show up with trays of food so we were more then covered.  Because of this, we didn't need to rent table and chairs so we saved ginormously! Because we didn't have to squeeze in a meal, we had more time to spend with our guests, dance and enjoy all the reception events (first dance, garter & bouquet toss, slideshow, toasts & cake) without rushing.
• Borrow - I'm a huge fan of borrowing items for weddings. Even though it is your special day, you really only use things once and afterward it takes up lots of space if you choose to hang on to it. I've been hearing that a lot of brides are renting their gowns which is a smart choice. This way you get the designer gown of your dreams without the hefty price tag that goes with it. I've also seen brides borrow each others dresses because chances are, there will be very few overlapping guests and no one will know the difference. Share the cost of the dress and enjoy it 100%. If you're having a home wedding, borrow furniture from friends and neighbors, don't spend money on rentals. Create neat spaces like loungy areas, standing areas and seated table areas with mismatched furniture. Tie it all together with a common theme like candles, lighting, centerpieces, etc but ultimately you can save thousands of dollars by borrowing seating while making it feel more personal and quaint.  We made a few fire pit seating areas around our patio which lent itself to some fun guest interaction and spread the crowd out so as to not have everyone crammed next to the food or bar. Conserving resources and cold hard cash!
• Make it a collaborative effort - One thing you will learn is that many people want to help you with your wedding. You will also learn that what is meant to be YOUR day isn't yours alone, it's everyone's, especially close family. So instead of resisting because you want things just so, take them up on it! If you delegate well, you will have a stress free, beautiful day that everyone involved can rejoice in. You can have plenty of your own days with you wedded partner on your honeymoon ; ) Think of it, how much more fun would it be if Aunt Tilly made the flowers instead of an overpriced florist who has 5 more weddings that day? How much would you love to have your uncle Joe's lasagna for dinner instead a plate of wilted lettuce and bland pasta? Wouldn't you like your detail oriented best friend setting up your reception just the way you want it instead of handing it over to a catering manager who might not get your vision? This all ties back in with planning, flexibility, must haves and not cares. If you are willing to let go of the gold encrusted linens for handmade table cloths made by your grandma and the 5 tiered castle cake for a tower of your favorite cupcakes, go for it. Bringing friends and family into the planning and execution of the wedding day not only makes it more personal and unique, but all the more memorable. 10 years from now you might not remember the name of your caterer but you will remember your family crammed in your kitchen, prepping for the big day and having a wonderful time ; )

All in all, it's your day and you want it to be special. But remember that the most important thing is the marriage and the wedding day is a celebration of that. Make it unique and memorable but don't drive yourself to crazy with the details. In all honesty, in a short while from now, will you remember the details or will you remember the day?  Don't miss out on your journey to the altar worrying about minutiae, budgets perfection. Make the most of what you've got and savor it, happily, healthily and affordably ; )

Spring Clean Your Kitchen (And Your Body Will Thank You!)

Spring is upon us and with new season comes the idea of sparkling freshness. Out with the old, in with the bright, shiny and new.  So what better area to spring clean this year than your kitchen? Now, I could go on and on about the kinds of foods you should be stocking your cupboards with or how to prepare healthy meals to get you ready for swimsuit season. However, did you know that what you are cooking and storing with is just as important? You might be surprised to know that many of the items we use on a daily basis can be causing us harm. You may be eating the purest, most organic foods but if you are cooking with or storing foods in any of these items, you might be rendering your healthy foods useless. I’ve compiled my top 5 items that should be added to your toss pile this spring cleaning season in order to keep you and yours as healthy as can be!

·     Non-Stick Pots & Pans - The most important health factor that should be considered is the transfer, or leaching, of the cooking surface material to the foods being cooked. Heat changes the composition of materials so what may be safe at room temperature can be extremely toxic when heated.  Non-stick surfaces like Teflon, are the biggest offenders when it comes to leaching. In fact, it has been admitted by Dupont, that when a non-stick surface is heated beyond a certain level, the fumes can kill birds and create a sickness in humans they call Polymer Fume Fever, producing symptoms resembling a cold. Most recipes call for the cooking surface to be heated to a medium to high temperature so cooking with a non-stick pot or pan will almost always be dangerous.  So don’t wait until the bottoms of your pans are chipping to trash them, start replacing your most used pieces as soon as possible. REPLACE WITH:  Ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron, and/or glass. Be sure there are no toxic paints or coatings.

·     Plastic Containers – As I mentioned above, leaching is hugely important factor to consider.  Whether it is food or beverage, plastic should never be the vessel. One must even be cautious of BPA-free containers as there are other contaminants that can be leached from low-grade items.  Be a discerning consumer and buy the best! When you add hot foods to plastic storage containers, it draws toxins from the container and mixes with your food. This is why you should never leave plastic water bottles in the car. Ever taste “plasticy” water? It’s been sitting in the heat, leaching toxins into your otherwise healthy beverage. This happens when you store food as well and even more so when you microwave them. Don’t let chemicals be the secret ingredient in your dishes. REPLACE WITH:  Ceramic, stainless steel and/or glass

·     Dish Towels & Sponges - Bacteria breeds mainly in cool, damp places like sponges and dish towels. We use these every day to clean up our counters and plates but if not taken care of properly, we are doing more harm then good.  A sure fire way to keep your cleaning aids at their best is to: wring them out to release excess water after every use, store them properly so that they can air out and dry quickly, wash regularly and throw them away every 2 weeks to a month. If you have old towels and sponges, it’s time to go shopping!

·     Overcrowded Refrigerators/freezers – Clutter is never a good thing and that goes for refrigerators and freezers too.  When these are overstuffed, there isn’t enough room for the air to circulate properly and decomposition begins. In addition, many foods will pick up the odors of others which will most likely cause you to gag, throw a way your food and waste quite a bit of cash. This can also cause bacteria and mold to grow in between containers, on walls and in drawers. In freezers, overcrowding can cause freezer burn as well as forgetfulness! Ever forget what’s in the back of the freezer but it’s to frozen over to get to it? From now on, toss foods as soon as they expire, don’t keep items that you “think” you will use someday like fast food sauce packets, properly pack and label your foods with the date and consolidate items when possible. Your food will last longer, will taste a whole lot better and save you a considerable amount of green.

·     Microwaves – I know that there is quite a controversy when it comes to microwaves. But I’m here to tell you, anything that heats your food that fast and is otherwise cool to the touch, can’t be good for you. These microwaves that are heating your quick lunch are actually transforming the chemical makeup of your foods on a cellular level. Ever notice that many things are less crispy and more rubbery when nuked? That’s because while those little waves are heating up, they have mutated your food. And mutated food not only loses it texture and taste, it loses all its nutrients too. REPLACE WITH:  Convection oven and/or toaster oven

While a full kitchen overhaul may be costly, be sure to at least make a dent by getting rid of and replacing your most used items.  You can always add from there and have fun doing it. We should all make an investment in our health and the kitchen is a great place to start. I wish you all a very happy Spring as well as super healthy cooking spaces ; )
 

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!!

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!!!

World Veg Festival Weekend in San Francisco

If you happen to be withing driving distance to San Francisco this weekend, make it a point to spend some time at the World Veg Fest in Golden Gate Park.  It will be full of all kinds of great exhibits, vendors, TONS of awesome food and some wonderful speakers. One you won't want to miss is my presentation at 2:45pm on Saturday in the Garden Club Room. I will be chatting about my global experiences on planes, trains and automobiles as the Healthy Voyager as well as some fun, healthy and green tips that you can use on future travels. 

For more information on the event as well as the speaker schedule,

visit the World Veg Fest website!

Hope to see you there!!

I will be off on some Pacific Northewest Healthy Voyages over the next few weeks but I will be back in time for some fun Halloween tips and recipes as well as some great new healthy city secrets!!

Beat the Back to School/End of Summer Blues

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the official end of summer. The kids are back in school, summer hours at jobs have ceased and everyone is back to the grind. It is very easy to slip into daydreams of swimming pools and yearnings for cookouts but, there is also much to look forward to now that we've said goodbye to our shorts and flip flops! I've compiled some tricks and tips to help you make your peace with summer's end and exuberant for the last quarter of 2009!:

• Plan a getaway: Planning a future getaway can help give you something to look forward to & get through your week. As you plan your vacation, visualize yourself at your destination. Whether it's with your family or friends, make it fun and interactive for everyone involved. The fun can start with the prep!
  
• Host a movie or game night: Rent a great flick and invite your friends over for some good food and drinks . The visuals will get your mind off the cold and dreary and onto the engaging storyline or tournament. Make it a recurring event that a group of friends choose to rotate each week. This way you always have a fun evening in the books to help you get through your week.
  
• Schedule playdates for your kids: Just like the movie or game night, kids need fun activities to look forward to to help them through their weeks. Especially when they are starting a new year with a new set of responsibilities. We can't expect them to be excited about homework but it's easy to get them excited about seeing all of their friends who can relate.
• Engage in Fall cleaning: Find therapy and enjoyment in putting away your summer clothes and decor while prepping for Fall & Winter. Freshen up the house with new colorful accents; go through your closets and toss out things you don't wear anymore; and open up the windows and let in the fresh cool air. You may find a ton of stuff to sell at a garage sale so a few extra bucks will definitely make you smile. Or perhaps you start to dig up holiday decorations and your favorite sweater, getting you all the more excited for the months to come.
  
• A day at the spa: Taking a little time to pamper yourself is always a great idea. We all need to de-stress, unwind and reset. If you can't afford a spa treatment, invite your freinds over for mani/pedis, facials and gossip ; )
  
• Start a new hobby or class: A great way to get your groove back is to delve into a hobby or enroll in a class. No matter what tickles your fancy: dance, knitting, kung fu or learning a laguage; starting a new hobby is a great way to get your brain excited and out of the boring routine, but also a terrific way to make new friends!
  
• Make the new routine fun: No matter if it's just you or you and your brood, make the new routines fun. Help you and your loved ones look forward to mornings and other scheduled events by starting a fun tradition. For instance, make Monday "Manic Monday" so get your family ready for the week to some fun and silly tunes, Taco Tuesday and so on ; )
  
• Goal set: Nothing gets you more pumped then working toward a goal. Writing it down and making sure it's something that is attainable in the time you have alotted, can really put a spring in your step. Looking to shed a few pounds before the holidays to make room for fruit cake? Needing to save up to buy that ring for your girl and propose on New Year's Eve? No matter what your goal, write it up and post it somewhere to keep your eye on the prize!
  
• Look forward to the holidays ahead: I happen to be a holiday nut so as soon as Labor Day is over, I'm stoked for crisp air, pumpkins in abundance and planning for my Halloween costume! If you have kids or not, look for fun activities that center around the season. Harvest festivals, county fairs and colder weather events pick up now so make it a point to gather up your family and friends and make the most of Fall.

I know it's tough to bid farewell to hot weather, carefree weekends and swim suits but Fall offers up a lot of fun too so make the most of it!