Savory Savannah

Boy oh boy, if the lady next to me isn't my polar opposite, food wise, I don't know who is! But let me tell you, Paula is the sweetheart of Savannah and I can see why she calls it home. Savannah is beautiful and creepy all at the same time! Full of sleepy Spanish moss filled trees, incredible southern hospitality and a plethora of ghosts, it's quite the interesting vacation spot.

I will start with Lady & Sons, since I'm standing next to the Savannah sweetheart in the shot. This cute, 3 floor diner, is Paula's Deen's place and it's always packed. So packed that people stand in line every morning at 9am to just make a reservation for sometime that day! Ok, so what can a vegan eat at the self proclaimed butter queen's palace? The Sho Nuff vegetable sandwich, minus the cheese, was a hit with me. It was between that and the asparagus sandwich but I'd have to modify it to much to chow down. I of course had some sweet tea, duh, and was told that at dinner, the chef prepares a kickin' veggie plate for us non meaty meat eaters ; ) I loved seeing where the magic started for Paula and even more getting a reservation. There is more info available at Lady & Sons online. PS - they offer a gluten free menu too!

Being in the sweet south over new years was fun! What made it great was that we met the nicest people and loved everywhere we went. We stayed in the historic district at the Country Inn & Suites and our concierge hooked us way up! We hopped on to the trolley and ghost tours by Old Savannah Tours and she got us a 1980's limo car ride to Corleone's for our last meal of 2008. I dug the place, along with it's Godfather theme. The food was fresh and tasty and veggie friendly. the Penne Broccoli with white wine garlic sauce was a perfect end to 2008 as was the nice glass of wine I had to start off the night ; ) Make sure you take the 80's mobster limo to Corleone's, call to make arrangements before you dine!

For an organic, chic meal, head over to Cha Bella. It's Savannah's answer to trendy, seasonal dining with a little stylish shabby chic to go with it. The food is super fresh and everything is beautifully presented. I had a savory seasonal vegetable primavera while my beau dined on a pretty awesome looking sandwich. For a nice, southern night out, definitely try Cha Bella.

Being that Savannah is small and quaint, only the main shopping street, Broughton, had a commercial coffee place for my city butt ; ) But I hustled over to Forsyth Park and found the Sentient Bean. Not only was my soy latte yum, and my eco karma rewarded, the vegan sandwich they whipped up for me was one of the tastiest I've ever had. It was new year's day so they had not stocked up on much so they created a magical feast on bread that made my mouth and tummy, do cartwheels ; ) A hispster place located by the big, pretty park and next door to a natural market, Sentient Bean is a must visit for food, refreshments, and even indie film nights!

I love Savannah so much that there is more to come next week!!!

Somethin's Cookin' in St. Augustine

There is something about being in the oldest city in the United States that evokes a feeling of pride, patriotism and hunger! Walking through the fort, going to the oldest school house and visiting the fountain of youth can whip up a mean appetite. So where can a health nut chow in an old timey town? I'll tell ya!

Rolling into town, I needed sustenance. I had read up on The Manatee Cafe and had to hunt it down. And was I glad I did! I had a killer breakfast burrito with hummus, beans, avocado and all kinds of other healthy fillings. I wanted to eat everything on the menu but I knew there was more to try throughout the day so I behaved. For any meal of the day, definitly make one of them at The Manatee Cafe!
Stepping out for the day in downtown, I needed a pick me up. I strolled over to Crucial Coffee Shop because the sweet smell yanked me over! Crucial is in the thick of the historic district, in a cute old wooden cottage, plopped on the corner of an old brick road. Sounds magical, eh? Well so was their soy chocolate madness latte! It hit the spot for my holiday time sweet tooth as well as gave me the jolt I needed to walk the oldest streets in the nation ; ) Crucial is way cute and way yum, walk on up and have a cup o' joe at 26 Charlotte St, St Augustine, FL 32084,(904) 810-2080.

Since we were with the familia, we decided to have lunch on the water where the nieces could feed the birds and the fish. Santa Maria is not positioned on a sea wall, it really is on the water, on stilts, and quite the place for hungry seagulls, and human families, to dine. It's seafoody, rustic ambiance scared me into thinking I'd be consuming nothing but bread and tea but I was wrong! They had a yummalicious black bean burger and a big old salad for me and I ate every last crumb ; ) The kids, the birds, the fish and the vegan had a fine lunch at Santa Maria!

On our way out of town, we rested our weary feet at Pizzalley's. A cute Italian joint in downtown, it was all hustle and bustle. And for good reason! The food was very good and the prices were just right. I ordered up the "create your own pasta" dish, sans pasta (might have had egg in it). They sauteed up a slew of yummy veggies in a super delish marinara and I was in a food coma all the ride back. It's a cute place with a fun vibe and great food right in downtown St. Augustine at 117 St. George St, (904) 347-2479.

I hadn't been to St. Augustine in many, many years. I was glad to see that it was still as quaint and pretty as I had remembered and I was even happier at the fun places that have sprouted up for nutty people like me to fill their hungry bellies ; ) I'm excited to pop back in very soon!

Jumpin' for Jacksonville

Back from a very long holiday trip to see family, plan our wedding and have some of our own, non-holiday, vacation time, it's nice to be back at the keyboard ; ) One of the many cities on our 3 week winter jaunt was Jacksonville. I hadn't been there since I was a kid so it was really nice to spend some quality time there. It's the south for sure, with a hint of Florida. Palm trees, sun, beaches and good southern hospitality are a great mix!

During the holidays, it's a given that most of us spend time with family. That being said, if there are a lot of you, it's tough to find places where everyone can eat something that suits them. We took a ride downtown to have a meal by the water. There were a few choices at Jacksonville Landing and we all decided on The American Cafe. It is a chain however, I'd never been to one, and it wasn't shabby. They were great about making my dish the way I needed as well as other picky diners who joined us. I got a yummy Portobello sandwich with no cheese and a side of sweet potatoes. It definitely filled me up for the rest of the day. To find a location near you, check the American Cafe out online.

One evening, we all popped into a strip mall so that each of us could grab what we needed from lattes to liquor (afterall, it was the holidays!) ; ) I smelled this wonderful aroma wafting from the Heirlooms Bistro so I swooped in. I ordered a delicious salad that was filled with fresh veggies and a super tasty vinaigrette. They had all kinds of gourmet foods, all fresh, and were very helpful to little miss vegan.

Finally, on our last evening in town, we wanted one more waterfront meal so we chose the River City Brewing Company. It's a great place with a beautiful view of the skyline as well as some pretty damn good grub. It's a bit fancy shmancy but the leaf eater was way satisfied. I split some killer bruschetta with my beau (split means I ate 75%!) and I had a super duper house salad. They had a serious veggie plate but after the 3/4 bruschetta, I had to keep it light ; ) If you are ever in J-ville, make sure you have a romantic meal at the River City Brewing Company.

Jacksonville is the pit stop before Florida turns into Georgia and a great one to pick up some savory meals on your way in or out!

2009 - A Year of Health And Wealth

2008 was a rough year peppered with some great and hopeful events. Such events will help propel some wonderful new things for all of us so I wanted to wish you all a very happy and positive new year so that we all start off on the right foot!

Also with the new year will come new cities and postings as well as the new Healthy Voyager website! It will feature new episodes of the web show, archives of postings of cities all over the world for easier access, recipes, travel and green home tips, ways to contact and interact with the Healthy Voyager, shopping and of course, the updated blog and photos.

We come back mid January with new posts and keep your eyes peeled for the new and improved HealthyVoyager.com !!

Here's hoping you had a spectacular holiday season and I wish you a very healthy, wealthy and happy new year!!!

xoxo

Wishing You Healthy Holidays And An Excellent 2009!!

The holiday season has officially arrived and all the comes with it is in full swing. From the shopping to the tv specials to the smorgasboard of sugary and savory treats, this time of year is a time to let the worries of '08 slip away and enjoy our friends and family. As 2009 quickly approaches, many breathe a sigh of relief in hopes that this year brings us new opportunities and washes away some of the difficulties many endured this last trip around the sun. As I head off to spend the holidays and next month with family, my last post of 2008 will be one of sentiment and a few gifts ; )

I've complied some tips that may help to make this holiday season happy, eco-friendly, budget concious and stress free for you and yours. No matter what, remember to enjoy the season as the love and cheer during the holidays should be cherished. In fact, try to harness it this year and bring it in to 2009 ; )

• If you are traveling over the holidays, make sure you "know before you go". Planning ahead is key to stress free holiday travel from researching the town you will be visiting for restaurants, markets, hotels, etc. Spending a little time on the computer at home will save you valuable time that you could be enjoying your short vacation this winter. Check out my Healthy Voyager archives for cities all over the world and where to dine as well as past holiday tips!
• There are many ways to give this holiday season from volunteering at a shelter, a soup kitchen or donating your unused items such as clothing, housewares and electronics. There are many programs where you can drop off such items and receive a tax write off and sometimes a bit of extra spending cash. This time of year there are many added drop off locations for Goodwill and Salvation Army as well as opportunities to give gifts and food to needy children and families like Toys for Tots and many more. Staples allows you to drop off that old phone at any of their stores, as part of the Sierra Club cell phone recycling program. Recycling your old phone prevents hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from ending up in our landfills.
• Make your own decorations and wrapping paper! With a few simple supplies and a little imagination, you can make great eco-friendly decorations and have a lot of fun in the process. Colored construction paper can be cut or folded into simple decorations, which is great to do with the little ones in your family. Baker’s clay, made from common kitchen ingredients, can be shaped and molded into holiday figures and colored with non-toxic paints or food coloring. In addition, try wrapping presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children's artwork. If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields! Later, the paper can be recycled ; )
• Buy energy saving LED lights! Now you can decorate your house with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights, and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season! LED lights are available at many major retailers as well as online.
• Give and/or make green gifts! It is the thought that counts but it's also great to give smart. Make sure you are not buying/making something that will end up in the trash. There are many green holiday gift guides on the internet so it shouldn't be hard to find some good stuff. Really asses what your "giftee" needs or could use. If you are short on cash, make gift certificates and offer up services like babysitting for the new parents on your list or a home cooked meal for a neighbor. Baking and sharing your sweets is always welcomed especially when your treats are healthy ; )
  

And speaking of baking and holiday treats, here are some of my favorites:

Mexican Wedding Cakes

• 1 cup soy margarine
• 1/2 cup powered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
• Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream margarine, the 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla in medium bowl. Combine flour and pecans in a separate bowl. Stir into mixture in medium bowl. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake in 325 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll again in powdered sugar.

Candy Cane Shaped Cookies

• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup powered sugar
• Substitute equivalent of 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid red food coloring

Pre-heat oven to 350° F.

Mix flour and salt together, set aside.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat margarine until creamy, gradually beat in powered sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in egg replacer, vanilla, and peppermint extracts then lower mixer speed and gradually mix in the flour mixture, beating just until blended. Remove slightly more than half of the dough from the bowl and set aside. Add the red food coloring to the remaining dough and beat until evenly mixed and colored.

For each candy cane, scoop out 1 teaspoonful of the plain dough and 1 teaspoonful of pink dough. Roll each dough portion between your hands to make a 4 inch rope. Twist the ropes around each other like a Barber Pole and shape into a cane shape. Arrange cookies on a greased baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake for about 8 minutes until firm to the touch.

Eggless Nog

• 1 16-ounce package of silken tofu
• 1 cup soy vanilla soy milk
• 1/4 cup sweetener
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Rum to taste (optional)

Blend all in a blender until smooth - Chill and serve.

Also check out last year's holiday post for more recipes:

http://healthyvoyager.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-treats.html

I wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season as well as a prosperous and hopeful new year. See you mid-January 2009!!!

xoxoxo

Many Reasons to Give Thanks

On this special Monday edition of the Healthy Voyager, I want to share with you some healthy tips and anecdotes to kick off the holiday season. It has been a tumultuous year for many however there is always something to give thanks for and our health is just one of those things. Here are a few things that can keep us counting our blessings as well as a few treats to celebrate them!

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying only as much as you need and choosing products that come in packaging that can be recycled. Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping, and use cloth napkins that can be washed and used again. Be sure to recycle all paper and plastic, glass and aluminum containers. If you don’t already have a compost bin, use your Thanksgiving fruit and vegetable trimmings to start one. The compost will enrich the soil in your garden next spring.

• Buy and eat locally grown food - Locally grown food is good for your table, your health and the environment. Locally grown food tastes better than food that has to be grown and packaged for maximum shelf life, and it requires less fuel to reach store shelves. Locally grown food also contributes more to your local economy, supporting local farmers as well as local merchants. Also, using only organic food for your feast is another good eco-friendly Thanksgiving strategy. Organic fruits, vegetables and grains are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers; organic meat is produced without antibiotics and artificial hormones. The result is food that is better for your health and good for the environment. Organic farming also produces higher yields, increases soil fertility, prevents erosion, and is more cost-effective for farmers.

• Travel Smart - If you must go "over the river and through the woods", there are still ways to have an eco-friendly Thanksgiving. If you drive, use less fuel and lower your emissions by making sure your car is in good working order and your tires are properly inflated. If possible, carpool to reduce the number of cars on the road. If you fly, consider purchasing carbon credits to offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by your flight. A typical long-haul flight produces nearly four tons of carbon dioxide.

• Plant a Tree - Trees absorb carbon dioxide. Planting one tree may not seem to matter much in the face of global climate change, but small things do matter. In one year, the average tree absorbs roughly 26 pounds of carbon dioxide and returns enough oxygen to supply a family of four.

• Make it a Spiritual Day - The Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving fled religious persecution in Europe to seek a better life in America. The Thanksgiving holiday was established to provide a national day of thanksgiving for all Americans. Even if you follow no particular religion, however, Thanksgiving is a good time to count your blessings, beginning with the many ways the natural environment sustains and enriches our lives. As part of your eco-friendly Thanksgiving, make time for prayer, meditation, reflection, or perhaps just a walk in the woods to contemplate and give thanks for the wonders of nature.

• Say Thank You - Whatever else you do on Thanksgiving, make it a time to say thank you to the people in your life who matter most and, if possible, to spend time in their company. Life is short, it is the moments that count most, and many of the best moments in life are those spent with friends and family. If distance or circumstances prevent you from spending Thanksgiving with some of the people you love, call, email or write them a letter (on recycled paper!!) to tell them why they mean so much to you and they make your world a better place.

And try some of these extra yummy dishes at your Thanksgiving feast:

SAGE AND ONION CORNBREAD STUFFING

• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 c. celery and tops, chopped
• 3/4 lb. cornbread cubes
• 1 and 1/2 c. vegetarian broth
• 1/2 tsp. EACH of sage, thyme, savory and dried rosemary
• salt and freshly-ground black pepper (you won't need salt if the broth is salted)
• Saute the onion and celery in a large lightly-oiled or non-stick frying pan in the oil until softened, adding a little broth if necessary to keep from sticking. Remove from heat and add the remaining stuffing ingredients. The bread should be moist. Mix well. Grease loaf or tube pans, or a casserole dish, with Asian sesame oil. Pack in the stuffing. Brush with more sesame oil. Cover with foil. Bake at 325-375 degrees for about 1 hour.
  

Sweet Potato Pie

3 large sweet potatoes 3 tablespoons oil or non-dairy margarine 1/2 cup hot soy milk egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs 1/2 cup fructose 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 unbaked vegan pie crust

Steam the sweet potatoes until tender, then peel and mash.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the oil in the hot soymilk, and add to the sweet potatoes. Beat until soft and creamy.

Add the beaten egg replacer, fructose, sea salt, vanilla, and nutmeg to the sweet potato mixture, and mix well.

Pour the filling into the crust, and bake for 30 minutes.

Check out last year's Thanksgiving post for more vegan recipes. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

xoxoxo