Friday, May 7, 2010

London Encore

I've been to London several times and every time, I find more and more veggie yumminess.  It's quickly becoming one of the most veg friendly cities in the world and delicious to boot!  Gone are the days of poking fun at bland English food and welcome to a veritable taste bud frenzy. In addition to the last London post, here are a few more spots that I couldn't leave out of the mix ; )

One of my favorite things about London is the amount of quick food spots all over town. And by quick food, I don't mean fast food. I mean eateries that have fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and other treats that are made daily. A lot of them have refrigerators packed with selections for a healthy to go treat as well as counters for an on the spot experience. Eat is just one of those places with convenient location all over town. I especially love their veggie meal or sandwich of the week and I fell in love with their veggie gyoza soup! Delish!!!  Quick, healthy & affordable - you can't beat that!

Itsu is yet another chain of quick food. Itsu's spin is sushi, noodles, soups and salads with a modern feel to each locale. Their motto is "Health & Happiness" which I believe they deliver on consistently ; ) For us non-sushi eating vegans, their miso soup and veggie dumplings are choice. Top it off with their organic dark chocolate rice cakes for an after lunch sweet tooth squasher!

Nothing is screams iconic London more then a red double decker bus.  But what would be cooler then dining on one? Dining on a vegan one! Here in London town there are 2 vegan bus-taurants, Rootmaster & Vegan Routes.  Each offers up killer vegan food and can be reserved for private events. Comfy, cute and tasty, these novelty restaurants are worth the ride ; )

If you're in need of some yoga and meditation after running around from tube to tube, check out Alchemy. A holistic sanctuary in the center of the city that also boasts a cef and juice bar. So after a relaxing session of Kundalini, treat yourself to a Hemp Mountain Magic Super Smoothie with hemp seed milk, maca, banana, agave syrup, mesquite and cacao nibs.  After all that sight seeing and eating you're way through jolly ol' London, you will need it!!

Next, I visit the English seaside & college towns - join me, won't you?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Healthy Voyager Radio - Creative Crusaders

 
Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring Vance Lemkhul of Vegcast and the Bizarro King, Dan Piraro:


Next week we chat with Eat Cleaner's Mareya Ibrahim and raw chef, Bryan Au!!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Making the Most of Mother's Day

Moms make the world go 'round from kissing boo boos to being a shoulder to cry on when our heart breaks ; ) Mother's day is that Sunday that comes once every year where we show her how much we love her, feed her and shower her with gifts. What better way to express our love then fixing her a healthy feast and gifting her with things that will help her live a healthier and greener life? We want mom around for many Motehr's Days to come so here is a Mother's day menu fit for a queen and a list of gift ideas that will help set her on a path to wellness!

 Gifts and goodies
  • Green Cooking Pots - Toss out those pots mom has been cooking with since you were in diapers and get her some eco-conscious and stylish enameled cast-iron pots and pans.
  • Gobble Green Vegan Home Delivery - Save your mom some time in the kitchen without sacrificing taste and nutrition. Order up a yummy vegan meal with via Gobble Green's delivery service, nationwide.
  • Chocolatl -Mom will love the gift of delicious, rich, raw, vegan chocolate ; )
  • Olsenhaus Shoes - Sexy, stylish, eco, vegan shoes. Nuf said.
  • Ro & Co Bags - Get your mom the hottest vegan bag around. Clutch, hobo, whatever, she will love you for it!
  • Nimli - Shop for clothes, bags and more for mom - a green, organic and conscious online store!
  • Tallulah Jane Perfume -What goes great with new clothes, jewelry, bags and shoes? All natural perfume!
  • PeaceLoveEarth Jewelry - A division of Annatarian eco-couture, PLE jewelry is eco, vegan and spiritual. The gift of a wish bracelet or a necklace will go over quite well after mom's afternoon feast ; )
  • Sevi - EcoVegan body care and cosmetics - mom will be over the moon with these treats! 
  • Village Tea Co. - Help mom wind down and kick her feet up with some delicious, eco tea.
 Mother's Day Brunch

Mom-osas

2  cups fresh orange juice
1  cup  fresh pineapple juice, chilled
2  T grenadine
1  bottle Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled (2 cans ginger ale or lemon-lime soda may be substituted for non-alcoholic version)

 Stir together first 3 ingredients. Pour equal parts orange juice mixture and Champagne into glasses.

Gingerbread, Apple & Vanilla Waffles


2 cups flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 T baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup molasses
1 1/4 cups soy milk, unsweetened or vanilla
1/2 stick vegan butter, melted

Apple Compote
3 pounds of apples, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 vanilla bean, cut in two lengthwise
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 T lemon juice
2 T vegan butter
2 T apple brandy or dark rum (optional)

For the Apple Compote:
Add the apples, sugar, water, lemon juice, and butter to a large pot. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean with a knife. Add the seeds and vanilla pod to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and most of the liquid has evaporated (about 25 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the brandy or rum. Remove the vanilla pod before serving.

For the Waffles:

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In another bowl mix together the milk, brown sugar, molasses, and melted butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Ladle the batter into a hot waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. Keep cooked waffles warm in an oven set at its lowest setting. Put a scoop of warm apple compote onto each serving of waffles to serve. For an extra treat add vegan whipped cream, powdered sugar, or chopped nuts.


Italian Frittata


1 lb extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped spinach
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 lemon, juice of
1/4 cup fresh basil leaf, chiffonade

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a mixing bowl, crumble the tofu through your fingers until it resembles ricotta cheese. Be sure to sqeeze out all the lumps. Mix in the soy sauce, mustard, nutritional yeast and turmeric and combine well. In a small (8-inch) skillet, saute the onions in the olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and thyme, and saute for 3 more minutes. Add the garlic saute for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice, mix and remove from heat. Transfer the cooked onion mixture to the tofu and combine well, foldin basil leaves and spinach. Place the tofu back into the skillet and press down firmly in place. Cook in the oven at 400 for 20 minutes. Transfer to the broiler to brown the top, about two minutes. Let the frittata sit for 10 minute before serving. Carefully cut into 4 slices and lift each piece with a pie server to prevent it from falling apart.

Mom, thanks for everything you did and continue to do! Happy Mother's Day!! xoxo

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Healthy Voyager Radio - Compassionate Authors & Cooks


Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring Will Tuttle & the Compassionate Cook, Colleen Patrick-Godreau:


Next week we chat with fellow vegan podcaster, Vance of Vegcast as well as the very funny & talented, Dan Piraro!!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Happy Earth Weekend!

It's been forty years since the first Earth Day and in the last 10 years, the green movement has skyrocketed to great heights. While the world is on it's biggest green kick ever, it seems that our earth is still in great peril. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time however, it has presented us with the opportunity to build a healthier, more prosperous, clean energy economy now and as well as for our future. Being green has all caused us all to look at the bigger picture but also how to clean up our own act as well. I truly believe that if we start from the inside out, the world will benefit.

Earth Day offers us the chance to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs in addition to learning about sustainable living in our own home and communities. This 40th anniversary Earth Day weekend is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy.

I've complied some things you can start with this Earth Day Weekend, from events to shopping, that will not only be fun as well as rewarding, but can also be done any time of the year to celebrate Earth Day all year long!

Shopping 
You can find eco versions of pretty much everything you use in your every day life, and even "splurgy" luxury items! Here are a few sites to check out:
Activities
Here are just a few fun, green things you can do with friends or family:
  • Sign up for YourDailyTread's Go Green Bootcamp!  20 days of daily tips to go from Eco Zero to Eco Hero!
  • Join a beach or park cleanup with groups like the Surfrider Foundation
  • Plant a tree - visit the Arbor Day site for more info
  • Check out a Green Drinks event in your area
  • If you have kids, Print out our calendar and draw a green star for each day that you do an activity that helps the earth!
  • Get your green thumb dirty and start a garden
  • Turn trash into treasure! Refurbish an old sofa, chair or even a garment. Get crafty and creative and you just might produce a work of art ; )
Tips
My top 10 tips to help you go green!
  • Go Veg!  Check out last year's Earth Day post on how going veg can be the greenest thing you can do ; )
  • Ride your bike whenever you can. If you just need some bread, bike to the store instead of drive, save $, gas and get some exercise in too!
  • Swap out as many bulbs as possible with energy efficient CFL's (compact fluorescent light bulbs)
  • Don't run the water while you are brushing your teeth. That could be a good minute or so of wasted H2O.
  • Get a few reusable grocery bags. They have gotten really stylish now so there is no excuse to be piling up the paper and plastic bags ; )
  • Get a great glass water bottle (bpa free or aluminum is fine too, but I prefer glass). Do away with buying 1 use, plastic water bottles. I've got some great companies listed on my Healthy Voyager Approved Directory so get one today!
  • Shop locally and seasonally. Buying seasonal and local products not only helps support the community but also decreases the need for long distance shipping and costs as well as being healthier for you ; )
  • Disconnect electronic items when not in use. I know that might sound like a pai, especially if you've got your office or entertainment system rigged up just so. But there are great power strips, like DSI Green Power Strip, that have 1 main source so all you have to do is flip 1 switch and the job has been done for you!
  • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Also use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
  • Ramp up your recycling! Be more cognizant of what you are throwing in the trash, make sorting bins if you don't already have them. Take batteries, electronics and other "not-really-disposable" items to the proper disposal facilities.
Links & Resources
Some great sites and info on how to be green from personal style to worldwide green news

Join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day and have a very happy Earth Weekend (or better yet, Earth Life!!)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Healthy Voyager Radio - Earth Day Cooking & Media


Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring Jenny & Heather Goldberg of Spork Foods as well as Gary Smith & Kezia Jauron from Evolotus PR:


Next week we chat with the inspirational Will Tuttle & Compassionate Cook, Colleen Patrick-Godreau!!