What to do when it's too hot to cook (plus a little chocolate therapy)

Maybe you have A/C... maybe you're like me and don't (well that's a lie... I do... except mine has decided that it would be really cool if it would just act like a heater and blow hot air....)

Waste Not: Sunday's Are My Favorite

I hate to waste anything... especially fresh food.

I'm Baaaack! And I made breakfast!

Hey everyone!! I'm back! I know it's been a little while.

Feelin' All Warm and Squashy Inside! Butternut Squash Soup

Hey everybody!!! It's been a little while, I've been working like a mad woman so I haven't had much time for blogging, but trust me when I say that I have a ton of recipes to post!!!

So Christmas is only 5 and a half days away! And as always I still have shopping and baking and cleaning and on top of that work to do... Anyways like a lot of you I'm usually in a pinch for dinner (or breakfast, lunch and dinner... Just call me Mrs. On Top Of Things) So came about the creation of this really easy and fairly quick soup that will warm up all of your gushy little insides and make your tummy happy :) (Plus you know I loves me some squash)

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup:

• 1 medium sized butternut squash, roasted and pureed (to save time use 1-2 cans of already pureed squash)
• 3c veggie broth
• 1c plain soy milk (or other non dariy milk)
• 2t cinnamon
• 1t cumin
• 1/2t pumpkin pie spice (optional, I do it for good measure)
• 1/2t fresh grated ginger
• 1/4t garlic powder
• 1/4t salt
• 1/4t nutmeg
• 1/4t cayenne (or more if your feeling spicy)

Mix erry'thing together in a pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil (side note: watch so that it doesn't boil-over and create a huge mess of your flat top stove...)  reduce heat and simmer for 20 mintues (longer if you want it thinker, less if you like it thinner).

Tada! you now have yummy soup, your welcome. (anotherside note let it sit for like 10 minutes before you haul off and destroy the inside of your mouth...)

Tomorrow dear children, we'll will continue this squashy lovefest with a little pumpkin baked ziti and possibly scones (we'll see how motivated I get) but I'll leave you off with the only Christmas song I can really stand haha, you know to get you in the holiday spirit and whatnot :)

Happy 'Merica Day!!

Hey all, here's a festive little breakfast/snack idea for a healthy happy refreshing 4th!!

Happy Forth Toast: (serves 1)

• 1 slice bread (I used a whole wheat sourdough... AH-MAZ-ING)
• 2T peanut butter (or other favorite nut butter)
• 4-8 fresh strawberries, sliced thin
• 1/4 of an apple, cut into thin strips
• a few blueberries
• Small mint sprig (to garnish, optional)

Toast the bread (totally optional), spread on the peanut butter and layer straw berries, apples and blueberries to create an American flag, or get creative and make your own design.

P.S. I promise I'll be posting more soon! Have a safe and happy holiday!! 'Merica!!

Things That Sound Scary but Aren't: Quinoa Tabouli

Or even complicated for that matter (seriously, I made this for my lunch this morning and I'm pretty sure I barely had to check on it as I scrambled around the apartment to get ready for the day)

Alas, I don't know about you but a lot of the closest people to me are also the pickiest eaters I know, and usually won't eat anything that "sounds weird".... (which is unfortunate because to them most of the things I cook "sound weird"... grrr) But fret not, I'm here to try and un-scary some really good food.

It's Okay To Take It Easy Sometimes: Baked Lentil Sweet Potato

I'm not dead I promise!! I just been on kind of a slump lately. My intentions this upcoming week are to do a little baking and creative cooking. But in the meantime there's this blog called The Vegan Stoner, which I absolutely love! I love the principal behind their site, that vegan food doesn't need to be this big complicated ordeal. It can be simple and amazing all at the same time.

I came across the baked lentil potato and was excited because I had everything on hand to make it... well other than reular potatoes so I used a sweet potato instead, I highly recommend that you whip one up. They were sooo simple and yet so very extraordinary!

Check out the original recipe here

My Cat-urdays Are Anything but Lazy These Days

Today is my adventure day.

It's true most Saturdays I spent my time indoors bored outta my flippin' gourd... but not as of late. The big guy and I have been working are proverbial asses off. It's been big crazy combination of exciting and stressful, but all in all we agreed it's been fun. And with as busy as we've been I've found that in my spare time the last thing I want to do is sit around. It just feels like a waste.

Italian Recipe Round Up: Bruschetta, Minestrone, and Grilled Veggies

So I think I've discovered that I can never go back to eating dairy or eggs again. I tried eating dairy on Thursday, woke up sick Friday... But felt better yesterday morning. Then yesterday afternoon I made fried rice for my husband and couldn't resist having a bowl myself... bad idea. So here I sit nauseated and all sorts of unpleasantness... But it's not all bad, at least I now I'm fairly positive I've nailed down the source of my mysterious stomach pains. Also while I was feeling better I made a slew of Italian goodies.

Change Up Your Breakfast: Sweet Potatoes

Before going veg I used to live off of eggs and yogurt for breakfast (not together... that would probably be gross). Actually what I was going to eat for breakfast was a slight concern of mine when I made the decision to forgo my once beloved animal proteins, since every morning I would have a bowl of oatmeal, and either two or three eggs (for a brief period egg whites) with cheese, or a greek yogurt and fruit.

But I got creative and found my new favorite breakfast... sweet potatoes!

Getting in Touch with My Roots... Sorta: Baked Plantains

Some of you know and some of you may not, but I am originally from Bogota, Colombia. Now, before you go asking me if I can speak Spanish and all that (common question, and the answer is no I cannot) was adopted and thus didn't grow up there.

Fun Fact: Coffee beans are one of Colombia's biggest exports and despite it being my nickname I hate coffee.

Give You're Ass a 'Good Morning' Kick: Spicy Tempeh Hash

Good ol' hardy breakfast hash. It's something I haven't had for years EVER!

And I'm not talking about frozen ore-lda here, I'm talking about fresh, from scratch and spicy! Cooking is an adventure, and if you don't like to get you're hands dirty... get out of my kitchen :)