Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

Anything You Can Make, I Can Make Vegan: Creamy Cajun Linguine

Check it, this was one of Mike's favorite dishes that I used to make a few years back. Well here it is veganized for all of you, and it tastes just as good as ever!

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 :)

A Little Latin Flair: Roasted Pablano Plantain Tofu Wrap

Today I realized that I've been meat, egg and dairy-free for a little over 6 months now, and I've never felt better. My skin rarely breaks out, and it looks and feels much better than it ever has. The energy I have is a complete 180 from where it used to be. I remember always having trouble waking up in the morning, feeling exhausted by 2 or 3 in the and not being able to sleep at night. All those problems a thing of the past. Bonus for my workouts. My muscles heal faster, and if I get sick, (which is rare) it really only lasts a day or two.

Anything You Can Make, I Can Make Vegan: Chipotle-Rubbed Tofu

 
I love perusing through recipes of all kinds. Meat, no-meat, it doesn't matter to me. I can literally spend hours drooling and day dreaming over dish after dish. I'm also not afraid to cook meat. Even though I don't eat it it doesn't bother me, plus I know that my hubby would be a sad panda if I didn't.

Summers In The Air: Spicy Lime Tofu

Say what you will about the humidity, I love it! Such a welcome change from the cold and rain.

Here's another Men's Health redo and a favorite in this apartment. It's fast and looks impressive enough for entertaining. Also minimal clean up! Seriously do I need to keep giving you reasons to make this??

Easiest Soup in the WHOLE Fricken World: Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup

 
I was dragging my ass a bit this morning... I needed a lunch to bring to work, as well as a something for breakfast. I had left over coconut milk that I needed to use up, like asap! I hate wasting food, I always feel so terrible... but anyways by way of either Finding Vegan or Food Gawker (I can't remember which) I found this pretty little dish which to my surprise literally took me 6 minutes to make.

Sring is a Good Time To Thai New Things: Pad Thai

Dear Minnesota, Thank you for not trying to freeze me into submission when I walked outside today. I actually was able to go without a jacket, it was awesome.

So it's been a crazy week, and it's not that I haven't been cooking. Its more that by the time I'm done cooking, my heads ready to hit the pillow. No joke. But It's all for good reasons that I've been so wiped out.

The Air Is Filled With The Smell Of Spring! ...And Jambalaya!

Today was a beautiful day! The sunwas out and it was over 50 degrees for the first time in sooo many long months. Absolutely gorgeous! As the day went on and the sun started to loose strength, the air became chilly and I was inspired to whip up something to warm us back up.

Thursty Thursday: Habanero Martini

I'm sure you guys remember a few weeks ago my post about my habanero infusing vodka that wasn't quite ready. Welllll... I lied. It was ready, and had been for a few days. I happened to read the directions wrong and mistook 3 days for 3 weeks... oops. When Mike and I realized my misjudgment we rushed to separate the vodka from the peppers. Opening the bottle alone made my throat burn and I worried that this vodka would be too spicy for even me...

Seitan Tikka Masala FTW

 
I looooove masala sauce! It's so creamy and tomato-y and flavorful! Oh lord, I could not be happier about the way this dish turned out! Mike had a version of this back on my birthday at Star of India and I'm pretty sure I ate most of it (along with the rest of my dish and... all of the rice... ha, did I mention Indian food is my weakness?)

But I Only Added a Pinch Of Spice: Alu Gobi

Yay for Indian food! Alu Gobi is a cauliflower and potato dish, and I was super excited to make it for Mike and I since we both happen to like potatoes and cauliflower! And I even promised to watch the spiciness for his sake.

I Like it HOT...

Hotter than most it seems. If it were up to me I would put cayenne in my pepper shaker. If your eyes aren't watering and your nose ain't running it's not hot enough. I'm talking about the kind of heat that makes your whole body sweat. And this is why I love my husband. He likes his spicy too, but not to the point that I do. I can't even count home many times I've accidentally made a dish so spicy that he gets driven out of the kitchen... but he's always a trooper and never complains.

A Hummus of a Different Kind: Kidney Bean Hummus

So this morning I was out of hummus, and I had a half hour to make lunch for me and the husband. Tough, me being me, instead of running to the grocery store (which is exactly one mile away) I decided I would just make my own. Oh also, I was also out of chickpeas (canned/cooked) but what I did have was a can of kidney beans. Hooray for the internet! Because I came across a recipe from here. I only altered it a tad, but not much.

This recipe is a southwestern take on hummus. It turned out great! I've already had 3 servings to myself. Though next time I think I wish add more cayenne and lime juice.

Over 30 Likes: I'll Toast to That!

I just want to say you guys are awesome and I seriously appreciate all of the kind words from everybody! This blog has been a blast for me to do and I'm so glad all of you have been enjoying it!

So as promised, this weekend I made something special...

Shots!

So toast! Here's to you guys :)

Spicy Mexican Chocolate Shots

• 2 parts Vanilla Vodka
• 1 part Absolute Peppar
• 1 part Creme de Cacao
• splash of simple syrup
• pinch of cayenne

Pour all ingredients into shaker with a handful of ice. Shake well and pour into shot glasses.

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 :) 

It Probably Exsists in Your Cupboard: Red Lentil Dahl

 
It's something I had seen on the menu at our local Indian restaurant but had never ordered before. I'm not sure why because it was sooo amazing! Also chances are if searched your kitchen you most likely have everything on hand to make this super easy colorful little dish.

Soup Week Rages On: Thai Chili

Today has been full of hacking, coughing and other unpleasantries... So tonight I took matters into my own hands. Nothing like a little (and by that I mean a lot of) spice to clear your system! I was inspired by a friends facebook picture of an awesome looking bowl of chili and PPK's recipe for Red Lentil Thai Chili

Not surprising I didn't stick to the recipe and made a few of my own changes. Which I will include below, if you want the original recipe (which is adapted from a Clean Eating recipe) click here.

It all began with a book and a cookie...

It all began a little over two years ago. It was Christmas Eve and now husband, Mike, handed me a gift. I pulled back the paper to reveal a cook book. I was over-joyed and quickly began paging through. Drooling over every recipe. In awe that it was organized by season, and also included calorie counts (at the time I had been working on eating better). And while everything looked and sounded amazing one particular recipe caught my eye.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies... these words that changed my life forever.