Country Bohemian Home

Well we finally got out of the city. We found a rental property with a lot of acreage and cows and wild turkeys are included in our view out the windows. We are loving it so far. At night we can see the stars, so many stars. I had forgotten how many there were. There are no sounds of traffic or sirens or even dogs. It is my idea of heaven really. And most exciting of all, I finally have a flock of chickens. Well, chicks right now. Four little White Leghorns and two Barred Rocks. The place cam with a chicken coop that just needed a few repairs and updates. Sorry for the photo heavy post, but I wanted to share my joy.

 The creek

 View from the kitchen windows

 Turkeys in the morning

 Cows and green everywhere

Spring fed brook

 Living room stone fireplace

 Sophie

 Kitchen

Other side of living room

 Chicks!! They are growing fast.

The dogs love their new found freedom.

 So, I am taking up a new hobby, exercise, fun time. What ever you want to call it. I got a bike. In fact it was gifted to me by a lovely friend who used it for 3 years as her only transportation. I am blessed not to have to do that, but I do plan to use it to get around town to places like the farmers market, the library, the bookstore and others. I am so excited to get going on this. I only need a helmet and a basket now. I want to be able to carry anything I 'd  like. And eventually I will get a cargo bike for even more possibilities. Stay tuned.. Peace~Yarrow

Water....sacred water

Thought I would repost these delicious recipes for naturally flavoured waters that I posted last July. What with the sweltering hot days and my decision to give up Diet Coke, I have been drinking a lot of water. And though I have always loved fresh filtered water, I can get bored with the bland taste sometimes. So here's to getting that fresh water and having it tasty too.



Spa Water

1 gallon cold water
5 slices fresh lemon
5 slices fresh cucumber

Place all ingredients in a pitcher and serve. For a stronger flavor let the pitcher stand in the refrigerator for an hour or more.



Mint Infused Water

1 gallon cold water
1/2 bunch of fresh mint

Cut and remove stems from fresh mint. Wash mint. Add mint to pitcher, fill with cold water. For a stronger flavor, break mint leaves to release flavor.


Pineapple~Orange Water

1 gallon cold water
1 cup fresh pineapple, cut into cubes
5 slices fresh orange

Place pineapple and orange into pitcher. Lightly mash with a spoon to releases juices. Add cold water. refrigerate for one hour and serve.














(Enjoy and stay away from those artificially sweetened waters. Nature's way is much better for you. These recipes were lovingly lifted from
the Laptop Lunch Times Newsletter.)

Giving up Diet Coke

When I was a junior in high school I began drinking soft drinks on a regular basis. Up until then, my parents just didn't spend the money on them. I discovered Diet Coke in the vending machine at my high school and that was when the love affair began. I switched to regular when I got pregnant, ugh, I know, not any healthier, but at least the artificial sweetener was out of the picture. Then after having my daughter a nutritionist suggested I drink Diet Coke in order to lose the remaining pregnancy weight that I still had. So I did, and that was twenty-two years ago! A twenty two year Diet Coke habit....wow, I have been trying to find it in myself to give it up for the health benefits for a while now. But it was a hard habit to break. My one vice so to speak.

However, I ran out of Diet Coke,, and money to buy more last week, and so I have been without long enough to get past the caffeine withdrawal headaches, and yesterday morning I watched the documentary "A World Without Water" and I am now determined to drop this habit in protest of what Coca Cola is doing in water starved countries. I think that everyone should watch this film. It is so important to our world. Water is sacred....and everyone deserves to have access to fresh, clean water. It is a basic human right. I will also be doing it for my health. I expect even more weight loss and more energy without having the insulin generating effects of the carbs and artificial sweeteners in Diet Coke. I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Bikini Time

Sophie and David and I all got in the pool yesterday to cool off. Sophie decided that we should have a picture of us in our bikinis. :) I must say that I did not realize the extent of my weight loss and shape up until I saw this photo. If you recall the ones that I posted last year after a year of yoga. This is the result of a year of eating a vegan diet. Woo Hoo! I am pretty stoked. My poppet is as cute as a button in hers too. :)

Favorite Vegan Desserts

Ok I know this post has been slow in coming but life happens. I promised to share my favorite vegan dessert recipes with you and here they are, in no particular order. As a side note, my weight is now down another five pounds. Without my doing anything besides yoga, walking the dog, and eating a healthy vegan diet. I realized last night that I can see my ribs without sucking in my stomach, I haven't seen my ribs in 20 years! Also I am only 10 pounds away from what I weighed twenty years ago. I really had not realized how great a change had occurred, it sort of crept up on me. David is actually the one who noticed and pointed it out to me. I am feeling very good physically and usually have a great deal of energy to accomplish all I need to. Ok, enough about that on with the recipes.

If you read this blog regularly, you will know that I am a dessert lover and a chocolate lover especially. There is no way I wanted to give up my desserts to eat vegan so I went in search of the yummiest creations out there, and there are a lot of them. I also like simple things that are fairly quick and easy to prepare so this dessert list reflects that. If you want to spend some time and effort on preparation, then the sky is the limit when it comes to deliciousness.

This first one couldn't be more simple or more delicious.

Chocolate Dream

1/4 cup melted vegan margarine
1 cup vegan graham cracker crumbs or prepared crust
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 1/4 cup chocolate or carob chips
2 1/4 cups silken tofu
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375*F. In a medium bowl mix margarine, crumbs and maple syrup. Press into a 9-inch pie pan and bake for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Place pie crust in refrigerator to chill.
Melt chips in a medium sized pot; stir for smooth consistency. Set aside when melted, in a blender, combine tofu and maple syrup and blend until smooth. Add melted chocolate chips
and blend until smooth. Pour into pie crust. Refrigerate at least 45 minutes. Yum!

This one is a huge hit with the whole family.

Chocolate Pudding
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 cups plain soy milk or rice milk
2 Tbsp vegan chocolate chips, optional
1/2 tsp vanilla

Sift cocoa and cornstarch together in a pot. Whisk in sugar and salt. Gradually whisk in about half of the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Pour in remaining milk, whisking well.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. As soon as pudding reaches a boil, remove from heat and whisk, adding chocolate chips, if using, and vanilla, until chips are melted and blended. Transfer to four pudding cups or bowls and refrigerate for 1 hour or until thoroughly chilled and set. (I always top mine with fresh berries!)


No one in my family knew that these were vegan cookies. They are so delicious.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350*F.

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup smooth natural peanut butter, stirred well before measuring
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tbsp pureed silken tofu
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp water

In a small bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, mix peanut butter with sugar until well blended. Stirin tofu, vanilla, and water. Add flour mixture and mix until well blended. Using floured hands, knead mixture for about 1 minute to form smooth dough.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Dip the tines of a fork in flour and press the dough flat, making a criss cross pattern on top. Bake in a preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until dark brown around the edges. Let cool on pan on a rack for 8 to 10 minutes or until firm. Serve warm or transfer to rack to cool completely.
(You can also add vegan chocolate chips or butterscotch chips to this
recipe, though the butterscotch has a small amount of milk.)

Life just wouldn't be the same without brownies

Brownies

Preheat oven to 350*F.

1 1/2 cups vegan chocolate chips, divided
3/4 cup soy margarine
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
9 oz. silken tofu
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup corn syrup (dark or light)

In a small heavy pot, combine 1 cup chocolate chips with margarine. Melt over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Set aside.
Holding the tofu over a bowl or sink, gently squeeze to release excess liquid. Transfer to a blender. Add sugar and vanilla and blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, combine melted chocolate with corn syrup. Add tofu mixture and mix well. Fold in flour mixture just until moistened. Add remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and fold until evenly distributed through batter.
Spread batter in prepared pan, smoothing the top and pushing batter into the corners. Bake in preheated oven for 25-35 minutes or until center is firm. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Well, that is it for now. Those are my go to often favorites. I hope you enjoy giving them a try.

Yoga Yoga Hooray!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to "teach" yoga to a couple of my close friends. I felt very honored to share my passion for yoga with them and to see how good it made them feel to put their own bodies into the poses I love so much. We have plans to make this a weekly yoga practice together and I am really looking forward to learning more about teaching others and working with their limits as well as my own. In researching yoga practice as a teacher I am learning a lot more about yoga and about myself. Thank you to my friends for the opportunity.

Yoga Revisited

I am back on the mat! I have established a regular practice that consists of at least 20 minutes of poses at least five days a week. I am feeling the benefits again and loving what my body can do.

There are plans in the works to begin a class of a sort with a few friends one day a week, so that will be extra beyond my own practice. I am looking forward to it. Yoga bliss.

Vegan Journey Anniversary!

My regular readers might recall that on June 1st last year I decided to try a vegan diet for a month. It went easier and better than I expected and at the beginning of July I decided to continue eating vegan indefinitely. Well, today marks the one year anniversary of my giving up dairy and egg products and I want to celebrate by sharing a few insights, books, and health benefits that I have reaped, as well as, some of my favorite recipes.
First and foremost, I adopted a vegan diet for the health benefits. I a a huge animal lover and definitely champion animal rights. But the bad press of dairy and eggs was my motivating factor. However, in doing research on veganism I learned more than I ever wanted to about the atrocities that occur on factory farms . Though I learned of these conditions fifteen years ago when I first became a vegetarian, I guess I chose to look the other way when it came to eggs and dairy. Now I know that one type of animal use feeds the other. So now, no eggs or dairy for me. This is a personal decision and I do not try to convert other people, especially my family. My six year old, Sophie is a self made vegetarian, even though she was offered meat as a toddler. She does eat cheese and eggs and of course, ice cream. So I try to at least get the healthiest of these, I am happy that she prefers soy milk and doesn't care for cow's milk unless it's chocolate. I worry a lot about the hormones that are in dairy, so I try to buy organic for my family when I can. My boys and David are omnivores, they eat meat and the boys eat dairy, though David is lactose intolerant and also uses soy products. Since learning more about the way animals are treated on these factory farms I have made a concerted effort to be more conscious of the products I buy, and how they are produced, while still living within my means.
Here are some of the books and websites that I have used as a guide on this vegan journey. Some are better than others of course.

Being Vegan

This Crazy Vegan Life

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

125 Vegan Recipes

The Voluptuous Vegan

Vegan Recipes (from the UK)

That's Why We Don't Eat Animals ( a great kid's book)

Babycakes (vegan baking from the same named NYC bakery)

Party Vegan

Vegan Lunchbox

As far as the health benefits go, there have been a number of them. Weight loss of course, a total of eight pounds without adding any sort of exercise and even slacking off on the yoga. My cholesterol is "fabulous" to quote my doctor. I have more energy from my food than I used to and the arthritis that is in my hands has improved a lot since getting rid of inflammation causing dairy products. On a couple of occasions when we wanted to get a quick bite over the winter, I tried a take out cheese pizza, and paid dearly the next day in the form of gas, bloating, and constipation. Not a lesson that I needed to have again. For the most part I have not felt deprived as a vegan. I never ate eggs very often so I have not missed them. I gave up cow's milk when I met David and he drank soy milk. I never went back. Cheese was an issue at first because I love cheese pizza and cheese is such a big part of a lacto-vegetarian's diet. However, once I discovered Bragg's Nutritional Yeast Flakes I no longer muss cheese. It's not stringy or melty, but that was never the draw of cheese for me anyway. Over the course of this year of vegan eating I have developed a much more varied diet and learned about foods that I would never have imagined being a dietary staple while growing up in East Tennessee. Things like; seitan, millet, agave nectar, quinoa, and arrowroot, along with vegetables I had never heard of. Eating for me used to be about getting it over with, a chore three times a day. Now I enjoy planning, shopping for and preparing my meals. But most of all, I enjoy eating the highly nutritious, ethical and delicious foods that I make for myself and my family.

Here are some of my favorite recipes that I have discovered over this year and keep going back to on a regular basis.

I promise you will not miss the eggs in this recipe. Fabulous! Even my hubby says they are better than traditional french toast.

Vegan French Toast
2 bananas
1/2 soy milk
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Oil or vegan margarine for frying
8 thick slices of bread
Using a blender or mixer, mix together the bananas, soy milk, orange juice, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Whisk in the flour,cinnamon, and nutmeg and pour into a pie plate or shallow tin.Heat 1-2 tablespoons vegan margarine or oil in a large skillet.Dip or spoon mixture over each bread slice on both sides, fry in oil until lightly golden on both sides about 2-3 minutes.

This is a wonderful alternative for those who love their egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Again,, you will not miss the eggs.

Eggless Egg Salad

1 block firm tofu
1 block silken tofu
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/3 cup sweet relish
3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 stalk of celery, diced
2 tbsp minced onion
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp chopped chives, opt.
2 tbsp vegan bacon bits, opt.
1 tsp paprika

In a medium bow, use a fork to mash the tofu together with the rest of the ingredients except the bacon bits and paprika. Chill for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to mingle. Garnish with vegetarian bacon bits and paprika just before serving.

This recipe is usually reserved for those occasions when I want something special, such as a holiday gathering. However, it makes an absolutely delicious meal anytime. I always make it with the spinach!


Phyllo Triangles

1 (1/2 lb) package frozen phyllo dough, thawed several hours in the frig.
1/2 lb firm tofu
1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 cup finely minced fresh dill
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper
A pinch of nutmeg
Extra virgin olive oil for brushing phyllo

To press tofu, drain it, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel, and set something heavy on top of the tofu. Press for 10 minutes. Remove towel from tofu and crumble it into small pieces with your fingers.
Heat 1 1/2 tsp olive oil in a nonstick skillet. Saute the shallot for 1 minutes, then add the garlic, crumbled tofu and dill. Cook stirring frequently, for another 5 minutes until tofu is cooked all the way through. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
To make the triangles, line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray or brush with olive oil. Have ready a large pastry board or cutting board, a pizza wheel for cutting, a damp kitchen towel, plastic wrap, and a cooking oil spray or brush.
Unwrap the thawed phyllo dough, then unroll just far enough to expose 3 inches of dough. Use the pizza wheel to cut a 2 1/2 inch wide strip of dough, cutting through all the layers. Roll the rest of the dough up in plastic wrap and cover with a damp cloth.
Working quickly so the dough does not dry out, lay out a single strip of phyllo. Spray or brush with olive oil, then top with another layer of phyllo, spray again, and add one more layer.
Place 2 teaspoons of filling on the bottom corner of the phyllo strip. Fold the filling up in the dough as if you were folding a flag, touching the bottom corner to the opposite side then folding up, then folding the other corner to the opposite side, and repeating all the way to the top to form a small triangle bundle. Place the triangles on the prepared baking sheet, seam side down, and brush or spray with more olive oil. Keep the bundles covered up so they do not dry out.
Repeat with all the remaining phyllo dough and filling . Preheat oven to 375*F. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool on a wire rack.

Variation: Spinach triangles: steam 1 ounce package of baby spinach until tender. Drain thoroughly in a sieve or colander, pressing excess moisture out. Place cooked spinach on a chopping block and chop fine. Fold the spinach into the prepared tofu mixture and proceed, as above.


This one is just plain fabulous, I can't even describe it, just try it for yourself.
Seitan and Polenta Skillet with Fresh Greens

one 18 ounce tube polenta
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
cooking oil spray, opt
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 pound seitan, cut into bite size strips
4 large or 6 medium stalks bok choy, with leaves sliced crosswise
5 to 6 ounces baby spinach
4 scallions, sliced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, or more to taste
1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, opt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cut the puckered ends off the polenta, then slice 1/2 thick. Cut each slice into 4 little wedges.
heat a wide non-stick skillet. Add a drop of olive oil and spread it around with a paper towel to create a very light coat or use cooking spray. Add the polenta wedges; cook until very lightly browned, about 5 minutes on each side.
Transfer the polenta to a plate. Heat the oil and soy sauce slowly in the skillet, before they get too hot, add the seitan and stir well. raise the heat to medium-high, stirring frequently for 5 minutes. Stir in bok choy, spianch, and scallions, then cover and cook until just wilted about 1-2 minutes.
sprinkle in vinegar to taste. Gently fold in polenta wedges and sun-dried tomatoes, if using. Season with salt and pepper and serve at once.

This last recipe has got to be the most simple and delicious way to fix tofu. Even my hubby thinks these are good.
Tofu Dunkers

1 (1 lb) pkg. extra firm tofu
Olive oil cooking spray
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt

Preheat oven to 400*F. Spray a 12 x 18 inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Drain and dry block of tofu. and cut into 1-inch cubes. Arrange in a single layer on baking sheet. Lightly spray tops of tofu with cooking spray, and sprinkle with salt evenly.Bake for 10 minutes on each side. Remove tofu from the baking sheet onto a paper towel lined plate and blot to remove excess oil and salt. Wait 5 minutes for interior to cool before serving. These are wonderful to use with your favorite dipping sauce, or as an accompaniment to any veggie dish. Yum!

A few fave vegan desserts coming in the next post. Happy Vegan eating!

Vegan Anniversary!

One year of vegan eating post coming soon! Including my favorite recipes.

Autumn Cleansing Time

As you all may know, I do a Master Cleanse at the Spring and Fall Equinoxes. Well its that time again....for a change this time, instead of following the Master Cleanse completely, I am going to add fresh, raw fruits and veggies for the fiber content and for more energy for going to school. I also think that it will help me stick to it for the whole weekend while cleansing my system really well. So I am having the lemonade first thing in the morning, then a piece of fruit when I feel hungry and more lemonade at least every two hours for the flushing of the kidneys. Then for lunch and dinner I will have some veggies and/or fruit depending on how hungry I am. The veggies will be all raw. I will also be using the cleansing baths this weekend along with the inner cleanse. Feels good.

Yummy Vegan Eating

Last night I made these delicious Phyllo Triangles from the Laptop Lunches cookbook. I have made these in the past with tofu, spinach, ricotta or cottage cheese,sour cream and eggs. This recipe was of course vegan and so simple that the flavors were very clear. I did not miss the cheese, sour cream and eggs at all.

Phyllo Triangles

1 (1/2 pound package frozen phyllo dough, thawed several hours

1/2 pound firm tofu

1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1 shallot, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

1/8 cup finely minced fresh dill

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

Freshly ground black pepper

A pinch of nutmeg

Extra virgin olive oil for brushing phyllo

To press the tofu, drain it, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel, and set it on a plate or cutting board. Put something heavy on top of the tofu. Press for 10 minutes. Remove tofu from the kitchen towel and crumble it into small pieces with your fingers.

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet. Saute shallot for 1 minute, add the garlic, crumbled tofu, and dill. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 5 minutes, until the shallot is soft and the tofu is cooked through. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Taste for salt and lemon and add more if you wish (it should be slightly salty and tangy).

To make the triangles,line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray or brush with olive oil. Have ready a large pastry board or cutting board, a pizza wheel for cutting, a damp kitchen towel, plastic wrap, and a cooking oil spray pump filled with olive oil or in a small bowl with a pastry brush.

Unwrap the thawed phyllo dough, then unroll just enough to expose about three inches of dough. Use the pizza wheel to cut a 2 1/2 inch wide strip of dough, cutting through all the layers. Roll the rest of the dough back up in the plastic wrap and cover with the damp cloth.

Working quickly so the dough does not dry out, lay out a single strip of phyllo. Spray or brush lightly with oil, then top with another layer of phyllo, then top with another layer, spray again, and add one more layer of phyllo. Spray with oil.

Place 2 teaspoons of filling on the bottom corner of the phyllo strip. Fold the filling up in the dough as if folding a flag, touching the bottom corner to the opposite side, then folding up, then folding the other corner to the opposite side, repeating all the way tot the top to form a small bundle. Place the triangles on the prepared baking sheet, seam side down, and brush or spray with olive oil. Keep the prepared triangles covered with plastic wrap so they do not dry out.

Repeat with all the remaining phyllo dough and filling. When finished, double wrap the two baking sheets with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight or until needed.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375*F. Take the baking sheets from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool on a wire rack.

Variation: (my favorite) steam 1 ounce package of baby spinach until tender. Drain thoroughly in a sieve or colander. pressing excess moisture out. Place cooked spinach into the prepared tofu mixture and proceed with the recipe.

Doing Better Dinner

A hot day, a big patch of basil, and some home grown tomatoes-all came together to make a delicious light, but filling dinner. I added couscous on the side. Yum!

Mediterranean Tofu

4 servings

Two 16- ounce tubs firm tofu

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups finely diced tomatoes

1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, cut into strips with a little of their oil

2 Tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Fresh basil leaves, cut into strips

Cut each block of tofu into 6 equal slabs. Blot well between layers of clean tea towels or paper towels.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a griddle or extra-wide skillet. Arrange the slabs of tofu in a single layer and cook over medium-high heat until golden on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a smaller skillet. Add the garlic and saute over low heat until golden. Add the fresh and dried tomatoes and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until the fresh tomato has just softened and is heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, fan out 3 slices of tofu on each plate and spoon some of the tomato-garlic sauce over them. Top each serving with a few strips of basil, then serve at once.

Vegan Cheating

Well, I have to admit I have been cheating on my vegan eating. Not too much mind, but enough for me to notice the difference in how I feel. I have eaten a few baked goods that had milk and/or egg in them. I also shared David's birthday carrot cake, which Sophie made all by herself for him. It is a small thing to do, have something with a negligible amount of animal product in it. I do not feel guilty or bad for doing it, especially since my veganism was not instigated for animal rights reasons, but for health reasons. But when I eat something with more than a negligible amount of animal product I can tell. I feel heavy and almost sick. Normally, eating vegan, I feel light and energetic. It's a great feeling. I am going to rethink my lackadaisical attitude toward vegan cheating and try harder to maintain the vegan diet.

Benefits of Yoga Revealed!

OK, I don't usually like to share pictures
of myself in bathing suits, however, after seeing this latest one, I was so surprised, and pleasantly so, that I really just had to share it. This is the direct result of my yoga practice. I began yoga in January of 2008, after many years of not doing any yoga, and the photo below was taken in the summer of '08. As you can see, I still had a bit of padding here and there.

This photo was taken today at the lake by mt friend Mari. After two years of daily yoga practice and two months of vegan eating!!!! I could hardly believe that such a difference has occurred. When I look in the mirror, I can not see that much, even though my hubby has been telling me what a change there has been since I began the yoga. I am just so glad about this, I wanted to share....thanks for humoring me. :)

This is what 42 looks like!! Yay!

Couscous Salad

Couscous Salad

2 1/2 cups small broccoli florets

2 zucchini, sliced

2 carrots, sliced

3/4 cup halved green beans (I like snow or sugar snap peas)

1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

1 3/4 cups couscous

2 cups boiling vegetable stock (canned works well)

2 tablespoons vegan margarine

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1.4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp chopped lemon rind

Microwave, steam, or boil vegetables until tender. Set aside.

Put the couscous in a large bowl and add the hot stock. Cover for 3-4 minutes. Mix in the margarine using a fork. Mix in the vegetables and parsley.

Place the remaining ingredients in a screw-top jar with some salt and pepper. Shake well, then pour over the salad. Toss the salad well and serve.

Tofu with Key West BBQ Sauce

This is an old recipe from Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook, I've actually had it for years, but haven't made it in awhile.

Tofu with Key West Barbecue Sauce

Tofu

1 pound extra firm tofu

2 tbsp unbleached white flour

2 tbsp cornmeal

1 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

2 tsp nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp prepared yellow mustard or spicy brown mustard

4 tbsp canola or peanut oil (I actually prefer olive oil)

Sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar or honey

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, minced

4 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp hot pepper sauce

Tofu: Cut the tofu on the short end into 1/4 in slices. Drain on a dishcloth for 30 minutes. On a plate, mix together the flour, cornmeal, poultry seasoning, nutritional east, salt and pepper. Brush the drained tofu on both sides with mustard, then roll in the cornmeal mixture. Set aside.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Carefully place four slices of tofu in the skillet, without crowding, and cook, stirring until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a slow oven while you cook the remaining tofu in the remaining oil.

Sauce: In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 20-30 minutes. To serve, pour the sauce over the tofu.

Scrumptious Dinner Tonight!

Tonight's dinner consisted of Tofu with Key West Barbecue Sauce and Couscous Salad. And for dessert, Chocolate Dream Pie. Check back tomorrow for the recipes.

Back to My Center

Lovely yoga this morning. And let me just say that I was in definite need of the stress reducing benefits this morning. David is going through a tough time right now, which means that I am going through a tough time. :) So as soon as I sat down and began to center myself and breath the yogic breathing I felt a sense of calm and peace descend on me. In that moment I could feel the loving arms of my Mother Goddess wrap around me and reassure me that everything would work out if I stay strong and be supportive and take care of myself as well as my family. Yoga has a way of bringing it all back into focus.

Yummy Vegan Skillet Dinner

Seitan and Polenta Skillet with fresh Greens

One 18 ounce tube polenta

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce

1 pound seitan, cut into bite-size pieces or strips

4 large or 6 medium stalks of bok choy, with leaves sliced crosswise

5 to 6 ounces fresh baby spinach

4 scallions, green and white parts, sliced

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, or more to taste

1/4 cup sliced oil-cured sun-dried tomatoes

Optional salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cut the puckered ends off the polenta, then slice 1/2 inch thick. Cut each slice into 4 wedges.

Heat a large non-stick skillet. Add a drop of the oil and spread it around with a paper to create a very light coat, or use cooking oil spray. Add the polenta wedges; cook in a single layer over medium heat, about 5 minutes on each side.

Remove the polenta to a plate. Heat the oil and soy sauce slowly in the same skillet. Before they get too hot, add the seitan and stir well. Raise the heat to medium-high and saute stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Stir in the bok choy, spinach,and scallions, then continue to cook until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.

Sprinkle in the vinegar to taste. Gently fold in the polenta wedges and dried tomatoes.

Season with salt and pepper and serve at once. (4-6 servings; this recipe is from Vegan Express.)

This is so tasty, it is even good cold!