Meatless Monday - Hot n Sour Soup

How about that?  TWO posts on Meatless Monday!  

Dinner tonight for me. 

This recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks.  If you don't have it, you should look into adding it into your library.  It's on page 58.


Here is the final result.

For the record, I left out the scallions and the peas because I simply did not have them.

Next time I want to try it with fresh Shitake Mushroom over the dried.  I think its just a personal texture thing with fresh versus dried.  Overall still good.  Lancer said it smelled good when he got home from school but was not brave to try it.  I want to try it with other vegetables next time, just don't know which ones yet.
Maybe a bit of shredded carrot, white onion and tofu next time. Maybe a mixture of mushrooms as well.  I am not a big Seitan fan but wanted to try it out.

I love her book and if you like it as well, check out Robin's website by clicking HERE.

Sincerely,
Crystal T.

Meatless Monday - Pasta & Pesto

I found this photo from an old sd card that I took with my camera.  I can't remember if I posted this or not, so sorry if its a duplication.

One night for dinner I decided I wanted pasta.  So while I was making traditional spaghetti for the boys I decided to make myself a meatless version of pasta.  I was in the mood for a pesto.  I had a lot of the normal things that goes into a pesto...basil, olive oil, pine nuts but wanted something more than just that.  I added about a cup of spinach to the mix with extra two cloves of garlic (yes I love garlic!).  I had some marinated kale from earlier in the day that was still soaking in the lemon juice.  I put the extra lemon juice into the pesto sauce and blended it into my Vitamix.  I kept the kale out for added texture to the dish.

After the pasta was cooked, I mixed in the pesto and stirred it up until well coated.  Then added the Kale and also some Whole Foods 365 line of their Vegetarian Shredded Parmesan Cheese.  Topped with Fresh cracked black pepper and dinner was served with a side of hot crusty garlic bread.

I love it when a plan comes together.  I have made this several times as pasta is a staple with the boys and kale is one of mine!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Vegan MoFo Coming to the Cauldron !!!

This year I plan on participating in Vegan MoFo.  Well considering that I am still trying to keep up with the Pagan Blog Project, I will be "inspired" by Vegan MoFo.

During the month of October, I plan to post at least 20 entries devoted to Vegan Food.  Not vegetarian, but Vegan.  This means I am going to have at least 20 meals that will include nothing from animal. As of today I still currently use Honey (my major vice) and occasionally use milk and cheese.  I know my downfall will be the use of honey in my tea...so that is why I am going to be influenced by Vegan MoFo.  I won't be focusing on the drinks, just the food I eat.  I am taking little steps here....

What this means is hopefully there will be more posts about food should that be the reason you visit this blog.
Every Monday in October, I will post about the meals I eat that are not only Meatless, but now for October, also Vegan.  This is going to give me a crash course in what Vegan is and also reading more food labels!

So if anyone knows which brands are Vegan, please by all means, comment below and let me know your favorites so I can start the planning process for October meal planning!

If you want to know more about Vegan MoFo, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

If you know what Vegan MoFo is all about and wish to formally participate, you can do so by going HERE.

Meatless Monday

So last night I made the hubby spaghetti.  Since I have changed my eating habits this past year, I don't really care for it anymore.  Definitely don't miss the ground beef.  So this is what I made myself.

What is it exactly?

Well it is my version of a RAW spaghetti.  Yep that's right, everything on this plate is RAW.
Now it is not necessarily completely Vegetarian.  I am still learning the lines on what is and isn't Vegetarian.  It does have "real" cheese on top.  It's a shaved Raw Parmasan I found at Whole Foods last weekend when I went shopping with one of my friends.

The pasta is a spiralized Zuchinni.  The sauce is roma tomato, basil, carrot, brocolli, Celtic Sea Salt, onion, garlic, and black pepper.  I also added a few brocolli pieces to give it a "meatball effect" and added more shredded carrot to the center of the dish just because there was a tiny bit left. Also on the very top are a few pieces of zuchinni slices that did not get spiralized as well.

This was really good.  It's a take on one of the first raw food classes I took last year.  I added more veggies to the sauce.  I am really beginning to like this way of eating, I feel so much more better when I eat closer to Raw.  Closer to Gaia's Bounty!

Blessed Be,
Crystal T.

Meatless Monday - Raw Food Favorites

So today for Meatless Monday, I am not going to be focusing on food itself.  I will however be focusing on a few of the people behind the food that make it fun, healthy, and keep me inspired to eat it. 

When I first set out on a path last October (I think, when I actually started to begin eating this way) one of the first places I found was Raw Food Rehab.  Here is a website that is sort of set up in a virtual "Rehab meets Mansion" center.  Their forums are comprised of various places you would see in your home such as the Kitchen for recipes, the Loo for "potty" talk (physically about what goes on in the bathroom, LOL), The Garden, The Tool Shed, plus many other wonderful rooms.  Many of the ammenities are completely free and she also offers other services where an additional charge is necessary to participate.

Creator/Founder Penni Shelton is a remarkable lady.  Penni has her own YouTube Channel (click HERE to watch) which I recommend if you are new to Raw Food, you will want to definitely subscribe to Raw Food Rehab's website (why not it is totally free to join and you have access to so much information) and also subscribe to her YouTube channel as well.  At these two sources they both will surely help the newcomer to Raw Food, just like its helped me so much.  If it were not for Penni's wonderful and informative videos I would most likely have not even tried attempting to eat a Raw Food menu or attempt to even give it a whirl.  Her archived videos of Foodie Friday's gave me the opportunity to see how easy it is to create a beautiful meal out of raw food.  Seeing what the food could look like motivated me to even attempt a few of my first recipes and I fell in love with raw food.  Penni does not look down on you if you are not 100% raw just that you are trying to eat healthy and incorporate some raw food in your life because it is good for you.

One day while visiting RFR, I came across a video that Penni did with a woman named Dara Dubinet.  Clicking Dara's name will take you to her YouTube Channel.  There is not a day that I don't watch a video by Dara.  I have started to watch her videos from the beginning.  With over 500 videos on her channel, you too can have a daily dose of Dara who will inspire you to "Get Your Greens On" as she has inspired me to do so.

Lauren from the blog "Ginger is the New Pink" is another inspiration.  She documents her life with eating raw food, healing from Chron's Disease, and daily life in general.  She is another inspiration that led me to believe I can do this!  I don't have Chron's but someone dear to me does.  Battling Kidney Disease and Lupus wanting to heal myself with Food is something we both share.  She has introduced me to products I normally would not have tried if not for her review of them.  From cookbooks, Daiya Cheese, Hail Mary's, beauty products and Dharma Straws plus many many more.  I check in to read her blog often to see what's new out there that makes life a little easier.  If I am in the mood to look at food in photos (I really hate the term "food porn") I will usually go to her website for inspiration of what I could make for dinner. 

Now I will just list a couple other inspirations for you to check out...

Amber Shea Crawley, Author of "Practically Raw"

The Shannon's whose cookbook will be out soon, they have re-written the Betty Crocker Cookbook VEGAN style!  It is available for pre-ordering at their website Meet the Shannons.

Maybe with the upcoming weeks this will be an avenue to not only focus on food, but the people that make them as well.

Many thanks to the people that inspire me to eat better for myself and making the information understandable for a newbie to culinary worlds of Raw, Vegetarian and Vegan fun for a meat-lover like myself.  (For the record, I am not Vegetarian for poticial reasons, but medical ones.  Just look at me like an ex-smoker, I still want to eat meat, I just know its bad for me and a struggle I have to deal with every single day!)

Sincerely,
Crystal

Bay Leaf Cafe - Spearfish, South Dakota

Howdy All,

You might have noticed that my blog has been quiet.  It's because I have been preparing and now completed a trip out West with some of my favorite ladies (Katherine and Dawn). 

During our trip my eating habits were not the greatest...after all I was on vacation.  One of the culinary gems on our trip was that in Spearfish, SD at a small cafe in the downtown area.  It was Vegetarian friendly.  I really enjoyed the food here and wanted to post a short blog about my experience.

The name of the cafe is called the Bay Leaf Cafe.  If you click their name it will take you to their website.  We luckily were able to make it in time to get there for lunch.  I say "in time" because the city was shutting Main Street down to prepare for their "First Fridays" party.  Upon first sight, I did not think it would be a big establishment with such a small storefront.  However, when you walk through their doors, think of the shape of a shoe box, its long but narrow in width.  The walls are filled with art from local artists which entice the patron's eye, while the smells of the place make your tummy grumble even more with hunger. 

I ate the Portabello Sandwich.  It was very good and juicy.  It was a grilled Porta on a bun with Gorganzola Cheese and a side of sweet potato fries.  They also serve a wide array of coffees and liquors as well.  The table's centerpiece was that of a shiny bottle of Sun Wine.  They had pretty colors of blue cobalt, bright sunny yellows, and ruby reds.  I could have bought the wine just for the bottles alone they were so pretty.  One thing I regretted not trying out was their poppyseed bread.  My friends were trying to keep the carbs on the down low, so I did not want to tempt their tummies by adding a big loaf of bread to the table.  I also wish I took a photo of my food, it was just so pretty a presentation!  My stomach took over before my brain could and I inhaled my food.  It was gone before I even thought about taking a photo! 

If I am ever in the area again, I would definitely suggest stopping by there to eat.  Next time I would like to go for dinner.  There was a piano in one of the corners of the building and I think at night they might offer live entertainment. 

Anyways, again, I would highly recommend this restaurant for any Vegetarian, Vegan, or to the traveler that finds themselves in Spearfish, SD in need of a restauarant that can accomodate both the Vegan or Hardcore Carnivore (as they have Elk, Buffalo, and many more options) as well.

Thank you Bay Leaf Cafe for providing me with a wonderful and memorable meal!

Blessed Be,
Crystal T.

Meatless Monday - Cashew Cream Sauce

When I first read about this sauce I knew it had potential!  In the past at one of my Raw Food classes at Nourished Body & Soul by Deb K I learned that the cashew is a very versitile nut.  The first time I had it was as a Mock Alfredo Sauce served over Kelp Noodles and I was hooked.  I have not however been brave enough to try it out until I saw this recipe for Cilantro Cashew Cream Sauce and knew instantly I had to try it!

I was in luck, I happened to have all the items in my pantry or fridge as well so I knew it was a sign that I had to make this sauce!  I am not using it for burritos as the recipe's main page is using it.  I decided to use it another way.  I decided to use it on a salad.

First I soaked my cashews like in the original recipe.

I blended them in the vitamix and then added the other ingridients as stated in the original recipe.

This is the amount I recieved...a large mason jar's worth.

Then I prepared my salad by starting out with marinated Kale in lemon juice.  I let it sit for an hour.

Then I used my new Spiralizer for the first time and cut some Zuchinni.

I added half of an avocado.  Then I massaged them all together. 
Next time I plan on adding the avocado before the zuchinni.

Next came for my seasoning..today's choice was Organic Kelp Noodles. 
I have to limit my salt intake and this gives me a nice substitution.

Just for the heck of it, I added black sesame seeds.  Think next time I want to add Poppy Seeds.

For the final product, I also added some more cilantro because the sauce was just not Cilantro enough for me.  I also added sliced strawberries because I was not in the mood for tomatoes.  I also dusted it with the Whole Foods 365 Line of Vegetarian Parmasan cheese (its another one of my staples transitioning). 

 The overall salad was really good.  For my first time experimenting with making a salad out of ingridients I normally don't use together or eat, I think it was a sucess!  I plan on making it again in the future with a few changes.  The Kale with Strawberries were surprisingly good with one another.  I got lucky with the strawberries as they were more sweet than tart.  They complimented one another very well. 

So this was my dinner tonight, what did you eat and how Raw are you today?

Sincerely,
Crystal T.

Ginger is the New Pink - Stevia Giveaway

Hi Everyone!

If you are new to my blog or a returning reader, you will learn that I am transitioning to the world of Vegetarianism and preferrably one day going at least 80% Raw.  That is the ultimate goal anyway.

About a month ago, I learned a recipe for a raw Basil Lemonade from a wonderful lady named Bethe.  She is the first person that introduced me to the liquid version of Stevia.  I had never used it before, and frankly still only know how to use it in this one recipe.

Anyways, Lauren at "Ginger is the New Pink" is having a wonderful giveaway that involves Stevia. 

"The people at NuNaturals are giving 4 lucky winners a bottle of their Vanilla Stevia Drops (2 oz bottle) and a box of their White Stevia Powder (50 ct. box)!"

I am trying to be one of those lucky winners.  Here is to crossing my fingers and hoping I am a lucky one! 

This blog in itself is a wealth of knowledge.  Being new to the Veggie world, Lauren provides recipes and photos of what good food looks like.  She has motivated me to try a few veggies I never would have even thought about eating.  She has many recipes and tips to try.  She also introduced me to glass straws.  Those are so on my wish list for my husband to get me for the upcoming holidays...they would make a great stocking stuffer "Hunter" !!!!!!

Anyways, check out Ginger is the New Pink, you won't want to stop reading!  I haven't!
You can access her page by clicking the title of this post or going to:
http://gingeristhenewpink.blogspot.com/


Happy Halloween, and Blessed Samhain from my family to yours!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Doc Visit - Results of becoming Vegetarian

Well today I went to my Nephrologist and received the results of my monthly bloodwork and urine tests.  From my original numbers in the hospital I went from 11.4 grams of protein per oz to 2.3 grams!  In just under two months of changing my diet, I am on the way to recovery!  My doc even said he has not seen numbers drop this drastically due to dietary changes and even asked permission to share my experience with a few other patients who's numbers are not changing or not feeling better as a possible option! 

I am still no way close to being "normal".   Normal is considered to me less than 150mg (1,000 mg per gram) in one ounce.  But for it to drop that much in two months is a huge victory!  Giving up meat is definitely one "sacrifice" I am glad I decided to do.  The benefits are showing for my hard work and effort!

So I just wanted to share the "good" news.   There was a bit of bad news, that my kidney functions themselves are not as good as normal, but doc is hoping that it was just a day that maybe possibly I was not as hydrated as I should have been.  So I need to keep track of my food (journal) more than I usually do.  Better than I have in the past, so for the next month I will be focusing on trying to do that better!   Knowing that what I do and eat could help others is definitely a motivation!

Hubby purchased me a Vitamix!  So I have a wonderful tool (the blender) to help me in my quest for eating health from now on. My husband spoils me so!  He rocks!

Adventures in Vegetarianism

So if you read my blog, you will know that earlier this year I was diagnosed with Kidney Disease.  Last month during my checkup and bloodwork, the tests came back that my protein numbers were increasing.  This is a bad thing.  That means I am getting worse not better.  So during our conversation about what I should and should not be doing, the topic of what I eat and how I eat came up.  Limiting the amount of protein in general came up.  Eating less meat came up...until doc suggested that I give a go at becoming Vegetarian and possibly Vegan. 

For myself, I have always been a die hard meat eater and advocate.  I still love meat and for the past month have had some. Before June of this year I ate probably an 80% meat diet compared to what I need to eat.  I know I need to change if I want to live.  I know that I need to eat more fruits and vegetables in order to do that and also to survive.  The more protein I eat, the quicker my kidneys will burn out and I will either end up on dialysis or worse, die. 

So for the past few weeks I have been doing alot of research which I am sure will be ongoing for the rest of my life.  My new adventures in vegetarianism are fun and exciting.  Who would have known that I would actually like avocado!  For years I have been requesting that the Mexican restaurants hold that green gook off my plate please!  None for me.....now that I have actually TASTED it, I LIKE IT! 

Yesterday I had a horrible day.  I still feel pretty cruddy.  This past weekend I did eat some meat and I think that my body is retaliating from it.  My feet are swollen, my face was so swollen it looks like I was a caveman (some swelling is still present if you look closely at the photo but much better today when it was taken).  I am noticing that when I am a "bad girl" food wise, I feel well, bad!  I am beginning to pay more attention to my body.  I am drinking more water.  I am drinking more fresh juice on a daily basis.

I want to live a long healthy life.  I want to grow old with my husband and watch the sunsets and our great grandchildren playing in our yard.  I want to live without pain, without being obese, and not lacking energy to play with my children now!

Today I decided to document via camera what I have eaten so far.  I made my first green juice drink today.  It was spinach, celery, parsley, cucumber, and grannysmith apple.  It was good.  I liked it.  Not as sweet as I had hoped the apple would make it, but for my first one I think it was sucessful. 

For lunch I decided to use what I had in the fridge.  Spinach seems to be what I have the most of right now and I don't want it to go to waste.  I had a left over sundried tomato Lavish wrap near the sandwich fixings so I decided to use that as my shell.  On the recommendation of my friend Vicki I purchased some Vegan mozz cheese for melting.  For lack of a better word, I made a spinach quesadilla.  It was really good!  It was not raw, but it was Vegetarian.  I don't know about the lavish so I don't think its Vegan.  But its a start right?  I added Beth's corn salad which I learned how to make at my local Whole Foods class that Katherine and I attended last week.  That seems to be my new go to favorite and will be experimenting with the seasonings to see if it will double as my new filling for tacos because it already has cumin in it, so I might play with it a bit and add some chili powder to spice it up a bit more. 



Ok, so my plating skills are not exactly the quality of a chef.  I can barely cook. LOL  That might be why I am so interested in the Raw Food lifestyle.  No cooking. LOL 

I am going from ZERO percent fruits and vegetables to having eat them all the time now.  Every week I am trying at least one new vegetable to expose myself to it.  Last week was eggplant which I fried and liked.  This week's new veggie is spaghetti squash which I tend to use in place of a pasta sometime this week. 

My game plan and overall goals is to each week up the amount of food I am eating whether it be Vegetarian, Vegan, and or Raw.  Moving away from the animal products is my overall goal.  I hope to be 50% raw by December and then my ultimate goal is to be 80% Raw by my birthday next May. 
Reason I am taking so long for this transformation is that I want to start small and slow.  I want to make changes that are going to stick with me.  I also don't have the money to be able to afford the tools of the trade that are being recommended to me by my friends and family.  I have purchased a food processor.  Here are the things that I am wishing for:

First on my list is a Juicer.  I would love to get the Hurom juicer or a Green Star but both are a bit pricey.  I bascially want something that is of a really good quality, and will last for a long time that processes fruits, vegetables, and the leafy stuff like parsley, cilantro, and especially Wheatgrass!

Next on my list is a good dehydrator.  My friend Poteet who is my staunch Vegan  recommends the Excalibur. 

And the final thing on my wishlist right now is the blender that everyone's vegan blog I am reading raves about....I really really really want a Vitamix!

Well that is all for now.  Don't think I have written this much in a long time!  I hope you are having a truly magical day today! 

As I have posted in the past, the Cauldron will be moving towards a food theme.  If you have any Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw recipes you would like to share, by all means, send them my way!  I will try them out and see what makes it into my new staple menu! 

Raw Food Rehab

Greetings everyone!

Today I am signing up to join the community of Raw Foods Rehab.  You can find their website by clicking on the link of this title blog. 

I had my monthly check up with my doctor this past week and my protein numbers are increasing.  That means bad news for me.  My kidneys are getting worse, not better.  After the doc and I went over all the lab tests, its in my best interest to attempt to go Vegetarian and possibly Vegan.  Right now the less protein I eat, the better for my kidneys, my body, and overall health. 

This week has been a really bad wake up call for me.  It has shown me that I need to take better care of myself.  I need to eat healthier not only for my own being, but for that of my family as well.   I am still rather young and want to live a long life.  I want to be able to hold my future grandchildren one day.   I want to grow old with my husband and watch the sunsets on the back porch of our dream home.    I simply want to live!

So over the course of the next few weeks, my blog may be changing once again.  In fact it will happen most likely sooner or later.  I am contenplating on using it as a chance to document my new life in the culinary aspect.  Crystal's Cauldron will most likely be shifting its primary focus around food. 

Please wish me luck on this new journey, Goddess knows I have not been a very good girl eating my fruits and veggies most of my life.  Its time to take in her bounty to nourish not only myself spiritually but also physically!

Blessed Be,
Crystal