Puerto Rican Vegan: May 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Comfort Food



How's everybody doing? A link to this blog must've been posted somewhere because I'm suddenly getting hits and comments from people I don't know in real life. That's pretty darn fabulous. Welcome and thanks for coming on this journey with me!

Well ladies and gents, I'm due in less than two weeks. My baby girl is on her way and we are all super excited. Joshua and Juliette can't wait to meet their new little sister. Pierre smiles from ear to ear, realizing there will be a baby in the house again. This pregnancy has really been wonderful, and I know good nutrition has played a big role in that.

Today's post is for when you're in the mood for some good old fashioned comfort food. Even though the weather is heating up, it's never too hot to cuddle up on the sofa with some hot chocolate, grilled cheese and a good movie.

HOT CHOCOLATE
Non-Dairy milk (I use unsweetened rice milk)
Unsweetened cocoa powder (Ghirardellis rocks)
Unrefined sweetener (I use agave syrup)
Cinnamon
Jamaican Allspice
Vanilla

Heat the milk, adding the rest of the ingredients to suit your taste. The allspice and cinnamon really give it an authentic carribean flavor. Pierre said it tasted like the hot chocolate he used to drink in Haiti as a child.

GRILLED CHEESE

Multigrain bread
Sliced tomato
Daiya Cheese (cheddar flavor)
Vegan butter (I use Earth Balance)

Cook it up the way you would a normal grilled cheese. For an even healthier version, skip the frying pan and use the toaster oven. Yummy yum yum!

Monday, May 2, 2011

THE BEST Salad



A few years ago I went 100% raw vegan for 30 days, two different times. I learned how to make a lot of interesting dishes using my blender and dehydrator - but by far my favorites were the simple dishes that didn't need any special equipment.

I posted a video of this salad on my YouTube channel and it got rave reviews on my Facebook page. I made it for dinner last night, and the kids requested it for lunch again today, so I figured I'd post it here.

It's not a "puerto rican" dish per say, except that it has yummy avocados which we love =) I really literally could eat this salad every single day. Love it. Enjoy!

THE BEST Salad

2 Ripe Haas Avocados
2 Tomatoes
2 Red Apples
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Cayenne Pepper
Black Pepper
1 Chopped Romaine Lettuce Heart

Pit, peel and dice the avocados. Combine with diced tomatoes and apples. Give a few wide drizzles of olive oil.

Mix, mix, mix. The more you mix, the creamier the consistency becomes, and the better it'll taste!

Now add salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. This part is really up to your discretion. Start with a little and add as you go, mixing with every addition until you like how it tastes.

Add the chopped lettuce and mix some more. Enjoy!