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Holy Guacamole!

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One of my favorite foods is guacamole. There is nothing better than a salty crunchy tortilla chip dipped in a bowl full of chunky, tangy, rich guacamole. My guacamole recipe has been evolving since I was a small child. My mom’s recipe called for smashed avocados mixed with several heaping spoonfuls of fresh salsa. This was one of my favorite after school snacks. In college, I began to chop onion and jalapeño and add it to this recipe. As my taste buds matured and my chopping skills improved I learned a new way to make guacamole.

I call it Chop Til You Drop Guacamole

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4 Avocados Peeled, Pitted and Halved

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Clove Garlic, Minced

1/2 Cup chopped Cilantro

1/4 Cup Chopped Red Onion

2 Medium sized tomatos, de-seeded and finely chopped

1/2-1 Jalapeño finely diced

1 Teaspoon Salt

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Place avocado halves in a medium sized bowl, pour the juice of 1 lemon over the avocado to keep fresh. Chop all the other ingredients. Place ingredients in bowl with avocados. Use a small sharp knife to slice avocados and ingredients together. This keeps the guacamole chunky and beautiful. Enjoy with chips, tacos, or just eat it with a spoon!

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Ooh Baby It’s Hot Outside

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Watermelon Juice!

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With temperatures soaring to the high 90s by the beach and into the 100s inland, Angelino’s are feeling the heat. Make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of cold WATER. If you are looking for something refreshing as well as tasty I suggest making this simple and tasty drink. As well as being completely natural and fat free, it is full of vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium.

1/2 Ice Cold Water Melon
3-4 Ice Cubes
4 Leafs of Mint
1/2 Lime

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Blend Watermelon, lime juice and ice until frothy and smooth.
Add Mint to garnish.
Serve over ice with a straw and enjoy!!!

Top 10 Vegetarian Friendly Lunch Spots in LA

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I am a big fan of cooking at home, but when time requires something quicker or I schedule a lunch date, I often head to one of the following establishments for a healthy and delicious meal. Each restaurant listed has amazing vegetarian and vegan options. Click on the Restaurant title to visit their website.

10. Veggie Grill– Vegan fast food. Beware the burger and fries…. they are still burger and fries even if they are vegan. Go for one of their delicious chopped salads or soups. My favorite salad is the All Hail Kale; delicious, chopped and massaged kale with pecans, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage with a tasty fruity vinaigrette  either served alone or with blackened tempeh or “chicken.” If you must indulge the Kickin Buffalo Wings are amazing and served with a sauce so similar to ranch it is scary. Check their website for locations, there are new ones opening all the time. $$

9. Native Foods– Tasty vegan fast food. Try their Rockin Moroccan Bowl if you have a hearty appetite or go for the Ensalada Azteca for a light, crisp salad, I often add tempeh or fake chicken for a protein boost! Their Lavendar lemonade is divine. $$

8. True Food Kitchen– Located in the Santa Monica Place mall, this place has a diverse and delicious menu. Everything is very good and mostly very healthy! My go-to dish here is the Teriyaki Brown Rice Bowl with Avocado and Tofu with Sambal on the side. The presentation and preparation is perfectly executed. It is a fine place for dinner as well.  Other highlights on the menu are the Inside Out Quinoa Burger, Shitake and Tofu Lettuce Cups, Edamame Dumplings, Carrot Lemonade and the Farmer’s Market Salad! $$$

7. Whole Foods– Delicious deli and salad bar, filled with organic produce, soups and cuisine from all around the world; fresh sushi, tacos, sandwiches, pho, raw foods, as well as pre made salads to die for! Some of my favorites are the lemon cranberry quinoa salad, the potato leek soup, sesame tofu sticks, raw kale salad etc! Check the website for locations… my favorite one is on Rosecrans and PCH in El Segundo, it is spacious, has ample parking and is rarely crowded. $-$$$

6. GTA (Gjelina Take Away)– Modern farm to table counter spot on Abott Kinney in Venice. Delicious pre made salads that change daily, some of my favorites have been sliced hard boiled eggs with asparagus and tarragon, panzanella, and a delicious faro, mint and feta salad. Their dishes depend on what’s in season. There are sandwiches and amazing pizzas available as well. The main restaurant Gjelina is right next door and is my favorite restaurant!!  The only downside to GTA is there is no where to sit, but old milk crates. $$

5. Playa’s Pita– The most delicious Lebanese Cuisine in town! They have the most amazing vegan combo plate with the best baba ganoush, tabouli and garlic sauce you will ever taste! Their falafel is light and tasty on the inside and crispy on the outside. The fattoush salad is perfectly dressed and their swiss chard and lentil soup is among my favorite soups in the city! I hear that the meat dishes are phenomenal. Five star restaurant in terms of flavor and friendliness! $$

4. Tender Greens– Delicious freshly made assembly line style eatery. Fresh salads are tossed to perfection and served up with your choice of protein, soup, grilled vegetables or fluffy mashed potatoes. I recommend the kale salad with grilled vegetables or the happy vegan, a medley of vegan salads; green hummus, tabouli, barley and faro. It is conveniently located next to my gym so I often hit up “TGs” after my workout! Check out their website for a location near you. $$

3. Senor G’s– My Favorite local joint in Playa Del Rey. Serves up fresh, healthy Mexican food, juices and smoothies! I love these guys. The service is amazing, the food is always consistent and delicious and they serve breakfast until 4pm everyday. The guys will make you anything you want and will work with whatever diet you’re on. My regular order is one guacamole taco and a side of black beans with a fresh young coconut to drink! One taco is enough food to fill you up! Plus their salsa is my absolute favorite so indulge in a few chips! The grilled veggie taco or grilled veggie salad are also great. The veggies are fresh and tasty and not overcooked! For breakfast my new favorite thing has been the breakfast Ole with egg whites and black beans and guacamole instead of rice!!! If you’re a meat eater, I hear the Martin’s Kickin Chicken taco is the way to go. Trust me, once you go G’s you’ll keep coming back! $

2. Mendocino Farms– Amazingly crafted sandwiches. My meat eating man’s favorite sandwich in LA is their Vegan Banh Mi! Delicious marinated tofu, crispy julian cut carrots and cucumbers, cilantro, sticky chili sauce, jalapeños, the works! This sandwich is to die for. It is usually served on toasted ciabatta however I opt for the gluten free option from local GF Rising Hearts Bakery. The side salads and soups are delicious as well! Don’t miss the Wheat Berry, Kale and Tofu salad or the curried couscous. There are many delicious sandwiches and wraps at Mendocino, I suggest checking out their website and choosing which ones appeal to your taste buds!!

1. Green Peas– A new discovery! The perfect complete lunch. Everything they have, they offer to make vegan or vegetarian. My favorite salad is the Avocado Kale salad, tossed with a lemon vinaigrette and served with soup and whole wheat pita. The jalapeño “chicken” sandwich is a delightful treat served on pretzel bread with soup, salad or potatoes. The preparation is simple, but well crafted and always very fresh and so tasty. The quesadillas are amazing… stuffed with vegetables and served with salsa. Their mint lemonade is delicious. GO HERE! It’s on Sepulveda just south of Culver! It so tasty and the name is so cute! $$

 

ENJOY!!

Yammy Baby Kale Salad with Herb Honey Dijon Dressing

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You will need:

1 large yam (Peeled, Cubed, and Roasted with Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper and Rosemary- baked for 20-30 mins at 400 til soft)
2-3 Cups Baby Kale
1/2 Avocado- Cubed
1/4 dried cranberries
1/4 chopped Sweet/spicy pecans fom TJs (I use these in so many of my salads, because they add the perfect punch!)
Shaved Parmesan To taste

Massage Baby Kale with Dressing and pinch of salt and pepper. Toss together remaining ingredients.

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Serve with soup or cheese and crackers and enjoy!!

For the Dressing (Not sure about exact measurements but try the following)
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/4 Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Honey
Salt and Pepper
1 Teaspoon Fresh Rosemary- finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme- finely chopped

Whisk Together and add olive oil or balsamic vinegar as needed to balance acidity. (I usually put mine in a mason jar and shake it up… great for storage and limited mess).

Eazy Peazy Banana Berry Smoothie

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Here is the recipe for a simple and delicious smoothie, full of protein, anti oxidant rich berries and potassium from bananas:

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1 Organic Banana

1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt

1 Cup Mixed Frozen Berries

2 Cups Coconut Water

Feel free to add frozen pineapple or mango, your favorite protein powder, or flax seeds to spice it up.

Blend until smooth and Enjoy!!!

I recommend finding some fun straws to make your smoothie fun!

 

Spicy Chili and Gluten Free Cornbread

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Caliente Chili!

Delicious recipe for a hearty, spicy three bean Chili flush with vegetarian protein! I made up this recipe with the help of fellow vegetarian, my mom!

2 T Olive Oil

1 Yellow Onion, Chopped

1 Carrot, Chopped

2 Celery Stalks, Chopped

2 Bell Peppers (Red, Yellow or Orange), Chopped

3 Cloves of Garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) Can Diced Tomato

2 ears of Corn-Kernels only (or 1 can of corn)

2 Cans Black Beans

1 Can Kidney Beans

1 Can White Beans

1 T dried Oregano

1 T Chipotle Peppers in Adobo, chopped (Add more to add Heat)

2 t Ground Cumin

2 T Barbecue Sauce

1 Shot Espresso

1 1/2 T Chili Powder

1  T Salt

Heat Olive Oil in a Large pot. Sautee onion, celery, carrot, bell peppers, and garlic until soft. Add Canned tomatoes, spices, beans and corn. Simmer for at least 1 hour, chili should thicken and ingredients should cook down. Stir occasionally. Add more spice and seasoning to taste.  Serve with Pamela’s Gluten Free Cornbread (mix can be found at Whole Foods). ENJOY!!!

 

Mushroom Lettuce Wraps

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My friend Jake is an excellent cook, fortunately for me he is always very considerate of my vegetarian lifestyle. This summer his specialty has been Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps, but when I came over for dinner he made a vegetarian version, Mushroom Lettuce Wraps! So delicious and full of flavor; I had to recreate them at home. Now they have become a favorite in my home as well!

Mushrooms are a perfect substitute for meat, because they are very susceptible to flavoring and when you cook them down they have a hardy, almost meaty texture.

Remember that when cooking mushrooms, it is important to wash them well, and that the mushrooms cook down a lot! Meaning that 2 baskets of mushrooms can only feed about 2 people.

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Mushroom Lettuce Wraps A La Chef Jake 

2 Baskets of Mushrooms (Cremini, button, portabello, whatever’s clever)-finely chopped

1/4 Inch of Ginger- Grated

1 T Coconut Oil

1 Clove Garlic-minced

1/2 red or white onion- finely chopped

1/2 Can water chestnuts-chopped (Optional)

1 T Sambal (Asian Garlic-Chili sauce) (to taste, depending on desired heat level)

1 Head of Butter Lettuce

1/4 Chopped Cilantro- for condiment

1 Sliced Avocado- for condiment

In Large Skillet, Sautee Onion and garlic in 1/2 T of Coconut Oil, once soft(About 10 minutes) add rest of Coconut oil, ginger, mushrooms, water chestnuts. Cook for about 15-20 minutes until all moisture is out of mushrooms, add Sambal to taste. Let Cool, Assemble as if making a taco, where the butter lettuce leaf is the tortilla and the mushroom the filling! Add Avocado and cilantro for extra flavor.  Enjoy!

Vegetarian Friendly Sushi Spots and Oishii Vegetable Miso Soup

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As a vegetarian, good sushi is hard to come by. There are always the staple vegetarian rolls; Vegetable Roll, Avocado Roll and Cucumber Roll, but after awhile they are rather boring, so when I go to a sushi spot that puts more thought into the vegetarian dishes, I’m always overjoyed!  Many non vegetarians think that Sushi restaurants have nothing to offer vegetarians, however Japanese is one of my favorite cuisines. My go to items at Sushi restaurants are the side salad, usually coming with delicious gingery dressing, an avocado roll and Shishito Peppers (hold the Bonito aka fish flakes). The following are three of my favorite vegetarian friendly Sushi Spots in Los Angeles:

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Wabi-Sabi on Venice’s Abbot Kinney has amazing side dishes such as pan fried sweet miso eggplant, chili garlic edamame, and kale salad. Of course they offer the  signature vegetarian sushi: vegetable and cucumber rolls. In my eyes the star Wabi-Sabi dish is the huge Vegan Mushroom Miso soup with Tofu, vegetables sautéed in spicy garlic black bean paste and last but not least delicious cubes of crispy rice. This dish is enough to feed a small family, but you’ll find it hard to share. It is so delicious, rich and versatile that it is hard to stop eating. It is a must for vegetarians and vegans alike.  If you’re hungry for something sweet- the green tea creme brûlée is to die for.

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The Izaka-ya in Manhattan Beach or on Third Street in West Hollywood have such high quality sushi rice that their simple Avocado Roll is absolutely delightful. They have a tapas menu, full of ornate and delicious small plates; such as the kinpira lotus root, agedashi tofu, shishito peppers, sauteed pumpkin, cucumber salad, etc.  The best vegetarian item on the Menu is the Tofu Chample; perfectly cooked vegetables with delicious soft tofu. I thoroughly recommend this spot! Not to mention my boyfriend claims it has the best (fish) sushi in LA!

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Last but not least is Shikibu, a restaurant practicing macrobiotic rules by solely using Brown Rice for sushi. Shikibu has simple sushi for vegetarians, including Carrot Kimpira, mixed vegetable and avocado rolls. They have a delicious carrot ginger dressing which can be found on the Tofu Salad, a crisp simple salad with delicious slabs of fresh tofu. The shining star at Shikibu is the Crispy Rice with Carrot Kimpira, it is crunchy, spicy, and has a tiny homemade pickle on top…. Perfection… OISHII DESU!!!

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I was inspired by Wabi-Sabi’s vegan Miso soup. So I created my own:

Oishii Vegetable Miso Soup

2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil

4 cloves garlic- sliced

2 cubes marinated tofu-chopped into small squares

1 inch piece of ginger minced

1/2 yellow onion- chopped

1 cob corn- chopped of cob

1/2 zucchini- quartered rounds

3/4 Cup Miso

12 Cups Water

2 dozen green beans- chopped in thirds

Handfull of mixed mushrooms- sliced

1/2 Head of green Cabbage- chopped

3 carrots- peeled and cut in small rounds

Splash of Soy Sauce

1.Heat Big Soup pot, add Toasted Sesame Oil

2. Sautee Onions, Ginger, Garlic, Tofu until onion is soft (about 5 minutes)

3. Add water, miso, and chopped vegetables

4. Taste for flavor– add splash of soy sauce if necessary.

5. Let Soup come to a boil, turn down to simmer for 35-50 minutes (until carrots are soft)

6. Enjoy!!

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Kale Sweet Kale

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Fresh, delicious, filling, versatile. Kale.

Tender Greens is a great Mini Chain Restaurant in Southern California. They serve organic gourmet food in a production line style.

My Personal Favorite dishes at Tender Greens are the Simple Kale Salad w/ Roasted Vegetables with a side of Mashed Potatoes or the Tomato Soup.  The Kale is tossed with a Parmesan and Lemon Garlic dressing, emulating a caesar dressing. The Roasted Vegetables are a medley of seasonal vegetable. The mashed potatoes are something special, so delicious, unforgettable.

This week I played with Vegan Recipes, focusing on fresh vegetables from the farmer’s market and lean vegan proteins.  Last night for a dinner party, I prepared the vegetables and Tofu and let my friends bring their own Chicken to grill.  That way everyone is happy, the Vegetarian doesn’t have to touch or attempt to cook meat and the meat eaters are able to properly cook their meat!! (I’m learning to expand me knowledge of cooking meat, but not quite there yet!) Please enjoy recipes for last night’s Flexitarian Meal!!

Chopped Kale Salad, Zesty Roasted Brocoli, and Grilled Tofu

Chopped Kale Salad, Zesty Roasted Brocoli, and Grilled Tofu

           Chopped Kale Salad

            Ingredients

           1 large bunch of Curly Kale or Dino Kale

           1 Ripe Avocado-Cubed

           8-10 Baby Tomatoes (Make sure they are sweet and delicious)- Quartered

          1/4 of a Red Onion- Finally Diced

          1/4 Cup Hazelnuts- Diced

          1/4 Parmesan (Optional for non-vegans)

          1 Lemon-Juiced

          1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

          2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

          Salt and Pepper

Rinse and Dry Kale. Cut the Stalk out of each leaf. Julienne cut the Kale (the finer the pieces the more it’s able to moisten and break down).

Place Kale in Large bowl, add lemon, Soy Sauce, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper.  Massage liquids into to Kale using your hands.  Massaging the kale will make it more tender and flavorful. At this point you can store kale in the refrigerator  for up to 5 days, adding vegetables for a salad or mixing w Eggs, adding to stir fries, there are endless uses for Kale, especially when it is pre-prepped.

For this salad, the next step is to add all the chopped vegetables and nuts and toss. Enjoy!

Zesty Roasted Brocoli

Ingredients

1-2 Heads of Broccoli

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

Pinch of Chili Flakes

1 Lemon- Juiced

Pinch of Chili Flakes

2 Tablespoons Roasted Pine nuts

Salt and Pepper

Preheat Oven to 425.

Chop florets off the stem, cut the large florets in half.

Toss with Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper, Pinch of Chili Flakes

Even Place on Baking/Roasting sheet

Roast for Approximately 20 Minutes-or until Broccoli is Crispy on the outside

Grilled Tofu or Chicken

1 Cube Marinated Tofu (preferably Trader Joes Savory)

Your Favorite Marinade

Marinate and Grill it up!!!

Hope you enjoy this Delicious Flexitarian Menu!