Spicy Tofu + Veggie Sushi

My guilty pleasure these days is VEGAN SUSHI...sorry fishie, fishies! Not only does it satisfy my dipping and snacking obsession, but it's super easy to make, healthy of course, and feels sorta fancy! My perfect Saturday night would consist of a nice glass {or two} of red wine and some sushi making...which I actually did get to indulge in recently. I was really craving a homemade sushi night, and decided to try and whip something up with whatever I could find in the fridge...tofu, marinade, veggies, brown rice, and nori...but no bamboo mat!

Thanks to trusty YouTube and their never ending fixes to any situation, no bamboo mat is necessary...all you need is a damp, clean kitchen towel! 

Ingredients:

Brown rice, 1-2 cups

Tofu, firm

Nori sheets

Sliced mix of vegetables (cucumber, bell pepper, carrot, avocado, sprouts, etc.) 

Kitchen towel, clean and damp

Before you start rolling your sushi, prepare all of your fixins'. The awesome thing about sushi is you can really put anything you want in your roll based on your cravings or availability of fridge items. I chose to do spicy tofu and veggie rolls. Cook the brown rice as directed, and slice the vegetables into long skinny slices.

For the spicy tofu, I marinate slices of firm tofu while the rice is cooking and vegetables are being sliced. I used a chili garlic sauce and a GF thai peanut sauce, but you can really use whatever marinades or ingredients you have on hand. Chili garlic sauce and tamari is also a good combination! Once the tofu marinates for about 30 minutes, brown the tofu for a few minutes on each side, or leave raw.

Once you've prepped all your ingredients, grab your damp towel and begin assembling your rolls. Place the shiny side of the nori paper on the towel, and begin placing your fixins' as shown above. Leave about an inch towards the end of the nori paper. Begin to roll away from you using the damp towel, squeezing and tightening the roll as you reach the end. Once you reach the end, wrap the towel around the completed roll and give it one last squeeze to keep everything together. The damp towel will moisten the nori paper a bit to help it all stick together. Slice your rolls using a wet, sharp knife.

Using the damp towel method has made sushi making so much easier,  and it is now one of my quick go-to lunches and is a fun change from my everyday salad. For lunch, I normally skip the rice and add in any vegetables that I have on hand, and dip in hummus for a protein boost.

*Watch the video here to see a demo of how to roll the sushi with the damp towel. Start the video at 1:00 to get straight to the demo!

The Little Things

This summer has definitely been the summer of little things adding up to the big things. I love reflecting on the moments...sometimes unexpected, that have shaped this summer to be one of the best. Here are a few things happening in my world that fill me up.

A visit from one of my best girlfriends that lives in Austin. It felt so amazing to come together, BBQ, reconnect, and make up for lost time.

A last-minute solo mission to the Long Beach Flea Market to pick up a few goodies...bright embroidered fabric, a Oaxacan loom with amazingly colorful birds, air plants, an antler shed, and a piece of driftwood which later became a new front door hanging.

A weekend filled with DIYs. I was craving some creative time, and this weekend included indigo-dying, painting new pots for house plants, and this air plant hanging that I made from flea market goodies.

A happy pup on an improptu hike along Palos Verdes. The dogs even got to hike down the cliffs to run next to the waves. This guy looks pretty happy!

Nothing beats a warm summer sunset, and this summer has not disappointed...Add wine, healthy food, friends, and great conversation.

Hemp + Chia SUPERFUEL Bowl

When I find a new recipe that I like, and it's easy to prepare, I find myself becoming a bit obsessed...Especially when it's uber healthy, gives you superwoman energy, and keeps you full half the day. 

And one of the many things I love about my two health-conscious sisters is that they appreciate and enjoy nourishing, healthy food....AND we get to steal recipes from each other. So thank you to my sister for my new breakfast obsession! You can modify this recipe however you prefer, but the combo below has been the ULTIMATE!  

Ingredients:

Organic shelled hemp seeds, 3 Tablespoons

Organic chia seeds, 2 Tablespoons

Coconut or Almond milk, 1 Cup

Stevia, 3 Drops

Cacao Green Superfood, 1 Scoop

Slivered Almonds, Handful

Organic figs

Banana

Agave, Drizzle

Place the hemp seeds, chia seeds, stevia, and milk into a container or small bowl. Stir, cover, and allow to sit overnight to thicken. In the morning, stir the mixture to get an even consistency. Add cacao, green powder, cinnamon, nuts, fruit, or whatever toppings you prefer. That's it...EASY! If you're really craving it in the morning and you forgot to make it overnight, you can allow it to thicken for an hour or so to get the same results.

I prefer to make 2-3 batches at one time so I can grab and go for the next few days. I have been super spoiled lately and have been using homemade almond milk from my sister, which elevates this bowl even more. She's going to teach me her tricks so I can start making my own...so stay tuned!

**Hover over the ingredients above to find links to some of the specific products that I use.

Dream...Actually Make IT Happen!

Photography Print from Etsy...Recently Purchased

This year has brought a lot of change...extremely POSITIVE change. I feel extremely grateful that so much positivity has come my way, but one thing that continues to make itself present is the idea that I can make my dreams and goals a reality through my thought and intention. It all started with a leadership training that included a small snippet on life planning. As a yoga teacher and practitioner I am aware of how much your thoughts can affect your everyday interactions.. And as an advocate and constant striver {is that even a word?} for growth, I surprisingly have never formally written down my goals.  

So...the day after my leadership training, the message continued in my favorite Saturday morning yoga indulgence through a passage read by the teacher. And then...my sister and I happened to book a yoga retreat with wine, yoga, hiking, and duh goal planning. Since all signs are pointing to putting thought to the things that I dream to achieve within this amazing life, I wanted to share what I'm doing. Maybe it's a message that speaks to you as well:

1. Create a MISSION STATEMENT for yourself... 

Your mission statement should be how you want to be remembered when you're no longer here. It sounds kind of morbid, but if you know what you stand for, this mission statement will guide you each day.

2. Set the TIMEFRAME that you want to achieve your goals...

3 years, 10 years, 20 years. Mine are set for 3 years, and after 3 years I will reassess what my next goals will be.

3. WRITE down your goals...

Whether they're personal, professional, monetary, anything! Don't doubt yourself for wanting the things that you want, it is possible!

4. REFERENCE them often, daily if possible... 

The more you visualize each step needed to reach that dream, the more you will find yourself taking steps to manifest them into your reality. 

5. Find OPPORTUNITY in the challenges...

And speed bumps along the way. Stay positive when you get off track, and surround yourself with people that drive you to continue moving forward.

{In case you're interested in the passage that was read in class, see below, I have been referring to it often}

Infinite Spirit is within me and flows through me now and in every moment. This loving power is everywhere present and is mine by right of consciousness. What I give my attention to is created in my world. As I expand my thought, believing, I know the loving Presence of Spirit within does the work.

As I turn my attention to the spirit of my being, I realize I am allowing myself more as I resolve to evolve. I decide to be more because this is Spirits gift to me. I accept this gift knowing it is the Universes intention to give me all that I am willing to accept. As I open myself to the blessings surrounding me, Infinite Spirit supplies me with all I envision. It truly is done to me as I believe.

Life is good and I celebrate every day with joy and gratitude, knowing I am given the gifts of increasing goodness. I now use these extraordinary gifts to create a life of clarity, joy, love, and wisdom through the clarity of my thoughts.  I let this be. And so it is.