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!

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.

LOCAL Greens: Kreation Organic Juicery

I tend to make my own juices at home, but when I'm about and about and I need something to keep me sustained, I make a stop at Whole Foods, or more recently

Kreation Organic Juicery 

in Manhattan Beach.

Kreation is a small chain with locations in Manhattan Beach, as well as various spots in West Los Angeles. The juices are made from 100% organic fruits and vegetables purchased locally in Santa Monica. They have a wide selection of juices, kombuchas, nut milks, and enhanced waters like lavender, aloe vera, and peppermint. I love how each juice has the ingredients, as well as the benefits you'll receive from each ingredient on the side of the bottle. They also let you sample each flavor before you buy so you know exactly what you're getting...like healthy wine tasting! Maybe not so much, but at least you don't buy a huge quantity of one flavor, and then try it to realize it tastes like dirty socks...

Not only does Kreation have yummy and nutrient-rich juices, their stores are filled with gorgeous succulent walls. Even their truck that delivers juices around the Los Angeles area has some amazing greenery on it! You can pick up a juice or two if you're just stopping in, or they also have detox plans that you can purchase if you want to do a cleanse for a few days...or maybe a month...or more!

Veggie Eats: Caramelized Cauliflower

As a veggie loving gal, I am ashamed to admit that cauliflower is not my favorite. I hardly ever buy it at the market, push it aside when it comes with a dish, much less cook with it.

Well...after a yummy dream-worthy version of caramelized cauliflower at Lazy Ox Canteen in Los Angeles, I had to attempt my own caramelized version of this fluffy cloud-looking veggie, and I think I've found a new dish for the weekly rotation!

What you Need:

Cauliflower, 2-3 heads
Olive oil, 1/2 cup
Crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon
Lemon, Juice of 2
Black pepper, to taste
Nutritional Yeast, optional, 1 Tablespoon

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and remove cauliflower from it's stock. Place in a large bowl, and add olive oil, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, juice of one lemon, a few grinds of black pepper, and nutritional yeast. Using tongs or clean hands, marry all ingredients.

Spread cauliflower mixture onto a large cookie sheet, and cook for 10 minutes in heated oven. Remove pan after 10 minutes, turn cauliflower, add juice of second lemon, and bake for 10-20 more minutes, depending on how browned you prefer.

DEtox to REtox

Phew...that was one crazy week! I am ready for some rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation this weekend!

Sometimes the weekends include a bit more eating out and maybe a glass of wine or two, so when I'm feeling like I need a little detox before I retox, this green juice is refreshing and oh so easy to whip up!

Ingredients:

Cucumber, chopped

Lemon, peeled

Spinach, large handful

Ground matcha green tea, 1-2 tablespoons

Cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon

Filtered water, 3/4 cup

I have an amazing Blendtec blender, so I throw in all the ingredients, and choose the 'whole juice' option, but this can also be whipped up in a Vitamix or juicer.

Do you have any yummy detox combos for juices and smoothies that are your go-to?? I would love to hear, as I'm always needing a new combo!

No-Bake Energy Bites

My sister gave me this recipe a few years ago, and I completely forgot how amazing these energy balls taste, as well as how easy they are to make! 

They are a better alternative to the packaged energy bars, which are definitely convenient, but these have no preservatives, are gluten free, dairy free, raw, and all that fun stuff. If you have kids, have them get in on the action and help you form the balls, and even do a little taste testing!

Ingredients:

Makes 15-20 energy balls.

Oatmeal, 1 cup

Almond butter, 1 cup

Agave, 1/3 cup

Raw unsweetened coconut flakes, 1 cup

Chia seeds, 1/2 cup

Mini dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup

Vanilla, 1 teaspoon

Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl. Let mixture chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Wet hands with water and form mixture into balls. Store in an airtight container up to one week.

I recommend doubling this recipe if you have fans of these energy bites. The day after I made these, I peeked in the refrigerator, and there were only about five left...looks like my guy approved!

The Amazing Chia Seed

You may have heard a lot of buzz around this little seed recently, and I like to think of chia seeds like...flax seeds on crack!

Chia seeds were an ancient staple in the diet of Mayans and Mexicans, and were used for sustained energy while hunting, as well as in religious ceremonies. Today, they are gaining popularity due to their unending nutritional benefits, and can be found in many health food stores. 

I could make a laundry list of the benefits of chia seeds, but here are a few of my favorite:

1.  Chia seeds are great for weight management. They absorb up to 12 times their own weight, and they expand in liquid, curbing your appetite, giving you a full feeling.

2.  Chia seeds contain a high concentration of omega-3, as well as omega-6, which is needed to support heart health, and may lessen your risk for cancer and arthritis.

3.  Your digestive system will start movin' and groovin' thanks to the high fiber content of the chia, which also has a beneficial effect on cholesterol. 

4. Chia seeds are a complete source of plant protein and contain all nine amino acids, great for vegetarians/vegans.

5.  Per ounce, chia seeds provide three times more calcium than skim milk, preventing osteoporosis.

I use chia seeds in smoothies, baked goods, granola, salads, etc...but my favorite snack when I need an energy boost that keeps me feel full is...

Chia Pudding

It's super simple to make...just combine 1 cup of almond, hemp, or coconut milk with 2 Tbsp of chia seeds. Stir mixture every 10 minutes or so as the chia seeds expand and create a tapioca-like pudding. Add cinnamon and agave to taste!

Kombucha for Detoxification and Energy

Kombucha is my version of healthy soda...it has an effervescent quality to it, and refreshes and re-energizes!

There are tremendous benefits from consuming kombucha, whereas soda...not so much...

KOMBUCHA

is a fermented effervescent tea with detoxing and energizing qualities. You can make the tea on your own, or you can purchase a ready-to-drink bottle at your favorite health food store. Bottled kombucha is often complemented with ingredients, such as ginger, spirulina, chlorella, or chia seeds, and give it a less bitter taste.

Let's discover some of the most common benefits:

1.  Kombucha contains live cultures of probiotics, increasing intestinal flora and improving digestion. Your body will be able to absorb the good nutrients, and get rid of toxicity.

2.  Most versions of kombucha contain a wide range of B vitamins, providing energy to the body, as well as vitamin C, boosting immunity and promoting detoxification.

3.  Kombucha balances the pH in the body, alkalizing acidity, and flushing toxins out of the kidney. This is similar to the benefits of warm water and lemon, that I discussed here.

4.  Kombucha increases metabolism, as the body is brought into an equilibrium with all systems running more smoothly.

The benefits of kombucha are most effective when consumed on a daily basis, which can get quite expensive if you are buying it pre-bottled.

Try brewing your own kombucha in order to gain the most benefit...something I plan to try out myself...so stay tuned for a tutorial on how to brew your own!

Veggie Eats: Rosemary Hummus

With the holidays in full swing, the party invites are overflowing, and you probably need a healthy contribution to the holiday party menu...

 My Go-to...

HUMMUS

This creamy fiber-filled dip is an easy option that can be made ahead of time, and uses ingredients that you probably already have on hand...and you'll guarantee that you have something healthy to nosh on besides that tempting spinach and artichoke dip!

Ingredients:

Garbanzo beans, 3 cups

Olive oil, 1 cup

Garlic cloves, 3-4

Tahini, 2 Tbsp

Lemons, Juice of 3

Rosemary, 2-3 sprigs, minced

Cayenne pepper

If you are using dried garbanzo beans, you will want to cook them ahead of time, like I showed you here!

Add 2 cups of garbanzo beans to a food processor, as well as olive oil, garlic cloves, tahini, juice of lemons, and rosemary. Pulse to blend all ingredients together. Add 1 more cup of garbanzo beans, and process until you reach a creamy consistency. You may need to add additional olive oil if the beans are being stubborn and not easily reaching a creamy consistency. Add cayenne pepper to taste, and serve with crackers or vegetables!

The rosemary is optional, and can be omitted or substituted. I like to try different flavorings, like...black bean, edamame, or spicy jalapeno!