Tag Archives | Vegan

MCLV Mange: Creamy Avocado Dressing

September 11, 2017 in MCLV Mange

A great salad dressing makes you want to eat salad. It’s raison d’etre is to get you excited for a giant bowl of fresh veggies and toppings.

I for one tend to go through phases with dressings. I’ll love one to death for a few weeks, or even months, then move on. But, to my surprise, I’ve been making variations of this creamy avocado dressing all Summer.

Another great thing about it is that you can adjust it to your desired consistency and use it as either a sauce or a dressing. I’ve served it on salad, roasted veggies, and even drizzled over chicken breasts for our last dinner party.

It improves them all!

Avocado Salad Dressing Vegan Vegetarian Gluten-Free Paleo San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger Recipe

{Vegan // Vegetarian // Gluten-Free // Paleo-Friendly}

Creamy Avocado Dressing

Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 Avocado
  • Juice of 1 Small Lemon or Lime
  • 1 Clove of garlic
  • 1 Shallot or 1/2 Purple Onion
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
  • Water as needed

Directions:

  • Put ingredients to a food processor, magic bullet, or blender
  • Add water as needed to achieve your desired consistency

Note: I made this without olive oil once {accidentally} and it was just as tasty. If you’re trying to lower your fat intake you can leave it out or add less than that suggested two tablespoons.

Stay tuned for the next MCLV Mange installment and check out the previous posts from this series here to see what you’ve missed so far.

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MCLV Mange: Simple Summer Salad

August 28, 2017 in MCLV Mange

I crave light, easy foods during the Summer.

I don’t want the stove or oven to be on and heating up the apartment. I don’t want to run all over town looking for ingredients. And I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Enter my favorite simple Summer salad – Crisp, flavorful produce, quick to make, and the best part, it’ll easily last a few days in the fridge.

Simple Summer Salad Vegan Vegetarian Paleo Gluten-Free San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger Recipe

Simple Summer Salad

Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 Cucumber
  • 1 Pepper
  • 2 Medium tomatoes {I like heirloom} or a handful of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • Optional: Basil

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon of Red Wine Vinegar
  • Salt & Pepper

Directions:

  • Chop veggies
  • Whisk together dressing ingredients
  • Mix together & stir
  • Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days

Stay tuned for the next MCLV Mange installment and check out the previous posts from this series here to see what you’ve missed so far.

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MCLV Mange: Easy Vegan Mixed Bean Stew

July 19, 2017 in MCLV Mange

If you’ve ever read any of my recipes you’ll know that I love a dish that is both easy and delicious.

This particular recipe came into being after I saw a yummy looking garbanzo bean crock pot dish on Pinterest {where else?} and I didn’t feel like going to the grocery store.

Side point – Does anyone else like to do just one grocery trip a week? I started off the year going 2+ times a week and not only was it a time suck, but all of those trips really add up!

Anyway, I didn’t feel like going out to get all the extra ingredients that I was missing so I just used what was on hand and it turned out great. What I love about this stew is that you can add whatever is in your fridge or cupboards and it’ll come out great.

That also means that if you have any allergies or sensitivities, you can just substitute what works best for your diet.

 

Vegan Bean Chickpea Vegetable Vegan Gluten-Free Paleo Vegetarian San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger Recipe

Easy Vegan Mixed Bean Stew

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cans of beans {I used garbanzo & kidney beans, but you could use anything that sounds good to you!}
  • 2 Tbsp oil
  • 1 Onion or 1/2 an onion & a shallot chopped
  • 2 Cloves of garlic diced
  • Vegetables: You can use any combination you’d like. I used 1 yellow pepper, 1 zucchini, 1 super sized carrot, and a handful of cherry tomatoes. But you could also add sweet potatoes or squash for a more Winter-y dish.
  • Spices: I went the Eastern route with turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika & chili. However, if you wanted a more Italian flavoring you could go for oregano, parsley, and basil. {1 tsp each}
  • Optional: Tomato paste

Directions:

  • In a soup pot saute the onion and garlic in oil for around 5 minutes on medium heat {don’t quite brown it}
  • Add in the beans and chopped vegetables, combine thoroughly, and keep on medium heat for an additional 3 minutes
  • Next stir in your spices of choice
  • At this point you need to decide what thickness you want. If you’d like a soupy texture, add up to 2 cups of water, watching and stirring as you go. If you’d like a thicker stew, you can add a can of tomato paste and 1-2 cups of water. Just watch the texture as you’re stirring in the water and stop when you reach your desired consistency.
  • Reduce to low heat and simmer with the lid on for ~30 minutes
  • Some people like to add salt during the cooking process, but I’ve found that I end up adding much more salt when I do that, since I’ll salt the final dish anyway so I’ve gotten out of the habit. Now I add my sea salt to taste after plating.
  • This is a great dish for leftovers – Make it during Sunday food prep and you’re set for 2-3 days. You can also freeze it. I like to make soups and stews before going out-of-town with any veggies that are left in the fridge, and then pop it into the freezer so we have something fully prepared when we get home!

Stay tuned for the next MCLV Mange installment and check out the previous posts from this series here to see what you’ve missed so far.

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What I Eat in a Day | High Protein Vegetarian

July 12, 2017 in Food

I’ve done What I Eat in a Day posts in the past, but since my eating habits continually shift, I thought I’d check back in and share an update. After playing with counting macros last year and trying the Tone It Up Challenge earlier this year, I’ve settled into a high protein, plant-based diet in recent months.

My diet and lifestyle have shifted dramatically over the last ten or so years since I first started getting interested in health and nutrition. There were periods where I didn’t workout, whereas now I workout once or twice a day. There were periods where I was fully vegan, fully raw, and fully paleo.

What I’ve learned with all of my trials, and a few errors, is that every body needs something different to fuel it. And, what your body needs may shift from day-to-day. With such a high level of activity these days, plus a super sensitive digestive system, I’ve settled on a diet that definitely can’t be described in one word. Or even a complete sentence.

I’d call my diet – Wait for it – Plant-based, high protein, gluten-free, and lactose-free with an emphasis on whole foods. I try to limit my processed food intake and focus on fresh produce and plant-based protein.

So, without further ado, here’s my high protein vegetarian variation on What I Eat in a Day!

What I Eat In a Day High Protein Vegetarian Vegan Gluten-Free Paleo San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger Recipes

What’s YOUR favorite meal? Do you have something you look forward to eating all day?

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MCLV Mange: Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl

May 17, 2017 in MCLV Mange

I have a soft spot for smoothies and while I can happily drink the same one day after day – Lately this peanut butter smoothie – Sometimes I like to mix things up. These giant smoothie bowls with a mix of toppings are a delicious, nutrient-packed, and satiating option any time of the day.

What’s especially great is that there are an endless combination of fruits and toppings that you can use. Which means you don’t have to follow a strict recipe or run to the grocery store for specific ingredients if you want a smoothie – Just use whatever goodies you have in your fridge or cupboards.

After peeking into my freezer to find frozen bananas and strawberries, I decided to play around with a classic strawberry banana flavor today. See my creation, and how to make one of your very own, below!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Paleo Vegetarian San Francisco Bay Area Fashion Food Fitness Lifestyle Blogger Street Style Recipes

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl {Serves 1}

Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Frozen or Fresh Strawberries
  • 1/3 Frozen Banana {I keep a baggie of chopped frozen bananas in the fridge}
  • Protein Powder of Choice
  • 1/2 Cup of Water, Almond Milk, or Coconut Water
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice {This helps keep it tart, but isn’t mandatory}

Toppings:

  • Granola or Oats – I used PaleoKrunch’s Grainless Granola
  • Bare Coconut Chips
  • Bare Banana Chips
  • Chia Shots Chia Seeds

Directions:

  • Blend frozen or fresh fruit with protein powder and liquid until your desired consistency is achieved
  • Add whatever toppings your heart desires
  • Enjoy the goodness!

Stay tuned for the next MCLV Mange installment and check out the previous posts from this series here to see what you’ve missed so far.

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