Not Your Ordinary Soup!

Hello lovelies! It's that chilly time of year when I reminisce about and crave soup. 

Sorry, not the canned type variety, but the hearty, Caribbean deliciousness that I grew up with. I was missing home #1 (NY) and home #2 (Trinidad) last weekend, so I decided to make a huge pot of comfort that would take me back to the happy parts of my childhood. Both my birth parents are Trinidadian, and I lived in there for 2 years while I was a toddler. My stepmother is from Jamaica, so this type of food is pretty much a part of my soul!  Many requested the recipe after I posted pics. Ask and ye shall receive.

Before you attempt this soup (if it's your first experience with West Indian cooking), please know that we don't like bland food. Spicy, flavorful, colorful celebrations is what we do with our nosh. Feel free to pull back, or omit some of the peppers that this recipe calls for, according to your taste. 

Also note that you can pretty much add whatever veggies you like to this soup. I added a few of mine to the "traditional" recipe out of either lack of having it on hand, or personal preference (my stepmother's yummy recipe calls for dumplings, chicken and/or beef added...but we be vegan round here!). Do what you like!

Nikki's Trini Lentil & Veggie Soup 💋

You'll need:

1 cup dried lentils (I used a combo of red and green)

4-5 cups of water to boil the lentils

2 medium to large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (you can soften in the microwave for a few minutes, or bake for 15 minutes)

2 large organic carrots, peeled and sliced at an angle

2 large potatoes, peeled (eddoes are traditionally used, but I didn't have any. They are kind of like white potatoes, but a bit sweeter tasting. FYI)

1 large sweet onion, diced or sliced

3 pimiento peppers, chopped

1/2 scotch bonnet pepper, chopped (WASH HANDS WITH SOAP AFTER HANDLING!)

1 leek stalk, chopped and washed thoroughly

2 cups baby portabella mushrooms, sliced

1.5 cups kale leaves, chopped (I used this in combo with cilantro in place of traditional chadon beni leaves, which I didn't have on hand. Chadon (or shado) beni is a strong herb used Trini cooking. Another name is culantro, not to be confused with cilantro or coriander. They do smell very similar, though!)

2 large celery stalks, chopped

2 plantains or green bananas, sliced

1 Tbsp thyme, stemmed

2 Tbsp "green seasoning", or to taste (see below)

2 Tbsp tomato paste

2-3 Tbsp unsalted vegan butter

Sea salt, to taste

Ground black pepper, to taste

6 cups water

Green seasoning~>used in the Caribbean to marinate and flavor dishes.  Again, chadon beni and Spanish thyme are the two main ingredients. There are many variations, but this is mine using cilantro and regular thyme, and it came out terrific! 

You'll need:

1-2 cups cilantro (or chadon beni, if you have)

1 celery stalk including leaves

1 whole head of garlic, skinned

1/2 bunch fresh basil

1/2 bunch fresh chives

1/2 bunch fresh thyme 

1/2 bunch Spanish thyme (if you have)

2 Tbsp pimiento peppers

1/2 scotch bonnet pepper, or milder pepper if desired

1/2 large white onion

Place in blender/food processor (I use my NutriBullet®)

Add just enough water to blend ingredients 

Place in glass jar in fridge (lasts up to a month), or freeze in ice cube trays until ready to use.

My Trini green seasoning 👍

Make your soup!

1. Cook lentils in water for about 30 minutes until soft

2. Chop veggies while lentils are cooking

*Here's where I stray off the beaten path. You can now add all the following veggies to pot and skip to step 3, or:

*add 2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil to a large pan and brown onions and leeks for 5 minutes over medium heat, with dash of salt and pepper. Set aside in large bowl. Add sweet potatoes to pan, along with carrots and plantains. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until browned. Add to bowl. Sauté mushrooms for 2-3 minutes; add to bowl. Place all browned veggies in pot with lentils and add 6 cups more water. Add remaining ingredients as instructed below.

✔️This extra step gives the soup a more robust flavor, in my opinion!

3. Add kale, white potatoes, 1/2 chopped scotch bonnet pepper, pimiento, celery, thyme, tomato paste, green seasoning, vegan butter, salt and pepper to pot. Stir, reduce heat to low, and cover.

4. Continue to cook for about 30-40 minutes, or until soup thickens.

Enjoy!

Lentils are a great vegan source of protein, and are pretty inexpensive. I use them in some of my "meat"loaf recipes and rice dishes. Love them.

My 15 year old had never had soup before (long story; he has a thing with hot liquids), but I made him some dinner rolls with this soup and he loved it! 

Put some music on and get in the kitchen! Tell me what you think if you try this recipe from my island.

Until next time.

Love & Happiness,

❤️ Nikki

Nikki Thomas, RN, CPN, CHHC, AADP is a lover of life, health, and truth. I strive to help you find your balance and sanity in this occasionally insane world. I am a registered nurse, a board certified holistic health practitioner, life and health coach. Let's talk about health & wellness, fashion, beauty, and food! 

Find me at www.getthisglow.com

www.facebook.com/getthisglow

Instagram: @veganfashionista

I'm About That (Sweet & Healthy) Life!

Lovelies! I hope all is well with you in your part of the world.

Thanksgiving just passed us by in the U.S. & I have yet to taste any of the desserts I made! Blasphemy.

Not sure why, because I'm usually all over the sweet potato pie situation. I guess my sweet tooth was not functioning this year.

I still want to share some healthy, delicious (almost unbelievable to some) vegan holiday desserts from some of my fave fellow bloggers. Let's go!

Apple Crumble Pie 

This comes from Nava Atlas' site VegKitchen, which features both vegan and vegetarian recipes. She's written many books on vegan and vegetarian cooking, as well as written tons of articles on healthy cooking which have been featured in VegNews & Vegetarian Times among others. I personally love apple crumbles and crisps because I'm not a fan of the flaky crust situation. If you are, I'll get you next time around =)

http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/apple-crumble-pie/

Bread and Butter Pudding

This kinda reminds me of a vegan UK version of the bread pudding I grew up on. Put custard in/on anything and I'm sold =\

Seriously, I became more aware of Jamie Oliver and his passion for healthy eating and healthy food awareness while I was in nutrition school at IIN. He's one of the good guys, it seems! You can find out more about his foundation here:

http://www.jamieoliverfoodfoundation.org.uk

Oh yeah, here's the recipe!

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread-recipes/vegan-bread-butter-pudding/

Cheesecake!

This dessert choice is pretty self-explanatory. Although, I have found people either love cheesecake or hate it. Hopefully, you're on my side of the fence and enjoy this recipe.

Minimalist Baker is a husband & wife team based in Portland, Oregon, who developed their site in 2012. Their recipes "require just 10 ingredients or less (sometimes 7), one bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare". They feature many gluten free and vegan recipes. What's not to love about that?

http://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-pumpkin-swirl-cheesecake/

My Sweet Potato Pie!

So I might be a bit biased, but here's my favorite vegan sweet potato pie recipe. I pretty much grew up on this stuff for Thanksgiving, and tweaked it a bit after I transitioned from vegetarian to vegan over 3 years ago. No one knows the difference. I guess until now? Haha. I've featured this on my blog somewhere before I'm sure, but here it is again. I'm really bad with measurements, because I pretty much bake these freestyle, but I tried my best to keep track of amounts and such. Play around with the spices until you get it to your taste. Enjoy!

Ingredients for two pies:
2 graham cracker crusts (ready to bake), or your choice of crust
4-5 moderate to large sweet potatoes/yams, baked for about an hour, then peeled when cooled
cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, cardamom  (to taste...I never measure-sorry)
1/4 cup organic white sugar, 

3/4 cup  dark brown sugar

1/2 cup orange juice

grated zest of 1/2 lemon
3/4 cup or so of vanilla almond milk

3-4 tablespoons flour

raisins (optional)

Blend all non-crust ingredients in blender until smooth. Spoon into crusts. Mix in raisins, if desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until toothpick comes out clean 

Now I want some dessert. What are your favorite holiday desserts? Share with us!

Remember, the key is not to stress over the holidays. Enjoy your treats, but also keep in mind that the important thing is the time you spend with your loved ones. Continue to stick to your healthy lifestyle and don't use the holidays as an excuse to run wild! Overindulgence and stress will only lead to frustration and derailment of your goals!

Love & Happiness,

Nikki

Nikki Thomas, RN, CPN, CHHC, AADP is a lover of life, health, and truth. I strive to help you find your balance and sanity in this occasionally insane world. I am a registered nurse, a board certified holistic health practitioner, life and health coach. Let's talk about health & wellness, fashion, beauty, and food! 

Find me at www.getthisglow.com

www.facebook.com/getthisglow

Instagram: @veganfashionista

This Sh** Is Hard!

Hello my lovelies! Happy autumn! What have you been up to in the past weeks? I've been wonderfully busy with my health and wellness business, Get This Glow! Health & Wellness. That's definitely a good thing...yet, I've learned that even though I absolutely love what I do, running a business on your own is not easy! Dare I say...hard? I guess that's relative. For me, slaving for hours for someone else weeks, months, years on end...that's hard. Depending on how bad you want something, the definition of "hard" is ironically flexible. I pass the same things I learn from running a business on to my clients when they tell me eating healthy and exercising is hard. Here's what I share:

1. What's the alternative?

When decided to become self employed because after 18 years of the nursing rat race, I knew there was more In store for me, I had to face the facts that I'd have to be more disciplined. No more mindless getting dressed, driving to work, putting in 12-13 hours of what I normally did, and then going back home. I had to be my own boss which meant setting up my own schedule and routine, and being the only one held accountable if I didn't reach my weekly goals. Couldn't blame my boss, coworkers, or even my patients! The alternative was to continue to be unhappy in a no longer fulfilling career.

So you have to cook a couple of meals at home, and choose a baked potato over fries when you dine out. You choose a physical activity that's fun for you, do it at least 3 times per week for 30-40 minutes, and mix it up when you get bored. Flood your body with endorphins while slaying toxin-laden fat cells.

It's really not that hard when you look at the big picture. You decided you needed a change for a reason. Weight loss, less stress, lowered blood pressure, no more diabetes medication...whatever it is that you're fed up with, that's your alternative. Make a few small changes a bit at a time and be held accountable, or go back to your unhealthy and unhappy lifestyle.

2. It's not all work and no play.

Yes, you have to put in the work to get the desired results, but it's all good! Hard work=great payoff. People start to notice. You feel good about yourself and what you're doing. When it is time to relax, you don't have to worry about things falling apart because you've built up a great system and you  now know what works. 

See clients, do the financial paperwork and multiple other behind the scenes stuff 3-4 days per week, and then you can have the remaining days for yourself. You know things are in order. 

Same as with your new healthy lifestyle routine. Eat well and exercise 5-6 days per week, and then take a day or so to relax and enjoy with friends and family. You'll be in a better frame of mind when it's time to hit it hard again, and you'll actually look forward to it! This is not punishment, nor is it a race. Welcome to your new and wonderful life!

Me vacationing with the fam on Tybee Island beach, Georgia

3. You don't have to know it all or do it all by yourself.

Come on...we're human. As much as some of us would like to think we're superheroes, we're kinda not. Sure, we can handle 19 things at once on 4 hours worth of sleep, but what does that get us in the long run? Tired. Cranky. Nowhere. Instead, I like to turn to my mentors and fellow industry connections when I need help with an idea or project. In turn, they reach out to me. We're learning new things every day, and nobody needs to do be on this entrepreneurial journey alone. 

Likewise, when you're learning what the newest superfood is, or how to choose salmon, or even how much exercise you need to do in a week, GET SOME SUPPORT! Emotionally, any major life change is difficult. Going from fast food daily to cooking your meals is a major life change. Don't you dare try to do this on your own. Your health coach is there for you, your physical trainer, your therapist, dietician, and even your supportive friends and family. One day at a time, lovely!

There you have it. Transforming your life in any aspect is not easy. However, when you consider the unhappiness that you want to be free from, it's not entirely that hard either! What other tips do you have to get through the rough patches? Share below!

Until next time,

Love & Happiness,

Nikki

Nikki Thomas, RN, CPN, CHHC, AADP is a lover of life, health, and truth. I strive to help you find your balance and sanity in this occasionally insane world. I am a registered nurse, a board certified holistic health practitioner, life and health coach. Let's talk about health & wellness, fashion, beauty, and food! 

Find me at www.getthisglow.com

www.facebook.com/getthisglow

Instagram: @veganfashionista

Been There, Stop That!

Hello my lovelies! How many of you have been on the grapefruit diet? Cabbage soup diet? How about the "drink this for 48 hours and lose 10 pounds diet"? No? Not you? Well, surely you've tried water fasting for 7 days, only to give up after a day and have a burger and fries?

Hmmm.

I thought so. What's going on here? Why do we do this to ourselves? I mean, I know it's obvious that the ultimate goal is weight loss. However, by what means? What are the deeper reasons...and more importantly, the deeper consequences?

I saw this post today, and laughed at the author's candid reactions to certain foods that she vowed never to try again (some healthy, and some not so much). After the humor, I applauded her for deciding not to subject herself over and over to things that don't work for her!

When it comes to "dieting", why can't we do the same? Let's go...

1. We forget. Truly. We go on all of these crazy, short term, sometimes non-nutritive diets, and forget how irritable, anxious, bitchy, and HUNGRY we were while on them. But! Our high school reunion is coming up, and we have just got to show that one person we were secretly jealous of how much thinner than her we are now! Right? You gained the weight back the next week. Sigh.

2. We think one size fits all. In diets, and clothes sizes, we tend to believe the hype and think everything is for everybody. Come on, really? We all have unique fingerprints! The same perfume that I wear can smell completely different on you. Why wouldn't that qualify us to have some bioindividuality in what makes each of us function at our best? When I was in nutrition school, I learned that there are over 100 dietary theories out there. Whoa! Atkins, Paleo, The Blood Type Diet, Vegan, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, The South Beach Diet, Low Carb, High Carb...arrrrgh! If you're new healthy living, it can be very confusing. What to do? Marketing gurus convince us that this diet is better than that diet. Look! She lost 100 pounds in 2 weeks while doing this, you can too! Ok, a bit of a stretch, but you get my point.

3. We're lost. There is a part of us that is neglecting the essence of who we are and what we truly need to be happy. When you continually put yourself through discomfort and mental trauma (intentional or not) for temporary external results, what does this tell your subconscious? One: that short term quick fixes are the only solution to issues in your life. Two: that you're not really worthy of finding out the deeper truths and lasting answers to whatever it is you're needing. 

Issue arises~>binge on something nice and fattening~>feel guilty~>go on a quick diet~>lose some weight~>feel deprived during the process~>binge afterwards~>repeat. 

Bummer.

So, you want to get off this ride, huh? I did too. I decided to let go of all the madness, lies I'd been told (and told myself), embrace and love my body and self at that moment, and not wait until I lost x pounds. I asked my body what it wanted and needed to function optimally. I went to a biofeedback session here in Atlanta to find out what I needed to further remove from my diet and environment for an even healthier lifestyle. Even though I was already vegan, I would still feel sluggish and bloated. I found out I had allergies to gluten, malt, citrus (boo! I love lemons and grapefruit), so I reduced those items or cut them out completely.  

Bottom line...find out what works for you. Stop dieting! If you eat something and it makes you feel bad (bloated, headaches, itchy, rash, moody), cut it out. If you are constantly craving a certain food or foods, you may be deficient in specific nutrients. It does not mean you just get to eat that whole tub of ice cream! Check out this post from my newsletter on the cravings issue. 

What's The Alternative?

Remember to incorporate lots of  fresh, whole foods in your diet (organic when possible)...yet still watch for sensitivities. Adjust as necessary until you find a way of eating that leaves you feeling energetic and makes you glow!

Treat yourself occasionally. No deprivation. Get exercise of some sort daily. Do something good for yourself and others. Smile. Surround yourself with love, and lovely people. Have some cabbage soup if you want to...you just won't need it 3 times a day for 10 days ever again!

Until next time,

Love & Happiness!

Nikki

Nikki Thomas, RN, CPN, CHHC, AADP is a lover of life, health, and truth. I strive to help you find your balance and sanity in this occasionally insane world. I am a registered nurse, a board certified holistic health practitioner, life and health coach. Let's talk about health & wellness, fashion, beauty, and food! 

Find me at www.getthisglow.com

www.facebook.com/getthisglow

Instagram: @veganfashionista

Meet Lizzie May!

Hello again, my lovelies! It's officially summer and I know you guys have some amazing plans for these couple of months. I'm excited to say that my practice has been keeping me busy! I'm manifesting plans for upcoming sugar detox teleseminars and classes, as well as some other surprises. Be sure to follow the Get This Glow! Health &Wellness Facebook page for details in the next few weeks.

You know how much I love bringing you all helpful and exciting new information that keep you healthy and sexy. So...I have a treat right now that I know you'll appreciate. I met this amazing woman Lizzie May (owner of Lizzie May Wellness) while in nutrition school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition last year. She is a fellow holistic health care practitioner, as well as an ACE certified personal trainer. Her positive energy and love for a healthy lifestyle is super contagious, and she makes you feel like you're friends after your first conversation. Recently, she expanded her brand to include Ancient Balance bamboo extract. I love bamboo extract for what it does for my hair, skin, and nails...so when I found out I could get it from a peer I admired, I jumped on it! Her story is extremely inspirational. Here's a peek into her world.

Get This Glow! Health & Wellness: Lizzie May! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me and my readers. Can you share a bit about yourself and your passion for health and wellness?

Lizzie May: Sure! I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, after spending 10 years in Southern California. I have a bachelors in psychology from Occidental College and I am an ACE certified personal trainer and board certified holistic health coach.

My main passions center around eating and supplementation for glowing skin, energy, and longevity.

Even though I'm currently quite healthy and I eat a nutritious diet, this wasn't always the case. I actually "stumbled" into my passions for health and wellness when I was in my 20's. Back then, I was working 80 hours a week, living on energy drinks and processed foods, and my health was beyond terrible. Keep in mind that prior to the decline in my health, I had always been a very fit athlete, competing in cross-country and track all through college. However, after 3 years of burning the candle at both ends in the corporate world, I could barely run a mile, was chronically exhausted, and most upsetting to me, my skin was a mess!

I first decided to turn my nutrition and lifestyle habits around for the purpose of clearing up my skin, but I found that once I cleaned up my diet and cleared my skin, I felt way too good to ever return to my old, unhealthy ways.

The skin is truly a reflection of our internal health: when our skin glows (without wearing luminizer) it reveals that our bodies are truly being nourished from the inside.

I am currently writing an eBook that includes diet tips, recipes, and more in-depth food, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations for clear, radiant skin. It will be sold on my website later this year.

GTG: What a great journey! We'll be looking forward to your eBook for sure. I mentioned our common love for bamboo extract earlier. What exactly is bamboo extract, and why should people incorporate it into their lifestyles?

LM: Bamboo extract is a medicinal food concentrate made from the leaves and stems of the Moso Bamboo grass, an edible grass that has been used medicinally for centuries in China, India, and Tibet. This extract is widely consumed in these areas to promote youthful appearance, energy, and mental clarity.

In addition to these energizing benefits, bamboo, which is anti-bacterial in nature, has been used traditionally to ward off disease, balance hormones, detoxify the body, strengthen bones and teeth, smooth the skin, and avoid infection. It is a true superfood that nourishes the body and reduces the need for stimulants like coffee and energy drinks.

When taken consistently, bamboo extract promotes a feeling of balanced, jitter-free energy. I think everyone I meet these days could use more energy; hence it is a great supplement to incorporate into one’s daily lifestyle.

To expand on the anti-aging properties of bamboo (my favorite part), it contains over 70% organic silica and is 10 times more potent than horsetail silica. If our bodies are deficient in silica, our skin’s elasticity will become impaired, leaving us much more susceptible to wrinkles and sagging skin.

Unfortunately, as we age, the body retains less and less silica, leaving us much more prone to wrinkling and sagging skin. Silica prevents and reverses wrinkling of the skin by supporting collagen production.  Bamboo extract, due to its high silica content, is such an amazing skin rejuvenator and that’s why I love it so much.

When taken internally, bamboo extract not only revitalizes the skin, but other cellular functions within the body, so you’re really achieving smooth, glowing skin from the inside out.

GTG: I love it! It has so many healing properties, and makes us feel AND look good! What is the main mistake you see people making when it comes to eating healthier?

LM: Hmm, that’s a tough one! I would say that the main mistake I see in people who are trying to start “eating healthier” is that they go for the quick fix, and make drastic, unsustainable changes to their diet. That quick fix approach really doesn’t promote long-term results and sometimes does more harm than good.

For example, I know so many people who eat processed junk food for the majority of the year, and then do a very restrictive cleanse or diet that leaves them so weak and famished that they’re barely able to walk or talk when swimsuit season comes around. That’s not sustainable and while doing a restrictive cleanse may be a good “jumpstart” for some people, unless you’re really taking a long term approach to healthy eating, you’re not going to maintain the results you achieved on a 500 calorie a day diet.

Also, I see a lot of people who have really damaged their metabolisms with restrictive and yo-yo dieting: it's no fun to gain weight on 1500 calories a day because of a damaged metabolism!

Eating healthy is a way of life, as cliché as that sounds, and I think it’s important to get out of the “quick fix” mentality and really commit to eating for longevity, energy, and health. Weight loss and beautiful skin are pleasant side effects of a healthy lifestyle. Instead of making drastic changes to their diets, or jumping on some new diet fad bandwagon, I think it’s important for people to focus on simple sustainable changes.

Simple sustainable changes could include something like drinking a large glass of water before your dinner every night for a week, or adding in green vegetables to your lunch for two weeks. When you make simple, doable changes like that, you start to feel more energized without being overwhelmed with a very restrictive diet. Then, it's easier to maintain that healthy momentum and build in more simple, sustainable changes. As the former queen of crash diets, it took me many years to learn this!

 GTG: I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. My clients come to me because they've tried everything...every "quick fix" pill, powder and potion without lasting results. Balance, and sustainable changes are key to a successful healthy journey. Let's switch gears for a second. As entrepreneurs, we tend to forget to take a break sometimes! What do you like to do for fun? Any exciting plans for the summer?

LM: Yes, it's so important to take breaks! This is something that I have really had to learn, as I used to view relaxation and fun as "a waste of time" which is totally ridiculous and couldn't be farther from the truth.

I use a daily planner and many times I actually schedule my "fun days" and "fun hours" because they are so important to my physical and mental well-being. I also turn my phone off or on airplane mode quite frequently: sometimes a "fun hour" is just an hour without any technology or cell phone. My family didn't like me being so inaccessible when I first started turning off my phone, but when they saw how much happier and relaxed I was when I didn’t have my phone on, they got on board.

I realize that turning your phone off isn’t an option for everybody, especially if you have children or a job that requires you to be accessible at all times, but for me, I really cherish my “no phone” times and they really help me to truly relax.

As for fun activities, I love running, hiking, and I really love photography.

I do have exciting plans this summer: I'm going to France! My best friend's family has a chateau in the French countryside, and so I'm going to get some much-needed R&R there while I catch up with old college friends.

GTG: We should all take a page out of your book and schedule "fun hours"! Awesome idea. Lizzie May, it's been great spending time with you, and getting to know you better. Thanks for adding knowledge and insight on how we can all live healthier lives! You have to come back again. Oh, and have a TON of fun in France!! Before you go, can you tell everyone how they can get Ancient Balance bamboo extract in their lives?

LM: Yes! You can order Ancient Balance Bamboo extract online by visiting our website http://www.ancientbalance.com. You can also purchase Ancient Balance Bamboo extract directly from our facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/ancientbalancebotanicals.

We post bamboo extract smoothie recipes and health tips on our facebook page and we love connecting with our customers! Thank you so much and I would love to come back again!

*all photos and video except for Get This Glow! Health & Wellness logo in this post are courtesy of @LizzieMayWellness*

There you have it, lovelies. If that doesn't inspire you to get your Glow! on, I'm not sure what will. This was a lot of fun. So now...what are your plans for the summer again? =)

Until next time,

Love & Happiness

Nikki

Spicy Pineapple Coconut Curry Tofu! Whew!

Hello again, my lovelies! Hope you're all doing well and ready for your summer. The title of this post is definitely a mouthful. It was a delicious mouthful, though...I promise. I made it last night for dinner and thought I'd share with you.

Normally, I wouldn't make such a hot dish in 80+ degree weather, but you already know how it goes when I have a curry craving! It's the daggone Trini in me!  

So...a little backstory. This dish was inspired by a lunch date that I had with the hubbs about a month ago. We went to a vegan restaurant in Atlanta called Loving Hut, and he had some kind of veggie-coconutty-curry sauce dish thingy that he was having some kind of love affair with. It smelled amazing, and I made a mental note to make something similar at home. I gathered what I thought might make a similar dish and went into the lab! 

If you're new to tofu, it's made from soybeans. It has no taste/flavor, and basically takes on the flavors of whatever you season it with. You can scramble it, bake it, fry it, grill it, put it in smoothies and desserts...do whatcha like! I don't eat soy frequently anymore because of its high estrogen content, and the fact that most soy in this country is a GMO (genetically modified organism). However, when I do, I make sure it's non-GMO and organic. Got it? Cool. 

Everything was going perfectly...until I broke my own cardinal rule. More on that later. Here's how to make it.

Nikki's Pineapple Coconut Curry Tofu

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

14 oz firm or extra firm organic tofu, drained 

2 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1/4 cup organic coconut cream or milk (not the carton stuff!) I use Native Forest brand

1/4 cup water

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

2 Tbsp curry powder (or to taste)

1 tsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp tamari sauce, divided in half

1 habanero pepper, chopped (or milder pepper if preferred)

4 Tbsp pineapple juice

4 Tbsp crushed pineapple

3 stalks green onion, chopped (including white part)

Himalayan or sea salt to taste

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

How to make it

*Heat oils in frying pan

*Press tofu between paper towels to remove extra moisture

*Cut tofu into 1 inch cubes

*Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper into frying pan, and sauté garlic until lightly browned.

*Remove garlic and place in bowl

*Place tofu in large frying pan and brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes each side over medium heat

*While tofu is cooking, combine coconut milk, water, curry powder, cumin, pineapple and juice, habanero pepper, and 1 Tbsp tamari sauce in bowl. Whisk together.

*Transfer cooked tofu to bowl with garlic. Add chopped green onions and remaining tamari sauce. Combine well.

*Return tofu to pan and add sauce. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 10 minutes to combine flavors. 

Serve with cooked brown rice, quinoa, couscous, potatoes...or in this case, I made rice noodles for the teenager. He was quite happy.

I have to admit...it came out pretty freaking good. I was feeling myself. Literally...I felt an eyelash or something go into my eye, and went to remove it. The burn that ensued was indescribable. I was pretty sure I had washed my hands after chopping the habanero pepper. After all, this wasn't my first hot pepper rodeo. I always tell my clients and my friends to wash their hands with soap after handling hot peppers. Thoroughly. None of that mattered at that moment because my right eye was on fire.  A quick spray of water later from my retractable kitchen faucet, and all was well again. The joys of being a chef =)

Until next time,

Love and Happiness,

Nikki

Eat A Rainbow?

Hello again, my lovelies! It's springtime (almost summer!), and I hope you're well on your way to achieving your goals that you set in the New Year.

As health conscious as you may be, you might find yourself in a food rut. You know...eating the same foods every day out of habit. As much as you might love kale (and um, who doesn't?), there's a whole world of other veggies waiting for you. Purlpe, blue, red, orange, yellow, and white fruits and veggies should be in your rotation daily. That Skittles ad that encourages you to "taste the rainbow" isn't that far off the mark. Except I'm talking about a rainbow of colors of fruits and veggies, not sugary, artificially colored candy. Just so you know =)

Phytochemicals

So what gives fruits and vegetables their beautiful color and aromas? Phytochemicals, of course! The word means "plant chemicals". They're what makes eggplants purple-y blue, tomatoes red, and sweet potatoes orange. According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), "It is thought that phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber all present in fruits and vegetables, work synergistically in whole foods to promote health and lower disease risk." In other words, eat your fruits and veggies for health! Being the Veganfashionista, you know I believe health=beauty. Read on to find out how you can get both.

Blue/Purple: These fruits and veggies get their pigment from phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which are amazing antioxidants that protect your cells from damage from free radicals. They can help maintain a healthy blood pressure, lower your risk of certain cancers, and support healthy aging. Good, 'cause I'm gonna want to age gracefully, please! These dark-hued guys also contain flavonoids which may help prevent heart disease by keeping our blood vessels healthy. Choose from blueberries, eggplants, figs, plums, purple grapes, and blackberries daily.

Red: The carotenoid lycopene, and anthocyanins (to a lesser degree than your blue/purple fruits & veggies) give red fruits and veggies their color. Lycopene is also an antioxidant that can help reduce heart attack risk, and prostate cancer. It also protects your skin from damage from the sun. Certain flavonoids are are also present that can help reduce inflammation and urinary tract health. 

Examples of these red powerhouses are watermelon, cherries, cranberries, red apples, tomatoes, red onions, strawberries, and red cabbage. Red beets are especially helpful in helping to detox the blood, clearing up dull skin.

Green: Green fruits and vegetables obtain their color from the plant pigment chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is very similar to our own blood. Healthy blood flow and sufficient oxygen allow our bodies to rid itself of toxins. So, it makes sense that some of the health benefits of chlorophyll are its ability to cleanse and detox the blood and body, wound healing, help fight skin disorders, and act as an alkalizer. Sounds like glowing skin to me! Some of these green guys such as cucumber, dark leafy greens, peas, and celery also contain the phytochemicals lutein, which is very important for your eye health. Another phytochemical group called indoles are found in broccoli, kale, and cabbage may help to protect against some types of cancer. Folate, which is a B vitamin found in leafy greens such as kale and spinach, help reduce the risk of birth defects.

Yellow/Orange: You're probably already familiar with beta-carotene. It's one of the carotenoid phytochemicals that give orange fruits and veggies their color. Beta-crypthoxanthin and alpha-carotene are two other orange pigmented carotenoids, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A plays an important role in healthy vision and immune function, as well as skin and bone health. Carotenoids also pigment yellow fruits and veggies. Research has shown that carotenoids can help reduce the risk of heart disease as well, and certain cancers such as those of the lung, esophagus, and stomach.

Orange and yellow fruits are often an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps synthesize collagen formation. As we age, collagen production slows down, resulting in thinner skin, wrinkles, and aching joints. Yuck! Keep that skin smooth as a baby's and creaky knees at bay by keeping your kitchen stocked with these beautiful colors.

Examples of this group are cantaloupe, lemons, carrots, butternut squash, papaya (choose non-GMO!), yellow apples, mangoes, pumpkin, pears, yellow peppers, pineapple, oranges, sweet potatoes.

White: White produce derive their color from phytochemicals anthoxanthins. Many white fruits and veggies also contain allicin, which lab studies have shown to inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells. Allicin may also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Choose from bananas, cauliflower, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, jicama.

Whew! The fact is, there's over 10,000 known phytochemicals in plant-based foods, and we don't know all of their health benefits. Still, with all of the beautiful colors, aromas, and tastes they provide...along with these amazing health and beauty benefits, there's really no reason for you to eat the same ole kale salad every day. I'm just saying.

Until next time,

Love & Happiness,

Nikki

Sources: www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/allicin.php

               Today's Dietician: Color Me Healthy — Eating for a Rainbow of Benefits 

               By Juliann Scheffer  Vol. 10 No. 11 P. 34

               Gentleworld.org "Phytochemicals: Eating from the Rainbow"

               Livestrong.com "Vitamins That Produce Collagen"