Kale & Cabbage

I think that a good way to get to know veggies better, is picking out one and working with it for several days on end untilI feel like we're on friendly enough terms that I can start seeing other vegetables without losing touch or trust. The past week, it's been Kale. I've experimented with baked Kale chips, kale in the juicer and a garlicky kale salad (special thanks to the Ewings for sharing the recipe) It was alright on day one, and amazing the second time I made it (I didn't use a measuring spoon the first time and also forgot an ingredient)

Garlicky Kale Salad

1/2 bunch raw kale (washed, de-stemmed and dried)
1 T tahini
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 T lemon juice
1 T Bragg’s liquid aminos (soy sauce alternative)
2 T cashew butter
1 tsp. minced
minced garlic (2 cloves of garlic)
sesame seeds

Cut the Kale into bite sized pieces.

Puree all ingredients except kale and sesame seeds in a blender or food
processor to blend the dressing.

Pour dressing over kale and massage into the kale with your hands until all pieces of kale are coated. (Massaging veggies is pretty fun)

Sprinkle on sesame seeds!

(*If you have extra time, you can leave it to marinate in the fridge for an hour, which softens the kale and makes it a bit less intimidating. My opinion is that it tastes fine without that though)

The next few days, I will endeavor to fall in love with cabbage. I'll be back to share what I find.

gospel aerobics

something more personal coming later, but here's a fun workout video my housemates and I came across on youtube!

Paul Eugene is our favorite.

six days and counting

the really fun thing about this journey is learning to be creative. using colorful foods, mixing flavors.... being green. i started this meal with the intent of using some veggies i had around (pepper, onion, spinach, frozen corn). i started by sauteing garlic, ginger and a few drops of olive oil and then added the veggies and adding a bit of liquid aminos (soy sauce alternative). it was delicious. like fried rice sans the "fried" and the "rice"

some of my housemates are on board (they're all open to trying the samples i've frequently been offering) with cooking and sharing meals comprised of mostly veggies, and experimenting with the juicer! yesterday and today we ate garlicky kale salad! so good, i'll post the recipe and my thoughts about it later.

so far we've made green and orange colors of juice.

the orange one tastes delicious.

several carrots

a couple of apples

a nice knob of ginger

a bit of orange juice

a bit of pomegranate juice

juice & enjoy!

for what? you ask

Welcome to my new project.

It's more than writing, it requires my hands, my head, my mouth and hopefully my heart will join in too.

This journey is a green one. I'm trying to live on a simple diet of fruits, veggies and some beans and nuts.

A huge part of this is getting my friends to love veggies with me.

In the first 5 days of this "project" or eating-the-garden lifestyle have been quite an adventure. Costing me my free time, my convenience and my budget. But I think that eating this way is worth it and it's been an interesting route of creativity and innovation, making veggies work.

Monday I posted a facebook status asking if anyone had a juicer they were trying to give away or sell, within 3 hours I had several offers and by nightfall, I had traded a future-photoshoot for Karin & Josh's once-used wedding present.

Since then, I've been experimenting and some things have worked really well. This blog is not only a place to rant, process and show-n-tell but also a place where I can keep a record of recipes, concoctions and "to-try later's" Encouraged by roommates who liked the "samples" I've been passing around, I will try and post frequently, and keep this blog well fed with updates on my relationship (with veggies, that is).