The Mighty Veggie

All the different types of honey!

Here is a great honey glossary - a list of the various honeys and their palettes. From uber sweet and rich to mild and delicate. I recently read this breakdown in Martha Stewart magazine and I thought it was wonderful information to share.

1. Honeycomb
Arresting appearance and pleasantly chewy, waxy texture.

2. Hawaiian White Honey
Off-white hue, buttery texture, mild flavor with a hint of vanilla.

3. Corbezzolo Honey
Rare Italian variety with a complex woodsy color, tast and aroma and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Time to make 12 bean vegetarian chili!

Mmmmm good!
Everyone loves a good chili once in a while. It's a hardy and nutritious meal that always warms my soul. I make it when I need comfort and decadence all wrapped into one. Decadence and Chili - don't see like they go together, do they? Well, they do when you mix them with rich strong tasting gooey cheese and full fat sour cream. It is the way chili should be had.

So, I digress, recipe ahead for Tamara's special 12 bean vegetarian chili. Did I mention it's actually really easy to make too?

Summer Fresh Veggie Salad: Tomato & Coloured Peppers

Craving a jam packed dose of crucial and colorful veggies? Try my new favorite side salad or a great addition to spinach or arugula.

Summer Fresh Veggie Salad:
- 10 baby vine tomatoes, cut in quarters or half, depending on size
- 1 yellow pepper, chopped in small pieces
- 1 red pepper, chopped in small pieces
- 2 tablespoons of pine nuts
- 2 fresh chopped mint leaves
- 1 chopped handful of parsley
- 1 chopped handful of cilantro
- 1/2 of a lemon
- 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar

Mix together and serve chilled. Voila.. tasty and healthy! Jam packed with good vitamins.

Summer Hangover after house party drink: Perrier, Lime & Mint.

I'm a little hung-over and very tired today. I had my 'drink for the cure' house party last night to raise funds for breast cancer. I'm doing a 19km run tomorrow so I have to hydrate up. So, since we have leftover lime from the party I thought I'd make:

Summer spritzer:
- 1 small bottle of Perrier (1.5 cups)
- 1 wedge of lime
- 1 leaf of lime
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- ice

Add it all together and mix around. Really smash the mint up against the glass to get it to release some flavor. Then, you have a refreshing after-house-party hangover drink!

Calling all Veggies: Local Vancouver Farmer's Markets (2008)

Local Vancouver Farmer's Markets

East Vancouver
Saturdays: 9am - 2pm
15th Ave & Victoria Drive

West End
Saturdays: 9am - 2pm
1100 Block Comox St.

Riley Park
Wednesdays: 12.30pm - 5.30pm
30th Ave & Ontario St.

Kitsilano
Sundays: 10.30am - 2pm
10th Ave & Larch St.

Check out their website for information on volunteering too!
www.eatlocal.org

Want to learn more about what type of market it is?

Mexican Marinade for Tofu Tacos!

I love marinading tofu. You just whip it up quickly and let it soak for 30 minutes. Try it tonight and soak up the rewards!

MEXICAN TOFU (or Seitan or tempeh) MARINADE:
1 pkg of taco seasoning
2 tbs of lime juice
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp of lime zest
1/4 tsp. chipolte hot sauce (Any kind will do really, be flexible here)

Whisk all these yummy seasonings together with 1 & 1/2 cups of water. Season with salt, ground black pepper and a dash more hot sauce if you dare.

Let the protein sit for 30 minutes and voila... a Mexican Marinaded for Tofu Tacos!
(You can also soak sliced green onions & red bell peppers too, if you're feeling CRAZY!)

Buy at AMAZON: Taco Shells
Need Salsa? California Style Mandarin Avocado Fire Roasted Salsa
Who doesn't love Guacamole: All Natural Guacamole Mix

Update: Gardein Vegetarian Chicken is back at Costco

Who the hell knows where it went all this time.. but it's back (maybe by popular demand by me?). Good old Gardein Chicken Protein has found its way back into the freezer section of the Downtown Vancouver Costco.

Glad to see it back.

I still never heard back from the Gardein people from my third email to them asking where else we could buy their products. Good product, shit customer service.

Boo for Starbucks!They're not serving organic milk anymore.

Can you beleive Starbucks dropped organic mil from it's menu? The company *had* offered organic mil to it's customers since 2001 (According to Vegetarian Times magazine). However, "drinks made with organic milk have been a small percentage of total orders," said Michelle Grass, the company's senior vice president of global strategy.

As you guys know, people often purchase and request organic milm because of lack of rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone). Starbucks and others argue that regular milk also is rBGH-free but we know the truth. The Organic Consumers Association reminds us that Organic Milk is rBGH-free, but also requires that cows have access to a pasture and eat pesticide-free feed. So really.. Starbucks, just say what it is.. an excuse to cut costs. Is it so awful for us to expect you to serve only organic milk in the future?

Boooooooooo from me to Starbucks.

Garlic Green Pea and Goats Cheese Dip with Whole Wheat Pita Crisps

Garlic Green Pea and Goats Cheese Dip with Whole Wheat Pita Crisps Recipes

This is my at-home and I-don't-have-the-right-ingredients take on the Earls Restaurants Warm Feta and Spinach Dip. The real one has chopped spinach and artichokes with cream cheese, feta, mozzarella and provolone, served with herbed pita wedges. My one is a Garlic Green Pea and Goats Cheese Puree with whole wheat pita crisps.

Summer strawberry picking & storing tips!

Don't you just hate it when you get home from buying a fresh quart of strawberries only to find the ones in the middle or bottom are mushy and starting to grow that white fuzzy mold?

Here's my tips on how to buy and store fresh strawberries:

• Smaller and redder is better. A lot of jumbo strawberries look good but contain large air pockets and thus taste band. You want smaller berries that don't have the unripe white or green tips (or tops).
• Try to pick berries that look dry with leaves that aren't starting to wilt. You'll find that just by checking the bottom of the basket --- juice stains are a sign of crushed strawberries (and soon to be mold!).
• Buy organic: Strawberries are the dirty list for environmental havoc. They are on of the biggest of conventionally grown fruits and vegtables that contain the most pesticide residues


• Store strawberries unwashed in a colander in the fridge and rinse just before serving.
• Make these delicious strawberries last all winter long by placing the berries on a signle layer baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once they're ready you can transfer them into a freezer bag for long term storage (and winter smoothies!).