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!

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.

Presidents Choice Teriyaki Tofu & Sundried Tomato Vegetable Kebabs

Don't you love easy food?
Today I went to a friends first summer backyard BBQ! Ok, sadly the weather didn't fully cooperate but no one seemed to mind. Right before I left I threw together a quick BBQ meal to take with me.

I didn't take a picture - but they kida looked like the one in the top left. (Ok.. maybe not as tasty looking but.. they tasted yummy, were more nutritious and were better than some boring veggie burger.

Yum Yum Thai Tofu Curry (Chinese & Indian)

This dish is a great mixture of Chinese and Indian flavors to create a delicious vegan/vegetarian dish. It also doesn't include ingredients that are too exotic or hard to find. I've mentioned substitutes when the 'real thing' isn't available. It's actually an easy dish to prepare, despite the long list of ingredients.

Yum Yum Thai Tofu Curry (Serves 4)
INGREDIENTS:
Marinade

• 2 x 200 g or 7oz packages of extra firm tofu
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp nut oil (grape or olive will do just fine)

Paste

• 1 small onion , chopped
• 2 fresh green chillies, seeded and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 kaffir lime leaves OR 1 tsp of lime rind, grated
• 2 tsp of coriander berries, crushed (OR) dried coriander will do fine!
• 2 tsp of cumin seeds, crushed (if you don't have cumin seeds, get them.. their worth having on hand)
• 3 tbsp of fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 tbsp of Thai fish sauce (I don't use fish sauce, I'm vegetarian), instead use soy sauce
• Juice of 1 lime or small lemon
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 1 oz (25g) creamed coconut dissolved in 2/3rd cup of boiling water

Ginger, Honey & Lemon Drink for Colds

I've been sick a lot this year and I started making this comforting drink to help get me through my colds & flu's. It's a Ginger, Honey & Lemon drink recipe that's good for curing your belly aching!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 slices of fresh ginger
• 2 table spoons of honey
• 1/4 of a lemon
• 1 cup of boiling water

Directions:

• Squeeze the juice from the lemon into a mug.
• Throw in the ginger (no need to peel or get rid of the skin)
• Boil and add your hot water to the mug
• Then stir in the honey and PRESTO.. comfort in a mug!

Warm Lemon & Lime Edamame Avocado Salad

I'm trying to pay educate myself on post-workout endurance focused nutrition. I know that we should take in a large amount of carbs & protein immediately following a heavy workout in order to encourage optimum replenishment in our energy and muscle levels.

So, I developed this easy-to-prepare yet nutrient dense salad to have after runs or as a whenever daily snack. I hope you enjoy this warm Lemon & Lime Edamame Avocado Salad Recipe!!

Ingredients:
1/2 o 3/4th cup of Edamame (shelled)
Juice from 1/4th of a lemon
Juice from 1/4th of a lime
1/3rd of a tomatoe, sliced
1/3rd of an avacado, sliced
As much cucumber as you like, sliced
Rock Salt & Pepper to taste

Roasted Fingerling and Tomato Salad with Green Beans and Arugula

I've stolen this recipe. I can't help it... it just looks so yummy. I have a weakness for fingerling potatoes that are all baked and crunchy. MMmmm.... I found this recipe it in Martha Stewards magazine which I subscribe too. I haven't tried it yet, but really, it has to be awesome. Plus, it's full of good protein, carbs and nutrients just by looking at the ingredient list.

Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE SALAD
5 garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds Russian banana fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
1 pint cherry tomatoes