Spice Up Your Life

Top-Notch Spices to Include in Your Diet

1) Cinnamon - lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels and is packed with antioxidants

**Sprinkle cinnamon on your oats and in your coffee.

2) Cayenne - relieves headaches and arthritis (great for fighting inflammation)

** Sprinkle on your beans & rice or try your hand at Chocolate Cupcakes with a Kick.

3) Turmeric - anti-inflammatory, loaded with antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties

**Add to your curry or rice.

4) Ginger - alleviates nausea, anti-inflammatory

**Add to your steamed veggies, tofu, Asian noodles or stir-fry.

5) Cloves - ANTIOXIDANTS!

**Bake eggplant, ginger snaps or pumpkin pie. Doctor's orders!

6) Black Pepper - positive effect on digestive tract, antibacterial and antioxidant benefits

**Spruce up your tofu, soup or any veggie dish.

Food Review: Gardein (garden + protein)

If you're going to eat faux, eat Gardein. Nothing compares.

What They Make:

Fresh.
> tuscan breasts
> chick'n marsala
> santa fe good stuff
> bbq pulled shreds
> bbq skewers
> chick'n filets
> herb dijon breasts
> chick'n strips

Frozen.
> sweet & tangy bbq wings
> mandarin orange crispy chick'n
> chipotle lime crispy fingers
> classic style buffalo wings
> home style beefless tips
> seven grain crispy tenders
> lightly seasoned chick'n scallopini
> the ultimate beefless burger

I've had all of the frozen foods and they're awesome. The wings are too spicy for me, but everything else is super tasty. The ONE downside is the price. They're much more expensive than beans + rice or tofu, but the variety the offer is pretty tempting. The site offers recipes, but honestly this stuff is good with just about anything!

Get Inspired.

pulled shred sliders

mini no-meatballs

macadamia encrusted chick'n

crispy chick'n salad

summer grilled scallopini

spicy beefless skewers

chick'n tandori kebabs

September Loves

Fall is HERE. This is absolutely my favorite time of year. I just can't get enough of fall colors and aromas. Hot cider, spicy tea, tall boots and the smell of everyone's polished faux leather oxfords. Now just for a moment, I simply HAVE to love on Etsy. I'm sure you're familiar with the site, as it's been mentioned in numerous mags the past few years as being a wonderful place where you can shop for vintage, handmade or any obscure thing you may desire. It truly rocks for vegans, because you can find vegan things CHEAP. So often, buying trendy vegan things can be ridiculously expensive, but Etsy makes it possible to have it all and not go totally broke. Consider supporting artists with small businesses next time you get the urge to spend.

September's Ecofabulous Finds:

bkr water bottles ($28 ea.)

Core Bamboo

vegan beet love macbook cover @ Etsy

vegan mineral makeup @ Etsy

vintage vegan camera bag @ Etsy

vegan soap @ Etsy

September Cravings:

raw kale salad with seitan and creamy avocado dressing

oatmeal raisin muffins at Whole Foods

sweet&sour seitan

butternut squash soup

Loving Hut

be veg . go green . to save the planet

"Loving Hut is created with a vision that all beings could live in peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet. Loving Hut chain restaurants are newly opening around the world. It is an invitation to gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients, offering an accessible starting point for those making the noble transition to a plant-based diet." Loving Hut

The first time I ever tried Loving Hut was in Jakarta, Indonesia. As soon as R arrived in Indonesia, I told him there was a restaurant that I had to take him to. He'd been telling me about this incredible meal he had in San Francisco...and it turns out, we were speaking of the same place. Loving Hut, a different experience every time you dine. Each menu is unique and that, my friend, is one of the many reasons why this chain is so special. Adored by vegans and non-vegans alike. Meat-like dishes accompanied by veggies, but displayed in a way all its own. You've never seen vegan food like this before. Give it a try :) Oh and the volunteers that run the place are sweethearts. Always.


About the Restaurant:
> The menus are different in every city, so that chefs have the freedom to create local dishes. LH wants to bring out the best in every culture and show that vegan food is not only healthy, but great tasting too. 
> Supreme Master Ching Hai is the innovator for Loving Hut vegan concept. She wants to help the world with a more compassionate and noble way of living by providing great vegan food all over the world. Heads up: Her presence in the restaurants may be a little overwhelming with the widescreen televisions displaying her and her works.
> Many (possibly all) of the employees are actually volunteers. I know for sure that the ones in Jakarta and Houston are. Pretty awesome, huh? 
> VegNews Mag declared Loving Hut "Restaurant of the Year" in 2010. 
> There are 240 locations in 26 countries world wide. More to come!


Feast Your Eyes:

Spotlight: Hempseed

No, you can't get high from eating hempseed. But it sure tastes good! The first time I ever ate hemp was at The Daily Juice in Austin, TX. I ordered The Chronic smoothie (banana, hemp seed, hemp oil, hemp protein, agave). Whoaa, man! I had a similar cosmic experience when I bit into this. Yes, it's wonderfully nutty and complements grains and fruits like a champ, but why all the fuss over this seed?

Reap the Benefits:
> high quality protein
> good source of fiber, calcium and iron
> contains antioxidants and chlorophyll 
> good source of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese
> high EFA content (help organ muscles to contract, regulate stomach acid, lower blood pressure, maintain body's temperature, regulate hormone levels, help break up cholesterol)


**According to Hemphasis, hemp is the only known food which supplies all man's (and woman's!) dietary needs in one source.


Hemp: A History
Hemp has been grown for at least the past 12,000 years for fiber (textiles and paper) and food. As everyone knows, it's been prohibited in the US (under many circumstances) since the 1950s. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp. In fact, the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Because of its importance for sails and ropes for ships, hemp was a required crop in the American colonies. NAIHC


Eat Up!

Raw Manicotti by RawLivingFood

Hemp Oatmeal at Hemp Canada Bulk

Cheezy Hemp Nacho Sauce by Kristen's Raw

Hemp Power Ball Truffles by thehappyrawkitchen

Hemp Pancakes at VegetarianRecipes

Confetti Slaw with Hemp Dressing by IEatGrains!

Hemp Seed Alfredo by TheRawProject

Hemp Ice Cream

Hempspread