Coconut Fig Ice Cream

Now that we are settled in the new apartment (mostly... okay not really but the kitchen is in a workable state), I've wasted no time filling up our fridge and freezer and using all of my kitchen appliances I missed so dearly these past few months.  Including my newest toy, my ice cream maker.

This ice cream is so simple but so delicious.  Yes I know it's winter, but our new place is so darn hot (we have the windows open even though it is snowing out), and so ice cream is the perfect treat.  We ate it straight up after an evening of building IKEA furniture, but I'm sure this would also pair well with a slice of pie or a few cookies.

Coconut Fig Ice Cream - Vegan, Gluten free, Soy free

1 15 oz can full fat coconut milk

1 15 oz can light coconut milk

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1 TBSP maca powder (optional)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of sea salt

Zest of half a small lemon

2-3 TBSP fig butter

Combine all ingredients except fig butter in your food processor or blender and mix until well combined.  Taste and adjust sweetener as necessary (I like a less sweet treat, so you may want to add a bit more sugar if you like things on the sweeter side).  Pour mixture into the bowl of your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions, stirring in the fig butter at the last minute.  Enjoy immediately as soft serve, or freeze for a few hours for a firmer texture.  

Happy New Year!  

Sweet Potato Salad with Sesame Miso Dressing

This recipe is a copy cat from the sweet potato side dish served at the Teaism restaurants in the DC area.  I only recently discovered this side dish, and was immediately hooked.  Sweet potatoes roasted until tender, topped with tangy sweet sesame miso dressing.  The dressing is crack.  So so so good.  I knew I had to recreate it.  Luckily, Teaism shared the recipe with the Washingtonian a few years ago.

The recipe makes more than enough for the sweet potato salad.  I stored the rest of my dressing in a jar and can't wait to try it on everything - greens, baked tofu, bananas... really I can't think of something I wouldn't want to eat this on.  It may even be good with chocolate??  Stay tuned for what I come up with... and in the mean time MAKE THIS.  NOW.  And smile.

Sweet Potato Salad with Sesame Miso Dressing

3 large sweet potatoes
Coconut oil, as needed
1⁄3 cup sweet white miso paste
2⁄3 cup tahini
1 cup water
Dash mirin or sweet vinegar (I used Umeboshi Plum vinegar, I'm sure apple cider vinegar would work too)
3 tablespoons cane sugar

1. Bake the sweet potatoes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop them into 1-inch chunks. Toss with enough oil to coat. Bake for 25 minutes, then let cool.
2. Make the sesame-miso dressing. Whisk miso, tahini, water, vinegar, and sugar in a medium bowl.  Taste and adjust sugar or vinegar as needed. 
3. Assemble salad.  When sweet potatoes have cooled, transfer to serving dish and generously drizzle with the sesame-miso dressing.  Enjoy alone, or atop a bed of greens, as I did!

Kitchen Sink Trail Mix Cookies

Snow days were made for baking.  Cold afternoons when you are stuck inside just call for a warm oven and the smell of cookies.  Earlier this week we had a snow day here in DC.  It wasn't really that snowy, but the government shut down and most people stayed home from work, so it felt like a genuine snow day.  And I decided it was the perfect opportunity to make cookies.

I had saved this recipe for trail mix cookies a while back so it served as an inspiration for these cookies.  I used what I had in my kitchen (a whole assortment of nuts, seeds, and fruits) and thus I coined these cookies "Kitchen Sink Trail Mix Cookies."  Slightly sweet with chunks of nuts and chocolate, they make the perfect healthy dessert and afternoon pick-me-up.  

Kitchen Sink Trail Mix Cookies - Vegan and Gluten Free

Wet ingredients:

1 large ripe banana (mashed)
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 cup nut butter

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Dry ingredients:

1 1/2 cup GF flour

1/2 cup GF rolled oats

1/4 cup raw cashews, chopped

1/4 cup raw walnuts, chopped

2 TBSP sunflower seeds

2 TBSP pumpkin seeds

4 TBSP hemp seeds

3/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 (scant) brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir wet ingredients until well combined.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.  Add the wet to the dry, and mix until just combined.  Scoop tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet (you may have to roll the dough into balls and then flatten slightly).  Bake for 12-15 minutes.  Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

A few notes:
- My cookies were a bit on the dry side (I like an underdone cookie).  This may be attributed to the GF flour that I used (Trader Joe's brand, which is a combination of rice flours).  Next time I will probably try with oat flour, as I have had better luck with it in the past.  I would also bake for less time (12-13 minutes).
- The consistency of the wet mixture will depend on two things: the size of your banana and the thickness of your nut butter.  I suggest using a type of natural nut butter, which is generally more liquidy than conventional.  If your dough feels too dry (there are still big patches of flour even after mixing), add a bit more nut butter and applesauce.
- Feel free to mix it up - I used the nuts and seeds listed above because that is what I had in my pantry!  Check out the original recipe here for more ideas for add-ins.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

As a kid, Reese's Peanut Butter cups were one of my favorite candies - who didn't love the mix of creamy peanut butter with sweet dark chocolate?  No offense to Reese's, but these homemade cups are SO much better than that candy of my childhood.  Made with all wholesome ingredients, these treats let you indulge without the guilt, or the sugar crash. 

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - Vegan, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free

Bottom chocolate layer:
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 packet stevia (optional)

Top peanut butter layer:
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Mix all bottom layer ingredients together and spoon the mix into candy molds (or mini cupcake liners), filling the molds half way with the chocolate mix.  Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes to set.  While bottom layer is firming up in the freezer, stir together all top layer ingredients.  Remove cups from freezer and spoon peanut butter mixture over the chocolate layer to fill up the molds.  Place back in freezer to set.

Keep the candies in the fridge, or freezer for longer storage.  Share with those you love!

Note: The chocolate layer on these cups is very dark and rich.  If you prefer a sweeter cup, be sure to include the stevia.  Taste the mixture before assembling the cups, and add more sweetener if desired. 

Thanksgiving Recap + KINDA BIG NEWS

Here's what I ended up making for the big day last week:

Farro with Leeks and Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts

So good, so comforting!  This was a hit with both meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.  I think farro is going to be my new favorite grain - it's very chewy and hearty, which is great for these colder winter months.  I loved the mix of brussel sprouts and leeks with balsamic and spicy Dijon mustard.  We had a ton of leftovers, and I found myself adding even more mustard to this dish.  This is something I would make again.

Baked Butternut Squash with Tofu and Kale

This was inspired by the similar dish from Oh Ladycakes; however, I did not have vegan worcestershire sauce, and didn't have time to make my own, so, with help from a caterer relative, we added warming spices to give this dish a more Indian taste (curry, cumin, and garam masala were used heavily).  It turned out good, but not great.  Still, I would probably make again.

Roasted Vegetables - Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beets, and Turnips 

Every year we do tons of roasted vegetables for our Thanksgiving feast and this year was no different. Turnips were new though, and boy were they delicious!  All we did was chop the raw veggies into bite sized pieces and then toss them with liberal amounts of olive oil, salt, and pepper.  The broccoli and cauliflower also got a generous sprinkle of nutritional yeast (side note: if you have not tried roasting broccoli or cauliflower before, please do. It really transforms the flavor of these vegetables into something so great!)

Sweet Potato Pie

I decided to break from tradition and make sweet potato pie instead of pumpkin pie this year.  The pie was okay, but I don't think I would make it again.  It was overly spiced, which is saying quite a lot coming from me, the girl who buys cinnamon from Costco.  I think next year I will stick with pumpkin.

Raw, Vegan Pecan Pie

OMG.  Words cannot describe this pie.  It was amazing, incredible, beyond expectations - everyone agreed.  Also, since it was made from all good-for-you ingredients, I didn't get a sugar rush or crash from eating it.  I will definitely be making this again, soon!

And now for the big news... I'm moving to NYC!  Okay, to be accurate I have already moved to NYC.  I am still in DC for another week wrapping up work stuff, but will be heading up to the big apple for real this weekend.  This is no surprise to my friends and family, but I wanted to officially announce the news here.  It's sad to leave DC, but I'm so excited to explore all the sights, sounds, and eats NYC has to offer, and to share my adventures here!

That's all for now.  I'll be back later this week with a decadent recipe for dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

Halloween Snack Attack

This post is bit delayed - I got my October Vegan Cuts snack box over a month ago, but just realized I never posted the video of my un-boxing!  This box was filled with Halloween-inspired treats.  While I'm not a big candy person (except chocolate, that is), it's good to know that there are vegan options out there of your favorite holiday treats.

You can find these "healthified" candies online, on sites like Vegan Cuts, but there are also vegan options carried in most grocery stores.  If you haven't done so already, check out PETA's "Accidentally Vegan" lists for full details on widely distributed products that just so happen to be vegan.  Note:  While it is fun to know that Oreos are okay for vegans (YES, it's true!), it is also important to remember that vegan does not necessarily mean wholesome and healthy.

Without further ado... my October Vegan Cuts snack box un-boxing...

Carrot Cake Smoothie

There's not much that can beat a good homemade smoothie.  Unlike juice bar smoothies that are usually packed with strange ingredients and added sugars, homemade smoothies are 100% customizable and can be the perfect healthy indulgence. 

Most days I have a smoothie for breakfast.  They are quick to make and an easy way to get fruit, veggies, protein, and healthy fats in a portable form.  I eat my smoothies with a spoon, which makes the health drink feel indulgent, almost like a bowl of ice cream.

My favorite blend of the moment combines the natural sweetness of carrots and bananas with the richness of almond butter and warmth of cinnamon for an absolutely delicious fall morning treat.  Maca gives you a little boost of energy and the protein means this smoothie will keep you full for hours.  Seriously, this drink is the bomb!  And so so so easy to make - just a few seconds in a blender and you are done.

Carrot Cake Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:
-1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1/4 cup carrot juice
-1 banana
-1 tsp maca
-1 TBSP almond butter
-dash of cinnamon
-1 scoop plain or vanilla protein powder (I have been using Perfect Fit Vanilla protein)
-Stevia to taste (I like Truvia and have found that 1/2 an individual packet works for me.  Omit or adjust depending on your preference.  I'm sure maple syrup would also taste great)

Directions:
Add all ingredients to your blender and pulse until well combined.  Enjoy! 

Vegan Thanksgiving

I've always said that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, if not my most favorite (Passover is also up there, so maybe I just like holidays centered around feasts...).  Anyways, being vegetarian and then vegan did not change this.  Luckily at my family's Thanksgiving, we have always had tons of different vegetables to go along side the standard turkey and mashed potatoes.  Each year I try to find a new veg-friendly recipe, at least one sweet and one savory, to bring into the mix.  Generally, I have been very successful in convincing my family that vegetarian and vegan food does not have to be plain or unfulfilling, and that it does have a place at the Thanksgiving table.  While I'm not sure what I will whip up this year, here are a few recipes that have caught my eye over the past few weeks:

Main Dishes:
- Farro with Leeks and Balsamic Roasted Brussels

- Walnut Encrusted Tempeh

- Smoky Butternut Squash Sauce with Pasta and Greens and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheeze
- Butternut Leek and Toasted Hazelnut Risotto
- Seitan Mushroom Roast  

Salads and Sides:

- Grilled Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

- Quinoa Salad with Pears, Spinach, and Chickpeas

- Roasted Root Vegetable Mash

- Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels with Nutmeg and Sage

- Apple Cider Glazed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Biscuits

Desserts:
- Raw, Vegan Pecan Pie
- Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
- You Won't Believe It's Vegan Pumpkin Pie

- Raw, Deep Dish Chocolate PB Ice Cream Cake 

- Vegan Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Drinks:

- Perfect Fall Sangria

- Butterscotch Maca Mug

In addition to being a favorite time of year, Thanksgiving is also pretty significant to me as it was 3 years ago on Thanksgiving that I ate meat for the last time.  This year, in addition to passing on the turkey, I am turning this day into one of giving: giving a turkey a life that is!  One of my favorite teachers at my yoga studio in DC is holding a donation based class Thanksgiving morning.  All donations go to Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey program.  Which means my one time donation of $30 will sponsor and support a turkey living at one of Farm Sanctuary's shelters, for the rest of his or her life!  I encourage you to check out the program, or better yet, if you will be in the DC area this Thanksgiving, join me in taking Courtney's class at The Studio DC.

Pumpkin Breakfast Bars with Maple Almond Glaze

Another pumpkin recipe coming at you today: pumpkin bars with maple almond glaze.  I wasn't planning on posting this recipe, but it was SUCH a hit that I couldn't not post it!  I got the inspiration for this one from my brother's girlfriend (thanks, Arielle!) who shared a chocolate-chip version of these bars with my family last weekend.  While the chocolate-chip version was delicious, I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate and pumpkin, and wanted to make these a little more breakfast-friendly (not saying you can't have chocolate for breakfast, but for me, chocolate in the morning is usually reserved for birthdays and special holidays).

Pumpkin Breakfast Bars with Maple Almond Glaze (vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free)

Dry:
2 1/2 cups oat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 scoop neutral or vanilla flavored protein powder (optional)

Wet:
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup almond butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Glaze:
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 TBSP almond butter
chopped walnuts for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease an 8 x 8 square pan with coconut oil (or nonstick method of choice).  Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Mix wet ingredients in a separate, large bowl (or food processor).   Add the dry to the wet and stir until just combined.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.  While the bars are cooking, prepare the glaze by whisking together maple syrup and almond butter.  Remove bars from the oven and let cool slightly before pouring the glaze over the top of the bars.  Garnish with chopped walnuts, if desired.

Adapted from here. 


These bars are perfect for breakfast, but also great as an afternoon snack or healthy dessert.  They freeze well, so if you don't have a band of hungry co-workers, friends, or family members (or if you just want to keep them all to yourself, which is not a bad idea), slice the cooled bars then pop into a Ziploc bag.  You may want to leave off the glaze if you are planning on freezing, and simply slather the bars with almond butter, maple syrup, or topping of your choice once reheated.

Happy baking!

GO GREEN: An All Green Juice Cleanse

A few weeks ago, Organic Avenue (remember, one of my favorite juice places in NYC) sent out an email advertising a sale on their ALL GREEN juice cleanse.  Without thinking much, I hopped on this opportunity!  I was going to be traveling again for work for an extended period of time (Memphis again, four weeks) and thought a juice cleanse would be a great break from the restaurant and hotel food.  I did a juice cleanse the last time I was in Memphis and it was a great experience.

I conned a co-worker into doing the cleanse with me.  We decided to do it during the week, starting on October 29th and ending the day after Halloween. Trick, or treat?


I'm not going to go into all the details of the cleanse, but will summarize my thoughts on this cleanse briefly:

1. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" - I love me a green juice (hey, even two green juices), but 6 green juices a day plus a green booster shot?  It is a little much.  I enjoyed most of the juices; however, drinking six 14 oz green juices a day was hard!  Most were completely savory (very little to no fruit).  Savory is great, but it would have been nice to have at least one or two sweet juices in the mix.  Disclaimer:  Two of the juices I considered semi-sweet, but not fruity enough to mask that they were still mostly veggies.

2.  Juice feast, don't juice fast - Due to the low fruit content of this cleanse, an entire day of juices only added up to around 500 calories.  From my research, your body goes into starvation mode with anything less than 1,200.  While it's totally fine to have such a reduced calorie intake for a few days, I didn't like the idea of draining my body.  I needed to work and wanted to work out during this cleanse.  Looking back, this extreme option probably wasn't the best choice based on my situation.

Finally I realized that you need to be fully committed in order to have a successful cleanse (duh, Emily).  As I mentioned, I sort of hopped on this juice cleanse on a whim, and didn't really take the time to think if this was something my body and life could handle at the time.  I don't think that I went into the cleanse fully committed, which is pretty important considering the cost and effort required to do any cleanse.

All this being said, I "supplemented" my cleanse.  Some would call this "cheating," but I knew I wasn't going to get anything out of the cleanse if I starved myself for 3 days and wasn't productive in my professional or personal life.  I listened to what my body needed.  I added some fresh fruit and veggies, and raw nuts.  And guess what?  I still saw great results - my senses sharper, my digestion improved, and, for the most part, I was able to do regular work outs. 

So while I don't recommend this "Go Green" juice cleanse to anyone except the most experienced, hard core juicers, I also do not have any regrets about trying this cleanse.  Next time though (yes there will be a next time), I'll stick with the less intense version.  Drinking all juice all day is enough intensity for me. =)

Review: Thai X-ing

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting some friends for dinner at Thai X-ing, an authentic (you guessed it) Thai food restaurant in Shaw.  I had been to Thai X-ing before with the BF - we enjoyed our meal there, but it wasn't as wonderful as others had proclaimed, so I didn't bother to write about it here.  However, this second visit did in fact live up to those high expectations and so I thought I should share some details on this experience.

Dining at Thai X-ing is in fact an experience.  The restaurant is located inside a row house on Florida Avenue; you could easily miss it except for the hostess who is usually standing outside the entrance.  We were ushered inside by said hostess and, as we were a slightly larger group, we were sat at the larger, low table by the front window.

I had called ahead to make my dietary preferences known, and our server checked in with all of us before the meal began for allergies and preferences.  Food arrived almost immediately, but not before we had a chance to open the wine we had brought (yup, Thai X-ing is a rare BYOB in DC).

First up: Papaya Salad and Tom Yam soup.  Two of the simplest, yet also my favorite, Thai dishes.  The salad was perfectly crunchy and just spicy enough to wake up your taste buds.  The soup also had a delicate balance of spice (from the lemongrass and ginger) and sweetness (from the rich coconut milk).  I could have been satisfied with just those two dishes, but there was much more to come.

The main dishes all came out at once:  Pumpkin Curry, Bean Sprouts with Tofu, and Drunken Noodles with Tofu, plus a fish and beef dish for the carnivorous folks in the group.  Plus a mountain of fluffy white rice.  My favorite by far was the Pumpkin Curry - slightly spicy, yet also so creamy.  I am determined to replicate this dish at home sometime soon.
 

 

And finally... Mango Sticky Rice.  While we all proclaimed to be too stuffed to continue, we ate every last bite of this amazing dessert.  Another dish I am determined to learn how to make and perfect. 

We all left too full, but also very satisfied.  I love to try new foods, and it is so much more fun to share this experience with friends and loved ones. 

Pumpkin Banana Bread - Vegan & GF

It's that time of year again folks... pumpkin season!  While I'm a summer girl and not as thrilled about the cooler weather coming our way, I am excited for all the fall foods: pumpkin, butternut squash, apples, cinnamon, etc.  For a while now I have been searching for a good breakfast bread: something vegan and gluten free, made with no-nonsense ingredients, and minimal added sugars.  Just sweet enough from the bananas and maple syrup, and made with ingredients that I normally stock in my kitchen, this recipe fit the bill.  The streusel is completely optional, but it does make this bread feel indulgent and special, not to mention beautiful, so I suggest including it.

 Pumpkin Banana Bread (vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free)

Dry:
1 + ¾ cup oat flour (you can grind rolled oats into flour using a food processor)**

1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ turmeric

Wet:
2 medium bananas 
1 cup pumpkin puree
½ cup almond pulp (or any other pulp from making homemade nut milk, or almond meal)
¼ cup coconut oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon non-dairy milk

For the streusel:
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
1/3 c. rolled oats
3 tablespoons oat flour
½ tablespoon turbinado sugar
½ tablespoon maple syrup
½ tablespoon coconut oil

**If using whole oats, make sure they are certified gluten free (if gluten is an issue for you)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a loaf pan (I used 9x5). 

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl or food processor, mix the mashed bananas, pumpkin, nut pulp, oil, syrup, vanilla and milk. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Scoop batter into the loaf pan.

Combine all streusel ingredients in a small bowl and stir until everything is evenly coated. Sprinkle the mixture over the cake and press it lightly into the batter using your hand. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the bread springs back lightly under your finger instead of sinking in. 

Adapted from here.

This bread got eaten up in no time!

I apologize for the terrible photo, but I brought this loaf to work and half of it got eaten before I remembered to take a picture.  I took that as a sign that it was blog-worthy.  This is definitely a recipe I will be making again soon - maybe next time I will try it with sweet potato instead of pumpkin?  Yum...

What are your favorite fall foods?

A Veggie-ful DC Weekend

This past weekend was DC VegFest 2013!  I have been talking about this event since last year, so needless to say I was excited.  My mom and brother drove in from the burbs to check it out with me and we had a blast.  The afternoon was full of free, yummy samples and definitely some good people watching.  Some of the highlights were...
 

Vegan chipwich from Bakeshop - YUM-O!

Close up of chipwich delicious-ness

New tank for Mom "Kale yes!"

Treeline Treenut cheese

This stuff is legit

barefootbucha - kombucha on tap!

In addition to the Treeline nut cheese and delicious chipwich pictured above, I also scored three jars of Peanut Butter and Co peanut butter, Theo dark chocolate with coffee, some Dandies marshmallows, and a Gouter Pumpkin Spice Latte tonic (on top of all the free samples I collected throughout the day).

To top off my veggie-filled afternoon, I came home to my September Vegan Cuts Snack Box.  Because I know you all loved my first Snack Box video, (drum roll please) I decided to again film my unboxing...

And that's a wrap!

Inspiration: Breakfast Salad

Do you ever get in a breakfast rut?  Or simply have a craving for something totally out of the ordinary?  I know I do.  Sometimes my morning smoothie or scoop of granola just doesn't satisfy me.  I find this to be especially true on weekends when I usually have a little more time to make something for myself.  This past weekend was one of these times -  I was up early and ravenous!  I knew cereal or fruit was not going to cut it.  I looked in the fridge for inspiration and saw veggies, and remembered a post for a 'breakfast salad' I had pinned a while back on Choosing Raw.  Why not try it?  I thought... and then a beautiful thing was born.

This may be my new favorite breakfast (which is saying a lot, since I'm pretty addicted to green smoothies).   It's super simple to prepare, but also incredibly satisfying due to the chew factor.   Here's how to try one for yourself:

Step 1- Pick your greens.  I used baby arugula because that's what I had and what I love, but a milder green may be better suited for the AM (think baby spinach, butter lettuce, romaine).
Step 2 - Pick your fruit.  I sliced up a banana for my salad, but any fruit will work.  Take inspiration from what's in season or keep it simple with a personal favorite. Throw in whatever other veggies complement that fruit (I thought cool cucumber would add a nice contrast to the creamy banana).
Step 3 - Add some crunch. Top your salad with granola, cereal, nuts, and/or seeds.  Not only will this add a satisfying crunch to your salad, but it will also increase the protein content.
Step 4 - Dress it up!  I drizzled maple syrup and lemon juice over my salad, but the possibilities are endless.  A few ideas I will definitely try in the near future include some sort of almond butter based sauce and the chocolate avocado sauce featured on Choosing Raw (see link above).

I know salad for breakfast may sound strange, but in other places around the world this is totally normal.  In many Mediterranean countries, breakfast consists of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with bread and olives.  Asian countries also love their veggies:  a common morning meal in Japan is miso soup, pickled vegetables, seaweed salad, and cured raw fish.

So why not switch things up and get your day off to a GREEN and HEALTHY start?  And let me know how it turns out - I'm always on the lookout for creative new eats, especially for the most important meal of the day!

Happy crunching! 

Sunday Funday - Exploring AdMo + First Yoga Class

Hello and Happy Monday!

This past weekend was my first back in the nation's capital for quite some time.  Saturday was uneventful, but Sunday was full of good times.  Sunday morning started with a long run in Rock Creek Park (another first in quite some time.. ow).  After lunch, the BF and I headed back to my old hood for the Adam's Morgan Day Festival.  We walked up 18th Street, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival, but didn't hang around too long - I was set to teach my first yoga class later in the evening, so I wanted some time to relax and prep beforehand.

To beat the crowd and the heat, we headed over to the newly opened Puree Juice Bar, located inside MINT gym at 18th and California (bottom of Adam's Morgan).  I had heard about Puree, but had never tried their juices as the original bar is in Bethesda (just a little too far up the Red line for me to venture).  It's super exciting the they have opened this second location - I love seeing local, health-oriented businesses like Puree thriving and expanding.

We got to sample two of the juice offerings - the "mean lemonade" and the "daily green."  Both were really good (even the not-so-crunchy BF agreed).  I ended up getting the daily green.  This juice was a mix of pineapple, kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger - definitely green tasting, but with enough sweetness to give me just the boost I needed before my yoga class.  Besides juices, Puree also offers smoothies and an assortment of raw food/snacks.  The only downside to Puree, like so many organic/vegan/raw/whateverthenewhealthcrazeis places, is the price - most juices are around $10.  That being said, and although I no longer live in the direct area, I can see myself coming back to Puree in the near future, because their juices are so dang tasty (and their logo so dang cute).

The BF didn't get a juice, but he wanted a snack before my class, so we stopped into Pleasant Pops, which is right next door to Puree and Mint.  I've been in Pleasant Pops before, but only to get a drink, so this was a first pop experience for both of us.  He got the Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate popsicle, and it was fantastic!  Super creamy (I think it's made with coconut milk) with a slight hit of heat, this pop was the perfect treat for a hot day.  Again, while I'm no longer living in the immediate area, I can see myself stopping back in Pleasant Pops again soon.

All of the sudden the afternoon was ending and it was time to head over to The Studio DC in Dupont where I would be teaching my first yoga class.  I was a little nervous, but also excited!  My nerves disappeared as my friends, co-workers, and fellow teachers-in-training arrived - I was so happy to see all these people showing up to support me.  Teaching was HARD, but I expected as much.  It wasn't physically taxing like a yoga class normally is, but emotionally exhausting.  After class, I grabbed sushi with a few of my "students," but before long had to head home to pass out.  While there are definitely things I know I can improve on, the class went as well as I could have hoped for and I am looking forward to teaching more in the future.

A good first weekend back in DC, I'd say.  Until next time, namaste.

Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling

As I mentioned in my past couple posts, I have been traveling for work the past 6 weeks. Traveling means that I am eating at restaurants (or mass prepared food), unable to go to my daily yoga classes at my studio, and having to find alternatives to my normal running routes.  While I am generally a healthy person, I am not superhuman, so it is still a challenge for me to stay healthy and fit while on the go. In this post I will share some of my tips for keeping up with working out and eating well while on the go.

Many of these tips are applicable, regardless of if you are traveling or not.  Although I don't always follow my own advice, I do find that when I do, I feel worlds better and am able to enjoy exploring new places much more.

Working out:

- Know what you have to work (out) with. When possible, stay at a hotel with a gym.  As soon as you check in, check out the gym to asses the situation.  Some hotels also offer maps or information on nearby running routes.  It also helps to do some research before hand (Are there any trails or paths in the area?  Is it safe to run outside by yourself? Are there running groups you could join up with? What you can find online is amazing).
- Keep up your routine.  If you normally everyday run in the AM, try to stick with this habit while on the road.  While you may have to hit the treadmill instead of the pavement depending on your location, keeping up your normal routine will increase your chances of staying on top of your work outs on the go.
- Be flexible.  This may see to completely contradict my last suggestion, but hear me out. Odds are you won't be able to keep up your routine exactly while traveling, so sometimes you have to modify your planned works outs to adapt to the situation.  Don't throw the towel just because you can't do your weekly 10 mile run or attend your favorite yoga class - find something else you can do instead.  Here's a few ways to be flexible and creative with your work outs on the go:
     *Pal in town wants to meet for drinks or dinner?  Suggest something more active - local yoga class, long walk or run, bike ride, etc.  You will be able to catch up while working out.
     *No gym at your hotel? Work out in your hotel room.  The internet is a gold mine of quick, portable work outs.  From yoga to Crossfit, there is something out there to please everyone.
     *Want to sight see?  Try out a running tour!  I did one on a recent trip to NYC, and it was a great way to get some history of the city while getting a work out in.  Also, a lot of major cities now have public bikes you can rent for a day (or longer) - another great, active way to explore.

Eating well:

- Pack healthy snacks - I always, always, always travel with snacks.  Some of my staples are nut butters, trail mix, fresh fruit, and greens (spirulina, chlorella, mixed green powders).  Lately I have cooked up a big batch of sweet potatoes or whole grains to take with me.  Not only does this help you stay healthy, but it also helps you save money!
- Hit up the grocery store - I call ahead to make sure I have a mini fridge in my hotel room, and then I hit up the grocery store for those items I wasn't able to bring from home.  I like to pick up non-dairy milk (while many coffee shops offer soymilk, not all hotels have hopped on this trend), in addition to fresh fruits and veggies to snack on.
- Keep up your (food) routine - This is one I personally struggle with.  While traveling, I love to try new foods and seek out interesting restaurants.  And although a giant vegan blueberry muffin every once in a while is no big deal, when you are traveling consistently, those muffins add up.  Go ahead and try new things, but don't it as an excuse to go overboard everyday.


There you have it folks - my quick and dirty tips on how to stay in shape while traveling. While I'm happy that I have the opportunity to see the country with my job, travel does add stress so I am glad to be back at home for at least a few weeks before my next adventure begins. 

IM BACK + Travel Snack Reviews

HELLO!  I am back in DC from my long bout of traveling, and boy does it feel good (although I'm still living out of a suitcase...more on that later) !  While I love to see the world/country, traveling definitely adds stress and can often mess with healthy eating and work out plans.

I'm planning to do a post on how to stay healthy while traveling, but for now I will simply provide a few product reviews.  As mentioned previously, I'm not one to buy a lot of packaged foods, but being on the road had me trying out more items than usual, so I thought I would share some of my finds with you!

Perfect Fit Protein Powder

A co-worker gave me one of these single-serve packets and I loved it!  This protein power is raw, vegan, and gluten free - 15g for only 70 calories.  I especially appreciated that I knew all of the ingredients - organic sprouted brown rice protein, vanilla extract, guar gum, stevia, and sea salt.  As for the taste, its a mild vanilla with only a slightly chalky aftertaste (come on, what protein powder doesn't taste chalky?)  I absolutely prefer this to some of the stronger flavored proteins I have tried in the past (Vega, I'm looking at you!).  Best of all, the single-serve packets are perfect for travel.  Bottom line:  After trying this, I promptly ordered a whole box.  If you think your diet needs a raw, vegan protein boost, you should check out Perfect Fit!

Evolution Juices

While fresh veggie juice is becoming more and more popular, it is still not something you can find everywhere.  However, you can now find it at many Starbucks locations, thanks to Evolution juices!  I have tried a few of the green juice varieties, and have been pleasantly surprised (and we all know how picky I am when it comes to green juice).  Bottom line:  Moderately priced and conveniently located, I will be coming back for more!

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals

GoPicnic makes ready-to-eat meals that are vegan and allergy friendly and are sold at many airports across the US.  Basically these are the new-age Lunchables of the health conscious population.  I tried the Hummus & Crackers meal on a recent flight, and was pleasantly surprised.  I loved that the meal had a bunch of individually packed items - I ate half of it on the plane, and half another day for a snack.  While quite expensive when purchased at the airport, you can't beat the convenience of this nutritious item.  Bottom line:  Not an item I would regularly purchase, but I like the product and will probably buy again when in a pinch for quick, healthy meal while on the go.

Organic Raw One Flax Crackers

I found these raw crackers in a health food store in Orlando, FL and decided to give them a try since they were sorta local.  I tried the Golden Nori flavor and absolutely loved it - I am a sucker for crunchy & salty snacks, throw in superfoods like nori and healthy spices, and I'm sold. My only complaint was that the flax seed were whole, and from my understanding our bodies cannot absorb all the nutrients from whole flax seed (hence why it is usually ground before use).  Bottom line:  A healthy, tasty snack I would buy again.

That's all for now!  I promise to be back to regular posting again soon!

Review: Two Vegan Sistas - Memphis, TN

Two Vegan Sistas is a brand new mostly raw and 100% vegan food delivery service in Memphis, TN  (yes,  there are actually two sisters who run the show here).  Upon finding out about these ladies, I knew I had to try something while I was in the area.  You place your order by calling up the sisters and then you arrange for a delivery time.  There is a delivery charge, but it is very reasonable if you order multiple meals at once. 


The menu is pretty diverse - entrees ranging from raw sushi to raw BBQ "nutmeat,"  with lots of side choices and yummy sounding desserts.  I decided to go with the sampler platter ($10 for five items from the menu) so I could try a little bit of a bunch of different things.  I also ordered the PB Pie, the raw oreos, and a vanilla almond milk (to get a taste of the whole spectrum of offerings - "research" as I sometimes put it).

I had no idea what to expect as I have seen a pretty broad spectrum of raw food, from the refined One Lucky Duck and Pure Food and Wine in NYC, to the more comfort style eats of Khepra's in DC.  When my food arrived, I was shocked to see how little of it there actually was!  From the few pictures online, I envisioned much larger portions.  That being said, I reminded myself that raw food is generally more nutrient (and calorie) dense, so you feel full and satisfied with less.

Sampler - Sandwich, sushi, chicken salad, falafel (hiding), and kale salad

Peanut Butter Chocolate "Pie"

Now for the taste (all items noted below are vegan AND raw, with the exception of the bread on the portabello sandwich, which was not raw):

- Sushi - Nori filled with avocado, some sort of spread, and crunchy veggies.  The nori was a bit soggy, but the roll itself was tasty.
- Chicken salad - Probably my favorite item.  This had good flavor, surprisingly sweet and savory at the same time.  The texture was a little sticky... in a good way if that makes any sense (versus grainy which can often be the case with nut and seed based mixtures).
- Falafel - This didn't remind me much of falafel, that is besides the shape.  The only flavor I could detect was cumin, which isn't what I normally think of when I think of falafel.
- Kale salad - Good, not great.  Kale, avocados, and sun dried tomatoes (I think). Tiny portion so I didn't have much to judge from.
- Portabello sandwich - This was "roasted" portabello mushrooms with pickles and onions on sprouted bread.  The mushrooms were good, but it wasn't really a solid sandwich if you ask me - it could have used some sort of  think sauce or hummus.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie - Extremely sweet, too sweet for my taste buds (although I did eat the whole thing).  Still, quite yummy, although it was more of a pudding than a pie (it came in a cup).  Filling tasted of peanut butter and chocolate, crust was made of coconut and nuts.
- Oreos - The oreo "cookie" was similar in texture to a Larabar, with an interesting taste as the Sistas use carob instead of chocolate.  I wasn't the biggest fan of this "cookie," but I loved the inner "creme,"  and wished there had been more in each.
-Vanilla Almond Milk - This was also way too sweet for my taste buds.  And there was something a little off in the flavor (maybe it was the sweetener?)

I ate half the sampler plate and the PB pie for dinner one night, and the rest for lunch the next day.  I tried one oreo and shared the other two with co-workers.  If you don't include dessert (since I wouldn't order this for a normal meal),  that comes to just $5 per meal, exclusive of delivery charges.  This is an exceptionally good deal, as raw, vegan food can be obnoxiously expensive (I'm looking at you One Lucky Duck).

Overall, while I didn't love everything I tried, I do love the business concept and the prices are decent so I will probably order more of their food in the future. 

Organic Avenue Juice Cleanse

While I was in New York City, I fell in love with Organic Avenue.  I fell so in love that I wanted to try more of their juices.  The only problem was that their food and juices were in NYC, and I was not.  Good news is that Organic Avenue ships their all juice cleanse (LOVE deep), so the decision was made to try one.  As I mentioned previously, I am traveling a lot for work right now, so I planned my juice cleanse for one weekend when I would be staying in Memphis between work weeks.  This would be the perfect opportunity for a cleanse as 1) I would not be able to cook my own food anyways 2) I would not have friends or family around to hang out with (or distract me with their food!) and 3)  I wanted to do lots of yoga studying.

I chose a 3-day cleanse (Friday - Sunday), and the juices were sent to me in two shipments (they don't do weekend shipping, so I got a package on Thursday with one day of juice and a package on Friday with the remaining juices).  There were six juices for each day (one of which was a "mylk") plus a booster shot for first thing in the morning.  Each day there were different shots and different juices, which I liked becuase it kept things interesting!  If there are certain ingredients or juices you don't like (or if you have any allergies), Organic Avenue will take those into consideration when planning your cleanse.

Day One - Wheatgrass shot, Royal Red, Green Coco, Turmeric Tonic, Veggie Vibe, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk -The first day was definitely the hardest for me. All the juices were delicious but I found myself hungry and drank a few juices before their scheduled time.  I also had some mild headaches throughout the afternoon. The most surprisingly tasty juices for me were the Royal Red and Veggie Vibe.  I'm not a huge fan of straight beet juice, but both of these juices contained other yummy ingredients to balance out the strong flavor and texture beet usually adds to a juice.  The Turmeric Tonic, while not a "juice" per se, was awesome and very satisfying.  The only problem with this day's juices was the Cashew Hemp Mylk - mine had definitely gone bad.  I don't know if this was a result of the shipping, or the fact that my juices did not get refridgerated immediately upon delivery, or a problem with that batch of mylk, but it was super sour and I knew something wasn't right upon first sip.  I had another Cashew Hemp Mylk that was supposed to be for Day Three, so I drank that and decided I would have to find something to replace it later.  The (not-spoiled) Cashew Hemp Mylk was satisfying, but the flavor was a bit bland - it could have used some cinnamon and/or nutmeg to kick it up! 

First juice of the cleanse- Royal Red

Turmeric Tonic and reading outside

Splendid Sweet Greens before yoga

Day Two - Aloe Vera shot, Cucumber Mint, Mellow Love, Ginger Lemonade, Veggie Vibe, Green Love, Coconut Mylk - As I have learned previously, juice cleansing equal awesome sleep.  Even after napping on Friday, I slept for a full 10 hours Friday night!  I woke up on Saturday morning a little hungry, but not as bad as the day before.  I had lots of energy and was easily able to get through a moderate yoga class and some low impact cardio.  No headaches at all.  As far as the juices,  the Aloe Vera shot didn't taste like much, which I guess is a good thing, but it is supposed to help the digestive track during cleansing.  The highlights of this day were Ginger Lemonade, which reminded me of the iced ginger tea I drank so much of in Thailand, and the Coconut Mylk.  I did not think the Coconut Mylk (young coconut meat blended with young coconut water) would be substantial or fulfilling enough, but it was absolutely lovely.  Naturally sweet and rich, I ate it with a spoon and felt like I was having dessert!

Ginger Lemonade and more studying

Sweet Coconut Mylk = Perfect end to Day Two

Day Three - E3 Live shot, Watermelon, Green Coco, Master Tonic, Virgin Mary, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk - After another solid night of sleep, I woke up ready to take on the last day of my cleanse.  The day started with an E3 Live shot.  E3 Live is a blue-green algae that contains tons of healthy vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  It is said to boost immunity, cleanse your digestive tract, and increase your energy, among other things.  I had never tried it before, and was a little nervous for the ominous looking shot.  It actually didn't have a strong taste at all (nothing like wheatgrass), score!  My energy was high again all day, no headaches or other "detox" side effects.  This day's juices were a perfect mix of sweet and savory - the sweet Watermelon juice was yummy for first thing in the morning, while the Master Tonic and Virgin Mary were great as spicy midday  pick me ups.  I had to improvise for my final juice (since I drank this Cashew Hemp Mylk on Day One).  I searched the local Whole Foods for a replacement drink and the closest thing I found was Suja's Coconut Almond juice.  This juice was pretty tasty (coconut, almond and cinnamon, with honey and cherries for sweetness), but my stomach was a little unhappy afterwards (which was the first upset of any kind the whole cleanse).

Nervous for the E3 Live shot!

Beautiful day for a run

Catching some rays with the spicy Master Tonic

What does one do (besides drink juice) during a juice cleanse?  Well, good question. Most programs suggest that you rest as much as possible (go to bed early, sleep until you naturally wake up) and do light exercise (such as walking and yoga) to increase circulation.  Some other suggested activities: meditation, journaling, spending time in nature, activities that promote detox (massage, dry brushing, colon hydrotherapy, sauna time).  Me?  I definitely did the sleeping thing and treated myself to a massage.  I did a lot of yoga and some running, but only because my body told me to.  The rest of my time was spent reading, studying yoga stuffs, and watching meaningful documentaries (both of which I highly recommend - Hungry for Change and Happy).  My intention for the cleanse was to focus on studying, but each person and each cleanse is different. 

Overall, this was by far the easiest and most delicious juice cleanse I have done.  I had very few detox signs (headaches, breakouts, etc).  My energy was high throughout the cleanse and I was able to stay on track with my normal workouts, and get some studying done.   The first day after my cleanse ended I was actually sad not to have yummy juice to drink that day!  If that is not a sign of juice success, I don't know what is!


Have you ever done a juice cleanse?  How was your experience?

A Few Product Reviews

I don't normally buy a lot of pre-made snacks, but being on the go and without a kitchen has made me more reliant on packaged items.  Here are a few quick reviews on some products I have tried lately:

- Califia Farms Almond Milk - The packaging of this item caught my eye at Whole Foods.  I have tried both the Original and Vanilla Almond Milk flavors, as well as the Cafe Latte blend.  This is by far the best packaged almond milk I have purchased (and I have tried quite a few over the years).  It almost, just almost, tastes like homemade.  The Cafe Latte flavor tastes just like one of those bottled frappuccinos, but one servicing has only 90 calories and 12 grams of sugar versus 200 calories and 32 grams of sugar found in the Starbucks counterpart (approximately same serving size).  Bottom line? Try this almond milk! It's now a staple on my grocery list. 

- 22 Days Daily Mocha Mantra bar -  22 Days offers bars and protein powders that are all organic, vegetarian, gluten free, and soy free.  Previously, I've tried another bar flavor and one of their protein powders, and wasn't super impressed, but this bar was good!  The coffee flavor is very strong and packs a caffeine punch (at least it did for me).  Bottom line? Slightly pricey, but a good choice for a quick and healthier morning pick me up. 

- Nouri bars - I tried the Peanut Butter & Wild Cherry and the Chocolate & Creamy Cashew flavors, both of which were good.  The best thing about these bars is that they are made locally (Charlottesville, VA - the founder went to UVA!) and each one you purchase provides a meal for a child in need.  They are more expensive than some other bars, but when you consider what the purchase is going towards the cost seems more than reasonable.  I also liked that the ingredients were all things I knew.   Bottom line?  A solid snack that does good for your body and the world!

- Bell Plantation PB2 - PB2 is powdered peanut butter, lower in calories and fat than traditional PB.  I bought this because it was on sale and I was curious.  I've mixed it in baked goods and smoothies, and tried it plain (you mix the powder with water to get a PB like consistency).  It does taste like peanut butter, but there is also a strange aftertaste that I don't like.  Bottom line?  If I'm going to eat peanut butter, I'll take the calories and fat.  I would not buy again.


-Whole Foods Mock Chick'n Salad - Made with soy nuggets and Veganiase, this salad was super tasty.  The flavors reminded me so much of classic chicken salad, without being too close in texture to the real thing (I know this sounds weird, but I'm not into the whole fake meat thing and I get a bit freaked out when things taste too much like their non-vegan counterparts).  Bottom line?  If you have a craving for a good summer sandwich, this salad will do the trick.  I won't be buying this regularly, but definitely again for a random treat.

- Saffron Road Wasabi Crunchy Chickpeas - Those who know me know I am a wasabi fiend, so when I saw this in my last Vegan Cuts snack box, I was more than excited.  This protein packed snack did not disappoint.  The chickpeas were super crunchy with an intense wasabi flavor -  I was in love!  Bottom line?  Not for the faint of heart, but I will definitely buy again.

 That's all for now folks.  Always one for trying new things, I would love to hear some of your favorite on-the-go snacks!

NYC Adventure - Part 2

Friday afternoon I met up with my friend Sylvia, my host and tour guide for the weekend.  We hustled over to the Guggenheim to check out the James Turrell exhibit.   I had recently been to one of his exhibits at the LACMA in Los Angeles, so I was excited to see what he had in store for NYC.  I don't think you were supposed to take pictures, but no one stopped us so...

These pictures are all in the same room by the way.  For those of you who are not familiar with this JT, he plays with the concept of light and perception.  This was the main room in the museum - most of the pictures are taken looking up at the ceiling, which was illuminated with colored light.   The color of the light changed every few minutes or so.  The exhibit was great, but the one part that you had to wait in line for was so not worth the wait.  Regardless, the line gave Sylvia and me plenty of time to catch up, gossip, and figure out what we wanted to do for dinner.

We decided to check out Cafe Blossom, which just happened to be a fine vegan restaurant I had read about, which just happened to be directly under Sylvia's apartment.  Talk about meant to be!  We had a romantic candlelit dinner of pizza, beet carpaccio, quinoa with grilled veggies, and a giant Asian-inspired salad.  And wine.  And vegan ice cream.  (HUGE SCORE for NYC:  Vegan ice cream!) Needless, we were stuffed!  After a beer at a nearby bar, we called it an early night. 

My hot date - check out that GIANT PIZZA

Mixed greens with marinated tofu, kimchi, and cashews

VEGAN ICE CREAM - nom nom nom

Saturday began with a morning yoga class (again at Yoga to the People).  I then introduced Sylvia to my new found love - Organic Avenue.  We tasted a few juice and smoothie samples, and both settled on the Green Love juice.  YUM!  Couldn't have been a more ideal weekend morning in my book!

All smiles for GREEN LOVE

We showered, dressed, and ate our left over pizza for lunch.  We then set off to explore some more of NYC - specifically The High Line and Chelsea Market.

The High Line is a public park built on an elevated freight train line on the West Side of Manhattan (we hopped on it at one end in the Meatpacking District).  There are benches where you can sit and people watch, or just take in the interesting views of the city;  food carts where you can grab a bite to eat; and stretches of walkways with flowers and other greenery.  It is a truly beautiful place amidst the hubbub of the city. I know I mentioned this in Part 1, but I love when there is plenty of green space in a city!

Roof top bar next to the High Line

Benches for relaxing

Us with a view of the city beneath the park

We descended back to the street level and headed over to the Chelsea Market, an indoor market built in the former National Biscuit Company complex.  The market is home to a number of food vendors, as well as some retail stores (such as Anthropologie) and pop up shops.  There was a sample sale going on when we visited - checking this out felt like an authentic New York experience!  High fashion on the cheap?  Yes, please!   We also stopped in the 'Artists and Fleas' section of the market, which features more local, up-and-coming artists and vendors. We both saw so many things we liked, but resisted buying anything.

Inside the Chelsea Market

Walking and shopping made us hungry for a snack - lucky for us there is a One Lucky Duck location within the Chelsea Market!  #cantgetenough  I got a Goji High smoothie and Sylvia got a kale salad from another nearby vendor.  We then made our way back home for a rest before dinner.

We had plans to meet up with my friend Emily and her boyfriend for dinner that night.  I was BEYOND excited because everyone had agreed to check out Beyond Sushi - a vegan sushi joint I had read about and was so excited to try!  This place is sort of a whole in the wall - just a counter where you pay and they make the sushi and three small tables where you can sit.  I was a little nervous bringing three non-veg people here, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about - every single thing we got was absolutely phenomenal.  We tried four of the sushi rolls (pictured below, left to right - the Mighty Mushroom, Spicy Mang, Pickle Me, and Green Machine) and two of the rice paper wraps (Spicy Shroom and Sweet Angel).  By no means were these rolls "just" vegetables - they all had interesting preparations and combinations of fruits and vegetables, complimented by delicious sauces.  I only wished my stomach were larger so I could have enjoyed more! SCORE for NYC - Vegan sushi that is worlds better than any conventional roll.

Plant powered rolls!

Sweet Angel - Buckwheat noodles, sweet potato, asparagus, and sprouts with spicy siracha sauce

We left pleasantly stuffed (this was becoming a recurring theme) and bar hopped a bit before calling it a night.  Sunday morning we were up early again, ready to explore more - Brooklyn, specifically the Williamsburg Flea.  We grabbed some iced coffee and hoped on the subway.  SCORE for NYC - Amazing public transportation.  A few minutes later, we arrived in the aforementioned hipster mecca.

From the subway, we wandered down a few streets before we made it to the flea market, which was just getting started.  The flea market had tons to offer: vintage clothes and shoes, screen print t-shirts, old and new jewelry, furniture, art, the list goes on... The best part was these goods were unique and reasonably priced.  Score for NYC - Flea markets. We shopped around for a bit, both of us finding some fun jewelry to add to our collections.  We also grabbed some snacks to hold us over until we could eat a solid lunch.

Williamsburg Flea

Frozen chocolate covered mango

AWESOME SLIDERS SOLD HERE

Beet slider with eggplant bacon, cheeze, spicy ketchup, and guac

Before too long we were starting to fry in the hot summer sun, so we got back on the subway to head home.  On the way, we stopped at Peacefood Cafe for a quick bite to eat.  We both ordered the same salad (Asian inspired with marinated tempeh) which hit the spot.  I also picked up some treats for my train ride home - a vegan sun dried tomato and ricotta croissant and a gluten free banana ginger muffin.  Both of these baked goods were there's-no-way-this-is-vegan good.  I don't normally like croissants, but the salty 'ricotta' and sweet tomato paired perfectly with the buttery croissant.  And the banana ginger muffin... basically my idea of a perfect muffin: moist, dense, and slightly sweet.  Score for NYC - the magician bakers at Peacefood cafe (please teach me your secrets).

And then it was time for me to go... While I was sad to see such an awesome weekend end, I was happy that this visit had taught me that NYC doesn't have to be loud, scary, or expensive.   On the contrary, I learned first hand that NYC is filled with great art and architecture, wonderful food, and funky culture you just don't find anywhere else.  So as my train pulled away from the station, I found myself thinking  See you again soon New York...