Um Happy New Year?

This has to be the longest I have gone without a post. It is kind of funny... I don't check my stats or anything and I think I have zero "official" followers but in the past month or so I have had SIX..yes, SIX emails from readers asking me if I was OK. HA. I'm cool...

We have been very busy though. I haven't really stuck with making or adhering to New Year's resolutions BUT this year my husband and I actually created an awesome plan together. It is pretty complex but it incorporates CleanMama's super simple cleaning guidelines and 52 Small Bites simple living/organization.

For the month of January we have focused on having a green juice or smoothie every morning. So far we have only missed 2 mornings! We have also increased the green factor and decreased the fruits--making the juice/smoothie even healthier. My husband is still a bit fixated on protein so I do add a dollop of yogurt for him but lately I have been able to slip him a smoothie without it and he doesn't notice. I put in hemp seeds that I run through a coffee grinder instead.

In February we plan to end our coffee addiction. We have already started the process and have cut back quite a bit. Currently we each get 1 of our Bodem mugs full a day- which is probably more like 2 true cups. We calculated that we spend about $150 on super pure awesome coffee beans and then we add this horrible (but so yummy) Coffeemate Creamer. So they both have to go!

We just recently decided that in March we will end our addiction to cheese. We've been 90% cows milk free for over a year but the cheese is SO hard to give up. I have picked up YumUniverse's Dairy Free e-book. I'm looking forward to experimenting!

Well there you have it, my not-so-exciting first post of 2012.

Happy New Year!

Meatless Monday: Faux Shrimp Tacos

A few months ago I found the lovely super food quinoa. Yes, I realize it is a very old super food but I am just starting to learn of its magical powers--such as replacing nearly any meat in any recipe and still tasting fabulous. Tonight I made a batch of shrimp tacos and faux shrimp tacos. I really only made the shrimp as a backup in case the jerk-seasoned quinoa didn't turn out. I must say that even my husband was extremely impressed with the flavors. I can't take credit for the foundation of the recipe but I do take full credit for being adventurous and making an awesome meatless version of this meal!


Here is my version of the Shrimp Tacos:

6 small corn tortillas
1 cup quinoa (soaked the night before)
1 TB jerk seasoning
1 TB olive oil
1 cup broccoli slaw
1/2 mango, peeled and cubed (smaller the cube the better)
1/8 red onion, chopped (small)
1 TB homemade vegan mayonnaise*
1/8 cup cilantro, chopped
1 TB rice vinegar

1) Prepare quinoa as directed (typically boil for 20 minutes or so, longer if it wasn't soaked)

2) Meanwhile, prep and measure the broccoli slaw, mango, red onion, cilantro, vinegar and mayonnaise. Stir together in a bowl and set aside.

3) Toast the corn tortillas in a pan with a little olive oil, set aside wrapped with foil or something else to keep them warm

4) When quinoa is done, pour in the jerk and olive oil. I am not sure how much olive oil I used- I just dashed a bit in and stirred and added a bit more to blend everything together. I may have used more than a TB of jerk too...taste it as you mix it.

5) Assemble by putting a spoon of the slaw mix on a tortilla and then a spoon of the quinoa.


*Chef Charlie Wilson's recipe:
1 cup homemade Almond milk
1 TB yellow mustard
1 tsp agave
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup olive oil
3/4 raw sesame oil
3/4 Irish moss gel

Blend milk, mustard, salt and agave. Slowly add oils to this mix until it thickens. Finally, add Irish moss and blend on high until it turns white and thick.