Your Daily Thread

February 9, 2010 Written by Carolyn Scott

So you want to spice things up this Valentine’s Day, but you don’t want to increase your impact on the planet?   Skip the filet (even if it is grass fed) and prepare your own vegalicious meal that is certain to melt the heart of any carnivore.
Drink:  Passionate Pomegranate
6 ounces organic vodka (remove for a non-alcoholic beverage)
2 ounces seltzer
4 ounces Triple Sec (remove for a non-alcoholic beverage)
4 ounces pomegranate juice
2 lemons, juiced
1 pomegranate, seeded

Combine vodka, seltzer, Triple Sec, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker over ice; shake. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass; garnish with pomegranate seeds.

1st Course:  My Heart “Beets” For You Salad
1 bunch of beets (4-5), leaves removed
2 large navel oranges, peeled and sliced
1 bunch of arugula leaves, cleaned, and stems removed
Sliced red onion
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Dressing

1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
(mix all the ingredients in a glass container)

Salad Prep

Cook the beets with their peel on. Cover the beets with water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes or until beets can easily be pierced through with a fork.  After cooking, allow the beets to come to room temperature and remove their peels and then slice them. Place them in a small bowl and marinate them in half of the dressing recipe above. On individual salad plates place the arugula, a few slices of orange, a few beets, a few slices of red onion and some chopped walnuts. Sprinkle dressing over the individual salads.

2nd Course:  Sweetie “Shepherd’s” Pie

1 T olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 large carrots
2 T thyme chopped
1 cup red wine
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
2 vegetable stock boulion cubes
1 16 oz can green lentils
4 cups sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into chunks
2 T vegan butter
1/3 cup vegan cheddar cheese, grated

Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the onion until golden. Add the carrots and all but a sprinkling of thyme. Pour in the wine, 3/4 cups of water and the tomatoes, then sprinkle in the stock cubes and simmer for 10 mins. Tip in the can of lentils, including their juice, then cover and simmer for another 10 mins until the carrots still have a bit of bite and the lentils are pulpy. Meanwhile, boil the sweet potatoes for 15 mins until tender, drain well, then mash with the butter and season to taste. Pile the lentil mixture into a pie dish, spoon the mash on top, then sprinkle over the cheese and remaining thyme. The pie can now be covered and chilled for 2 days, or frozen for up to a month.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 20 mins if cooking right away, or for 40 mins from chilled, until golden and hot all the way through.

Desert:  You Make Me Melt Molten Chocolate Cake
5 – 6 ounces dark chocolate
6 T vegan butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg replacers
1/2 cup flour
Vegan whipped or ice cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease four 4-ounce custard cups. In double boiler, melt chocolate and butter. Stir in sugar. In a small bowl, lighly beat egg the replacer. Add some chocolate mixture to eggs to temper eggs. Carefully, stir “egg” mixture into chocolate mixture. Add flour and combine completely. Add batter                                                                            to custard cups. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

Centers should be soft but sides should be done. Invert cups on individual serving plates. Remove cups after 2 minutes. Serve warm with whipped or ice cream.

Make it special no matter who you may be with – your sweetheart, your friends or yourself – after all, every day is what we make it and if we love ourselves first and foremost, then all the rest is gravy ; )

Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Images via Healthy Indulgences, Feeding the Nerds, Puertabella, and Cooking Light

December 16, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

We all love the classic holiday sweets, but what if we turned them vegan? Would they still taste good?  Carolyn Scott The Healthy Voyager certainly believes so and has shared some of her favorite holiday creations, veganized.  Were we convinced?  You betcha, but try them for yourself.   Happy baking!

Mexican Wedding Cakes

* 1 cup soy margarine (we like organic Earth Balance Spread).

* 1/2 cup powered sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* 2 cups flour

* 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

* Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream margarine, the 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla in medium bowl. Combine flour and pecans in a separate bowl. Stir into mixture in medium bowl. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll again in powdered sugar.

Eggless Nog

* 1 16-ounce  package of silken tofu

* 1 cup soy vanilla soy milk

* 1/4 cup sweetener

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

* Pinch of cinnamon

* Rum to taste (optional)

Blend all in a blender until smooth – Chill and serve.

And check out last year’s holiday post for more vegalicious recipes:

Images via Alpine Berry and Nibbledish.

October 26, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

The crisp air, the colors and onset of the holidays season, Halloween is nothing but a big ol’ treat for me!! From October 1st on, I relish each day by burning pumpkin candles and planning which haunted houses to hit up while helping Dan build one of our own in front of our house to entertain the neighborhood ghouls on all Hallow’s Eve. For the past 2 years I have offered up some healthy as well as eco ideas for a slim and trim as well as green Halloween  – you can view the past posts right here – 2007 and 2008.  Lots of fun tips and recipes to make this a rockin’ Halloween for all.  Below I have also compiled some new tips and recipes to try out this year at your own or if attending any spooky festivities!!

• The best new vegan chocolates on the market are by Go Max Go Foods – they are hoping to roll out the holiday fun size bars in 2010 but for now, hand these sweet treats to the best dressed kids in your hood ; )
• Another great healthy candy find are Surf Sweets! Healthy, naturally sweetened, gluten free and mostly vegan (a few items aren’t so make sure you read the ingredients) gummy and jelly beany treats. Awesome!  For grown ups out there Nicobella makes delicious organic, vegan chocolate truffles that are made with Fair Trade Theo Chocolate. From now until Halloween they’re offering 15% off when you buy three boxes.
• Visit and sign up for Green Halloween – it’s a great resource for parents and schools to help make Halloween healthy and safe for our most precious goblins ; )
• Visit school and community organized Halloween events, pumpkin patches and haunted houses.  It’s a great way to help out your community while having some good clean fun.
• If you are hosting a party, opt for the weekend after Halloween. This way, you can enjoy the actual Halloween night as well as the competing parties and you have an excuse to wear your costume 1 more time!  It’s also a great way to rid yourself of left over candy and be able to enjoy the fun for a bit longer ; ) Or maybe, celebrate Dia De Los Muertos Day on November 1st with some creepy pinatas and fun Mexican style cuisine!
• Make creative and healthy treats for your guests as well as opting for home made or recycled decorations.  Please visit my blog for some green decoration as well as yummy recipes to go with the ones below:

The Great Pumpkin Punch
1 Pumpkin
1 part Apple cider
2 parts Ginger ale
1 part Rum
Sprinkle with nutmeg

Serve in a hollowed out pumpkin with floating pumpkin chunks. (make non-alcoholic by removing the rum)

.

Spooky Juice
1 oz Organic Vodka
2 splashes Blue Curacao
1 splash Grenadine
Fill with Orange juice

Mix with ice and serve in a scary goblet!

Pump-cicles

2 1/2 lbs. butternut squash
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2/3 cup vegan whipping cream
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Cut a butternut squash into quarters and scoop out the seeds.  Boil or bake the squash until soft. Let the squash cool a bit before scooping its flesh into a medium-size bowl.  Add pure maple syrup, vegan cream, and pumpkin pie spice to the bowl. Use a potato masher to mush the squash and blend all of the ingredients. Spoon the mixture into ice pop molds, add sticks, and freeze for at least 6 hours before serving.

Happy Halloween!! OOOOHAHAHAHAHA!!!

For more delicious holiday recipes from Carolyn, visit www.healthyvoyager.com

Images via Muffet’s Flickr and The Healthy Voyager

October 26, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

Our healthy food expert Carolyn of “The Healthy Voyager” has shared some of her favorite healthy and in this case vegan Halloween recipes that will allow you to enjoy the season without the guilt of eating junk.

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup vegan shortening
• 1 egg replacer
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons warm water
• 1/4 cup raisins for decorating

In large bowl, cream vegan shortening, sugar, egg replacer and warmed molasses. Dissolve baking soda in warm water and add to egg replacer mixture. Beat until smooth. Slowly add flour, spices and salt. Mix until well blended. Cover and chill for 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Roll out dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a floured surface. Cut out gingerbread men using cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.

Use black icing to make an “X” where the eyes should be, you can also make a frown for a mouth using the icing. Break off some of the heads & use red icing for blood around the neck on the heads and bodies ; )

Find more delicious Healthy and Vegan Halloween Recipes from Carolyn at www.HealthyVoyager.com

Image via Jenni-hunllef’s Flickr Photostream

September 16, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the official end of summer. The kids are back in school, summer hours at jobs have ceased and everyone is back to the grind. It is very easy to slip into daydreams of swimming pools and yearnings for cookouts, but there is also much to look forward to now that we’ve said goodbye to our shorts and flip-flops! A big part of living a healthy lifestyle is a happy state of mind and positive forward movement. I’ve compiled some tricks and tips to help you make your peace with summer’s end and create exuberance for the last quarter of 2009!:

* Plan a getaway: Planning a future getaway can help give you something to look forward to. As you plan your vacation, visualize yourself at your destination. Whether it’s with your family or friends, make it fun and interactive for everyone involved. The fun can start with the prep!  Check out our list of Green and Healthy Travel options here.

* Host a movie or game night: Rent a great flick and invite your friends over for some good food and drinks. The visuals will get your mind off the cold and dreary and onto the engaging storyline or tournament. Make it a recurring event. This way you always have a fun evening on the books to help you get through your week.

* Schedule play dates for your kids: Just like the movie or game night, kids need fun activities to look forward to help them through their week, especially when they are starting a new year with a new set of responsibilities. We can’t expect them to be excited about homework, but it’s easy to get them excited about doing things with their friends.

* A day at the spa: Taking a little time to pamper yourself is always a great idea. We all need to de-stress, unwind and reset. If you can’t afford a spa treatment, invite your friends over for mani/pedis, facials and gossip.  (In fact our friends at Chill Out LA are hosting a spa party next week at eco-friendly Dtox Spa in Atwater Village.  Check out the invite here.)

* Engage in fall cleaning: Find therapy and enjoyment in putting away your summer clothes and decor while prepping for fall. Freshen up the house with new colorful accents; go through your closets and toss out things you don’t wear anymore; and open up the windows and let in fresh cool air. You may find a ton of stuff to sell at a garage sale so a few extra bucks will definitely make you smile. Or perhaps you start to dig up holiday decorations and your favorite sweater, getting you all the more excited for the months to come (check out our ydt “Green Your Closet Video“ if you need more motivation.)

* Make the new routine fun: No matter if it’s just you or you and your brood, make the new routines fun. Help you and your loved ones look forward to mornings and other scheduled events by starting a fun tradition. For instance, make Monday “Manic Monday” so get your family ready for the week to some fun and silly tunes. There’s Taco Tuesday and so on.

* Goal-set: Nothing gets you more pumped than working toward a goal. Writing it down and making sure it’s something that is attainable in the time you have allotted can really put a spring in your step. Looking to shed a few pounds before the holidays to make room for fruitcake? Needing to save up to buy that ring for your girl and propose on New Year’s Eve? No matter what your goal, write it up and post it somewhere to keep your eye on the prize.
* Start a hobby or class: One way to get your groove back is to delve into something new. No matter what tickles your fancy: dance, knitting, kung fu or learning a language, starting a new hobby is a great way to get your brain excited and out of the boring routine, but also a terrific way to make new friends!  We’ve got a great list of DIY hot spots around L.A. here.

* Look forward to the holidays ahead: I happen to be a holiday nut so as soon as Labor Day is over, I’m stoked for crisp air, pumpkins in abundance and planning my Halloween costume! If you have kids or not, look for fun activities that center around the season. Harvest festivals, county fairs and colder weather events pick up now so make a point to gather up your family and friends and make the most of autumn.

I know it’s tough to bid farewell to hot weather, carefree weekends and swim suits but there’s still plenty to look forward to this fall.

August 24, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

Summer isn’t over yet, and who wouldn’t love to have their own, personal travel agent that customizes every detail from the destination all the way to your meals? Whether you are eco friendly, health conscious or want to do some good while you’re away, there are a variety of companies that can help you create the vacation of a lifetime.   From volunteer travel to adventures and excursions, here is a list to get you started on planning your dream getaway!:

Green Earth/Vegtravel – One of the premier vegetarian/vegan/eco travel agencies in the country, Green Earth/Vegtravel caters to the discriminating traveler. Those who desire to maintain their healthy and/or green lifestyle while adventuring throughout the world. Donna Zeigfinger, President and owner of Green Earth Travel,LLC is a seasoned traveler herself and a member of the International Vegetarian Union. Vegtravel can help you book custom designed vacation trips, group departures, cruises, eco adventure, fitness, spa, family, yoga, organization fundraising trips and more! The extensive data base of trips/packages and resources contained within the site will enable those who practice a vegetarian and/or green lifestyle to travel without food being a concern. Like me!!

• Blisscape – Boasting romantic travel made simple. Run by a healthy and green husband and wife team, Blisscape prides itself on helping book and create luxurious vacations for their subscribers. They also help plan green and volunteer travel worldwide. In addition, the site offers tips and info on travel fashion and trends along with being your online travel agent.

• Real Adventures – If you want adventure, this is the place! From specialized tours for bikers, educational to eco-tourism and wildlife trips, Real Adventures is a great resource for all types of travel. Book your next airborne thrill or kayaking trip here today!

• One World Volunteer - At One World, they believe that explorations in travel is that there is a lot that needs to be done to make the world a better place. The projects that you’ll find on their site were started by people who saw a need and acted on it, by; starting a school, creating a reserve, building an animal shelter, growing organic food, etc. Traveling is a way to discover new things about ourselves and learn to see ourselves more clearly. Volunteering abroad is a way to spend time within another culture, to become part of new community, to experience life from a different perspective. What better way to see a part of the world you may not have gone to or been able to afford to go while helping another person in need ; ) Sign up as a tour guide or just join a trip as a volunteer soon!

• Healthy Adventures – This site is great for healthy, pre-fixe vacations and seminars. The company offers set vacation packages that they host and you can join. Each organized vacation offers all kinds of activities in all kinds of locations. It’s also a great way to meet new people. Space is limited to their trips and seminars so if you see one you like, get to it!

Plan your next adventure soon and get out there!! Please visit www.healthyvoyager.com for more information.

July 22, 2009 Written by Carolyn Scott

Adhering to the summer theme, what says summer more than camping? Whether you rough it, tent it, camper or RV it, you tend to not have all the comforts and accoutrements of home when sleeping under the stars. Because of that it is easy to fall into the rut of convenience store food, cooler snacks and campfire munchies, which can lead to sleepless nights and fatigue: bad combo if you will be hiking, boating or engaging in activities that require you to be alert and on your toes. Below are some tips to green up, health up and make the most of your next venture into the wild!

* Eat your veggies! Yep, that’s one thing that is incredibly hard to do when you’re living out of a cooler. Fruit is fairly easy to come by but getting your greens is near impossible. So, make sure you pack some Healthy To Go Go Greens! These green apple flavored nutrition packets not only taste good but deliver your recommended six servings of green veggies in just a few tasty gulps! They are vegan with no chemicals or unpronounceable stuff as well as gluten-free, great for kids, etc. They also offer vitamin C packs, green tea energy packs, omega packs and more. AND if you order a big box, they send you a BPA free bottle for free

* Drink lots of water! Activities in the hot sun are a killer mix for rapid dehydration. Bring a bunch of water from home in reusable or recyclable gallons. Invest in a hand pump for the five gallon bottles as it makes it way easier to refill little bottles or wash dishes. It comes in really handy to fill a bowl to wash your face and brush your teeth when the community sinks are just unavailable. Be sure to dump “grey water” in designated areas, away from fresh water sources and not in the bushes.

* Stock up on healthy snacks. Hangin’ out with friends around your campsite is always great with some tasty beverages and food. Load up on organic chips and salsa or guacamole as well as hummus with chilled cucumber chips. When away from your site, bring bars like Vega, Goodonyas or Laras  bars to keep your hunger at bay without killing your insulin levels. Lots of great snack options can be found on the Healthy Voyager Approved directory.

* For some of us it’s tough to completely fall off the grid! Keep your cell phones, ipods and computers charged with the sun. Use solar panels instead of generators, crank or shakable flashlights and crank radios. Replace disposable batteries with rechargeables whenever possible. A great stop for your portable solar needs is Sundance Solar.

* Bring enough receptacles to keep your trash separate from your recyclables and compostables. Some campsites aren’t equipped with separate dumpsters so haul your own to the closest place that takes recycling.

* Be green and bring your own dishes by investing in some camping kitchen and dishware. Do your best to avoid using disposable stuff. Plus it’s way cheaper on your wallet.

* Bring your own firewood. It would seem that using timber from around your campsite may seem eco-friendly, but it actually threatens the forest’s future. When fallen trees and branches decompose, they return nutrients to the soil, feeding the surrounding trees and vegetation.

*Stay within your site’s boundaries and on paths. Venturing into the forest threatens fragile plants and disrupts the homes of animals living there. And every time you veer off a path, you create an opening for others to follow. Traveling off the path leads to soil erosion and trampling native plant life.

* Keep campfires small and contained to a pit. Don’t burn plastic, metals or woods that have been treated with chemicals. If you use an outdoor grill, dump the ashes in your fire pit or dispose of them in designated areas.

* Follow the rules of the campsite. Especially the bathroom rules as some sites may be on a septic system and anything other than what is supposed to go in toilets or drains can harm it.

We hope these tips help you become a prepared and conscious camper.

Images via Carolyn, Solio, Greens to Go and Chockstone.org