A big question

First some yummy tea!

Its a golden chai, it was so good, with a subtle touch of apples and pears, :)

Sorry about not posting lately, i'm a bit stressed about returning to classes and to the city. Also I have some questions to all you guys, about veganism, cuz I'm new at this. 

What vitamins are you taking, or suplements ? 

This is because when I told my mom that I am trying to go vegan , she scared , so as my friends, so she took me to the nutriologist to talk about this. He told me I had to eat MEAT , cow meat, I felt like it was a waste of time...

But I do believe that you can live without meat, or even animal products...and I would really apreciate some tips from you :D

Also what books , cookbooks or any other you find practical, so I can get a wider idea about veganism. 

Thanks to all of you :)

Caribbean Brownies

Mmm so many kinds of bananas...so little time

First of all, thanks for all your lovely comments and suggestions :):)!

Lately I've been craving for something caribbean , so I decided to make an experiment and make a slightly different version of brownies.

Vegan Coconut-Banana Brownies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup flour
2 smashed bananas

1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder

1 CD of salsa music

Put some salsa to prepare the ambient, music always make things more fun. My new finding, the OST of "El Cantante" by Marc Anthony, or if you are feeling more old school, some Hector Lavoe . :) Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour or spray an 8×8 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, beat together applesauce, oil, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa. Beat until well mixed then fold in coconut. Put some soymilk if it's too thick.  Pour into prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes aproximately. And enjoy :)

I think these are by far the best brownies I have made, the combination of the banana, coconut and chocolate is amazing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mDMfAPuqOU Mi Gente

So far...so good :)

Ive been trying to switch to veganism these days…and Im loving it. Its a bit hard in here because there is not many products or restaurants vegan-friendly, but I’m trying my best cuz my “cushion” meal are quesadillas…almost any little town or mexican typical restaurant have them…but I have to figure a few things out. :)


Soy strawberry lassi...a goodness of strawberry , sugar and cardamom.

And a little contest with my mom, of course she says that vegan food tastes dull and is for hippies. SO …I challenged her to make waffles, and I would make vegan waffles and my carnivore brother would be the judge but we didnt tell him what they had.
So guess who won…..?? yay Vegan Banana-Strawberry waffles from Vegan on a Budget

I make a batch and freeze them for later breakfasts.

Vegan waffles 1 – Regular Waffles 0

cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup all-purpose, 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 medium ripe banana, mashed
1 1/2 c. soy or rice milk
3 T. canola oil
3 T. maple syrup
3/4-1 c. fresh or frozen and thawed strawberries, sliced (measure first, then slice)
extra banana and strawberry slices for garnish, optional
Preheat your waffle iron.
Sift and mix together the flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, mash the banana with a fork if you haven’t already. Add the milk, syrup and oil and mix well with the fork. Add the wet to the dry until just combined–don’t overmix! Fold in the sliced strawberries.
Cook in your waffle iron according to its instructions–I use 3/4 c. of thick batter and cook on a high setting.
Top with maple syrup and the sliced fruit, and powdered sugar if you like. Freeze your leftovers and pop them in the toaster when you’re ready for more.. I think they tasted better the next day.

I went on Tuesday to mexico city to pay some gas and light bills and I took the chance to eat at one of my favorite restaurants called The Green Corner, ( I had the best tofu burguer ever), that also has a little supermarket store. I love it , but its a bit expensive, the rice milk was almost 7 dollars , and some things also very expensive. But I managed to buy Brown Rice Organic Flour from Bob’s Red Mill and I’m planning to make Brown Rice Pancakes soon. Also I bought Organic Hemp Shake , an organic muffin, a lettuce, and I was shocked when I found this baby….

Tadaaaa…never imagined it would be in mexico . Vegan with a Vengeance…and of course I coudln't miss that opportunity.

I’m so excited , I can´t wait to try some recipes…it’s so funny .

Currently my lunch, a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, smashed bananas and coffee.

Sorry about the photos , but ive been lately in a hurry…so much things going on before classes.

I've been trying some post-yoga snacks like:

-Pinneaple with cilantro and salt.
-Fresh fruits
- Soy yogurt and granola
-Pistachios and raisins

Thai, yoga and a pyramid ..

Weird title..but that was friday. We went to Xochicalco an archeological place an hour from Cuernavaca. I have been there about 4 years ago, but last time it was greener and with a bearable climate, even though it's January, all the grass is dry and yellow. I like a lot archeological places, this one is very interesting and with lots of history. In the summer solstice all the hippies go and charge their enery in the Observatory...never done that, but im sure its fun!

The Serpiente Emplumada Pyramid ( Feathered Snake)

After the trip there, I was very hungry and sugested going to my favorite thai place called "Casa Thai" (Thai House) , and after all the protests and weird faces...we went there yaay!

And they give you as a snack, veggies with peanut butter dip

These beverage is called Fruttisima and its a fruit smoothie with cardamom .

I had to take a pic of the kitchen...I think its so beautiful, in turquoise with masks and wood...I want a kitchen just like that...very tropical.

For appetizer vegetarian spring rolls and spicy sauce..

Ive never tried Red Curry so when I saw the Tofu Stirfry with Noodles and Red Curry I knew I wanted it. I loved it, soo spicy I couldn't finish it , so I brought half of the dish home.

Today I ate the rest with white rice and green tea :)

Saturday was the yoga instructor class, from 9am to 7pm and they give you the option of eating there (vegetarian of course) , so ate there again. Last month I was a bit downed and didn´t enjoyed the day because of a huge fight :( ...but this month was so refreshing doing and studying yoga all day. I can say I was truly happy, and the food was delicious!...for snack, pineapple with cilantro and salt, for lunch mint and orange agua, lentil soup, potatoe with grated cheese, salad and rice and guavas later. I didn´t finish all the food, and still I was a bit sleepy after the lunch. But I had so much fun , I can´t wait for next month .

Photos, food and trips...

I havent posted so recently and these days have been a little busy with little last minute trips to Tepoztlan (2 days one after the other ) and Mexico City.

I am watching Takeout Chef with Curtis Stone and I think its so interesting and fun!

Just a pic of the mountain and some christmas lamps

Mmmm delish local sherbets called Tepoznieves (Tepoztlan + nieves (sherbets)) the best you can have, over 130 flavors and combinations so crazy that they actually taste amazing. They have names like Arrullo de Luna (Moon whistle) , Reina de las Flores ( Queen of the Flowers), etc...these are Petalo de Rosas (Rose's petals) with mamey and mine is the right one and is lemon with passionfruit!

Here I finished the lemon part and the passionfruit was on the bottom!

Another use for corn, beans, and a thousand more things, is the atrium of the church made entirely by grains...beautiful!

Here is the dress my best friend bought me in Tepoztlan , we were trying on clothes and I tried these dress and he told me ...you cant go from the store without it...so cute :D love him!

yay my christmas present! my new macbook!!!

Also the 2nd day we climbed the mountain Tepozteco and I found ancient paintings

The mountain and the sunset

This is called the Baston (the Baton)

A mountain view

Some photographic experiments...icecream and colorful grain beads

Salsa straight from the molcajete from a quesadilla restaurant and a hemp ring

This is my new addiction...Pita bread with organic tofu burger, zaatar (a middle east spice mix), thick yoghurt, and tomatoe...can´t get enough :P!

Also I visited an organic market and sadly there were only 3 stands...cuz here the organic culture is almost none, but I wish it'll last because there are some amazing products. Like the Peach Nectar made from Prisco Organic Peaches and agave honey!

And home made organic soy yoghurt ...delish!

A bit of a long post...but I guess Im grateful to live near places that still have a lot of natural beauty...like those mountains...

Chick...pea salad!

I went to the market today and I discovered fresh chickpeas...and when I got home, I didn`t found a recipe that I liked , until I saw this recipe in epicurious:

Bulgur Salad with Chickpeas, Roasted Peppers and Spiced Cumin Dressing

But first some organic Mayan chocolate from a new place called CACAO, the best hot chocolate I've had .

Mmm very tasty dinner

The plain bulgur

This is the dressing but instead of bee-honey y used agave honey

A great surprise!

I ordered the book about a month ago , and it was supposed to arrive here the 20th of december, but as always the "reliable" postal service had a problem and when I gave for lost the book, yesterday the amazon package arrived!! I was so excited, since I saw the book I wanted it, and looked in almost every library in Mexico City, but none of them have it so ....here it is! 

Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson!

Even more amazing that what I imagine, great recipes and great photos!

Ill be posting later some recipes:)

If you have any recomendations on vegetarian or vegan cooking books, they are welcomed!

For a snack I ate pita chips baked with Zaatar spices, a mid-eastern blend ...delicious..

For lunch I made ricotta and sundried tomato ravioli with a spicy sauce, waldorf salad (no chicken) and nopales sautéed in olive oil and onion , a true fusion food, Mexico meets Italy :D

And for dinner a salad with cucumber, lettuce, jicama and asparagus, and made a raspberry vinaigrette that quickly died in hands of my brother 

Have a happy new years eve! and a happy 2009!

Peace and lots of love!