I wanted to share some exciting things I have eaten in the past week. I don't share my fun eats very often, as I now only take food photos sporadically. So, to remedy this, and to document some of the delicacies on which I spend my money, I made a point of lugging out the camera a little more frequently than I usually do. I will admit that I spoil myself quite often. Need evidence?
I love Theo Chocolate. While this particular 91% cacao bar is not my all-time favorite Theo indulgence, I did rather enjoy it. Three cheers for extra-dark chocolate! Who's with me on this one?!
No clue on the cacao content of this baby...
...but Taza Chocolate disks are one of the most unique chocolate experiences I have ever had! I LOLOLOLOVE these things. Taza uses Mexican stone mills to grind their chocolate. How cool is that?! As a result, their chocolate tastes insanely incredible - you just have to try it! They also make awesome 85% cacao chocolate bars. Taza is based in Massachusetts, but I have been able to find their bars and disks in many of my local Whole Foods here down in the Southern US.
I really have to thank Vegetalion for introducing me. She sent me this bar back in February:
Read the label, read the label!
Isn't Taza the greatest?! It's funny how similar processing quality chocolate is to processing quality coffee... As well as the single-origin beans, the direct trade system, processing the beans in small batches... Oh, how I love coffee and chocolate!
Wait, did you just say coffee?
I think I did, in fact. So, since we're on the subject, here's my latest latte art:
And here's a meal I have made about 8 times in the past couple of weeks:
House Foods Atsu-Age tofu, buckwheat soba noodles, zucchini "noodles" (just thin slices shaved off with a veggie peeler!), raw yellow bell pepper, cilantro sprigs, and fresh Brown Turkey figs, all over a bed of raw kale massaged in lemon juice and sea salt and drizzled with olive oil and freshly ground pepper -- I love simple meals like this! It only took me 15 minutes to throw together because the tofu I buy is so delicious I can just eat it cold, as is. No prep required -- no freezing, pressing, draining, or marinating. That makes me smile. Anyway.
Can't forget the new Larabar flavors: Here's Peanut Butter & Jelly --
Simply dates, peanuts, dried cherries, and salt. Yuh-uh-um. And though I got this particular bar (and the other new flavors) as a prezzie from Larabar in the mail, I did see all 3 new flavors in one of my local Whole Foodses. Yes, they are finally heeeeere!
I cooked yucca for the first time... You must try this delicious recipe: Yucca with Red Onion. Even though yucca looks ugly and frankly unappetizing, I promise, it is quite addicting (seriously) and delicious! Really, you need to try it! It just might enrich your life in a wonderful way. Hahaha. And as long as you have a steady hand whilst cutting off the woody raw yucca skin (I do after more than a year of working in a cafe kitchen where I chopped veggies for hours on end), you can pull this dish off quite easily! Plus, yucca is so filling (says the girl who is never full...uh, meaning me).
Fun new snack discovery:
Stovetop popcorn! I've been making it nonstop! I bought some generic-brand white popcorn kernels at the grocery store, popped 'em in a huge-o pot in canola oil, and then I sprinkled this particular batch with sea salt and curry powder. I've heard sea salt is not ideal for sticking to popcorn, but that's all I have. I will admit I have to sprinkle a butt-ton on to even taste any saltiness. Oh well, I lovest sea salt! I have also tried nooch (or nutritional yeast for all ye who are not well-versed in vegan slang) as well as cinnamon + brown sugar as toppings. Warning (don't say I didn't warn you, now): this stovetop popcorn stuff is addicting. So. darned. good.
Oatmeal...
Chopped hazelnuts, shredded unsweetened coconut, banana, chopped squares of dark chocolate, soymilk, and cinnamon... (It's a pretty good combo but I have a new, even-more-delicious oat-y rendition to share with you very, very soon!)
A Vegetarian Times recipe:
Peach and Snap Pea Stir-Fry (link) --
It's basically homemade teriyaki sauce slathered over tempeh, sugar snap peas, fresh peach slices, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all atop a bed of buckwheat soba noodles. Yeah, I changed up the recipe a bit with ingredient substitutions, so that's why my description doesn't match up exactly with the recipe...if you were even wondering.
And finally, a delish lunch at a new find...a coop grocery store with plenty of raw foods bulk items (think cocoa butter, cacao nibs, raw cacao beans, lucuma powder, raw carob powder, and the like) a salad bar with lots of raw + living foods, and a vegan hot bar! I got the Living Broccoli Waldorf Salad, fresh mushrooms, cubes of a random tofu creation, sun-dried tomato hummus, living red cabbage slaw, Jamaican-style sweet potatoes, sprouted chickpeas, sprouted lentils, fresh greens, raw yellow bell pepper, shredded beets (I think raw? but I don't know...), and who-knows-what-else under there. Oh, and some ginger-cayenne-tahini salad dressing is in that yellow container in the top corner. And I got a slice of yummy vegan cheese pizza too (but the pic was uuugly - so sorry to deprive you of it)!
After this meal, life was complete.
This picture does lead into a topic I wanted to bring up...eating with family. I highly enjoyed what I ate at this cafe; however, this is not a meal I can eat with my immediately family members (mom, dad, and younger sis). My family does love eating out, but their idea of "eating out" is getting fast food at Jack in the Box, or Wendy's, or McDonald's, or Steak-n-Shake every couple o' nights. My dad enjoys finer dining like I do, and is willing to eat the veggiest of vegan meals with me, but my mom and my sister are quite a different story. They turn their noses up at vegetables, whole grains, almond butter, and tempeh.
While living at my parents' house this summer after my junior year at an out-of-state university, many frustrating dining experiences have come up. One of the greatest joys for me is the adventure of dining at new places...a pleasure which I cannot share with my immediate family members. It has gotten so bad that I will have to get a separate meal from the rest of the family, because they will either all want fast food or, if they are feeling more extravagant, a meal at Applebee's or some chain sit-down restaurant -- a choice which I know will be extremely environmentally un-friendly, non animal-conscious, unhealthy, and definitely slim-pickins for me. I just can't support these chain restaurants -- places I know that support factory farms and industries that are extremely cruel to animals (and they definitely don't use local or organic produce -- if produce items besides iceberg lettuce can even be found on their menus).
I know the cost of high-quality, nutritious food can deter many people, but my family can afford it. If we chose to spend our money more wisely -- cooking at home more often, avoiding fast food, and eating at great restaurants every once in a while -- we could definitely handle this financially, but my mom and sister are scared of trying new foods, especially anything non-American (read: ethnic cuisine) and health foods. How I would love to eat out at vegetarian restaurants serving local, organic produce once every week or two with my family. But this doesn't happen, so I brave these places without my family, and my love for nutritious, life-giving food goes unshared.
How do you guys deal with eating with family members? It's no fun eating separately from them -- they aren't willing to spend the extra dollars to eat healthy, or even just reallocate dollars to eat at better-quality restaurants or buy unprocessed groceries that don't come from a box. I would much rather eat out less frequently if I can have a more "fancy" dining experience rather than just getting fast food on-the-cheap multiple times a week. Eating out should be special! Often, the places I enjoy dining are far from the suburbs where we live, and I must trek their on my own if I want a culinary adventure. So sad. Anyway, I would like to hear any opinions/suggestions/whatever else on this issue, as well as any personal experiences you have had with dining frustrations, whether it be wanting to eat vegetarian, vegan, or even just something healthy! I'm curious! And I sure hope this topic doesn't make me sound like a spoiled brat, but hey, this is my blog and this issue has been on my mind.
Have a great week -- I hope you enjoyed the photos as well as my random rambles! Much love, my dear bloggies! <3
21 comments:
I LOVE BOTH OF THE THEO AND TAZA CHOCOLATE BRANDS!!!!!!!! :)
Do I even have to tell you how much I love this post?
I totally understand the issue of eating with your family because mine is the same way. I always have to pack my own meals for holiday dinners, weddings, and every other occasion. I also love to try new places but my family is also stuck on Applebee's and other generic chain restaurants. When I took them to Local Harvest Cafe for brunch one Sunday, I was told that I needed to "make compromises" when picking out a place to eat because apparently they didn't like anything there. Number one, it is not a vegetarian/vegan restaurant by any means (they had typical bunch stuff like bacon and eggs but local and organic) but I chose to go there because I had a few options. She takes for granted the fact that every time I go out to eat, I have to make compromises when they have the entire menu to chose from. On the other hand, my boyfriend and sister (who are omni) are totally open to vegan and non-vegan food alike, as long as it tastes good. Unfortunately, I guess the words "vegan" and "organic" carry some sort of stigma for being totally different from "real food" *cough*. Speaking of which, I brought my mom to the Chicago Diner and she asked the waiter if she could get some "real food". He pulled up a chair and started lecturing her...it was definitely a classic moment. Anyways, enough of my rant...all of the chocolate in this post is making me hungry :)
Whoa, those chocolates all look to die for. YUM. Re: meals, I try to coerce--er, convince--people to go to healthier restaurants, but if they won't, I just have to order boring side dishes, potatoes, salad, etc. (esp since I can't eat wheat!). Sigh!
I think this post is my favorite ever!
I NEED THOSE CHOCOLATES!!!
I am so craving chocolate now! I am actually quite inexperienced in chocolates, so I appreciate the brand recommendations!
If we lived in the same city, I would totally go to vegan restaurants with you, whenever, wherever:)
Hello! I am new to the blogging world and new to your site...I think it's awesome! I've never had yucca....I am intrigued...
PB&J larabar - i'm jealous!!!! again!
that oatmeal looks stupendous!
You should totally bring me a disk of that Mexican chocolate to try, hehe. And I need to check our WF to see if the new Larabar flavors are here!! I must, MUST have the PB&J variety.
I can't wait til you get back to STL and we can resume eating out together. I have a new place to wow you with :) My family is like yours, with the exception of my mom. I took my sister to a vegan restaurant once, and she went on and on about how you can't make most "real food" without eggs! It was so annoying that I'd rather go by myself next time. Basically, you can't make people eat healthier or make better choices if they aren't interested!
I keep meaning to try the Theo bars! And I still haven't seen the PB&J Larabars around here, but I'm anxiously waiting for Whole Foods to get some. The oats look so yummy right now!
As for eating with family, my parents aren't veg, but my mom loves to eat vegan when she and I eat together. If I order tofu, she'll order tofu. And my dad has gotten more health-conscious in my old age and now he can't get enough cashew or almond butter. He also love to shop for faux cheeze to mail to me on the internet!
And last year, on vacation, my parents even ate at a vegetarian restaurant with me! We don't have any strictly veg restaurants in Memphis, so it's not an issue when they come visit me here. We just pick a place where we can all find something we like.
LOVE your post. All of them actually. I just love how your food looks so delicious no matter what time of day I read your blog.
Anyway, onto your dilemma. I think you need to have a serious sit down with your family and explain you all need to come to a compromise. They can continue to eat at their restaurants without having to hear you complain, as long as they promise to eat at a restaurant you should chose without them complaining. But for the restaurants you chose, you might need to further compromise. They probably should have both plentiful veggie and omni options and an online menu so your sister and mom can read it ahead and choose something they might like (thus reducing tension when you actually get to the restaurant).
BUT I think part of this compromise is in your lap too. The only reason organic and vegetarian options are popping up on menus is because people such as yourself ask for them. Next time you are at Applebees, ask to speak to the manager and express your desire for more vegan options. Write the companies letters or typically there are comment boxes you can leave suggestions. You should really utilize these! If restaurants think there is a market out there for people who want organic, vegetarian, humanely raised foods, they will deliver.
On a totally unrelated note--you and your family should really see Food, Inc. Their eyes might open as to what is really in their "real food".
WOW! I've not heard of that Taza chocolate before, but it looks amazing! I can't wait to get back to the US someday and give it a try. Your post was almost too much for me to handle, chocolate lover that I am.
I love this post, and your food ideas, pictures and your thoughts. Great stuff!
I can totally relate with you. Ever since I started eating healthier a few years ago. Visiting my family has become a chore. I love them but the way they eat is horrible. They are constantly eating out at fast food and burger joints, and when they do cook at home. It is heavily meat based and no vegetables or fresh produce! It is so frustrating. There is never any fruit or veg in the house so I have to pack food when I got to visit for a couple days or I wont have anything to eat especially now that I eat gluten free. I havent figured out what to do either. I go to my vegan or ethnic restaurants with my friends or by myself and I often eat separate meals than them too. Good Luck and just know that you are doing the right thing with your diet they are the ones who need to change.
Oh lady I can TOTALLY relate to this. I just got back from a week of visiting my family and I was dying to get back to California where I actually eat fruits and vegetables. I swear all my family eats is completely processed crap. their only source of veggies is from highly processed morningstar farms veggie burgers. Knowing I would only have to be nutritionally deprived for a week, I just sucked it up and pretended to enjoy my tomato on white bread sandwiches. But when you have to spend an entire summer with the fam-yikes. I think i'd suggest to try to find some vegan friends in town to share good meals with.
Dining out with fast food lovers is a tough one. Hope you get back to college soon so you can enjoy some more interesting meals!
I'm with you on the Theo dark chocolate bars! And the raw food bar - wow that looks like some really delicious food.
I'm sorry you have this dilemma with your family. My family usually tries to take my eating into consideration when we go out, but I always tell them I'm with them for the company and not the food. None of us ever got into the fast food trap, and we love to eat at all the new restaurants (not chain), whatever type cuisine they offer. I know how you feel, though. My brother is the most unhealthy eater and it breaks my heart.
First of all... I'll see your "three cheers for extra-dark chocolate" and raise you 2 more cheers. That's right I give 5 cheers for dark chocolate. I'm a fan.... what can I say?!?! About the healthy eating... I always try to suggest Chinese food when I go out with non-veg friends. They can get their orange chicken (or whatever) and I can always get at least steamed or stir fried veggies. Not sure if Chinese food freaks out your family members but it's not as scary as Indian or Vietnamese is to non-veg folks. Hope that helps!
-A
Mmm, chocolate! Peaches in a stir fry?! awesome!
Hey girl! I just wanted to let you know that you were one of my giveaway winners for the Weil bars, but you never responded on the post! So just get me your address so I can send 'em over! My email is nck02006 at mymail dot pomona dot edu!
Re family, that sounds really hard--I'm so sorry you have to deal with that! My family isn't vegan (my mom's pescetarian and eats a very small amount of dairy/eggs, my sis eats everything but red meat, and my dad eats everything lol), but they're still really health conscious. We pretty much only buy organic, we only shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, We all love the same restaurants and they actually love my vegan ones. They also really enjoy my cooking and eat better when I'm home. So it's a totally different situation, but at the same time, my little sister is still very resistant to discussing the moral/environmental aspects of veganism. It makes her really uncomfortable and she snaps at me and says i'm self-righteous. It can be really frustrating and hurtful, but I've just learned to be grateful for the general acceptance they've all given me and the fact that they all respect veganism because of me. I've also learned that you can't force anyone to listen or care about what they eat. They have to be curious on their own. It may take one event or documentary or doctor recommendation, and then they'll approach you on their own. You know? Good luck, hun, keep being the awesome vegan that you are.
Wow, that chocolate looks amazing! I adore chocolate...the darker the better. The rest of that food looks awesome too :)
It's a shame your family isn't more into eating healthy and good food. I don't see my family that often but when I'm there they always make dishes I can eat and if it's not my immediate family then they will call in advance and check everything they have planned with me to make sure it's okay. I'm lucky they like to step outside their comfort zones.
sooo many yummy things! The round chocolate bar sounds interesting.
Rose
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