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Quick Vegan Desserts For the Busy Parents

Vegans are faced with tough food choices everyday. A lot of times people seem to take things for granted. What is a no brainer for you, can be a tough hurdle to tackle for the vegan. With major grocers beginning to recognize the burgeoning growth of the vegan market, things are getting easier but their are still some hurdles unique to vegans.

One of the biggest is “quick and easy desserts.” Non-Vegans have a wide variety of choices when it comes to putting out a quick dessert. Cookies, cakes and pies are all readily available for people to buy. Anyone who is in a pinch can run to a local store even minutes before a party, and come back with quick dessert. Vegans don’t have the same luxury because most of these items contains stuff like butter, eggs, cream and etc…

Vegans have to be more creative when it comes to desserts. I think two things will help with this and can make your life a little easier:

Fruit and Berries: Fruit and berries are vegan of course and readily available for good prices. If you have a good selection on hand at all times, you can top off your desserts with them. My friend buys a great vegan cake, and tops it with fresh fruit. It is a quick and delicious treat that will even appease the carnivores in your life. For a more decadent surprise, macerate your fruits and berries in a bit of sugar and a distilled spirit of your choice. Grand Marnier is one of my favorite choices. Just toss the fruits with the sugar and liqueur and let stand for half an hour. Yum.

Nutri Whip: Nutri Whip is vegan! I know it is hard to believe, but it is mostly oil based, no real cream. I don’t know if it is a health food, but it is vegan. Everyone likes to treat themselves now and then, so what better way than to add some “whipped cream” to their desserts. The only thing missing is the actual cream. Nutriwhip is not certified Vegan – and I am not sure why, but a simple phone call to their head office confirmed it is indeed vegan, so enjoy! Pair it with your macerated fruits for a real treat.

Vegans definitely have to be more creative, but quick and easy fixes are out there. I hope those above tips will help kick your desserts up to the next level.…

Chicken Fried Portabellas and Gravy

You will need these items for dinner:

* 2 large portabella caps (or however many or much you want to make!)

* Bread crumbs (or just flour is great too)

* Flour

* Earth balance (my vegan butter) or regular butter

* Olive oil (please be buying good olive oil. Like Italian olive oil. Olive oil that is actually green, eh.)

* Soy milk (or other non-dairy milk or regular milk if you must, if you are set on this being a more serious gravy, you can totally use dairy creamer when i say to use soy milk, this will, in fact, make a real super creamy pretty white gravy that yo mama will faint over)

* Vegetable stock cube

* Fresh ground black pepper and salt ( I always recommend real salt or celtic sea salt)

* Optional – Italian seasoning or rosemary

You should make the gravy before you do the portabella. You want the mushrooms to be served hot and crispy under this gravy.

To start gravy: melt butter (about in saucepan, whisk. Wait, you want to know how much? Crap. I guess about 4 table spoons. Then I add another couple of tablespoons of olive oil to that. I never measure this stuff. Add to this your veggie bullion cube and get it all mixed evenly in the oil. The bullion is not essential, but can add another good layer of flavor to this meatless gravy.

Now slowly add flour and whisk the two together. Add some black pepper now to begin to bring out the flavor with the heat. Keep adding flour until it is like Playdough looking crumbly and weird and you wonder if i am crazy that this could ever turn into gravy. That’s not gravy you lunatic!

I *may* have lost my whisk in a break-up. Hopefully your relationship and your whisk are still intact. If not, remember to keep the whisk girl, you’ll need it.

Once you have attained this clumpy mess that has as much evenly distributed flour within the butter and oil, you will begin to add milk or creamer of your choice… Slowly!!!! Add some, whisk it in, let it heat, add more, whisk it in, allow to heat, again and again. I alternately add milk and water. And you can begin to salt the gravy at these intervals also. This requires tasting the gravy often, which makes standing around stirring for so long rewarding.

The process of adding and whisking: Add milk and water until you have silky gravy that you feel is the right consistency. Note that the minute you set it aside, it will thicken a little further, so when you return to it to serve it in a few minutes, re whisk and be open to adding more milk or water the mushrooms? Easy.

Mix bread crumbs with salt, Italian seasoning, some flour (or just use flour instead of bread crumbs), and black pepper.

Dip mushroom slices or whole cap into milk ( i used almond milk tonight) and then into bread crumbs, and plop those babies into some hot olive oil and fry until perfect brown is approached from stage left. Remove and serve with garlic mashed potatoes (which I will not bother to bore you with a recipe for) and a good veggie.…

Simple and Easy Soup Recipes

Soups are easy to cook and certain soups are less complicated than others. Here I will put up some easy soup ideas that utilizes just a handful of components – so undemanding, even a beginner can cook them.

Mull it over, will a can of soup measure up to newly cooked soup. Readily available soups have numerous substances, but a number of them are just colors and a lot of them are artificial preservatives, colors and fillers. So believe me when I say that you are better of preparing certain easy soup recipes at home – which can keep your nutrition quotient good.

Majority of the soups are established around canned soups. You can make use of canned soup as the most important element and subsequently add meat, fish, veggies according to your preference and then top it by adding herbs and spices. But one does not have to make use of canned soup in any way. The recipe put forth below will show you how to prepare soups with four substances

How To Prepare an Easy Crockpot Chicken Soup

A crockpot chicken soup does not need many substances, nevertheless it has to be simmered for extended durations and that makes sure that the essence of all the elements shines through adequately to provide an appetizing experience. Again, one might add more elements too. One can consider including tomato paste, celery and extra herbs and spices. But occasionally it might be a good plan to have a simple soup that brings out the true chicken flavor without mixing it with other flavors.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts(boneless)

2 chopped onions

2 sliced carrots

1 pint vegetable broth or chicken

Select a medium sized cooking pot To begin with, initially put in the vegetables and form a layer. On top of it add on the vegetable broth and chicken breast. Cover up it with a lid and let it cook for 8 hrs on low flame and on high flame about 4 hrs only. If cooking in high flame, add up an additional cup of water. After its cooked separate the chicken from the cooking pot and make into pieces. Straight away mix in the shredded chicken into the crockpot.

Now it’s time to season the soup. Put in salt and pepper according to your taste and serve it hot. If you desire to do something different, try adding some cooked pasta of different shapes or even noodles. To make the soup happening, serve garlic bread or any type of crunchy bread as a snack and voila!!! Enjoy your tasty soup.…

Component Found In Common Celery Beats Breast Cancer

I just came across an interesting story posted on the University of Missouri ‘News Bureau’ website. It seems that M.U. researcher, Professor of Tumor Angiogenesis and Biomedical Sciences, Salman Hyder, has proven in a recent study, that a component found in common celery makes an effective treatment for breast cancer.

In Hyder’s work, test mice injected with an aggressive breast cancer cell (BT-474) experienced rapid tumor growth. The Professor then introduced a natural chemical, called apigenin, found in celery, parsley, and other vegetables, to some of the mice. Other mice received no apigenin, but rather, a man-made progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate) normally administered to post-menopausal women.

What happened?

The mice treated with the man-made progestin continued to suffer ‘rapid,’ cancerous, tumor growth; while tumors in the apigenin-treated mice ‘dropped’ and ‘shrank,’ according to Hyder. He claimed, apigenin appears to slow the progression of human breast cancer in three ways: by inducing ‘cell death,’ by inhibiting cancer cell ‘proliferation,’ and by ‘reducing the expression of a gene associated with cancer growth.’

Hyder has high hopes for a natural cancer treatment that employs the plant-based chemical, apigenin. It has no known side-effects even when taken in high dosages. After all, he says, ‘people have eaten it since pre-history,’ in the form of fruits and vegetables.

Is there a problem in developing a treatment like this?

Yes.

Pharmaceutical companies, Hyder points out, will not fund a ‘treatment’ that is non-patentable, can’t be turned into an exclusive drug, and can be grown in the back yard of anyone who wishes to have it. Disturbing, yet true.

Of course, in my opinion, why attempt to turn Mother Nature’s perfection, the edible, versatile, delicious, celery, into a standardized pill or ‘treatment,’ anyway? Why not simply do as Dr. Max Gerson did, with his patients? Or as Rudolph Breuss did with his? Or Professor Ehret, with his?

Their treatments involved administering the ‘medicine’ of nature, in its perfect, original form; raw plant-food. All of these men had scores of case histories, successfully treating hundreds of patients using nothing more than fasting, fruit and vegetable juices, and vigorous exercise.

So why then, attempt to alter what is known to work? Why not heed the words of that great ‘precursor’ to modern medicine, Hippocrates? Why not, indeed, ‘let thy food be thy medicine?’ A valid argument, I think; judging by the work of Gerson, Breuss, Ehret—and Hyder!

By the way, I’m not a proponent of animal testing for any reason. On the ‘good side,’ however, Hyder’s research, which was published in the online journal, Hormones and Cancer, may convince at least a few more cancer-stricken humans to forego toxic chemotherapy and drugs as their treatment of choice, and go with Mother Nature’s ‘medicine,’ instead.

So credit Hyder for building a good circumstantial case. Though if it were up to me, I’d have foregone the use of mice in the experiment, and used human volunteers instead; people, perhaps, who had tried everything and then wanted to test the value of a natural remedy over man-made drugs.

Yet, mice aside, his final evidence successfully shows this, I think: that even the deadliest disease is no match for raw plant juice, the ‘life-blood’ of the earth.

If I were ill, that’s what I’d want.

And the moral of the story? Let me think about that.

Ah yes, I’ve ‘got it.’ When in doubt, take juice, not drugs.

Jeff Sekerak

*Dr. Hyder’s commentary from the May 15, 2012, piece, ‘Breast Cancer Effectively Treated With Chemical Found In Celery, Parsley by MU Researchers.’…

Cleansing Your Colon With Part-Time Veganism

Do you think that you need to go through medical colonic therapy to cleanse your colon? While some people claim relief with these therapies, other say it doesn’t work. However, there is an alternative to this type of treatment. You can take colon cleanse tablets, and try a short term vegan diet. You won’t have to fast or drink detox drinks, but by pursuing a diet of fiber and bulk, you’ll cleanse your colon.

Some people say that human evolution has set us up for a vegan diet anyway, and that we should not eat meat or animal products at all. I think that people think this because of the many diseases created by the high fat, high cholesterol diet we all eat today. And, of course, this means we eat a lot of meat.

I think that humans have evolved to eat meat. We should eat animal products, meat, and plants, too. Scientists even say that we have to consume meat to get all of the nutrients necessary to stay healthy. The actuyal problem lies in the fact that we eat too much too often, and we don’t always eat the quality meats, either. So, here is a suggestion for a diet and lifestyle that keeps meat, animal products, and plants all in your diet. But you can take a break and switch to strictly plant based diet, and cleanse your system.

I’m middle aged, and have eaten this way most of my life. My cholesterol is perfect, and my pulse and blood pressure is great, too. I run every other day, for 4 miles. I’m just the right weight, and feel no older than 25.

Some people ask me how I invented this diet, but I didn’t invent it – it’s been around for centuries, and many ancient cultures still follow it. The Ethiopian culture does not consume meat every day. And, from February to April, Orthodox Christians eat a vegan diet. They even close all of their butcher shops and slaughter houses. Since you can’t find a piece of meat anywhere, you have to eat a vegan diet.

The Eastern Orthodox Christians follow this vegan diet during the Easter season. While you may think that this is a religious ritual rather than a diet, remember that these people consider the body and spirit connected. This 2 month period is called Lent, and is a time of renewal, rest, and meditation. During this time, your body is renewed by your vegan diet. It is reinvigorated and cleansed, making it easier for your mind and spirit to participate in meditation and prayer.

You don’t have to be part of this religion to practice these eating habits. I’m not very religious, but the cultural background gives you an idea on how a balanced meat and vegan diet can contribute to a healthier you. When you follow this kind of diet, and take aloe vera colon cleanse tablets, your colon will rid itself of toxins, and your body will be much healthier.…

A Crafty Mix of Carrots and Avocados

Everybody knows vegetables are good for the immune system, fruits are good for the skin and grains are a good source of energy. So you will agree that a crafted combination of all three elements will definitely be healthy for the body. This splendid carrot cake recipe is a triple health bonus; it is also a wondrous feast for the eyes with the terrific mix of attractive colors. This truly is an awe-inspiring, delectable and all superlative concoction! The basic hue is a bright orange, then topped with a rare green icing made of avocados, and then trimmed with the cheerfully red gloss of stemmed cherries. You will surely be enthralled as you immerse yourself in the making of this Vegan Carrot Cake Recipe.

Ingredients:

– 1/4 cup of first-class applesauce

– 1 teaspoon of vanilla flavor extract

– 1/2 cup of softened margarine (preferably vegan)

– 1 teaspoon of iodized salt

– 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder

– 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder

– 1 cup of table sugar

– 1 1/4 cups of premium cake flour

– 1/4 cup of soya cultured milk

– 1 cup of grated carrots (about 2 large pieces)

– 1 cup of finely chopped cashew nuts

Method:

– Pre-set the oven to 325A�F.

– Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with non-stick oil.

– In a large mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, vanilla flavor extract, (vegan) margarine, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, sugar, flour and soy milk until your batter is well blended.

– Add the grated carrots and the cashew nuts.

– Pour the batter evenly in the baking pan. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean after inserting it into the cake.

– Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

– Spread with Vegan Frosting.

Vegan Frosting

Ingredients:

– 1 cup of vegan margarine at room temperature

– 2 cups of vegan powdered sugar

– 2 to 3 pinches of salt

– 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract

– 4 tablespoons of liquid non-dairy milk

– 1/2 cup of finely mashed and strained avocado

Directions:

– In a medium-sized bowl, cream the margarine.

– Add the vegan powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, milk and avocado.

– Mix all the ingredients well until they are all incorporated, then beat at medium speed for about 5 minutes.

– Spread the green frosting with a spatula over the Vegan Carrot Cake.

– Top with long stemmed cherries for a more festive look! Have a great treat!…

Vegan Diet Wages Ultimate War On Obesity

In the midst of the growing global obesity crisis stoked by fast food advertisements and sedentary lifestyles, many medical professionals and health conscious consumers are combating excess fat by personally adopting and publicly lauding the positive effects of a vegan diet. While many consumers consider vegetarianism to be an unnaturally extreme lifestyle, research indicates that vegans have the right idea when it comes to eliminating meat and dairy products to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Indeed, preeminent nutrition expert Dr. T. Colin Campbell states, “Quite simply, the more you substitute plant foods for animal foods, the healthier you are likely to be. I now consider veganism to be the ideal diet. A vegan meal plan-particularly one that is low in fat-will substantially reduce disease risks. Plus, we’ve seen no disadvantages from veganism. In every respect, vegans appear to enjoy equal or better health in comparison to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.”

Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s medical opinion regarding vegetarianism is now widely shared by respected medical experts and groups from around the world. Most notably, The American Dietetic Association and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are urging patients struggling with obesity to adopt a vegan diet before succumbing to crippling weight related health problems like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, gout, gallstones, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea. “Vegetarians, especially vegans, have weights that are closer to desirable weights than do non-vegetarians,” says a representative of The American Dietetic Association.

This is because vegan food staples like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans are low in fat, have no cholesterol, and are rich in fiber and nutrients. With the experts backing vegetarianism, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of converting to a vegan diet. Although a poorly planned vegan diet may potentially result in low levels of calcium, iodine, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, by consulting with a nutritionist or  using a professionally balanced meal plan service like Gobble Green, you can ensure that your vegan diet is nutritionally complete. For people interested in trying vegetarianism, there are programs available to help make the transition to a vegan lifestyle easier. Gobble Green, The Vegan Society, PETA, Vegan Action, and Vegan Outreach all offer support for new vegans.…