Have you have been strolling through your local farmers market and saw some sort of mythical looking fruit or vegetable.  I love finding weird looking fruits or vegetables that I haven’t tried.  Last week I was at the farmers market and found the strangest shaped squash, obviously I had to get it. 

Finding weird shaped fruits and vegetables is always exciting; but finding a “weird” looking new fruits and vegetables are the best.  I think trying new foods is a great way to experiment with cooking and using new ingredients.

After getting home with my odd-ball shaped squash I went surfing the web to find some new fruits and vegetables I haven’t tried.  There are so many out there, here are five fruits and five vegetables that are on my trying to-do list.

Vegetables-

•    Spigarello is a form of broccoli that has a sweet, delicate, less bitter taste.  It is similar to kale, but said to be better.


•    Kabocha Squash is similar to a squash or pumpkin but much sweeter.  There are various recipes with it baked with garlic, cheese, oregano, and olive oil.  A must try!


•    I actually have heard of Sunchokes, or sometimes called a Jerusalem artichoke, but haven’t tried them.  They are actually kind of a sunflower.  It is said to have a nutty taste.


•    Seckle’s look like a pear and are supposed to taste delicious.  They are sometimes called “sugar pears” and are known from their grainy texture and spicy-sweet flavor.

•    Romanesco- I won’t lie, this vegetable looks like it should be part of a science project.  CRAZY!  I found quite a few recipes that say to add it to stir-fry’s for an extra special taste.



Fruits-

•    If you like bananas and pineapples, Jackfruits are supposed to be a delicious combination of flavors!  The Jackfruit has sweet bulbs that cover brown seeds. 

 •    Kiwano is said to have the perfect combination of sweet and sour!  They are also called horned melons.  Kiwanos are full of filling fiber making a great snack.


•    You may have heard Lychee.  It is a sweet smelling fruit with an exotic taste similar to grapes.  They have become somewhat more popular in the past year or so.


•    Grenadia has a similar taste to passion fruit.  The seeds are said to be covered in delicious pulp.  I think they look terrifying on the inside, but I definitely want to try it.




 •    More common in the grocery stores are Star fruits.  I have them all the time, but they are so good I felt the need to share them with you too. This fruit is actually shaped as a star when sliced.  It is crunchy, juicy and full of goodness.


 I hope this list inspired you to pick up those weird fruits and vegetable you’ve been scared to try.  I can’t wait to try all of these and more.  Do you know any more strange food that I should try? I would love to know! :)

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

There is just something about a good soup that warms your body.  I consider myself somewhat of a soup-a-holic, if I had to survive off of one food it would be soup.  There are so many possibilities when cooking it, it can be savory, spicy, light, cold, warm, and the list goes on.  I decided to make my favorite Chunky Pepper Potato soup for dinner tonight so I am going to share a few of my favorite vegetarian soup recipes.

Chunky Pepper Potato Soup

Ingredients-

• ½ cup chopped onion
• 4 medium potatoes, cubed
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper chopped
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cups almond milk
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Instructions-

• In a sauce pan cook onion until it is tender and stir in potatoes, peppers, and broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in milk and cornstarch and stir until smooth.  Bring to boil and stir for 2 minutes until thickened.  Add the salt, pepper, and cayenne.
• Enjoy!



Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Ingredients-

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 (1 lbs.) package of frozen pepper and onion stir fry mix
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp. ground cumin
• 1 (28oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 3 (4 oz.) cans chopped green Chile peppers, drained
• 4 (14 oz.) cans vegetable broth
• 1 (11 oz.) can whole kernel corn
• 12 oz. tortilla chips
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 avocado, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions-

• In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil and stir in the pepper and onion stir fry mix, garlic, and cumin.  Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Mix in the tomatoes and Chile peppers then pour in broth and season with salt and pepper
• Bring to boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add corn into the soup and continue cooking for about 5 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips and top with cheese and avocado.
• Enjoy!



Cool Fresh Tomato and Avocado Soup- so yummy can you can get almost all the ingredients at the farmers market! :)

Ingredients-

• 4 large tomatoes, chopped
• 2 avocados, diced
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• ¼ cup cucumber, chopped
• ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• ¾ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. cumin
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• Handful of sliced romaine lettuce

Instructions-

• Combine all the ingredients together, except the avocado, in a large bowl.  Lightly mash with a potato masher and stir in 1 cup of water.
• Cover and let chill for at least an hour and then stir in the avocado and romaine lettuce.
• Enjoy!


I hope these yummy soup recipes ignite the “soup-a-holic” in you!  I know we are going to be eating good at home tonight.

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

Many people become vegetarian for religious, moral or ethical reasons.  I chose to become vegetarian for the moral and ethical reasons regarding the treatment of animals.  When first deciding to transform my lifestyle, learning how long vegetarianism has been around blew my mind.  Vegetarianism began long before recorded history and has withstood the test of time. 



I think it is important to understand the lifestyle from the various points through history and see how it has benefited human kind.

Going way back to cave men, many anthropologist believe that most early humans ate mainly plant foods and were more gatherers than hunters.  This concept makes the most sense to me.  Knowing how to gather and grow sustainable food is a more reliable source of nutrition than hunting.

Vegetarian ideology is said to have been practiced among religious groups in Egypt around 3,200BCE.  The karmic beliefs of reincarnation were a main factor in vegetarianism for these people. 

In many eastern religions a meat-free diet is fundamental in religious philosophies.  Many religions have doctrines of non-violence and respect for all life forms, including animals.  Vegetarianism has always been one of the main aspects of Buddhism.  The religion focuses on compassion to all living creatures and the respect for all.




Looking at the research, it is clear to me that many of the early vegetarians, besides early humans, practice this lifestyle because of religious and philosophical reasons.  I find this very interesting because those religions are not as common in the United States. 

Vegetarianism was not very common in the US until 1971.  Author, Frances Moore Lappe, wrote a bestseller book titled Diet for a Small Planet that was published in 1971 encouraging people to practice a meatless diet.  His book described that it takes 14 times as much grain to feed an animal than what you get out in meat.  He recognized this as an enormous waste of resources and supported a vegetarian lifestyle to stop wasting the world’s food.





In the 1990’s the American Dietetic Association officially endorsed vegetarianism after overwhelming medical evidence supporting the superiority of vegetarian diets.  Many of my vegetarian friends became vegetarian in the 90’s because of the research and the support of a healthy lifestyle. 

I believe that the vegetarian community has grown rapidly in the past couple years because of the shocking truth behind the meat industry.  There is no denying that our county allows the mistreatment of animals to produce meat quicker at more quantities.  Recent documentaries and research has brought this industry in the limelight.



Vegetarianism has been around since before recorded history and has withstood the test of time.   It has been recorded through many decades in cultures all over the world.  A plant-based diet has sustained humanity for thousands of years, why not join in on this healthy lifestyle?

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

I believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  It fuels the body for the day and kick starts your metabolism.  I make sure that I have a hearty breakfast to sustain my body throughout the morning until lunch.  My good friend recently asked for my Citrus Granola recipe so instead of just sharing it with her, I decided to share that recipe and a few more of my favorite vegetarian breakfast recipes.

Hope you enjoy them!

Citrus Granola Parfait

Ingredients-
• 1 lemon, peal shredded for zest
• 1 lime, peal shredded for zest
• 1 orange, peal shredded for zest
• 3 tbsp. grape seed oil
• 4 tbsp. orange juice
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. lime juice
• 3 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup almonds, chopped
• ¼ cup dried coconut
• 1/8 cup flax seed
• ¼ cup chopped dried apricots
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• Vanilla Yogurt

Directions-
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Combine all the ingredients except the yogurt into a large bowl and stir until combined
• Spread the mixture on a pan or cookie sheet, bake for 15 minutes, stir, and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow the granola to cool to room temperature and serve with yogurt.  Enjoy!

Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles

Ingredients-
• 1 Cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. ground allspice
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
• 3 tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. canola oil
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups frozen blueberries

Directions-
• Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, and oats in a large mixing bowl.
• Add applesauce, milk, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla into mixing bowl, stir until combined and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Fold in the blueberries and cook in waffle iron for directed iron time. Enjoy!

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients-
• 1/3 cup regular oats
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• 1 ¼ cups Almond Milk
• 1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
• ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. chopped walnuts for sprinkling on top
Directions-
• In a medium pot on medium heat, add the oats, apple, chia seeds, applesauce, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger and whisk well and heat for about 8 minutes stirring frequently.
• When the mixture has thickened and the liquid is absorbed stir in vanilla extract and pour into dish and sprinkle with walnuts, cinnamon and maple syrup is desired.  Enjoy!

For those days when you are running late and need something quick:

Easy Apple Yogurt Salad

Ingredients-
• 4 green apples, cored and chopped
• ¼ cup toasted almonds
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup chopped dried cherries
• 1 8 ounce container of vanilla yogurt
Directions-
• In a medium bowl mix all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with yogurt.  Enjoy!


Easy Warm Cinnamon Apple and Banana 

Ingredients-
• 1 Banana- sliced into small pieces
• 1 Apple- sliced into small pieces
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Directions-
• Place banana, apple, and cinnamon into medium bowl or pot, mix until cinnamon is dispersed on banana and apple.
• Warm mixture in microwave or stove top until banana and apple are warm and soft.  Let cool, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: It tastes so much better than it looks! :)

With these yummy recipes, you shouldn’t be hungry in the mornings anymore.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day…at least it is to me! :)

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie