Green Monster

     My first Green Monster Smoothie!  It was actually quite tasty and simple.  I knew there wasn't much going into it to hide the spinach, flaxseeds and protein powder, but it worked!
      I found my recipe from Green Monster Movement located here and used the "Virgin Green Monster" recipe with the addition of my RAW protein powder, which I love.  If I feel like the banana is a small, wimpy guy, I will add two.
      Although I love any type of fruit smoothie, this one is amazingly simple and a great way to eat some extra spinach and flax.  I hope you give it a try!

Classic Vegetable Fried Rice

An easy classic meal, also a great way to use ingredients you probably already have on hand! Tonight's dinner was a big hit with John (who ate every vegetable without a complaint!). This recipe was inspired by Gina from Skinny Taste, who's recipe can be found here. I had some different vegetables on hand and left out the eggs to keep it vegan. Here is the recipe that I followed, but feel free to be creative!

If you're looking for a fool-proof method to use when cooking your brown rice, follow Gina's directions found here.

Ingredients:

2-3 cups cooked brown rice

2 shallots finely chopped (or onions)

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

2 carrots shredded

5 green onions chopped

1 cup edamame (frozen is fine)

~1-2 tablespoons oil

~2 tablespoons soy sauce

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

First make sure that you have everything chopped, measured and ready to go. This will cook in no time and you will want to be busy moving everything around in your wok. Heat a wok to a pretty high heat, it will take a couple minutes. Then add your oil, chopped shallots, bell pepper and shredded carrots. Move these around while they cook for 1-2 minutes. Then add the edamame and green onions. Cook these for about 2 minutes, stirring very frequently. When everything looks heated through, add your cooked brown rice, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Make sure that everything is heated through, then check the taste. You might want to add more salt, pepper or soy sauce.

Broccoli Quiche a la Vegan Brunch

When my friend Sarah found out about my decision to go vegan, she immediately loaded me up with her favorite cookbooks and samples of protein powder. She told me to be sure to make this Classic Broccoli Quiche found in Isa Chandra Moskowitz's book Vegan Brunch.

I replied that although I was sure it was great, John really despises broccoli and eggs, so I didn't think a quiche would be on the top of my list of new-items-to-replace-meat-and-dairy list.

After getting home (incredibly thankful for all the goodies and help!) I had some time to look through the books. As most cooks know, the easiest way to find the best recipes in your friends books are to look for the pages that are all crinkly and sauce-stained. The Broccoli Quiche stood out as a best-loved. I had to make it. After doing a trial run (thank you Pamela and John for taste-testing!) we concluded that it was fit for the Easter table. Even John enjoyed it and broccoli seriously tops his most hated vegetable list! Please don't dismiss this recipe, it is so delicious!

Isa's directions can be found here: Classic Broccoli Quiche (scroll down, you'll find it)