Vegetable Bhaji
8 servings
3-4 Tbsp. oil
3 large onions, finely chopped in a food processor
5-6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1&1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1&1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste
2-3 Tbsp. sugar
6 oz. can of tomato paste
8 oz. small mushrooms
1 med yam, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 large tomato, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
2 carrots, cut into thin slices
handful of green beans, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 med eggplant, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro, leaves cut & chopped
-Take the 3 onions, cut into chunks, and add them to a food processor or finely grounded in a blender. Add 1/2 cup of water and the tomato paste to the onions and blend with the onions for 20 seconds more.
-Heat the oil over medium heat and add the garlic until very lightly browned.
-Lower heat and add the pureed onions and tomato paste, turmeric, chili powder, coriander, cumin, and cilantro.
-Stir and fry the spices, adding approximately 1/4 cup of water to prevent the spices from sticking to the bottom of a pan. Continue until you have fried the spices approximately 5 minutes.
-Add the salt and sugar, mix well and add the remaining vegetables. Stir until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Sprinkle in approximately 2 Tbsp. water and cover the pan. Simmer for 20 minutes.
-The finished dish should have a small amount of sauce, but it should not be runny. If necessary, take the lid off and cook quickly until the sauce is reasonably thick.
*note: Due to the uneven cooking time needed to soften the yams & carrots, you may need to pre-cook to soften them, so that they will cook evenly with the other vegetables.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Why Not?
So, I was listening to a radio interview the other day regarding Michelle Obama's effort to bring more healthy food choices into public schools. Being questioned was a member of the First Lady's staff, as well as the White House chef. There seemed to be great concern on the part of the interviewer regarding the future of a company, like Cheetos, for instance, if they couldn't make money by profiting from kids. In essence, "How could we do this to them?"
blech.
Junk food and fast food companies make an unhealthy product. Why can't we educate people, and give our children healthy, lively food as an alternative? Why do some folks care more about the Coca-cola company's bottom line than they do the well-being of kids (or all people) in this country?
Better food equals less disease. Here are some statistics from N.A.C.H. (National Association of Childrens' Hospitals)...
-According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese -- a number that has tripled since 1980.
-Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
-Only Illinois has a statewide requirement for daily physical education (in schools).
-Nearly one-third of U.S. Children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child. Fast food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970.
-In case reports limited to the 1990s, Type 2 diabetes accounted for 8 to 45 percent of all new pediatric cases of diabetes, in contrast with fewer than 4 percent before the 1990s.
-In a population-based sample, approximately 60 percent of obese children aged 5 to 10 years had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or blood pressure, and 25 percent had two or more risk factors.
Why can't we tell our children what food is good for them? What is wrong with eliminating unhealthy food choices from school vending machines???
Look; under the law, we don't let kids smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. These things are bad for kids (and adults). What's so different about food? What is so wrong with keeping our children out of harm's way?
blech.
Junk food and fast food companies make an unhealthy product. Why can't we educate people, and give our children healthy, lively food as an alternative? Why do some folks care more about the Coca-cola company's bottom line than they do the well-being of kids (or all people) in this country?
Better food equals less disease. Here are some statistics from N.A.C.H. (National Association of Childrens' Hospitals)...
-According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese -- a number that has tripled since 1980.
-Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
-Only Illinois has a statewide requirement for daily physical education (in schools).
-Nearly one-third of U.S. Children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child. Fast food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970.
-In case reports limited to the 1990s, Type 2 diabetes accounted for 8 to 45 percent of all new pediatric cases of diabetes, in contrast with fewer than 4 percent before the 1990s.
-In a population-based sample, approximately 60 percent of obese children aged 5 to 10 years had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or blood pressure, and 25 percent had two or more risk factors.
Why can't we tell our children what food is good for them? What is wrong with eliminating unhealthy food choices from school vending machines???
Look; under the law, we don't let kids smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. These things are bad for kids (and adults). What's so different about food? What is so wrong with keeping our children out of harm's way?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Quote
"Fruits, nuts, cereal, and vegetation were the basis of the human diet over the millennia. Our modern diet is really an anathema to our whole historical evolution."
–Oliver Alabaster, MD
–Oliver Alabaster, MD
Monday, October 19, 2009
Recipe!
Cumin-Spiced Quick Bread
A perfect bread for autumnal weather, a perfect recipe for busy folks like yourself! Serve warm with Earth Balance, you'll think you've died and gone to a harvest heaven.
(from La Dolce Vegan, Sarah Kramer)
3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp salt
egg replacer to equal 2 eggs*
1 & 1/2 cups "milk"
1/3 cup oil
Preheat the oven to 350*F. Lightly oil a 9-inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, ground cumin, cumin seeds, and salt. Add the egg replacer, "milk", and oil and gently stir dough until "just mixed." Pour evenly into loaf pan and back fro 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on a rack for 10-15 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 1 loaf.
*NOTE- Silken tofu is a great egg replacer! 1/4 cup blended tofu = 1 egg. Also, "Ener-G Egg Replacer" (powdered) can be found in most health food stores. Bananas are better for sweeter recipes...
A perfect bread for autumnal weather, a perfect recipe for busy folks like yourself! Serve warm with Earth Balance, you'll think you've died and gone to a harvest heaven.
(from La Dolce Vegan, Sarah Kramer)
3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp salt
egg replacer to equal 2 eggs*
1 & 1/2 cups "milk"
1/3 cup oil
Preheat the oven to 350*F. Lightly oil a 9-inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, ground cumin, cumin seeds, and salt. Add the egg replacer, "milk", and oil and gently stir dough until "just mixed." Pour evenly into loaf pan and back fro 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on a rack for 10-15 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 1 loaf.
*NOTE- Silken tofu is a great egg replacer! 1/4 cup blended tofu = 1 egg. Also, "Ener-G Egg Replacer" (powdered) can be found in most health food stores. Bananas are better for sweeter recipes...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Quote
"The same amount of land used to graze and feed cattle could feed ten people, if however we cultivated it with lentils, kidney beans or peas it could feed a hundred people....The Orinoco basin can produce sufficient bananas to feed the whole of mankind comfortably."
–Alexander von Humbold
–Alexander von Humbold
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Quote
"People of the future will say, “meat-eaters!” in disgust and regard us in the same way that we regard cannibals and cannibalism."
-Dennis Weaver, quoted by Gail Davis in Vegetarian Food for Thought
-Dennis Weaver, quoted by Gail Davis in Vegetarian Food for Thought
Monday, October 12, 2009
Hold the Onions!
Today's email from Yoga Journal's "Eating Wisely" columnist reminded me of how tough it can be to eat vegetarian... when there are vegetables that you HATE. I know, I know-HATE is a strong word, and I rarely use it. When it comes to onions, however, I can't emphasize it enough! Luckily for me, onions are easy to omit when you are cooking at home. And when it comes to eating out, well, a simple request to the kitchen usually does the trick.
On the other hand, I also really dislike mushrooms! Today's offering from YJ's column included two mushrooms recipes... which is no big deal, I get to skip over them. However, many people assume that because you're not eating a "regular" burger at the restaurant or barbecue, that a portobello mushroom burger is EXACTLY what you've been waiting for! Uh, wrong! Anyway, just like anything else, I have gotten used to finding something else, or being okay with a garden salad until I get home.
What if what you hate though, is tofu? Or broccoli? Or peanuts? An ingredient, that to me, would seem hard to replace, whether for taste or nutrient's-sake? Have you found a suitable stand-in? Or are you still looking? Share your stories of dislike, and maybe we can all brainstorm together...
On the other hand, I also really dislike mushrooms! Today's offering from YJ's column included two mushrooms recipes... which is no big deal, I get to skip over them. However, many people assume that because you're not eating a "regular" burger at the restaurant or barbecue, that a portobello mushroom burger is EXACTLY what you've been waiting for! Uh, wrong! Anyway, just like anything else, I have gotten used to finding something else, or being okay with a garden salad until I get home.
What if what you hate though, is tofu? Or broccoli? Or peanuts? An ingredient, that to me, would seem hard to replace, whether for taste or nutrient's-sake? Have you found a suitable stand-in? Or are you still looking? Share your stories of dislike, and maybe we can all brainstorm together...
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