Cheater Channa Masala

0

wpid-PhotoGrid_1371527840078.jpg

Not the real deal at all, but I had a craving, and didn’t want to spend the money (or consume the fat) that goes with ordering take-out, especially when I already had a huge pot of cooked chickpeas sitting in the fridge! (The rest will be used for Foxy Tuna!) I put in the tweaks I’ll make on the next go with *, but thought this still came out tasty enough to share! Let me know what you think. :)

3 tbsp. olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 tsp. cumin
1.5 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. sea salt

3″ piece of ginger, minced
8 garlic cloves, minced

15 oz. can chopped tomatoes and their juice (I used fire roasted w/chiles here)
15 oz. can of tomato sauce*
2 tbsp. curry powder
1 tbsp. garam masala
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. coriander*
2 tsp. sugar or evaporated cane
cayenne pepper to taste, optional

6 c. cooked chickpeas (1 lb cooked, or 4 cans)
1 c. reserved cooking liquid or can liquid
2 tbsp. lemon juice

1-2 c. frozen greens, optional

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onions, cumin and turmeric, and cook until soft, about 7 minutes. Add ginger and garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, curry powder, garam masala, cumin, sugar and cayenne. Cover, and let the mixture simmer over low-medium/medium for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Add chickpeas, liquid, and lemon juice to the mixture, and simmer for 10 more minutes. Stir in frozen greens (if using) and adjust seasonings if necessary.

Results:

Pretty good. I think I’ll up the tomato sauce and cut back the coriander a little. (*The measurements up there reflect these changes!) I served this over brown basmati rice. You could also make my easy and non-traditional Roti here if you feel so inclined. Since this is a new recipe, I somehow resisted the urge to throw a bunch of frozen greens in until I could give the flavors a chance to talk to me. Then I totally threw in some spinach at the end, because I love greens in just about everything, but that’s just me!

wpid-IMG_20130617_194754.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130617_201721.jpg

wpid-CAM00391.jpg

Smoky Black Bean Bowls (on a budget!)

4

wpid-IMG_20130604_212228.jpg

Baby’s on a budget! Between all the moving around I’ve done in the last few years, my recent uninsured arm fracture (I am now insured though – as of Saturday, woo!), and the loss of my old station wagon/attainment of a shiny new, gas friendly hatchback, my debts have piled sky high. So I sat down today and used two phone apps to get myself on a budget.

My thoughts immediately turned to food. In the last year I’ve become very reliant on going out and ordering in, instead of cooking. It started when we moved to Fort Lauderdale, with the major kitchen downsize, and had just continued since with all the changes this past year, but it ends now! My new goal is $50 week for groceries. Today we did $58, including beer & cider, at Trader Joe’s. I thought that was a pretty good first effort.

So in order to make this work, I decided to go back to my roots. Being Cuban/Honduran I grew up with lots of legumes and rice for weeknight meals. Trader Joe’s didn’t have dry beans, which I’m determined to start using for the most economical bang for my buck, but they did have plenty of well priced canned beans and other things. Next week we’re going to check out the local co-op to see what they have.

This was just something I whipped up based on a more traditional recipe. I served it over some kale and brown rice (a mix of short grain & basmati) for a hearty grain bowl. We sprinkled nutritional yeast on top, and the kale wilted and cooked perfectly under the hot broth.

Smoky Black Beans

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped

1/2 c. chopped tomato (I used 1/2 can of fire roasted tomatoes w/chiles)

2 16 oz. cans black beans, undrained (I used Trader Joe’s Cuban Style black beans)

1 tbsp. vegan Worcestershire
1 tbsp. liquid smoke
1/2 tsp. tamari (or red sodium soy sauce)
+ water to equal 1/2 cup

1 tsp. cumin
1 tbsp. vinegar (white or red wine)

Salt & Pepper, as needed
Hot Sauce, to taste, optional (I used a delicious local habanero sauce)

Directions:

1. Heat olive in a medium pot over low-medium heat. (While it’s heating I roughly chop the garlic, green pepper, and onion and then pulse it in the food processor to a finer texture.

2. Add garlic, onion, and pepper to pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft.

3. Add the tomatoes, and let them cook for about 10 minutes.

4. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Taste for seasoning. Raise the heat until it bubbles, cover, and drop to low to simmer for at least 20 minutes.

Serve over any greens & cooked grain of your choosing. We sprinkled with nooch, and I would have liked to throw some avocado on there, but it wasn’t quite ready yet. Enjoy!

Over a nice bed of fresh kale.

Over a nice bed of fresh kale.

Kale is perfectly cooked and bright green from the hot broth! Mmm!

We let it sit a minute or two so the kale was perfectly cooked and bright green from the hot broth! Mmm!

DIY Almond Milk

6

wpid-IMG_20130604_141815.jpg

I woke up today wanting to eat some cereal, knowing full well that we were out of almond milk. Now, I’m not above eating cereal with just water, but I had bought plenty of raw almonds for our raw food cleanse before we went to Portland, so I though I might as well finally give making my own almond milk a shot. I originally bought a nut milk bag a long time ago to aid in making juices with my vitamix because I refuse to buy a juicer, and my attempt using a cheesecloth was effective, but annoying. However since that purchase, it had just traveled from Boca to Fort Lauderdale to Seattle, unused.

I decided to go with a basic 1:3 almonds to water ratio for my 1st attempt here. Since I usually buy unsweetened plain almond milk, I also decided to forgo the date & vanilla extract additions I often see with raw nut milk recipes.

DIY Almond Milk
makes about 3 cups

1 c. of raw almonds
3 c. of filtered water

You will need:

high speed blender
nut milk bag
3-4 c. jar
large bowl

Directions:

Blend water and almonds in high speed blender until smooth. Pour mixture through nut milk bag over a large bowl to strain. (Twisting the bag seemed to help squeeze out the milk best!) Pour milk into a jar, and freeze the almond meal for another use.

Milk will keep for 3-4 days in fridge.

Results:

This was fast, easy enough, and pretty cheap to boot. I could see that a date or a little vanilla would give it some oomph if you’re just using it for cereal, or to drink. A little carob or cacao would make it a great raw chocolate milk too! You do miss out on the extra vitamins they fortify the boxed kind with, but hey, this is fresh! And I take plenty of vitamins daily. This may just become part of my kitchen routine. I’d love to try this with raw hazelnuts. (Which I was munching on as I made this.)

Do you make your own nut milk? What are your favorite recipes?

wpid-IMG_20130604_140555.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130604_140712.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130604_141055.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130604_141815.jpg

It tasted great in my cereal! Way better than just water :)

It tasted great in my cereal! Way better than just water :)

Daiya Pizza vs. Tofurky Pizza

2

wpid-IMG_20130602_192640.jpg

I just haven’t been able to get my Vida Vegan Con post together yet, so instead I give you a quick vegan pizza post. I was planning on getting that post written up yesterday, and was just sitting down to do so, when I got a call from Portland. It was the cab company with whom we had ridden last weekend, and in which Thomas accidentally left his phone. Apparently the phone he had reported stolen & gotten blacklisted was finally turned in, so we actually jumped in the car and drove back down to Portland for the night. But I digress.

When we got back today, we spent most of the afternoon having an impromptu goth dance party (just the two of us) in our apartment while the cats enjoyed the sunshine and looked on.

(Thomas took this picture of Ganon!)

(Thomas took this picture of Ganon!)

And here's little miss Midna

And here’s little miss Midna

Somewhere in there I decided to raid the freezer for pizza, and we decided a pizza show down was in order. In case you were wondering who won in our taste test…

wpid-IMG_20130602_201618.jpg

The Tofurky was the clear winner due to the Daiya’s technical difficulties in the crust department. It came cracked in several pieces, so we had to bake it on some foil, and it ended up having a soggy texture. The flavor of the roasted vegetables was pretty delicious though, so I think we may have to have a rematch for fairness. The only thing I don’t like about Tofurky’s pizzas is that they don’t give you enough crust. We do love their pepperoni, though.

This inconclusive taste test has been brought to you by Ty & Thomas. And to conclude, here’s a picture of us at the White Owl in Portland yesterday…

wpid-IMG_20130602_203147.jpg

Cheer Up Green Shake (Raw)

6

wpid-IMG_20130523_132058.jpg

Hey all!

This will be the last post before we head on down to Portland for Vida Vegan Con 2013 this evening! Just a little green shake I made to cheer myself up after talking with the financial people over at the hospital where I took my uninsured, fractured arm, back in April. :p I’m going to try to put that out of my mind until next week so I can enjoy all the festivities this weekend. Should be quite a lot!

We had been eating all raw since Sunday to cleanse before what will be an incredible amount of vegan food and treats this weekend, but we broke it last night with a trip to our favorite Seattle vegan bar, Highline. I figured I should probably get the tum ready with these yummy steak & black bean nachos they had on special.

wpid-IMG_20130522_230156.jpg

Mmm! Those were good. But after feeling a little down and unmotivated after this morning’s conversation, I decided a little chlorophyll might do a body good. That, and I had a craving for a vanilla milkshake! I made a proper green revision of my previous Raw Vegan Milkshakes. Here’s the recipe!

Cheer Up Green Shake (Raw)

2 c. almond milk (raw or store bought)
3 ripe bananas, halved
2+ c. frozen spinach
1/2 c. frozen pineapple chunks
1 tbsp. flax seeds, optional
2 tbsp. raw carob powder, optional
1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

2-3 c. of ice, to liking

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender, adding ice a cup at a time, to preference.

Okay, now to go pack, wash my hair and shower. I look forward to seeing so many of you in Portland very, very soon! ~Ty

(I included a current pic of me, so you can spot me and say hi!)

avatar

Raw Vegan Veggie soup

2

wpid-IMG_20130519_230213.jpg

Thomas turned to me this weekend and asked if we could do a green smoothie detox for a few days to “reset”. I thought this was actually a great way to prep for the insanity that will be hundreds of vegan bloggers running around Portland this weekend at Vida Vegan Con 2013, eating everything in sight. Oh yes, it will be glorious.

We decided to do green smoothies along with raw food for variety. I decided to start out with a raw celery soup from Raw Food, but didn’t realize that I was running low on celery, so I tossed in a few carrots, extra tomato, some miso, garlic and a little bit of jalepeno and cayenne for kick. I love how flexible raw food is, and I love how full you can get on good fat like avocado.

Raw Vegan Veggie Soup

several stalks of celery, chopped into large pieces, about 2 c.
3 carrots, chopped large
3 small tomatoes, quartered
1 clove of garlic
handful of fresh parsley, about 1/2 c.
1 ripe avocado
1 c. filtered water
1 tbsp. of tamari (or shoyu or Bragg’s or red-sodium soy sauce)
1 tbsp. of lemon juice
1 tbsp. white miso, optional
1/4 fresh jalapeno
dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Add all ingredients to high speed blender and combine until warmed through and creamy. You’re done! :)

wpid-IMG_20130519_230301.jpg

GUNAS – Hostess Bag, A Review

5

wpid-IMG_20130320_165636-1.jpg

My focus for 2013 has definitely shifted from vegan cooking to vegan lifestyle integration. The most major cause of this was the move from Florida to Seattle. Since we got rid of most of our earthly possessions to come here, now that I’ve been working for several months, I’ve been able to start shopping for new vegan versions of things that I parted ways with. I’m the type of person who buys really high quality or unique things and keeps things FOREVER, so when I switched to a vegan diet, the rest of my lifestyle items just lingered around. The sheer expense of doing a complete overhaul was absolutely prohibitive, so I figured it would happen slowly over time as things wore out.

In my pursuit of vegan handbags, I’ve been a stickler for fashion and quality. I like shiny and black, with nice heavy hardware, and classic designs. I wasn’t about to give up my high end purses for some cheapie bag that looked terrible and fell apart in a few months. The replacements would have to be knock outs, vegan or not.

wpid-IMG_20130320_165729-1.jpg

And then I found GUNAS… I was immediately fixated on this Hostess bag. Not only was it black and patent, it had a top handle as well as a nice sturdy looking shoulder chain, and the hardware was NOT gold. Plus, it was on sale. I figured it was worth a shot. Though you can’t really tell quality through internet pictures, I was hoping at this price point I’d get the kind of craftsmanship I was looking for.

wpid-IMG_20130320_165636-1.jpg

After a little bit of a wait, my bag came and completely met [and even exceeded] my expectations! Celebrity vegans like Anne Hathaway carry Gunas bags, and now I know why. These limited edition bags are either made by hand in house or in socially responsible factories elsewhere, depending on the materials. They try to be as eco conscious as possible and have won awards for sustainability in fashion.

wpid-IMG_20130320_170148-1.jpg

It has a beautiful red lining with a zippered pocket and 2 pockets of varying sizes for organization.

wpid-IMG_20130320_170257-1.jpg

It even has feet, which is a touch I really appreciate in my patent bags.

wpid-IMG_20130320_170217-1.jpg

The only con is due to the soft structure of the basket portion of the bag. Trying to get the magnetic snap closure to connect on the bag can be a little tricky. The top flap is sturdy patent, and the body gives with pressure, so you just have to let it slide down onto it. There’s a learning curve there, but I think it’s gotten a bit easier with time (I think due to the slight outward squashing, see below). It is nice and secure though, once it’s closed, which initially was a concern of mine since the points of carrying are all on the top patent piece, but it’s been fine.

wpid-CAM00330.jpg

Due to the soft body of the bag it has gotten a little squashed. That’s mostly user error though, I tried putting it into my work backpack, and subsequently stuffing them into my work locker. Maybe not the best idea. (Since then I’ve been changing bags and using a wristlet with just the essentials in there.) I don’t think it’s gotten any worse since, and it closes easier now!

wpid-IMG_20130414_192740.jpg

Here’s a pic to give you an idea of the size worn on a 5’4″ person. This was its first trip out 5.5 weeks ago. It was right after my humerus fracture (that was one of the only shirts I could fit over my splint!) and it was really convenient to have a purse with a shoulder strap at that time!

Overall Impression:

I’m thrilled with my bag! They have a lot of variety in the styles they offer, so even hard to please people like me should be able to find something lovely to carry. The only thing that bummed me out a bit was that I found it on VeganCuts a couple of weeks after for $30 cheaper! So awesome for you, if you’re thinking about picking one up! (Here’s the link for all the GUNAS bags on vegan cuts!) And I’ll definitely check on there 1st for future purchases. (Which would probably be this wallet. It’s not the matching wallet, and it’s got gold hardware, but I don’t care. I think it’s ADORABLE!)

Thank you GUNAS! : )

BLINC Eyeliner Pen – A Review

7

wpid-CAM00296.jpg

Hey guys, I guess this post went up sans text when I uploaded the pictures this morning! My mistake; that happens sometimes since the default setting on the wordpress app is to publish! Oops! It was early. :D

image

Blinc known “across the world” for their “superior line of mascara”, is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida of all places! (Pretty much my hometown.) While I have yet to try their mascara (don’t worry, that’s next!), I am IN LOVE with their eyeliner pen!  All of their products are vegan and gluten free. (The pic above shows the pen and the packaging tube it arrived in.)

image

I was very fortunate in that right after fracturing my left humerus, this eyeliner came in the mail. Fortunate because I was able to apply it effortlessly with one hand on the 1st try. The control you get from it being a pen is just amazing. (1st use pics above & below!)

image

In fact, I was SO impressed that I immediately threw out the last of the brand that I had been using for the last 12 years. I had stuck with that brand because it lasted “16  hours”, and because it had a great cone shaped [non brush] applicator.

wpid-CAM00296.jpg

This has the best applicator I’ve seen! It delivers the right amount of liquid to get nice opaque coverage. And the liner is JET BLACK.

image

What’s also really great about it, is while it’s not waterproof in the traditional sense, it will NOT run. It only comes off with warm water and pressure. You don’t need eye makeup remover, and it won’t run in the rain. If your eyes water, it won’t budge. It’s absolutely fantastic. It also doesn’t smudge onto my eyelid the way my old one would after a long day.

Impression:

This is a 5 star eyeliner pen! I doubt there is a better one to be had, vegan or not! It’s a bit pricey at $26, but I will gladly pay it for as long as they make this product! Thanks to Melisser at Cruelty Free Face for the recommendation! :)

Teese, Tempeh & ‘Ties

1

wpid-IMG_20130506_210906-1.jpg

This isn’t one of those recipes that you should bookmark because it’s totally going to blow your mind. Rather, it’s more along the lines of I didn’t want to pay to not cook again, and we could really use a trip to the store. That, and I had this roll of Teese Cheddar sitting on the counter from the last Vegan Cuts box. I also had a box of pasta, a brick of tempeh, and some frozen veggies. I ended up subbing out my 1st instinct of broccoli with chopped spinach.

Here’s what I did:

Teese, Tempeh & ‘Ties

1 package of tempeh, any variety, cubed

1 lb. pasta, your choice (I used Farfalle/Bowties)

1/2 package of frozen chopped spinach

1 8 oz. tube of Teese Cheddar cheese, chopped
(I threw in the last little bit of Daiya Jalepeno Havarti we had in the fridge too!)

1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. tamari
dash of cayenne pepper
fresh ground pepper

1/2 c. reserved pasta cooking water
1/4 c. nutritional yeast

Directions:

1. Heat a large pot of boiling water. Drop in the tempeh. Toss in the pasta, and cook according to pasta directions. Last minute or two, add the frozen spinach. Shut off burner. Drain, reserving a cup of pasta water.

2. Return pasta/tempeh/spinach to pot. (Mash up the tempeh or leave it cubed. I sort of did a little of both.) Add cheese and spices. Return pot to cooling burner and stir everything so that cheese melts. Add half of reserved water and nutritional yeast. Use a little more water if necessary, and taste for seasoning.

Thoughts:

There’s something really magical about making a “free” meal out of things you have hanging around. Especially when it dirties only 1 pot and combines a starch, a protein and some greens. It wasn’t bad at all, and it was pretty filling!

As far as the Teese goes:

It tasted a bit like american cheese or velveeta straight out of the tube. I thought the texture was maybe a little grainy, but it was hard to tell because I put so much other stuff in! If you were a velveeta kid, this is probably some good mac making for you.

wpid-IMG_20130506_210906-1.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130506_215623.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130506_214420-1-1.jpg

Vegan in Denver!

5

wpid-IMG_20130426_165827.jpg

I’d like to think that I’ve become much more of a minimalist over the years, and that’s why I was able to pack only a backpack’s worth of stuff for 4 days in Denver, but honestly, it has a little more to do with the fractured epicondyle on my left humerus. I really wouldn’t have been able to lift a roller bag into an overhead bin by myself, and I try to avoid checking bags if at all possible. (Especially after my gate checked bag got lost on the way to Vegas in February.) It made for much easier traveling though, and I even got to board the plane earlier, so I’ll probably try to do this for short trips in the future!

(This is a very picture heavy post, as I packed in all of my adventures into this one single post!)

wpid-IMG_20130426_165738.jpg

I flew Fronteir Air, whom I’d never flown with before. I had a light dinner consisting of a Mediterranean snack box (similar to Alaska Air’s offering) that turned out to be all vegan. It included bruschetta, hummus, pita chips, seasoned olives, dried cranberries, almonds and cookies. I chose a Colorado brewed Hazed & Infused to sip on while I nibbled for the 2 hour flight.

wpid-IMG_20130425_124958-1.jpg

Here’s Joanna displaying what’s left of their last snowstorm. She’s only been in Denver for a month, so she was excited that I came so we could do some exploring together. She also decided she was going to eat vegan with me the whole trip. She’s done vegan cleanses before and felt great on them, so she’s no stranger to what it’s all about. (Though I warned her that I was on vacation, so it wasn’t going to necessarily be health food on my part!) She’s been trying to avoid dairy, gluten and soy anyway, so I’m trying to encourage her to feel good ALL the time, and make a plant based diet a more permanent change.

wpid-IMG_20130425_174101-1.jpg

Her hubby doesn’t care for Indian food, so she expressed a great desire to eat it, which I was more than happy to accommodate. I’m almost always ready to eat Indian food!! I found Bombay Clay Oven on Happy Cow. They have gluten free and dairy free items marked on the menu, but what I really wanted was my fave… Saag Channa. They had it on their lunch specials, so I asked if they could make it vegan for me. After I assured our waitress that I eat dairy free versions all the time, she went back in the kitchen to inquire. (Turns out she doesn’t eat dairy either, so she was excited to find out that this dish is still delicious sans yogurt.)

wpid-IMG_20130425_133014-1.jpg

Jojo got a spicy Vegetable Medly Kadai, and we ordered some roti bread minus the butter, to go with our little feast. Best part? Even though it looks like a fancy place, with cloth napkins, excellent service and super good food, the whole bill was under 20 bucks!

After this we walked around a bit and I saw Joanna’s new work digs. Then I went and had a fantastic massage with Mallory Asti. It included much needed work on my upper body, full massage, and reflexology and energy work for my injured arm. She has an extra low introductory rate for new clients, so if you’re in the area, I highly recommend you check her out!

wpid-IMG_20130425_180015-1.jpg

Mexican fast food joint Cafe Rio called to us for a quick dinner of bean tacos. Both their pinto & black beans are vegan…

wpid-IMG_20130426_170217.jpg

and we loaded them with lots of green yumminess like lettuce, cilantro, guacamole and some pico and hot sauce for good measure. Another meal for under $10 per person.

wpid-IMG_20130426_152556-1.jpg

That night, before bed I was on Happy Cow and found a local (CO & CA) pizza chain, Patxi’s Pizza that made VEGAN DEEP DISH pizza! I was so excited, I could hardly get to sleep. I hadn’t had deep dish pizza in at least 12 years. When Joanna called me on her way home from work, I quickly explained all about it and called in our order so it’d be cooking while we were on our way. (Deep dish takes 35-40 minutes).

wpid-IMG_20130426_152403-1.jpg

We started with a greek salad (no feta!), no dressing. (The waiter said the dressing was vegan “except for the little bit of anchovy”, and Joanna promptly told him that it was not vegan then. Hah!) I splashed it with some of the red wine vinegar he brought to the table. Nothing to write home about here, just wanted to get some fresh veggies in before the pizza.

wpid-IMG_20130426_153127-1.jpg

The pizza was FANTASTIC. I ordered it right off the menu, no adjustments.

Authentic Chicago “Stuffed” Our flagship pie. A deep dish pizza with a layer of crust on the bottom, followed by toppings and cheese, all covered by another thin layer of dough, and topped with our homemade sauce. Also available in whole wheat dough. Prepared and cooked in a deep dish pan. 35-40 minute cook time.

VeganWhole wheat crust, fresh spinach, crushed garlic, red onion, Daiya vegan cheese. $20.50 for a 10″

Seriously recommend you try this if you’re near any of their locations in California or Colorado!

wpid-IMG_20130427_152035.jpg

Come dinner we had the extreme pleasure of finally (in my case!) meeting Amber of Monk and Mao. She moved to Seattle right before we did, but unfortunately (for me!) they moved back to her hometown of Denver before we ever got to meet up! So yah, totally one of those moments where you meet someone and instantly bond.

We chose Watercourse Foods based on their yummy beers and their vegan nachos. Amber and I settled in with some ale, nachos and seitan buffalo wings…

wpid-IMG_20130429_210922.jpg

wpid-IMG_20130429_211121.jpg

The lighting was a little tricky, so sorry about the picture quality there! The seitan wings are a huge portion! I didn’t really care too much about the ranch dressing, which I found reminiscent of soy milk, but the wings themselves were really good. Our nachos were delicious, but Amber nailed it when she said it was the “bottom of the bag” nachos. Almost all of our chips were in tiny little pieces, so that at the end I was just eating them with a fork. I’m not really complaining about that though, because it was heavy on the refried beans, and I love me some refried beans, eaten by fork or hand.

wpid-IMG_20130429_210656.jpg

Joanna had the THE MAXIMUS BURGER – Homemade pinto bean and quinoa burger served on our kaiser roll and topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and special sauce,  with some steamed kale that I made disappear at the end of our meal. (Yes, I will eat your kale. You don’t have to ask me twice.) I also got to sneak a taste of the burger patty and it was pretty darn good.

The nice thing about Watercourse, as explained to us by the server, is that everything on the menu is vegan unless it says it has a cheese option. And Amber says they’ll usually confirm with you about if you’re sure you want dairy cheese when ordering those. So needless to say, this is one of her frequent haunts.

wpid-IMG_20130426_204400.jpg

We all had such a great time! Joanna made a new vegan friend in Denver, and Amber and I chatted until Joanna practically dragged me to the car! :) Hahaha! Thanks Jenna for remembering that this is where she lived, and providing the catalyst for our meeting. I had totally forgotten that’s where she moved!

wpid-IMG_20130427_125345.jpg

I was lucky enough to get some acupuncture from Joanna for my injured arm Saturday morning. She’s a talented little lady if you have any acupuncture/body talk/Reiki needs in Denver. You can find her over at the Om Flow!

Then I hit the leftovers for breakfast. ; ) It was super hot outside by mid day, and even though it was only 67, my weather app said it felt like 77. And that it did. So we did the only logical thing to do… we hit the ice cream shop.

wpid-CAM00271.jpg

Sweet Action is a regular ice cream shop with vegan options. And man, everyone I talked to loved this place! Seems like they carry at least 2 vegan flavors per day. This particular day they had cinnamon roll & boysenberry swirl. Surprisingly enough, the boysenberry won out in my personal taste test. It was like a yummy, frozen berry cheesecake in a cup! Heavenly!

wpid-CAM00270.jpg

They also regularly carry pre-packaged ice cream sandwiches, and this day, they had two varieties. They had double chocolate cookies with coffee ice cream, and Joanna got the almond cardamom cookies with vanilla. That sucker was huge! I ate all of mine and made a concerted effort to finish hers until she shut me down. (She literally took it away from me.) I had to admit, I had probably eaten enough sugar anyway. The cookie was nicely spiced, and the vanilla ice cream, well, it was a little vanilla in comparison. I think the chocolate/coffee combo would probably have been tastier. I’m not a huge sweet tooth, but there’s something very satisfying about eating ice cream on a hot day, with the windows open. We walked around a little and I found a cute second hand dress and a pair of vintage looking shades. Then we had to head home to get me ready for the airport.

I felt a bit bad that I didn’t go to healthier vegan places with Jo, and dragged her down a path of vegan junk food with me, but she insisted that it was still superior. :) It was a great little holistic get away for me too, and I always love a little quality time with my bestie. Thanks Jojo!!

So if there are any places you think I missed out on, please comment below as I’ll probably be out to visit my Denver ladies again. The only other place I was curious about trying was Sputnik, which is attached to a music venue. We passed it on Thursday night, and they had a punk rock show going. They have a small vegan menu in addition to their regular bar food.

Next trip for me is going to be next month, Memorial Day weekend for Vida Vegan Con in Portland (a.k.a. Vegan Mecca) so that should be a whole mess of photos and info and meetups too! Can’t wait!