Sunday Booty Shakin' & Food Preppin'

As I stated in my previous blog post, my eating habits have drastically changed from a few months ago. While it is a drastic change, it didn't happen overnight. I've had a few failed attempts at meals as well as junkie-like cravings that have finally started to melt away (along with my thighs, can I get an Amen?).

My parents, who just cannot fathom the notion of any meal without meat-and don't even get me started on their thoughts on DAIRY (believe me, I get it, I loves me some dairy)-will frequently ask me, "What in the world do you eat?" This gave me the grandest of ideas. To post an entire days' worth of Vegan-ish meals, snacks and beverages for all to see, to try and to share!

Here's the plan, tomorrow I will post recipes with pics of my meals in action as the day goes on. The key to all of it is getting super comfy with the fact that you have to plan ahead. You have to think about what you are going to eat. Which is more then fine with me, as I love food. I love to talk about food, I love to talk about how much I love the food while I'm eating the food.

So, on Sundays I kick all of the other members of my household out (except the dog, she comes in handy as a crumb vacuum). I mean, I get alone time out of this...the perks are happening already! Here's what happened today, I turned on my fave internet radio station (shook my ass all over the kitchen to 105.7 Alternative Atlanta) and whipped up a few of these staples for the week!

Maple Vanilla Granola

Banana Chips

Pesto Hummus

Avocado Everything

Freaking Awesome Trail Mix

FYI...do not wig out...almost everything I use in these recipes are purchased at a typical grocery store (i.e. Publix/Kroger), only the vegan pesto came from a natural food store (but I plan to make my own in the future), you can use regular pesto if you aren't full on Vegan-Ish. So NOOOO excuses that one doesn't have a Whole Foods nearby, or that one can't be expected to drive all over the place for weirdo patchouli laced/hemp infused ingredients. This is all much more doable than most folks think.

Alright! Whip out the ol' food processor and crank up the oven. Let the prepping begin!:

Maple Vanilla Granola 

Ingredients

• 5 cups old fashioned rolled oats (do not use quick oats)
• 1 cup wheat bran
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup real maple syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• honey

• Preheat the oven to 300 ° 
• Line a rimmed, half sheet baking pan with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, wheat bran, and salt.
• In a small saucepan, combine the syrup, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Heat just until the sugar is dissolved.
• Pour the liquid over the dry mixture and stir to coat. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly, pressing the mixture firmly.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. (your whole house will smell like heaven!!!!!!) Break into clusters, drizzle honey over top and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before packaging in an airtight container to be used for snacking, cereal, on yogurt, etc. I keep it in the fridge for freshness. Place a considerable amount in a separate container, this will be the main ingredient in the trail mix too. 

Now...

Drop the oven (like it's hot) down to 200F, and move on to:

Banana Chips

Ingredients

• 3 large and pretty ripe, bananas
• 1/2 lemon, juiced

Instructions

1. Peel and slice bananas in 1/4"-thick slices (or thinner).
2. Lay slices on cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
3. Dip your fingers in lemon juice and brush each banana slice with lemon juice.
4. Bake at 200F (or as low as your oven will go), for 2-3 hours.

While that's baking, get out the food processor and...

move on to:

Avocado Everything

I use this in place of mayo and as a dressing on salads.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, scooped out of skins, and cubed
• big ol' handful of fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Combine basil, garlic, and a pinch of sea salt in a small food processor and blend until ingredients form a paste.

2. Add avocados and process until smooth. Blend in the oil and lemon or lime juice, and then season with sea salt and pepper.

Rinse out the food processor for round two...

Let's get our hummus on:

Pesto Hummus

Ingredients:

• 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed
• water on stand by to add for desired consistency
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• big ol' honkin' hunk of a tablespoon of pesto
• a small little handful of cashews
• pinch of sea salt and black pepper to taste

Yummy yum yum yumminess...I will NEVER buy hummus at the store again. 

Get your stuff all tupperwared up, labeled and in the fridge ready to go, clean up the kitchen and keep shakin' what your mama gave you while the banana chips keep baking. 

Time to add the rest of the trail mix ingredients to the granola:

• dried cranberries
• cashews
• small-I mean just a little-amount of white chocolate chips
• again just a few, dark chocolate chips
• sunflower seeds 
• maple vanilla granola
• banana chips

Once the banana chips are out and are completely cooled (You have to wait for these suckers to cool All. The. Way.) you are done. All set for the week ahead. If you still have some time before the fam gets back, pour yourself a glass of vino and take it outside and breath in, breath out, give thanks. See you in the morning!