Potato Tacos

Before school starts, I thought I would update several recipes I have made for dinner recently. I need to get into the habit of taking pictures while cooking. I often get halfway through cooking and realize I didn't take any pictures. 

Last week I made potato tacos with black beans. In this blog post, you will learn how I make potato tacos, black beans, and a homemade avocado dressing for the tacos. 

Potato Tacos

Ingredients:

5 multi-colored potatoes-washed and diced

Handful of fresh green beans, washed and trimmed

1 Tablespoon of each: chili powder, garlic powder

1 teaspoon each: cumin and cayenne pepper

1/2 a small can of tomato paste

Corn tortillas 

2 garlic cloves, diced

1 tablespoon veggie oil

1 bundle of fresh cilantro

Method:

Boil the potatoes until tender

Add the green beans about 3 minutes before the potatoes are done

Strain the potatoes and green beans

In a skillet over medium heat, add the veggie oil and garlic

Saute for about 3 minutes

Add the tomato paste and spices

Combine the mixture for about 2 minutes

Add the potatoes and green beans

Combine the mixture

Chop 1/2 of the fresh cilantro and add to the skillet

While the potatoes are cooking, heat the corn tortillas in a skillet- 30 seconds on each side

Assemble:

Place two spoon fulls of the mixture into a tortilla

Top with fresh cilantro and avocado dressing (found below)

Avocado Dressing:

Ingredients:

1 avocado

1 clove of garlic, minced

3 tablespoons vegan mayo

1 tablespoon Siracha sauce 

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and creamy 

(It's that easy!)

Black Beans:

Ingredients:

1 can, un-drained black beans

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons fresh, minced cilantro

juice of 2 limes

Preparation:

Add beans and their juice to a stock pot over medium low heat

Add salt

Add the lime juice

Cook for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes, add the cilantro

Cook for an additional 10 minutes

Assembly:

Serve the beans in a ramekin so the juices don't spill onto your tacos

These tacos are so filling and delicious. They are easy to make and don't require too much time. I love potatoes in tacos. I use to get potato tacos at a local street taco restaurant, but they were taken off the menu. So, I have to make them at home. This is a great Taco Tuesday recipe!

Happy Cooking :)

Challege: Vegan food in France, Part deux

After spending 5 days in Paris, John and I retreated to the South. We took a train to Nice. Getting on a train is quite the experience. Basically, trains are not assigned a platform/voie until 20 minutes before departure. So, every person getting on the train gathers around the monitors, the voie flashes up, and then everyone swarms towards the train like a pack of zombies from The Walking Dead. John and I had a print out of our tickets. However, the train number was smudged from the PDF, and we had no idea where to go. Once the train starts boarding, you have about 12 minutes to get on. We asked a security guy where to go. He scanned our code and told us which train car to get on. We were all the way at the end on the upper deck. Getting suitcases on was quite the treat. I packed some snacks for the train, and John bought me some chips and a granola bar. The train did not have any food for me to eat. I did get beer for us. It was also destiny that a guy with a cat sat across the aisle from us. This cat was so well behaved. It made Handel look like such a little baby. The cat didn't make a sound the entire train ride to Nice. When we were waiting to get off the train, I showed the guy a picture of Handel on my phone. He didn't speak any English and I don't speak French, but he opened up the carrier and let me pet his cat. Cat people are the best!

The French Riviera has a lot of Italian influences. This was a welcomed change from Paris. We found an Ethiopian restaurant in old town Nice. John and I love Ethiopian food. I am assuming that the cook was also the owner. She really didn't speak English. She came out several times to make sure everything was alright. She spoke through one of the waiters. She was a kind lady. She was so appreciative we were there and happy with the food. She explained to us that French people do not like trying new types of food. Her restaurants depends on people from the States, Canada, Australia, etc.

The food was a bit sweeter than the Ethiopian in Chicago. The injera was not as sour either. We got 5 different types of food. We had two different lentils, green beans, carrots and potatoes, and spinach. It was all very fresh. The restaurant is Le-Soleil-dasmara. They are not open on Sunday. The website is:
http://www.le-soleil-dasmara.com/

You can't go to France without having afternoon coffee. I loved stopping into different cafes and having espresso.

I didn't get a picture of this next place, but I think it is better that way. I was feeling really sick this night (probably dehydrated/sunburned), and John was nice enough to bring my food back to the hotel for me. I heard of a place called Le Speakeasy. It is Nice's only vegan restaurant. It is run by an Ex-Pat. It is a tiny restaurant with four tables. The owner cooks on a home stove in the back and changes the menu constantly. John ordered carrot juice for an appetizer and I ordered a potato pate. For dinner we had a homemade pie with sweet and russet potatoes. The crust was delicious and it had a cheesy flavor. It was so filling. It was great having what seemed like a home cooked meal. Here is the Trip Advisor page: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187234-d1054432-Reviews-Le_Spekeasy-Nice_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html

I also didn't get pictures of this next restaurant. This restaurant is not vegetarian or vegan, but it has options. Everything is organic. It is called Cafe Marche. It is located in Old Nice among winding streets between buildings from the 1600s. The website is: http://www.cafe-marche.fr/

Our tour guide from a bike tour of Nice recommended it to us. I got a veggie sandwich with potato wedges. It was very fresh and delicious. It had a nice balsamic dressing with many greens.

While in Nice I wanted to try Socca, a chickpea crepe. We found a little corner cafe, also recommended by our tour guide, called Bella Socca. I ordered socca with chives and olives. It was warm and delicious.

While I vacation, I can tell when my body needs vegetables. It is hard to consume as many vegetables as I normally do while on vacation. John and I found a quick service restaurant in Nice called So Green. It is a salad bar where you choose the toppings and dressing. They also do fresh juice. It was a bit expensive, but a good way to get veggies. The Trip Advisor page is:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187234-d3226994-r159807932-So_green-Nice_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html

John and I took a day trip to Antibes. We took the regional train there. We couldn't use the self serve ticket machines since our credit cards didn't have a chip in them. We were able to make it through the ticket line in time for the next train to Antibes. We explored a bit on Antibes before lunch time. I found a vegetarian/vegan restaurant on Trip Advisor and Happy Cow called Chez Helen. The website is: http://www.chezhelen.fr/

This was such a good find. It is tucked away in winding streets. The location was so quaint and charming. John and I ate at the only outside table. The waiter was so nice. He spoke great English and was very helpful. The menu clearly marks vegan options. I had a ratatouille served with brown rice. It came with a salad and bread. The meal was delicious. It tasted home-cooked. It was very filling. The flavors were warm and savory. It I ever go back to Antibes, I will definitely go back to Chez Helen.

I also did not get a picture of this last entry. We went to Northern African/Mediterranean restaurant called Alounak. It was tucked away right off the main shopping street that the trams runs along. We were the only costumers until the very end of our meal. I got the vegetarian special: one appetizer (all vegan options) and a choice between 3 entrees. I chose to get hummus as the appetizer. I ordered a tajine of mixed vegetables. It was warm and delicious. It was spiced very well. He added a bit of chili sauce for me as well. They are ranked very high on Trip Advisor. I would recommend checking out this restaurant.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187234-d1717497-Reviews-Alounak-Nice_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html

Well....that brings me to the end of my vegan dining adventures in France. It was quite a challenge at times, but well worth the hunt. I recommend researching places ahead of time if you are visiting a new city. I was able to space out the restaurants and make time for them. I had some delicious food. I was so glad I found these places and was able to feel like I had good food experiences in France. Now, I can go back to cooking for myself! I can't wait!

Happy Cooking!

Challenge: Vegan food in Paris, Part 1

It is well known that the French are not very vegan friendly. They like meat, butter, and eggs. I often wonder why John and I chose France as our honeymoon destination. I then remember that Paris is utterly romantic and there are breathtaking views along the Riviera. We had a great time with wonderful memories. We loved going to the top of the Eiffel tower, picnicking along the Seine, drinking wine on the beach in Nice, bike riding to Monet's Gardens, exploring Antibes, drooling over exotic cars in Monaco, and many more. There were hiccups along the way. We were kicked off a bus for not validating our bus ticket and were charged a hefty fine...oops! We showed up to the airport in Nice to come home to find out our flights were bumped to the following day. We ended up getting to Paris, and spending the night at the Sheraton (thanks free from hotels.com) literally in the middle of Terminal 2 at the Charles De Gaulle airport. You have to have some of those memories to look back on as well and eventually laugh at them.

We started our journey in Paris. John was excited for crepes and croissants. He ate, on average, 2 croissants a day. I started every day with bread, fruit, granola, water, and coffee. It was difficult finding food. I had to always ask for no cheese/formage on salads. My parents were in France several years back and stumbled upon a vegetarian restaurant not far from where we were staying in the Latin Quarter. It is called Le Grenier de Notre-Dame. They are a fully vegetarian restaurant with clearly marked vegan options. We started with a mango and avacado pate. It was very simple, but delicious. It tasted like something I could easily make at home and serve with crackers. John had an assortment of proteins. The tofu was delicious with great seasoning. I had tempeh, black beans, grains, and a tomato sauce. The website is: http://www.legrenierdenotredame.fr/

We ate outside and tried to overcome jet lag. It was a cute location and a filling meal. I would definitely go back when in Paris.

Before going on the honeymoon, I researched several vegan restaurants to try. One was a raw vegan restaurant called 42 Degres. The website is; http://www.42degres.com/

We didn't make a reservation, probably should have since reservations help them determine how much produce to get for dinners. The people there were very nice. They spoke great English and explained every dish for us. We started with a tasting of 6 different vegan cheeses, chutney, and homemade crackers. The cheeses were fantastic. Our favorite was a crumbly garlic cheese made with almonds. There was a delicious black pepper cheese as well. The chutney was fantastic and fresh. It had a great variety of flavors ranging from sweet to savory. Of course we had delicious wine with it!

For dinner, John had a raw pizza. It was very good. I had a spaghetti made out of carrots with an almond and garlic sauce that was dehydrated. The food was freshly prepared and delicious. The owner was kind enough to give us names of other places to try in Paris. This restaurant is little off the beaten path of tourists, but it is worth it if you are ever in Paris. Good food and nice people.

Check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/42degres?fref=ts

The next day, I wanted to check out another vegan restaurant for lunch. It is called Gentle Gourmet. This was actually opened by one of the owners of 42 Degres. This restaurant is also a little off the beaten path of tourists. It is towards the Bastille. Checkout their website: http://www.gentlegourmetcafe.com/en/
Check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GentleGourmetCafe

 We went for lunch and decided to have their special. The special was a choice between 2 sandwiches, a drink, and dessert of the day for 11.50 Euro! It was a great deal. We decided to have the sandwich with faux chicken made with seitan and vegan Parmesan.

The dessert was a vegan chocolate and peanut butter cake. It was light, and not too dense.

One of our favorite activities while in France was picnicking. We had a picnic at Luxembourg Gardens. We drank wine and watched people jog on the track. I think jogging is new in France; they have an interesting running form. We loaded up on olives, hummus, bread, bean salad, and more. It was so nice relaxing with John, enjoying our honeymoon, the scenery, and eating simple food.

After a cruise down the Seine, we decided to do the stereotypical picnic along the Seine. I was trying to find places to eat for the night, and found a little grocery store called Holy Planet through Happy Cow. Many of the reviews said it might be closed, but it was so close to our hotel, we figured we would stumble by to see for sure. I was very excited that it was not closed. This places is a hidden gem in Paris. It is a tiny store. They carry vegan and gluten free products. They also have a sandwich prep area where you can choose from several sandwiches and choose your own toppings. The lady working there was so nice. She spoke perfect English and was so helpful. John and I ordered sandwiches and grabbed some snacks. I found delicious chocolate and hazelnut cookies!

If that wasn't enough picnicking, we had another one while on a bike tour to Monet's Garden. We took a train to Vernon. We then had 45 minutes to find food for a picnic on the way to Monet's Gardens. We found a produce store.We got peaches, tomatoes, and almonds. We found bread and olives at another store along with chilled wine. John got some stinky cheese. I found couscous and veggies at another store. We packed the food in a bike basket and rode to our picnic spot along the Seine. We did this through the tour group Fat Tire. I highly recommend this company. It was a lot of fun and informative.

Stay tuned for my vegan adventures in Nice and Antibes!

Happy Cooking

A Vegan Wedding

It has been quite a looooonnngggg time since I have written a post. This past school year was quite a stressful, yet rewarding one. I had to renew my teaching license, take several classes, tests, and go through a bunch of hoops to renew. I taught a split class of 1st/kindergarten. It was so much fun, a ton of work, but I really adored my kiddos. I was also named a top 10 finalist for the Fishman Prize; a nationwide teaching award with an application process that took 5 months to complete. On top of school. I was planning a wedding!

John and I were married on July 19th. We have only been waiting for 10 years! The day was perfect! We had so much fun. We did not have fun the day before when we found out Men's Wearhouse didn't send John's Tux to Indianapolis from Chicago. Less than 24 hours before the wedding, he was tux-less. The Indianapolis store raced to find different pieces from shipments at 3 different stores. By 3:30, John had a Frankenstein tux, and the rest is history.

This post is about how I created a vegan menu for my wedding.

When I started planning my wedding I knew I wanted to serve only vegan food with gluten free options for guests. I was not going to budge on this. I contacted several approved vendors. None had done a completely vegan menu before and were very open to doing so. They really needed my input and guidance, however. It was fun thinking of a menu that wouldn't be overly "vegan" and well received by the masses.

During the cocktail hour we had assorted vegetables served with several types of hummus and toasted pita. This was simple, and very refreshing. I came up with the idea of having tabbouleh served in cucumber cups. I made a modification to the tabbouleh. Instead of using bulgur, we used quinoa so people with gluten allergies could enjoy.

The tabbouleh

The dinner was served buffet style. For dinner we had a delicious mixed salad with fruit and nuts with a balsamic dressing. We had fresh fruit, bread, roasted veggies, and roasted rosemary potatoes as sides. All the veggies were roasted/baked with olive oil. The potatoes were so simple and very delicious.

We had two maid dishes, I figured most people would enjoy a pasta and it isn't overly "vegan." I didn't want to turn people off by having tofu or something along those lines. The pasta was served with an assortment of vegetables with a tomato sauce.

The second dish was the gluten free option. They wanted input from me about this option. I stumbled on a quinoa curry dish. I made some modifications at home and it was really good. I send it to the caterer, but it really didn't turn out how I made it. I will chalk it up to mass production. My version is below.

I have never had wedding cake..ever. The wedding cake was one of the least important parts of the day for me. I didn't want a huge cake. I ended up getting an 8 inch vegan cake from the Flying Cupcake located in Indianapolis. Everyone else had cake from Costco (the only non-vegan food at the wedding). I also bought several gluten free cupcakes for guests with gluten allergies. 

My cake

If you are vegan and are getting married, don't be afraid to put your foot down and demand an all vegan wedding menu. If people are mad, so be it. How many times have you found yourself unable to eat at weddings, parities, etc. I also read a statistic about how many animals you can save by having a vegan wedding. I had about 125 guests. this means I saved between 4-5 animals! That is amazing! At the end of the day, it is your wedding. I learned through the process of planning, that you cannot make everyone happy, nor should you be expected to do so. I was lucky that John and I really didn't have to comprise on what we wanted. Everyone was very supportive of the choices we made.

Happy Cooking!