Laura’s Spicy Sweet Potato Chili Salad

I was at a potluck recently and someone had brought some chili. It made me miss my own chili....shhh. Since the warm weather is suppose to be coming our way (in Canada) don't forget you can enjoy chili all year round just serve it at room temperature as part of a salad. This chili is my own creation...Enjoy!

1 large red pepper, diced
1/2 cup onions, chopped
2 cups sweet potatoes, diced
1 can (19 ounces) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup water
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 enveloped chili seasoning mix (I use Old El Pasc)
1 tsp chili powder
1 Tbsp chipotle sauce (from a can of chipotle chilies)
5 Thai chilies or any small hot chilies, with seeds, minced

For the Salad

chopped lettuce
tortilla chips
vegan sour cream
tomatoes
green onions

Steam the red pepper, onions and sweet potatoes till slightly tender (sweet potatoes will take longer to cook so add them first to cook for a few minutes then add your pepper and onions. Then add all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 3 1/2 hours. Then stir and serve. Makes around 5 cups.

Put chopped lettuce on each plate. Add tortilla chips around the sides of the lettuce or in a separate bowl. Pour room temperature chili over lettuce. Top with vegan sour cream, tomatoes and green onions.

My Favorite Workout Picks - Update

Since my previous post I was able to buy Insanity at great price! $80.25 including shipping for the 13 DVD deluxe package.  Some DVDS in the set are used and some have not been. I figure someone bought it and decided it was just too hard to continue…at least they tried and it is really friggen hard! It won’t be coming with the meal plan …I don’t use those anyway and as vegan they’re never gear towards the foods I would eat. It also won’t be coming with the workout calendar which is not a problem because I found this great website that you can print off the Insanity and many other popular workout calenders. Oh and my favorite is you can print out blank calendars and fill in your own workout routine…..

http://www.workout-calendar.com/insanity-workout-calendar/

All I wanted were all the DVDS. Bottom line is there are deals out there on the real Insanity (not fakes) you just have to be patient and be flexible.  If I had bought Insanity new the 13 DVD deluxe package would have cost me $164.70 plus $14.70 for shipping to the States from Total Fitness DVDs.  I live in Canada but I get most of my purchases that I buy online sent to the States where my guys parents live. When my guy goes to visit them he brings back my goodies. I would probably end up being a fitness DVD and book hoarder if I lived in the States because they have so many great deals on ebay and amazon. Many times they get free shipping too!

I’ve discover that other people have posted the real Insanity workouts on their Youtube page. Real as opposed to having to following along while someone else does the workouts other than Shaun T . Here they are if want to check them out....  

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-fit-test-01

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-plyometric-cardio-circuit-02

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-cardio-power-resistance-03

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-cardio-recovery-04_1

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-pure-cardio-05

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-core-cardio-balanca-07

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-interval-ciruit-08

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-interval-plyo-09

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-cardio-conditioning-10

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-recovery-11

3 bonus workouts that come in the deluxe package....

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-insane-abs-12-puede-remplaza

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-maxx-interval-sports-training

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-upper-body-weight-weight-training-1
 

My Favorite Workout Picks

 

This year along with my DVD picks I’ve found some great online workouts too! When deciding if I want a certain workout DVD I like to go to www.collegevideo.com and www.amazon.com to read all the reviews from people who have tried that video. Then if I want to buy it I go to www.totalfitnessdvd.com they have great prices, low shipping fees and their shipping is super-fast. They also have longer preview clips of videos too!

Christmas and when I go away to visit my mother for 2 weeks are the times over eating of high sugary foods and high calorie drinking happens for me…I know I’m not alone.  I decided these times I would do a very intense workout regimen.  The workout I chose was the 60 day fitness program Insanity!  You can read more about this workout below. 

Cardio with Strength Workouts 

Insanity – Online and DVD

Insanity is by far the hardest workout I have ever done in fact when I first started doing it it felt as if I had never workout in my life. I was use to doing intense cardio workouts like they do in Insanity but the ones I was use to doing were not as long. 

This type of workout is not really for overweight people instead it seems to be more geared towards people who are not overweight but who want to get really toned and ripped. You have to be use to doing some decent cardio before doing it. If you have leg or foot problems don’t do this workout because it’s mostly jumping. Instead of buying this expensive workout all I was doing was using the Insanity workouts that someone posted on their Youtube page. They posted 10 of them 3 are from the deluxe edition that's the one in which he uses weights.  I would suggest adding  weights to the Insanity routine a few times a week just to balance it out so your not doing almost all cardio all of the time.

WARNING: These are advanced workouts don't try to do it if you are not use to doing very intense cardio routines. You really do have to work your way up to something like this. (no telling how long these links will work people aren’t legally allow to put up actual workouts from DVDs ...shhh)

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-fit-test-01

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-plyometric-cardio-circuit-02

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-cardio-power-resistance-03

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-cardio-recovery-04_1

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-pure-cardio-05

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-core-cardio-balanca-07

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-interval-ciruit-08

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-interval-plyo-09

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-cardio-conditioning-10

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-max-recovery-11

3 bonus workouts that come in the deluxe package....

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-insane-abs-12-puede-remplaza

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-maxx-interval-sports-training

http://tu.tv/videos/insanity-upper-body-weight-weight-training-1

I had at one time decided I wanted to buy it. I even made the purchase but then had the seller refund my money after finding out it was a fake version, most of them are. The ones sold on Beachbody, Total Fitness DVD and some on Amazon are real. If you see it for way less than $120.00 it’s fake. I would say 95 percent of the ones sold on ebay are fake. Easiest way to know if it’s authentic is if the box and dvds say beachbody on them the fakes don’t.  This video shows how you can tell if it’s fake or not. Many of the fake dvds don’t even play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq2mrUeEhFo

My overall review of Insanity is it’s the best intense cardio workout around but I find it to be too unbalanced for me. The strength training is just doing push ups and sometimes doing tricep dips. I would rather workout with weights in order to work my arms in a variety of different ways.  You can buy the deluxe edition which has 3 other dvds including one with weights but of course that will jack the price up even more by $45.00.  One of the main drawbacks for me was that I need variety. I got bored really fast so after 2 weeks I stopped doing Insanity….I needed a change from doing basically the same type of cardio moves day after day. 

Confused? Why I have it on my favorite picks because as I stated it’s the best intense cardio workout around. Shaun T is an excellent instructor who really motivates you to dig deep and give it your all and the music gets you going too! I still intend to do it but I’m mixing some of his workouts with my Supreme 90 workouts which have the weight lifting and variety that I need.  I still would like to buy Insanity someday if I can find a non-fake version at a good price.

 Supreme 90 - DVD
 

Why did I wait so long to buy this….oh ya because the price was so cheap that I thought there was no way it could be good. …. I was wrong.  I got it for (including shipping) $17.65 on ebay.  It’s even cheaper in the States. The program comes with 10 DVDs.  It’s worth it just for the Tababa Inferno workout alone.  I also really like their Cardio Challenge (using weights) and the Core Dynamics workout too! The workouts are an even mix of strength and cardio just as the program Rushfit (a more advanced type workout) which I plan to get in the future. Not a big deal but the cardboard case that the DVDs comes is crap so I just bought a small dvd case for a few dollars at the dollar store to hold them in instead.
 

http://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/Supreme-90-DVD-Set-p/supreme90.htm

Everybody Fitness Total Body Conditioning – DVD

in instead Wow if this workout doesn't be your heart pumping then you have to be dead. I love the variety in it...you use a stability ball; hand weights, resistance bands and there's even kickboxing thrown in! The music has a great beat that really inspires you to move and boy will you be moving. Wow if this

 

http://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=everybody+fitness+to

Your Body Breakthru The Ultimate Workout - DVD

in instead This workout also has really good music to inspire you. Michelle Dozois has to be one of the best fiteness instructors out there. This was my first time using disces (well I used plastic plates but you can use paper ones too) really makes leg and ab work more effective, can give you quite the burn. I always under estimate the effects of using new equimpment will be so take it easy or you'll really be feeling it the following day.

Don't shy away from getting this workout because you don't have a high step… I have a sturdy step stool which is suffice…there aren’t that many moves done with it anyway. (the sit down exercise can be done on a chair or couch and the side leg exercise can be done from a regular step)

http://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/YOUR-BODY-BREAKTHRU-THE-ULTIMATE-WORKOUT-DVD-MICHE-p/244.htm

Cardio 

15 Minute High Intensity Home Cardio Workout - Online

in instead

This is my favorite quick Tabata workout. I use it before doing workouts that are just strength training without any cardio. It's really great to do when your pressed on time but want to squeeze in a quick workout. You still need to add a warm up and cool down. Oh those Ninja jump ups that she does...I just modify those to regular jump squats because I'm saving my knees for things like walking...lol

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6yIeuPW494&list=FLuRtHP-VPz3l2kQ2NJOSMww

 
Strength Workout

Iron Yoga – DVD and Online

Want to try something really different…try Iron Yoga. When I tried this I thought it was going to be easy…after all I was just using 2 pound weights. Boy was I wrong! Moving weights in a very slow motioned will get your arms burning in no time. You can buy it on DVD or do it for free online…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiUTNjSJB3k

Warm Ups and Cool Downs
 

Warm Up and Cool Down by BeFit – Online

This warm up hits every part you need stretch in just 4 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMtwqIwM85Q
 

This cool down gets the job done in just 9 minutes.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G06K8WARJbs

15 Minute Ultimate Stretch Session - DVD
 

This stretch session is off of the Your Body Breakthru The Ultimate Workout Dvd which I posted earlier in my favorite cardio and strength workouts. So right off the bat you know your getting great value for your money.
 

I like to mix my routines by using kettlebells, regular weights, stability balls, weighted gloves and exercise bands with various types of workouts including iron yoga, tabata, kickboxing and iron palates. My body does not get a chance to plague this way because my body never gets use to doing the same thing day in day out. The only down side is I sometimes feel sore the following day that’s where this 15 minute ultimate stretch session comes in it does a great job at stretching the body. The music is soothing and this stretch segment can be used by anyone. I have a many stretch routines but this one by far is my favorite. This link only shows 2 moves of the stretch workout …there at the end it.

http://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/YOUR-BODY-BREAKTHRU-THE-ULTIMATE-WORKOUT-DVD-MICHE-p/244.htm

 

My Christmas Miracle



You may have noticed that I don't post any gluten-free baking recipes except for a pizza dough recipe. I can make great corn bread and tortilla wraps too but dame it all I have tried numerous times to just make a simple loaf of bread and I have failed every time. In fact I have failed a total of 9 times! 4 times using the same recipe that I kept trying to tweak. Some were made  using my bread machine and some were made using the oven. The ninth time I came the closet to making a good loaf. I was following this girls recipe/video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ilHt04fRk

I found it still turned out too moist. So I add a little less water and change the flour from coconut flour and rice flour to just oat flour and voila my first ever yummy loaf. My loaf did not turn out very large...gluten free loaves usually don't but I'm not complaining...I'm super happy. If you have problems trying to make a gluten free loaf ....don't give up...keep trying...just let lots of time past before you attempt it again...lol. My supermarket stopped carryng gluten-free bread so I had to learn how to make bread. I'm going to start make two loaves at time since I'll just be freezing most of it. Unlike most gluten-free breads that you usually have to toast for them to taste good this one tastes great without toasting it. It really does taste just like regular bread!

 

Easy Gluten-Free Bread

 

1 cup + 100 ml very warm water (105 degree)

2 1/2 tsp yeast

2 Tbsp organic sugar

 

1/3 cup water

2 Tbsp ground flax

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1 cup oat flour*
1 1/2 cup Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp xanthan gum
1 tsp sea salt

In one bowl ( I use a 4 cup measuring bowl) add the very warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir and let sit in a warm place until a thick foam appears on top.
While the yeast is bubbling, in a smaller bowl mix the water, ground flax, and oil. Stir and let sit.

Put dough blade in a food processor. Add the oat flour, all purpose baking flour, xanthan gum, sea salt. Mix well.

If you don’t have a food processor like me for the following steps you can use a hand mixture and large bowl to mix everything in.

Add the flax mixture to the yeast mixture and stir. Open the top of the food processor, and with the processor running, gently pour the liquid into the dry ingredients. Mix well. Stop and scrape the edges and mix again until the dough forms a lump.

Place dough in an oiled (coconut oil is a yummy choice) loaf pan. Let rise to just above the top of the pan with the oven set at 350F. The heat from the oven will help it rise. I put a microwave cover the bread pan then cover that with a tea towel till it rises about 45 minutes.

Once your loaf has raised; bake on the middle rack for 25 minutes then move to a lower rack for 10 minutes. The loaf will fall a bit and not be as "high" as a wheat loaf, but it is soft, tasty and soooo healthy.

Use a spatula to go down the sides of the bread pan to loosen the loaf. Then flip out onto a wire rack putting the top crust on the bottom. Let it completely cool. Slice and refrigerate or freeze. I like to put the whole loaf in the fridge and slice it the following day I just find it easier to cut even slices that way.

If you like a softer loaf...not as crusty on the outside then rub coconut oil over it after its been baked and cooled completely.

*You can make oat flour just by grinding rolled oats in a coffee grinder.





 

 Apple Pie with Oatmeal Crust

 

This recipe is so simple to make that even a non-baker like me can do it...you don't even have to deal with dough. It’s lower in calories too! It has 195 calories a slice a traditional apple pie that has 411 calories a slice. This recipe comes from the cookbook Best Life Recipes from World Class Chefs.

2 cups oatmeal (certified gluten free)

4 Tbsp vegan margarine (no palm oil...please)

2 Tbsp water

5 apples, cored and sliced

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp brown or white rice flour

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Combine the oatmeal, margarine and water in a food processor for 1 minute. If you don’t have a food processer like me then put your oatmeal in one cup at time into a small chopper and finely grind. Add to a bowl with margarine and water and mix well with your hands.

Coat a 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray and press the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the plate.

Bake the crust for 10 minutes.

Toss together the apples, sugar, cinnamon and flour in a large bowl.

Place the apple mixture on top of the crust and bake, covered with aluminum foil for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve with a scoop of vegan ice cream on top. (calorie count is without the scoop of ice cream)



Smokey Sweet Potato and Broccoli Soup

I found this gem of a recipe on a supermarket calendar. I just added some broccoli and switched out regular chili powder for chipotle chili powder.

2 Tbsp buttery spread*(recipe link below)

1 cup onions, chopped

1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder

1 tsp garlic, grated

3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth

5 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 1/2 cup milk (rice, almond or soy)

2 cups broccoli flowerets, thawed cut into small pieces and cooked

In a large pot melt buttery spread over medium heat, add onion and chili powder sauté for about 5 minutes or until soft, add in the garlic for the last minute. Add broth and sweet potatoes, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.

Transfer to a blender or food processor. In batches puree until very smooth, adding some of the milk if necessary to blend. Return to soup to pot. Stir in milk and broccoli. Heat over medium heat, stirring until steaming, but do not let boil.

* Palm oil is destroying our rainforests and contributing to climate change. For a palm oil-free, vegan margerine or butter alternative please try Bryanne Clark's vegan buttery spread...

http://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.ca/p/introducing-homemade-palm-oil-free.html

Attach Animal Rights Leaflets to Halloween Candy!

Make Halloween count by letting people know about the cruelty animals endure every day. Fold up animal rights leaflets and using an elastic band attach it to the candy you plan to give out. You can also include a strip of animial rights stickers too or directly put the stickers onto the candy! Sure some children may be way too young to read and understand the ligature but their parents aren’t and parents do inspect young children’s candy. If you don’t have any leaflets because it’s too late to order any ….grrr (I will send this same notice out earlier next year) You can always print leaflets on your own printer or you can email a leaflet download to a printing place like UPS, Kinko’s or my favorite place PostNet. It really doesn’t cost very much. So what leaflets should you send out? It’s really up to you. I happen to have many at my home so I decide to use … Think Before You Eat Fur-Free and Fabulous What’s Wrong with Dairy The most important one I feel to get out is one on veganism because once you can get people to think of animals as more than just food it has a domino effect…they will start thinking about how other animals are being treated. Leaflet downloads…. http://www.peta.org.uk/action/activist-resources/ You can also make your own leaflets…

  http://www.peta.org/action/activism-guide/making-leaflets.aspx

 

* Please do not buy any vegan candy with palm oil....

http://www.orangutans.com.au/Orangutans-Survival-Information/About-Palm-Oil.aspx

Red Pepper & Spinach Omelets

 

This recipe comes from the cookbook Vegan Comfort Foods.  I make this for my guy and myself almost every Friday night. It never ceases to amaze me how many great tasting recipes and products there are to substitute for eggs, dairy and meat.

Red Pepper and Spinach Filling:

1 Tbsp canola oil

3/4 cup diced white onion

3/4 cup diced red bell pepper

2 cups fresh baby spinach or

    1/4 cup frozen spinach, de-thawed, squeeze out excess water

1/2 cup Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese

Omelet:

1 container medium tofu, not pressed (just as it is)

1 Tbsp tahini

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp curry powder

1 tsp salt

2 Tbsp potato starch

1 1/2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

3 Tbsp rice, almond or soymilk

2 Tbsp oil for frying (I use grapeseed oil)

To make the filling:

Warm the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté till tender. Add the spinach and stir constantly until spinach cooks down about 2 minutes. If using frozen just add the last minute. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.

To make the omelet:

In a blender add the omelet ingredients (except the frying oil) until smooth.

Warm some the frying oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Once hot pour some of the omelet batter into pan in swirling motion.  (Make them small so they are easier to flip over)

Cover and cook for a few minutes till the batter dries out on top and is not bubbling anymore.

Carefully flip the omelet …this can be a tricky process. It must be done very delicately…believe me with practice you will get the hang of this.  I do it using 2 spatulas on each side. Once flipped over add some of the filling ingredients along with some of the vegan cheese on one half of the omelet. Wait a few minutes then with the spatula fold over to create a traditional crescent omelets shape. Move the omelet onto a baking pan and keep warm in the oven while you make the rest of the omelets. Repeat until all ingredients are used up. Makes 5 small omelet’s.

Spicy Lentil Soup

 

This soup will take away the chill of fall weather. It's a must have when you have a winter cold. This recipe comes from the cookbook Jump Up and Kiss Me, Spicy Vegetarian Cooking. I've found many great recipes in it. It does contain dairy but most recipes can be made vegan. I did find many of the recipes to be time consuming, but if your use to cooking you'll be able to figure out how to make these dishes more quickly after you make it their way first. Or just wait till I eventually post them.

This recipe is a take off of their Linguine with Spicy Lentil Sauce. I first had it the original way, over Linguine noodles but the whole time I eating it I kept thinking the sauce would be better as soup because it was not a traditional thick sauce that you would expect over pasta. While I’m typing this I’m thinking of how good it would be if they had suggested to blend some of the Spicy Lentil Sauce in a blender. I will have to try that.

To make in into a soup I didn’t really change much just added less lentils and bumped up the Jalapenos. If your using fresh Jalapenos from your garden try just adding half the amount the recipe calls for. I find that my garden fresh ones are way hotter than store bought ones.

2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

1 cup celery, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp garlic, grated

1/3 cup jalapeño,seeded and finely chopped (adjust to taste)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 1/4 cups lentils

5 cups water

Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the celery, carrots and onions. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown about 13 minutes and add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chilies, salt and pepper flakes. Continue to sauté, allowing the vegetable to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. While watching them carefully and stirring often so they don’t burn. 

Add the lentils and water and bring to a boil, then put on lowest heat setting, cover and simmer until the lentils are soft but not mushy or falling apart, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 6

  

Spicy Tofu

UPDATE...I posted this recipe in March of this year but did not have a very appealing photo of it. I just recently took this picture in the hope that it might entice you to try it. Here is the original recipe....

http://glutenfreevegan.blogspot.ca/2012/03/spicy-tofu-with-mashed-sweet-potatoes.html

Spicy, Sweet and Sour Tofu Stir Fry

 

This recipe comes from Vegan Yum Yum's recipe blog. I made a few changes... just added fresh ginger instead of ginger powder, firm tofu (absorbs the flavor more) than extra firm tofu, and I added hot peppers flakes because I love food with a little kick to it and finally I add veggies to the dish instead of just tofu. My version makes more servings (6) which your going to want! 

http://veganyumyum.com/2007/04/crispy-sweet-and-sour-tofu/

Tofu:

 

1 package of firm tofu (drain/pressed) cut into small pieces

2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp flaxseed meal mixed with 6 Tbsp water)

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup oil

 

Sauce:

1/4 cup rice vinegar

100 ml water

3 Tbsp sugar

3 Tbsp tamari

1 1/2 Tbsp ketchup

1 1/2 tsp molasses (I use Blackstrap)

1 1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes

1/2 tsp ginger, minced

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch mixed in 2 tbsp water (Don’t mix with the sauce)

Veggies:

 

4 cups snow peas (ends chopped off) steam till tender crisp

3 cups red peppers, cut into strips, steam till tender crisp

 

Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

Put the egg replacer mixture into a bowl once your flax eggs have thicken into a gel toss the tofu in coat all pieces. (I use a bowl with a lid and toss this coats the tofu pieces very well)

 

Put the cornstarch in another bowl and toss the (now coated with egg replacer) tofu until they are completely coated.

 

Heat the oil in a large skillet and then pan fry the tofu until it is golden brown on both sides.  Put aside on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.

 

To make the sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients EXCEPT the water and cornstarch mixture in a small saucepan.  Heat until the sugar dissolves.  Then add the water/cornstarch mixture and whisk continuously until sauce thickens (this happens quickly, so keep an eye on it).  Remove from heat and set aside until you are ready to put everything together.

 

Combine tofu and veggies in a large bowl and mix with the sauce.  Pour over rice, top with toasted sesame seeds and enjoy! Serves 6