Simple Margarita Recipe

Refreshing and delicious! 

This is one of my favorites. 

I mix up what fruit I use for this recipe 

depending on what I have at the time. 

Pineapple is a great one for how sweet it is. 

Berries make a great red margarita.

Recipe:

1/2 cup (4 oz) Tequila

1/2 cup Orange Juice

1/2 cup Fresh Pineapple

1/2 Tablespoon Lime Juice

Enough Ice to fill your blender

Optional sugar and/or salt

Add ingredients and blend until smooth. 

Rim serving glasses in salt or sugar for enhanced flavor.

Nutrition Facts: Portions: 2
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	1 g
Carbohydrate	151 g
Dietary Fiber	1 g
Total Sugars	9 g
Added Sugars	0 g
Total Fat	0 g
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	13 mg
Potassium	165 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin C	43 mg
www.SuperTracker.usda.gov

Vegan Sloppy Joes

This recipe was shared with me by a family member when they heard I had adopted a vegan diet. I have tweaked the original recipe from the Imus Ranch Cookbook for kids and cowboys, which includes a bunch of delicious vegan recipes and helps raise money for kids with cancer.

Vegan Cowboy Sloppy Joes:

Ingredients:

    2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    1 medium Onion, diced
    1 green Pepper, diced
    4 cloves Garlic, peeled and sliced
    2 teaspoons dried Oregano
    3 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
    32 oz Tomato Juice
    14.5 oz Fire-roasted diced Tomatoes
    1/2 teaspoon Salt
    1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
    2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce**
    1 teaspoon spicy mustard (optional)
    4 Cups Textured Vegetable Protein
    8 Hamburger Buns
    Optional: 2 cups shredded soy mozzarella cheese
   **If you don't happen to have Worcestershire sauce, for this recipe you can substitute:
   1 Tablespoon Chili Powder  
   1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce 
   1/2 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar 
   1/2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar 
   1 teaspoon Lime Juice
   add 1/2 clove Garlic to the original amount

How To: 
-Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 
-When the oil is shimmering, add the onion, garlic and oregano & sauté until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. 
-Add the balsamic vinegar and boil to reduce by half, about 3 minutes. 
-Transfer everything to a larger pot and add vegetable cocktail, tomatoes, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce**, and mustard and bring to a low boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, 

-Add the textured veggie protein and stir until it is softened and the liquid is absorbed.
    

Nutrition Facts: Vegan Cowboy Sloppy Joes Portions: 8
Total Calories	159 Calories
Empty Calories*	2 Calories
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	14 g
Carbohydrate	19 g
Dietary Fiber	6 g
Total Sugars	11 g
Added Sugars	0 g
Total Fat	4 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	3 g
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	50 mg
Potassium	475 mg
Sodium	585 mg
Copper	135 µg
Iron	3 mg
Magnesium	28 mg
Phosphorus	50 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin A	41 µg RAE
Vitamin C	43 mg
Vitamin E	1 mg AT
www.SuperTracker.usda.gov

Margarita Fruit Salad

I originally got this recipe from Vegetarian magazine. I thought it looked delicious so I ripped it out and hung it in my kitchen where it's been collecting dust for almost a year. Finally I have attempted it and have not been disappointed! It's as delicious as it looks! 

Serves Two
Ingredients:
3 Tbs Tequila 
3 Tbs Sugar
2 Tbs Orange Juice
1 Tbs Fresh Lime Juice
pinch of salt

1 Mango, peeled&diced
3 Kiwi, diced
1/4 of a fresh pineapple, diced
40 blueberries

Instructions:
Mix the liquids in a large bowl. 
Add fruit and mix. 
Chill for an hour, mixing occasionally. 
Serve chilled. 
Optional: Add a slice of lime or pineapple or rim the serving glass in salt or sugar

Nutrition Facts: Margarita Fruit Salad Portions: 2
Total Calories	391 Calories (Per Portion)
Added Sugars	72 Calories (Per Portion)
Nutrients	Amount Per Portion
Protein	3 g
Carbohydrate	86 g
Dietary Fiber	10 g
Total Sugars	68 g
Added Sugars	18 g
Total Fat	1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Minerals	Amount Per Portion
Calcium	74 mg
Potassium	766 mg
Sodium	590 mg
Iron	1 mg
Magnesium	51 mg
Phosphorus	76 mg
Vitamins	Amount Per Portion
Vitamin A	52 µg RAE
Vitamin C	209 mg
Vitamin E	4 mg AT
Vitamin K	73 µg

Strawberry Jello Shots

I originally found this idea from a buzzfeed article. After attempting this recipe twice, I have some tweaks and tips. This recipe is a great sweet fix for people who don't like the taste of alcohol. It's also a refreshing snack perfect for hot summer days.

You Will Need:

-melon baller or small spoon

-knife

-liquid measuring cup

-30-40 large strawberries

-1 packet jello mix

-1 cup boiling water

-i cup cold alcohol (tequila)

How To:

1) Rinse strawberries. Make sure they are large enough to hold a jello shot. Cut off the tops.

 2) Carefully cut the strawberry bottoms so they can stand up on a plate. 

3) Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop a hole in the strawberry. Be careful! It's easy to scoop out too much which will make the jello leak out

  

4) Boil 1 cup water & add jello mix. Stir until completely dissolved.

5) Add 1 cup cold alcohol 

6) Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Optional: 

Grate fresh lime zest over coarse sugar to rim the strawberries before serving. 

My Tips:

Freeze for 10 minutes right before serving for ultimate refreshment.

If you have extra jello, make regular jello shots or cut up chunks of strawberries that were too small and add them to the jello in a bowl. 

Green Smoothies & Vegan Banana Ice Cream

We all know that fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but many of us struggle to get the recommended amounts each day. Smoothies are a great way for people who don't want a vegetable flavor to still get the nutrients from consuming them. Recently in NYC I have noticed more and more smoothie carts that blend fresh fruit at your request. I love it. I myself have been blending with my Ninja blender for almost four years now. Through trial and error I've learned a few tricks and come up with a few recipes I love.

Tips:

- You need a good blender. I have never had a problem with my ninja. I have struggled trying to use other blenders that only had blades at the bottom.

- Pineapple and Banana are sweet enough to over power any vegetable flavor. Banana can also be frozen for a creamier smoothie.

Recipes:

-Banana Ice Cream (Vegan)
1.Cut up bananas into slices or small chunks
2. Freeze (3-4 hours)
3. Blend until smooth
Optional: Add frozen berries or small pieces of chocolate to the blender to add extra flavor

Nutrition Facts for Banana:

1. Calories 105 (Per Banana)

2. % Daily Value*
   Total Fat 0.4 g	0%
   Potassium 422 mg	12%
   Total Carbohydrate 27 g	9%
   Dietary fiber 3.1 g	12%
   Sugar 14 g
   Protein 1.3 g	2%

   Vitamin A	1%	Vitamin C	17%
   Calcium	0%	Iron	1%
   Vitamin D	0%	Vitamin B-6	20%
   Vitamin B-12	0%	Magnesium	8%

-Green Smoothie (serves 2 adults)
   2 cups greens (kale or spinach)
   1 cup pineapple or banana
   3/4 cup berries, peaches or other fruit
   1/2-1 cup almond milk (you could also use regular milk or ice)
Blend fruits and vegetables, adding almond milk gradually until desired texture is reached.

   Mint, Pineapple & Kale                                           Orange, Pineapple & Kale















Strawberry, Banana & Spinach

NYC locations, places to grab a delicious smoothie on the go:

 Liquiteria has multiple locations in NYC

 

                                 E11th st

Juice Generation is another great place with multiple locations in Manhattan 

NYC Vegan Shop-Up Market

Sunday May 3rd my boyfriend Hayden and I ventured out to the spreadhouse coffee shop on Suffolk street for the Vegan pop up market. I had seen pictures of past pop up events on instagram but never had the opportunity to go. These events are a great way to sample vegan foods and goods from a variety of vendors all in one place.

Some of the vendors we saw today were the Freakin Vegans with their vegan empanadas. We got a 4 pack so we could try the different flavors. I really enjoyed the spinach and ricotta flavor. The philly cheese and breakfast empanadas would have fooled any non-vegan. Hayden preferred the cheddar broccoli flavor.

We also tried a strawberry-chocolate fritter from the Cake Thieves who are regularly located at the spreadhouse coffee shop. The cake thieves tagline is "We make vegan things that don't taste vegan...cause that would be gross." And they don't lie. Their doughnuts are delicious.






My personal favorite today was something I had seen only in pictures. Sweet Maresa makes artisan vegan french macaroons using ingredients from local farmers markets. The chocolate macaroon was so soft and delicious. Hayden tried a chocolaty smores cookie. My favorite was the Smacaroon, smores flavored macaroon.

The sunny weather made today the perfect setting for a pop up market. We enjoyed everything we tried and will most likely attend another vegan pop up event. There were a few vendors I saw but didn't get to try today, like Cheeze Hound nut based cheeses, 3 little birds vegan ice cream, and The Fanciful Fox natural soaps and body products. All of these vendors & their products are vegan. I feel good supporting small businesses local to the NYC area. I love being able to sample all these vendors in one place.