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Friday, December 2, 2011

The Everyday Happy Herbivore Book Giveaway and Recipes!

If you haven't met Lindsay S. Nixon yet, you should brace yourself...she is a phenomenally talented cookbook author extraordinaire (she is even a lawyer) who will change your culinary world forever! Her very popular website, Happy Herbivore, fabulously boasts more than 100 fat-free and low fat healthy vegan recipes! Lindsay makes whole food, plant-based simple, delicious, and exciting...

Lindsay is a genius at taking everyday ingredients and creating divine and nutritious recipes that anyone can easily whip up. Her recipes have been featured in Vegetarian Times, Women's Health Magazine, and The Huffington Post. Lindsay is also a consulting chef at La Samanna. I happened to have fallen in admiration of Lindsay when I saw her do a cooking demo of her famously fabulous Instant Cookie Dough, Baked Onion Rings, and Chocolate Zucchini Muffins at Healthy Taste of L.A. last month. Lindsay seriously makes cooking look easy and she has inspired thousands of "Herbies" to eat more healthfully and adopt a whole food, plant-based diet.

After tremendous success with her first book, The Happy Herbivore (which I highly recommend become part of your cookbook library...although you won't have time to actually store it since you will be using it too often to put it away), Lindsay's much anticipated second book, Everyday Happy Herbivore, is about to hit shelves. This new collection includes more than 175 easy recipes using wholesome, easy-to-find, fresh ingredients that you can make anytime.

Fortunately for us, Lindsay has generously offered to give one lucky reader a free copy of her new book. All you have to do to win the FREE copy is subscribe to this blog and post a comment describing your favorite whole food plant-based tip (for cooking, shopping, eating, etc.) before December 16th. The winner will be announced Monday, December 19th on my Plant-Based Dietitian facebook page.

Lindsay has also shared a sneak peak of a few of her delectable recipes from Everyday Happy Herbivore with us here...

Skillet Refried Beans 
serves 2
Sure canned refried beans are easy, but you just can't top the taste of homemade. The little effort required here is so worth it---these beans are fantastic!

1 small onion, finely diced
15-oz can pinto beans (undrained)
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
paprika

Line a skillet with a thin layer of water and saute onion over high heat until translucent and most of the water has cooked off. Add cumin, chili powder and a few dashes of paprika, stirring to coat the onions. Add beans with their juices and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and mash beans well using a fork or potato masher. It will look very soupy, don't be alarmed. Crank the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes. If the bans start popping and splashing, cover for a few minutes, then uncover. Stir every minute or so, scraping the bottom to lift the beans. After 10 minutes the liquid should have significantly reduced. It may still be a little soupy, that is alright, it will thicken as it cools. However, if it's really soupy, cook longer. Add salt and pepper and taste, then serve.

Per serving: 216 calories, 0.4g fat, 41.7g carbohydrate, 15.7g fiber, 4.8g sugar, 13.7g protein

Sweet Potato Dal
serves 2
This soup is Dal-icious! It's so flavorful you'll want seconds, and thirds!

1 small sweet potato, skinned
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp garam masala, plus extra
1 cup vegetable broth, plus extra
1/2 cup red lentils
4 cups spinach, or more
salt

Dice sweet potato into small 1/2-inch cubes and set aside. Line a medium pot with a thin layer of water and saute onions and garlic for a minute. Add a pinch or two red pepper flakes and continue to cook until all the water has cooked off. Add turmeric, 1/4 tsp garam masala and stir to coat.  Add 1 cup broth, uncooked lentils, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to low, cover, and simmer for a few minutes, about 5. Add sweet potatoes, bring to a boil again, and reduce to low and simmer, until lentils are fully cooked (they expand and the sauce thickens), about 5 minutes more. Check periodically to see if you need additional broth (I tend to add an extra 1/2 cup but it can vary). Once lentils are cooked and sweet potatoes are fork tender, taste, adding more garam masala as desired (I like to add another 1/4 tsp but some blends are stronger than others). Add spinach, continuing to stir until spinach cooks down and softens. Add salt to taste and serve.

Per serving: 232 calories, 0.9g fat, 42.2g carbohydrates, 17.7g fiber, 4.7g sugar, 15.4g protein

Quick Burgers 
makes 4
I developed these burgers in a hotel room: they're quick, easy, and require very few ingredients. (In fact, except for the beans and seasoning packet, I sourced all the ingredients from the complimentary "breakfast bar). I make these burgers any time I need a super fast meal or I'm really low on ingredients.

15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp onion powder (granulated)
1 tsp garlic powder (granulated)
1/3 cup instant oats



Per burger: 109 calories, 0.5g fat, 17.6g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 2.2g sugar, 5g protein

Spicy Orange Greens 
serves 2
The slightly spicy orange sauce in his dish is one of my favorites. You can serve it with any greens you like or have on hand, but collard greens are my favorite to use. For a complete meal, serve over or tossed with noodles.

1/3 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp orange marmalade or jam
4 cups greens (any)

Pour water, soy sauce, ginger, and red pepper flakes into a skillet. Turn heat to high and saute until the ginger is fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in marmalade and then add chopped greens. Reduce heat to medium and using tongs, turn greens into the sauce. This will help cook the greens down; stop when your greens are bright green and have softened. Serve.

Chef's Note: Coked broccoli florets may be substituted for the greens. Toss cooked broccoli  with the sauce once it's been warmed and serve.

Per serving: 156 calories, 1.5g fat, 32g carbohydrates, 8.8g fiber, 11.6g sugar, 10.1g protein


Sage Gravy 
makes 1 1/2 cups
Good over greens, mashed potatoes, faux chicken---anything really. This is my latest go-to gravy.

1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup nondairy milk
1 tbsp rubbed sage (not powdered)
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tbsp white whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp garlic powder (granulated)
1/4 tsp onion powder (granulated)
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
dash paprika
1 lemon wedge (juice of)
pinch salt
black or white pepper

Whisk all ingredients together in a medium pot, taking care to rub the sage between your fingers to break it down in smaller bits, especially if your brand is a little rustic with bigger leaves and stick pieces (pull out those sticks if you can). Squeeze the juice out of your lemon wedge completely, and discard the rind. Bring gravy to near boil over high heat but just before it boils, immediately turn off the heat and remove the pot to a non-hot burner, stirring it. Taste, adding black or white pepper and salt as desired.

Chef's Note: Brown rice flour may be substituted for a gluten-free option.

Per serving (1/4 cup): 29 calories, 0.3g fat, 4.7g carbohydrate, 1.2g fiber, 1.2g sugar, 2.6g protein

For more information, visit Lindsay's website, Happy Herbivore, and check out her books, The Happy Herbivore and Everyday Happy Herbivore. I guarantee she will make you want to immediately run to your kitchen and start experimenting with her recipes!

50 comments:

JenniferClement said...

I subscribed! My favorite plant-based tip is using flax eggs to replace eggs in my bread baking! I have been able to make my whole wheat bread and cornbread using this method and they have turned out GREAT! :)

Chrysanthe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julia P. said...

I'm subscribed! My favorite tip is to always make extra brown rice and freeze it in portion sizes for quick meals.

Chrysanthe said...

sweet potatoes are my all-time favorite breakfast or quick snack. just poke some holes in the skin, wrap in a damp paper towel, and microwave for 4 minutes! sprinkle cinnamon on top if you so desire.

michelle said...

Subscribed! My tip is to keep reading (like subscribing to this blog!) and studying the science behind plant based nutrition because this is Food Truth and your knowledge will help you make the right choices for eating for your own health - as well as help you educate your loved ones.

ChefCK, Indp. Advanced Sales Director for The Pampered Chef said...

Subscribed! My favorite new go to snack or lunch has to do with my love for fresh hummus and fresh salsa (which is a staple in my home)! One day, I was in a hurry and put some fresh hummus on a tortilla and put fresh salsa on it, added avocado and arugula...OH MY! It is such a flavor explosion, I get a yen for it everytime I think about it. YUM!

Nani said...

i subscribed, i'd love to win this book!!
im always trying new recipes and making my own, and i guess thats my tip, as a former carnivore, i try to veggie everything!
Oh and also, i always keep fresh salsas handy, i love heat in my food :)

J said...

Subscribed!

My best tip for fresh whole food eating is to shop frequently and make meal plans. Then your produce is always the freshest and you don't end up buying things you don't actually plan to use.

Kiki said...

My favorite veg trick is hummus, ill eat it with anything. Oh and red lentils, i ov how mushy they get!

-nathalie g

Lynnette said...

I love homemade fat free hummus which can be made in different flavors. And black bean hummus for a change too. It is always there for a quick snack on wasa or bread, or with veggies. Flax & applesauce in baked goods to replace eggs and oil are so simple, and taste great, those those are favorites also.

Anonymous said...

Found your blog through another. Glad I found it! Happy to subscribe, and happy to enter your give-a-way! I'd love a copy of HH's newest cookbook. I haven't been able to order one yet, and I love the first one so much, I really want this one!

I offer lots of plant based nutrition tips and tricks on my blog, but one of my favorite ones is to use water or broth to saute with. There's not need for oil! On the rare occasion I do use a little oil, it's for flavoring, and not for cooking.

Here's a bonus tip: Use cauliflower as a base for creamy soups. I love this trick! Cuts the calories WAY down and adds some nutrients.

SharonM said...

My favorite whole food plant based tip is to always be prepared...as a Mom of 3 (entire family is plant-based), I always keep some type of oil-free hummus in the fridge, and we take a container with us wherever we go, along with some carrot and/or celery sticks. I also almost always carry apples and/or bananas for hunger emergencies. This way, we are never tempted by less nutritious options.

Diane in Flagstaff said...

Subscribed...my favorite tip as a newbie Vegan is to search online for blogs (such as yours) because they are a wealth of free recipes and tips. I have tried several new recipes and techniques I found online and have loved them!

PATI CLARK said...

I have subscribed, my favorite low cal snack is baked kale chips with sea salt Im gonna try and make beet chips soon because they look yummy. I am going to start a PH balance diet this month more of a plant based diet would be more alkaline verses the typical heavy acid foods I would normally eat (cow milk, meat,coffee) I could really use the book for recipe ideas ...so glad i found your blog ...

Unknown said...

subscribed...

always have fresh fruit/veggie ready...

lonelystar said...

Was already subscribed! Your blog, Lindsey's, and those of other plant-based proponents are my best tip... the recipes and ideas keep everything fresh so that I always have new dishes to try out on my teenagers, who aren't all necessarily sure that they want to give up animal products. I always need help keeping them excited about plant-based!

Anonymous said...

Just subscribed! I try to make some fat-free vegan muffins to have on hand when we need a sweet snack. Lindsay has several on her website. So far my family has loved the carrot-cake muffins, blueberry oatmeal and maple kissed sweet potato (or pumpkin) muffins. Yum! Oh, and you can freeze them, that is if they don't get eaten right away!

Karen B said...

My favorite tip is going to sound silly but it's true. The BEST thing I've done since adopting a plant based diet two years ago is buying The Happy Herbivore books and follow Lindsay on Facebook and on her blog. She has some amazingly good recipes and tips that have really made my diet much healthier!

MelanieC said...

I'd love to win this book. I have Lindsay's first book on my kindle and love it. Her chickpea tacos are one of my favorite recipes ever.

Julieanna - Your idiots guide to plant based nutrition is the best book I've ever read on the subject. It's exactly the book I was looking for. THANKS!

MelanieC said...

I forgot to mention I also subscribed :)

Michelle said...

I subcribed! I'm new to plant-based nutrition, so I don't have many tips. But...eating more beans and things like kale has been an adventure.

v said...

Subscribed! My fav tip is be prepared for salty or sweet cravings. If you're tired or stressed, you'll grab anything. If you're prepared with an apple or greens w/dates smoothie or salty kale chips, or creamy hummus you'll fortify your body and soothe your mind.

Christy said...

My favorite tip is to get my hubby to do all the chopping, dicing and slicing...then the cooking part is easy!

Angie said...

I'm subscribed! I don't really have a tip since I'm still reading and learning. I'm excited about all the great blogs and resources online.

Renata said...

I'm subscribed :) Surviving at Omni Restaurants: My tip is to learn how to see menu items at non-veg restaurants as raw ingredients to create your own entree... A little hummus from this menu item, a little garden salad from the appetizer list, some beans or edamame from the sides menu and a tortilla from some menu item and tada! You have a yummy meal :)

Anonymous said...

I subscribed! My favorite tip for a plant-based diet is surf the internet for blogs! There are so many raw and vegan blogs out there that are too cool and have so many ideas I would have never thought of. Reading these types of blogs gives me go power to be adventerous in my cooking and try to come up with my own ideas and experiment!

B said...

I'm a subscriber. My favorite plant-based lifestyle tip is throwing dark leafy greens in everything! We love watching our three little girls gobble up tacos, spaghetti, salads, curry, soups, and other favorite dishes loaded with chopped greens like kale. Yum!

Unknown said...

I am a two month old plant based eater!! I feel absolutely wonderful. My tip is to continue reading these very helpful books (thanks Julieanna and Brendan) to continue learning this new lifestyle. I look forward to reading more from Lindsay as well. What a GREAT new life I have. Thanks everyone for the useful tips!!

Plant-based Cooking said...

I love recipe books, and frankly, I guess I collect them. When I went full vegan last year I gave away all my omnivore cookbooks to second hand shops. Even though I could have veganized them, I wanted to support the green vegan movement. I have twelve veg cookbooks, but what's a few more right?

My favourite tip is to remember the versatility of nuts, especially cashews. I use this little babies whenever I'm craving comfort food from my childhood. Whether it's "oh she glows" mac and cheese or raw tomato soup or creamed kale from whole food nutrition, or whipped "cream", cashews take me back with their creamy goodness.

Jo said...

I am a subscriber. I've been plant-based since July. My favorite thing is smoothies in my VitaMix. It helps me reach my daily quota of fruits, greens, flax or hemp seeds, and almond milk.

tabitha said...

im new to being a vegetarian/vegan so i do not have a tip yet but i am learning so much from your site

tabitha said...

also i am a subscriber :)

Unknown said...

Subscribed! And my tip is: spices are your friends, not to cover up the tastes of your whole foods but to accentuate them or give them a twist.

Anonymous said...

I subscribe!! I love hummus! But I also keep any type of nut around in order to satisfy any crunch salty craving that I have!

Crystal Gable said...

Subscribed... and my tip is to find veggie friends to keep you motivated. Share recipes, blogs, docs and books and keep spreading the word!

katrina said...

Subscribed! My best tip is to keep learning and trying new foods.

Jen said...

Subscribed
I always keep a fresh veggie salad with all sorts of vegetables in it in the fridge, that way there is always something to snack on or serve as an appetizer while I make a meal.

Megan said...

So excited about this blog! I am new to the plant-based diet, but my latest favorite discovery are vegan buttery bars. I used them in brownies and they came out terrific!

ahealthypassion said...

im so excited about this book, my tip is lots of greens and veggies when you're feeling under the weather!

seriousway said...

Subscribed. My favorite tip is to Keep It Simple. Cook up a grain (rice, quinoa, etc.) or a legume (lentils, white beans, red beans, etc.) and set aside (or open a bag or can of pre-cooked if you prefer). Water saute some mushrooms, onions, and garlic for a few minutes, throw in any combination of other veggies (carrots, peppers, kale, cabbage, parsley, cilantro, Swiss chard, beet greens, celery, peas, green beans, corn, okra, etc. - not everything, just a few things you have on hand), and cook to crisp tender. Season with fresh chopped tomatores and/or herbal blends or not. Serve over the grain or legume and enjoy to your heart's content! And don't be afraid to experiment with different flavor combinations. Throw in some nuts or seeds; try including a few exotic olives chopped small. Get creative and every meal can be different.

Averiesmom said...

Subscribed, too! My best tip is to research as I've learned so much by reading not only what the experts say, but people who follow this way of eating.

Anonymous said...

Hello! I happily subscribed and look forward to trying a couple of the recipes shared here. My whole-foods tip is to shop frequently (I go a few times a week) to pick up lots of fresh veggies and fruit. I often find some on sale this way and snatch those up first. Then I bring them home, wash them and set them out where myself and my family have easy access to them. I'm new to the plant-based diet world, but loving it and having so many varieties available to eat morning noon and night makes it easier to stick with.. plus, you don't want them to go bad. :)

Jennʻs Adventureʻs said...

I'm a subscriber!!!

My best tip is to always have something in the dehydrator -- meal planning is a huge priority to my family and I merely because of our lifestyles. You never want to find yourself in a situation where you don't have anything to eat (or think you don't have anything to eat!). This is one of the reasons I bought the 9-tray Excalibur -- I plan on ALWAYS having a few trays if not all loaded on a daily basis!

LoriRobin said...

I am happily subscribed! My favorite tip is to get a lot of kale in my morning protein shake which allows me to consume more than just eating it plain and energizes me all day long. I love my greens!

The Vegan Lady said...

buying produce from our CSA - local, in season and organic! YUMMY times three!

Christine said...

I just found your blog today and also subscribed. My tip is to keep nuts and dried fruit on handy for a satisfying, healthy snack.

Amyjune said...

I am subscribed. My tip is to introduce people closest to you to plant strong eating so you will have a support system to share this life change with. You will have more fun cooking and eating together. You will have people to exchange your favorite recipes with.

chickpeafreak said...

Subscribed! And for a quick salad dressing, I take some oil- and tahini-free hummus, and dilute with a little water to desired consistency. Tasty and easy in a pinch, or as a staple!

Shirlie said...

I'm subscribed! My tip is for a crunchy snack to pop popcorn in a brown lunch bag in the microwave then spray with lemon juice and sprinkle with nutritional yeast flakes and hemp seeds.

Lori said...

Just subscribed! :) My favorite tip is when eating out call ahead and let them know you have a vegan in your party. Usually restaurants are happy to work with you. :)

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