I'm Back + Now Have Access to my Original AnnaVeda Blog! Est. 2007

Yes!!!

Today I was overjoyed to learn that I would be able to resume blogging here at AnnaVeda. In honor of this momentous occasion I have baked up a New Vegan Banana Bread with dark chocolate chips and ground flax! I took a nice long run along the River Charles (see below) this evening and feel such clarity regarding the direction in which I am headed. Yoga + Vegan Baking = Smiling Anna!

My DVD Very Good Vegan is once again available direct for $10 PayPal, FREE Shipping. I am considering revamping my Raw/Vegan/Cleanse eBook and/ video so please share your thoughts with me...Thank you for checking this out & stay tuned!

  All inquiries to amfosdes@aol.com

Yoga at All That Matters in Wakefield, RI

Anna Maria, Sheri & Justyna @ All That Matters

Today I was yet again humbled by a great Yoga class taught by a fabulous instructor, Sheri Silva Cavanagh. I attended her Vinyasa class at All That Matters in Wakefield, RI, and it was quite simply put, divine. Needing a teacher to guide and inspire, yet simultaneously nurture and support is indeed a tall order. It is one that I am aware of each time I stand before a class and teach. The room was warm, not hot; Sheri set the tone with some laughter and interacted with all of her students in a genuinely present fashion. Not once did I feel overwhelmed, yet I was inspired and felt a deep opening as we glided from asana to asana. I highly recommend dropping into any of her classes next time you are in the area; you will be glad that you did!

Valentine's Day Express Facial Offer

Email amfosdes@aol.com to reserve.

Chocolate Body Scrub!

11 oz Chocolate Body Scrub - $10/Jar

I just whipped up a batch today - email amfosdes@aol.com to order Perfect for dry winter skin!

Baking Again...

Thanks to everyone who has written over the past several months....I am back to baking (raw treats too) again after a little kitchen hiatus. This a photo of the French Apple Tart that almost took out my right eye when it's apricot glaze squirted out of a hot oven. Ouch, but all good.. Lesson learned? Perhaps use goggles when any basting/glazing is involved....Live and learn. Locals: I am making up a batch of my raw coconut macaroons this weekend; email if you would like some left on your doorstep...info@annaveda.com

Mini Vegan Cupcakes for Trend Salon Party

50 Mini Vegan Cupcakes & Frosting (Made from Scratch) - for Trend Salon's Spring Fling - Stonington Borough, CT

Mixed Greens w. Warm Carmelized Shallot Dressing

On my plate tonight....too hungry to type the recipe so email me info@annaveda.com if you would like to try it :-)

I am the Joan Jett of Chocolate Cake

The cookie that happened yesterday was just right. Chocolate discs with grain sweetened chocolate chips, turbinado sugar (organic, bien sûr)...

When I say that a cookie happened to me, I mean that exactly. I look into the pantry, grab a few ingredients, then see what can happen. Crank some music..... Preheat oven.... High quality cocoa powder, organic whole wheat flour, natural high end vanilla... you get the picture. No tip-toe-ing around leveling my cups fretting in my paisley apron... uh - uh....

Fierce in the kitchen and fearless!

I have decided that I am, after all the Joan Jett of Chocolate Cake....

Yeah, I said it....

(Just saw the Runaways, I was so waiting for that film - LOVE JJ, always have, always will!

Vegan Pad Thai

Last night I was really craving Pad Thai, even though I was quite sleepy after a whirlwind day replete with all of the flooding excitement here in New England...

Cooking, in my opinion is best when approached Freestyle; play it fast and loose then see how it all shakes out. There were no exact measurements for this dish, no recipe was followed. My best advice is to set aside some bok choy or romaine lettuce, peas, tofu & carrots and then take a basic Pad Thai recipe & eliminate the fish sauce (ick) and eggs (ick, again) for the base.

The tofu obviously becomes the substitute for chicken, etc... I love spice so a few shakes of red pepper flakes and even a dash of hot sauce will yield a more adventurous plate. Step outside of your safety zone and spice things up...

So, set aside your jar of sauce and bag of pasta tonight. Grab some noodles, veggies and peanut butter on your way home and bang out a little fun with your wok!

Vegan Sesame Peanut Sauce Tea Noodles

Here is my recipe for the Vegan Sesame Peanut Sauce Tea Noodles that I make often, enjoy!

Serves 2

Be certain to look for noodles that are egg-free when shopping for this dish. You may also use wheat or gluten-free capellini/angel hair pasta if you cannot find the appropriate Chinese noodles. Peanut butter is a great source of calcium fiber and protein.

1. Brew 1 Cup Black Tea, Set Aside

2. Blend in a food processor:

1 Cup Creamy All Natural Peanut Butter

1/8 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce

¼ Cup Rice Vinegar

1 Shallot, Peeled

3 Cloves Garlic, Peeled

¼ Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

¼ Cup Toasted Sesame Oil

2 Scallions

1 Tbsp White Sesame Seeds

4 Stalks of Asparagus Sliced into 3” Strips

5 Baby Carrots, Sliced Lengthwise in This Strips

3. Boil 2 quarts of filtered water in a large pot, cook spaghetti or Chinese noodles according to package directions. Place a metal colander over this pot and steam the asparagus for the final 4 minutes of cooking.

4. Add the tea to the peanut butter mixture and scrape down sides of the bowl. Resume processing until all ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside.

5. Drain the pasta as soon as it is cooked, toss with the peanut sauce, asparagus and garnish with sliced scallions, carrot strips & sesame seeds. Plate and serve with chopsticks. (It is time for you to learn how to use them if you have not yet – seriously).

That's all for today, cookbook nearing completion, y'all. Good thing for all of this New England rain, I am being highly productive. Spring Fever has hit me so as soon as the rain breaks I am out in the garden!

Hot Chocolate & Spice Mexican Cookies

Happy Spring! Today was a sunny, warm and absolutely lovely day in New England. Days such as these make me want to settle down here and stay a bit longer....I will momentarily set down my red riding hood... (Think Juliette Binoche in Chocolat)...

"Chocolat is about Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her child (Victoria Thivisol) who are literally blown into a small French village in the winter of 1959. Here she opens a small chocolate shop in the midst of Lent season. This does not set well with this placid community. She ends up converting citizens to love her sinful chocolate and it turns the community upside down."

Ahem.... I would love to convert this town's citizens to love my vegan treats in the midst of Lent!

So, here is a new Vegan cookie from this week's baking adventures. Feel free to use 1/2 of the chili powder if you like less spice. Or, live dangerously and use a bit more. Everyday is an adventure, why not carry that excitement over into the kitchen as well? I may even bust out my red satin heels this week and follow Vianne's lead!

2.25 Cups Whole Wheat Organic Flour

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/4 Tsp Coarse Salt

1 Cup Non Dairy Non Hydrogenated Butter Alternative

1/4 Cup Agave Nectar

1/4 Cup Turbinado Sugar

2 Tbsp Ground Flax in 6 Tbsp Water

3 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Chili Powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Beat sugar, agave and "butter" in the bowl of a stand mixer. Scrape sides of the bowl and add the flax mixture and all of the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Place a bit of extra turbinado sugar in a shallow bowl. Take rounded tablespoons of the dough, roll into balls and drop into the sugar.

Place on sheets lined with parchment about 1 inch apart and flatten a little with the palm of your hand. Bake 6 minutes, rotate the pans and bake an additional 5-6 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Enjoy!

Up next, adventures with Gluten Free Vegan recipes......

NEW Vegan Cinnamon Smores Cookies

Today's NEW Vegan Cookie - Cinnamon Smores

What can I say - except that the cookie base which has a nice graham cracker grit to it makes a great "home base" for this little treat. From there things only get better - dark chocolate and a broiler toasted marshmallow top! OMG it was like camping, but without the bugs, and noisy frogs :-)

BTW The vegan marshmallows are from Sweet and Sara, NYC. They are fabulous and taste amazing. Check their line out at http://sweetandsara.com/

Recipe to come when I am feeling more energetic...

Recipe...

Yoga Alfresco, Yoga Primavera & New Vegan Cookie

From My Yoga Mat Today - The First Crocuses of 2010!!!


I took my Yoga practice OUTSIDE today - it was amazing. I will be practicing outdoors as often as possible and weather permitting now that Spring is in the air!

From my mat flowing through my Ashtanga practice (tried & true, baby), I was able to breathe in clean, fresh New England air, and experience a bright blue sky in each upward dog. It was truly a beautiful day and I am grateful for both the simplicity and efficiency of this practice as well as the weather.

In other news, check out these new Vegan cookies I came up with today - made with almond paste. I said that I was not going to bake anything today but these just happened. I couldn't stop myself.

Try them out, they are incredibly easy and tasty as well. Anyone can bake these cookies!

Always New FREE Vegan Recipes www.AnnaVedaKitchen.com

Anna Maria's Vegan Almond Paste Cookies

1/2 Cup Dairy Free Butter Alternative

1/2 Cup Turbinado Sugar

3/4 Cup Almond Paste

1/2 Cup Agave Nectar

1 Tbsp Ground Flax

3 Tbsp Filtered Water

1 Cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup Organic Spelt Flour

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line 2 cookie trays with parchment paper.

Beat the sugar, agave, almond paste, butter alternative, flax, water and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Add dry ingredients, scrape down sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper - spacing 3 inches apart.

Bake for 10 minutes, and cool in trays on parchment over wire racks. Enjoy!

Vegan Granola Blends

Cranking out New Recipes here again today!

More to come this week!

NEW! Weekly Pick Up at Mystic BodyWorks!

NEW! Place your orders for Raw, Gluten Free and Vegan Treats at http://annavedakitchen.com/HOME.html
and pick up Tuesday Mornings each week at Mystic BodyWorks located at 42 Washington St. in Mystic CT!

Email your order inquiries info@annaveda.com

NEW Gluten Free and Vegan Items will be added to the site each week!

Sun-dried Tomato Polenta w. Grilled Eggplant & Baking

I made a small batch of Polenta with sun-dried tomatoes last night and decided to jazz it up a bit. Served on top of pan seared radicchio, I added dollops of my fresh pesto and slices of grilled eggplant. It was delicious and gave me that "comfort food" satisfaction that was much needed on a chilly New England evening. (Sprouted mung bean salad was a nice side, not only for color but crunch and, oh yeah, nutritious perks!)

In other news I am back to baking this week so email info@annaveda.com or order online at www.AnnaVedaKitchen.com - we have added my tasty Gluten Free Gingerbread Loaves, the site will be updated later today.

You may pick up your orders when I am at the Mystic Yoga Shala this Thursday from 4:15-5:15pm.

Vegan Nutmeg Agave Pancakes w. Coconut & Dark Chocolate

...Made fresh this morning - once again reconfirming that eating a Plant Based Vegan Diet can be satisfying as well as nutritious. I do not feel that I am missing out on anything in my diet. Being adventurous in the kitchen is fun, and it literally spices up your life! Bon Appetit!

Raw Guacamole Wraps!

Raw Guacamole Wraps - Raw Foods Rock!
Yes, you can actually try a raw foods meal.
1- Make fresh Guacamole.
2- Spoon into Romaine Lettuce Leaves
3-Serve and Enjoy!

See, that was so easy! Raw foods do not have to be weird. Also, try one or two raw dishes a week and see how you feel. These were simple and I used a liitle guacamole "kit" that Trader Joe's sells, which made for a quick guac prep. It even included a little sheet with instructions fo those of you who have not yet made fresh guac. This is a nice alternative to guac and chips btw. Give it a whirl!

Tempeh Teriyaki w. Sushi Rice & My Yoga Journal Comment

Lately Doug has had some great food ideas - Vegan Teriyaki is one of them. I gave it a whirl, now you can as well!

This dish was so easy and extremely rewarding. Seriously.

FYI - Trader Joe's now carries an inexpensive pack of Organic Tempeh.

Keep a few packs on hand for a simple tasty Plant Based Teriyaki.

No meat, no cholesterol, just flavor.

Also Check This Out:

(My Comment on Yoga Journal's Blog!)

http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2010/01/can-yogis-be-foodies.html

Fast, Easy Tempeh Teriyaki

1 Cup Sushi Rice

1 Pack Organic Tempeh

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp White or Rice Vinegar

1/2 Cup Orange Juice (or Clementine)

2 Tbsp Loy Sodium Soy Sauce

1/2 Tsp Sesame Oil

Rinse, drain and then boil the sushi rice in filtered water; cover and set aside.

Slice Tempeh into 1/2" slabs. Coat frying pan with the sesame oil.

Sear the tempeh - cook it so that it browns but do not overcook it.

This should only take 2 minutes per side. Set it aside covered to keep it warm.

Place the Juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce in a medium saute pan.

Simmer for about 6-8 minutes, until it starts to bubble fiendishly.

Transfer the rice to a nice bowl or platter, toss the cooked tempeh into the sauce and place it over the sushi rice.

Serve with steamed broccoli or green beans (steam just for a few minutes, nice crunchy greens are the only way to go).

Garnish with sliced oranges and sesame seeds (I ran out so we did not have them this time). Enjoy!

Vegan Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Vegan Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Just because Doug and I needed a treat....and because it is still January here in New England.

The cupcakes have a fluffy banana batter rich with vanilla. The frosting is a thick layer of creamy sweetness with my homemade peanut butter whipped in. These guys did the trick!