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Pine Nut Pesto #veganhack

What is #Vegan Hack?

#Vegan Hack is when I take a recipe that I loved as a non-vegan and veganize it.  Why bother?  I’m working on a little book that explains my decision to eat a vegan diet.  But until then . . . 

veganpineutpesto500

[yumprint-recipe id=’9′]A couple tips–make sure the olive oil covers the basil/pine nut mixture–otherwise it goes all gunky and gross.  I also switch out different kinds of nuts, herbs and olive oils depending on what I have or is in season.  In this recipe I made pesto out of garlic snapes.  

vegan hack pine nut pesto

My next post I include  5 yummy ways to use this simple.fun.vegan pesto!

L.O.V.E.,

Renee

What is a “Dirty Dozen”?

Dirty Dozen?

When I began the organic phase of my food journey I found “the dirty dozen”.  A group of foods that have the MOST pesticide residue left on them and IN them.  I didn’t know that I couldn’t just wash off the pesticides–I’ve learned a lot since then!  These 12 foods are foods that you should buy organic if you can . . . 

 dirtydozen

How can I remember 12 foods?

Once you get to know me . . . and I hope you will . . . I forget things.  A LOT.  Not just silly things like garbage day–but big things like birthdays and anniversaries.  It’s not that I don’t care, I do!  But no matter what I do–the names, dates stuff like that, just doesn’t stay with me.  

[tweetherder]”Oh crap, was that today?”[/tweetherder]

Is one of my mantra’s (you can tweet that!).  So when I looked at the list I was overwhelmed.  But then I took a closer look and realized that I didn’t buy half of what was on the list so I didn’t really need to memorize the entire list.  And now they have an app for the dirty dozen (or you can just make a note of it on your phone).  What seemed so hard–really wasn’t once I thought about it.

This is from pbs.org:  The fruits and vegetables on “The Dirty Dozen” list, when conventionally grown, tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67. For produce on the “dirty” list, you should definitely go organic — unless you relish the idea of consuming a chemical cocktail. 

  1. celery
  2. peaches
  3. strawberries
  4. apples
  5. domestic blueberries
  6. nectarines
  7. sweet bell peppers
  8. spinach, kale and collard greens
  9. cherries
  10. potatoes
  11. imported grapes
  12. lettuce

I routinely buy apples, strawberries (in season usually), my greens–romaine lettuce, spinach, and kale, potatoes and peppers.  My family is not a big fan of grapes, cherries, blueberries–any choking hazard (now that I think about it) . . . I don’t buy!  I love the Farmer’s Market–any farmer’s market anywhere–not to say that it still isn’t “dirty” but I can at least ask the farmer what he sprays or if he does at all!  

Remembering just the foods that I use and not worrying about what I don’t use–made this list more manageable.  I thought I CAN do this!

Feel free to google “dirty dozen” for a million sources.  You can find the app for your phone here.

L.O.V.E.,

Renee

Need more veggie inspiration?  Follow me on Pinterest!

 

Top 10 After School Snacks (#4 is my favorite)

When I have kids in “school” I pick them up and bring them home–no bus service–so I like to have snack on the table when they come home.  If it is a year that I am homeschooling than we usually end our day with a snack and tea or juice from our juicer!

These are my top ten after school snacks:

  1. Leftovers from their lunch box!
  2. Veggies and Dip
  3. Apples and yogurt or another dip they like
  4. Pretzels with either mustard or chocolate dipped
  5. Cheese and crackers–I use cookie cutters to make flowers with the cheese–too cute–sometimes I even put a raisin in the middle of the flower!
  6. Celery and cream cheese
  7. Build your own nachos
  8. Mini cheese tortillas
  9. Muffins (just out of the oven before I go and pick them up)
  10. Cookies and milk!

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I find that the kids like to do a little “food network” and build their own things as much as when I have it ready, so I like to mix it up a little bit.

If I have a later dinner because of practice or other commitments I start the crock pot at 3 for dinners to be ready at 7. 

TIP:  I also set the table before I leave.  When I come home I just need to plop the crock pot on the table, and by the time everyone is finished washing their hands dinner is ready!