a veg life

(posted by Emily) One of the best parts of my job here in LA has been learning more about the Hispanic culture. The kids and parents at my school take so much pride in their heritage, and it has been fun to learn about their food, traditions, and values. The moms would help out with lunch everyday have become great friends, and they are always sure to encourage me to step out of my comfort zone. When Rick and I made tamales in the fall, they were so proud of us--hilarious, and endearing. One mom in particular has been very supportive of our love of food, always buying kale chips from REfoods, and bringing in food items she thinks we would like to try. On Friday, she showed up to school with a bag of nopal or prickly pear cactus pads and was sharing with everyone. I was excited to try something new, and got 4 pads to take home. I have known about eating nopales for a while, having first seen something about grilling them on a Man vs. Wild-type TV show. We've gotten a few a...

(posted by Emily) I hope you all had a great weekend! Rick and I enjoyed our time off with a little DIY and a fun Super Bowl party with friends. When we were deciding what to bring, Rick requested a taco or layer dip. We used to eat taco at my Grandma's house all the time, so I called my resident expert, Amy, for some tips. This is what I put together and it was definitely a hit! We're pretty sure that most of the guests had no idea the dip was vegan, either :) Thanks to Jaime and Bec for hosting! Layer 1 : Black beans (cooked in the rice cooker with bay leaves, thyme, and a splash of vinegar) pureed with some veggie broth until smooth.    Layer 2 : Trader Joe's vegan cream cheese , mixed with taco seasonings. I used chili powder, paprika, cumin, black pepper, and oregano until I got the flavor I was looking for. Layer 3 : A jar of Trader Joe's Roasted Garlic Salsa . For some reason, everything with roasted garlic is my go-to at TJs. They make an awes...

Happy Sunday, everyone! This weekend was a busy one for us, but we had plenty of time to eat some delicious food along the way! Here are some highlights to share with you: ~ Miso-glazed Eggplant from Chloe's Kitchen  and asparagus for dinner on Friday. If you want the recipe(s), let me know! Rick's Review: Over the summer, we fortunate enough to fall in love with the taste of eggplant, or "aubergine" as it was called in Europe.  As soon as we came home it was our mission to find ways to enjoy eggplant.  I absolutely love the taste of Miso, so combining these flavors was perfect.  This dish was amazing, especially with the slightly crispy texture of the eggplant.  We will be making this dish again very soon.   ~Rick's favorite salsa from El Tarasco and trying Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Milk ice cream.  ~ Quick and easy lunch from Trader Joe's on Saturday for me while Rick was at band camp. If you've never tried these vegeta...