Monday, April 10, 2017

Back To the Green!

Green smoothies are back! This smoothie had banana, spinach, frozen pineapple, maca powder and hemp seeds. Although I love fruit only smoothies, I do feel best when I add greens. I've been sticking to spinach because I read that certain vegetables raw are not good for hypothyroidism, and one of those vegetables is kale. It's such a bummer because I really love that kale salad I made awhile ago, and would love to eat it every day, but I have to have it sparingly. A vegan diet has never felt restrictive, but eating to heal/control hypothyroidism feels very restrictive. Especially since I don't even know if it's helping. Sorry for the little rant.
I was craving tofu all day yesterday, so I made some baked tofu and Jasmine rice. I also made a spicy peanut sauce with a little of this and a little of that. Also added to the bowl are cilantro and green onion, and of course sriracha. This really hit the spot. I always have to laugh when I get a craving for tofu, like could I be more vegan?
This is the world's worst picture, sorry. Caroline who blogs at Tea and Sympatico sent me a lovely package with some teas and chocolates from the UK! She remembered that I have fond memories of my grandparents always getting me a white chocolate Easter Bunny, so she included this vegan white chocolate bunny. I had it for dessert last night and it was incredible! It tastes just like I remember white chocolate tasting! I've only had vegan white chocolate one time so this was a real treat!
This was the other bar she sent. It's vegan milk chocolate and it was divine! I've mentioned a million times that as a vegan I've come to accept dark chocolate, but as a pregan you wouldn't catch me near the stuff. I was team milk chocolate all the way. This was sweet, and creamy and milky. Like a vegan Hershey's bar!!
Here's Afro deep asleep. If you look closely under her head you see a bit of blue. That's a little mouse. She was cuddling it like a teddy bear. So sweet!





16 comments:

  1. Your tofu bowl looks so good; I definitely know what you mean about getting a craving for tofu, haha! That's so nice about the goodies from Caroline! Afro sleeping with the mouse is adorable! :D

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    1. It always makes me laugh when I get that tofu craving! It was such a nice surprise from Caroline!
      Afro has a few favorite toys that she likes to keep nearby!

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  2. I'm with you about the chocolate - Dark chocolate's okay but I've always been a milk chocolate gal. I know that isn't very hip or sophisticated, but it's so creamy and indulgent. High quality dark chocolate often has a bitter edge that I can do without. Decent vegan milk choc is very hard to find - you lucked out. Hope you savored it.

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    1. I definitely savored it. You're so right, it isn't very hip to prefer milk chocolate, but I like what I like. There's a chocolate bar they sell at Smith's that's made with coconut milk and it has the creaminess of milk chocolate, but it still has that bitter edge that i too can do without.

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  3. AWESOME!!!! Fun Mail!!! I have been thinking about getting a group of us together to do a Traveling Vegan Box...might be FUN!

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    1. That would be fun! Let me know if you decide to do it!

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  4. Before I was vegan I hated tofu, now I crave it and love it and want it all the time. It is the best!

    We are opposites when it comes to chocolate. I am a dark dark dark chocolate girl all the way. I always say that I want my chocolate to be dark, bitter, and angry with the world. ;)

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    1. I don't think I had ever had tofu before going vegan. But now I have to have it at least once a week!
      Dark, bitter and angry with the world, hilarious!

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    2. I did have tofu before going vegan... and that was the problem. The times that I had it, it was prepared terribly. Think steamed, unflavoured tofu and steamed vegetables with no sauce. I mean, these days I would probably down with that. But as a young vegetarian starting to think seriously about veganism, it was not a great intro!

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    3. I remember having some serious failures with tofu when I first went vegan. It's actually taken me quite awhile to figure out how to cook it correctly. For a long time I would only eat it at restaurants or if I scrambled it!

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  5. Well, I also am a dark chocolate lover and it's even better if it has some kind of nuts in it. I think Spring is finally here- it was a beautiful day yesterday. Today might include rain, but it will still be warmer than usual.

    I had a job interview yesterday and will do some job shadowing tomorrow. If I like what I see, then I might have a job. I spent hours working on my clearances last night. They want to know everything- every place I've lived since 1975 and everyone I've lived with since that same time. That's a long history to try to remember. Well, I better get a few things done today since I'll be busy tomorrow. It's been awhile since I worked and it will be rough getting back into a different kind of routine. My last jobs have also been night shift. This will be a daytime position. Nerves are showing up. Maybe a snickers bar would help- ha ha. I'll have to think of lunch ideas too for my new adventure. Have a wonderful day!

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    1. I'm so glad spring has sprung for you!
      Good luck at your potential new job. That is a long time to remember. It must be an important job if they need all that information!

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  6. Your tofu bowl is gorgeous! Seriously such a beautiful meal. Do you think the kale salad would be good if you used the dressing on some steamed kale? Is kale only bad for hypothyroidism if it's raw? I bet it would be just as delicious if it were steamed a little with the dressing.

    That chocolate sounds amazing! What a fun package to receive :) Afro is too cute!!

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    1. Yes, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower all are bad for hypothyroidism when eaten raw. I might try lightly steaming the kale first next time I make it. It's a weird world when raw kale is a no no.
      The chocolate was amazing, especially the white chocolate since it's so hard to find!

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  7. Awesome smoothie and bowl you have here!!!!

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  8. Thank you! I love a good peanut sauce!

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