October Unprocessed Day 7: Oatmeal & Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Today I am feeling great and I dropped about 3 pounds on the Revitalive Cleanse, but I am pretty sure this was all water weight since my close fit exactly the same.  Still, I feel really good today and I am also 6 days without coffee.  While my plan isn't to give up coffee completely, it is to cut down drastically.  I have lowered my salt intake a little, but I would like to cut it down even a little more.  I have also been drinking more water which feels great and, I suspect, partially the reason for the loss in water weight.

I made my lunch/dinner last night so that I wouldn't be rushed and eat something quick and easy.

Breakfast:

Oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of agave and 2 tablespoons of gRAWnola and 1 tablespoon of flax seeds

Lunch:

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Snack:

1/2 cup of Almonds and Cashews

Dinner:

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 cup of spinach, chopped
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• Salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup canned white beans, rinsed
• 1/4 pound pasta

Pour the oil into a skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Then add the garlic, pepper flakes, and tomato. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Dump in the spinach and season with a pinch of salt. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beans and cook until warmed.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for one minute less than the directions on the packaging. When done, drain the pasta and toss it into the pan with the kale. Turn the heat to high and cook for an additional minute.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

October Unprocessed Day 7: Oatmeal & Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Today I am feeling great and I dropped about 3 pounds on the Revitalive Cleanse, but I am pretty sure this was all water weight since my close fit exactly the same.  Still, I feel really good today and I am also 6 days without coffee.  While my plan isn't to give up coffee completely, it is to cut down drastically.  I have lowered my salt intake a little, but I would like to cut it down even a little more.  I have also been drinking more water which feels great and, I suspect, partially the reason for the loss in water weight.

I made my lunch/dinner last night so that I wouldn't be rushed and eat something quick and easy.

Breakfast:

Oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of agave and 2 tablespoons of gRAWnola

Lunch:

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Snack:

1/2 cup of Almonds and Cashews

Dinner:

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Tuscan White Bean Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 cup of spinach, chopped
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• Salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup canned white beans, rinsed
• 1/4 pound pasta

Pour the oil into a skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Then add the garlic, pepper flakes, and tomato. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Dump in the spinach and season with a pinch of salt. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beans and cook until warmed.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for one minute less than the directions on the packaging. When done, drain the pasta and toss it into the pan with the kale. Turn the heat to high and cook for an additional minute.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

October Unprocessed Day 6: Revatlive Cleanse Day Three

Today is the final day of my 3-day Revitalive Cleanse and I am feeling really good about where I am.  Throughout the cleanse, I found it really easy to stick to the program and having everything prepared and delivered made a huge difference.  Additionally, the support from Anna in form of emails and check-ins has been really helpful as well. 

Breakfast!

As I mentioned before starting the cleanse, my goal was to jump start my progress for the October Unprocessed Challenge.  I sought to jump start a healthier diet and attain 5 servings of fruit and veggies each day.  The Revitalive program allows for the consumption of 12-15 pounds of fruit and vegetables per day because of their juice based program.  Additionally, I never once felt hungry on the program.  I love the fact that while this is primarily a liquid cleanse, there are solid food eliminates which make it very satisfying.  You can also add fresh fruit and veggies and herbal tea to help if you get hungry.


Today was pretty much the same menu you as yesterday except for the soup.  Today's soup was tomato and it had delicious quinoa in it.

Tonight I went to pilates fusion at North End Yoga.  This is for real the hardest class I have taken and I love it.  Tonight was maybe the hardest one ever and it was so very hot in the room.  I sweat so much and was exhausted when class was over, but felt amazing.  I went to bed again early, per the cleanse instructions.

He was today's quote was meaningful:

"A journey of a thousand miles starts starts with a single step"

Today's affirmation:

"I am accept where I am today.  I am embrace the positive".

This has been a lovely and cleansing journey.  I feel thankful to have had the ability to do this detox program and think that it will help me fulfill the October Unprocessed Challenge.

October Unprocessed Day 5: Revitalive Cleanse Take 2

So the menu today was pretty much the same as yesterday.  The soup was different- split pea- and so was the salad- kale curry.  They rocked. 

I am loving these kale chips and I am going to have to learn how to make them because seriously, they are addictive.  It is like that Lays commercial, you can't eat just one.

I am loving the Lean Green juice and still struggling with the Pribiotic Punch.  I do like the Bunny Boost which has a nice carrot taste to it.  It goes down easy for sure.


I worked out at with my trainer at the gym today and I was afraid my energy might be low.  Surprisingly, it wasn't at all and the workout Sarah gave me was pretty tough.  Tonight I have a work event so going to bed early isn't really an option.  Tomorrow, the final day of the cleanse, I will do more normal Pilates Fusion class and head to bed early.
 More to come on final thoughts about the cleanse, but for now, here is today's email:


Set Yourself Up for Success


Welcome to Day 2 of your cleansing program! By now you are oriented to the program. You may be surprised at how satiated you feel OR your taste buds may be struggling to adjust to the new tastes of juices and unprocessed foods. You may notice you are feeling lighter, clearer, more focused and ready to start your day.

It's common to dislike the green juice initially, but by day 3 your body adjusts and actually starts to crave it. Generally, the less you like the taste of green juice, the more acidic you may be. Don't be discouraged if you feel a little queasy. These are the times to get a massage, take a nap, take a warm bath with epsom salt. If you have access to a Far Infrared Sauna or any sauna, use it!

Take a few moments now to review the goals you wrote in your journal, especially the obstacles you may have noted.

Like any obstacle, the obstacles which have crept up in the past that have kept you from embracing change can be overcome. You can walk around an obstacle. You can smash through it. Or you can even leap over it. There are many ways to overcome obstacles!

One great way to overcome obstacles is to plan ahead. Set yourself up for success by thinking about your day and week ahead. What food you need to keep in the house to continue your detoxification program? How can you arrange your schedule so that you have time for journaling, reflection and releasing emotions that arise during detoxification?

Success doesn't happen by accident. Success happens by doing the steps you need to do, no matter how uncomfortable or unpleasant they may be. We know that detoxification and cleansing can be uncomfortable, but if you truly want success, we urge you to follow our instructions to the letter. We recommend what we know and learned over the years for best results.

Key Points to Remember

• Obstacles can be overcome with the right mindset.
• Obstacles that feel like they cannot be removed can be leaped over, walked around, or plowed through, depending on your personality.
• Planning ahead is an important part of success. Take time for yourself. What do you need to do to plan ahead and build on your success?

Follow the detoxification program at Revitalive Health and Wellness to the letter....it's built on years of experience and education. You'll be more successful if you adhere to the program instead of improvising your own or trying to take short cuts.

We are here to help you - ask any questions you may have!

Your Daily Affirmation

Affirmations are phrases to repeat to yourself throughout the day. They program the subconscious mind for success.

Today's affirmation is...

"I take the steps I need to take to be successful"

The information contained in this email is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the advice of an alternative health care professional before making any major lifestyle changes.

October Unprocessed Day 4: Revitalive Cleanse

I started my day off with half of an avacado sliced up while I waited for my Revitalive Cleanse to be delivered.  Anna delivered to my work which was so convenient.  The cleanse arrived in three of these cute little insulated bags which I promptly put into the refridgerator as all of the food is highly perishable.

The cleanse comes with daily schedule that is layed out like this:

7 am : Green Algae and Probiotic shots and Lean Green juice
9 am : Bunny Boost juice
11 am : Probiotic Punch juice
1pm : Cookie
32pm : Lean Green juice
4 pm : Cleansing Salad
5 pm : Snack (Kale Chips)
6 pm: Vegan Soup
The Lean Green juice is hella good.  Very light and refreshing.  The shots are a little rough going down, but totally managable.  The Probiotic Punch is a little tougher, I think.  I had to dilute it so that I could get it down.  Thank g-d I only have to drink that one once a day ;)

The cookie is awesome.  It is a raw apple and harvest cookie.  So damn good- I could eat like 50 of these.  Also, the snack is great.  Anna threw in a bag of kale chips and they are so good- crunchy and flavorful.

For dinner I had butternut squash soup that I heated up and a raw coleslaw salad.  Both were incerdibly delicious.  I had Sleepy Time decaf tea before bed.  I went to bed early, per the cleanse recommendation, around 9:30  pm.

So reactions so far:

• I have felt full the whole time and no real cravings at all
• I feel bloated for sure
• I had a lot of gas yesterday, but not really today
• The food is amazing and clean and tastes great
• I have had to pee A LOT

I LOVE that Anna has checked in with me and I love the daily emails from Revitalive which include inspirational quotes, helpful information and tips and daily affirmations.  Here is today's email:

"It only takes one person to change your life - you." - Ruth Casey

What to Expect Welcome to Day 1 of your cleanse....welcome to a new awareness of health, vitality and beauty...welcome to a new you! As this Ruth Casey says, it only takes one person to change your life. And that's the most important person: you. We at RevitaPure are here to love, support and guide you gently through your cleanse, but at the end of the day, the person responsible for your success is you. Are you ready to focus on your own health and well being and take responsibility for your life?

Key Points to Remember Reflect on the previous occasions when you've tried to make changes in your diet, fitness, or other health routines. What helped you succeed? What kept you from succeeding? The more you can reflect and note, the more self aware you become which is another key to success.

If this is your first cleanse, it's important to have realistic expectations. Some of the things we ask you to do may come easily to you, such as drinking lots of pure water. Other things we suggest may be new to you. We have worked hard to make this cleanse as simple as possible, but we can't take away all the discomfort you may experience from detoxification. Just know that detoxification may be difficult at times, but it is always worth it! Please let us know if you feel any detox symptoms such as headaches, nausea, aches, pain, bloating. We offer simple but effective tools to address some of the issues that may arise. We have worked hard to create a balanced cleanse that does not leave you starving and unsatisfied.

Try to finish eating by 7 pm each night and try to get to sleep by 9 pm. Your body detoxifies and repairs while sleeping, so sleep is an important part of the 3-Day RevitaPure Program.

We just want to remind you to avoid the following foods during your cleanse:
alcohol
bread, pasta, grains
refined sugars
processed foods
canned foods
animal products (eggs, cheese, chicken, meat and fish)
soda, coffee and caffeinated tea
soy products

You may notice your appetite increase and/or decrease over the next few days. Listen to your body and what it needs. You may not be hungry for food, but more what the food represents. What are your really craving in your life?

If at any time during the cleanse you feel bloated or do not have a bowel movement each day, we encourage you to use the enema bag included in the kit. The instructions can be found with the bag. Please remember to use warm filtered water. Yoga poses, pilates, massages, saunas, naps are all helpful while cleansing. Please practice good self-care during the cleanse and after!

Getting Started: Goal Setting In order to stay focused on your health journey, we suggest purchasing a notebook to use as a journal. Begin by writing out in detail your goals for your cleansing and detoxification program. What do you hope to accomplish? Where do you see yourself at the end of your cleanse? What specific, measurable goals would you like to achieve? Write them down.

Your journal is also a safe place to write about your thoughts, dreams and emotions during your cleansing program. Many people are surprised at what new and exciting thoughts arise during a cleanse or at hidden, sometimes seemingly overwhelming emotions that also rise to the top. Foods, especially addictive foods, are often used unconsciously to suppress uncomfortable emotions. When you stop abusing food, long-suppressed emotions may rise to the surface. Journaling about what you feel is a safe and constructive exercise. Participating in a support group or in therapy, meditation and prayer are also good ways to nurture your mind and spirit during your body's transformation.

1. Take the time to nurture yourself every day during your cleanse and beyond. You are worth it!
2. You are embarking on a new and exciting journey...take it one day at a time.
3. Ask questions about any aspect of the program you don't understand.
4. Be respectful of others participating in the cleanse and of the staff at Revitalive Health and Wellness.
5. Set goals to focus on your health and wellness.
6. You are the key to your success. Take charge of your health today and take the steps necessary to cleanse, detoxify, and nurture yourself body, mind and spirit!

Your Daily Affirmation Affirmations are phrases to repeat to yourself throughout the day. They program the subconscious mind for success.

Today's affirmation is...
"I love myself. I take time for my health and well-being. I am worth it!"

The information contained in this email is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the advice of an alternative health care professional before making any major lifestyle changes.

Love Revitalive!

The meat's on stage, not on the plate

That is the motto behind Casa Diablo, Portland's first vegan strip club.  BEST CONCEPT EVER? Maybe.  You heard me right, all the food served in this establishment is 100% vegan and many of the strippers are too.  Interesting. 

Portland has the highest per capita number of strip clubs in the US.  They also have a significant vegan population.  It was only a matter of time before someone combined them.  Casa Diablo attracts vegans and non-vegans alike, as I am sure you can imagine.  Johnny Diablo's philosophy on this: "if they are eating here, that is one less animal that they are consuming".  Priceless.

When you enter Casa Diablo, it may seem a bit familiar.  That is because it looks exactly like the set of From Dusk Till Down.  Epic.  According to Yelp, the food is amazing and the girls are unparalleled.  Johnny has been a vegan for 24 years and previously owned the Pirate's Tavern, which was a pretty fabulous pirate themed vegan restaurant. Yarrr! But that didn't work out so well, so he figured boobies must be better.  They always are ;)

The sign above the stage reads:  "Please do not wear fur, feathers, silk, wool, or leather on the stage. Thank you – the animals.” I love it.  Casa Diablo also happens to be Portland's only smoke-free strip club.  Even better.

FACT: The club’s no-frills Mexican-based menu comes with no description of meals—just a title, like “Fajita Platter $8.00” with “choose steak or chicken” written underneath. Diablo says he enjoys duping meat-eating customers, and that what’s served is gluten-free, wheat-based soy. Brilliant.

So the controversy...isn't there always controversy?  Typical to most strip clubs, there have been reviews claiming the subjectification of women.  It is the ago old argument about strippers.  Believe me I get it.  However, strip clubs don't seem to be going anywhere and the women who strip choose to work there.  Personally, I have never been to a strip club.  But if I ever go, I want it to be this one! 

What do you think?

October Unprocessed: Day Three

I am feeling pretty good today!  I started the day bright and early (6:30) with a workout at the gym with my trainer.  I did have a headache last night which I attribute to the fact that I had no coffee at all yesterday.  In fact, no caffeine at all!  Tomorrow morning I will be starting the Revitalive Cleanse which I am pretty excited about!  Revitalive will be delivering the cleanse to my office by 9 am so that I can start tomorrow.  Totally looking forward to that.

So for today, I am going to keep it simple and fresh. 

Breakfast

Fresh avocado, cucumber and tomatoes sprinkled with a little sea salt and a lot of pepper and some lemon juice.  Simple and delicious
Iced greed tea with sugar in the Raw (turbinado sugar).

Lunch

Quinoa stuffed pepper
Brown rice (I used a little Tamari sauce on the brown rice)

Snack

Cashews

Dinner

Vegetable Stir-Fry
Brown Rice

Vegetable Stir FryIngredients:

1/2 red pepper, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1/2 red onion, sliced to 1/4 in thick slices then cut in half through the middle
1/2 zucchini, diced
1/2 cup of button mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 cup of Moyashi bean sprouts (you can buy these in the produce section near the salad)
1 leak, white parts only cut in half and then diced
1-2 gloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
 2-3 tablespoons of red pepper (depending on how hot you want it)
1/2 tablespoon of black pepper
Tamari Sauce to taste
Toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup of cooked brown rice

Put your 2 tablespoons of veggie broth in a skillet and add all of your vegetables.  Cover and saute on medium-high heat.

Next add the red pepper and black pepper to the veggies and make sure they are all coated well.  Then begin adding the tamari sauce.  I start by adding about 1-2 tablespoons.  Turn the heat down to medium and cover, stirring often. 

Uncover your veggies and taste.  I usually end up adding a little more tamari here.  Then add the toasted sesame seeds (I like a lot, but totally your call) and the Moyashi bean sprouts.  Turn to low and leave uncovered.  You want the sprouts to remain firm and not get mushy, so you want to throw them in at the last minute, just before your meal is done.  This allows them to pick up the flavor, but not get slimy.  Stir everything really well and simmer for about 2 more minutes.
Spoon some rice on to your plate and then add the stir-fry on top!  Voila! Fast and simple dinner.

Snack

Last night I watched a movie and has some popcorn.  I checked the ingredients and the only iffy thing was canola oil. 

What is Tamari?

Tamari literally means liquid pressed from soybeans, originally it was the thick brown liquid that pooled in casks of fermenting soybean miso. For centuries this tamari was a rare delicacy reserved for special occasions. Eventually producers learned to brew tamari as a liquid soy sauce that had similar characteristics as the original by-product of miso. This tamari is brewed from whole soybeans, sea salt, water, and koji (Aspergillus hacho).

Why is Tamari ok for the October Unprocessed Challanege and soy sauce does not?

Unlike soy sauce, Tamari occurs naturally during the fermentation of miso.  Conversley, most (not all) soy sauces are often made from acid-hydrolyzed soy protein instead of brewed with a traditional culture.  These soy sauces  take only 3 days to produce and have a much longer shelf life, but are highly processed. 

Shoyu is another type of soy sauce that is fermented and not processed.  Both are great alternatives to traditional soy sauce, though a little more money.

So why on the challenge, if you need a yummy condiment- think tamari or shoyu!

October Unprocessed: Day Two

I think I was a little more prepared today and, therefore, was able to do a better job of eating enough.  I did meet a friend for lunch at Joe's American Grille, but it was surprisingly easy to find things to eat there.  The biggest challenge was the bread....OMG, it looked good, but I did not partake.  So far the hardest things that I am finding to stick to from my personal goals are the decreased salt intake and the increased consumption of water.  But I will keep trying ;)

Breakfast

1/2 Pita (I buy these fresh from the Middle Eastern bakery at Haymarket) stuffed with:
Cucumber
Spinach
Hummus (minus the oil plus Za'atar)

Lunch (At Joe's American Grille)

Large salad with cucumber, red onion, tomatoes and avocado with fresh squeezed lemon instead of dressing.
Baked potato- plain with just some salt and pepper

The salad was ok, but it had iceberg lettuce which I HATE.  There is absolutely no nutritional value in iceberg.  Oh well, it was the best I could do.

Dinner

Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
3 cups of vegetable broth
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 pieces of celery, peeled and chopped
3 button mushrooms, chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 cup of broccoli
1/2 cup of cauliflower
1/4 cup of shelled edamame
1/4 cup of dry brown rice
2 cups of water
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon of oregano
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of rosemary

Start by preparing your brown rice.  I always toast my grains before boiling them because I feel like it gives them a better taste.  Plus, brown rice takes forever to cook and this helps speed it up.  Place your rice in a pot and toast it on medium heat, moving the grains constantly.  Do not leave this unattended as they burn easily.  Once your rice is giving off a nice aromatic smell, add your bay leaf and water.  Cover and reduce heat and cook for about 30 minutes.  Check this as cook time may be less (depends on the rice).

While you are chopping your veggies, bring your broth to a boil.  Add all of your vegetables and seasonings to the pot.  Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for about 20-30 minutes until your vegetables are tender.  I usually use the carrot as my test as they take the longest to cook.

Spoon some of the brown rice into a bowl and then ladle your soup (broth and veggies) on top.  Mix it up with your spoon and enjoy!  This was quick and nourishing.

October Unprocessed: Day One

Today I am starting October Unprocessed and I have to admit I didn't do the best job.  While I plan to eliminate coffee for this month, I had a really hectic day and needed one to get me going.  I started my day with pilates and then only had about 45 minutes before volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank.  That didn't leave me too much time to prepare food.  If I was smart, I would have planned ahead which is what I will do going forward.  Anyway, here is what I have had:


Breakfast
Large Iced Coffee with Soymilk


Not a healthy start, I realize, but I was rushed.


Lunch
Hummus (I left out the EVOO but added Za'atar)
Cunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers


If you haven't had Crunchmaster products, you should.  They are totally amazing and 100% natural.  The ingredients are:

Brown Rice Flour

Sesame Seeds
Quinoa Seeds
Safflower Oil
Flax Seeds
Amaranth Seeds
Tamari Soy Sauce (soybeans and salt)
Salt


These are a great, healthy and unprocessed snack.They have 2.5 grams of fat and 60 calories per serving.

Dinner
Quinoa Stuffed Pepper
Roasted Red Potatoes 
Sauteed Spinach
Herbal Iced Tea with Turbinado sugar


Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients:
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut in half and cleaned
1/4 cup of raw quinoa
1/2 cup of vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1/2 red onion, diced
2 button mushrooms, diced
1/2 teaspoon of parsley
1/2 teaspoon of rosemary
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of oregano
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoon of Safflower oil


Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.


Bring the vegetable broth to a boil with the bay leaf. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Discard bay leaf.


Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add your halved pepper.  Cover and cook for 7 minutes.  Immediately remove it from the water and soak in cold water.


In a large nonstick skillet, saute the carrots and onions in oil until tender. Add the quinoa and seasonings.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until heated through. Spoon into pepper halves. 

place the halves on tin a large piece of tin and bring pieces of foil together at the top and seal.  Place the foil/peppers in a baking pan and bake for 15 minutes covered.  Uncover and bake for another 10 minutes until the peppers and quinoa start to brown.


Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.


I roasted the peppers in the oven with rosemary and paprika and sauteed the spinach with a tiny bit of veggies broth, garlic and some sea salt and pepper.

This was really good and surprisingly filling.  I will eat the other half for lunch or dinner tomorrow as well.


Thoughts


In preparing for this challenge I thought that it would be really great to set forth some personal goals.  As a vegan I am very aware of what I do not eat, but I think that I could definitely stand to have more awareness about what I do eat.  That is my primary goal with this challenge.  Here are some other goals:

1. Reduce my salt intake- I have noticed that I have been using a lot of salt lately.  Instead I would like to increase my use of spices for flavor.
2. Reduce my use of oils in cooking- I use a lot of EVOO and I would like to decrease this a bit (though not eliminate it all together).  I would like to increase my use of Safflower and Grape Seed oils during this time.
3. Cut out coffee- This may be the hardest for me, but I have come to realize that I may have a slight coffee addiction and I would love to kick this habit.  I do plan to have herbal tea and iced tea (fresh brewed).
4. Have breakfast everyday- I am terrible about eating breakfast and I realize that it is the most important meal of the day for a healthy lifestyle.  So I am going to get in the habit of eating breakfast every day.
5. Drink more water- When I played derby, I drank a ton of water on a daily basis.  Recently I realized that I am not drinking nearly as much as I used.  I would like to change that this month.

I am really looking forward to the challenge.  So check back because I will be posting about my progress and will be sharing my recipes and thoughts.  Also, I would love to hear from you if you are doing this too.  Please feel free to post comments.

Here to eating healthy and unprocessed!

White Baked Ziti

While preparing for October Unprocessed, I had a bunch of food that I needed to use.  I had left over Alfredo sauce and left over tofu ricotta from my zucchini rollatini so I decided to try to make a white baked ziti.  It came out pretty awesome!

White Baked Ziti
Ingredients:
Vegan Alfredo Sauce
Vegan Ricotta with spinach
1/3 of a box of brown rice pasta
1 teaspoon of basil
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons of vegan Parmesan, divided
Vegan bread crumbs


Start by preheating your oven to 375.  

Bring water to a boil and season with salt and EVOO.  Cook your pasta until it al dente.  Drain and return it to your pot.  Add the tofu ricotta, Alfredo, 1 tablespoon of the vegan Parmesan and seasonings and mix well.  

Press your pasta mixture into a heat safe class dish.  Coat the top with bread crumbs and dust it with the remaining vegan Parmesan.


Cover with foil and bake it for 12 minutes.  

Uncover and bake it for another 10 minutes until the top starts to brown.


Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.    These measurements are for a single serving.

Enjoy this is soooo delicious :)