Pure Luck Restaurant and Pub

707 N Heliotrope St
LA, CA 90029


So after an amazing matinee show of West Side Story at the Pantages Theater, Steven and I wanted to find a good place to eat and I suggested we use my fancy phone app that finds vegan restaurants and it suggested Pure Luck. I picked this one because it was right across the street from Scoops which serves vegan ice cream, but it was too cold to get some afterwards haha maybe another days

It is a small restaurant off of Melrose with good service and good atmosphere. Some may call it a "hole in the wall" place, but I think it has character:)
They serve vegan "mexican", but I had the chickpea salad, which was similar to chicken salad but made with garbanzo beans and served over romaine lettuce with a vegan caesar dressing. I really enjoyed my meal.

Steven ordered a tofu taco and a baja burrito with a side of sweet potato fries. I can personally say the fries were great and he said he really enjoyed his meal and would like to try the burrito with the tofu next time because the he liked the tofu in the taco. He also got Mexi-Coke and said it was good and came in an awesome bottle.

The coolest thing that happened though was at first they forgot or lost our order so we had been sitting and waiting without food for about 45 minutes and the waitress came to apologize and the meal was free!
"Patience is a virtue friendos."-Taylor Bouknight

We gave a good tip though because they were kind and the food was still good.

Overall, I'd say it was a good restaurant and I would go back to try something else at some point, however, it was not the most amazing place in the world. Fun place to sit and talk with friends and I will go back when I can get some vegan ice cream afterwards:D

I am excited to try out more vegan places in LA though because there are so many. Half the fun is the spontaneity and exploration!

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

A Lunch of Sweet Potato, Onion, Pineapple and Tempeh

More Vegan Recipes!
This one was SUPER good and can be served either by itself, with some rice, over rice noodles, or over a salad. Really good flavors though:D

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
*1 teaspoon salt (I used pink salt...and I will have a blog about why you should use it too!)
*1 teaspoon chili powder
*1/2 teaspoon cumin
*1/4 teaspoon cayenne
*2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch chunks
*2 medium onions, peeled and cut into 1 - 2 inch long strips
*1 - 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
*2/3 block of tempeh cut into 1/2 inch cubes
*1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
*olive oil

START YOUR OVENS...375!
you will need two baking sheets, each with a piece of wax paper covering.
in a small dish, mix the salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne well.
in a bowl, toss the sweet potato chunks with approx. 3 tablespoons olive oil (that isn't exact science...I just drizzled some in and tossed the potatoes until they were evenly coated).
sprinkle the spices in a little at a time and toss the potatoes so the spices spread evenly. Depending on the amount of 'kick' you want, you could use all the spice or half or 3/4 of what you made...personal preference. For me, about 2/3 was just right.
spread the potatoes evenly across one of the baking sheets and set aside.
in either the same bowl rinsed out, or another bowl, toss the onion slices and tempeh with some olive oil and the garlic. spread the onion and tempeh evenly across the other baking sheet.
on top of the onion and tempeh, evenly distribute the pineapple.
place both sheets in the oven, either the potatoes on the upper wrack and onion on the lower wrack, or side by side.
bake for 30-40 minutes or until sweet potatoes are soft.
serve with the onions, tempeh and pineapple over the potatoes.
make sure your first bite had all of the different flavors on it!

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

Hummus Sandwich

Hooray for the many ideas my new vegan cookbook has given me!
This one was inspired by a homemade hummus wrap from the book but I improvised with what I had in my house.
Super delicious and it is one of those meals you just feel healthy eating haha

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
*2 slices of gluten-free bread (I used Ezekial with sesame seeds)
*about 1/4 cup hummus, prepared or homemade (recipe to follow soon)
*cucumber sliced thin
*broccoli sprouts
*two romaine lettuce leaves
*2 slices of almond pepperjack vegan cheese

START YOUR TOASTER OVENS
toast the bread until starting to brown and then add the slices of cheese, one on each piece of bread.
then simply add the cucumbers, hummus, sprouts, and lettuce and its done!
I bet tomato would be a great thing to add too but we didn't have any in the house.
Also, I want to try and make a hummus sandwich with caramelized onion and peppers sometime...sounds delicious, right?
I will let ya know when I make it :D
but for now...

HOPE YOU ENJOY:)
you are loved.

Dirty Rice

For Christmas Santa gave me the most amazing vegan cookbook ever! I started putting post it notes on pages as soon as I opened it and the first recipe I wanted to try was this version of dirty rice.
I tweeked it a bit and added beans for a little contrast.
The book is inspiring so many ideas and cannot wait to post ore amazing recipes!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
*2 cups rice (brown or white...i used brown)
*1/4 - 1/2 cup pinto beans
*1/4 - 1/2 cup black beans
*olive oil
*1-2 diced onions
*1 bell pepper diced(any color but I used orange because I had it on hand)
*2 stalks diced celery
*2 tsp. minced garlic
*1 tsp. ground cumin
*1/2 tsp. oregano
*1 tsp. dry mustard
*1/2 tsp. thyme
*1/2 tsp. cayenne
*1 tsp. paprika
*salt


START:by preparing your rice...whether it is microwavable, stove top, boil in a bag, etc.

NEXT: heat about 3 tablespoons oil and the garlic in a large frying pan over medium heat for about 1 minute. then add the onion, bell pepper and celery.
when the onions start to brown, add the black and pinto beans and mix for about 2 minutes.

add in the rice, a little bit at a time, so all ingredients combine. finally add all the spices and stir the mixture so spices are evenly distributed.

cover the pan and let it sit over low-medium heat for about five minutes and then check.
Mine was done pretty fast but depending on how done you want the rice you can wait longer.
I had this with some veggies and was completely content but I bet you could add chicken or fish or tempeh and it would be delicious:D

HOPE YOU ENJOY:-)
you are loved.

Vegetable Bake

I made this one for Thanksgiving and got such good reviews I made it for a Christmas Eve Party:D
Basically the idea behind it was we wanted a sweet potato SOMETHING for the holidays...but we have made the same sweet potato casserole every year. So I decided to combine all the best veggies into one awesome, healthy, delicious dish!
I did make this dish gluten-free, wheat-free and vegan, but if you want you are following the blood type diet you can use regular bread crumbs or regular mozzarella cheese instead of the substitute cheese:)


what you'll need:
*about 4-5 slices of spelt bread (if you're making it gluten free)
*one sweet potato
*one yam
*approx. 1 1/4 cup broccoli
*approx. 1 cup sliced carrots
*1 cup diced onion
*one bell pepper
*1-2 large zucchini
*2 large tomatoes
*Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese (or just mozzarella cheese)
*olive oil
*garlic powder
*Italian herbs
*basil

start your ovens...400!
also, start your toaster ovens!
if you're making this with the spelt bread, start by toasting the bread slices until extremely crisp. I learned how to make bread crumbs here: http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-make-gluten-free-breadcrumbs.html
but found the toaster doesn't take as long:)

then when they are toasted you can break the pieces up and pop em in a food processor and make them into crumbs! pretty simple...but I never would have thought of that on my own! Thanks Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef!

Anyways...
Next step in to brush olive oil all over a 9x13 baking pan. Cut up the sweet potato and yam into about about 1/4" slices (you can choose to either peel or not peel the potatoes...good either way)and lay them out across the bottom of the pan. drizzle a little olive oil over them and sprinkle in the garlic.

Now spread the broccoli and carrot slice over the sweet potatoes and sprinkle Italian herbs over the dish. Spread the diced onion over that and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil. I added a little bit of garlic here too but it's all personal preference how much garlic you want to use:D

Then dice of the bell pepper and scatter it over the onion followed by thinly sliced strips of zucchini created a top layer. Here I sprinkled some more Italian herbs and a handful of Daiya mozzarella cheese.

Slice up the tomato into thin slices and place over the zucchini. top off the dish sprinkling the bread crumbs, adding some more cheese, a little drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of basil.

bake covered for about half an hour and uncovered for half an hour. check the dish by poking down to the bottom with a fork. You will know it is done when the sweet potatos at the bottom are soft.
It may take another 15 minutes in the ovens.

But I find it quite delicious and I could make a meal out of just that!
So..

hope you enjoy!
you are loved.

Personalization

I really don't crave anything on my avoid list anymore...which is nice. But I have been talking to Kim and Jess and Crystal at the Valencia Wellness Center a lot and they tell me the blood type diet is really very personal. Once you have been really cleansed of all the junk in your system, you can start trying things one by one on your avoid list and see how you react.
For instance, Jess says there are eight items on her avoid list that she knows for sure will trigger an attack of some kind and one of them is cinnamon. She has an immediate reaction no matter how much or how little. They all say it is about being aware and avoiding the foods that are especially bad for you.
So I made pumpkin bread the other day and the only thing that was "bad" for me was the cinnamon I put in it. I had a TON of it and had no reaction. So I tried it again yesterday by putting cinnamon in a waffle recipe I made and still no reaction. SO I am safely assuming I can have cinnamon now and be fine.
HOWEVER...
I had sushi the other day with soy sauce. And little did I know the first ingredient in soy sauce is wheat-gluten. UG! I had incredible stomach cramps and felt extremely bloated. Wheat-gluten is just horrible for me. So now I use Bragg's Amino Acid substitute for soy sauce. It is cheap and delicious and I don't get the horrible feeling afterwards.
Also, this morning I was drinking my green tea and my mom had a cup of coffee with peppermint creamer. I wanted to taste it so I took a sip...a really really tiny sip...and had stomach pains and nausea. I do miss coffee...but not enough to endure that every time I take A SINGLE SIP.
crazy right?
so my advice, stick to the diet for a few months then start experimenting and testing. We all react differently to foods. I might try brussel sprouts next because I do miss them in stir frys...
but enjoy living and eating and digesting!
And have a wonderful holiday season!

YOU ARE LOVED.

Follow Your Heart

21825 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303


Quite possibly one of my favorite places in the world...right up there with the Valencia Wellness Center and Sprouts:)

This past Sunday my mom and I went shopping for Christmas gifts and ended up in Canoga Park. We wanted to go somewhere fun for lunch so I used my vegan restaurant app on my phone and found Follow Your Heart was only two miles away.
I fell in love.
The place is small and is both a market and cafe/ restaurant. I'll start with the restaurant...

I ordered a vegan carob milkshake and couldn't believe how amazing it was! I thought I was cheating or something but everything in it was fine for me! I would DEFINITELY order it again.
My mom had a mushroom burger with mozzerella cheese (not entirely vegan) but she said it was absolutely delicious. It came with carrot chips and other veggies. Looked amazing!
But mine was killer...I got a tandoori style vegan "chicken" and curried tofu with rice and mango chutney. completely vegan, wheat free and gluten free.
OH MY GOSH.
I was so incredibly full after that meal but it was worth every single bite. I was beyond content.
But the nice thing is that even after all of that food, I didn't feel bloated or gross because I could digest everything.
now for the market...
OH MY GOSH.
any kind of tea you need, it's there.
any kind of chakra candle. there.
gluten free bread products. done.
vegan, gluten free, raw food, detox, sugar free, health food cookbooks. all there.
flowers and aromatherapy. got it.
bumperstickers, hemp sweatshirts, buddhas. yep.
best part....i bought four cartons of green tea soy ice cream. love

and all of these wonderful things are condensed into this little market/cafe. I could have spend hundreds of dollars....numerous hours...in Follow Your Heart.
Worth it. I promise.
Highly recommend for shopping and eating:D

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

PUMPKIN BREAD! FINALLY!

The reason why I say 'finally" is because it is mid December and I have yet to have pumpkin bread! crazy!
I just haven't had the time to truly experiment with gluten-free wheat-free vegan recipes lately, but I needed one. I was desperate lol
But here it is...finally...and it is the best bread recipe I have created to date. so have a wonderful holiday season and don't feel left out of the delicious bread-ness!

what you'll need:
*2 cups Spelt flour
*1 1/2 cups Buckwheat flour
*2 tsp baking soda
*1 teaspoon cinnamon
*1 1/2 tsp salt
*1 tsp nutmeg
*1/4 cup walnut oil
*3/4 cup grapeseed oil
*2 tablespoons egg replacer powder and 8 tablespoons hot water
*2 cups pumpkin
*1 cup sugar
*1 1/3 cup agave nectar
*2 tablespoons water
*1 cup chopped walnuts

start your ovens...350!
place the flours, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and walnuts in a large bowl and mix. add the oils and mix well.
in a small separate bowl, whisk with a fork the egg replacer and hot water until thoroughly mixed. then add this small mixture into the large mixture.
mix in the large bowl, then add the pumpkin, sugar, agave, water and walnuts.
mix thoroughly. the batter is thick but smooth.

I put my batter into a large bundt cake pan because I didn't have any individual bread pans, but it will either make one huge bundt or three regular loaves. I used a spray olive oil Pam to grease the pan.

Bake for 60-65 minutes. mine required the extra five minutes because of the dense bundt cake but it will probably be an hour in the individual pans.

and then you're done!
gotta love the holidays...

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

It's What You Make Of It...

that really counts.
I'm so happy for everyone who is attempting the blood type lifestyle...it is an amazing experience and worth while life change.
something I have been encountering lately though are the warped views of the "diet" and how negative people are. For instance, I am blood type O so I don't eat dairy, I eat very little carbs, and I am supposed to eat a lot of meat which I don't due to my previous years of being vegetarian. Basically, I am a wheat free gluten free vegan, except for the fact I eat fish.
I love eating...and I eat a lot
I am constantly making desserts and rice dishes and experimenting in the kitchen. I come home everyday from school and prepare myself a huge lunch of fresh veggies, sometimes fish, tempeh, salad, rice...whatever am in the mood for. So when I tell people about my diet and they ask "what do you eat then?" I usually say "whatever I want". Half the fun is in experimenting with new ingredients!
The part that frustrates me is when they apologize and say how much it sucks. But it doesn't! It really really doesn't suck. I love it. I feel great and look great and don't a crave a single thing. I can still eat ice cream (hemp ice cream), I can still make pasta (rice pasta), I can still have stir fry, I can still have cheese (vegan cheese), I still go to starbucks and I still eat out all the time...I'm not being deprived at all. I've learn to live with the change and fully embrace it.
I am aware of the restaurants that don't accomedate at all though...that's when I eat a big meal beforehand and tell the group that I am with I am not terribly hungry and I will order a side salad or drink.
The other little problem I have is when people are on the blood type diet and they insist on making others feel bad for not following the diet. Saying things like "I wish I could eat that...I miss it so much! But it's bad for me..."
Not only is that self-defeating, but you are also criticizing someone else's lifestyle, which is not the point of this at all.
Don't complain, this is a choice. You can choose to do this or not, but I hope you do:)
it gets easier as time goes on...trust me.
just stay positive and I am here for support!

you are loved.

A Delicious Lunch of Veggies and Tempeh

So I hadn't been to the store in a while so when I went I decided to just shop sales and came up with some random ingredients but made a delicious meal!

what you'll need:
*black-eyed peas
*broccoli
*one yam or sweet potato (I used a yam just because that's what I had in the house)
*about a third of a block of tempeh
*onion sprouts/ broccoli sprouts (I used both- but you can choose one)
*olive oil
*garlic
*italian herbs
*basil

start: by steaming the yam/potato on the stove until it is slightly soft. in a large frying pan, heat the olive oil (approx. 2 tbsp) and garlic (a lot).
add broccoli and tempeh(cut into cubes or strips) to the olive oil and garlic and cover for about 2 minutes.
drain the yam and add the cubed yam to the frying pan. also add the peas and sprouts. sprinkle italian herbs, basil, and drizzle olive oil over all the ingredients. stir frequently and occasionally cover for about 5-8 minutes.
then you're done! it's super filling but really delicious:)

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

Dark Chocolate Brownies!

Definitely a favorite!!
I wanted something really decadent the other night....i was really craving something good and sweet! So I only cut a few corners for this recipe and there is sugar in it, but it still contains only beneficial and neutral foods for blood type O. So TECHNICALLY I didn't cheat:D
Use this recipe as an awesome holiday treat! and enjoy! (also beneficial for blood type A)
btw...you don't have to use carob chips in this recipe...you can stick to the dark chocolate!

what you'll need:
*about 5 oz dark chocolate (I used about half dark chocolate chips and half carob chips)
*1/2 cup minus 3 tbsp of grapeseed oil
*2 organic range-free eggs
*1 cup organic brown sugar
*1/2 cup almonds ground into fine meal
*1/4 cup brown rice flour
*1/2 tsp. sea salt
*1/4 tsp. baking soda
*2 tsp. vanilla extract

optional:
*1/2 cup chopped walnuts
*1/2 vegan carob chips for the top

start your ovens...350:)

line a 8x8 pan with foil and lightly oil it with grapeseed oil.
melt the chocolate chips and carob chips in the microwave in a microwave safe measuring cup and stir together. set it aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until frothy then add the brown sugar and beat until smooth.
add the melted chocolate and grapeseed oil slowly to the egg-sugar mixture. mix until it looks glossy and smooth.

in another bowl, mix the almond meal, brown rice flour, sea salt and baking soda (whisk time!)
then add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mix and beat for about a minute or until it is well mixed. then add the vanilla and beat again.

if you want to add nuts or chips, you can add them now and stir them into the batter. Pour the batter into the pan and spread out evenly.

bake for 30-33 minutes or until brownies are set. note: gluten free batter tend to taste better if it slightly undercooked rather than overcooked. so better to err on the early side when baking:D

cool on a wire rack and before cutting, cool in the refrigerator. (you can cut earlier just know it will be crumbly!)

and that's it! It is a wonderful treat.
hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

Teriyaki Veggies and Fish

I have had this for lunch the past two days and I am thoroughly enjoying it!
I was in the mood for Japanese one day and made this sort of mock Japanese thing and it turned out pretty delicious!

what you'll need:
*a piece of fish (I used cod one day and salmon one...your preference really)
*broccoli (as much as you want)
*sweet potato fries (they come in bags at Trader Joe's and I used about 1/3 of it)
*carrots (optional)
*teriyaki sauce
*olive oil
*garlic powder
*red cayenne pepper powder
*tobasco (or hot sauce)
*lemon juice
*onion powder
*sesame seeds (optional)

start your george foreman grill! (or just grill lol)
begin by coating the fish in olive oil and lemon juice. then sprinkle garlic and onion powder all over it and set aside until the grill is ready.
start preparing your vegetables and put the fish on the grill when it is ready. Mine usually take about 2-3 minutes on each side.

in a medium-large pan, heat about 2 tbs. olive oil over medium heat. add all the vegetables to the pan.
drizzle about 3 tbs. teriyaki over the vegetables (more or less according to taste). stir over high heat.
mix the vegetables then add the garlic powder, red cayenne pepper, and hot sauce (I would say use your best judgment on amounts of the spicy ingredients... i like mine really hot but you can use less).
stir all the vegetables again and then sprinkle the sesame seeds on. continue to mix the vegetables over high heat until the fish is done.

I like to place all the vegetables in a bowl then put pieces of the fish on top.
I'm sure this combination would be good with some brown rice as well.

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

TIPS when approaching the blood type lifestyle

SO I have heard many people recently wanting to switch over to the blood type lifestyle and eating patterns for health reasons which I think is absolutely AMAZING. It really makes me excited to hear how many people are interested in becoming healthier and treating their bodies better.
But...I have also heard people kind of getting confused, frustrated, or super strict when trying to adapt the diet guidelines. And trust me,if you look at it as a "diet" or as "limitations", it will drive you crazy.
so this blog entry is just some helpful hints when you are trying to make the switch over to the blood type lifestyle. hope it is somewhat helpful and makes you happier:D

1. don't try it cold turkey. ease into it. you will be less frustrated. start with the most important things to cut out, because once you notice a difference in how you feel, you will want to change and adapt more. for instance, blood type O's, cut out the gluten and wheat products right off the bat. start buying Ezekial 4:9 bread and tortillas. Or spelt bread. or rice based products. start cutting down on carbs all together. and slowly start eliminating the dairy products on the avoid list. the changes you see will be dramatic and only encourage you to start changing more.

2. don't be afraid of the neutral list. I know some people start the program and think "I'm only going to eat beneficial. neutral only when absolutely necessary". but to be honest, that's a little ridiculous. it's an amazing feat you are even considering the health change, so why torture yourself? that's when it seems more like a major diet than a sustainable lifestyle. Even now, and I've been following the program for months, I still eat a lot off of the neutral list. I love bananas, and hemp ice cream, and cereal. I'm not giving those things up and I shouldn't have to. they aren't hurting me. Once you start getting used to the program, try thinking "I'm going to eat something beneficial at every meal". that way you will be feeling better but not depriving yourself of good food.

3. don't be stuck at home. enjoy eating out every once in a while. it may be scary at first, but it's just because you've never looked at a menu so closely before to check ingredients. when first starting, have the mind set of "avoiding the avoid foods", not "only eat the beneficial foods". majority of the time, you will find a number of entrees you can eat, even if it's mostly neutral ingredients. check the menu online before you go out to make sure there is something you will enjoy. Suggest a place you know you can get something truly satisfying. I will be continually blogging about restaurants that have a number of options for the blood typers out there:D

4. it's not a diet. so don't deprive yourself. eat when your hungry. eat as much as you want. don't eat when you're not hungry. learn to listen when your body is telling you to eat or not to. the best part about this lifestyle is that as long as you are eating the right things, you are digesting food easily, allowing you to eat more. I eat more now than I ever have and am at a thin, stable body weight.

5. have fun and experiment in the kitchen. get creative! start making "mock meals" and playing around with ingredients. look up other gluten free bloggers or watch for the links I will start posting of good recipes and blogs to follow. if you are in the mood for something, try making it with your new lifestyle in mind! like i wanted pizza tonight, so i made it with a tortilla and mock cheese and vegetables. or i wanted ice cream but we didn't have any hemp or almond ice cream one night so i made my own pumpkin ice cream! don't be afraid to make new creations! it's all about trial and error. make it a game and it doubles the fun lol


hope these helped. and if you need motivation or advice, don't hesitate to ask:-)
you are loved.

Sugar Cookies (ready for the holidays?)

My brother is BIG fan of sugar cookies and snickerdoodles and he is currently avoiding wheat and gluten for health reasons. This recipe is NOT vegan nor sugar free...I needed to please my bro lol. So in honor of the oncoming holiday season, I decided to give it a try and make a good tasting gluten free sugar cookie.
I like the way it turned out. It kind of reminds me of those cinnamon alphabet crackers but with more of a cookie consistency. He approved too...and he is a true sugar cookie critic:D

what you'll need:
*1/2 cup buckwheat flour
*1 cup tapioca flour
*3/4 cup sweet rice flour
*1 tablespoon guar gum
*2 teaspoons baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter (room temp)
*1/2 cup organic sugar
*2 eggs
*2 teaspoons vanilla extract
*pinch nutmeg
*pinch ground cinnamon

day 1: no need to start you ovens!
combine the dry ingredients-whisk all the flours together in a medium bowl. add the guar gum, baking powder, and salt. whisk again and set it aside.

combine the liquids-stir the butter. add the sugar and stir until combined. add the two eggs and vanilla. stir/beat until mixed. add the nutmeg and cinnamon and stir once more.

sift the dry ingredients into the wet ones and continue stirring and mixing until all ingredients are blended together. This batter is thick and sticky. leave it in the smaller bowl and cover with plastic wrap. refrigerate the dough overnight to let all the flour and gum set together (this is a handy trick for any gluten free baking).

day 2: start your ovens...375!
take the dough out of the fridge and let it sit until it is at a temperature you can roll it out (but not too long as it will fall apart more easily than regular dough).
roll out the dough between two pieces of wax paper (to save on flour). don't roll it our paper thin.
you can cut the dough into your favorite shapes then and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. i had giraffe, kangaroo, snowflake and star cookie cutters on hand:-)

bake for 8-10 minutes.
and then your done:-) let them cool on a wire rack. refrigerate or freeze the cookies you won't eat the day you make them. gluten free cooking tends to spoil easier than traditional cooking. they last a long time if kept covered and cold

have a wonderful holiday season.
hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

"Pizza" with tortilla crust

So I was reading a vegan magazine and decided I was reeally in the mood for pizza but was lacking some of the supplies needed to make a gluten-free crust so that's where some of the improvising came into play.
This turned out to be super delicious and a really quick and easy meal! Definitely satisfied the craving:D

what you'll need:
*two mini Ezekial 4:9 tortillas
*pure organic tomato sauce
*mozzarella cheese (I used Daiya cheese substitute and made it a vegan pizza but you can use lite or regular mozzarella)
*one fresh tomato
*broccoli
*one red bell pepper
*fresh spinach
*garlic powder
*minced onion or onion powder
*oregano
*basil
*olive oil

start your ovens...400!
start by sauteeing the broccoli, pepper, and spinach with olive oil on the stove while your oven is preheating. once the vegetables are tender, turn off the stove and set them aside.
set the tortillas on a pizza or cookie tray. spread about 2-3 heaping tablespoons of tomato sauce on each tortilla. sprinkle with garlic powder and onion.
spread the sauteed vegetables evenly on both tortillas. sprinkle desired amount of cheese on each pizza.
sprinkle oregano and basil on top and place 2-3 slices of fresh tomato on each.
bake for 8-10 minutes.
cheese should be completely melted.

note: you can use any vegetables you want as toppings...these are just what I had available. you can put olive, mushrooms, onions, etc. on. have fun with it and make it your own!

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

Sooooooooy Delicious

this is a quick blog about a discovery I made.

I love Tofu and Tempeh and I thought since it is neutral, I was fine eating everyday. And not only did I have soy at least every other day, but I was drinking soy milk, eating soy ice cream, and using soy sauce numerous times throughout the week.
Soy is a delicious dairy substitute and amazing for blood type A...but I found after a few days I was moodier than normal and after a week, I was having stomach issues and starting to inexplicably cry again.
I thought back on my diet and realized how much soy I was consuming...all the extra estrogen was probably wreaking havoc with my digestive system (and hormones).
So I have only been using soy when I use soy sauce now, which is only once or twice a week. I wouldn't hesitate ordering it at a restaurant...but I am not making tofu a staple in my diet by any means.
So basically the point of this blog is to caution everyone to be extremely conscious about what you put in your mouth. Don't be afraid of the neutral list...I eat off it all the time. But be aware if you start feeling different. Try and find out what changes you have made to your eating regime and if it is helping you or hurting you.
SO ya...hope this is helpful to someone haha
you are loved.

Cod Seaweed Wrap

so I was really in the mood for some type of sushi thing but too lazy to go out and get sushi or to make it myself (i will post a blog soon about how to make your own amazing sushi!)
so i came up with this which is still delicious and completely beneficial for blood type O and quick to make.

start your george foreman grill! (or pan fry)
what you'll need:
*cod (desired amount-i used one fillet)
*broccoli sprouts
*three seaweed sheets
*teriyaki sauce
*thai curry sauce (i used yellow but there are other kinds)
*red cayenne
*onion powder
*brown rice
*soy sauce (if you want to dip)

prepare the brown rice by steaming desired amount on the stove.

start by coating the fish in teriyaki then drizzle over the curry sauce. set the fish on the grill or pan fry and sprinkle on cayenne pepper and onion powder.

prepare the seaweed by dampening it so it sticks. what I usually do is take a plate and put water on it so it covers the plate as a thin layer. then i place the seaweed down on it for a few seconds then flip it. set the seaweed flat on a dry plate and place broccoli sprouts in the center of each seaweed sheet.

when the fish is done, break it apart into smaller pieces and divide evenly between the seaweed sheets. place the fish on top of the sprouts. finally, top with rice (as much as you want- just be sure you can wrap the seaweed around it!)

fold in two opposite ends then roll like a mini burrito. let it sit for just a minute so the seaweed sticks together.

and you're done! you can dip it in soy sauce if you want more flavor...and I'm sure wasabi wouldn't hurt. but I thought the fish had enough flavor so i ate it plain:-)

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

"Monster Drink"-Amazing Smoothie

So my mom has a bible study that meets for breakfast every Thursday morning and they were talking about eating healthy and stuff and then on of the moms says she makes a "monster drink" for her kids every morning because they don't like spinach. You can't really taste the spinach in this shake but she called it that name because it turns the drink green. Her kids don't know how healthy it is and it tastes great:-)
So i sort of created my own take on the "monster drink" and I have one every morning.
Feel free to change it up, add or subtract fruits.
Just know the reason I use a frozen banana is because it gives the drink a great creamy texture

first blend:
*1 peeled, frozen banana
*1 cup pineapple juice
*a little bit of almond breeze milk
*flax seed oil
*one scoop of your favorite protein powder (I really like hemp and vegan)

once slightly blended, add:
*1 cup fresh spinach leaves
*wheat grass (optional-it definitely gives it a different taste)

blend on high or food processor or ice crush....whatever your blender says....until smooth like a smoothie.
After drinking this I feel so energized and awake and it satisfies so many cravings.
I have also added honey to it before for sweetness, plums for a slightly tart flavor...
feel free to experiment!

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

Pumpkin Ice Cream

SO this one is a really different...and doesn't taste anything like traditional ice cream...but it has the same consistency and is still a great beneficial frozen treat:-)

in a medium bowl mix:
*1 15oz. can of organic pumpkin
*2 1/2 scoops vegan vanilla or chocolate protein powder
*2 tablespoons agave
*2 tablespoons honey (raw)
*1 tsp. vanilla extract
*about 1/4 cup almond breeze milk or rice dream
*carob chips (personal preference on amount)

Once it is all mixed up, I usually separate the mixture into 3 or 4 small plastic cups and freeze it overnight. When you eat it, you can either take it straight out of the freezer and it will be sort of like italian ice, only creamier. ALSO, you can empty the frozen mix into a food processor or blender and blend it until it is the consistency of soft serve. either way it is delicious, beneficial for blood type O, packed with protein, and satisfies the craving for ice cream.

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

Cranberry/Raisin Pumpkin Bread

So this recipe is a combination of three blog recipes and I think it worked reeeaaallllyyyyy well:D
It turned out moist and delicious and the consistency was still amazing even without sugar.
It is a nice way for us blood type O to celebrate the holiday season with pumpkin bread without eating the dreaded wheat and gluten haha

start your ovens...350!

mix these ingredients in a large bowl:
*2/3 cup buckwheat flour
*2/3 cup tapioca flour
*1/3 cup rice flour
*2 tablespoons guar gum
*1/2 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. baking soda
*2 tsp. baking powder
*1 heaping teaspoon of ginger and allspice mixed

now add:
*1/3 cup olive oil
*1/2 cup raw agave
*2 tablespoons organic molasses
*2 tsp. vanilla extract
*14 oz pumpkin (canned-organic)
*1/4-1/2 cup almond breeze or rice dream milk (start with 1/4 cup and add little by little)
*Ener-G Egg Replacer for 2 eggs

mix-the batter will be sticky and fluffy but slightly dense and heavy. stir in 2/3 cup raisins or cranberries.
grease a Bundt cake pan with olive oil and spoon the batter into it. I had to mold the batter into the pan with my hands due to the consistency.
bake for about 45 minutes. the cake is done when you can touch the top lightly and it is firm.
cool on a cooling rack before flipping.

hope you enjoy:)
you are loved.

Positive Forces

So I have been pursuing this new lifestyle for the past two months (more or less) and could not be happier with the results. I feel better all the time, I'm happy, I'm awake, I'm healthy...
I have not eaten anything off of the avoid list once since I have started and I am astounded at how much I eat and yet I haven't gained any weight. I mean...it really blows my mind
But the reason why I titled this positive forces, is because not only am I receiving support and guidance through all of this, but I feel other people are turning to me for comfort and support and motivation.
And I am encouraging everyone who inquires about the blood type diet to find out their blood type and really research the science behind it. The information is astounding. And if anyone has questions about blood type O, I am always willing to answer to the best of my ability.

go to www.4yourtype.com to research the blood type diet a little further if you are interested.

One of the most positive influences and means of encouragement has come from the Valencia Wellness Center. (www.facebook.com/pages/Valencia-Wellness-Center)

Everyone over there is helpful and welcoming and compassionate and they only have your health and wellness in mind when you come in. They probably think my mom and I are crazy for going in there sometimes 3 or 4 times a week. But I truly trust them with my life at this point.
When I first started trying to figure out what was physically and emotionally wrong with me, all of the doctors checked my blood and told me I was fine. They even tried to put me back on birth control which I had said made me pass out and black out and have hormonal mood swings. They told me that I should try again and that's about all they could do for me. I am not in anyway undermining what doctors do, but they are concerned more with test results than with trying to find the the answer as to why a patient is feeling so abnormal.
The Valencia Wellness Center sought after something more than what was on the test results. They wanted to heal my body, mind and soul. And little by little I am healing without the use of medications, birth control and numerous invasive tests.
Ever since that turning point, I have been researching homeopathy and alternative herbal remedies because I find it extremely interesting. Like for instance, vitamin D levels in the blood should be at a minimum 40ng/ml. When I had my blood work done, I was at 22ng/ml.
Vitamin is the vitamin you get from sunlight (UV rays) but unless you live on the equator and stay outside majority of your day, you don't get enough of it. This vitamin is super important for your immune system. To learn more about the major importance of vitamin d go to www.grassrootshealth.com.

just consider everything. I can testify to the fact that this stuff works.
feel free to contact me with any questions or want to know where to find more information.

you are loved.

Vanilla Plum Cake

I am on a mission to find a good gluten-free cake recipe for my brother who has a gluten allergy and has a birthday coming up.
For my first attempt, I decided to try out a simple vanilla cake but added the plums on top to resemble a recipe my Grammy used to make. I think it tastes good and my mom is a huge fan haha
The cake is a bit heavier than ordinary cakes, but the taste is definietly there and it's guilt free! no wheat, no gluten, no sugar, low fat! And the plums on top add to the beneficial part for blood type O:-D

what you'll need:
*1 cup rice flour
*1 1/2 cup tapioca flour
*1 tsp. baking powder
*1 tsp. baking soda
*1/4 tsp. salt
*2 tsp. vanilla pudding powder
*1/4 cup vanilla soy yogurt
*1/4 cup apple sauce
*1/2 cup almond breeze vanilla milk substitute
*1/4 cup flaxseed/ grapeseed oil mix
*1/4 cup raw honey
*4 tbsp. agave
*4 plums

start your ovens...350 :-D
in a large bowl mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla pudding powder. (i used a wooden spoon for all of this)
then add the almond breeze milk slowly and stir. then add the soy yogurt, applesauce and oil and stir.
finally add the honey and agave and stir extremely well... until smooth:-)
pour mixture into oven-safe dish. slice the plums into thin slices and lay on top of batter.
bake for 35-45 minutes.
to see if it is done, stick a toothpick in and if the toothpick comes out clean, it is done.

I really like eating this with a cup of tea!
hope you enjoy!
you are loved.

"Oatmeal" Raisin cookies:D

my dad's favorite cookies are oatmeal raisin cookies so I am starting to experiment with oatmeal alternatives. This was my first attempt but I thought they turned out pretty good and my parents each had three cookies each right out of the oven!
so I'm guessing it's a good start:-)

what you'll need:
DRY
*1/2 cup tapioca flour
*1/4 cup flaxseed meal
*1/4 cup rice flour
*1/4 cup Ezekial 4:9 cinnamon raisin cereal
*2 tsp egg replacer
*2 tsp vanilla pudding powder
*1 tsp baking powder
*1 tsp baking soda

WET
*1/4 cup pumpkin (canned)
*1/4 cup applesauce
*1/4 cup grapeseed/flaxseed oil mixture
*1 tbsp agave
*1 tbsp honey (raw and regular)

start your ovens...350:-)
in a medium bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients. add wet ingredients and mix until all clumps are gone.
place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet and spoon the cookie dough onto the wax paper.
I made about 20 cookies with this recipe but if you make "normal" sized cookies you will probably get around 2 dozen:-)

hope you enjoy!
you are loved.

"Breaded" Tilapia

I was inspired to find an alternative to bread crumbs for this mock meal due to a request from some family members who are blood type O and disappointed to be avoiding the wheat and gluten... I think it turned out really well (plus it's super easy) and I am still experimenting with different alternatives:-)

So for a single serving...
what you'll need:
*one piece of Tilapia or other fish
*1 1/2 tsp veganaise spread
*1 tsp. minced garlic
*flax seed meal
*basil
*1/4 diced tomato

***I used a George Foreman grill for my fish but you can grill them outside or even pan fry if you want.

to start mix in a small dish the veganaise and garlic. spread over both sides of the fish the garlic mixture.
sprinkle the flax seed meal on both sides so its covered but not super breaded...
sprinkle some basil on both sides as well.
I grilled mine for about two minutes then flipped the fish and grilled for another two minutes.
serve it with the diced tomatoes on top (instead of using ketchup) and you're done!

I ate mine with a side of steamed broccoli with melted almond mozzarella cheese on top:-)
quick, easy, and delicious.

hope you enjoy!
you are loved.

Salad Style

Salad Style
807 F St San Diego, CA

Over the long weekend, my mom and I decided to drive down to San Diego and go college touring. And although we had the option of eating the gourmet food in the dining hall of Pt. Loma, we decided to venture out and find someplace else to eat.
We ended up in the gaslight district in San Diego and happened upon a quaint little salad shop on F Street.
The menu seemed pretty good so we walked in and ordered and received the most delicious salads. I got the grilled salmon over spinach with zucchini, peppers, onions, avocados and a lemon vinaigrette. My mom got the soba noodles and vegetables in a miso dressing. Both were fantastic.

The shop was small and only open for lunch hours (I think 10:30am to 3pm) and if you weren't looking for it you might miss it. But if you crave good salads, you wouldn't want to miss it. (By the way, the portions we got were the small portions)

So next time you're in San Diego and want a really great, healthy lunch, check out salad style.

enjoy!
you are loved.

a hearty, healthy salmon dinner

I made this for dinner on a day I didn't have a lot of protein...or really a lot of anything haha
it's good and filling and of course extremely healthy and beneficial!

ingredients:
*salmon (desired amount)
*broccoli
*sweet potato
*olive oil
*lemon juice
*teriyaki sauce
*yellow curry sauce
*savory
*basil
*oregano
*garlic powder


to start put a tablespoon of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of curry sauce and 4 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce into a baking dish and begin to marinate the salmon in it. (the quantity of sauce and oil may vary with the size of the fish)
start your ovens...380:-)
once the oven is preheated, bake the salmon for 15-16 minutes. at this point, my salmon was very moist, but you can leave it in longer if you prefer a dryer fish.
while over in preheating, cut the sweet potato(s) into circular slices about 1/4 inch thick and place them in a pot with about an inch of water in the bottom. set the pot on the stove with a lid at a medium heat. when the water starts to boil, reduce heat. allow the potato to steam until soft.
drain the potato and leave in pot. add a drizzle of olive oil, savory, garlic powder, and basil to the potato and stir a little to spread the flavor.
while the salmon is baking, steam the broccoli on the stove. once soft, drain the broccoli.

place all of the prepared food on a plate. sprinkle basil and oregano and garlic powder over the fish and broccoli.
and you're done!

hope you enjoy:-)
you are loved.

Vegan Express

Vegan Express
address: 3217 Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA

Today I went to IKEA with my mom to buy a desk for my room and we thought "hey, why don't we try a new restaurant since we are here?"
so I went on my phone GPS thing and searched restaurants within 5 miles of IKEA and being devoted to this new diet, I was intrigued by the name Vegan Express. Even though I'm not vegan anymore, at least I knew I could get dairy-free, wheat-free and gluten-free thing there.

so we didn't know what to expect... but the food was absolutely amazing! we both ordered a Thai dish; I got see me with wide rice noodles and my mom got pad Thai. BOTH were delicious!
Portions were huge and for really cheap. But of course we ate all of it:-)

They also offered things like veggie burgers, mushroom burgers, salads, soups, dinners, and breakfast items. I am definitely going back to get a burger sometime!

Don't be deceived by its outward appearance either...it is clean and welcoming and great. It is kind of one of those "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants that turns into a favorite lunchtime place once you give it a try.

I definitely recommend! Lots of options when you're in the Hollywood/ LA area.

oh...and I took a picture with the awesome indie parking sign behind the restaurant. That's when you know it's a home-cooking type restaurant:-)

you are loved.

Quick Update

so the other day I was rushing out of the house and grabbed an apple and some walnuts for breakfast which is fine, but then for lunch I was at school and ended up eating only fruit and carrots. This was basically my diet before starting the blood type diet.
I was full and all, but by 2 PM I realized I was exhausted physically and even a little bit irritable. Crazy! I thought back to what might have triggered it and it wasn't lack of sleep.
The only thing I could attribute it to was lack of protein.
For dinner that night I had a huge piece of salmon and was more alert than I had been all day.
so ya... this diet is constantly making me more aware of what I am putting into my mouth and what my body needs to function at its best.
that's all for now. just thought it was interesting:-)

O yay! A Quesadilla!

well...kinda a quesadilla. haha
it's my version that is beneficial for blood type O folks.
I missed my cheese and tortilla goodness! so it makes me happy that I can make these "mock meals" and they taste good:-)

what you'll need:
*a stove
*a frying pan
*olive oil to grease the pan (not too much)

ingredients:
*one Ezekiel 4:9 tortilla
*almond mozzarella cheese substitute
*almond jalapeno jack cheese substitute
*broccoli
*squash
*garlic powder
*red cayenne pepper
*crushed red pepper

cut broccoli into smaller sections and the squash into thin slices. steam the broccoli and squash.
cut the two cheeses into thin slices (use as much or as little of the cheeses as you want. i use about three thin slices of each.)
fold the tortilla in half and tear apart.
warm the pan over a medium flame and brush the olive oil over the bottom of the pan.
place half of the tortilla on the pan. spread the mozzarella cheese slices over the tortilla. then add the broccoli and squash on top of that (desired amounts of each...i like a lot). sprinkle on very little garlic powder, a little bit more of the red crushed pepper, and a little bit of red cayenne pepper. add the jalapeno jack slices on and top with the other half of the tortilla.
press down on the quesadilla with a spatula to allow the cheese to melt and hold everything together. once the cheese is melted, flip the quesadilla over and press for another 30-45 seconds.
make sure all the cheese is melted then slide right onto a plate and enjoy!
i didn't use salsa with this one but I'm sure it would taste great.

hope you enjoy! you are loved.

Pumpkin carob cookies

So... this is my first attempt at an original cookie recipe but I thought it was pretty good:-)
This is wheat-free, gluten-free, vegan and uses only natural sweeteners. And it's awesome because not only is it completely healthy, but it's also beneficial for blood type O! Getting ready for fall baking...

makes about 2 dozen

ingredients:
(dry)
*1/2 cup rice (or brown rice) flour
*1/2 cup tapioca flour
*1/4 cup flaxseed meal
*1 tsp. baking powder
*1 tsp. baking soda
*1 tbsp. egg replacer
*2 tbsp. chocolate pudding powder (go organic! and natural sweeteners)

(wet)
*1/2 cup pumpkin (go organic! canned)
*1/4 cup raw honey
*1/4 cup grapeseed oil
*2 tbsp. water
*2 tbsp. blue agave (natural sweetener)

*1/4 cup carob (or chocolate) chips

start your ovens...350:-)
mix together all wet ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth. add the dry ingredients and mix ...I usually use a whisk. once smooth, add the carob chips in the mix.

use a spoon to scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet and mold into cookie shapes. for the cookie tray: put a piece of wax paper down so you won't have to grease the tray and the cookies slide off easily. make sure the wax paper doesn't hang over the side though!

bake for 12-14 minutes.
to check cookies, stick a toothpick in the center of one and if it comes out clean, it's done. if dough is sticking to it, bake a little longer.

enjoy! you are loved.

One Fish, Two Fish...

What a difference a fish makes...
Actually more than A fish, but many fish.
For the past few weeks, I have been eating fish 4-5 times a week. And experimenting with the ones on my beneficial list too! Cod, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Sole...even Salmon! It was really weird starting out, but I am beginning to enjoy creating my own marinades and using different methods of preparation (I have more options than I did with simply vegetables).
Also, I have two protein shakes a day, either Hemp protein, vegan protein, or rice protein. All are good but my favs are the vegan and hemp ones. I even stirred it into my soy-based yogurt and it was awesome!
now for the update:
I have been feeling so much better! I think the increase in protein, the added fish oils and the flower essence therapy has done wonders for me. Before I started this, people would come up to me and ask if I was ok...if I was down...or tired. Something was off...something noticeable.
But now people are saying my skin looks great and I look much happier and awake.
And I am.
I'm more awake and aware.
I"ve only had one minor mood swing in the past three weeks compared to the ones happening a few times per day before.
more cool things:
I get hungry more often...which I thought would be bad thing...but despite the fact I am eating nearly double what I used to, I have not gained a pound. I have had no hypoglycemic episodes or acid reflux. The only thing I can attribute it to is the diet and when I am eating everything that benefits my body, my body will reward me and love me. Everything is connected: body, mind, and soul. I think I'm starting to get them all in sync. :-)

O the places you will go...

Just a little background on the blog:
I never imagined I would end up here.
I haven't eaten red meat since third grade. I have completely vegetarian since sixth grade. I have been wheat and gluten free for a while. And going back a few months I decided to become completely vegan.
All of these changes were well thought out and due to my extremely health- conscious lifestyle. However....as healthy as I was physically, emotionally I was on a steady decline.
Though I won't go into detail, the past few months have not been a piece of cake. I have dealt with mood swings and hormonal periods of depression that have been completely exhausting me emotional and physically. Somedays, I literally couldn't do anything but lay in bed, hold my stomach and cry. With a wacked out hormone level and digestive system, I decided to start searching for some answers.
Of course I started with the medicinal approach...but every doctor told me the same thing: all the blood tests came back fine and I am healthy.
Great...but I needed more help. So being the homeopathic remedy-believing naturalist that I am, I went to the Valencia Wellness Center where I was first turned on to the blood type diet. Of course I was skeptical...but I was willing to try anything. Not to mention, these were the first people who actually listened to me and agreed that something was not in alignment. I started on some supplements and herbal teas and slowly eased onto the new diet regime. The only problem: I was a vegetarian and the diet was a MAJORLY based on protein (specifically animal protein). So for a while I tried the 0+ diet vegetarian style...but it was hard considering I had to give up dairy and I still wasn't getting enough protein. So I was vegan for a while until a voice kept telling me something was wrong. After many discussions ( and a TON of praying) I decided I was going to slowly introduce animal proteins into my diet.
SO I started eating fish which I had never done before (besides sushi). It was traumatic at first, but now I am eating it almost everyday! It will be a looooooonnnggg while before I add any other meat though. baby steps.
I am not setting goals with this diet, nor am approaching it skeptically. I have heard the success stories and I am ready and willing to add to that list. This blog is to keep myself accountable as well as inform others of how my endeavors are going.
So enjoy the recipes and updates and feel free to email me any questions if you are curious about the diet yourself:-)