Vanilla Rooibus Tea with Cacao & Mint

Since I'm hosting the savory tea giveaway from Numi this week, I thought it would be fun to talk a little bit more about tea. 

If you ever come to Seattle, one of the places that you absolutely have to visit is Remedy Teas on Capitol Hill. I am obsessed with this tea house. They carry over 150 organic loose leaf teas in the cafe, including white, green, oolong, black, rooibus, yerba, and a variety of herbal teas. If you are a tea drinker, this place is pure heaven. 

One of my favorite combinations was a seasonal holiday tea they featured several years ago that tasted like chocolate peppermint candy. Let me tell you, I bought out the store. Literally. And over the next eleven months I drank it all. 

Then the following Christmas I anxiously awaited for this seasonal tea to return, but they never brought it back. Several months ago I found myself craving this tea again and I finally decided it was time to just make my own combination. So I did.  

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Choosing Abundance

I've decided to start a new series here on For The Love of Food based on the personal development work I have been doing in Danielle LaPorte's The Desire Map. I mentioned The Desire Map a few months back at the end of the year as I was working through some changes around the direction of my business and life in general.

As a result of that post, I have received numerous emails from readers talking about how The Desire Map changed their perspective and helped them to shift focus in their life. I hope to use this series as a way to share things that I am working through at the moment while also connecting us as a community for those of you who are also working through your Desire Maps.

In case you are unfamiliar with The Desire Map, here's what you need to know: The idea behind The Desire Map is that most of us plan our lives around achieving certain goals. After we spend years working to reach those goals, we often find ourselves feeling empty when we finally get what we thought we desired.

Instead, The Desire Map helps you to discover your core desired feelings and use these feelings to gude what you want to do, have, and experience in your life. The idea is that when you set out to achieve a certain goal, it's not actually the goal you want, it's the feeling behind the goal, so, traditional goal setting is actually backwards.  Instead of focusing on the goal, we need to focus on the feeling we want that is behind the goal. This may sound simple, but this stuff goes deep.

One of my core desired feelings for 2013 is ABUNDANCE. Last year I began to realize how I mostly focused on what is lacking in my life -- it's "the glass is half-empty" mentality. This perspective often made me feel competitive, tense, and anxious because I constantly felt the sense of scarcity that surrounded me.

Is this how I wanted to feel in my life?  No, absolutely not.
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A Plant-Based Easter Menu

Maybe you are vegetarian or vegan and need some inspiration for your menu.

Maybe you need some delicious options for a vegetarian or plant-based family member.

Or, perhaps you are struggling with what to serve for for someone with food allergies?

Whatever your situation is, I've got you covered. All of my recipes are free of meat, dairy, eggs, and there are plenty of gluten-free, grain-free, and soy-free options!

And, if brunch is your style, be sure to scroll to the bottom for some delicious brunch ideas!

Let's start things out with some color! How about some Creamy Carrot Soup with Fresh Basil? This sweet and mellow soup is a wonderful way to use the new carrots of spring. Not only does it come together quickly, but it reheats easily so if you're making a batch for dinner, why not make some extra and save your leftovers for lunch?

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Numi Organics Savory Tea Giveaway

Photo by Numi

If you've been a reader of this blog for awhile, you've probably noticed that I am a big fan of two things: vegetables and tea. It is for this reason today that I am ecstatic to share my latest and greatest discovery with you: savory tea. 

What the heck is savory tea? I'm so glad you asked! 

Savory Tea is essentially savory blends of veggies combined with spices and tea infusions to create a soothing, comforting beverage. I know it sounds a little strange at first, but stick with me here because your entire world is about to change. 

I was recently contacted by Numi and asked if I was interested in trying their new Savory Tea blends: broccoli cilantro, carrot curry, fennel spice, beet cabbage, spinach chive, and tomato mint. My answer? Absolutely. You had me at broccoli cilantro. 

Over the past month I've been testing these out and let me tell you: I am in love. Living in Seattle means I am subjected to many cold, rainy grey days and I often drink a lot of tea just to stay warm and help me cope with the weather. What I loved about these blends is that they have the same comforting feeling as a hot cup of soup, but are just as easy to prepare as tea. 

I will admit that at first it was a little strange to have a savory cup of tea because I'm used to sweeter blends like rooibus or my mate chai. However, once I knew what to expect, I began to find myself craving these, especially in the late afternoon when I typically want a snack. I don't think these are filling enough to use as a meal replacement, but they did help with cravings. These were also fabulous for traveling because they were convenient to have on-the-go since all you need is hot water to brew them.

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Fried Beets

I've been in the midst of an awkward living situation for the past few months and have had the utter joy of living with my partner's older brother while him and his wife are in the process of moving overseas. As someone who has had very few roommates in her life, I am overjoyed that at the end of the month we will have the place to ourselves and life will be back to normal. 

I think the best part of the last three months was when I got a lecture from my partner's brother about "not leaving dirty dishes in the bathroom." This lecture turned out to be a misunderstanding spurred by the fact that I had left a bowl of my homemade citrus and coconut body scrub on the bathroom counter. Apparently when the coconut oil hardens (as coconut oil does when it is cold), this mixture ends up looking like "moldy cereal with almond milk."

I'm totally guilty of being an almond milk drinker, but dude, I didn't leave moldy cereal in the bathroom. It's body scrub, I swear. I think by the end of this experience we are all excited at the possibility of having our own personal space again. 

I do have to say one thing I am grateful to him for and that is this recipe. I thought I had enjoyed beets every possible way that one could enjoy beets: roasted, boiled, steamed, and raw. But fried? Ooh, this is dangerous business. 

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Top 7 Healthy Traveling Tips

Last week I traveled to Washington DC for work and I thought it would be fun to share some of my best tips for traveling healthfully. Eating healthy and feeling energized while traveling can be particularly challenging, especially if you have special dietary needs or preferences. Since I was traveling for business, I wasn't able to have as much flexibility and control over my schedule as if I were traveling on vacation, so I definitely picked up some techniques along the way that made it easier to eat healthy and feel my best on-the-go.

Tip #1: Do your research before you go
The internet is your friend and it will help you to explore the city you are visiting before you embark on your trip. I always find this especially important if you eat a plant-based diet like I do because it helps you to know how veg-friendly the city is and you can prepare by packing extra snacks if needed. I always look for:

• The closest natural foods or health foods store. (In a pinch, a regular grocery store will also do!)
• A nearby juice bar (if possible)
• Nearby Asian, Thai, Indian, and (healthy) Mexican restaurants. (These restaurants are usually my best bet for finding plant-based protein sources and fresh veggies in an unfamiliar city. Plus, they are also a great option if you are traveling with others that eat meat as they will have options available too.)

If you know that you are traveling to a city that isn't veg-friendly or doesn't have any options for dining healthfully, the next few steps are really important because they will help you to be prepared and make the best choices on the trip.

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9 Green Drinks for St. Patrick's Day!

I know that St. Patrick's Day isn't typically associated with green smoothies and juices, but I think maybe it's time we changed the tradition. If you are one of those people heading out to a weekend celebration with corned beef, Irish bread, cabbage, potatoes, or beer, I hope that you'll down one of these green drinks before embarking on the festivities. I promise your body will thank you later!

1. Mojito Juice
A juice packed with fresh enzymes that resembles a fancy cocktail? I'm in! This combination of cucumber, celery, mint, kale, and lemon will leave your tastebuds begging for more!

2. Green Smoothie 101
Green smoothie newbie? Perfect, you've come to the right place! This video tutorial will get you blending up smoothies correctly so your drink ends up healthy and enjoyable!

3. Green Lemonade
This fresh juice combo resembles my favorite childhood drink and is loaded with nutrients! The lemons help cut the "green" taste so this drink is perfect for those new to juicing.

4. Energizing Green Smoothie
If you are trying to replace your morning cup of joe with something healthier or just need a quick, filling breakfast on-the-go, this smoothie is your new best friend. It's perfect for boosting energy, detoxing, and helping you recover from a workout.

5. Bok Choy Green Juice
This juice is simple and refreshing. I love that it only contains two ingredients and makes me feel amazing anytime I drink it.

6. Kale Smoothie For Kids
No green smoothie round-up would be complete without this one! This smoothie is perfect for transforming "picky-eaters" -- adults included.

7. Kale Smoothie For Ladies
This green smoothie naturally boosts energy (without caffeine!), balances hormones, alleviates cramps, helps stabilize blood sugar, and tastes like chocolate. Enough said.

8. Kale Smoothie With Pear and Herbs
This smoothie is one of my favorites in fall when fresh pears are first available at the market, but I love its refreshing quality in spring. The herbs add a beautiful zest that makes me feel like winter is finally over!

9. Mean Green Juice
Don't be intimidated by its name - this juice is incredibly friendly! This post also has a great video to help you get started with the basics of juicing. Drink up!

I hope you enjoyed this green drink round-up! Have a healthy weekend!

Cheers,
Sonnet


Psst, if you enjoyed this, be sure to share it with your friends!

Hearty Yam and White Bean Hash

Hi friends,

I have a special treat for you today! I am off traveling in Washington DC for a conference this week and can't wait to share my food journey with you! Until then, I guess you'll just have to do with this hearty yam and white bean hash I cooked up over the weekend.

You can find this recipe over on Richa's blog, Vegan Richa. I'm a big fan of hers and I love the way she combines simple, plant-based ingredients into amazing dishes with a focus on Indian cuisine. (Plus, if you haven't checked out her Roasted Butternut Squash Sliders with Balsamic Caramelized Onions you definitely should!)

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Continue to the recipe...

Black-Eyed Pea & Collard Greens Soup

This month For The Love of Food had its third-year anniversary. Three years ago I sat in my dark kitchen photographing roasted vegetables under a stove light (with a point-and-shoot!) for a grad school project. Thankfully things have changed a lot over the years.

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am to this incredible blog community created by each and every one of YOU. Thank you for your encouragement, your wisdom, and for learning together these past three years.

Thank you for putting up with way too many cat stories. Thank you for laughing at my jokes and listening to my constant ramblings about how delicious vegetables are. Seriously... 'cause everyone else in my life is sick of it by now.

And for my gratitude, I give you a simple black-eyed pea and collard greens soup.
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Citrus & Coconut Body Scrub

I am excited for spring. Every year around this time I start stalking the sunrise and sunset timetables online to see exactly how much light we are gaining each day. As of this week, we are gaining about 3.5 minutes of daylight every day and I couldn't be happier. 

I won't miss the extreme cold and dark days of winter, but I will miss the comforting soups and winter citrus. Oh how I'll miss the citrus. 

Since winter's not over just yet there is still plenty of time to zest an orange and rub it all over your body with a little sugar and coconut oil. Let me tell you, this scrub is pure bliss and it's making the last days of winter go by even quicker. 

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Kale Smoothie for Ladies

I'm not going to lie... sometimes it's hard to be a lady. Sometimes there are days when mood swings get the best of you and you become an emotional mess. An emotional mess for absolutely no reason except that, well, you're a lady.

On days like this it's best to stay away from your kitchen. On days like this don't attempt to create a new veggie burger recipe; chances are very high that the recipe that worked so well in your mind won't work out in reality. And then it's just awkward when your male roommate walks in on you crying on the kitchen floor. Not that this has happened to me or anything...

If you do decide to venture into your kitchen, I advise you keep it simple. Throw some frozen bananas into a blender and blend it up with some kale. Toss in some maca powder to correct those hormonal imbalances and add some raw cacao powder for good measure -- unless, you don't like chocolate? And then be sure to enjoy this soothing, fiber-filled smoothie curled up in a snuggie while watching your favorite romantic comedy.

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