In the Kitchen with Donna

For those of you who know me, and I mean REALLY know me....I'm not that culinarily-inclined ;) However! I do happen upon some really tasty recipes, that with some tweaking, ala Donna, turn out to be quite the vegan masterpieces :) Ok, there's only a handfull so far, but onwards we go...

So, this year, one of my goals is to compile these recipes, probably on-line, because it's so much faster to type than scribble down with a pen and paper, both of which seem to be such commodities these days around the house (Antonis!). If not for Google, finding and creating vegan & gluten/sugar-free recipes would be almost impossible. Making these dishes has become a past-time of mine, for I haven't come across a complete recipe book for this exact eating lifestyle. If you have, please let me know :)

Yes, I'm Vegan ... have been almost 100% for the past 2 years, and LOVING IT! Vegetarianism came easy to me...my son's severe dairy allergy kicked me into high gear to become vegan. His allergy has had it's scary moments and testing times - but I do see it as a blessing, as it has brought us to a more conscious way of eating. To all of life's struggles and hardships there is a silver lining.

Having struggled with weight issues most of my teenage years and early part of my twenties, I realized a big shift was needed. I had to change my lifestyle to allow for my true self to shine through. This lifestyle shift began with weight-training, cardio training, hiring a personal trainer (who eventually helped change the course of my life's purpose! Thank you Grace!). Then, bodybuilding took over, then yoga and meditation.

In terms of nutrition, I went from calorie counting (glad those days are done!), to high-protein and detoxing on a seasonal basis. I saw nutritionists, naturopaths, homeopaths, and more. Slowly but surely, I listened to my body - and vegetarianism is what it wanted :) Going vegan was the next step, and Antoni's dairy allergy caused that to happen practically overnight.

Alicia Silverstone likes to call it the Kind Diet, and that it is. Since beginning it, much like Alicia's story, I have not had to think twice about my weight, my skin is brighter and clearer (having suffered from severe acne for many devastating years), and my step is lighter, I feel happier (especially when not having to defend my food choices) - and overall, more peaceful. It's also REALLY fun finding interesting recipes to suit this lifestyle.

Oh, did I mention, I'm also gluten-free and sugar-free. Now there's the doozy! Try baking vegan and gluten/sugar free ... ask my friends who've ventured into trying my recipes... they'll let you know that the winners are far and few between :) Note to self: don't bake large quantities with xylitol - unless you extremely dislike your guests :)

Why be sugar-free? That's for another day and time - the disastrous effects sugar has on the body should make you wonder why you would want to eat it at all. The grass IS greener on the sugar-free side: think stevia and Agave nectar (nectar of the Gods!).

So, starting today, I'll be sending you my new and tried-and-true recipes that are vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free. Try them and tell me what you think! Anyone can incorporate these recipes and this style of eating into their current diet.Trust me, if I can do it, you can! Even meat-eaters will tremendously benefit from having one or two meat-less days a week. Your body will thank you :) Plus, my recipes require very little time in the kitchen. They're also full of vitamins, minerals, healthy proteins, and flavour.

I look forward to sharing this culinary journey with you! It's a first for me - to spend time creating and sharing recipes. But it's something I've wanted to do for some time now, and I hope it will help out anyone wanting to step-up their healthy lifestyle habits.

With much love and blessings,

Donna


Today's Recipe:

Yummy-yummy organic tofu bites:

Ingredients:
- organic firm tofu cut in thin slices
- sesame oil
- gluten-free tamari (natural soy sauce)

In a sautee or frying pan, place the sliced tofu and a splash of the tamari sauce (enough to coat the surface of the tofu for a golden colour). Heat on medium until golden and slightly crisp. Just before taking it off the heat, add a splash of sesame oil for taste.

These are a great snack! Eat them as is, or add to your salad, stir-fry,rice, or as a side-dish to pasta or soup.

Enjoy!