Happy New Years Eve!

Happy New Year everyone! Well, almost! :) What are your plans tonight? Are you drinking? We are going to dinner with some friends and then coming back here to hang out. I am going to make a raw vegan key lime pie and have some other snacks. I will not be drinking, because I don't. But I will have a champagne glass filled with Kombucha! I will be bringing in the New Year in style!

Another drink I have been enjoying a lot lately is, hot water with lemon juice and cayenne pepper. My friend Julie told me about this, she said it helped her during a bad crohn's flare and I have been enjoying it since! YUM!
I've been enjoying lots of green juice this week. This one was cabbage, kale stems, romaine & apple juice.
This one was zucchini, kale stems, romaine, apple, lemon.
Of course I had a big kale salad for dinner one night. This had avocado, olives, sprouts, raw pickles and hemp seeds.
Yesterday I had a tarot card reading! I went to my favorite store in town, Success Express and the girl offered me one and I did it! I even picked a card that meant pregnancy, she predicted that within 6 months I would be pregnant! Ahhh! :) I don't believe in tarot and psychics 100%, but it's nice for a little guidance. She told me to let go of all of my fears and wants me to work on my spiritual self before it happens. I also bought a healing spray, some incense and an essential oil candle for love, but it's really a chakra candle, and love is in the stomach area. So basically I got it for my stomach, but T thinks it's for love! HAHA!
Last night I made T and I some banana soft serve, Gena's recipe! I added some rawnola, raisins, goji berries and cacao nibs. YUM!
Have a safe and healthy New Years everyone! See you in 2010!!

Putting my Vitamix to Work!

Hey All, a little Ginger love to get your day going!! Of course you can tell when T walks into the room, her eyes are all over him, I don't blame her, ha-ha!! :)

The day after Christmas, on our way home, we stopped at my favorite health food store for some juices! T and I both got a Lemon-made. This was lemon, ginger and apple. Perfect for a day after indulging!
When I got home, I had to try out my Vitamix, Lafayette! I made some nog for T and I, this one had cashews, coconut milk, bananas, vanilla and cinnamon!
The next morning I made a smoothie with persimmons, bananas, coconut milk, wheat grass powder, hemp seeds, flax seeds and chia seeds. Not having to deal with my ghetto blender is so relaxing!
I forgot to mention another Christmas gift from T, this was technically in my stocking, so I think Santa left them. Raw chocolates from David Wolfe's company Sacred Chocolate. These are so smooth and yummy! I've tried a little piece from each over the past few days! One of them is 99% Cacao, eeeeek, it is bitter! Think I might have to use that one in a smoothie!
Have a nice day everyone! I am going for my hot stone massage later! I am aiming for an all raw day today. Actually, just liquids till dinner. Lots of smoothies and juices, and coconut water of course!

Christmas Wrapping

Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! As you can see I got a FlipVideo and my first guest is the one and only Ginger!! I don't know how much of an appearance I am going to make on it, but you never know! On this video I was still in my PJs hence the stripped arm that showed up! :) Even more EXCITINGLY, I got my Vitamix! Isn't he pretty? I named it Lafayette, after the True Blood character! Ha ha!
I also got a few other things.. this awesome Victoria's Secret PINK hoodie..

A really big Mat and Nat purse..

Makeup and lotions from 100% Pure..
Ticket to the play HAIR, the day before my birthday (T hooked me up), I love anything hippie, so I am ecstatic! .. And Ginger got a SNUGGIE!

T and I on Christmas, I got bangs last week, what do you all think?
Here was my plate on Christmas: Vegan Eggplant Parm, no cheese and gluten free bread crumbs, pasta with broccoli rabe, a big salad and some roasted potatoes.
T and I again, having a good time with our families and friends!
Sueshe (my mother in laws pug) and Ginger were exhausted after all the company!
They usually end up laying somewhere together after everyone has left, this year they found a spot of a couch chair while we all watched The Hangover.
So that was my crazy Christmas, I am still so exhausted from standing and mingling in heels for 7 hours that day! My grandparents got me a gift card to a spa so on Tuesday I am going for a hot stone massage (MUCH NEEDED)! I've had regular massages, but never hot stone, anyone have one? What did you think? Enjoy the rest of your weekend! XO!

Merry Christmas 2009!

Ginger and Sueshe after a long Christmas last year, sleeping on my brother in law.

Merry Christmas!
Have a wonderful, happy, safe Christmas, and thanks for reading!
Love, Lauren, T and Ginger!

Decking the Halls!

Happy Christmas Eve-Eve or in Seinfeld terms, Happy Festivus! :)

Today I am crazy busy: hair, manicure, pedicure, wrapping, wrapping, wrapping!!! Did I mention, WRAPPING? So I have to make this quick!

Earlier this week, I had a ton of cabbage from my co-op box, so I made cabbage lentil soup! This was really good, we had a lot left over, so it's in the freezer for future use! Of course no post would be complete without a kale salad! I have been having one a day! This one has olives, avocado and hemp seeds!
For dinner last night, I made a similar dish to the one I had last week. This one was quinoa, broccoli, peas and hemp seeds. In case you didn't notice, I am on a hemp seed kick lately!
So what are your plans for the holiday? T and I go to the shore to visit our families. We eat Christmas Eve dinner with my in laws then go to my grandmas for family presents (they have the big Italian fish dinner, hence the reason we eat at my in laws). Then we have a big Christmas party at my in laws. My whole family pretty much goes. My mother in law, future sis in law and I are vegan and my sis is pretty much vegan. So for us, we are having gluten free pasta with broccoli rabe, vegan eggplant parm (not even fake cheese on this), roasted potatoes and a big salad. We also have 36 vegan cupcakes from Sweet Avenue Bake Shop that T is picking up tomorrow! I will get some pictures! I also will have a flip video, so you might be hearing my voice soon! Have a wonderful day everyone!

P.S. Check out the giveaway for an ice cream maker going on at Gluten Free Gidget!

Snow Day!

Happy first day of Winter! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We got a lot of snow here, but south of us got a lot more, I am happy we didn't get as much, since I HATE driving in the snow and ice!

I was fortunate enough to win a contest by the Pure2Raw twins, Michelle and Lori and they sent me a bunch of yummy raw (and a few cooked vegan) treats from their bakery Twin Cakes. They are working on a new website and they are going to offer there goods for order! YUM! My favorites are their macaroons, the pumpkin seed kale crackers and brownie bites!! So GOOD! On Friday, after the package came, I put some avocado on a few pieces of collard flat bread they sent. Talk about delicious! These are so good, everything they sent is!
I also had a big salad on the side. I added some crumbled flat bread, cherry tomatoes & avocado!
Saturday night, we were pretty much snowed in. I made some millet with broccoli, onion and garlic and topped it with some avocado, lemon juice and hemp seeds. This was so warming and delicious!
Since I was bored out of my mind, I also made Ani Phyo's Almond-Goji Cacao Chip Cookies from her book Raw Desserts. These were amazing! T loved them too, he said they taste like the cornflake, cherry cookies people make around Christmastime. Between Saturday and Sunday we ate them all, we couldn't resist!
We took a nice walk on Saturday night while it was still snowing. Ginger seems to have a love/hate relationship with the snow. She tries to fight it.. it's really funny. I can't wait to get my Flip Camera for Christmas so you all can see!
I took this picture in the woods near our house.
Of course, no snow day would be complete without a snow angel! It's fun to be a kid sometimes, no matter how old you are! :)
Have a nice Monday everyone! Stay warm and cozy!

Beautiful Blogger Award and 7 Random Facts

The beautiful ladies at Pure2Raw awarded me this Beautiful Blogger Award. The rules are you have to write 7 random things about yourself and than pass it on to 7 other beautiful bloggers. As you know, I can never choose 7 out of all my beautiful readers, so once again, I am passing this on to all of you.

Now 7 Random Facts:

1. I became a vegetarian at the age of 15, I never liked cheese or milk, so I didn't eat much dairy (besides ice cream). I started eating turkey, fish and chicken when I was 17 because of the lack of options when going out to eat with my new boyfriend (T!!!). It was always pasta, pasta, pasta. Now of course, I realize that was foolish of me, I can always ask for the dish without the meat!

2. I became a vegan cold turkey (no pun intended). When I was diagnosed with Crohn's (4.5 years ago) I cut anything out that bothered my stomach, first it was dairy, then chicken and turkey, then eggs and finally fish. I never slipped and it wasn't hard at all!

3. After we got Ginger (3.5 years ago), my veganism became more about the animals. Now I could never see myself eating something so precious again.

Baby Ginger

4. I do still have leather in my closet (GASP!). Like I mentioned in the past, I worked at a high end shoe store, most of my leather products are years old. I do not feel the need to throw everything away and spend a fortune buying new stuff. But I do by man made whenever possible. In fact, I asked for a Mat and Nat purse for Christmas! Baby steps!

5. T and I got married in the Bahamas. Most of my close family came and T's immediate family and all of our friends. We had about 30 people. The wedding was so intimate and beautiful. Every person that came said it was the best wedding they had been to. We stayed at the One and Only Ocean Club resort (Oprah stays there!), we had our ceremony in a Catholic church on the island, and the reception at the famous Greycliff Hotel and Cigar Factory. It was really neat and beautiful! We went to Jamaica on our honeymoon which was magical!

Our Wedding in the Bahamas

6. I have an older brother (by 5 years) and a younger sister (by 3 years).

7. I read a lot of the food blogs I read now for a few years before I started my own. I never commented, just read them. When I came on the "blogging scene" I felt I knew a lot of people already, although, they didn't know me! :)


Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Is Green the New Ginger?

NEVER! :) But this post does have a lot of green going on..

Happy Friday Everyone!

We have a possible snow storm coming in Saturday night and normally I would be excited.. but, I have a lot of Christmas shopping to do and who wants to be snowed in on the weekend? Monday, sure, but Sunday.. eh.

Anyway, this week I have continued with my kale salad cravings. In fact, I ran out and can't have one for lunch today, but I am going to Whole Foods later so I am going to have one for dinner! This one had lots of left over goodies from a salad I made at Whole Foods over the weekend. Mostly shredded veggies and sprouts.
Green juice has been a staple lately as well. Along with my new favorite way to get warm and get energy at the same time: ginger, lemon and cayenne. I make enough for a shot glass and take it down! My belly feels warm right away and I get that little tingle through my veins. I love it! This juice was: romaine, kale, lemon, ginger, cucumber, pear.
I had a doctors appointment late one day this week. After driving all the way there and back (it's only a couple towns over, but there is major commuting traffic that time of day), I didn't feel like cooking. So T and I picked up food from our new favorite salad place. They have sandwiches and soups as well. All of there soups are vegetarian and unless noted, vegan. This one was a white bean and spinach soup. So delicious!
We also got salads. Mine was mesclun, carrots, mixed beans, broccoli and sun dried tomatoes. YUM! Perfect meal after a good doctor appointment. I really like my new gastrointestinal doctor. He really knows Crohn's and doesn't like too strong of medications. I feel like he is working with me, not against me like my previous doctor.
Yesterday for lunch (since I was out of kale), I diced up an avocado and added olives, pickles and some seasonings. I could eat avocados everyday for the rest of my life and never complain! They are one of my favorite foods!
Have a great weekend everyone! Check out this Zukay giveaway going on over at The Voracious Vegan! I love Zukay products, filled with probiotics, great for my stomach!

Christmas Time in The Ginger Household!

Hello All!

I have a lot of pictures from the weekend (before and after Candle 79), so I'll keep my chatter to a minimum. Thank you all for the lovely comments on my picture in the last post. You are all so sweet! I am so lucky!

On Friday night, I made some raw nog. I have heard from a few sources that the raw nog recipes out there are not very good. I seem to have found a winner! I used a VegNews magazine recipe that I received in my email last week. The only thing I would change would be to add more dates or cashews for a little thicker nog. Other then that, this was superb!
To go with our nog, I made raw gingerbread cookies! They were not at all shaped like gingerbread, but they taste the same! I actually started to follow a recipe on these, then changed it up to make it my own.

Lauren's Raw Gingerbread Cookies
2.5 cup cashews
.5 cup walnuts
1/4 cup agave
3 tsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. fresh ginger
7 dates (soaked)
1 cup of raisins (soaked)
2 tsp. nutmeg

Combined all in food processor. Roll into balls and refrigerate for 2 hours. Or dehydrate for 3 hours at 105 degrees.

I dehydrated them, but I am sure they would come out just at well in the fridge.
On Saturday, T and I went to a new place we discovered in town. They have an awesome salad bar that you choose what you want and they mix it. I choose mixed leaf lettuce, chickpeas, broccoli, artichokes and olives. I am craving one of these salads!! Hopefully we can go back this weekend, I am going to try a different combo!
On Sunday, for lunch we hit up Whole Foods. I made a small salad with lots of sprouts and cabbage, yum!
No post would be special without an appearance from the queen! This was Sunday night, she was laying on T's chest while he watched football. She has the life!
Finally, we put up our tree!! Isn't she pretty? We wanted to cut our own and bring it back to the farm to be made into mulch, but the place was closed due to the rain! Boo! So we got it from a local farm instead.
Lastly, I want to give a special shout out to the lovely Gena, who is hosting an awesome cleanse to kick off the New Year along with Hadley who is a fellow blogger (at Hadley’s Holistics), and she’s a founding member of Spark! Wellness and Andrea Moss (who also writes a blog). You can read more about this fabulous cleanse here. Gena puts her heart and soul into everything she does, so this is sure to be a success!

Have a nice Wednesday everyone!

New York City at Christmas Time!

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I sure did (even with the rain on Sunday). We had an awesome time in NYC on Saturday night. There is nothing like New York at Christmas time! The streets were packed, and we walked 15 blocks to the tree, since getting a cab would have been impossible. Walking that much in heels isn't a great idea! But it definitely kept us warm!
While walking I took a few pictures, this was outside of Macy's (I think).

Then we got to the tree. There were blocks of people. So we had to squeeze our way through though. The year T proposed there I do not remember there being so many people. I think I was just so happy, I didn't notice!
T and I in front of the tree. Not the best picture, my face is still a little swollen from steroids. But I'll post it anyway!
Onto the food, like I said, we ate at Candle 79! The meal was delicious! I started mine with a pear salad, which was a special. This salad has pistachios, cranberry beans, pear, and some other stuff in it (sorry, I can't remember).
Then for my entree I ordered the WILD MUSHROOM STUFFED TEMPEH:
wild mushrooms, sautéed spinach, brussels sprouts, sweet potato sauce, apple-pomegranate salad. I ordered this last time and liked it so much, I ordered it again! Although, T had the best meal in my opinion. He ordered the seitan special, which was Cashew Crusted Seitan (I tasted it, WOWZA!)
We finished our meal with the cannoli dessert: vanilla cream filling, vanilla chocolate chip ice cream, raspberry drizzle. YUM! We had this last time we went as well. I was itchy to get the raw dessert, which was an apple granola parfait, but I couldn't resist the cannoli! We all couldn't!
We also had hot cocoa with our dessert. This was the only bad part of our meal. I took 1 sip and couldn't drink it. It was very "soy-y", I don't drink soy milk or use it in anything, so the taste was rather strong. I would've thought they would use a coconut, almond or hemp milk, but I was wrong! YUCK!
So that was our time in New York! I have a ton of other meals from the rest of the weekend, so be sure to come back within the next 2 days! Have a nice day!