A Snowy Halloween!

Hey Snowflakes... YES SNOWFLAKES! I'll get to that later..


Happy Halloween! I will have some pictures of Baby A in her costume in my next post. 


Anyway, I hope you all had a great weekend. Before the weekend, I made some raw kale with quinoa, acorn squash, raw kraut, and my new favorite thing: Horseradish Hummus!  

I picked the hummus up at Trader Joe's. So yummy!!! I wish it was organic..

The pups went for a nice walk, before the weekend cold front came..

I enjoyed my favorite forgotten about snack: apple and banana slices stuffed with raw almond butter! Mmm..

T and I took Baby A to our favorite Sushi Restaurant on Thursday. She was a little angel and sat and played while we ate. I gave her some mango and avocado out of my salad and she was as happy as can be!

I ordered 2 avocado rolls with black rice and 2 regular avocado cucumber rolls.

By the time the weekend arrived, the weather had gotten dramatically colder. Winter storm COLD!!! On Friday night I made some canellini beans with brown rice, tomato sauce, mushrooms and peppers. This came out like a soup. Perfect!

On Saturday, we hit up Whole Foods for lunch. I made a salad of potatoes, white beans, raw kale and chana masala.

We headed home after that because it was SNOWING!!! Yes, we had a snow storm before Halloween! Here is my backyard. We lost some branches because the trees were so heavy because the leaves haven't fallen off yet.

More from the weekend soon! Don't forget to enter my latest giveaway!!!

NuNaturals Review, Recipe and GIVEAWAY!

Happy Friday Everyone!! Today I bring you a review, recipes and a giveaway! Whooohoo!


The kind people at NuNaturals sent me this little package of goodies! You can imagine how excited I was! Stevia is the only sweetener I use, and NuNaturals is definitely my favorite. I find their Stevia to be the least bitter. I also like that a little goes a long way. I use about half a packet per cup of tea. :) They have baking powder now which is great for those who want to avoid adding a ton of sugar to your baked goods. This will definitely come in handy around the holidays. 

I made the Rawnola that I posted in my last post with their Vanilla Stevia drops. Here is the recipe:
Almond Rawnola
1 and 1/4 cups of almond flour (or almonds crushed in the food processor)
4 tablespoons of raw almond butter
1 drop of Vanilla Stevia
1/4 cup of coconut oil
1/2 cup of coconut flakes
1/2 an apple diced very small

Mix all ingredients in bowl and spread onto dehydrator sheet (or you can use the oven). Dehydrate overnight or for about 12 hours. 

I also made the same recipe into cookies! YUMMY! These need a little longer in the dehydrator, probably about 18 hours. Just check on them every so often. You can probably also put them in the freezer to get them to stick together too.

Now onto the giveaway, sponsored by NuNaturals!

The people at NuNaturals are giving 4 lucky winners a bottle of their Vanilla Stevia Drops (2 oz bottle).

And a box of their White Stevia Powder (50 ct. box)!

This contest is open to U.S. readers only (SORRY!). To Enter Simply Leave a Comment Telling Me Your Favorite Sweet Treat.

For additional entries:
1. "Like" Ginger is The New Pink on Facebook.
2. Tweet this giveaway, make sure you use my Twitter name (@LaurenGinger).
3. Follow my blog in Google Friend Connect.
4. Blog about this giveaway.

Please leave a comment for each thing that you do!

I will announce the winner one week from today: Friday,  November 4th, 2011.

Good luck!!!

NuNaturals also has a "Free Samples Program" for those in the U.S. You just need to send a self addressed, stamped, #10 envelope to: 

NuNaturals, INC
2220 West 2nd Ave. # 1
Eugene, OR  97402

PLUS,

 ALL of you can take full advantage of SPECIAL DISCOUNTS on all future orders only available from ordering through their website :

www.nunaturals.com

When you go to their website CHECKOUT PAGE, ENTER THIS CODE :  BLG1211 , and you will receive a SPECIAL DISCOUNT of  -15% on your TOTAL ORDER.  Also, when ordering from their website you also receive FREE SHIPPING to the CONTINENTAL U.S. on all orders TOTALING  $35.00, and over, AFTER this special discount.

This offer to your readers EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ENDS DECEMBER 31, 2011.

Have a great day all!!! :)

Birthday Planning

Hello Sunshines! I hope you are all having a fantastic week! Baby A turned 11 months on Monday! I can't believe she is almost a year old!! Her birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year (she was born the day before, last year). I can't think of anything to be more Thankful for, she is the light of my life! ;)


Anyway, we are planning her first birthday bash and I have invited over 80 people! HA HA! While I don't think she is ready for cake, we are having a vegan sheet cake made at Whole Foods and I am making vegan/gluten free cookies. For her I am thinking a little avocado mixed with carob. I know I am going to get some eye rolls for that one! :) There will also be vegan/gluten free lasagna and some other yummy vegan eats. If you have any good ideas, please send them my way. I am looking for something to entertain the kids. I'm thinking a pinata filled with healthier treats (organic lollipops?and stickers..etc?) I want my brother-in-law to dress up as a character! We will see how that goes.. 


Onto food, I mentioned we made pizza on Sunday night. Mine was a gluten free crust topped with sauce and raw massaged kale. I call it a "high raw" pizza! ;)

T is back to growing wheat grass! Look at these trays, beautiful, right?

I made some rawnola in my dehydrator this week. Recipe in my next post..

I had some on top of a green smoothie. Perfect!

I also made some raw almond cookies in the dehydrator. They turned out really good. Again, recipe in my next post (along with a giveaway!!!). 

Baby A had her first taste of lentils the other night. So far she has only had fruits, veggies and of course, breastmilk. I boiled her some plain red lentils with carrots and a sheet of kombu. She loves them!!! She also had some diced apple and avocado. 

Speaking of lentils, I made my Lemon Lentil/Chickpea Stew for T and I. This is my favorite Fall/Winter soup! A stick to you ribs kinda meal!

I'll be back on Friday with a review and giveaway! Have a great day !! XO

Baby Steps

Hey Loves! I hope you all had a great weekend. We had so much going on! Baby A had her first birthday and Christmas pictures taken (we wanted to get them done before the rush). Then SHE TOOK HER FIRST STEPS!!!! I almost fainted!!! She was holding the table and T was watching her, I walked out of the room and as soon as I walked back in, she took her hands off and took 5 steps! Then fell and got up and did it again, over and over!!!!! My heart almost burst out of my chest! What an amazing moment. I am still recovering!! ;)


Before all that went down, on Friday night I made this delicious dish. As most of you know, I rarely eat soy (I get very bloated and phlegmy, sorry TMI!!). But once in awhile, I crave it. My favorite kind is an organic marinated one they sell at Trader Joe's. I added it to some veggies (mushrooms, peppers, eggplant) and sauce and brown rice and it came out really comforting and delicious! 

After Baby A had her photo's taken, we met up with my bestie sister-in-law and brother-in-law for lunch. I had a big salad with chickpeas, scallions, hearts of palm and carrots. 

On Sunday, I made T take a ride to the Redbank Farmer's Market so I could hit up The Cinnamon Snail  vegan lunch truck one last time before the season is over. I had an amazzzzzing raw salad that had kale, arugula, spicy cashews and fresh made local Kimchi! The guy who runs the truck told me that his friend makes the Kimchi and I was the first to try it!! All I can say is WOW! I must order some from his friend, it was absolutely delicious!

I also had a raw raspberry bar from the truck. Talk about yummy! I wish I got more then one..

More from the weekend soon and a giveaway coming up!!! XOXO

Eating for the weekend..

Hey All! Thanks for all the kind comments on my guest post for "Good Health is Gorgeous"! You are all too kind. :) 


Anyway, this week was filled with yummy eats. I made another squash bowl, this time I had raw kale topped with quinoa and Acorn Squash. Yummy, I love doing this with different grains and varieties of squash.

I made the most delicious Pumpkin Pie smoothie one morning.

Green Pumpkin Pie Smoothie:
2 frozen bananas
1/2 cup of pumpkin
1 tablespoon of almond butter
1 cup (or more depending on how thick/thin you like) almond milk
1 handful of spinach
Sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 scoop Vanilla Sunwarrior Protein Powder

Add all ingredients to blender and blend! ;)

I had left overs from my Fergalicious Stew so I added them to a kale salad. I also added avocado, Bubbies Pickles, raw kraut and hummus. This was delicious!

Here is one of Baby A's plates: Acorn Squash mixed with soaked and blended prunes, carrots and broccoli mixed together and avocado sprinkled with dulse. 

Finally, I had some cauliflower that I didn't know what to do with, so I cooked it with olive oil and garlic, pureed it, added a box of butternut squash soup and topped it with Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs! I love making meals with what's already in my cabinets!

Have a great weekend all!

Guest Post for "Good Health is Gorgeous"

Just wanted to let you all know that I did a guest post on Maria's blog for her "Good Health is Gorgeous" campaign. Check it out and let me know what you think! :)


Click here to read!!


I'll be back with a new blog post tomorrow!
XO

Good Health is Gorgeous, A Recipe and Pups

Hello Buttercups! Happy Hump Day (I actually don't like that expression..lol). Anyway, before I get on with the post, I wanted to mention that my beautiful friend Maria has an amazing campaign going on called "Good Health is Gorgeous"--


"its purpose is to set a new standard of beauty in a society that focuses on unrealistic and unimportant standards and characteristics of beauty and projects them onto its members." 


Amazing idea right? You have to check out her posts so far. She is so inspiring (even going to be on the Dr. Oz show to talk about her work with hospice!!!). Go Maria!!


I had mentioned that on Sunday we were making pizza, here is my gluten free/vegan pizza topped with tomato sauce, kale and olives. Yummy! 

I found these Coconut Secret Bars at Whole Foods but I am not going to lie, I am not a huge fan. They were kind of dry and dense. Oh well, I know a lot of people really like them.

Also picked up some incense at Whole Foods. I'm a big incense person!

I made my own version of Lubiya, a recipe I found on Gluten Free Vegan Family. I actually don't even think what I made would be considered "Lubiya" so I will call it something else.

Here is my recipe:
Fergalicious Stew (hehe, get it?) (adapted from Gluten Free Vegan Family): 

1 pound of dried black eyed peas soaked over night
2 quarts of low sodium vegetable stock
1 jar of tomatoes (or I used about 5 fresh ones)
1 large bunch of kale
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
2 large carrots, diced
2 tablespoons of South River Chickpea Miso 
1 bunch of parsley (for garnish)
Cumin, Ground Pepper, Cayenne Pepper Dried Basil and Curry Powder
Olive oil


In a large soup pot drizzle olive oil and add garlic and onion, along with cumin and curry powder, cook until broken down. Add carrots and cook until soften. Add 2 quarts of vegetable broth along with black eyed peas. Bring to a boil let cook for 5 minutes then lower. Do this step until beans are softened (about 4-5 times). Add chopped kale, all seasonings and miso. Add salt to taste (or leave out if okay). Serve with fresh parsley on top. This recipe is nice to make early and let it cooked all day because it will thicken up a little. Just add the kale and parsley before serving. Enjoy! 

I received my free sample of Sunwarrior's new Warrior Blend Powder!

I had it in a smoothie with spinach, banana, 2 brazil nuts, wheatgrass powder, e3live and almond milk. At first the taste was a little "off" to me, then I slurped the whole thing down!! I really like Warrior Blend and I think I will order some when I run out of the regular powder.

And finally, the girls sharing a bed! Ginger likes to snuggle.. Sueshe, not so much! ;)

Have a great day all!

Rainbows and Happiness

Hey Sparkles! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Mine started off on a positive note: a rainbow filled sky, on my way to Whole Foods! 

For dinner I made gluten free pasta with sauce and broccoli. I have been in the mood for Italian lately! ;) Even had gluten free vegan pizza last night (that will be in my next post). Yummy!

Baby A had broccoli, squash and pear. Once again, more was on her face then in her mouth. She cracks me up!

On Saturday, we had lunch at a local bistro. I had the lentil soup. So warming on a beautiful Autumn day.

Then we headed down to my parents house and met my brother at Whole Foods. Here is Baby A showing him the ropes in the produce section (in her organic shopping cart cover). ;)

After that, we dropped Baby A off with my parents and T and I headed to Good Karma Cafe for our date! I ordered the Live Lemonade (lemon, ginger and apple juice).

Then I started my meal with the special salad which was spinach, walnuts, Dr. Cow Nut Cheese, sliced apple and dehydrated apple. So good!

For my main course I ordered something I rarely have: raw pasta. As I mentioned, I have been in the mood for Italian, I am usually not a fan of raw noodles, but this was really good. The nut balls were very tasty and the "cheese" on top was the perfect touch!

T ordered the special soup (which I forgot to get a pic of: tempeh and white bean) and the taco salad. He said it was pretty good.

For dessert we shared the gluten free Tiramisu Cup. Wowza!!! So good!!! Definitely my favorite part of the meal! ;)

We had a great time, date nights are a necessity (even if they are only once in a blue moon!).

Have a wonderful day all! XO

HELLLLLO Weekend!

Happy Friday Everyone! Can I just say, TGIF!!!! Wow, what a week! I am really looking forward to this weekend. T and I are having a date night and we are bringing my brother to Whole Foods, for his first Whole Foods experience (EDITED TO ADD: no he isn't coming on our date, as someone had commented, it's just T and I)! ;) He says he wants to get some fake meat products to replace his deli chicken and chicken sausages. I am thinking Field Roast would be perfect for him. I like the ingredients in their products, but unfortunately, I can't eat them anymore because they contain gluten. He doesn't eat red meat or pork at all, so he is already kinda ahead of the game! ;)


Anyway, onto eats, I had this AMAZING lunch yesterday: a raw collard wrap (brought back from Dean's) stuffed with sprouts, cabbage, carrots, tomato and cashew mayo. On the side I made a little salad of raw kraut, avocado and tomatoes from my garden. I also had some RAWbundant sun dried tomato crackers. Mmm, so good!

For dinner one night I made a Buttercup Squash and red rice/quinoa mixed on top of raw kale. This was delicious, I see myself having this a lot this season.

Baby A had her first try at squash and LOVED it! Her plate was avocado, banana and squash with dulse flakes sprinkled on top.

And finally, after the week I had, I was in need of chocolate!! Ah, happy again! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend all! XO