Monday, April 26, 2010

Vegan and Running


Just a quick update on my new vegan lifestyle, I lost 19 lbs since January of 2010. I feel so much better, more even keel, the mood swings have leveled out and my running have improved as well. The picture on the left was taken yesterday prior to my 8 miles run and the picture on the right was taken last October 2009 prior to my first marathon at the Marine Corps marathon.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Seitan Sausage Sliders with Daiya mozzarella and Marinara Sauce:

Marinara Sauce:
1 ½ cups of diced onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp Marsala wine
pinch of fennel seeds, crushed red peppers
1 tsp each dried basil, oregano
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes in juice
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper to taste.

Saute onions in olive oil until softened. Add garlic and cook one more minute. Add remaining ingredients in order and bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Puree slightly, leaving some chunks. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Seitan Seasoning mix:
1 tsp of fennel seeds
1-1/2 tsp salt
¼ tsp crushed red peppers
½ tsp celery seed
¼ tsp each: basil, thyme and oregano
Combine in a spice mill and process until finely ground.

2-8 oz pkg seitan, chopped
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cups of Marinara Sauce
20 whole wheat small dinner rolls
¼ cup of Daiya mozzarella
Salt, pepper to taste.

Toss seitan with Seasoning Mix and 2 Tbsp of oil. Saute with in 1 Tbsp oil until browned add marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

Please sausage mixture on rolls and top with Daiya mozzarella. Broil to melt.

Becoming A Vegan

I have made the transition to a plant based diet for one month now and I want to share with you how great I feel. I lost 8 lbs and feel that I have control over my eating again. I dont overeat like used to, and my energy have been on an even keel instead of the wild fluctuation that I experienced prior to this new eating plan. I love tofu and kale and quinoa so much now.