What the Heck is Black Rice?

About a month ago, one my tweet peeps recommended that I try black rice since I'm not a fan of brown rice.

Black Rice Benefits:

*Excellent source of iron and fiber...much more than white (of course lol) & brown rice  

*Black rice has been linked to lowering cholesterol and preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. source

*It battles with blueberries in the antioxidants department. One type of antioxidants found in black rice are anathocyanis, which are found in blueberries. source

 How do you cook it?  I cook it just like white rice-2 cups of water to every cup of rice

How does it taste? I love it.  It's nothing like jasmine rice (which is more fluffy) but I enjoy the nutty taste.  The boys gave it a major *side eye* when they first saw it (lol) but said it tastes like regular rice after trying it.

Is it expensive? It's about $4/lb at my grocery store but the boxed version (I haven't seen it yet) may be less expensive.

What do you serve it with?   I stuffed red bell peppers with the rice, avocado, black beans, onion, garlic and cilantro. So good!

I also made a tomato & basil tofu meal using the rice and pretty much use it like regular rice in recipes.

I didn't measure the ingredients and got the idea to make it from my tweet bud.

Have you tried black rice? What do you think?

Further reading:  

History of Black Rice 

Black Rice vs Brown Rice 

It's TEA Time

I love tea and usually drink several cups of black, lavender, ginger or green tea a day. ​

This past weekend, Eric and I explored a local tea shop and purchased our first bag of coconut black tea.  It's definitely different but I've never met of cup of tea I didn't like. 

Wonderful tea benefits:

​*Contributes to lower cholesterol

*Reduces blood pressure (especially green tea)​

*Helps fight viral and bacterial infections

*I read in the latest issue of O magazine (Dr. Oz article) that drinking several cups of green tea a day helps combat belly fat.  *pouring another hot cup*​ #YeShrug

​Here are some pictures from that little trip....

TEA Dog :-)

Are you a tea or coffee drinker?

What the Heck is Nutritional Yeast?

The other day I received a comment on my channel from a viewer wanting to know more about nutritional yeast.

I had no idea what nutritional yeast was before I become a vegan.  I thought it was just like traditional yeast -- used as an agent for rising bread.

Nutritional yeast is actually a deactivated yeast and isn't used to rise bread. It's a good source of protein and is typically formulated with vitamin B-12.

What is it made out of? Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organism, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, which is grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried with heat to kill or “deactivate” it. Because it’s inactive, it doesn’t froth or grow like baking yeast does so it has no leavening ability. (Source)

How does it taste? The yellow flakes have a nutty flavor to me and many vegans compare it to cheese.  I personally don't think it tastes anything like cheese.

How is it used in vegan recipes? Nutritional yeast is often used in sauces and sprinkled on popcorn as a "cheese" substitute. I use it in this Alfredo sauce and in the "cheese" sauce for macaroni & cheese.

What's the point? Nutritional value? Since vitamin B-12 isn't prevalent in a plant-based diet, and nutritional yeast is typically formulated with it, it's a great way to incorporate it into a plant-based diet. 

Where can you purchase it? Any health food store or right online.  It's typically available in the bulk bins or in a shaker container like the one made by Blue Star.

Further reading:

Do Vegans Need to Worry About B12 Deficiency?

What Every Vegan Should Know About B12

How do you get enough B12?

You should hang out with me on Facebook and/or Instagram

Save Time in the Kitchen

I love cooking, but like most people, I'm always looking for ways to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with my family.

Here are a few tips to save time in the kitchen....

*Wash and chop your vegetables in advance-Chopping vegetables can easily turn a 30 minute meal into a 45 minute one.  Prep for the week so you one less step when it's time to cook after a busy day.

*Use canned beans and frozen vegetables whenever possible- Canned beans save me sooo much time. Also, I always have a few bags of broccoli or corn on hand to quickly steam vegetables.

*Get some help-Get your child/ren to help mix ingredients or wash dishes.  Sometimes my boys aren't as enthused to help in the kitchen, so I casually ask one to hand me an onion, and another to boil some water.  Before you know it, they're cooking and chatting with me and don't even realize it.  It works like a charm every time!

*Wash dishes as you cook-Who wants to enjoy a delicious meal only to come back to a sink full of dishes?  That kills my mood Every. Single. Time. Rinse and toss dishes in the dishwasher as you go along.

*Make enough to last 2 days. I hated leftovers growing up, but things change when you're the one doing the cooking. I try to make enough spaghetti (which is always better the second day) and macaroni and cheese to last for 2 dinners.  Also, even though I don't do this, preparing and freezing meals in advance can save even more time.

How do you save time in the kitchen?