How could I pass up a date with this hunk?

Since we are trying to be more frugal with our dining out we decided to use one of our Living Social deals to Asiana Noodle Shop, a favorite spot of ours where I usually get a giant bowl of noodle and vegetable soup that I could fit my whole head in.  Last night neither of us were in the mood for noodles so we flipped to the back of their extensive menu and decided to both get sushi.

Neil got the

It was so delicious and came with a bowl of miso soup that he kindly shared with me.

I ordered the Union Maki which was so delicious and MASSIVE but don’t worry I had no trouble eating the whole thing, I even ate the salad on the side.  I was hoping that Asiana had a description of the roll on their online menu but they don’t seem to but basically it was filled with asparagus, fried tofu, cucumber and sesame peanut sauce rolled and topped with tofu skin and avocado- DELICIOUS!

After dinner we walked around, popped in Stone Soup for a vegan macaroon and then we were off to the movies to see Margin Call.

So this is when I proceeded to have the most expensive nap of my life.  The movie cost $9.25 (remember the good ol’days when movies were like $5?) well I made it about half way through and I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. The movie wasn’t bad or boring so much as just really slow and not that exciting.  I decided it just wasn’t a theater movie for me.  I would have done so much better watching it at home while multitasking.  The Hubz on the other hand really enjoyed the movie, he agreed that at times it was really slow moving but he really enjoyed all the character development.

Have you ever fallen asleep at the movies? 

After my run and yoga class Neil and I decided to take ourselves out for a dinner at one of our favorite restaurants A Single Pebble.  Honestly some of the best Chinese food that I’ve ever had and always great service.  Last night I started with a seltzer, decided I needed to hydrate after all of my activities.

For dinner we had the scallion pancakes, general chou’s mock chicken (requested vegan), dry fried green beans (requested vegan) and double garlic broccoli.

Everything was delicious and we had tons of leftovers, which we ate for breakfast, whoops!

Now we’re off to the farmers market and to run a few errands.  Enjoy your Saturday!

We ended up picking up a few goodies on our way out including this giant 4lb bag of organic quinoa (swoon).

Following our Costco trip we took my dad out for a “thank you beer” and then we both headed on our way. Since it was getting late and Neil and I hadn’t spent much time together over the past few days we decided to have a spontaneous date night at El Gato Cantina where we dined on delicious Mexican food and I caught Neil up on Gossip Girl.

A few weeks ago I e-mailed El Gato Cantina to inquire about vegan options and this was the response from their chef:

“So, for our vegan options, we have the vegan taco(sheffield seitan marinated in a sweet and spicy ancho chilie sauce), veggie tamales (the veggies in the tamales changes due to seasonality, as of right now they are sweet corn, pablano peppers and tomato), guacamole and chips, all 4 of our salsas, black beans, all of our meat dishes can be subbed out for seitan, and we have two veggie tacos that can easily be made vegan sans the cheese.”

Just FYI the rice is not vegan but they will happily double up your order of black beans which are amazing.  The staff is also very knowledgeable about which options are vegan. Last night I had my heart set on the seitan tacos but just before we ordered, our waiter informed us that they were all out of the seitan. WAH! Well I decided to try the black bean tostada with no cheese and extra beans and it was amazing.  Neil also ordered the tostada and added a veggie tamale which was so good.

After a busy afternoon and a late night (for us) we headed home to do our yoga session for 30 Days of Yoga.  Probably wasn’t the greatest idea, since I was filled to the brim with Mexican food,  but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.

I am now off to get ready to conquer the day which will involve work, organizing my elliptical free office, running and yoga.

What’s on your agenda? 

Our favorite dishes: Vegan Buddha’s Beef (request vegan), Mock Eel, Double Garlic Broccoli, Vegan Dry Fried Green Beans (request vegan) and Vegan Dan Dan Noodles (request vegan).

Chrysanthemum Tea

Vegetable Potstickers

Vegan Chow Fun Noodles

Mushrooms with Sesame Sauce

Double Garlic Broccoli

Friday Night Coconut Milk Ice Cream with Berries

Lunch at Bristol Cafe

Pre-3Miler Cacao Energy Bite

Post 3Miler- Choco-Banana Vega Smoothie

Lunch in Northampton

No Moo Burnt Caramel Cone

Famous New Haven Spots

Delicious Coffee and some water in New Haven

New Haven Sites

Tasty Pizza and Beer in New Haven

Split a Vegan Cheese Danish and Snowball Cupcake with the Hubz

Ikea Trip

Miso Soup

Iced Coffee and Avocado Hummus Wrap

After lunch we decided to extended our adventure and head a few more hours south to Northampton MA. Northampton is one of my favorite spots to wonder, shop and enjoy a beer.

After wondering around Northampton we stopped into Target to pick up bathing suites (i.e. gym clothes we can wear into the pool) and then checked into the hotel. We decided to get in a quick pool workout since we didn’t pack running clothes for our spontaneous trip. After a hard pool workout we got dressed and headed out to dinner at Fresh Side in Amherst.

After a beautiful weekend that took us through Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire we are experiencing extreme devastation thanks to Irene.

Beautiful Weather Friday and Saturday

I’ve spent my birthday inside flipping between episodes of Gilmore Girls and the news while following saddening tweets about the destruction throughout Vermont:

I hope that everyone affected by the hurricane/tropical storm are staying safe.

Camping supplies for one night...for two people.

Our accommodations for the night

Getting the Fire Started

Onions sauteed in beer for the Filed Roast Sausages

Fresh Sweet Corn

Field Roast Sausages with Creamy Chili Sweet Corn

Hubz Homebrew disguised in Sam Adams Bottle

Relaxing Fire Side

Early morning hike on Mount Mansfield

Hiking sights

More hiking sights

Post hike Vega Smoothie in a jar

Our date night started at the driving range where we shared an extra large bucket of balls.

After we emptied our bucket of balls we headed to the batting gages.  I watched while Neil hit a few balls and then it was time to head downtown for the second half of our date.

We debated over a few places to go for a drink and dinner but I wasn’t really that hungry so we decided to go to the German brew pub for a beer and decide on what we wanted for dinner later.  Once we sat down and perused the menu we saw that there were a few potential small plate options for us to have and since we were enjoying the quiet night on the patio we decided to stay and order food as well.

Grilled Asparagus with olive oil and lemon

Giant pretzel with horseradish mustard (no butter on the pretzel)

Spicy Fries (more liked seasoned)

The Verdict: delicious beer (we stayed for a second) and tasty food. We sat and enjoyed each others company while sipping beers and snacking on the food. Overall one of the best nights lately and I can’t wait to return for more of the asparagus-SO GOOD!

We started our day off with a run in preparation for our race next Sunday

Before heading to the Brewers Festival we filled our stomachs with brunch

And rehydrated with Coconut Water

Then it was time to wait in line for the Brewers Festival

TIme to drink some yummy beers!

Some beers we loved...

ANd others.... like this one

we hated!

Now I’m home relaxing and trying to sooth my crazy sunburn.

Apparently everyone else had the same idea, to head downtown and eat al fresco.  So we finally settled on Italian and waited a bit for a table.  When we finally got a table we ordered a small chicken of Chardonnay to share and decided on salads and flatbread.

Neil's Arugula and Apple salad with candied walnuts and maple-sherry dressing

My Arugula, Apple and Strawberry Salad with candied walnuts and raspberry dressing.

Our flatbread with leeks, lemon, shiitake mushrooms and micro greens.

How we felt about the flatbread and the service.

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Neil and I spent most of the day running around visiting farmers markets (we visited three) and we finally needed to fuel ourselves. After leaving farmers market number three in Waitsfield, VT we decided to try out Mint a vegetarian restaurant in Waitsfield. We tried it a last winter and we thought it was really delicious but we just haven’t made it back until today.

We were seated outside in Paris and after reviewing the menu we decided on two dishes to share- the Falafel Plate and the Tempeh & Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich.

The sandwich was good but it wasn’t great.  It was a little bland and I would have loved for it to be toasted because it got a little soggy. The greens were wonderful dressed with a lavender-herb vinaigrette; so different but so good.

Now as for the falfael plate- yes it tastes as amazing as it looks.

Look at how crispy these little falafel balls are but how moist and wonderfully tasty they are in the center. Everything was amazing! The pita and falafel were warm and delicious with the tahini sauce.  The hummus was so tasty especially on the pita with a piece of roasted red pepper.  What can I say it was so good I could eat it every day.

Overall our second experience at Mint was just as good as the first- well probably even better. The only downfall of the place is the service is fair but the food is wonderful.

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Wednesday Morning Breakfast- YUM

Breakfast Date

Lets rewind to yesterday:

Tuesday Breakfast

Lunch: Crackers & Hummus because we had no food

After work I went for a run and did my best pace yet, a 12 minute mile! So far I have cut over 2 minutes off my mile – WIN! It was a really great run.

Follow my workouts on Daily Mile

After my run Neil and I met up with friends from for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, A Single Pebble.

A Single Pebble is a tasty family style Chinese restaurant with some of the best food in town. We chose two small dishes, a large dish and a noodle dish to share between the four of us. We washed it all down with some local brews.

Vegetable Potstickers- These were pretty tasty

Double Garlic Broccoli- one of my favorite dishes on the menu. This is a must order at each visit.

Rice of Course

Sesame Buddha's Beef- this is also a suggested must order dish- it was absolutely amazing. We also had a vegan noodle dish with crispy tofu; it was meh not my favorite but it was okay.

After dinner we went out for one more beer at The Farm House Tap and Grill with this cute couple:


We had a great night out with friends, one of whom is currently living in DC. Now we are looking forward to our August couples trip to Philly. What are you must see, do, eat, ect for Philly? We are looking for suggestions.

To Start- Seeded Baguette

Cocktail for me: Moulin Rouge and a Beer for Him

Artichoke stuffed with Temeph

Espresso

Vegan Carrot Cake: A-MAZ-ING

Overall we had an amazing and delicious meal. The entree was light, fresh and so tasty. The dessert was amazing especially with the espresso. It was the best espresso I have ever had too. Overall amazing meal, amazing ambiance (it was like you were in France) and I had the best date ever- my husband.

I'm in the middle near the poles- if you look really hard you can find me- Photo By: Arthur Shim

Our weekend was absolutely amazing even though it rained 98% of the time. I started Thursday off with a Kundalini yoga class with Kia Miller; it was really amazing! It was the first Kundalini class I have ever taken and it was hard but so much fun.  After my Kundalini class I was starving and took a rainy walk down to the vegan cafe that was onsite for a delicious lunch of Indian curry, rice and salad and a piece of cashew cheese cake that I split with Neil.  Unfortunately do to my extreme hunger I downed the food so fast I didn’t get a photo and heads up no photo of any other food #fail.  In the afternoon I took a workshop with Desiree Rumbaugh on knees, lower back and hips.  Desiree has so much energy and she is absolutely hilarious! I loved her class so much and learned a lot about alignment and ways to relieve  pains in the lower back, knees and hips. Thursday night Neil and I had veggie burgers and a beer at one of the restaurants on site and ended up in bed early because we were so exhausted from traveling down, camping out Wednesday night and yogaing all day.

Desiree Rumbaugh Class

On Friday I started the morning off with an early yoga class with Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman- I died a little bit when I saw Rodney Yee.  This was the one class I was looking forward to most after years of doing Rodney Yee yoga videos at home I was finally sitting in his presence.  The class was amazing! Colleen and Rodney took turns leading the class.  To my delight (I died a little more) Rodney Yee adjusted me in a pose- MADE MY DAY haha; I’m totally geeking out as I write this so you can just imagine what I was feeling during this class.  After my yoga class I went to a SpeakEasy with Majora Carter who is known for her greening efforts in the South Bronx. I took a break after this and headed back to the hotel to relax for a bit and enjoyed hummus wraps with Neil for lunch. After lunch I had my second yoga class of the day and second class with Desiree Rumbaugh this time a workshop for neck and shoulders.  Again I loved this class! Desiree easily became my favorite teacher of the weekend. I learned so much in the class but was sad when it was over so fast. Friday night we met up with our friend Catherine and went to dinner at a restaurant onsite and then spent the remainder of the night working on blog posts and articles; the work never ends.

Stealth photo of Rodney Yee

Saturday was the busiest day of all and the best because I got to take two classes with my husband! It was so nice because our first class of the morning was with Desiree Rumbaugh and it was a playful flow class. In the class we did a lot of partner work and it was so nice to be able to practice with Neil.  I even did a handstand with support of Neil.  After our class we went to the worst SpeakEasy ever with the author of The Athlete’s Plate; honestly the lecture could have been over in 5 minutes because the guy just kept repeating himself over and over and over. For lunch we had mini Lara bars, tastings of Honest Tea and humus wraps that we made in our room. In the afternoon Neil and I took one of John Friend’s classes which was such a great experience; it started off a little slow but we learned a lot and had a great time. After the class I went to a SpeakEasy featuring the founders of Wanderlust and Neil was lucky and took one of Sean Corne’s classes- he loved it- colour me jealous.

Wanderlust Founders

We ended up leaving early on Sunday due to a few things that came up and I missed out on what I imagined was an amazing class with Brian Kest and one with Schuyler Grant.  Oh well there is always next year.

Summary/Wanderlust in Numbers:

• Yoga Classes Taken: 6
• Interviews Performed: 2
• Mini Lara Bars Eaten: 8
• Hummus Wraps Eaten: 3
• Beers Drank: 5
• Favorite Teacher: Desiree Rumbaugh
• Best Day to go to Wanderlust: Thursday; classes are 2 hours and less crowded
• Runs Done: 1; I only got a run in on Wednesday night because well I was crazy busy, it rained all weekend and I wasn’t paying to use the gym
• Hours Spent Blogging: 8
• What I would Do Next Year: I would schedule classes closer together and take 3 classes per day, pack more food and get a condo to cook in because vegan options are limited and CRAZY EXPENSIVE, oh and find more time to sleep.

Wanderlust Photos:

Interview with Marketing Manager Heather Williams of Manduka

During my visit to Wanderlust Vermont I had the opportunity to speak with Heather Williams of Manduka about what Manduka is doing to green their products as well as their role at Wanderlust and Heathers take on the events. Enjoy!

Q:How did you guys get involved with Wanderlust?
So just because we are such a big part of the yoga community so whenever Wanderlustcame around it just seemed like the perfect fit. Manduka is just into greening thecompany and is so eco-conscious and eco-friendly and Wanderlust has that entireside to it themselves and so it made sense that they were getting a community of yogistogether that cared about those sort of things to celebrate yoga it made sense thatManduka would be involved.

Q:What types of things is Manduka doing to green the company?

So a lot of it is just the products themselves and the materials that go into the productsand some of it is actually the manufacturing process as well. We have one line of matsthat is our eco line of mats that has zero foot print within the land fills and is made out ofnatural tree rubber, so it’s meant to biodegrade. So our other lines of mats are based onthat same idea, they are all made out of recycled material.

Q:What has been your experience here at Wanderlust?

It’s just this fascinating, vibrant community, the energy is fantastic and I feel that evenwith the rain it’s very natural but kind of tends to have people shift in a couple differentways. And so things have gone a couple of ways here at Wanderlust with where thingsare placed, where our sponsorship is and the experience has been great as far as thepeople go. Everybody has been just so glowing about it even though things are kind ofchaos and things are getting shifted around. Everybody has been just really flexible andit’s really beautiful to see that.

Q:So, What kinds of things are you (Manduka) doing here (Wanderlust)?

[Manduka is] sponsoring registration is one of the ways which means we have some signage up forpeople so that they can take photos, free henna and free feather hairs. Once the raintops there is a rig outside that is an aerial rig and there is also a retail space.

Henna at Wanderlust (photo from Manduka Facebook)

“Off the Mat, Into the World uses the power of yoga to inspire conscious activism and ignite grassroots social change. Founded by Seane Corn, this organization encourages yogi’s and yoginis alike to take their practice ‘off the mat’ and into the global community. Join the movement by sporting our latest halter designed in collaboration with OTM, knowing that 10% of the proceeds of your purchase benefit this incredible organization Slits on the sideseams allow for movement while still covering your booty . Fits just like the Taryn, but with five inches of added length. 92% organic cotton, 8% spandex” (source for photo and quote: Hyde Yoga Website)

I wore this tank all day today and it was seriously one of the most comfortable tops I have ever worn for yoga.  It is made out of organic cotton and I love the length of it.  If there is one thing I hate about workout tops its that they aren’t long enough especially when I am trying to do downward dog or handstands like I tried out today (first time in a yoga class!).  In addition to wearing this wonderful top I also did an interview for Ecorazzi with Sean Corne and Suzanne Sterling of Off The Mat, Into The World.  Both of them were super sweet and you can read/view more about the interview soon on Ecorazzi.

Other highlights from today:

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So this is how the auction is going to work:

Between now (June 20th) and June 22nd at 8pm EST check out the list of items below; if you see something you like send me a bid to lindsay@cookveganlover dot com. Include the item name in the subject line and your bid amount in the message. I’ll be updating the bids throughout the day.

The winning bidder will be notified of their winnings by 8pm EST on Thursday (June 23rd) and will have until 6am EST on Friday (June 24th) to donate their winning bid amount to http://www.yogaaid.com/lindsayingalls In the case that the winner doesn’t follow through with their donation, the item will go to the next highest bidder.

The companies who have kindly donated these products for the auction (THANK YOU!) are also donating the shipping costs.

Option 2. Yoga Aid Raffle.

If none of the auction items tickle your fancy you may be interested in the box of goodies pictured below.

Value $100

To enter the raffle for the box of goodies (all goods purchased by me and I will also be paying the shipping costs) just Make a donation to the http://www.yogaaid.com/lindsayingalls or http://yogaaid.com/neilfairweather or http://yogaaid.com/catherinemarshall and forward your receipt/email me to lindsay@cookveganlover dot com $5 will get you one entry, and $10 will get you three entries! Any donations above $10 in $10 increments will get you one additional entry; so a $20 donation would be 4 entries, $30 would be 5 and so on

All raffle entries must be submitted by 12pm EST on Wednesday June 22nd at 8pm; the winner will be notified by 8pm EST on Thursday June 23rd . P.S. I will ship to the US and Canada

___________________________________________________________________________________

YOGA AID AUCTION FOR OFF THE MAT

Aurorae Yoga Mat: Current Bid $20

Aurorae has kindly donated one of their yoga mats:

$45 Value

Product
 Features

• Aurorae
Ultra
Thick
• Extra 
Long 
Yoga 
Mat 
72”
x
24”
x
¼”
• Ultra 
thick
 1/4″ 
yoga 
mat
 for
 impact 
absorption
• 72”
 extra
 long
 yoga
 mat
 makes 
it 
comfortable 
for
 all
 sizes
• #1 
reviewed
 yoga 
mat
 and 
5‐Star 
customer 
feed back
 on
Amazon
• Durable
 and 
long
 lasting 
material/SGS 
approved
 and 
free
from
 Phthalates
• Individual 
illuminating 
colors 
that 
define
 your 
inner
self
• Aurorae
 Yoga 
focal 
point 
icon 
to 
help 
with
 concentration
 during 
your
 yoga
 practice
• Open to US ONLY.

10 Yoga Class Card: Current Bid $70

10 Class Card - $130 Value

Evolution Yoga, a local Burlington Studio, has generously donated a 10 class card.

Evolution Yoga has three beautiful studios for practice. Pre-Registration classes are held in Studio Ahimsa (Sanskrit for “non-harming”), which is our front studio. This sunny studio offers an intimate setting for these specialty classes. Studio Satya (Sanskrit for “truth”) is our newest studio, with cork floors and a warm, nurturing feel. Our largest studio, Studio Tapas (Sanskrit for “zeal, drive”) can hold up to 40 mats.

Evolution Yoga features a number of yoga classes including Anusara, Kirpalu, Vinyasa, and Flying Yoga among many others; visit there website for more information. Open to US ONLY- FYI this studio is in Burlington Vermont.

Retail Value $150

Handmade Beaded Bracelets: Current Bid $15

Species by the Thousands, an eco-minded clothing and jewelry design company, has donated a collection of bracelets.These eco-friendly bracelets are made with reclaimed and vintage beads. Open to US ONLY.

$12 Value

Four Bottles of Mamma Chia: Current Bid $5

“Mamma Chia delivers vitality in a fun‐to‐drink, unique experience.“Customers tell us all the time how super fun and delicious MammaChia is and how amazing they feel after drinking it. The natural gel around the chia seeds creates the fun and refreshing experience, making it like nothing else ont he market. Rarely is something this delicious also so good for you,” says company founderJanie Hoffman. She also reports that customers rave about enjoying Mamma Chia as a great pre‐workout energizer, an afternoon energy booster, a light and satisfying substitute for dessert, and even a great drink with lunch.” Open to US ONLY.

$24 Value

Sampler Case of Ayala’s Herbal Water: Current Bid: $5

The winner of this auction item will receive a sampler case of Herbal Water that includes one of each flavor:
Lemongrass Mint Vanilla
Lavender Mint
Lemon Verbena Geranium
Cloves Cinnamon Cardamom
Cinnamon Orange Peel
Ginger Lemon Peel
Ayala’s Herbal Water is the first nationally available organically certified enhanced flavored water made with all organic ingredients. 100% Good For You!™ FYI this item is open to all contiguous 48 states – no APOs, PO boxes, or shipments to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada or Mexico.

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Miles Hiked: 9.2
Summits Reached: 1
Fire Tower Stairs Climbed: 20 ….okay 10 each
Moose Dropping Piles Seen: 500; okay probably less but they were everywhere but no moose to be seen
Coffees Drank: 3 (we split them)
Rounds of Cards Played: 5 and Neil won in the end (but only by a little)
Hours Spent Reading: 3 glorious hours
Minutes Spent Attempting to Do Yoga On A Slanted Rock: 5

Saturday morning Neil and I headed out to Eden’s Crossing at the Long Trail where we had ended our last long hike; you can read about it here. We signed in and started the 3 mile hike the summit of Belvidere Mountain.  This hike was a different one for us because I was carrying an additional 17 pounds on my back and Neil around 25 pounds on his back because this trip we were staying the night.  Unfortunately the night before it had rained so everything was wet and there were some real mucky spots.  We also hit an area that was all rocks so we put our game faces on and got up them anyway we could; sometimes that meant hands and knees.

Neil getting his hike on

We finally made it to the summit of Belvidere Mountain and to the Fire Tower after about 3 hours of hiking up a challenging rock terrain.

Views From the Summit

The Fire Tower

After spending a little time at the summit relaxing without our packs on and refueling with some crackers and water we finally packed up and headed on our way.  We still had 3.2 miles to hike before we finally reached our destination.  Over the next 3.2 miles we encountered load after load of moose droppings, tons of slippery rocks, muddy sink holes and then thunder.  When we started out on our adventure we knew that a thunderstorm was as possibility but we figured we could make it to the cabin before it started.  Well the thunder started rolling in and so we started to book it ….not a good idea when you haven’t had lunch and probably needed more water.  I was feeling pretty nauseous by the end and it felt like it was taking forever to get there.  Finally we made it to the beaver pond which Neil had read was right near the camp and 10 minutes later we were there, our glorious accommodations for the night.

Our Cabin

We took our packs off and settled in and took of our wet shoes, socks and changed our clothes.

After we settled in and decided to make some Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai for lunch and to my surprise the peanut butter in the pad thai was Justin’s!

Pad Thai ....soup? (not photogenic)

We thought the pad thai had good flavor but could have used more time (our fault) “cooking” and less water so it wasn’t so much like a soup.

We also enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and relaxed outside looking out at our view.

View

Via!

The remainder of the night we spent doing yoga (well attempting to on rocks), reading, playing cards and just soaking up the sun.

For dinner we had the Backpackers Pantry Katmandu Curry.  It was actually really delicious! We both loved the flavor and the addition of the lentils.  We will be buying this one again.

Post Preview:

Last night was spent preparing everything to do this trip and it’s pretty crazy everything that you need to bring; okay if you are hardcore you can probably do with less but well I’m not.  So here is backpacking for two:

Our Gear: His and Hers Backpacks, Sleeping Bags, "Pillows", Bladders, Polls and Sleeping Mats

FOOD!

Dinner and Lunch: Backpackers Pantry sent me the Katmandu Curry to try and we decided to pick up a Pad Thai for lunch. Will report back...

Snacks: Triscuits, Newton Fruit Things From Foodbuzz Tastemakers, Dates, Primal Strips (these might be a little old)

Drinks: Water Purifying Drops, Amazing Grass (need our greens) and YogaEarth pre and post workout drink mixes

Energy Foods: Clif Shots, Shot Blocks (Margarita my favorite) and Sweet Wheat wheatgrass

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Goji Berries, Chia Seeds and Peanut Butter

Cooking Supplies: Jetboil, Gas, Mugs (for the Via we haven't purchased yet), Bowls and Cutlery

Fire: Matches, Lighter, Fire Starter and Camp Fire Starter Blocks

Tools: Multi Tool, Knife, Spade (so you can bury your....), Compass

First Aid Kits

Trail Maps and Books

Lights and Cameras (not pictured): Headlamps and yes that is a Farm Sanctuary Pig Flash Light

Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

Clothing: Day 1&2 Outfit (same just change of unmentionables and socks) and Camping Outfit

Other necessary items: Trail Shoes, Rain Jacket, Hat, Sandals (for when we get to camp) and Knee Support

It looks like a lot of stuff eh? Well it is and yet with a few extra socks and a little a bit more food you could easily do 3-4 days with the same amount of stuff; it just looks crazy for one night. Anyways we are going to head out on our adventure tomorrow morning. I’ll catch you up on all the events on Sunday/Monday. Have a good weekend!

I got down to work on a few freelance articles and the Hubz worked on my website before he headed out for a massage and my friend Laura met me for another coffee.  This time I got a soy cappuccino; I wasn’t a fan, I wish they would use something other than Eden Organic Soy Milk. The flavor of Eden Organic is a little off putting, it gets almost sour tasting- YUCK!

After coffee the Hubz and I headed home for lunch (salad with Gardein “chicken”, veggies and lemon dressing).  All of the coffee put me in a bit of a daze so I did a bit of power yoga to re-energize myself and was back t0 work for the remainder of the afternoon.  I finally stopped to make some dinner; a curry lentil pasta dish which I will post the recipe for tomorrow.

Now i’m back to work, once again.

Lastly, I just wanted to encourage you to read my Yoga Aid Challenge post and donate any products (gently used or new) or services to my auction to raise money for Off The Mat.

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After our coffee we made our way to Montpelier just in time to see Allie and Caitlin at the first start of the race.  While we waited for them to make the loop back to the finish we headed to our favorite Capitol City Farmers Market to pick up some veggies and our favorite bookstore Bear Pond Books.  Around 9:30 am we headed to the race finish line and watched as runners began to arrive and waited to cheer on Allie and Caitlin.

At the start of their run (girls in pink)

Around 43 minutes I turned to Neil and said they’ll be here in 10 minutes, that’s my guess.  Well guess what- I WAS RIGHT ON! Allie and Caitlin turned the corner at 52 minutes and some seconds and they leaped across the finish line at 53 minutes.  They were really amazing and I am so proud.

Check out the shirts the girls made for the race:

and the back of Allie’s:

After the race we headed to The Skinny Pancake for crepes and to catch up.  Neil and I both got the Vegan Monster with mushrooms and salsa and topped with our favorite hot sauce.

Following brunch we headed to the Hunger Mountain Co-op to take a look but we didn’t pick up much just a yummy chocolate bar and coconut rolled dates for the Hubz.  When we were leaving I decided to take a peak at the sign up sheet for my Sugar Blues workshop next week and guess what? It was FULL- even the wait list is full!!! Squeal! Eeek! OMG! The pressure is on!

When we finally made it back to Burlington the Hubz and I took a look at the clock and decided we better head to the gym before it closed.  Today we decided to get a 250 meter swim in as well as our run.  I haven’t been feeling great, a little congested, so todays workout wasn’t the best on top of the fact that my legs were killing me from yesterdays squats and lunges. After our run we stopped in at Healthy Living for a smoothie and coconut water as well as some organic strawberries and organic apples. The Hubz and I shared a banana-peanut butter-flax-coconut smoothie and it was delicious.

Now it’s time for dinner, The Voice, foam rolling and relaxing with a movie. What are you up to this weekend?

I recently was contacted by a friend who writes for Ecorazzi asking if I would be interested in attending and covering Wanderlust Vermont.  UMMMMM hello of course I would be! I have actually been talking about Wanderlust to my husband for months now and had been debating going so when I was approached to cover the event I jumped at the opportunity.  The Hubz is going to head down to Stratton with me so he can take advantage of the hiking and he will also be attending one day of Wanderlust, my anniversary gift to him.  So some of you are probably wondering what the heck is Wanderlust?

Wanderlust is a festival combining the holistic experience of a yoga getaway with the swagger of a rock show.
WHERE:
Stratton Mountain, Bondville, VT
WHEN:
June 23rd – 26th
WHO:
Talent includes regional bright lights and international stars, such as:

· Yoga instructors: John Friend, Seane Corn, Bryan Kest, Boston’s Amy Wren, New York’s Schuyler Grant, Elena Brower, Rodney Yee, Kristen Leigh & Barbara Verrochi plus dozens more
· Musical Talent: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Andrew Bird, Todd Boston, the Wailers, New York’s Krishna Das, Northampton’s Sonya Kitchell, and Brooklyn’s Sub Swara
· Theatrical Performers: Berkshire’s 1st  burlesque show Gypsy Lane, Vermont’s own Bread & Puppet (one of the oldest nonprofit theatrical companies in theUS), + Vermont Vaudeville
· Art Installations: Stratton resident Hugh Joudry
· Speakers: Deepak Chopra, with the support from theOmega Institute, will lead the speakeasy series

If you are attending Wanderlust Vermont let me know!

Among all of this chaos the Hubz and I are still going strong with our running and have some really S.M.A.R.T. goals around what we would like to do and achieve.  We are just finishing up C25K and we are going to then work on doing two 30 minute runs and one long run (starting at 2.5m and increasing by .5 until the race) per week until our 5k in July.  Following the 5k we are planning a 10k in September and will be using the Hal Higdon training plan; if we like his we will use it to train for our half as well.   In other active news the Hubz and I are gearing up  to do some backpacking on the Long Trail this summer which should be a lot of fun.  We had planned on doing an overnight trip this weekend but we might have to reschedule do to rain.  Do you hike? Are you into backpacking?

Lastly lets talk about food. I haven’t been doing much for cooking lately due to the crazy schedule I have had.  Most of our food has been pretty boring and basic like greens, beans and grains or salads, however this is all going to change soon! I have plans to start working on another e-book (probably won’t be looking for testers until August) and also working on some really great healthy recipes for the blog.

Well that is what’s going on with me- what is new and good with you?

Today we spent over an hour at Fleet Feet being fitted for the perfect pair of shoes for my feet I finally found a pair!  If you have never been fitted for shoes I really recommend that you do because I have spent the last year running/being active in a pair of shoes I chose myself and although they were nice they were just a little off. Once we finished shoe shopping the Hubz and I decided to have a spontaneous date night and take advantage of our (free-win!) Jump On It for Duino Duende.  Jump On It is similar to Groupon and if you share the deal and three others also buy it based on your reference you get it for free! Great deal right? We thought so!

We started our night off with a cocktail; Manhattan for me and a Gin Martini for the Hubz.  For our meal we both got the Tuesday night special the Ethiopian plate, which comes in vegetarian, omni and vegan.  I honestly can’t tell you everything that was on my plate but it included a split pea wat, misir wat, spicy sauce, salad, beets, kale and another item that was tasty but we have no idea what it was.

Everything was really delicious and I can’t wait to head back again for a Tuesday night date and Ethiopian food!  Additionally because of our late (for us) dinner we also were able to enjoy the live music that starts at 7pm at Radio Bean (connected cafe).

After dinner we picked up some cereal and bananas for breakfast tomorrow morning and then stopped into the garden to water our plants.  Now it’s time to sit back, relax and then head to bed to read a good book.

What are you reading right now? I am on the last book of The Girl With… series and I am going to need new suggestions! Let me know what I should be reading.

I know summer is (almost) finally here because I have been running around like a crazy person the past few days.  It’s a good run around though! The Hubz and I finally got our memberships at the YMCA and are looking forward to taking advantage of everything it has to offer.  Yesterday we both ran on the treadmill (even though it was beautiful out- fail) and this morning despite my desire to go to the gym early I chose to snuggle under the blankets with the Hubz and kitty instead; guess I’ll be heading there after work!

After the gym yesterday we came home and I made “pizzas” on sprouted grain tortillas and topped them with lots of garlic, portobello mushrooms, chilies, tomatoes, and dates.  Yes DATES! Such a good combination with everything, you should really try it on your next pizza.

After dinner we walked down to our garden plot and planted some red Russian & lacinato kale, astro arugula and cosmic purple carrots.  We are still discussing what other veggies we want to grow – what do you think we should grow? What are you growing in your garden this year?

After planting we headed home but first we stopped to watch the beautiful sunset over the lake- so pretty!

Today is going to be another busy day with work, meeting up with a girl-friend, gym, health coaching work, blogging and gardening tonight! To help fuel us through the day I made a batch of Isa’s Banana Flapjacks and topped with coconut, berries and maple syrup- DELICIOUS!

Last night the Hubz and I decided to take a tour of our local YMCA and got ourselves a 3 day pass to try it out.  We have really been debating joining a gym for years but when we were living in Montpelier I had a mini gym at work and the Hubz work (still) has a really nice gym at his work as well as workout classes and a tennis court (lucky, I know), so we never really needed to.  Before we moved last year we purchased an elliptical  and it is great but honestly I want to run, swim and have access to group classes.  Finally we looked into the Y and the prices for a couple are good especially with yoga, BodyPump, zumba and other classes and a really nice lap pool.  The gym overall is pretty basic with cardio equipment squeezed in next to each other; it also has free weights and weight machines but it fits both of our needs.  This morning we used our trial pass and the Hubz swam and I did C25k on the treadmill.  Overall I loved it.  It felt great to be working out at a gym and not at home, alone.  I think that for me a gym is a place you go to workout and there is a certain energy about it that motivates me, along with being able to workout with the Hubz.

After our workout we both really wanted Friday Bagels but since we are on a soy/gluten/wheat/alcohol/caffeine free cleanse it was a no go. Instead we decided to go to Magnolia Bistro where they have tons of options that are still inline with our cleanse.  I was really feeling something hearty and starchy so I went with three sides: steamed kale, chipotle black beans and homefries, the Hubz was also feeling the starch so he went with kale, polenta and homefries.  We also got a cup of decaf fair trade organic coffee and big glasses of water.

Now I’m off to work and then heading out to find a Mother’s Day Gift and then it’s shoe shopping with the Hubz.  What are you doing for Mother’s Day?

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Q. What is Vermont Restaurant Week?
A. From April 29-May 5, participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Those menus will feature discounted, three-course “tasting-style” dinners (e.g. appetizer, entreé and dessert) priced at $15, $25 or $35 per person. The week also includes a special calendar of special, food-themed events.

Q. How does Vermont Foodbank benefit?
A. 10% of the proceeds from event admissions, sponsorships and restaurant participation fees will be donated to Vermont Foodbank. Restaurant-goers can donate $10 via text messageor make a web donation in our Virtual Food Drive will be launched on this website to allow diners to donate to the Foodbank.

Originally we were going to try a few different restaurants but then decided due to the cleanse and the fact that the other restaurants that interested us are ones we visit often that it would be best to choose just one.  After perusing the veggie friendly menus on the Vermont Restaurant Week site we settled on The Bearded Frog, the only menu that actually said they had a vegan option.  We had heard great things about the restaurant but had never visited it due to the fact that it isn’t close to our home and that there is one vegan option that goes for $19 a plate.

We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated out our reserved table in the corner, which I really loved because it up’d the romance factor along with the dim lighting and warm colors.  We placed a drink order, prosecco for me and beer for him, and then we got down to business and ordered from the tasting menu (the only vegan options in each category). 

Appetizer Course: The salad was very simple yet fresh and the lemon-herb vinaigrette was truly delicious. We paired it with some fresh bread with oil and vinegar instead of the butter and the blue cheese crostini that was to go with the salad.

Appetizer: Baby Mixed Greens With lemon-herb vinaigrette

Bread with olive oil and balsamic

Entree Course: For our entree we enjoyed the vegan version of Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, avocado compound butter, tofu tomato purée. Instead of the avocado compound butter we received a guacamole. The dish was really delicious however if that is what you get for $19 on the regular menu I’d rather stay home and re-create it for $5.

Entree: Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, guacamole, tofu tomato purée.

Dessert Course: I would have to say the dessert was probably my favorite thing on the menu and something that I would definitely spend the money to come back and have again. The vegan dessert option was a trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet. All three were really amazing but the show stopper was the avocado lime. It was super creamy and tasted just like ice cream, the Hubz and I both just couldn’t stop raving about it all night….honestly I still can’t stop raving about it.

Dessert Course: trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet

Overall: We had a really wonderful time at The Bearded Frog and the food was really delicious.  I am not sure that I would go back for dinner due to the high price of the vegan option but I would go back every day just for the sorbet.  On another note I saw a number of really beautiful plates of food coming out of the kitchen and if you are vegetarian try the (unfortunately note vegan) crispy tofu cakes because they probably taste as good as they looked.

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After a hot and sweaty run the Hubz and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful night and head downtown for a beer and half of veggie burgers at The Scuffer. We were hoping to sit on the patio but of course we weren’t the only ones out to enjoy the beautiful weather so we had to sit inside. The beer and half off veggie burgers was (almost) worth sacrificing sitting out in the beautiful weather.

It’s funny The Scuffer has been around for years, it used to be The Rusty Scuffer – I think it changed owners and the name changed (correct me if I’m wrong) and we had never thought to go there until a few months ago.  A few months ago we were looking for somewhere new to go and I just happened to check out their menu online and saw that on Wednesday’s they have half off burgers with a drink purchase, so I called and asked if their veggie burger was vegan and it is (oh and it’s homemade too double win).   The other thing that I love about The Scuffer is their extensive beer menu that is filled with local beers and a number of great microbrews and their prices are really good too.

Last night the Hubz and I both got veggie burgers with fries and no bun and we each ordered a beer.  I wanted the Dogfish Aprihop but they were all out (because it’s just that good) so I decided to go with McNeil’s Extra Special Bitter and the Hubz got the Rock Art Midnight Madness; we really liked both of them. Overall we had a great date night out at The Scuffer and will continue going on for the Wednesday special because you just can’t beat the beer, the burger and the prices.

Saturday Morning Cupcakes

Mighty Cereal Breakfast

Lunch of hummus, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, with falafel, veggies and crispy bread

Hiking Mt. Philo

Views From Mt. Philo

The Happy Hiker

Trail Mix

Sweet & Spicy Kale Chips - Recipe of the Week

Afternoon Beerz

KITTYYYYYYY

Afternoon Naps

P.S. Don’t forget about my Earth Day Giveaway!

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As soon as we sat I made sure to ask which ramen bowls were vegan and we were directed to the Vegetable Ramen Bowl and the Curry Vegetable Ramen Bowl.  The Hubz and I both ordered the curry one as well as an inari roll and avocado roll. I loved that they gave you the option to have brown rice in the sushi roll; which of course we got.

We started off with some complimentary tea that tasted meh okay not my favorite.

Our sushi rolls which were good but over priced compared to other sushi spots in town.

The Curry Vegetable Ramen was good; I loved that it was filled with veggies and seaweed- a pleasant surprise.  The flavor was good but  I don’t think I would order the curry one again because the flavor just got to be a little old after awhile, but that’s okay I really didn’t need all the broth anyways.

Overall the we liked the HJ House and will go back again for ramen, however for sushi we will go else where.

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We started with a liter of wine for the table and enjoyed the beautiful fire place and rustic atmosphere. We also had some amazing yummy bread with wonderful fruity olive oil.

We started with a vegan antipasti for the table and an order of bruschetta both were really amazing.  The vegan antipasti was not on the menu but they had no problem creating a vegan plate for us.

For our main courses the Hubz and I both got the Orecchiette con Fricone  ”Fricone, dialect of the southern region of Puglia for a fried tomato sauce, made from vine-ripened tomatoes, crushed garlic, a pinch of red pepper and arugula, tossed with an imported handmade ear-shaped pasta and pecorino cheese. This dish was easily veganizable and they were will to create other dishes for you as well. It sounds really simple but it was one of the most amazing pasta dishes I have ever had.

We finished the night with espressos and lingering conversation.  Overall we had a wonderful experience.  The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lovely and although service was not over the top they were attentive and allowed you to enjoy the experience there was no push to get you out the door.

The Hubz and I decided to extend the night into a date and had one cocktail out at a bar where we had a horrible experience but oh well we were together.

Hubz Cocktail- "Border Patrol- Canadian Club Whisky and Vermont Maple Liqueur"

However after a late night (for me) I feel a little like this today

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Vermont Pub and Brewery Vegan Options

• Soup, Salad & Chili:
  • Mesclun Salad
  • Spinach Salad
  • Caesar Salad – without cheese & with House Vinaigrette or Oil & Vinegar
• Appetizers:
  • Spud Skins – plain
  • Salsa & Chips
• On The Side:
  • Basket of Brewhouse Fries
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Beer-Battered Onion Rings
• Hot Sandwiches:
  • Veggie Mushroom Philly – without cheese (with bread, not roll)
  • Portabella Mushroom – without cheese (with bread, no bun)
  • VPB Wrap – without cheese
  • Toasted BLT – Lettuce & Tomato (no bacon)
• Brewery Sandwich Fare:
  • Vegetarian Rolli Polli – without cheese
• Desserts:
  • Apple Crisp

So the next time you are in Burlington and want good food, local beer and a fun atmosphere I recommend you head to VPB!

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To start we decided to try the unsweetened iced tea; we were expecting your standard iced tea but this was way better.  It reminded me of the tea used in Thai iced tea’s except with out the sweetened condensed milk- it was delicious.

The Hubz and I were pretty hungry so we decided to start with the vegetarian fresh rolls which were served with a peanut sauce and they were delicious.  The perfect balance of herbs, tofu and noodles all wrapped up into a little bundle.

For the entrees you have 3 options- the vegetarian pho, the lemongrass tofu with vermicelli or the tofu fried rice (no egg). Since i am a huge fan of asian noodle soup and more specifically pho I went with the pho and the Hubz the lemongrass tofu.

Vegetarian Pho

Lemongrass Tofu with Vermicelli

Saucy Sides

Overall we loved out meals; the food was super tasty, the service was great and the cost was well cheap.  We will be back here again for sure!

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Fiery Vegan Valentines!

The Hubz and I haven’t had Friday night Date Night in a really long time and we were itching to get out and have really good food, drinks and conversation. After a little thought we decided there is nothing wrong with doing the same ol’ thing- head to The Farmhouse Tap & Grill for delicious beer and food. We tend to go here most Date Nights because we love the atmosphere, the food and the beer; nothing wrong with enjoying a good thing.

Last night was incredibly busy and we waited over an hour for a table and then we had to wait awhile longer than usual for our food, however we were in no rush so we grabbed a beer at the bar and enjoyed each others company.

Once we finally were seated we had no problem ordering since there are generally only three things we ever get:

1. The tofu burger with no bun (not vegan), no cheese (obviously not vegan) and sub sauteed kale for the bun and we either have it with their amazing fries or greens
2. The nitty gritty corn cakes which come with sauteed greens and mushrooms with the cider or lemon vinaigrette instead of the buttermilk
3. The vegan plate- this is not officially on the menu but you can just ask and they will make you a great plate with fresh local veggies that have been sauteed and served  with grilled local crusty bread

We also occasionally get the olive starter  as well but it’s a huge bowl so we only get it when we go with others.

Tonight I went with the nitty gritty corn cakes

and the Hubz the burger with fries

and we both topped it them with their yummy ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauces.

I decided that I would stick with another martini with dinner but unfortunately this one just wasn’t as good and the olives were teeny tiny; I really hate when you don’t get good olives in a martini.

After ordering our drinks we started with the vegetable dumplings which weren’t really that good, they were greasy and had little flavor. I was hungry though so I topped them with sriracha and dipped them in soy sauce. 

For our entrees the Hubz and I both got our favorite dish the Grilled Spicy Tofu which is marinated tofu that is grilled and then topped with a spicy red sauce and served with brown rice, steamed veggies and kimchi.  It was just as good as I remembered it and I ate the whole thing. I am sad to say this will probably be the last time I ever eat it….hmmm maybe I will try to recreate it.

I know these photos are awful! The Hubz said “those don’t even look like food”

As for food this weekend I spent a lot of time working on recipes from Veganomicon for the Vegan Cookbook Club.  On Friday night I made Sauteed Seitan with Mushrooms and Spinach; I was lazy and decided to just purchase pre-made seitan to save me time.  Overall I thought the dish was really good but I’m not going to giveaway all my thoughts here you’ll just have to wait for my full review of Veganomicon. For the remainder of the night the Hubz and I just relaxed enjoyed an Ottercreek Black IPA and attempted to watch Dinner for Schmucks but we just couldn’t get into it; it really just wasn’t as funny as I hopped it was going to be.

Saturday was spent making a mess of the office while drinking coffee and watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Unfortunately for the Hubz my way of organizing is to make a huge mess and then clean it up so the state of our office is in disarray right now- however the closet in there is amazingly organized so WIN! We are heading to NYC and CT in a few weeks and will be hitting up Ikea and Target for some items to help in our organizational project but I should probably make one last effort to at least get that room orderly.  The second half of Saturday was spent getting lattes, groceries and gas- exciting I know. I didn’t photograph dinner and I can’t remember what we had so it must not have been that exciting. I did make the Lower Fat Banana Bread (muffins) from Veganomicon though and they were tasty.  I added chopped up dates to them and they were so good.

Sunday I was up early and ready to tackle the closets in our bedroom but first a mini french press of coffee and a two banana bread muffins.  Then I was on to organize and purge items in our closets, as well as take over the walk-in closet which the Hubz ended up with some how when we moved in. I never realized how much I could get a workout just from cleaning and organizing our bedroom; by lunch I was sweaty (TMI) and had worked up an appetite.  Lunch was a pasta dish per the Hubz request and included chickpeas and spinach in a creamy garlic sauce. I tried out my sample of Jovial Brown Rice Pasta, it was pretty good for gluten free pasta, but I prefer the Jovial Whole Wheat Penne.

After spending most of the weekend doing our own thing or sitting behind our computer screens the Hubz and I decided we needed a date night. Instead of spending money to go out we decided to stay in and enjoy a bottle of wine and a home cooked meal; we even showered and got dressed (I’d been in yoga pants all weekend).  For dinner I made the Chickpea Cutlets with Mustard Sauce from Veganomicon with roasted butternut squash and cornbread stuffing on the side.  I thought both the cutlets and the sauce were really tasty however I have a few criticisms regarding the wording of the recipes and the fact that in the directions for the sauce it left out a step that included major ingredients; again you’ll here more about this in my final review of Veganomicon.

Now it’s Monday morning and I am sitting back enjoying a mug of coffee and blogging. I started out my morning with a bowl of creamy oats with a spoonful of pumpkin butter and a little cranberry cinnamon granola on top for crunch.  I picked up this Sticky Fingers  Bakeries pumpkin butter from Marshall’s on sale and it is really amazingly good on oatmeal. Alright that is my weekend wrap up now it’s time to get ready for my work week. Enjoy your day!

Reminder: Check out the Fiery Vegan Valentine Contest.

New Moon Cafe

The menu at New Moon includes sandwiches, salads, breakfast items, soups, quiche and baked goods. I really love their roasted veggie paninis but lately my favorite has been the create your own salad. My favorite combination is greens, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, carrots, chickpeas, cucumber and lemon dressing. There are three sizes of salad; the small is massive and they don’t skimp on the artichokes which are my favorite.

Yummy Salad Beast

When it comes to beverages they have the best cold pressed iced coffee, wonderfully sweet and spicy chai lattes and their drip coffee is really delicious as well.

Delicious Coffee

My only complaint about New Moon is that it isn’t open on Saturdays.

Last night I let myself have that 10% GUILT FREE. After work Neil and I had 2.5 hours before our dinner plans so we decided to take advantage of the time and headed first to The Farmhouse for a beer, snack and round or three of darts. This is where our night of indulgence starts; we both enjoyed a nice beer but since I hadn’t had lunch we decided to get an order of their fries (they are to die for).

After beer, fries and darts we took a little walk around downtown Burlington before meeting Laura for dinner at A Single Pebble this really delicious family style Chinese Restaurant.  We had a gift certificate and were excited to use it since that meant we could order all the yummy dishes we wanted without worrying about spending too much (this place is a little pricy). So for dinner we had (please note all dishes were requested vegan- there are some dishes that appear to be vegan on their menu however are not so ask your server before ordering):

Double Garlic Broccoli

Mock Eel- Fun Fact: This was Alton Brown's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate with Chopsticks" (Foodnetwork)

Tan Tan Noodles

Mock Prawns

Dry Fried Greens Beans (my favorite dish)

We ordered way too much food and ended up leaving with a bunch for leftovers. We really enjoyed everything but the favorite dishes of the night were the Dry Fried Green Beans, Double Garlic Broccoli and Tan Tan Noodles.  The one thing that we really were not impressed with however was the service.  We had arguably the worst table in the house and then our service was awful; our sever only came over to our table 4 times in the 1.5 hours that we were there. We also ended up sitting for nearly 30 minutes being completely done eating before anyone stopped by the talk to us, fill our water glasses or ask if we needed anything else.  Normally we have a really good dining experience and come here frequently for special nights out but tonight was just an off night.

Do you indulge guilt free once in awhile? What are your favorite indulgences?

The theme behind the menu at Dunio! (Duende) is unique and different from other restaurants in the area since its focus is on international street food.  The menu is small but provides enough inexpensive vegan friendly dishes that you won’t be disappointed.  They also have an extensive drink menu with wines, beers and specialty drinks as well.

I started with a Manhattan

And the Hubz had a Five Dollar Shake: Stout, espresso, and maple syrup

For my meal the Hubz and I shared the soup of the day which was a creamy squash soup with thai spices it was really yummy and came with grilled bread.

And we shared the Mujadara: Lentils & rice cooked with onions served in a pita with tahini, hot sauce, lettuce & tomato & tabouleh salad- this was really tasty!

Overall we really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere, delicious (inexpensive) food and we will be back again soon.

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
Atmosphere: 4/5

After lunch we did a little more holiday shopping at the mall.

Every year the Hubz and I head out to the mall and pick a child from the gift tree and head out to do a little shopping to pick up things on their card.  This year we decided to pick 2 children a 1 year old boy who was in need of clothes and trucks or learning toys and a 10 month old girl who was in need of clothes.  We picked up a few cute things for them.

Do you have a holiday tradition?

After Christmas shopping we went to visit some of the Humane Society Kittens which I just wanted to take home with me. I hope someone adopts these furry friends soon.

My Trio of Beverages

Peanut-Ginger Tofu, Griddled Tomato and Dry Rye Toast

The Peanut-Ginger Tofu is really delicious.  The sauce coats the tofu perfectly and you get great flavor with every bite.  Also the ginger is really a mild flavor and balanced perfectly with the peanut. “I really like how the sauce is kind of crispy too and the ginger, well you can tell it’s real ginger not just a flavor” – Quote by The Hubz

The Griddled Tomato is my new favorite breakfast item.  Cooking the tomato locks in all the juices and just creates a whole new depth of flavor; place it on top of the rye toast and you’ve got a winner.

As for the beverages I would say they have one of the best cups of coffee in town.  The water was refreshing.  The tangerine juice was surprisingly not overly sweet and I really enjoyed it- I may even order it next visit!

Just a heads up to vegans interested in eating here the homefries are not vegan.

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5- all though not a ton of vegan options the ones they do have are delicious.
Atmosphere: 4/5

Along with my Thanksgiving Tart we had stuffed tomatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, shredded Brussels sprouts with candied pecans, stuffing, mushroom gravy and rolls- everything was really delicious.  For dessert we had cupcakes, pumpkin cheezecake, cranberry apple crisp and my rustic tart- I split a little bit of everything except the cupcake (which I am sure were delicious). I’m looking forward to the next potluck!

Table of Goodies

Heather's Plate

Payton's Plate

Payton's Dessert Plate

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving this year? What will you be making?

Our pizza from the last post was actually inspired by a visit to American Flatbread a few weeks ago where we sipped the best beer and ate the most delicious pizza. This is one of our go to restaurants because they have amazing flatbread that is made from local and/or organic ingredients.  Plus they keep it simple- their menu has a salad (which is amazing) and a number of flatbread creations as well as an option to create your own flatbread.  THAT IS IT. They don’t need to put anything more on that menu because it is perfect keeping it simple.  They also have a special salad, vegetarian pizza and omnivore pizza each night as well as dessert specials.

On top of having a great salad and flatbreads they easily accommodate vegans and they brew their own beer. Now their dining menu maybe short and sweet but the beer list is extensive and filled with a great selection of microbrews as well as their house made which are all really good.

Veganized Special- white pizza with delicata squash, apples, garlic and maple glazed hazelnuts

• Heirloom tomato salad (sans feta cheese)
• House soy burger (sans cheese and bun) we suggest over some wilted kale in place of bun
• French fries!
• Nitty Gritty Corn Cakes (sans buttermilk vinaigrette)
• Kale & arugula salad (sans blue cheese, with lemon vinaigrette instead of the buttermilk vinaigrette
• Marinated olives, spiced pecans from the snacks menu
• Roasted Beets (sans goat cheese)
• Phil’s Vegan Delight – not on the menu, but we make it often.  Some braised greens, mushrooms, and veggies over grilled Red Hen Bakery bread

We have enjoyed the french fries which are crispy and delicious, the corn cakes with the lemon vinaigrette which is just to die for, the marinated olives- plump juicy and so good and of course the vegan delight.  The thing I love about the vegan delight is that the basis is the same every time greens, mushrooms and veggies over bread however the combination is different each time I order it because it is based around what veggies they have that day.  It is always amazing and the Hubz and I have been known to frequent here more often then any other restaurant around.

The beer selection is really outstanding which is why we keep going back for more.  There is also a small wine menu that features some nice wines, however if you are looking for liquor you won’t find it here.  The atmosphere is loud with low lights and is always packed and full of energy.  Unfortunately due to the lighting inside I didn’t get great photos but I do have some from the beer garden.  I have to say that if you are a beer and food lover this is the place to visit in Burlington.

Magnolia Bistro’s menu is a vegans paradise.  Everything is labeled with a “v” if it is vegan and if you are gluten free you will be delighted to know gluten free dishes are marked with a “g”.  This make the dining experience relaxing, easy and enjoyable.

Sesame Tofu Scramble

Plate O'Sides- black beans, kale, home fries and toast with Earth Balance

The Hubz and I would recommend:

• Garbanzo Burger
• The Incredible Mr. Limpett
• Sesame Scram w/avocado
• French Toast
• Bloody Mary

However, we have never had a dish we didn’t love!

Magnolia Bistro, One Lawson Lane, Burlington, VT

Hail Merry sent me a few of their treats to sample for my OpenSky Shop .  I immediately decided to try the blonde macaroons which are raw, vegan and gluten free and AMAZING! I am a huge fan of raw macaroons and should really make them more often but these are certainly a great treat!

I wasn’t feeling to hot in the morning so I finished my work and headed home to rest for awhile.  When the Hubz got home he convinced me to get out and go to the South End Burlington Art Hop with him.  I was as little reluctant at first since I still wasn’t feeling great but went anyways. We ended up having a great time and the fresh air and walk around town seemed to be just what I needed.  After a while we got hungry and we decided to get some food.

Neil with his I'm hungry face on.

Downtown was crowded so I suggested that we try Miguel’s since it was near the water, away from the crowds, and we had never been there before.  We decided to sit outside since although cool out it was a beautiful night.

We started off with the special margarita of the night: prickly pear

We also snacked on a few chips and salsa but we were good and didn’t have too many and spoil our dinners.

For my entree I got the Tres Tacos with the vegetarian chili which was delicious and filled with bulgar, sweet potatoes and beans- with my tacos came pinto beans, rice, pickled onions, lettuce and tomato.

The Hubz got the portobello fajitas which were amazing! He was kind enough to give me one and in return I gave him one of my tacos.

Overall this place was amazing! We had great food, great service and a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy it all in (and the company wasn’t half bad either).

Victory Storm King Stout- 3.5- great flavor and hoppyness which I love

Long Trail Harvest-2 this was just okay.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale-4-loved this! it was not too sweet like some pumpkin beers are; it had great spice and overall flavor we will be purchasing this again!

Sierra Nevada Tumbler-3-this was alright but not my favorite, not my least favorite either.

We enjoyed the Sierra Nevada Tumbler with Squash and White Bean Soup & Sour Dough Bread - p.s. if you are interested in being a tester for my soup e-book e-mail me! More details soon!

Southern Tier Harvest (my favorite)- 5! This beer was delicious! A great fall beer with lots of hops!

Victory Festbier-1.5-this beer was pretty much a fail. Very boring and little flavor.

While we ate, drank and were merry the fur baby did this:

warning drinking too much beer may result in this

The Hubz and I shared the grilled veggie sandwich (sundried tomato pesto is vegan!), a Gus soda and a bag of Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtators chips. Everything was delicious!

After our bite to eat we went for a walk to kill some time before our spa appointment.

Finally it was time to enjoy our spa treatment! Since there were no cameras or cellphones allowed I didn’t get any shots but let me tell you it was amazing! Here are some photos from the Jivana website:

Entrance

Entry and Massage Room

The Sugar Scrub Table

After the amazing Balinese massage I had a sugar scrub and left the spa feeling refreshed, renewed and so relaxed.  I decided to go with the lemongrass massage oil and body scrub and it really did smell wonderful.

After our spa appointment it was getting pretty late so we decided to go out for some yummy Asian Food.  We got the avocado roll to share and then I got a big bowl of tom kar soup with tofu, veggies and udon noodles. The Hubz got this great dish which was almost like a deconstructed sushi roll both amazing and ridiculously filling.

Q: What are you treating yourself to this year?