24 Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes - A Buzzfeed Post

I have been lacking inspiration lately but now that the semester is coming to an end, I plan on having many new recipes on my blog! In the meantime, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and although I don't necessarily think it's a super great "holiday", these recipes are AMAZING. I'd absolutely make them regardless of whether it's thanksgiving or not. You can find the post HERE!

Sick Day Soup

I am currently dealing with random sinus congestion issues and I thought a soup would be very appropriate to make, seeing as I also don't have the best appetite at the moment. No one really wants to be cooking while they're feeling down, but this took me 10 minutes to prep!

What I used:

• Shirataki tofu noodles
• Zucchini 
• Mushrooms
• Veggie stock

1. Add the veggie stock to a pot and start to heat through.
2. Prep veggies by cutting them up.
3. Prep shirataki tofu noodles by draining and rinsing them thoroughly
4. Add veggies. Wait 3 minutes and then add noodles. Heat through.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Restaurant Review - True Food Kitchen

This past weekend I was super excited to try out True Food Kitchen which has now recently open in Mosaic District, Fairfax, VA. I had very high expectations about this restaurant because I was especially interested in their anti-inflammatory diet that is highly advertised. I honestly thought that this restaurant was going to become my holy-grail, healthy eating go-to place, especially because they boast about "honest food that tastes really good". Maybe some people agree with that bit, but my experience was nothing of the sort.

To start, we ordered two drinks from their natural refreshments list. Hangover Rx (no, I did not have a hangover) - coconut water, pineapple, vanilla, and orange juice. And the Pomegranate Limead - lime juice, evaporated cane, pom juice, and chia seed. These weren't bad at all! They were simple and could easily be made at home.

As for the entrees, at least for mine, it didn't go as well. I am usually very good at ordering and this meal just wasn't what I thought it would be. I ordered the spaghetti squash casserole - fresh mozzarella, organic tomato and zucchini. They used those ingredients very literally because there was no thought behind the dish. It had obviously been sitting because by the time I received it, the cheese had already hardened. As for the casserole, it was squash strands drowned in pulverized tomato mush... Yes, mush. It was completely inedible and I was actually very frustrated and annoyed. I asked the waitress to take it back and I quickly ordered a new meal off their menu.

I quickly ordered a wild mushroom pizza, which was also a disappointment. It was composed of roasted garlic, teleggio, and mushroom. It was basically a fondue pizza with (in my opinion) a few small mushrooms on it. That's all I have to say about that. 

As for the service, it was lunchtime so it was very chaotic. However, because it is lunchtime I expect to get my order out, receive my food, eat, and be out within an hour. That did not happen. The service was very slow, and I honestly thought we had been forgotten about a few times. It was all below satisfaction and I'm not sure if I would ever go again. If you have been to True Food Kitchen, I'd like to know your experience! 

21 Meat Alternatives You Should Be Cooking With - A Buzzfeed Post!

I just came across one of the most helpful Buzzfeed articles! You can check it out here. It features 21 meat alternatives to use in cooking and I definitely needed the inspiration! It can sometimes be difficult to think of creative ways to use ingredients as meat substitutes, so here you go!

Bangers and Beans (Vegan Style!)

Now that fall (and possibly winter) is rolling around, it's time to bring out the comfort foods! Cold weather brings out the ultimate laziness, therefore maximizing the least amount of effort into my meals. First of all, I am not a fan of sausages OR beans because they seem completely unappetizing but with a few simple and right ingredients, it can be delicious!

What I used:

• Tofurky kielbasa sausages
• Vegetarian baked beans

1. Add beans to saucepan and heat through. 

2. Pan sear the sausages. Add water and cook through for a minute.

3. Optional - If you prefer more heartiness and starch, you can cook up potatoes and turn it into a mash!

The kielbasa sausage is packed with flavor and the beans balance it out with sweetness. This took about 7 minutes to make and that's it!

Protein Isn't Just Meat!

Here's a friendly reminder!

Grocery Haul

I only purchased a few items this week, many of which are my staples!

• Soy milk
• Veggie sticks
• Bananas
• Tofurky kielbasa sausages
• Tofu shirataki noodles (recipe coming soon!)
• Amy's Pesto Tortellini
• Bagels
• Milano cookies (argh, sweet tooth)