Savory Summer Roll with Cuke Salad

This meal was easy to prepare and combines a refreshing, crisp salad of cukes, carrots, cilantro and onion with a savory, warm roll stuffed with sauteed onions, kale, rice-burger and roasted cashews. Best of all, it’s gluten-free and soy-free!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED (serves 4):

Salad:

• 1 large cucumber
• 2 large carrots
• 1/2 bunch of cilantro
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 red onion
• 2 tbs spicy mustard
• 4 tbs apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbs agave (or preferred sweetener)

Roll:

• 4 sheets of rice paper
• 1 bunch of lacinato kale (aka Dinosaur Kale)
• 1 large spanish onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 rice burger patties
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 1 tbs vegetable oil, for sauteing
• 1tbs Italian dressing
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp nutritional yeast

DIRECTIONS:

Salad:

1. Cut the cucumber in half, longways -  and then slice into half-coins about 1/2-in. thick.
2. Dice the cilantro, red onion and garlic.
3. Slice the carrots into think coins.
4. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, and add the vinegar, agave, salt, pepper and mustard.
5. Mix well and set aside to marinade while you prepare the rolls.

Rolls:

1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Bring a skillet to medium heat, and add the veg oil.
3. Cut very ends of the kale off (just 1 inch) and then cut the bunch in half. Place it in the hot water.
4. Boil the kale only for 1 minute, because we still want it to be slightly crisp. remove the kale from the water but SAVE THE WARM WATER and set both aside.
5. Chop the Spanish onion into rounds about 1/4-in. thick and add place in the skillet.
6. Dice the garlic, and burger patties and place in the skillet. Add the cashews, but set a few aside for garnish.
7. Pour over the Italian dressing, and let everything cook over medium heat until golden brown.
8. While step 7 is sauteing, dip your rice paper in he warm water. It will quickly become soft and elastic.
9. On a cutting board or working surface, lay out the rice papers and evenly divide the kale and the sauteed combo onto them.
10. Roll them up, plate and sprinkle nutritional yeast and the remaining cashews on top. Scoop some Cucumber salad for each plate and serve side-by-side.

California Cooking, Part 4

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Heirloom Tomato Salad

This is a simple, organic salad with a big ol’ cruton. Perfect as a meal.

What you’ll need (serves 4):
• 4 fresh organic figs
• 2 large or 4 small heirloom tomatoes
• 1/2 cup raw pistachios
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 1/4 cup raw almonds
• 4 cups organic mixed greens
• 2 mini baguettes, sliced longways
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• tahini

Directions:

1. Divide everything by 4, and combine. Add tahini, oil, and vinegar to taste.
2. Toast or grill the bread with a little olive oil. serve!

California Cooking, Part 2

Cali Organic Fruit Salad

I made an amazing fruit salad for breakfast using organic, California-grown fruits like figs, strawberries, plums, and raspberries.

Cali Fruit Salad

• 2 organic figs
• 2 large organic strawberries
• 1 organic medium plum
• 1/4 cup organic raspberries
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 small handful of organic pistachios

Rinse off all fruit. Cut up the strawberries, plum and figs, and put everything together in a bowl. Pour the almond milk on and enjoy!

Holiday

1. Wearing:

Summer Wallets from DB Clay

Fair-Trade, organic Low-tops from Ethletic

Beach Shorts from Gilded Age

2. Listening to Ratatat and Bon Iver (thanks to Karl of Partybots)

3. Eating

Holy Moley! The Cheezey- Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chef’s Salad, Vegan Quiche and Pumpkin Chai Latte at Teany are so amazing it made me want to eat the dish-ware. They also have around 100 teas to choose from.

4. Reading “An Unnatural Order: A Manifesto for Change”, by Jim Mason (thanks to Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary)

“An eloquent, important plea for a total rethinking of our relationship to the animal world. Mason analyzes the West’s ‘dominionist’ worldview, which exalts humans as overlords and owners of other life…. His powerfully argued manifesto will change many readers’ attitudes toward hamburgers, animal experimentation, hunting, and circuses.” -Publishers Weekly

5. Going to:

Check out these events in the next couple of weeks!

• Soy Dogs at Shea
• Vegan Drinks
• Boogie for the Bonobos