It Begins
The story behind the blog.
-
Mushroom Carnitas
Tacos are a huge part of my love language and I get super excited when I can expand the variety of tacos I am able to enjoy as a vegan. I’d like to introduce you to my newest find, King Oyster Mushroom Carnitas. These mushrooms are pretty cool because they have the ability to mimic pulled meats. Simply cut off the cap and use a fork to strip away pieces of the stem to make your meat. For these mushrooms I decided to go Carnitas style, but you could also use it for pulled pork or Mississippi beef. This is soooo much better than jackfruit.
Here is what they look like to start.
Here is the “pulling” phase.
Here is the final product!
-
I Want to Be a Yoga Person
When you think of someone who does yoga regularly, don’t you picture someone who is youthful, physically healthy, and mentally content? They are mindful and at peace. I want that. When I watch people do yoga, I think about how effortless it seems and then have the misconception that I can easily do the same. In truth, my body is tight, weak, and I lack balance. So, what better to way to remediate that than by making yoga part of my routine.
After reaching out for recommendations, I landed on Yoga with Adriene as my go-to resource. She has over 12 million subscribers on Youtube and believes in offering her courses to everyone for free. I decided to sign up for her 30 day Yoga Challenge-Center. I’m on Day 1 and I am realizing how far away I am from where I want to be. I’m hoping I can use this challenge as a way to push through my struggles and solidify that this is a way of life I want to embrace. I worry about how I can make this a daily habit, especially as school starts back up, but I really want to do this for myself.
As I go through this challenge, I’ll pop in to share updates and let you know if I recommend it for others.
Here we go.
-
BBQ Mushroom Steak
Who would have thought mushrooms could bring me so much happiness (not the psychedelic kind. ;). My latest experimentation had me using blue oyster mushrooms to make a bbq mushroom steak.
The brothers at Wicked Kitchen have really nailed the best way to cook mushrooms for a meaty flavor. The process is simple once you’ve tried it out and it could easily be done on a weeknight. Here are the steps to follow:
- Heat up a cast iron skillet with oil.
- Place mushrooms in hot pan and let sit for a minute or two.
- Use a heavy item to press down on the mushrooms and remove moisture (you could use another cast iron skillet, bacon press, brick, etc.).
- Season the mushrooms and flip. Add a little more oil. Press again and hold for a couple of minutes.
- Repeat this process two more times then transfer to an oven set at 400 degrees for 10 minutes to finish.
There are so many flavors you could use with this. For today’s dish I used a bbq seasoning and for the small clusters, I also brushed on bbq sauce before placing it in the oven. I’d say definitely brush on the bbq because that was just awesome.
Here is the video I used for inspiration.
-
Big Bowls
Creating a Buddha bowl-style dish is so fulfilling and so good for you. There are so many ways you can change up the flavors, and yet have some base items meal-prepped so it is a quick, indulgent meal in minutes.
Today, I made a buffalo chickpea bowl inspired by this recipe: https://whitneybond.com/buffalo-chickpea-vegan-buddha-bowl/#recipe.
I started by making a big batch of grains in my pressure cooker. I combined brown rice, couscous, farro, and barley with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt. I will probably rarely just make brown rice on its own again. Adding these other grains provides so much more depth, flavor, and offers different nutrients for the gut. From there, I put on all my toppings and savored my flavorful lunch.
-
Reducing Waste-Second Life Clothing
Fast fashion. I didn’t even know that was really a thing. I usually try to wear my clothes until their death, but I have definitely been guilty of wasting my clothing purchases.
Did you know that the EPA reported that over 1 billion tons of clothing were landfilled in the United States in 2018. Even clothes that were donated can end up in landfills, so what can we do?
Shopping at thrift stores can help. I used to think this idea was cool in high school, but I have to admit I rarely did it because I was that girl that would have been mortified to admit I bought something at Goodwill. Now, I feel proud when I find something I love, is sustainable, and keeps money in my pocket. Last week I browsed my closest Goodwill and found 5 items for $20. The brands are amazing too: White House, Black Market, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, etc. The featured shirt in this post is by far my favorite find. I’m so in love with it!
I had a lucky day. Thrift store shopping has that at times, but sometimes it can be a bust. I don’t recommend going in looking for something specific, but just be open-minded to what fits you well and matches who you are.
New to thrift store shopping? Here are some tips I follow:
- Think about the fabric-is it piling already? Will it last?
- Check for stains, holes, and other dealbreakers you may have.
- Try it on-many stores have dressing rooms, but wear tight fitting clothing when you go shopping (just in case they don’t).
- Buy off-season-this section will be less picked over.
- Look at name brands-are they ones you trust or like?
- What’s on sale? Many stores have tags with colors and offer deals for certain colors on certain weeks.
- Wash your clothes before you wear them. I’m sure you can see why I think this is important.
- Visit different stores to increase your selection.
- Go beyond clothing. Need a cast-iron skillet? Looking to make something with the Cricut? Maybe you don’t need to go on Amazon to find what you are looking for.
- Don’t feel discouraged if it wasn’t a good trip. You won’t always find something, but when you do, it is pretty sweet.
Subscribe To My Newsletter
Subscribe for new content.
Feet to the Earth 