Napa, CA and yummy things ...

I just got back from a lovely trip to Napa, CA. Pictured above is Chimney Rock Vineyard; I loved all their wines! A shout out to Lava Vine is also essential (pictured below). They run a very fun tasting room in Calistoga, CA and also have amazing wines. They let some chickens roam around too.

I was up late last night since I was on California time, so I caught up on my Housewives episodes. This morning, I had to drive out to Long Island to pick up my sweet Chewie from his doggie hotel.

If you need help training your dog, or have a little dog that needs a very posh in-home daycare or boarding, check out Little Paws of Hope in Levittown, NY. Hope has converted her dining room into a play room for the doggies! She has leopard print chaise lounges for the pooches! Only the best for Chewie. ;)

Reunited and it feels so good ... xoxo

 

Today, I made some no-crabby salad as I like to call it (it's from the Crazy Sexy Kitchen cookbook - it's the crab cakes mix minus molding them into crab cakes and frying them). It's just hearts of palm (which shockingly taste much like crab meat when pulsed in the food processor and tossed with Old Bay Seasoning) ... diced red bell pepper ... some nooch ... vegenaise ... and pepper. Yum!

 

I also made my Sweet Potato Curry with Spinach and Chickpeas and basmati rice for dinner. Mmmm.

I like to put a smidge of tofu sour cream on top.

 

 

Quick White Bean Salad

Quick White Bean Salad

Ingredients:
2 (14.5oz) cans large white beans (such as butter beans)
1 jar roasted red peppers, drained and diced
a couple handfuls of parsley, chopped fine
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Stir together the EVOO, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour over remaining ingredients in a bowl and toss. Yum.

I also made some muhammara today and raw spaghetti with veggie meatless balls for dinner. yum!

Chewie made his second trip on the subway yesterday. He held up better than last time. He's a shy pooch and the subway is a big scary loud thing.

 

Crazy Sexy Vegan Crabby Cakes with Remoulade

Another recipe from Crazy Sexy Kitchen ... you MUST buy this book. Every recipe I've made from it has been insanely delicious. This might be one of the best things I've ever made. I LOVE, LOVE crab cakes and I've eaten plenty of the seafood variety in my lifetime. These actually taste identical. I doubt any omnivore could tell the difference. Amazing!

I feel like I have no desire to eat the "real thing" again. Mission accomplished.

They are made with hearts of palm and the remoulade that accompanies them is also top notch.
I served this with a simple steamed acorn squash and some kale. Mmmm mmm good.



 

In other exciting news, my new Vitamix arrived! Huzzah! I immediately made a mango and spinach smoothie, some avocado hummus, and some raw almond butter. yay!

 

Chewie was less excited to get his new sweatshirt, but he looks very cute in it. :o)

A Mango Lassi and a Lazy Snow Day with Chewie

Last night into this morning it snowed about 8 inches and it was in the single digits this morning, so Chewie and I slept in and are now enjoying a lovely snow day.

That's the only picture I could snap of Chewie before he ran back in the house. haha. Good thing he's wee wee pad trained. ;o) When we finally got up, I made a mango lassi for breakfast.

Mango Lassi

1 ripe mango, skin removed and cubed

1 container of vegan yogurt (I used coconut almond milk yogurt which was divine.)

about 6 ice cubes

1/4 cup almond milk

1/4 teaspoon cardmom spice

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend all ingredients in a blender and enjoy! yum.

 

After that I had some homemade hummus and melted Daiya vegan cheddar on toast as a snack. Mmm.

 

Here's a pic of Lucas and I on New Year's Eve ... heh.

 

 

 

 

Chewie is enjoying his summer ...

 

Chewie, my extra adorable yorkie, has been making the most of summer.
Here he is enjoying Prospect Park and on beach patrol at the Jersey shore. ;)

Chewie is a healthy, happy, spoiled vegan doggie; he eats Natural Balance dog food, all sorts of veggies, and many great treats by Fruitables!

Chewie goes vegan!

I've been thinking about switching little Chewie over to a vegan diet because I don't want him to eat anything gross that I wouldn't eat. Plus, he seriously needs to outlive me; I ♥ Chewie! I came across V-Dog vegan kibble today which looks amazing! I ordered it and I'm so excited to see how Chewie likes it. I'm also going to get him some Organic VEGA Antioxidant Omega oil blend to put over his food as his vet has suggested he needs some oil in his life.

I also ordered the Simple Little Vegan Dog Book by Michelle Rivera and I can't wait to make him some yummy yum yums to enjoy in addition to his nutritionally balanced doggie food. Fortunately, Chewie actually likes his greens and eats zucchini. Good boy.

Here are some resources about meatless meals for your furbabies:
PETA's article about vegan dogs and cats

Good vegan nutrition for doggies

A list of "people foods" by ASPCA and whether or not those foods are OK for your pup.

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