Greek (Inspired) Vegetarian Burger

One of my high school mates shared a Greek Turkey Burger recipe with me on Facebook.  At first I was taken aback, but then she offered that I could turn this into a Vegetarian Burger...and so I did!

If you want the recipe from root to stem, drop a comment and follow!!!

Directions.

Follow this recipe for the basis of your burger mix.  Add a 1/2 cup diced black olives.  You may also boast more protein by simply adding 1 cup cooked brown lentils.  I do!!!

I use a scale to make sure all of my burgers have approximately the same mass.  If you do not own a scale, use the 1/3 measure cup.  With each portioned burger, you will add 1-2 T of Vital Wheat Gluten.  This will help hold your mix together along with steaming it.  If you have a steamer use it.  Otherwise use a double boil system of a strainer or colander over a pot of boiling water. 

The secret to its form is the spring form pan. 

After mixing in your gluten, allow the burgers to rest in the refrigerator while you prepare your steam pan and mix your tzatziki dressing.

Form your patties by pressing them into the spring form pans.  Place pans into the double-boil or steam system.  You should steam this for an hour.  Then let the burger rest and cool for an additional 30 minutes.  Broil.  Dress to your desire, but keep it Greek!!!

Steaming

Taco Salad

Ingredients
sliced carrot
sliced jalepeno's
diced cucumber
chopped green pepper
chopped tomato
chopped onion
chopped Romaine lettuce
jalepeno's
shredded cheese
sour cream
taco sauce
taco seasoning
tortilla chips
Gardein burger (thawed, ground)

Preparation.  I thawed three vegetable burgers and ground them in a chopper.  Using a couple of T of olive oil, add ground burgers to skillet, Brown, season, then de-glaze pan with a little water.

Prep your salad.  I like to do this in layers, placing lettuce on the bottom then a few chips, add small drops of sour cream, cheese, veggies, repeat.  When you reach the top, sprinkle your vegetable crumbles and the rest of your toppings.  Add more sour cream and taco sauce.  And you're done!

Zucchini Flatbread Pizza (low carb)

Ingredients
1 large zucchini
3/4 c. mozzarella or Italian Cheese Blend (divided 1/2 c., 1/4 c.)
1 egg
2 T corn starch
red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, ranch seasoning, Italian Seasoning


Directions.  Preheat convection oven to 375 degrees.  Shred zucchini.  Add seasonings, egg, corn starch, and 1/2 c cheese.  Mix well.  Spread on parchment lined or non-stick baking mat.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Flip if you like and bake an additional 10 minutes to insure it is dried.  Sprinkle 1/4 c. cheese, bake for an additional 3-10 minutes or until melted.  Serve with Marinara or your favorite dipping sauces.

🍃Vegan Variant.  Substitute the egg for flax egg and add baking powder.  Substitute dairy for non-dairy.  

Chickpea Salad Sandwich (spread)

Although the title says "sandwich" you can use chips or crackers to dip and scoop.  Over the holiday spent in San Antonio, my nieces enjoyed it in bite sized sandwiches as well as a dip with chips!

Ingredients

3/4 c. dried chickpeas preferred (but canned is fine)

1/4 c. diced celery

1/4 c. diced onion

1/8 c. minced carrot

1/8 t. cumin powder

1/8 t. salt

1/8 t. ranch powder seasoning (opt.)

1/8 t. cracked or table pepper

1/8 t. onion powder

a few dashes dill weed. 

2-4 T. mayo or whipped salad dressing

1 t. ranch dressing

Directions: Soak dry chickpea or garbanzo beans in an 1" above grain-line, of cold water, in covered dish, pot, or bowl, for 6-12 hours.  Rinse, put into a pot of cold water, just an inch above chickpeas.  You will notice the size increase from dry to 'bloomed'.  Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat to simmer or low and cook peas from 1.5 to 2 hours.  Test for fork tenderness.  Remove from heat, rinse in cold water, strain in a sift or colander.

If you use canned peas, rinse thoroughly, let dry for about an hour before use.

Pour peas into a large mixing or prep bowl, mash with fork or potato masher.  It is okay to blend but take caution with your chopper/processor to avoid over blending.  If you prefer a 'bite' mash peas.

Add your spices, mayo/dressings, mix with a fork.  Chill.  Serve.

***(add any other vegetables you choose, but if they generate water, i.e. tomatoes or cucumbers, add them into salad only for immediate use)

it's my anniversary...

Five years ago, this month I made a dramatic change in my life. Many changes have subsequently come, i.e. transitioning to a lacto-ovo vegetarian, 50% raw vegan, and of course reduced gluten.

I say reduced gluten because I still use wheat grains in baking. As a result of increasing my fruits and vegetables through raw smoothies, the desire for bread has dropped considerably.

Five years ago exercise became 'my employment'. This career change has made the greatest impact on my lifestyle change. Helping others reach their fitness goals has been very rewarding.

My personal exercise goals have evolved. I no longer run in competitive races, but I enjoy running so much more. I realized that the preparation for races were hampering my progress, effecting my nutrition, and more specifically altering my sleep patterns. I do not discourage others, especially new fitness folks or new runners hoping to capture a medal. For me, it's not a priority. I have plenty of medals. I may someday run that 1/2 marathon, but for now, I am in a great place.

To update, for the summer I run two days a week on incline with intervals on the treadmill. Two days a week a full body workout, one with higher intensity with both machines and free weights. And four days a week I do yoga.

Two meals (breakfast and dinner) are raw vegan smoothies. Lunch is a cooked vegetarian meal that does offer raw food items. And finally my snack varies: powerful protein and fiber cookies, raw salad, popcorn, or mozzarella cheese sticks. I fuel up every four hours. This begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with a snack at 8 p.m. I am usually asleep by midnight. This is to force at least 8 hours of sleep. Most nights I get between 5-7 hours. I drink about 100 oz. of water daily with a spritz of lemon.

This spring I joined Pinterest as another way to reach others who are seeking to change their lifestyle. I continue to share my recipes on Facebook. And course, thanks to those who follow and remain encouraged. It takes planning and preparation. However, the more you invest, the more you are rewarded. Everyone who knows me know that I did not step into this change without research and practice. I am still a work in progress.

Without a doubt this journey has been rewarding. I have learned a lot about my body and I continue to reach for a greater health. My nutrition is stellar compared to previous years. I believe in staying the course I have inspired others to adopt a whole food-plant based lifestyle. I hope to continue to grow and inspire others. It is the best choice that I have ever made in my life. The results speak for themselves.

3 and 4 years...and going strong

This month marks a few anniversaries for me in my health and fitness challenge. This lifestyle change came with many adjustments in my life. Once I gave up prescription medications, meat, and adopted a regular fitness routine with progressive loading, much changed. Did my colitis and C.O.P.D. magically go away? No. As auto-immune disorders go, they have a resting/dormant or remission. Just when you think "I've got it" the bell is rung and you're symptomatic all over again.

I am grateful however, that although I still have flair-ups, acceptance was the biggest obstacle. Once I declared this battle I would fight for life, the moment came when any think non-traditional was open for inspection. A large part of this change was adopting a physical exercise program that help maintain healthy fat/muscle percentages. I am stronger, more flexible, and run with greater endurance than ever. Considering that we age in time, I think that is a good place to be.

Regular exercise is only about 30% of the battle. The other 70% of maintaining a healthy body composition is eating a nutritious diet. I started with a transition to Pescatarianism then to a full vegetarian. I increased my vegetable, fruits, and legumes. Whole grain breads, rices, and pastas ensure an optimum fiber content.

Many skeptics believed that I would fall. There was no way I could survive on this plan, because after all one needs meat to live. Really? Ask the gorilla. In short, it's 3 years as a non-meat eater and 4 years of physical exercise planning. Life could not be better. It certainly is better now than ever before.

I still see re-starters. I still get asked the same questions by the same people who have watched my physical transformation. I hate to say it but I hide from now...literally. It is not rocket science. I am living proof that change works. My diet is not so strict that it does not allow for cookies, cakes, and pies.

I follow the 80/20 rule. At least 80% of the time I am flying at regulation altitude. My diet and exercise is on point. The other 20% of the time, I am coasting, maintaining, and simply enjoying the foods that I have grown to love over this lifetime. Once I gave up dieting, everything else fell into place.

I encounter many arrogant first-timers who read a few magazine articles, leap on the bandwagon of the latest diet craze, and puff their chests out like they are pros. Until you have practiced it for a few years, then you cannot know what a veteran knows. There is nothing wrong with embracing a lifestyle change, but you cannot live your life on a diet, punishing and berating your entire plan because you ate four cookies, polished off a pizza, or ate cheesecake for lunch.

A lifestyle change means that you have found a way to make allowances for the comforts and rewards in the work and grind. For anyone who has trekked through a year and has come out on the other side, I salute you!

Here's to you as well...