Recipe Card, Episode 2

While I myself am not a vegetarian, we are a vegetarian household. Rich told me when we started dating "no meat in the house" and I'm not a huge meat eater, so it wasn't really a problem for me to just make vegetarian and vegan meals at home.
So although I didn't really intend this to be a "vegetarian friendly recipe card" that's just the way it's turned out!
These are some of my very favorite, tried (and tried and tried) and true meals that I love, and are a huge hit at home.  And best of all, they are all pretty quick and easy!
I do think that anyone can cook, you just need to take your time, and having a cooking partner always makes things much less complicated.  Give it a try!
*These recipes are not my own, I've taken them from various internet homes. I've linked to all appropriates sources.*

Vegan Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms Via Yummy Vegan Dinners

I cannot say enough about this lasagna. It's DELICIOUS and totally vegan. And I've tested it on some meat eaters and they loved it too. The tofu-as-ricotta filling is one of the best uses of tofu I've found.  Yum.  (Note: this is one of the only "labor intensive" recipes I've included here. It's not hard, per say, but it is alot of steps).

Everyday Chickpea Salad Via Shutterbean

This salad is far and away the best salad I have ever had, either at home or in a restaurant. I could go on and on about it, who knew you could be so excited by salad? I've made this repeatedly at home, it's been teenage boy approved, and I've made it numerous times for guests. Unfortunately, you do need a food processor in order to make the dressing. If you don't have one, go out, buy one and then make this salad. It's that good. 

Turkey Chili Via All Recipes

Now I know what you're thinking, I said these were all vegetarian friendly and turkey is not on the menu for a veg. But I just substitute the turkey with equal amounts of ground round and follow the same steps.  I also omit the salsa in this recipe.  Who wants salsa in their chili? I think it's weird. But to each their own.  And the sour cream and cheddar cheese toppings are option, so skip 'em or buy vegan friendly alternatives like we do! This makes a big batch of chili, but I still have to make a double batch. Richard is a chili eating machine. 

Honey Corn Bread Via All Recipes

What goes with chili better than cornbread? NOTHING. So there.  If you're not comfortable with using cream in this recipe (Lindsay fact: I hate cream, I think it's icky) you can just substitute for regular milk. Or, vegan friendly milk if you prefer. If Rich is a chili eating machine, I am a corn bread eating machine.

Now I'm hungry. Nom.

Beauty on a Budget

If you're familiar with At Ten Paces (or me in real life) you know that I'm a girly girl and proud of it.
I love everything about being a girl! Well, no. Not everything. Hello cramps? Childbirth? Pms? Just no. But MOST things.
My fabulous group of friends have a bit of a wild weekend planned, for Amanda's 28th birthday! This is the first birthday of the year for all of us, and it's usually our "kick off to summer" night. But the weather the last few weeks has been so great, that it definitely feels like summer is already here.

I usually do all sorts of fun hair and face masks before a night like this, just to add to the fun. But I've run out of all of my favorite go-to products, and I'm a little short on cash. So I thought I'd scour my cupboards and see what I could find that was cheap, natural and would do the trick.

Here's a few recipes for hair and face masks that I'm a big fan of.

*Unnecessary disclaimer: I am not a doctor, or a beautician or a grocer. These are just a few quick things I whip together for myself. If you have an allergy or sensitive skin please use your own discretion*

Hair Mask for dry, damaged hair.
1/2 cup of honey
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon of olive oil
A shower cap or old towel

Mix together all of the ingredients and apply to damp hair. Comb through, making sure to get the ends nice and saturated. It's the oldest part of your hair, and the most damaged. Cover your hair with the shower cap or towel. For extra oomph, blow dry over the cap or towel. The heat will help your hair absorb the mask. Don't go too crazy with the heat or the egg could cook.
Sit for 20 minutes and then rinse off with cool water.  Wash your hair as normal.
This mask will leave your hair seriously shiny and soft.

Avocado Face Mask
1 Avocado (a very ripe one is best)
1 Egg White at room temperature
1 Teaspoon of lemon juice.

This recipe makes a big batch and it can't really be saved, so you should make it with a group of your friends and everyone can use it!
Mix the ingredients together, if you use a hand blender or a mixer, you'll get rid the the clumps.
Apply!
(I think it's redundant to say this, but just in case, when applying a face mask you should always have a clean and dry face).
Wait until dry and rinse off.

Oatmeal Face Mask. Good for oily or combination skin.

1/2 Cup of oatmeal. Any kind will work, I eat quick cook oats so I use those.
1/2 Cup of plain, natural yogurt.

Cook the oatmeal as you normally would, and let cool. (If you are using quick cook oats, you can just microwave them for 30 seconds. They'll be cooked, but not too hot).
Mix the oatmeal and yogurt together. Apply to your face and wait until dry. Bonus to this mask! It works as an exfoliator scrub when you are washing it off!

I hope these work as well for you as they do for me! Enjoy your weekend.

Doggie Baking

This isn't a recipe post, it's more of an activity post that happens to contain baking. Baking for dogs! I decided it would be fun to spend some time making some dog treats for Hunter and Iris. It's much more wallet friendly, and I know exactly what they are getting. No scary, random, unpronounceable ingredients.  I made 3 types, chicken and honey, beef and vegetarian. They all turned out really well, although some of the dough wasn't cookie cutter friendly, which I was sad about because I bought some adorable Martha Stewart Doggie Bone Cookie Cutters. That Martha, she thinks of everything.
 They are Hunter, Iris and Zooey approved for now and I'm testing them out on some lovely Hamilton dog owners. So if all goes well, I'm going to start making them for sale!

These cookie cutters couldn't be any cuter!

All natural, healthy ingredients. And some baking tunes.

Mix number one. Beef. Mmm, doesn't it look delicious?

Beef treats, finished. 

Mix number two. Chicken and honey.

This dough rolled out so nicely and was fun to cut into bone shapes.

Cooked and ready to roll.

Waiting for tummies.

Aren't they pretty? Don't you just want to taste one? 

Let me know if you need any treats for your furry friends. I'd be happy to oblige. 

Green Monster Smoothie

My current morning obsession is the green monster smoothie. It's perfect before a workout, and it makes a great, tasty, fast breakfast.

This recipe makes enough for 2 grownup smoothies.

Ingredients:

1 cup of spinach (I usually use more, you can't taste it at all)

1 1/2 cups of orange juice

1 cup of frozen mango chunks

1 apple

1 banana

(I'm currently adding two scoops of the President's Choice Soy Protein powder, but that is optional. I really like this powder, it's the vanilla flavor and it doesn't taste too strongly).

Put all the ingredients into the blender and blend! You can add some honey for added sweetness, but the OJ I'm using is super sweet already so I skip on the honey.

You're going to get a seriously green smoothie here, but I promise you can't taste the spinach at all. I've been having this smoothie almost every morning for the last month, and I think all the fruits and veggies have made my hair and skin lovely.

Enjoy!