The last week has been seemingly chaos with busy work hours and Easter preparations. Yesterday was hubby’s birthday and we celebrated by going to a Il Fornaio, a nice Italian restaurant. It was also cold and windy most of the day, but the rain subsided by the evening, letting the sun out and this amazing rainbow to remind us that the sun will be out for the next few days finally warming temps!
I was pleased with the vegan options, going for a minestrone soup and simple side of angel hair pasta with marinara sauce and fresh basil.
It’s been ages since I’ve had traditional pasta and while it was good, I can’t say I really missed it. I hear so many state they could never give it up, but it’s never done much for me. We had a great time chatting and sipping on wine, the restaurant was quiet and relaxing on a Monday night. But time to get back to the grind this week with exercise and eating after all the festivities. I’ve been having a great time, but am also looking at a growing list of things I want to get to, but haven’t had a chance yet, like the mountain of laundry, gardening and recipes to try.
Lunch today was another beautiful salad with jicama sticks and Gena’s Brazil Nut Dressing.
I love that jicama is so filling and has a flavor that can go with either sweet or salty recipes, but is also amazing by itself.
For dinner I got adventurous. When I was at a sandwich shop a few weeks ago, the smell of a cheddar broccoli soup really caught my attention for some reason, I think I was could and craving something warm and rich. But it got me thinking of a raw version.
Cheezy Broccoli Soup
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 small garlic clove (optional)
- 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. tamari
- 1/4 tsp. pink salt
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- pinch turmeric
- 1/2 water
Blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender and enjoy. Makes one large or two small servings.
It’s like broccoli blended with a creamy nacho dip, thick, smooth and very filling. Another good way to eat raw broccoli. :-)
Ooh, my vita-mix is begging me to make this! Yum!
Do you ever heat your food up in the dehydrator, out of curiosity?
Hi Errign, yes, I mainly warm up side dishes, squash noodles and mashes in the dehydrator for 30 minutes stirring occasionally at 110 to take the cold edge off.
I loveee broccoli + nooch! I have to invest in some hemp seeds though. I’ve tried hemp protein before and it was yuck but then again I love hemp milk :D
I could probably never give up pasta.. Sigh..
Your soup sounds fabulous! I could probably live on broccoli – it’s such a funny little veggie.
awesome job!! looks really healthy and yummy ! I didn’t know that broccolis soup can be yellowish :-D that reminds me the peanut butter ( and I love it!!)
i have always wanted to try that restaurant! i think there is one down here by my parents house. that is great that they had some vegan options for you. did you feel yucky eating cooked food?
That soup actually sounds really good! And so healthy too!