Just because I'm a "vegan" doesn't mean I can't make Sangria!!

Day 3 of being a Vegan and I am having no problems at all. Seriously, and I'm feeling good! I got out to the Civic Center Farmer's market today and picked up a few tasty items. I'm really into mint these days - in salad, smoothies, perhaps a mojito to celebrate the beautiful sunny weather that has finally hit SF!

I threw some into a smoothie today. I highly recommend this recipe, it was so yummy:

frozen mango (about 2 cups)
1/2 of a banana
1/2 cup soy milk
a few mint leaves
a touch of raw agave syrup

Being a Vegan seems like it may be limiting, but hey, at least I can make sangria, which I will be enjoying momentarily up on the roof....

This batch was especially fantastic! I discovered a new recipe you see...

1 bottle white wine (I used sauvignon blanc)
1 bottle red (cab for me!)
1 orange sliced
1/2 apple chopped
1 pear
1 kiwi
a bunch of grapes (halved)
1 mango sliced
1 lemon squeezed
about a 1/3 cup of rum, gin, or brandy (I used rum)
1/3 cup sugar
top off with some juice - orange, tangerine, pineapple...whatever you've got!

Let it all marinate for a couple of hours (or until you just can't wait any longer!)

Although my current situation is temporary, I'm trying to enjoy it, and really can't complain. Today was hot and glorious so I joined the other "odd-hour" workers at the beach. Ahhhhhh, I haven't been to the beach in my bikini in probably over a year, which is a huge crime in my book, so I was a very happy girl today : )

Going Vegan

After a wonderful and relaxing, albeit gluttonous few days at home in Ventura, I'm back in SF and looking for a new cleansing challenge. So I've decided to try being vegan for a month. My plan however is to allow myself one cheat day, and if my cheat day comes and goes without my noticing, well that will be even better. So how does a girl who loves meat and all things dairy become vegan? And how will it make me feel? I will keep you updated! But don't expect me to post nearly naked pictures of myself to "display" my progress...hell to the no, thank you!

Yesterday was Day 1:

For breakfast I had 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with organic peanut butter: remember to stay away from processed foods and buy organic whenever possible; seriously it's so much better! There is a fantastic whole wheat bread at Trader Joes - with only three ingredients: organic whole wheat flour, filtered water, and sea salt - this bread is delicious!

I thought it would be a good idea to make a delicious lentil soup that I could enjoy for days...so I went to Trader Joes (my fave aside from farmers markets) for some ingredients. Here is what my first ever all vegan shopping list looked like (again, organic whenever possible):

soy milk

mint tea

vegetable broth

onions

celery

carrots

oregano

cilantro

1 can diced tomatoes

arugula 

grape fruit

corn

lemons

meatless balls (they are surprisingly very yummy)

brown rice

sunflower seeds

bananas

plums

frozen mango

garbanzo beans

sunflower seeds

While I shopped my lentils were soaking in water, so they were ready for me when I got home. I got out the crock-pot (never used one before) and threw all the necessary ingredients in. Just google any lentil soup recipe and you'll find a good one. I let it simmer for 8 hours and it came out delicioso! I was very pleased. 

For lunch I made a yummy raw salad with arugula, garbanzo beans, grape fruit slices, corn, avocado, sunflower seeds, cilantro, and carrot. I'm really into easy home-made dressings so I'll usually just squeeze half a lemon, some olive oil, and a little raw agave syrup directly onto my salad with salt and pepper. mpwah! (fingers together on lips and explode outward...mpwah!)

om nom nom

For dinner I ate that scrumptious soup and made some brown rice to go with it (you could also have that whole wheat bread {pictured above} with some almond butter spread). I also drink lots and lots of tea and water all day long.

Day 2 (today):

I got my social media education on and watched a live webinar via MarketingProfs while I drank tea and ate cream of wheat with soy milk, chopped up banana, and cinnamon. 

I went for a long run (70 min. wooo!) all the way down to the beach and did a bit of interval walking - it has been glorious (I never use that word but find it appropriate at the moment) weather here in San Francisco. I can't believe I was in southern California and all I got was a week of nothing but fog; then I come back to SF and find the sun. It must have been hiding here all along! What are the odds? I guess this is the Indian Summer everyone talks about. I love it! I actually saw surfers down at the beach; "surfer speak" was music to my ears : )

I snacked on a granola bar, and then for lunch had a salad (much like the one from the previous day). For dinner tonight I plan on eating my soup and maybe making some sweet potato fries! I have the best and easiest recipe:

1 - 2 sweet potatoes sliced (to look like fries)

A whole lotta: paprika, cinnamon, and kosher salt

Olive oil

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Throw the ingredients into a bowl and mix it all together then spread evenly on the sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Be sure to toss and turn ingredients every 10 minutes. Voila! Perfection. Your welcome.

I am also brewing my very own Kombucha...you heard me! Kombucha! This stuff is like $4.00 a bottle, but it is so easy to make. All you need to get going is a scobi, which supposedly isn't easy to find but if you know someone who makes Kombucha you're good. The scobi basically expands each time it's brewed and you can simply peal off a layer and give it to anyone who wants it!

My cousin is a Kombucha expert. Check out her blog (if you've gotten this far...geeezus sorry about the long post) to learn more about it and how to brew your very own:

http://pipperipembo.tumblr.com/post/6649455132/kombucha

Also, you may be asking yourself, "what the hell is Liza doing?" Well I'm not so sure I can answer that at the moment. All I can say, is that if my persistence pays off my patience will as well.

A lot has been going on, and I promised to always be real, honest, and personal with you all and I intend to do that, so I'll be playing catch-up on here for a while...stay tuned.

Sushirrito

Okay, so there's this new place -  just opened in January - 

and I think it could possibly take over the world...just sayin.

It's sushi and a burrito. What? I know, it sounds strange, but here it is.

El Tigre Sushirrito - Photo courtesy of Pop Sugar SF

Sushirrito lovingly creates "sushi-burritos" or "sushirritos," with super fresh ingredients brought together in an innovative way. This is not your average sushi roll...or burrito. 

For example, I had the Casanova: Steelhead Salmon, baby arugula, avocado, daicon radishes, tomato salsa, green onions and toasted pumpkin seeds (yum!). Sounds like an odd combination of ingredients but I thought it was very tasty and the sushi was fresh and had that "melt-in-your-mouth" quality. I'm anxious to try some of their other options, including a vegan roll.

Sushirrito is an eco-friendly company as well, which is great. They buy local and organic whenever possible, and actually describe where their produce comes from (how it is caught) and more about ways they implement sustainable practices in their restaurant. It is on the website under "impact."

It is lighter and much healthier than your average burrito. However, a friend of mine tried Sushirrito and found it to be a bit too much, because sushi is supposed to be, well, sushi. So for purists this may not satisfy your palet. I however am a huge fan of hand-rolls, so to me it is a ginormous hand roll. I also think the ingredients and recipes are very different from your average sushi roll, so the distinction makes it something entirely unique and something I can appreciate and enjoy.

I say yum and yes please!

3 day weekends would make the world a much better place.

.....That is my theory and I'm sticking to it!

Day 1 to run errands, day 2 to just relax/take it easy/be lazy/do nothing/RECOVER from the shenanigans of the night before, and day 3 to get out and play!

This weekend was lovely and relaxing and I discovered a few new places around the city. And when I say "discover" I mean, for god's sake, where have I been all this time whilst all these great little gems were just sitting there being enjoyed by everyone but me!??

I finally tried Philz Coffee and was not disappointed. I had the "Philharmonic" - it is not an understatement to say that upon first sip I had a symphony in my mouth. Yes. I went there. It was the most amazing coffee I've ever had. They brew each cup individually and stir it into frothy, creamy perfection. Yum.

Other highlights of the weekend include happy hour at the Burritt Room in the Crescent Hotel, Shanghai King for gastronomical deliciousness, going to The Old Clam House with my nor-cal family, seeing Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the Bali exhibit at the Asian Art Museum, Civic Center farmers market, and a little exploring in Pacific Heights (love that neighborhood).

What am I looking forward to in the coming months? Well for starters, how about a summer? I feel as if I was robbed of that this year - maybe it's because I literally got to enjoy 3 summers last year (due to traveling around the world), so now Mother Nature is going, "Hah! This year you'll get no summer at all!"- hmmm. So I am looking forward to an Indian Summer in SF, which I've heard so much about and am anxiously for (if it doesn't come I may want to kill myself) (jk) (but seriously). 

Happy week! Hope it's a sunny one.

Some Italiano please

Friday after work Katie and I came over to Bernal Heights to try Vinorosso, an authentic Italian wine shop, bar, and eatery, home made pastas and all. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time because it looks so cozy and inviting from the outside and I love wine and Italy so.....duh.

We split the cheese plate: 3 delicious cheeses for $10, not bad! To some people the portions may seem a bit small, but to me it was perfect, and hey, that's how they do it in Italy - indulge regularly but modestly.

We also shared an order of dates, which were amazing. It would be nice if they offered one of those delicious stuffed date options that some restaurants do so well - you know, when they're stuffed with blue cheese, drizzled with honey and served warm - any variation on that will do. Mmmmmmm.

The wine was perfect. We tried the Lambrusco, a deep red sparkling wine. If you've never had it, you must try. It's light and so refreshing. We also had a glass of red and unfortunately I can't remember what I had - something described as being full bodied with plum and blueberry notes (often my favorite) - and Katie had the Chianti which was a little too dry for her, and maybe not for drinking on its own, however with a little cheese or a hearty meal, delish.

We unfortunately missed their happy hour, which is every day from 4:00 - 6:00, but will definitely be back to enjoy more wine and try the homemade baked pastas. Happy happy hour everyone!