Barefoot Tiger Blog

Meatless Mondays: Raw Avocado & Cucumber Soup

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:56:00 GMT

1 cup raw almonds
Filtered water
2 medium avocados (pitted and cubed)
1 large cucumber (peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped)
5 large scallions ( thinly sliced - including some green tops)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
Fresh cilantro sprigs (for garnish)

Click HERE for the entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: Super D Saves the Day!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:21:00 GMT

Taking a vitamin D supplement not only fortifies your bones, it also fortifies your muscles, making them less prone to injury.

Meatless Mondays: Spinach and Chickpeas

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:47:00 GMT

Spinach and Chickpeas

This recipe is flexible. If you end up with a little less spinach or a little more sauce, or if you want it with a little less this or a little more that, so be it. Enjoy it. Have fun with it.

1/2 pound (230 grams) dried chickpeas, cooked until soft and tender* or two 15-ounce cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
6 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound (450 grams) spinach, washed
A hefty 1-inch slice from a country loaf or about 2 slices from sandwich loaf bread (2.5 ounces or 75 grams), crusts removed and cut inset small cubes
1/2 cup (4 ounces) tomato sauce (I used canned stuff I keep around)
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika**
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon juice, to taste

Click HERE for the entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: A Different Kind of Yoga

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:10:00 GMT

Did you know...the original purpose of yoga asana (posture practice) was to prepare the body to sit for long periods of time in meditation. Quite a different perspective than the 'hard core yoga' image we have today!

Meatless Mondays: Paella Vegetariana

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:37:00 GMT

This is an easy dish to make, and the results are splendid. Using quick-cooking rice, you can have a magnificent one-dish meal in about 30 minutes, whether for busy weeknights or a leisurely weekend meal.

Serves: 6

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, cut into 2-inch strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into 2-inch strips
2 cups diced ripe tomatoes
One 15-ounce can vegetable broth
1 teaspoon saffron threads, dissolved in a small amount of hot water (see Note)
One 6-serving portion quick-cooking brown rice, uncooked
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
One 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Click HERE for entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: Sleep Your Way Healthy

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Tired? It might just make you sick. Research shows that sleeping 4 hours a night instead of your usual 7 can decrease your immune system functioning by about 50%. The best length of time to sleep? Getting 8 or more hours of sleep seems to show the most boost to the immune system.

Meatless Mondays: Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts Salad

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:37:00 GMT

Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mustard-Caper Butter

Servings: 8

2 garlic cloves
Sea salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup drained small capers, rinsed
Grated zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons chopped marjoram
Black pepper
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1 small head (1/2 pound) white cauliflower
1 small head (1/2 pound) Romanesco (green) cauliflower

Click HERE for the entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: Most Delicious Nut

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:36:00 GMT

Did you know chocolate is actually a nut? All chocolate is made from the large seed (nut) of the cacao fruit, the cacao bean or cocoa bean. It is about the size of an almond and contains proteins and oils, yet no sugar so it's very bitter.

Meatless Mondays: Vegan Sausage, Peppers, Broccoli and Zucchini Pizza

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:34:00 GMT

Piled high with roasted veggies, this pizza is a good one for hearty appetites. Though a small amount of non-dairy cheese is optional, this pizza truly doesn’t need it for flavor. Feeding a larger crowd? The recipe is easily doubled to make two pizzas. Take off on this idea to vary the pizza with other vegetables.

Makes: 6 slices

1 link Tofurky or Field Roast vegan sausage,
sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 small red bell pepper, cut into narrow strips
1 cup small broccoli florets
1 small zucchini, sliced (or about 1 cup halved and sliced zucchini)
2 tablespoons sliced sun dried tomatoes, optional
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup good-quality pizza or marinara sauce of your choice
One good-quality 12- to 14-ounce pizza crust, or Basic Pizza Dough(see note)
3/4 to 1 cup grated nondairy cheddar- or mozzarella-style cheese, optional
Dried basil

Click HERE for entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: Get Paid to Workout

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:26:00 GMT

If you got paid to the gym, would you be more motivated? Gym-Pact is an iPhone app you can download and enter in your workout days. If you don't go, your account gets charged. If you go, you get paid by those members who didn't go! Genius. http://www.gym-pact.com/

BT Meatless Mondays: Easy Vegan Pad Thai

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:11:00 GMT

Here’s the popular Thai noodle dish in a version that’s easy to re-create at home in a vegan version, with ingredients you can get at the supermarket. Serve pad thai with broccoli or green beans (steamed or stir-fried) and a simple cabbage-based salad.

Serves: 4 to 6

Sauce:

15- ounce can light coconut milk
1/4 cup good-quality ketchup
2 tablespoons natural granulated sugar
Juice of 1 lime
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari

____

8 ounces flat rice noodles
1 1/2 tablespoons peanut or safflower oil
8 ounces extra-firm tofu, blotted and cut into short, narrow strips
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces fresh mung bean sprouts
4 to 6 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon Thai red chili paste (dissolved in a little water),
or dried hot red pepper flakes, to taste (see note)
2 stalks lemongrass, cut into large segments and scored here
and there to release flavor, optional
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, to taste
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Lime wedges for garnish

Click HERE for entire recipe!

BT Tip of the Week: Colorful Food Feeds the Mind and Body

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:04:00 GMT

Want to make your food look more appealing on a plate? Studies show the human brain reacts most positively to three hues on a plate; think green broccoli, brown rice, and red beans. As a bonus, you'll also be getting a variety of nutrients with the color diversity.

Meatless Mondays: Pesto Risotto with Roasted Zucchini

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:15:00 GMT

For the risotto:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine
4 cups or so vegetable broth
3/4 cup pesto (I recommend Bestest Pesto, it makes plenty)
1/2 teaspoon salt (more or less depending on how salty your broth and pesto are, so taste for salt often)
Fresh black pepper

For the zucchini:
1 lb zucchini, cut on on a bias into chunky half moons
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced

Optional:
Extra toasted pinenuts
Extra pesto for drizzling

Click HERE for the rest of the recipe!

Straighten Up to Snub Your Sweet Tooth

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:11:00 GMT

Did you know...slouching may actually cause you to crave sugar?
According to research, slumping in your chair decreases blood flow
and glucose to the brain, causing sugar cravings. One more reason to
sit up straight!

BT Tip of the Week: Pay With Cash to Lose Weight?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:55:00 GMT

Studies show you can lose weight by paying for groceries with cash. Why? It turns out, you're more likely to buy unhealthy foods if you pay with a credit card.