Vegan Asian Salad

Sometimes you go to the fridge and realize you need to go to the store. This salad is great because it was created out of the need to use up the rest of our produce before heading to Trader Joes again.  My husband and I were both surprised at how delicious this turned out! Not to mention it is super healthy and took only 25 minutes to make.  A perfect weekday night dinner.

Ingredients:
kale
broccoli
red bell pepper
cucumber
avocado
celery
bean sprouts
quinoa
sesame oil 
rice vinegar
lime
salt and pepper

While the quinoa was cooking, chop the kale and all the veggies and massage them with sesame oil, lime and rice vinegar (this is important to soften the kale and let the flavors sink in). Then toss it all together and enjoy!

Saturday Morning Green Smoothie

Ever since we received our Vitamix for Christmas (thanks mom), we have been experimenting with all different smoothie recipes.  I finally have created one which I have found to be the most refreshing and delicious recipe, like a healthy getaway to the tropics.  It is a green smoothie and is packed with veggies and fruits alike and should be used as a snack (not a meal replacement).  Oh yes, and I always use all organic produce.

Recipe: *    

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup Coconut milk

1 spoonful Coconut Oil (optional)

1 1/2 large handfuls of spinach

1 handful kale

1/2 cucumber

1/2 apple

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/3 cup frozen pineapple

ice

*makes one large smoothie-just double portions for two

What's your favorite smoothie recipe?

Deviled Eggs

I have always been a fan of deviled eggs.  They remind me of my grandma as she has always made them for every holiday or party my family has (and if you know my family, you know this is at least once if not several times a month).  This was my first time making my own and I was a little nervous as I usually over cook eggs when I hard boil them, but I read this "how to" and the eggs came out perfect.  I used this recipe, but added chives on top and placed the eggs over pickles.  The result was better than expected and they were a huge hit!

Vegetarian Green Pozole

 This weekend, we were finally able to have a few friends over for dinner at our new house, but my husband came down with a cold.  I was a little torn because I wanted to make something soothing for him, but filling enough for our friends.  My favorite soup ever is Pozole and I have been dying to make the green kind so I thought may as well try it.  I made guacamole to have with chips as an appetizer and we shared a growler of Black Rye IPA (thanks Haven!), then made a simple chopped Kale and Radicchio salad with pepitas, dried cranberries and blue cheese tossed in a blush wine vinaigrette as a starter while moving on to drinking a Rangeland Syrah.

For the green sauce: Roast peeled Tomatillos, a Jalapeño, Serrano Chiles and
Garlic cloves.  While roasting, blend 1/2 cup of pepitas in a food processor.
Add the roasted veggies (remove all seeds from peppers) and blend until almost
smooth while adding a little olive oil.

On to the main event, my friend sent me her family recipe for a Green Chicken Pozole, which I used for the green sauce, but for the broth I ended up using the Trader Joe's Vegetable Broth. I don't think I completely nailed the green pozole as I wanted to roast the veggies for the tomatillo sauce before blending them, but instead simmered them in water.  Also, next time I am going to make it with chicken for more flavor than the vegetarian broth.  However, it was still very good and we had a great time!!

Once the green sauce is made, put it in a small pot and let it simmer on very low while you take the large pot and toss in diced onions, red bell peppers and garlic with a little olive oil.  Cook on medium heat for 4 minutes, then add rinsed Hominy (maize) and add cumin and cayenne pepper.  After 5 more minutes of stirring, add in vegetable broth.  Bring to a boil, then add green sauce and simmer for 20-30 minutes to let the flavors combine and settle.  Right before serving, add oregano, salt and pepper and lime juice.  

The best thing about pozole is adding all the condiments after! We used
chopped onions, radishes, cabbage, avocado, lime and tostadas!

Perch{ed above the city} with Kat

On Monday my dear friend Kat came to visit me and we had some much needed girl time just catching up with delicious drinks and bites.  She had not yet been to Perch downtown and although I had been there awhile back with another dear friend, it was a good reminder of what a great spot it is and how breathtaking the city can be.

The sun kept peeking out from behind the June gloom which covered Southern California that day and it was just perfect.  They have "Aperitif Hour" M-F 4-6 with a newly expanded bites menu with Charcuterie, Fromage, Truffle Fries, Truffle Mac and Cheese and Sliders (just to name a few items).  We had just eaten but we couldn't resist the Truffle Fries (we are suckers for anything with truffle oil, salt or cheese).  And yes, you guessed it: delicious! We also tried their cocktails, Jacques Collins (like a Tom Collins) and French 76, followed by their Royals (sparkling wine with flavored liqueurs).

Kat just moved up to LA to fully pursue her dream as a photo journalist and she is connecting her new blog to her developing career.  Follow her here (she is so talented)!

A Week in Instagram

Best tacos and tamales! 

Loving green.

We put lights above our bed to match our neighborhood.

DTLA<3

Sunday brunch and Bloody Mary's

Late night tea and conversation with friends.

Walking tours of the neighborhood

Our Valentine's Day night.

The Roaster at Handsome Coffee.

Happy hour drinks, food and so many laughs in DTSD with my bestie, Yanessa

Follow me on Instagram to stay posted: alisialynn

{Veggie} Enchiladas

Mexican food is my absolute favorite!!!  I like it if is Authentic, Tex-Mex, Americanized, I like it all.  When I'm in Orange County, I always go to El Torito with my family-it is good, consistent and the servers know us by name.  I recreated their Spinach Enchiladas at home and made it my own and it turned out sooooo good...and healthy.  I used 100% whole wheat tortillas and served it with shredded kale, pico de gallo and quinoa. Delish!!!

Everything I used

I sautéed the veggies in olive oil with cumin and cayenne pepper.
Then added the black beans  

Rolled the mix in tortillas with sauce and cheese.
Then baked for 25 min! So easy =)

Happy Lunar New Year!

Today begins the lunar new year which is celebrated in Asia and communities across the world. I was raised by Little Saigon in Westminster and am very familiar with the feasts and celebrations...and little red envelopes (as a child I was always so jealous of my friends). This year is the year of the dragon, which represents Ancient Emperors--and reminds me of Mulan :) I celebrated by working out at Pop Physique, having Cafe Sua Da, Imperial Rolls and Pho at Gingergrass and having a great friend filled morning!

Operation Get Back in Shape...

....is now in full effect! Since my wedding last May, I have gained 10 lbs and a couple inches on my waist and I am not happy about it. Now that we are getting back into a routine with having a set place to live, no more 3 hours of commuting and the holidays being over, we have decided it is time to take action and get back in shape. We started last week by grocery shopping more and cutting back on eating out. I also make sure I drink plenty of water and have stopped drinking so many cappuccinos and sweet holiday drinks-only black coffee and tea for me (which I enjoy anyway). I am also cutting back on my craft beer intake (so hard)! I am eating more fruit, veggies and eating vegetarian at home again. Also, I started the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and do Zumba and Spin. It feels so good to get back in the swing of things...but I am sore! You know what they say: no pain, no gain.

Schodorf's Luncheonette

While I have only lived in Highland Park since May, the husband has frequented the area much longer since he works nearby and has a good friend out here. Back in February, he went to the new little cafe here in HP and raved about it. It is owned by the same family who owns Cafe de Leche, a well-known little coffee shop on York that brews Stumptown.  Since we have now been to Schodorf's a few times, I thought it was about time I shared it with all of you!

Located on York Blvd

It's rustic industrial interior is
pleasing to the eye.

Veggie Press (half-size)

As you can see, it looks great and the food tastes great! It is healthy, fresh and they have vegetarian and vegan options. Oh, and they have small batch sodas =)

Tuscan Vegetable Soup

With all this chilly weather the past two days, I have been so excited to start making soups.  I got this recipe here and let me say, this was delicious! So much so, that between my husband and I, we had none leftover.  We toasted some sourdough with the Smart Balance vegan butter and enjoyed!

I used the food processor to dice the garlic and onion.  Then I chopped zucchini, 

celery, carrots and added Anaheim peppers for a little spice. 

The chopped spinach and tomatoes I added in after the broth was broiling.

Sauteing the veggies and spices in olive oil

The end result. This was truly SOOO good!

                                                                            -Buon appetito!