Veggienista: 2011

Patagonia Women's Lidia Parka

This longer-length parka features an all-recycled polyester ripstop shell and 150-g Thermogreen® recycled polyester insulation. This jacket is lightweight but very warm. $199 from Patagonia... Available in 5 colors

Missoni Horoscope Bag

Missoni has created cotton totes for everyone's zodiac sign. These are great to carry books, gym clothes or groceries. Very affordable $29 from Shopbop.com

Steve Madden- Winter Coats

Steve Madden makes great faux fur, polyester filled coats. These are super warm and slim so you won't look like a linebacker in a puffer jacket. Both available at Nordstroms.com for $150

Date Night Bag

I am obsessed with Forever21's faux crocodile bag with gold trim. It is a great bag to wear with your little black dress and a pair of bright colored shoes on date night. It's only $16.80.

Men's Fall Coats

Vaute Couture just released their new Fall/Winter 2011 collection and it does not fail to impress. Their menswear line stands out with clean lines and great fit. All pre-order items are $200 off, so get them before it's too late!

Vaute Couture "Whitman" $300

Vaute Couture "Joaquin" $336

Faux Fur~ Yes or No?

Faux fur~ this is a controversial topic because it doesn't involve hurting any animals, however some believe it can be mistaken for real fur. I spoke with Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA about this topic and she believes it's best to stay away from clothing that can be perceived as animal fur, skin etc. What do you think about wearing fur?

Halston Heritage Faux Fur Jacket $625

Fuzzy Bomber Jacket

Rebecca Taylor created this great faux fur bomber jacket for fall. It is accented with a soft synthetic leather trim. This is the perfect jacket for fall paired with a t-shirt and jeans for a casual look. Available at shopbop for $495

Rebecca Taylor Faux Fur Bomber Jacket

Singer Leona Lewis to Start Vegan Clothing Line

Beach Boys

Heading to the beach this summer? These men's 'Flippee' sandals from Simple Shoes are a great leather free choice. The hanger is biodegradable and the outsole is made of 30% recycled materials. $30 from SimpleShoes.com Available in black, brown, green

Prepare for Fall

Yes you might melt just looking at this coat. But it's on sale and it might not be around by the time the winter weather arrives. Vaute Couture, a strictly vegan brand has this coat on sale for $258. No geese hurt in the making of this coat. Fabrics: 100% Closed Loop Zero Waste Recycled Satin Ripstop Shell & Liner Insulated with Recycled Primaloft ECO, Hand Quilted in NYC. Available in black and pink

Yay we get to keep our feathers!

1 Watch = 28 Bowls of Dog Food

When you buy this watch from theanimalrescuesite.com your purchase funds 28 bowls of dog food for pups living at the Fund for Animal's animal sanctuary. Great way to look good while doing good. $23.96

Summer Belt

This striped belt from Forever21 is adorable with a white cotton summer dress. Worn just above the hip it enhances your curves in all the right places. Made of cotton and synthetic leather. Available at forever21.com for $5.80. Comes in 2 colors cream & blue, red & blue. Forever21 does not carry any leather or fur products.

Men's Running Shoes

I really like Earth Footwear's men's 'Lazer K' shoe in grey. It is the vegan version of New Balance's 991 shoe. This comfortable shoe is lightweight and flexible. Great if you like a less restrictive feel with a sneaker. Available at allveganshopping.com for $89

Bolognese Daze

There is nothing better than a big, warm bowl of pasta. This modern pasta bolognese recipe from Olivia Wilde is a hearty meal packed with protein and even more taste. Buon Appetito.

Eat this with any kind of pasta you love, or with some fresh arugula leaves for a non-traditional alternative.We used a bunch of veggies from the garden, but I think you could try this with any veggies you love.

A few splashes Olive Oil

1 tsp Earth Balance (an amazing alternative butter)

1/2 Onion

3 cloves Garlic

Big bunch of Mushrooms – any and all kinds (well, not all)

1/2 package Tempeh (I used this one http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail.jsp?p=tempeh_threegrain)

1/2 Zucchini Squash

1 Eggplant

A carrot

Tomatoes – 2, boiled, skinned and pureed (or 1/2 of your favorite jar of tomato sauce if you’re pressed for time)

Bunch of Basil

Bunch of Italian parsley

Oregano

Rosemary

Salt

Red Pepper flakes

Red wine

Chop, and sauté onions and garlic in olive oil. Toss the mushrooms in the food processor (or chop them if you’re not as lazy as me) and stir into the pan. Do the same with the tempeh. These two ingredients make up the “ground meat” of this “bolognese” so keep that in mind when chopping, and make the pieces small. Splash in some red wine (just a sip or two) and a tsp of Earth Balance, and some salt, pepper, and stir. Chop up or food process your zucchini squash, eggplant, fresh basil, parsley, carrot, and whatever else looks good, and toss into the pan and stir. Add the tomatoes (or tomato sauce) and stir. Sprinkle in some oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. This is basically the gist of it. Add a little more wine, salt, pepper, and let it it simmer for a while. When you’re ready to serve, throw some fresh chopped basil and parsley on top

Dress to Impress

When going to an interview or a night out on the town, a pair of nice lace up shoes adds a polished touch to any man's outfit. I like Vegetarian Shoes 'Jamie MK2' shoe. They are designed not only to be stylish but comfortable too. Available at VeganEssentials.com for $99.95

Monumental Desserts!

Washington DC has an amazing new vegan restaurant, Cafe Green. A spinoff of the popular Java Green. Cafe Green has a wide array of American staples such as chili, mac & cheese with sweet yams and corn bread, and amazing desserts. Here are a few of the desserts my friends and I sampled. My favorite was the ice cream cookie sandwich.

Chanel Flower Sandals

Vegan couture are the best two words in my opinion, especially when put together. So Chanel making these jelly sandals is great news. The sandals are available with a white, clear grey or black flower. I have seen these for sale at all fine department stores... Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks etc.

Jelly Driving Flats

Ivanka Trump really has created a fashion line with a few really adorable vegan options. These classic driving flat are made with rubber and a soft man-made interior and embellishments. They come in black, coral pink, fuschia and acqua blue. Available at Heels.com, Macys and Zappos $80

Ivanka Trump Bags

Ivanka Trump, came out with these great 'Tiger Eye' bags in 3 colors $150 that are made with synthetic materials. These bags can be worn day or night as the perfect compliment to your chic outfit. They are available at Macys.com for purchase.

Pick Of the Month

This Aldo 'Cyphert' bag is classically beautiful and has a striking resemblance to the Hermes 'Kelly' bag. It is made of synthetic material and comes in 6 colors. I am buying this in black and bone. $45

The colors featured above are black and beige.

Silver Purse

I love this silver 'Arlene' bag from Forever21. It is perfect for throwing all your stuff inside if you are a person like me and likes to be prepared for anything that may happen! $32.80

Patent Faux Croc Clutch

This clutch is so great, I have it in the bag version. It is made of plastic but looks exactly like patent crocodile. It is great because you can spill anything on it and it will wipe right off. It is very durable and high quality. Only $12.80 from Forever21

H&M's Fake Organic Line

H&M has been advertising their new ecological line of clothing which incorporates more organic fabrics into their clothing. However, the Financial Times of Germany had scientists test H&M's "organic" cotton and found that 30% of it had been genetically modified.

Do you ever wonder how organic the fruits are at the grocery store? For twice the price I hope they are being honest about the food I put in my body.

Tory Burch Flip Flops

These classy rubber flip flops from Tory Burch are perfect for the beach. They come in black, navy blue, pink and yellow. They are very comfortable and fit perfectly. $75

Easter Clutch

This Judith Leiber rabbit clutch is the perfect accessory for Easter. It is made of clear, pink and gray crystals and pure silver hardware. It looks like the Easter bunny & Jacob the jeweler got together for some serious Easter bunny bling. Available at Neiman Marcus online $3955

Baked Burrito Recipe

Here's my great and easy recipe for an amazing noche en Mexico... with Mexican food you don't need to measure anything just add more of each ingredient if you want more, and don't add what you don't like. I did add measurements for those who would like them, but when I make this I just keep tasting it and adding things until it tastes right...

This is what I used for a two person dinner:

Organic Guacamole

-2 mashed avocados
-1/2 cup chopped small tomato
-1/4 cup small yellow onion
-1 finely chopped jalapeno
-1 clove chopped garlic
-Salt to taste
-one squeeze of lime juice
-paprika
-cumin
-chili pepper powder
(or you can use a mexican spice packet)

Directions:
Put the mashed avocados in a bowl, add in the onions, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno and then mix. Then season to your liking. Remember, add as much or as little of each ingredient depending on your taste preferences. If you don't like it too spicy be careful with the jalapeno, paprika, cumin and chili powder.

Organic Baked Burrito

2 whole wheat tortillas
canned pinto beans
brown rice
daiya cheddar cheese
tablespoon finely chopped tomato
tablespoon finely chopped yellow onion
teaspoon finely chopped green chili
1/2 teaspoon tamari
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the brown rice and then drain making sure no water is left on the rice. Drain the pinto beans and make sure they are not too wet. Lay the tortillas on a flat baking sheet. Mix together the rest of the ingredients. Scoop the mixture into the tortillas, about one cup of bean mixture pure burrito, you want to be able to fold the tortilla at each end and across so that is closes (see picture above), place the folded side down against the baking tray. You may want to tie pieces of string around the burritos to keep them closed while baking. Bake until golden on one side, takes from 10-25 minutes depending on the oven.

Organic Peach Salsa

5 peaches, peeled and pitted
1 1/5 cups water (from peeling peaches)
1 6-ounce cans of tomato paste
1-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/4 cup cilantro, leaves and stems
1/2 Tablespoon grapeseed oil (or other neutral flavored oil)
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1/2 green bell pepper
1 lemons, juiced
1 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons raw sugar (make sure not to use refined sugar, its NOT vegan)
1 Tablespoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 habanero peppers
1 lime, juiced
1 small tomatoes, finely diced (about 1 cup)

**If you do not want to make this from scratch I recommend Trader Joe's Smokey Peach Salsa.

Directions:
Place water and 2 pitted peaches into a blender. Add tomato paste, chipotle peppers, and cilantro. Blend until mixture is smooth.

In a large saucepan, saute onion and bell pepper until softened. Add in blended mixture. Add in lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, granulated garlic and salt. Cut a small slit into the habenero peppers and add them to the pot. Cook for 30-40 minutes on a very low simmer. Dice remaining peaches into 1/4 inch cubes, and add them to the pot along with the lime juice and tomatoes.

Final Directions:

Place the baked burrito on a plate and drizzle the peach salsa on top. Garnish with cilantro. Put the guacamole on the side and enjoy!

Pure Food & Wine Restaurant

Sometimes when people hear the words vegan & raw together they think it's too much. But Pure Food & Wine located in downtown Manhattan figured out how to make it taste amazing for everyone! Myself the vegan, went with a carnivore and we had an impressive meal that we both enjoyed. We ordered the thai lettuce wraps, the spanikopita, the lasagna and two desserts. The lasagna and the desserts are what I think everyone would find most enjoyable.

Inside Pure Food & Wine you will find close tables in a loud atmosphere. At night this place is packed.

The amazing raw lasagna! I just got hungry.

Pure Food & Wine
54 Irving Pl., New York, NY 10003
nr. 17th St.
212-477-1010

For those of you who are not in New York, Pure Food & Wine's chef sells this cookbook which can be purchased on Amazon with recipes from her restaurant.

Must Read Book... Seriously Stop Reading My Blog and Start Reading this Book

This book is incredible. It is a must have read. If you cannot afford it I will send you a copy. Here is Natalie Portman's review of the book...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalie-portman/jonathan-safran-foers-iea_b_334407.html

What did you all think of the book?

Natalie Portman's Vegan Shoes

Sadly, Te Casan closed its doors. However, Te Casan by Natalie Portman shoes can still be bought on ebay. Also not all Te Casan shoes were leather free, only the line by Natalie Portman.

Nude Heels

There is nothing better than a nude heel. They make your legs look longer because they blend into your skin (if your pale like me) and seem like extensions of your legs.

Here are two of my picks for this season for the couture and look for less....

Stella McCartney 'Morgana Ponti Peeptoe' $765

Aldo 'Moos' in Natural $75

these come in 8 different colors!

I notice that less expensive shoes tend to run wider. So the Aldo shoes might be great for you if you have medium to wide feet. If you have a narrow foot like myself you can put a shoe pad in the front or a heel pad in the back depending on where the shoe is big on you.

Simple Healthy Breakfast

There is nothing better than starting your day with a nutritious breakfast that leaves you feeling great. Today I made a fresh fruit salad of strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and mango with a side of soy peach yogurt with flax seed sprinkled on top. This breakfast is full of fiber which is important to get things moving in the morning :) Also the yogurt provides protein and the flax gives you those beneficial Omega 3s that you need for a healthy heart and skin.

Espadrilles

Castaner- 'Jackie'

During my experience living on the coast of Spain is where I began my love affair with Spanish espadrilles. I wore them everyday and could walk miles in the heels, they are surprisingly comfortable! Castaner is famous in Spain for making the best espadrilles... they actually manufacture the espadrilles for Christian Louboutin. The classics come in black, white, & blue but new this season are the mixed black & white 'Jackie' shoe. These would look effortlessly chic with a loose flowing skirt and a basket of veggies fresh from the market. Ah nostalgia. They are available at Bergdorf Goodman 5th floor. This particular style is not sold online but other castaner shoes can be found at yoox.com and www.lagarconne.com

Veggienista