RECIPE: Summer Garden Ratatouille

This is a great way to use up that late summer produce. Whether from the garden, CSA, or farmer's market, you're sure to have much of these ingredients on hand at this time of year. Bon appetit!

Ratatouille

1 small eggplant, cubed
2 small or 1 med zucchini, cubed
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1 med onion, chopped
1 fresh tomato, chopped or 1 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
5-7 cloves garlic, diced
1 cup chick peas
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 cups crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine
3 Tblsp fresh rosemary, minced (or 3 tsp dried)
3 Tblsp fresh oregano, minced (or 3 tsp dried)
1 Tblsp fresh thyme, minced (or 1 tsp dried)
1 Tblsp fennel seed, crushed
1 bay leaf

1. Roast or grill the first 7 ingredients until just collapsed and slightly caramelized.
2. Add roasted/grilled veggies to a soup pot and add rest of ingredients one by one, stirring and giving each time to combine with the veggies.
3. Let simmer on medium/medium-low for an hour or so, more if you'd like.
4. Salt and Pepper to taste.
5. Serve over whole wheat cous cous

RECIPE: Chick Pea Salad

Want a REALLY quick lunch that is also healthy? Vegan? Plant-Based? Engine 2?

Chick Pea Salad

1 1/4 cup chick peas (garbanzo beans)

3-4 Tablespoons low fat, or no fat vegan mayonnaise (I'm partial to this recipe: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2012/04/tofu-cashew-mayonnaise.html )

3 Tablespoons dill pickle, diced

2 Tablespoons sweet onion, diced

Place the chick peas in a bowl and mash slightly with a fork (this makes it easier to spread on a sandwich) Mix in the rest of the ingredients, season with black pepper - Voila! You've got lunch!

Toast a few slices of whole grain bread, add some lettuce leaves and it just took you less than 10 minutes to make a hearty light meal.

Peace.

RECIPE: Summer Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad

This is a really quick, totally plant-based, oil free dinner salad.

Summer Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad

1/4 red onion, minced
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper
2 medium tomatoes, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 15oz can)
2 - 3 limes
1/2 tsp cumin
2 Tblsp chopped fresh herbs (cilantro, oregano, chive)
   or 1 Tblsp dried
Salt and Pepper to taste

Toss first 6 ingredients into a bowl and mix. Add the juice of 2 or 3 limes (depending on their age/juice) and season with cumin, herbs, and salt and pepper.

If you'd like to serve with oil-free tortilla chips, simply cut corn tortillas in 8 chips, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a Silpat, and bake in a 375 degree oven, turning once, until brown and crispy (about 10-15 minutes).

Serve over a green salad, wrapped in a tortilla, or on it's own with salsa on the side.

Enjoy!

RESTAURANT: The Quentin Tavern

The Quentin Tavern
81 West Main St, Quentin PA

An absolute GEM in Lancaster county. We had the extreme pleasure of stopping off for an early dinner at the Quentin Tavern this afternoon. The deck is private, you need to walk around back to get to it (don't worry, they will let you through from inside as well). Hidden behind the beautiful colonial brick restaurant is a covered deck with Lucinda's Lounge - and an open deck below shaded by trees that give the feeling of a secret tree house. It looks as though this place really gets hopping at happy hour!

The deck menu is simple, and the staff is wonderful, and the food is fresh and OUTSTANDING!

I had the Veggie Panini - requesting no cheese. The ciabatta was crispy and fresh, marinated portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, grilled onion, fresh tomato and lettuce and served with chips, cole slaw (not vegan) and a pickle - a very nice light dinner.

I was assured by the staff that absolutely anything on the menu can be substituted for vegetarian or vegan preferences. The staff did not seem to have any problem at all with changing menu items. The menu does include a Veggie wrap, Veggie Burger (which I was told is outstanding) and Veggie sandwich - just request no cheese.

If you are in the Ephrata area, check out the Quentin Tavern. Check them out on Facebook too!

Peace

RESTAURANT: Lancaster Dispensing Company

Lancaster Dispensing Company
33-35 North Market Street, Lancaster PA 17603 (right next to Lancaster Central Market)

What an absolutely charming little Victorian pub :) The staff at LDC are some of the greatest around, friendly, helpful, and sweet. There are several wonderful vegetarian options on their menu, most are easily, and happily, made vegan.

Today, I had the Veggie Grinder with fresh fruit. Quite honestly, I did think the veggies would be sautéed rather than raw, but as it was served, this would also qualify as a raw option. I requested heated marinara on the side, which was graciously brought to me within minutes, and the sandwich was quite good this way.

LDC has, hands down, the BEST vegetarian/vegan chili I have yet to find in the area. Other good options include:

• Every Burger on the menu can be made with a Garden Burger, Black Bean Burger, or marinated Portobello Mushroom Cap - and they are happy to leave the cheese off.
• Veggie or Bean Burritos - request no cheese
• Bean Tacos, hard and soft shell - request no cheese or sour cream
• Make your own sandwich - request extra veggies with no meat or cheese
• LDC Veggie Sandwich - request no cheese
• Vegetable Stir Fry
• Greek Salad - request no cheese, can order with grilled Portobello Mushroom
• Mexican Salad - order this with the Vegetarian Chili and no sour cream
• Vegetarian Chili - the BEST

One of my favorite area restaurants. We often stop here for lunch after a trip to Central Market. Prices are very good and dress is casual. Accessible entry is available through the side entrance (directly across from Central Market).

Peace

NEWS: What You Eat is Directly Related to Brain Function

There is some very exciting research being done to show the correlation between diet and brain function. I am encouraged when the scientific community sees what a large group of people have known - what you eat is the most important factor in your health!

http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=403&action=detail&ref=2191

Peace

Welcome to my life

Welcome to the Peaceful Vegan ! My name is Michele and I am on a journey to live a natural, creative, plant-based life. I happen to live in central Pennsylvania and resources are not always easy to find. I'd like to share what I do know, and build a community where we can share great finds.

I live on a small half-acre homestead we call Dharma Dogs Farm. We grow much of our own food - vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and herbs - all chemical free. We are also blessed in this area with many local farmer's markets where we search out organic goodies.

I was vegetarian for five years (and about ten years when I was younger) when I ran across the Forks over Knives movie. Add a cardiology appointment where I was told to lower my blood pressure and lose weight (so many of us are told this these days) and a neurologic disease that is stealing away my mobility - BOOM! I'm vegan, or maybe better stated, plant-based. I began following the Engine 2 diet right away.

My biggest dream for many years has been to open a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the area. Imagine the ability to be seated in a pub-like restaurant where everything on the menu, you can eat. Real meals, like lentil loaf with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy, spaghetti with vegan meatballs, every soup, every salad, every desert - all vegan. I've never found a way to fund this dream - but I will be sharing my recipes.

I will be visiting the local restaurants and bars and letting you know what you can choose on the menu - what is vegan, and what is plant-based (no oils, no fat over 20%). I'll review what I've found in the local markets, and keep you up to date as I find local news that affects our food choices.

Thank you for visiting! I am excited to get this venue started and will begin uploading soon.

Peace