Direct from Brugge (Belgium) -- The Awesome, But Healthy VEGGIE BURGER

And just in time! A friend who got me started on commercial veggie burgers just sent me this link this very morning:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/15/which-veggie-burgers-were-made-with-a-neurotoxin.aspx

about veggie burgers containing junk chemicals. And this was the day I was going to post the news of the awesome veggie burger from Brugge.

First -- here is a photo from Brugge just to set the scene of this medieval village. Now picture a day just walking and sightseeing, taking a canal trip and savoring all the beauty of this town. And just when we decided to sit down at a local cafe for lunch, we realized that we had dallied too long and we were short of time.

We went into a tiny fast food type restaurant, where you ordered at the counter - lots of burgers and fries. As I looked at the menu with chagrin, the counter chef person asked if there was a problem. I said, "I'm a vegan and I was just looking for something to eat."

She said, "Oh, try our veggie burger." Since a line was behind me, and we were short of time, I gave her the thumbs up and sat to wait for what I figured was the "traditional veggie burger" tasting like ground mushrooms or sawdust.

You can imagine my surprise when she brought out a homemade veggie burger made with yummy veggies in a mashed potato base, on a grain bun with a sauce and lettuce. I was moaning with delight as I savored the flavors (almost to my embarrassment -- someone could have shouted, "I'll have what she's having!" if I kept it up.)

The recipe is simple -- I made up a batch yesterday (photo above) and froze the rest for later:

I made a bowl of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes -- skins and all, using a little vegetable broth to smooth them a bit.

In a large saute pan, I added some of my favorites:

vidalia onion, chopped
green cabbage, chopped
red cabbage, chopped
matchstick carrots and broccoli

and sauteed this mixture until slightly wilted in vegetable broth
then I added:
corn
peas
and
sun dried tomato bits

All I did was add a good portion of the veggies to my potato mash (I made more veggies than I needed, but can use them later as a meal in and of themselves).

I formed potato pancakes and breaded them in panko breadcrumbs (not necessary, but a nice touch) and cooked them in my frying pan with just a spritz of olive oil.

Photo above --- the taste is great. Add the veggies you love. I ate mine without a bun, but that option is available.

And the bonus: No chemicals. No additives. You control the mixture and you enjoy the taste.

Make up a batch and thaw them when you need them. I had one without the crumbs from breakfast today with a spritz of nouveau catsup.

Well, the blitz worked! A CONTEST IS ANNOUNCED

I am down 5 pounds this week and broke through the "barrier" into the 150's and now into size 10's.

My plan on the ship is to follow my Garden of Eden Vegan diet while on board --we have a 6 day crossing where I will plan to do sacred or spiritual work so my mind will be in a good place for healthy eating.

Basically it will be fruit for breakfast with oatmeal or potato.
For lunch and dinner: salad (with balsamic - I just packed my own blend of balsamic/raspberry/lemon), some sort of potato, and lots of veggies, either steamed or grilled.

If there is Indian food on the ship, I may treat myself to a meal or too, but there is too much oil for me even in the vegan Indian dishes.

While in port -- I enjoy tapas restaurants -- so I will sample and if it has cheese -- the world will still revolve.

Let's see what happens to this old body as I take my Garden of Eden Vegan lifestyle on tour for 3 weeks. I can remember in "the old days" when I would have my plate of traif (bacon), eggs, bread, and whatever else looked good, in front of me, and I would spot a lean and trim woman with a bowl of fruit and................... I FELT SORRY FOR HER or I THOUGHT SHE WAS SHOWING OFF HER WILLPOWER.

Oy -- my how things have changed. (laughing at myself)

I will award a prize for the person who comes closest to guessing my pounds gained or lost.

Shall we bet?

The winner gets a raw food meal specially prepared by me.
If you live far away - I will send you a subscription to either: Bark or Spirituality and Health....your choice (even if you live close, you can opt for the magazine.)

Email your guesses to me at NatureRabbi@gmail.com.

Answers will indicate:
a) stayed the same
b) pounds gained in 3 weeks (remember I love champagne and martinis)
c) pounds lost in 3 weeks (and yet, I have developed a love for veggies.)

Oh, the suspense.

Oh Nuts!

As expected, the trip to the raw/life restaurant bumped the weight back to 158.5 -- nuts, avocado and agave syrup being the culprits. But yummy and worth the set back.

This is day four of the blitz.

Breakfast was hash browns and onion, tomato and cilantro plated with watermelon slice and strawberries.

I made a failed juice mixture of cucumber, pear and apple, but should not have tossed in an unpeeled orange -- made it bitter. I gave Gordon a glass full and we toasted to good health and vibrancy -- and then grimaced as he said, "are we healthy yet?" Bad aftertaste -- lessons learned.

Supper was left over hash browns and a delicious grilled veggie medley with beets and sweet potato mash for dessert.

I found a juice recipe for a peaceful sleep which I made before I went to work (or everyone in the building would be up with nasty looks on their faces if I ran the juicer at 1 a.m.) -- It was one head of romaine lettuce, one apple and 1/2 lemon. I just finished it and it was refreshing and good tasting. A keeper. According to the recipe, it is the lettuce that promotes a peaceful sleep.

Since I have to wake up early tomorrow to head to Venice -- let's hope the lettuce does its thing.

I am now officially on vacation!!! Hurray.

A simple thought

There is nothing that tastes as good as how being trim and healthy feels.

Raw sushi. Neither the photo nor the presentation give a clue as to how yummy this is.

OMG - lunch was so good I almost fainted with pleasure

Now I remember why I signed up to learn how to prepare raw foods -- O my god, I took one bite of the sushi with ginger pate and thought I would pass out with pleasure. Rhonda, my dining companion who introduced me to this restaurant, Vida de Cafe, said the key lime cheesecake was a direct hit orgasm.

And the feeling during, and after dining with raw and live foods is so vibrant and uplifting.

I posted a photo of the sushi platter above. It's was raw nori filled with a ginger almond paste stuffed with spinach, carrots, and avocado with an umeboshi dipping sauce. Every bite was incredible.

We each had a juice blend with: organic spinach, parsley, ginger, lemons and apples -- it was crisp, clean and refreshing. I am going to have to try this one at home sooner than later. Yum.

And the orgasmic cheesecake was described as: creamy cashews and fresh lime juice blended to make cheesecake on an almond crust.

Remember - no dairy or animal products with this type of preparation - no cooking. I find it magical how these natural foods can be combined to make such beautiful and flavorful treats.

I took a carry out box for supper and because I knew that this treat was rich in calories as well as flavor (thank you nuts and avocado), I brought a large bunch of carrots in case I get hungry tonight.

When I learn how to make these treats, I will obviously share the recipe!!!

I am curious as to how this dietary delightful day will tip the Toledoes tomorrow morning. I promise to be honest.

Day Three of the Blitz

I am so amazed at the power of the Mary's Mini (see the McDougall link in a previous post about the blitz) plan. You saw all of the food I ate yesterday -- it was good, colorful, flavorful, filling and in fact, I didn't finish my dessert of mashed sweet potatoes and carrots (so I will have it before I head out to lunch today.)

I awoke this morning and immediately trotted to the scale for the results, and I weighed in at 157.8. Continued hurrays.

In fact, yesterday, I donned a pair of size 10 slacks to wear to work and realized that I better start wearing the tens now or it will be too late. Another Hurray. I needed a belt for that pair - Gordon continues to make new holes in my belts during this process.

Today I am have one foray out of blitz-mode to go to a Vegan/Raw restaurant: http://www.vidadecafe.com/vidadecafe.com/index.php

Stay tune for photo of how beautiful they prepare raw and live foods.

My doctor's appointment was yesterday and I regret that my numbers were not as stellar as I had hoped.

My B12 was good.
D needs to be supplemented.
But the surprise was that my cholesterol, which had been managed by Lipitor previously, but I stopped taking it because I don't like the data I read about it, went from 190 to 230.

Apparently, there is a genetic component to my cholesterol -- checked with one brother -- yep, Lipitor. Probably true for the other.

My awesome doctor, Aparna Asher, suggested we try a prescription fish oil to manage it and see what happens. She is a vegetarian and was telling me the benefits of yogurt in the Indian diet.

Much to learn -- always, learning......

Savor your day......savor the moments of living that unfold before you. Wishing you blessings.