Summer Treat In NY

This post was originally published as Weekend Eats by Laurel on Health Food.

I’ve been so busy the past few weekends and didn’t do much cooking at home, but I’ve had some wonderful food while out and about.

We had some family in town last weekend, and I recommended Land Thai Kitchen on the Upper West Side for dinner on Friday night. We went early and didn’t have to wait to sit down. I had a lychee margarita and shared root vegetable spring rolls and vegetable dumplings for appetizers. Both apps were delicious, but I especially loved the vegetable dumplings because they had a nice crunch inside (thanks to crumbled peanuts). I ordered a Jamaican Curry Tofu and Vegetables meal for the entree. I forgot to ask for brown rice, so I mostly stuck to eating the tofu and mixed vegetables which included green tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, carrot, and more. I’m always happy with my food at Land Thai. It’s so fresh and the vegetables are never overcooked.

Vegetable dumplings at Land Thai Kitchen

Root vegetable spring rolls at Land Thai Kitchen

Jamaican curry tofu and vegetables at Land Thai Kitchen

The weekend before I was on my way to meet up with my boyfriend and his business partner over at their Midtown studio and had worked up a healthy appetite on my walk across town. Le Pain Quotidien is always a favorite of mine, so I swung by and picked up an Organic Red Quinoa salad with arugula, chickpeas, artichoke, side of avocado, and a basil dressing. I absolutely loved this fresh salad. It was filling and perfect for the hot summer afternoon. Oh, I also tried the watermelon cooler with fresh mint. Le Pain makes it with fresh watermelon juice, and it’s just heavenly.

I love my home-cooked meals, but eating out is such a treat here in NY.

Red quinoa salad at Le Pain Quotidien

Watermelon cooler at Le Pain Quotidien

Tropical Rum Cocktail

This post was originally published as Vote For My Recipe! by Laurel on Health Food.

Happy Thursday friends! I wanted to let you know that Cascade Ice Water is holding a contest where 3 bloggers created healthy cocktails using their low calorie sparkling flavored waters. I am one of the bloggers with a recipe in the running. So, would you please vote for me? I submitted my recipe for a yummy Tropical Rum Cocktail.
Visit the Cascade Ice Facebook page and click the link for Cocktail Contest on the tabs running along the left-hand side of the page. When you enter the contest on Facebook, you’ll be entered to win a Cascade Ice prize pack.
The other two cocktails entered in the contest look delicious, so it’s anyone’s game. Cheers!

Food Truck Event NYC

This post was originally published as Taste of Parks NYC by Laurel on Health Food.

Yesterday there was a food truck event in Central Park, and I was all over it! New York City’s Taste of Parks event showcased over a dozen gourmet food trucks in a gathering at The Arsenal in Central Park over on the east side. Several of the best food trucks were there including Desi Food Truck (my fav), Fatty Snack, and Coolhaus.

Here’s a roundup of the food I sampled (or saw someone else eat):

• Desi Food Truck – I tried the vegetarian-friendly Aloo Masala (potatoes & peas) kati roll and a sample of the Dal & Rice (yellow & red lentils over basmati rice). Desi’s Indian food is authentic, super fresh, and very spicy. Just like I like it.
• Ladle of Love – I sampled a chilled gazpacho and their truffled chickpeas. Wow, the chickpeas were a fun, salty snack. Plus, they were vegan and dairy free. I’d definitely like to try more from this truck another day.
• NY Dosas – This South Indian food truck was making vegan crepes. This was the smallest cart there but people were loving it. I talked to a group of guys and girls who said the crepes were “amazing.” They are regularly located at Washington Square Park at West 4th and Sullivan. I’ll definitely be there for lunch someday soon.
• Food Freak – These guys were serving samples of their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and “watermelon freak juice” which was so fresh and perfect for summer (recipe here). I tried a bite of the Garden Grillz sandwich with shaved carrot & zucchini salad tossed in red wine vinaigrette. I don’t eat a lot of cheese, so a sample size bite was perfect. They toasted the bread perfectly.
• Pullcart – Fatty Snack’s pull cart was giving out samples of their pulled pork sandwiches, but they sold out early (no surprise there). I’d like to visit them another time because I noticed they sell fresh coconut water.
• Rouge Tomate – Their chilled white gazpacho with almonds, grapes, and cucumber was refreshing and classy. What a surprise to have something like this come out of a food truck.
• Kelvin Natural Slush – The slushie cart had samples of their almond palmer slush made with citrus, tea, and mixed berries. I really liked it and it wasn’t overly sweet, so that’s a plus. I bet the Kelvin trucks do very well in the summertime.
• Coolhaus – The ice cream sandwiches coming out of this truck looked so good, but I just drooled over what other people were ordering. I was definitely too full for dessert. Some of the creative flavors included dirty mint chip, tahitian vanilla bean, matcha green tea, and brown butter & candied bacon ice creams. Whoa.

One more thing! While I was there I spoke with a reporter from DNAinfo (Manhattan local news). Today I found her article with my picture and a quote. Check it out here.

Brooklyn Bowl Menu Selection

This post was originally published as Brooklyn Bowl by Laurel on Health Food.

I went bowling with a bunch of friends last weekend at Brooklyn Bowl. My boyfriend and I showed up starving, so we went straight for the menu and ordered some food. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu selection, including lots of veggie options for me. I chose the “Veggie Buster” sandwich and found out that the name really holds up.

It was a HUGE sandwich with fresh mozzarella cheese and every roasted vegetable I could think of including arugula, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, artichoke, onion, red pepper, and more. I only ate a little bit of the cheese, but gobbled up all the veggies. I don’t know if the picture does it justice, but it was so huge that I only ate half of the sandwich and the nice fresh greens salad served on the side. I took the rest home for leftovers. Everyone who walked by was like, “Daaaaang that is a big sandwich….looks good.”

What a nice surprise from a bowling alley! Brooklyn Bowl really is a huge step up from the rest. Our server took good care of us all night and even brought our bowling shoes over for us so we didn’t have to stand in line, haha.

Original Trinidadian Recipes

This post was originally published as Trinidadian Food by Laurel on Health Food.

Last week I went on vacation with my boyfriend to Trinidad. We visited family members, ate lots of delicious local food, sipped many drinks, and relaxed with no phones or computers. Ahh, the life! I absolutely loved the food I had while I was in Trinidad and took a bunch of pictures. We spent our time on the northern end of the island, but I look forward to going back someday so I can see the southern side and also visit Tobago. I heard the beaches were stunning there. Oh, and I definitely want to visit during the famous Carnival that happens in February/March. Sounds like soooo much fun. Did you know that Trinidad is home of the original Carnival?

As I expected, there was a ton of curry spices and hot sauce in the foods. You know I loved that! I tried to order vegetable-heavy dishes when I could, but I also tried some fish and meat so I could get a taste of what the locals had to offer. There were tons of street vendors, and I loved how we could always pull over to the side of the road for a quick snack or a fresh coconut water. It was certainly an indulgent trip, but I loved that all the fresh food was grown or caught locally. I can’t wait to try to make some of these dishes at home.

Here’s a summary of my favorite foods I tried on the trip. Hope you enjoy it!

• Roti – This yummy flat bread originates from India and it’s typically eaten with meats and vegetables. I had it several times wrapped with curried potatoes and pumpkin inside, but also ate Paratha Roti which is roti crumbed into pieces. Trinidadians call it “Buss-Up-Shut” because it resembles a torn or busted-up shirt. You can dip the Buss-Up-Shut in your curry sauce or make mini wraps with the meat and/or veggies. Learn more about roti here.
• Doubles – This well-known street food is made with fried flat bread that’s filled with curried chickpeas (channa), spicy chutney, and hot pepper. Omigoodness these were so good. We had them for breakfast, lunch, and anytime we needed a snack.
• Coconut water – There were tons of places to pull over and get fresh coconut water. The guys take a big machete and quick chop off the top and stick a straw in. So refreshing. They even give you a little scoop so you can break the coconut open when you’re done and eat the soft coconut meat inside.
• Bake & shark – Bake is a fluffy fried bread. It was served at the beach with fried shark meat and a spread of fresh toppings and sauces. I had mine with cucumber, tomato, lettuce, mustard, slaw, and a little hot sauce. It was a HUGE sandwich!
• King fish – My boyfriend’s Dad’s cousin made us some super fresh king fish that he bought when we went to Maracas Beach. He lightly seasoned it with herbs and curry spices, pan fried it, and we ate it with fresh lime juice, mustard, and pieces of soft white bread from the bakery.
• Breakfast bake – A family friend made us bake for breakfast one morning topped with sautéed spinach, garlic, onions, and peppers. This was one of my favorite things I had on the trip. Just a little something our friend whipped up with leftovers in her refrigerator.
• Mango, avocado, and tamarind coconut trees – I think everyone we visited had at least one of these fresh fruit trees in their backyard. Man, I would kill for an avocado tree!
• Carib & Stag (local beers) – Everyone was drinking the cold local beers Carib and Stag. Carib is sort of like Corona and Stag tastes a bit like Heineken.

Check out my pictures below and see more pictures from my trip at this link!

Roti filled with pumpkin, curried potatoes, and mango

Doubles with chickpeas and onions

Mmm…fresh coconut water

The view on our drive to Maracas Beach

Laurel looking out over Maracas Bay

Bake and shark sandwich with slaw, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and mustard

Buss-up-shut with bok choy, curry potatoes, and pumpkin

Road-side roti stand (only open late at night)

Breakfast bake with spinach, garlic, and peppers

Pan-fried king fish with mustard and fresh bread

Tequila, carbonated grapefruit juice, and a splash of Angostura bitters

Backyard mango tree

Food directly affects mood

This post was originally published as The Food-Mood Connection by Laurel on Health Food.

The Seattle Times reports that the food we eat directly affects the mood we’re in. In her book, “The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight”, registered dietician Susan Kleiner writes that, “what and when we eat directly affects mood. And our mood not only affects what we choose to eat, but how our body responds to that food.” Then ten foods nutritionists recommend eating to enhance your mood are: milk, oily fish, strawberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, turkey, brazil nuts, low-fat yogurt, foods or drinks with caffeine, and cottage cheese.

Kombucha health benefits

This post was originally published as Kombucha! by Laurel on Health Food.

I was always kind of “eh” about kombucha tea, until I tried some great local brands here in NYC. Now I’m crazy for the stuff. Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s been praised for its health benefits for centuries including increased energy, improved digestion, and prevention/treatment of illnesses including common flu and cancer.

I started drinking more kombucha over the last month or two after I stocked up on a bunch of bottles at the NYC Veg Food Fest. This is my personal opinion, but I definitely feel like a get an energy boost after drinking it and I especially love how it eases my digestion.

A few my local favorites are Kombucha Brooklyn’s grape flavor (kombucha mixed with a little concord grape juice) and Bao Fresh Kombucha’s mango flavor. I’ve even been thinking of buying one of the brew kits from Kombucha Brooklyn to make my own ‘buch at home. Hmm.

What’s your thoughts on kombucha? You like it? Or think it’s gross? Never tried it?

immunity-boosting food and drinks

This post was originally published as Boost Your Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

Women’s Health Magazine reports that some food and drinks will boost your immune system and help you avoid getting sick.

• Chamomile tea – polyphenols in the tea increase antibacterial blood activity
• Steel-cut oats – packed with beta-glucans (fiber) that activate white blood cell activity
• Salad dressing w/healthy fats (ex. olive oil & balsamic vinegar) – fat is essential for the body to absorb cartenoids (the antioxidants that improve your immunity)
  Tip: Do not choose “fat free” dressings. Your body needs healthy fats to absorb the powerful antioxidants.
• Whey protein (ex. whey protein powder or yogurt) – contains an amino acid called cysteine which converts into an antioxidant (glutathione) to protect your cells against bacterial or viral infections
  Tip: Don’t drain the clear liquid at the top of your yogurt carton, just stir it back in. The liquid is pure whey protein!
• Tomato – lycopene acts as an antioxidant to protect white blood cells from free radical damage
• Butterbur – herbal supplement that helps fight allergies
• Gatorade – increases immune response during intense exercise
• Wine – ethanol, organic acids, and low pH in wine can stop E. coli, listeria, and salmonella before they make you sick
• Hot sauce – capsaicin, a compoind in chili peppers, may improve immunity by increasing your number of antibodies and helping to remove toxins from your system

Read the entire “Immunity Diet” article here. Women’s Health includes reputable studies to back up their choices of immunity-boosting food and drinks.

10 Healthy Eating Foods

This post was originally published as 10 Foods You Should Really Try by Laurel on Health Food blog.

Men’s Health Magazine produced a list of “The Ten Best Foods You Aren’t Eating“. Here are their choices for the superfoods that rarely make it into our shopping carts-but should. The article also contains helpful information about how you can include each of these foods in your diet.

1. Beets – contain lots of folate and betaine, reduce risk of heart disease, may fight cancer

2. Cabbage – contains sulforaphane to reduce free radicals and cancer risk

3. Guava – high in lycopene to fight prostate cancer, also high in potassium and fiber

4. Swiss Chard – carotenoids protect your eyes from damages of aging

5. Cinnamon – reduces blood sugar and LDL cholesterol

6. Purslane – highest amount of omega-3s in any plant source, and melatonin inhibits cancer growth

7. Pomegranate Juice – lowers systolic blood pressure and improves blood flow, high in vitamin C

8. Goji Berries – potent in antioxidants, reduces insulin resistance

9. Dried Plums – antioxidants fight free radicals that cause cancer

10.  Pumpkin Seeds – high magnesium, linked with living a longer life

Healthy handful of greens for breakfast

This post was originally published as Day 6 : Eating Vegan by Laurel on Health Food blog.

It was cold and overcast yesterday which put me in the mood for oatmeal. I tried something new by stirring in a tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter and adding pieces of banana as a topping. Wow, I am definitely gonna do that again! It was so good! If you’re a peanut butter fan, this is a perfect way to flavor up your oatmeal. I ate it with a bunch of grapes on the side and a big glass of water (after my morning black tea, of course).

At lunch I made a BLT sandwich using Smart Bacon. I was a little nervous to try it because I’m not usually a fan of fake meats. I’d rather just have vegetables look like vegetables, ya know? But this is vegan week and I thought I should try it out. The good news is that the BLT was delicious! I’m not sure I’d ever eat the Smart Bacon on its own, but it was great in the sandwich and provided a nice crunchy element. (see my vegan BLT recipe below)

After such a long hard week of work, I didn’t feel like eating out anywhere for dinner. I just wanted to plop down on my couch and do nothing. So, I picked up takeout from a vegan restaurant I’ve been wanting to try called Blossom and brought it home where I could really relax. While waiting for my food to be ready, I ordered a fresh green juice from the bar. It had spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger. It was so energizing, and you just can’t beat fresh juice! My entree was Penne Bolognese made with minced seitan, basil marinara, and Italian blend tapioca cheese. It was really good, but I added a few red pepper flakes half way through to give it some spice. It had been so long since I had a big bowl of pasta, so that was definitely a treat.

As with the days earlier in the week, I snacked on peanuts and almonds throughout the day and made an extra effort to drink lots of water.

Vegan BLT

Vegan BLT (pictured here with Kumato brown tomatoes and mesclun greens)

2 slices whole grain bread
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp. Vegenaise
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 slices Smart Bacon
1/4 avocado
1 handful spring greens
Slices of tomato
Salt & pepper

Slice up the tomato and avocado and set it aside. Pour the tsp. of olive oil in a saute pan and turn the heat up to medium. Place the Smart Bacon in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes total, turning half way through. Meanwhile, toast your bread. When the bread is done toasting, smash the clove of garlic and rub it on all sides of the bread for extra flavor. Spread the Vegenaise on and pile a handful of greens and slices of tomato and avocado on top. Add the Smart Bacon when it’s done and sprinkle on a little salt and pepper.

Tip 1: I used Kumato brown tomatoes and mesclun greens that I found at Whole Foods, but use any tomatoes or lettuce that you like. Tip 2: Watch the Smart Bacon closely. It’s easy to burn and does not taste good when it turns black! (not like regular bacon)

More pictures from the day…

Peanut Butter Oatmeal with Bananas and Grapes

Organic Santa Cruz Peanut Butter

Fresh green juice from Blossom (bad lighting…sorry)

Penne Bolognese from Blossom NYC