vegetarian – Page 13 – that paleo couple

Easy Morning Green Smoothie

August 5, 2015August 4, 2015by Heather Schrader6 Comments

Brent and I made a commitment to getting more greens into our diet this summer and morning smoothies have been a fast and delicious way to do it. This recipe is so simple, it almost feels like it shouldn’t count. Still, we have experimented with a few variations and ultimately found that we like this collection of ingredients best. The smoothie is tangy, bright, and filling. It would be refreshing any time of the day, but we have enjoyed sipping it each morning the past few weeks. (It’s been too hot to crave eggs or other, heavier breakfast items.) We hope you’ll agree that this is an excellent way to start your day!

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Gurkensalat (German Cucumber Salad)

July 1, 2015June 30, 2015by Brent Schrader1 Comment

The day after the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between Germany and USA (Let’s go, USA!), it felt appropriate to reflect on our recent trip to Germany. In May Heather and I spent almost two weeks there, touring mostly Munich and even spent a day and a half in Berlin. We were also fortunate enough to celebrate a family wedding with Heather’s extended family—the Germans sure know how to throw a wedding. Did you know it’s custom for the best man (in Germany called the First Man) to steal the bride the night of the wedding? We had already sent ourselves to bed, but the bride was indeed “stolen” into town, where the groom had to find her and pay their bar tab. Let’s just say the wedding party was not exactly rested at breakfast the next morning.

Despite being known for heavy meat and potato style dishes, Munich also had plenty of lighter options. We did a lot of shopping at the local grocery stores to be price conscious, and we found a cucumber salad we had to recreate. If you haven’t noticed before, I love cucumber. We have quite a few different cucumber-centric salads on the blog (I’ve made a short list at the bottom of this post), but we think this one really adds to the variety. Traditionally made with dairy, we were able to get the same creaminess without the cow. This recipe improves even more with age, so make a double batch and pack your weekly lunches—you won’t regret it.

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Mast-o-Khiar (Persian Cucumber Mint Yogurt)

June 3, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather Schrader5 Comments

Brent and I flew to and from Germany for vacation last month on Turkish Air via Istanbul. Although the flights were long, they were mostly comfortable and the flight attendants served us plenty of food. I don’t expect airplane food to be tasty, but all three meals on each flight were surprisingly good! One item in particular, the Mast-o-Khiar, caught our attention. I do not typically tolerate dairy well; but the yogurt smelled so fresh, I had to try it. (Guess what—I didn’t have a poor reaction!)

Then, this past weekend, I encountered the slightly sweet cucumber and mint yogurt again while I was with my mother having lunch after my second wedding dress fitting. This time it was a little more soup-like, but the flavor was fantastic. It was just as light, cool, and refreshing as the Mast-o-Khiar on our flight. Our waitress kindly told me the key ingredients, and I knew then that I wanted to recreate it dairy-free at home.

This is great as a snack or light dessert, but even better when it’s served with spiced meats. We have a yummy pairing coming soon (here it is!), so stay tuned! Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this post to see a sneak peek.

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Tropical Jicama Salad

April 29, 2015June 18, 2015by Heather SchraderLeave a comment

Summer is around the corner and I can’t wait! I love the hot weather, the sounds of ocean waves lapping and smells of salty sea air mixed with sweet fried dough while walking on the beach, and the food, of course! Barbecue, fresh tropical fruits, grilled burgers and hot dogs, big salads with crisp greens and sweet crunchy toppings. Sure, you can eat those foods year-round if you want, but there’s something special about eating them in the summer. This tropical jicama salad is inspired by my love of summer, and I hope you’ll like it as much as I do.

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Vangi Bhath (Eggplant Rice)

April 15, 2015June 18, 2015by Brent SchraderLeave a comment

Indian dishes are one of the few items we often enjoy when eating out, but are intimidated to make at home. Outside of the occasional curry, we normally “leave it to the experts” when it comes to this cuisine. It is unfortunate because the food is so delicious. Inspired by this recipe and eager to challenge ourselves a little, we decided to adapt it. I’m really glad we did.

This “rice” recipe with cauliflower is a filling, and somewhat sweet, dish. I was surprised by the many flavors—in a good way. We hope you will enjoy this recipe. It would certainly pair well with curry or any other grilled meat, if you’re especially hungry.

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