Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat", Raw Vegan Taco Salad, Savory Meal Recipes, Shopping Finds, Short Order Cook

Hi Bloggies, how's Hump Day for you?  I've been a busy girl today!  I ran errands, went grocery shopping, went to Target, did cardio, quickie yoga, i.e. 15 minutes of stretching, and lifted.  I cooked, cleaned, put all my groceries and Target loot away, while taking care of Skylar.  All in a half day's work.  5th gear much?

Skylar scored big time at Target today.

First, an el cheapo CD player to keep her waterfall white noise CD on continuous loop.  She naps and sleeps better with her sound machine going but the other one gave up the ghost so for 22 bucks, we are now back in successful napping business.  That's music to my ears.  Pun intended.

Next, no girl can resist shorts and shoes.
I live in tan Rainbow flip flops year round, and thought these for Skylar were cute with the hearts, flowers, and peace signs.  Embrace your Inner Hippy, honey!
Skylar instantly had to have these.  I love that she loves the sparkly sequins.  My little girly girl.  She went gaga for these like I'd go gaga for a pair of Christain Louboutin's.  The price point on Skylar's sandals is much better than on a pair of Louboutin's, though.

I really lived on the edge and picked up some Suave, i.e. knockoff Aveda mint, Shampoo and Conditioner, Neutrogena, and Body Spray.  My Target has the worst selection of body spray but this one seemed decent so I grabbed it.
This is my second time buying the Suave, and  although I love Pureology, see Here , I can't afford it.  So the Suave is fine.
Also See This Post in the Comments for Reader Suggestions for Favorite Health & Beauty Products!

I'm also on my 2nd bar of Neutrogena, lately.  Not counting my teen years..haha!  Previously, I had found This Aveeno as Mentioned  


Click Here if you missed my Personal Care Products Review from Tropical Traditions



From yesterday...
I am glad you liked my At-Home Smoothie Bar Post and Recipes !





And also Thanks for the Encouraging Words about my Fitness Show and for letting me know if you can wear heels .  Or not!  
And for letting me know if you like to rock out the skimpy bikinis or if you're more of a full coverage person. 

And I really enjoyed reading if you're close with your mom or not.  And if you are close, thanks for filling me in on what you think your mom did to help make it that way.  I am trying my best to foster a close and loving relationship now with Skylar so that when she's older, we always remain close.  And at the very least, I will be "cool enough" to be seen with...haha!




Moving On...
Scott is a good sport with fairly predictable meals (read: I rotate the same things in and out of the menu line-up very frequently all the time) but as I posted here , I have found my Food Groove , not a Rut, and so I eat and make the same things, often.  And I happen to like it.

He, however, was in the mood for an old favorite: my Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat".  I used to make this all the time about a year ago and then got out of the habit but decided to whip up a batch, and it comes together in literally 3 minutes flat.  There are many versions of this theme that exist in cookbooks and online, but this is how I have always made mine because it focuses on fast, easy, simple, and no need to soak or dehydrate your nuts (TWSS!)  

Also Please See my List for What Makes Up or Comprises a Great Recipe for me, if you missed it: Fast, Easy, Simple for starters.

Averie's Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat"
1/2 C Raw Almonds
1/2 C Walnuts
1/3 C Sun Dried Tomatoes loosely packed (If using oil packed, may slightly reduce amount of olive oil added)
1/2 Tsp Chili Powder (or to taste)

1/4 Tsp Cayenne Powder (or to taste)
2 to 4 Tbsp Olive Oil (or hemp, flax, etc.)
Optional: 1 Tsp Salt (or to taste)

Note with the nuts: You can use all almonds, all walnuts, all cashews, or all macadamia nuts or a combo.  Or, incorporate some seeds in.  I happen to like almonds and walnuts but use what you like or have on hand.  Nuts are expensive and I use Trader Joe's which may not be technically raw.  Nor do I care.  Click Here to See What Items I Always Keep in My Pantry .
Note with the seasonings: You could also use a prepared taco seasoning mix like McCormick's but that adds way too much sodium, onions, and garlic powder for my liking 

Put all ingredients into your Blending Device and Blend
Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Seasonings, and Oil
30 Seconds Later...
If you want to make this ahead of time, it will keep in the fridge for about 4 days without any issue.  An in fact, the flavors marry better after about 6-12 hours, so I like to make it in the morning for that night's dinner.

The seasoning blend makes you think you're really eating taco meat.  This is a great recipe for those reluctant to plant-based meals because the heartiness and heaviness of the nuts with their protein and fat, as well as the familiar spices, and the slightly crunchy factor of the "meat" will convert any doubters!

Savory Meal Recipes, Ideas, and Links:

Add the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" to my Vegan Fajitas with Vegan Sweet Ginger-Lime-Cumin Dipping Sauce
  My Vegan Sweet Ginger-Cumin-Lime Dipping Sauce that blows the pants off Sour Cream!
Fajitas Assembled with Sauce Slathered Drizzled


Or, put the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" into Soft Taco Wraps, and gently heat them in the micro or stove to make Vegan Quesadillas with the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat"


Or, wrap the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" in Cabbage Leaves for a "Raw Taco" similar to what I did Here when I made Raw Vegan Cabbage Wraps

Or Use the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" as a Filling for my Raw Vegan Cucumber Wraps  
Or you could swap out the Cucumber for zucchini and wrap those.  Cukes or zukes, doesn't matter.

Or, put the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" in Romaine Boats similar to what I did with my Sweet & Tangy Chicken-Less Salad


Or, take the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" and do like I did with my Sweet-n-Nutty Un-Chicky Salad Recipe:   



I scooped out some of the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat"mixture and plated it on top of dressed Romaine, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a deconstructed Raw Vegan Taco Salad


Corn would be good with the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat" or make my Mango & Lime Corn Salsa

Garnish the Raw Taco Salad with Cheese or Cheeze.

If you need non-dairy cheeze recipes , check my Nooch Post for Recipes!

I think my Raw Cheddar Dipping Sauce would be Great with the Raw Vegan Taco Nut "Meat"


Dessert was a few No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (with a High Protein Option)


Yoga Today is Tittibhasana (Firefly Pose)  

Gym & Weights Workout Today: Day 5 - Shoulders/Triceps/Biceps

Tip of the Day:  Did you see Who Won My 2 Pounds of Chia Seeds Give Away ?


Questions
1. Have you ever made a Nut Pate?  If so, what do you like to add in yours?  And if not, what are you waiting for?  The Taco Meat comes together in 3 minutes flat!  I don't soak or dehydrate nuts most of the time, so it's pretty much an instantaneous recipe.  I know some people disagree with this, but it works for us, so I go with it.  Do you like nut pates?

2. Do you have any summer vacations planned?  For those of you out of school, what's on your agenda this summer? 
We don't have any summer vacations planned but I do have a lot of things that will be keeping me very busy.  More on that later.

3. Any health and beauty products that you can't live without that you think are amazing? 
Please share!  The cheaper the better.  Holistic and natural is lovely, but sometimes not always practical for me.  I do the best I can!


4. If you are the cook in your family, do you cook separately for the other members of your family?  This one can't eat gluten, this one is a vegetarian, this one is a soy-free vegan, type thing?  I realize that in doing this, one turns herself into a short order cook!  

I am a high raw vegan, and that dietary path unfolded for me largely based on food allergies and intolerances.  Once I realized this path works for me and that I feel optimally this way, then it's easy to keep doing what works.  If you want answers to the most common questions people ask me about food allergies and high raw veganism, check out This Post .

If you want to read about my shift from Veganism for Health Reason to also Veganism for Compassionate Reasons , See This Post 

However, the flip side of my path is that it's narrower than Scott or Skylar "have" to eat.  They can eat gluten or shellfish, I don't want to and can't.  Therefore, there are times when I will cook things for them that I cannot or choose not eat.  Like on Thanksgiving .

And when I plate up the food for my family, my plate always has the most green, Skylar's plate has cute tiny bite-sized pieces, Scott's plate has far less condiments and sauces than mine...everyone has their own nuances and preferences and I try to honor that.  Without enslaving myself to the kitchen. 

It's definitely a balancing act, but since we are only a family of 3 and not 6, and because it's important for me to serve food that makes each person not only feel physically nourished, but also emotionally nourished and happy while eating it, I do admit to my share of short-order cooking.  But I'm ok with it.   

Are you a short-order cook?  Did you grow up in a house where "This is what's served and you're going to eat it." ?   I did and don't care to do that now.  How do you please differing palates, dietary needs and divergent dietary paths?


Stay Tuned For Vegan Ice Cream Sundaes & Blogger Meetup Pics...