Vegan Recipe - Potato Soup

The calendar may say that it's spring but in my neck of the woods, there are still more than just a few wintery evenings. On a cool night, nothing is more comforting than a bowl of soup.

This month's recipe comes from ... me. It is a hearty dish, packed with flavor. I prefer using whole spices ... in my opinion, they taste better. One can certainly use ground versions but I encourage you to try using them whole ... you'll love the complex flavor.

I hope that you and your family enjoy this recipe.

Potato Soup
Makes 2-3 adult, main-dish servings

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1/2 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
1/2 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
4 cups Water plus more to cover vegetables
2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
2 cups Potatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder (or 1 garlic clove crushed)
1 Tablespoon Dry Onion (or 1/2 medium onion, diced)
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Parsley
1/4 teaspoon Ginger
Pinch of Turmeric
Pinch of Hot Pepper Flakes (or to taste)
Splash of Liquid Smoke
Splash of Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup Rice
1/4 cup Lentil
1 Bay Leaf
2 cups Mixed Vegetables (fresh or frozen ... I like a mix of corn, red peppers, zucchini, kale, etc.)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Method

1. Put Cumin, Mustard and Fenugreek seeds into a dry pan and roast on medium-high heat until slightly browned, fragrant and seeds begin to pop.
2. Remove seeds to a mortar and pestle and crush.
3. Combine crushed seed, 2 cups water, nutritional yeast, 1 cup potato, garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, turmeric, hot pepper flakes, liquid smoke Worcestershire and ginger in a heavy stock pot and cook, covered, for 15 minutes.
4. Using an immersion blender, blitz all ingredients until smooth and creamy (you may also use a traditional blender for this step. Remember to ventilate the lid with hot ingredients).
5. Add rice, lentils, bay leaf and another 2 cups water to the blended ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Add 1 cup potato, mixed vegetables, salt and pepper and enough water to cover. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
7. Taste and adjust seasonings.
8. Enjoy!

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please contact me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you don't have the time right now, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

We continued our paper theme last week and asked that no more than 6 squares of toilet paper be used at one time. While the challenged seemed easy, I was surprised by how negligent I had become, simply pulling off a handful of sheets ... way more than needed. So this exercise was a reminder that living green often means keeping a tight rein on our actions.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Here's what they had to say:

Lisa accepted the challenged and shared this, "It's funny, I can do cloth diapers all day - but family cloth? Ummmmm..... I will try using 6 or less pieces of toilet paper/use!" In Toilet Troubles – Use Less Toilet Paper? she asks the question, "How are we using all this toilet paper?" The answers might surprise you. She also shares whether or not she was able to limit her use. What do you think ... was she successful?

Clare wrote "Reduce Paper Towels – Small Change, Big Difference". This post has everything ... there's a funny video that will have you folding and shaking ... a surprise gift (everyone gets one) ... and a lot of information about reducing paper towel use. I picked up some new facts and got my gift. Hurry over to get yours!

Toilets, restrooms, bidets, sheep, dags ... and fake bacon. Oh yeah ... sounds like an Argentum Vulgaris Original! Check out "Change the world Wednesday – 24th" where you'll learn, among other things, what AV uses instead of toilet paper.

Alicia started out the week admitting that she uses more toilet paper than she should. Her daughter, however, has perfected this task and only uses three squares ... wow ... an Eco-superstar! Later in the week, Alicia dropped by with an update: "I just wanted to say that I have been able to use six squares no problem! I thought that it was going to be a difficult challenge but once you do it a few times it comes pretty easy!" WhooHoo!

Alaiyo admits that giving up paper towels completely is hard in her family: "It's one of the last wasteful things we have to banish from our lives. Your post today has renewed my resolve to give them up. Thanks!"

This edition of "Shopping Charity" included some of your posts. Curious if yours was included? Check it out!

On Twitter, @givetreegifts shared some great tips and ideas:
- Paper Towel Usage â?? How to Reduce or Eliminate ow.ly/kmwXn
- UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Office: Cowell College to Go Paper Towel-Less ow.ly/kmx8x
- Going Green @ Haverford » Blog Archive » Student body votes to eliminate paper towels in dorm bathrooms. ow.ly/kmxal
- The Green Phone Booth: Taking the plunge...and getting rid of paper towels. ow.ly/kmxeQ
- Eliminating Waste With Bamboo Paper Towels and Scottâ??s Tube-Free TP ow.ly/kmxkC
- Green Ways To Get Rid Of Paper Towels | LIVESTRONG.COM ow.ly/kmxov
- Kick your paper towel habit & SAVE UP TO $1000 in 5 years! ow.ly/kmxr9
- We ditched paper towel habit by using cloth. Good rags used for normal messes R laundered. Worn rags for mega gross messes R tossed
- Kick your paper towel habit & SAVE UP TO $1000 in 5 years! ow.ly/kmxr9

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie
@amotherlife	@beatepdx	@beckymcneer
@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@bylittlenea	@carolinaghmore	@changes4charlie
@columbusjunk	@conservationm	@counselorholley
@crazy4grnlivn	@crazykids6	@dusdifissette
@earthyurban	@ecoexpert1	@ecwrites
@eddiegear	@givetreegifts	@greenchildmag
@greeneral	@groovygreenlivi	@ikamusumebotsub
@intricateknot1	@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion
@jaemacjustsayin	@jnaquins	@jnjgogreen
@kathleenotmm	@kerrifar	@laalicia
@ladyjcmuses	@ladyladuke	@lavishandlime
@littlegreenblog	@lorcadamon	@lyssaann42
@marjoriemcatee	@mcmillendc	@mom2tle
@momgamerwriter	@mrsgreensworld	@msmoreau_guid
@nolafusion	@ntiveheart	@oneadayart
@plus2point4	@rachelwild	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@rulesofgreen	@shoppingcharity
@skipbang	@squishablebaby	@startanewleaf
@thefadderly	@theworld4realz	@tidbitsfromamom
@timsimms	@treesgroup	@tristinandtyler
@turningclockbac	@twicecreations	@wencdj
@whatsmym3	@whopaysthepiper	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Green living is often about the smallest things ... like a sheet of toilet paper. If we take a bit more, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. But, consider this ... according to Charmin, consumers use an average of 20,805 sheets per person per year. That's a lot of paper! Using less will save natural resources and reduce the burden on treatment plants. It's a small thing with a big impact.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Have you heard about the "Live Below the Line" challenge? The idea is to feed yourself on no more than $1.50 per day. It "is a campaign that's challenging the way people in the US think about poverty - and making a huge difference." You can read more at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/us. As I read through the website, it occurred to me that it not only speaks to poverty but raises awareness on waste and our spending habits ... both of which affect the world we live in. So ... of course ... that means a challenge. Here you go ...

This week, feed yourself and your family on no more than $1.50 (or the equivalent in your currency) per day per person. Focus on the plight of individuals who live below the poverty line as well as how our food choices can help others and the environment. Pay close attention to eliminating waste and finding nutritional, Eco-friendly ways to stretch your budget.

So what do you think? Are you ready to get creative with your food dollar?

As always ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Review - Live. Learn. Love. Eat and Mocha Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

When I first considered the idea of switching to a plant-based diet, I envisioned a life of rabbit food ... raw carrots and celery ... morning, noon and night. Yes, I knew that it would be healthy and understood that it was better for the planet but ... the adventure didn't sound all that exciting.

In truth, it was difficult to know what to eat. Searching the Internet garnered recipes containing weird-sounding ingredients and as for nutritional advice ... well, it was available but made me feel like I was "cramming" for a college course instead of cooking.

Oh to have had a copy of Live. Learn. Love. Eat. by author, blogger and a Reduce Footprints guest chef, Tiffany Pidruchny.

The first few chapters offer readers information about getting started. There's a section on Protein and another about natural sweeteners. One of my favorite chapters is how to make any meal vegan ... chili, stir-fry, pizza ... you'll find advice on how to create dishes your family will love. Wondering how to stock your plant-based kitchen? Check out Ingredients and A Well-Stocked Vegan Kitchen.

If you have children, you'll definitely want to read How To Get Kids To Eat Healthy and 25 Nutritious Vegan Snack Ideas (Granola bars, muffins and cookies ... oh my).

The recipes are well organized, both by meal and categories such as pasta, salads, etc. I was thrilled with the breakfast chapter because, for me, it is the hardest meal to "switch over". I found delicious offerings such as Green "Eggs" on Toast, Chocolate Cherry Almond Granola and Berry Peach Baked Oatmeal.

Ingredients include whole foods and products that can be found on grocery store shelves. While you might find a meat substitute, they are used sparingly. The majority of dishes are made from "scratch". But don't let that scare you ... the instructions are clear and easy to follow.

The proof of any cookbook is, as they say, in the pudding. I have tried many of Tiffany's recipes and can tell you ... they are delicious! I highly recommend this book!

Ready to test one out for yourself? Tiffany has graciously agreed to let me share one from the book ... I hope you'll enjoy it!

Mocha Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Makes one 9 x 5 loaf

Ingredients

3 overripe bananas
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup almond milk or other non-dairy milk
1/4 cup sunflower oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup instant coffee (I used decaf)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2/3 cup vegan chocolate chips

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas then add the maple syrup, milk, oil, and vanilla, whisking until combined.
• Add the instant coffee and cocoa powder and whisk again until combined.
• In a separate small mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and chocolate chips.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, careful not to over mix the batter.
• Pour the batter into a 9 x 5 loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
• Loaf is ready when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of Live. Learn. Love. Eat. for yourself, send a request to Tiffany here: tiffanypidruchny@gmail.com.

I received a copy of Live. Learn. Love. Eat. as a gift. I loved it so much that I asked the author if I could write a review. I received no compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and reflect my honest opinion of the book.