Hey guys! My story on the locavore project came out in the Memphis Flyer yesterday and it's now available online here. Check it out and feel free to leave comments on our website because my editor LOVES comments. They actually pick their favorite comments on the website each week to run in the newspaper.
On another note, we had our monthly Food Awareness veggie group meeting tonight at Wild Oats. I led another cooking demo. This time, I made Quinoa Black Bean Salad. Here I am squeezing a lime for the dressing:
And here's the finished product (scroll to end for the recipe):
After the demo, Steph from Poopie Bitch brought out some yummy vegan cookies — Peanut Butter Molasses Cookies and Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies. Thankfully, she's a tester for Kelly and Garrick's upcoming vegan cookie book, so we got to help her sample the goods. Verdict — Amazing! Especially the chewy peanut butter ones!
Before the meeting, Steph, her awesome vegan friend Ahnah, and I had dinner at Pita Wraps. Steph's been raving about their falafel on her blog for some time, and I've been dying to try it. Here's the Falafel and Hummus Pita Wrap:
One bite and I totally understand what the rage is all about. I think this may be my new favorite falafel place! By the way, you can see how huge this wrap is...and we all ate every bite!
Quinoa & Black Bean Salad
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1/3 cup quinoa
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 tsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp. scallions, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, minced
Bring quinoa and water to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer until water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Fluff and allow to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lime juice, cumin, coriander, salt, cilantro, and scallions. Add cooled quinoa, black beans, tomato, and pepper. Serve.
congrats on your project getting published!!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Bianca!! The article is fantastic, and you look great doing your demonstration! You are just fantastic and well-rounded, bravo.
ReplyDeleteYou look like a natural up there giving cooking demos! I love your shirt too, it's really cute.
ReplyDeleteThat quinoa black bean salad looks so good.
BUT THAT FALAFEL WRAP! Oh my goodness I adore falafel, so flippin' much, your post is making me want some pronto!
You are soo cute! love the photo! such an expression too! and that salad sounds really filling and refreshing... I really need to eat more quinoa! thank you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a FABULOUS article, Bianca!! I wanted to leave a comment, but it said that I had to register with a username and password :0( Please know that I DID read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it :0)
ReplyDeleteWow, that Quinoa-Black-Bean Salad sounds delicious!! As do the cookies and pita wraps that were enjoyed - yum!
Well written article, I enjoyed reading it. And that falafel wrap! I've been wanting to make my own falafel for a week now and that is pushing me over the edge.
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived near you so I could've attended your cooking demos! (And gotten to sample some cookies!)
ReplyDeletethat falfel wrap makes the lunch i had today look so saaaaaad. i wish i had that instead.
ReplyDeleteand hooray for your article! it's full of good stuff, it's very honest and open - and you've got some great resources there, too!
i love your turkey shirt, too! and the quinoa looks rock'n! i always forget about quinoa. i shouldn't though - it's so tasty!
Yay Bianca! Thank you for teaching me a new word today: locavore. I must agree with the other commenters, you totally look like a professional vegan chef giving that food demo. And, falafel should be loved by all! Even if it's just a love of saying the word FA-LA-FEL!
ReplyDeletehey there, i really like your blog!
ReplyDeleteand i lovvve quinoa! i made a quinoa salad kind of like that..is that from veganomicon? i added pineapple to mine though..came out awesome! :)
That quinoa black bean salad was the shit! And the falafel was so good - thanks for hanging out with us before the meeting!
ReplyDeleteI left a comment on your article :)
You looks so cute in that picture ;-). And the Falafel and Hummus Pita Wrap? Can I just go with you next time? when is the next flight? hehe
ReplyDeleteHey! I just bought some quinoa and I'm going to buy a bunch more groceries today to stock my fridge! Yippee! Maybe I'll make that salad...looks good.
ReplyDeleteYour new bangs look awesome! I want new hair. I'm jeaaaaalousssssss. Ha.
So, let's plan girl weekend soon. You and Misti need to come hang out. We can jump in the pool from my balcony. Haha!
The quinoa salad looks fantastic. I made the quinoa-mango-black bean one from Veganomicon this morning but haven't tried it yet; I like the way the spice mix in yours sounds. I will have to try it and compare. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the article!
Congrats on your publication! Eating local can really be a challenge, depending on where you live. And nice shirt!
ReplyDeletewow, so how cool are you - leading cooking demos at wild oats! i wish i could have been there to support (okay, and to try the quinoa salad and cookies...)!
ReplyDeleteQuinoa is so delicious and good for you! Thanks for posting the recipe.
ReplyDeleteYour article was so much fun to read!! This really makes me want to put more effort into eating local (without giving up chocolate or chips though!)
ReplyDeleteAnd what a fun meeting!! You should videotape your demo next time and post it!