Wandering the Gap

From now on, new content (and more from the Food on Film series!) will be posted on Wandering the Gap, my new blog.

To learn more, check out the video below:

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy a nice cup of creamy broccoli soup.  This recipe is super simple and delicious: enjoy the soup on its own or top it with some nutritional yeast (a popular vegan topping that has a cheesy flavor).  Enjoy!

Trailer for The Stanley Kubrick Cooking Show

Check out the new trailer for the latest Food on Film installment: The Stanley Kubrick Cooking Show.

A Weekend of Climbing Canyons

This past weekend my mom and I completed the Georgia Canyon Climbers Club Challenge (whew, that's a mouthful!).  The challenge was to climb each of Georgia's 4 canyons (Tallulah Gorge, Amicalola Falls, Providence Canyon, and Cloudland Canyon), and my mom and I ended up finishing the challenge in just over 48 hours!  This was the perfect way to get out for the weekend and explore parts of Georgia that I didn't even know existed.
Check out my video and pictures to get a taste of what we experienced over the weekend:

 Amicalola Falls

 Providence Canyon

 Cloudland Canyon

Tallulah Gorge

For more information on the Georgia Canyon Climbers Club, click here: The Club

Lizzie

My Top Five Food Moments in Film

Hello all!  In honor of the launch of my new "Food on Film" series, I have created a list of my top five food moments in film (try saying that five times fast!).  Without further adieu, let's begin!

5.  Royale with Cheese - "Pulp Fiction"
Quention Tarantino is one of my favorite filmmakers, and arguably one of the most iconic.  His movies are full of strange characters, complex plots, and countless moments of dark humor.  The whole conversation about the (sadly untrue) French name for a quarter pounder with cheese is truly one of the most iconic moments in Pulp Fiction, and a perfect example of Tarantino's offbeat humor.

4.  The Search for the Twinkie - "Zombieland"
(Alright, so I didn't say this would be a list of the healthiest food moments in film.)  Even though Zombieland does deliver on gross zombie moments, it also makes plenty of time for humor, as seen in the subplot revolving around one character's search for a Twinkie in a post-zombie-apocalypse world.  Admittedly, I have never eaten (nor had the desire to eat) a Twinkie, but after watching this movie, I'm intrigued to try one and see if they're really worth the search.

3.  Boeuf Bourguignon - "Julia & Julia"

(Photo courtesy of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ82wxefIQA)

Julie & Julia was one of my favorite movies growing up: Meryl Streep is incredible as Julia Child, and what's better than two hours of French food and Paris in the 50s?  Although the whole movie is full of iconic food moments (learning how to bone a duck, for example), the Boeuf Bourguignon recipe is the one that stuck with me the most.  This recipe is probably one of the Julia Child's most famous recipes in real-life, and rightfully so: I made it a couple years ago and it was downright delicious!

2.  Courtesan au Chocolat - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Let it be known: I love Wes Anderson.  His films are hilarious, strange, and mesmerizingly beautiful.  In fact, I love him so much I recreated his iconic style for "The Wes Anderson Cooking Show", my first video in my "Food on Film" series (check it out here: The Wes Anderson Cooking Show).  Even though I love all of Anderson's films, The Grand Budapest Hotel is probably one of my favorites, partly because of the starring pastry: Courtesan au Chocolat.  This pastry is quirky, incredibly detailed, and about as "Wes Anderson" that a food can get.

1.  Ratatouille - (you guessed it!) Ratatouille

(Photo courtesy of: http://thecheapluxury.com/2013/07/ratatouille-from-ratatouille/)

I'm not gonna lie: I was obsessed with Ratatouille as a kid.  I even had the Nintendo DS game.  The obsession was real.  I loved the characters, the food, and, again, what is better than a movie set in Paris?  Even though the starring ratatouille dish looks insanely delicious, what I love most about this movie is it's ability to show how certain foods can take you back to a specific time or place in an instant.  Food is such a powerful tool, and I know many of my memories revolve around food in some way.

And there you have it!  I hope you enjoyed this list; if you think I missed an iconic food moment in film, let me know!
Thanks for reading,
Lizzie

The Wes Anderson Cooking Show

I'm incredibly excited to share The Wes Anderson Cooking Show with you all!  I am a huge fan of Anderson's iconic, quirky style and it was so much fun to recreate.  I couldn't have imagined a better way to launch the Food on Film series.

My friends Shannon and Hannah deserve a huge thank you, they were so helpful in making this video and I couldn't have done it without them.  I hope you all enjoy this video, stay tuned for more!
Lizzie

What a Vegan Eats in a Day

One of the things I love about being vegan is how versatile my food options are, and how fun and easy it is to experiment with combinations of foods and ingredients.  Unfortunately, a lot of people think that vegans have very limited options because they don't eat animal products.  More than once I've had someone tell me "I don't know how you survive" or "So, what can you eat?"  In this post I hope to show you just a few of the different foods I like to eat throughout the day.  These meals are simple, delicious, and healthy, and I'd love for you to give them a try! 

Breakfast:

• Toast with sunflower butter and sliced bananas

• Silk non-dairy yogurt with mixed berries

• Homemade hash: hashbrowns, meatless crumbles, diced onion and bell pepper, and spices such as garlic powder and red pepper flakes!

Lunch:

• Pita pocket with homemade hummus (click here for the recipe!), sprouts and sliced cucumber, with a side of tortilla chips and salsa

• The ultimate PB&J: add sliced banana and sunflower seeds to make your favorite PB&J sandwich more filling (and delicious!), and a side salad with cucumber, onion, carrot and vegan goddess dressing (I like the brand Annie's)

• Daiya mac and cheese - super easy to make, and super yummy!

Dinner:

• Gyros (recipe here) with pita chips and hummus

• Pad thai from your favorite Thai restaurant (just ask for no egg and add tofu)

• Mexican Mix Bowl 

Dessert:

• Coconut Bliss ice cream - they're my favorite brand of non-dairy ice cream!

• Gelatin-free gummy bears (Trader Joe's has some options)

• Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookie - the gluten-free version of Oreos (although Oreos are surprisingly vegan)

And there you have it!  As far as snacks, I like to munch on chips (sea salt and vinegar is my favorite, although be sure to check the ingredients for milk), an apple with peanut butter, or grapes!

I hope you found this post helpful, whether you're vegan, want to try going vegan, or just interested in seeing what a vegan eats!  Let me know what other vegan foods you eat throughout the day.  

Thanks for reading!

Special Announcement!

Introducing my new project: Food on Film.

Banana Bread

Hi friends!  Today I have an awesome banana bread recipe for you all: this recipe is simple, delicious, and gluten free!  This recipe has actually been in my family for years, and it was pretty easy to make it vegan and gluten free with a couple tweaks.  Hope you enjoy!

Homemade Hummus

Hummus is one of my favorite foods - it's delicious, simple, and really versatile.  But let's be honest: store-bought hummus is just not the best.  So here's a simple and delicious recipe for making hummus at home!

What you need:
1 can of chickpeas (drained + rinsed) or 1 1/2 cups cooked - to cook, soak the dried chickpeas in water overnight.  Drain the chickpeas in the morning and put them in a pot with fresh water.  Bring the chickpeas to a boil and then lower the heat to a hard simmer, letting them cook for about an hour or until they're soft.  Save the liquid you boil them in!
4 tablespoons tahini
1/4 cup of water (or the liquid you boiled the chickpeas in)
1 small clove of garlic, minced
Juice from 1-2 lemons
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons zathar (zathar is a popular spice in Middle Eastern dishes - visit your local Middle Eastern market to find it!)
1/2 teaspoon salt

How to make it:
Put all your ingredients in a food processor and begin to blend.  If your hummus is too thick, add more water.  Taste frequently and add more lemon juice, salt, or spices as needed.  Voila, your hummus is complete!  Serve alone or topped with a light drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of zathar.  Enjoy your hummus as a dip for veggies or pita chips or try it one of these ways:

• In a pita pocket with veggies (I like cucumbers, bean sprouts, and avocado)
• On top of a salad instead of dressing
• On top of toast or a bagel (it's also delicious with mashed avocado!)

Colorado Hiking Adventures

This past June my family traveled to Colorado to tackle some serious summits.  Things got pretty crazy along the way: watch and see what happened!


If you have any questions about the trails we hiked or how we train at home, shoot me an email or leave a comment!

Vegetarian Gyros

This is a super yummy recipe that's great for vegetarians, vegans, and meat-eaters alike.  In my recipe, I use tempeh as a meat replacement, but you could also use imitation chicken or beef strips if you like!


Enjoy!

Photo Diary: Harney Peak

A couple weeks ago my family traveled to Colorado and South Dakota for a family hiking vacation.  The first mountain we decided to tackle was Harney Peak in South Dakota.  Harney Peak is a beautiful mountain located in the Black Hills of South Dakota that shares a fascinating history with local Native American tribes and is still considered sacred Native American ground today.
The hike itself was between 7.5-8 miles and was no walk in the park, although it was insanely beautiful.  It was interesting experiencing the terrain and landscape of the Black Hills in comparison to the forests and mountains my family typically hikes here on the east coast.  If you ever find yourself in South Dakota, I would highly recommend hiking Harney Peak; the history of the peak and the surrounding areas is fascinating, and the views are spectacular.  It's also fun to spot the local wildlife: we even saw a lone buffalo in an area near the peak! 

Summer Sunrise Juice

Hello all! 
One of my favorite parts of the summer is being able to enjoy all the fresh and delicious fruits that are in season.  Juicing is a great way to enjoy all the sweet fruits that make summer great, and this recipe is one of my absolute favorites.  Here are a couple notes on this recipe:
- This recipe is really more of a foundation for you to create your own recipe.  I really encourage you guys to try different combinations and amounts of fruits to create the juice variation that you really love.  You can try adding fruits like grapefruit or even try adding some carrots!
- Every juicer is designed differently.  My juicer, for instance, doesn't require apples to be peeled or have the core removed as it filters those out on its own.  Do your research on your juicer to see how big to cut the fruit slices and what to remove from the fruit (or vegetable) before juicing.
- I would recommend making this juice in steps.  Although it does make the process a bit more time-consuming, it's really handy to be able to juice a few fruits at a time, let that mixture refrigerate, and then add the next batch of juice.  That way, your juice stays cool throughout the whole process and you're not worried about your juice oxidizing (aka turning a yucky color) or getting room temperature as you're juicing.

Phew, and now for the actual Summer Sunrise Juice recipe!

Hope you guys enjoy this recipe; be sure to share your favorite juice recipes with me! 
Lizzie

Non-Dairy Ice Cream Taste Test

We have come to the last video in which my non-vegan friends help me taste different vegan foods!  Today my friends Shannon and Hannah joined me in trying 3 different kinds of vegan/non-dairy ice cream.  Check it out below! 



See you next time!

Chai Tea Latte

Hi friends!  Today I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe for making a chai tea latte at home.  What I love about this recipe is how you can really make it your own: there are no precise measurements and you can experiment with different amounts of milk or honey to find what you like best.


This video is a little different from what I normally do and it was really fun to make.  Stop-motion is definitely a challenge to film, but I think it turned out pretty cool.  I hope to improve my skills and make more stop-motion videos in the future!
Hope you enjoyed this video, see you soon.

Non-Dairy Cheese Taste Test

Hi guys!  Today I'm back with a special guest: my friend Ansley.  Ansley was brave enough to agree to taste test some non-dairy cheeses with me - watch the video below to see which one we liked best.


See you all soon!

Photo Diary: Kennesaw Mountain

Every week my family goes hiking, either on Kennesaw Mountain or Red Top Mountain, two local hiking spots her in GA.  This past week we went to Kennesaw and this time I brought my camera along.  Check it out!

Non-Dairy Milk Taste Test

Hi friends! Today I've recruited my friend Shannon to taste test different non-dairy milks with me. This is the first video in a trilogy of taste testing videos where I'll be bringing in some special guests to try different vegan products with me. Keep a lookout for the next video, but for now: watch and see which non-dairy milk we like best!

Let's Catch Up

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since we've talked, so let's catch up.  Stay tuned throughout the summer for some new content as well.

See you soon! 

Williams-Sonoma's Smoothie Week: Strange Smoothies

Smoothie.  When you first hear the word you probably think of a blended concoction of strawberries and bananas, or at least something along those lines.  Indeed, most smoothies usually involve some type of fruit or combination of fruits and a dairy product (milk for a thinner consistency or yogurt for a thicker drink).  But while smoothies may seem pretty standard, they can actually be pretty cool.  I personally love smoothies because of how customizable they are.  You can experiment with what types of fruit you use, what kind of milk or yogurt you add, adding sweeteners or spices, and even adding things like peanut butter.  There are probably infinite combinations of smoothie ingredients you could come up with, and they’re all probably going to taste delicious.

You can even make some pretty wacky smoothies (keep in mind that when I say wacky, I still mean edible and tasty – yes, adding something like ketchup would make it wacky, but would you really want to drink that?).  In my years of concocting different smoothie recipes, I have, in several occasions, stepped out of my taste comfort zone by adding some ingredients that you wouldn’t normally see in smoothies.  For instance: avocados.  Avocados are one of my favorite foods because they’re so versatile; you could pretty much eat them a different way for every meal.  Guacamole, sliced on a sandwich, or cubed on top of a taco are some of my favorite ways to serve guacamole.  But a smoothie?  Some of you might be thinking that sounds a bit far-fetched but just hear me out. 

Adding avocado to your smoothie will not only make it a beautiful green color, but it also adds a good amount of protein and healthy fats and makes the smoothie nice and creamy.  One of my favorite smoothie recipes is my Banana Bash Smoothie; it’s simple, healthy, and delicious.  And even if you’re not a big fan of avocados, still give it a try!  The other ingredients will add sweetness to the smoothie and you won’t even be able to taste the avocado.

Another uncommon ingredient I sometimes throw into my smoothies is raw oats.  Raw oats will help make the smoothie nice and filling, and they don’t have a huge impact on the taste.  I like to combine raw oats, peanut butter, a banana, and some almond milk (and sometimes if I want a sweet treat, some cocoa powder) to make a delicious and nutritious drink that feels more like a milkshake than a smoothie.

I encourage all of you to step out of your comfort zones and try some new and zany ingredients next time you’re making a smoothie.  Let me know what some of your favorite wacky smoothie recipes are!  Need a great blender to make super smooth smoothies? Check out Williams-Sonoma's blenders along with their Not Your Typical Smoothie album in Pinterest or Facebook.

Thanks for reading,

Lizzie Marie