The Vegan Muse & Friends
A Collection of Recipes & Inspirations for the Vegan & Yogic Lifestyle
by
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The fridge…stock up your fridge with organic, local produce. You will find that if you shop locally and straight from the growers, it will be less expensive. Take trips to Farmers' Markets on the weekends. The amount of money you will save by buying this way is going to astound you! I would say…that it's a very mused way to shop!
By simply switching over your white flours, refined sugars and unhealthy oils to whole grain flours, natural raw whole sugars and healthy oils, you will truly see the difference in your health…an awakening, empowerment that can be a magical experience for your mind, body, and soul.
Remember, the goal is to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive!
If you have to start small by purchasing a few of the staples listed below and build as you go, your pantry stash will begin to grow into a healthy oasis in due time.>/p>
I love brunch so much that I say we should have it any day of the week, if we want to!.......The brunch menu below just happens to be a quick and easy one; it has been k.i.s.s'ed -- meaning, I've kept it super simple.
MUSED TIPS FOR YOUR HOME AND YOU BEFORE YOUR GUESTS ARRIVE…
~ Tie up dried herbs around your home, hang them in chandeliers, and even tuck them into napkin rings. During the 16th and 17th centuries, fresh cut herbs were scattered about the home on cold stone floors to send wafts of freshness throughout. I understand that these days we do not want to clean up behind this, but the idea of stewing herbs throughout my home is just bliss for me and will give the home an earthy, rustic edge with smells of the old world.
~ Add a layer of fresh mint leaves to a dessert tray.
~ Gather up some old vintage glass bowls and fill with lemon or lime slices or fresh cranberries and water. Then, float some candles on top and garnish your tabletops with them or place in powder rooms.
~ Break the rules and use an eclectic mix of patterns and colors with your plates, napkins, and glassware. Be free with your thoughts when it comes to decorating. Think bohemian flare!
~ Keep your menu simple yet other-worldy: full of herbs, fresh local foods, and lots of layers of flavors.
~ The Dandy Bohemian's Champagne Punch
~ Brushetta Crowned with Crunchy Sprouts
~ Tempeh Cakes Crowned with Cashew Cream
~ Cantaloupe tossed with Hot Pepper Salad
~ Wickedly Divine Carrot-Spiced Scone~Muffins
I can tell you, without hesitation, that I am a pretty fearless kitchen dweller. I love trying new techniques and new ingredients. When it comes to dinner in our home, I make one dinner -- not one for me and one for my kids -- just one that we can all enjoy together. My children have learned to become fearless as well, slowly sampling new things that most of their friends would turn their noses up at! I have found that just by keeping things simple by design with added layers of flavors and textures seems to produce a dish worth calling…swoon-worthy!
Making your dinners swoon-worthy only requires an open mind, a creative imagination, and a bit of inspiration.
~ Dine a little greener everyday. If you are not vegan, try to challenge yourself to incorporate some plant-based dishes into your meals or snacks…or juices (see the JuicYoga™ section by Penny Powell for some juice recipes).
~ Just because it's a week night and you are not playing host to a gathering of sorts does not mean that you can't light some candles, play music throughout your home, and relax a bit. I find dinner to be a magical time to unwind from the day. For me, setting a mood as if it were already the weekend always works like a charm.
~ One way to add extra layers to your dishes, especially at dinner time, is to use aromatics….a bundle of herbs, a.k.a., a bouquet garni. For my bundles, I use parsley sprigs, a couple of bay leaves, a few thyme sprigs, and sometimes, a few sprigs of rosemary. I simply toss this mix into a cheesecloth bag and add to soups and stews, and I will sometimes use it in rice water to provide the rice with an herbal scent.
I would rather have kale on my table than fine chin. Kale we have and thrift store china we have, too! I find that the charm of the kale is the health if offers. As for the second-hand china, well, that's its charm! It is well-traveled…like a gypsy!
- 2 pounds kale, steams removed
- 3 small shallots, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup white wine
- 2 cups cannelloni (white beans), pre-cooked. If canned, rinse well.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The Vegan Muse and Friends was created by a yoga instructor, fearless vegan cook, and mother of two beautiful souls. This book was for people who love preparing healthy, non- processed plant-based foods, and for those who take comfort in and are inspired by an enlightened lifestyle of yoga, positive life mantras, vegan foods, and cleansing juice concoctions. However, this book does not have to be specifically for vegans or yogis. Maybe there’s an interest in eliminating some of the meat and dairy in your diet, or you would like to explore a more compassionate lifestyle. Either way, the vibrantly rich and swoon-worthy recipes included in this book are sure o be fully satisfying for the mind, body, and soul.
Have a most auspicious moment with the charmed and chocolaty Tuatha de Dannan Brownies made with decadent brown rice syrup. You will find recipes, such as the Boho Soup & Dumplings made with a delicate bean base and vibrant mix of vegetables, herbs, and spices resulting in a taste that is otherworldly!
These charmed, soulful, and evocative dishes are just the beginning. The Vegan Muse was created to help you balance life with healthier versions of vegan foods and a yoga practice. This book encourages you to find peace and overall balance in your lifestyle choices, to find inspiration, and then be the inspiration!
Enlighten yourself with the compassionate words of wisdom by well-know activists/world changers from the vegan and yogic societies as they offer their intuitive information. Don’t wait a minute longer to awaken your mind and heart to this community of compassionate souls. You will know when the time has come to modify your diet, when compassion and a desire for balance becomes essential ingredients.
You will find inspiration and enlightenment a la carte from yoginis, yogis, vegans, raw foodies, juice enthusiasts, and herbal aficionados from all around the world who offer their favorite recipes and lifestyle culture.
Cheers to your voracious vegan appetites and your conscious awakenings!
“The Vegan Muse and Friends is a unique guide for anyone interested in making healthier lifestyle changes. Charlie and friends offer a fun and inspirational way to incorporate healthy vegan recipes, yoga and other healthy choices through personal stories, photos and recipes. It’s a great way for anyone thinking of making a change to do it in a positive and encouraging way.”
—Jordan S. Rubin-Founder and CEO, Garden of Life
About the Author
Charlea Pinkston, who prefers her nickname Charlie, is the creator of The Vegan Muse™ and a registered yoga instructor (RYT-200) trained under Didier Razon and Ann Kiyonaga-Razon of Two Suns Rising. Charlie is also the creator of Haute Yoga™ and Moxied Mantra Mats™.
As the founder of MUSED-WORKS™, a non-profit charity for the mind, body, and soul of all communities, Charlie's mission is to focus on the souls of women and children in need (in shelters for abuse and such) via a team of volunteer yoga instructors and juicing aficionados. MUSED-WORKS™ also supports the welfare of animals.
A native to Florida, Charlie grew up near the beaches of Jacksonville where the love of nature and community is abundant. Raised by holistic parents, Charlie and her sister, Renee, never had a primary care physician like most folks do; they were treated with homeopathic remedies formulated by their father, Richard Graybill, a renowned gardener and herbalist who holds a master's degree in health and wellness, and their mother, Sadie Graybill, a creative artist whose paintings are published and global. Clearly, the intuitive didn't fall too far from the tree as can be seen from Charlie's creative approach to vegan foods and down-to-earth mused lifestyle tips and ideas.
A former massage therapist trained at Florida College Of Natural Health,Charlie considers herself to be an experimenter and explorer in the kitchen and with life, so her approach to this cookbook has evolved in a similar fashion to her everyday life.
Charlie lives in a charming historic district in Jacksonville, Florida with her daughter, Madison, son, Jules, and their blind rescue dog, Marla Runyan.