
March 23, 2010 (FL vacation)

March 23, 2011 (Southern Ontario)

If you woke up to snow this morning, I feel your pain!
That is a tough pill to swallow.


If you squint your eyes really small, you can see the beach and sunshine. I’m lounging with a margarita off in the distance! Cool, huh?

And because I’m apparently a 90 year old lady, I slipped on the driveway this morning while shoveling and bruised my tailbone! I’m sitting here with a big bag of ice on my bum, sipping hot tea in front of the space heater.
If you think about it, I’m pretty much in Florida right now. And I think I would fit right in with the elderly and their dog strollers.
I’ve always wanted a Cadillac.

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Sweet Potato and Lentil Salad
Adapted from Kath Eats.
Yield: 2 main servings or 4 side servings.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium sweet potatoes or 1 large
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil + more for sautéing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup uncooked green lentils
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 orange pepper, chopped
- Couple handfuls spinach, chopped
- Dressing: 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into a 1 inch dice. In a bowl mix with 1 tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 25-30 minutes, stirring half way through.
2. Meanwhile, cook the lentils in a pot with 2 cups of broth over medium heat.
3. Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Add into a skillet with some olive oil (~1/2 tbsp?) to coat the pan. Cook over low-medium heat being careful not to burn, for about 5 minutes. Now add in the chopped pepper and spinach and cook for another 5 minutes on low. When the lentils and sweet potatoes are cooked add them into this skillet mixture and stir.
4. Finally, mix your dressing and stir into the skillet mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes 2 servings or 4 side servings.
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The great thing about this recipe is that you could pretty much clean out your fridge and use whatever you have and it would still turn out. :) I didn’t have any green beans or apple as in Kath’s recipe, so I just used what I had. Be sure to check out her recipe too!
I came up with 1 orange pepper, 1.25 sweet potato, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, couple handfuls spinach.
The dressing ingredients: EVOO, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, S + P.

My version included onion! ;)

Get your sauté on.

Add in the cooked lentils.
And in the roasted sweet potatoes.

And mix everything in!

Despite the frightful weather we are experiencing, this really is a lovely dish for Spring!
Light, fresh, and energizing!

I’m also rocking a new bowl of Vegan Overnight Oats this week.

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Heavenly Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup non-dairy milk + a bit more in AM to thin out
- 1/2-1 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1/2 tsp almond extract or vanilla
- Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (I used about 7-8)
Directions: In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (oats, chia seeds) now add in the wet ingredients (milk, maple syrup, extract) and whisk well. Stir in some mini chocolate chip cookie dough balls. Place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, simply serve cold, drizzle maple syrup if desired, and enjoy! No cooking involved.
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Delicious! Cookie dough and doughy oats are a match made in heaven.

According to this mug, I should book a tropical vacation today… ;)

Love sweet potatoes,love lentils and in fact made a sweet potato and lentil soup that I posted yesterday on my blog.
Looking forward to trying this one, maybe even tonight!
HI Angela,
I really enjoy your blog. Props to you and all you’ve accomplished! You really seem like a positive person and do a great job of passing that positivity on to others. Here is my question for you. I’m just wondering if you have any specific advice for a girl in her, yikes! kind of later 20’s trying to gain weight. I know I am underweight, I don’t really count calories in order to restrict them or weigh myself. I just try to eat healthy (pretty much all whole plant based foods, rarely meat though not vegan and I love some kind of dessert every night) and I practice yoga 3-4 times a week. Plus having moved to NY not long ago I walk everywhere now. If I’m running late it turns into a pretty good workout:) Anyway, the whole combo has put me below where I need to be pound-wise and I’m having trouble adding the calories I guess. Food routines are hard to break it seems. Any ideas? If you find some time to respond i”d be very appreciative.
Sorry about all your snow! We have rain here, yuck! If only we could all be in Florida right now! Thanks
Yuck! So sorry for all the snow! Major bummer at the end of March!!! But if it makes you feel better, the lentil salad and the VOO look so so good!!
6 inches here in Buffalo! YUCK! I am starting to detest Mother Nature! Thankfully these yummy recipes made me much happier! :)
Looks so nutritous and delicious!
I saw that mug at chapters, inpsiring!
Cookie dough voo… drool!
Angela, you can come visit me here in Austin. Today it’s 82* and gorgeous! Better come soon, cause it turns hot, humid, and buggy very soon here!
Nom nom.
Although I can’t believe you added an onion!!!!!! The nerve!!!! ;)
Love the VOO photos today!
haha I guess you wont be having the leftovers then? ;)
Ouch! I hope you tailbone is feeling better soon, that is no fun. I woke up with snow too and I’m thinking of running on my treadmill after work instead of outside. I need sun and heat soon!
I love sweet potatoes and lentils, so this salad would be right up my alley. Also I have to try those cookie dough balls, they look fantastic in your VOO.
I love that photo with the antique tint, just before the recipe starts. Striking use of light and shadow!
I agree!
thanks!
“Get your sauté on.”—
Oh that is classic. Love.It.
Love the bright orange sweet taters with the browns of the lentils. SO PRETTY to look at! Great recipe, love the dressing component. I bet the flavors are perfect together.
But the cookie dough balls is really where it’s at. I mean, how can lentils really compete with cookie dough? :)
And love the flashback to your Fla vacay pics…how fun!
to go from the florida sun to the canadian snow must be rough. it was for me, just LOOKING at your pics!
have a great day,
Rebecca
http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/rlustig
Yea its in the 80s here in St. Augustine Florida:):) I cant imagine having snow!!! You should just drive down lol its only like 20 some hours, totally worth it for the sun and hot weather! Plus it gives you a nice long time to sit on ice and help your bum heal!
I had chocolate chips in my overnight oats the other day and it made me so happy but chocolate chip cookie dough balls would be even better:)
I’m so incredibly obsessed with lentils right now — i’m going to have to try this out soon! And, lord, those cookie dough balls are JUST right I need right NOW. I wish I could conjure them out of my computer screen.
There’s no snow here, but I still wish I was in Florida! Or California, Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica…I’ll take anywhere there’s a beach and lots of sunshine. Instead I am stuck with rain and chilly wind. Yuck.
On a happier note, both recipes look great! :-)
It’s been snowing all day in Connecticut. I’m less than amused.
Aww you poor thing all bundled up in the snow :( It’s funny how the weather today is all wintery on the east coast, yet it’s a warm sunny day in Victoria BC. I’m sending you weather wishes from my city……that is……if you send me a bowl of those oats haha ;)
Yum I can’t get enough sweet potatoes right now! Delicious as always Angela.
I going to be trying out both of these recipes ASAP. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, and cookie dough just makes me swoon! :)
Love the winter pictures, but it does remind me why I love living in Florida :)
I bet this would be an excellent vegan side to bring to a party! SOOO bookmarking this, as I go to lots of parties and events with non- veg food
:)
I’m probably the only blogger (and oatmeal fan) in the world who can say this…but I’ve NEVER made overnight oats before. They’re so easy…so I don’t know why I’ve never given them a try. Your picture is inspiring me to go buy some chia seeds and make that recipe!
I fell on my stairs last week and bruised my tail bone also. It’s still killing me. It takes a while to heal and it’s really annoying when working out.
Cookie Dough Oats?! Yes please!!! I’d probably stir in some cocoa and make them double chocolate VOO!
I’m going to Florida in 3 weeks…you can come if you make the cookie dough voo every morning for me ;)
Oooh la la to both recipes! I can’t believe you have more snow. Although it snowed a few times in May here last year. Yak! Sorry about your tailbone…I fell off a ladder last week and killllled my butt! The salad colors are gorgeous. :)
Oh no, your poor bottom!
Hopefully the ice helps.
Take care grandma ;)
This is almost (almost!) too much deliciousness for one post!!! I am loving your mug too :)
Those snow pictures look beautiful! Looks like fun :)
I know you’re ready for all of the snow to be gone and for spring to arrive! But for all of us Southerners… Spring is in full force with high’s in the 80s already — this means a few things… yes, days are beautiful down here but a. pollen season is already in full force and all of cars are beginning to have a yellowish/green tint and b. hurricane season is going to be a scary one this year!
Stay warm. I’m thinking about you Northerners :)
allison
The VOO looks like dessert. I like that :-)
Your poor bum! I woke up this morning to see snow as well…. then I swore. A lot.
Angela,
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Your blog is absolutely amazing. We need more women in the world like you! We need to start being real and HONEST with each other, and visiting your blog is like getting a great big warm hug. I just love it. I always leave with a smile. And I always leave a little hungry… funny how that works. ;)
Cheers,
Sara
thanks Sara!
I did overnight oats for the first time today! I was like, I can’t believe I haven’t done this yet, Ange is going to kill me ;)
aww lovely pictures Angela! And the oats look so yummy…’tis okay, I’ll be waking up soon for bfast. :P
ANGELA!! have you seen the following contest hosted by Whole Foods? I got it in my inbox today and INSTANTLY thought it’d be PERFECT for you! Please try out for it!!! winner gets a “culinary foodie fantasy trip” to Europe! DO IT!! =)
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/03/the-foodie-fantasy-food-blogger-video-contest/
Oh the lentil salad… yum!! I love lentils.. I think the texture of the sweet potato would be a great mix.
I totallllllllllllly agree about the snow/winter… ENOUGH ALREADY eh!! We’re ready for Spring!
Oh Ange! I feel for you! And this worries me a bit…Shane and I are on a beach vacation – it’s imminent, what we’re coming home to back in Illinois! Hope the snow melts with the sun for you today :)
I made the sweet potato/lentil salad last night, and it was delicious! My husband and I both liked it. And a great recipe to have since I always have all of the ingredients it calls for. Thanks!
Looking forward to making the Cookie Dough VOO too. : )
Could you tell me if you used fresh, raw spinach or do you pre cook it before adding? I am over the top excited about trying this salad at the weekend!!!
Your Overnight oats looks exquisite!!!! I love it! :D
xoxo
Kathleen
Aw, poor Ange! No snow here in Kansas, yet, but I’m afraid it’s heading for us. :( This salad looks amazing and is on my “to try” list. I love sweet potatoes and I’m trying to get my hubby to like them too. So far, the only way he’s almost liked them is in beef stew. We’ll see if I can get him to eat them in a vegan dish. I love that purple triangular bowl you have your oats in!!
I *finally* jumped on the VOO bandwagon! I only wish I had done it sooner. So. Good.
I’ve been craving your vegan cookie dough blizzard ever since you posted it, and now I have an even better excuse to get to it! Leftover dough for VOO!!! So excited :)
Stay warm!
Lookin’ tasty! Cookie dough for breakfast?!…HELLO! I need to get on the overnight oats bandwagon!
I love the Sweet Potato dish! I made it for dinner tonight! I made the dressing, but forgot to add it, but it tasted so good without it, so much flavor with the onions and peppers. I didn’t have the lentils so I used a Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Medley (cooked in veggie broth) and followed your directions exact and let me tell you it was so tasty with the rice. I am bringing some to work tomorrow to share with my co-workers.
Thanks for inspiring my dinner last night! No sweet potatoes, but I made do. I used quinoa instead of lentils because I didn’t have any and used fresh green beans and some leftover corn with the onion and garlic. I also added a can of small white beans to add some protein. That dressing is delicious! :-)
This salad was a little bit of HEAVEN – who knew lentils could be so yummy!!!
I have tried both of these recipes and they are FANTASTIC!!! I have become addicted to your site, thank you so much for taking the time and love to make this! <3
O. M. G.
I tried the sweet potato and lentil salad tonight and it was freakin’ AMAZING.
I thought I didn’t like sweet potatoes but this recipe completely proved me wrong. Cheap, nutritious, delicious. What more can you ask for?!!? I’m already excited for leftovers tomorrow night!!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this. It’s officially going on my weekly supper rotation.
I’m new to this site and just making it to this recipe. Cold wet west coast weather + this warm salad = a fabulous lunch. This will be a regular dish!