WEB SPONSORS

MICHELLE'S KEY LIME PIE

Whether you're a die-hard parrot-head from the Conch Republic, a vegan with a sweet tooth or just a Key Lime Pie lover dreaming of a guilt-free version that won't pack on the pounds, this pie is for you! This Key Lime Pie contains zero cholesterol and zero dairy. Best of all it's super easy to make!

This pie uses a cookie crumb crust. Tip: To save time you can get a pre-made crust such as ones made by Arrowhead Mills which are vegan and free from trans fats.

Pie Crust

To make your own crust you will need:

  • 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs (I received several e-mails asking if these are vegan and yes, many commercially available graham crackers are vegan, although some versions do contain honey.)
  • 6 TBS of a melted non-hydrogenated soy margarine.

Mix the graham cracker crumbs with a fork until they are moist. Then press into a pie plate and bake at 350 degrees until lightly brown. Usually around 10 to 15 minutes.

Pie Filling (No cooking required!)

  • 1-8oz package of non dairy cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup of key lime juice
  • 2 TBS of agave nectar
  • 1/2 cup granulated organic sweetener of your choice, such as raw organic sugar, xylitol, evaporated cane juice, etc.
  • Pinch of grated organic lime peel
  • 2 packages of vanilla pudding mix, preferably mori-nu vanilla pudding mix which is made specifically to go with tofu.

Drain the tofu and place it in the food processor. Blend until smooth with no lumps. Next add the agave nectar and lime juice, granulated sweetener and pinch of grated lime peel. Only add a pinch or the flavor will be too tart. Blend again until smooth and add the cream cheese. This should be soft. Blend until well combined and smooth.

Now add one package of pudding mix. Blend. Add the second package and blend again until creamy.

When you crust is done and has been cooled, add the filling and refrigerate overnight. Serve with a non-dairy whipped topping ( One of my favorites is Soya Too) and a fresh slice of lime or key lime in season. Enjoy!

Here is a breakdown of conventional key lime pie vs. Michelle's key lime pie:

Conventional key lime pie- 1 slice = 18 grams of fat Michelle's key lime pie- 1 slice = 7 grams of fat

Savings- 7 grams of fat per serving

Conventional key lime pie- 150 mg of cholesterol Healthy key lime pie- 0 mg of cholesterol

Savings 150 mg of cholesterol

Cold Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Say what? Cold noodles with peanut butter? Are you crazy? It may sound a little odd, but this is an incredible dish that you will love. Mark first tried it in NYC back in the day and once he told me about it I gladly accepted the challenge (as always) to make an organic and healthier version. Now it is one of my favorites. It's quick and easy to make and it is packed with nutrition because it's made with delicious organic peanut butter. Peanut butter is chock full of protein, contains good fats and gives you 25% of your days supply of vitamin E.

Here's what you will need:

  • 1 package organic soba noodles
  • 3/4 of a cup of peanut butter. I prefer unsweetened, organic peanut butter made with Valencia peanuts because they have a natural sweetness.
  • 1/3 cup of organic maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup brown rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp braggs liquid aminos
  • 1TBS organic roasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 TBS grated fresh ginger
  • 2 medium cloves of garlic very finely chopped or pressed
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Organic carrot and pepper strips as a garnish
  • Chopped green onion as a garnish

I like to start by cooking the noodles. That way they have time to cool. You may even want to refrigerate them, after all this is cold noodles! Cook according to directions. Time can vary depending on the brand of noodles you are using. Allow time to cool. The rest is really easy. Using a food processor, add the peanut butter, maple syrup, brown rice vinegar, braggs liquid aminos, sesame oil, water, ginger, garlic and red pepper to the food processor. Blend until smooth. Add in the cilantro and blend. If it's too thick you can thin it out with more water.

Toss with cold noodles, add green onion, carrot and pepper strips for garnish and serve as is or refrigerate if you like the noodle dish colder.

Michelle's Key Lime Pie
Get a taste of the Conch Republic with Michelle's Key Lime Pie. Totally dairy and cholesterol free; Michelle gives this classic pie a healthy make over. Vegans and parrot-heads rejoice!

Noodles with Peanut Sauce
Thai this! One of Michelle's favorite dishes, cold noodles with peanut sauce is an excellent source of good fats in your diet. Based on the Thai dish, Michelle's healthy, organic version is easy to make and tastes great!

Organic Produce
Eat your veggies! Get fresh local, organic produce as Michelle visits an organic produce co-op and offers tips on getting the best possible organic fruits and vegetables for delicious and fresh recipes.

EASY TIPS

Buy Local and Organic! Buying produce grown in your area means you are getting a fresher product. More importantly, buying local and regional produce and food products is much more eco-friendly when compared to produce shipped from overseas. That piece of fruit that comes from half way around the world was likely shipped on a huge tanker and then distributed across the country in large trucks, requiring tons of oil and gas and emitting tons of greenhouse gases.

Fortunately, it's getting easier to get organic produce. Most major supermarkets are regularly stocking some organic produce. If your local supermarket is still not stocking organic produce, simply ask for the manager and request it. Be sure and support your local farmer's market. Almost every town has some form of farmer's market where you can find local and regionally grown goodies. For urban dwellers, organic produce delivery services are becoming more available. In the New York area, services like www.urbanorganic.com provide convenient delivery service. In the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas Organic Express www.organicexpress.com will bring fresh organic produce to your front door. These type of services offer convenience and most of the time the prices are competitive or even cheaper than the supermarket.

Whatever option you choose, please remember to buy local, eat fresh and save the planet!

Check Those Labels - Are you sure you know what's in that stuff? Don't rely on the front of the package. Products often marked as "healthy" or "natural" or "low fat" are not as healthy as they might have you think. Particularly watch out for and stay away from any product that contains partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup or monosodium glutamate.

Hydrate! Drink more water! Always carry a non-toxic, reusable water bottle so you can be sure and get at least eight glasses a day. This will keep you from overeating, feeling dehydrated and helps your skin stay moist, supple and smooth. Plastic can leach toxins into the water so always look for a non-leaching bottle. We've been using bottles from New Wave Enviro. They look like plastic but are actually made of a corn resin. Other popular non-toxic and non-leaching bottles include the stainless steel Klean Kanteen and the aluminum bottles from Sigg www.mysigg.com . Formerly known best by hikers, Sigg bottles now come in hipster designs like Star Power, Sun Ray, Circles Azure, Maharadsha Ruby (my favorite) and even Heavy Metal.

Kick The Habit! Avoid Sugar! Instead of sugar, you might want to try a low-calorie alternative like Xylitol www.xlear.com or Z Sweet www.zsweetstore.com . Although not as low in calories, liquid agave nectar is actually sweeter than honey but is a lower glycemic liquid sweetener. One natural sweetener that almost everyone has is good old fashioned maple syrup, which is a great tasting alternative to sugar.

Get Some Fiber - Most of us don't get enough fiber every day. Fiber is our body's natural cleanser. In addition to plenty of produce, fiber rich foods such as whole grains will leave you feeling full so you eat less and keep your body in top shape. I love www.lundberg.com . They have an extensive selection of whole grain rice products. Most are available in stores. Alvarado Street Baker www.alveradostreetbakery.com makes excellent whole grain and sprouted grain breads that are in most natural foods stores.

Go veg! A healthy vegetarian diet cuts down cholesterol and the amount of unhealthy fats you are eating and will help your waistline. Population studies show that meat eaters have three times the obesity rate of vegetarians. Aside from the impact on our health, what we eat has a huge impact on the environment. Think the biggest cause of greenhouse gases is automobiles? Nope, it's actually the meat industry or what they call factory-farming. It takes @ 2400 hundred gallons of water and @ 100 pounds of edible grains to produce just one measly pound of beef, not including the oil, gas and electrical energy wasted. You could go two years without taking a shower (not recommended) and still not save as much water as skipping just one pound of beef. Consider a veggie burger instead of that greaseball and you will help save the environment and your waistline!