For those of you that have known me back spanning the decades…you will certainly remember the Belly Bombs.  It was in the starter section of a couple of cookbooks that I put together and many people lovingly adopted this simple recipe as their own.  I am not sure exactly what it is about these Belly Bombs but I guess a slice is just instant comfort food.  Very easy to prepare as a snack for watching the game or put it out for a gathering for people to munch and swoon on.  Some have even made Belly Bombs a meal. I just like saying Belly Bombs…

I have not made Belly Bombs in many years and so I decided to veganize this recipe and bring it into the now.  The wonderful thing about this recipe is that you can add some other things to it to make it even more interesting. Just keep it simple and keep it kind. I must say after tasting this new version it took me back a bit to some good times but mostly it made me appreciate where life has me now.  It is going to be a wonderful on-going process of bringing old recipes through “the sieve of kindness” and to a place where I can joyfully share them with everyone.

Vegan Belly Bombs

1 loaf fresh French bread, sliced in half lengthwise

2 handfuls of Daiya vegan cheese

1 small 4 oz. can chopped olives

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

6 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms

1 tbsp. Earth Balance vegan butter

5 green onions, sliced, including bulb

1 small 4 oz. can diced chiles

3 tbsp. vegenaise

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Heat pan over medium heat with vegan butter and saute mushrooms and garlic until soft, about 4 minutes.  Add to small bowl and mix in with all of the other ingredients and then salt and pepper to taste. Spread mixture on top of sliced french bread loaves.  Top with a good handful of Daiya for each side.  Place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted to your liking.  Makes 12-14 good slices.

People love eating burritos…there is just something about slamming a bunch of things together in a tortilla wrap and letting them all moosh together and make somethng happy happen. The fact of the matter is, though, that most burritos are not very kind at all.  Too many people want to fill them with meat and cheese and sour cream and all kinds of things that really just make them…mean. So when I made my way to Qdoba Mexican Grill, I was in search of a kinder burrito…and I certainly found one.

Qdoba Mexican Grill is another place that you can deem fast food but takes using fresh ingredients very seriously.  Everything is made to order just the way that you want it. On their menu is a Vegetarian Burrito and that is what I started with. A large wrap is grilled in front of you and then you start out with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, lettuce, your choice of salsas, and guacamole.  The also have a mixture of zucchini, yellow, squash, and red peppers with onions available as well.  I used a medium hot salsa and also a corn salsa as well.  This kinder kind of burrito actually tasted very similar to the one that I normally get at Chipotle…and that is a good thing.  Qdoba takes a lot of pride in making burritos the right way and on their website even instruct you the right way to eat them so as they don’t completely fall apart on you. Well, it happens anyway…but it is all good.  Everything still gets eaten.

If there is one meal that vegans, vegetarians, and the v-curious tend to eat away from home on a regular basis…it is lunch, and lunch is a perfect time to find yourself at Qdoba.  Even if there is a line, it moves quickly.  The restaurants are clean and there is ample seating.  You can be in and out in a short time and fill yourself with something fresh, kind, and wonderful. That’s the point of the meal, right?  Qdoba puts itself right in the mix with Chipotle and Rubio’s as offering some fast but kind and healthy meal options for you.  Sometimes you don’t have time for anything more and we just have to be thankful that options like this exist.  Add some extra salsa to spice it up a bit…I always enjoy a little kick with my kindness.  Smiles.

Qdoba Mexican Grill

175 N. Stephanie

Henderson, NV. 89074

(888)587-3622

5045 W. Tropicana

Las Vegas, NV. 89103

(888)587-3622

6965 S. Rainbow

Las Vegas, NV. 89113

(888)587-3622

6010 W. Craig Rd.

Las Vegas, NV. 89130

(888)587-3622

www.qdoba.com

Brio Tuscan Grille has a great atmosphere.  Nicely decorated  with a mix of old world charm and more modern touch.  It is a great place to gather for almost any occasion. Good food at reasonable prices.  Brunch on both days of the weekend.  Yet nothing on the menu at Brio Tuscan Grille appears too vegan-friendly. No reason to give up, though, it just takes a little modifying when ordering and then you can dine very well.

I love cooking pasta at home.  I try to cook whole wheat pasta whenever possible because the body processes it so much better.  Sometimes when I am out it is the only thing that I am in the mood for.  Such was the case while out with the lovely Theresa and we find ourselves at Brio Tuscan Grille.  It was not all that difficult to get what I wanted.  I ordered the Penne Mediterranean which is penne pasta with mushrooms, spinach, sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions, and pine nuts.  Just ask them to leave off the feta cheese and to make sure to use olive oil instead of butter.  Easily done and they will work with you on every dish when modifications are possible.

The Penne Mediterranean was excellent.  Very light with just a gentle toss of olive oil and herbs and it allowed the flavors of the other ingredients to really shine through. This is actually something similar to what I would make at home so it is definitely comfort food for me. It was very enjoyable.  There are other pasta dishes you can work a little vegan magic with and some salads and bruschettas as well.  They can also make you up a special flatbread if you ask.  The servers are all very cool about getting you what you need and how you want it.  Remember, like everywhere you dine, to give them some extra love when you leave for giving you some special attention.  It is good to give and it all comes back around.

Enjoy a wonderful sorbet for dessert…it is a delightful way to end the meal. Whether you visit either local Brio Tuscan Grille, at Town Square or now at Tivoli Village, there is always plenty of other things to do around the restaurants as well.  Make it an afternoon or evening and with a little creativity you can enjoy satisfying vegan-friendly meal at Brio.  Buon Appetito!

Brio Tuscan Grille (Town Square)

6653 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV. 89119

(702)914-9145

Hours:  Mon-Thur 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

            Fri-Sat      11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.

            Sun           11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Brio Tuscan Grille (Tivoli Village)

420 S. Rampart Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV. 89148

(702) 433-1233

Hours:  11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Daily

www.brioitalian.com

Whole Foods Market…or WFM for short…is an absolute haven for vegan eating whether you are purchasing food to take home to prepare or you are taking advantage of the many kinds of prepared foods or made to order foods available for vegans.  As I have blogged before, the combinations of foods they offer is almost endless.  Most of the food I buy at Whole Foods is to take home and cook, but it is a great spot for me to go to for lunch whether it be the vegan hot food bar, prepared foods, vegan pizza, salad bar, the taco bar, or today’s choice…the made to order sandwich counter.

They usually have at least six to eight various vegan sandwich options at any given time and they all look great.  They have a variety of vegan breads.  I chose the Eggplant Muffaletta served on a square vegan wheat and oat bread.  They used two big slices of lightly grilled eggplant, an olive tapenade, spinach,  and red peppers. It was a little messy but delicious…the clerk at the counter even forewarned me. The bread really helped to make this sandwich…sometimes the bread can be too big a part of the sandwich and this was perfect.

There are a number of other choices that I want to try in their vegan sandwich section and I certainly will as I continue towards my goal of 365 vegan meals in 365 days here in Las Vegas.  I also decided that I wanted to bring something sweet back to work to share so I picked up a little vegan Spiced Apple cake from WFM.  These little cakes are made by Red Velvet Cafe here locally and they are wonderful.  Not quite the same as buying them at the Cafe but still very good.  WFM also has vegan Red Velvet and a couple of chocolate varieties from Red Velvet Cafe as well.  The Spiced Apple cake had a light frosting on top of the apple cake which had chunks of apple in it. Very fitting for the season we are in.  If you need to pick up a quick and always fresh and delicious vegan meal…there is a Whole Foods Market not too far away where you can always make wonderful things happen.  

Whole Foods Markets

6689 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV. 89119

(702)589-7711

8865 W. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV. 89117

(702)254-8655

7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV. 89128

(702) 942-1500

100 S. Green Valley Pkwy

Henderson, NV. 89012

(702)361-8183

Call stores for hours

It was early in the morning and I had already made up my mind that there was only one place to go and eat on World Vegan Day…and that was Pura Vida. This wonderful creation of Chef Mayra that she has poured so much of her heart and life into and the results are just amazing.  Pura Vida is an all-vegan, all the time restaurant just on the edge of the Arts District downtown. A completely cruelty-free kitchen and restaurant and this was where I needed and wanted to be.

By the time I made it in it was lunch time.  Breakfast…lunch…brunch…it is ALL good.  To be greeted warmly when you come in and know that wonderful things are going to continue to come your way.  I checked out the specials board when I came in as I am want to do and found something that caught my eye that I had not tried before.  I have been here a “few” times before.  Smiles.  A Chile Relleno Burrito.  I started out with some refreshing lime-mint Kangen water.  The meal comes with a salad which was delicious, topped with corn sprouts and a delightful miso-ginger dressing and hemp seeds.  Chef Mayra sent out some of her famous bean dip and chips because she is such a love. Chef brought out my Chile Relleno Burrito personally and it was a work of art.  Four sections of grilled burrito on a bed of spinach and covered with slivered peppers and onion, and tomatoes centered around a lovely Caribbean rice with vegetables and topped with fresh flowers.  The burritos were filled…and I do mean filled…with spinach, vegan cheese, tofu scramble, spicy soy chorizo, onions, peppers, and of course, a large chile.  Oh my goodness this was good! 

It actually took me a while to get started on this because I sat and admired it.  It was beautiful to look at.  I just looked at the kitchen and smiled.  I loved every bite of it…at least what I could finish…I could not eat it all at one sitting.  I took it to go along with a little bag of fresh vegan chocolate chip cookies that I was going to share with a friend. I had only had a little fruit for breakfast and I ended up having the remaining part of the burrito for dinner…so in reality my only full meal of the day was from Pura Vida.  How appropriate. My body was telling me that this was all that I needed.  Pura Vida was all I need.  Love is all I need.  And in reality, they are one in the same.

Pura Vida Bakery & Bystro

1236 Western Ave.

Las Vegas, NV.

(702)722-0108

www.puravidavegas.com

Hours:  Mon-Wed, Fri  7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

            Sat-Sun           9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

            Dark Thursdays

Notes and Musings:  I wanted to invite all that are in town to the Fabulous Fall Fest hosted by Pura Vida at their restaurant location this Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Come in enjoy great vegan food, music, and the opportunity to visit booths with great vegan companies and organizations.  Meet some wonderful people. A special meal will also be available for $15.00 with part of the proceeds going towards animal rescue.  Admission to the Fall Fest is free…hope to see you there!