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I off to Europe for 5 weeks!

I’m all packed and ready to go.

The duffel bag turns into a backpack! Neat, huh? It will be great when I’m roaming the streets, reading signs in a foreign language and trying to find a hostel.

Power adaptors…check.

Laundry rope…check.

The Seville Communion by Autro Perez-Reverte (a murder mystery novel set in Spain)…check.

Walking shoes…check.

Running Shoes…check.

A few outfits…check.

Food for the 23 hours I will be spending in the airport and on planes…check.

Food is no longer served on airplanes and it’s hard to know if there will be healthy vegetarian/vegan options at the airport terminals. I always pack food because it’s cheaper, healthier and quicker than standing in line when you’re rushing from gate to gate. Through trial and error I’ve found that pita pockets, fruit, veggies and trail mix are the best for traveling. I’ve had my favorite Morning Star Spicy Black Bean Burger make planes smell like Mexican restaurants, had hummus escape the bread and get all over my bag and have eaten multiple soggy tomato sandwiches. I think I finally got it right for this trip.

The pita’s are filled with faux turkey meat, spinach and veggie cheese. I typically have aversions towards faux meat products, but have to admit that they work well for traveling. Slice, stuff and go. Easy. Here is a list of the foods that work best for me when traveling.

What a Vegan Packs for a Day at the Airport

1. Sweet peas
2. Carrots
3. Celery
4. Fruit and nut trail mix*
5. Almond butter
6. Apple and Grapes
7. Granola bar
8. Pita pockets with faux turkey meat**

* Easy to make at home with nuts, seeds and dry fruit you have in the pantry.
** You can grab condiments, such as ketchup and mustard, at any airport restaurant.

The almond butter tastes like heaven on an apple.

Hopefully this list will be beneficial next time your packing for a long day at the airport!

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Here is my agenda for the 5 weeks:

1. France
2. The Netherlands
3. Portugal
4. Spain

I’m all set and so excited I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep an ounce. I feel like a 5-year-old waiting for Christmas morning. Good thing I packed a sleeping mask and earplugs so I can get some shut-eye on the plane.

My backpack is big, but not big enough for a computer. I will only have access to the internet via Internet Cafe’s, so it might be a while before I send a (virtual) postcard. Until then…

Au revior. Je vais vous voir bientot!

In keeping with this summers traveling theme, my family and I went to Las Vegas to celebrate my sisters 21st birthday!

Las Vegas is an adult playground where prostitution and gambling are legal, clubs and bars are open all night and where water is more expensive than liquor. We were there for 3 days and 2 nights. The perfect amount of time to spend in a city that never sleeps. Ok, I know that New York is technically the “city that never sleeps,” but I would beg to differ after going to Vegas. There is, however, something for everyone to do in Vegas, whether it’s gambling, eating, shopping, dancing or seeing a show. We did it all.

“If you want to win a small fortune in Vegas, start with a large one.” -Unknown

I’m not much of a gambler, but I really enjoyed playing Roulette. I lost $40, or 100% of the money I started with.

We also saw Cirque du Soleil – The Beatles Love show. It was, in one word, INCREDIBLE. It was a songbook of the Beatles mixed with the story of their lives portrayed using amazing acrobats. There was amazing roller skating to flipping 50 feet above our heads on a trapeze. My mouth was open in awe the entire time. Words can not explain how good the show was.

We are not as talented as the Cirque du Soleil team:

We stayed at the Venetian and found Zine, a gem of a restaurant, only by chance. We were starving, had a coupon and found it conveniently located on the Casino level of our hotel. I did not realize this before I went to Vegas, but there are famous chefs with their own namesake restaurants lurking around every corner. Emeril, Wolfgang Puck, Spago…take your pick.

Zine Noodles Dim Sum, I found out after we ate there, is host to chef Simon To and voted a “Top 10″ chinese restaurant in the U.S. I ordered the Clay Pot Brazed Eggplant with Tofu (instead of Duck) and it was, by far, the best tofu/eggplant dish I have ever had! The eggplant was perfectly caramelized and the sweet glaze balanced well with the peppers. The tofu was also delightful; not too oily or tough. DELICIOUS! I would recommend this to everyone.

We ate and drank our way through Vegas, so on the last morning I went for a 3-mile run down the strip. As I ran, I saw men walking home with their shirt-tails untucked and women with their heels off and hair array. Like I said…the city that never sleeps.

Speaking of running and Vegas, I’m excited to announce that I signed up for the VEGAS ROCK N’ ROLL MARATHON!!! I’ve run two half marathons and am stepping up to the plate to run my first marathon!!

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They are closing down the strip at night on December 4th for the marathon. Check out the race website for more information. I am so excited and nervous all at the same time.

I will start training when I return from Europe at the end of August. I leave to Paris next Monday and am currently unpacking, repacking, doing laundry and need to make sure my passport is up-to-date.

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Would you like to do a guest post on the blog while I’m in Europe? Do you want to share your story, favorite recipe or your most recent adventure? Send me an email (anotherhealthyhabit@gmail.com) ASAP!

We also took an architecture tour on the river and explored Millennium Mile, the shopping district. We had a great time!

We also had a bast watching grammy-winning harmonica player, Sugar Blue, at Buddy Guy’s Blues Club.

Breakfast #1,2 and 3: Protein Bar

I loved the Protein Bar! Just look at the menu. This is one of those places where you just stand and stare at the menu because there are so many delicious-sounding options. Quinoa, steel-cut oats, eggs, greek yogurt…AHHH-MAZING! I had the steel-cut oats with protein powder, soy milk and fruit one morning and quinoa with soy milk and fruit the next morning. I got green juice both days. I stayed full all morning! I wish we had a Protein Bar in Texas, but I don’t think the name would suffice here.

Check out this article about the owner.

As foodies, we found the hot spots in Chi-town for dinner…

Dinner #1: Custom House Taverns

Custom House was an uppity grill house that prided themselves on their steaks. Needless to say I was a bit skeptical when all the salads had calf’s head, tongue or fish on them. I was alarmed because salads are typically a “safe-zone” for vegetarians. However, I was lucky to find the winner of all vegetable plates. It wasn’t just some roasted vegetables piled on a plate, but lentils with the perfect tomato topping, oyster mushrooms with a perfectly-paired sweet sauce, asparagus, and greens that were perfectly married with caramelized turnips.

Even though my initial glance at the menu gave me a fright, I throughly enjoyed the meal.

Dinner #2: Le Colonial

Le Colonial was a warm and inviting French-Vietnamese restaurant. Upon sitting, I was handed a vegetarian menu complete with appetizers, main courses and vegan deserts. We were also given a complimentary appetizer because my menu had gum on it. The peanut sauce was good, but the rolls were nothing to get worked-up over.

I ordered the Tau Hu Cari or lightly fried tofu with eggplant, asparagus, mango, yams, & cashew nuts in yellow coconut curry sauce. I ate every bite and would definitely order it again.

We definitely enjoyed our experience here (and the couple next to us that had had a few too many drinks).

Dinner #3: Karen’s on Green

Karen’s is a haven for vegans. Normally, I direct my gaze to the ‘salad’ portion of the menu for lack of other options. Well, my friends, you have options here! The whole menu is your oyster! They even denoted soy free, gluten free and nut free. We ordered the raw crackers and homemade sunflower seed hummus. The crackers were good, but the hummus was a tad too thick. Our crackers broke in half each time we used them to scoop the hummus.

Stacy ordered the “Chicken Legs” with sweet potato hash, swiss chard and barbeque sauce. It was very tasty, but I was a little disappointed to see faux meat options because the majority of people dining there are vegan for a reason…no animals. Which brings me to another point…on the flat screen behind the bar was a National Geographic video of a wolf chasing and eating other animals. It was slightly off-putting in a vegan restaurant.

I ordered the raw pasta with cashew creme sauce. I’ve made this at home and wanted to see how it differed. Theirs was great, but I like the cheesy flavor from the nutritional yeast that I add to mine. It was very good though and the wait staff was very friendly and tentative.

For dessert we ordered the cheese cake. It was delectable! Don’t mind our theology lesson in the background….

We were in and out of the city in 3 days, but I had a blast! Chicago – I will be seeing you again.

Have you been to Chicago? If so, do you have a favorite restaurant?

She looked like a princess…

and he was her king…

We spent the morning getting our hair and makeup done and trying to keep the bride calm about cake problems and reception decorations that were in slight disarray.

The afternoon was filled with picture-taking and making sure the bride did not cross paths with the groom at the on-site bed & breakfast that was rented out for the wedding party.

The wedding ceremony was outside under a gazebo at a local vineyard.

It was a beautiful ceremony and a fun reception full of dancing. After the reception the bride and groom left to their suite at the B&B and the wedding party went out downtown. Needless to say I’m still tired from the festivities. I’ve watched a lot of this:

…and this:

…and this:

so I made this…

Homemade Kettle Corn

3 T. vegetable oil
3 T. popcorn kernels
1 T. agave (or honey)
1 t. cinnamon

1. Pour oil into pot (make sure it covers the bottom of the pot). Add a single kernel of corn. Cover and heat at medium-high setting.
2. When kernel pops, add corn to cover pot bottom (one kernel deep). Cover and shake gently.
3. When popping slows, remove from heat and add agave and cinnamon.

FYI: Honey works, but agave gives a classic kettle corn taste. You can also use an air-popper if you have one.

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If you know me, you know I can’t sit for too long. Tomorrow I’m heading to Chicago!!! My step-mom has a business conference and I’m just going along for the ride.
I can’t wait to find a deep-dish pizza and some fabulous veggie food.

Have you been to Chicago? If so, what is your favorite thing to do or favorite place to eat?

Take a shower – check.

Make a delicious breakfast – check.

Baked Eggs in a Portobello Mushroom
1 serving

1 large Portobello mushroom cap
2 eggs (or egg whites)
2 T onion, finely diced
1 T scallion greens and bulbs, finely chopped
1 oz. goat cheese
roasted tomatoes, optional
S&P
Cooking spray

1. Preheat the oven to 375°.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.  Clean the mushroom caps with a damp paper towel. Pop off the stem and leave the gills intact.

2. Lightly sprinkle each mushroom cap with salt & freshly ground pepper, followed by the onion, cheese and scallions. Carefully crack two eggs into each mushroom and place on baking sheet.  Bake for 25-35 minutes, until the eggs are set according to personal taste.

3. Remove from the oven & allow to cool for about 5 minutes.  Garnish with scallion greens and pepper, and enjoy!

Make signs for the wedding – check.

Go over my Maid of Honor toast – check.

Pack – check.

Burn CD with back-up wedding songs on it – check.

Eat a gigantic summer salad – check.

Spinach, homegrown tomatoes, baked tofu, sweet potato, bell peppers and left-over black bean salad. Yum-ola!

Drive to the rehearsal dinner….

I’m off and will see you Monday. Have a great weekend!