Vegetarian/Vegan Buffalo Chili Recipe!! (No wings needed!!)

Yesterday I was craving buffalo wings in a major way!  I guess it partially had to do with the fact that I was preparing my family's favorite dinner (Rachel Ray's Buffalo Chicken Chili).  I just love wing sauce, so spicy....so out of my league on a vegetarian diet!!

So, as I was preparing their chili, I asked myself:  "What if I could make a vegetarian/vegan version of this"?  And, you know what?  I did!!

It actually came out amazingly well!  It is a thick, hearty stew-like chili that has TONS of possibilities!  I topped mine with with organic nacho chips, but I thought about serving it over some polenta or seasoned millet!

Heres the recipe:

Vegetarian/Vegan Buffalo Chili recipe

I used all organic ingredients for this recipe with the exception of the buffalo wing sauce (couldn’t find an organic version anywhere!!)

2 Tbl. Oil of choice for sautéing (I used sesame)

2 small (or 1 large) summer squash cut into cubes

2 small (or 1 large) zucchini squash cut into cubes

3 cloves garlic

1 small onion

3 carrots finely chopped

4 ribs celery finely chopped

1 Tbl. Paprika

1 bay leaf

1 can diced tomatoes with juice--next time I'm using fire roasted tomatoes!

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained.

1 can white or red beans, rinsed and drained.

½ cup water or veggie stock

½ cup buffalo wing sauce

2 Tbl. Chia seeds (optional)--they help to "thicken" the sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pan, sauté squashes, onion, carrots, garlic, celery for approx. 7-8 minutes.  Add water, spices, bay leaf, chia seeds, tomatoes, beans and buffalo wing sauce.  Bring to boil and let simmer for at least 10 minutes to bring flavor together. 

(I let it simmer on low for quite a while and got a really nice flavor--).

Top with your favorite organic nacho chips, organic bleu cheese (for non-vegans) or avocado…be creative!! Enjoy!

Cholesterol results & Apple Pectin Powder........

For anyone that is following my journey to lower cholesterol:

I made it through the six weeks of vegan/vegetarian eating and had my numbers checked last week.  And, after eating every type of birdseed under the sun (along with supplements of apple pectin powder, which has been raved about all over the internet for it's cholesterol lowering ability), apple cider vinegar, and many other supplements....the results are:  My cholesterol went UP. :-(

Needless to say, I'm pretty disappointed in the results, although not at all surprised.  On the flip side, I lost a good 8 pounds or so, and feel really great.  But, unfortunately, my blood doesn't really care what I do.......  

Here is the comparison to where I was:

Jan. 13 Total:  264, Tri 72, HDL 74, LDL 176 (on meds)
Feb. 24 Total:  267, Tri 75, HDL 64, LDL 188 (no meds)

So, as you can see, I really got nowhere eating healthy, exercising regularly, and supplementing with the pectin powder.  Obviously, my numbers put the doctor into a panic and she instantly told me to begin my Lipitor once again.  The fact that my LDL went up didn't please her at all and she was/is considering upping my dosage.  I declined and told her I would take the minimum dose until May and see where my numbers are.

It's really deflating to think that the only way to manage my lipids is through medication, but I'm really getting discouraged!!

I would love to hear from others who have this type of condition (genetically high lipids, not dietary type) and how they manage.  As for the apple pectin powder:  I am proof that is DOES NOT help people like me (genetically high lipids), but cannot speak for those with dietary type.  I will be tossing the rest of the supplement away, the pills were HUGE and hard to swallow anyways ;-)

On a good note:  I got to spend a wonderful day with my mom yesterday for her 64th birthday!  We went to a foot spa/tea house and had a wonderful foot & leg massage with some great organic tea!  It was a much needed boost for the soul!  Spring is right around the corner!  Cannot wait to see the daffodils peeking up in my (still) snow covered beds!!

Have a great weekend!!

My Latest Cholesterol Numbers are in.....ugh!

2 weeks ago, I had to go back to my doctor after suffering from some horrible side effects of the statin drug I have been taking for the past couple of years.  (skin numbness, headaches, memory loss....yeah, memory loss/fogginess!  I feel like I'm 90 some days!)

My last test was a year ago, and for the 1st time, my numbers came back under 200 mg/dl!  They were total 188 mg/dl...which, in my world, is amazing!!

So, I figured, that I could possible begin to add some of the unhealthier foods into my diet (just a little), like cheese, dessert, you know, the fun stuff... Well, a year and 10 pounds later, I'm at 264 mg/dl. (while still on meds)......... boooo!!!

So, I convinced my nurse practitioner to let me stop my statins for 6 weeks to help my nerve issues and memory "fogginess".  She reluctantly agreed, and I am now back to my strict vegetarian/vegan diet.  I'm hopefully optimistic that my numbers won't skyrocket, but the "realist" in me knows that the hammer will probably drop, and hard, at the end of my 6 week statin "vacation".  I feel so much better without the drugs, and feel amazing eating a cleaner diet.  We'll have to see what the numbers bring in 6 weeks.

For those interested:  My cardio exercise consists of 3-4 days of "Zumba" dance, and during the winter I snowboard pretty much every weekend. :-)