Pumpkin Seeds

Always on the quest for easy summer dinners filled with fresh veggies, but looking for a little added flavor, I have stumbled upon toasted pumpkin seeds.  Yes, my favorite lunch place, Lotta Frutta and a root canal helped me with the discovery.

I love nuts, but after an almond recently split my tooth resulting in a less than fun and incredibly expensive root canal and a crown I decided to give up nuts for awhile.  I was dining at Lotta Frutta and Myrna suggested adding toasted pumpkin seeds to my salad.  Delicious!  So, last night I whipped up a salad with lots of veggies, grilled some asparagus with seasame oil and GF soy sauce and baked polenta topped with veggies.  I threw some pumpkin seeds in a pan with a little spray olive oil and just mixed them around a bit.  They turned out perfectly.  The seeds added a smoky, crunchy lift to my salad.  And, I sprinkled them over the asparagus too.  All vegan, all GF.  Yum.  But this dinner did fail the family test.  Not one taker.

Speaking of Lotta Frutta, the girls finally got their picture posted in the restaurant.  This was a HUGE deal to the girls.  I think it might have been the best day of their short but adventure packed life.

Beyond pumpkin seeds - and on to smoothies.  I used to be intimidated by smoothies, did I need to get a recipe?  Follow it precisely?  No and No.  I am no longer afraid.  I threw in one frozen banana, one big handful of frozen strawberries, a scoop of vegan protein and about a cup of water.  Perfect afternoon snack!  Another tip I learned recently - if you are freezing fresh fruit (I am trying, trying to be that organized and proactive), cut the fruit lay it out flat on a baking sheet, and freeze them not touching one another.  After they are frozen, then throw them into your freezer container, glass or zip lock bag, and they wont stick together!

The girls are now Jamie Oliver fans

Lotta Frutta's Pops

I thought Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution might be a little over my girls heads or that they would become instantly "bored".  But, I was telling them about where food comes from one day and had his show saved on our DVR so I  decided to give it a try.  They LOVED it, and seemed to understand healthy eating much better after watching his show.  They now ask to watch him everyday!  Their new found enthusiasm and curiosity about healthy eating as been a lot of fun for me.  To hear them talk about what is healthy and what is not, and how can we find a good healthy meal, etc is exciting.  Today, my oldest suggested that we go out to lunch, because I had worked so hard cleaning the kitchen and she didnt want to have to see me do that again.  Humm, valid point, my dear, where shall we go?  Both girls screamed, Lotta Frutta.  I know, I have written about this place too much - but I had two new exciting discoveries!

Coconut Milk Mango Ice Cream

I was able to talk with the owner, Myrna for a few minutes.  She was so full of love and excitement it was a pleasure to spend time with her.  I told her I was heartbroken that I could not eat my favorite sandwich (b/c of the gluten).  She did not miss a beat and came up with an amazing salad.  Mixed greens, tomatoes, the avocado spread that I love on the sandwich, toasted pumpkin seeds, kiwi, oranges, and a lemon vinaigrette.    Wow!!  Seriously -   I am beginning to think the more things I tell a chef that I can not have, the more exotic and full of taste the dishes become!  So - Lotta Frutta - vegan, gluten free salad. Awesome.  2nd, they are now serving vegan / GF ice cream made of coconut milk - today was mango.  Again - awesome.  Soooo good. 

Salad creation - GF and Vegan

LottaFrutta Again

S in the window - she loves this place

My veggin hold the cheese

Mothers Day - Some want a fancy brunch - I want a vegan sandwich from Lotta Frutta on Auburn Avenue.  I know I posted about this restaurant before, but I cant stop thinking about their amazing vegan sandwich.  It is such a fun place.  I held my breath as I finally asked if the bread was vegan and to my surprise it was.  So, the Veggin, without cheese is vegan.  Chad enjoyed his turkey and havarti sandwich (more like a panni) - S ordered the veggin without cheese but added hummus and I had the veggin no cheese.  Great way to spend my mothers day, sitting in the sun enjoying my veggin.  (And, I havent even begun to tell you about their smoothies & fruit cups)

Chad's turkey / havarti

One of my favorite lunch places

The other day I found myself driving around Atlanta running a lot of necessary but mindless errands after a pretty hard workout that morning.   I realized I was starving, not the kind of oh, I can get a quick smoothie and be fine, or maybe a nice salad.  I wanted something that would sustain me and that was really, really good.  I knew exactly - the veggin out sandwich at Lotta Frutta in the Old Forth Ward.  I was on the other side of town but drove all the way there to get this amazing sandwich.  I asked them to leave off the cheese, and I have them replace the sprouts with micro greens.  It has an amazing creamy avocado spread, and tomatoes, toasted like a panni and the bread is out of this world.  Note - I have not asked if the bread is vegan - will do so on next trip.  But regardless this sandwich is amazing.  And, you can't beat the atmosphere, fun people, bright colors and a place I love to hang out and enjoy my food.  As an added bonus - creative smoothies and fruit cups to complement the sandwich.  My husband, and one daughter approve also.