Getting Ready for Summer---Book suggestion for eating healthier...

There have been lots of changes this past year.   I know we haven't posted through the winter but life gets in the way sometimes.   Theresa and I are still committed to eating healthy and we hope to be at the Chatham Borough's Farmers Market this year...we just won't be there until later in the season.   I have been thinking for awhile on how to approach this blog.   I have told you how we started and all about our burgers..so what is next.

In my other life I have a children's book blog.   While children's books are a passion with me I also love books in general.   I thought I could recommend some books that helped me get on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

Before Theresa and I started our veggie burger business we did some research.  I started with a book.

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan really changed how I looked at what I ate.  I liked his tag line: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.  He explained how a supermarket is set up and that we should shop the perimeter, the center has mostly processed foods.  There were many lessons in the book ---most I knew I could follow.  I liked how he didn't make me feel like I had to do everything in his book to the letter....I felt that he encouraged small changes which I could do.   I started eating yogurt and fruit for breakfast, I no longer put artificial sweetener in my coffee and I learned to stay away from High Fructose Corn syrup(I know the commercials say it isn't bad for you but I'd rather stay away as much as possible).  I still eat my favorite cookies but I try not to eat too much.  This book taught me to make small changes to be healthier.   I do feel better and know that this book helped.   It is a great place to start for living a healthier life....Happy Summer!

Black Bean & Corn Salad~

As promised here is the special side we will be selling at the Chatham Farmer's Market on Saturday Oct 23....Black Bean & Corn Salad~

Theresa thought long and hard about what side to make and she kept coming back to our Black Bean & Corn Salad....it is one of our most requested sides.  The last time we were at the market, Michelle, a mother she knows couldn't stop raving about it and asked us when we were making it again.   Like I said a popular  item indeed.   I am actually very partial to it myself....so we hope to see you tomorrow ---remember bundle up it will be a bit chilly!

The Italian Riviera and Riviera Market part one

I thought since we weren't at the Chatham Farmer's Market this past week I thought I would write about where the veggie burgers got started.  Theresa's sister and brother- in-law own The Italian Riviera in Waldwick NJ.   Theresa would sometimes help out in the kitchen. In fact it was because of her that their salad bar now carries the Asian Napa Cabbage Salad and the Beet Salad that we have sold at the Farmers Market.  We in turn got our Corn Salad recipe from Jose who does the cooking on the Riviera Market side of The Italian Riviera.

Fresh Produce

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Let me explain about the Italian Riviera, it is actually two stores.  Besides the Italian Deli  there is  The Riviera Market which was formally known as Fish, Fruits and Fancy Market....when Mike had owned the Italian Riviera for a few years he took over the Market thus changing it's name.  The Market is like a small gourmet food store.   It has an incredible salad bar that wins raves from it's customers.    There is also fresh fish and a butcher.   The fish is awesome....I love when a whole salmon comes in and Jose fillets it himself.   It really is an art.   The Market is known not only for the salad bar but for it's fresh vegetables and  really wonderful shrimp cocktail.....around the holidays the shrimp is pretty much cooked around the clock just to fill orders.   People come from far and wide just for the shrimp.   Another highly requested item is the chocolate covered strawberries (see above)....I met a guy who travelled the length of NJ so that he could get them for his wife's birthday.   He had moved from the area but always made a trip back just for the strawberries.

Shrimp Cocktail~delish!

Here is another hot ticket item....they smell so good when they are cooking~ Clams Casino!

Clams Casino cooking

Finished Clams Casino!

Some other highlights of the Riviera Market:

Fresh Fruit!

Fresh Fish!

What was considered fancy~seasonal candies!

Sauces & Chips!

There is so much more to the Riviera.....lots to find in a deli for Vegetarians, if you just take a look.....come by and see~  

Next up some great items for Vegetarians on the Deli side...stay tuned!

Prep Day for Sat....

I just got back from doing my Friday packaging of our burgers.   We are going to sample the SW and possibly the Asian burger tomorrow.   After tomorrow we are taking a break until October 2nd so come out and stock up for the next few weeks.

Tomorrow's side dish is an Asian Napa Cabbage Salad....it is one of my favorites.   Theresa introduced it to the Riviera Market in Waldwick and their customers love it.   Here is how it looks before we pack it out.....

Doesn't it look delish!

Another view: 

Seriously I could eat that whole thing....

So we hope to see you tomorrow.....It should  be a beautiful day!

From CNN: Positives to a Plant Based Diet

I saw this report on CNN and thought it was perfect  way to explain why our Veggie burgers are a nice alternative.  This report doesn't say to replace meat altogether but to balance it out.   It also compares veggie burgers to hamburgers.   A nice short report that is to the point.   Again it is all about balance.

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/09/07/study-says-not-all-proteins-are-equal/