Benefits of a Community Garden

It's always good to get involved in your community in some form or another. 

This summer my mom, neighbors and I have community plots at the community garden in our city.

We are so excited to grow:

Lilac Peppers

Orange Peppers

Red Peppers

Pablano Pepper

Boston Lettuce

Mixed Lettuce

Spinach 

Cilantro 

Parsley

Basil 

Broccoli (Stir-fry broccoli, thinner)

Snap Pea's 

Green Beans 

I can't wait to see how everything grows, and I especially can't wait to taste and eat everything!!!

We also have an herb garden in our backyard, and it's so simple to just go grab some herbs to top off many summer dishes. 

Stay tuned to see how everything turns out in August!

For now, thanks for "Jogging with Me!" 

Homemade Pop-Tarts!

Homemade Pop-Tarts!

What is a day without dessert?! Without the unnecessary additives and fillers (especially dairy and soy!) here is my own version of "Pop-Tarts" using fruit jam filling (blueberry and raspberry) on filo dough, plus homemade icing!

The Steps:

1. Lay out the filo dough

2. Plop fruit filling and spread. Brush around the edges with egg or water, fold over the dough to stick.

3. Use a fork to pinch the sides.

4. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until it is crispy and browned. 

5. Decorate with homemade icing, consisting of powdered sugar, non-dairy vegan milk (coconut for example) and a bit of the fruit jam! 


Now you've got the final product to enjoy without feeling too guilty. 

Check it out and more on @JoggingwithJewelz on Instagram! 

Thanks for "Jogging with Me!" 

MiAMi EATS!

If you're ever planning on taking a trip to exciting, vibrant and sunny city of Miami, FL - this guide will serve you well for finding healthy and tropical eats! 

First up, COCONUT WATER OUT OF A COCONUT! I have been wanting to try this ever since I made friends with people from Brazil at my university a few years ago. I got to drink pure coconut water right on the ocean at Fontainebleu, an incredible resort right in Miami Beach.

Next, South Beach is a young and buzzing place to hit up if you're looking for some tourist shops, (plus DASH by the Kardashian's), spunky bars on Ocean Drive (think The Clevelander or Mangoes), or especially ethnic Cuban food! I recommend eating at Lario's on The Beach, a completely Cuban restaurant that catered to my allergy-needs. 

I have here grilled grouper with avocado and fresh salad toppings. So delicious! Their Cuban espresso was also rich and velvety- so good! 

Now... UNDER THE MANGO TREE serving up DRAGONFRUIT and AÇAI BOWLS! Yummmmmm! These have sliced banana, coconut shavings, and organic soy-free granola. Completely vegan, completely nutritious, completely AMAZING! (A food-blogging friend of mine actually recommended this place, since he grew up around the area!) 

Here is some Mahi Mahi from Pelican's, also on Ocean Drive. Don't forget try a Jumbo-Marg, while you're at it!

At the little shop in the chateau of our resort/hotel, here we have black coffee and a favorite brand of mine, Theo Chocolate: a spicy chili pepper/choco duo (vegan, df/sf/gf).

I hope this guide will serve you well for finding the best Miami eats on your next trip to this great Floridian city. All the places I visited were extremely helpful when it came to catering to my allergies. 

That's all for now. Thanks for "Jogging with Me"! 

The Girliest Vegan Cupcakes

Yes, these ARE the girliest vegan cupcakes! 

Making the most girly and fun vegan cupcakes is actually simpler than you may think! I made these cupcakes from scratch, but here is all you need to know when using a box mix. 

1. Choose your favorite healthy box mix that excludes additives like milk and soy
2. Replace the milk with nut-milk
3. Replace the butter with coconut oil
4. Replace the egg with flax 

The icing is a vanilla and chocolate swirl, with pretty pink sprinkles an a pink pearl on top. 

The icing can be homemade, or you can find a dairy-free/soy-free/vegan icing from the grocery store, as there are a good amount on the market to choose from.

Voilá! You're on your way. My dad is the pickiest eater I know and trust me, you won't even know they're dairy-free! 

I made these for a friends going-away party!

Thanks for "Jogging with Me"! 

Weekend Summer Salads

Here are 2 weekend summer salads you can easily prepare in less than 20 minutes! Something you and your family will love. (And, if you're cooking for Mother's Day, why not?)

Grilling tips: If you grill your protein the night before or even earlier in the daytime and store in the refrigerator, you can add it quickly to your salad. I chose to feature these 2 salads with protein, as that is how it is traditionally served in Pittsburgh. If you choose to grill your protein and make the salads simultaneously, the whole entire preparation should take about an hour, depending on your grilling preferences. I actually enjoy this salad without any meat!

Hey, you should thinking about adding watercress too... it's a major cancer-fighting nutrient! It's got a bold flavor, so don't add too much at once! 

Also, sunflower sprouts would be the perfect addition to this salad for added nutritional benefit.

Orange Citrus-Strawberry Poppyseed Salad - with grilled protein 

[Fix-in's: spinach, walnuts, berries, cucumbers, mandarins]

Steak and Frites Salad, AKA "The Pittsburgh Salad"

[Fix-in's: tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, (hard-boiled egg if choose), onion]

All dressing for dipping is DF, SF, GF, V. [Honey Mustard, Ranch]

The french fries by Alexia brand are also DF, SF, GF, and V. Oil used: Sunflower.

Featuring Totter (and some pretty lilac and rose water)!

Have fun making your quick and simple summer salads this weekend, and thanks for "Jogging with Me"!