Foodgazi Closing

We would like to thank you very much for your support in our endeavor to educate and serve Cleveland through teaching and providing vegan/vegetarian foods. After much consideration, and even reluctance, we must close Foodgazi.

If you have a valid, unused gift certificate, please reply with the following information to receive a refund. Refunds will be processed until August 1, 2012. 

• Buyer's full name
• Buyer's email address
• Gift certificate number (lower left or right corner of gift certificate)
• Payment type

Should you or anyone you know like private, in-home one-on-one cooking instruction or personal chef work, we can still accommodate. You may request these services from either Melody Caraballo (melodyc14 AT gmail.com) or LIz Vondrak (vondrak4702 AT gmail.com).

Again, we appreciate everyone's involvement with Foodgazi and look forward to helping vegan/vegetarianism move forward in Cleveland in some capacity.

Sincerely,

Melody & Liz

Cooking Class: Low Budget, High Flavor (May 17)

These are unstable economic times after all. Learn how to get the most bang for your buck and mojo for your mouth during the "Low Budget, High Flavor" class on May 17. This $35 class is hands-on and includes an entree and either an appetizer or dessert. Please note, Flavor Flav will not be making an appearance. Please visit our Cooking Instruction page for more information.

Green Thumb

I know I've been excited for the day I can break ground for this year's garden. Luckily, with the fabulous weather we've been having, seeds are well on their way! Our next cooking class, entitled "Green Thumb," is all about the kitchen garden.

April 19 (7-9pm) Green Thumb $65 What grows best in northeast Ohio? When should you plant? How will you use the produce? Learn how to turn your backyard into your favorite grocery store. 

Please register by visiting our Cooking Classes page.

As a courtesy, we wanted to let you know that should we have to cancel this class due to low registration, we will suspend future public classes except for current gift certificate holders and those who wish to receive private individual or small-group instruction. For more information, please email melody@foodgazi.com.

Upcoming Cooking Class: Snowed In

Cleveland’s snowfall can get pretty hefty and sometimes you just don’t want to leave the house. In this class,we'll show you how to get inventive with what you usually have in your pantry. Bonus -- it's a budget class ($35)! Takes place February 16 (7-9pm) at the Foodgazi kitchen (11201 Detroit in Cleveland). Registration is required. Reserve your spot by going to our Cooking Classes web page.

Fiesta Taco Salad

This is one of my favorite recipes that I'm sure you’ll enjoy too! It's so easy to make. Perfect if you're just cooking for yourself or hosting a laid-back dinner party.

Vegan Fiesta Taco Salad

Ingredients

• 1 medium sweet onion
• 2lbs button mushrooms cubed
• 3 multi-colored bell peppers
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro chopped
• 1 medium tomato diced
• 1 avocado
• 1 head lettuce or 1 bag spinach
• 1 tbsp olive oil or non stick cooking spray
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1 tub non dairy sour cream
• 1 bag tortilla chips

Directions

1. Chop onion and half of each bell pepper, put in non-stick pan with oil, add cubed mushrooms, garlic and taco seasoning, saute until veggies are cooked but not mushy.
2. While veggies are cooking, slice avocado, chop cilantro, and mix with non-dairy sour cream.
3. Julienne remaining peppers and chop lettuce.
4. Arrange salad as you like, I usually border the bowl with tortilla chips, then make a bed with the greens and top the rest off with the peppers taco mix and avocado sour cream

Foods for Your Healthy Resolution

I think there are three main things that people make resolutions about:

1. Quitting smoking 
2. Losing weight
3. Being healthier in general

I could be wrong.

Presuming, I'm right -- or at least barking up the right tree -- there are some foods that can help  place checkmarks next to these bad boys on your year's self-improvement to-do list.

1. QUITTING SMOKING: OK, so, no more smoke into these lungs shall pass.Which foods can help?
   Apples: These highly portable snacks actually increase oxygen in the body. The more oxygen in your body, the better your blood can transport hemoglobin from the respiratory organs to your tissues. Once at it's destination, it releases the oxygen to burn nutrients that provide energy to get you through your each and every moment.
2. LOSING WEIGHT: This is America; most of us feel we need to reshape our bodies in some fashion or another. Obviously, there's quadragazillionbillion-dollar industry behind this, but I'm sure there are a few foods that you can incorporate into your diet plan. Just remember this key idea, you don't actually need a diet plan, you need a lifestyle plan.
   Avocados: Oh wait, didn't you just find out that this is one of the fattiest fruits there is? Well, yes. But these are not only "good fats" (aka monounsaturated), they also help to fill you in a healthier way than other fatty foods, such as cheese would. I found that when trying to cut down my cheese consumption, avocado's creamy texture and fattiness satisfied that part of me that still craved cheese. Plus fiber is kind when trying to lose weight: avocados contain 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber.
3. GENERAL WELL-BEING: In this crazy world, we often find well-being -- taking actual care of your "self" -- takes a back seat. Once you start eating healthier, in as few as three days I've found, you can feel your body functioning at a higher level. Start off with keeping snacks such as nuts and granola on hand. Friends made fun of me all the time for keeping a tiny Tupperware of almonds in my purse; but it saved me money and filled me better than a bag of chips! Of course, exercise is key. If you are someone who doesn't exercise at all, try talking a walk after dinner. It's relaxing, gets the blood flowing and the body digesting -- and, yeah, you sneak in a tiny bit of the "E" word. Plus don't forget about the healing effects of sleep!

Stock up the Pantry this Winter

Well Cleveland, it's official, winter is here and for me that means time to stock up the pantry. I think we can all agree that one of the most frustrating parts about cooking is not having ingredients we need on hand and to solve that problem we must learn how to plan! Running out in the snow for that one key ingredient is so irritating and it takes away from the fun in creating that perfect meal. So I’ve come up with a list of some of the basic essentials I like to have on-hand and some planning tips that will help keep your winter meals easy and inventive.

Step 1: Plan some meals. I'm not saying you have to sit down every Sunday and decide exactly what you’ll be eating all week, but just go for a general theme. By doing this, you’ll be able to buy the fresh produce you need and avoid letting things go to waste. Also, by planning ahead you’ll begin to recognize the dry goods you use more often than others and it'll be easier to make sure you keep those items in stock.

*A helpful hint for getting your veggies to last longer is to keep them submerged in a basin of water in your fridge, you’ll be surprised to see your produce last for weeks instead of days. When buying fresh herbs, put them stem down in a cup of water or wrapped in a damp paper towel to keep them from wilting so quickly.

Step 2: Find a grocery store with a bulk bin and stock up! It's much easier to be creative and inventive with your meals when you can open the pantry and see a variety of different ingredients. The best part about cooking is enjoying the process and when you limit yourself or make it a chore, it takes the fun out of it.

Basic Pantry Items

• Pasta (try and keep a few shapes, maybe one long one small) 
• Rice ( Jasmine or basmati to change things up) 
• Soy or Almond Milk (when bought in box some have shelf life up to a year) 
• Tofu ( silken is sold in aseptic cartons and can be stored for long periods of time and fresh tofu can be pressed and frozen for up to 6 months) 
• Vegetable bouillon cubes or stock 
• Dried legumes
• Quinoa
• Millet 
• Lentils 
• Corn Meal 
• Oats 
• Flour 
• Sugar 
• Baking soda 
• Baking powder 
• Butter (vegan) 
• Mayonnaise (vegan) 
• Ketchup (without high-fructose corn syrup)
• Dijon mustard
• Mirin or soy sauce
• Olive oil 
• Sesame oil 
• Honey 
• Peanut butter 
• Jam or jelly 
• Salsa 
• Vinegar (red wine, apple cider, white) 
• Dried fruits 
• Frozen vegetables (edamame, spinach , corn, peas) 
• Canned vegetables (tomatoes, water chestnuts, hominy, roasted red peppers) 
• Canned legumes (pinto, cannelloni, black, lima, butter,garbanzo)
• Cooking wine 
• Dried Herbs (basil,bay leaf, oregano, rosemary, thyme) 
• Ground Spices (pepper, cinnamon, chili powder,curry powder, ginger, paprika, red pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cumin, allspice)

Basic Fresh Produce

• Herbs (basil, parsley, thyme, ginger, cilantro,)
• Greens (kale, spinach, romaine)
• Fruits (berries, apples, oranges,bananas,tomatoes)
• Avocado
• Vegetables (carrots, celery, bell peppers, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, cucumber, mushrooms, squash)
• Garlic
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Lemons and limes