Do you love vegan Indian food, such as curry, vindaloo, kitchari, masala, samosas, and pakoras? Do you wish you could cook up these delicacies like a pro, but have no idea where to start? Head on down to Mayuri Foods in Redmond or Bothell, where you’ll find an incredible wealth of vegan-friendly imported goods and organic produce with excellent prices. Mayuri Foods is part of the Mayuri Family of Food Businesses, which includes two grocery stores (Redmond and Bothell), two restaurants (Redmond and Bothell), a bakery specializing in vegan baked goods (awesome wedding cakes), and catering/weddings.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Raj Poudyal, one of the owners of Mayuri Foods in Redmond, as well as get a full tour this incredible grocery store! Let’s just say, I was beyond impressed! It’s perfect for vegans looking for fresh ideas (see my latest recipe below), as well as anyone who savors healthy, light recipes that don’t compromise on authenticity. Mayuri has a unique grocery selection (Indo/Pak/Nepali/European), an impressive bulk section, organic produce and exotic spices making it easy to whip up your favorite ethnic dishes – vegan style. I’m a huge fan of exotic flavors found in Indian food, so thanks to Mayuri, my kitchen is now stocked full of exotic spices, bulk grains, beans and lentils. Be sure you sign up for their Club Card Program when you shop. It’s free and will reward you with additional savings.  ​

We will be having our first annual holiday party at 1:30pm on Friday, December 11th at Mayuri Cuisine in Redmond. For more details and to RSVP, visit or join our Facebook Group Page. You can also email me at [email protected] This will be a great way to connect with other vegans in the areas over delicious VEGAN Indian Cuisine!

I’m beyond honored to announce that I’m now a Cotopaxi Local Ambassador for the Pacific Northwest. For those of you who are not familiar with Cotopaxi, get ready to be excited, inspired and fascinated by this incredible company that creates high-end, innovative outdoor products and experiences. Cotopaxi funds solutions that address the most persistent needs of those living in extreme poverty. Giving is core to their model. Cotopaxi strives to lift humanity in all they do and believe in 'Gear For Good'. 

​Cotopaxi has made a commitment to creating positive social impact by focusing their efforts on global poverty alleviation. Checkout their partner organizations. Cotopaxi gear is only sold directly from their website, which helps deliver exceptionally designed and fairly manufactured gear without the traditional retail markups. They make their gear with ethics in mind, focusing their efforts on global poverty alleviation & give targeted grants to advance health, education, and livelihoods initiatives around the world. As the Local Ambassador for the Pacific Northwest, I will be sharing updates, wonderful news and events through my blog and social media channels. (Instagram, Google +, Facebook, Twitter)

As an avid outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, my personal experience with Cotopaxi products has been fantastic! The quality is top notch, the designs are forward-thinking and the durability is superb! I will be writing reviews and sharing my feedback on many different products in upcoming posts and via my blog and social media channels. The Cotopaxi designers previously worked at companies such as Nike, Columbia, Marmot, Dakine, The North Face, Black Diamond and Gregory. Because of their direct-to-consumer model, it allows them to take that additional margin, which would normally go to a retailer, and put it back into product. Cotopaxi uses the finest factories in the world, the highest quality materials available, and some of the most award-winning designers from the outdoor industry.

Have you ever "bonked" during a race or workout? “Bonking,” basically means running out of stored carbohydrate in your muscles (AKA glycogen). With a little planning, you can prolong the distance you can go before this happens, thereby enhancing performance. Whatever your activity or workout is, mid-workout nutrition is extremely important to avoid bonking.

​1 cup of shredded coconut
1 cup of almonds
1/2 a dozen medjool dates
4 tablespoons of cashew butter
2 tablespoons of raw cacao
​1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions:

1. Put the almonds and coconut in a food processor and blend for a minute or two, until a flour starts to form.
2. Add the cashew butter, coconut oil and cacao.
   
3. Blend for several seconds before slowly adding in the medjool dates.
4. Continue to blend until everything has been combined together to form a sticky mixture.
   
5. Mixture can then be rolled into balls and covered in more coconut.
   
6. Put in the fridge to firm up for an hour.