Login

Cooking With Que

Tag Archives

Tag Archives | eat to live

Meet Quiana “Que” Broden and learn the “Why” behind Cooking With Que

Soooo before you understand “Que” I gotta let you in on some things … ok?

The Why …

I have not been Vegan my whole life.  Surprised?  Don’t be.  It’s been a couple of years now.  And I mean a couple of GREAT, LIFE CHANGING YEARS.

10 years ago, I was a person with chronic sinus issues, always had bronchitis, like seriously; I could catch a full-blown cold in the middle of summer.  After a gazillion tests, copays, skin biopsies and even a lung biopsy – I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and they found that I was allergic to DAIRY (yeah … tears were shed).  Due to the stage of this obnoxious Lung Disease and the aggressiveness of it, I was told that I needed to be put on steroids and that I would have to take them everyday for the rest of my life.  (WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!…. were my words.. VERBATIM, to my pulmonary specialist)

My mind couldn’t fathom taking a drug that would deteriorate my kidneys and break me down – and I wasn’t even 30 yet?  All I could think about were my kids.  I refused to break myself down and kill myself with all of the prescribed drugs that I was going to have to take.  NO!!!!!! …… NoThankYou!!

So I did what any person would do … I searched for alternative holistic methods and recipes and that was how my healthy way of life started.

(For the record, I only take meds on occasion when I’m having major Sarcoid flare ups, outside of that… I don’t take STEROIDS DAILY AND I’M HEALTHY AS EVER!!!!  BOOM!!!)

The Vegan Transition … in a Land of MeatEaters

This came about by fluke of nature people! After the normal Thanksgiving – Christmas feasting… I was feeling tired, overly full, completely bloated and I honestly felt like I weighed as much as a Walrus (No Joke).  My body had enough and so I said … NO MORE. I NEED TO GO ON A 10 DAY CLEANSE!!!!! I had to reboot my insides.  I started #ColdTurkey (no pun intended).  It was immediate.  I told my family and I kept my word.

When my 10 days were up, I didn’t feel the need to go back. And guess what? Till this very day, I’m still on my cleanse!  LOL!

This body of mine is happy, healthy and doing it without anything that had a Momma!

My husband and kids are still MeatEaters, but they are healthy MeatEaters. They have minimal dairy (they don’t know it though) and eat chicken, turkey and seafood, No Pork and No Red Meats.  My grandparents … oh … let me tell you … they  sneak the kids burgers every now and then (smh) they think it’s a treat for them (and you can’t really tell an 80 & 83 year old what to do … it DOES NOT END WELL,  believe me I’ve tried!!!).

Now, being Vegan in a house full of MeatEaters is a normal way of life for me.  I cook some pretty awesome meals for my family everyday and “Cooking With Que” is the space I have created to show people from any kitchen, healthy ways to satisfy everyone at the table.

So, Welcome Family!!!!!!!

Que

Que Tips #1 Substitutes for Shortening, Butter, and Sweeteners

#QueTips #1

Here are some #QueTips on small changes you can make in your kitchen that will make a big difference on your journey to Eat To Live! These are small changes that you can make to make a huge difference. We all know that we have to start somewhere.  Start with the things that you use the most. Here are a few of the items that I swapped out and the whole family made the adjustment, and without one complaint! 

Check out this video and see for yourself 🙂

Until next time, May your tastebuds be  forever satisfied!!

Que 🙂

Eggplant is a Fruit?!

At first glance, you notice the beautiful deep purple color. It looks more like a work of art than a vegetable. The eggplant is regal, I imagine the eggplant being high society in the fruit world.

Eggplants belong to the nightshade family of fruit, which also includes tomatoes, sweet peppers and potatoes. They grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. While the different varieties do range slightly in taste and texture, one can generally describe the eggplant as having a pleasantly bitter taste and spongy texture.

Read More

Food Allergies, Dietary Needs, ASK QUESTIONS!!

Hi, welcome to my world. I have sarcoidosis, I’m allergic to dairy, yes that means milk, eggs, cheese, etc. Oh yeah and I’m also Vegan. My friends call me #SmallPrint (rude), but it's true!

Imagine going out to dinner with me? LOL!

I’m usually the last person to order, because I take longer, the waiter/waitress usually has to go talk to the chef to double check ingredients, because they NEVER know what is in what. We must go through this process because they don’t want to be the reason someone has to use an epipen on me in their establishment (lol, its not funny.. But it's true, lol).

Being a person with allergies, or dietary restrictions, is not the easiest thing to live with. You can’t just say hey I’m gonna go grab some fast food, for fear of cross contamination plus you never know what all of the ingredients are and so on.

Read More

My Saturday Morning Go To – Redskins

Hey Family ????

This is a super simple recipe that can be used for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. In our house, Saturday mornings this is the go to.

Redskins are my choice of potato because when I cook them, I leave the skin on. The skin is thin and filled with nutrients, fiber, b vitamins, iron and potassium, just to name a few.

What’s crazy is that half the fiber in this potato comes from the actual skin!!!

So leave that skin on, and get to cooking ????

Click here for the full recipe.

Try it out for yourself, and like I always say, my tastebuds and your tastebuds are different, so season it to taste!

When you make it, snap a pic and tag me on Instagram, #CookingWithQue.

Until next time, may your tastebuds be Forever Satisfied!

Que

 

Baked Redskins

Veganism from a Non Vegan

If you have stumbled across this post you are actually a part of one of the most momentous times of my life ... my first blog entry.

Ironically my first blog entry would be on a Vegan site when I am NOT a Vegan. But if you are like me, and Que has gotten you in the mood to go to the store and make a Kale sandwich (or something along the line of that) THEN THIS IS THE POST FOR YOU.

I know what you’re thinking already, "Liz, why would we take Vegan advice from someone who isnt even Vegan?? Are you high?" Well first off I’m not high, and don’t call me Shirley. Now, let’s get started.

Read More

#357VeganChallenge #Day1

Hi Family 🙂

It’s the beginning????  What did you eat for breakfast?  Was it filling? What about lunch? Dinner?  Send me some pics!!!! I get excited to see what everyone is making!!!  Tag me on any social media with #CookingWithQue #357VeganChallenge 🙂

I know this seems like it’s going to be hard, but you watch. This will be a piece of cake. I’m going to help you along the way. 

Today, I did a facebook live, I don’t know if you guys have seen it.  The link is here.  If you don’t have a facebook don’t worry, I posted it on youtube  click here.

Read More

Trump, Hillary, & Diets … 3 Things you don’t want to talk about

Hey Family,

Did I get your attention.  I meant what I said.  I’m absolutely not gonna talk about Donald Trump.  I’m not gonna mention Hillary Clinton either.  I’m not even going to say the word DIET (well only to explain why this is not one, stick with me!) Cooking with Que does not do diets!! WE EAT TO LIVE.

So before we start our 357 Vegan Fast, we have to get our hearts ready and our minds right.  This is not a diet.  I don’t even want to call it a diet, because the word “DIET” freaks people out.  Calling it a diet means that we just wanna try this and if it doesn’t work we are gonna just try something else.

Read More

#FoodCravings, Are you listening to what your Body is telling you?

When your body gives you signals do you pay attention to them?  

Do you know what they are?

I am a vegan and allergic to dairy (nice right?).  I found out as an adult. I used to be sick all the time.  The copays and hospital visits were driving me crazy!! When they found out that I had sarcoidosis, through a lung biopsy - It. Changed. Everything.  On top of that they learned that multiple reactions were occurring due to an egg and dairy allergy.  Do you know how many things have dairy in it? It was even in the pills that several doctors were prescribing.  Now, I pay attention to everything.  I read the labels. I pay attention to what I put inside of my body, I know when it's lacking something.

Read More