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Exploring the Rio Grande Valley

October 16, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

exploring the rio grande valley

palm trees

I recently returned from a 10 day visit to the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, which is located in the southernmost tip of South Texas. It lies along the northern bank of the Rio Grande river, which separates Mexico from the United States. This area is known as The Valley to locals, and not only does it boast natural beauty and lively culture, but it’s quite historic as well.

Last week I wrote about my experience being Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley, but this week I wanted to share the photos I took of all the cool places there are to visit in the region. I’m only sad I couldn’t stay longer, because there was a lot I didn’t get to see.

McAllen, Texas

This is one of the largest cities in the valley, but as someone that’s lived in huge cities, McAllen is just the right size. It still has a small town feel in certain ways, but lots of modern amenities so it was easy to find everything I needed. There’s lots of local events, which provided me a good chance to immerse myself in the community and interact with the locals.

cine el rey

The Cine El Rey Theatre hosts lots of events, including stand up comedy, open-mic night, wrestling, and musicals. They also offer tons of free movie screenings complete with free popcorn. I decided to join the local French Club for a Sunday matinee of a French thriller and it was pretty awesome. Free popcorn, drinks, donuts, cookies, and there’s couches in the theater if you prefer that to actual chairs 🙂

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Filed Under: Bits & Pieces, Travel Tagged With: art walk mcallen, border town, brownsville, cameron county, cine el rey theatre, compassionate, compassionate women, exploring the rio grande valley, harlingen, international bridge, iwo jima monument, la lomita chapel, matamoros, mcallen, mexican food, mexico, mission, museums, nature center, palm trees, rio grande, rio grande valley, sausage tree, south texas, Texas, the valley, vegan, women

Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley

October 8, 2015 by Jillian 8 Comments

vegan in the rio grande valley

vegan in the rio grande valley

raymondville countryside

This is the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Oddly enough, there are no valleys here. It’s flat, lush land for miles and miles. I’ve spent the past week and a half traversing this southernmost region of Texas and I have to say – I love it. Maybe it’s all the palm trees, tropical flowers, sunshine, and friendly people, but there’s something about this area that captivates me. 🌴🌴 It’s made up mostly of small towns, many dotting the border of Mexico, so as a vegan coming down to visit I had no idea what to expect in terms of veg friendly food. But I was pleasantly surprised.

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Filed Under: Bits & Pieces, Travel Tagged With: black beans, chalupas, chipotle, cruelty free, deodrant, farmer's market, fresh juices, gluten free, green owl deli, healthy, healthy food, lasanga, mcallen, mexican food, organic, restaurants, rio grande valley, smoothies, sprouts, taco bell, tamales, Texas, the mighty house, travel, vegan, vegan in the rio grande valley, vegetarian, veggie burger, veggie wrap

Vegan Quesadillas With Homemade Guacamole

June 8, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

vegan quesadillas with homemade guacamole

vegan quesadillas with homemade guacamole

Mmm mmm quesadillas! And these are extra special, super duper quesadillas because they’re vegan and gluten free. Oh, and some rockin’ guacamole to slather all over them doesn’t hurt either. I absolutely love Mexican food but when I go out to eat, I find that if it’s not stuffed with dairy and meat, then there’s the gluten and oil and processed foods to worry about. So I decided to make my own plant-based ‘dillas with very few processed ingredients. If you want a quick meal that’s cheesy, crispy, and savory all in one, then read on!

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Filed Under: Quick & Easy, Recipes Tagged With: avocado, cheese, cheesy, coconut oil, compassionate women, corn tortillas, cruelty free, dairy free, Daiya cheese, Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds, easy, gluten free, gluten free quesadillas, guacamole, healthy, homemade guacamole, mexican food, mushrooms, non dairy, onion, organic, quesadillas, quick, recipe, spinach, tortillas, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan quesadillas, vegan quesadillas with homemade guacamole, vegan sour cream, veggies

HEY THERE! I’M JILLIAN.

I live near Houston, Texas with my rescue dog Stella! I create cruelty-free recipes that are delicious, to demonstrate that it's easy to follow a plant-based lifestyle. Not only are the health and beauty benefits noticeable, but it creates a more sustainable planet and keeps our animal friends safe & happy. In our spare time, Stella and I also love watching movies, reading, snuggling, and taking long walks! LEARN MORE…

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Feature-length documentary that uncovers the Jewish history of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and the customs & traditions the Jewish people there have contributed to.

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