Vegetarian Fish Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Slaw and Creamy Avocado Sauce (featuring Gardein!)

"That title doesn't read quite right, does it? Vegetarian fish tacos? Heather, what are you talking about?" I hope those are things you thought when you stumbled upon this post. I have been craving fish something fierce this Summer, which is odd because I haven't eaten meat in almost 8 years and I really wasn't crazy about it when I did. But, alas, here I am; ready to sacrifice all that time for a few bites of lemon-pepper salmon or a spicy tuna roll. OH MY. But, anyways, now I can enjoy "faux-fish" with Gardein. 

I discovered Gardein a few years into being meat-free, and was instantly hooked! A lot of meat substitutes can have a weird, goopy texture that is not appealing to anyone, but Gardein really gets it right. I'm a huge fan of their mandarin "chik'n" and their scallopini fillets. When I learned that they had a fish substitute, I knew I had to give it a shot. The fish is in breaded form, so I thought they would be perfect for fish tacos. And, I don't mean to brag, but I WAS RIGHT. Oh, man. These were good. Here's the scoop;

Cook the Gardein Fishless Fillets according to package directions. To prepare your slaw, thinly slice half of a red cabbage and half of a green cabbage. Chop 1/2 cup of cilantro and half of one red onion, and add them to the cabbage, along with the juice of one lime. Add salt and pepper to taste, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside in the fridge.  Next is the sauce! Cut open and remove the pit from a ripened avocado, and scoop the insides from both halves into your food processor. Add in a 1/2 cup of sour cream, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, the juice of one lime, and half of a diced jalapeno. I removed the seeds from my jalapeno for a mild flavor, but you can leave them in or add the entire pepper for more heat! Pulse the mixture until it is smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

I wrapped a few corn and flour tortillas in aluminum foil, and put them in the oven during the last two minutes of the fish-less fillets cooking to soften and warm them through. Then you just assemble, and eat! In addition to the slaw and sauce, I added crumbled queso fresco and cilantro. This was such a nice Summer meal; light and fresh. The fillets turned out a lot better than I was originally expecting. They were crunchy on the outside and tasted great. Different from the real thing, but certainly a nice alternative!

The world of vegetarian cooking is far beyond salads and tofu, and I think Gardein and other brands like it are making it more fun. I obviously don't eat these substitutes everyday since some of them are GMO or high in sodium, but they're great for adding variety and re-making classic dishes. It's cool to be able to enjoy dishes I'd otherwise miss out on by not being vegetarian-friendly. So, yeah! Moral of the story: tacos rule. 

-Heather

(Recipe adapted from here.)

Favorite Drugstore Makeup for Summer (with swatches!)

Summertime for me is all about simplicity. Sun-dresses, sea salt spray, and sandals; all of the fixings for an effortless look. It also means simplifying my make-up, with lighter products and bronze-y tones.

Here's a breakdown of my favorite Summer finds so far. And, even better yet, they are all from the drugstore!

NYX Studio Photogenic Foundation in 101 Nude $16

The first thing that caught my attention with this foundation was the fact that it is formulated without talc or parabens, as I know those are two things that my acne-prone skin does not approve of. The formula is very light, but can be built up to medium coverage. It almost wears like a tinted moisturizer, with it's dewy finish and silky texture. I went with the lightest shade in the line, and it suits my neutral, fair skin really well. I've been applying it with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, then adding concealer to any blemishes that require fuller coverage, followed by blending everything out with a dampened Beauty Blender. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Shadow in Creamy Beige $7

How and why its taken me this long to hop on the Color Tattoo bandwagon is beyond me. I have been hearing rave reviews of these little miracle pots forever, and finally bit the bullet a couple of months ago. These cream shadows are so versatile, as they can be used as a base for other shadows or on their own. I am loving the shade Creamy Beige because it is so effortless. You literally just dab some on your finger, and blend it onto the lid. I've been wearing it on its own a lot, but it also looks great with a gold eye shadow layered on top. If you try this shade out, go ahead and grab "Bad to the Bronze" while you're at it. You won't be sorry!

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel $3

This is the first eyebrow pencil I have ever owned, and it has not disappointed. I typically go for gels or pomades, but this pencil is so easy to use, and really helps create great shape. The shade Hazel is kind of a taupey brown, and the formula is very build-able, but easy to blend. This is probably the lightest brow shade I've used before, but I'm liking a more natural look for Summer.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso $8 and Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light $5

Blushers and bronzers are my favorites, and I have been wearing these two almost everyday this Summer. I typically like a cream blush in the warmer months to mock a dewy glow, but this baked blush by Milani is out of this world. It is kind of a peachy pink tone, that has a shimmery finish without looking like you have glitter all over your face. The formula blends out so nicely and you can really build it to your desired look. I will definitely be picking up a few more shades from this collection! Bronzer is something I just recently started wearing more often because it really does bring some life to my pale, dull skin. I like this one from Rimmel because the shade is very natural looking, and it has a matte finish. I just sweep a bit of this onto the hollows of my cheeks, around the edges of my forehead and jawline, and on the sides of my nose for a bit of warmth and subtle 

(very subtle) contour.

NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee $5

Aside from these glosses having the best dessert-inspired names, the formula is great for Summer. They are ultra moisturizing, and go on smooth. I've been loving Creme Brulee for its neutral tone, that really just enhances my natural lip color by giving it a glossy finish. This shade can be built up or layered over your favorite lipstick for a deeper pink tone,

It was hard to narrow down my Summer faves to just these six, but they really are wonderful products, especially for the price. Drugstore beauty forever and always. I'd love to know what your most coveted Summer beauty items are, so be sure to leave comments below!

-Heather