I am Madelyn and I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I am a lacto-vegetarian who became a vegetarian after I started to practice Yoga seriously. I never considered becoming a vegetarian before then. However, I have seen and felt how being a vegetarian has helped my health and my overall spirituality, believe it or not.
It’s funny, but when I decided to become vegetarian, I developed an increased appreciation for cooking and developing recipes suitable for the kind of diet I wanted to follow. Vegetarian cooking had such a bad rep – bland, unappetizing, monotonous, you name it… So I started taking successful non-vegetarian recipes, and adapted them to fit my new diet lifestyle.
And to me, being vegetarian goes a bit beyond just not eating meat or animal products. It has to do with having the most natural and organic lifestyle possible – no soft drinks, avoiding chemical or animal additives, avoiding canned foods, avoiding chemical medications, avoiding foods that have been cooked a long time ago, among others. It has definitely been a process that has taken me over 10 years.
I would like to share with you a bit of what I have learned, why I’ve done the changes I’ve integrated into my life and maybe help you start following a more natural, karma-free lifestyle too.
Hari Om.
Madelyn.
KarmaFree Cooking 
Congrats!!! Te felicito. Me encanto…
Saludos,
Denisse
ME ENCANTA!!!!
Alomejor tambien puedes hacer un libro.
Yo te lo diseño, si quieres.
Saludos,
Lourdes
Hari Om MAD:
Te felicito por tu blog, sobretodo por promover el vegetarianismo como un estilo de vida serio y real. Luego te envío la receta de algún postrecito veggie para los dulceros como yo.
Bye.
Made:
Qué alegría ver tu nuevo blog. Te felicito por esta obra de arte. Gracias por compartir tu nueva faceta con el resto del Universo.
Un abrazo
🙂
Mads:
This is one of the best blog site I have seen. I am very proud of you and will definetely continue to contribute (although without knowing) 🙂 to keep your recipes going on!! Keep up the good work, and for the next get together I’ll have a new dip!!!
Very nice, Madelyn! Inadvertently, I have become a vegetarian but not quite to the extent that you are. I need to pay more attention to it I guess and now can do so via your blog. When I say inadvertently, I just happened to cut meat out of my diet. A couple of months later, I noticed that I had dropped twenty pounds! I wasn’t aware of many of the true vegetarian practices, but again, will pay more attention to your site.
Dear,
Sounds pretty interesting!:) I love veggies….I either buy them at farmers market or go for only organic. Though I am not 100% veggie like you. But I just take white meat…..once in a while. If you like Indian cooking, do visit my blog.
cheers,
Malar Gandhi
Made,
Con la cantidad de recetas que ya tienes aquí de seguro puedes comenzar con tu propio libro. Recuerda, yo te lo diseño!!!:-)
Congrats!
Lulu.
Greetings. Just posted here with regard to you non-alum. and non teflon rice cooker. Check it out:
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2008/01/is-there-a-rice-cooker-without-an-aluminum-in.html
Hi, and thanks for featuring Chifles in your review. Glad to know you like our items. We are rather the snack thats been forgotten or overlooked for the vegetarian community. We are making an effort to let everyone know we are perfect for the vegetarian or vegan diet. Also for anyone who needs gluten free….everything we make is gluten free. Just got certified Kosher by the OU also. Got brand new packaging, so look for us or ask. Plantain Chips, Cassava chips, tortilla chips…all of it, even the flavored ones are all natural Kosher seasonings. Nothing artificial or anything. Oh, and our newest, the sweet or maduro chip is plantain and oil, thats it. No sugar added; only natural sugar that came in the plantain, and its also no sodium. Thanks again.
Hello Madelyn,
My name is Vivian and I live in Honolulu,Hi,just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog.I am Puerto Rican originally from NY, but lived in Hawaii for 28 yrs.I am also a vegetarian and love your recipes!!!! Is there a large vegetarian community In Puerto Rico,also do they have Bikram yoga?Just wondering because my dad lives there and I will hopefully be visiting soon.Looking forward to reading your next blog!
Aloha from Hawaii
KFC – Aloha Vivian… I am so glad you enjoy KarmaFree Cooking. I am not certain on the size of the local vegetarian community, but I am sure trying to help get the word out on its benefits and trying to shed some of its misconceptions. I have only practiced hatha yoga at the Centro Cultural Yoga Devanand in Caparra Terrace. I am somewhat familiar with other styles of yoga, but do not seek out classes. I have found a style I enjoy and I stick with it. Hope you can come visit PR soon and that KarmaFree Cooking keeps inspiring your vegetarian cooking repertoire.
so pleased you decided to go vegetarian.
I am vegan now as I have horrible dairy allergies plus I never really liked cow’s milk.
I am happy to see someone else making vegetarian food appealing to the masses
I love you blog
I will add you to my blog roll if that is ok
Hey Madelyn,
I love the site!!! We defenitely need to chat and swap ideas to further promote our business ventures…lol…You must tell me how to photograph the food to look so professional(straight out of a magazine). Who knows you might be able to become a food photographer as well..lol…CONGRATS!
Besitos,
Jackie
Te felicito por tu blog Karma Free Cooking,en este mismo momento lo tengo frente a mi mientras te escucho en el probrama de Jossie la Torre en su nevo horario 8:30-11:30 am todos los domingos,no soy vegetariano per se pero me cuido mucho no consumiendo carnes,si consumo frutas,vegetales y viandas y alguna q otra vez arroz Uncle Ben.Saludos mil,adelante madelyne,me gust los tostones y chayotes rellenos.
Victor
Wow Madelyn! Great job and outstanding iniciative, congrats!!! Now we know…Veggies or not, everybody will love and benefit from your recipes : they are karma free. I vote for the book release. Best wishes, Delia
I’m so glad I found your recipes! I’ve been trying to became a vegetarian for about a year now, but was not having any luck finding healthy recipes that also tasted good.
Thanks for sharing!
Madelyn!!! i love your blog!!!…. I’m trying to convince my boyfriend to become a vegetarian… and I think your recipes will help!!! they all seem so yummy!!! I’m trying some this week … I’ll let you know how it goes….
I read nie nie dialogues… and between you and her have encouraged me to try it!! I’m also taking Yoga lessons… I practice for a year twice a week two years ago and I loved it… so now I’m getting back to It!! thanks for being an inspiration!!
Let me know if you ever have plans to come to Philly!! mi casa esta a la orden!!
besos!!
salam , Madelyn i am assia from Marocco, i am glad to be in your blog, i don’t have good English i just stated to learn it from i marry with English i will live i England , i like your website a lot i am not vegitarien 100% but i am tryeng mu best to stay far of meat, by the way i created my blog but its look funny because i am not good in English so i just guess, any way i will try to fix it for i can cut some Maroccain recipes
but i will visit all the time your blog it s perfect :d
Thanks so much for sharing all this!!!
I made the decision to become a ovolactovegetarian but as a Puerto Rican I didnt think I was going to find any interesting & tasty dishes… your sancocho recipe is absolutely a great beginning for me!
gracias!
Ice*
I stumbled on this blog as I was looking for a tembleque recipe!
I’m so glad that I found it.
As a vegan Boricua, I totally appreciate your vegetarian twist on traditional recipes. I’m so excited to try the bacalaitos and other fun things that I found here!!!
xoxo
Madelyne:
Hari Om!! Me encanta tu blog…. Tiene muchas ideas de recetas que me ayudan a darle creatividad a mi cocina vegetariana. Gracias por compartirla…
Madelyn – i am starting a blog & newsletter. i’d love to link to your blog if that’s okay?
i found you because i was looking for a photo of roasted veggies and i found your roasted veggie stock — yeah!! you’re a genius!!
please write to me at email provided. i have more questions for you. thanks!! — 😀
Your blog is really inspiring! I was a vegetarian for almost 5 years but found that it was a difficult lifestyle to maintain while traveling. I’ve been living in Japan for several months and I’m planning to become vegetarian again when I return to the US in 3 months. Your blog looks like it will definitely be helpful when I get to that point again!
Love your site.
Will come back again and again your have great recipes..
Namaste
H.Lopez
Did you find a all stainless steel inner bowl rice cooker? I’m currently searching for one and feel the same way you do. I want to reduce the exposure to aluminum as much as I can possibly do in my intake. I use a rice cooker almost daily. I have found the Miracle rice cooker online and the Oyama. Please let me know if you find one you believe to be well made and reliable. Thanks.
Hi. I just happen to be dropped here in my search for Sparrago appetizers and this place has been enlightening. I am sorry to say that I am not a vegetarian but i have just been ask to be the appetizer chef at my friends wedding and her church is all around Vegetarians.
Me encanto increiblemente tus recetas y pienso llevarlas acabo. Uno nunca sabe si uno tambien llegara hacer Vegetariano, so nunca le digo que no, pero esto me esta dando un empujon bien chevere xD. haha.
Gracias por compartir las recetas ❤
Madeline, Como estas? Una vez mas te felicito por tu trabajo en la pagina web. Esta super informativo y variado. Mas la ultima vez que estuve en la pagina, me indicaste de la comida que haces para fiestas. Quisiera hacerte un pedido. Me puedes dejar tu numero de telefono?
Gracias,
Claudette
HI Madelyn,
Your site is very interesting. I also practice yoga and I am a vegetarian too. I am glad to hear that you like plantain chips so much.
Have you tried our brand SAMAI? They are 100% natural and our processing plant is located amongst all the small farmers that supply the fresh plantains. Please let me know if you have tried them or if I can send you some to try.
Namaste,
Monica
Hello! I live yoga as well and I am a vegan. I just wanted to pass this along because it is good to know that every time you consciously pass the meat and eggs and dairy you are creating good karma for yourself by helping other animals live suffering-free lives. And it sure is easy and delicious. I have had more good food as a vegan than as a vegetarian or meat-eater!
Namaste,
Ellie
Madelyn:
Hola! Soy Carmen, entraste a mi blog sobre la diferencia de edades en las relaciones de pareja y me dejaste algunas sugerencias que quisiera seguir. Me late lo de poner información muy general sobre mi tema con un recuadro para que la gente se vaya actualizando sobre mi tema, pero la verdad no sé cómo hacerlo, es la primera vez que tengo un blog y no tengo ni la más remota idea sobre muchas cosas entre ellas tu sugerencia del recuadro.
Ojalá me puedas ayudar y gracias por tus buenos deseos.
Carmen
I like your blog. Congratulations, my dear friend!
How did I get directed to you, beautiful lady?
Thoughts of a healthier lifestyle brought to fruition.
Are you on twitter? I’m @brozogirl. Lets connect!
KFC – You know what?? I am on twitter, but I’ll be honest, I do not know how to use it… I need to get on with it ASAP. Thanks for letting me know you want to connect… I will not delay my twitter immerssion any longer.
Thanks for this wonderful page. Lots of nice food. My boss here in Austria is from India. I put his website on … he is also a cook of Indian and traditional Austrian food! Greets Thomas, employee of the hotel here in the wild west of Austria.
Estoy sorprendida, no soy vegetariana, mas bien llevo la tipica dieta boricua, pero estaba buscando que hacer con una batata mameya que me regalaron. Estoy encantada con la variedad de recetas vegetarianas que presentas y se ven muy apetecibles y faciles de preparar, al punto que ya imprimi varias para sorprender a todos el dia de Thanksgiving. Luego te envio fotos de los nenes cuando sepan que hay vegetales en su comida, jaja. En verdad hasta ver tu blog pensaba que la comida vegetariana era aburrida, sin variedad (al menos en el area oeste de PR) y con muchas limitaciones para encontrar ingredientes frescos a un precio accesible para una familia grande. Gracias por compartir tus recetas!!
Great site! Que bueno te salió. I was just wondering how I was going to deal with Noche Buena, as I recently decided to turn vegetarian. Thanks for the info!
aloha madelyn! it seems that your blog has a sister. i am a long-time vegetarian cook and baker, and now i a farmer in hawaii. i write at bakerymanis.wordpress.com… please check out my site… i look forward to spending more time on your site!
I just moved to Isabela, PR and have been a vegetarian for over 8 years. Stumbled upon your blog, so glad I did! Have you checked out the new vegan restaurant in Moca? Your in San Juan but if your in the area of Moca you should check it out. Do you know any good farmers markets in PR? I am willing to search far and wide : )
Hi Melinda… welcome to Puerto Rico. I will most definitely plan a trip to try that new vegetarian restaurant in Moca. I’ll be honest, i don’t think I’ve ever been to Moca… a shame isn’t it? About farmers markets… search right here in my blog for Siembra Tres Vidas – they’re a local CSA located in Aibonito and they participate in several organic farmer’s markets in PR, one of them being on here in San Juan at Placita Roosevelt. I know they used to have one in Rincón, but not sure if that’s still happening. I believe I provide Silks’s email in one of my posts… good luck.
Well I’m offering to be your tourist guide to Moca restaurant… Is one of my favorites….It’s name is Natural Life Cafe… There’s also a new restaurant in Aguada in Bo. Guayabo near the Ann Weigmore Institute… It’s name is Zona Natural….
Dale… oferta aceptada!!!! You only need to tell me when…
Ok… Puede ser uno de estos sábados….Chequea en tu agenda y me dejas saber cuáles tienes disponibles…
Hola
Linda página me desperto el hambre, otra vez 😀
Hi Madelyn,
Just came to your site to find a recipe for poached pears for my Mom who is dairy intolerant. I came to your spot because I enjoy your informative input to Serious Eats and I respect and admire you.
Ohhh, thanks a lot. I really appreciate your kind words. Keep visiting and we’ll continue to “meet” over at Serious Eats.
Thanks for this! Ive been looking all over the internet for this.
I really enjoy this blog.
Non aluminum rice cooker
Essenergy Vita Clay® 6-Cup Rice N’ Slow Cooker
i love your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love love love this blog. I think I’d be sad without it. =) My husband, son, and I eat your recipes several nights/week. We aren’t vegetarians, but we don’t eat much meat either, and all the recipes we have tried are just so yummy.
Jenny… I am so glad you like our little blog here. I am so happy to be of help… I’ll try to keep those recipes coming. OK? Keep visiting and please share us with your friends and family. Thanks.
ah que chévere este blog. Te sigo con BLOGLOVIN que es una administrador para lectores asiduos de blogs
The same thing happened to me after I cut out some things from my diet. When I suddenly couldn’t eat gluten, eggs, dairy, and soy I began to love altering recipes and making some really great stuff. My process has been a little different from yours though… it turned me into a carnivore!
Stick around so you can learn some recipes that are gluten, egg, and meat-free all at the same time!!! Glad to see you around and that you love MY Puerto Rico. if you’re on FB, LIKE us there!!!
This is my blog dream come true! I am also vegetarian and Puerto Rican. I am so glad to have found your site and the recipes look fantastic. I hope to get a group of friends together this weekend to make some vegetarian pasteles. I haven’t had pasteles for 20 years since becoming vegetarian. So excited to try them! Thanks for putting this site together- Puerto Rican vegetarians unite!
Rebecca… GRACIAS!!!! y nos encanta tenerte por acá. I am so glad you have enjoyed our content so far. Hope you keep visiting and sharing our KarmaFree recipes with others who might enjoy them as well. It’s wonderful you’re making a pasteles-making party. That’s certainly the best way to do it… Where do you live?? Because if you live in Puerto Rico, I have friends who make vegetarian pasteles for sale if there is ever a time when you want the flavors of PR but don’t have the time or the crew to help out. Cualquier cosa, me avisas!!!!
Hi Madelyn!
I stumbled upon your website while looking for recipes. Kudos to you for trying to consume more consciously! I’m writing to share a link with you about the dairy industry which explains why dairy products are not karma-free: http://www.peacefulprairie.org/outreach/grievingMother.html
Like you, I was vegetarian for awhile before I found out about rennet (unweaned calf’s stomach lining) being used in cheese production. Once I knew, I only purchased cheese that was rennet-free. Then I learned that even rennet-free cheese and, in fact, all dairy products cause suffering and death. Baby cows are routinely killed in the dairy industry as are the mother cows after a few years when their milk production wanes. The mothers are impregnated to keep them lactating so that humans can drink their milk. Since the milk is going to humans, their babies are considered useless by-products. If they’re male, they may be used for veal, if female, they become milking machines like their mothers–or sometimes there are so many babies that they are considered worthless and are killed right after being born. I hope you find this information useful. I’ve been vegan for 20 years now and LOVE eating cruelty-free. It’s truly the best decision I’ve ever made. Thankfully, the vegan dairy options have improved greatly since I first went vegan, so if you decide to drop the dairy from your diet, know that there are wonderful, tasty, melty vegan cheese options now as well as awesome vegan sour cream, cream cheese, etc.
All the best,
Barbara
Very nice to “meet” you, Madelyn!
anne
hi Anne!!!! nice to “meet” you too… hope you like what we have here in KarmaFree Cooking.
Hi Madelyn,
We love reading your blog, it’s great! Check out our brand new vegetarian travel blog from Madrid!
Thanks!
2veggies
Hola!!!! Quá alegría saber de ustedes!!! I enjoyed reading your brand new blog… and it comes in really handy because I have a trip to Madrid planned for next year. It’s been 5 years since my last visit and I am returning with a vengance – to do El Camino de Santiago!!!! We need to certainly keep in touch so that we can collaborate on some awesome posts on the best vegetarian fare in Madrid. OK???
In the next few days, on our FBook page we’ll be featuring many of my “spanish-inspired” recipes… to celebrate the Encierros de San Fermín. Have you liked our page on FB?? Please do… and share with all your vegetarian friends in la Madre Patria. Olé!!!
Madelyn.
Hare Krishna, Madelyn!
Your story is very similar to mine. I started to be interested in vegetarian cooking after I took up the path of bhakti-yoga. And I notice practicing ahimsa does help advancing spiritually.
Thanks for sharing your sharing your story.
Hi Madelyn, I love your blog and have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, http://liveblissful.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Gracias girl!!!!! you have a very nice blog too!!!!!
Saludos Madelyn, no tengo el gusto de conocerte. Soy Claudia R. ,Gerente de Los Pioneros Taqueria Mexicana. Hace un tiempo lei tu blog y tus comentarios sobre nosotros, nos alagan mucho, esperamos poder seguir deleitando tu paladar. Estamos a la orden siempre.
Qué bueno saludarte Claudia… cuando vaya la próxima vez por el restaurante, me present para conocernos en persona. Sabrá Dios si nos conocemos de cara y no de nombre. Mucho éxito siempre… órale!!! Madelyn.
Hello Madelyn,
Your story sounds so much like mine. I also adopted a vegetarian lifestyle after yoga became a big part of my life. I think it’s kind of impossible to practice yoga, and feel the the energy connection with all sentient beings on this planet, and be apathetic.
Glad I found your blog!
Sophia 🙂
LOVE IT! found it through another Puerto Rican friend living in Tampa. GREAT. Was wondering how to create family favorites yet karma free. GREAT. Keep em coming ! MOFONGO???? 🙂
Mofongo is coming soon!!!!!
Reading about cooking plantains, I stumbled on this site. You will be relieved to know that microwaves are like radio waves. They agitate the molecules in the food which creates friction, producing the heat that cooks the food from inside. There is no residual “radiation” in the food. You need not worry. Read and learn here: http://home.howstuffworks.com/microwave1.htm
i don’t understand Karma Free, i thought it was good or bad, not none?
I explain the origin of our name HERE!!!!
Hi Madelyn,
I am planning to visit the San Juan area and am looking for vegan friendly, organic, raw food options, as well as best places near San Juan to hike, quiet places to stay, relax, to see. Since you are a yogi and a vegan in San Juan, I thought you would be a good person to ask. Thank you!
OMG Jessica!!! I am sorry it took so long to respond to you. Your comment got a tad lost in between tons of spam. Please email me at karmafreecooking {at}yahoo{dot}com and I will more than gladly share some information with you. When’s your trip??
Hola, FELICIDADES, me ha encantado este sitio. Es super sano, tomar conciencia de que debemos cuidar de nuestra salud. En estos momentos paso quebrantos de salud por mi sobrepeso. Y estoy haciendo dieta, la sana, dejar de comer azucar, menos carbohidratos y mucha mucha agua, fibra y fruta, que tanto se dan en nuestro país, Panamá, por el cambio climático, todavía hay mangos y es una fruta excelente.
Bendiciones y un saludos desde la parte más angosta del mundo que une a los dos mares y estamos HACIENDO HISTORIA. BSSS
the salad looks so amazing. I amtruly happy at your journey towards yoga and the vegetarianism. You seem to be following the yoga life style very well.
Would love to see your studio some time.
wish I knew you are in PR. My daughter was just there few weeks ago n and I could have had her visit you. Oh well. May be we can meet sometime.
So nice to meet a fellow vegetarian! I’ve been for 18 years for ethical reasons tho I do soft drinks but there was a time when I had cut back on coke but not so much lately. I look forward to your posts and will check out your recipes..everything sounds so yummy!!