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.

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 <3
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.