Happy Holidays

Dear BFF,

Around the Holidays, I find myself doing things that my mom did for me as a kid. Not big things, but little ones. Like this morning, I put milk in my oatmeal (almond milk of course). As a kid, my mom would put milk into our already cooked oatmeal & it was so much heavier and creamier than without...it was comfort food! And this morning I suppose that I needed a little extra comfort in my tummy.

I started to think of the other little Holiday or comfort things that I do automatically that remind me of my childhood. I use extra pie crust to make mini cinnamon rolls (roll out unused pie crust, 'butter' with earth balance, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, roll up, cut into pieces and bake!). When the weather gets cold, I start breaking out the crock pot for some hearty soups and stews with really crusty bread. I sew pajamas for loved ones, bake yummy treats for neighbors, attend Christmas Eve candlelight service with my family, smile ear to ear as my nephew opens his gifts, and snuggle on the couch with my husband, dog and a glass of wine, basking in the glow of the tree. We always have amazing food...Christmas Eve we eat mushroom and spinach crepes at my mom's house. On Christmas Day we have "Holiday Lasagna" at my sister-in-law's house. These are my holiday traditions. Not one of them is compromised by my choice to eat a compassionate diet...why would they be?

The meals have changed a bit over the years, and this change has only enhanced our experience. We have new traditions that mean so much more than the old ones. We look forward to the crepes each Christmas because we only eat them once a year! And the "Holiday Lasagna" is something we laugh and bond over, seeing as how not one of us is even a little Italian (we are German, Irish, Polish, Scottish....). You do not lose anything by choosing a cruelty free Holiday...in fact you gain so much. Remember that not choosing a compassionate Holiday is still a choice. Doing things the way they've always been done is a CHOICE. Break the mold...save lives this Holiday season...make new traditions! I can guarantee years down the road, you will not remember the specific things you ate, but you will remember the time spent with loved-ones and the lives you saved with your compassionate choice.

Peace and love,
Your BFF

PS...here are some links to cruelty free charities this season...please say 'no' to Heifer International!
Farm Sanctuary
WE ANIMALS
The Best Christmas Gift Ever-PETA
Vegfam
Or check out PCRM's Humane Seal webiste for other cruelty-free charities! They will even tell you the charities that are NOT cruelty-free.

Please notice that the dog's stocking has the most presents:)

Vegan Etiquette for Vegans and Non-Vegans

Coming off of a really busy and fun Halloween weekend, I wanted to blog about my vegan Halloween party. I wanted to tell you how awesome all my friends are & talk about all the delicious food we ate. Like the BEST EVER guacamole, pumpkin dip, hummus, spicy pumpkin tofu phyllo dough yumminess, oshi tashi, and more! But then I realized that maybe not everyone has such cool people in their lives who support their vegan lifestyle...or maybe they're just not sure how to. So I decided to write about how you should act in these vegan situations! Just a few simple guidelines:)

For Vegans:
1. If you are invited to someone's house for a party or dinner, do not expect them to make food for you. I know, I know...if they love you & know you are vegan, they likely will have food for you to eat. The important thing is not to expect it. Come prepared! Bring a vegan dish to share with everyone. Nobody likes the bummed out vegan snacking on a bag of granola at the table while everyone else eats. And make sure it's something that you think your hosts will like. If you know your hosts hate olives, do not take your world famous olive tapanade. Duh.

2. Do encourage your friends to bring vegan dishes to your own party, but again, don't expect that. Have plenty of delicious vegan food & a variety to accomodate all tastes. It's ok to ask that your party remain vegan, but please don't starve your guests. And offer to give suggestions if they want to bring food. Also remind your guests that they do not have to bring anything! You are the host & you will provide plenty of food and drink. Right??

3. DO NOT lecture your friends about living the vegan lifestyle at gatherings whether it's your hosue or not. By all means, do answer questions about why you are vegan if they are asked of you. But a party is not a time to point out the horrors of factory farming. There is always the person who really wants to discuss this subject. I say, if they ask for it give it to them. But be cognizant of the others in the room & again, don't be the vegan bummer. Exception: If your party is a screening of the movie Earthlings, then lecture away...they knew what they were getting into when they rsvp'd.

For Non-Vegans:
1. If you are invited to a party for a vegan or at a vegan's house and want to bring food, make sure it is something that your host can eat. Do not show up with a cheese plate & say that's the best you could do. If your host went through all the effort to plan a party & provide you with booze and food, do not show up with something they cannot eat. You wouldn't show up to a friend's house who has a peanut allergy with peanut butter cookies & say that's the best you could do. It's honestly better to take nothing. Or when in doubt take a bottle of wine. If they don't drink, maybe a nice box of tea. Or how about some chips and salsa or hummus. None require any prep & your host or guest of honor will really appreciate that the "best you could do" thoughtfully included them :)

2. If you are having a party of your own & you invite a vegan, have something for them to eat. Most likely they will bring some food (especially if they've read this blog) and will be so wonderfully surprised at your thoughtful inclusion of them in your menu-planning!

3. If you are having a formal event, especially one in which your guests will be bringing you gifts or money (like a wedding)...feed your vegan guests. Honestly, I know this is like regular etiquette and not vegan specific etiquette, but I feel it should be said. Caterers are accustomed to catering to special dietary needs, so  vegan hors d'oeuvres or a meal will not be a stretch for them. It also shouldn't cost you any extra. In Pittsburgh especially, the caterers are used to dealing with crazy celebrity requests 'like no white food' or 'I only eat raw almonds, organic apples, and kosher dill pickles'. Again, if you've gone to the trouble to invite your vegan guests and let's face it, you know they're bringing a wedding gift...it's not too much to ask to make sure they have food to eat. Imagine how hurt they would be if there was nothing for them to eat? It would make them feel like you don't care. Hubs and I had an amazing meal at my cousins wedding this past September...it was just one call to the caterer, & we appreciated it so very much!

Like I said earlier, my friends are awesome! They are so creative with the food they make. From Birthdays, to Book Clubs, to summer cook-outs...they have thoughtfully made food for us to eat. We feel so very loved and blessed.

A spooky photo from out "Horror Film" Halloween Party

Wednesday is wheatmeat day!

Wednesdays are wheatmeat days in the BFF household. This is mostly because I'm off from work & have the time to do it. What is wheatmeat? Wheatmeat is what I call a Seitan-like faux meat made from vital wheat gluten and water. Basically you take equal parts vital wheat gluten and water, mix and knead for 5 minutes. Then you can slice or chop it, cook it in a broth with seasonings, and then if you want it chewier you bake it as well. In Sarah Kramer's cookbook La Dolce Vegan, she has different concoctions of broth and seasonings to mimic beef, chicken, turkey, etc.

Faux Beef from La Dolce Vegan

I make a meal reminiscent of the meat and potatoes we ate as kids, but cruelty free of course. Above is the Faux Beef with mashed potatoes and carrots, mushroom gravy, and lima beans. Sometimes you need a little veganized taste of home.

Kale for breakfast? Hells yeah!

I love this time of year when CSA's and farmers markets are overflowing with kale. When I went to pick up my CSA yesterday, there was a mound of kale sitting in the swap box. I asked the women helping me what the deal was with all the kale & she said that people just don't know what to do with it! So I got a couple extra handfuls and left happy as a hippie.

Here's what I had for breakfast...sauteed kale and rice. Yum!

I wash the kale but don't dry it (the water helps steam as it cooks), tear into bite sized pieces and then saute in a little olive oil. I put a lid on the skillet to aid in the steaming and add some sea salt for flavor. Cook over medium until it's at your own desired consistency. Serve over rice & that's breakfast!

I also juice kale and make kale chips. Kale chips are super easy. Wash & dry kale, then tear into bite sized pieces. Spread them out on a baking sheet & drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. You can also add any other spices that inspire you in the moment! Bake at 350 or 400 for 5-10 minutes or longer, depending on how crispy you want them. I usually check them every 5 minutes until they are just right. Yum!

Did you know that one cup of cooked, chopped kale has 2.47g protein, 2.6g fiber, 94mg calcium, 1.17mg iron, 296mg potassium, 23mg magnesium, and 53.3mg vitamin C! Eat more kale!!

Peace, Love, and Greens,
Your BFF

Life is like a box of chocolates...or a jar of green tomatoes.

Hey BFF! Here's what I've been up to: CANNING. My mom and her friend used to can all the time when I was a kid & I loved the grape juice and strawberry preserves they made. I started canning last year when I had an abundance of tomatoes threatening to rot in front of my face. I canned a bunch & used them throughout the year in sauces, chilies, and lots of other recipes. It was awesome! I've also tried my hand at apple butter and pickles. But this year I had an abundance of green beans and green tomatoes! I also got some concord grapes through my CSA, so I made juice! So easy, albeit time consuming. Take a look:

                                                 Dilled Green Beans! I can't wait to try them!

                                                  Concord Grape Juice! Move over Welch's!

And here's what I did with all those grape tomatoes that never turned red. Spicy Pickled Green Tomatoes. I'm so excited to try them! Fresh dill, garlic, and jalapeno...yum!

Mandy's Pizza and More...or Less

So BFF, You know how people used to go crazy when a Krispy Kreme would open in their neighborhood and they'd get all worked up & stand in line for an hour? Well, this is the same excitement that comes over a vegan when they discover and pizza place with vegan pizza...that delivers! They will bring it right to my house! Can you even believe it???? I recently found out that Mandy's Pizza and More has gluten free and allergen free pizza & hoagies. Their menu even says suitable for vegan lifestyle! Hooray!!!! So hubs and I ordered a pizza and a "hoagie" and here's where it went down hill...

They have a sign outside of their shop that says they offer gluten and allergen free pizza and HOAGIES. But when I tried to order the hoagie, I was told it was more of a flatbread sandwich using the same crust as for the pizza. And I was hoping for a regular crust pizza with the vegan cheese, but apparently the regular crust is not vegan. Okay fine, we'll try it. When he gave the the total over the phone I almost fell over...$35 for 1 pizza and 1 sandwich! And when I took a look at the pizza I almost fell over again...it was only a 4 slice pizza!!!!!!

Flatbread sandwich...looks pretty...tastes not so much.

Other disappointments: the menu describes the mushrooms as "fresh"...which is a total lie as they are either from a can or jar (yuck!!!!). They also boast a "secret" dairy alternative cheese, which is Daiya. Or identical in flavor and consistency. The crust was not good at all. And the sandwich was disgusting...it just tasted like crappy pizza dough and banana peppers. Totally not worth the outrageous prices...You can spend just as much at Pizza Fusion & get a large organic vegan pizza that is gourmet! But for us, we'll just stick to our good old stand-by. Spak Brothers in Garfield. You can get a large (8 cut) pizza with all the same toppings as Mandy's for under $15! And it is delicious! They also offer true vegan hoagies on real bread, like the Seitan Cheese "Steak" or the Seitan Pittsburgh "Steak". Even add a side of Seitan wings with vegan buffalo sauce.  They may not deliver, but it's well work the drive.

People with gluten allergies may be used to eating crusts that taste like cardboard, but vegans are not! If Trader Joe's can make a delicious vegan pizza dough and sell it for 99 cents, I think Mandy's can do better. But their focus is on allergen free, and I definitely think there is a need for this...especially for all those GFCF kids out there. But there has to be a way to make this more affordable? Sorry if I sound a little harsh, but this vegan is disappointed. But on the bright side...Sesame Inn will still bring Chinese food right to my door!

Till next time BFF...I'll be sharing with you what I've been up to since dropping out of the challenge!

And....I'm out.

After much consideration, I have decided (along with hubs) to withdraw from the La Dolce Vegan Challenge sponsored by The Vegan Culinary Institute. I've come to this decision mainly because of the amount of money I am spending on food that I would never normally buy (frozen peaches, cherries, raspberries, etc.) and also because of the amount of sugar I am consuming. Hubs and I rarely eat dessert (special occasions) and making a dessert every three days is really changing the way my clothes fit me. I have been giving away the desserts, but I cannot continue (financially) to feed all my neighbors. There also seems to be a changing of the guard as far as who is running the challenge, so now seems like a good time to bow out.

To Sarah, thank you for your wonderful cookbooks. I just adore them & cook with them all the time!

To The Vegan Culinary Institute, what a wonderful idea & thank you for hosting and inspiring!

To the other contestants, good luck & I'll still be following along!

To you dear BFF, I will continue to blog about my adventures in vegan cooking, I promise! The blog must go on!

Gawd, I'm so dramatic!

Days 10, 13, 16, and 42 & a minor kitchen fire...

Just a reminder that I am involved in The La Dolce Vegan cooking challenge sponsored by The Vegan Culinary Institute, wherein we cook our way through La Dolce Vegan cookbook by Sarah Kramer & blog about our experiences.

I had a bit of a catch up day yesterday...all desserts! I have an event tomorrow where I'm in charge of desserts, so I saved a bunch for then & also skipped ahead so I'd have enough to share. Here we go:

Day 10 ~ Espresso Cake (247) with Chocolate Glaze (260). First of all, I don't have an espresso maker, so I went up to my local coffee shop for the espresso, thanks Coffee Buddha! I also decided to double the recipe since I need to feed lots of people. The cake recipe was very easy and smelled like heaven! I didn't have a double boiler for the glaze, so I had to fashion one. It was a little messy but did the job. I didn't get to try the finished product yet, but can't wait to!

Day 13 ~ Stephanie's Asteroids aka Sugar Bombs aka Crack aka Instant Cavity (page 209). In my baking frenzy yesterday, I forgot to make these. So I whipped them up this morning before breakfast! Quick and easy. I screwed up by putting the sugar (a reduced 2/3 cup) into the dry mixture, so I ended up putting the remaining 1/3 cup on the stove with the peanut butter and soy milk. It turned out fine & actually made them look a little sparkly:). But so much for trying to watch the sugar intake. My advice before rolling this sticky little nuggets of goo in your hands is to wet your hands with cold water...makes life much easier. And holy sugar!!!! Be so careful giving these to your kids...they may not sleep for days! These are like a non-drug drug...I'm still buzzing! Yum!

Day 16 ~ Cherry Cobbler (page 230). Okay so I hate cherry pie, cherry cobbler, or anything to do with cooked cherries. I only like them fresh. But I actually didn't mind this recipe so much. I loved the little "biscuits" that made up the cobbler part. This literally makes exactly 4 servings...Sarah Kramer is a genius for coming up with this idea. (Though it did sabotage my plan to feed 30 people with it. What was I thinking??) Love it...2 thumbs up. Next time I might try it with strawberries or blueberries.

Day 42 ~ Cranberry Apple Crisp (page 234). This is my skip ahead recipe, since the cobbler couldn't feed more than 4 people. I doubled this recipe as well for the number of people I want to serve and also didn't get to try it just yet. I didn't have enough cranberries for the doubled recipe, so I used blueberries. It was 2 cups cranberries and 1 cup blueberries. Looks delicious & smells fantastic! Just like fall. The hardest part was chopping the apples. But if you have an apple peeler-corer-slicer, it's a breeze. Whoever invented this thing is a stinking genius! It is perfect for making apple pies. If you don't own the stand, you may want to think about getting it, as this doesn't clamp on my kitchen counter tops. You know another thing I love from Pampered Chef? These measuring spoons. Another genius invention and space saver. And for $8, you are going to save yourself a world of hassle. No I do not sell Pampered chef, I am just in love with these two purchases! Anywho...check out the Crisp:

And now on to my final order of blogging...the kitchen fire. As all my lovely desserts were cooling on trivets on the stovetop, I decided to rest and make myself a cup of tea. I put the teapot on the stove, turned it on, and walked away. Within about 10 minutes the house was filled with smoke. I turned on a burner under one of my cooking desserts & set the wooden trivet on fire...and I mean real flames! This is not the first time I have done this & it's one of the reasons I really miss my gas stove. This is, however, the first time there have been actual flames. But I learned something...my smoke detectors don't work so great! I got the smoke cleared, but my house definitely smells like a campfire. Ah well...what an adventure!

Lying on the floor where I tossed it after smothering the flames. *sigh*

Mmmmmmm Noodle Soup...

Day ~ 15 Soba Noodle Miso Soup page 103

So, BFF, I love Miso soup & I love noodle soup & I love Bok Choy...so I was very excited about this recipe....and it did not disappoint! the flavor was wonderful & I loved the addition of the Nori. I have my own Gamashio recipe (from my yoga mentor) that I love and swear by and use on EVERYTHING! But in the spirit of challenge and because I'm trying to incorporate more sea veggies in my diet, I tried Sarah's recipe. And of course I loved it because she is a genius! It was wonderful on top of my noodle soup, I mean soup, I mean noodle soup, damn! I think I may have added too many noodles to this soup, but I really didn't mind. It reminds me of Joey on Friends:

Asteroids, Migraines, and Day 14...

So, BFF, first of all...Day 13 ~ Stephanie's Asteroids (no-bake cookies) are gonna have to wait until Thursday or Friday. But I did make Day 14 ~ Cool Cucumber Salad (pg 83) and Creamy Soygurt Dressing (pg 94). So easy and so stinking delicious! I had this along side the Cumin Rice (really growin' on me!) topped with some Sriracha! I love the hot and cool flavors! I ate so much of this for dinner...at first I had them neatly separated on the plate, but by the end it was all mushed together and delicious. Very glad there was nobody here to witness the spectacle of me eating. Eesh.

Now on to the Migraine issue. So, I'm a migraine sufferer. Usually it's hormone related & usually it doesn't hurt. I just get some tingling in the right side of my face & that's how I know it's happening. But once or twice a year, I get that really really painful and terrible one. Today was that day. I had pain, tingling, sensitivity to light and sound, and nausea. It was awful. And to top it off...it was my first day of teaching yoga at a new place. So I decided to try some home remedies. 1st I drank a cup of warm water with 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Then I soaked a hand towel in water & put it in the freezer for about 10 minutes & then on my head and eyes. I took this little rest for about 1/2 hour. Then I made my go-to-fixer-upper, hot water with 7-8 thin slices of fresh ginger (a recipe from my yoga mentor). My ginger "tea"...I use this for everything...headaches, allergies, sinus issues, fatigue, tummy problems...you name it. Anywho...After all these remedies, I actually felt better. Not 100%, but definitely functional. I thought I should share this with you, BFF, in case you ever need it (& I hope you never do).

Follow up on the Cumin Spiced Rice...

Well BFF, I'm the kind of person who can admit when she's wrong, and I was wrong about this rice. Today I took the rice & fried it up in a pan & served with stir fried baby bok choy & it was very good! I think maybe it needs to be paired with something else? Anywho...sorry Sarah & Cumin Fried Rice...I dig you both very much:)

**I cooked the bok choy in the wok with some dark sesame oil, garlic, fresh ginger, and at the end a tiny splash soy sauce. yum!

Day 12 ~ Cumin Spiced Brown Rice page 190

So I love cumin and I love rice, but did not love this dish so much. It was a little bland...maybe I need to add salt? I used veggie broth, but couldn't really taste it in the end. And it was also a little oily. Not sure I'll make it again...I also hate waiting for rice to cook (40-45 minutes). I thought of maybe doing this in my rice cooker, but I don't have any experience doing full dishes like this in there...Hmmmmmm...I might have to experiment.

Day 11 ~ Karen's Mexican Burrito Pie

What a tasty treat this was! I have never thought about cooking avocados before, but it was really delightful! My only problems with this recipe is the number of dirty dishes and utensils it created & it came out of the oven still cold ( I think I may need to invest in an oven thermometer like Sarah recommends). This makes a lot of food! We're going to be eating it for days! Hubs really really liked it too! I used jarred salsa because I had it & didn't want to dirty more dishes...I'm so lazy.

Just look at all those yummy layers!!!! Next time I might use Daiya Pepperjack cheese for a little added kick!

I served it up with my special Mexican rice and fresh jalapenos from my brother!

Not in a good way...

Hey BFF...I've been having a rough few days. I'm feeling really down. I'm feeling down on the yoga community and down on the vegan community and down in general. Ever have those days where you feel hopeless? Like you can't change the world the way you thought you could? Like you just don't want to be a part of a world that does such cruel and awful things? Like if you had a spaceship you'd get the eff outta here? Yeah, that's how I'm feeling. I wonder if this is how Chris Crocker felt when everyone was picking on Britney?

Watch out for the eff bomb & other bad words out of Chris's mouth. When you are distraught, these things just happen. *Hugs* Chris.

At least I've still got my weird sense of humor, BFF.

Day 9 ~ Noodle Salad with Nut Dressing

Recipe on page 81.

BFF, I'm not usually a fan of cold noodle salads with peanut sauce or any other nut sauce for that matter. But this is sooooo yummy! I used peanut butter, but mixed with all other ingredients it was not too peanuty. I used Agave Nectar instead of the sugar (I just can't do anymore sugar), and it wasn't too sweet at all. I also used Mugwort Soba noodles & they were delicious & added some extra color to the dish. There's a nice little spicy kick to this noodle salad that was a nice surprise. Thanks Vegan Culinary Institute once again for hosting this challenge...I'm finding lots of delightful new recipes!

Day ~ 8 ~ Baby Spinach and Apple Salad with Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette

Recipe found on page 77.

Dear BFF,

I love me a spinach salad! And this one tasted just like fall! I didn't have raisins and don't really like them anywho, so I subbed a dried berry mix that I had on hand (cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and plums). The berry mix along with a tart apple made this salad just perfect in my opinion! And hubs, who could care less about dressing, actually commented on how good this dressing was. I paired this with the potato leek soup from the other night, and it was the perfect rainy day meal!

Heads up, BFF!!! These next few recipes may be a bit out of order. I am strategically planning the desserts to take with me to the lake next weekend. Don't want to make them too far ahead & DEFINITELY don't want to eat them all myself!!

Walk for Farm Animals

Dear BFF,

Every year Farm Sanctuary hosts a Walk for Farm Animals, to raise money and awareness for neglected and abused farm animals. I am doing my second walk this year in Pittsburgh and I am writing to request your help! Last year I came in 2nd place as highest fundraiser & Pittsburgh was in the top fundraising cities. We hope to blow both of these out of the water! If you'd like to help farm animals, please sponsor me on my page! There's a quick link in the top right corner! I'm currently in 2nd place again...can you help me get to 1st?

Farm Sanctuary is one of my favorite places on earth. I became vegan after being there for about a minute. FS has literally changed my whole world. I go there for inspiration & encouragement, for peace and reassurance.

Honestly, spend 5 minutes with any animal there & your heart and mind will be forever changed. Farm Sanctuary does life changing and life saving work. They cannot do this without our help and support.

Please help us make a difference in the lives of farm animals. Anything at all is so greatly appreciated.

Peace and Love,
Your Vegan BFF

Day 7 ~ Blueberry Dilip

Blueberry Dilip is found on page 228 of La Dolce Vegan. This recipe was really simple to make & was soooooo stinking delicious! It's a lot like a cobbler & is amazing served warm. My only complaint is the price of blueberries...I used fresh, but the frozen are just as expensive. That being said, I will definitely make it again!I took this to my book club dinner & the girls looooooved it!

Day 6 ~ Simple Leek and Potato Soup

Simple Leek and Potato Soup, page 109.

Perfect soup for a chilly and rainy day in the 'Burgh. This soup was so stinking easy...I'll be making it a lot this winter! I used my immersion blender (second favorite kitchen appliance), but left some chunks in there.

Pair it with some yummy crusty bread & it's the perfect comfort meal. Thanks Sarah!

Juicer a.k.a. Kris Carr

Dear BFF,

I just wanted to take this moment to introduce you to my new juicer, Kris Carr. I have named her Kris Carr after the person Kris Carr a.k.a. The Vegan Juicing Goddess Extraordinaire. The person Kris Carr spoke at Farm Sanctuary this summer & inspired me to invest in a good juicer. So here she is!

Isn't she pretty? I'm in love! She is an Omega 8006 masticating juicer. I wanted a middle of the line juicer (read: didn't want to pay $500+), but I wanted to be able to make juice & store it at least overnight so I don't have to juice everyday (read: lazy). The masticating juicer slowly "chews" up the veggies, squeezing out all the vitaminy goodness. Kris Carr actually sounds like a little bunny chewing on her veggies! This allows the juice to sit awhile before losing all the nutrients. Masticating juicers also yield more juice, more nutrients & enzymes, less foam & can be stored in the fridge for a day or so...perfect! All pieces-parts are dishwasher safe on top rack (bonus!), so she's super easy to clean. I love my green juice!!! Thanks Kris Carr (juicer and person!)!

Kale, romaine, broccoli, pea sprouts, pears, ginger, cucumber, celery.