When the cupboard isn't quite so bare...

Once I have food, I will start cooking again. Wednesday is market day. Hoping for carrots. I have a desire for carrots. Melons are a must. Peppers. The wise thing to do would be to go through and plan out my meals I want to make, and purchase accordingly. That will probably not happen.

What will happen is the Kid will have a great time playing with the other hippie children, and I, against all odds, will find something that I can cook that the Husband will eat.

Fast, Cheap and Delish

Tonight I finally broke down and raided my rapidly emptying kitchen for stir fry items. I came up with the following:

1 bag of rice sticks (noddles)
1 package frozen peas
1 can water chestnuts


I threw some olive oil in a pan, and minced three garlic cloves, adding it to the oil. I cooked garlic till brown, then I added the water chestnuts (which I had chopped up). I pushed this around in the skillet for a while. At this point, I remembered I needed to soak the rice sticks, so in to a pot of cold water about half of the bag went, for about 10 minutes. While the rice sticks were soaking, I threw the peas (slightly thawed) into the pan and the Bebe delighted at the sizzling sound that ensued. I  messed around with stirring the peas and water chestnuts, added some soy sauce, rice vinegar and salt and pepper for flavor, then covered and cooked for about 5 minutes. At that point, I threw the rice sticks in, and a few tbsp of water and sauteed it all up. I continued to add a tbsp or two of water until all of the good flavor was off the bottom of the skillet. At that point, I felt that the dish was finished, and a taste test proved me right..... and after about 20 minutes or less of cooking........

                                                                   Dinner!


The rice sticks were tasty, and the peas were just right. A quick, animal free dinner, and one that the Kid ate, too. I declare this meal a success. Not much to look at, but with the soy sauce and rice vinegar it packs just the right amount of flavor punch.....

Like Sea Kittens!

 Today we spent a good two and a half hours swimming. The Kid is becoming quite the little sea kitten (PETA talk for fish). Every day that I take him, he becomes more and more brave. Today, he swam by himself (with water wings, of course) and even jumped in several times! The Bebe loved the water, and was laughing and splashing. He is a natural swimmer, kicking and moving his legs to actually keep afloat and move. Perhaps he has memories of the womb, still. 

                                                           climbing back out to jump

                                                                   my little sea kitten

                                                                    sleepy sleepy bebe


Bologna sandwiches were the pool side lunch, which of course I did not partake in, and the sweet boy who was making the sandwiches said "oh, vegetarian?" and I said "yes" and left it at that, because I didn't feel like debating veganism with a ten year old.

I won't be cooking tonight, but thought it would be interesting to note that the Bebe has started solid foods. He has been a huge fan of bananas. pears, and mangoes. He hates the cereal. It will only be a matter of time before I will be blending up my meals and giving them to him.
 
It will be nice when Wednesday market day is here again. I know that the Kid will have a blast like he did last week, and I can restock my depleted fridge. Eating through leftovers is such a chore, but it's just too expensive to throw out whatever is not eaten the night before. Except that African dish... that hit the garbage can the same night.

Here is hoping that I can throw a decent meal together with what is in the pantry. Maybe I will become a thrifty vegan, making meals for under $5... that would be nice.

Summer Melons and Sweet Sunshine

My favorite part of summertime in Florida, besides the ridiculous good ole boys at the springs in their cut off jean shorts, is watermelon.  Watermelon soup is a great way to cool down on a hot day, and the perfect snack after an afternoon spent at your favorite body of water.

Here we go:

1 watermelon, cut in to chunks with seeds removed
1 blender

1.Throw watermelon in blender
2. Puree
3. Strain pulp from juice
4. Chill and serve.


Easy. Refreshing. You can always use cantaloupe, or even honeydew melon in place of the watermelon, and if you are really fancy you can make a garnish to serve on top, like some small diced melon and mint leaves, or what ever floats your boat.

This is my favorite summertime lunch, and because it is so easy, even the little hands of the Kid can help out. He gets a big kick out of pushing the button on the blender.

A Great Part Of Being Vegan...

                This is meat eating me, just a few weeks ago. I weighed probably around 110.

This is vegan me now. I weigh 95 lbs. (Notice I have also taken up annoying habit of taking pictures whose sole purpose is to end up on Facebook).


Let me explain why being vegan is great. Most people love to eat, and most people love to eat a lot. Like, buffet amounts of food. Vegans get to eat incredible amounts of food, and still look good. Why? Because if you are eating lots of raw carrots or fresh strawberries or bananas or Swiss chard or bok choy or any fruit or vegetable, you body is loving it. Loving the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. Throw in the fact that your protein is nearly fat free and cholesterol free, and the abundance of whole grains (barley, bulgar, quinoa) - with in a week or so your body is transformed. Lean, energized and healthy. Happy.

And no animal suffering! Hooray for vegan food! Tomorrow the market, and the back to posts with recipes! Less chatting, more cooking! Brunch! From my new cook book... Vegan Brunch by the great Isa Chandra

Vegan Bookworm

                                                         *just a few of my cookbooks.*


I love to read. It's a passion of mine, much like cooking. Cookbooks are some of my favorite things to flip through. This is because I can dream about making the meals, enjoy the pretty pictures, and not have to devote a large part of my brain to a story line (this is a side effect of children- reading a book becomes impossible, and finishing a book is akin to gaining your PhD in finding personal time).

I have a vast library of vegan cookbooks. Go to any bookstore, grab a vegan cookbook off a shelf, and I most likely have it. Most of the books I have I don't use. I have a few staple books that I go to, and in these I can always find something to make with what I have on hand (if I don't feel like dragging the family to the grocery)

My recommendations are:

By Isa Chandra Moskowitz- (the post punk vegan queen)

Veganomicon- the bible for all things vegan cooking
Vegan Brunch- okay,  I just got this one, but the pictures alone are fab
Vegan with a Vengeance- just totally awesome food

By Collen Patrick Goudreau

The Vegan Table- excellent source of menus for every occasion, for every season, for every amount of people
Color Me Vegan- exciting recipes grouped by color of fruit or veggie involved. The Kid's favorite

By Robin Robertson

1000 Vegan Recipes- the name says it all

By Microcosm Publishing

Please Don't Feed the Bears- I don't know almost any of the music they recommend rocking out to. I never lived the gutter punk lifestyle. Yet, this is the best cookbook. EVER. It's my darling. My precious.



It's nice to have a variety of cookbooks, because cooking the same thing all of the time is boring. I find that just flipping through a cookbook is enough to inspire me. I have been perusing through my collection, trying to find just the right meal, and the right dessert, for a celebration.

You see, the first wedding anniversary is Wednesday. The Husband and I live a simple life, without the strappings of luxury (like going to dinner, or the movies, or out for drinks). I was planning to cook a dinner fit for royalty, with recipes cultivated with love. Yet, he has to work. So instead, we will probably have lunch, and hit a little restaurant that is near and dear to both of us- a site of many secret lunch dates and intimate confessions, back when I was a sad pregnant girl and he was left alone in a bad marriage. A quaint little bookstore, from where the Husband brought me vegan lasagna before he was even the Husband (or, when he was the Husband of another). A trip down memory lane, to enjoy the positive silliness of how we found one another. I just hope Book Lover's still makes good food.

Avocados are for Lovers

This is Avocado Potato Salad. It is fantastic, and simple to make. Basically, you make potatoes for basic potato salad (i.e. cut them, boil them, drain them) but instead of using mayonnaise (or veganaise) you mash up an avocado and mix it in. Add some tomato if you are feeling daring, and salt and pepper to taste.

I ate this entire bowl of potato salad.

That's all for now. For those of you who read this and want an actual recipe...


Several small red potatoes, washed and cubed (I don't peel them, because I am lazy, but feel free)
2 avocados
1 tomato
salt and pepper
juice from lemon or lime

Cook potatoes. Mash avocado with citrus juice and seasoning. Throw in with drained potatoes and mix up till it has that nice green color. Lay some tomatoes on top. Eat, eat, eat!

Looks Like Stir Fry Tonight

When I cook, I try to take inspiration from what is happening around me. The great African dinner disaster of 2011 was inspired by my reading Dancing In The Glory Of Monsters (a book tracing the causes of the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, and the rise of rebel leaders-cum-rulers in the Great Lakes area of Africa). This is why the Husband quipped "This looks like slop that refugees would eat" when presented with my attempt at an African meal.

*where the inspiration comes from*

Well, yes, I suppose that beans, potatoes and cabbage thrown in a pot and under cooked does seem like a refugee camp meal. I don't know, as I have never been to a refugee camp, but I am sure that even the hungriest refugee would have refused that mess I made last night. I refuse to be discouraged, though, and have plans to order A Vegan Taste Of East Africa, so that next time, I will have a wider variety of meals to try. I don't think the bean dish will be on the menu for a while, or the Husband might revolt.

Today, there will be no African influence in the meals.... Potato Salad with avocado for lunch, and a good fall back stir fry of some kind for dinner. The pantry and cupboards are beginning to grow bare, and my ability to make a meal is being challenged by the monthly budget shortfall. I have faith that I can take rice noodles and water chestnuts and make something fabulous out of them. At least, something that is pleasant to look at, and passable to eat.

A Meal To Forget

Tonight I tried my hand at African cooking. It was a lost cause before I even began. This is the first awful meal that I have made. The worst of the worst. The recipe was not bad- it was an African dish- Maharagwe- a Burundi bean dish. The side was plantains in coconut curry milk. Green (unripe) plantains were the first obstacle I had to overcome, and though I peeled and sliced them and spiced them up, they simply would not yield the sweetness I needed with the coconut milk sauce. The plantains were flavorless disks covered in coconut curry milk. The sauce was not lacking, but the plantains were horrid. Had the Husband brought me ripe plantains from the grocery, and not green ones, I think the dish would have been much better. I will try it again, but next time I will choose the plantains.

As for the maharagwe....Oh Mother Africa, forgive me for the way I destroyed this dish. A simple bean dish from Kenya (the version I tried was from near by Burundi) , it seemed very easy to make. I chopped my potatoes, shredded my white cabbage, smashed the garlic and chopped the onions. It was the beans.... that was the entire dish's undoing. I under cooked the beans, and even though the entire dish cooked together for over an hour, the beans remained underdone. If I were to make this again, I would be sure to soak the beans overnight, and not rely on the quick soak method.

Both the Husband and the Kid took one bite, and headed out the door to McDonald's, leaving me lost in thought over this failure of a meal. I have a challenge now- cook tasty vegan African food. Time to hit up Amazon and find a good cookbook or two. My next attempt will be edible. Hopefully.

Rise and Shine!

                  The Bebe and me, heading out the door in search of caffeine

An iced soy vanilla latte is the perfect start to my morning, every morning.

Today I am taking my kitchen to the continent of Africa. Love African food. Love it. Now, I have never been to Africa, and when I had the chance I dropped the ball (the regiment of 9,000 shots one has to receive in order to travel over there was the source of my procrastination, and I never got my visa ). African cooking is exciting, with flavors and foods that one doesn't normally find on their supper plate. Several African dishes are veggie friendly  (from the fact that few in Africa can afford meat with every meal).  Tonight I am planning on cooking a traditional bean dish, and serving it over rice, with plantains in coconut milk as a side. Pictures and recipes will follow, once I blunder my way through throwing the dish together.

A Lentil Of This. A Lentil Of That.

Yeah, so- tonight I was feeling lazy so I made the old standby of spaghetti. I was looking for a little excitement, so instead of a jar of Ragu dumped unceremoniously atop a pile of poorly drained noodles, I decided to make use of a bag of lentils, and make a lentil sauce. Lentils are another fabulous vegan staple, and make great burgers, stews and sides.

                                                                   nom nom nom

For Sauce:
lentils- sorted and rinsed (about a cup and a half, but feel free to use more)
1 chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
olive oil
4 cups of broth. (i did not have four cups, so i used on cup, then 3 cups water with soy sauce and seasoning thrown in)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp pepper
dried parsley and oregano- whatever looks good
tomato paste
1 can diced tomato

Saute  the onions and garlic till they become fragrant, then throw in the lentils and the broth (broth/water mix if unprepared). Spice it up with the cayenne pepper and pepper, and throw some dry herbs on top. Bring it to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer for around 25 minutes or till lentils are tender. Then add the tomato paste and tomatoes (note- i had no tomato paste, or tomatoes, so I used half a jar of traditional spaghetti sauce. yes, this is like cheating. Or it's being very thrifty) Bring to another boil, cover and reduce heat, and cook for 45 more minutes.

While you are waiting on the sauce to cook, make the pasta you want. Rinse and drain pasta. Then spoon sauce right on top of the noodles. It's like spaghetti sauce, but with awesome lentils in it! Brilliant.

This is a dinner I dined on alone, as the Kid stayed with GinGin, and the Husband has yet to make it home for dinner. It was a quick, fun meal. The Bebe laughed at me in my apron, and when I cursed because I burned my lips off sampling the lentil sauce.

Leftovers will go in the fridge, and the Kid has lunch for tomorrow.

Tomorrow's menu will feature an African dish from the Great Lakes area- Maharagwe- which is basically a bean dish. Also, homemade hummus from dried chickpeas.

Pot Pie from Veggie Heaven

Vegan Veggie Pot Pie from Heaven....


The best thing about pot pies is that you can throw almost any veggie in it. The recipe as follows is my variation, made with the flavors and the seasoning that I had available.  I made this pot pie on a whim, and was not only missing ingredients, but also a rolling pin for the dough. I refused to be deterred, and I was already elbow deep in flour, so I made due with the outside of a bowl coated with flour. It worked well, though not perfectly.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Dough:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt ( i used sea salt)
4 tbsp cold soy margarine

Filling:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped ( green, red, yellow, orange- whatever color you like)
2 carrots, diced
2 tbsp all purpose flour
3 garlic cloves, minced
2-4 red potatoes, washed and cubed (i did not peel, as I like the skin, but feel free)
2 1/4 cup low sodium veggie broth, or homemade veggie stock
Calvender's Greek Seasoning
1 1/2 cup green beans, snapped and washed (I didn't really measure how many green beans I washed and snapped, this is a guess)
1 cup frozen peas

Make the dough. Do this by mixing salt and flour in a bowl, and then cutting the soy margarine in until no large pieces remain. Add a few tbsps of water (3-5 depending) and mix into a smooth dough. Throw this in the fridge to chill while making the filling.

For the filling heat olive oil in skillet and add onion, pepper, carrots and garlic. Saute' until tender. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or so, then add the veggie broth, potatoes and greek seasoning (just season to taste). Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cook 10 minutes. Add the peas last.

Separate that dough, and roll out both sections. Press one part into a casserole dish. Add the filling. Stretch the other piece of dough over the top. Take a fork and make indentions along the edge of the crust, and make a few little marks on the top as well, to give it that pie look. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

This will blow your mind, it is so easy and good. This is just my take on a pot pie. You can always sub veggies out. I am sure squash or asparagus would be awesome in this. It's basically what ever you have in your fridge, cook it up and throw it in.....

Even the Husband is looking forward to dinner.

Light and Happy

Veganism makes me feel amazing. Just spectacular. In the last week that I have been off animal products I feel lighter, happier and more energized. It grants me a sort of freedom from the food that I eat. Meals become peaceful, enjoyable. Before, I would obsess over every thing I ate, feeling the guilt of consuming flesh, and calories and fat, worrying over my weight and my health in the future. I would think, 'Wow this cheeseburger tastes awesome, but it's probably like 1200 calories, and some poor cow stood knee deep in manure and then had his throat slit while hanging upside down after being beaten and mistreated.' That type of thing weighed heavy on me.  When I eat vegan, I make better food choices, almost organically. Being vegan eliminates a lot of the more garbage food, because most garbage food has some form of animal in it. If I were to sit around eating Cool Ranch Doritos all day, I would feel awful and disgusting. I can eat blueberries till the cows come home, and have peace of mind. Now, it is totally possible to follow a vegan diet and be unhealthy  if you eat A. a lot of processed food (frozen ready made veganized products) or B. nothing (because you are only a vegan to cover up an eating disorder- hello 'vegan' me at age 20). I try to stay away from mock meat products because they tend to be high in sodium and preservatives, though sometimes a recipe just calls for soy sausage or I need a tofu dog.

Yesterday, while I was waiting for the Rapture, I ate an entire pint of blueberries. I also roasted an eggplant and red peppers, cooked up brown rice, and steamed some broccoli. Then I threw the broccoli in a blender, pureed it, then threw the puree in to the rice with some salt, pepper and herbs.I mixed it all together, made little rice cakes, and then cooked them in olive oil on the stove top till they were crispy. I put one piece of red pepper and one slice of eggplant on top of each of the rice cakes, and splashed them with soy sauce and rice vinegar. It turned out extremely well. I ate two. The Husband was not a fan. "I hate eggplants. I hate peppers. Congrats, you cooked my least favorite things."

Oh well. Win some, lose some.

Blueberry Rapture

The world is suppose to end today (I would argue that the world has been ending since the beginning of man, but what do I know). Despite the forecast of naked Believers ascending into heaven, I still got up and got the Bebe ready, and headed out the door. Saturdays are market days- the big Alachua County Farmer's Market, which is much more hardcore 'farmer' than the downtown market on Wednesdays- all of the vendors on Saturdays are farmers, and you don't find tables of soaps and jewelry.

It's summer time, which means that the market is overflowing with vendors and people. The stalls are crowded with just picked peppers, berries and various leafy greens, and surrounded by mobs of hippies, hipsters, mothers with children in tow, and older couples, all grabbing for the best looking items and chatting with the farmers. It can be a challenging place to maneuver about, especially during these peak times.

The Bebe and I had a mission, which involved browsing about the various veggies as I decided what to make for dinner and finding fresh berries. We accomplished both, grabbing eggplant and peppers for dinner and both blueberries and strawberries. The Bebe made quite the impression on the strawberry man. While I was debating which pint I wanted, the Bebe helped himself to a strawberry, or two. The farmer was delighted at the sight of my little son, holding a strawberry in each hand with a big smile on his face. "Look at that little rascal, got 'em self a handful! Knows whats good! I'm throwing in an extra pint, on the house, for your little one there! God bless ya!". With that, and a big "thank you" from me, the Bebe and I headed for home.

Cobblers and smoothies seem to be on the menu today, and somehow I have to cook eggplant so the Husband will eat it. Yesterday  I made vegan scalloped potatoes, and he ate almost the entire dish, coated with hot sauce. They did turn out quite well, and were a breeze to make:

 Slice 6 potatoes thin.
 Chop an onion.
Mix salt and pepper with 6 tbsp flour
Melt vegan butter (1/4 cup). Pour 1/3 into bottom of dish.
Throw down 1/3 of potato and onion. Sprinkle with 1/3 of flour. Layer like this.
Pour remaining butter on top.
Pour 2 cups nondairy milk over the entire thing (I use almond)
Sprinkle with paprika and parsley
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1-2 hours, until potatoes are soft and top is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Easy- takes time to bake, but worth it in the end.

As for dinner tonight.... Baked Eggplant with a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Brown Rice and a fresh berry salad. I am hoping it woos the Husband's taste buds, and makes him a fan of eggplant.

The Incas Had It Right

Quinoa is a gift from the heavens. It is a complete protein. It packs a lot of nutrients in a little grain. It tastes great (as long as you remember to wash it before cooking) and can be used in several dishes, as a main course, a salad or a side. Stuffed peppers with quinoa and black eyed peas are baking in the oven at the moment. Paired with green beans and garlic potatoes, and what a great fresh from the market dinner. The Kid will enjoy it, as I remember he was always fond of quinoa.

Today I ate an entire bag of strawberries that I acquired yesterday, and The Kid and I delighted in the juicy fresh nectarines. I can't wait until Saturday, when I can grab some more blueberries. I eat blueberries like no ones business. I have a serious blue berry addiction, rivaled only by my love of pistachios. If I was in a room full of blueberries and pistachios I would probably eat myself to death.

I have not done so well in feeding The Kid vegan. I tend to fall back on the old staples of hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Usually I can get him to eat a soy dog, but he is not to fond of the soy nuggets at the moment. I would prefer him to eat fresh fruit and raw veggies more often- he seems to love cherry tomatoes, so that is another thing I am hoping to find Saturday. I have to think that if I put out veggies for him to snack on through out the day, he will eat them. He might ask for chips, but after not getting them for a while, eventually he is bound to succumb to the allure of vegetables.

The Husband is a lost cause. He works nights too often for my dinners to make a difference in his diet, and he will make himself whatever else he wants to eat if he deems my cooking unfit. This happens most of the time. I do not blame him, as most times I am disappointed in what  happens in the kitchen. I will keep working at him- he will never convert, but he loves me for being vegan, and he will eat what I cook, when it is edible...

Market Day

Wednesday is by far our favorite day of the week. This is due to the farmer's market located downtown. Today we ventured to the market in the late afternoon. The Kid and best friend delighted in a fresh homemade strawberry kiwi Popsicle. They spent a large amount of the time running wild in the grass and listening to sub par hippie music, playing with a group of children and several hula hoops.

I browsed around and scored blueberries, strawberries, nectarines, bell peppers, potatoes. onions, green beans, zucchini and tempeh. My hand woven market bag was full and I was a happy vegan. The dinner tonight- teriyaki tempeh with brown rice and mixed vegetables. The Kid had chicken nuggets, after spitting out the tempeh and giving me a look of disgust. It's an acquired taste, I guess.

 Saturday is the next market day, and I am hoping to find melons. I have several melon salads that I am dying to make for lunch. I also want to grab more blueberries, and make a vegan berry cobbler. How lucky my family is to live in a place with such a variety of fresh food!

Vegan On A Budget

The Husband claims that we cannot afford my vegan diet, that food is too expensive & it would be cheaper to eat at Taco Bell. I disagree. I think that Taco Bell costs more in the long run, in terms of diet and health.

It can be expensive to be vegan, unless you eat peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti every night. I like to cook, and I can have big ambitions for meals, which can translate into money spent, especially when the pantry is not well stocked. I, however, am a firm believer in farmer's markets, where you get fresh local and mostly organic produce at far less than the cost of a major grocery chain. Alachua County is full of farmer's markets. In the Gainesville area, there is a farmer's market every day except Sunday. To me, farmer's markets help make my vegan diet feasible, even on a budget. Granted,  I have spent $55 on food at the grocery in the last two days- but I have made two days worth of meals, and still have items left over to use. The Husband does not look at it as food, because hummus and pita chips,  paninis with avocados, tomato and pesto, and Cuban Black Bean Soup don't seem like real food. Not when your diet consists of fast food or frozen meals. The Husband is an excellent cook, and I know that vegan cooking will bring out his creative side. I just have to make it seem cost efficient.

My favorite meal for today was the panini I made for lunch- fresh bakery bread with olive oil brushed over it, with pesto, avocado, tomato and lettuce, toasted on the flattop grill and served with cherries. Absolute heaven. The flavors were incredible. It was a quick fix, too, ready in under 15 minutes.

Dinner was Cuban Black Bean Soup, which was fun to make, with bananas and red peppers in the mix, and coconut milk for an extra punch of spectacular. The Husband would not eat it, settling for a hot pocket. I did not let this hurt my feelings, as The Kid seemed to enjoy the soup very much.

Now I sit on our newly acquired couch, my belly full- hummus and blue corn chips were a bonus snack today- yet I do not feel guilty over any food choices I made today. Every meal was healthy and humane. I feel good.

Tomorrow holds infinite promise for the amazing...

Dinner Done Together

The dinner plans for tonight called for company and eastern food, but when the company canceled, The Husband canned the eastern food menu as well. Instead, he wanted vegan swedish meatballs and garlic bread. The fact that he willingly picked a vegan recipe made my heart warm. So off to the store we went, to collect the fixings, and then home. I played prep cook, making up the soy sausage balls, and the gravy. The Husband took over, and cooked the meatballs to perfection, and his seasonings made the gravy explode with flavor. Asparagus and garlic bread (all vegan) rounded out our dinner, and we spent the meal seated around the table, listening to The Kid yabber on about the car accident that his trucks got into, his various encounters with The Best Friend, and the playground politics of the third year of life.

Could this really be? A scant three days into this family experiment, we are already making meals and sitting down together? Is it that easy? Tomorrow is another day, full of new challenges. I hope my dinner tomorrow is much like it was tonight. A few minutes spent together, no phones or computers. No interruptions. Just our little family, and our simple love for one another.

Always One Ingredient Short

A well stocked pantry is any cook's best friend, and a vegan cook is no different. Missing a key ingredient or spice can alter the flavor and texture of a meal, and make or break it. My pantry is never well stocked, and every other time I go to cook I end up missing at least one thing that I need, but I plow ahead anyway, with no regard to taste or style. Usually, when this occurs, the dish turns in to a disaster, and confirms my boys suspicions that vegan cooking is god awful. Vegan cooking is incredible, when done right. I am not yet at the 'done right' stage of cooking. It's a process.

I have 65 cookbooks, give or take. Almost all of them are vegan, reflecting my mind's commitment to veganism, despite my stomach's refusal to jump on board. A good vegan cook book is a valuable tool, not only with recipes, but with information about stocking your pantry with vegan friendly food, and your kitchen with an assortment of utensils. One of my favorite parts of veganism is how incredibly varied the diet is. When I eat the typical American diet, I tend to eat the same things. Cheeseburgers. Pizza. PF Chang's frozen dinners for two. As a vegan, the world is suddenly my plate, and I cook an Ethiopian stew one night, and a South American dish the next. I become a traveler over the dining room table, hitting Africa, Europe and Asia all in the same week. It's the only way I can afford to travel, at the moment, and it works well for me. I have visions of The Kid and The Bebe and I in the kitchen, whipping up dinner, and discussing the country and culture of the society who's meal we are trying. Exposing the kids to the world, one meal at a time.


 Tonight I am hoping to entertain a few friends over dinner. I am pulling out The Vegan Table (Colleen Patrick-Goudreau) in hopes to find a fun, simple menu for our meal. I am thinking a light spring-time meal- one with an Eastern twist.

Thai Curry with Veggies
Pad Thai
Honeydew Melon in Coconut Milk

I have never used this cookbook before, but the meals seem beautiful and easy. Here is hoping that it all turns out.

We All Dine Alone

I have realized that my family does not eat together. We eat apart, at different times. Our dining is done alone.

The Kid eats his breakfast in the morning, about an hour after waking up. The Bebe and I join him, but we do not eat. At least, I don't , except for the occasional piece of fruit scavenged off of The Kid's plate. The Husband sleeps. By lunchtime, The Husband will be up, and rummaging about making some meal. Whatever is made he will share with The Kid, who will sit at the table, and he will stand in the kitchen, eating like a starving man. At some point in the night either myself or The Husband will make dinner. This meal is, again, eaten in separate places. The fact that every day we miss, on average, three chances to sit together and have conversation, makes me more than a little sad. I feel like I am robbing my kids of a crucial experience, one that I always had growing up, which is the family meal. Yes, there was a time when I dreaded the lame-o family dinner, even though ours was conducted around a TV set instead of a table. We would sit as a family and talk and laugh and share a meal. It's funny to think that now I long for the thing I use to ridicule.

This is something that will be a challenge for our little family, especially because The Husband works so many late nights. My goal is for at least one meal a day to be enjoyed as a family. Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, we need to connect over our meals. Eating together makes an event out of the ordinary. The Kid and The Bebe have to learn habits from somewhere, and I don't want their habits to always involve a drive through window. The Husband claims he loves crunchy granola hippie food, yet by that he means Taco Bell. This is food I would prefer my children not consume.

So today The Kid enjoyed fresh pineapple, cherries and yogurt (plus hotdog) for lunch,  and we had a nice vegan noodle meal from a local restaurant for dinner. Then he had McDonald's french fries and chicken nuggets, because he did so well with the tofu earlier, I just couldn't say no. It was a mixed meal day for The Kid, while I stuck to a strict vegan plan. We did manage to sit down for lunch, The Kid and I, but no meals as a family, since The Husband worked.  The next two days offer plenty of opportunity for me to attempt a family dinner, as we will all be home together.

Eventually this blog will become something. I will develop a voice and a clear vision for where this is headed. Until then, enjoy.

We Are:

My first post was a hurried affair, typed out while balancing a baby on my lap and a score of issues clouding my mind. To make up for that, I offer this, which I hope will be a clarification of who I am, and what I hope this blog achieves.

To start with, I am hesitant to even blog at all. We all like to think of ourselves as interesting people, with clever and unique things to say. That is why sites like Facebook and Twitter are as big as they are. They offer the illusion of popularity. What a great way to stroke delicate egos. On the flip side, we are all unique people, and we should listen and care about what others have to say, and the Internet is an amazing platform to gain a voice.

This blog, for me, is simply a record of my serious attempt at veganism. I have flirted with being a vegan before, only to fall back into the ease of the main stream American diet. Veganism is important to me, because it is more than just a diet, it's an actual lifestyle. It is compassion in action. The cruelty free products, the avoidance of fur- these are the tenants of veganism that are easy for me. The diet is the challenge.

The word 'vegan' brings strong reactions from people, mostly in the form of aggressive defense of the meat centered diet, or despair because they see the next 20 minutes of their lives being bogged down in a moral lecture over the evils of meat. This is not meant to be a lecture- I am not holier than thou. This is just a spot to track my progress, and to record the battle that meals can become when families have conflicting diets. Will my family of boys convert to the healthy vegan diet? Will I maintain my animal free diet when everyone at my dinner table is dining on meat? Will I continue to cook meat, or will I eventually put my foot down, and banish it from the kitchen? We shall see...

And now... your cast of characters in this dietary adventure:

Me- a 26 year old mother of two boys. Married to soul mate. Born again vegan. Loves the world.

The Husband- the soul mate, the boss, and the usual maker of meals. Supports me in everything I do & an exceptional dad.

The Kid- oldest son. Likes the playground and McDonald's. Will eat almost anything.

The Bebe- our new addition. Brings much joy

Kooky- our kitty

That is our family. We are who we are. This will follow how a diet shapes us into who we become.

Here I Go Again

Going Vegan- Take 5......


I can hear the skepticism in their voices as I announce my intent to go back on a vegan diet. They have all heard this before. All of my reasons (health, compassion, the environment) No one believes that I will stay vegan for long. Sure, maybe I will be a vegan for a month, maybe for  a year- but eventually someone will make chicken wings and then it's over. It's because I lack will power, and despite my best efforts, I always relapse on cheese and meat. This upsets me- I am not one to enjoy cruelty, which is basically what a chicken wing is...

I know a few things.

I feel happier, healthier and lighter when  I follow a vegan diet.
When you put garbage in your body, you get bad results.
I love fruits and vegetables.
I don't like cruelty.
Vegan diets are full of fruits and vegetables, and lack cruelty.

I should be a vegan.

My diet affects my family. What I eat is what my children eat. I am a mother of two sons, one who hasn't even started to enjoy the art of eating, outside of the occasional baby cereal, and one who is going on three, and lives off chicken nuggets and hot dogs. The more fruits and veggies I consume, the more they will consume. If they see me making healthy choices with my diet, they are more likely to follow suit. I hope. At least I can take comfort knowing that if they grow up and want to eat crap, it won't be my fault. Exposing the boys to the many styles and flavors of vegan cooking will help them to appreciate the art of eating, making it a pleasure, and not just an event that is crammed in to a jam packed day, usually occurring in the car, with fast food as the main fare.

I want my children to grow up with home cooked meals and peace of mind. I want to set a good example by following a compassionate and healthy lifestyle.
 Will they learn from me?
Who knows?
Will the husband join me in veganism?
Probably not.
Will he eat my vegan cooking (which is rusty from neglect) and shop with my dietary habits in mind?
Of course he will, as he has encouraged me to follow the diet I feel the best with. His support is crucial in the entire escapade. Without him, I just might fail...

The first three days of giving anything up are the hardest, and if you can stick with a change for at least 21 days, it has a better chance of becoming permanent. Vegan food can be epically good, but also very terrible and bland. My cooking skills need to be reinvigorated, and I need to relearn my way around the spice rack. I have faith in myself, despite the fact that my dinner last night was less that stellar (overdry falafel and under done tabouleh left a lot to be desired in the wow and taste departments.) My lunch today was better- Black bean and spanish rice burritos with homemade guacamole.... I was quite proud of my thrown together meal, full of freshness and flavor.

Then my three year old looked up at me and said "Mama, this would be better with some chicken..."

And so it goes...