Fun Vegan Fall Frocks

Don't forget all the little animals when you're shopping for Fall and Winter! There are oodles of cruelty free stylish faux fur and faux leather alternatives available!
:>

Check out these finds:
All Vegan...

Life's Water

I'm fascinated by spirits, cocktails, and mixology; and not just because I like to drink. The stories and histories of alcohol are just as intoxicating as a night out on the town with my girlz. I can just imagine standing in an old barn, cellar, stone hearth kitchen, back woods clearing, or even a cave, staring at a pile of corn, potatoes, grapes, herbs, whatever, trying to figure out how to transform produce into a magical elixir. Elixirs meant to soothe ailing bones, rotting teeth, or a burdened mind! The whole process seems a bit crazy, fermenting and straining, aging and flavoring to refinement. All over the world spirits were being born without written recipes, immaculate stills, bottling machines, or even printed labels. How did anyone know what the hell they were drinking? How did they know it wouldn't kill them? Our beverage crazed forefathers were imbibing mad scientists! But truly, the heros of alcohol are the mixologists. The art of taking those raw spirits and blending them with fruit muddles, syrups, herbs, or other spirits to indulge us all, is what keeps this liquor love affair alive. I'm pretty sure most folks use ambosol or just see the dentist if they have a tooth ache these days. We drink for enjoyment, most of us anyway.

My best friend Kate recently brought me a bottle of Linie brand Aquavit from a trip she took to Sweden. Aquavit is a slightly licorice flavored spirit made in Scandinavia. Linie, which means equator, sends it's batches voyaging on ships to cross the equator twice in sherry casks, enduring changing temperatures and humidity, and the jostling of waves, all to tint Aquavit its' signature amber color. Now that's creative dedication! Sending your booze on a cruise half way around the world to perfect it has to be the real definition of a booze cruise.

Stories abound. The next time you're at a bar or in the ABC store try something you've never heard of, read it's label, google it. You're most likely to learn a little something! Not everything about alcohol will kill your brain cells.

Failed Veganism

I have not been able to kick the dairy for more than 2 weeks straight at a time. I start the week out on a good vegan diet and inevitably someone wants to order pizza and I always eat a slice. That opens the door for cheese and crackers at get-togethers and caprese salads etc. I've done really well baking without dairy all summer long. I have even managed to give up my former favorite food, REAL BUTTER, on everything, for Earth Balance Spread. I just can't seem to turn down the dairy in social settings.
I'm about 90% dairy free now which is better than before, but I still just wanted to do it, the whole vegan diet, for good you know. I'm not giving up. I say that thinking "what am I not giving up on" dairy, or becoming a vegan? We'll see which one wins. I'll report back in a few months. My cellophane cheese wrappers go off to all you hardcore vegans! You have some major taste bud will power!

Tiramisu Cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"

I want to share my favorite vegan desert recipe with you. You have to try these extra delectable Tiramisu Cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"
I really love "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"! One of the reasons I love this cookbook so much is that I can tell that Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero really experimented with the recipes. They make special problem solving notes through out. For example: I made a very similar vegan cream cheese icing for a cake recently; the icing came out runny with little chunks in it. Moskowitz and Romero surely must have had this problem before too! They note that you should always let your icing ingredients warm to room temperature before mixing them. I did that and the (no)cream cheese icing turned out perfectly and delicious.

Here's the recipe. Experiment and have fun. I had to leave the cocoa powder out because of my allergy and they were still the bomb-diggity! I highly recommend just buying the cookbook for more great cupcake recipes.

Vegan Tiramisu Cupcakes:


1/4 cup nonhydrogogenated margarine (softened)
1/4 cup vegan cream cheese (softened)
2 cups of confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Second! Prepare the cupcake batter. You will need:

1 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar mix vinegar and soy milk together and let sit to curdle for about 10 minutes
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour mix your dry ingredients together with a fork and set aside
2 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil mix wet ingredients in a mixer for a few minutes and then add dry ingredients a bit at the time
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract


Third: Prepare your soaking liquid
1/3 cup espresso or strong coffee
1/3 cup Kahlua or other coffee flavored liqueur


Save for last to sprinkle over cupcakes and garnish:
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
12 chocolate covered coffee beans or chocolate chips


Mix your icing and put it in the frig.
Mix your batter and bake it for 22 minutes at 350 in cupcake papers
Let your cupcakes cool
Cut a little cone shape of the top of the cupcake and save it
Pour about 2 tablespoons of Kahlua in to the divot you cut in your cupcake top and let it soak in
Fill the divot with icing and then swirl some up on top
Dip the little cone shaped piece of cup cake you cut out in to the Kahlua mixture then place it on top of the icing
Put another little dollop of icing on top of that, then dust with cocoa, cinnamon, and add coffee beans and chocolate chips.

Serve right away! You might want to make a double batch once you've mastered this one. They go fast!

Food, Inc.

I just saw Food, Inc. the very informative movie about where our food really comes from. Food, Inc. does an excellent job of unveiling the facts about the so called farms that bring meat, dairy, corn, and soy products to our dinner table. The majority of these so called "farms" are actually mass production factories. Little or no concern is given to the well being of animals being raised at these giant agribusinesses. Even if you are not an animal activist you will be shocked by the inhumane treatment. The use of ammonia and antibiotics, and pesticides, and genetically modified organisms in commercial foods will send you straight to your local organic farmers market or whole foods store. I learned a lot from Food, Inc. I didn't realize that 90% of soybeans grown in this country are genetically modified and protected by a patten put in place by the huge chemical company Monsanto! It's appalling what has happened to farmers across America because of this. You've gotta see this movie! If you eat, you should know the facts!
I saw it at the new Bowtie Cinema in Richmond, VA. It's a great theater. The tickets were expensive, $9.50!! I looked around the sold out show to see 225 people who definitely appeared to already be folks who knew a lot about the subject and who were already probably doing their parts to make changes by either choosing vegetarianism, veganism, or being whole foods advocates. This struck me as a classic "the church preaching to the choir" scenario. I think this film and others like it, Fresh, Fast Food Nation, all need to reach the masses, especially those who can't afford to pay $9.50 to get in. I asked a woman who was on the panel of experts invited to answer questions after the screening if she knew if the film would be shown at a discount anywhere. She did mention that her organization wanted to show it for free after it ran it's course in the theaters. That's good. I checked online and found out that Chipoltle's across the country are also showing Food, Inc. for free! This is great! Below I've posted some links with more info.
Food, Inc. is an excellent resource. Plus the film features one of America's best organic and free range farmers, Joel Salatin, of Polyface Farms, in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.


I could write an essay on this subject but instead I'll just leave you with these links. See the movie, do your own research, and be a part of the solution to the problems by demanding better products by making conscientious purchases and sharing your discoveries with others! :> All of us can help make this world a better place for ourselves, others, the animals, and environment by just refusing to be kept in the dark!

Thanks,

Mary

Food, Inc. Official Website: http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php

Polyface Farm

Free screenings of Food, Inc

Bowtie Cinema Richmond, VA

One Little Jar of Strawberry Preserves

I went home to the Eastern Shore of Virginia this past weekend to visit my Dad and family for Father's Day. I was also home to deliver some household items and clothes to my cousin Kelly who's house recently burned down. Kelly is my cousin on my Dad's side of the family. Kelly's great grandmother and my great grandmother were sisters. Kelly's great grandmother died in child birth and her 3 children were divided up and raised by her 3 sisters. My great grandmother, Nanoo, being one of the sisters raised little Josie. Nanoo's sister, Lee, raised little Nancy. Nancy is Kelly's grandmother. Long story short... My great grandmother, Nanoo, and Aunt Lee, AND Kelly's grandmother Nancy were all neighbors when Kelly and I were growing up. Kelly and I used to have so much fun baking mud cakes in oyster shells, rolling down the big hill that went up to her grandmothers house, eating amazing Sunday suppers with the whole family, and just playing games.
So on this past Sunday when we took the donations for Kelly to her grandmother Nancy's house it felt like going back in time. I hadn't been there in 15 years! My Nanoo died when I was in high school and I just hadn't been over there much after that. Walking in to Nancy's house up on the hill after so long was special. We just popped in and Nancy and Fred A. (Kelly's grandfather) were sitting at the little table in the bay window nook eating a southern meal complete with Lemon Meringue Pie and a jar of homemade strawberry preserves. I saw the preserves on the table and asked Nancy if they were homemade. She said of course and went to the cupboard and gave me the last jar. I didn't want to take her last jar but she wanted me to have them which made me so happy. It's weird how just a jar of jam can send you back to your childhood. When I opened the preserves the next night back at home, I nearly cried they were so delicious. All those women who took such good care of me when I was a little girl, showing me how they baked pies, and singing me hymns, and just letting me ask so many questions about every little thing they did, they're almost all gone now. I miss them dearly.
Those strawberry preserves from Aunt Nancy remind me of my Nanoo, Gaggie, Aunt Lee, Aunt Tabby, and just being a a kid.
Good Memories.

Peter Singer

Most people think of non-human animals as lesser beings based solely on their level of intelligence. A lot of people feel differently. I am one of them. I believe all living beings should enjoy life and that that that is our purpose for being here. Life is the pursuit of happiness. Finding one's inner peace should be a universal right. We are not designed for pain and suffering, and neither are other animals. It is beyond my rational logic that anyone finds it acceptable to mistreat another being, of any kind, especially based on the thought that that being is not smart enough to know any better. If pain and anxiety are felt then that is what is understood. Unhappiness is known. The reasoning behind such suffering may eternally remain a mystery to the sufferer. That sufferer won't understand that it is being denied it's birth given rights to happiness because it tastes good on a bun. Any form of purposeful mistreatment toward another living creature is a sin. If you must kill to eat, do it quickly and in the least painful manor possible. Do not raise another life for the sole purpose of killing it unless you are going to give it the freedom to live out it's life time happily. These are my beliefs. It took me much longer than I would have liked to realize that by eating factory farmed meat and dairy products I was condoning these sins.

My good friend Terry Brown sent me a link to a Charlie Rose interview. The subject of her email simply said "Listen". So, I did. I listened to Charlie Rose talk with Australian Philosopher and Princeton Bioethics Professor Peter Singer. He's fascinating. Singer is very well known, and very controversial, for his views on abortion, speciesism, and euthanasia. Peter Singer became a megaphone for the animal liberation movement with his 1975 book Animal Liberation. As I listened to Peter Singer speak about ones given rights being based on ones ability to feel pain rather than on ones intellect I became excited! Hearing my own true beliefs described so eloquently was fulfilling for me. I love deep thinking and extremely compassionate people. Peter Singer is both. He went on about his ideas of religion and compassionate suicide. He makes some valid and caring points. His own mother is on her death bed. He has said that if it were up to him alone she would not be alive now, but instead at peace. He has a sister who doesn't share his view points so his mother is still alive and suffering, and Peter Singer is helping pay the bill. He has admitted to not living up to all of his own standards especially when it comes to charitable giving. He donates 25% of all his earnings to UNICEF but says he could and should give more. He states that not giving what you have beyond your needs to others living below their needs is like helping contribute to their decline. I have mixed opinions on this subject. Although I believe in charity and helping anyone in need to get themselves back on track, I do not believe in continuous handouts. I feel such systems create laziness and a level of expected donation.

The point is is that Peter Singer is a living Philosopher tackling issues of our time. He spends his life studying us and the way we live. We can learn a lot from his theories or at least bring some excellent questions upon ourselves which usually leads to growing as a person. Peter Singer is definitely someone to add to your informative source list. I need to delve deeper into his philosophies on assisted suicide, abortion, and charitable giving before stating that I totally agree with everything he says, but from what I've gathered through the below listed links I'm very interested to hear and read more especially on his animal rights ideas. I know why Terry sent me the link now. She knows how I feel about animals, and life in general. Thanks Terry B. :>

Info Links:

Interview with Charlie Rose
Interview with Ronald Bailey
Article by Paul Shapiro
Article by Donald Demarco
Utilitarian

It ain't easy going VEGAN!

It's been a few months since I started trying to eliminate all dairy and eggs from my vegetarian diet. I'm having some trouble! It's not that eating vegan foods is difficult, I've been turned on to some really great dishes and products. The problem is turning down food that others prepare for me. I don't want to be a pain in the rear. I feel like my eating habits are already annoying to other people. I have several food allergies and I always get phone calls when I'm invited to functions that go something like this "now what is it you're allergic to? ... Oh, raw garlic, sesame, white grapes, barley, mangos, AND CHOCOLATE, etc. etc. etc... Oh... AND you're a vegetarian?!" I hate making other people go out of their way to accomodate me. Some people are so nice about it but I can tell some others just don't get it. It's okay though. I live and eat the way I do for a good purpose. I love it when someone realizes how easy it is to actually be a vegetarian. I'd like to say that about Veganism too.
I've found I have to think about what is in everything like the bread, and pie crust even if it's a fruit pie. I gave myself this rule that I would eat vegan and shop vegan when doing so for myself, but when I ate what others had prepared I would go ahead and eat milk and eggs. The problem is I wanted to make this big meaningful change in my life and I feel guilty or like I'm cheating when I eat the dairy and egg products. It's a tough line. I think I'm still headed in the right direction. Someone told me it takes a transitional period to go totally vegan. I just wanted to do it Cold Faux Turkey, ya know.
I'll report back on this in a month or so and see how I'm doing then.

I'm off to make myself something I don't feel bad about right now.

:> Mary

5-H

This is just one of the uber cool shirts you can buy from Animal Place Store as a donation to the cause!
Animal Place is an animal sanctuary in California that takes in abused farm animals. Horses, pigs, goats, cows, and other mistreated critters get a second chance to live the life they were born to live if they are lucky enough to end up at Animal Place. The rescue mission of Animal Place is wonderful in itself but that's not all the good they are doing! They also run a campaign called 5-H which encourages kids in the 4-H program to add a 5th H for Humane Choices.
"The 5-H program offers kids involved in 4-H a unique opportunity to truly reach their full potential as caring human beings, which is essentially the goal of 4-H. The difference is that the kids will have an opportunity to extend this level of care to include the farmed animals they are raising. Those animals whom they have cared for since birth and grown to love will not have to be subjected to the ultimate betrayal of trust by being sold for slaughter. The kids will not have to continue the process of desensitization which makes the betrayal easier each year. They can continue to develop loyalty, trust, compassion, empathy—the very traits that are so critical to a child’s (and an adult’s) character and which are integral to the programs offered by 4-H that do not involve the raising and killing of animals. "

I think it's very important to teach children about where their food comes from at a young age so they will grow up to make smarter and more humane choices. I doubt many kids understand how a chicken ends up as a nugget on their lunch tray! I know I didn't have a clue. I explain my vegetarian lifestyle to my nephews. They are all 9 and younger. They still have to eat what their parents put on their plates and I respect that, but I also answer their questions honestly. I am interested to see what choices they will make for themselves later on down the road. I can see compassion in their futures based on their curiosity and love for animals. I hope my crystal ball is right!

My friend Shaun is a vegetarian and has been for a very long time. Her whole family is. I wish mine was. She has a 1 year old and a 10 year old that she is raising to be kind to the earth and all it's creatures. He daughter Carrington has held several bake sales at First Friday's Art Walk in Richmond to raise hundreds of dollars to donate towards humane animal causes. I think that's great! :> This world needs more Mom's like Shaun Aigner Lee! She's amazing.

Sunbear Squad

I used to work at Richmond Camera Photo Lab. Richmond Animal Control would bring their evidence photos in to be developed. I would often see these photos in the lab before being packaged and I was so shocked by a lot of the images that I started to think of the Animal Control Officers as heros. They are great protectors. I saw images of dog skeletons still attached to chains in backyards. I saw walls and floors in basements splattered with blood from dog fights. I saw an emaciated mother dog who could barely hold her head up in a tiny dirty cage. It was just awful and the list goes on, so when I heard this story about Sunbear I knew there had to be more I could do. I already call Animal Control anytime I see pet problems but that's just me. What about everything that I don't happen to see? This is why I want to start a Sunbear Squad in my town.

Sundbear Squad is a neighborhood program to help prevent the inhumane treatment of pets. You can start your own Sunbear Squad in your town too! It doesn't take a lot of effort, just open eyes, a few phone numbers, and the courage to speak up for the animals that can't speak up for themselves.

Sunbear Squad is named after a dog named Sunbear. She was a pet that was left behind after her family fell on hard times and had to move out of their rental. Sunbear was locked in a laundry room for 6 WEEKS with no food or water before she was rescued. Sadly, the damage was done and Sunbear didn't make it. She passed away a few days later. Her story prompted Anna Nirva to start a community alert group which grew into the Sunbear Squad which is a group of people committed to keeping their ears and eyes open to local pets. Sunbear Squad folks check up on yards and alley ways keeping animal control numbers handy to report any instances of abuse such as dogs on chains with no food, water, or shelter. Sunbear could have survived if a neighbor would have reported her constant whining instead of just wishing it would stop. If you think something is suspicious just have your local animal control check the situation out. It can't hurt.

I'm going to get some friends involved and start a Sunbear Squad in my neighborhood. I hope some of you will do the same. Please check out this link for all the great info you'll need to officially get started.
Sunbear Squad

The critters will thank you! :>

A little Something From Wayne Pacelle...

I was just reading Wayne Pacelle's blog, he's the CEO of The Humane Society, and I totally agree with him on this:


The animal protection movement should never confine itself to the Left or the Right in American politics. Opposition to cruelty and the embrace of the human-animal bond are universal values, and people of every background and point of view should find common purpose with the work and programs of The Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates.




To read more from this blog check out his site: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/

There's always great info and it's always delivered in a smart and peaceful way!
Kudos to Wayne Pacelle and The Humane Society!

It's Growing Time!

PHOTO: My great grandmother on my mom's side, Mary Estelle Daisy Carpenter (aka Memaw), and my great grandfather Peter Nottingham Carpenter (aka Possum).
It's garden startin' time! I can't think of a better way to fuel a passion for eating vegan than growing your own organic fruits and vegetables. My great grandfather, Possum, was a farmer. He was a tall and lanky bean pole of a man. He chewed tobacco and smoked a pipe, and always smelled like freshly dug potatoes. He used to bring us all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables. He lived just across the rail road tracks from us and he'd leave brown paper bags full of beans and strawberries, watermelons, and greens. I attribute my love of fruits and veggies to Possums gardening.

The only garden I ever grew was about 8 years ago when I was living in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The soil on the Shore is known for it's magical growing powers. It's naturally fertile. I just dug up a plot in my backyard with a shovel and a hoe, threw some seeds down, and "presto magic" everything grew. I didn't have to fertilize, weed, or even kill bugs. I did plant the recommended marigold and basil to keep my tomatoes safe. I was working the breakfast shift at a restaurant that spring and summer and I had to be up very early so I was able to keep my garden watered nicely each day before the hot sun started beating down. I absolutely loved that garden. There wasn't even that much in it, just some melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers and flowers, but it was so satisfying to walk out in the back yard and pick something to eat. Since that year, I haven't had a garden. I've planted some herbs and tomatoes in containers each summer but that's it. This year I'm doing it though! I'm growing a garden again! Woo Hoo! It's gonna have to be mostly a container garden because I don't have much of a yard, but that's okay! I'm doing it!

I ordered some self watering containers I read about in the book "Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers". I've seeded arugula, mixed greens, and carrots in those. I will also be planting cucumbers and some little tomatoes in these big 4 gallon water reservoir pots. I ordered some upside-down tomato bags for the heirloom tomatoes. I've never tried them before. I'll post the results later this summer. I have herbs sprouting in the window sill, peppers already in a pot, and I'm going to try my strawberries in a grow bag too. I'm so excited. I hope to turn my deck into a jungle of fruits and veggies by July!

I do have one small spot of yard and I'm gonna cover it with cosmos, poppies, and personal sized watermelon plants!

I hope Possums' green thumb runs in the family! My dad's mom, Gaygie, had a super green thumb too. Her house was covered in plants. She loved begonias. Maybe they'll shoot some love and sunshine down on my potted plants this summer!

Here are some links that I found very helpful in getting started this spring:

Starting From Seeds

Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers


Self Watering Containers and Upside Down Grown:

Letter to your Senator

You can send this letter to your Senator to help stop Canadian seal hunting! It really only takes a few minutes. All you have to do is enter your own info and hit send! Only a few minutes to make a huge difference! Send your letter and forward this on, easy peazy.

Here's the link: http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=1u2adskv6athl&shva=1#inbox/1206c9d257281d02 Just look for the cute seal and click on CONTACT YOUR SENATOR!
I posted the letter below so you can check it out.
Thanks everybody!

Seals today, Chickens on the way! I'm cooking up an art project to benefit our friends the chickens. My best friend Kate Bredimus will be involved with this one! Stay tuned!


XOXO, MARY


Senator Jim Webb
U.S. Senate
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Senator Mark Warner
U.S. Senate
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0001

Dear Senator Warner ,

I urge you to do all that you can to enact S. Res. 84, including
co-sponsoring it if you aren't already a co-sponsor. This
resolution calls upon the Canadian government to end the cruel
commercial seal hunt.

This massive commercial slaughter of harp seals for fur is
shameful and cruel. I am appalled that sealers continue to skin
pups who are still alive. The rest of the world is turning away
from commercial seal hunting, and Canada should as well.

Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
mary Killmon
230 east bank
petersburg, VA 23803-3322

Who Want's to Go?

Check it out! Taking Action for Animals Expo 2009 is right around the corner, July 24th-July 27th in Arlington, VA. Four days of cool seminars, activities, and vegan food. I want to go to this really, really bad. It would be great to to get a group, or groups together to split hotel costs. The more the merrier. Holler at me if you or anyone you know wants to go. I can coordinate the travel plans if need be. I just would rather go with friends than fly solo.
Check out this link for more details: Taking Action for Animals 2009

Baby Seals

Please check out the following links or do some research on your own. Sign a petition, donate some money, spread the word. Seal
hunting is horrendous. There's no justifying such cruelty. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but this is sooooo senseless. I know it can be ended if sane and kind people just speak up! SAVE THE SEALS FOR REALS Y'ALL!
XOXO,
Mary

Links:
Humane Society http://www.hsus.org/
Wayne Pacelle http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/
Iron Chef Cat Cora's Say No To Canadian Seafood Challenge: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/protectseals_cat_cora/explanation
Canada Seeks UN Aproval: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gCVkkFfBKvZyO8I89fEHbs6UxBqQ

If you've just got to have a steak.....

So, I know it is really, really, really difficult for some folks to just give up eating meat and dairy. Personally, I couldn't care less if I never ate meat again. I just haven't ever really liked it all that much anyway. I did used to like bacon a lot but I've forgotten about that now. The first time I'm home for one of my mom's Sunday dinners I will probably be craving butter on my biscuits too but I'll survive without it. For the folks out there who do love their meat and dairy but still really care about their own health and the well being of animals, there are options! You can still enjoy all your normal eating habits and feel better about doing so if you just do a little research. One way to know for sure that you are buying smart and compassionately is to only buy products that carry this label: CERTIFIED HUMANE RAISED AND HANDLED The Certified Humane Raised and Handled program is the only farm animal welfare and food labeling program in the U.S. dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals from birth through slaughter for the 10 billion farm animals raised for food each year. For more info visit the Certified Humane website or just watch this video.


Everyone can help stop animal cruelty. You don't have to become a vegan or even a vegetarian to take action. Making compassionate choices is so much better than not doing anything! It's good for you inside and out, and good for the world. :)

Animal Friendly Pet Food

It's not really all that hard to make smart, healthy, and animal friendly choices when deciding on what to feed myself, but when it comes to my pets, I'm having some trouble! I've been reading on the internet about raising pets as vegans. I love the idea of it but I haven't been informed enough on the the health facts of vegan diets for cats and dogs yet to make that decision for them. They love meat! I mean go crazy for it! I hate giving it to them. I have been reading up on animal friendly pet food manufacturers. My sister, Toot, has worked at an Animal Hospital for 17 years. She has four dogs of her own. She is extremely picky about what she feeds them. I called her for advice and she recommended Eagle Pack Holistic Select. I read about their company and they seem to check out. They are listed on the Companion Animal Food Guide on the Caring Consumer website: http://www.caringconsumer.com/resources_foodguide.asp as being a company that does not perform animal testing. They claim to be hormone free and to have no added antibiotics.
Here's a link to Eagle Pack if you want to read more: http://www.eaglepack.com/index.html

This dog and cat food is not cheap folks so I hope it's totally worth it! Reviews I read say it is. I had a hard time finding a local place that carries Eagle Pack. I ended up ordering in bulk on line because it saved me money even with the shipping. The best deal I found was Hearty Pet Pet http://www.heartypet.com/ which beat everyone else's prices by 20 bucks for my order of 2 33 lb bags of dog food, 2 cases of canned, and 1 16lb bag of catfood. I think it's because they're having a sale on Eagle Pack.

I read about many other companies. Paul Newman's Organics seems to be a good choice too. You can get that brand at Ellwood Thompson's and some other local pet stores.

I would love any feedback on this issue. This is all new to me. I have 5 pets which equals a lot of food. I'd like to feed them the best and most cruelty free products I can afford. Please respond if you have links, suggestions, etc.
Thanks so much,

Mary, Doctor Stevens, Nurse Hazel, Bonesy Jonesy, Wanda Lewis, and Peter J. Cat :>

Pics from Recent Vegan Recipes

The vegan cooking is going very well. I'm having a blast making new dishes and sharing them with friends. Here are a few pics:Portobello Stoganoff
Home Made Seitan
Sweet Potato Fries (baked)
Kale and Beans

Vegan Cup Cakes

Tonight I made "Fauxtess" (like Hostess) cupcakes from the Vegan with a Vengeance cookbook. The recipe was for chocolate of course, and that's what my taste testers wanted, but I can't eat the chocolate because of my allergies so I made half without cocoa powder so I could eat some too. I chose "Fluffy White" from the icing recipes. Very creamy and sweet. I don't think anyone would have know these cupcakes were vegan if I hadn't told them. They totally satisfied our sweet teeth tonight!

Cool Vegan Shoes and Bags

Just thought I'd post links to some great vegan shopping sites I discovered in my search to not only eat with a conscience but to dress with one too. I ordered this cute ladybug bag. http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/Bungalow360-Barbie-Ladybug-Canvas-Vegan-Satchel-Bag.aspx
I know you can find animal friendly products in stores all over the place but after shoe shopping today I realized how hard it is to know if the leather is really leather or pleather or who knows what. I decided to hop on line and order from vegan sites that made it easy to know for sure. I ordered that bag, and new pair of crocs. Most Crocs are vegan. There are a few styles that have leather straps. I also ordered these sweet purple kicks from Keep. Keep was mentioned on the Today show recently for their comfortable vegan shoes! Check out their site too: Keep Company

Vegan so far......

So, it's been a little over a week since I purchased the Vegan with a Vengeance cook book to kick start myself towards living a more vegan lifestyle. My first step was to read the cookbook and make a list of main ingredients that I would need on hand. I made a trip to my favorite local health food store Ellwood Thompsons: http://www.ellwoodthompsons.com
I love that Elwoods soooo much! I wish I could afford to do all of my shopping there but I can't so I just load up on stuff I can't get at the regular grocery store. I am now stocked with TVP, Nutritional Yeast, Braggs Amino Liquid, Vital Wheat Gluten (for making seitan), coriander seeds, cardamom pods, turmeric, raw walnuts, carob chips (I am very allergic to chocolate), and a few more staples.

Here are my first three trial recipes from Vegan with a Vengeance:

Potato Edamame Samosas with Coconut Mint Chutney:

I had never made samosas before. They are fun and super easy to make... once you get the samosa pocket technique down that is! Here's a link to a video I watched for some help with that: http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-samosa-115649/
3 cups flour
3/4 cups soy milk
3 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon or more of salt

You can pretty much make the stuffing out of whatever you want. I baked mine in the oven and they were totally delicious. You just have to make sure you brush them with vegetable oil and that your cookie pan is coated. You should flip them about half way through baking them too. They take about 20 mins to cook. You could make a ton and freeze them. I made two batches, one with a potato stuffing, and the other with a green pea and mushroom stuffing. Both awesome.



Tofu Scramble: I like to call this dish SCRAM. It's more fun. I loved this meal. It is supposed to be kind of like spicy scrambled eggs and mushrooms but thankfully it tastes nothing like scrambled eggs. Eggs are my least favorite food on earth no matter what way you fix 'em. I've tried them again and again over the years just to see if my tastes may have changed but I just can't do it. The smell is too much like a fart for me to put it in my mouth, and the texture of the whites... YICK! I could go on and on about my hatred of eggs. I'm sure there are many of you reading this that could go on and on even longer about your love affair with them. Anywho, so this dish does not taste or smell like eggs and I love it. It's quick and easy to make. I served it over a bed of fresh uncooked spinach leaves and coconut jasmine rice. I topped it with a swirl of pineapple chili sauce and diced cilantro leaves.
I can't wait to make it again!


Seitan Portobello Stroganoff:
This dish is for cold days when you want some hearty comfort food. I liked it a lot. I wouldn't make this weekly because it's so filling and heavy but I can see myself craving it's big burgundy flavor and wide noodles during a snow storm or on a cold fall night. I made my own seitan instead of store bought which was a good lesson since I'll be using seitan in tons of vegan recipes. I'd eaten seitan (say-tahn) before but didn't know what the heck it was. It's just a dough made from vital wheat gluten. You can flavor it however you want. It's great for adding girth and texture. Here's a link to the video I watched before making it. I didn't follow all these instructions. I didn't use a food processor for the dough I just worked it by hand. I also added extra flavorings to the stock I boiled it in but this is still a good video to show you how easy it is to make: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=40673776
You can freeze any left over seitan you have for your next dish.

That's all for this week. It's been an easy and adventurous start. I like researching ingredients and putting it all together in the kitchen. I hope you will too.

Starting Line: Vegan Waffles

I have decided to lean the way of the Vegan. This is something I've wanted to do for quite a while. I just wasn't ready to let go of cheese and dairy... oh my God and butter! I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. But, now I feel ready, the time is right. The more I read about the inhumane treatment to animals even on dairy farms and farms that are supposed to be more animal friendly, the more I feel it's the least I can do in my own daily life to help make the world a little bit better. I really want to do this. I bought a new cook book yesterday and read almost all of it last night. It is a great cook book. If you're interested, check out this link:

http://www.theppk.com/veganwithavengeance.html

The recipes look super delicious. I can't wait to try them out! My plan is to veganize any food that I prepare for myself, and to order vegan when I eat out. If someone else is preparing food for me, if I am a guest, then I will try to remain on the vegan diet but will resort to just eating vegetarian if it's not convenient for my host. I think this is a great way to start.
This is day one, March 1st. I am having waffles and black coffee for breakfast. My parents gave me a waffle maker for Christmas. I have used it at least twice a week every week since January. It's amazing. The waffles called for eggs and milk. I substituted ground flaxseed for the eggs, and just used an equal amount of soy milk instead of cows milk. I always doctor up my waffles with fruit and nuts, this morning I'm having them with blueberries and almonds. Here's the recipe:

2 cups Bisquick Heart Smart pancake/waffle mix
3 tablespoons (or more if you'd like) ground flaxseed
1 cup chopped raw almonds
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 cup soy milk
2 table spoons vegetable oil

stir together and pour onto piping hot waffle iron! Deliciousness will be yours in just a few short minutes... GUILT FREE! Enjoy!

New Years Fusion Black Eyed Peas

I grew up eating black eyed peas on New Years Day for good luck. I never really liked them but I ate at least a spoon full to take part in the family tradition. My family prepared them the local way: canned black eyed peas simmered with a piece of fat meat, onions, salt and pepper. We always ate them with a swirl of yellow mustard on top. They were always mushy and just YUK.
This year I decided to do things differently. To start with I used dried black eyed peas instead of canned. This changed everything. I didn't want them to be mushy so I decided to roast them. I also wanted more flavor. I mixed sweet, salty, and spicy to go with the savoriness of the beans. This recipe turned out to be so delicious that I will make it anytime not just on New Years.

Ingredients:

2 bags of dry black eyed peas

5 scallions sliced

1 large orange pepper diced

1 large banana pepper diced

1/2 cup crushed sugar coated almonds

1/2 cup diced dried Asian pears (you can use dried apricots or apples if you can't find the pears)

1 1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup yellow mustard

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tablespoon cardamom

1 tablespoon brown sugar

cayenne pepper to taste

crushed red chili pepper flakes to taste

sea salt to taste


First soak two bags of dried black eyed peas overnight
Drain them and rinse them well
Put them back in a large pot and boil them for about 20 to 30 minutes or until tender... NOT MUSHY... be very careful not to over boil them. Keep testing them while they are boiling. Remember they are going to be roasted too.
Meanwhile slice scallions into thin rounds and dice your peppers
Put scallions and peppers in a large bowl
Mix in all other ingredients (except for your beans) and stir
When your beans are done strain and rinse them. Rinse out the pot you boiled them in and put the beans back in it
Pour your pepper and scallion marinade over the beans.
Stir until completely mixed
Pour into two 9 x 13 glass baking dishes
Place in oven on 350 for half an hour

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some chips or however you want.

Good and good for you.