Crazy for Memes

Juicy

For Christmas we got a juicer.  My husband had been wanting one for a very long time, he was pretty much convinced that it would change his life.  Like, that serious.  So when we opened that box with the juicer inside, he was...well, like a KID at Christmas.  Update: It's now June.  I am not a big fan of the juicer, personally.  My biggest problem is that I just don't understand why we need to even have juice.  I prefer to eat my fruit whole, honestly.  And drink water or tea.  I felt like we had to have a LOT of fruit to get a wee little bit of juice.  What the heck, juicer!?!?  And the kids hated it.  Like, they genuinely would rather have water than the "weird" juice that Mommy made.  Sigh!  Ok, so picky kids and thrifty mom aside, if you watched the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead like I did, you can kind of see how the juicing lifestyle would be a life saver for those who are currently eating themselves to death.  For us, it just didn't fly.  Plus, juicers are hard to clean and kind of messy.  You be the judge.  In my PERSONAL opinion, you would be wise to borrow one and try it for a couple weeks before investing the money.  I am not knocking what could be a potentially very healthy choice, but it is quite a commitment if you want it to "change your life".  PS: Guess who has NOT made any juice as of yet?  Husband.  Nuff said.

Sticky Fingers For All!

 I recently took the kids on a trip to Washington, D.C. to see the museums.  No trip away is complete without checking where vegans go to eat!  The last time we went we wanted to go to Sticky Fingers Bakery and cafe, but did not have time.  Well this time it was at the top of our destination list for the day!  When we walked in it seemed small, but had a nice vibe and there were other folks eating there, too.  So not creepy at all, as some places in D.C. tend to be.  The menu was OUTSTANDING.  We all had a hard time deciding what to get, since we are not used to having so many choices.  I decided on a tempeh Reuben and sweet potato fries.  Delish!  My daughter had the TLT (tempeh, lettuce, and tomato).  And of course we all had desserts and shakes.  Like, delicious, cold, creamy "milk" shakes.  They were of course, non-dairy milks.  We stuffed ourselves and even took some home.  They had a variety of products for sale, including some vegan Easter chocolates.  I waited till the kids were distracted and then stocked up.  Overall, the experience was amazing, the food was phenomenal, and I recommend Sticky Fingers as a place not to be missed if you enjoy exploring the veg scene as much as we do!  

Just wanted to say...

Once again I am so excited to be blogging again after a bit of a break...and I cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring!  For any of you who might not be vegan yet...make it your resolution for the new year to bring peace and joy to the animals, the environment, and your health by going vegan!  Cheers!

Wedding Fare

Photo booth madness!

 A few months ago, my cousin got married, and we are all so happy for her and her new husband, who we all like very much!  The wedding was one of the most lovely I have ever been to...but we were of course a little worried about the food situation.  My brother and his wife are also vegan and vegetarian (respectively), so they was a nice little crew of us who were waiting with baited breath to see what would be on the menu.  We were ASTOUNDED when it came time to eat and there were options for us!  I think I actually cried a little.  There was a stuffed squash and noodle and veggie dish that was amazing.  On the buffet there were grilled (like, really fresh and grilled, not just overheated) summer vegetables, hummus and pita bread, and even a mashed potato bar with a separate bowl of mashed potatoes just for us!  And to top that all off...the caterer made VEGAN CUPCAKES for us.  I am pretty sure it was the same recipe that I use from Isa's book Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World.  They were yummy, we were all full and so happy, and the wedding was like a dream.  Because we were not hungry, we were able to dance all night and really enjoy ourselves too!  The catering company is called Chef by Design Catering Company in Virginia Beach, VA.  I HIGHLY recommend them, I was very impressed!    Additionally, my general suggestion is to NOT be afraid to speak up about your dietary needs when you RSVP for a wedding or similar event, because you might just be pleasantly surprised (or in my case...mind-blown!).

Pierogies Done Fast

 I used to LOVE pierogies when I was a teenager.  My brother, sister and I would make a whole box and just eat that for dinner on any given night, especially when we were in a hurry.  I wanted to make a vegan version for my own family, but all the recipes that I saw were a bit...ummm....complicated.  Ain't nobody got time for that!  So I mulled this one over and decided that if I could just make the dough, then I could fill the pierogies with instant mashed potatoes and then boil them.  This was very effective and turned out to be pretty quick and easy.  Here is the dough recipe that I used followed by my own assembly instructions: 
Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus flour for dusting the work surface
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sunflower oil
• 1 cup water
• Box of instant mashed potatoes
• Optional: Diced onions, nutritional yeast

Preparation:

1. Combine flour, salt, oil and water in large bowl, and mix until dough forms a ball. If dough is dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until moist. If dough is sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it's smooth.
2. On a floured work surface, knead dough 3 or 4 minutes or until elastic. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. 
3. Make a pot of instant mashed potatoes, maybe about 4 servings.  You can dice up onions and add them if you want.  You could even mix in a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.  Let the potatoes cool before using.
4. Roll out the dough flat and cut into circles that are maybe 8 inches in diameter.  It depends on how big you want them.  I will leave that up to you.  Put a dollop of potatoes in the middle of each circle and fold the edges around the potatoes so that it looks like a semi-circle.  Pinch the edges together so they stick.  Once you have finished making the pierogies, put them in a pot to boil for about 3 minutes.  When they float they are done, but be careful because they don't always float.  That might be a myth even, I am not convinced.
5. You can serve them with vegan sour cream or even salsa or marinara.  Get creative, they are good with pretty much anything.  Some people fry them in oil once they are cooked through.  Before you fry them, you can actually freeze them and they keep for 3-6 months. 

Get the kids to help, it'd be hard to mess this one up!

I know...really?

When the moon hits your eye like a big...

Pizza Pie!  My family and I went on vacation to South Carolina, USA this year and we discovered a groovy new place to eat...Mellow Mushroom Pizza!  We checked out the menu online and were really excited to see tempeh, tofu, seitan, and Daiya cheeses on the "create your own pizza" list!  Woah, it was like my kids had died and gone to pizza heaven.  ANY cheese or protein could be substituted for something vegan.  They also can make salads, calzones, hoagies, and even have appetizers that cater to veg needs.  As you can see by the photo, my kids were so happy and we ate there more than once during our stay!  If you are living or traveling in the USA, there are many locations, especially on the East coast.  Check out Mellow Mushroom's website to see if there is a location near you and to view the menu.  If you aren't near a Mellow Mushroom, you can always gather ingredients at your local grocery and make your own :-)  Sometimes, your own is simply the best!

Sleepover Solutions

Mobs of kids take over my living room.

So my kids are at the age where sleepovers have become pretty common.  Sometimes they are even last minute, which would drive any parent over the edge, but when you have a vegan kid, it poses a whole new set of problems.  I always make sure that I know the families where my kids are spending the night.  I have actually refused to let my kids spend the night somewhere because I didn't know them very well.  I know, I'm totally uncool...but I'm OK with that!!  Anyhow, because I know the families, they are usually aware of the fact that my kids have dietary restrictions.  Pretty often, they are kind enough to buy things like veggie burgers or Oreo cookies to have on hand.  Typically, though, I send an "overnight survival pack".  In addition to the sleeping bag and change of clothes, I pack something for them to eat for dinner, something for them to have in place of birthday cake if needed, and something to eat for breakfast.  And I always make sure well ahead of time that they know that I intend to send stuff.  I have NEVER gotten any grief from the host family...ever.  And if I did, I would really question who my kids were hanging out with.  I think having an emergency food backup is a great idea for ANY vegan on the go, cause you just never know what is going to happen.  Life is frustrating enough...don't tackle it hungry :-)

Big Fat Vegan Radio

I have posted about podcasts before, but not since the inception of my new favorite, Big Fat Vegan Radio!  I have been listening to this podcast since the summer, and not only is it informational, but it is so so SOO funny.  The hosts are Laura Yaz (entertainment writer and former stand-up comedian) and Ben Strothman (AKA Honey LaBronx, The Vegan Drag Queen).  Laura and Ben have a great thing going, for sure.  Some vegan podcasts can be a little dry, but this one will keep you listening because they speak to each other with the warmth and humor of old friends, and I always feel like I am sitting down with some good vegan friends who just want to talk.  I often listen to BFVR while I am cooking.  And let me tell you, after a long day of wrangling elementary school children, they are the perfect comic relief!  I LOVE their reviews and interviews as well.  Now, as far as kids are concerned, this might not be one that you would want you kids to listen to.  It is not explicit, but it is not really kid-friendly either.  Listen to a few episodes before you play it around children.  As always, you know your kids best.  To find out more about BFVR, click here.  And enjoy!