Cookie Caper

So, last week I took the kids to sing with the preschool bunch at a nursing home.  There was a lady handing out cookies which I knew very well were not vegan.  I asked, and they had eggs.  Oh boy!  I let the kids know right away not to take the cookies because they were not vegan.  My six year old is a very responsible vegan.  You would be amazed at how children will embrace veganism when it really becomes a part of their life.  I liken it to kids who live with different religious customs or cultural practices.  It's just what we do and she is really very, very good at being vegan.  She politely says no and moves on to talk to one of her friends.  My four year old likes to live life on the edge.  I found him sneaking one of the cookies and he had eaten half of one before I caught him.  He had taken it and hidden it in his sleeve!  I explained to him again that these cookies had eggs and we do not eat eggs.  He was kind of bummed out, but threw the rest of the cookie in the trash.  I was proud of him for not throwing a tantrum because a cookie is a cookie when you are four!  It's a good thing I had plenty of cookies at home.  Ah the joys of vegan parenting!

Snack Attack.

So who thinks that vegans snack on celery and tofu?  Well, we eat those too, but they are not always all that interesting and not even as convenient as some of the snack foods available at the grocery store.  Try these...Oreos, Teddy Grahams (cinnamon, banana, and chocolate), Nutter Butters, Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili chips, peanuts and cashews, Fritos corn chips, pretzels, Veggie chips, Terra chips, Cracker Jacks, Melba Toast with Tofutti cream cheese, Wheat Thins or Triscuits with hummus, anything salty with a good salsa,  Gingersnap cookies...there's a lot of options!  For more, please visit a site that I love,
www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/default.asp

Thai Winchester

If you are shopping on the Loudoun Street Mall in Winchester, VA, try the Thai Winchester.  My husband and I went there for lunch while we were Christmas shopping last week, and it was fantastic as usual.  We LOVE the drunken noodles, and I have to admit that the pomegranate margarita is really good.  Their food is traditionally Thai, but you can ask for anything to be made vegan.  Just tell them you want tofu instead of meat.  They are very kid-friendly as well with a great atmosphere. 

Vitamins for Vegan Kids

Vegan kids need vitamins too, even more so than adults!  We give ours the Vegan Kids Multiple by VegLife.  These vitmains are not shaped like little animals, but they are jam packed with everything they need to be healthy.  There are plenty of kids vitamins on the market, though.  If Vegan Kids are not available in your area, just make sure that the vitamin that you choose is supplemented with Vitmain D and B12.  Many of the foods that you will eat with a vegan diet are going to be fortified, but you do not want to take chances with B12.  Also avoid gel caps, which are typically made with gelatin.  FYI - anything with traditional gelatin is NOT VEGAN! 

Vegan Quiche.

For Christmas morning, I tried to make a vegan quiche. So, I am still learning, and I love to try new things. I do NOT recommend a brand-new recipe on Christmas morning, though. My quiche looked nice, especially with shredded soy cheddar on top and a nice golden-brown crust. The inside is what messed me up. I used too much egg replacer and it did not cook right. The next one will be a hundred times better now that I have learned my lesson! SO the kids and I had bagels with Tofutti cream cheese. My husband loved the quiche so much he has eaten the whole thing. To each their own!

"Hey Vegans...how do you get your protein?"

Wow, my husband and I decided this must be the MOST asked question that we get! We get our protein from a LOT of sources! We eat a lot of different types of beans, for one. That includes the mighty soy bean, which may be nature's most versatile food. Soy is the basis for tofu and tempeh, which is a course substitute for different meat-based recipes. I use soy for everything from breakfast to desserts. We also eat nuts and seeds in different forms such as peanut butter. Wheat gluten is the basis for seitan, another great substitute for meat that is high in protein. You can get wheat gluten in the organic section of the grocery or in bulk at a local co-op or health food store. Many prepackaged foods are loaded with protein such as veggie burgers and veggie dogs. Something that always helps me is referring back to the vegan food pyramid. It is clearly different from the SAD (Standard American Diet).

Chocolate Chai Snickerdoodles

I am trying to branch out this holiday season with more exciting cookie recipes. I got this recipe from www.havecakewilltravel.com.
Chocolate Chai Snickerdoodles
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/16 teaspoon ground black or white pepper
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup softened vegan margarine
1 Ener-g Egg replacer (1 1/2 teaspoon powder + 2 tablespoons warm water, whisked until foamy)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/8 teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 350°F . Prepare cookie sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
Mix sugar and spices in small bowl. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the mixture. Add cocoa to small bowl with sugar/spice and stir to blend.
Beat butter until fluffy. Add cocoa mix and beat until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, then flour and baking powder until combined.
Form 1 1/2-tablespoon balls. Roll in sugar, place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Flatten a bit as these cookies don’t spread out much while baking. Bake for 13 minutes. Let cool a bit before transferring to wire rack.

Yield: 6 cookies

Vegans on the Run

There are quite a few brands of running/athletic shoes on the market, but I have to say that you usually can't go wrong with New Balance. I swear, they don't even know that I am recommending them, but I have been wearing New Balance for years. Not only are they light and breathable, but they are usually made from synthetic materials. PLUS they are really easy to find. I use my old sneakers that I am not wearing for running to go hiking in now because of the high cost of vegan hiking boots. I have also heard that Adidas and Saucony make some synthetic sneakers, but check the tag on the inside to what they are made of. Any suggestions? Let me know!

Love of Animals

Something that we really try to do is foster meaningful relationships between our children and animals. Respect for animals is, for some, one of the most important reasons to live a vegan lifestyle. It is a proven fact that this simple act will help them to become more compassionate, tolerant, and open-minded. Just some food for thought!

Rajput Indian Cuisine

If you are in the Hampton Roads, VA area, you cannot miss Rajput Indian Cuisine for vegan noshing!!! We have eaten there several times now since we travel down that way at LEAST once a year. Their buffet has a lot of vegan items (labeled so NO guessing!), but their vegan menu (yes, they have a separate vegan menu) has about 30 different items on it all under $15.00. The food is great, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is wonderful. Try the eggplant bhartha, it is amazing. Kids will love the Masala.

Stuff Kids Eat - Health is Wealth Nuggets

These nuggets pretty much rock. My kids eat them all the time, and they especially love them with BBQ sauce. For picky eaters, this is a great buy. I get these in the freezer section with the veggie burgers and stuff. Once again, if you are in Northern VA, Martins grocery always has them.

Quickie Quesadillas

Another great meal that kids will love! This one takes a few products, though, so you will need to think it out before you go the the supermarket. Start with regular flour tortillas. Put a little Earth Balance (dairy-free butter spread) in a frying pan and throw your tortilla on it. Then quickly put some shredded soy cheese (I shred Vegan Gourmet Cheddar-Style) on half. I like to add sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and black olives. You can also just leave it cheesy if you want to. This last time, I shredded some seitan and sprinkled that on as well. That is also what I sprinkled on the Tofutti sour cream (dairy-free sour cream available in the organic/vegetarian sectiong of the supermarket). Try Bacos (no meat!), soy beans, jalapenos, or whatever vegan toppings you can come up with as well! After you get all of you toppings on, use the spatula to fold the tortilla in half and then press down to make it stick. Then flip until golden brown on the other side. Heat all of this on medium...don't get impatient and turn it on high because it WILL burn (I know this from experience!). Use a pizza cutter to cut into four slices and serve with rice, refried beans (check the label..Old El Paso fat-free refried beans do NOT have lard, but some brands do!), salad, salsa, and/or Tofutti sour cream (you can also make your own, but I like Tofutti!). This is a long explanation, but the meal is very quick and easy.

Rundown Cafe.

Another great place to eat is the Rundown Cafe in Kitty Hawk, NC. Vacationing on the Outer Banks this year? You can't miss the Rundown cafe! They have some great menu options for vegans and vegetarians if you are looking for a place to eat out instead of making one more trip to the grocery store to get something you forgot. If you eat here, be sure to ask for a table on the balcony so you can watch the ocean. Also check out the fish pond out front and eat the portabella mushroom burger.