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!

Karma Kindness Van

I went to the Bonnaroo Arts and Music festival again this year with my husband.  We always have a really fun time, and some of the highlights this year were Weird Al Yankovich, Billy Idol, Tom Petty, ZZ Top, and of course Paul McCartney.  Another thing we enjoy about festivals other than spending time together listening to great music is food.  I LOVE to eat, and I always want to make sure that I have plenty of it :-).  We packed a lot of food like Primal Strips, eggless egg salad and tons of bread, homemade seitan, fruit and veggies, and things like Vegenaise.  We also ate at a lot of food stands and trucks.  The one we liked best this year was the Karma Kindness Van.  We had "Portabello Big Macs" and hummus veggie trays with homemade guacamole.  Everything was really great, and because it was the end of the day, the food was really cheap.  Honestly, though, I do not know how to find these folks, even though I searched the Internet.  If you know where to find them, please leave a comment!  Moral of this story: TRY new things when you are traveling, and always ask them how you can stay in touch!

FireFly Fare, Roanoke, VA

 I was recently in Roanoke, VA for a conference.  I have been there before, but did not really take the time to find anything quality to eat.  This time, however, I did my homework.  I checked Happy Cow and found FireFly Fare in the historic downtown area.  It was just a little place and it not entirely veg, but I had a lovely time and had a delicious meal there.  I ordered the Indonesian BBQ Tofu and veggie stir fry.  There was plenty of Tofu and veggies.  With a cup of coffee on the side, it really hit the spot after sitting in the Roanoke Civic Center all day.  They also have salads, falafel, pitas, paninis, and more.  I recommend going out of your way to hit FireFly fare if you are in Roanoke...and I recommend checking Happy Cow no matter where you go to find nearby veg-friendly places to eat.  Also, when you are in Roanoke, be sure to check out Happy's Flea Market.  Think THOUSANDS of vinyl records.  I never go to Roanoke without stopping at Happy's to add some unique tunes to my collection.

Hello, Cupcake!

A few years ago I met Isa Chandra Moscowitz at the D.C. VegFest.  She was amazing...she did a demonstration and shared vegan gumbo with everyone.  I love Isa and I love her cooking!  Which is why I love Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World.  This is her book that is devoted entirely to cupcakes and cupcake icing.  I actually brought my personal copy to the VegFest and she signed it for me!  Anyhow, I have made her recipes over and over again, with my favorite being the golden vanilla cupcakes with classic buttercream frosting.  They are fantastic and not difficult to make.  My family and friends ask for them all the time.  If you have to have this book, you can get it at most major bookstores, or yo can order it from Isa's website, Post Punk Kitchen.  Yeah, the photo below is not stock footage....I made those babies and they ROCK!!

Thanksgiving with the Turkeys 2013

 Here are some photos from our annual trip to Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD, USA to have Thanksgiving with the Turkeys.  This is always a great opportunity to meet other vegans, eat without worrying what's in our food, and enjoy time outside with the animals.  To visit Poplar Springs' website and find out what else they have going on, click here.

 

Apple Dumplings

 My husband's grandmother has always lived on a farm.  Her cooking is simple but filling.  I have posted her pot pie recipe before.  Last winter she shared a recipe with us that I am in LOVE with!  It is very easy to veganize.  Pillsbury crescent rolls are vegan already (check the label!), but I buy the store brand.  Then of course I substitute regular butter with Earth Balance vegan butter, which is available most places, even WalMart.  It is mouth-watering and was a great addition to my holiday table!

Cold Weather Veggies

The season for tomatoes and summer squash ended months ago.  Now is the time for cold weather veggies that are filling and hearty!  If you planted them in the fall, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli should be waiting for you in your garden.  If you didn't plant them, they are readily available at your local grocery or even farm markets if they are open now.  Forget those tomatoes and cucumbers...save them for when they are in season!  But you might be thinking that they look so good sitting in piles at the grocery...think again.  They likely are not local and have been shipped from far away or sitting in storage for months.  Eat for the season, enjoy what winter has to offer!  Start with this delicious recipe!

Ingredients:

• 5 medium carrots, peeled
• 1 medium celery root, peeled (or 1 bunch celery, trimmed)
• 2 medium turnips, peeled
• 2 medium parsnips, peeled
• 6 small new potatoes, peeled (see note)
• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and seeds removed
• 8-10 shallots, peeled
• 1 whole bulb garlic
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 bunch fresh thyme or rosemary
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
2. Separate the garlic cloves and peel them.
3. Pull the little leaves off of the fresh herb stems until you have about a tablespoon of them. Set them aside along with another couple of whole sprigs of the herbs.
4. Cut the carrots, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, squash and celery (or celery root) into about 1-inch pieces. Cutting the vegetables the same size will help ensure even cooking.
5. Transfer the cut vegetables, along with the shallots and garlic, to a large baking pan.
6. Drizzle with olive oil, season with Kosher salt and black pepper, sprinkle with the herb leaves and toss to combine. Place the whole herb sprigs in the pan with the veggies.
7. Roast for 45 minutes or until the vegetables are lightly browned and tender but not too soft.
8. Remove the whole herb sprigs from the pan and let the vegetables cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

It's Tofurkey Time!

Just a quick reminder to pick up your Tofurkey as soon as you can!  Of course, you do not have to eat  tofurkey roast, but I have noticed that they go quickly at small stores.  At my grocery store, there is now an entire freezer case of single roasts and the Tofurkey Feasts!  I am getting excited about the holidays, I cannot wait to start cooking!  And, another reminder, if you live in the NOVA area, Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, MD is having their Thanksgiving with the Turkeys this weekend, November 17th.  It is the biggest vegan potluck I have ever been to, and my kids have a super time every year.  I have linked to it on the sidebar!

Veggie Awards Flash!

I LOVE VegNews Magazine!  I love it so much that I begged my local grocery to carry it for two years and they finally started carrying it a year ago.  For over five years I have waited in anticipation of VegNews' yearly Veggie Awards...the best of the year for the Veg world.  You must pick up a copy or subscribe for the full details (so worth it), but here are some of the highlights from the 2012 awards, as voted for by VegNews Readers!

Person of the Year: The Vegan Athlete (Many were profiled in the article)
Restaurant of the Year:  Vedge in Philadelphia
Product of the Year:  Victoria Vegan Sauces
Company of the Year: VEGA (like, the vitamins)
NonProfit of the Year: Humane Society of the US
Book of the Year:  The Lucky Ones by Jenny Brown
 There was also a section of the Veggie Awards dedicated to highlighting some of the newest vegan celebrities on the scene, which I found interesting!  New to the vegan list this year are:
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor
Anne Hathaway
Scarlett Johansson
Mischa Barton
Michelle Pfeiffer
Larry Hagman (of Dallas fame!)
Rosie O'Donnell
Chaka Khan