So, today's the second day of Vegan MoFo (Vegan Month of Food). It's going through the month of October. We vegans are supposed to blog every single day and post a new recipe each day. It sounds so awesome to me, since I'm basically a vegan foodie.
I got this book today at the bookstore. It's called The 30 Minute Vegan by Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray. I'm really excited because it has wonderful vegan recipes in it. There's such a wide variety, too. Tonight, I'm posting my a new recipe: Portabello Burgers. It's absolutely wonderful and filling. My mom actually came up with this recipe, and she isn't even vegan! Go mom!
I am still on my unending quest to find nutritional yeast. I cannot seem to find it anywhere. Does anyone know where it may be? You think a grocery store would carry it, or will I have to go to a health foods store? If you know, comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
Definitely, Silk Soy Milk. It's wonderful by itself, in smoothies, and with cooking.
2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?
Tomorrow night's dinner: Vegan Spaghetti with vegan sausage.
I want to try a tofu scramble for breakfast.
3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Melted margarine.
4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
The first time I ever made yellow cake. It was horrible.
5. Favorite pickled item?
pickles? I haven't had too many pickled veggies...
6. How do you organize your recipes?
Either written down in a notebook, or saved as Word documents.
7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
Trash, but I'd like to start a compost pile soon...
8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods...what would they be (don't worry about how you'll cook them)?
pasta, bananas, peanut butter. You can live seven days off of peanut butter alone.
9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
Cooking in the kitchen with my family.
10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
Haven't tried any yet, I'm new in the game.
11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
My hands
12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Pepper.
13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
I come up with my own recipes. I'm a natural chef ;)
14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
strawberry.
15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
My vegan enchiladas.
16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
I've only tried tofu. I thought about getting tempeh today, but I'm not sure how it tastes...
17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
Dinner.
18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
Nothing.
19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.
Frozen fruit, frozen veggies, and vegan rice cakes.
20. What's on your grocery list?
I did some grocery shopping today, but next time I go, I need to grab some veggie burgers, vegan cookies (if I can find any), and bananas.
21. Favorite grocery store?
Food Lion, because they have the widest selection of vegan foods. We don't really have to many health food stores here. Lame.
22. Name a recipe you'd love to veganize, but haven't yet.
Hm...I'd love to veganize paella. That'd be scrumptious!
23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa's because I know you check it everyday). Or maybe the top 3?
That'd have to be Vegan Family Inc.
In case many of you aren't aware: Today is World Vegetarian Day! Today is the day for everyone to celebrate the plentifulness of the earth's splendor! I feel really proud because my sister has decided to become vegetarian, thanks to me! Since I'm the household chef, my changes in diet has effected everyone else... it has basically forced everyone else to try new and interesting foods that they wouldn't have normally tried. Today also marks my two weeks into vegetarianism. Go me!
Anways, Happy World Vegetarian Day! I dearly hope that some omnivores out there try something veggie today!
Okay, everyone... I've discovered a lot of new stuff since my last post...
I bought a blender yesterday... no, it's not a BlendTec, or anything, but it works just as well, for a cheap price ($25!). Since then, I've been making tons of smoothies and milkshakes. Milkshakes are actually better with soy milk. (I like soy milk better anyway). Today, I tried a green smoothie, using greens (I used romaine), and it didn't turn out too great. Maybe I didn't do it right... Not sure...
I've also found that the Food Lion here has a TON of vegetarian/vegan-friendly foods, to my surprise. To my knowledge, there aren't many vegans here in Irmo, SC.... I even found Vegenaise. Really surprising. Whilst adventuring through the forests of Food Lion, I realized that in every aisle, they have a natural/organic section, which has the veg versions of the stuff on the aisle... Pretty amazing. The organic produce was actually cheaper than the non-organic. Most organic foods here are more expensive, unless you buy from a local farmer's market. The only farmers market here, is about a 30 minute drive from where I live. Not too bad...
I've even started using organic shampoo and conditioner. Teatree mint by Organix has a good kind. Their products are NOT tested on animals, and really good for your hair. They are quite a bit more expensive than regular shampoos... but I figured anything was worth trying once... I've started using Aveeno lotions... mainly because they're nautral. I'm not too sure if their products are tested on animals... I'll research that one.
I have two wonderful recipes to share with everyone. They are both vegetarian, not vegan... but I'm sure many vegetarians will LOVE these delicious recipes.
Last night, for supper, I made portabella burgers. I used the portabella mushroom as a replacement for a meat patty. I then sauteed them in a hot pan with lots of margarine. You'd be surprised, margarine gives portabellas a wonderful flavor. I then layered the portabella on the bun, along with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber slices. It was very filling and energizing.
This morning, I made a breakfast burrito. I used a flour tortilla (whole wheat is also acceptable) in this recipe. I then scrambled 2 eggs, and added shredded cheddar cheese, and I cooked it on warm until the cheese was melted. I heated my tortilla in a warm skillet, and sprinkled some shredded cheese on the tortilla until melted. I then put the cheesy scrambled eggs on top of it... and folded the tortilla as you would a burrito. Serve with salsa and a sliced orange.
Even though these recipes are NOT vegan... I still think that they're a wonderful way to enjoy a vegetarian diet!
Just to let everyone know: today is International Hug-A-Vegan Day! Make sure you hug some of your vegan friends/acquaintances.
I have a lot of good websites to share with my readers today. I just got back from a 2 hour grocery run. It's taking me longer to shop for groceries since I've become vegan. I pay more attention to what is in everything. Even if you aren't interested in becoming vegan, at least make sure you KNOW what you're eating. I feel that is the most important part about shopping... and the cost, of course.
Go Vegan in 10 Easy Steps: I really like this article provided by The Examiner. It literally breaks down how omnivores can go vegan. Highly recommended for everyone :)
Hailey's Dragonfly Garden: This is a good eco-friendly, vegan site. They sell vegan-friendly soap products. They sell everything made from olive oil to hemp seeds. You can even order some of their soaps online!
Vegan Family Inc: This website is probably my favorite vegan website so far. It's a vegan mom's blog about how she feeds her 5 kids every day. It's really interesting, and funny. She also gives good tips on why you should become vegan.
Veg Cooking: This website shows MANY different recipes for a new vegan cook. There is such a wide variety of food on here, as well as nice pictures and good descriptions and instructions on how-to.
I'm still in the search of the "perfect" vegan website. Wish me luck!
Last night, I was hanging out with my friend and her boyfriend. We were talking, and I told her about my diet changes to vegetarianism. She tried to be vegetarian for a week, and was unsuccessful. Some people think you HAVE to eat meat to survive, but it really is not the case whatsoever. So, her boyfriend knew that I'm vegetarian, too. He started talking about how good a steak would be, and how he really wanted some venison. It started to offend me. What's weird, is when I ate meat, I would've been like, "Hell yeah, that sounds awesome". But, last night... it just disgusted me. I politely asked them to change the subject because my stomach was beginning to turn. They didn't. A few minutes later, I began to get a little angry; mainly because these people that were supposedly my "friends" couldn't respect my morals. I chimed in and said, "Yeah, some stir-fry veggies and tofu over some rice WOULD be amazing, wouldn't it?!" When I said that, they bothed LAUGHED at me. I was SO offended; it was ridiculous.
If you're a vegetarian/vegan, I know that you've been through the same experience, and there is nothing in the world like this feeling. The feeling that your own "friends" don't respect your beliefs, when you're expected to respect theirs. In my eyes, that is unfair, and offensive. If people in the world don't want to eat meat, omnivores should respect their decision, just as vegs respect omnis' decision to EAT meat. It works both ways. Seriously, people.
I get so frustrated with some people sometimes. I guess they thought I was trying to convert them to vegetarianism. Sure, it'd be nice if more people steered away from meat, but that's not my goal. All I ask for is open-mindedness and respect. That's it. Is that SO hard to give to someone? I think not. If I can be open-minded to new things, so can others. Just like, if I can be vegetarian, so can everyone else.
