So I was just reading a post from "Your Daily Vegan" and I felt like I needed to write this down. Until recently, say 6 months ago, I was an avid meat eater. I couldn't imagine any meal without it and thought that meat is where ALL protein came from. Then a little documentary came along called Food, Inc and it has changed the way I eat, no it has changed every aspect of my life. I don't think I'm alone in this either, except I took it one step further, I researched and read and found blogs about vegans, books about vegans, recipes about vegans....I think you get the picture. It gripped me from my heart strings and my thinking hasn't been the same since.
I have read Skinny B*tch, Omnivore's Dilemma, Fast Food Nation (and watched the movie), Crazy, Sexy Life, and have now begun reading Quantum Wellness. I've even got Eating Animals sitting on my dining room table anxiously waiting for me next. Can we say obsessed much? It's funny because I don't consider myself someone who goes over the top on anything, I'm more of the "I'll just try it til it gets old" type of gal, but this new Veg lifestyle has taken ahold of me like nothing else. I am constantly dreaming up new ways to cook food and figuring out how I can get more bang for my buck with fresh fruits and veggies. It's been really fun and has opened a whole new world of ideas and introduced to me to some pretty cool people.
I can't even imagine what my life would be like with this new found way of living. I've never felt so healthy, my skin has never looked so good, and my cooking has never been so creative. This isn't to say I don't fall off the wagon and eat some meat every once in awhile or have some kinda yummy cheese (since it's always been my fav) but I think about what I'm consuming and how it affects the environment. How was this animal treated? Can I have an alternative? Can I live without it? If my craving is just to much to resist then I cave in and usually pay for it later (see running for the bathroom or running 5 miles extra that week). It isn't for everyone and that is OK but it is for me. God said take care of what he gave us and love all beings as ourselves and I'm working to do that everyday!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Being a pilot, cooking veg, and making it thru the week
It's been another great week of cooking and living. I have found the greatest vegan recipes thru other blogs and Whole Foods newsletters (they rock go here: www.wholefoods.com ). Thanks to Peta theveganstoner.com has made my boyfriend very happy and full of 'meatball' subs! So yummy...
In trying to get used to cooking with various beans and other sources of protein (see NO meat) I read an article about Adzuki beans. I've got black, kidney, and garbanzo beans on the regulars list at the dinner but adzuki beans had not yet been conquered, so I found this cool recipe on WF website called "zesty adzuki bean salad (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/524)." I was a little scared at first since it had arame sea vegetable and despite hearing all the great qualities of sea vegetables I wasn't sure if I would actually like it. To my delight this salad rocked! I didn't have limes so I used lemon juice and the arame put the salad on a completely different level of cooking. Who knew?!?!
Another new recipe I tried this week was called "Tofu Coddies." What are these odd named protein filled creatures you ask? Well they can only be described as a hyped-up potato pancake with a kick (the tofu). I found this unusual, and super simple, recipe in a vegan cookbook I picked up for $1 at a used bookstore. While it called for Old Bay Seasoning, which I didn't have, I used regular ol' seasoning salt instead. It also was supposed to be more of the consistency of a burger but turned out to be pancake-ish, which I was very scared of. In the nature of not wanting things to go to waste and just throwing it down the drain I poured it on the skillet and cooked it up "pancake style." To add more of nutrients to it I sprinkled some wheat germ on one side. Still not convinced it would be any good I smothered on this horseradish sauce the BF and I mixed up, put it on a bun with lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup then went to town. It was purdy darn good! If anyone is interested in the recipe I can hunt down the book.
The last recipe I conjured up for the week was falafel. I had a ton of leftover garbanzo beans from the previous weeks bean cooking so I used part of them to make hummus and the rest to make falafel. My friend gave me this great healthy falafel recipe, since many recipes called for them to be fried, and this is the second time I have used it and they are still super easy and super great! It's from picky eater's blog (http://pickyeaterblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/healthy-falafel-recipe/) and she has posted some great recipes to try out. I love that the falafels are baked and that I can make a ton of them freeze them then take them out as need be for trips. I add them to salads, I throw them in a pita, or I'll heat up a couple with some veggies for a quick snack. Perfect for people like me always on the go!
That is really all I had time for this week since I have actually been flying all over the country versus just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring although I did fit in a half marathon on Sunday....Did I mention I'm a runner? Yes I am nonstop go, go, go! I did the Quivering Quads half marathon located in Quivre River State Park (Troy, MO) and it was the hardest, most rewarding race I've done. Even after I face planted in the mud 4.5 miles in I still crossed that finish line. Well I'm off to bed for the night but feel like I could keep typing since my mind is going in 50 different directions. Sayonara for now!!! God bless everyone and keep praying for Japan!
In trying to get used to cooking with various beans and other sources of protein (see NO meat) I read an article about Adzuki beans. I've got black, kidney, and garbanzo beans on the regulars list at the dinner but adzuki beans had not yet been conquered, so I found this cool recipe on WF website called "zesty adzuki bean salad (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/524)." I was a little scared at first since it had arame sea vegetable and despite hearing all the great qualities of sea vegetables I wasn't sure if I would actually like it. To my delight this salad rocked! I didn't have limes so I used lemon juice and the arame put the salad on a completely different level of cooking. Who knew?!?!
Another new recipe I tried this week was called "Tofu Coddies." What are these odd named protein filled creatures you ask? Well they can only be described as a hyped-up potato pancake with a kick (the tofu). I found this unusual, and super simple, recipe in a vegan cookbook I picked up for $1 at a used bookstore. While it called for Old Bay Seasoning, which I didn't have, I used regular ol' seasoning salt instead. It also was supposed to be more of the consistency of a burger but turned out to be pancake-ish, which I was very scared of. In the nature of not wanting things to go to waste and just throwing it down the drain I poured it on the skillet and cooked it up "pancake style." To add more of nutrients to it I sprinkled some wheat germ on one side. Still not convinced it would be any good I smothered on this horseradish sauce the BF and I mixed up, put it on a bun with lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup then went to town. It was purdy darn good! If anyone is interested in the recipe I can hunt down the book.
The last recipe I conjured up for the week was falafel. I had a ton of leftover garbanzo beans from the previous weeks bean cooking so I used part of them to make hummus and the rest to make falafel. My friend gave me this great healthy falafel recipe, since many recipes called for them to be fried, and this is the second time I have used it and they are still super easy and super great! It's from picky eater's blog (http://pickyeaterblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/healthy-falafel-recipe/) and she has posted some great recipes to try out. I love that the falafels are baked and that I can make a ton of them freeze them then take them out as need be for trips. I add them to salads, I throw them in a pita, or I'll heat up a couple with some veggies for a quick snack. Perfect for people like me always on the go!
That is really all I had time for this week since I have actually been flying all over the country versus just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring although I did fit in a half marathon on Sunday....Did I mention I'm a runner? Yes I am nonstop go, go, go! I did the Quivering Quads half marathon located in Quivre River State Park (Troy, MO) and it was the hardest, most rewarding race I've done. Even after I face planted in the mud 4.5 miles in I still crossed that finish line. Well I'm off to bed for the night but feel like I could keep typing since my mind is going in 50 different directions. Sayonara for now!!! God bless everyone and keep praying for Japan!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
New Post
I have to admit, I'm a bad blogger! I need to start turning off the tv and start turning on the imagination station in my head. Expressing thoughts and ideas about my life, either personally or professional, could render some form of entertainment for others....or not, but you know what I'm sayin'.
So right now I'm going to talk about my pursuit of vegan-ness perfection! It's hard!!! I'm not missing the meat at all but someone/some restaurant gives you options with cheese or some other form of dairy and I cave like nobody's business! When it comes to cooking at home, I'm like a crazed French chef cooking up vegan foods (with the mess and all). I cook extra of every meal I make so I can freeze it to take with me while traveling, making my away from home experience that much easier. I go out to eat and it quickly turns to frustration then next thing I know I'm sacrificing my beliefs on why I'm not eating any animal products.
So to share a little of my latest kitchen endeavors I will post the recipes, which have all been boyfriend approved (in other words even the mighty meat eater enjoys the tasty morsels). I always try to make some extra beans, grains, or legumes at the beginning of the week that I can quickly throw together with frozen veggies for meal on the run.
Tuesday's dinner came from the weekly recipe email I get from Vegetarian Times (http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11186?section=) and was some super quick and easy Vegetable Korma. It called for fresh tomatoes but I used a can of organic chopped tomatoes instead to make it "saucier." This recipe wasn't vegan so I exchanged the cream for almond milk and upped the ante on the coconut milk too. While this recipe was my best Korma I have made I liked it for how simple and quick it was plus I was able to double it so I could freeze the leftovers for traveling the latter part of this week. I have to mention I made a mound of garbanzo beans so I was very happy to dump large handfuls into this recipe. I suppose that also means I should whip up some hummus, because homemade is the best!
On Wednesday I made a Vegetable Lo Mein (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2601) and added some leftover red bell pepper and tofu (for protein). I thought it was a little low on the sauce since I had ALL these veggies in there so I made a little more than the recipe called for. It was really yummy, I would definitely make it again! I even made some Miso soup for a appetizer, making it a perfect/quick mid-week meal.
Phew! I can't believe what a cooking fool I have become, wait I've always been a cooking fool but now that my vegetable and grain options are endless it has opened a whole new era of cooking for me. Who needs stinkin meat to make a fantastic, healthy, protein-filled meal?!?!? Not me!
Now to beg hotels to give me a refrigerator to keep these yummy delicacies cold through the weekend....
So right now I'm going to talk about my pursuit of vegan-ness perfection! It's hard!!! I'm not missing the meat at all but someone/some restaurant gives you options with cheese or some other form of dairy and I cave like nobody's business! When it comes to cooking at home, I'm like a crazed French chef cooking up vegan foods (with the mess and all). I cook extra of every meal I make so I can freeze it to take with me while traveling, making my away from home experience that much easier. I go out to eat and it quickly turns to frustration then next thing I know I'm sacrificing my beliefs on why I'm not eating any animal products.
So to share a little of my latest kitchen endeavors I will post the recipes, which have all been boyfriend approved (in other words even the mighty meat eater enjoys the tasty morsels). I always try to make some extra beans, grains, or legumes at the beginning of the week that I can quickly throw together with frozen veggies for meal on the run.
On Monday I made a Spinach Florentine from my vegan cookbook (http://www.amazon.com/30-Minute-Vegan-Delicious-Healthy-Everyday/dp/0738213276). Before telling you about this meal might I add that while at first hesitant on buying a vegan cookbook every meal I have made from this book has been AWESOME!!! This recipe was really simple I used almond milk instead of soy and added mushrooms and broccoli for some more veg action! While this meal feels very low protein using whole wheat pasta and having the nutritional yeast helped a ton. Maybe putting some tofu or tempeh next time might help but regardless this pasta dish was yummy too!
Tuesday's dinner came from the weekly recipe email I get from Vegetarian Times (http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11186?section=) and was some super quick and easy Vegetable Korma. It called for fresh tomatoes but I used a can of organic chopped tomatoes instead to make it "saucier." This recipe wasn't vegan so I exchanged the cream for almond milk and upped the ante on the coconut milk too. While this recipe was my best Korma I have made I liked it for how simple and quick it was plus I was able to double it so I could freeze the leftovers for traveling the latter part of this week. I have to mention I made a mound of garbanzo beans so I was very happy to dump large handfuls into this recipe. I suppose that also means I should whip up some hummus, because homemade is the best!
On Wednesday I made a Vegetable Lo Mein (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2601) and added some leftover red bell pepper and tofu (for protein). I thought it was a little low on the sauce since I had ALL these veggies in there so I made a little more than the recipe called for. It was really yummy, I would definitely make it again! I even made some Miso soup for a appetizer, making it a perfect/quick mid-week meal.
Phew! I can't believe what a cooking fool I have become, wait I've always been a cooking fool but now that my vegetable and grain options are endless it has opened a whole new era of cooking for me. Who needs stinkin meat to make a fantastic, healthy, protein-filled meal?!?!? Not me!
Now to beg hotels to give me a refrigerator to keep these yummy delicacies cold through the weekend....
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