Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I don't normally like to make a huge deal of it, but for some reason this year a lot of little celebrations are happening. I guess that is the result of my widening social circle :)

On Sunday I invited my family and some close friends to spend the day with me at The Gentle Barn, an amazing farm animal sanctuary in Santa Clarita, CA. We spent a couple hours hanging out with cows, horses, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, etc. And finished the afternoon with some delicious vegan cupcakes that my cousin Jana made, check out her awesome cakes at Jana's Fun Cakes!

My cousin & I with Buttercup, the sweetest cow ever!

 

Me and the llama...he's got his eye on me!

 

This is Portia, she was genetically engineering to be a fat Thanksgiving turkey,
and now she can't even hold her own weight :(
 

 

This poor pot belly is blind because his previous owner did not know how to properly
feed him, he had zero protein in his diet.

Husband, cousins, friends and me!

AWESOME vegan cupcakes, I think the best vegan frosting I have ever had!

It was so much fun spending time with my family, friends and all the animals! I couldn't ask for a better way to spend the day!

On Monday the husband and I drove out to Temecula where my mom and dad live and had an awesome Mexican fiesta with family complete with vegan tacos, homemade Mexican brown rice and margaritas! It was nice to have the immediate family all together, doesn't happen often.

I could eat Mexican food everyday.

 

Vegan chocolate cake with spider & pumpkin sprinkles!

SO good.

Mom, dad and brothers.

Husband and brothers

 

Tonight I think the husband and I are going out for a nice vegan meal (post on that later in the week) and then Friday will be another dinner with friends and karaoke! Super busy week, but it's worth it!

Grilled Polenta & Greens

This meal is quick and delicious. Perfect for those nights where you don't have a lot of time to make a fancy dish.

What you will need:
6 cups fresh greens (kale, spinach, collard, mustard - whatever you have)
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1 tube of polenta
2 tbsp olive oil
garlic powder, sea salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Slice polenta into 3/4" rounds and sprinkle both sides with garlic powder and pepper. Place flat into skillet. Cook for 5-10 minutes depending on how crispy you want it. Flip each disc to cook other side.

2. Heat vegetable stock in a large wok. Once stock is bubbling, add fresh greens a dash of sea salt & pepper. Toss continuously until green have cooked down.

3. Pile greens onto plate and place 3-4 slices on polenta on top.

Vegan Interrogated: Kendy

Name: Kendy/MissMuffcake
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Website/blog: www.missmuffcake.com

A little about yourself:
I am a 33 year old vegan zine maker, cat lover and tea drinker. I like spending time reading, doing yoga, cutting and pasting text, going to new places to eat with my boyfriend and learning new things!

What made you decide to go vegan?
After being vegetarian for 6 years I started learning about why dairy was bad. It shocked me that dairy could be so cruel. I have been vegan for 12+ years now.

Favorite organization/cause & why:
Local no kill shelters. I have a soft spot in my heart for cats. I like hosting vegan bake sales to raise money for local no kill shelters. I like seeing my money helping the blocks I walk down.

What do you think is the best way to spread the word of veganism/compassion?
Coming together as a collective force. I understand we are all busy with our day to day lives but we need to take time and connect with others in the community and share our knowledge and help one another out. Support those with the same goals as you and in turn I hope they support you!

Favorite meal to make:
Kendy's $10 vegan BBQ plate. I always joke with my boyfriend and ask him if he would spend $10 on the plate of food I put in front of him. The BBQ plate consists of pan fried BBQ soy curls, mac & cheeze, watermelon and toasted bread with spread!

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan:
I have been asked a few times if I eat fish...I find it odd that after saying I do not eat anything from animals or insects fish is still a question!

Zucchini Pizza

In honor of vegan pizza day on June 30th, I am once again posting a recipe for something pizza-ish. My mom actually inspired me to make these when she texted me about the zucchini pizzas she had made for dinner a couple weeks ago. Thanks mom! Here is my version, which is also gluten free!

What you will need (serves two):
2 large zucchini
1/2 cup vegan cheese shreds
2 roma tomatoes
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
Olive Oil
Fresh pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Line a cookie sheet with foil and lightly oil. Cut ends off zucchini and slice in half lengthwise. Cut out the seeds of the zucchini creating a little channel. Rub with a little bit of olive oil and cook for 10-12 minutes.

2. While zucchini is cooking saute mushrooms in a bit of olive oil and slice tomatoes.

 
3. Remove zucchini from oven, spoon on spaghetti sauce then layer with cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes. Sprinkle with pepper and return to oven for 10-15 minutes or until zucchini is tender but still firm.

4. Eat and enjoy!

Philip Wollen is My New Hero

I don't need any more fuel to my vegan fire. I am passionate and secure about my choice. Every once in awhile though something comes along that just reinvigorates my beliefs and gives me hope. Philip Wollen's speech at the St. James Ethics Centre and the Wheeler Centre debate in Australia on May 16, 2012 is one of those things.

Please watch and share.

Quick & Easy Nachos

I came home from work on my lunch break yesterday and I was STARVING, so I took a quick inventory of what I had on hand and whipped up this super easy dish! I'm not going to put measurements on these because you can make as little or as much as you want.

What you will need:
Tortilla chips
Vegan Cheese
Black Beans
Salsa
Avocado

1. Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Spread out your chips and sprinkle with vegan cheese and black beans (I use Trader Joe's Cuban black bean because they have chilies and onions in them and are the bomb!). Bake in oven for about 10 minutes, keep your eyes on it so your chips don't burn.

3. Once cheese is melty, remove from oven, sprinkle with salsa and layer on sliced avocado.

4. Stuff your face with this incredibly delicious meal.

Sorbetinis!

Last month my mom and I went to Italy to visit my brother and sister-in-law (another post coming on that later). Our group went to a little town called Comacchio near the sea one day and my sister-in-law was on a mission to find a Sorbetini (sorbet & vodka) that I could drink. Unfortunately non of the shops had dairy-free options, so I was stuck sipping limoncello while the others enjoyed their delicious looking frosty beverages (whomp whomp).

Since that day I have been determined to make my own sorbetini and after getting a brand spanking new blender over the weekend, I went for it. Be warned, the recipe below is STRONG! You can make it less so by using 1/2 c vodka and 1/2 c juice or nectar. These are amazing on a hot summer day!

What you will need (makes 2 large drinks):
A blender
1 c vodka
2 c sorbet
1 c ice

1. Remove sorbet from freezer and let soften for about 5 minutes.

2. Add all ingredients to blender and blend baby blend until smooth.

3. Pour into cool martini glasses and prepare for slight brain freeze and tipsiness.

**These would be great with some fresh fruit skewers in them too!

PLEASE drink responsibly!!

Flore Vegan Cuisine

Located on Sunset Blvd. in Silverlake, Flore is an Organic Vegan Restaurant featuring a deli counter and sit down indoor/outdoor service.

This morning the husband and I made the trek out there from West L.A. to enjoy a lovely vegan brunch. We got there just before noon and the place was hoppin. Luckily we only had to wait about 5 minutes for a nice table outside (great for people watching). The staff is uber friendly and attentive, which is always a bonus.

I started with a Basic Green juice consisting of kale, celery, parsley, apple and lemon. SO yummy. It made me feel all healthy and stuff.

For our meals, I ordered the Breakfast Burrito stuffed with tofu, potatoes, tempeh bacon, avocado and cashew cheese and the man got the Blueberry Banana waffle.

My burrito was super flavorful and delicious. I loved that the whole thing was grilled, giving a touch of crunchy texture to the tortilla. Yum. My husband devoured his waffle and said it was really good as well. We both left feeling full and satisfied, though I'm a bit sad we didn't grab any of the amazing looking desserts in the case for later.

Their brunch menu is pretty large for a vegan place and everything on it sounds awesome. We will definitely be back to try out some of the other dishes. I can honestly say that Flore is one of my new favorite weekend breakfast spots!

Vegetable Pasta

I love pasta, in fact I'm a total carb whore...but I've been trying to keep away from the go-to red pasta sauce and noodles so I threw together this veggie pasta with what I had lying around my kitchen. Use brown rice pasta for a gluten-free meal!

What you will need:
1 pkg pasta (I'm partial to whole wheat)
1/2 yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
2 portobella mushroom caps
2 cups broccoli (mine was frozen, so I steamed it)
1 cup cooked beans (your choice, I used TJs white beans)
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
2 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup vegan past sauce (optional, for extra flavor)
Italian spices (either fresh or dried)

1. Bring water to boil in large stock pot, cook pasta according to package directions. While waiting for water to boil, chop veggies into chunks. Mince garlic.

2. Heat olive oil in a sautee pan. Add onions and cook until soft and transparent. Add fresh garlic and mushrooms and continue to cook. Add more oil if pan gets too dry.

3. Once pasta is cooked al dente, drain water and return to stock pot. Add broccoli, beans, sun dried tomatoes, pasta sauce, and cooked veggies. Stir to combine all ingredients. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add spices (I used dried basil, pepper, and rosemary), give another stir, pile into a bowl and enjoy!!

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L.A. Vegan Beer & Food Fest 2012

Last year I was moving to L.A. the same day as the Vegan Beer Fest and I was so bummed I couldn't go; I was determined to get to it this year. Luckily, I saw the call for volunteers in time to get on the list and got to be part of the action! Funny thing is, I really don't like beer at all, but I knew this would be a great place to meet a ton of super cool like-minded folks...and I was right!

The Third Annual L.A. Vegan Beer & Food Fest was sponsored by Tony's Darts Away, QuarryGirl and The Roxy (where the event was held). These guys did such an amazing job pulling together a ton of beer and food vendors and live entertainment. I love the t-shirts we got as volunteers!

Proceeds from the event benefit the California Wildlife Center and these lovely ladies were there to represent!

My job for the day was "roamer" which meant that I went wherever I was needed: grabbing things for vendors, letting other volunteers take breaks etc. At first I felt a little lost, but I got to wander around and meet a lot of cool people. It also gave me a chance to sample a lot of the vegan food that was there. I started off with a delicious Franken dog from The Frankenstand, a vegan sausage made with sun dried tomatoes and basil - YUM!

Next up I had a vegan maple bacon donut from Amanda's Bakery, which was pretty freakin tasty! My only wish was that I could have tried this just baked and warm, but it was still really good.

 

After I did some grubbing, I went to relieve some fellow volunteers who were pouring beers behind the bar of the VIP lounge. I have never poured a beer from a tap in my life, but I got a quick lesson and after a few tries I was an expert. Maybe a career change in my future.....

Once I was ready to try more food, I had to go check out the tacos from Seabirds Truck as everyone was raving about them. I ordered one jack fruit taco and one beer battered avocado taco. Both were good, but OM MY GOD that avocado taco changed my life. One of the best things I have ever tasted! I'm sad this is an Orange County truck, but I will definitely be stalking them to see when they come back to L.A.!

Once the event was over and everything was cleaned up, M Cafe was kind enough to donate a ton more food for all the volunteers to munch on and chill out after a long day of beer slinging!

Then, as if I hadn't had enough to eat during the day, the husband was determined to go to Mohawk Bend for dinner that night. They were actually at the Fest, but I didn't get a chance to try their Buffalo Cauliflower, so that's what I ordered and oh man, they were delish! Lightly battered florets smothered in spicy buffalo sauce and served with vegan blue cheese dressing. Totally hit the spot and was a perfect ending to a day full of food, fun and sun!

I can't wait for next year's event!! Thanks to everyone who made it happen!

Vegan Interrogated: Bianca

 
Name: Bianca
Location: Nelson, B.C. Canada
Website/blog: http://www.reloveplanet.com/
 
A little about yourself:
I'm a free-spirited, positive gal living my life as fully as possible. I love inspiring people and spreading joy and love to anyone around me… and giving hugs of course. :) I've been vegan for 3 years, I definitely had my slip-ups until about a year and a half ago where I went full-on vegan and brought it into my lifestyle in every aspect as well.
 
What made you decide to go vegan?
Finding out the truth. I started as a vegetarian simply for the reason I wanted to be healthier. From there I actually found out what goes on on factory farms, just how much we exploit animals and the level of cruelty. Sadly before that I just never Thought about it. Which is why I do my best to spread the word and inform people, as I know that I, personally, wish I had known sooner.
 
Favorite meal to make?
Smoothies! It's almost silly! I make them just about every morning, such a wonderful way to get a healthy dose of fruit and I find ways to add protein (whether it's protein powders, tofu, or nut butters). They're just so fun to make and play around with! Plus you can add super foods like cocao, coconut oil, maca, matcha, hemp so easily into your diet with smoothies. Simply yum! I think it's also kind of therapeutic, I think we truly are what we eat and we should take care in the preparation of our food just as much as when we eat it. :)
 
Do you find going out/social situations difficult?
Only sometimes. I generally surround myself with more like-minded people which I think is important no matter what your beliefs are. There are definitely times when I go out though and just find it so strange and kind of heart-breaking that people eat meat and wear wool and continue to subject animals to unreasonable cruelty for selfish reasons (again, often without ever thinking about it). But most of the time it's super fun and easy and generally people meet my veganism with warm curiosity.
 
What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan?
So many! My mood improved, my health improved. I pretty much never ever get sick--unless I'm super stressed out, but that will happen to anyone. My skin is clearer. My mood is better. My stomach feels so much better, I used to almost always feel like crap! I have more energy. And my karmic soul feels better too. ;)
 
What is the biggest misconception people have about you being vegan?
That I don't get to eat delicious food! Or every so often there are those who think I'm crazy and unhealthy, haha. But people will always have their own opinions. I just follow what I believe in, lead by example, and share information when it's welcome. Easiest thing to do is be confident in your own decisions and usually people come around.
 
Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Just go for it! ;) Dive fully into it. The hardest part about making the switch is that you're changing old food habits, and giving up addictive things like cheese. If you commit yourself to two weeks, or even a week, chances are you'll continue with it because you'll be over the bump of addictions and have created new eating habits that will be easy to stick to by this point. Also always keep in mind that it is FUN! Attitude is everything!
 
Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?!
Absolutely! They say vegans save 100-200 lives a year. That, to me, is enough to know I am making a difference. Plus, vegans tend to be enthusiastic about their lifestyles, they are going to share what they know with others, and chances are "convert" others. I know that I, personally, have shared this lifestyle with countless others, and many have gone vegan or started to make the switch even if it's slower. Leading by example and showing how in love I am with being Vegan is one of the greatest things I can share with other people to encourage their own switch. More and more people are becoming vegan every day, we all count towards something bigger than ourselves.

Cruzer Pizza

I seem to be obsessed with pizza lately, which is funny because before I went vegan I wasn't a huge pizza fan. Now that the husband is trying out veganism, it's a lot more fun exploring new places around the city to eat.

Last weekend we decided to head out to Echo Park and try Cruzer Pizza, a 100% plant based pizzeria featuring amazing pizza (duh), pasta, sandwiches and salads. They have classic combos like Hawaiian with pineapple and vegan ham and all "meat" featuring a variety of vegan meats. I went with the veggie loaded with mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, spinach, onions, fresh garlic and I added vegan pepperoni. The dude went for the all meat (manly).



We took our pizzas over to Griffith Park (Cruzer is take out/delivery only) and had a lovely impromptu picnic with the dogs.


This wasn't the absolute best pizza I have ever tried in my life, but it was pretty damn good. With all those veggies and Daiya cheese, you can't really go wrong; plus I love supporting local vegan businesses, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.