Vegan MOFO wtf

Well, silly me. I just realized it's October which is  Vegan Month of Food.... better late than never?
What's Vegan MOFO?? You basically write as much as possible about veganism and/or vegan food- recipes, stories, favorite products, etc. From the website:
The idea is to write as much as you can all month, about vegan food. The blog entries can be about anything food related – your love of tongs, your top secret tofu pressing techniques, the first time your mom cooked vegan for you, vegan options in Timbuktu – you get the idea, right?

Check here for previous Vegan MOFO entries including an AWESOME little series from Rikki Cupcake of Seitanic Vegan Heathen.

Now, I'm not vegan (though I try to eat vegan fairly often) but it is something that is important to me and I try to do my best to limit items like cheese and dairy. I do eat eggs somewhat often (thank you chickens!). I don't drink milk and I rarely indulge in things like yogurt, sour cream, etc. We use a lot of vegan substitutes in our house like Vegenaise and Earth Balance vegan butter. I just love examining and making vegan meals because of the simplicity of it all. Of course there is vegan junk food and highly processed vegan options, but the vegan meals that really get me goin are the simple, fresh ones that use just a few ingredients.  Here are some vegan recipes I been collecting on Pinterest. I can't wait to try them. 

Spinach Pancakes- Whaaaattt??
Cocoa Roasted Cauliflower with Grape Farro- sounds weird and strangely yummy. I've seen a lot on Pinterest lately about roasted grapes. I have to try this. 
Jack-o-pumpkin Breakfast Sandwich- OMG.
Vegan Nachos with Cashew Cheese- I can't wait to try to make my own cashew cheese. I'm kinda obsessed with the thought of it but keep forgetting to try. 
Raw Lasagna- This is a perfect example of simple food that lets the vegetables/ingredients shine. 

If you do Vegan MOFO let me know! I'd love to check it out. I'm thinking about doing a post on my journey to vegetarianism. We will see how that turns out.

Vegan MOFO || Gary Yourofsky

Tumblr || I'm Hungry

I know I've said it before but I totally love Vegan MOFO. Somehow, I found the Healthy Freak Food tumblr and I've spent the past 30 minutes drooling instead of working. Here's a list of recipes I wanna try.



Starters, Snacks, and Small Dishes
Seven Layer Dip with Nacho Cheese Sauce
Raw Zucchini Shushi Rolls
Jalapeno Peach Smoothie

Main Dishes
Lentils, Coriander Hummus and Couscous
Grilled Eggplant Stacks (I actually very much dislike eggplant- one of the only veggies I don't like! But this would be delightful with zucchini.)
Grain Bowl
Carrot Ginger Pepper Jacks (Sooooo adorable!)

Treats
Banana Snack Cake w/ Peanut Butter Icing
Pumpkin Creme Crepes

Ok I have to stop. I'm torturing myself.

Are you participating in Vegan MOFO? Are there any recipes you've found that you're dying to try? Please share!

Vegan MOFO || Genuto

I was so excited when I read about this fancy new vegan gelato called Genuto on Vegansaurus. I've always been a sucker for sweets (though, I must admit- since incorporating more raw foods and juice into my diet my cravings as well as tolerance for sweets has gotten a lot better), so when I find out about a new treat I get super stoked.



These tasty lookin treats are supposed to be headed to Whole Foods soon. Looks like maybe I should save my Whole Foods groupon I got so I can stock up and try all the flavors : )

Vegan MOFO

Oh MY Goodness!!

It just came to me that October is World Vegetarian Month and you know what that means!! Vegan month of food! I'm excited. This is exactly the spark I needed to get my lazy bum back in the blogging game.



Here's a little snippet from their site explaining what Vegan MOFO is all about- "The idea is to write as much as you can all month, about vegan food. The blog entries can be about anything food related – your love of tongs, your top secret tofu pressing techniques, the first time your mom cooked vegan for you, vegan options in Timbuktu – you get the idea, right? There aren’t strict guidelines for how often to write, but the idea is to shoot for every weekday, or about 20 times in the month." It's gonna be fun. I encourage you to join me : )

In the meantime, check out some posts I did two whole years ago here! It's kinda fun to look back and see where my mind was when I first began exploring veganism (and blogging actually) as an option for myself.

Oh and one last thing, thanks to anyone who popped over from my old blog. I'd like to write some more about my choice to move to a new blog but untill then, know that I'm so excited to have you here and meet new people. Blogging has really opened up a big-small world to me and I've met so many wonderful, positive, and inspiring people (in real life and virtually). I've got a lot of big big news coming and I am happy to have a great bloggy family to share the excitement with. Don't hesitate to shoot me an email and say hi : )

Vegan MOFO Round 9

(via emmakisstina's flickr)

Wow. October is nearing its end and I've only posted 9 times for vegan mofo. Oh well at least it got me to blogging again right?

As I said before, veganism is more of a world view or lifestyle and less simply a dietary preference. Therefore, alot of vegans refrain from participating in anything that is not cruelty free and that includes buying beauty products that have animal by-products or that are tested on animals.

Did you know that they smear lipstick in bunnies eyes to make sure you wont get a rash or something?! How sad. Seriously, how does that even equate. Bunnies and humans are so different how would the results even be indicative of human response to such products? Also, doesn't it seem like- if the products have a bunch of chemicals which makes it imperative they test them on aminals before giving it to us, do we really wanna be putting these things on our skin? I think I would rather go make-up-less... or just check out this list of companies that are animal friendly.

http://aavs/org/leapingbunny

Vegan MOFO Round 8

While browsing around the internet, I came across this amazing blog!

Based in Melbourne, the writer Holly shares everything from vegan recipes to thrift style to makeup tips. Oh! And don't miss her other blog Little Lost Love which is filled with inspiration!Ultra cute.

I will be trying the following:
Chocolate, Coconut, Oat Bran Balls

These chocolate, coconut and oat bran balls are kinda not-too-unhealthy but really yummy and easy to make, hope you like them!
2 1/2 cups oat bran or oatmeal
1 cup dessicated coconut, plus a little more for rolling.
1/4 cup cocoa1 cup maple/agave syrup1/3 cup vegan margarine1/2 cup soy milk1 tablespoon vanilla
Mix oats, coconut and cocoa in bowl. Boil syrup, soy milk and margarine in saucepan then add to mixture. Add vanilla and mix well. mould mixture into small balls and roll into remaining coconut. Chill in fridge for around 2+ hours and enjoy!

And this super fun look which has nothing at all to do with veganism. This is the best step by step for a Twiggy look I've seen yet! Lovely!

Vegan MOFO Round 7

Being a lover of fashion, I figured it would be rediculous to not include a post about veganism and fashion. As most of you probably already know, veganism is less of a dietary choice and more of a world view. Therefore, vegans generally tend to steer away from using products containing animal byproducts and wearing clothes made with furs or leather. Naturally, a great solution to some of these issues is shopping vintage or thrift- my favorite!

There are plenty of thrift stores all over the place, but if you don't have the patience to dig through the racks, head over to etsy.com, a veritable treasure trove of animal and planet friendly goodies. They make it easy to search for what you want- you can browse by category or color, check out their hand picked gift guides and even use pounce (my favorite) to discover new shops. And that's just the begining. You can even search on etsy.com by location to cut back on the environmental effects of shipping and packaging. There are many sellers who offer soy candles, vegan baked goods, and vegan beauty items. Hold on to you're seats cause there are so many amazing things to be found.

Here are some favorites:

Vintage-

http://billygoatvintage.etsy.com/

(Friends of mine with incredible taste and good prices!! Not to miss!)

http://veganandvintage.etsy.com/
http://persephonevintage.etsy.com/

Beauty-

http://bayoubotanica.etsy.com/
http://dennisanderson.etsy.com/
http://vegansoapkitchen.etsy.com/

Other-
http://theveganmarshmallow.etsy.com/

http://vegandish.etsy.com/

http://thirdgranny.etsy.com/

And don't miss my etsy shop! I use many vintage or thrifted items to make my accessories and will soon be adding a few vintage pieces here and there. Let me know what you think --> http://merrymayfarm.etsy.com/

There are other similar sites too:

http://papernstitch.com/

http://supermarkethq.com/
(my other favs)

http://www.artfire.com/

http://www.ishopindie.com/

http://www.craftisart.com/

http://www.shophandmade.com/

Vegan MOFO Round 6

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
I usually get organic lowfat plain soymilk

2. What are the top 3 dishes you are planning on cooking?
I definitely wanna make the squash/apple mash I posted earlier, a fancy layered cake, and anything else fallish.

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
I always burn popcorn... every single time.

4. Favorite pickled item?

Beats!

5. How do you organize your recipes?

On the computer mostly.

6. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?

Trash... but I would love to learn to compost.

7. If you were stranded on a island and could only bring 3 foods what would they be?

Cereal, blueberries, sweet potatoes.

8. Fondest food memory?

Baking cookies with my mom.

9. Favorite vegan ice cream?

Purely Decadent coconut milk ice cream.

10. Most loved kitchen appliance?

Garlic press?

11. Spice/herb you would die without?

I use ALOT of cinnamon.

12. favorite flavor of jam/jelly?

Homemade raspberry.

13. Seitan, tofu or tempeh?

I use alot of tofu.

14. What's sitting on top of your refrigerator?

Cereal.

15. Three things in your freezer?

Coffee, flour, and jam.

16. What's on your grocery list?

Pears!

17. Favorite grocery store?
Up here- New Frontiers.

Vegan MOFO Round 5

I'm definitely making this:

20 oz Butternut Squash- fresh, peeled and cubed

2 med Granny Smith Apples- peeled, cored and cut into small pieces

1/2 c. Apple Cider

1 Tbsp. Butter- cut up

1 1/2 tsp. Thyme- fresh, chopped

1/2 tsp. Table Salt

1/4 tsp. Black Pepper- freshly ground

Put squash, apples, and cider in a shallow, microwave-safe baking dish. Sprinkle butter over top. Cvoer and microwave untill tender, about 10-12 minutes. Mash untill smooth but slightly chunky. Stir in thyme, salt, and pepper.

Of course you can use Earth Balance or another vegan butter.... I probably will.

Vegan MOFO Round 4

Last night I finally tried the Full of Life flatbread frozen pizza. Its not vegan but, then again, neither am I. It was super delicious and they have a bunch of flavors for you vegetarian's out there- in fact, all of their frozen variations might be vegetarian... I'm not sure. They are kinda pricey but you get what you pay for. Its yummy, filled with good things, and has no yuckyness. Made with organic ingredients, they even have one with cornmeal crust. So go ahead and splurge- you'll thank me later.

Vegan MOFO Round 3

I was directed to this website a while back and thought it would be fun to share. Its hard to believe that alcohol would have any animal parts in it but, unfortunately some does and since the ingredients are not listed on the label it's hard to be sure. But the folks over at barnivore have done the hard work for us! Check out your favorite beverage here: http://www.barnivore.com/





P.S. I am really bummed to find out Newcastle is NOT vegan friendly- it is treated with isinglass finings (a solution of collagen prepared from certain fish). I steared far away from fish even when I was eating meat... Yuck! Luckily some other favorites are vegan friendly.

Vegan MOFO Round 2

Sorry for hiding away this week. Though I only had one midterm, this week has been pretty non-stop. Anyways, I think I need this alot. With the weather starting to drop- well, actually heat up a bit here- I think hot cocoa is incredibly necessary.

http://www.amazon.com/Boulevards-Organic-Dairy-Free-Chocolate-10-Ounce/dp/B002AHL8MU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1255475811&sr=1-2

Vegan MOFO: Round 1

First off I am super psyched to hear about So Delicious' coffee creamers. Though I generally drink my coffee black I am super tempted to go out and buy this. Their yogurt is sooo good and I have been wanting to try their ice cream, which is probably amazing. Check out their spread at http://www.turtlemountain.com/



I found this on The Urban Housewife blog and not only is it animal friendly but it's also fun and festive.

Vegan candy corn!! Doesn't it look lovely?!

Candy CornIngredients:

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup corn syrup (preferably organic, avoid high fructose corn syrup!)

5 tablespoons Earth Balance (or other vegan margarine)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract2

1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup powdered soy milk

a pinch of sea salt

Red & yellow food coloring

Instructions:In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup, Earth Balance, & vanilla to a boil over high heat.
Reduce the heat to medium & boil the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 5 minutes, remove from heat.
Sift the powdered sugar, powdered soy milk, & salt into medium bowl.
Add the powdered sugar mixture to pan & stir to combine.
Let the mixture stand until slightly warm to touch, about 20 minutes.
Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces.
Consider putting on rubber gloves, so you don't stain your hands. Add several drops of yellow food coloring to one piece of dough & knead food coloring into the dough until smooth and color is even. Repeat using red & yellow food coloring (for orange) with the second piece & leave the last piece white, but knead it until smooth. This isn't an easy task & could take up to 15 minutes!
Roll each piece into ropes of equal length (don't roll too thin or the dough will break) and push the three ropes together to form a long rectangle.
Using sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles. Some will be white tipped & some will be yellow tipped.
Shape the candy corn as desired! You can even make Mellowcreme Pumpkins!This yielded 110 candy corn, all larger than the store bought ones you're used to! You could easily half this recipe & have a ton to share with others. I made mine somewhat large, as they're easier to work with, but you could make smaller ones & have a TON!
My Notes:They taste great, although slightly less sugary than the pre-packaged versions. I find that's the case with most artisan versions of standard junk food, but you'll still enjoy these very much & they'll quell your candy corn craving! I wouldn't add more sugar, as the dough will get too firm to work with. In fact, the dough is pretty firm in the first place & you may find your fingers hurting from kneading. When adding the food coloring, I found it best to keep folding the dough in to itself, then flattening it with my palm. Also, I didn't have gloves, so I kept a layer of plastic wrap over my dough as I was kneading it, which worked fine with minimal staining. The ropes of dough are VERY long, they took up the length of my dining table, so you can consider working in sections. I also used a rolling pin to slightly flatten the tops of the 3 connected ropes, it makes cutting easier & slightly pushes the ropes together. Finally, please be conscious of the corn syrup you use! The widely available Karo is packed with nasty High Fructose Corn Syrup, something you DON'T need in your system. I bought an organic corn syrup, which was pricey, but I found it to be worthwhile.

Here is the link. If you make it send me pictures! http://theurbanhousewife.blogspot.com/2007/09/homemade-vegan-candy-corn-happy.html

i'mbaaack!

I baaaack! In honor of World Vegetarian Month the folks over at Veg news are promoting Vegan MoFo (Vegan Month of Food), "a yearly celebration of culinary creations that challenges participants to blog about food every week day for the entire month of October" so I though, what the heck! So though I may not be able to keep up I will still put forth a little effort. Heck, maybe it will be back in blogging mode. Check out the interview with Isa Chandra Moskowitz here- http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=950&catId=5

First I'll start off by talking a little bit about myself and my path to vegetarianism. I had tried off and on through college after taking a class called The Sciology of Food. In the class we read and watched alot of really terrible things, however it never really stuck. But after more and more investigation as well as some long, hard looks at my life, I changed my ways. I had an emotional year and kept thinking about how I wanted to live my life and what things were important to me. The first change I made was becoming a vegetarian and it was the easiest and smartest choice I've ever made.

I became a vegetarian for a lot of reasons but the main reasons are regarding food safety and the farming culture. As the grand-daughter of a dairy farmer I see first hand the ways in which big agricultural companies are negatively effecting small farmers. Furthermore, the more I hear about the food production systems here in America (especially compared to other countries) I am hurt and, frankly, pretty concerned.

If you haven't already seen it, I suggest you go see the movie Food, Inc. Unlike many other sources the movie veers away from the shock and awe of showing how poorly animals are treated. Don't get me wrong I think it is horrifying and necessary for people to know but I feel like its a little passe and trite. This movie focus on food as a business and gives a different spin on things. It's great. Check it out here- http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Picture found here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32317360&ref=sr_gallery_20&&ga_search_query=vegetable+&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title