For Christmas, I decided to make Indian food, because it is a hot and exotic way to celebrate the cold harsh winter. There were two people for to eat Christmas dinner: my mom and myself. I enjoy going grocery shopping for food and I enjoy cooking and eating what I made.
I made the dishes that were listed in the previous post, except I added more spices to the potato dish. I also made candy yams, southern style with some vegan substitutions. My favorite dish is the Tempeh Tikka Masala. I should have simmered the tempeh in some water and then bake. With the left over tikka sauce I made an Indian twist on sloppy joe's. I like to call it the Tempeh Tikka Sandwich.
Tempeh Tikka Sandwich
1/2 package tempeh
1/2 jar Tikka Sauce (get the vegetarian kind with no cream, milk or yogurt)
1 cup Chickpeas canned or cooked
*Items to make a sandwich (to taste): Lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion, etc. I used the packaged thin buns. However, pita bread will be a better choice for this recipe, especially if it's thick and good quality for holding sauce.
Method
1. Simmer the tempeh in water on both sides for ten minutes or until slightly soften and drain.
2. Simmer the chickpeas until softened and drain.
3. In a skillet with oil, roughly mash the chickpeas and crumble the tempeh until it looks like ground meat.
4. Add sauce and simmer until sauce is slightly cooked.
Serve on bread in a sandwich. This recipe can be substituted for a swarma. This can also be eaten as a side dish. This is one of those recipes that I would serve at a party. Because the jar sauce was breaking a budget and this site is about veganism on a low cost, I would make the tempeh sauce from stratch (recipe will be posted soon).
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Vegan Pancake Recipe
Since the end of last summer, I've been making vegan pancakes for breakfast or whenever. I basically used different techniques to perfect them.
Ingredients
1 cup unbleach wheat flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons raw sugar or sugar substitute
1/2 cup soy or almond milk
1/8 cup oil, preferably a light oil such as canola
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional: ground nuts, berries, raisins,
cinnamon, dried fruit, fresh fruit, coconut, extracts
Method
1. Add all dried ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add soy milk and oil
3. Blend well
4. Add lemon juice, stir well
5. Cooking these should be like cooking any non-vegan pancakes. I prefer to use a flat, nonstick skillet and olive oil. I also like to add more soymilk or almond milk to the batter if it's too thick.
Serve with maple syrup, agave nectar or home made syrup.
Ingredients
1 cup unbleach wheat flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons raw sugar or sugar substitute
1/2 cup soy or almond milk
1/8 cup oil, preferably a light oil such as canola
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional: ground nuts, berries, raisins,
cinnamon, dried fruit, fresh fruit, coconut, extracts
Method
1. Add all dried ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add soy milk and oil
3. Blend well
4. Add lemon juice, stir well
5. Cooking these should be like cooking any non-vegan pancakes. I prefer to use a flat, nonstick skillet and olive oil. I also like to add more soymilk or almond milk to the batter if it's too thick.
Serve with maple syrup, agave nectar or home made syrup.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tempeh and Indian Recipes/ Holiday Menu
Tempeh/ Indian Recipes
Today for the first time I bought some tempeh. I had some in a salad in a vegan restaurant and it wasn't bad. I also have been craving Indian food this past fall/winter. I found some recipes that I think would be great addition to the small Solstice/Christmas dinner that I'll be having with my mom. I want to classify Indian recipes as "region of the year". In 2009, it was Southeast Asian cuisine. Next year it might be Thai food.
Tikka Masala This is a chicken recipe, but soon I'll be providing the vegan version of this recipe and I will take the link off. This is a vegan website not a pollo-pescatarian site. I will be replacing the chicken with tempeh, tofu or seitan in various occassions. For the marinade, soy or rice yogurt will be used instead. Coconut milk/almond milk will replace the heavy cream. In the last post, I provided some Indian recipes. This is one that I have to modify to suit my tastes.
Channa Masala This recipe is very simple to make with all its ingredients. It's already vegan and no substitutions need to be made unless other ingredients will be added.
Bhurtha (Eggplant Curry) This recipe is vegan and substitutions for ingredients and cooking methods can be made. Eggplant seems intimidating to cook, but hopefully it turns out well.
These are three of some recipes I plan on making for Winter Dinner. Pictures will be taken soon.
Holiday Menu Suggestions
Continental Dinner- Depending on if you want it regional or international, these recipes can be mixed and match. I'm just providing a list of all the foods I can think of in the world.
Appitizers: Vegan "Meatballs" made of beans covered in sauce on toothpicks; Felafels
Salad with spinach and winter vegetables or kale and cilantro/mint tabouleh; Fresh Thai Spring Rolls
Drinks: Winter Sangria (Recipe coming soon), Cranberry Drops (Recipe Coming soon), Mai tai, Pina Colada, Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic
Main Menu: Tempeh Tikka Masala, Tofurkey, Vegan "meat loaf", Vegetable Lasagna (vegan), Vegan "steak", Stroganoff (vegan)
Side Dishes: Aloo, Channa Masala, Rattoullie, Brocolli au Gratin (vegan), Mash potatoes, wild rice, dhal, samosas, pasta. The options for side dishes are endless.
Desserts: vegan coconut cake, vegan versions of favorite cake or holiday cake, apple, pumpkin or sweet potato pie. There is room for creativity for desserts.
Cooking for a holiday or any gathering can be intimidating. If you are within a budget, the key is to have all the ingredients and everything on the menu listed when grocery shopping. It also helps to scale down the menu when there are less than five people. Like, if the dinner will be small with three or less people, then it's a good idea to not cook more than two main dishes and about three or four side dishes, not counting appetizers, drinks and desserts. The key is to not go over budget and to have enough for left overs, but not so much that it's wasting food. It also helps to be consistent and have a "theme". I plan on having an continental holiday dinner leaning toward South Asian and Mediterranean with some American dishes. I also recommend being creative. All foreign dishes do not have to be authentic. It makes it more original to have an American spin on them. Vegan dishes alone are not traditional, so be creative.
Sample Holiday Menu
Appetizer- Felafel, Kale Tabouli salad
Main Dish: Tempeh Tikka Masala
Side Dishes: Channa Masala, Bhurtha, Aloo, Dhal, Wild Rice
Dessert: Coconut Cake
Drinks: Winter Sangria, Lemon drops, Cranberry tonic
* This menu is recommended for three or less people. If more people are going to be at the gathering, then I recommend having more dishes, appetizers and drinks.
Today for the first time I bought some tempeh. I had some in a salad in a vegan restaurant and it wasn't bad. I also have been craving Indian food this past fall/winter. I found some recipes that I think would be great addition to the small Solstice/Christmas dinner that I'll be having with my mom. I want to classify Indian recipes as "region of the year". In 2009, it was Southeast Asian cuisine. Next year it might be Thai food.
Tikka Masala This is a chicken recipe, but soon I'll be providing the vegan version of this recipe and I will take the link off. This is a vegan website not a pollo-pescatarian site. I will be replacing the chicken with tempeh, tofu or seitan in various occassions. For the marinade, soy or rice yogurt will be used instead. Coconut milk/almond milk will replace the heavy cream. In the last post, I provided some Indian recipes. This is one that I have to modify to suit my tastes.
Channa Masala This recipe is very simple to make with all its ingredients. It's already vegan and no substitutions need to be made unless other ingredients will be added.
Bhurtha (Eggplant Curry) This recipe is vegan and substitutions for ingredients and cooking methods can be made. Eggplant seems intimidating to cook, but hopefully it turns out well.
These are three of some recipes I plan on making for Winter Dinner. Pictures will be taken soon.
Holiday Menu Suggestions
Continental Dinner- Depending on if you want it regional or international, these recipes can be mixed and match. I'm just providing a list of all the foods I can think of in the world.
Appitizers: Vegan "Meatballs" made of beans covered in sauce on toothpicks; Felafels
Salad with spinach and winter vegetables or kale and cilantro/mint tabouleh; Fresh Thai Spring Rolls
Drinks: Winter Sangria (Recipe coming soon), Cranberry Drops (Recipe Coming soon), Mai tai, Pina Colada, Non-Alcoholic or Alcoholic
Main Menu: Tempeh Tikka Masala, Tofurkey, Vegan "meat loaf", Vegetable Lasagna (vegan), Vegan "steak", Stroganoff (vegan)
Side Dishes: Aloo, Channa Masala, Rattoullie, Brocolli au Gratin (vegan), Mash potatoes, wild rice, dhal, samosas, pasta. The options for side dishes are endless.
Desserts: vegan coconut cake, vegan versions of favorite cake or holiday cake, apple, pumpkin or sweet potato pie. There is room for creativity for desserts.
Cooking for a holiday or any gathering can be intimidating. If you are within a budget, the key is to have all the ingredients and everything on the menu listed when grocery shopping. It also helps to scale down the menu when there are less than five people. Like, if the dinner will be small with three or less people, then it's a good idea to not cook more than two main dishes and about three or four side dishes, not counting appetizers, drinks and desserts. The key is to not go over budget and to have enough for left overs, but not so much that it's wasting food. It also helps to be consistent and have a "theme". I plan on having an continental holiday dinner leaning toward South Asian and Mediterranean with some American dishes. I also recommend being creative. All foreign dishes do not have to be authentic. It makes it more original to have an American spin on them. Vegan dishes alone are not traditional, so be creative.
Sample Holiday Menu
Appetizer- Felafel, Kale Tabouli salad
Main Dish: Tempeh Tikka Masala
Side Dishes: Channa Masala, Bhurtha, Aloo, Dhal, Wild Rice
Dessert: Coconut Cake
Drinks: Winter Sangria, Lemon drops, Cranberry tonic
* This menu is recommended for three or less people. If more people are going to be at the gathering, then I recommend having more dishes, appetizers and drinks.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Alternative To Soy II/ Bread Recipes/ Creativity in Cooking
Alternatives To Soy II
I was surfing the net as usual when I came across some videos with vegan recipes without soy products. I was amazed to find that one of my favorite youtubers made a vegan burger without soy or anything in it. I tried to make a chickpea patty with no success, because I did not use cornstarch. I want to keep food as natural as possible. I also found some links for vegan cheeses that do not call for tofu or any unfermented soy. These are just a few of many soy free recipes out there. If I try a soy free vegan diet, It's going to be like the day I first gave up meat. I've been vegan for five years, with an exception of taking a two month break from veganism, and I never had any problems with soy. Some say that health problems will appear later in life, but I don't believe that's the case with soy. I still believe that it's way better than milk and cheese and egg and the dreaded animal flesh. So, I haven't found any credible evidence against soy.
List of Links:
Veggie Burger (Indian Style) : Although most recipes with veggie burgers are vegetarian, this on is vegan. For Indian food, I recommend substituting coconut milk and oil for the milk, yogurt and ghee. I want to try this Indian style burger with some Indian potato dishes. It makes for a good replacement for the American burger and fries. For convenience, I suggest getting a decent food processor.
Vegan Cheddar Cheese : To go with the lovely Indian burger, this is a vegan version of cheddar cheese. I'm guessing that it can be a variation of American cheese. With this recipe, I'm going to have to experiment with different nuts and trying out different substitutions for water that are still soy free. I thought about blending the cashews with an almond milk to give it a slightly sweet and smokey flavor. The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Jo Stepaniak. I plan on buying this book in the future for my recipes.
Raw Soy Free Cream Cheese Recipe This recipe calls for cashews like others, but it's raw. I think variations can be made for this.
Raw Macademia Cheese This raw recipe is a little more expensive than the other recipes, because it requires ingredients that are harder to find. I hope to try this recipe with some substitutions. Chickpea miso and raw macademia nuts For those who are not on a soy-free diet, regular miso can be substituted for the chickpea variation.
Coconut Whipped Cream
Garam Masala I just found this recipe and it's from scratch. This is a good mix for Indian dishes
Tzatkiki Sauce Use the vegan version
Raw Almond Pistachio Ice Cream
Bread Recipes
Everytime I go into the store to buy bread, it always has something I can't pronounce in it. It is the same outcome with other bread products such as pancakes, or mixes. I thought it would be much less expensive and more vegan friendly if I made my own bread from scratch. I don't remember making bread, but I can at least give it a try. I found some great recipes that are relevent to the holiday season. Some are already vegan and some of them are not. I plan to make a vegan version of some of the bread recipes I found.
Sweet Vegan Challah Bread
Squash Braid
The two recipes above are both braided breads. The squash braid is not vegan. I plan on using both recipes together and making some substitutions. Instead of using squash, I'll use pumpkin puree. I will still braid the dough, but cut the braid into buns. I plan on using the second recipe as a cool alternative to the classic hamburger bun. Usually hambuger buns have sesame seeds on top. Maybe I'll use whole flaxseed and poppyseeds instead. I always loved gourmet food and when I think of gourmet food I think of fine art.
Creativity in Cooking
Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I enjoyed making dishes more when I became vegan and even more when I moved on my own and didn't have to make any food for anyone. The first few years I became vegan I was kind of lost about what is vegan and what isn't. Now I know better and I do not plan on straying. If I have to work two jobs to sustain my lifestyle, I would. Thankfully it hasn't come to that, yet. Hopefully when I graduate with a Fine Arts degree I get a decent paying job. I thought of other things I can do after I graduate such as getting a master's in fine art, taking community college classes to learn how to sew and design clothes so I can be a designer. I even thought of law school, and my mom reminded me of the movie Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon. Culinary school even looks appealing. My only concern is that I'll be forced to eat someone else's dishes and I cannot guarantee that they would be vegan.
When I was at home, I ate some vegan packaged Indian food and some food from the Indian restaurant that I usually go to when I'm in Long Beach. I noticed that it was good, but it's so spicy that I couldn't enjoy it. I think it's cheaper if I make my own dishes from scratch. I believe that they are less expensive than going out and buying them. I like to be creative when I cook. Instead of trying to recreate authentic dishes from other cultures, it would be a good idea to just make them with my own interpretation. When I go to vegan restaurants, I see on menus different dishes that come from other countries and they are just interpretations of them. I'm going home for two weeks starting on Wednesday. I hope that I get to make home made bread. My grandmother's house has so many people that it would be difficult to make the dishes I like. I hope that I still can.
I was surfing the net as usual when I came across some videos with vegan recipes without soy products. I was amazed to find that one of my favorite youtubers made a vegan burger without soy or anything in it. I tried to make a chickpea patty with no success, because I did not use cornstarch. I want to keep food as natural as possible. I also found some links for vegan cheeses that do not call for tofu or any unfermented soy. These are just a few of many soy free recipes out there. If I try a soy free vegan diet, It's going to be like the day I first gave up meat. I've been vegan for five years, with an exception of taking a two month break from veganism, and I never had any problems with soy. Some say that health problems will appear later in life, but I don't believe that's the case with soy. I still believe that it's way better than milk and cheese and egg and the dreaded animal flesh. So, I haven't found any credible evidence against soy.
List of Links:
Veggie Burger (Indian Style) : Although most recipes with veggie burgers are vegetarian, this on is vegan. For Indian food, I recommend substituting coconut milk and oil for the milk, yogurt and ghee. I want to try this Indian style burger with some Indian potato dishes. It makes for a good replacement for the American burger and fries. For convenience, I suggest getting a decent food processor.
Vegan Cheddar Cheese : To go with the lovely Indian burger, this is a vegan version of cheddar cheese. I'm guessing that it can be a variation of American cheese. With this recipe, I'm going to have to experiment with different nuts and trying out different substitutions for water that are still soy free. I thought about blending the cashews with an almond milk to give it a slightly sweet and smokey flavor. The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Jo Stepaniak. I plan on buying this book in the future for my recipes.
Raw Soy Free Cream Cheese Recipe This recipe calls for cashews like others, but it's raw. I think variations can be made for this.
Raw Macademia Cheese This raw recipe is a little more expensive than the other recipes, because it requires ingredients that are harder to find. I hope to try this recipe with some substitutions. Chickpea miso and raw macademia nuts For those who are not on a soy-free diet, regular miso can be substituted for the chickpea variation.
Coconut Whipped Cream
Garam Masala I just found this recipe and it's from scratch. This is a good mix for Indian dishes
Tzatkiki Sauce Use the vegan version
Raw Almond Pistachio Ice Cream
Bread Recipes
Everytime I go into the store to buy bread, it always has something I can't pronounce in it. It is the same outcome with other bread products such as pancakes, or mixes. I thought it would be much less expensive and more vegan friendly if I made my own bread from scratch. I don't remember making bread, but I can at least give it a try. I found some great recipes that are relevent to the holiday season. Some are already vegan and some of them are not. I plan to make a vegan version of some of the bread recipes I found.
Sweet Vegan Challah Bread
Squash Braid
The two recipes above are both braided breads. The squash braid is not vegan. I plan on using both recipes together and making some substitutions. Instead of using squash, I'll use pumpkin puree. I will still braid the dough, but cut the braid into buns. I plan on using the second recipe as a cool alternative to the classic hamburger bun. Usually hambuger buns have sesame seeds on top. Maybe I'll use whole flaxseed and poppyseeds instead. I always loved gourmet food and when I think of gourmet food I think of fine art.
Creativity in Cooking
Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I enjoyed making dishes more when I became vegan and even more when I moved on my own and didn't have to make any food for anyone. The first few years I became vegan I was kind of lost about what is vegan and what isn't. Now I know better and I do not plan on straying. If I have to work two jobs to sustain my lifestyle, I would. Thankfully it hasn't come to that, yet. Hopefully when I graduate with a Fine Arts degree I get a decent paying job. I thought of other things I can do after I graduate such as getting a master's in fine art, taking community college classes to learn how to sew and design clothes so I can be a designer. I even thought of law school, and my mom reminded me of the movie Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon. Culinary school even looks appealing. My only concern is that I'll be forced to eat someone else's dishes and I cannot guarantee that they would be vegan.
When I was at home, I ate some vegan packaged Indian food and some food from the Indian restaurant that I usually go to when I'm in Long Beach. I noticed that it was good, but it's so spicy that I couldn't enjoy it. I think it's cheaper if I make my own dishes from scratch. I believe that they are less expensive than going out and buying them. I like to be creative when I cook. Instead of trying to recreate authentic dishes from other cultures, it would be a good idea to just make them with my own interpretation. When I go to vegan restaurants, I see on menus different dishes that come from other countries and they are just interpretations of them. I'm going home for two weeks starting on Wednesday. I hope that I get to make home made bread. My grandmother's house has so many people that it would be difficult to make the dishes I like. I hope that I still can.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Alternatives to Soy/ Thanksgiving Menu
Although I love soy products, there are mixed messages everywhere about whether or not they are healthy. I remember reading a Facebook post that one of my vegetarian friends wrote about eating meat being equivalent to smoking cigarettes. Although I believe that meat is harmful for the environment, human health and the wellbeing of animals themselves, equating consumption to meat to smoking cigarettes is going a bit far on the emotional appeal. That's like saying that governments should ban all religion and make atheism a state religion. Although the article that my friend pulled up did not say that meat should be banned or anything, but if you have people saying things like "God wants you to eat meat" and "if I don't eat meat, then I'll get sick" and people who have diabetes who depend on the consumption of meat, then factory farms, and the SAD is not going away anytime soon. It would be nice to live in a community that shares the same beliefs that I do and the same values and goals in life. Realistically, it's impossible unless you build a commune and ban meat consumption and mainstream religion from your community.
On this post my friend made, there were some strong fact-based comments coming from both sides. Her friend said that plants have hormones. Plants indeed have them. My mother used to take a soybased hormone that was generic just before she started menapause. However, there is a huge difference between natural hormone and artificial hormones. my mom took Estroven for a little while and it worked. She did not want to continue to put hormones in her body to manage the symptoms on menopause. Most animals in factory farms are given symthetic hormones to speed up their growth rate and to produce more meat and in the case of mammals, milk. Because soy is one of those plants that have hormones called phytoestrogen, starting in December, I'm going to try out a soy-free diet. There are other legumes that can give off the same texture in meats and there are other types of milks I can drink such as almond, rice and hemp. I love vegan butter, but I can always use olive oil. In cakes, I can use coconut oil or avocado. Also, there are other cultures that do not consume soy products such as some cultures in India, but most Indians consume dairy products and not egg products.
I hope to try this out for a month, or atleast for the duration of Winter semester at my school. When school is over for the semester and I have a few days off before Winter semester, I want to try this recipe, using a different variation and making a few changes. It looks like a bean burger that will taste satisfying. Most bean burger recipes I came across do not look appetizing and the people making them tend to use bread crumbs to make them stick. I think cornstarch or rice flour will work just fine. The recipe seems perfect for those who cannot have wheat.
Thanksgiving Menu
For Thanksgiving, I'm going to see my mom and I'm staying until the end of the break. She wants me to make a dinner menu of vegan foods that I can make. My original idea was to make vegan versions of traditional American foods, but I remember last year I went to a cosmpolitan style Christmas party and had so much fun. I think I'm going to go with making American versions of dishes that can be found all over the world. I might have a few Mexican dishes, Indian and dishes from other countries. If Albertson's sold vital wheat gluten, then we can even use it for the enchiladas or make "chicken" tikka masala. There are so many things I can make this Thanksgiving. I think that all that matters is that I get to go home and see my family. I am definately moving back home when I graduate. Maybe I'll even live in another city that can foster both my lifestyle and my creativity. Hopefully, it's the end of 2012 that I graduate. Maybe if I see the academic counselor I get to graduate faster.
On this post my friend made, there were some strong fact-based comments coming from both sides. Her friend said that plants have hormones. Plants indeed have them. My mother used to take a soybased hormone that was generic just before she started menapause. However, there is a huge difference between natural hormone and artificial hormones. my mom took Estroven for a little while and it worked. She did not want to continue to put hormones in her body to manage the symptoms on menopause. Most animals in factory farms are given symthetic hormones to speed up their growth rate and to produce more meat and in the case of mammals, milk. Because soy is one of those plants that have hormones called phytoestrogen, starting in December, I'm going to try out a soy-free diet. There are other legumes that can give off the same texture in meats and there are other types of milks I can drink such as almond, rice and hemp. I love vegan butter, but I can always use olive oil. In cakes, I can use coconut oil or avocado. Also, there are other cultures that do not consume soy products such as some cultures in India, but most Indians consume dairy products and not egg products.
I hope to try this out for a month, or atleast for the duration of Winter semester at my school. When school is over for the semester and I have a few days off before Winter semester, I want to try this recipe, using a different variation and making a few changes. It looks like a bean burger that will taste satisfying. Most bean burger recipes I came across do not look appetizing and the people making them tend to use bread crumbs to make them stick. I think cornstarch or rice flour will work just fine. The recipe seems perfect for those who cannot have wheat.
Thanksgiving Menu
For Thanksgiving, I'm going to see my mom and I'm staying until the end of the break. She wants me to make a dinner menu of vegan foods that I can make. My original idea was to make vegan versions of traditional American foods, but I remember last year I went to a cosmpolitan style Christmas party and had so much fun. I think I'm going to go with making American versions of dishes that can be found all over the world. I might have a few Mexican dishes, Indian and dishes from other countries. If Albertson's sold vital wheat gluten, then we can even use it for the enchiladas or make "chicken" tikka masala. There are so many things I can make this Thanksgiving. I think that all that matters is that I get to go home and see my family. I am definately moving back home when I graduate. Maybe I'll even live in another city that can foster both my lifestyle and my creativity. Hopefully, it's the end of 2012 that I graduate. Maybe if I see the academic counselor I get to graduate faster.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Diet and Thanksgiving (again)
The semester so far is not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm actually doing pretty well in school, I'm excelling in all my assignments and tests considering that I am a pretty lazy procastinator. I think if I want to continue to do well in school I will have to start bring my meals so I can stay on campus all day. I will have to incorporate more into my diet than what I have been doing, even if it means buying more expensive foods. I didn't know that I love food and I love to eat until I became vegan five yrs ago. The way I've been going about this could be better. Instead of cutting out gluten and soy completely, it would be better idea to cut back to once a week.
I am not going to eat out anymore. Why eat out when I can learn how to make the food I want? The internet is right in front of me. If I wanted to have vietnamese, I can have vietnamese by going online and finding recipes. The same can be said for Indian, Thai, Mexican and other foods. If I'm not going to eat bread everyday, I'm going to have to eat beans, rice and salad during the weekdays and other foods on the weekends. Or I can bake a gluten-free, soy free bread to eat on the weekdays. It's not going to be easy cutting back on soy and wheat. I want to try to see if it would work for me.
I love wheat foods and I also love soy. It's hard to believe what is good for you if there is contracting information about soy and gluten. Not to mention that people in Asian countries have been eating these foods for centuries, even as condiments. Cutting back is going to be so hard, it feels like the day I decided to not eat anymore, except this time I'm giving up even more foods. It can't any worse than eating meats filled with hormones and antibiotics and other chemicals.
In my honest opinion, Americans do not really know what is good for them, because major corporations and a dogma called tradition dictate our morals. Industries buy information or bribe researchers to keep people in the dark about everything. It's hard to even find a dietician that understands why people are vegan. The last dietician I went to used a three hundred pound vegan as an excuse for why a vegan lifestyle is bad. She did not consider that the woman could have lied about being vegan, or that she could have started a vegan diet. I can honestly say that I never met a fat vegan before unless they were just starting off as vegan. I don't know what to believe anymore.
The best I can do is homemade from scratch. Since I am getting a blender and a slow cooker, I can say that I will not need to buy canned beans anymore. The only thing I'll buy that is canned now would be pineapples, coconut milk/creme, and occassionally pumpkin and sweet potatoes. Since I have a juicer at home, I can buy fresh pineapples and put them through a juicer and food processor. When I make cakes I can use fresh ingredients. I think making everything from scratch seems like a better idea than giving up gluten and soy products. Everytime I read the ingredients on packages, it seems as though everything has a chemical that I reminds me of highschool chem class in it.
Ideal Weekday Menu For School And/Or Work:
Breakfast:
-Oatmeal with fresh or dried fruit, flaxseed and nuts
Soy or Nutmilk
-Toasted Pita filled with peanut, almond or cashew butter
Fresh juice or Fresh brewed tea and Fresh Fruit
-Vegan protein smoothie made with frozen fruit and agave nectar,
and for extra needed calories some toast or a vegan cheese
sandwich can eaten with it.
-Bean patty (made to taste like a breakfast sausage, recipe coming soon)
in a vegan english muffin or toasted in a wheat bun (like a panini or cubano),
Fruit and some tea
-Vegan scone, vegan yogurt topped with fruit
and nuts, tea or water
Lunch
-Pita sandwich filled with hummus and/or felafels and salad,
mash potatoes (in moderation), or baked sweet potatoes and
a fresh fruit and green tea or black tea for drink
-Veggie burger on whole wheat vegan bun, baked french fries,
salad, with some fruit and tea or water for drink
-Vegetarian soup with a small tofu sandwich, fruit or juice/tea
-"Meatball" chef salad, toasted pita or whole wheat bun toasted,
fruit, and tea or water
-Vegan Sloppy Joe's w/ salad and alfafa stuffed in a fresh pita bread,
baked potato or baked fries with fruit and tea (my favorite)
-Tofu sandwich (baked or fried, I like tempura tofu), mash potatoes
salad, fruit and tea, juice or water
-Spring rolls, tea
Dinner
-Vegan spaghetti either with whole-wheat, egg free pasta or spaghetti squash,
made with marinara sauce vegetables and tofu, tempeh or seital for protein,
chef salad, toasted pita with olive oil and garlic, fruit and tea
-Whole wheat burritos filled with spanish rice, any kind of beans or seitan,
lettuce, tomato, spinach, avocado and salsa; tea or healthy drink
-Thai styled curried stir-fry rice with tofu and Asian vegetables, peas and broccoli;
two spring rolls or a salad; dessert and tea or healthy drink or water
-Kale, Rice and Lentil Soup (posted), toasted pita bread or pita sandwich,
healthy drink or tea
-Potato and Spinach Dish, salad, dessert and tea or healthy drink
This should be a pretty easy menu to follow, especially for those starting off with a vegetarian diet. I try to incorporate as many food groups as possible. It's really difficult to when dairy has its own food group and dairy products come from animals. The best I can do is replace the dairy products with nutmilks and vegan yogurts.
This a bit off base, but one of the reasons why I do not want children is because I'm a vegan. Americans eat the SAD or the standard American diet. It consists of heavy meats, sugars, starches and fats. I would not want to feed my possible child that diet. If I had a choice between him or her eating a bad vegan diet and the standard American diet, I'd choose the former. However, if the day comes that I would have a little one and a social worker knocks on the door wanting to know what I feed him or her, I'd give them the food menu above. If there are vegans out there that plan on having children, you should not be discourage from having kids, but if anyone asks about what your children eat, just tell them they eat a balanced diet like any non-vegan child.
Thanksgiving
If I stayed here for the holidays and lived in a house, or a more forgiving apartment, I'd have a cosmopolitan-styled potluck or dinner party with veganized foods from all over the world for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For Thanksgiving, I'm going home to visit my family and fortunately my grandmother will be out of town. She does not celebrate the holidays due to her religion, but she always finds a way to scrutinize my food choices. I don't know what will happen when I visit for Thanksgiving. I just hope to see my friend and have a good time with my mom, because the next visit with them will probably be Spring Break, because I'm going to school during winter break. If I end up cooking, it's going to be a vegan Thanksgiving. I'm not cooking meat for anyone. Or I'll just contribute a few dishes. My family is very American. We are very black, so we are going to have a very black American thanksgiving consist of meats. A vegetarian, let alone vegan thanksgiving will everyone. I think most traditional dishes can be pulled off except for the turkey. Meat is not the easiest to veganize if one cannot master the seitan. For most dishes that call for chicken I want to use my own variation of this recipe , except it will go in different recipes. I also want to incorporate more raw vegan food recipes. The holidays are that time of the year when people complain about their waistlines after over indulgence. In another post I'll post a similar menu as the one above except it will be for parties, holidays and other festivities.
I am not going to eat out anymore. Why eat out when I can learn how to make the food I want? The internet is right in front of me. If I wanted to have vietnamese, I can have vietnamese by going online and finding recipes. The same can be said for Indian, Thai, Mexican and other foods. If I'm not going to eat bread everyday, I'm going to have to eat beans, rice and salad during the weekdays and other foods on the weekends. Or I can bake a gluten-free, soy free bread to eat on the weekdays. It's not going to be easy cutting back on soy and wheat. I want to try to see if it would work for me.
I love wheat foods and I also love soy. It's hard to believe what is good for you if there is contracting information about soy and gluten. Not to mention that people in Asian countries have been eating these foods for centuries, even as condiments. Cutting back is going to be so hard, it feels like the day I decided to not eat anymore, except this time I'm giving up even more foods. It can't any worse than eating meats filled with hormones and antibiotics and other chemicals.
In my honest opinion, Americans do not really know what is good for them, because major corporations and a dogma called tradition dictate our morals. Industries buy information or bribe researchers to keep people in the dark about everything. It's hard to even find a dietician that understands why people are vegan. The last dietician I went to used a three hundred pound vegan as an excuse for why a vegan lifestyle is bad. She did not consider that the woman could have lied about being vegan, or that she could have started a vegan diet. I can honestly say that I never met a fat vegan before unless they were just starting off as vegan. I don't know what to believe anymore.
The best I can do is homemade from scratch. Since I am getting a blender and a slow cooker, I can say that I will not need to buy canned beans anymore. The only thing I'll buy that is canned now would be pineapples, coconut milk/creme, and occassionally pumpkin and sweet potatoes. Since I have a juicer at home, I can buy fresh pineapples and put them through a juicer and food processor. When I make cakes I can use fresh ingredients. I think making everything from scratch seems like a better idea than giving up gluten and soy products. Everytime I read the ingredients on packages, it seems as though everything has a chemical that I reminds me of highschool chem class in it.
Ideal Weekday Menu For School And/Or Work:
Breakfast:
-Oatmeal with fresh or dried fruit, flaxseed and nuts
Soy or Nutmilk
-Toasted Pita filled with peanut, almond or cashew butter
Fresh juice or Fresh brewed tea and Fresh Fruit
-Vegan protein smoothie made with frozen fruit and agave nectar,
and for extra needed calories some toast or a vegan cheese
sandwich can eaten with it.
-Bean patty (made to taste like a breakfast sausage, recipe coming soon)
in a vegan english muffin or toasted in a wheat bun (like a panini or cubano),
Fruit and some tea
-Vegan scone, vegan yogurt topped with fruit
and nuts, tea or water
Lunch
-Pita sandwich filled with hummus and/or felafels and salad,
mash potatoes (in moderation), or baked sweet potatoes and
a fresh fruit and green tea or black tea for drink
-Veggie burger on whole wheat vegan bun, baked french fries,
salad, with some fruit and tea or water for drink
-Vegetarian soup with a small tofu sandwich, fruit or juice/tea
-"Meatball" chef salad, toasted pita or whole wheat bun toasted,
fruit, and tea or water
-Vegan Sloppy Joe's w/ salad and alfafa stuffed in a fresh pita bread,
baked potato or baked fries with fruit and tea (my favorite)
-Tofu sandwich (baked or fried, I like tempura tofu), mash potatoes
salad, fruit and tea, juice or water
-Spring rolls, tea
Dinner
-Vegan spaghetti either with whole-wheat, egg free pasta or spaghetti squash,
made with marinara sauce vegetables and tofu, tempeh or seital for protein,
chef salad, toasted pita with olive oil and garlic, fruit and tea
-Whole wheat burritos filled with spanish rice, any kind of beans or seitan,
lettuce, tomato, spinach, avocado and salsa; tea or healthy drink
-Thai styled curried stir-fry rice with tofu and Asian vegetables, peas and broccoli;
two spring rolls or a salad; dessert and tea or healthy drink or water
-Kale, Rice and Lentil Soup (posted), toasted pita bread or pita sandwich,
healthy drink or tea
-Potato and Spinach Dish, salad, dessert and tea or healthy drink
This should be a pretty easy menu to follow, especially for those starting off with a vegetarian diet. I try to incorporate as many food groups as possible. It's really difficult to when dairy has its own food group and dairy products come from animals. The best I can do is replace the dairy products with nutmilks and vegan yogurts.
This a bit off base, but one of the reasons why I do not want children is because I'm a vegan. Americans eat the SAD or the standard American diet. It consists of heavy meats, sugars, starches and fats. I would not want to feed my possible child that diet. If I had a choice between him or her eating a bad vegan diet and the standard American diet, I'd choose the former. However, if the day comes that I would have a little one and a social worker knocks on the door wanting to know what I feed him or her, I'd give them the food menu above. If there are vegans out there that plan on having children, you should not be discourage from having kids, but if anyone asks about what your children eat, just tell them they eat a balanced diet like any non-vegan child.
Thanksgiving
If I stayed here for the holidays and lived in a house, or a more forgiving apartment, I'd have a cosmopolitan-styled potluck or dinner party with veganized foods from all over the world for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For Thanksgiving, I'm going home to visit my family and fortunately my grandmother will be out of town. She does not celebrate the holidays due to her religion, but she always finds a way to scrutinize my food choices. I don't know what will happen when I visit for Thanksgiving. I just hope to see my friend and have a good time with my mom, because the next visit with them will probably be Spring Break, because I'm going to school during winter break. If I end up cooking, it's going to be a vegan Thanksgiving. I'm not cooking meat for anyone. Or I'll just contribute a few dishes. My family is very American. We are very black, so we are going to have a very black American thanksgiving consist of meats. A vegetarian, let alone vegan thanksgiving will everyone. I think most traditional dishes can be pulled off except for the turkey. Meat is not the easiest to veganize if one cannot master the seitan. For most dishes that call for chicken I want to use my own variation of this recipe , except it will go in different recipes. I also want to incorporate more raw vegan food recipes. The holidays are that time of the year when people complain about their waistlines after over indulgence. In another post I'll post a similar menu as the one above except it will be for parties, holidays and other festivities.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Recipes for Fall And Other News
I came across this article for vegetarian soups for the fall. They are mostly vegan and some of them look really good. I want to master making seitan. Hopefully I can by the time winter comes. I've been making the same kale soup recipe since last month. I love the variations of my soup from scratch, but I made it too many times and I'm bored of the soup already.
I found a decent pita bread recipe. Pita bread is an interesting foreign bread because it is vegan, unlike naan bread. I like the density of Indian roti bread, but the way it can be used does not come close to the pita bread. While I do not have a cookie sheet to make baking recipes yet, I plan on getting some more kitchen items. I never made bread before this, so hopefully when I do it does not turn out like my seitan atrocity. Cooking, like art, allows room for mistake unless the kitchen is burned down or $500 worth of food is wasted.
Other than bread, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I did not get to bake a birthday cake last weekend for my birthday. I did not have the most essential items. I can always go to the grocery store and get them. It's not too late. The good news is that I found a vegan smoothie mix that is worth trying. I've been looking forever for a smoothie mix since August. I find smoothies to be easier to make every morning than say vegan pancakes or even oatmeal. I want to be a healthier vegan, but I have so many bad food habits. I'm not the most "put-together" woman that anyone has ever met. With research papers, art projects and the second half of the semester being here, I have to find ways to be organized. That includes finding recipes that are fast, cheap and easy to make.
I am thinking about going on a soy-free and gluten free diet for a few months just to how my body reacts to it. It is slightly more difficult to do this, but there are so many recipes out there that do not call for soy or wheat. I love potatoes (despite their bad reputation), rice, oats and I'm willing to try other flours such as spelt and besan. I think meanwhile it's best to try the whole "beans, rice and salad" diet. I might be eating more Mexican food, because it does not require wheat or soy. I like to try out different diets just to see what works and what does not.
I've been craving sweets like cakes, pancakes, pies, cookies, vegan ice creams, etc. lately. I don't know what my obsession with sweets is. I love the items I just named and I probably do not need to make a birthday cake for my belated birthday. Instead I can make scones, which are healthier and guilt free. I found a recipe here . According to the responses, this recipe seems very versatile. I was thinking of making these with dried pineapples and coconut. I like to experiment with different recipes and since I bought a bakeware set, I can pretty much bake any dessert except pies, because I need a pie pan to hold the crust. So, I'm debating between a cake and some scones. I find scones to be healthier than cake. They do not require much sugar, but they require baking powder. I usually like scones with the glaze over it. I hope to replicate the glaze with a decent recipe. I love making cake, because there are so many recipes that are vegan and I can use baking soda and vinegar instead of baking powder. For frosting I can just use silken tofu, powder sugar, vanilla and coconut. It will be like the last cake I made instead it will be modelled similar to the hummingbird cake without the cream cheese and pastachios(sp?). I will make an oat flour for both the scones and the cake by processing instant oatmeal. Since winter is around the corner and I don't have a job yet, I might as well add an extra hobbie to the list of things I like to do. It won't hurt. I miss dating because I don't have anyone to cook for and critque my food. Maybe my friends might be willing to try my recipes.
Thanksgiving and Veganism
Summer is clearly over. There is no use wearing micro shorts, tank tops or taking a dip in the neighborhood outdoor swimming pool. Instead, it's that time of the year again when kids are knocking door-to-door for candy during Holloween, sweaters are in style for the season and college students go home to eat their family's cooking for Thanksgiving. Eversince being vegan five years ago, I had a love-hate relationship with holidays dealing with food. It's pretty much one of the reasons why I do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. There is something about food that brings two or more people who hate eachother closer together. Maybe it's been that way since the beginning of mankind. In every culture, food is the other religion. It can bring people together or tear them apart. It's one of the things that I missed about being a meat eater. When I began to give up certain foods, it put a few family members on edge such as my grandmother. When I was a vegetarian that ate mostly fish, it made everyone in my family angry. I personally to this day believe that there are more things to worry about than what someone eats. There are many people in this world who cannot eat. As Americans, we do not think about them much, because we are a consumer-based society, where other people's troubles are hidden or ignored. I will admit that I did not choose a vegan lifestyle based on how many people in this world did n't have a meal with all the food groups. If that were the case, I'd also live an ascetic lifestyle that gives up all material goods. I became vegan, because I know that the human race is not the only species on this planet and that I choose not to support an industry or an ideology that believes in such. Those choices that I made pretty much bother everyone I know and meet to this day.
I know one person when I told him that I do not eat, or wear animal products, he had the nerve to tell me "well most people don't wear animal products". I don't speak to him anymore, not because he's not a vegan and he made such an ignorant statement, but because he does not take what I say seriously. I'll save this for another post, but he's like most other men who come from the Baby Boomer/Gen X generations. Men from those generations were raised to believe that a woman's opinion is not to be taken seriously. It's hard to be friends with someone who dismisses your opinion by using strawmen arguments or ad hominems. I know for a fact that most people use products that contain something that comes from an animal. I am guilty of this sometimes. I almost bought honey yesterday, because I wanted pancakes. I will also admit that I did consume honey. I stopped when I decided to be a real vegan.
Thanksgiving won't be as difficult as the last time when everyone ate something eachother made, and I cooked something that had beans in it for myself and my sister made a comment about it. She also made a comment about me baking a coconut cake and that I "chose a flavor that not everyone likes". Just because the meat-eating world does not accomodate vegans it does not mean that I have to accomodate everyone. People wonder why vegans are angry. It's because the meat eaters in this country have "mob-rule" mentality, so it gives them a right to be condenscending toward those who are different. They also have the childish mentality that "Oh, if he doesn't eat meat then I'm doing something wrong". Whatever happend to adults making choices they feel is right for themselves? If my pool of friends were perfect, they would all be vegan out of convenience. I have e neighbor who is from another country(Russia) and he's always puzzled about my food choices. I made a vegan "chicken" patty and he wondered why when I lost my taste for meat. First of all, it tastes different, but it still has somewhat a meat quality that I miss. Second, like Russia, America is a meat eating society. We are like Japan that eats everything but starches and vegetables as condiments. Our meat dishes are main meals. The only way to be vegan and still eat the homemade regional dishes is to use a meat substitute such as soy, tempeh or seitan. Eating these cannot be any worse than eating dishes made with poultry, meat or fish. I just know that I have to be more creative when I cook, sometimes taking longer than usual. I'm thinking about going home for Thanksgiving break, just to see my mom and my close friend. I also want to stay here for Thanksgiving with friends who stay here also. I don't know, there is not a day that I do not think about moving to another apartment. I just hope that I can find something cheaper than here. When I get a job, I am definately moving.
Pumpkin vs Sweet Potato
I love sweet potatoes, especially during the holidays. I also like pumpkin. During the holidays, most people eat pumpkin, while my family eats sweet potato, either in a pie or cut into pieces and candied with its own starches. I think it's cultural, but I could be wrong. I want to try something different and eat candied pumpkin instead of candied yams. Maybe I'll try a combination of both in a pie.
I found a decent pita bread recipe. Pita bread is an interesting foreign bread because it is vegan, unlike naan bread. I like the density of Indian roti bread, but the way it can be used does not come close to the pita bread. While I do not have a cookie sheet to make baking recipes yet, I plan on getting some more kitchen items. I never made bread before this, so hopefully when I do it does not turn out like my seitan atrocity. Cooking, like art, allows room for mistake unless the kitchen is burned down or $500 worth of food is wasted.
Other than bread, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that I did not get to bake a birthday cake last weekend for my birthday. I did not have the most essential items. I can always go to the grocery store and get them. It's not too late. The good news is that I found a vegan smoothie mix that is worth trying. I've been looking forever for a smoothie mix since August. I find smoothies to be easier to make every morning than say vegan pancakes or even oatmeal. I want to be a healthier vegan, but I have so many bad food habits. I'm not the most "put-together" woman that anyone has ever met. With research papers, art projects and the second half of the semester being here, I have to find ways to be organized. That includes finding recipes that are fast, cheap and easy to make.
I am thinking about going on a soy-free and gluten free diet for a few months just to how my body reacts to it. It is slightly more difficult to do this, but there are so many recipes out there that do not call for soy or wheat. I love potatoes (despite their bad reputation), rice, oats and I'm willing to try other flours such as spelt and besan. I think meanwhile it's best to try the whole "beans, rice and salad" diet. I might be eating more Mexican food, because it does not require wheat or soy. I like to try out different diets just to see what works and what does not.
I've been craving sweets like cakes, pancakes, pies, cookies, vegan ice creams, etc. lately. I don't know what my obsession with sweets is. I love the items I just named and I probably do not need to make a birthday cake for my belated birthday. Instead I can make scones, which are healthier and guilt free. I found a recipe here . According to the responses, this recipe seems very versatile. I was thinking of making these with dried pineapples and coconut. I like to experiment with different recipes and since I bought a bakeware set, I can pretty much bake any dessert except pies, because I need a pie pan to hold the crust. So, I'm debating between a cake and some scones. I find scones to be healthier than cake. They do not require much sugar, but they require baking powder. I usually like scones with the glaze over it. I hope to replicate the glaze with a decent recipe. I love making cake, because there are so many recipes that are vegan and I can use baking soda and vinegar instead of baking powder. For frosting I can just use silken tofu, powder sugar, vanilla and coconut. It will be like the last cake I made instead it will be modelled similar to the hummingbird cake without the cream cheese and pastachios(sp?). I will make an oat flour for both the scones and the cake by processing instant oatmeal. Since winter is around the corner and I don't have a job yet, I might as well add an extra hobbie to the list of things I like to do. It won't hurt. I miss dating because I don't have anyone to cook for and critque my food. Maybe my friends might be willing to try my recipes.
Thanksgiving and Veganism
Summer is clearly over. There is no use wearing micro shorts, tank tops or taking a dip in the neighborhood outdoor swimming pool. Instead, it's that time of the year again when kids are knocking door-to-door for candy during Holloween, sweaters are in style for the season and college students go home to eat their family's cooking for Thanksgiving. Eversince being vegan five years ago, I had a love-hate relationship with holidays dealing with food. It's pretty much one of the reasons why I do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. There is something about food that brings two or more people who hate eachother closer together. Maybe it's been that way since the beginning of mankind. In every culture, food is the other religion. It can bring people together or tear them apart. It's one of the things that I missed about being a meat eater. When I began to give up certain foods, it put a few family members on edge such as my grandmother. When I was a vegetarian that ate mostly fish, it made everyone in my family angry. I personally to this day believe that there are more things to worry about than what someone eats. There are many people in this world who cannot eat. As Americans, we do not think about them much, because we are a consumer-based society, where other people's troubles are hidden or ignored. I will admit that I did not choose a vegan lifestyle based on how many people in this world did n't have a meal with all the food groups. If that were the case, I'd also live an ascetic lifestyle that gives up all material goods. I became vegan, because I know that the human race is not the only species on this planet and that I choose not to support an industry or an ideology that believes in such. Those choices that I made pretty much bother everyone I know and meet to this day.
I know one person when I told him that I do not eat, or wear animal products, he had the nerve to tell me "well most people don't wear animal products". I don't speak to him anymore, not because he's not a vegan and he made such an ignorant statement, but because he does not take what I say seriously. I'll save this for another post, but he's like most other men who come from the Baby Boomer/Gen X generations. Men from those generations were raised to believe that a woman's opinion is not to be taken seriously. It's hard to be friends with someone who dismisses your opinion by using strawmen arguments or ad hominems. I know for a fact that most people use products that contain something that comes from an animal. I am guilty of this sometimes. I almost bought honey yesterday, because I wanted pancakes. I will also admit that I did consume honey. I stopped when I decided to be a real vegan.
Thanksgiving won't be as difficult as the last time when everyone ate something eachother made, and I cooked something that had beans in it for myself and my sister made a comment about it. She also made a comment about me baking a coconut cake and that I "chose a flavor that not everyone likes". Just because the meat-eating world does not accomodate vegans it does not mean that I have to accomodate everyone. People wonder why vegans are angry. It's because the meat eaters in this country have "mob-rule" mentality, so it gives them a right to be condenscending toward those who are different. They also have the childish mentality that "Oh, if he doesn't eat meat then I'm doing something wrong". Whatever happend to adults making choices they feel is right for themselves? If my pool of friends were perfect, they would all be vegan out of convenience. I have e neighbor who is from another country(Russia) and he's always puzzled about my food choices. I made a vegan "chicken" patty and he wondered why when I lost my taste for meat. First of all, it tastes different, but it still has somewhat a meat quality that I miss. Second, like Russia, America is a meat eating society. We are like Japan that eats everything but starches and vegetables as condiments. Our meat dishes are main meals. The only way to be vegan and still eat the homemade regional dishes is to use a meat substitute such as soy, tempeh or seitan. Eating these cannot be any worse than eating dishes made with poultry, meat or fish. I just know that I have to be more creative when I cook, sometimes taking longer than usual. I'm thinking about going home for Thanksgiving break, just to see my mom and my close friend. I also want to stay here for Thanksgiving with friends who stay here also. I don't know, there is not a day that I do not think about moving to another apartment. I just hope that I can find something cheaper than here. When I get a job, I am definately moving.
Pumpkin vs Sweet Potato
I love sweet potatoes, especially during the holidays. I also like pumpkin. During the holidays, most people eat pumpkin, while my family eats sweet potato, either in a pie or cut into pieces and candied with its own starches. I think it's cultural, but I could be wrong. I want to try something different and eat candied pumpkin instead of candied yams. Maybe I'll try a combination of both in a pie.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Essential Food Links and Recipes From Scratch
Today, I was thinking about making some scones, but I do not have any baking powder. It is pretty easy to buy baking powder at any grocery store. However, most baking powders contain sodium aluminum sulfate, which is pretty much a metal. As a vegan, I recommend staying away from consuming metals and other chemicals that can do harm. In my search for an aluminum free baking powder I came across this recipe . I consider myself good cook, not so much the best baker, although most of my recipes do turn out well. So, when I go to the grocerystore, I hope to get my hands on some cream of tartar and some measuring spoons.
(This post will be updated with links, recipes and commentary.)
(This post will be updated with links, recipes and commentary.)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Commentary: "Do You Eat Baby Animals?"
I thought that since this a vegan blog, that I would incorporate more commentary on pages I read online dealing with animal rights, veganism/vegetarianism and environmentalism. To be honest, I do not have a problem with those who choose not to become vegan or vegetarian. However, I do have a problem with the condescending tone that most non-vegans have against veganism. The comments in this article to be asinine and hypocritical. The writer states that she does eat baby animals and she enjoys their flesh. I do not see how this is any different than supporting the factory farming practices adult animals suffer from.
I found the comments in the article to be unnecessary, especially the argument about whether or not humans were naturally meant to eat meat. The argument is more over semantics than anything. I personally believe that modern man is not meant to eat meat. Most cultures in the past at very little of it, even going so far as to being vegetarian. Even the cultures that are omnivorous do not have factory farms that become mass slaughter houses for animals. They also did not have children in their cultures entering puberty at nine and ten years old. I think the whole argument that "humans are meant to eat meat" can be said of the sense of entitlement that humanity has over this planet. It is also an excuse to not better one's own health, let alone the environment for human beings and other species on this planet.
My argument is that it does not matter if the animal is a baby or an adult, the whole idea of supporting the multibillion dollar meat industry at the expense of animal suffering should at least cross somebody's mind when they pick up a steak with their fork or cut through a slab of veal with their knife.
I found the comments in the article to be unnecessary, especially the argument about whether or not humans were naturally meant to eat meat. The argument is more over semantics than anything. I personally believe that modern man is not meant to eat meat. Most cultures in the past at very little of it, even going so far as to being vegetarian. Even the cultures that are omnivorous do not have factory farms that become mass slaughter houses for animals. They also did not have children in their cultures entering puberty at nine and ten years old. I think the whole argument that "humans are meant to eat meat" can be said of the sense of entitlement that humanity has over this planet. It is also an excuse to not better one's own health, let alone the environment for human beings and other species on this planet.
My argument is that it does not matter if the animal is a baby or an adult, the whole idea of supporting the multibillion dollar meat industry at the expense of animal suffering should at least cross somebody's mind when they pick up a steak with their fork or cut through a slab of veal with their knife.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hairstyles For Natural Hair
I haven't been doing much to my hair, because I want to focus mainly on school and other things, so I've been putting my hair in twists and covering it when I go out. I want to do more with my hair when it gets longer, because I want to have a healthier scalp that is free of dandruff and my hair is so thick that it can break easily with too much manipulation. Still, it does not hurt to have a hair reference for really cool hairstyles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmerz-iG8OE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olaZ29pOBDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2WdSeq4os&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGkVnFFm7CY&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmerz-iG8OE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olaZ29pOBDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J2WdSeq4os&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGkVnFFm7CY&feature=channel
Sunday, October 3, 2010
My Hair Story
It's pretty much required to have a natural hair story. For those who want to know why I stopped straightening my hair, this will be my short hair story:
I had a perm since I was six years old. Before I was six, I had really long kinky hair. I believe that it was the same texture that it is now. I know that I was one of those hyperactive kids and it was hard to get me to sit down for anything. My mom used to put my hair in those black girl ponytails. One day, my mom's friend suggested that I get a perm because my hair was so thick. My mom's friend put the perm on my hair. She did not use any gloves at all, so I'm guessing the skin on her hands practically melted off. I hated getting a perm when I was a kid, but I loved the results. I remember even when I was a little kid my hair was waist length. As I got older, and when I entered middle school I wanted to do my own hair. That didn't work well. My hair went from being really long, to should length. In high school, I had long hair, but it was uneven, so my aunt thought that it would be nice to cut my hair when she did it without asking, saying that "I don't deserve to have long hair". Eversince then, I did not let her touch my hair. What I should have done was grow out of a perm then, at 15. When I was 16, I kept my hair in braids for a while. I had nice hair when I went to my prom and my mom's hairstylist did it for me.
Even when I was 18, I wanted to grow out of a perm, but I wasn't sure about it. Then, I was under the impression that society, especially the black culture wanted me to have straight hair, but they did not want me to have long healthy hair (in high school I was bullied alot by the black girls, which is one of the reason why most of my friends are of other races). I was talked many times out of growing my hair out. I was told that I didn't have "the kind of hair that I can go natural". Like anyother woman/girl in my situation, I was told that my hair was too nappy, it was too thick and my hair was not the texture it was when I was five years old.
Becoming vegan played a major role in why I want to go natural. It really does not make sense that I go vegan, and still wear a perm. Chemical relaxers contain so many kinds of chemicals and so many animal biproducts. I would not be surprised if the companies tested on animals. Thinking that society's definition of beauty is more important than what I thought was best for my health, I kept perming my hair. I also love the look of long hair. I find the look of long straight, hair to be more versatile in appearance than an afro. It can be elegant, sexy, classy, powerful, futuristic, ethereal, earthy or etc. I did not feel that way about afro textured hair. I thought the fluffed Afro is dated. I thought that I would have to keep finding a way to straighten my hair.
One day, I wanted to go to the hair salon just to have my hair styled in ways that I couldn't do myself. A long story short, to this day, I do not go to beauty salons anymore. The woman who did my hair was so unprofessional. If a customer does not want her hair cut or trimmed, then don't do it. If you're so professional, you should know how to do hair without having to cut it.
When I went off to school, I wore braids until it was time to take them out. Then, I had four inches of natural hair that I did not know how to do. I told my mom that I want to go to the hair salon, but I'm scared that the same experience would happen. She kept telling me to make it clear that I don't want to have any hair cut. I stick by the fact that my own bad experiences with hairstylist trumps all. She injects being older into the coversation. I don't believe that being older makes you a better person. If that was the case, men wouldn't be flocking to younger women once they turn 40. I'll save that for another post.
I think what broke the straw on the camel's back was a comment about natural black hair made by one of my hallmates. I asked my other hallmate about a hairstyle. He said I would look better with loosely curled shoulder length hair and I was going to make the hair appointment after he said that. Then my other hallmate said I should wear my natural hair texture. She brought it up before in fall last year. It was nice that she encouraged me to grow my hair out to its natural state, but I did not like that she said "black women do not look right with straight hair and that it looks fake and unnatural". At the time I dismissed it because the people in this city does not like ambiguity. Since then, I took my braids out, worked with my hair the best way I could and I kept wearing a hairscarf. I would say I was partially ashamed of my hair that semester. I flatironed my hair and bunned it until it got so long I couldn't handle it. I have the kind of hair that holds heat very well. It's pretty durable for it to be type four hair texture. I think what also broke the straw on the camel's back was when my ex and I went to a really nice event and we didn't look as presentable. That night, I decided to cut all my permed hair off.
I thought at first no one would like my hair, now I realized that people would like to see women more natural instead of the narrow mainstream definition of beauty.
If I could do anything different I'd do the following:
1. Grow out of my perm when I was 18 despite objections from everyone I knew. It was easier to do this when I officially moved out. I more choices, because it's my hair. I don't see myself allowing anyone to do my hair anymore. I rather learn to do my own.
2. Wear wigs while my hair is still growing and continuously wear braids. It's not too late to do these things. I love the versatility of wigs and I can have any kind of hair I want. If I want straight, ice blonde hair I can with a wig. If I want jet black wavy curly hair, I can have that too. With Youtube, I can even learn how to braid my own hair. It took five hours to do my twists, partly because I want to put the product on every strand of hair. It's going to take longer to put braids in my hair.
3. Take care of my scalp while it was in braids. I could have washed my hair with shampoo made specifically for dandruff and problematic scalp and used hair oil to moisturize it. I could have even cowashed my hair every day and wash and deep condition on the weekends. Now I know better if I want to have longer hair the natural way.
4. Wait another year to do the big chop. Long transition would have made it easier to accept that I have this type of hair. It's difficult going from having straight long hair most of my life to having kinky short hair.I think another year, or when I graduate from college would have worked. I think if I continue to take care of my hair I would have armpit length hair by the time I graduate from college.
I had a perm since I was six years old. Before I was six, I had really long kinky hair. I believe that it was the same texture that it is now. I know that I was one of those hyperactive kids and it was hard to get me to sit down for anything. My mom used to put my hair in those black girl ponytails. One day, my mom's friend suggested that I get a perm because my hair was so thick. My mom's friend put the perm on my hair. She did not use any gloves at all, so I'm guessing the skin on her hands practically melted off. I hated getting a perm when I was a kid, but I loved the results. I remember even when I was a little kid my hair was waist length. As I got older, and when I entered middle school I wanted to do my own hair. That didn't work well. My hair went from being really long, to should length. In high school, I had long hair, but it was uneven, so my aunt thought that it would be nice to cut my hair when she did it without asking, saying that "I don't deserve to have long hair". Eversince then, I did not let her touch my hair. What I should have done was grow out of a perm then, at 15. When I was 16, I kept my hair in braids for a while. I had nice hair when I went to my prom and my mom's hairstylist did it for me.
Even when I was 18, I wanted to grow out of a perm, but I wasn't sure about it. Then, I was under the impression that society, especially the black culture wanted me to have straight hair, but they did not want me to have long healthy hair (in high school I was bullied alot by the black girls, which is one of the reason why most of my friends are of other races). I was talked many times out of growing my hair out. I was told that I didn't have "the kind of hair that I can go natural". Like anyother woman/girl in my situation, I was told that my hair was too nappy, it was too thick and my hair was not the texture it was when I was five years old.
Becoming vegan played a major role in why I want to go natural. It really does not make sense that I go vegan, and still wear a perm. Chemical relaxers contain so many kinds of chemicals and so many animal biproducts. I would not be surprised if the companies tested on animals. Thinking that society's definition of beauty is more important than what I thought was best for my health, I kept perming my hair. I also love the look of long hair. I find the look of long straight, hair to be more versatile in appearance than an afro. It can be elegant, sexy, classy, powerful, futuristic, ethereal, earthy or etc. I did not feel that way about afro textured hair. I thought the fluffed Afro is dated. I thought that I would have to keep finding a way to straighten my hair.
One day, I wanted to go to the hair salon just to have my hair styled in ways that I couldn't do myself. A long story short, to this day, I do not go to beauty salons anymore. The woman who did my hair was so unprofessional. If a customer does not want her hair cut or trimmed, then don't do it. If you're so professional, you should know how to do hair without having to cut it.
When I went off to school, I wore braids until it was time to take them out. Then, I had four inches of natural hair that I did not know how to do. I told my mom that I want to go to the hair salon, but I'm scared that the same experience would happen. She kept telling me to make it clear that I don't want to have any hair cut. I stick by the fact that my own bad experiences with hairstylist trumps all. She injects being older into the coversation. I don't believe that being older makes you a better person. If that was the case, men wouldn't be flocking to younger women once they turn 40. I'll save that for another post.
I think what broke the straw on the camel's back was a comment about natural black hair made by one of my hallmates. I asked my other hallmate about a hairstyle. He said I would look better with loosely curled shoulder length hair and I was going to make the hair appointment after he said that. Then my other hallmate said I should wear my natural hair texture. She brought it up before in fall last year. It was nice that she encouraged me to grow my hair out to its natural state, but I did not like that she said "black women do not look right with straight hair and that it looks fake and unnatural". At the time I dismissed it because the people in this city does not like ambiguity. Since then, I took my braids out, worked with my hair the best way I could and I kept wearing a hairscarf. I would say I was partially ashamed of my hair that semester. I flatironed my hair and bunned it until it got so long I couldn't handle it. I have the kind of hair that holds heat very well. It's pretty durable for it to be type four hair texture. I think what also broke the straw on the camel's back was when my ex and I went to a really nice event and we didn't look as presentable. That night, I decided to cut all my permed hair off.
I thought at first no one would like my hair, now I realized that people would like to see women more natural instead of the narrow mainstream definition of beauty.
If I could do anything different I'd do the following:
1. Grow out of my perm when I was 18 despite objections from everyone I knew. It was easier to do this when I officially moved out. I more choices, because it's my hair. I don't see myself allowing anyone to do my hair anymore. I rather learn to do my own.
2. Wear wigs while my hair is still growing and continuously wear braids. It's not too late to do these things. I love the versatility of wigs and I can have any kind of hair I want. If I want straight, ice blonde hair I can with a wig. If I want jet black wavy curly hair, I can have that too. With Youtube, I can even learn how to braid my own hair. It took five hours to do my twists, partly because I want to put the product on every strand of hair. It's going to take longer to put braids in my hair.
3. Take care of my scalp while it was in braids. I could have washed my hair with shampoo made specifically for dandruff and problematic scalp and used hair oil to moisturize it. I could have even cowashed my hair every day and wash and deep condition on the weekends. Now I know better if I want to have longer hair the natural way.
4. Wait another year to do the big chop. Long transition would have made it easier to accept that I have this type of hair. It's difficult going from having straight long hair most of my life to having kinky short hair.I think another year, or when I graduate from college would have worked. I think if I continue to take care of my hair I would have armpit length hair by the time I graduate from college.
Haircare Skincare and Overall Goals
As everyone knows, I'm known for usually having long tresses. That is, before I cut the chemically damaged portions of my hair and decided to completely go natural. The last perm I had was in August of 2009. I did the big chop in July 2010. So it's been 11 months from the time I last straightened my hair until the night I did the Big Chop. It's now October 2010 and it's been about a year and one month since I had a perm.
The average amount of hair growth per year is six inches. That goes for all races. I'm not one of those who believe that certain races naturally grow more hair than other races. People who have a loose or no curl or wave pattern can more easily retain length. I believe that my hair grows faster for some reason, which I do not know of. It's much longer than it was when I cut it. I find that my hair retains length when it is in braids (the ones with fake extensions).
I saw a woman on Youtube who has really long, afro-textured hair. When it's not flat ironed it's bra strap length and when it is flat iron it's almost at hip length (her video here). To be honest, it takes a really long time for anyone's hair to get that long. I'd say about 5 years, but meanwhile, it's really important to take care of your hair while you are trying to achieve your hair goal. I love long hair so much. However, I'm not sure if over thirty inches of thick hair will look right on me. Even when turn 30, I'll most likely try to achieve a look and now I know i like the futuristic look. That type of fashion pretty much requires long hair. It's usually Kool-Aid color, but it's long.
My hair and skincare goals did not tie together until last week when my left eye started itching. Objects, especially skin and hair usually fall into my eyes. I think this time it's skin. I have eczema and it's been a problem for me for pretty much all my life. The skin from my eyebrows would peel and flake. I tried pretty much every thing at my disposal. Petroleum jelly, of all oils worked the best to keep the peeling skin from falling in my eyes. However, I don't really use petroleum anymore because it just sits on the skin. My eyebrows, I love how thick they are, but they can be a problem when hair starts to fall into my eyes. Same can be said about my eyelashes. My eyebrows are the type that have to be carefore like long hair. They need to be washed with real, natural shampoo, not face soap. They need to be combed and waxed in areas that have stray hairs and they need to be moisturized. I'd go so far as to say that they need to be trimmed. Someone reading this maybe laughing at me. I think thin eyebrows are unattractive on me.
Hair Goals
1. A flakeless scalp: I had this for so long that I'm not sure if there is a cure for it. Consistency works best.
2. Keep my hair in twists and wash and condition my hair once a week followed by cowashing twice a week. I will keep my hair in twists, even when washing and conditioning my hair.
3. When I have the chance, keep my hair braided or covered in wigs. The winters here are harsh and the only way I can maintain my hair is if I leave it alone except for washing it.
4. Moisturize my scalp and my hair. I noticed that since doing this, I have less shedding and breaking.
5. Apply no heat to my hair: As long as if I'm trying to get longer and healthier hair for myself, I will not apply any kind of heat to my hair anymore.
6. Clarify my hair when possible: Whenever I have buildup from my hair serum and it's been a while since I washed my hair, I use a clarifying shampoo.
7. Cowashing: Currently I use Suave, but I won't be using that brand anymore, because it seems that my hair and scalp do not respond to it well. It doesn't respond to the two types of shampoo I bought, neither does it respond well to the conditioner I bought for cowashing. I'm going to buy Yes to Carrots. I heard it works wells for natural hair.
8. I will NOT be a product junkie: I see this all the time. People having so many hair products that they don't have room to put their basic toiletries in their bathroom cabinets. When you're newly natural, it is so easy to fall victim of this. I almost did until I did better research about natural hair. Before considering Youtube, I used to ask people who did not perm their hair about different products. That would work if everyone had the same hair texture. So, I have a small but slightly growing product grave yard. I know that the shampoos I bought for my straightened hair did not work for the natural hair. I stopped using everything but the leave-in cond., the deep cond. and the hair serum.These will be mailed to my family this semester. I'll be phasing these products out, because the SheaMoisture products really work. I'm still going to try out different products that I think will work for my hair.
9. I will use a silk bonnet everynight and moisturize my hair before going to bed: this is essential for long hair.
Skin Care Goals
1. I will wash my face twice a day and moisturize and use sunscreen.
2. I will look for a more natural brand of skincare.
3. I will make some terry cloth pillowcases and wash them when needed: Terry cloth does wonders for the skin. Because my skin is both oily and it peels, it's solving two problems with one.
4. When my skin is finally manageble, I am going to find a makeup brand that works best and looks the most natural: I found some brands of makeup. Leremin is the best brand I found so far and I'm going to try it in samples. I have a hard time with makeup, because it's impossible to find a shade that comes close to my skintone.
5. I will give up unnatural (simple) sugars found in sweets and I will stop drinking sweet drinks. If I want something sweet I will drink 100% juice. I will also incorporate water, vitamins and tea into my diet. This will be a little difficult as I stated in the "Foods I Like" post. I will have to find a creative way to get around this.
6. I will groom my eyebrows and use a heavy natural oil to keep them from flaking. I found a brand that has shea butter in it, but it also has honey.
7. Three times a week I will use a clay mask on my face and neck.
8. I will look for a body scrub that really works for getting rid of the extra dead skin and use it everyday if possible..
Other Goals: I've been adapting to some self-distructive habits that I need to break before they affect the rest of my life (at least my college career).
1. I will have a weekday and weekend schedule that will allow me to get up way before 11pm. On the weekdays I think the ideal time to wake up is around 7:30 am, so by 8 I can go to the library and study.
2. I will study on the weekdays and study two hrs a day on the weekends.
3. I will not procastinate: this is one of those habits I said I won't do, but end up doing it anyway. Procastination wasn't much of a problem until Sprin 2009.
4. On my spare time I will work on perfecting my techniques in art and I will dedicate more time to writing my science fiction stories.
5. I will adapt a style and dress better. There was a video done by a Youtuber about Eight Ways to be Beautiful. I didn't believe that dressing well was one of them, until I realized that I feel better about myself when I actually look better.
6. I will be more organized: This includes EVERY aspect of my life. I'll be 25 years old. I know that's still young. If I'm going to get anywhere in life I need to know what I want and do what it takes to obtain it. That starts with cleaning my apartment twice a week.
7. I will be a "better" vegan: I know that sounds weird, but it's possible to be a bad vegan. One of the most common misconceptions about veganism is that there is no unhealthy vegan. This is untrue, because the very definition of veganism allows there to be room for an unhealhty diet. Chips, sodas, frenchfries and overprocessed foods that do not contain animal products are unhealthy. Over the summer, I lived on a diet of mostly rice and beans. That can be unhealthy. For the times that I have little in the fridge, I'll be taking supplements.
The average amount of hair growth per year is six inches. That goes for all races. I'm not one of those who believe that certain races naturally grow more hair than other races. People who have a loose or no curl or wave pattern can more easily retain length. I believe that my hair grows faster for some reason, which I do not know of. It's much longer than it was when I cut it. I find that my hair retains length when it is in braids (the ones with fake extensions).
I saw a woman on Youtube who has really long, afro-textured hair. When it's not flat ironed it's bra strap length and when it is flat iron it's almost at hip length (her video here). To be honest, it takes a really long time for anyone's hair to get that long. I'd say about 5 years, but meanwhile, it's really important to take care of your hair while you are trying to achieve your hair goal. I love long hair so much. However, I'm not sure if over thirty inches of thick hair will look right on me. Even when turn 30, I'll most likely try to achieve a look and now I know i like the futuristic look. That type of fashion pretty much requires long hair. It's usually Kool-Aid color, but it's long.
My hair and skincare goals did not tie together until last week when my left eye started itching. Objects, especially skin and hair usually fall into my eyes. I think this time it's skin. I have eczema and it's been a problem for me for pretty much all my life. The skin from my eyebrows would peel and flake. I tried pretty much every thing at my disposal. Petroleum jelly, of all oils worked the best to keep the peeling skin from falling in my eyes. However, I don't really use petroleum anymore because it just sits on the skin. My eyebrows, I love how thick they are, but they can be a problem when hair starts to fall into my eyes. Same can be said about my eyelashes. My eyebrows are the type that have to be carefore like long hair. They need to be washed with real, natural shampoo, not face soap. They need to be combed and waxed in areas that have stray hairs and they need to be moisturized. I'd go so far as to say that they need to be trimmed. Someone reading this maybe laughing at me. I think thin eyebrows are unattractive on me.
Hair Goals
1. A flakeless scalp: I had this for so long that I'm not sure if there is a cure for it. Consistency works best.
2. Keep my hair in twists and wash and condition my hair once a week followed by cowashing twice a week. I will keep my hair in twists, even when washing and conditioning my hair.
3. When I have the chance, keep my hair braided or covered in wigs. The winters here are harsh and the only way I can maintain my hair is if I leave it alone except for washing it.
4. Moisturize my scalp and my hair. I noticed that since doing this, I have less shedding and breaking.
5. Apply no heat to my hair: As long as if I'm trying to get longer and healthier hair for myself, I will not apply any kind of heat to my hair anymore.
6. Clarify my hair when possible: Whenever I have buildup from my hair serum and it's been a while since I washed my hair, I use a clarifying shampoo.
7. Cowashing: Currently I use Suave, but I won't be using that brand anymore, because it seems that my hair and scalp do not respond to it well. It doesn't respond to the two types of shampoo I bought, neither does it respond well to the conditioner I bought for cowashing. I'm going to buy Yes to Carrots. I heard it works wells for natural hair.
8. I will NOT be a product junkie: I see this all the time. People having so many hair products that they don't have room to put their basic toiletries in their bathroom cabinets. When you're newly natural, it is so easy to fall victim of this. I almost did until I did better research about natural hair. Before considering Youtube, I used to ask people who did not perm their hair about different products. That would work if everyone had the same hair texture. So, I have a small but slightly growing product grave yard. I know that the shampoos I bought for my straightened hair did not work for the natural hair. I stopped using everything but the leave-in cond., the deep cond. and the hair serum.These will be mailed to my family this semester. I'll be phasing these products out, because the SheaMoisture products really work. I'm still going to try out different products that I think will work for my hair.
9. I will use a silk bonnet everynight and moisturize my hair before going to bed: this is essential for long hair.
Skin Care Goals
1. I will wash my face twice a day and moisturize and use sunscreen.
2. I will look for a more natural brand of skincare.
3. I will make some terry cloth pillowcases and wash them when needed: Terry cloth does wonders for the skin. Because my skin is both oily and it peels, it's solving two problems with one.
4. When my skin is finally manageble, I am going to find a makeup brand that works best and looks the most natural: I found some brands of makeup. Leremin is the best brand I found so far and I'm going to try it in samples. I have a hard time with makeup, because it's impossible to find a shade that comes close to my skintone.
5. I will give up unnatural (simple) sugars found in sweets and I will stop drinking sweet drinks. If I want something sweet I will drink 100% juice. I will also incorporate water, vitamins and tea into my diet. This will be a little difficult as I stated in the "Foods I Like" post. I will have to find a creative way to get around this.
6. I will groom my eyebrows and use a heavy natural oil to keep them from flaking. I found a brand that has shea butter in it, but it also has honey.
7. Three times a week I will use a clay mask on my face and neck.
8. I will look for a body scrub that really works for getting rid of the extra dead skin and use it everyday if possible..
Other Goals: I've been adapting to some self-distructive habits that I need to break before they affect the rest of my life (at least my college career).
1. I will have a weekday and weekend schedule that will allow me to get up way before 11pm. On the weekdays I think the ideal time to wake up is around 7:30 am, so by 8 I can go to the library and study.
2. I will study on the weekdays and study two hrs a day on the weekends.
3. I will not procastinate: this is one of those habits I said I won't do, but end up doing it anyway. Procastination wasn't much of a problem until Sprin 2009.
4. On my spare time I will work on perfecting my techniques in art and I will dedicate more time to writing my science fiction stories.
5. I will adapt a style and dress better. There was a video done by a Youtuber about Eight Ways to be Beautiful. I didn't believe that dressing well was one of them, until I realized that I feel better about myself when I actually look better.
6. I will be more organized: This includes EVERY aspect of my life. I'll be 25 years old. I know that's still young. If I'm going to get anywhere in life I need to know what I want and do what it takes to obtain it. That starts with cleaning my apartment twice a week.
7. I will be a "better" vegan: I know that sounds weird, but it's possible to be a bad vegan. One of the most common misconceptions about veganism is that there is no unhealthy vegan. This is untrue, because the very definition of veganism allows there to be room for an unhealhty diet. Chips, sodas, frenchfries and overprocessed foods that do not contain animal products are unhealthy. Over the summer, I lived on a diet of mostly rice and beans. That can be unhealthy. For the times that I have little in the fridge, I'll be taking supplements.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Birthday Cake
I'll be turning twenty five soon. The last time I had a birthday cake that was not vegan it was my twentieth birthday, and my aunt bought it for me. Since being vegan I haven't had any birthday cake since. I have tested different types of cake with a vegan recipe I used from a website that I came across that helped transitioned me to veganism.
When I tried the recipe I made a regular coconut pineapple cake with coconut frosting topped with macademia nuts. I loved it, my mom did also. In the fall that year I tried out a vegan carrot cake that was not as successful, because the frosting melted into the cake, causing it to be too moist.
For my niece's birthday, I broke the virtues of veganism when I had a nonvegan cupcake . I'll admit, it was gross, because it was dry and the frosting was too sweet for my liking. I don't know what I'll do for my own birthday. I was thinking of just trying out some cake recipes. I think this weekend I'll go to Walmart to buy one along with some other items and get other items from WinCo.
I think going to the movies and eating out before or after will be the cheapest party. However, I am a huge supporter of homecooked food. To be honest, it's much less expensive than eating out. One trip to the grocery store can get all the food items I need.
Here is the recipe:
http://www.cok.net/lit/recipes/desserts.php#lemonilla
In my honest opinion, this is the best vegan recipe so far. It's very versatile and many substitutions can be made.
When I tried the recipe I made a regular coconut pineapple cake with coconut frosting topped with macademia nuts. I loved it, my mom did also. In the fall that year I tried out a vegan carrot cake that was not as successful, because the frosting melted into the cake, causing it to be too moist.
For my niece's birthday, I broke the virtues of veganism when I had a nonvegan cupcake . I'll admit, it was gross, because it was dry and the frosting was too sweet for my liking. I don't know what I'll do for my own birthday. I was thinking of just trying out some cake recipes. I think this weekend I'll go to Walmart to buy one along with some other items and get other items from WinCo.
I think going to the movies and eating out before or after will be the cheapest party. However, I am a huge supporter of homecooked food. To be honest, it's much less expensive than eating out. One trip to the grocery store can get all the food items I need.
Here is the recipe:
http://www.cok.net/lit/recipes/desserts.php#lemonilla
In my honest opinion, this is the best vegan recipe so far. It's very versatile and many substitutions can be made.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Although I Think Milk From Any Animal Is Disgusting Limiting Foods Should Be The Responsibility Of The Parent, Not School Or The Government
Article: Chocolate Milk Under Seige
Before I go off and study for a major philosophy midterm, I thought it would be nice to blog about something pertaining to food. Those who read this blog clearly know that milk is not vegan. It's vegetarian, but it's not vegan. For the sake of this blog, that's besides the point, well sort of.
Some schools decided that it was their responsibility to ban flavored milk because of the supposed sugar content. Milk overall is not the health food that everyone else makes it to be. It causes acne, gastro-intestinal problems, it actually impedes bone growth and health and the method of obtaining it is one of the cruellest in factory farming. In the mainstream diet, milk is essential. Americans love tradition, so to take anything away for the betterment of their health will cause an outcry.
Although milk is poison, I think it's the responsibility of the parent to determine what is good for their children, not the government. I think that if we keep letting the government tell us how to raise our children, then it tells us that we do not have the freedom to be parents.
I disagree with milk being good for the body. I don't see how something that is really meant for a calf be good for human consumption. Humans are the only animals on the planet that voluntarily drink another species pus for nourishment. Not to mention that milk consumption is not universial. I feel this way not just about cow milk, also goat milk, sheep milk and camel milk. There are some parts of the world that rely on dairy for human consumption such as most tribes in parts of East Africa, people from India, Europe, Mongolia and the Middle East. I don't think that these peoples consume dairy as much as the typical American who does not really know what's good for his or her body.
One of my biggest concerns about being vegan someday will be parenting. I'm scared that Child Protective Services will come knocking on my door just because I choose to feed my child food that I believe is healthy for him or her. I don't see them knocking on the door of parents who have obese children, why bother someone who is trying to be the best parent possible. I believe that parents who choose to give their children flavored milk is trying to give their children something that they feel is good for them, but it's flavored so the child would like it. Yeah, I'm not trying to be a devil behind a keyboard, but these kids will hit puberty before they go to middle school. They will also have higher rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease later in life than someone who chooses to give their child a vegan or a low animal product vegetarian diet. It's still their decision to raise their kids the way they want. It's not the school's responsibility to raise the students. The schools in this country already have too many problems, why regulate someone else's child diet?
People want sources to prove that milk is bad for human consumption:
http://www.freedomyou.com/nutrition_book/Milk%20and%20Cookies.htm
http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/auction/details.php
I'll be updating this post with more links and sources.
Before I go off and study for a major philosophy midterm, I thought it would be nice to blog about something pertaining to food. Those who read this blog clearly know that milk is not vegan. It's vegetarian, but it's not vegan. For the sake of this blog, that's besides the point, well sort of.
Some schools decided that it was their responsibility to ban flavored milk because of the supposed sugar content. Milk overall is not the health food that everyone else makes it to be. It causes acne, gastro-intestinal problems, it actually impedes bone growth and health and the method of obtaining it is one of the cruellest in factory farming. In the mainstream diet, milk is essential. Americans love tradition, so to take anything away for the betterment of their health will cause an outcry.
Although milk is poison, I think it's the responsibility of the parent to determine what is good for their children, not the government. I think that if we keep letting the government tell us how to raise our children, then it tells us that we do not have the freedom to be parents.
I disagree with milk being good for the body. I don't see how something that is really meant for a calf be good for human consumption. Humans are the only animals on the planet that voluntarily drink another species pus for nourishment. Not to mention that milk consumption is not universial. I feel this way not just about cow milk, also goat milk, sheep milk and camel milk. There are some parts of the world that rely on dairy for human consumption such as most tribes in parts of East Africa, people from India, Europe, Mongolia and the Middle East. I don't think that these peoples consume dairy as much as the typical American who does not really know what's good for his or her body.
One of my biggest concerns about being vegan someday will be parenting. I'm scared that Child Protective Services will come knocking on my door just because I choose to feed my child food that I believe is healthy for him or her. I don't see them knocking on the door of parents who have obese children, why bother someone who is trying to be the best parent possible. I believe that parents who choose to give their children flavored milk is trying to give their children something that they feel is good for them, but it's flavored so the child would like it. Yeah, I'm not trying to be a devil behind a keyboard, but these kids will hit puberty before they go to middle school. They will also have higher rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease later in life than someone who chooses to give their child a vegan or a low animal product vegetarian diet. It's still their decision to raise their kids the way they want. It's not the school's responsibility to raise the students. The schools in this country already have too many problems, why regulate someone else's child diet?
People want sources to prove that milk is bad for human consumption:
http://www.freedomyou.com/nutrition_book/Milk%20and%20Cookies.htm
http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/auction/details.php
I'll be updating this post with more links and sources.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My Qualms About Moving Back On Campus vs My Current Living Situation
We usually tell people in vulnerable and sensitive situations not to dwell on what happened. We also tell people that we should not cling on to the past and dwell on it, even when the person saying these things does not follow his or her own advice. I know why I am not happy in my apartment that I've lived in since the middle of May. Partially it reminds me of my ex. Another reason is because of the rediculous rules about what is allowed here and what isn't. The best reason is because where I live there's excitment. Majority of the people here are over 40, they have a small town mentality and they are just gross. I almost forgot to mention the unsafe walks back home late at night. This part of the town I live in makes me want to move back home. Living on campus, though I did not like the kids who lived there last year over all, it made me want to at least stay in Reno, because living on campus was like a whole different world. I thought about just moving into another apartment. It will be an offer that I'll still consider. I may even go to Campus housing tomorrow and tell them that I want to move in for Spring if it's possible.
I like that there is a kitchen here, where I live. I do not like that there aren't many grocery stores close by. In other words, whoever planned this city needs to be slapped. Hard. Across the face with a huge red hand print. Seriously. I did get somewhat lucky finding a Mexican grocerystore. I know it won't have tofu, wheat gluten or tempeh, but there is always a weekend that can be designated for grocery shopping. Those days can be used to take a trip to the grocerystore via cab or a friend.
I decided that from now on, starting tonight that I'll be catching the bus to the major supermarket. I would save so much money if I do so, even with taxi. It's much cheaper than smaller grocery store and for some reason, I feel like the woman at the Mexican market keeps rushing me out. She's weird. Don't give money to those who do not know any better.
I like that there is a kitchen here, where I live. I do not like that there aren't many grocery stores close by. In other words, whoever planned this city needs to be slapped. Hard. Across the face with a huge red hand print. Seriously. I did get somewhat lucky finding a Mexican grocerystore. I know it won't have tofu, wheat gluten or tempeh, but there is always a weekend that can be designated for grocery shopping. Those days can be used to take a trip to the grocerystore via cab or a friend.
I decided that from now on, starting tonight that I'll be catching the bus to the major supermarket. I would save so much money if I do so, even with taxi. It's much cheaper than smaller grocery store and for some reason, I feel like the woman at the Mexican market keeps rushing me out. She's weird. Don't give money to those who do not know any better.
Friday, September 24, 2010
New Kitchen Gadgets
The other day, when I went to pick up the ingredients for my tempura recipes I saw some kitchen appliances that I want to buy from my local Walgreen's. They had a 12 Speed blender, a hand mixer and a fryer. They also had the George Foreman grill, but I'm waiting for them to make their panini maker available because it's cheaper. I don't want to get carried away with kitchen gadgets. My mother's smoothie maker is broken due to over use and what I do love about classical pots and pans is that they last longer than most kitchen gadgets. I can attest to this when I tried to make beans in my mom's twenty year old crockpot. At least she gets to keep the ceramic pot and the glass top that goes with it. She can us it for the oven and just toss out the cooker.
When Walgreen's makes the slowcooker available, I'll be sure to grab it. The vegan recipes for the crockpot are endless. My birthday is coming soon and I want to make a cake. The handmixer will come in handy. I don't see too many people from the dorms anymore, so I'll just make cake for my two neighbors if they want any. Maybe it will be a coconut cake with plain frosting, or plain cake with coconut frosting or something like that. I also like cupcakes. There are many recipes around for them.
When Walgreen's makes the slowcooker available, I'll be sure to grab it. The vegan recipes for the crockpot are endless. My birthday is coming soon and I want to make a cake. The handmixer will come in handy. I don't see too many people from the dorms anymore, so I'll just make cake for my two neighbors if they want any. Maybe it will be a coconut cake with plain frosting, or plain cake with coconut frosting or something like that. I also like cupcakes. There are many recipes around for them.
Vegan Tempura
Ingredients
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup water, cold
garlic powder, to taste
onion powder, to taste
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 table spoon vinegar
Method
Like my other recipes, I don't measure when I cook. This is probably why this recipe did not turn out the way I wanted it to. Mix all dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Add water, stir until the consistency is thinner than pancake batter, but do not over stir. Add vinegar and rake it through the batter until it's well incorporated, bit not over blended. Use with tofu or vegetables.
* If I can do anything different for this recipe, I'd probably add some corn or rice starch, or some rice flour. When I tried this recipe with tofu, it was too thin and did not have the full tempura consistency that I was looking for. Maybe if I added more oil to the pan or if I had gather what's going to be dipped before making the batter, then it would have turned out better. Maybe in addition to cold water in this batter I'll sit the bowl in some ice water, too. It also helps to have more baking soda and vinegar.
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup water, cold
garlic powder, to taste
onion powder, to taste
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 table spoon vinegar
Method
Like my other recipes, I don't measure when I cook. This is probably why this recipe did not turn out the way I wanted it to. Mix all dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Add water, stir until the consistency is thinner than pancake batter, but do not over stir. Add vinegar and rake it through the batter until it's well incorporated, bit not over blended. Use with tofu or vegetables.
* If I can do anything different for this recipe, I'd probably add some corn or rice starch, or some rice flour. When I tried this recipe with tofu, it was too thin and did not have the full tempura consistency that I was looking for. Maybe if I added more oil to the pan or if I had gather what's going to be dipped before making the batter, then it would have turned out better. Maybe in addition to cold water in this batter I'll sit the bowl in some ice water, too. It also helps to have more baking soda and vinegar.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Recipe: Kale and Spinach Soup
Ingredients
1/2 cup red lentils
1/2 cup brown rice, short grain
2 cup Frozen spinach chopped
1/3 bushel Kale chopped in small pieces
1/3 cup onion chopped
1/8 cup green bell pepper chopped
3 small cloves garlic crushed
2 pinches parsley, cilantro each
1 tsp yellow curry
1/8 cup lemon juice
Salt to taste
Method
I used a rice cooker for this recipe. When I cook I do not measure the ingredients. Place lentils, rice and three cups of water. Cover and simmer until boil. Add spinach, kale, garlic onions and bell pepper. Add more water to cooker if needed. Add cilantro, parsley and salt. Stir and add lemon juice to taste. Toward the end, add curry powder and stir. Cut the cooker off and gor garnish add nutritional yeast. I like this soup more with a lemony taste than with nutritional yeast.
1/2 cup red lentils
1/2 cup brown rice, short grain
2 cup Frozen spinach chopped
1/3 bushel Kale chopped in small pieces
1/3 cup onion chopped
1/8 cup green bell pepper chopped
3 small cloves garlic crushed
2 pinches parsley, cilantro each
1 tsp yellow curry
1/8 cup lemon juice
Salt to taste
Method
I used a rice cooker for this recipe. When I cook I do not measure the ingredients. Place lentils, rice and three cups of water. Cover and simmer until boil. Add spinach, kale, garlic onions and bell pepper. Add more water to cooker if needed. Add cilantro, parsley and salt. Stir and add lemon juice to taste. Toward the end, add curry powder and stir. Cut the cooker off and gor garnish add nutritional yeast. I like this soup more with a lemony taste than with nutritional yeast.
About My New Rice Cooker and Seitan and Tempura
I'm very excited about many things this week and I can't wait until the week ends. I have a philosophy test to study for that will be next Tuesday. If I do some research on topics and try to understand Hobbes, I think I'll make it. I'm trying not to bomb the questions that he gives us every week. They are worth total 15% of my grade and I want to get at least an A- in the class so I can make up for the B- that I got in philosophy last year.
I am a woman and I love to eat. I love trying out anything that is cruelty free and is healthy. I didn't know that I love to eat until I became vegan. If you ever decide on taking the plunge to veganism, then you will learn that you'll fall in love with the food the most. In my honest opinion, I think that foods that are vegan, like the soups, salads, grain dishes and the meat substitutes actually taste better than the omnivorous food with meat, dairy and preservatives.
Since I bought my rice cooker, I've been a little scared to try it. I bought it for $12 at Walgreens. I've waited all year for them to have one available. I am also getting a sandwich grill from there for about the same price. I am concerned that because it's cheap it might not work, or if it does work, it may give out. There's the phrase pertaining to cheap "you get what you paid for" and there's also expensive isn't always better. I was going to buy a smoothie maker from JCPenny's. It's the same make and model as the one my mom bought. It gave out on her when I called to ask her if she still recommends it. I have to consider the fact that she and my sister, her baby and my grandmother pretty much had smoothies three times a day. After a few months it will give out. It's kind of like a cheaper version of the Magic Bullet. I wanted something that can make hummus, sauces, gravies and dressings as well as the occassional peach pina colada or passion pina colada.
This week I'll test to see if my rice cooker can make red lentil soup. If it passes then I know I'm lucky to find such a bargain.
Tempura/Seitan
For the first time, I bought vital wheat gluten. It's the substance used to make wheat meat. I have been searching everywhere for a really good recipe and some techniques to perfect the art of meat analogues. So far, I came up with Vegan Dad's blog post. I don't have besan flour, but if I had a really good blender I can easily make some. I can soak, boil and grind some chickpeas instead. I also found vegetarian.about.com's method of seitan which is very basic. Judging by all the recipes I've seen on seitan, the dough can be boiled, steamed, baked or fried. After cooking the seitan the method of preparation is endless.
Meanwhile, I purchased some tempura flour only to find out that it has eggwhites in it. I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted tempura tofu to go with my soup that I'm going to throw together. There are recipes floating all over the internet for tempura. I don't want the breaded crust to be fluffy like pancake batter. That's only if I want to make "fish" and chips. I don't want to rely too much on faux meats either. Even though when I make a meal, the fake meat is my favorite.
However, winter is around the corner, food will be short, and the winters in this city are serious. It snowed from the end of November until the beginning of June. I am taking a class over the winter. I want to just go to school and go home. I considered moving back on campus, but I don't know if it will benefit me. So, this winter will be filled with frozen vegetables, grains and seitan, a rice cooker, my neighbor will be out of town this winter, so hopefully I can borrow his pots and pans, and some books. To make up the class I'm not taking anymore, I'm going to also study alot. When I'm not studying, I'll be watching movies, drawing or painting. I may also experiment in the kitchen a bit.
I am a woman and I love to eat. I love trying out anything that is cruelty free and is healthy. I didn't know that I love to eat until I became vegan. If you ever decide on taking the plunge to veganism, then you will learn that you'll fall in love with the food the most. In my honest opinion, I think that foods that are vegan, like the soups, salads, grain dishes and the meat substitutes actually taste better than the omnivorous food with meat, dairy and preservatives.
Since I bought my rice cooker, I've been a little scared to try it. I bought it for $12 at Walgreens. I've waited all year for them to have one available. I am also getting a sandwich grill from there for about the same price. I am concerned that because it's cheap it might not work, or if it does work, it may give out. There's the phrase pertaining to cheap "you get what you paid for" and there's also expensive isn't always better. I was going to buy a smoothie maker from JCPenny's. It's the same make and model as the one my mom bought. It gave out on her when I called to ask her if she still recommends it. I have to consider the fact that she and my sister, her baby and my grandmother pretty much had smoothies three times a day. After a few months it will give out. It's kind of like a cheaper version of the Magic Bullet. I wanted something that can make hummus, sauces, gravies and dressings as well as the occassional peach pina colada or passion pina colada.
This week I'll test to see if my rice cooker can make red lentil soup. If it passes then I know I'm lucky to find such a bargain.
Tempura/Seitan
For the first time, I bought vital wheat gluten. It's the substance used to make wheat meat. I have been searching everywhere for a really good recipe and some techniques to perfect the art of meat analogues. So far, I came up with Vegan Dad's blog post. I don't have besan flour, but if I had a really good blender I can easily make some. I can soak, boil and grind some chickpeas instead. I also found vegetarian.about.com's method of seitan which is very basic. Judging by all the recipes I've seen on seitan, the dough can be boiled, steamed, baked or fried. After cooking the seitan the method of preparation is endless.
Meanwhile, I purchased some tempura flour only to find out that it has eggwhites in it. I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted tempura tofu to go with my soup that I'm going to throw together. There are recipes floating all over the internet for tempura. I don't want the breaded crust to be fluffy like pancake batter. That's only if I want to make "fish" and chips. I don't want to rely too much on faux meats either. Even though when I make a meal, the fake meat is my favorite.
However, winter is around the corner, food will be short, and the winters in this city are serious. It snowed from the end of November until the beginning of June. I am taking a class over the winter. I want to just go to school and go home. I considered moving back on campus, but I don't know if it will benefit me. So, this winter will be filled with frozen vegetables, grains and seitan, a rice cooker, my neighbor will be out of town this winter, so hopefully I can borrow his pots and pans, and some books. To make up the class I'm not taking anymore, I'm going to also study alot. When I'm not studying, I'll be watching movies, drawing or painting. I may also experiment in the kitchen a bit.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Went Grocery Shopping
I finally went grocery shopping. I didn't get as many of the items I want to get (store was too crowded). So, next weekend, for sure, I'm going around 10pm. I rather go shopping late and avoid crowds than to go during the day time and there are too many people and their damn kids. Who brings their five kids to a grocery store? Food will last this week. I still need to go to Walmart to purchase something to bake food in. The major Walmart grocery store has the kind of soy margarine I use. One day I'll take a trip there. I still have to get peas, vegetable broth and other stuff. I want to try to make my own fake meats just to have when I am hungry and there is no way of going to the store. Winter is around the corner, the weather here is harsh during those times. Because I'll be going to school here, I'll be taking classes during the winter. I think the harsh weather will make it difficult for classes, but I want to go home this summer. Maybe take an 8 week class, and go home, possibly for good.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Some Vegan Recipes I Am Going To Try
I remember saying in another post that my goal is to be a better vegan. Being a better vegan includes making food that is easy to take on the go for school. I've been very hungry lately and it's affecting my daily life, so it's essential that I eat better. These are the recipes I want to try out. Hopefully they do not break my budget.
Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Tofu
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 container firm or extra firm tofu, well pressed
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 head green cabbage, sliced thin
2 carrots, grated
1 cup cooked bean thread noodles or rice vermicelli
one bunch fresh mint leaves
spring roll wrappers
water
PREPARATION:
Slice the pressed tofu into thin strips. Heat the soy sauce, olive oil, sesame oil and ginger in a skillet and sautee the tofu for 5-7 minutes, just until lightly crisp.
In a large bowl, toss together the tofu with the cabbage, carrots and noodles.
Submerge spring roll wrappers in water until pliable one at a time.
Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the tofu and veggie mixture in wrappers.
Place two or three mint leaves on top of the filling and wrap up. Serve with a dipping sauce.
*These are cooked Spring Rolls, I plan on trying this recipe as well as a raw version with fried tofu.
Fettucine (Raw)
INGREDIENTS
1 zucchini
1 cup fresh mushrooms
¾ cup raw cashews
1 cup water
6 leaves of fresh basil
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon cold pressed olive oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon white pepper
pinch salt + pepper
PREPARATION
Step 1. Slice zucchini lengthwise with a mandolin, then cut into the strips with a knife to create fettuccine-like noodles.
Step 2. Throw all other ingredients into a blender/food processor and puree to a smooth, creamy consistency.
Step 3. Toss zucchini noodles with sauce and let sit for about 30 minutes before serving.
Step 4: Garnish with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast, cracked pepper and fresh basil.
* This is a raw foodist recipe that can be made with some substitutions. I want to try this with some vegan meatballs and quinoa. This recipe looks like a creative take on a salad.
I found two recipes that I want to use to make "chicken" flavored seitan:
http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2007/11/seitan-parmigiana.html
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/cookingtipstools/ss/HowToSeitan_2.htm
Amazon seems like the best place to buy commercial brand vegetarian broths. Marmite (yeast extract from Great Britain) seems like a good idea for beef substitute. Poultry seasoning in vegetable broth seems like a great idea for chicken. There are so many resources online for vegan broth.
Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Tofu
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 container firm or extra firm tofu, well pressed
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 head green cabbage, sliced thin
2 carrots, grated
1 cup cooked bean thread noodles or rice vermicelli
one bunch fresh mint leaves
spring roll wrappers
water
PREPARATION:
Slice the pressed tofu into thin strips. Heat the soy sauce, olive oil, sesame oil and ginger in a skillet and sautee the tofu for 5-7 minutes, just until lightly crisp.
In a large bowl, toss together the tofu with the cabbage, carrots and noodles.
Submerge spring roll wrappers in water until pliable one at a time.
Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the tofu and veggie mixture in wrappers.
Place two or three mint leaves on top of the filling and wrap up. Serve with a dipping sauce.
*These are cooked Spring Rolls, I plan on trying this recipe as well as a raw version with fried tofu.
Fettucine (Raw)
INGREDIENTS
1 zucchini
1 cup fresh mushrooms
¾ cup raw cashews
1 cup water
6 leaves of fresh basil
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon cold pressed olive oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon white pepper
pinch salt + pepper
PREPARATION
Step 1. Slice zucchini lengthwise with a mandolin, then cut into the strips with a knife to create fettuccine-like noodles.
Step 2. Throw all other ingredients into a blender/food processor and puree to a smooth, creamy consistency.
Step 3. Toss zucchini noodles with sauce and let sit for about 30 minutes before serving.
Step 4: Garnish with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast, cracked pepper and fresh basil.
* This is a raw foodist recipe that can be made with some substitutions. I want to try this with some vegan meatballs and quinoa. This recipe looks like a creative take on a salad.
I found two recipes that I want to use to make "chicken" flavored seitan:
http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2007/11/seitan-parmigiana.html
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/cookingtipstools/ss/HowToSeitan_2.htm
Amazon seems like the best place to buy commercial brand vegetarian broths. Marmite (yeast extract from Great Britain) seems like a good idea for beef substitute. Poultry seasoning in vegetable broth seems like a great idea for chicken. There are so many resources online for vegan broth.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Grocery Shopping And The City (Random Post)
I've been putting it off too long for whatever reason, and it's very detrimental to my well being. No, I'm not talking about the S word. I'm talking about grocery shopping here in this little city. I know it's very silly to put something off based on fear, whether it's fear of getting lost, fear of strangers or fear of being out in public. I wish that I had the same sense of innocence about this city that I had when I first came here for school in Spring 2009. I know that my fears are genuine, because I experienced them this summer. After this summer, I philosophically and sociologically came up with the inception that multiculturalism is not beneficial to some parts of society. I'll save that for a blogpost for my other blog.
Anyways, it does not mean that I have to stop living my life just because of other people. One of the reasons why I came to this school and to this city is to experience what it's like to live in a place that is very different from the place that I was born and raised. I have Southern Californian blood. California is like another culture within a culture. I appreciated this SoCal culture more when I came here and people would ask me what brings me to this small town. I am so grateful that I'm willing to drop everything just to be with my family and close friend, even if the economy in Cali is so called tanking. To be honest, the California economy is doing really well for it to be in a deficit and a recession.
I never rode the bus here alone before. I was either with my friends, with my mom when we first came here, or I got rides from people. As stubborn as I am, If I could walk to the grocery store (two miles from home), I actually would. So, tomorrow, I'll ride the bus there and catch a cab back.
Anyways, it does not mean that I have to stop living my life just because of other people. One of the reasons why I came to this school and to this city is to experience what it's like to live in a place that is very different from the place that I was born and raised. I have Southern Californian blood. California is like another culture within a culture. I appreciated this SoCal culture more when I came here and people would ask me what brings me to this small town. I am so grateful that I'm willing to drop everything just to be with my family and close friend, even if the economy in Cali is so called tanking. To be honest, the California economy is doing really well for it to be in a deficit and a recession.
I never rode the bus here alone before. I was either with my friends, with my mom when we first came here, or I got rides from people. As stubborn as I am, If I could walk to the grocery store (two miles from home), I actually would. So, tomorrow, I'll ride the bus there and catch a cab back.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Most Essential Products I want to Try For My Hair/ Beauty Regimen
I've been looking everywhere for the best products that will work for my hair. Currently, I use Bio Infusion Olive Oil products (I won't be purchasing these anymore). They are really meant for women who have relaxed hair, even though they claim that women with natural hair can use these products, too. I like the way my hair looks when I use the leave in conditioner and the hair serum for shine. I feel that natural hair needs natural products and chemically treated hair needs chemically based products. Here are the products I would like to try for my hair and skin:
1. African Black Soap: Everywhere online, bloggers, vloggers and commenters have sworn left and right that it is an elixir for hair and skin. Since I have eczema, I plan on trying this on my hair and skin. I hope that it makes my hair soft and gets rid of my scalp problems.
2. Shea Butter: This is a type of solid oil used along with black soap. It can be melted and used for the hair and skin. It's been said that it works for dry skin. I am going to order it to see if it really works on my hair.
3. Eco Styler Hair Gel: This will be the only hair gel that will work for my hair type without making my locks feel crunchy and without it flaking. I read reviews on Amazon.com about this product and the reviewers swear by it.
4. Yes to Carrots Conditioner: Currently I use Suave as a co-washing conditioner (the coconut version) and I do not think I'll buy any Suave products for my hair. I keep expecting cowashing to cure or at least treat my scalp problems when I am too far gone in terms of the dandruff. I saw Yes to Carrots at my local Walgreens and I wasn't sure if it would suit my hair type. I read that this product will work for cowashing. Today (9/13/10), I might buy a small bottle of Yes to Carrots or Yes to Cucumbers just to see which product works for my hair.
5. Head and Shoulders Two in One Shampoo and Conditioner: I swore to myself that I will use an all natural method of curing my dandruff problem that I had since forever. I tried this product on my hair, it worked and it made my hair feel soft and free of dandruff. I will use this when I wash my hair once a week before a deep conditioning treatment. If I don't like this product anymore or if they discontinue it, I'll use black soap to make a shampoo or try the eczema line of the SheaMoisture brand.
6. Coconut Oil: This should be a staple for those who have afro textured hair, curly hair or porous hair. It can be used when mixing products, or on its own as a natural hair conditioner. Coconut oil is also edible and can be used in vegan recipes in place of shortening, because it's a solid oil.
7 Cocoa butter/Mango Butter: These, like coconut oil and shea butters are solid oils that can be use to moisturize hair. These products can be used as substitutes for shea butter for making hair products. Some people do not enjoy the smoky scent of shea. These can be found at health food stores or on Amazon or Ebay. I'm willing to try all the solid oils on my hair when I get a chance to order them. I think making hair products will be better than just buying shampoos and conditioners that I'm not sure about.
8. Henna/Ayurvedic Products: My friend who is vegan swears by the Ayurvedic diet. Many women who wear natural hair swear by the Ayurvedic hair regimen. I will try both the diet and the hair products. I plan on doing henna treatments on my hair when it gets longer, or I should say the six months mark since I cut my hair.
9. Essential Oils: These are important for mixing shampoos and conditioners. Some essential oils can help treat hair and scalp problems such as dandruff and alopecia.
I want to make a disclaimer that all the products listed in this post can be used for any hair type.
Eventually, I will be reviewing these products. My goal is to NOT become a product junky, because it is important to experiment with hair products and at the same time, you want to go easy on the pockets and space.
Skin, Hair and All Regimen
I'm aware that I'm getting much older. I need to look better. I watched a video yesterday by a YouTuber about eight rules of being beautiful. The one that I question the most is wearing makeup. I find this to be controversial, because I had one guy friend telling me that I need to wear makeup and another one telling me that I don't need makeup. The one that says that I need make up believes that super models are the most gorgeous women in the world and the other feels like women with natural, average curves and medium in height are the most beautiful. Not to mention they are from two different countries, Canada and US respectively. I'm not saying that what men say really matters. I'm not saying that a man's opinion does not count. To some degree, every woman, no matter who she is, desires to be desired by the opposite sex or the same sex. I believe also that we can improve ourselves.
I want to perfect my skin, hair and teeth before choosing makeup. My goal for this is to cowash my hair three times a week and wash my skin twice a day and moisturize it. I want to wash my hair once a week and deep condition when I wash it. I could also skip cowashing and shampoo and condition my hair once a week. I was told that washing my hair type once a week keeps it from drying out and breaking. To protect my hair, I will sleep with a wrap or a satin bonnet. When I don't want to wear my hair out I will braid it in a circle and cover it with a scarf. Not brushing or combing it will keep it from breaking and getting knots at the end. I will also work on maintaining my nails and the skin on the rest of my body. Although I look very young for my age, I want to maintain that youth in appearance. When I order the black soap and shea and the other items on this list, I will try them for thirty days to see if I like them, if I do, I will continue to use these products.
1. African Black Soap: Everywhere online, bloggers, vloggers and commenters have sworn left and right that it is an elixir for hair and skin. Since I have eczema, I plan on trying this on my hair and skin. I hope that it makes my hair soft and gets rid of my scalp problems.
2. Shea Butter: This is a type of solid oil used along with black soap. It can be melted and used for the hair and skin. It's been said that it works for dry skin. I am going to order it to see if it really works on my hair.
3. Eco Styler Hair Gel: This will be the only hair gel that will work for my hair type without making my locks feel crunchy and without it flaking. I read reviews on Amazon.com about this product and the reviewers swear by it.
4. Yes to Carrots Conditioner: Currently I use Suave as a co-washing conditioner (the coconut version) and I do not think I'll buy any Suave products for my hair. I keep expecting cowashing to cure or at least treat my scalp problems when I am too far gone in terms of the dandruff. I saw Yes to Carrots at my local Walgreens and I wasn't sure if it would suit my hair type. I read that this product will work for cowashing. Today (9/13/10), I might buy a small bottle of Yes to Carrots or Yes to Cucumbers just to see which product works for my hair.
5. Head and Shoulders Two in One Shampoo and Conditioner: I swore to myself that I will use an all natural method of curing my dandruff problem that I had since forever. I tried this product on my hair, it worked and it made my hair feel soft and free of dandruff. I will use this when I wash my hair once a week before a deep conditioning treatment. If I don't like this product anymore or if they discontinue it, I'll use black soap to make a shampoo or try the eczema line of the SheaMoisture brand.
6. Coconut Oil: This should be a staple for those who have afro textured hair, curly hair or porous hair. It can be used when mixing products, or on its own as a natural hair conditioner. Coconut oil is also edible and can be used in vegan recipes in place of shortening, because it's a solid oil.
7 Cocoa butter/Mango Butter: These, like coconut oil and shea butters are solid oils that can be use to moisturize hair. These products can be used as substitutes for shea butter for making hair products. Some people do not enjoy the smoky scent of shea. These can be found at health food stores or on Amazon or Ebay. I'm willing to try all the solid oils on my hair when I get a chance to order them. I think making hair products will be better than just buying shampoos and conditioners that I'm not sure about.
8. Henna/Ayurvedic Products: My friend who is vegan swears by the Ayurvedic diet. Many women who wear natural hair swear by the Ayurvedic hair regimen. I will try both the diet and the hair products. I plan on doing henna treatments on my hair when it gets longer, or I should say the six months mark since I cut my hair.
9. Essential Oils: These are important for mixing shampoos and conditioners. Some essential oils can help treat hair and scalp problems such as dandruff and alopecia.
I want to make a disclaimer that all the products listed in this post can be used for any hair type.
Eventually, I will be reviewing these products. My goal is to NOT become a product junky, because it is important to experiment with hair products and at the same time, you want to go easy on the pockets and space.
Skin, Hair and All Regimen
I'm aware that I'm getting much older. I need to look better. I watched a video yesterday by a YouTuber about eight rules of being beautiful. The one that I question the most is wearing makeup. I find this to be controversial, because I had one guy friend telling me that I need to wear makeup and another one telling me that I don't need makeup. The one that says that I need make up believes that super models are the most gorgeous women in the world and the other feels like women with natural, average curves and medium in height are the most beautiful. Not to mention they are from two different countries, Canada and US respectively. I'm not saying that what men say really matters. I'm not saying that a man's opinion does not count. To some degree, every woman, no matter who she is, desires to be desired by the opposite sex or the same sex. I believe also that we can improve ourselves.
I want to perfect my skin, hair and teeth before choosing makeup. My goal for this is to cowash my hair three times a week and wash my skin twice a day and moisturize it. I want to wash my hair once a week and deep condition when I wash it. I could also skip cowashing and shampoo and condition my hair once a week. I was told that washing my hair type once a week keeps it from drying out and breaking. To protect my hair, I will sleep with a wrap or a satin bonnet. When I don't want to wear my hair out I will braid it in a circle and cover it with a scarf. Not brushing or combing it will keep it from breaking and getting knots at the end. I will also work on maintaining my nails and the skin on the rest of my body. Although I look very young for my age, I want to maintain that youth in appearance. When I order the black soap and shea and the other items on this list, I will try them for thirty days to see if I like them, if I do, I will continue to use these products.
Pix of My Natural Hair Journey
 |
| This was taken in July 2010. I believe that it was July 12th. I used a leave in and a hair serum that is really meant for chemically relaxed hair. I currently tried out a new and more natural hair product that is more suited for maintance. |
I find the twist outs to be the best style for my hair. I tried braidouts, but I thought they were a bit boring for my liking. I also tried coil-outs (currently wearing, pics coming soon), but to my surprise, my hair is too long for them. When my hair gets longer, I'm going to wear it in a "wash'n'go", that's basically putting a product on the hair right after a shower and leaving it without styling. I forgot to mention that before doing the Big Chop, I went eight months without a perm. My hair is currently longer than seen in the pictures. I just hope that I do not get bored with my hair. If I do, I can always purchase a wig and tie my hair back until I get it braided again. I should have asked my mom to braid my hair. I think I'm getting too old to wear just braids all the time. I also don't want to wear wigs all the time unless I go somewhere special. So, my best bet is to braid my hair up and continue to wear scarves and beanies. I am not trying to impress anyone. I would not date a man from this city, anyway. I think tying my hair up made it easier to focus on other things. Every three months, I'll take pictures of my hair to show the growth. I can't wait to have a huge fro and for it to be long enough to press my hair straight like I used to have it.
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| I hope that my hair gets as long as this by the time I graduate from college in a couple of years. One way of keeping track of growth is taking pictures every three to six months. I think most likely my hair will be this long when I'm thirty. |
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Food From Scratch
I think after my poor diet over the summer, I decided to make a few changes (listed in another post). When I don't feel like making dinner I love to eat at this place called Jimmy Johns. It is a sandwhich shop like Subway, except the food is fresher. I also like to eat at this place called The Overlook. I had a friend that hated the hummus at the sandwich shop there, but I think if the hummus had a bit more flavor it would test better. It has a consistency like it's been frozen before. I always wanted to ask if they freeze their hummus, but I always forget. These places have one thing in common: whole wheat bread. I love whole wheat bread. I love the seeds and the heartiness of it. I also like the soft taste of unbleached white bread. The only thing I do not like about buying bread is the added junk in it. I want to take the plunge and start making bread and other foods from scratch. So, today, hopefully I can make it to the store, preferably WinCo, because it's cheaper. When I do make it there, I am going to go shopping galore and shop as though winter will strand me in my little apartment (technically it will).
Finding a decent bread recipe can be a challenge. I looked at some of the vegan websites and their recipes are not the best. When I search for recipes, I usually go to omnivorous websites and try to think of ways of adding vegan substitutes. I made the best vegan walnut cookies from my Betty Crocker Cookbook a while ago. I usually like to experiment when cooking. I don't like to copy other people's ideas. Being vegan in my opinion should be an avenue of creativity and imagination. This one reason why I get mad at the meat-eaters when they make a fuss about vegan and vegetarians who would eat meat substitutes.
Foods that I'll try to make from Scratch
Bread
Meat Substitutes
Non-Dairy milks
Dressings
Health Smoothies
As for faux meats, I saw a vegan recipe for "meat-balls" on another vegan blog. They look very tasty and pretty easy to make. The ingredients seem pretty easy to find (vital wheat gluten and tempeh) and the recipe can be made according to taste any type. When I make these "meat balls" they are going to go in a salad with a thick nutrient pack home-made sauce that will be used as a salad dressing. It's going to have a combination of raw ingredients and cooked with the bulgur and quinoa being the only cooked ingredients beside the "meat balls". I want to base the recipe on a salad I had at a vegan restaurant. The sauce was tahini and it was amazing. Being vegan made me love vegetables even more.
There is food that you love and there's food that you LOVE. I used to watch my uncle cook, and he would season every french fry, one at a time. I would say that he put love into his food. When I taste food that is 100% from scatch, I taste that love. It's like tasting the true fruits of labor so much, that the only thing missing is growing the ingredients from scratch. It makes me wish that I lived in a place like Twin Oaks, a commune that grows everything and I mean EVERYTHING from scratch and put the "love" into their food.
Finding a decent bread recipe can be a challenge. I looked at some of the vegan websites and their recipes are not the best. When I search for recipes, I usually go to omnivorous websites and try to think of ways of adding vegan substitutes. I made the best vegan walnut cookies from my Betty Crocker Cookbook a while ago. I usually like to experiment when cooking. I don't like to copy other people's ideas. Being vegan in my opinion should be an avenue of creativity and imagination. This one reason why I get mad at the meat-eaters when they make a fuss about vegan and vegetarians who would eat meat substitutes.
Foods that I'll try to make from Scratch
Bread
Meat Substitutes
Non-Dairy milks
Dressings
Health Smoothies
As for faux meats, I saw a vegan recipe for "meat-balls" on another vegan blog. They look very tasty and pretty easy to make. The ingredients seem pretty easy to find (vital wheat gluten and tempeh) and the recipe can be made according to taste any type. When I make these "meat balls" they are going to go in a salad with a thick nutrient pack home-made sauce that will be used as a salad dressing. It's going to have a combination of raw ingredients and cooked with the bulgur and quinoa being the only cooked ingredients beside the "meat balls". I want to base the recipe on a salad I had at a vegan restaurant. The sauce was tahini and it was amazing. Being vegan made me love vegetables even more.
There is food that you love and there's food that you LOVE. I used to watch my uncle cook, and he would season every french fry, one at a time. I would say that he put love into his food. When I taste food that is 100% from scatch, I taste that love. It's like tasting the true fruits of labor so much, that the only thing missing is growing the ingredients from scratch. It makes me wish that I lived in a place like Twin Oaks, a commune that grows everything and I mean EVERYTHING from scratch and put the "love" into their food.
When Veganism Goes Mainstream
I find that veganism is like the new trend that was once stigmatized for being too dietarily (if this is a word) radical. You know it's mainstream if it's constantly discussed in the media. Especially when the media is New York Times.
According to this article , veganism, like cupcakes had become the new choice of diet in the recent years. I can attest to this, because I have a friend who now wants to try out the vegan diet. I hope that she sticks with it, because I can honestly say that it's a huge commitment. It's about time that ithis lifestyle becomes mainstream. If vegan cooking shows were shown in mainstream media, then there will be more positive acceptance of this unique, peaceful diet and going to restaurants, cafes or even people's houses won't be so akward. I cannot say that ALL people in this meat and dairy filled country would fully accept changes in that respect. The word "liberal" is the new fighting word these days.
In the article, a vegan college graduate, Chloe Coscarelli, entered a cupcake baking contest on Food Network TV. She competes against those who use dairy and eggs in their recipes. I would say that she is a good ambasador to the island of veganism, because she won the competition fair and square with her three flavors of cupcakes (that I plan on baking and trying). She's also from Los Angeles, the Californian "Mecca" of veganism and a place I want to live when I graduate ( love the art scene, and the fact that there are so many vegan grocery stores and restaurants). I also considered New York. I want to visit first to see if I like it. I think it's paramount to the cause to open restaurants. This weekend, I plan on baking cupcakes like the ones that Miss Coscarelli has on her website. I haven't tried any of her recipes yet, but I really hope that she gets a cooking show on Food Network. I tend to avoid that channel when I watch TV, because they do not promote healthy eating and variety of diets. I believe that there was one chef they showed on FoodNetwork who was vegetarian, but he was replaced by hosts like Bobby Flay, Paula Dean and the Neely's. In a world with a bulging waist line and an evergrowing appitite for fast, easy and junk laden foods, a show that promotes at least a flexitarian diet should be seriously considered. (Coscarelli's website will be posted in the blog with the list of resources)
According to this article , veganism, like cupcakes had become the new choice of diet in the recent years. I can attest to this, because I have a friend who now wants to try out the vegan diet. I hope that she sticks with it, because I can honestly say that it's a huge commitment. It's about time that ithis lifestyle becomes mainstream. If vegan cooking shows were shown in mainstream media, then there will be more positive acceptance of this unique, peaceful diet and going to restaurants, cafes or even people's houses won't be so akward. I cannot say that ALL people in this meat and dairy filled country would fully accept changes in that respect. The word "liberal" is the new fighting word these days.
In the article, a vegan college graduate, Chloe Coscarelli, entered a cupcake baking contest on Food Network TV. She competes against those who use dairy and eggs in their recipes. I would say that she is a good ambasador to the island of veganism, because she won the competition fair and square with her three flavors of cupcakes (that I plan on baking and trying). She's also from Los Angeles, the Californian "Mecca" of veganism and a place I want to live when I graduate ( love the art scene, and the fact that there are so many vegan grocery stores and restaurants). I also considered New York. I want to visit first to see if I like it. I think it's paramount to the cause to open restaurants. This weekend, I plan on baking cupcakes like the ones that Miss Coscarelli has on her website. I haven't tried any of her recipes yet, but I really hope that she gets a cooking show on Food Network. I tend to avoid that channel when I watch TV, because they do not promote healthy eating and variety of diets. I believe that there was one chef they showed on FoodNetwork who was vegetarian, but he was replaced by hosts like Bobby Flay, Paula Dean and the Neely's. In a world with a bulging waist line and an evergrowing appitite for fast, easy and junk laden foods, a show that promotes at least a flexitarian diet should be seriously considered. (Coscarelli's website will be posted in the blog with the list of resources)
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Evolutionary History of Farm Animal Series
For those reading this, I do not want people to think that I'm going on the deep end with veganism just because my now ex broke up with me a month ago. He was a damned meat-eater anyway and I'll save the whole dating and veganism for another threat (I promise).
I decided to write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals for two reasons. First, it's to show that chickens, cows, sheeps, pigs and other domesticated animals did not just come to be. They are bred to be what we know them as today. I also want to show that just because an animal is genetically modified for human use that it does not mean that we should treat them like despensible beings bred for exploitation. What makes being human different from any other animal, especially a farm animal is that we have the ability to choose the way we want to adapt to our environment. The religious and those who believe in its concept will call it free will. This idea of choice is especially true for first world countries. I have another blog dedicated to transhumanism and science/science fiction. I am a vegan that advocates for genetic modification of the human gene to make us more adapted to our environment. You never know. Someday humans will be evolved enough not to use animals to make the quality of live better for humans...
The second reason why I'm going to research and write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals is to show that evolution is the best way to explain why life on this earth and in this galaxy is so diverse. My uncle dated a woman who was (and still is) an animal lover and she believes in the concept of evolution. If she had a degree in animal science, she would have been the best vet I would ever meet.
Initially, what inspired me to write about this in the near future is when my mom asked me about a certain breed of chicken. I looked up chicken and they are descendents of a tropical foul that originated in Sri Lanka. From there, it's been cross bred many times over to what we come to know as the chicken.
That's a preview of what I'll be writing about. I am not getting my degree in biology (Although I should. It won't fit with an art degree). I won't claim to be an expert in animal science, nor do I claim to be an expert in anyother of the sciences. I do plan on having pictures, charts, graphs, citations in this series that I'll be posting once a week.
Because this is a VEGAN blog, I decided to start off with the following animals:
Chicken
Cow
Pig
Sheep
Goat
Duck
Geese
Dog
Cat
Rabbits
I decided to start off with what I think is the worst treated animal in factory farming industry. I think that the chicken is the worst treated animal in the farming industry. Chickens are not only produced for meat and their eggs, but they also suffer the most cruelty when being slaughtered. Cows are also some of the worst treated because of the suffering they go through to obtain milk and the experiences they suffer in slaughter houses. I added goats to the list because in some countries goats are raised for meat and the fact that goats can be found on farms even in this country warrants its place on this list.
Ducks are favored as an animal protein in America during holidays. I remember during my meat eating days when I was a kid my grandmother served duck for thanksgiving. Like chickens, ducks are raised for their eggs and meat. Geese are usually raised in France for their liver. When their liver is fatten, the geese are slaughtered for fatten livers to be served as a delicacy called "fois gras" (french for fat liver) in upperclass restaurants. There is more awareness of the treatment of geese for their livers.I think that researching geese will show how they are domesticated. I added dog and cats for the second reason why I'll be doing this series.
Although there's widespread animal abuse in this country, I do feel like in the US and most places in the world dogs and cats are the "privileged" animals. Most people who happen to be omnivores/carnivores will stop at nothing to tear their teeth into some steak or drumsticks and yet someone from another country choses to do the same to dogs and cats, we are so quick to judge them and their culture. The idea of owning a pet to me is not vegan, because the animal is not truly free and that we are using another living being to compensate for what we as humans do not get from eachother.
I decided to write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals for two reasons. First, it's to show that chickens, cows, sheeps, pigs and other domesticated animals did not just come to be. They are bred to be what we know them as today. I also want to show that just because an animal is genetically modified for human use that it does not mean that we should treat them like despensible beings bred for exploitation. What makes being human different from any other animal, especially a farm animal is that we have the ability to choose the way we want to adapt to our environment. The religious and those who believe in its concept will call it free will. This idea of choice is especially true for first world countries. I have another blog dedicated to transhumanism and science/science fiction. I am a vegan that advocates for genetic modification of the human gene to make us more adapted to our environment. You never know. Someday humans will be evolved enough not to use animals to make the quality of live better for humans...
The second reason why I'm going to research and write about the evolutionary history of domesticated animals is to show that evolution is the best way to explain why life on this earth and in this galaxy is so diverse. My uncle dated a woman who was (and still is) an animal lover and she believes in the concept of evolution. If she had a degree in animal science, she would have been the best vet I would ever meet.
Initially, what inspired me to write about this in the near future is when my mom asked me about a certain breed of chicken. I looked up chicken and they are descendents of a tropical foul that originated in Sri Lanka. From there, it's been cross bred many times over to what we come to know as the chicken.
That's a preview of what I'll be writing about. I am not getting my degree in biology (Although I should. It won't fit with an art degree). I won't claim to be an expert in animal science, nor do I claim to be an expert in anyother of the sciences. I do plan on having pictures, charts, graphs, citations in this series that I'll be posting once a week.
Because this is a VEGAN blog, I decided to start off with the following animals:
Chicken
Cow
Pig
Sheep
Goat
Duck
Geese
Dog
Cat
Rabbits
I decided to start off with what I think is the worst treated animal in factory farming industry. I think that the chicken is the worst treated animal in the farming industry. Chickens are not only produced for meat and their eggs, but they also suffer the most cruelty when being slaughtered. Cows are also some of the worst treated because of the suffering they go through to obtain milk and the experiences they suffer in slaughter houses. I added goats to the list because in some countries goats are raised for meat and the fact that goats can be found on farms even in this country warrants its place on this list.
Ducks are favored as an animal protein in America during holidays. I remember during my meat eating days when I was a kid my grandmother served duck for thanksgiving. Like chickens, ducks are raised for their eggs and meat. Geese are usually raised in France for their liver. When their liver is fatten, the geese are slaughtered for fatten livers to be served as a delicacy called "fois gras" (french for fat liver) in upperclass restaurants. There is more awareness of the treatment of geese for their livers.I think that researching geese will show how they are domesticated. I added dog and cats for the second reason why I'll be doing this series.
Although there's widespread animal abuse in this country, I do feel like in the US and most places in the world dogs and cats are the "privileged" animals. Most people who happen to be omnivores/carnivores will stop at nothing to tear their teeth into some steak or drumsticks and yet someone from another country choses to do the same to dogs and cats, we are so quick to judge them and their culture. The idea of owning a pet to me is not vegan, because the animal is not truly free and that we are using another living being to compensate for what we as humans do not get from eachother.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Commentary on the Recent News About The Salmonella Outbreak and Other Similar News
This week I had the pleasure of being confirm about why I do not eat any egg products by reading this article . The difference between being a vegetarian and a vegan is that vegans do not eat egg products. Some vegetarians who are ovo-vegetarians or lacto-ovo vegetarians will however, eat egg products. I've been guilty of trying to go back to incorporating eggwhites back into my diet. My stomach cannot take the abuse. So if I need something that eggs have such as B12 and Omega fatty acids, then I'll eat foods with those nutrients such as flaxseed and nutritional yeast.
The article by Yahoo discusses the recent recall of 220 million eggs that chickens worked really hard to lay. Those abused chickens went through all that trouble just so food can be wasted, because Americans do not want to change their ways of life which are detrimental to the environment. The salmonella bacteria can be spread to the eggs even before they are developed inside the chicken. The article also states that it does not matter if the eggs are Kosher, free-range or any of the sort, these types of eggs are not protected by salmonella.
First off, even before being vegan, before I gave up meat, I always hated eggs. I hate the smell, the taste, the texture and the sight of cracked eggs. I liked egg-based products such as mayonaisse and cakes and cookies, but now that there are alternatives to eggs and poultry, there is no need to consume them.
Secondly, I think that if the conditions of the chickens were more humane and less like a factory, then these contaminations would not happen in the first place. The same can be said about all the industries that pertain to the use of animals as food. America is a capitalistic society that bases itself on a mostly free economy. If there was a salmonella outbreak, then the most that anyone can really do is file a class action lawsuit against the egg farm.
The article by Yahoo discusses the recent recall of 220 million eggs that chickens worked really hard to lay. Those abused chickens went through all that trouble just so food can be wasted, because Americans do not want to change their ways of life which are detrimental to the environment. The salmonella bacteria can be spread to the eggs even before they are developed inside the chicken. The article also states that it does not matter if the eggs are Kosher, free-range or any of the sort, these types of eggs are not protected by salmonella.
First off, even before being vegan, before I gave up meat, I always hated eggs. I hate the smell, the taste, the texture and the sight of cracked eggs. I liked egg-based products such as mayonaisse and cakes and cookies, but now that there are alternatives to eggs and poultry, there is no need to consume them.
Secondly, I think that if the conditions of the chickens were more humane and less like a factory, then these contaminations would not happen in the first place. The same can be said about all the industries that pertain to the use of animals as food. America is a capitalistic society that bases itself on a mostly free economy. If there was a salmonella outbreak, then the most that anyone can really do is file a class action lawsuit against the egg farm.
When A LifeStyle Becomes a Religion
When you read the title of this post, I'm sure that you know where I'm getting at with this. At the end of spring semester, I met some vegans on campus passing out fliers about veganism. Sounds, pretty dedicated, right? Later on in summer semester when I moved into my apartment, I was awaken from sleep by some Jehovah's Witnesses trying to proselytize to me about their beliefs. The difference between these two situations interms of relating is that I'm a vegan, but I'm also an atheist. I told my boyfriend at the time that it's dedicating of the vegans to stand out in the snow, among the bone chilling ice and pass out fliers about the horrors of the meat industry. I thought at first that I was being a "bad vegan", because at the time, I lived on campus among people who did not share my beliefs and lifestyle. I thought it was very "hick" of them to defend the treatment of animals by the meat industry.
My Initial Thought of The Vegans I Met
I think the vegans on campus I met are very nice. The older man is really nice and continues to reach out to me, even when I don't return emails and phone calls. However, just because I think someone is nice, it does not necessarily mean that I have a positive view of that person. I feel like the tactics that he and other vegans used are similar to Christians who pass out fliers about their beliefs. I do not think that it's effective to show images of animals being mutilated. If anything, for a movie night at the vegan friend's house, he wanted me to choose a movie, which all had to do with animal cruelty. I don't believe that Food Inc is the best movie in the world for a movie night. It would have been a great idea to have a potluck, instead.
I thought about switching back to eating meat, because veganism started to seem like a religion. Thinking about it now, if veganism was a religion, I'd rather be a part of a religion that cares about what exists than be a part of a selfish, speciest religion that cares more about a "god" in man's image (the most flawed being in existence). Appealing to the atheist in me, I think that veganism does better for the world and the planet than any major religion I can think of. The only religions I think that truly accept veganism and not say things like "God wants you to eat meat" are eastern religions and some pagan religions. Even in the bible it says that people are not supposed to eat meat. What I've noticed about Christianity that I haven't noticed about other religions is that Christians tend to pick and choose what verse is acceptable. Other religions tend to practice all of their beliefs. At least with veganism, I can say that I'm genuinely trying to contribute to the betterment of mankind and animals in this planet. There are some people who will dispute the environmental and health benefits of veganism, but I'll save that for another post.
Our Responsibility To Our Message
It's more effective and less insulting if we vegans show non-vegans that they can enjoy food that is good for the body, the environment and the animals (and the checkbook). We should be educating the people we target for the vegan cause, not proselytizing to them. If vegans do that, it will separate us from the religious.
My Initial Thought of The Vegans I Met
I think the vegans on campus I met are very nice. The older man is really nice and continues to reach out to me, even when I don't return emails and phone calls. However, just because I think someone is nice, it does not necessarily mean that I have a positive view of that person. I feel like the tactics that he and other vegans used are similar to Christians who pass out fliers about their beliefs. I do not think that it's effective to show images of animals being mutilated. If anything, for a movie night at the vegan friend's house, he wanted me to choose a movie, which all had to do with animal cruelty. I don't believe that Food Inc is the best movie in the world for a movie night. It would have been a great idea to have a potluck, instead.
I thought about switching back to eating meat, because veganism started to seem like a religion. Thinking about it now, if veganism was a religion, I'd rather be a part of a religion that cares about what exists than be a part of a selfish, speciest religion that cares more about a "god" in man's image (the most flawed being in existence). Appealing to the atheist in me, I think that veganism does better for the world and the planet than any major religion I can think of. The only religions I think that truly accept veganism and not say things like "God wants you to eat meat" are eastern religions and some pagan religions. Even in the bible it says that people are not supposed to eat meat. What I've noticed about Christianity that I haven't noticed about other religions is that Christians tend to pick and choose what verse is acceptable. Other religions tend to practice all of their beliefs. At least with veganism, I can say that I'm genuinely trying to contribute to the betterment of mankind and animals in this planet. There are some people who will dispute the environmental and health benefits of veganism, but I'll save that for another post.
Our Responsibility To Our Message
It's more effective and less insulting if we vegans show non-vegans that they can enjoy food that is good for the body, the environment and the animals (and the checkbook). We should be educating the people we target for the vegan cause, not proselytizing to them. If vegans do that, it will separate us from the religious.
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