Fall Cleaning.

Steve and I just came back from a beautiful trip to LA (we're thinking of moving there next year), and the wonderful friends we were staying with, Joanna Wilson and Brian Leahy, happen to also be amazing photographers as well. The result? An awesome new main picture for the blog!

I'll be posting about our trip (I took plenty of food pictures) and also on my thoughts about John Robbins' extraordinary book, Diet for a New America, this weekend.

For now, please enjoy a revamped version of Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!

(And for more information about Joanna and Brian's photography, check out their website:

http://www.joannawilsonphoto.com/)

I love you, John Robbins.

One of the perks of working a summer camp job is that by the end of the summer, you get tips from parents. One of my tips was a $20 Barnes and Nobles giftcard, which I gloriously brought to the Union Square Barnes and Nobles tonight.

I proceeded to walk straight up to the third floor, where the "Vegan Cookbook" section was (yes, they have a "Vegan Cookbook" section!), and as I rode the elevator, thoughts of delicious new recipes happily swirled in my head. Until I passed by the "Diet" section and saw a few books worth taking a second glance at. One of them was a book that has been recommended to me for some time now - John Robbins' "Diet for a New America".

If you don't know John Robbins, you should - he was the heir to the Baskin Robbins dynasty. The interesting twist in Robbins' story is that when finally given the chance to take over the family job, he respectfully declined. Because Robbins' had another pursuit in mind - finding a way to create a healthier, more humane, more loving world. And "Diet for a New America" was born out of that pursuit.

I'm only past the introduction, and I am totally enamored by this book. Below is a quote that really spoke to me:

" The suffering [farm] animals undergo has become so extreme that to partake of food from these creatures is to partake unknowingly of the abject misery that has been their lives. Millions upon millions of Americans are merrily eating away, unaware of the pain and disease they are taking into thier bodies with every bite. We are ingesting nightmares for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

As much as I love to devote my blog to cooking and baking and food lovin' in general, I am also interested in my own pursuit: promoting ethical eating. It's a credo I live by, and one that has become a spiritual guide for me as I learn more and more about the connection between our environment and what we put into our bodies. John Robbins wrote "Diet for a New America" in 1987, and if I hadn't known that, I would have thought it was written this year. The words are timeless in a way, because it's twenty-two years later, and we are still dealing with these issues. For better or worse, I'm thankful that I at least get to be a part of it all - and tonight, that's enough for me to want to keep reading this book.

Food for thought, I guess. (Pun intended.)

Food!

Sundays. I love them.

Especially when they involve sleeping in, brunch, and making wedding invitations...

I'm spending mine with Steve - we just finished a lovely brunch of tofu scramble (my first time making it!) and Autumn-spiced Buckwheat Pancakes.

The scramble was so much easier than I thought it would be. I just took a package of Extra Firm Tofu, pressed it for 10-15 minutes, and then crumbled it in a bowl. For the spices, I used about a teaspoon each of turmeric, onion powder, and garlic powder, about 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, and a dash of salt and pepper. I added oil to a pan, got it nice and warm, and then added the crumbled tofu and the spices. Once the tofu was cooked through, I decided to add a dash of thyme and all-purpose seasoning. And once I plated it, I splashed a little paprika on it for color. It was simply delicious!

The buckwheat pancakes were so yummy. I was in a fall/holiday sort of mood, so I decided to combine a few of my absolute favorite spices - Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, and Ginger - and just added it to the pancake recipe. The result was exactly what I wanted - a rich, delightful autumn treat. Next time, I think I'll try adding some pumpkin.

Yesterday, Steve and I were planning on taking a ZipCar to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary upstate, but we lost our ZipCard (which is basically the key you need to get into the car). With no card, we had no way of getting to use the car, which bummed me out thoroughly. But, being the positive people we are, we decided to make a whole new plan, which ended up being really fun. The high point of the day was lunch at Blossom Cafe uptown (http://www.blossomcafe.com/). I tried their Fettucini Alfredo with Soy Cutlets, and it was quite possibly the most delicious vegan meal I've ever had.

Yesterday and today have been a running theme for me of trying out new ways of eating and cooking. I had never made tofu scramble, but with some creativity, I came up with a version that Steve and I really loved (and was actually better than any scrambled eggs I've had prior to going vegan). Trying a non-dairy Fettucini Alfredo for the first time since going vegan was a huge thrill as well. Both experiences showed me that you really don't need dairy and eggs to make a meal delicious. It reminded me of a meal I made a few weeks ago.

I was jonesing for some tofu curry, so I sauteed some tofu cubes, chickpeas, and spinach in a mixture of Coconut Milk and Indian spices (I found a pack of mixed spices at my corner deli), threw in some capers and lemon juice, and topped it with some chopped almonds. The result was a creamy, comforting dish that really hit the spot. And the best part? I just made it up based on what I was craving for dinner.

It's always nice to get imaginitive in the kitchen and take risks with making something new. Sometimes you end up with a complete mess, but sometimes it can be the best thing you've ever created. It's what I love about cooking and baking.

A few nights ago, Steve and I had taco night. In the past, we had always used soy-beef crumbles for the taco filling, which tasted good every time. But recently, I'd learned about yeast extract and how it could be connected to MSG, and I started checking my processed vegan products for the ingredient. Turns out, a lot of vegan processed food has the stuff in it. Now, I've never had a reaction to the stuff, but just as a precaution, I tried a new way of doing the tacos that night- using beans instead of soy crumbles (not a huge leap, but something new for me). I followed the directions on the taco spice packet, but used beans in the place of meat. It turned out so much better than I could have expected.

I'll end my post with a quote from one of my favorite Vegan Bakers, Mrs. Colleen Patrick Goudreau:

"Don't do nothing because you can't do everything.

Do something, anything!"

My first Vegan Summer.

So, this has been a very full summer so far - so full, that I have barely found any time to just be with myself and reflect. But today it's a warm and beautiful July morning, and I've got a hot cup of coffee with almond milk, which means I'm ready to do some major reflection.

If I had a Vegan Summer Playlist, the following would be my greatest hits. So far, in the nine months I've been a vegan, I have had countless experiences pointing me in the direction towards remaining a vegan. I have fallen in love with my cause, and the moments thus far have lined up in a beautiful way to help me define why I intended to practice veganism in the first place.

I will begin my list with a word:

1) Ahimsa: a Sanskrit term meaning to do no harm.

This word has become my guidepost in life. With the addition of this word in my vocabulary, I have finally made a decision about how to answer the question I am always asked: why did you decide to go vegan? From now on, I've decided to say: I've chosen to life a cruelty-free lifestyle, and by eating vegan, I am eating in a way that does no harm to any animals. Before, when asked that question, I would figure my way through it while answering it. I would get defensive, or nervous, or just plain confused as to how I could express verbally this commitment I've chosen for myself. Now, after nine months of being so dedicated to it, the answer is finally clear.

Ahimsa.

Also, If I'm wondering what to do in any given situation, I try to think - what is the least cruel way to handle this? I've found that Ahimsa can apply past any vegan issue and directly into the everyday dilemmas of my life. To have found a new way to live that challenges me to be as kind as I can is completely refreshing and wonderful. And I have Ahimsa to thank for that.

2) The Farm Sanctuary
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/

Remember when I blogged about getting offered a summer internship with this amazing organization? Well, I had to turn it down. It was one of the saddest days of my entire life. I was sitting at home with so much on my mind - after struggling to make ends meet for months, I had decided to take on two jobs, and after a long while without anything creative, I was finally given the opportunity to work on two amazing theater projects. The time I thought I'd have for the Sanctuary internship was disappearing before my eyes.

But as sad as it was, it made me realize something very important. Jasmin Singer (National Advocacy Organizer for Farm Sanctuary), David Benzaquen (New York Advocacy Organizer), and the people who work to campaign in NYC are some of the hardest working and passionate individuals I have come across. I am in awe of how loyal these people are to their cause - and by continuing to commit to finding a better life for farm animals, they have proven to me how much I need to continue to commit to finding a better life for farm animals. Even if I cannot take on the responsibilities of a Farm Sanctuary intern, I can do as much as possible each day to get the word out about veganism. And this blog could not be a better place to do that.

3) Going on a cruise as a vegan for the first time

What I thought would be a truly difficult task ended up being a whole lot of fun. For four days I was surrounded by more meat than I could possibly handle, and I had to find a way to sift through it all and find vegan options for myself. And this is what I found - beans and rice can be a delicious and simple meal, a sense of humor can help any tricky situation, always bring non-dairy milk along with you (because that is simply not an option on a cruise - yet), and you never know who you are going to meet that will inspire you to continue your vegan journey. For me, it was Mirella, our cruise waitress from Romania.

The entire cruise, Mirella served me dishes I had to make very specific due to my dietary "limitations" (I put this word in quotes, because I really feel it was the cruise food that was limiting), and she always did so with a patient smile. On the final evening of the cruise, Mirella asked me why I didn't eat animal products. I answered with a simple "because I love animals". Her eyes brightened up as she exclaimed "Me too! Me too!". It turned out that Mirella was a vegetarian on her way to trying to go vegan, and she had read the same exact book that changed my life in so many ways - Kathy Freston's "Quantum Wellness". I left the cruise even more dedicated to my cause and realizing how wonderfully small our world really is.

4) My Trip to Vegan Treats
http://www.vegantreats.com/

A few months ago, Steve and I made a decision - we would serve one giant vegan cake at our wedding, rather that one cake for him and one vegan cake for me. We rented a zip car and traveled all the way from Brooklyn to Bethlehem, PA, where we would taste samples for our wedding cake at the famous Vegan Treats bakery. We had no idea what was in store for us - pure dessert heaven. Not only were the cake samples unbelievably delicious, but so were the donuts, cheesecakes (!), cinnamon buns, and cupcakes. We took home more sweets than we could handle, and the entire experience showed me how much fun vegan eating can be.

5) Seeing "Food Inc", and Steve taking the "Veg Pledge"

This is my final summer experience so far, and maybe my favorite.

"Food Inc." - if you haven't heard of it already - is a startling and eye-opening new documentary about how the food we eat is made and sold (http://www.foodincmovie.com/). As scary as the prospect was, I was ready for the horrific views of the animal slaughterhouse and kill floor. What I wasn't prepared for was to learn that corn is at the core of most foods we eat (and not because it always has been), tomatoes out of season are injected with chemicals to make them red, and low-income households oftentimes face dilemmas such as being forced to choose between buying expensive vegetables and ordering off the Dollar Menu at McDonald's.

All of this made for a great "wake-up call" moment in my life - I already knew I was done with animal products, but now I must also worry that my vegetables are safe. The result? I now buy organic as much as possible, I read ingredients lists and labels like it's my job, and I try not to settle anymore for convenience when it comes to my health.

The result for Steve was much more powerful - he chose to take a 30-Day "Veg Pledge". And after a month of forgoing meat, he's still going strong. Funny story: The other day, a group of his friends were sitting around eating lunch, and one of them jokingly insuated that the meat-free sandwich he was eating was not "man food", to which Steve replied that you don't need to eat meat to be a man. I love this guy. :)

At the end of the day, it's moments like these that I look back on and am truly grateful for having. I don't know why my life directed me this way, but I have chosen to commit as much of myself as possible to living a vegan lifestyle. And after nine months, I am still at it with a vengeance.

I hope everyone has a beautiful, warm, and relaxing last month of summer. Mine will be filled with theater performances, finishing up my summer camp job, more wedding planning, my sis's 21st birthday, and a little bit of vacation if I play my cards right.

And food. Lots of food.

On hiatus.

It's definitely been a while - but it's only because my life has become a crazy tornado of working, rehearsals, and alas, no time to cook or blog. But do not fear - a new post will be coming soon!

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ

This year was my first ever experience with vegan grilling, and I went all out - veggie skewers with seitan and tempeh, homemade mushroom burgers, and oatmeal cluster cookies.

The weather was gorgeous, despite reports saying isolated thunderstorms. Everyone loved the food, and best of all, my most carnivorous friend ate four mushroom burgers without a bun. :)

I just love how a beautiful day and delicious food can bring people together. I haven't had so much fun playing frisbee or running around outside in a long while, and my feet were proof of that (feet and calves were completely covered with dirt by the time the day ended).

I'm so excited for the next chance to BBQ - thankfully the summer has just begun! Happy Memorial Day everyone!!