If you do one thing today, please let it be this.

I came across a video this morning when I received an email about the volunteering I'm doing today with Farm Sanctuary. At the bottom of the email was a link to watch "Maxine's Dash for Freedom", which definitely peaked my interest. If you didn't hear about this unbelievable story, in 2007 a cow destined for slaughter had escaped her fate and was found in Queens roaming around the streets. A team rescued her, and she is now safely living out the rest of her life at Farm Sanctuary.

Maxine the amazing cow

This video will absolutely touch your heart. It definitely touched mine, and I am so thankful I came across it. It's only a few minutes long, and I really hope you'll check it out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uKhp9B2M5I


I started this blog almost a year ago because I wanted to share my ups and downs as I tried living as a vegan for the first time. I mostly wanted to share recipes and foods that interested me, so that other people could check them out and maybe try them too. Well, it's nearly a year later, and I am finding a much deeper reason in maintaining this blog - it is my hope that you will read what I have to say and one day considering going vegan. Not today. Not even tomorrow. But someday.


Kathy Freston (author of Quantum Wellness) has a great method for creating change in one's life. Once a smoker, meat-eater, and leather wearer, Kathy never made her changes overnight, but rather in very small steps. After taking lots of little steps over a long period of time, Kathy found that a huge shift of awareness began to occur in her life, and the changes that were once so hard to make were actually easier now (Kathy is now a non-smoking vegan). And I think that this is the best way to change your life - because as I've written before, change can be very scary indeed. For a long time, I myself was completely unconscious to the connection between what was on my plate and how it got there. It wasn't until a random occurrence - watching "Fast Food Nation" three years ago- that it really hit me: Why was I calling myself an animal lover, while at the same time taking part in something that was so cruel to animals? It was just that simple for me - one small experience that forever put the light of change inside of me.


My wonderful friend Molly wrote it best in her letter from my recent post - making these changes is not as big a deal as people think. You can still eat meat on some days, and find new vegan (or even just vegetarian) recipes to make on other days. You don't have to sacrifice everything right away. I didn't - I stopped eating meat the day after watching the film, but I still ate fish, dairy, and eggs for a year after that. It wasn't until the spring of last year that I stopped eating fish. And it wasn't until last October that I stopped eating dairy and eggs. I took my time, I researched about everything I was consuming, and I made slow and clear decisions along the way to better my life.


To be honest, once I gave up all animal products, I was very frustrated, because I felt I had given up so many things that I once loved to eat (especially cheese - man, that was tough). It's almost silly now to think about those first weeks as a vegan, because I am so confident now in my decision to do this.  When I first began, I felt so scared to fully commit to this change. But like everything else I've learned, time was definitely on my side. Through a lot of trial and error, I learned that there were hundreds of combinations of foods that I had never even given a second thought to. I was missing out on so much awesome food that had always been there for me! And now, I wake up excited to eat - I'm excited to find meals for myself each day. It's so much more fun to eat now that I'm a vegan, because there is way more variety in my diet than ever before. And the funniest part of all of this? If you had asked me three years ago to go vegan, I would have laughed at the notion. It's amazing how in only a few years, my world has expanded so much.


So, maybe watching Maxine's story will help you to make a small change in your life today. Maybe you'll start putting soymilk in your lattes instead of cow's milk. Maybe instead of buying leather products, you'll look for alternatives. Whatever step it is - it is a step in the right direction. 


And if you need more inspiration, I promise that next month, I will be posting many yummy and animal-friendly recipes for Thanksgiving! 


Best wishes on your own journey. I wish you well in whatever stage of awareness you are at in your life. If you've read this post, you have already made a step in the right direction!

 The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  ~Lao Tse

A Life-Affirming Experience

There are moments in your life that can help define what really matters to you. Moments that can help solidify your life's purpose. 

For me, this past weekend proved to be monumental because of two experiences that have forever changed me for the better. On Sunday, I found a note in my inbox from my dear friend Molly.  Her email to me was an unbelievably kind, sincere, and generous note about how much my blog has impacted her life.  Molly's words touched me deeply, and the experience of receiving such a special response is exactly what I had hoped to accomplish with this blog - to connect people in a tangible way to how rewarding, important, and easy a vegan lifestyle can really be. 

 As if that wasn't enough to warm my heart for the day, Steve and I were finally able to visit the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Now, I have always been an animal person, so I knew I would love spending time with these beautiful creatures. What I was not prepared for, however, was much they really would change me. I cannot go back, only forward knowing that my experience at Woodstock will keep me from ever consuming meat, eggs, or dairy again (as well as purchasing a single product tested on or made from animals). 

Whether it was cuddling up next to a goat named Albie, feeding a carrot to a big, friendly cow named Elvis, or gently petting a sweet and majestic turkey named Olivia, the animals (and people) living at this sanctuary are a symbol of hope in the midst of so much darkness. These animals have not only begun to finally enjoy their freedom, but they have enough goodness in them to forgive and trust the same species that had abused them again and again up until this point. It was clear to see how much co-founder Jenny Brown loves each and every being that enters her farm doors as she took us around for a tour and carefully introduced us to each group of animals. The only word I can think to describe my experience at this sanctuary was heavenly - the air was crisp and clean, the atmosphere peaceful and quiet. Despite the large amount of varying animals living in this place, there was a calm there that happily surprised me. It was an honor to be a guest in their home for a day.

What better way to celebrate these two experiences than to combine them? Below, please enjoy a few of the many pictures I took at Woodstock, as well as Molly's beautiful letter. Also included are a few quotes I found within Amy Hatkoff's book, The Inner World of Farm Animals, which Steve and I purchased at the Woodstock FAS's gift shop.

Lindsay,

I just wanted to say thank you for opening up my eyes to a different way of living... it can be confusing to understand how someone who wasn't always a vegan became a vegan, and how someone who is such a "foodie" can also be a vegan.  And then I read your blog and it all makes sense. Thank you for making me curious to understand what it means to be a vegan.  I think you have done a great job to show your readers that human compassion and the desire to change the world in a big way doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your love of cupcakes.  I have unconsciously found myself eating more vegetarian meals and less meat.  I have started to click on the links on your website and read the Vegan Dad and other posts.  I've found myself googling vegan recipes.  And last night I served a couple in the restaurant who was vegan, and to them it was no big deal.  They ate a salad with avocado, tomatoes, and olives, the delicious soup that is always made without cream or chicken stock and a pasta with red sauce. How easy!  I can do that! 

You have opened my eyes to what it means to be a Vegan, and how it doesn't have to be as big of a deal as so many people make it out to be.  I can make simple choices that make me feel better, like ordering a salad with chick peas instead of feta, or pouring almond milk on my oatmeal. 

Anyways, I'm really proud of you!"

Our problem with realizing the full implications of animal sentience may not be the difficulty of 'liberating' animals, but of liberating ourselves from centuries of conditioned thinking. Only then can we see animals for who they are and award them the respect and compassion they deserve.

- Joyce D'Silva, ambassador, Compassion in World Farming

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.

- Gandhi

Animals are conscious of the present and can anticipate the future. They are aware of themselves and of the environment. They know when they are comfortable or uncomfortable. They seem to be able to perceive pain the way we do. If you look at their brains, they are not that different than ours.

- Katherine Haupt, professor of animal behavior, Cornell University

Pigs develop close relationships, particularly if they have grown up together. If they have the opportunity to mature together, the bond pretty much lasts a lifetime. They will make choices to be with one another - to sleep together, take mud baths together, and roam together. They become partners.

- Kim Sterla, co-founder, Animal Place

For us, the animals are understood to be our equals. They are still our teachers. They are our helpers and our healers. They have been our guardians and we have been theirs... We have deep obligations to them. Without the other animals, we are made less.

- Linda Hogen, novelist

... Animals undoubtedly feel, think, love, hate, will, and even reason.

- David Hume

Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul.

- Pythagoras

One thing I know for sure.

Between the job hunting, the creative brainstorming for ways to make money, and random last minute wedding planning, I am completely spent. I'm sure all of you can relate to what I'm about to say - when life gets this hectic, when I have such little control over the future of things, it gets hard to want to keep going with it all. I find I'm so desperate that I'd be willing to take a toddler's time out if it meant I could just sit and breathe all the chaos out of my system.


Being a positive person means that when life happens, I try to adapt and find the "silver lining". Basically, I try to trust in something that I cannot control or understand at times.  But it also means that for me, when life completely overhauls all of my intended plans, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain my positivity.  Whether it's the universe's way of testing me or not, it doesn't change the fact that my life is not where I expected (or even wanted) it to be.


But being the positive person that I am means that eventually, I begin to come around.  I begin to think of reasons to wake up thankful each morning. I try to remember to breathe, and to know that just breathing is a basic privilege in and of itself. 


And then I think about the animals. 


I think of the billions of cows, chickens, turkeys, geese, and pigs who are forced to live a daily hell in factory farms twenty-four hours a day. I think about the baby cows who are ripped from their mothers shortly after birth so that they can both become a part of what John Robbins so appropriately calls "The Food Machine".   I think of animals that do not possess the voice or physical power to stop what is being done to them. I think about their unending pain, their fear, their loneliness and desolation. And then I think about the factory workers who have no other choice than to be a part of such an abusive system.


And when I think about all of that, it hits me. These animals need me to wake up each morning. They need my help. They need my voice. They need me. They don't need my selfishness. They don't need me to throw a pity party for myself, when they don't even so much as receive a moment to enjoy themselves.


So, now, I have a reason to wake up. I have a reason to be thankful that I am a human being with the free will to choose to live a vegan lifestyle. I feel empowered knowing that just my being alive offers me the chance to help a cause so much larger than myself. And that gives me hope. And that makes everything else - every little problem and inconvenience- seem so small in comparison.


I made some cupcakes yesterday and was planning to blog about that today. After this post, I fondly realize now that plans should always be subject to change. But it would be wrong of me to even bring up the word cupcakes without sharing proof of them, so enjoy. 

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Sprinkles

Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cinnamon Clove Icing

Thanks for reading my words today. I hope they help you find reason and purpose in your own lives if you're feeling lost. Enjoy a beautiful rest of the weekend, and expect a post from me tomorrow about my trip to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Kiss My Vegan... Cupcakes?

Today, I got gutsy and decided to entertain the idea of actually trying to start a vegan baking company.  Without getting too personal, it definitely stemmed from a mildly chaotic experience recently that has shaken up my world a bit - losing a job opportunity. That'll get anybody to want to do something completely radical. In my case, it made me want to bake a whole bunch of cupcakes and eat them. And then bake more. And eat those. The seed of a business idea can begin at the oddest moments.

Sometimes you gotta take some risks....

To reap the greatest rewards! (Or something.)

Now, when I get an idea for something, I'm the kind of person who will mildly obsess over it until I have absolutely convinced myself I have to do it. So, this morning, I scrambled around to make a mock logo and a name for it, which I actually think is kind of cute: Kiss My Vegan Cupcakes. 

Could this be the start of something big? 

Or at least medium sized?

But of course now my overly analytical self has managed to cause me to question my beloved company (that I haven't technically started yet) name. 

So, I'm opening the issue up to you - my small, but loving group of supporters. If you have an idea, an image that comes to mind, anything really - feel free to comment! 

And hey - maybe if I like whatcha got - I'll make you some yummy cupcakes as a token of my thanks. Well, at least if you live near Brooklyn.

Taco Night and Pumpkin Bread. The perfect combo?

What was once a truly laborious task of taking tiny pictures on my cell phone (that's not really designed to make picture taking one of its top priorities) has ended now that my other formerly broken piece of technology - my beloved Kodak EasyShare - has come back from Geek Squad. Although it's no professional food-taking digital camera, it at least provides well-lit, clear pictures of my vegan food efforts - a major "yay" in my book!


Last night, I was craving tacos, so I set out to try something different. I've already made black bean tacos before, and while they're yummy on their own, I was in the mood for something a little more substantial - so I added one of my favorite ingredients to the mix - prepackaged seitan (for anyone that isn't familiar with seitan, I've attached a link to the word).


West Soy is a great brand of Seitan - it's already cooked, so all you have to do is heat it up and add it to your favorite dish. Although not for the gluten-intolerant, Seitan is an awesome alternative to meat. It is meat actually - wheat meat! I love seitan because it's chewy and thick, and it tastes so good in savory dishes, so I figured it would be the perfect addition to taco night.

This is such an easy recipe, so feel free to make it your own, as far as toppings are concerned!

Easy Seitan and Black Bean Tacos

1 package West Soy Stir Fry Strips, shredded 

(you can do this by pulling apart the seitan with your fingers into little chunks)

1 can of black beans, drained

1 package of taco shells 

(my favorite are Organic Blue Corn taco shells)

1 packet taco seasoning mix

(try to get organic, because sometimes you'll find yucky ingredients in regular packets, 

like corn syrup solids)

2 tbsp cooking oil for the pan

Any toppings you like - 

your favorite salsa, chopped tomatoes (organic please),

 guacamole or chopped avocado, vegan cheese or vegan sour cream

(I also love to sautee chopped onions in a little bit of oil with salt and garlic powder)

My spread from last night.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Add oil to a medium sized pan on medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add seitan chunks. Allow to cook for about 4 minutes, or until the seitan is browned on both sides. 

3. Add beans and cook for 1-2 minutes, just to get the beans warm. Add seasoning from packet and amount of water indicated on the packet. Allow seitan and beans to cook according to packet. Mixture should come out nice and thick (add extra water slowly to the pan if you want more of a sauce).

3. While seitan and bean mixture is thickening, place taco shells on a baking sheet or in a baking pan and bake for 5 minutes, or until shells are golden and heated through. 

4. Prepare any extra toppings you would like. 

5. Eat. Smile! You just made a really easy and yummy dinner. 

And now for the pumpkin bread.

This is actually a funny story - a lesson in learning to trust myself as a baker. I found a great pumpkin bread recipe online and decided I would veganize it. Easy, right? Well, not if you're impatient and critical in the kitchen, which I can be sometimes. The bread actually came out so beautifully - moist, dense, and not too sweet. As soon as I took it out of the oven, I wanted to taste-test the bread, and as I cut down the middle, I noticed that it was like a dense sponge on the inside (it looked undercooked, in my book). All too quick to assume I had done something wrong, I yelled to Steve - "I ruined it! I'm gonna have to throw it away!" What I hadn't realized was that the bread just needed to cool and set. I came back later in the evening, all ready to throw out this poor loaf of bread. To my surprise, it looked and tasted just like pumpkin bread. Moral of the story - trust your instincts in the kitchen, and wait until your food cools before you jump to conclusions.

So, here it is: 

Lindsay's Yummy Pumpkin Bread

Yields 1 loaf

1 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour 

(or whole wheat pastry flour)

1 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar 

(I used brown sugar, which I'm sure made it taste less sweet)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin

1/2 c. melted margarine (preferably Earth Balance Spread)

2 servings of Energ-G Egg Replacer

(a mashed banana may also work) 

1/4 c. soymilk

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp. ginger (optional)

1/2 tsp. vanilla (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, margarine, sugar, vanilla (if you're using), 

egg replacer, and soymilk.

3. In a separate large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. 

4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet just until moistened.

5. Pour wet mixture into a buttered loaf pan, and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until you can place a toothpick in the top of the bread, and it comes out clean.

Updated: Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe

As I was about to make some pumpkin cupcakes, I looked over the recipe and realized that I left out the most important ingredient - PUMPKIN!


Below, you will find an updated version of my Pumpkin Cupcakes with Autumn Spiced Frosting. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Autumn Spiced Frosting

Ingredients:

1 small can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 c. coconut milk

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1 1/4 cups pastry flour

(or unbleached, all purpose flour)

1 1/2 tsp. EnerG Egg Replacer,

mixed with 2 tbsp. warm water

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 c. canola oil

(preferably Organic and Expeller-Pressed)

3/4 c. vegan sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 serving Autumn Spiced Frosting (recipe to follow)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

2. Mix the coconut milk with the vinegar in a small bowl and set it aside for a few minutes.

3. Mix the oil, coconut milk mixture, sugar, vanilla, egg replacer mixture, and spices in a large bowl.

4. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in another large bowl.

5.  Add the dry mix to the wet mix slowly, and remember to scrape the sides of the bowl as you mix. Mix until there are no large lumps left.

6. Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds of the way and bake for 18-22 minutes (depending on your oven). To check to see if the cupcakes are done, stick a toothpick in the middle of the cupcake - if the toothpick comes out clean, you're good. Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack, and allow them to cool completely before you frost them.

Autumn Spiced Frosting


Ingredients:

1 stick Earth Balance Margarine (or 1/2 c.)

1/2 a stick of Earth Balance Shortening (or 1/4 c.)

3 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1/8 cup coconut milk,

with more on hand if needed

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric hand-held mixer (at the highest speed) until fluffy. Add more coconut milk to mixture if it's too stiff. Enjoy!