Living with Carnivores

Ironwood Pig Sanctuary

2011-05-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary is dedicated to eliminating the suffering of pot bellied pigs in Arizona and surrounding states by promoting spaying and neutering, assisting owners and other sanctuaries, and providing a permanent home in a safe, nurturing environment for those that are abandoned, abused, neglected, or unwanted.

To Learn More: http://www.ironwoodpigs.org

The Candle Cafe Cookbook: More Than 150 Enlightened Recipes

2011-05-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

I blogged in March about the Candle Cafe Cookbook that my sister got me for my birthday. I loaned my copy out to a friend but decided that I would get the same gift for my friend Barbara who recently started adjusting to a Vegan lifestyle. Since my book has not resurfaced I am hoping Barbara will try a couple receipes and if she gives it a thumbs up I will order myself another copy from Amazon just incase mine is not returned any time soon.

Peppered Tofurky Deli Slices

2011-05-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Turtle Island Foods created a mock lunch meat called Tofurky. Today I sampled the Peppered Tofurky Deli Slices that are filled with cracked peppercorns. I ate mine in a salad but the Tofurky added a wonderful zesty, pastrami-type flavor to my salad. I would not hesitate to try this mock meat on a sandwich or tortilla roll. It was very tasty!

http://www.tofurky.com

Bora Bora Organic Nutrition Bars

2011-03-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Recently I discovered Bora Bora Organic Nutrition Bars. They are gluten free and the two bars I sampled were also Vegan. The Wild Pomegranate Pecan Bar and the Paradise Walnut Pistachio bar are both delicious. I will be keeping my eye out for additional flavors to sample.

http://www.boraborafoods.com/

Kind Fruit and Nut Bars

2011-03-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Although not all of their bars are Vegan I have discovered quite a few that are. The bars are delicious and filling. They are wonderful for an afternoon snack and I have been able to locate them at most stores locally including Albertsons, Fred Meyer and the Boise Co-Op. My favorites are the Fruit and Nut Delight, Nut Delight and there is a Blueberry Bar that Starbucks carries that is amazing. It is the blueberry vanilla and cashew fruit and nut bar. It is my very favorite. I am going to keep reading ingredients and discovering new flavors.

http://www.kindsnacks.com/

WholeSoy & Co. - Non-Dairy Soy Yogurt

2011-03-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered Whole Soy Yogurt at Fred Meyer. It is delicious yogurt make with organic soybeans. It is vegan, whey and gluten free and contains no cholesterol. So far I have sampled the vanilla, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry flavors. I can't wait to try the lemon and key lime flavors too. Their web-site lists all their flavors and recipes too. It is wonderful!

http://www.wholesoyco.com

Amy's Rice Macaroni

2011-03-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I was dying for some comfort food and I discovered Amy's Gluten Free - Dairy Free Rice Macaroni. It is a delicious dish that is very tasty and replaces traditional Mac & Cheese. Although the calories (520) and fat (22g) are not for the faint of heart the Rice Macaroni and Cheeze was wonderful and hit the spot perfectly for my comfort food fix. Delicious!

http://www.amys.com/

Oprah Goes Vegan For One Week

2011-01-31T10:22:00.000-08:00

Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan: The One-Week Challenge
February 1, 2011

http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Oprah-and-378-Staffers-Go-Vegan-The-One-Week-Challenge

The challenge is on! No meat, no milk, no animal anything. Oprah and 378 Harpo staffers go vegan for one week.

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

2010-12-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

For the Cookies:
1 cup vegan margarine
1 cup sugar
Egg Replacer equivalent to 1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ginger
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves

For the Frosting:
1/2 cup vegan margarine
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. vanilla soy milk
Food coloring

• In a large bowl, cream the vegan margarine and the sugar. Mix in the egg replacer, molasses, and vinegar. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add to the wet ingredients.
• Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Remove from the refrigerator and roll out on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes.
• Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the edges brown. Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet and remove to a wire rack.
• While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting. Using a hand mixer, cream the vegan margarine. Add the shortening and continue to mix. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. The frosting should be stiff.
• Using a pastry bag and a star tip, decorate the cookies.

Makes 3 dozen cookies

The Candle Cafe Cookbook

2010-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

For Christmas my sister, Michelle, sent me The Candle Cafe Cookbook. It boasts more then 150 enlightened recipes from New York's renowned vegan restaurant. I am looking forward to trying some new recipes and already have my eye on the Lemon Tofu Cheesecake. I am also excited to sample the Pecan Crusted Seitan. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie - Delicious!

2010-12-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

1 (16-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar or sucanat OR 1/2 cup maple syrup
1 (10- to 12-ounce) package silken soft tofu (Not Low Fat)
2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch (to firm up the pie filling)
1 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 (9-inch) unbaked vegan pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Blend the pumpkin and sugar in a blender or food processor. Thoroughly mix in tofu, cornstarch, and spices (allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and cloves).

3. Pour mixture into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes.

4. Lower heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for another 60 minutes. Chill and serve.

Don't use the low fat tofu, then the pie tastes like it was made with tofu. You may also want to reduce the spices to taste.

How Many Lives Will You Save?

2010-11-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Ninety-Five is the average number of animal lives spared annually by one person's vegan diet.

The average American consumes 2,714 land animals in their lifetime. If you quit eating meat now, you could literally prevent the suffering and death of hundreds of animals of the course of a couple decades.

If you stop eating eggs and drinking milk, you will also reduce your share in the suffering and death of battery hens and their offspring, as well as dairy cows and their offspring, too.

"May all that have life be delivered from suffering." -Gautama Buddha

The Search for a Vegetarian Bird

2010-11-11T12:46:00.001-08:00

This will be my first Thanksgiving as a Vegan. I still wanted to feel like I was participating in the traditional meal but was not willing to compromise my non meat lifestyle. I went to the Boise Co-Op and found Savory Stuffed Turkey rolls to try by Gardein http://www.gardein.com/ I have really enjoyed their other products and am looking forward to see how these taste. Anthony is going to take care of the traditional meat for the meal as I just could not bring myself to do it. Now I just need to look for a pumpkin pie recipe that I can eat.

See Spot Walk Boise - October 2nd

2010-10-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

Julia Davis Park is going to the dogs, See Spot Walk style! What could be more fun than spending a day with your best canine friend? How about spending the day with your best friend and several thousand other dog lovers and their dogs? And, what if you could join a fun canine parade through downtown Boise? That would be fun See Spot Walk style!

• Who: Your friends, your kids, your dog(s) and you!
• What: A 1-mile dog walk through downtown Boise + vendors, contests, demonstrations, food and more
• Why: To have fun and raise money for homeless animals
• Where: Julia Davis Park Band Shell
• When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 - Festivities 10:00, Walk 11:00
(Participate with or without your dog!)

See Spot Walk is Idaho's largest and best dog event, all to benefit the Idaho Humane Society and provide over three thousand participants and their dogs with a great time. Join us the first Saturday of every October in Julia Davis Park.

Enjoy vendors, contests and a giant dog walk through downtown Boise.

http://www.idahohumanesociety.org

World Farm Animals Day

2010-10-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

World Farm Animals Day (WFAD), observed on (or around) October 2nd, is dedicated to exposing, mourning, and memorializing the more than 58 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other land animals who needlessly suffer and die every year in the world's factory farms and slaughterhouses.

The 2010 theme is Exposing the Dirty Secrets of Animal Agribusiness. Find out what animal agriculture is hiding from the public, and how they manipulate us, the government, and public institutions.

http://www.wfad.org/

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated."

"I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man."

-Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)

Idaho Humane Society Kitten Shower

2010-07-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Idaho Humane Society is overflowing with cats and kittens in desperate need of a new family and loving home. Unfortunately the Dally household is a cat free zone due to Anthony's severe allergies. I have had cats all my life and love them dearly. The Pei's of Adventure appreciate cats as much as Mr. Dally does.

July 31st through August 7th the Idaho Humane Society is offering reduced adoption fees ($10 for cats and kittens) and See Spot Shop store specials. If you can't adopt a new furry family member (like our household) they would be thrilled to receive wet kitten food, monetary donations and cat and dog supplies.

Check out the animals that are available for adoption:

http://www.idahohumanesociety.org/

Sweet and Sara's Smores

2010-07-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

I did not realize that marshmallows are the Holy Grail of Vegan sweets. I read that Sweet and Sara had mastered the impossible. Today at the Boise Co-Op I ran into their handmade all natural Vegan Smores. I could not resist and purchased the Original flavor. It was heaven. Creamy marshmallow on a graham cookie enrobed in organic Belgian Chocolate. Yes Vegan's of the world stand up and cheer there are still Smores for those evening around the camp fire. I will be tracking down the peanut butter flavor on my next visit. Camping here I come!

http://www.sweetandsara.com/

Companies that STILL Test on Animals

2010-07-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

A shocking number of manufacturers of personal care and household items still test their products on animals, despite the availability of alternative methods for evaluating product safety. Here is the most recent list of these companies and their associated brands. This information was gathered from thevegetariansite.com. Please choose all-natural products to help put an end to this insane animal cruelty!

* Allergan, Inc.
* Arm & Hammer
* ArmorAll
* Arrid
* Axe
* Aziza
* Bain de Soleil
* Ban Roll-on
* Banana Boat
* Bausch & Lomb
* Benckiser
* BenGay
* Biotherm
* Block Drug Co. Inc.
* Bounty
* Boyle-Midway
* Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
* Cacherel
* Carpet Fresh
* Carter-Wallace
* Chesebrough-Ponds
* Church & Dwight
* Clarion
* Clairol
* Clear Choice
* Clorox
* Commerce Drug Co.
* Consumer Value Stores
* Coppertone
* Coty
* Cover Girl
* Crest
* Cutex
* Dana Perfumes
* Dawn
* Del Laboratories
* Desitin
* Dial Corporation
* Diversey
* Dove
* Dow Brands
* Drackett Products Co.
* Drano
* EcoLab
* Eli Lilly & Co.
* El Sanofi Inc.
* Elizabeth Arden
* Erno Laszlo
* Faberge
* Fantastik
* Fendi
* Final Net
* Finesse
* Flame Glow
* Garnier
* Giorgio Armani
* Givaudan-Roure
* Glade
* Glass Plus
* Helena Rubinstein
* Helene Curtis Industries
* Huggies
* ISO
* Ivory
* Jhirmack
* Johnson & Johnson
* Johnson Products Co.
* Jovan
* Keri
* Kimberly-Clark Corp
* Kiwi Brands
* Kleenex
* Lady's Choice
* Lancaster
* Lancome
* Lava
* Lever Brothers
* Listerine
* L'Oreal USA
* Lubriderm
* Lux
* Lysol
* Matrix Essentials
* Max Factor
* Maybelline
* Mead
* Mop & Glo
* Nair
* Naturelle
* Neutrogena
* Neutron Industries, Inc.
* Olean
* Oscar de la Renta
* Pantene
* Parfums International
* Pearl Drops
* Pennex
* Pfizer, Inc.
* Pine-Sol
* Plax
* Playtex Corporation
* Pledge
* Polident
* Ponds
* Post-It
* Prince Matchabelli
* Proctor & Gamble Co.
* Quintessence
* Raid
* Ralph Lauren Fragrances
* Reckitt Benckiser
* Redken
* Resolve
* Richardson-Vicks
* Sally Beauty Supply
* Sally Hansen
* Sanofi
* SC Johnson & Son
* Schering-Plough
* Scotch
* Scott Paper Co.
* Sensodyne
* Signal
* SmithKline Beecham
* SoftSheen
* S.O.S.
* Stanhome Inc.
* Sterling Drug
* Suave
* Sun Star
* Sunsilk
* TCB Naturals
* Tegrin
* 3M
* Tide
* Tilex
* Unilever
* Vaseline
* Vichy
* Vidal Sassoon
* Visine
* Vivid
* Warner-Lambert
* Westwood Pharmaceuticals
* White Shoulders
* Whitehall Laboratories
* Windex
* Woolite

Van's Natural Foods - Waffles

2010-07-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

My second recent discovery during a trip to Albertson's (Fred Meyer sells these too) are Van's Totally Natural Waffles. They are dairy and egg free and are also wheat and gluten free. Although I do not have a wheat or gluten allergy the waffles are great. There are so many topping options and they are wonderful just as an afternoon snack. I will be keeping these in my freezer for sure!

http://www.vansfoods.com/

Nutrition To Go

2010-07-20T17:48:00.001-07:00

Today at Fred Meyer on the trail of vegan organic rice crackers for my naked Hummus I stumbled upon an absolutely delicious and completely Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chip bar called NuGo Dark. The tag line is Delicious has a dark side. Well, all I know if this bar tickled my dark side today! Vegan's rejoice because these bars are wonderful! They only had two flavors at Fred Meyer. The second bar that is sitting in my desk drawer (I will be fantasizing about it tonight) is the Mocha Chocolate NuGo Dark bar. I will need to track more of these down for future sweet cravings.

I also noticed on their website that they have a host of nutrition bars that are Vegan too.
Looks like my dark side shall be well fed in the future!

http://www.nugonutrition.com/

Pop Chips

2010-06-30T07:31:00.001-07:00

My friend Joy (a fellow snack hound) stopped by yesterday with a small bag of Pop Chips for me to try. We are always on the lookout for foods that we can both eat. We have different lists of taboo foods but fortunately we try to avoid a lot of the same items (like all dairy products). Joy discovered these chips yesterday at the hospital cafeteria. Although I doubt all of the flavors are Vegan the Original and the Salt and Pepper flavors are both safe Vegan bets. I have not read the ingredient lists for any other flavors but I really like the ones that we have sampled. They are very light and flavorful. Another great find by Joy!

http://www.popchips.com/

Famous Vegan - Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

2010-06-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

It ill becomes us to invoke in our daily prayers the blessings of God, the Compassionate, if we in turn will not practice elementary compassion towards our fellow creatures.—Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

http://www.mkgandhi.org/

Sahale Snacks - Cashews

2010-06-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have loved cashews since I was a little girl. They are hands down one of my favorite nuts. To my delight my aunt Barbara would give me a big jar of them every Christmas. I could eat cashews every day and would probably never grow tired of them. Starbucks now carries Sahale Snacks and one of the best treats I have had there are the Cashews with Pomegranate and Vanilla. They are so tasty! Sometimes I like to slip something fun into Anthony's lunches and interesting or flavorful nut blends are a fun item to add. I have also seen their products in the Fred Meyer Nutrition Center and at REI. I may have to branch out from the cashews but for the moment I am hooked.

http://www.sahalesnacks.com/

Gardein Protein - Buffalo Wings

2010-06-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

Last night I made a quick stop at Albertsons for Hummus, juice and strawberries. While I was in the frozen section I noticed the Gardein Protein products. I could not resist sampling the Classic Style Buffalo Wings. I cooked them on the stove top with a tablespoon of oil as directed. I did love the consistency and flavor of the product. The only part of the appetizer that was not a hit with me was the sauce. The flavor was delicious but it was about a million degrees too spicy for me. I ate my wings over my favorite brown rice with just a splash of the sauce and it was still extremely over powering. This may just be my taste buds and not the sauce at all. I have found over the years that I am not able to tolerate spicy food as much as I use to.

http://www.gardein.com/

Vegan Outreach Starter Guide

2010-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Interested in exploring a more compassionate way of life? Unsure how to try vegetarianism? Vegan Outreach’s starter guide covers everything from nutrition to recipes to philosophy—for everyone from those wanting to try vegetarian foods occasionally, to longtime vegans! Click below to get your PDF copy:

http://www.veganoutreach.org/guide/

Famous Vegan - Ellen DeGeneres

2010-06-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

"You ask people why they have deer heads on the wall. They always say, Because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother's attractive, but I have photographs of her."

-Ellen DeGeneres

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/thoughts

WayFare Foods - Non Dairy Options

2010-06-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned on my blog that giving up flesh products was a snap for me. I ate my last bite of chicken and I have not missed meat for a single second. However, dairy is another story. I REALLY miss sour cream, cream cheese, cheese...the list goes on and on. The Kind Life site just shared information about WayFare's non-dairy cheese, ice cream, sour cream and other non-dairy options. They are made from 100% natural whole grain oatmeal. I will be making a trip down to the Boise Co-Op for sure in the near future to track down their line of non-dairy products. I wish that Fred Meyer's Nutrition Center would carry more variety in their Vegan options (I may have to introduce them to WayFare). Any time I hear of a new product that I have not tried you can definitely count me in.

WayFare Foods - http://wayfarefoods.com/

The Kind Life - http://www.thekindlife.com/

Meatless Monday and Adopt a Turkey

2010-06-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

One day a week cut out meat:

http://www.meatlessmonday.com/

Meatless Monday is a national health campaign to help Americans prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer - four of the leading causes of death in America.

Adopt-A-Turkey Project seeks to end the misery of commercially-raised turkeys by offering a compassionate alternative for Thanksgiving. Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has rescued more than 1,000 turkeys, placed hundreds into loving homes through their annual Turkey Express adoption event, educated millions of people about their plight, and provided resources for a cruelty-free holiday.

For a one-time $25 donation, anyone can sponsor turkeys residing at Farm Sanctuary.

http://www.adoptaturkey.org/

Tofurky

2010-06-13T13:20:00.001-07:00

Half the time I can hardly get the word "Tofurky" to roll off my tongue. But I will admit that I just love it. Yesterday I sampled my very first Tofurky product. The Italian Sausage vegan Tofurky links. They have sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Although slightly dry (they may have been overcooked) I really liked the flavor and consistency. I was thinking they would be great to take camping or to cut up on salads. They could replace brat’s, sausage in sauces or hotdogs (traditional camping food). Anthony grilled them on the heated grill for me. I am looking forward to sampling more Tofurky delights and can’t wait to locate the Tofurky Beer Brats and pizza.

http://www.tofurky.com/

Organic Bake Tofu - Teriyaki

2010-06-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I had a bit of a recipe disaster. I didn’t end up with the ingredients being quite right and the meal was a total bust. Fortunately I was making it only for me. Down the drain it went after giving me a stomach ache. I stopped at Fred Meyer to pick up some tofu and summer snacks for the kids. I noticed that Soy Deli offered some prepared Teriyaki Organic Baked Tofu. Just the word Teriyaki was enough to get me to purchase the tofu. I was a little disappointed by the flavor but I really liked the consistency of the tofu. I would definitely purchase this again to use for quick lunches or even camping as there was no water mess and no cooking involved.

http://www.quonghop.com/soy_deli_tofu.php

Farm Sanctuary – A Compassionate World Begins with You!

2010-06-08T13:54:00.001-07:00

Becoming vegan has definitely shed more light than I have ever imagined on cruelty to animals as well as workers. Being one who never sits on the side lines I am sharing information on a sanctuary for farm animals. The weekend before last I drove past a cattle stock yard in Eagle and all I could think of was how much I wished I had the resources to purchase all the cows (who were in dirt filled pens without a single blade of grass). It broke my heart and made my stomach sour to see them in those conditions. Farm Sanctuary works to end cruelty to farm animals and promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. They envision a world where the violence that animal agriculture inflicts upon people, animals and the environment has ended, and where instead we exercise values of compassion.

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/

Great Vegan Treats at Starbucks

2010-06-08T07:53:00.001-07:00

I am still struggling to get myself off of the new Starbucks Mocha Frap. Soy blended beverages. As I mentioned before they have a lot of refined sugar in them and processed soy which is not overly healthy. I may be loosing the battle at the moment as the warmer weather and the sweet refreshment of the blended beverages keep calling my name. This morning was one of those mornings. I had already finished my strawberry and rice protein powder smoothie and was dying for a Starbucks stop. My taste buds got the better of me and I stopped in to get my favorite beverage. I do have to give Starbucks kudos for expanding their treat selections to include vegan options. Instead of only offering the baked goods in the case (which are completely taboo for me now) they are offering vegan cookies and raw granolas.

This morning I picked up Lucy's Cinnamon Thin cookies which do not contain any milk or eggs. The ingredient list does include evaporated cane juice (sugar) but they are absolutely delicious. The other tempting treat I selected was the Two Mom's in the Raw Blueberry Granola bar. The granola is certified organic and certified vegan. The granola bar is consistent with a raw life style. I know the granola bar is 100% healthier for me than the cookies but I just could not resist. Self control when it comes to sweets is not in my dictionary!

http://www.twomomsintheraw.com/

http://www.drlucys.com/

Vegan Buffalo Wings

2010-06-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I had about 5 minutes to eat dinner before heading to the movies with a friend. I microwaved a small batch of Chicken-Free Vegan Buffalo Wings made by Health is Wealth. The flavor was great and they were nice and spicy. I think the consistency of the product would be better served with the oven heating method (crispy vs. rubbery). But that being set aside I will pick these up again to keep in the freezer for those quick dinner emergencies.

http://www.healthiswealthfoods.com/

Vegan Orange Chicken & Wild Rice

2010-06-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

Last night instead of cooking and experimenting in the kitchen I took the easy vegan way out and sampled some of my new found products from the Boise Co-Op. Since I completely enjoyed the Lundberg Countrywild Whole Grain Brown Rice blend a few nights ago I picked up the Wild Blend of rice from the Lundberg line and prepared it the same way as the Countrywild blend. This blend was a bit more grainy than the Countrywild blend but even Alex (one of my 14 year old carnivores) dished up a bowl and enjoyed too. To date the Countrywild blend continues to be my favorite.

My flavor adventure continued with vegan Tangy Orange Chicken by Vegetarian Plus. Since I am a former Panda Express addict I must admit that my mouth watered just looking at the picture on the box. Although the mock chicken was a bit chewy (I heated it in the microwave vs. the stove top method) the flavor of the tofu and the sauce was very pleasant. As I continue to alter my food choices and selections my taste buds are becoming more sensitive to flavors. The subtleness of the tangy orange sauce was wonderful. Alex also tasted the sauce and said that he really liked it. Compared to Panda Expresses Orange chicken sauce it was significantly less sugary and sticky sweet. I could really taste the orange juice in the sauce. The ingredients did include corns starch and raw cane sugar but I believe that they are not significant contributors to the recipe. I would purchase this product again to keep a handy option in the freezer for those nights I am not interested in cooking. Gee I feel like I am becoming a food critic.

http://www.lundberg.com/

http://www.vegeusa.com/Index.html

My Very First Vegetarian/Vegan Pizza

2010-06-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have been craving pizza since the holiday weekend when the kids had some. Oh, it smelled so good. I attempted to make my own tonight and came pretty darn close. I purchased a vegan wheat crust from the Boise Co-Op that I let thaw and then rolled out. I topped it with Organic Vegan Pasta sauce (I will add a lot more next time). I then added Galaxy Nutritional Foods – Veggie Shreds. The package said Lactose Free and Cheese Food Alternative but then I looked a little closer at the fine print it says contains milk (a trace amount of lactose) and soy ingredients (UGH – it’s too confusing). In the future I will need to look for a vegan alternative. I topped my pizza with Yves Veggie Cuisine Vegan Meatless Pepperoni (I was safe with the fake meat). All and all I think it was pretty good. My family mentioned something about it looking disgusting. I guess I don’t need to worry about sharing. Next time I will add a lot more sauce and see if I can find a vegan cheese alternative. While my pizza was in the oven I caught Raisin taking a power nap on her stuffed toy. Priceless!

http://www.yvesveggie.com/

http://www.galaxyfoods.com/

Goraw Live Pumpkin Bar

2010-06-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting snack items I picked up from the Boise Co-Op this past Saturday were two Goraw bars. I am just sure the squirrels in the neighborhood are smacking their lips with jealousy! These bars are made from sprouted seeds and natural sweeteners. Today my snack bar was a Live Pumpkin bar with pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, dates etc. These bars do not contain any GMS's, trans fat or cholesterol. They are also certified organic and are vegan. The real live food sure beat having a candy bar in the afternoon. I have also noticed my taste buds adjusting to subtler tastes vs. the sugar laden snacks I am use to. The other bar I picked up to try is a Live Granola Bar.

http://www.goraw.com/

A Smile or Two

2010-06-01T12:59:00.001-07:00

Whole Grain Brown Rice

2010-06-01T12:51:00.001-07:00

Transitioning from starches that I have depended on for years to more nutritious alternatives has been a recent goal of mine. Take white rice for example. I love sticky white rice. But in the grand scheme of things I know it is not the best grain for my body. I purchased a small bag of Lundberg Country Wild Rice recently. It contains a blend of whole grain brown rice's (brown rice, Wehani rice and black Japonica rice). I followed their cooking instructions and prepared it in my rice cooker using 2 cups of Countrywild rice, 4 cups of organic vegetable broth, and 2 tablespoons of soy margarine All I can say is this is the best rice I have ever eaten. Hands down this rice totally outshines white rice by miles and miles. I will be looking forward to sampling some of their other products as I expand my horizons. They also have recipes ont heir site which I will be checking out too. I also added a bit of Bragg's Liquid Amino's for a dash of soy sauce flavoring. For now let's just say I am a Countrywild addict!

http://www.lundberg.com/

http://bragg.com/products/bragg-liquid-aminos-soy-alternative.html

Giving Up Flesh Products – Piece of Cake!

2010-05-29T16:04:00.001-07:00

I realized that once I had given up dairy, eggs and most products containing corn that aside from actual flesh products I was eating a vegan diet. Here I am a person that actually never liked the taste of meat (without 5 gallons of sauce on it). Someone who will not touch raw meat without rubber gloves and who often has the kids prepare the meat for meals because handling it is icky. At most meals I will finish everything on my plate and will still have meat left over. How hard was it for me to give up flesh products once and for all? Absolutely the easiest thing I have ever done in my life! It’s been about a month now and no flesh products have crossed my lips. Not only do I not miss meat but I feel completely liberated from the obligation to eat meat and pretend I enjoy it. In addition my heart and mind are free from the anguish of animals being abused and slaughtered for my benefit. No longer will my heart be heavy with their pain and suffering. Although I do not force these choices or decisions upon my family I feel free. If you do not know where your meat is coming from and you are willing to find out take time to watch Food Inc. and you may never eat meat again unless it is 100% organic. The treatment of the animals, the risk of illness or death from the diseases that exist in the meat, the inhuman treatment of the workers…the entire system is beyond imaginable. Fortunately their fates will no longer rest in my stomach. Giving up flesh products was the best decision I have ever made and one I should have done back in my teens!

Next Came My Soybean Dilemma

2010-05-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

I find that soy beans and soy products are a staple of vegetarians and vegans. As I was originally turning to these products and choices I kept hearing bad things about soybeans. Soybeans seemed so innocent. What on Earth could be the issue with soybeans? Well, I learned very quickly through the movie Food Inc. that most commercial soybeans are genetically altered soybeans. Specifically Roundup Ready Soybeans. For some strange reason (do you hear their pockets jingling) chemical and pesticide companies felt they needed to genetically alter soybeans to be resistant to their Roundup products so they created these super seeds. Basically they can dump all the Roundup pesticides on these soybeans that they want and they will survive while EVERYTHING around them dies. Oh yeah, who is the brain child of that decision? They have also managed to systematically put the other soybean growers out of business if they are not using the genetically altered seeds. We should all be terrified of big business. Anyway now that I understood what was happening I have opted to use soybean products sparingly and to focus on only organic soy bean products when I can. Of course there are times when I cannot control where the soybeans come from. Restaurants, some faux meat products, soy milk from coffee shops etc. But overall I believe if you are mindful when you can be it just might be more healthy in the long run.

Creepy Corn Conspiracy

2010-05-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

After eradicating dairy and egg products from my diet the next offender I tackled were corn products. I realize that corn is not a vegetarian or vegan taboo food but as I was starting to read label after label I realized that corn was in EVERYTHING! I was thinking that this was an Area 51 government conspiracy that I had uncovered. As I was attempting to remove impurities from my diet I became aware of the gigantic production and use of corn in our commercial and packaged foods. As I researched corn derivatives I found a four page document on all the secret jargon used to identify corn. Talk about overwhelming. To date corn has been the most difficult ingredient to remove from my diet and I am sure that I consume small quantities of it from time to time. Right around the same time I took up the crusade against corn a co-worker asked me if I had ever heard or seen the movie Food Inc. She said that the film would substantiate my label reading finds and would open my mind to all things evil concerning corn. I finally loaded the movie on instant viewing through Netflix and "GASP" my worst fears regarding corn materialized before my eyes. This movie (a must view for every person in America) also absolutely terrified me as it confirmed a couple of other issues I was already chewing my cud over. More to come on that…Let's just say this film was scarier than any horror movie I have ever seen because it is real!

http://www.cornallergens.com/

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

http://www.netflix.com/

Sugar Seduction & Starbucks

2010-05-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

I have never liked coffee but if you add enough dairy, sugar, caramel or other delicious ingredients to coffee I am in caffeine and sugar nirvana. Thus started my addiction to Starbucks and Moxie Java (not to name drop). I discovered this sinful world of warm and cold blended beverages (including Chai) that were good any time of day, any change in weather, any time I wanted to treat myself or a friend. I was slowly seduced by the dairy, friendly baristas and sugar. The Starbucks gals even know my Pei's names! I had no chance I was a coffee novice up against seasoned drink professionals.

Then my moment of redemption came via the detox. I had to completely kick the juice except for herbal ice tea with my Stevia Sweetener. I lamented over giving up my drinks but knew the minute I gave up dairy that my coffee days were over.

My plunge back into addiction started innocently enough. I pulled up to the speaker a week or so ago to order my Passion Ice Tea and the chipper barista wanted to know if I wanted to have a Happy Hour (1/2 price) Frappuccino. I sadly explained that I was off the juice because of my dairy allergy. She was more than thrilled to inform me that they had just reengineered their secret recipe and it was now dairy free and could be made with soy instead of milk. "WHAT!?" Was she sure? Yep, they read me the label twice and sure enough no dairy. The heavens opened, my heart soared, I was back in business. I even called Joy to tell her the thrilling news (high off caffeine by this point). Her lack of enthusiasm (she is not a recovering Starbucks addict like I am) did not spoil my glee.

The next day I naturally stopped to treat myself and double checked the ingredients again. Sure enough no dairy. I know you can see the writing on the wall. Day after day I justified my treats and how wonderful it was to have these delightful drinks back into my life. Then it hit me. Yep, the first ingredient in their new formula is SUGAR! Yes, I was willing to turn my back on the dairy but I had only given up one addiction for another. Now, I was seriously addicted to sugar in less than a week and a half. I would kid myself that the drink was picking me up but really all that was happeneing was it was crashing me down. Last night I again treated myself to one last drink. I have set aside my personal reusable mug (I even had the tools to enable myself) and am back on the ice tea train again. It might take me a few days to stop the cravings (I want…I want…I want...) but I am determined to kick the juice again. Hi my name is Kelly and I am a recovering Frappuccino addict…

Bubbles by Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap

2010-05-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

As I am sharing my vegan evolution and how I have gotten where I am at to date I do need to mention an old favorite of mine that I already actually owned but didn't make the connection to until last week. I have always carried with me in the camper Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. Dr. Bronner's soaps have been a camping staple for me since I was a child. We always selected Dr. Bronner's soaps because of their purity and organic ingredients. We felt that they were the best choice for the environment when enjoying the great outdoors.

Fast forward to my current journey and two weeks ago I ran out of liquid body soap. After reading the ingredients on my empty bottle (or attempting to read them) I decided I needed to start replacing my health and beauty aides with natural, organic and vegan products with absolutely no animal testing. Although I can't justify pitching everything into the garbage and starting with a clean slate I can replace items as I run out of them. As I was standing in the health section of my local Fred Meyer near work there were Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps staring back at me from the shelves. "WHAM"! I made the connection. Gee, if it's the perfect product to use outdoors why am I not using it at home. I picked up a bar of the All-One Hemp Lavender Pure Castile Soap and a bottle of the All-One Hemp Peppermint Liquid Soap (their most popular fragrance that makes your skin tingle).

The soaps are never tested on animals, are certified organic and are fair trade certified. And I can actually read and understand the ingredients. There is nothing confusing about organic coconut, palm, hemp and olive oils. Water and salt are also pretty simple to understand. The soaps smell lovely and wonderful and gentle on my skin and they are a blessing to the environment. I will be adding more Dr. Bronner's magic to my stash very soon.

http://www.drbronner.com/

Death of Dairy

2010-05-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

For me the biggest adjustment after the detox (which I did not come off of slowly as outlined) was not reintroducing dairy products to my diet. With the trial and error moments during the detox I realized that dairy and eggs were huge villains in my diet. Upon consuming dairy products (milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, ice cream etc.) I would experience negative physical ailments. If I ate toast with butter I would immediately suffer from heart burn and burping. A bowl of cereal would cause not only the heart burn but stomach cramps and bloating. At first I attributed everything to thinking I had a gluten or wheat allergy but soon discovered that wheat products didn’t bother me in the least it was the dairy and eggs added to the wheat that was causing my system so much distress.

Thinking back to my childhood I actually never really liked dairy products. I know I was allergic to cow's milk as an infant. I hated eggs as a child and honestly did not like most cheeses, didn't enjoy drinking milk (without chocolate added) and hated sour cream. As an adult I just though my tastes had evolved and learned to really enjoy dairy products. Although I still did not care for eggs I learned to love many different cheeses, liked cottage cheese, relished cheese fondue, savored yogurts, enjoyed ice cream etc.

For me the elimination of dairy products has been the most difficult. I have found that dairy is in just about everything in one form or another. It is added to sauces, salad dressings, crackers, breads and baked goods, chips, chocolate, condiments, canned soups, drink mixes etc. Many vegetarian products contain dairy and egg ingredients. It is also difficult to always identify the dairy and egg ingredients by the name. Manufacturers have learned to disguise milk and eggs with names like casein, lactalbumin, nougat, leviten, simplesse and lysozyme just to name a few. Even artificial and natural flavorings often contain dairy or egg ingredients. I swear the names the have created sound like they have come straight from the pages of a Harry Potter novel. What I found was that the only manufactured products that I could depend on not to contain dairy and milk products were Organic Vegan products. Gears upstairs turning...

It All Started with a Detox

2010-05-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

My current journey was started by my bosom buddy Joy. I have to hold Joy apart from all others not because she is absolutely one of the most wonderful people in my life who I adore and love like a sister. But most recently she is extra unique in my life based on the things we have shared and experienced together in 2010. There are just some journeys you don’t want to face alone and this one of them!

Joy and I were both suffering from a lot of intestinal discomfort, weight gain, bloating and just feeling down right punk all the time. We both would go off and on various diets searching for the answers and still managed to come up not feeling like we had made any ground on the over all health front. Poor Joy even joined Weight Watchers and week after week she was the only person not to shed even a pound. Even the instructor was dreading her weekly weigh-in's. Joy is a physical therapist and works with a notoriously healthy team of individuals. One day she was talking to a colleague who recognized all the symptoms Joy was sharing and said she knew the answer to our troubles. First she recommended that Joy remove all dairy products from her diet. Joy immediately noticed improvement. During another conversation she recommended that Joy participate in The 21 Pounds in 21 Day's Detox. http://mvdietdetox.com/ Joy was home sick but was willing to run by Barnes and Noble and picked both of us up a copy of the book. We decided to read the book simultaneously and then start the program together in about three to four weeks. Normally we would have started the following weekend but with the time we needed to read and how complicated it is we needed a couple of weeks to get our act together.

We spent a lot of time over the next week and a half reading about the detox, the steps necessary to facilitate it at home, what to shop for (a bit vague in the book) etc. Neither of us realized exactly what a detox involved but the experience is not for the faint of heart. Joy was ahead of me reading the book and each time I would read about something foreign (and yucky) I would call her in a panic saying "Are you kidding me?!?" We shopped together in preparation (it's a bit confusing and expensive), Joy ordered our can's (another item we never thought we would own – don’t even ask about this one), attempted to work on strange pureed soup recipes, purchased our natural bristle brushes for exfoliating etc. We were ready to start.

We learned rather quickly why individuals travel to Martha's Vineyard and shell out $500 a day to detox in serenity and privacy. The thought of leisurely strolling through nature at Marth's Vineyard and being waited on hand and foot definitely became a fantasy as I was racing for the bathroom at work as my system was attempting to rid it's self of impurities and toxins. Although we live in the real world (pay check to pay check, working full time with families to care for) we did manage to follow the detox with decent success. We were not able to do it perfectly and I fell off the wagon during the detox a few times we both lost about 11 pounds in two weeks. More importantly we discovered our health and vitality slowly returning. I could blog pages and pages to cover our detox adventures and misadventures. Let's just say we often laughed until we cried, learned that not all green drinks are created equal (this is a major understatement), the "can" takes practice and patience, there are many uses for Organic coffee (some you have never considered before)and you absolutely should never detox without your best friend.

Overall I 100% believe that a detox is the perfect way to set the foundation to a healthier lifestyle. Although I think Joy and I both discovered that a simpler detox for the real world might be a better suggestion vs. one that is as drastic as the 21 Day detox. Also I think a shorter detox for the first time might be more tolerable and easier to maintain than facing 30+ days. I also learned to read my body better than I had ever in the past. Through my experiences falling off the wagon I uncovered very quickly food allergies and the back lash of my choices. I got a lot of reading done in the "reading room" especially after the Bisque Mushroom Soup from Rudy's Bar and Grill. Never has dairy been so scary!

Let's Buzz for the Bee's

2010-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

In June it's National Pollinator Week (21st - 27th). You can bring bees, birds and butterflies into your yard by planting the shrubs and flowers they love. Enter your zip code at http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm to get a list of pollinator-attracting plants for your area.

Out of the Closet

2010-05-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have created my own little world of blogs. I found it easier to compartmentalize my blogs based on the passion they pertain to in my life vs. one giant blog that is a mishmash of happenings, muses and activities. "Treasure Seekers" http://www.lbwithblackvelvetrav.blogspot.com/ is dedicated to my Letterboxing and outdoor pursuits. "The Other Side of Wonderland" http://www.blackvelvetrav.blogspot.com/ is a blog filled with my paper crafting, card making and culinary creations. "Compassion Comes from the Heart" features my volunteer activities on behalf of Compassion International as an Advocate. I also share letters and sponsorship tidbits from the children we sponsor in India, Guatemala and Indonesia. http://www.heartforcompassion.blogspot.com/ And last but not least Raisin and Jay "The Pei's of Adventure" have their own personal blogs on Dogster. I will admit that I am months and months behind on updating their blogs and happenings but it is on my radar. "The Raisin" http://www.dogster.com/dogs/494180 and "Little Jay-Man" http://www.dogster.com/dogs/770373

The history of my artistic and Letterboxing blogs surfaced through requests from friends and family to keep up with my activities both on and off the trail. My Compassion blog came as a suggestion and call to action as a Compassion sponsor to share the ministry with others. And Raisin and Jay's came as a recommendation from fellow Pei lovers and dog rescuers that we know.

This blog has been created and fueled by my own need to track resources I have discovered and to help me navigate my own journey physically, emotionally and globally. This is the one blog that I am intimated by and almost even scared of. This blog represents monumental changes in my perceptions, decisions and choices going forward. Although much of this is frightening and new to me (I am an infant in the arena) I think it is too important to sit by and hide my awakening just because I am continually learning, discovering and tweaking. The minute this first post is in print I am "out of the closet." None of my existing blogs force me to take a stand beyond my own comfort levels. However, this one does. This blog will set me apart from many others in the world but will also serve to connect me to a whole new community and family.

With no fan fair, drum roll or parade I am placing my blog out there for the world to see. My name is Kelly and I am a fledgling Vegan. Although my journey to date has not been a perfect one I know I am on the right path and will chronicle my experiences to this point and will share my victories and mishaps going forward. Yes, I am out of the closet (tiny round of paws applause in the background)!