Status Vegan

Writing Debut

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:45:00 +0000

Ever find yourself in situations like realizing only after beginning a conversation that you forgot to brush your teeth that morning so you desperately sought creative ways talk around your unfortunate victim of circumstance? Or discreetly passing what you thought was gas while in a meeting but it wasn't, so you were forced to sit in your own slosh until it was over? Well you’re definitely not alone. Get the ebook that exposes the stories of our most embarrassing moments, and laugh at someone else’s expense this time. Really!? Embarrassing Moments…We Pretend Never Happened! Available soon at your ebook retailers!

Birthday Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Instead of eating this delicious looking Whole Foods all natural Strawberry Lemon Birthday Cake which my daughter specifically requested.

She insisted on having my slice of Chicago Diner Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate cake which I picked up from Whole Foods also.

Well I couldn't turn down the birthday girl. She reluctantly shared some with me :-). Who could blame her. It was really really good. I just couldn't get over the fact that she preferred the vegan one over the all natural butter cream iced cake which was undeniably gorgeous and extremely tasty by all accounts of family and friends who shared some with the birthday girl. I sat and enjoyed my Peanut Butter Chocolate cake slice nicely while everyone else ate the other on her birthday. She definitely didn't turn her Strawberry Lemon cake down and she stated that it was in fact yummy. But according to her it was no match for my vegan cake. So the next day when leftover cake was being offered, almost as if she had been thinking about it ever since she saw me eating it, she persistently asked for "the chocolate cake." She even teased me when she got down to the last bite and told me I could have the rest if I wanted and that she didn't want anymore because she was full. After I verified this a couple of times she finally hit me with a "Syke! I'm just kidding, I want it" while giggling. As bad as I wished she wasn't kidding, I couldn't help being secretly flattered that she liked the vegan cake best.

Soy Ice Cream and Duplex Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Soooooooooo Delicious!

Yeah, it's as bad as it looks. I'm indulging in my car while waiting for my daughter to get out of school. I love So Delicious Dairy Free Neapolitan Frozen Dessert. I call it ice cream. It sure taste like it. In fact it tastes better. I only had one serving left in the container so I figured I'd garnish it with some 365 brand All Natural Duplex Sandwich Cremes, It was a bad bad situation. Nothing but space, opportunity, cookies and soy cream. Yeah, it was just about as bad and good as it could get. These two together are just pure dangerous deliciousness. I think it was gone in about 5 spoonfuls.

What's your vegan guilty pleasure?

All products mentioned in this blog are personally purchased unless noted otherwise. Any opinions and information stated here are based solely on my own personal experience with the product. When compensated reviews are published notification of that will be listed within the posting.

Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:52:00 +0000

Photo By Rudy Tiben

Today marks the beginning of changes for this blog. There will gradually be visual and contextual changes. Primarily it will continue to cover my vegan transition and information about the lifestyle. However, as the title is meant to suggest this blog is about more than being vegan. My vegan transition is only part of the many co occurring elements in my life. Becoming vegan has truly been an enlightening experience revealing many other aspects of: health, nutrition, the human body, the complex and wonderful nature of animals and our connection with them, nature, the earth, the universe, science, spirituality, and an endless list of intriguing entities. The clarity this experience has brought me has led me to discover the many different aspects of that which is me. For this reason my future posts will involve more than just what I eat, but also what I am passionate about. Just as any journey we take in life is a multidimensional experience, the same is true for this one.

I would love to hear your feedback on this and on future posts.

Reason for Vegan #2: Peacefulness

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:50:00 +0000

While there are plenty of factors that affect our moods, I’ve noticed that vegetarians/vegans seem to generally have a more peaceful disposition than those that consume a lot of meat. There are many theories out there about why this is. The most popular being that chemicals or hormones released during the slaughter of animals remains in their systems and we consume them when we eat meat. While I haven’t found any credible evidence to support this, while doing a little personal research on the effects of eating on mood and behavior, I found more opinionated literature than professional research. Certainly this is something worth looking into. It stands to reason that the slaughtering and consumption of the flesh of any living creature (which is quite different than plants who are also living but lack the intelligence and ability to interact within or outside their own species) isn’t a very humane act. In fact I can remember watching nature shows as a child and seeing lions savagely attacking zebras by jumping them and piercing their long sharp fangs into the neck of their prey until finally disabling it. Afterwards the other lions joined in ripping and pulling the flesh and finally feasting. I cringed at the viciousness and goriness of it, but it was made clear to me even then that it was the “natural order” of things. Be that as it may, I don’t see myself as a wild animal needing to attack my meal in order to survive, and just because someone else does it for me doesn’t absolve me of the act. Even my ancestors had the option of choosing vegetation over flesh and I have no doubt those that did were able to survive just as well. I’ve also considered that eating meat at the very minimum has a negative impact on how the human body functions and anytime something is impairing our bodies ability to function be it overloads of sugar, salt, or food in general, it would be extremely difficult to maintain a placid like disposition. Thinking about it, if we’re uncomfortable for any length of time we get irritable. Also, I realize the Earth in all its magnificence, is angry in its own right. Perhaps that might be because we’re destroying her at an alarming rate by cutting down her beautiful shrubbery to increase land mass in order to graze more animals for slaughter. I don’t think anyone right now can deny the impact this has had on our environment and how it operates which seems to directly and indirectly affect how humans behave. In my own personal experience, I have noticed quite a difference in my coping abilities and overall tranquility since changing my diet, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t improve even more as my diet evolves into a healthier one. As I’ve stated before, vegan is not synonymous with healthy. Any diet can be poorly managed. All things considered, I believe there is a notable correlation between the herbivorous diet and a peaceful existence. Therefore, I remain encouraged to “increase the peace” by maintaining my vegan status for the long haul, because I know it makes a positive and peaceful impact on my health, my family’s health, animals, and the planet.

Waffles and Mashed Potatoes: Leftovers for Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:47:00 +0000

I was in taste bud heaven this past Sunday with a breakfast of Van's Blueberry Waffles; leftover mashed potatoes , gravy, and Gardein Beefless Tips; and honey crisp apple slices (sorry I ate those before I thought of taking the picture because they were so juicy and sweet!). It took me five minutes to put it together. I threw a waffle in the toaster and then softened it in the microwave for 20 seconds. I cored and sliced the apple and then heated up the leftover potatoes, gravy, and tips; and added a little Earth Balance Soy Free Buttery Spread and Log Cabin All Natural Syrup. I know the Log Cabin is a stretch because it contains sugar which could be processed in a way that's non vegan. I'm working on that. It's difficult for me to spend so much money on all natural syrup at this time as it generally costs roughly ¢.64 an oz. Also, I like the thickness of the syrup vs the 100% pure maple (though I do enjoy this as well). I'm a work in progress (the whole nature of my blog) what can I say? With or without syrup this breakfast was delicious. The waffles are a sweet doughy combination of grains and fruit juices. The mashed potatoes were the smooth, fluffy result of russets (some peeled, some not) seasoned with sea salt, black pepper, Earth Balance, and soy milk. My little girl even mashed them for me. The gravy, a golden blend of, unbleached all purpose flour and sliced onions sauteed in a small amount of canola oil, later adding chicken broth prepared using Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base and a pinch of black pepper. The Gardein tips were a wonderful complement to this meal. Adding to these the Van's waffles and sliced apples the next morning or so was simply delightful. What I loved most about it besides the taste was the ability to turn leftovers into a meal reminiscent of those I would usually go to a restaurant to eat. This keeps foods from going to waste, is far less money and is much more tasty. I've always favored home cooked meals over dining out. Anytime I can have such a buffetesque meal in five minutes, it is an absolute bonus.

Texas Caviar

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:40:00 +0000

This recipe showed up at a potluck office party. I wasn't even at work that day and still heard about it so I knew it must have been good. I asked for the recipe and my friend brought it over to me right away. My coworkers were adamant that I had to try it so I made it for a pot luck and tried it then for the first time. It was soooo good! Every time I've served it for potluck events people really love it and they quickly forget or find it hard to believe it's vegan. It's now been voted as my dish to bring to potlucks and parties. Let me know what you think.

Recipe

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar (half if you are watching your sugar intake)
1 can black beans - drained
1 can Shoepeg (white) corn - drained
1 can black eyed peas - drained
1 4oz jar pimentos - drained
1 jar pickled jalapenos chopped (about 1/3 of the jar for a more mild batch - add more if you like spicy)
1 medium red onion

In a saucepan heat oil and vinegar, then add sugar and heat on low until sugar is dissolved.
In a large bowl, combine all other ingredients well.
Pour oil and vinegar combination over bean mixture and marinate over night.
Drain off marinade and serve with Frito scoops.

Southern Fried Okra

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Breaded and fried. I know it's not the healthiest way to eat, but it sure does taste good. Besides, we all need a break from monitoring everything we put in our mouths sometimes. It's an easy addition to most of our meals. Even if your not an okra fan, you may find this to be surprisingly tasty.

Recipe

1 28-32oz bag of frozen okra

1 cup yellow corn meal

1 cup unbleached, all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. iodized sea salt

canola oil (enough to cover bottom of frying pan up to approximately 1/4")

Allow frozen okra to completely thaw.
Combine remaining ingredients except canola oil, in a large bowl, preferably one with a lid.
Add canola to large frying pan and warm on medium to medium high heat.
Add okra to cornmeal mixture, cover bowl completely, and shake to evenly coat okra.
Add coated okra to pan in batches and fry until golden brown, approximately 3-6 minutes on each side.
Drain on paper towels.

I hope you'll let me know what you think.

Under the Microscope: The Scrutiny of My Vegan Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:49:00 +0000

My Handsome Son and I Grocery Shopping

Lately my health has been less than stellar. I have been experiencing some gastric issues. Finally going to the doctor after months of self maintenance hasn't shed any real light on the actual cause of my symptoms. I'm left with Google and speculation until my next appointment in two weeks. Being vegan definitely comes with expectations and responsibilities. The assumption that people make is that if your vegan, vegetarian, or a raw foodist, you should never be sick. I'm afraid to openly discuss it for this reason. It's not uncommon for me to mention feeling under the weather only to hear the comment, "It's because you don't eat any meat," or "You’re not getting all your protein," when in fact they really mean amino acids. I find it ironic that people can inquire about whether I'm getting enough protein as if they’re experts on protein requirements, but the question they should be asking is if I'm getting enough amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. Sometimes I want to scream at them, don’t you realize that not only am I getting enough protein because my diet includes so many resources of it, but you should be more concerned about the fact that your getting pharmaceutical amounts of it from your meat laden diet! Of course I don’t because it would serve no purpose and add to the stigma that vegans are “fanatical and crazy.” I once read a comment a while back, of a guy who said that he tries to keep his health 100% because he felt it was his responsibility to represent vegans in the healthy way they are perceived in order to demonstrate the benefits of the lifestyle. I must admit, I did assume that once I gave up all the crap, my body would suddenly morph into a super body. As I read the Kind Diet, the book that propelled me into this journey, Alicia Silverstone discussed how much her allergies faded once she changed her diet. I thought, great no more sinus issues. When that didn't happen for me, I pretty much attributed it to the fact that Alicia's diet is even more disciplined than mine because she eats a primarily macrobiotic diet. Then I remembered, there are some vegans that don't eat that way and are extremely healthy. So that brings me back to square one. Back to explaining to people how not eating meat and eggs is not going to help or get rid of my acid reflux and sinus headaches. Even going a step further and reminding them that if I did eat those things I'd probably be in worse shape than I am now and believe me there is plenty of scientific evidence out there to back me up. My weight is an issue too.

Getting in Shape.............Me and My Princess Doing Yoga

I've been told, “you should be the size of a stick the way you eat." People don't realize that you can eat an entirely vegan diet and be overweight or obese. There are so many vegan products out there that are unhealthy and fattening that I couldn't even begin to list them here and to be honest, until recently when my health started to concern me I indulged in quite a bit of them. After a weekend of social junk food eating, I noticed the effects of all the sugar and alcohol I had consumed. More sugar than alcohol of course. Sugar is a part of almost everything we eat in one way or another. Either the food contains it, or the body converts it to sugar or glucose. Without realizing it, I was setting my body up for failure. Now I'm dealing with the aftermath in the form of Candida overgrowth and low levels of beneficial intestinal bacteria. The Candida has manifested in more than just the typical yeast infection that females, and sometimes males, experience. It has manifested in the form of nail fungus, chronic congestion, acne, and intestinal imbalance (TMI, I know). Regardless of what non vegans think, I'm fully aware that this has nothing to do with being vegan, and everything to do with being a sugar junky. All this is to say that I am disappointed. Not in my diet, but in how I manage it. For now I'm doing everything I can to resolve my health issues and improve my diet. I can't say enough about how meditation and yoga have helped minimize the symptoms and even provided me some compliments on my changing shape, although I still have a long way to go. More importantly, there is nothing that anyone else can say to make me regret or change my decision to become vegan.

Louisiana Red beans, Yellow Rice, Cornbread, and Mixed Greens (What I Ate for Christmas, Umm)

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:09:00 +0000

This was my second Christmas eating vegan. This year I went back to my childhood roots for dinner ideas. The only thing missing was the turkey/chicken which I didn't miss at all. I hadn't realized how the meat overwhelmed the flavors of the side dishes. Not having any allowed the seasonings to stand out much more powerfully on my palate. After four hours of gift opening with my lovely family I was famished and this meal hit the spot. You'll find the recipes below.

Louisiana Red Beans

I retrieved this recipe from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen. With only a few modifications, I stayed true to the original recipe for the most part. You can click the link for the ingredients and original cooking instructions.

Soak dry beans overnight in water(see package for water/bean ratio).
Drain and rinse beans.
Add all ingredients to a crock-pot except salt.
Add enough water to cover up to 1 inch above level of beans. Stir contents of pot for even distribution of seasonings.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
(Optional) - Remove most of the beans and mash well. Add them back to the pot and add salt to taste.
Stir and serve over rice.

Yellow Brown Rice

2 cups long grain brown rice

1 small chopped onion

4 cups no chicken broth (I use Better Than Bouillon) or vegetable broth

1/3 cup Earth Balance natural buttery spread (soy free or original)

Add all ingredients to a large rice cooker and stir.
Cook according to manufacturer’s directions.

Golden Cornbread [This recipe is to die for. Not to toot my own horn :-)]

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/3 cup pure cane sugar

1 tsp. salt

3-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup plain almond or soy milk

1/3 cup olive oil

Cinnamon

1 Tbsp.(or more if needed for even coating) Earth Balance buttery spread

Preheat oven 350°. Lightly and evenly coat an 8x8 Pyrex dish with canola or olive oil cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk all dry ingredients.
Make a well in center of mixture and add wet ingredients, combine well.
Pour mixture into prepared dish and lightly sprinkle cinnamon evenly over cornbread mixture.
Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until golden inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Immediately after removing from oven, evenly spread Earth Balance across the top of cornbread.
I promise this might be the best cornbread you've ever had.

Mixed Greens

1 bunch of mixed greens of your choice, kale, collard, turnip, mustard etc.

1 small onion

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves minced or crushed

3 Tbsp liquid smoke

2-1/2 cups water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar(optional)

Salt/pepper to taste

In a 3 quart pan bring water to a boil.
Add greens and onions; reduce heat to medium-low.
Add remaining ingredients except salt and pepper. Cook until greens are tender or to preferred consistency.
Add salt and pepper to taste. (I like mine with Louisiana hot sauce.)

I hope you'll try these and let me know how or if you like them. Happy eating!

Red Robin

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:26:00 +0000

It's really difficult to find places to eat that offer vegan choices. When asked the dreaded question where I would like to eat, I always decide what’s beneficial for everyone instead of me. I rarely dine out so I'm still searching non vegan establishments that carry enough options for me and my companions. Fortunately there are apps and sites for that. After checking Vegan Eating Out, I noticed Red Robin had a lot of tasty looking vegan options. I wasn’t extremely hungry so I split the tortilla chips, guacamole, and salsa with my friend and ordered the steak fries for myself. I made sure to confirm the fries were not cooked in the same oil as everything else. I also ordered a Miller Lite which is vegan according to the research I've done regarding vegan friendly alcohol. I don’t drink much so I’m not too familiar about vegan alcohol options. I tried to ditch the beer for a smoothie, but unfortunately they are not made with real fruit. The only real fruit they could offer to make a smoothie from was strawberries. Since the smoothie I ordered included strawberries and apple juice, I asked for just those blended as an alternative. Seemed like a good idea though my waitress seemed humorously skeptical about the blend. My friend quickly notifies me that apple juice has arsenic in it. She had just recently heard that information and was kind enough to kill my last hopes for a smoothie :-) Needless to say I was very satisfied with the fries and a sweet and spicy ketchup sauce for dipping. I don't like to make my servers work any harder than they have to so I only ask a certain amount of questions before I start to feel like a pain in the rump, even if they're cooperative. It's an issue I really need to work on because if I don't I'll forever be consuming some food that is possibly cross contaminated or non vegan. For that reason I can't really confirm the vegan friendly status of the fries in terms of the oil they were cooked in and if the tortilla chips contained any animal byproducts. I tried to look it up on the website later but not all information was available and according to their downloadable allergen information page all of the available information will be invalid after January 1, 2012. Even better they put a disclaimer that they have to substitute products at times of inventory shortage and can therefore not assure their customers that the substitution will be suitable for allergy concerns. Regardless I can't pretend I didn't enjoy my fries, but in the future I will need to improve on planning ahead and research to decrease any inconveniences while dining out. Overall, Red Robin is still a likely good choice for a vegan friendly dining location.

Reason for Vegan #1 Sinking Your Teeth In

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Lioness............Isn't She Lovely

If you need a reason to become vegan or just plain don't understand why some do, you've come to the right place. This is the first of my 1000 reasons for going vegan posts which I hope are thought provoking, enlightening, and maybe even encouraging. Take a look at the lovely creature in the photo. Now take a closer look at her teeth. Now that you've done that, go to the mirror and take a real hard look at your teeth. Notice any differences between yours and hers? I'm sure you do. Her perfectly pointed and extremely sharp teeth are just right for piercing flesh. Our tiny canines don't quite measure up right? Well there is a reason for that. Besides the obvious differences in our dentition (tooth anatomy) in comparison to carnivores, there are many anatomical details that support evidence that human teeth are herbivorous; even more so than omnivorous. You can visit this link http://www.tierversuchsgegner.org/wiki/index.php?title=Taxonomy for a quick comparative reference. However, I strongly urge you to research it for yourself. I think you’ll be surprised by what you find.

Apple Dipping

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Whenever my children are ready for a snack, I offer them as much variety as possible. This isn't always easy because my children aren't vegan, but they are open to try and often enjoy most ;-) of the vegan versions of foods I provide. Apples and yogurt make a great snack and are a wonderful complement to one another. This snack can be prepared using soy, rice, or coconut yogurt. For this one I used WholeSoy&Co. plain yogurt. It's lightly sweet which is nice in comparison to the bitter chalky taste I remember from traditional yogurt. It is also creamier than traditional yogurt. This is a nutritionally well rounded and simple snack that both I and my children really like.

1/2 cup yogurt(soy, rice, coconut)
thinly sliced apple(Fuji, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Gala)
pinch of cinnamon(optional)
handful of walnuts(optional

Place yogurt in a small container.
Add cinnamon and walnuts.
Enjoy with sliced apples.

Root for Ginger!

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Nothing spells relief like Zingiber Officinale aka Ginger, better known for cookies and ale; it's a highly underrated herb. One of the best things about being vegan has been an increased awareness of healthier alternatives not only to meat, but personal care products, and healing treatments as well. One day I decided to try and avoid taking pain medication for menses cramping [hope you don’t mind the candor fellas :-)] I discovered ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory.

I gingerly gave it a try despite my doubts ;-). After using it on two occasions, I can sincerely testify that it does. I have to take it at the very earliest signs of pain for guaranteed success, but this was also the case with over the counter drugs. Either in tea or root form, both have been equally effective. I have used a homemade ginger tea recipe with lemon or the suggested lime, brewed it from a teabag, and eaten it peeled and sliced. All of which worked. It's very very spicy though when you chew it out right and cold water is a necessary chaser when consuming it that way. I am so grateful that relief doesn't necessarily have to come from the medicine cabinet, but can come from the kitchen cabinet or refrigerator instead. Don't take my word for it though. Select the link in this post or research it for yourself and find out the many wonderful uses of ginger.

GOT RECIPES?

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:03:00 +0000

CALLING ALL VEGANS! I NEED AN OVERHAUL OF MY RECIPE BOX. I'VE BEEN RECYCLING THE SAME RECIPES AND MY AND MY FAMILY'S TASTE BUDS ARE BORED :-( THEREFORE I'M SEEKING YOUR HELP. IF YOU HAVE A RECIPE THAT IS SOOOOOOO GOOD (WILL EVEN FOOL OMNIVORES) AND DON'T MIND SHARING PLEASE DO. IT MAY EVEN BE ADDED TO MY LIST OF RECIPE FAVORITES IF IT'S THROUGH A LINK I CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS. LET'S SWAP RECIPES!

Southern Comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Part of the struggle of transforming to a vegan diet was missing some of the old dishes that I once loved. Initially it felt like my options had decreased exponentially. I felt deprived, which is no different than what most people feel when they make dietary changes. However there was one significant difference in this situation. Eventually I came to realize this was no diet that I had just adopted so I can shed a few pounds. This was truly what is known as a lifestyle change. It was a commitment. So what that really meant is adapting, or simply put, making a few adjustments. Okay, making a LOT of adjustments :-). Truly this was a challenging notion, but no more than anything else in life that I've dealt with. Not to mention the countless benefits of this process to me, to my family, to animals, and to Earth.

Peach Berry Cobbler

Last night I found myself craving Peach Cobbler. Completely fitting since peach cobbler is one of those dishes that I enjoyed most often during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. A dish with Southern connotations, it is almost synonymous with overindulging and pants unbuttoning to make room for dessert which is right wear peach cobbler came in. Afterwards it's a race to the most comfortable spot in the home of whomever did the honor of hosting a family dinner, and afterward the anticipated sugar coma that overcomes you as if someone put a handkerchief bathed in chloroform over your face.

Adapting my own vegan version from Allrecipes.com Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe, and based on what I had available at the time I made Peach Berry Cobbler. Let me tell you, my teenage omnivore son went from complaining about the fact that I added mixed berries to it, to tasting it, and then impatiently waiting for a helping right after dinner to which I protested in classic mama fashion, "Wait till your food digests first." It was a smash, and in my opinion better than the old version. It didn't have that heaviness to it that I had been accustomed to which I truly do not miss. Though this recipe may contain what seems like a lot of ingredients the preparation is pleasantly simple. The result, pure Southern comfort.

Recipe

Fruit Blend
1 16oz bag frozen peaches, 1 16oz bag frozen berry medley (includes strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and red raspberries)
1/4 cup pure cane sugar
1/4 cup pure cane brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
juice of half a lemon

Dough Topping
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 cup pure cane sugar
1/4 cup pure cane brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp iodized sea salt
6 Tbsp Earth Balance buttery spread or sticks
1/4 cup boiling water

Cinnamon Sugar Mix
1 Tbsp pure cane sugar, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon combined

Preheat oven to 350°
In an 8x8 inch square glass casserole dish combine all ingredients of fruit blend. Make sure fruit is coated evenly.
Place in preheated oven for 15 minutes
In a food processor pulse (or large bowl whisk) all ingredients of dough topping except boiling water, until it resembles course cornmeal.
Add boiling water to this mixture. Mix until blended well.
Remove fruit blend from oven after 15 minutes. Add prepared dough topping by the spoonful evenly over fruit blend. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over dough topping.
Return dish to oven for 30-40 minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy.

Makes 6-8 servings

Primal Fears

noreply@blogger.com (Teri' S.) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:58:00 +0000

My Bologna Has a First Name, It's M E A T..Less

I can only describe the moment I made the decision to transform my diet into a vegan one as a moment of clarity. As I see it, my eating habits at the time were that of someone with a disease like alcoholism; and if I wanted to change them, I would have to get rid of some heavy demons. The inspiration for this decision came in the form of a book titled, The Kind Diet. My eyes nearly jumped out the sockets as I read about the real dangers of indulging in an omnivorous diet and the controversial issues surrounding the food and medical industries. I can still remember the moment I finally came up for air during one of my many heavily engrossed sessions of reading the book. I looked up at my then fiance and told him I was done. I declared I would be cutting meat from my diet. Ah, what a liberating moment it was. Blissful as it may have been, I didn't stop to really think about what that meant. Ignoring my primal fears of life with NO MEAT, and for that matter any animal products of any kind, I dove into it feet first. Cutting cold turkey is great, but not if your blind as a bat to the whole picture. Nevertheless, I embarked on my journey and for the most part am keeping my head above water. Inevitably there was denial, withdrawal, craving, moodiness, and resistance; the whole gambit. Since the official date I claimed this new lease on life, March 29th of 2010, it's been like the most thrilling roller coaster. Ups and downs, twists and turns. But it's one that I never want to get off of and I'm surely glad I got on which is ironic considering I loathe roller coasters :-)