Brea Getting Fit » vegetarianism

Fresh and Clean

breefawn — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:01:03 +0000

I LOVE a clean house almost as much as I love vegan nachos (okay…I’ll admit, maybe a little bit more). I’m OFFICIALLY 9 months pregnant, and don’t think that the “nesting” phase has kicked in, it’s just escalated. I think that I may be driving Ish NUTS with all of my disinfecting, dusting and requests for him to vacuum (I developed carpal tunnel, so sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming KILLS my wrists right now). BUT, I have a CLEAN house, and it’s FANTASTIC!! I even have a clean sewing room!!! My mom will actually have a place to sleep when she comes to help with the Tater! HOORAY! I have discovered along the way that some of my tried and true cleaning products contain some scary, scary stuff, though…. AND I also found that Clorox gives me a migraine. I can’t believe that I never made the connection before!!

OOH! AND we also got a bbq!! It was Ish’s Father’s Day present (which I realize is incredibly early), and it’s been WONDERFUL. So far my favorites are grilled fajita veggies with guacamole and smashed black beans AND my grilled portabella sammies. YUM! I cannot wait to try out my new Outset F107, Bamboo Skewers w/natural finish (wide/12 this weekend, either!! The plan is to use zucchini, squash, crimini mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onions with some fajita seasoning. I cannot WAIT!! I love summer!

Skinny Bastard

breefawn — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:24:17 +0000

So…. You’re probably wondering what a cute girl like me is doing reading a book entitled Skinny Bastard. Um…well, let’s see…I’m married, my hubby isn’t veg and I want him to be. There you have it. Unfortunately, the purchase of said book was made with the hope that he would enjoy the read, get a little enlightened and not give me so much *ahem* about not cooking fish or chicken anymore. No such luck. He laughted at the introduction, chucked a few times in the second chapter and then proceeded to thumb through, avoiding anything that might be a little uncomfortable. So now, it’s my turn to read it. I haven’t finished it yet, but so far, it pretty much follows the same line, tone and context of Skinny Bitch. Unlike Skinny Bitch, Skinny Bastard addresses the male ego and heart disease. The list of resources at the end of the book is updated (which was nice of the girls), and the bawdy humor and annoying cussing is all there, too. I think that this is a good one for those guys in your life who are contemplating veg*n, but haven’t taken the leap of faith yet…or it could just be good education for wives like me. He did say that he skimmed because I already know all this stuff, and he’d rather hear it from me…of course, something tells me that his avoidance tactics worked.

HFCS…um…S-C-A-R-Y!

breefawn — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:11:15 +0000

If you’ve read Skinny Bitch, then you’ve heard all about the scariness that is HFCS, or High-fructose corn syrup. HFCS is just ONE of many scary sweeteners that have danced their way into our food supply. Even scarier? No one is really sure that they’re safe. I know that this is a rather shocking thing, and I’m going out on a limb here, but I feel that the pros outweigh the cons. People need to know what they’re puttin into their bodies and how it is effecting them. First of all, until the late 1970s, people consumed SUCROSE (the sugar derived from sugar cane), then, in the late ’70s, HFCS was introduced. I’m sure you know, but just in case you don’t, corn is NOT a vegetable, it IS, however a GRAIN. So what does that mean to you and me? It means that HFCS will get digested by our bodies much faster than is even remotely healthy. This is scary, because even WITH it’s kernels, corn metabolizes VERY rapidly, without them…it’s like shooting straight sugar into your bloodstream, which causes your pancreas to go into overdrive. THAT ALONE is a good enough reason to stay away, at least, in MY opinion. This topic is definitely worth further research. As I mentioned, there is a good bit of information on the topic in the book, Skinny Bitch. I love this book, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t read it. You won’t be sorry. There is also quite a bit of information to be found online. I’ve included a list of articles for you. I know, so sweet of me! I do believe that everything in moderation is a GOOD thing, but HFCS scares me. I’ll stick to natural sweeteners, such as Madhava Pure Organic Raw Agave Nectar, 46-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 2), thank you!

For further reading, check out:

I WON!!

breefawn — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:43:23 +0000

So…yesterday I got a tweet from Cosmo’s Vegan Shop (www.cosmosveganshop.com) that they were having a giveaway: http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com/2009/05/jewelry-back-in-stock-and-giveaway.php. The necklace that was the prize was A-dorable, so of course, I entered. And…TODAY, I got a tweet that they had picked the winner: http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com/2009/05/winner-of-jewelry-giveaway.php. I clicked the link, looked, looked again, OMW! IT’S ME!! I am SO very excited!! I can’t remember the last time I won something…okay, actually, I was 10 and I named the recycling mascot for our county (how cool is that?!) “Les Trash”. Aren’t I genius? Anyhoo…the necklace is SUPER cute, AND it’s made from ethical sources. HOORAY!! I can’t wait to get it and wear it with pride! If you want to match me, check out Cosmo’s: http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CRGVPP&Category_Code=JWL&Product_Count=4.

Brea’s thin-crust vegan pizza

breefawn — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:36:41 +0000

I’m a pizza addict, so I was pretty anxious to see how a vegan version would taste. In one word: INCREDIBLE!! I loaded up on veggies, vegan pepperoni (YAY!) and Soy Cheese. Super yummy, very cheesy and VERY authentic!! I’m a sauce fan, but if you’re not, then you could definitely use tomatoes, black beans (mmm…mexican pizza!!), or even silken tofu! The possibilities are ENDLESS! Pizza is another great “clean out your fridge meal, by the way. At my house, pizza night is one where I look in the fridge and realize I have just enough of everything for toppings.

Did I mention the insanely-tasty WHOLE WHEAT crust? It’s awesome. Very crispy, crunch and chewy all at the same time!! AND IT’S THIN!! I’ve never been a huge fan of pan or hand-tossed crusts, so my version suits me just fine. AND it’s incredibly EASY!! So…without further ado:

Brea’s Thin-Crust Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 c of water (room temp)
1/2 tsp yeast
2 c whole wheat flour
1 c marinara/pizza sauce
1-2 cups assorted vegetables for toppings
1 cup shredded cheez (I like Vegan Gourmet)
Vegan “parmesan” for sprinkling

**You will also need 2 12-inch squares of parchment paper**

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place the water in a bowl and dissolve the yeast. Add the flour and work into a ball. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until springy (about 5 minutes). Cut dough in half. Take half and place it on parchment paper. Press dough out into 10″ circle. Top with everything but the cheez. Bake on pizza pan or stone (on parchment) for 5 minutes. Rotate 180 degrees. Bake for 3 minutes more. Add cheez, bake 3 minutes more. Remove from oven and transfer to pizza platter. Cool for 3-5 minutes. Makes 2 10-inch pizzas.

Go Raw Now Movie…

breefawn — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:39:37 +0000

Being newly vegan, I’ve been toying with the idea of going raw, and the guy in the video does have a good point. Yeah, he’s a little off his rocker, but there’s definitely something to his message! The more raw food I eat, the better I feel. Coincidence? I think not. Not saying that I’m going to completely raw, but it is definitely something to think about….

And yeah, this is SUPER cheesy…(especially the end!) but it’s a GREAT message, and food for thought!

What do you think?

My anti-crawfish boil

breefawn — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:03:14 +0000

Okay, So our friends are renovating a house they just bought, and they were kind enough to inite hubby and myself over for dinner tonight. This works out perfect, since we have a 5K race tomorrow that is closer to their house than ours. (I honestly wasn’t thrilled at the idea of waking up at 5am to run at 7am) AND they have a pool. This is good. I like pools. So I asked what’s for dinner. They know I’m “vegetarian” but somehow don’t understand the definition of the term. On the menu tonight: CRAWFISH. Admittedly, in my pre-vegan days I would have cracked those poor little guys open right there with them. They seem to remember this before they remember that I am vegetarian. “But you eat crawfish, right?” (this is sounding vaguely familiar…) No, actually, I don’t eat crawfish, or any kind of animal for that matter. OR, if you want to take it a little bit farther, any animal product (I figured that while I was explaining it I should key them into my obsessive label-reading behavior). They still didn’t seem phased, and will probably be shocked when I show up with my awesome vegan food. I’m not about to starve, and I honestly don’t think that they’re going to care. They already think I’m weird…what’s bringing my own dinner, breakfast and lunch for tomorrow gonna do? Convince them I’m MORE weird? I honestly don’t think that’s possible. I am a little bit disturbed by the fact that hubby will be chowing down with them, after lunch at Arby’s (uh. seriously!? *picture me shaking my fist in frustration at the factory-farmed monstrosity* Okay, I promised him I wouldn’t criticize his diet…and he promised not to be critical of mine. We’ll leave that alone for now…. Besides, that’s a WHOLE other blog for a WHOLE OTHER day.) So, back to my point: I’m bringing my very own vegan picnic. And I couldn’t be MORE EXCITED! I have a girlfriend who is thinking of going veg…so she’s going to share my grub. I’m sure that Isa’s Salad Sammies (check out the recipe!), some quinoa with tofu, mushrooms, peas and veggie topping (fake parmesan), some green beans, a romaine salad and some canteloupe for desert will have her singing with joy! I know it’s got my mouth watering and my tummy grumbling already! I wish it were dinner time…

So my point is this: it is possible to be vegan in a non-vegan world. You just have to get creative and stop caring what everyone else thinks. I know this is probably a no-brainer, but seriously. If I can do it, so can you.

EAT THIS: Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Sausage Style

breefawn — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:08:50 +0000

Even my omni-hubby prefers this to the “real thing”. The “sausage” comes in a tube, and is completely veg. I love Lightlife products, and this is no exception. It works well on a vegan english muffin with melted soy cheese and Earth Balance, or in spaghetti, or even in lasagna! I love the versatility, if you can’t tell. There are a few things that you should know, though. The product is STICKY…so wet your hands before you start making patties or veggie balls. Also, it cooks best with a little bit of oil. I like vegetable oil, personally. This is one of the best sausage products I’ve tried, and one you start, you’ll be hooked (just to warn you)!

Isa’s Curried Tempeh Mango Salad Sammies

breefawn — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock
is one of my absolute FAV cookbooks. Isa (of PPK fame) has such a great style, and the recipes are all TO DIE FOR! Even my omni hubby has loved every recipe that I’ve made so far. So this week, I decided that I was going to make Isa’s Curried Tempeh Mango Salad Sammies. There’s only two words that could possibly describe them: SUPER AWESOME! I was so enamoured with them that I asked Isa if I could post a review and include the recipe!! To my delight, she said YES! WOOHOO!! So here are my thoughts:

The recipe DEFINITELY should be made the night before. It allows the flavors to really mature…I did try it after about an hour of refrigeration and it was good…but the next day it was AWESOME. The technique is pretty simple, and really doesn’t take alot of time or prep work. That being said, when you make your sammies, load up on veggies, too. I used Isa’s suggestions, and put on some red onion slices. I also added some spicy sprouts (I LOVE THEM), because I think that no sammie is complete without them. Hubby tried his with lettuce…I like my sprouts better. It’s a personal choice. I served the sammies with some spicy broccoli-slaw salad (my own invention…although I’m still perfecting it. I’ll post the recipe once I’ve got it right), and brussel sprouts. We dug into more mango slices for dessert. This recipe is DEFINITELY a keeper!! Without further ado:

Isa’s Curried Tempeh Mango Salad Sammiches

1 (8 oz) package of Tempeh

1 TBSP soy sauce

1 cup(ish) mango – about 1 mango, peeled & chopped into 1/4 inch chunks

1/4 cup scallions, chopped

For the Dressing:

3 TBSP vegan mayonnaise

2 tsp curry powder

Juice of 2 limes

2 TBSP apple cider vinegar

1 tsp hot sauce (I used Tobasco)

pinch salt

For the sammiches:

2 large pitas, cut in half to make 2 pockets apiece

thinly sliced red onion

lettuce

extra mango slices

Tear the tempeh into bite-size pieces and place in small saucepan. Cover with water and addthe soy sauce. Cover the pot and bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 mins. Drain & transfer the tempeh to bowl to cool.

Meanwhile, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing.

Add the mangoes & scallions to the tempeh. Add the dressing and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (I chilled overnight), to allow flavors to meld. Adjust the seasonings as you see fit. Serve in pitas with lettuce, red onion, and extra mango slices.

(THANKS, ISA!! For more GREAT recipes, check out the Post Punk Kitchen at www.theppk.com)

No, I DON’T eat chicken. STOP ASKING.

breefawn — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:44:09 +0000

Let me preface this blog by saying that I live in TEXAS, meat capital of the world. There is NO Whole Foods near me, there isn’t even a Trader Joes anywhere in this STATE. I must say that I miss having so many vegan options at my fingertips (I used to live in Portland, OR…which for me equates to vegan heaven)…but I’m making due with the offerings at my local health food store, online shopping and Kroger/HEB. It’s a little bit frustrating to have to shop at 4 different stores just to get pantry staples, so I try to stock up when I can. Okay, back to the topic of my blog…..

Remember, I live in TEXAS: So, my omnivore hubby really wanted crawfish the other night. I tried to explain to him why they’re bad…but he didn’t seem terribly phased. “Cravings” and all. So out we went. We picked a local restaurant because the crawfish was cheap and I knew that I could get a salad and baked potato…. So we ordered. I asked for a garden salad with no cheese, no croutons (they’re just weird, but that’s a whole ‘nother conversation) and balsamic on the side. I love balsamic vinegar, by the way. It is quite possibly the BEST salad dressing EVER. Seriously. AND I asked for baked potato, PLAIN with salsa on the side. She asked if I wanted cheese, sour cream or chicken strips. I politely said that I was vegetarian (easier to explain than vegan) and NO, I didn’t want anything but the salsa with my potato. She gave me a funny look and said (NOT KIDDING) “but you eat chicken, right?” Um, NO. I DO NOT EAT CHICKEN. CHICKEN IS NOT A VEGETABLE (or a fruit, for that matter). So I said “no” and she gave me a funny look, but went ahead and put my order in. We got our food, and hubby dug into the crawfish (uh.) and I dug into my salad and potato…the waitress again asked if I wanted anything else…like cheese. I politely said no again, and enjoyed my meal. The fact that she didn’t understand was slightly frustrating, and even more of a reason to cook at home. Beyond that, the salad was boring iceberg lettuce, a few carrots and 1/2 a tomato. The baked potato with Tostitos salsa (yup, it’s VEGAN!) was delish, however. I went home and enjoyed some of my AWESOME “tuna” salad, since I was still hungry.

I definitely think that being a vegan in Texas is going to be a challenge, but I’m determined to change the world…or at least my corner of it. If I keep requesting vegan products at my local grocery and healthfood store, hopefully they’ll get the hint. I also keep writing letters to TJ’s hoping that they’ll venture down to my neck of the woods…. In the meantime, I’ll continue to hope and pray that a veg restaurant will open up near me, or that one of the NUMEROUS steakhouses can learn to make a decent salad. Until then, I’ll be content to go out for veg sushi every few weeks. It’s a whole lot more interesting than iceberg lettuce!