I'm back finally!!!

                                                                     Hi everyone!
   It's been way too long since I've blogged or even checked out all of your blogs.  It doesn't mean that I haven't thought about all of you!   A lot of things have happened and I just wasn't in the mood to blog.  I've thought it about it often though. So here I am, determined not to let so much time pass.  I'm also working on being more positive.  Life is too short and I'm not getting any younger.

  I realize that part of my responsibility as a vegan is not only to help others on becoming and enjoying their life as a vegan but also to help people see why adding more plant foods is so important.  So if I even have an impact on one person then I'll be happy.

  Let me start by telling you all that I moved with my family up to Northern California just this summer.

I'm still trying to adjust not living as close to the ocean but a least I'm really close to water right?  Hey nothing is permanent and I'm sure one day we'll be back .

(I miss this pout)

I had to put my Ace dog to sleep earlier in the year. He was only 3 years old.   He had some type of autoimmune disease and his body wasn't reacting well by dropping the Prednisone he was taking.  He was bruising, bleeding, very weak and then starting having seizures in the end.  I miss him so much.  He was such a sweet, gentle dog that taught me so much! I get teary eyed just thinking about him and then look at that face!   It's so different not having a dog around.

Next is my son's health.  He is 15 and had his third arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus back in the Spring and will need one more soon.  The real issue is that we found out he has TMD.  He missed the last month of school last spring because he was in so much pain.  We've been trying to figure out where his ear pain was coming from and in between going to the ENT, dentist, having oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth, back to the ENT once we moved up here and then the dentist again we found out it is his Temporomandibular joint that is causing jaw, ear pain and headaches.  Does anyone of you have TMD?  I have it but I don't have it that bad.  The night guard, soft foods, massage, hot cold compresses and pain meds don't work at all so far to relieve his pain.  I just got him into a chiropractor and have now received a referral to go see a TMJ specialist.   It's hard to watch your child be in so much pain.   If positive thoughts can be sent on over his way so he might finally get his pain under control that would be wonderful!

On that note I will exit for this post.  That way I will have to come back and post food!

May we all be thankful for our health and our pets health.

Peace out.  Unt
til next time.
 

I'm still here.

I'm still here! 

Just took an unintended break from blogging.

Miss you all and will be back up and posting soon.

 

 

Vegan Cooking Show!!!!

Happy New Year!

This year has started out crazy with lots of changes.

How is yours starting out?

 

Speaking of changes if you  haven't already heard there is a new vegan cooking show premiering tonight on main stream cable!  How to Live to 100 airing at 8p.m.ET and 5p.m. PST on The Cooking Channel.  I've already set up my DVR.

Check out who the chef is and a little bit about him here.

 

Simple Thai Tofu and Veggies 

It started raining pretty good out last night and it continues so I think I may just whip up this immune building delicious meal that I found at melomeals a while back to warm me up and has become one of our favorites.  It's inexpensive to make and very flavorful.  It's a great recipe if you are starting to add greens such as chard or kale into your diet because the flavors of the spices and coconut milk are what stand out.

A note on the recipe.  I don't always have cumin seeds on hand so I just  add more cumin and if you don't want to use any oil just add the spices when you are sautéing the onion. 

Enjoy the rest of your day! 

Ciao 2012!

It's almost the end of one year and the beginning of a new one!

Crazy how time goes by so fast.

I thought I would sit down for a few while I'm waiting for a batch of Brutti Ma Buoni(ugly but good) cookies that are baking. I used to love these pre vegan days and I am so excited that I found a way to make them vegan.

A bit of a reflection thinking back at the things good and not so good that have happened this year.

One huge highlight, for me anyways, was eating at The Millennium Restaurant in San Francisco.  It was one of the most delicious meals I've had and spending those few days together away with family were great!

One thing I've worked on this past year was how I deal with stress.  I've realized that stress doesn't do anyone any good so when my husband lost his job I tried to keep as positive as I could and I do believe it helped.  Putting out good thoughts, visions or vibes for good things to happen I believe does work.  This next year I will continue to work on positive thinking and being happy.

I have a good feeling about this coming year. 

Tonight we will be celebrating New Years Eve at home along with another family. 

I hope you all have a very safe and happy New Years!

See you soon! 

Merry Christmas! Homemade gifts

Hi everyone. 

I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Remember to enjoy your time with family and friends because that's what this time of year is truly about. 

Our tree this year.  We always buy a Grand Fir because it smells amazing!!!
 

 

Tamales for Christmas.  Red Chile Seitan, Sweet Potato Black Bean and a Red Chile Tofu(instead of seitain).  The recipes are taken from Viva Vegan.  These are a bit time consuming to make but who wouldn't want a homemade tamale!

Personally I think there is nothing more sweet than homemade gifts made with love and from the heart.  Vegan baked goods are always great to give out not only because most everyone enjoys a great tasty treat but they can also see and taste how delicious vegan goods taste.  These cookies above are Russian Tea Cakes recipe from Manifest Vegan.  These are gluten free but you couldn't tell.

There were a few changes I made to the recipe.  I used flaxseed instead of xanthum gum and pecans instead of almonds.

Caramels. I make these only one time a year because they are time consuming especially the cutting and wrapping part but everyone loves them!

One of my girlfriends made me this delicious granola and put it in this cool vintage mason jar.  I have a love for jars.  Two of my  favorite things!

This paper wreath is made from old music sheets.  Cute right?  Pretty easy to make just takes a little time or a lot of time like it did me because I was watching one of my all time favorite movies Summertime with Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi.  I've been waiting for that movie to come back on and what a great early Christmas present.  Oh and then Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck was on too! I'm a classic movie junkie. I grew up watching them and I just love how intense the acting is.  Okay I'm losing track but you all have your favorites too right?  You can make these different sizes.  How cute to add a small one to a package.

 

I save wine corks and I'm always looking for things to make using them.  I've made cork coasters that I gave out last year.  This year ornaments! 

Give as a set or adorn on a package.

 

May you all have a safe Christmas Eve and a very Merry Christmas.

 

Peace and light to you all.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Enjoy your time today with your families.

There is a beautiful quote that I would like to share with you.

 

"To all who act on your compassion: may it rebound on you tenfold. To all whose compassion is yet masked by the husk of tradition: may your heart be unhindered and your eyes be unblocked. To all the anonymous victims of our appetites: may your cries be the alarm that wakes us up. Your liberation lies in our awakening."
-Colleen Patrick Goudreau

 

There are so many things I have to be thankful for and one of them is ....

Pass it on.....

Celebrate Thanksgiving with compassion and GF Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

It's that time of year again when our kitchens are smelling of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin!
So comforting and warm these smells are.

Yesterday I made an attempt to make a Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread that I added some chocolate chips to.  The end result was fabulous!

Keaton came home from school and had a piece. He said he didn't know it was gluten free.
I must admit that the texture is really light and moist without the any grainy texture that you can
find a lot with gluten free baked goods due to some of the flours used.

Before I post a recipe I'll need to make this again to fine tune the measurements.

Well Thanksgiving is just next week and some of us are still trying to figure out what we are making.
We are going to my in-laws house so it won't be an all vegan meal.  Maybe one day.
Here is a wonderful video by Colleen Patrick-Gourdreau that talks about celebrating a compassionate Thanksgiving.  She has such a way with words. This is a great video to share with family and friends.


Let's make new traditions...ones that do no harm. With this in mind how about serving up some amazing vegan food to share with our family and friends who aren't vegan. What will you be serving?  I think I may be serving up a mushroom stuffed puff pastry along with Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Arugula or roasted root veggies with a rich sauce.  I might make Pumpkin Cheesecake too.   Some other suggestions are Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas or Roasted Root Enchiladas w/Cashew Cream Sauce(this is my favorite).  The list goes on with Butternut Squash Risotto to
Butternut Squash Lasagna(used non dairy milk instead)which I may save this for Christmas.

Have a wonderful day!