The Vegan Vibe

Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one.
When you gonna give me some time, Fiona?
Ooh didn’t want a dog, want a dog
Then I saw you online Fiona
Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a playful kind. Always get her up for the day
So a poop I won’t find. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Fiona…

Come a little closer pup ah will ya pup.
Close enough to look in my eyes, Fiona.
All the boys love you not more than me.
Running around inside and outside Fiona
Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a playful kind
Always let’s all the kids touch her
And she doesn’t mind My my my i yi woo. M M M My Fiona…

When you gonna learn to pee, learn to pee
It is just a matter of time Fiona
Is it just destiny, destiny?
Or is it just a game in my mind, Fiona?
Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a playful kind. Always cuddles with me
And now I really see. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Fiona.

So I did it. I caved. I got a dog. Her name is Fiona (bet you could have guessed that?!)

Actually we got a dog.

And I really like her.

This is a dog post, not a food or vegan post. But since I don’t eat animals I should probably have one, right? I mean, wait a minute – lions touchdown! Ok, sorry, little A.D.D. Anyway, how could I say I care about animals and not have one? Yes, I’m still using my leather bag and wearing my leather boots but I would think twice the next time I went to buy them. The word vegan is a stupid word. There are people out there that would say I wasn’t vegan because I do use products made from animals. There is a link on my Facebook page (if you “like” The Vegan Vibe you will see it today) that is from a blogger who talks about the word “vegan” perfectly. Check it out and let me know what you think.

M M M my Fiona.

Helllooo Veganistas!

Is that a word? veganista?

Not sure but sounds cool.  So Bill Clinton will be on CNN tomorrow night at 8 speaking with Sanjay Gupta about going vegan.  I’m so delighted I can hardly sleep.  Actually I just can not sleep so I’m blogging about it.  Anyway, the exciting thing about Clinton speaking is not just about him – It’s about everyone eating healthier.  Especially in the schools!  Have you seen what those kids eat from the cafeteria? It’s gross.  I let my kids buy lunch only once a week when I saw what they served.  Corn bread wrapped in plastic, mac and cheese that smells like crotch, and chocolate milk containing more sugar than I consume in a day.  Except days on my period of course.  I know I ate like crap when I was a kid and I turned out ok but there is so much MORE crap out there!  It’s like my mom smoked when she was pregnant with me but no one would dare to smoke these days while carrying a baby.  Why? Because cigs changed over the years and these tobacco companies put more nasty shit in those cigarettes – like more nicotine to be addicted to.  So the Oreos and Doritos probably have more of that addicting sugar and cheesy flavor in it! Back to my point – Maybe Clinton can push for healthier foods in schools. Maybe people will see that the man we saw eating McDonalds is now eating McKale. Maybe I can see the day where my kids can buy lunch more than once a week. Maybe I should get off my little soapbox now.

It’s been a while since I’ve written. Things got a little sticky this summer. Kids off to camp and we are moving into a new house next week. So needless to say, I haven’t been whipping up any of my vegan creations in a while. And probably won’t be for a few weeks. Let’s do takeout! Let’s do Whole Foods prepared! Let’s do Plum Market salad bar! Let’s do anything quick and easy and try not to gain weight (like last time I moved 6 months ago)!

Sounds good for a while but I will need to mix it up so I don’t get sick of the things I love. The raw kale salad from Whole Foods is awesome and the sushi from Plum is delightful (veggie only of course) but there are other options, right? Right.

Last night went with my hubby to thai food. It really doesn’t matter which one you go to they are all the same. They have like 7 ingredients and just use different combinations with different sauces – kinda like Mexican food but a tad healthier. Thai food is a great vegan option when eating out because there is lots of tofu and lots of veggies.  Anyway I got the gang gai – (steamed not fried) tofu, bamboo shoots, mushroom, and green peas simmering in a curry coconut milk sauce. I say easy on the coconut milk as it’s super fattening but its oh so good. I got in a tizzy for sure when I uttered the words “mild plus please”. I was sweating halfway through dinner. I got the brown rice as it’s better for you than white rice. Now I know this isn’t the most low fat clean meal I’ve eaten but I don’t eat it every day. I give myself the opportunity to eat like an ay-hole at least once a week. Just because I’m vegan doesn’t mean I can’t get a little freaky from time to time.

So for the next upcoming weeks I will be writing about how and where to get clean, easy, vegan foods – in restaurants and in local markets.

Tonight I’m going to a friends house and she is cooking for me – I’m so looking forward to that for a change!

Vegan.

Thought I was gonna say forty, eh? It was weekend of fun with family and friends!   Started off nicely with a little snuggle from my hubby (ok, maybe a little more than a snuggle but again, this is a vegan blog, not porn).  Next I borrowed a convertible Mustang from my cousins boyfriend and picked up my bestie and went to Royal Oak for lunch at Cacao Tree Cafe.  The raw pizza and burrito were awesome (no, I didn’t order both we split it).  Later that evening, I had a yoga fundraiser for my fave charity the Friendship Circle.   Ended off the night drinking and smoking till 2am.  Are cigs vegan? Best part was that I had a yummy Vegan cake from Sugar Kisses in Berkley, Michigan.

Sooooo……….

Forty.  Do you ever wonder what you’re “life’s purpose” is?  I was recently asked that question from my wise (not saying old) Kabbalah teacher.  Interesting question I must say.  Well, I think life shows you what your purpose is.  Do you want to know what mine is? Of course you do cuz you’re still reading.  I think mine is to bring more awareness to certain organizations.  My older son absolutely LOVES The Friendship Circle.  Ya know why? Because they don’t judge.  He can be himself and it doesn’t matter what he “has” (aspergers by the way).  We take him there weekly and his face just lights up – It’s a place everyone should visit – especially kids!  You see, my son got pretty sick a few years back and we ended up at U of M for brain surgery and they helped him lead a healthy life.  I felt so lucky and grateful after that I wanted to help others.  I donate money to CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) every paycheck – not a lot but enough to feel that I am giving back and to remind myself how lucky we truly are that he is leading a health happy life.  If he didn’t get sick, would I be donating time and money? Probably not.  I feel like if I give back and don’t harm others (animals included) I will have this immunity for my son.  Superstitious, I know, but it works for me.  Has any event happened in your life for you to realize your life’s purpose?

That’s probably why my son ate it. And he enjoyed it.  Ok, so it did kinda look like a booger. Not the runny kind, but the firm-what-the-hell-just-came-out-of-my-nose one.

Let’s talk Tofu.

It’s a mystery to some people – - and looks like a pain in the ass to make. It’s so simple to make ahead and store when you need it. I usually do this on a Sunday then will have them for for a few weeks. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Open a block of extra firm tofu. Drain. Use a knife and carefully cut into 5 slices. It is supposed to look like rectangles. Grab lots of paper towels and squeeze water out. Some websites or cookbooks tell you to get a heavy pan or a brick or something hard and put it on top of papertowls on top of tofu and leave it there for like 20 minutes. That’s just silly. Just use those biceps and carefully press the tofu and the paper towel will absorb water. Take a little soy sauce (I use Braggs liquid aminos) and squirt on both sides. Put all slices on pam’d baking sheet and pop in oven for 25 minutes. But wait! Not so fast. After the 25 minutes you need to turn over the tofu and bake for another 25 minutes. That way it’s nice and firm. Remove from oven and let cool. Then Saran wrap it individually and wrap each slice of tofu. Pop them into a ziplock bag into the freezer.

There you have it! Perfect protein portions! Just press defrost for about a minute in microwave when you want to use in stir-fries, burritos, salads, or to scare your kids into thinking they are boogers.  Anyone have a tissue?