2010 in Review

I thought this would be a good time to reflect on this last year and think about the year to come.  I mean why not?  Everyone's doing it!

2010 was SUCH a full year!  I haven't shared a lot about myself personally on this blog keeping it to food, but here's what happened in my life this year:

-I graduated with my Masters in Social Work (MSW) in May

-The Hubs and I packed what we could fit in our cars and sold or donated the rest, then drove across the country moving back to Los Angeles.  That was an adventure, let me tell you!  The Hubs has his own special way of carrying out moves and road trips.  I'm sure glad that's over!

-Ten days after arriving in sunny Southern California, we embarked on a ten week journey through South East Asia, mainly visiting Thailand and Indonesia.  I haven't blogged much about this because I'm still processing the trip, but I'm thinking about sharing with the blog world soon.  Thinking about it...procrastinating...same difference!

-Two weeks after returning to the country I started a new job.  Its been awesome but SO busy, much more than I anticipated!  Although I love what I'm doing I didn't anticipate working 24/7.  I've adjusted a little and things have calmed down, so hopefully I have the time and energy to blog.

-While trying to adjust to being back in So Cal, recovering from my trip, settling in to a new job, the holidays hit me.  I can't believe how fast the last few months have flown by!  Of course seeing family and having time off from work have been wonderful, but I also received several vegan cookbooks!  Many recipes and reviews to come.

Well that's me in a nutshell.  What's next?  I'm not so much a fan of the whole new year's resolution fails.  And that's just what they always seem to be, fails!  However, in the words of my dad, to fail to plan is to plan to fail, so I suppose I should set some goals for myself and the ol' blog.  Here I go:

-Revamp the look.  I've been wanting it to look differently since I set it up, but I lack the patience and the mental capacity for making it look amazing.  Several people have said they'd help but nothing has come together.  Can anyone help me with this?  Anyone...anyone...Bueller...Bueller...

-Blog at least once a week.  I did this at first and it doesn't seem unreasonable.

-Post about new recipes at least twice a month.  Also not unreasonable (double negative intended).  I'm cooking anyway, why not post about it?!  Especially with my plethora of cookbooks.

Any bets on how long I'll last with these goals?

Thanksgiving

I survived my first vegan Thanksgiving!!  I was pretty anxious about how it would go because I didn't have a lot of time to prepare.  We went to visit the Hubs family, and well, you know how it can be with the in-laws.  My mother-in-law is an amazing cook and enjoys a challenge.  We talked before hand and she had an idea of how to make some dishes vegan, and I brought a Tofurky and some vegan butter.  And I snuck in some chocolate chips, just in case.

Of course I didn't get any pictures because I thought I forgot my camera.  Turns out I had it the entire time.  What a bust!  That means I didn't get any pictures of my baby nephew either.  Idiot (said Napolean Dynamite style)!

On the menu:
Tofurky & Tofurky gravy
Valerie's amazing sour dough stuffing (I'll try to get the recipe to share!)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, made with Earth Balance buttery spread
Sauteed Brussel Sprouts
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Dinner rolls
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin pie (purchased from an undisclosed bakery and it was really horrible)

Later during the weekend I made some chocolate chip cookies, which were a huge hit!  I was also impressed that my family was so supportive, asking me questions about veganism and trying my dishes.  This totally reinforced my decision, and even influenced the Hubs to try going vegan for 30 days!

Lime Guacamole

This recipe is adapted from Chef Chloe's recipe that go with her Cajun black bean burgers, or it can go with these black bean burgers.  I liked her original recipe, but I prefer more lime and cilantro.  Plus, when you add lime, it keeps it from going brown.  (By the way, save the avocado pit when you're making the guac.  Then put the pit in the bowl of guacamole when you need to store it.  This keeps it from going brown).

Lime Guacamole

3 ripe avocados
Juice from 1 lime
1/4 cup fresh salsa like pico de gallo
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper

In a bowl, mash avocados with lime juice until thick and creamy.  Fold in salsa and cilantro.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Three inspiring websites

One of my top five on the Strengths Finder test is "connectedness", meaning that I see connections in the world and have an understanding of how my choices and relationships are connected.  At first I didn't understand this about myself, it seemed kind of out there.  But since becoming vegan, I totally get it.  I began this journey to impact my health, and in reading various literature, saw how food choices impact the environment and the global community.  Not to mention how my consumption of other things (clothing, cosmetics and personal care items, gasoline, water) impact the world, and in turn how these choices impact my health.  Its easy to feel overwhelmed with all the craziness in the world, but I'm learning to, in the words of Teddy Roosevelt, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are". Just because I can't do everything doesn't mean I shouldn't do something.

These three websites have inspired me as of late.  There are a TON of other amazing websites out there, but these are the three I've been visiting most.  Check them out and let me know what you think.

EcoStiletto All things green.  Great suggestions on green alternatives.

Crazy Sexy Life Kriss Carr started this project when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her honesty and sweetness in the midst of an incredibly difficult situation is (word of the day alert!) inspiring.

The Kind Life Alicia Silverstone's website based on her book "The Kind Diet".  I really enjoy the forum and virtual community.

Fridge staples

Lately I've been getting together with friends, reconnecting after so much time of being away.  One thing people ask me is what in the world to feed me?!  Its really not so hard people, anything veggie related is just fine!  I don't need meat as a main course!  But I do appreciate people trying to accommodate my "weird" diet.

Anyways, that got me thinking about what I try to keep stocked in my fridge and pantry to keep my own self fed.  Here's a list of some things that are my go-to things for lunches, snacks, and meals on the fly.  Veggie sandwiches, burritos, and stir-frys are easy, quick meals and I always try to have fixins for those.

Veggies:                                                                    Grains:
Tomatoes                                                                  Brown rice
Cucumbers                                                                Quinoa
Sprouts (like broccoli)                                                Oatmeal
Avocado                                                                  
Zucchini or another type of squash
Bell peppers (RED!!!! are my favorite)                       Other stuff:
Broccoli                                                                     Pasta & sauce
Cauliflower                                                                A variety of beans
Potatoes                                                                    Lentils
Sweet potatoes                                                         Canned soups
                                                                                 Tortillas
Fruit:                                                                         Salsa                                                    
Bananas                                                                    Nuts                                                                  
Apples                                                                      Cilantro
Grapes                                                                      Fresh basil
Anything else that strikes me!

These are just the basics, but if you keep these staples on hand you will guarantee a variety of healthy, vegan meals.  And you can feed me when I come over, too.  :)

Tsunami in Indo-I was just there!

I woke up this morning to news of a tsunami that hit southwestern Sumatra, an island in Indonesia.  I was particularly shocked because I WAS JUST THERE!!!  I was in Padang and the Mentawai islands (an island chain, surf destination off the coast of the city of Padang on Sumatra).  We went to the Mentawi islands and stayed in a homestay right on the beach!!  We visited friends in Padang!  There's a surf charter boat missing and a captain of another surf charter boat commented that they had to jump overboard, and I wondered if it was a captain we met.  I'm still waiting to hear from my friends there to see if they're okay.  Please join me in sending out prayers and thoughts to the people effected by this devastating event.

Indonesia Tsunami Death Toll Increases (from BBC)

I'm back!

Yep, finally!!  I'm back.  Ten weeks of travel through Southeast Asia felt like, well, 10 weeks!  Although I became very relaxed about being vegan towards the end of my travels, I learned a few things, mostly about myself.

1) I'm definitely a stress eater.  Trying to be vegan in the midst of trying to adjust to a new culture, learn Indonesian, do community development work, live out of a suitcase, and live with a national family, was just a little crazy making.  Especially since I'm a new vegan and not completely established in what to eat.  At times it was just too stressful to try to eat a certain way and I let myself eat things with butter and eggs simply to make it through.

2) It is always in your best interest to pack a snack.  There were times I didn't eat anything, which certainly isn't healthy!  What would you do if you were in an isolated village and someone had bought lunch for everyone, "nasi bunku" (which means "rice packet"), consisting of rice and fish wrapped up in a banana leaf?  I chose not to eat because in this circumstance I wasn't being rude.  But I was starving!  There were other times where all I ate was rice and a little bit of a veggie dish, which was usually so spicy I was sweating and tears were pouring out of my eyes uncontrollably.  I should always have some nuts or a granola bar on hand to tide me over until I can get some real grub.  Just the other night, here in the States, a friend hosted a Vietnamese dinner.  It was catered from a local Vietnamese restaurant and included 5 dishes with beef, chicken, and pork (as well as white rice of course).  I went up to the people serving the food and asked if there was anything vegetarian.  They pointed to the spring rolls.  I politely said, "Those have pork in them".  Then they pointed to the rest of the dishes, filled with beef and chicken.  I smiled sweetly and took a helping of white rice, just to eat something, and they said, "Well aren't you going to have anything else?!"  (If you were behind the serving line that night, see this blog post to educated yourself on what it means to be vegetarian).

3) Vegetarianism and veganism can be something of a privilege.  I've had several people tell me that when they were in grad school or college, they mainly ate vegetarian because that's all the could afford.  Granted, it can be cheaper to skip the meat.  However, what about those in the inner city who have no access to fresh fruit or vegetables?  Or those who shop at Walmart and its cheaper to buy a case of soda or several bags of chips than it is to buy the same amount of tomatoes?  Or how about those out in the country who barely have enough to survive, who eat the chicken they have been raising since birth, simply to nourish themselves and live another day?  I haven't fully processed this thought, but it makes me wonder how vegetarianism can become accessible to everyone.  If the world were to eat vegetarian and put a stop to the animal factory industry, it seems like everyone would have more than enough to eat.  Its getting to that point that poses a challenge.

4) I REALLY missed eating pure and having access to healthy options.  I found a vegetarian restaurant in my city and within the course of two weeks ate there six times!  If I ever lived there long term, I think I'd be able to make it simply because of this restaurant.  They had a brochure on vegetarianism, and in the brochure was a picture of several animals with the caption, "Love us not eat us".  Common enough, right?  But the pictures of animals not to be eaten included not only a cow, pig, and chicken, but also a dog, cat, and tropical bird.  Cultural context is everything!