Ask A Vegan Pt. 21

Growing up as a girl with a boy's name, I got picked on A LOT. I was called Ricky Ricardo and often asked if I was truly born a female. As an adult it is funny to think that I found these things so hurtful when really they are quite silly, but I also know what it was like being that six year old girl who was ridiculed for her name. For the longest time I wanted to change my name. When I turned 18 I was so happy that I could vote, raise hell and legally change my name to something ore "feminine" but I didn't and I am glad that I grew to appreciate and yes, even like my name. Over time I met other girls with boys' names like, Jeri, Jimmie, Stevie and many more. All of these girls were unique and tough women who all said they thanked their name for that. They too were picked on and had to grow a thick shell which in turn helped them develop into the awesome ladies they are today.

I am always super excited when I meet girls with boys' names, and I was particularly happy last week when I stumbled across a blog written by a Vegan lady with a boy's name, and not just any boy's name, her name is Rikki. Another super rad girl named Rikki who also happens to be Vegan like me? Incredibly radtastic! I decided this Rikki must be cool if she is both named Rikki and is a Vegan, and my hypothesis was spot on! She agreed to be featured in "Ask A Vegan" and her answers are insightful and intelligent. She is doing the Rikki's of the world proud. Check her out!


Name: Rikki Carter
Age: 26
Location: Orem, Utah
Website: read rikkis thoughts & twitter.com/broomhat


How long have you been Vegan?
I have been a vegan for just over a year.

What made you decide to go Vegan?
Like many vegans, I had been a vegetarian for years. The more I learned about the factory farm and food industry and the effects they have on the environment and on health, the harder it became to claim I was an ethical eater while contributing to these industries. After reading the book “The China Study” by Dr. T. Colin Campbell about nutrition and health, while at the simultaneously reading about the benefits of veganism in “Skinny Bitch” by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, I decided to commit to the ‘vegan thing’ for one month and see how I felt, and I have never gone back!

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
When I began and committed to a vegan diet for one month, I decided to pay special attention to how my body felt. I could honestly feel the difference that this lifestyle choice made, both internally and externally. Not only did I lose weight, have more energy, healthier skin and hair, I noticed that my attitude became more positive and my confidence rose. I felt good inside and that was reflected outwardly.

Are you open about your Veganism?
If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
I am open about my veganism and regularly participate in vegan events. I feel that the best sort of activism though is leading by example. Showing those around that a vegan lifestyle is both functional and rewarding has been far more effective at cultivating change and getting people to examine their own ethics than other actions.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Those around me have been very supportive of my vegan lifestyle choice and this has made things a lot easier. Having a supportive community is always a plus. In turn, people feel comfortable asking questions about my choices and I happily and confidently answer their inquiries. Many have made changes to their diets, eating less meat or opting for vegan products.

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Educate yourself. Going vegan affects many parts of a person’s life, not just what you eat. That said, really critically think about your personal reasons for choosing veganism. If you can identify those for yourself, it makes sticking to it much easier. Also, enjoy it! Cooking, eating, and shopping vegan can be really fun if you embrace the challenges instead of looking at them as negative things to overcome.


Rikki (on right) and her friend Kaycee from Vegan Machine
Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
I would not! McDonald’s to me represents a lot more than just unsavory food options. Their disregard for both human and animal life is enough to keep me away.

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
I don’t really pay attention to what celebs eat, but if knowing celebs are doing it helps other make healthy life changes, I’m all for it!

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
There are a few that I frequent- My friend Kaycee at Vegan Machine has great recipes and vegan posts that are relatable, easy to make, and delicious. The Vegan Stoner is another favorite. Their recipes are quick and easy and don’t call for ingredients I don’t regularly have on hand, making it easy to whip up their creations in a jiffy! Plus, the drawings are adorable.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
I am happy to answer questions, but when people don’t really think about it before they ask, that is bothersome. When I am eating something and someone proclaims “You can eat that?!” I just want to pull out my sarcasm card, but I try to take the opportunity to educate instead- usually :).

What is your favorite dish?
I am on a quest to find the perfect vegan pizza at a restaurant! The quest continues though…… (oh Rikki I too love pizza, my fav place so far to find Vegan pizza is Whole Foods, they use Daiya and have faux meaty stuff, if ever in Portland Dove Vivi is the place for pizza, they have two Vegan pies and they are over the top!)

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
At Thanksgiving I try to make vegan versions of staple foods to take to events, generally mashed potatoes, desserts, sweet potatoes, even tofurky on occasion. Last year a friend put together a pretty elaborate Vegan Thanksgiving and invited both vegans and non vegans. The food was fantastic and sitting down with a group for the shared experience of eating a vegan meal was accompanied by a pretty unique feeling of community. I would recommend hosting or attending an event like this to anyone and hope to make Vegan Thanksgiving a tradition in my social group.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?Cupcakes have never had the appeal to me that they do for so many other vegans. COOKIES on the other hand are the one dessert I can never pass up, the book “Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar” is my bible. So, maybe if I could make a cookie dough cupcake, all would be right in the world. (make a vanilla or chocolate cupcake and drop a ball of cookie dough in the center, then bake. Bake cookies to put on top, or make a cookiedough crust by lining the cupcake wrapper with cookie dough then pouring in cupcake batter. It is fantastic, another favorite I do is Newman's Own peanut butter cookies (similar to Oreo cookies) and put those in the bottom of the cupcake pan and pour batter on top, my grandma loves those!)

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
In my family, we have the tradition of eating doughnuts for breakfast on our birthdays. This year, my sister and I made our own vegan doughnuts when my birthday rolled around. We just found the recipe online but here it is-




Vegan Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts
What You Need-
For Doughnuts-
-1 cup non-dairy milk (we used soy)
-1 t lemon juice
-2 t vanilla
-3 T maple syrup
-1/4 c brown sugar
-2 cups wheat flour (we used 1 cup of wheat and 1 of white to diminish the wheaty taste)
-1/4 cup cocoa
-1/2 t salt
-1/2 t baking soda
-1/2 t baking powder
-1/4 c of chocolate chips (chopped fine)

For Glaze-
- 1 c powdered sugar
-1 t vanilla
-1 T maple syrup
-1 T non dairy milk (again, we used soy)


Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl, whisk milk lemon juice maple syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla until foamy and bubbly. In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and chocolate chips. Pour wet mix into dry and mix well (mixture will be thick). Roll between hands and shape into doughnuts. (if the dough is a little sticky, put flour on your hands before rolling) Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
While doughnuts are baking, mix glaze ingredients. Once doughnuts are cool, submerge in glaze and place on wire rack to drip, dry and harden.

Makes 9-12 doughnuts

Ask A Vegan: Pt. 20

Gosh it has been a while since I have posted one of these, and the silly thing is I have had this wonderful woman Barbara who owns Gone Pie baked goods answers floating around my inbox for months. I really don't have an excuse for my laziness, and I am truly sorry I didn't share her with you earlier. Gone Pie bakery has been around for over 25 years and has served the Vegan community countless delicious pies, cookies, brownies and more. Barbara excels in tasty gluten-free products as well creative and delicious flavor combinations. If you are lucky and live in New York you can get Barbara's pies delivered to your door, and if you live out of state...good news, all of her other deserts can be delivered to you! I mean really, who doesn't want to answer the door and find a package of tasty gluten-free coconut brownies?

Name: Barbara Sitomer
Age: 53
Location: New York
Website: www.gonepie.com



How long have you been Vegan?
Not sure exactly. It was such a natural process more than an historic event. I guess about 20 years.

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I was running a bakery in the lower east side of Manhattan. Most of my business was selling to health food stores. I became instantly drawn to the challenges of baking for folks with allergies or philosophies that left them with limited choices. I was educating myself about veganism before I was vegan, so I could provide treats for vegans. I didn’t feel veganism yet, but I understood how to bake for vegans. I hired a young person that was a very passionate vegan and a devotee of my products. She was shocked I was not vegan. We became quite close as we worked long shifts together. At some point, she knew me well enough to know what would make me feel veganism. She gave me a copy of “The Dreaded Comparison”. I read half the book and was so upset that I became a vegan. So you see, it was a process over time. We worked together for quite a while before she gave me that book. I pretty much ate vegan food, but I was not a vegan until the day I understood veganism as a philosophy.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
Excellent! But veganism is not a diet. It is a philosophy. Embracing the philosophy makes me feel peaceful and happy.

Are you open about your Veganism?
Extremely.

If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
Yes. I work for many local campaigns in New York that involve ending animal use.
I only put my support behind campaigns that end use, never those that encourage
continued use through animal husbandry reforms. I don’t believe we have the right to negotiate for our non-human friends. Campaigns that advocate for less than full end of use I actively oppose. I believe they encourage continued animal suffering. I don’t want anyone comfortable with their non-vegan habits. I believe the so called “welfare” reforms prolong use and make people feel better about animal consumption.

I work actively with Friends of Animals. We have active campaigns to ban horse drawn carriages, wild horse round ups and protect animals in the wild and their disappearing habitats.

I also strongly support the work of Humanemyth.org.

I give away a lot of baked goods - tempting people into veganism through tasty treats is my favorite form of activism.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
I think they think I am extreme and it makes them uncomfortable to a certain extent. I think if they are uncomfortable they are thinking about their actions, so I am OK with this. I certainly wish they would just wake up already. I honestly believe it is within every person to understand the importance of veganism - particularly the environmental benefits of the diet -and I am unrelenting in pushing them to do so. We only have one planet and we can’t waste time protecting it, it is in crisis. The challenge is helping them see that veganism is the key to saving the planet without freaking them out so they no longer listen to me. I almost never mention animal rights to people that are uncomfortable with veganism. It is not something everyone can relate to and easier to dismiss for most people. I absolutely never use health as a tool as it leads people to thinking about themselves, I am pretty sure this confuses my friends and family. Veganism is not about us humans being healthy, it is about all the living beings on our planet having a right to exist on their own term unexploited for our needs.




What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
DO IT!!!! You won’t believe how much better you will feel on every level. If you are even thinking about it, just take the plunge. I know from my experiences, that there comes a time when you truly understand what veganism means. You don’t have to understand the philosophy to embrace the diet. Over time the diet will change your perceptions. I never think of being vegan as a sacrifice or miss non-vegan foods. For me, they are just not an option and must be forgotten about. Celebrate what you embrace by making this choice and don’t dwell on what you no longer can have. Veganism is a process of awakening and enlightenment.

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
No!

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
How could you give up (fill in blank)

What is your favorite dish?
I am a very simple eater for the most part. I eat a lot of giant salads with olive oil and sea salt. I eat a lot of greens with olive oil and garlic. I love baked tempeh. I love cold sesame noodles that I make at home. As a baker who follows recipes for a living, I pretty much never cook from a recipe. I am all about winging it when I eat savory. If I eat out, I love Ethiopian food and Indian food.




What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a very busy season for me. I used to sleep and fast all day to recover from being so busy. Last year, for the first time, I attended a vegan feast. We celebrated the harvest and seasonal vegetables. It was a magical experience and I hope to do something similar again this year.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
I don’t like cupcakes! I don’t understand why vegans are obsessed with them. It particularly bothers me that most of these cupcakes have tons of frosting. The frosting is generally made with margarine. I find the frosting overly rich rather and unpleasant to eat and often it contains palm oil which I boycott.

If I absolutely have to have a cupcake, it would be chocolate with a small amount of chocolate glaze. I make a gluten free chocolate spice cupcake with super rich dark chocolate frosting and chopped hazelnuts and crystallized ginger as a garnish. I think it’s quite good, but I would prefer someone just order a cake. I don’t understand the fascination with cupcakes. I am repeating myself.....
-Though I do not agree with Barbara on the point of cupcakes, I do understand her distaste, if you will, for the palm oil industry. I do use Earth Balance in my frosting as well as Organic Spectrum vegetable shortening, both containing palm oil. I am not going to defend or argue any side of the palm oil issue, but I will say that change does start with the consumer. If we can urge companies to use fair trade and ethically harvested foods for their products, everyone wins.

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
I don’t really have one. Everything starts with saute onion garlic and ginger......

Ask A Vegan Pt. 19

I had the most amazing adventures the last week and I cannot wait to share with everyone my fantastic week, but until then I have business to attend to. It is time for another Ask A Vegan and I am super excited to share a most wonderful and sweet girl with all of you.

I have been internet friends with Mandee for about two years now. She was my first friend on Flickr and I loved all of the great food she posts photos of. I was impressed with the amount of raw foods she had in her diet and the amazing gluten free baking she was doing. Mandee has since started her own fantastic blog and has been setting up Sydney bake sales that raise hundreds and even thousands of dollars for local charities. She is an incredible and beautiful girl and I hope that one day I will have the pleasure of meeting her in person, and if I have to fly to Australia to do it, I will! (:


Name: Mandee
Age: 27
Location: Sydney, Australia
Website: Cupcake Kitteh

How long have you been Vegan?
Over 4 years

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I grew up surrounded by pets and I always loved animals. I used body products not tested on animals but when I found out that the Body Shop had been sold, I decided to find another brand to use. While searching online for cruelty free products I kept finding websites about going vegetarian, this started me thinking about the animals we consider food and it did feel wrong. I also read about vegans and knew that I had to go vegan right away, not just vegetarian.

It also occurred to me that I’d been caring for domestic animals for years as a veterinary nurse, why shouldn’t that care extend to all animals, not just the cute and cuddly ones but the ones that most people consider food as well. I was horrified to read about the conditions that animals endure before they’re killed and it was definitely something I could not ignore any longer.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I feel fantastic. When I was younger I often had sore throats and headaches and it was assumed that I was lactose-intolerant. After a year of being vegan my health had improved immensely and I haven’t had a cold in years.

Are you open about your Veganism?
Yes, I will definitely mention it if the occasion arises. I think I am more confident now that I was in my first year or two. The more confident you are, the better your response will be to anyone who wants to question your way of living.




If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
I run the Sydney Vegan Bake Sale ( link: http://sydneyveganbakesale.blogspot.com/ )
We’ve been going for 2 years, we started after participating in the first Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale ( link: http://www.veganbakesale.org/ ). We have vegan brochures at our table and we’re always happy to discuss veganism with customers.




What does your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
At first family and friends were concerned that it was an unhealthy way to eat, that I would be missing out. Now I have friends that love to eat at vegan/vegetarian restaurants with me and they love my baked goods like cupcakes and cookies.

My Dad participated in the Vegan Easy Challenge last year and was vegan for a month. My boyfriend has always been respectful and supportive of me and while he isn’t vegan he will eat vegan meals and is always on the lookout for vegan food products for me as well as recipes that we can veganise.

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Think about the reasons why you want to go vegan. A lot of people go vegan but find it too difficult or decide to quit after a month or two. For me it was always going to be a lifestyle choice, not a phase or a fad. My love for animals is enough for me to stick with veganism and honestly it hasn’t ever felt difficult. If you see veganism as a restriction or a diet, it will feel hard. If you see it as a selfless and positive thing to do, you will find it easy and you will be happy with your decision.

Buy some vegan cookbooks, read vegan blogs and educate yourself and on why you’re doing it and what to eat. When I first started cooking I was eating the same thing every night (tofu, mushrooms, baby spinach). Now I cook so many different meals and I definitely eat more of a variety of food and it’s much healthier too.




Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
I probably would as a last resort if I was on a road trip. I’ve driven up the coast and in the past the only food along the way was McDs. But I’m sure I’d have plenty of vegan snacks to get me by!

I think if fast food chains offer a veg/vegan option it’s good for people transitioning or for people who need a quick meal option but most vegans would agree it’s better not to support large fast food chains.


What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
”What do you eat?” because there are so many food items that are vegan, if people thought about it for a few minutes they might be able to answer the question.

What is your favorite dish?
Hmmm! This is a difficult question because I have SO many favourites. Right now I am loving the cookbook Viva Vegan! and one of my favourite meals from it was the guatita (peanut potato stew).

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but at Christmas I tend to make a salad, a main meal like mini pot pies and dessert is either gluten free pudding, cake or fresh fruit.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Banana and coconut are two of my favourite flavours so I’d make a banana cupcake, spiced with ginger and topped with coconut icing and shredded coconut.

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.




Cauliflower Cheeze (adapted from my Mum's recipe) - gluten & soy free

450g cauliflower (1 cup)
1 T corn flour
1 T Nuttelex (or other vegan margarine)
3/4 C rice milk
A pinch of mustard powder
A large pinch of salt
1/2 C cashews
1/4 C macadamias
1/2 C water

Pre-heat oven to 160C. (320 degrees)

Steam the cauliflower for 10 minutes. Arrange in a baking dish in a single layer so the florets are packed together.

Melt the Nuttelex is a small pan, add the corn flour and whisk to make a roux, 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the rice milk, continually stirring. Add the mustard powder and salt. Remove from heat.

Blend the cashews and macadamias with 1/2 C of water. Add more water if needed, you want the consistency of a thick sauce. Add nut mixture to the milk mixture, combine.

Pour the sauce over the cauliflower. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until top is golden.

Ask A Vegan Pt. 18

It has been quite some time since I have done an Ask A Vegan post and I apologize. As I mentioned before there were a lot of changes going down in the world of Miss Rikki Cupcake and now I think things are settling down enough where I can focus on my Ask A Vegan project. I am pleased to say that after Manny's interview today that there are many more waiting in the Yahoo inbox. Manny is the first raw foods vegan featured on here and I am very impressed that a 19 year old would invest so much time and effort into preparing his delicious foods. I remember being 19 and what did I eat? Taco Bell. Yep, I was a fan of the bean burrito. When I think of it now, it is almost embarrassing that I, at one time, thought of Taco Bell as real food. Manny is a rare kid and I am very happy to share him with all of you.




Name: Jesus Maldonado But I like to be called by my middle name, Manny
Age: 19
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Website: Givingyouhealth.com



How long have you been Vegan?
3 ½ - 4 years

What made you decide to go Vegan?
Mainly health reasons, but now that I’ve learned a lot I do it for the animals, for my health, and for spiritual reasons.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I feel great, much better then I did before I went on this diet. Feeling better as time passes.

Are you open about your Veganism?
If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…I am very open with being a vegan, everybody who knows me knows that I am a vegan and I am proud to be one. I am currently not involved in any activism but I would like to be in the near future.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Many of them think it is pretty crazy and weird, but by now they are used to it.

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
I would let them know that it is best to become educated about Veganism so that they may understand what a vegan eats, because nowadays many people are calling themselves Vegans just because they have stopped flesh yet they still eat crap. Take it slow and transition at your own pace, because everybody is different and let no one pull you away from your goals. I would also give them a few of my delicious Vegan recipes ;)

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
No I do not eat at any fast food joint’s unless it were a strictly vegan fast food joint.

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
Honestly, I do not know of many vegan celebrities so I couldn’t say.


marinated vegetables

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
I like to support all Vegan blogs and websites but the only one that comes to mind is Dherbs.com. It’s run by Djehuty Ma’at Ra, a expert on herbs and health. Great website with products and info about all types of health issues. I would recommend anyone and everyone to check it out.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
Well I really like when people question me about my diet. It allows me to educate others about my lifestyle and I love to hear the new things people ask about it. If I were to choose one though, I’d have to say it would be the famous “where do you get all your protein?”.

What is your favorite dish?
Well since I’m eating only Raw Vegan at the moment, my favorite homemade dish would be my famous Raw soft shell tacos with mock meat and sourcream and my favorite restaurant dish would be lasagna from Rockin’Raw, a Raw Vegan restaurant in Brooklyn.


homemade almond milk

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
I’ve just recently turned Raw so I’ve yet to have a Raw Vegan thanksgiving, but in the pass years I’ve had rice with beans, vegetable chille, vegetable pasteles, mash potatoes, yams, macaroni salad, and other goods that I can’t remember at the moment. Did I mention that I love to eat? ;)

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Strawberry short(cup)cake

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
Unfortunately my favorite Vegan recipe is done by eye, I never took the time to write any of it down =(
So I’ll write down one of my fav desserts.
Raw Vegan Chocolate Brownies
---------------------------------------
1 cup cashews
½ cup dates(add more if needed)
1 TBSP cocoa powder
Food process until a huge ball forms. Flatten the ball on a tray and sprinkle some crushed walnuts on top if you’d like. Freeze for about an hour or until nice and solid and enjoy with a cup of VeganNog.
VeganNog
-------------
3 cups water
1 cup almonds
½ cup dates(add more if needed)
1 tsp vanilla powder
2-3 bananas
Blend almonds with water until smooth then strain with a nutbag or cheesecloth. Put liquid back into blender and add the rest of the ingredients then blend until smooth, chill and enjoy with your brownies. Freeze the almond pulp, it can be used in many vegan recipes so don’t let it go to waste.

Ask A Vegan Pt. 17

I didn't do my weekly Vegan interview last week and I apologize. I will hopefully redeem myself with this next interview from a young girl living in a not so Vegan friendly environment. How she does it is beyond me, but she has the will and compassion to succeed in her beliefs. Ksenia was just about to move to begin college but was kind enough to fill out my questionnaire and email it back before her great departure. I wish you all of the best Ksenia, you are a bright woman, not to mention highly talented and I see no end to your success.

Name: Ksenia
Age: 19
Location: Cunit (Barcelona, Spain)
Website: Tales of a Spoon



How long have you been Vegan?
For almost three years (since December 2007)

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I had the idea in my head for years. I ate meat and fish, but sometimes I couldn't avoid thinking that what I had in front of me was before alive and breathing. I bought tofu once and while I was looking for a recipe, I accidentally found a photo of a slaughterhouse. It shocked me so much that I almost cried: it was worse than a horror movie. I started to look for information and two days later I decided I didn't want to be part of all that cruelty. I gave up all animal products overnight.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I never felt better in my life. My mother was afraid I would lose weight because I was skinny, but I gained more than 10 kg since then. For me that is a good thing because I really needed it. I have been a runner since I was ten (as a hobby though, not professionally) and I've been in a volleyball team for five years, so sport is an important part of my life and I immediately notice when a diet is working for me or not: veganism does.


petit fours

Are you open about your Veganism?
I never hide it and I don't understand why I should. It's true that in some situations you just don't feel like shouting it too loud. I try to not be too annoying with the animal suffering part because people tend to go on the defensive because they don't want to feel guilty: truth can be uncomfortable. But I don't miss the opportunity to talk about my decision if I have the opportunity and somebody asks.

If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
At this moment not because I live 40 km from Barcelona, not in Barcelona city, where all that things take place. I'd like to participate, but while I was in school it was just impossible. But I am moving to Barcelona in a few days to start college, so maybe it will change! Anyway, I have been in a demonstration against bullfighting (which by the way, was officially banned in Catalonia some weeks ago) and I met more vegan and vegetarian people for the first time there. I still see from time to time with some of them.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet? When I first told my mother about my decision, she even cried. She said I'd finish in the hospital! But I suppose she just needed time and see that it really wasn't dangerous. Now she is the first who worries if I have all I need in the pantry and even began to drink soy milk herself. My father still don't understand how I can live without animal products, but resigned himself because he understood I'd not change my mind. But it doesn't bother me because it's the normal reaction. Most of people don't understand my decision. At the beginning they thought it was some kind of teenager's rebellion. Now they just think I'm crazy, but as my father my friends just avoid the topic.



What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
If you are sure about your decision, don't let anybody change your mind. Unless you have a really vegan friendly environment (which wasn't my case), you will have to face a lack of understanding and uncomfortable situations. It doesn't have to discourage you: people around you need time too. I'm not in favor of the vegans/the rest of the world separation, but meeting people who have a similar point of view really helps. Look for people like you in your town, join a forum, participate in vegan blogs or create one yourself....but do something!

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
I don't think so. I'm sure they would use the same frying pans and oil for the vegan and non-vegan burgers, but that wouldn't be the main reason. When I think about Mc Donald's, I think about the meat industry and the cruelty behind it. It would go against my ideals. A vegan burger for them it's only a business opportunity.


banana pancakes

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
I don't care too much about celebrities (vegan or not), so it's a difficult question.

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
One of the first vegan blog I found was FatFree Vegan Kitchen and Vegan Yum Yum. I still look for recipes and inspiration in both of them, but not as much as I used to due the lack of time. Have Cake, Will Travel! is one of my favorites too. Heidi's 101 cookbooks is a vegetarian blog, but most of her recipes are easy to veganize.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
“But if you don't eat meat....what do eat then??” I have been asked that so many times that I'm tired of answering: do you only eat meat and fish? There are so many other foods! The difference is that for you it's a side dish; for me not. But I try to be always polite and answer patiently, even when people think that eating fish (or just not eating chicken) means being vegetarian.



What is your favorite dish?
I don't think I could chose one favorite dish, especially because it changes depending on the season, the weather or even my mood: soups and stews during winter, green smoothies and salads during summer.

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
Since I am not American, I don't celebrate it. But I don't think I'd make some faux turkey or something similar. I'm completely happy with my beans stews, steamed veggies, marinated tofu or whatever: I don't need them to taste like meat (which is what some vegans want)



Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
Bufff! There are many, but a stew called Gypsy Pot will be always one of them. I hardly ever repeat recipe, but this is an exception: chickpeas, pumpkin, potatoes, pears and a “sofrito” I even eat it in summer, cold!

Gypsy Pot recipe (Olla gitana)


You will find as many versions of gypsy pot as food blogs on the net, so it’s a matter of trying and finding the version you like the most. The recipe of the food blog where I saw it for the first time, is slightly different from that. The first times, I used green beans as it was told, but one they I was run out of them, so I didn’t add beans. And I loved the result. I changed the white potatoes for sweet potatoes, as well. Elena’s recipe didn’t use carrot, but I saw that all the other recipes use carrots. I tried to add them once too (the Traveler’s Lunchbox Gypsy Pot recipe), but I didn’t like the result either.
Sofrito is translated by the Oxford dictionary as "tomato, onion, etc. fried lightly in oil" (what in fact, is) but it doesn’t have a name in English. Is used as a base for most of the Spanish and Catalan dishes (for example, paella, fideuà….)
Serves: 4-6 depending if a main course or a side dish.

-3 cups of cooked chickpeas (although you can add a little more or a little less)
-2 medium sweet potatoes
-2 cups of roughly chopped pumpkin
-2 medium pears
-a handful of green beans *optional* I didn’t use them. If using, add them along with the pumpkin and the pears.
-raisins *optional
-stock or water to cover
Sofrito
-1 onion
-1 red bell pepper
-2 medium tomatoes
-3 tablespoons of tomato paste
-3 cloves garlic
-1 tablespoon of oil
-1/2- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (depending on your taste)
-1 teaspoon Spanish paprika
-a few saffron threats
Preparation
1. If using non canned chickpeas, soak them the night before and cook until tender (about 1 1/2 hour)
2. Put the chickpeas in a pot with the stock or water. It must just cover it. Chop the sweet potatoes in cubes and add them. Bring it to boil and cook for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the sofrito. Put the olive oil in a sauce pan, and when it’s hot add the chopped onion, cook for a few minutes, and add all the other vegetables (the red bell pepper and the tomatoes) finely chopped. The tomatoes must be peeled. Add the tomato past too. Cook on a low heat for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring from time to time to don’t burn it. A few minutes before finishing, add the cumin, the Spanish paprika and the saffron threats.
4. After 10 minutes, add to the pot with chickpeas the other ingredients: the pumpkin in cubes, the pear in quarters (although if you don’t like the chunks too big, you can cut in smaller pieces) and the raisins. Cook on low heat another 10 or 15 minutes.
5. After that 15 minutes, add the sofrito to the pot with chickpeas and cook 5 minutes to leave the flavors develop. If it’s too watery, you can puree one cup of the strew with a blender and return it to the pot. In that case, simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
6. Serve very hot, with a couple of slices of lemon and ground almond on top.

Ask A Vegan Pt. 16

Writing this blog has been so good for me, I have met so many interesting and wonderful people, made new friends and I hope, have helped those who aren't Vegan understand that Vegans aren't pretentious, judgemental, preachy people. We are regular people who see things from an all together different point of view. Our dietary choices are not decided by our growling stomachs but by our hearts. Every decision I make is a conscientious one. I often tell people I live my life as harm free as possible. I do not eat meat/dairy because it is cruel, I do not wear leather/fur because it is inhumane, I ride a bike because it is the right thing to do, I recycle/compost because it is what the Earth needs. Being Vegan isn't to prove a point to others, it is to prove a point to myself. I can live and survive with peace in my heart and mind. In writing this blog I have found so many others out there who live and think the way that I do it is outstanding! These people are so different from me in so many ways (religion, philosophies, hobbies, and even fashion) but we share this one precious thing that links us in a way greater than most, it is our compassion towards ALL living things.

The Vegan for this week is Bianca from Vegan Crunk. Some of you may already know her blog, because simply put, she is radtastic. Her blog has so many delicious recipes it is hard for me to know where to get started. She does a ton of Southern cooking, and if one knows me well enough, they know I harbor a special little spot in my soul for some delish Southern food. Give me greens or give me death! Bianca is funny, smart, a great writer and she is wickedly cute! Check her out!



Name: Bianca Phillips
Age: 29
Location: Memphis, TN
Website: Vegan Crunk

How long have you been Vegan?
It’ll be 6 years in November.

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I went vegetarian in 1994 when I was 14 years old, and 2004 was my 10-year vegetarian anniversary. At the time, I was very involved in a local animal rights group and PETA, and through those activities I’d made a few vegan friends. They really opened my eyes to the cruelty that affects dairy cows and hens. Before I thought that eating a vegetarian diet was cruelty-free because no one had to die. But I was very wrong. I felt like my 10th anniversary of vegetarianism was the right time to make the next step. It began as a 30-day experiment, but when I realized how freakin’ easy it was, it stuck.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
Within a week or so of eating vegan, I immediately noticed feeling “lighter.” Not that I weighed any less, but I didn’t feel weighed down. I had more energy.

Are you open about your Veganism?
Oh yea. Veganism is the most important part of my identity and I let EVERYBODY know, whether they care or not.

If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…Our local animal rights group used to hold protests at KFC every month and we held monthly leafleting events, but everyone got a little burnt out and the group morphed into more of a social club. Now we get together once a month to eat at local restaurants and hold occasional potlucks and parties. I consider cooking and baking my activism these days. I always come armed to events (and often to work) with yummy vegan baked goods or savory dishes. I believe the way to most people’s hearts is through their stomachs. Also, I’m in the process of writing a cookbook that veganizes traditional Southern/soul food dishes.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
My family is super-supportive! Of course, I’ve been veg since age 14, so they’ve had plenty of time to get used to the idea. My mom has always cooked separate vegan dishes for me at family meals, and she even makes vegan desserts when she knows I’ll be visiting. My dad loves to pick out surprise vegan treats for me from Vegan Essentials, and my Granny (dad’s mom) has been an amazing help with my cookbook. She’s been veganizing all of her traditional family recipes for me to include in the book. Her vegan coconut pie is to die for!
Most of my friends are vegetarians and vegans, so that’s not an issue. My boyfriend eats meat, but he’s supportive of my veganism. My co-workers love the vegan baked goods I bring into the office at least once a week.


strawberry shortcake

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Move into veganism slowly. There’s a lot to learn, and most of it comes through trial and error. I’m still learning about some ingredients that I didn’t know weren’t vegan, and it’s been 6 years (I learned about l-cysteine a few months ago!). Also, take a month off from dairy cheese before trying vegan cheese to give your tastebuds time to adjust. Vegan cheese doesn’t taste like dairy cheese, but it is delicious. Think of it as a completely new food rather than a replacement.

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
Hell yea! I typically avoid fast food most of the time. But when I’m traveling, I’ve been known to stop through Subway for a veggie sandwich or Taco Bell for a cheeseless, sour cream-less 7-Layer Burrito. I’d love a few more fast food options for desperate times.



Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
I’m in love with Moby. I’ve always had a thing for skinny, shaved bald guys. In fact, my current boyfriend looks kind of like Moby. That’s why started dating him in the first place. Now if only I could get him to go vegan like Moby…

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
I love the PPK, but I’m not on as frequently as I should be. Favorite blogs include Get Sconed (which served as my inspiration for starting my own blog a few years back), the Urban Housewife, Vegansaurus, the Voracious Vegan, Chocolate Covered Katie, and Choosing Raw. Oh, and I love Seitanic Vegan Heathen of course!!!

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
Where do you get your protein? Nothing irks me more than this dumb question.


country fried tempeh

What is your favorite dish?
I love vegan pizza with lots of Daiya cheese. And I’m a sucker for a good vegan mac & cheese.

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
There’s always a Field Roast Celebration Roast on the table. And my mom makes some bomb-ass vegan cornbread dressin’. There’s also vegan hash brown casserole, my Granny’s delicious turnip greens, vegan mac & cheese, mashed taters, green beans, corn, homemade cranberry sauce. And I’m responsible for dessert every year. Last year, I made a Smlove Pie from the Veganomicon.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Any flavor? God, that’s a way hard question. I love all flavors of cupcake! Everything I’ve tried from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World has been stellar. I know that’s a crappy, unoriginal answer.  Hmmm…maybe a neopolitan cupcake ice cream cake with chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry icing.

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
Vegan Crunk’s Country Potato Soup (Serves 4 to 6)

-4 cups cubed potatoes, skins removed (about 2 medium baking potatoes)
-1 large carrot, sliced
-2 stalks celery, sliced
-1 Tbsp. canola oil
-1 medium onion, chopped
-1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
-2 cups unsweetened soymilk
-2 Tbsp. whole wheat pastry flour
-1 tsp. sea salt
-1/4 tsp. black pepper
-5 slices cooked veggie bacon, crumbled (I use Light Life brand Smart Bacon strips)
-Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cover potatoes, carrot, and celery in a large stockpot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat and then lower to medium. Boil for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Transfer vegetables to a colander and allow to drain in the sink while you prepare the onions.
Heat oil in the same stockpot, and sauté onion for 2 to 3 minutes or until translucent. Add vegetable broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
In a measuring cup, mix flour thoroughly into soymilk. Add to soymilk mixture to stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Lower heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken. Stir in veggie bacon, salt, and pepper.

I was just thinking of how long it has been since I had potato soup and then here comes Bianca! Isn't she great?

Ask A Vegan Pt. 15

Today was one of those days, one of those I want to stab the next annoying person in the esophagus with a fork days. Lately at the ol' grocery store, business has been good. More business equals more food to stock equals more employees, right? Well we have the more business, more food part right but the last few days we have been painfully short handed. I say painfully because my back, my knees and the knuckle on my middle finger, right hand hurts. No, I didn't punch a customer, but on accident slammed my hand between two boxes. Now I have a swollen middle finger, not cool for angry expressionism. There is a point in here somewhere, I promise. I sometimes get very serious at work, when things don't get done, I take it as a personal failure, which is really dumb. I was about to reach the point of stark raving mad when I remembered today was Monday, Ask A Vegan day and everything turned around. Cheesy but very true. The little lady I am sharing today is incredibly sweet, her food is om nom nom tasty and she is gorgeous! (I know, I think all vegans are beautiful, but this one is like...woah)

I first found Jacklyn (or maybe she found me?) through blogger. Her blog Go Vegan Meow was instantly appealing to me as a veg and as a cat lady. Her little kitty cat is super adorable and I swoon whenever she posts photos of her furry baby. Once I got over the "oh my gosh kitty" phase I noticed how truly delicious her food was. She posts a new recipe almost daily, not all are her own but the fact that one girl can make that much food and still be smokin' hot is incredible! Check her out, and fall in love.

Name: Jackie
Age: 26
Location: Los Angeles
Website: Go Vegan Meow


How long have you been Vegan?
A little over a year.

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I occasionally used to eat at vegan restaurants before I made the change. On one visit I grabbed a Peta magazine while I waited for my meal. I read the “Meet Your Meat” article, and just like many others was horrified about what I read. I did more research about factory farming and the toll meat plays on your health. A week later I went vegan cold turkey and haven’t looked back since.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I’ve never felt better. Going vegan was one of the best choices I have ever made. First thing I noticed was the weight I was trying to lose, came off so easily. I feel more energized and I noticed that I don’t get sick as often as I used to. Must be all those yummy veggies I be eating.



Are you open about your Veganism?
Of course! I always invite friends over to share meals that I have made. I want people to know that vegan food isn’t all about salads and tofu. One of the main reasons why I started my blog was to help people find fun, yummy vegan recipes. It’s definitely not something I am ashamed of.

If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…Unfortunately no, but I would love to.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Oh geesh, I get mixed reactions from the people in my life. My mom totally understands why I went vegan and is slowly starting to give up meat herself. Some of my aunts on the other hand, think I am really weird and some worry that I am going to get sick. My friends used to tease me when I first went veg. But as time went by and they realized it wasn’t a phase they stopped. They respect my decision and are always down to go out to eat with me at vegan joints.

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
To take it slow and not be so hard on yourself if you slip and eat something non-vegan. I see a lot of people attempting to become a vegetarian, only to give up a week or two later because they started feeling too weak. People don’t understand what a big change they’ll be making. It’s basically like having to learn how to eat and cook all over again. One year later, I am still learning myself.



Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
No way! I would never support an organization that didn’t treat their animals humanely.

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
Natalie Portman all the way. Is she considered dashing? Hehe Either way I think she’s so talented and I love how fashion forward she is, while still keeping all her outfits vegan. She gave me hope before I made the change that vegan fashion could still be super cute.

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
Why yours of course Rikki! : ]
But other than yours, I love QuarryGirl.com for info on all the yummy vegan restaurants in my area.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
The dreaded “where do you get your protein?” question ugh.


isn't she a cutie?

What is your favorite dish?
A vegan Pho I get from a local restaurant. It’s a Vietnamese soup with rice noodles, soy protein, veggie broth and cilantro. Served with Sriracha and Hoisin sauce mmm!

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
Last year was my first vegan Thanksgiving so I did a Tofurky with string beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie. But this year I am thinking about making my own “Turkey” with all the same sides. I can’t wait to see how that turns out!



If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Hmm maybe a Espresso / Gingerbread flavored cupcake with a little gingerbread man cut out on top!


Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
One of my favorite recipes and a promised hit with all your vegan and non-vegan friends.



Chipotle Chili
– serves 6 to 8

* 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
* 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
* 1 large carrot, chopped
* 1 stalk celery, chopped
* 1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
* 1 medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 to 3 tablespoons finely chopped chipotles in adobo 1 tablespoon dried oregano
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with their liquid
* 3 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained
* 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, drained
Directions
1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery, peppers and garlic and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until vegetables are softened but not browned.

2. Add chipotles, oregano, cumin, chili powder and salt. Stir to blend. Add tomatoes and 4 cups water. Gently simmer over low heat, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

3. Add beans and simmer an additional 30 minutes. Garnish individual bowls with green onions or vegan sour cream, if desired.

Thanks Jackie! You are ridiculously rad!

Ask A Vegan pt. 14

What a wonderful Monday! I have been a little ball of happiness today from all of the positive energy carried over from yesterday's photo shoot. I raved to all of my favorite people about meeting Tania Katan and her love Angela Ellsworth. Both ladies were Ah-Mazing and very inspirational. I was a complete dork and I didn't really take any photos of the cupcakes I made for the shoot, but once the magazine comes out I can get photos from the photographer and share them all with you...WEEEEEEE!

Now speaking about women who are amazing, today's Ask A Vegan is a young and beautiful girl who when filling out my survey had only been vegan for two weeks! It takes guts to switch to the veg lifestyle as well as openly tell everyone about it! *For those of you out there who aren't vegan, you may not realize the ridicule that we get on a daily basis. I know it sounds silly, but it is the same as someone judging you by your race, religion or sexuality. It is absolutely insulting when someone shoves a plate of bacon in my face and says, "yuuuuummm! Bet you want to eat this Rikki." When in reality I am thinking, no I don't want to eat it, no I don't miss fatty, greasy bacon, and yes I think you are a douche bag.* Katie has started a blog all about her journey and it is a really great read for anyone who is interested in becoming a vegan (secretly chanting "one of us, one of us" in my head right now) or even incorporating more vegan dishes to their diet. So please check out her blog, become a reader (I hate the term "follower") and tell her how friggen' rad she it. Do it!!

Name: Katie
Age: 21
Location: Hampshire, UK
Website: Vegan Katie Cake


How long have you been Vegan?
About 2 weeks…

What made you decide to go Vegan?
Well I am about to go into my final year of uni and had no idea what topic to do. I have a recent history of failed dieting so thought maybe that would be an option to write about, how dieting is unhealthy and doesn’t work. I started reading ‘Skinny Bitch’ and even though I had read it before, It just clicked with me this time. So I started reading more about veganism and everything just kind of slotted into place.
There and then I decided to not eat meat again but still ate dairy etc for about a week.
My dissertation is now going to be about why veganism is the answer.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I’ve definitely noticed that I have more energy and feel more positive in general, about life and everyday stuff. Ive also lost that bit of weight that was hanging around (although quite a chunk is still hanging around). It’s a bit early for any miracle health improvements yet but there is time…

Are you open about your Veganism?
Ive not really had that much chance to talk about it with people other than my immediate family but I would be happy to. Although I already know it is very hard not to preach when all those shocking images are ingrained onto the insides of your eyelids.
If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
Not yet but Its something I really want to do.

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Although I’ve never been much of a meat eater it was a big difference for me to not be having eggs and dairy. One of the last diets I did involved a lot and eggs and yoghurt. And a lot of late night cereal munchies.
My mum was fine. My Boyfriend on the other hand was not so keen but he is coming around slowly.



What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Read.
Then just take a minute to think about yourself. How happy you are with what you eat and the effect that has on you and everything else. I think once you decide to really acknowledge and accept the truth, you cant go back.

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
I don’t think I would trust them that it would actually be vegan and it would probably taste like shit anyway.

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing?
Oh this is a whole new world to explore. Yumyum.

Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow?
No favourites, I love them all.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
From my boyfriend:
“Your not going to make me eat weird hippy shit are you?”
No of course not = Yes, if I can get away with it.



What is your favorite dish?
So far the best thing I’ve made has been the peanut butter caramel for my attempt at a Smlove Pie, does that count?
I ate most of it straight out the pan on its own so surely that counts as a dish…

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
Well we don’t have Thanksgiving here in the UK.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
A ‘Willy Wonka 3 course meal chewing gum’ style cupcake with
numerous flavours including peanut butter, mint choccy chip, red velvet, guylain seashells and always ending in chocolate fudge brownie and icecream. And maybe some cream on top.
And sprinkles.

good answer, and my favorite scene from Willy Wonka, Violet is turning violet!


Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
Any that doesn’t involve Seitan.
Ive tried to love it or even just like it but I cant.

Ask A Vegan Pt. 13

I am so giddy about this post today. Though I have never met the featured Vegan for this week, I think if she and I lived in the same town we would be fast friends. Wendy is hilarious, her humour comes through very well in type and she had me rolling on the floor when I read her responses. It is refreshing to see silly answers to some very serious questions, as we Vegans can take ourselves a little too seriously sometimes. So sit back and get ready to giggle.

Name: Wendy (veganwendy)
Age: 31 (32 on 8/5.. ugh)
Location: Tonawanda, NY
Website: um... I'm "veganwendy" on everything. Twitter, flickr, tumblr. You can easily stalk the hell out of me.


How long have you been Vegan? um.. Vegetarian since about 15, then vegan for a year in 1999-2000, then vegan again in 2003 until present day. I don't like math. ;)

What made you decide to go Vegan? After being vegetarian for a while, I started to question why I didn't eat chickens, yet still ate their eggs. Eventually I learned more about dairy farms and came to the realization that if I didn't want to support the meat industry, I'd have to say "peace out" to the dairy industry as well.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice? Not too shabby. I definitely have a healthier diet than anyone else in my family. I weigh a lot less than them too. ha.

Are you open about your Veganism? Hells to the yes. My first tattoo was the word "vegan" on my wrist, I have vegan stickers on my car, I have 2 vegan hoodies, etc. It's definitely a big part of who I am.



If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc… Sadly, aside from plastering myself and my car with the vegan-osity, no. I'm super introverted & a total homebody. :o/

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet? They really don't understand why I feel so strongly about it, but they've learned to accept that I'm not going to change. I think it's pretty ironic when someone refers to my Thanksgiving Tofurky as "gross", while they sit at the dinner table hacking away at a dead animal.

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan? Just Do It. (hrmm.. will I get sued for that?)

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger? Heck nah. I was just talking to my fiancé the other day about how we're never going to take our kids to McDonald's. Happy Meals are an evil starting off point for young people to get hooked on greasy, chemical-laden food. Not to mention all the factory farms they utilize. Eff. That.

Do you have a Vegan celebrity that you find particularly dashing? hmmm.. Well that Bob Harper guy from the Biggest Loser just announced his veganism. He's rather dashing. Oh - in the 10th Anniversary Edition of VegNews, there was a super cute guy featured - I don't know his name off-hand, but he partly credited Propagandhi for his veganism. (his name is Dustin Coury)



Do you have a favorite Vegan blog or website that you follow? Not really. I have subscriptions to VegNews & Vegetarian Times, but I don't have a go-to site that I frequent. But for recipes, I usually go to vegweb.com.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet? The standard simple-minded ones. "Where do you get your protein?" "Do you miss meat?" "So you just eat salads & stuff, right?"

What is your favorite dish? I love me some chili. mmmm... beans.

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving? Tofurky feeeeast! I buy the big "kit" with the roast, dumplings & gravy. Then I usually cut up a mixture of sweet potatoes, russets & carrots to bake with the roast. And some sort of pie. Usually chocolate. That no one else will eat cos it's scary and vegan. Psssh. More for me then, bitcheeez.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be? ooohh.. chocolate hazelnut. with rainbow sprinkles. :-D



Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
This one ----> http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=12657.0 The best vegan chocolate chip cookies EVER. Even my "eww it's vegan?" family loves them.


You may have noticed there were two new questions on this week's Ask A Vegan one of them provided by Keith Ask A Vegan #4. Thanks Keith! And thanks to Wendy for being a friggen' awesome Vegan!

Ask A Vegan Pt. 12

A few weeks ago my new and super amazing friend Tracy sent me an email with a little surprise attached, she asked one of her friends to answer the Ask A Vegan questions and sent me the answers! How cool is that? This is the first Ask A Vegan that I have done with a stranger, but after reading her responses I feel like we could be good friends, not to mention how adorable she is! I highly suggest you check out her website, her blog is silly and fun and her etsy uh was pretty much made for me! Cupcake aprons and coffee cozies...yes please!

Name: Becky Striepe
Age: 31
Location: Atlanta, GA
Website: glueandglitter



How long have you been Vegan?
Since 2006.

What made you decide to go Vegan?
I went vegetarian at age 16 for animal rights reasons, and since then my diet's sort of bounced around. I was pescatarian for a while and then gave up eggs and dairy for health reasons. My cholesterol was something like 240! When I cut eggs and dairy out of my diet, it went back to normal in 3 months with no medicine. I finally gave up seafood in 2006. It just made me feel so gross when I ate it. I was reading more and more about overfishing, mercury, and bykill, and I just couldn't stomach doing that to the planet or my body just so I could have fish in my sushi. I've been vegan ever since and never looked back!

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
I feel amazing!

Are you open about your Veganism?
Yes, I am, though I do try not to be overbearing about it. While I don't agree with omnivores' dietary choices, I try to be tolerant. No one was ever shamed into veganism, and I prefer to set an example with my dietary choices, you know what I mean?
If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
Some, but not as much as I'd like.


she is a member of etsy veg!

What do your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Reactions vary, but folks are overall pretty supportive. When I head back to Florida to visit my family, my mom and sister go shopping for "Becky Food," and my sis said they think it's fun!

What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Read! Get some cookbooks to peruse and read up on nutrition. The cookbooks will help you learn how to put tasty vegan meals together. The nutrition business is important for health purposes, obviously, but it will also help you answer questions about vegan food. Folks are going to have them, and it's so much easier to answer if you're a little bit informed.

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
I would. I'm a big believer in voting with your wallet. If McDonald's had vegan menu items, I'd want to support that.


her aprons are super cute!!

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
"Where do you get your protein?" or any of the sarcastic ones like, "If you love vegetables so much, why do you kill them?"

What is your favorite dish?
Shepherd's Pie! It's a staple around here, and I love how flexible and satisfying it is.


what a great little kitchen!

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
It varies a lot. My husband's family has taken to going out to dinner, so the restaurant usually fixes me something off the menu. Last year, I had roasted veggies and gnocchi in this awesome tomato sauce! When we cooked at home, we'd get a Field Roast and make veggie sides.

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Something lychee-related! What kind of frosting would you use there? Lime? Maybe almond? (How about ginger buttercream Becky?)



Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
I just don't know if I can pick one! Can I tell you my favorite cookbook instead? Veganomicon has been my go to lately for recipe inspiration. As desserts go, I am obsessed with Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Obviously, I'm a big fan of Isa Chandra Moskowitz.

Ask A Vegan Pt. 11

Trying to find a Vegan is at times like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Just when I think I may have to skip my weekly feature someone comes out of the blue and gives me their responses to my silly questionnaire and makes me feel the warm and fuzzies all over my incredibly pasty body. The weirdest thing about the beautiful Vegan I am featuring today is she was right under my nose. I work with this great guy John who like me is a bike enthusiast and almost more like me is like 97 percent Vegan. I didn't even know John worked with me when I met him. We were having a work Christmas thing with free food in our break room and he was back there with his children hanging out. I thought he was just another really happy Trader Joe's shopper who goes in the break room and hangs out with the crew. Later in the week I saw him working a register and was overcome with joy! Awesome, another cool person to work with. The more I talked with John the more I like him and the more I got to know about him. His children are raised Vegan and the best part, his gorgeous wife is Vegan too and she was kind enough to allow me to share her with all of you! Allow me to introduce Tiffany Sellwood...

Name: Tiffany Sellwood
Age:31
Location: Ahwatukee, AZ
Website: None, isn’t that horrible? Particularly since I’m an online marketer.


How long have you been Vegan? 8 years

What made you decide to go Vegan?
The book “Diet for a New America” converted me to a vegetarian in the matter of two chapters. That winter, a massive sinus infection led me to a homeopathic doctor who told me to get rid of dairy altogether. I had been eating so many cheese sandwiches since going vegetarian, I had developed a dairy sensitivity! After being on the elimination diet for a few days, the sinus pressure was gone. I haven’t eaten dairy since.

How do you feel health wise with this diet choice?
The best I’ve felt in my life. After going vegan, I noticed a huge difference in energy level, particularly in the afternoon. I’m a runner, and coincidentally I became faster and more efficient with less training on a vegan diet. I’ve also had two wonderful, uncomplicated pregnancies. I feel like a million bucks!

Are you open about your Veganism? Heck yes!

If so, are you involved in any activism i.e. protests, leafleting etc…
If I didn’t have two young kids that consume every free minute, I would definitely be out there. The only activism I partake in is posting informative articles on my Facebook profile, hoping that a few people just might find them intriguing enough to check them out.

What does your family, friends, co-workers think about your diet?
Most people in my life think it’s interesting and certainly everyone respects it. My husband is an amazing cook and has shown our friends and family how great vegan food can be. We’ve shared recipes with meat eaters who come over and want to make our dishes in their own homes! I’ve been thrilled to see some of my closest friends experiment with vegetarianism, and some became total veg heads!



What advice would you give those interested in becoming Vegan?
Before buying a cookbook, I would first recommend reading some books about the benefits of veganism. I think the chances of success are better if you really understand the health, environmental, and political reasons for going vegan. Our society has been so brainwashed by the food industry that the truth about dairy, for example, is usually shocking to most people. When you become enlightened with the truth, your vegan journey will be so much more meaningful. Not to mention - you’ll be so outraged, you’ll want to share the truth with others and get them inspired to try it, too!

Would you eat at Mc Donald’s if they carried a Vegan burger?
No. McDonald’s is the epitome of what’s gone wrong with the American diet. They make millions of dollars serving heart disease and obesity on a plate, and yet they’ve perfected their artificially-flavored “food” so well that we can’t seem to get enough of it. Meanwhile, their business model maintains the factory farming phenomenon, which is not only horrifying for animals, farmers and slaughterhouse workers, but it’s sickening us even more with hormone and antibiotic-laden meat. If McDonald’s were to offer a vegan burger, it would be completely disingenuous, as they could care less about our health. Rather, they would be doing so only to cater to a new market to boost sales. Now if McDonald’s decided to completely turn their business philosophy upside-down and commit themselves to offering healthier food (which means they’d have to remove or modify best-sellers from their menu and offer ONLY organic meat), then I may take them seriously with the vegan burger. In the meantime, I refuse to even buy a cup of coffee from them.

What is your least favorite question that you are asked about your diet?
There’s always the “Then what DO you eat?” question that makes me chuckle, but I think the question I like the least is “How do you get enough protein”? I know it seems cliché – as I’m sure this is one of every vegan’s least favorite questions – but the reason I loathe it so much is because it takes me too long to answer it well. There is a HUGE misunderstanding about protein in our society, and you kind of have to start there. Given our accessibility to such a variety of food, it’s practically impossible for a vegan to consume an inadequate amount of protein – but there IS such a thing, however, as TOO MUCH protein.



What is your favorite dish?
I guess my absolute, eat-it-any-day favorite would be my hubby’s vegetable lasagna, made with spinach, mushrooms, white sauce and homemade tomato sauce. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

What do you typically eat at Thanksgiving?
Everything but the turkey, really! We pretty much make all the traditional dishes, we just substitute vegan margarine for butter, veg stock for chicken stock, and soy milk for milk. We even make a green bean casserole with a homemade vegan cream of celery soup, and I made my first vegan pumpkin pie last Thanksgiving. It was so good, it converted pumpkin pie haters to lovers!

If I could make you any flavor cupcake in the world what would it be?
Now that we’re talking about Thanksgiving, I’m thinking pumpkin cheesecake. That’s one dessert I do miss.

Please share your favorite Vegan recipe.
Here’s a quick and easy spaghetti Bolognese that pleases vegans and meat-eaters alike!
1 packet of Yves veggie meat
½ cup celery
½ cup carrots
1 med onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp white wine
1/3 cup soy milk
½ jar tomato paste
1 cup tomato sauce
Pinches of dried basil, oregano, sugar, s&p
2 tbsp olive oil

Heat the oil in saucepan. Add onion, sauté until soft. Add garlic. Continue sautéing until fragrant, then add celery and onion and let them cook until slightly softened. Add the packet of veggie meat and stir on medium heat. Add wine, and let the “meat” absorb it before adding the soy milk. Add soy milk, tomato paste, and seasonings. Finally, thin it out with the tomato sauce. Let cook on low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Serve with whole wheat spaghetti or penne. Enjoy!


Isn't she the bee's knees folks?