Okay all. I know it seems as if I have disappeared from the blogosphere. I have been sick for the past 2 weeks. I started getting sick before my grandfathers funeral and it has progressively gotten worse over the past week since I have been back. I have been having a hard time getting out of bed. I thought I would sit myself upright for a few minutes and post briefly to let you all know that I am still alive. I am finally going to see the doctor today, becasue my body is just not fighting this crud and it is not getting better. I thought I was feeling better on Saturday and went out for a while to take my son to a Halloween fair, but by the time I got back I was running a fever of 103.7. So much for being better. I have mostly laid around and slept for the past 6 days and it sucks.

I know it is a bit late, but if you can find these things at your local health food store, there are some great vegan Halloween treats to pass out to the neighborhood kids. I have found some great articles, providing lot’s of resources. So I would definitely check them out. If they are too late for this year, you can file them away for next year. I wish I had time to go out and get some, but then again I am truly a fan of Hot Tamales and already have a Endangered Species dark chocolate bar set aside for the occasion for myself. Happy reading:

No Tricks, Real Treats for a Non-Dairy and Vegan Halloween

Give out vegan-friendly sweets this Halloween

Milk chocolate fit for a vegan

Vegan Candy List

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

I have been on a bit of a hiatus this past week. My grandfather passed away on Thursday and I have been with my family in the desert since then. We have been doing a lot of driving back and forth and going from one relatives house to the next, so it has been pretty crazy. I just wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know that I have not disappeared and should be back to blogging tomorrow. I look forward to getting back into my normal routine and going out and reading what all of you have been blogging about.

I posted an article a long time back on Laboratory Grown Meat. The original idea being that scientists would take cells from animals and then grow the cells in petri dishes. Well I just came across an article today about how scientists have actually cloned the entire animal. So I guess what they really meant was that they would clone the cells in a petri dish until they began to grow into a whole other animal that they would then torture and slaughter for food. Now the FDA is being petitioned for approval of animal products from cloned animals. The cells are actually implanted into an animal, who will give birth to a baby. I am not actually sure of what the point of all this is, other than now they don’t have to go through the trouble of finding a male for the female animal to mate with. Of course, I’m sure that is so much more difficult than taking the nuclei from cells removed from an animal, and then implanting them into another animal (do you detect the sarcasm?). To read more about this check out Groups say FDA should ban sale of food from clones.

I am so bumbed. I just found out about Howard Lynam speaking in my area yesterday, today. I wish I would have known, I would definitely have known. Good news, the next speaker in the series on the link between nutrition and cancer is Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. It isn’t until February 4, 2006, but I will be there. I didn’t even now that there was an organization called New Choices Integrative Health in San Luis Obispo. It is a nonprofit organization helping people heal through nutrition and understand the links between disease and what we eat. I am going to contact them and see if they could use some extra help. For anybody even close to this area, check them out at Shutting Down Cancer.

I leave you today with one final link to a blog written by a couple determined to make 365 different vegan recipes in 365 days, called Vegan Dinner. He is a long time vegan, she states she would go vegan, but can’t because of health concerns (not sure what health problems could prevent one from going vegan), but am excited to read about their recipes. So definitely check them out.

More recipes and pics for you tonight. My husband and I made homemade salsa and I made a sour cream dip for chips. We had a late lunch today and weren’t really hungry so we made snack foods.

Here is a picture of the salsa:

Salsa Recipe:

2 Tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion
4 serano chiles
2 Yellow Banana Peppers
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp fresh cilantro
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce

Chop up all vegetables and put all ingredients in the blender and pulsate 4 or 5 times until you reach the desired consistency.

Here is the yummy sour cream dip. This recipe is great for get togethers. You can dip chips or vegetables in it.

Vegan Sour Cream Dip

1 container tofutti sour cream
1 small can of chopped jalapenos
1/4 cup salsa

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and serve with chips and vegetables.

Hope you enjoy. These make for great snacking.

Okay, I have some food pics for you all tonight. The first picture is of my delicious Vegetable Corn Chowder. I still plan on making that again this week. It was so creamy.

This next picture is a variation of my Spaghetti Florentine in White Wine Sauce. It was delicious. A very classy dish and a perfect replacement for rich and creamy pastas in white sauce.

Spaghetti Florentine

1 yellow onion, chopped
1 yellow or orange bellpepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
10 mushrooms, sliced
8-10 leaves fresh basil, chopped
3 tbsp vegan butter spread
3 tbsp flour
1 cup vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups rice milk
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package whole wheat spaghetti noodles
8 cups water
1 tsp olive oil

Begin heating water and olive oil in a large pot. While water is heating saute onion, garlic, mushrooms, bellpepper and basil in butter spread. Saute for about 7 minutes. Then add flour and mix in well. Slowly add rice milk and vegetable broth, stirring constantly to make a smooth creamy sauce. Add salt and pepper and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Add spaghetti noodles to boiling water and stir. Let cook for about 12 minutes. Stir sauce and add drained spinach. Mix in and turn off heat. Let sit while noodles are finishing up. Once noodles are cooked drain out all of the water. Spoon in white sauce and reserve any leftover sauce for a soup starter.

This final picture is of my Open Faced Mashed Potato Sandwiches. This is a recipe I came up with tonight. I was craving the different flavors and decided to put them together.

Open Faced Mashed Potato Sandwiches

4 potatoes
Leftover white sauce from Spaghetti Florentine (about 1 cup)
1 cup frozen chopped spinach
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 slices sourdough bread
4 tbsp vegan butter spread
Garlic Salt to taste

Boil potatoes in water until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Butter sourdough bread and top with garlic salt and set aside. Once potatoes are fork tender, add chopped spinach to boiling water and place bread in the broiler. Cook potatoes and spinach for about five minutes and drain. Mash with a potato masher and add white sauce, mix until smooth. Pull garlic toast out of the oven and put on plates. Top garlic toast with mashed potatoes and serve.

Sorry for not posting in a couple of days, I got caught up in a project for work that took me much longer than expected and had school on Sunday. I am still wanting to get you pics of the corn vegetable chowder, hopefully I can get my [very busy] hubbie to download them for me today. This is definitely a must try recipe and I plan on making it again this week. I actually have a couple of good recipes that I will be making and posting about this week. Fall food is definitely my favorite food. I’m also working on a few Halloween recipes to post on this month.

I read an article a couple of weeks back about an animal rights worker in Pittsburgh who was arrested for saving an abandoned, starving dog who was near death. This woman received a call from the dog’s neighbor that this poor dog was chained up outside without food or water and it appeared that the owners had been gone for quite some time. The neighbor reported that the dog was barely moving. The animal rights worker, whose name is Tammy Grimes, rushed over to check on the dog, who was barely alive at the time. The dog was malnurished, dehydrated and had mange. The poor things was not in good shape and was very sick. Tammy took the dog to the vet and had him treated, then took him home. When the owner’s returned to town they demanded their dog back, but Tammy refused (good for her) to return the dog to such neglectful owners. Now Tammy is under arrest and is being charged with theft and receiving stolen property, while the abusive owners have been charged with no crimes. To read more about this issue read the article Tethering Raises Issues of Owner, Pet Rights. It seems to me very unfair that people can get away with such abusive behavior towards an animal and the person who saved the animals life is being prosecuted.

The great state of Arizona (of which I was once a resident) has an initiative on this fall’s ballott, Prop 204, that will make it a misdemeanor to “tether or confine a pig during pregnancy or a calf raised for veal on a farm for all or the majority of a day in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down and fully extending its limbs or turning around freely.” This proposition is receiving large support from Arizona residents. Though I think the proposition could go a lot further, I do appreciate the awareness it is providing and the fact that it is one small step in the right direction. Opponents of this proposition state that it is just vegan and vegetarian propaganda to make it illegal to consume animal products and that by allowing this proposition to pass, they will be setting the stage for a meat-free Arizona. My utopia! But the actual chances of something like this happening are pretty much slim to none. I would say this is a very desperate, but pathetic attempt by the meat industry to crush Proposition 204. To read more about the controversy check out the article Hogwash or Humanity in the Tucson Daily.

To end this post on a very positive note, the NBA will no longer be using basketballs made of leather. You heard this right! Know more leather basketballs in the NBA. Starting with the 2006/2007 basketball season they will be using balls made of synthetic materials. Many in the basketball league or unhappy about the change, but officials are standing their ground. Many think that it is serious pressure from PETA that led to this change. Read more by checking out David Stern Has A Thing For Cows.
I hope everyone is having a great week and repeat after me Goooooo PETA.

I made the yummiest vegetable chowder for dinner tonight. I forgot to take a picture. We ate it at my mom’s house, but I have leftovers and will post pictures tomorrow. It was so delicious, and creamy and perfect for fall.

Vegetable Chowder

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
12 medium mushrooms, sliced
2 generous tbsp vegan butter spread
3 tbsp flour
4 potatoes
2 cups frozen broccoli
2 cups frozen corn
3 cups vegetable broth
3 cups rice milk
Salt and Pepper to taste
Peel potatoes and cut into small pieces. Boil the potatoes in water for about 40 minutes or until fork tender. Saute mushrooms, onion, garlic, and celery in butter spread for about 5 minutes. Mix in flour and cook for about 4 minutes, then add rice milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil and add potatoes, corn, and broccoli. Add salt and pepper and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.

This will be a staple in my house this winter.

I can’t believe the holiday’s are just around the corner. This will be my first vegan holiday season and I am pretty excited. I have lot’s of thoughts on recipes, which I will definitely be posting in the next couple of weeks. I did come across a great article on Vegan Thanksgiving tips for those who are celebrating their first vegan holiday season like me. I think it definitely provided some helpful information.

The article I really wanted to draw your attention to is the one about a student group in Minnesota called Compassionate Action for Animals. Apparently, these students have been holding vegan week activities for about three years. They promote veganism with positive messages and provide vegan foods to feast on. They also provide vegan cooking classes and are providing vegan mentoring services for those who would like to try to go vegan. In addition, they try to get people to sign a GoVeg for a week pledge. They are expecting about six hundred pledges. Kudos to this group. They are truly an awesome and an inspiration. Once I have all of my finances back on track (i.e., have extra money) I would love to sponsor a veg event in my area, where I can cook and provide samples of vegan food for people. I think it would be so cool to show people that vegan food is so totally delicious. You can read more about this article at: Veg Week Encourages Meatless Diets.

I cannot believe how fast the weeks have been flying by. It blows me away that it is already Wednesday and that Halloween is just around the corner. We have so many things coming up this month. A close family friend just had a baby yesterday, my nephew’s 1st b-day is in a week, my son has a bounce-a-thon for school and we have Halloween and my brother’s 30th b-day. I will be doing a lot of cooking to preserve my veganism.

Anyway, time for MWM and here is what I bought this week:

Midweek Munchies: What Cindy is contributing for the week From the grocery store: Vegetable Broth Rice Milk Mushrooms Potatoes Onions Bananas Frozen Strawberries Frozen Peas Pinto Beans Kidney Beans Salsa Chips Tomato Sauce Flour Peanut Butter Bread EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch Cereal From the Garden: Tomatoes Links to other Midweek Munchies (If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I’ll post it below; or, you can post in the comments)

Click here for the Midweek Munchies code
Click here for Harmonia’s blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!
Technorati Tag: Midweek Munchies

A special thanks to Running2Ks and Rift for all of their help with coding, graphics, and encouragement for this project.

PURPOSE of Midweek Munchies: Put together by a small group of Veg Women, we hope to spread the word about healthy vegetarianism while obtaining idea starters for meals, recipes, learn about new products, and meet other female veg*n bloggers. Visiting and commenting on other participants lists are encouraged but not required. Have fun and Go Veg!

Tonight I made the most wonderful risotto. It was so full of flavor and creamy. The pic doesn’t do it justice.

Vegan Risotto

6 cups vegetable broth
2 cups brown basmati rice
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp vegan butter spread
1 cup cream of mushroom soup
3 cups frozen peas

Heat vegetable broth in a medium sauce pan. Saute onions and garlic in vegan butter spread for about 5 minutes. Add rice and saute another 2-3 minutes. Add 3 cups vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and let simmer without the lid until almost all of the liquid is gone. Ladle in another two cups of vegetable broth and continue cooking until liquid is absorbed, then ladle in a cup of vegetable broth and 1 cup water and cook until all liquid is absorbed. Continue this process for a total of about two hours. Heat cream of mushroom soup in medium saucepan and add peas, cook until peas are warmed all the way through. Put cream of mushroom soup mixture in the risotto and stir.

This recipe takes a while, but is totally worth it.