End of vegan mofo: pumpkin muffins & community

 The end of vegan mofo!  The beginning of October which means fall is finally here.  To celebrate these two things, I made vegan pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips in them and crumble topping.

Another huge awesome thing that happened today was I got my order from Pioneer's Press!!! I was really excited because they have some great zines and stuff, but also they are doing great things and really struggling right now.  If you get a chance and like zines and stuff (they have a ton of vegan stuff), please support them!

Vegan MoFo kind of taught me how out of touch with the vegan community I am.  I used to have a few friends who were vegan or even vegetarian, and now, I don't.  I feel like, even though I live in Pittsburgh, I really don't do much to meet like-minded people.  There are so many great vegan meet-ups and stuff going on, but I don't really make an effort to go out, or I let anxiety get the best of me.  I honestly feel like I've lost a huge part of myself, and being part of a community or something larger than myself will help me work towards getting that back.

I'm really proud that I blogged as often as I did, and I'm excited to have one vegan mofo under my belt!

<3 I hope that you all keep reading and stay connected.

Congrats to all the people who made it to the end!

Imperfection Mexican Food: After Dark Special

I should get an award for this meal.  Not because it's fancy or super delicious...just because it is a meal that isn't cereal eaten over the sink.

Let's back up.  I'm a perfectionist.  It's not a good quality because sometimes it paralyzes me.  I sometimes don't do anything because I'm so overwhelmed and afraid that it won't be perfect.  Or I over plan things, and if I'm not sure they'll be perfect, I don't bother.

Besides being a perfectionist, I'm insanely lazy and unorganized, which also leads to mayhem.  (There's a point in all of this, I swear).

I almost didn't post today.  Today was one of those days that started off weird, a rip in my pantyhose at work, trouble finding a parking spot where I always park.  I knew that today was going to be one of those days, and it was.  I didn't get home until 6:30, and by the time I walked the dog, I didn't feel like making anything spectacular, and I was running out of daylight.  Kai was also being a pain, a cute pain, but still annoying.

Basically, this simple, delicious meal consists of taking a bunch of Trader Joe's products and layering them, and it's not perfect, but it works.  (Just like these pictures...which look like they were taken with flash and are absolutely awful.)

But I did it.  I posted.  When I didn't want to or didn't think that I could.  For that, I've perfected today.
.

Imperfection Mexican Food

1 cup jasmine rice, cooked

Simple ingredients (nosy dog being bad is optional)

1 can Trader Joe's Cuban Black Beans

1 cup Trader Joe's Enchilada Sacuce

1 can Trader Joe's Refried Beans

1/2 cup Trader Joe's Black Bean Dip

1 zucchini

1 onion

1 cup mushrooms

Optional:

handful of Daiya that has been hanging out in your fridge

handful of stale nacho chips 

1/2 avocado

1 packet of mild Taco Bell sauce from god knows when that was in your fridge

Preheat oven to 350°.

Take a glass, oven-safe bowl, and spread a 1 inch layer onto the bottom.  With a spatula, add another layer of black bean dip.

In a separate bowl, stir black beans into the rice.  Add in the enchilada sauce and mix well.  Scoop mixture into the original bowl to add another layer.

Fry zucchini, onion, and mushrooms in olive oil on medium heat.  Layer on top of the beans and rice.  

If you have shame, this is probably where you'll stop.  I had leftover Daiya and old nacho chips, so I added those.

I heated until the cheese was melted, but you can heat until the layers are warm.  

Scoop and serve with guacamole, avocado, vegan sour cream, or whatever you'd like on your Mexican food.

Kai was begging the entire time because he's a buttface.

Kai thinks you're perfect, just the way you are.

wild rice salad

"This tastes like autumn" - my husband after he tried this wild rice salad.

I don't know if it's the earthy sweetness or the fact that I'm always making these salads that can be grabbed and packed easily and quickly when back-to-school time comes around, but this salad does taste like fall.

I told myself to hold off until actual autumn or at least October 1st before going crazy with the pumpkin-spiced whatever and pictures of leaves and all the other great things that come with the change of the season.

This cold salad is great for the busy schedules that also come with the beginnings of fall.  I work at a university, so this is our busy time.  Dustin is working 3 jobs.  Although we're not taking classes anymore, it's still a hectic time of year.

Harvest Wild Rice Salad  

1 teaspoon orange juice concentrate
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup raisins
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 olive oil
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts
1 cup wild rice...cooked and cooled

In a saucepan, add in 1/2 cup water, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon frozen orange juice concentrate.  Whisk together.  Add in 1/2 cup raisins.  Over medium heat, heat mixture until raisins are softened.  (Alternatively, you could microwave this stuff, but yeah).

Pour mixture into a blender, and add it 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, and 1/4 cup olive oil.  Blend until dressing is smooth (no more lumps of raisins).

In a large bowl, add in rice, dressing, and olive oil.  Fold in walnuts and rice.

Serve chilled and try not to eat too much of this because it's delicious.

Kai reminds you to get in some rest and relaxation this weekend.

Liebster Award

I was nominated by http://one-sonic-bite.com/ (I'm also officially in love with this blog), and I am so excited for this!  I must admit, I got kind of discouraged mid-way of mofo because I felt like I was just doing my own thing in a vacuum.  There have been great people commenting, and I really appreciate it, but I thought I'd feel more connected to the mofo community or something.  IDK.  I've been an overly sensitive emotional roller coaster this month, so that might be it.

Anyway, I'm so, so, so excited!

So what are the rules? 

• Answer the questions given and then come up with 10 new ones to ask your nominees.
• Nominate 8 other blogs, let them know you have nominated them and put a link to their blog in your post.
• No Tag backs and nominees must have under 200 followers on any platform.
• You must tell all the blogs that you nominate that you have nominated them.

10 Questions

1. What is your favorite food: One savory, one sweet?
   Favorite savory food is definitely Loving Hut's Lucky Lemongrass Chick'n.  I have no idea what magic they put into it, but it's the perfect texture.
   My favorite sweet food is hard.  I get kind of overwhelmed by too much sweetness, so I like my sweet foods a little savory, too.  I really like plain vanilla soy ice cream in a waffle bowl with strawberries and bananas on top.  This is a tough question!
   
2. What was your first vegan cookbook?
   My husband was vegan when I met him, and he's the one who convinced me to become vegan.  I inherited "Skinny Bitch (ugh)," "Vegan Handbook," and though it's not a cookbook, "Animal Ingredients A-Z" from him.  I can't really remember my first cookbook, but "Veganomicon" was definitely the defining one.
   
3. What is your specialty dish?
   I'm really good at cold salads.  I know that's really boring, but it's super handy because I can walk into any pantry/fridge, find some staples, and come up with a delicious salad.  I love making "buddha bowls" where I basically take a protein, a grain, veggies, and toppings and magically make a mind-blowing salad.
   
   The dish I'm best known for is my vegan buffalo chick'n dip because I take it to potlucks, and people don't believe it's vegan.  I also make phenomenal cupcakes.
   
4. What is your main reason for going vegan? Environment, health, compassion?
   Compassion for animals.  When I was little, I used to go to this county fair in my hometown, and they would hold these pig races with these adorable piglets racing.  Now I think it's cruel, but I loved it back then, and it made me think about where my food came from.  I realized that all of the animals that we'd see at the fair went off to get killed.  :(  I've always been a huge animal lover, so that was hard for me.
   
   I also appreciate the minimal environmental impact veganism has on the world.  It's also a way to practice conscious and mindful consumerism and really pay attention to the ethical implications of buying things.
   
5. What would your consider the best day off?
   It would start with an amazing brunch, swimming in a river with my dog and husband, and then reading by the campfire.
   
   I also really like hanging out in my pjs and having a do-nothing comfy day!
   
6. How do you take your coffee?
   I never ever drink coffee, and I hate it.  I drink tea when it's cold outside, but give me a glass of ice cold water in the morning, and I'm ready to go!
   
7. Do you carry your veganism into other parts of your life? (Clothing, toiletries, etc)
   Yes!  I try really hard to think about where everything comes from and its impact.  I also like making my own stuff.  I'm going to start making my own soap in October.  I can't wait for that.
   
8. Do you consider yourself a feminist?
   Yes!  Always & forever.  I consider myself an intersectional feminist.
   
9. What is your cooking jam?
   Strawberry ;)
   
   I actually like to cook in silence, with no one else around.  It's kind of a way for me to destress and just focus on something.  I usually talk to myself or my dog while I cook like a weirdo.
   
10. Are you a wine, beer, hard liquor, cocktails, or non-alcohol type of person?
    Non-alcohol.  I bought a 6 pack of vegan pumpkin beer, and 4 are still sitting in my fridge.  I'm a super light weight, so any time that I drink, I end up getting really sick or really drunk too quickly.  It's embarrassing!  I'm also celebrating Octsober, a whole month of not drinking.  I'd really like to stop drinking altogether because I don't think that it's for me!

Nominees:

Faye at Veganopoulous

Alicia at Conscientious Cookie

Maggie at Veg Fiend

Megan at Messy Vegan Kitchen

Ashley & Amanda at The Envi Girls

Sarah at One Window Kitchen

Judith and Merle at La Verde Connection

PJ from Popcorn and Nooch

Tiffany from A Journey with Tiffany

& last, but not least, Tea and Sympatico (I can't find their name because I'm bad at life)

10 Questions for the Nominees

1. What is your favorite animal and why?
2. How do you relax?
3. Favorite fruit and vegetable?
4. If you only had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
5. What is your favorite vegan media (documentary, book, band/song, or movie, etc.)?
6. How did you decide to become vegan? What prompted you to make the change?  Did you have any setbacks?
7. What is your favorite vegan dish from a restaurant?
8. Do you have any friends that are vegan or how do you meet fellow vegans?
9. What are some of your favorite vegan organizations/nonprofits or vegan "celebrities" (these don't have to be celebrities that are vegan...it can be people famous in the vegan community)?
10. Do you consider yourself an activist, and if so, what do you do to promote veganism or give back to help animals?

self care: keeping your life altar clean

So, since I haven't really been cooking and haven't really been in the mood to take pictures (it gets dark like an hour and a half after I get home...no daylight!), I've decided to talk a little bit about self care.

First, I'll admit, I'm pretty granola and into weirdo hippie things.  I have my limits though.  Very clear, I'm too pessimistic and cynical to be a hippy limits.  Plus, I was a punk during my teenage years, so naturally, I would scoff at the idea of being a hippie.  (Is it hippy or hippie?  See, I don't even know.)

Anyway, I draw the line with certain things, but I find myself rolling my eyes at myself.  One thing that I do that's really groan-worthy is...and I can't believe I'm admitting this...keeping an altar.  I'm not religious, at all, and I'm not even what I'd consider "spiritual," but I'm a firm believer in having some sort of physical space to put things that you're into or inspire you, just so you can see them everyday, and be like, "hell yeah, I have these awesome physical things that embody who I am in some weird material way!"

For me, this "altar" is a shelf that my dad gave me in our living room.  I keep various knick knacks, all of my vegan cookbooks, zines I've collected over the years, some incense and candles, just things that are cool that I would say represent who I am or who I was at various stages in my life.  I also keep cards I get from people on my shelf, and it used to house my records and record player.

The point of this story is it's important to create a space, physical, for you to remember to pause and alter (heh. see what I did there?) your thoughts.  Somewhere in the past few weeks, my altar got cluttered and dirty...dust built up, ashes from incense piled on, random things got housed there, and things were just in a state of disarray.

Today, I took time and cleared it, and in some, weirdo, psycho-somatic way, I feel kind of better.



It's also important to treat your body like an altar.  After clearing my altar, I put some fancy vegan lotion on and just relaxed.  It's a shame that I don't remember to care for things until they're steeped in chaos, but that's how life goes.

Don't worry, I'll post recipes tomorrow, I promise!