Subpar Pumpkin Pie

Oh my goodness. It has been way too long since my last post. I have so much to share and NO time to do it. For the past few weeks, a complex project at work coupled with two back to back yoga teacher training weekends have left no time to call my dad, eat lunch or post updates on the blog. I am not only neglecting the blog, I feel like I am neglecting my family.

Last Sunday, after being gone all weekend with yoga and staying late at the work during the week, I promised Elena we would make a pumpkin pie. We had looked at several recipes and decided to use a recipe with silken tofu. I picked up one package of silken tofu and headed home, exhausted and not really wanting to bake at all. Elena was so excited that I had to bake the pie. It was our time together that weekend. I opened the pack of silken tofu and started to squeeze some of the water out of it. Having only cooked with firm or extra firm tofu, I was in shock as the whole block of silken tofu slid out of the container and down the drain! I was so upset at ruining Elena's only time with me that weekend that I started crying. She hugged me and said we didn't have to bake the pie (total sweetie). I was determined now. We found a recipe without tofu and then realized we didn't have sugar or any other sweetener except for molasses. We made the pie with molasses and it was not good. We called it our Subpar Pumpkin Pie.

This weekend we bought sugar and decided to try again. I decided to skip the silken tofu this time. Someone tell me how to remove the water without destroying this stuff. Anyway our new pie was awesome and no tears shedded!

Elena's first time electric mixing!



Above Average Pumpkin Pie

Elena and Jaben, just because

 

To A Vegan Fall,
Christy


A Work Week Vegan Challenge

When my coworkers first expressed interest in a team week long challenge, I wasn't sure they were serious however several people continue to express interest. I offered to gather a list of resources, a shopping list and sample recipes to assist them in this endeavor. I want to make some sort of a hard card with the big stuff everyone wants to know; calcium sources, protein info, common substitues, etc. I looked at Oprah's challenge info for her staff, PETA's starter kit and a few online resources. I am unable to find exactly what I am looking for so I am going to create my own. Please feel free to pass along any other resources that you may have found that would be helpful.

The only picture I have of my coworkers
 

I will post pictures of the finished product and follow my team's journey here as well.  The picture above is a little outdated (a few people left and a few have joined since then) however I will get a new picture once the challenge begins.

Elena pretending to work

To sharing knowledge and helping others,
Christy

The Jubilee Food!

There is OMazing food at The World Peace Jubliee! Thursday I enjoyed some of the best food that I have ever tasted. Seriously. At every meal, there were very few conversations however many people exclaiming "wow", "damn" or "this is the best insert any food here I have ever had".  I have to try to recreate the mac and cheese, corn bread, polenta and peanut soup.

The best mac and "cheese" EVER, seriously ever

I spent most of the day helping in the kitchen. I am hoping that I was able to soak up a little of that cooking wonder and apply it at home. I didn't have a chance to take too many pictures but I managed to take a few. I helped cut fruit for a fruit salad, chopped pineapple for smoothies and made big batches of coleslaw among other things.  I left my kitchen duties for a few hours to assist in a cooking class. Christy Morgan or The Blissful Chef  was teaching a cooking class making smoothies, pumpkin pancakes and tempeh bacon. I assisted in passing out samples, taking pictures and assisting in clean up. I am volunteering again tomorrow and I am almost sad that I will not be in the kitchen. I will be in the Boutique. If are fortunate enough to be coming to The Jubilee, stop in and say hi (or bring me some lunch ;).

Roasted cauliflower with fennel (SO GOOD)

I have to go to bed early so I maybe can get a piece of that cinnamon coffeecake before I start working!


Good night,
Christy

In the Kitchen at the Jubilee!

Starting tomorrow I will be volunteering at The World Peace Jubilee. I will be there Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. This will be my first Jubilee and I am thrilled to say that my first volunteer job is bright and early in the kitchen to assist in making the incredible food for everyone. Take a look at the sample menu.  It will be an honor to be in the kitchen with Mark Stroud who I have mentioned before (remember the food for yoga teacher training weekend).

I am sure I will be too busy to take pictures but I will try to get a few.

Yoga, peace and love,
Christy


 

Our First Vegan Fall!

The leaves are changing colors and Trader Joe's put out all their pumpkin goodies so it must be fall. Unfortunately or rather fortunately, we will not be making Trader Joe's pumpkin pancakes as we typically have for many years now. However as much as it appears to non vegans, being vegan is not about giving up food or depriving yourself. It is about living according what you feel (and have researched) is right and about saying no to the powerful meat and dairy industries, saying no to unnecessary environmental impact and saying no to violence.

Instead of buying Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix, Elena and I baked pumpkin muffins. We will definitely try making pumpkin pancakes as well. We are saving this for this upcoming weekend.

Pumpkin muffins with dried cranberries

Fall also means my father brings over squash and we typically make a soup. It is pretty yummy but I wanted to try something new. I decided if people make cakes and pies with pumpkin then I can make a cake with acorn and butternut squash. We made a vegan squash cake with cinnamon icing! It turned out moist and delicious. I am not a big recipe person but the recipe worked too well not to share. We took a few different recipes and combined them to make the Mon and Meg Vegan Squash Cake.

The Mon and Meg Vegan Squash Cake
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of oats
some salt
teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 cup canola oil
2 1/2 cups of squash (we used acorn and spaghetti)
teaspoon of cinnaMON
teaspoon of nutMEG

We roasted an acorn squash and butternut squash for an hour and half at 350 degrees. Don't forget to remove the seeds and the stringy stuff.  After the squashes cooled, we scooped the yummy stuff out and it was ready to go. You then mix everything together and cook for 30 minutes also at 350 degrees.

CinnaMON Icing
3 tablespoons of Earth Balance
1/3 cup of sugar
cinnamon to taste
splash of non dairy milk

Mix everything and add milk until it is the right consistency.

Squash cake, wine and a toad on a candle

 

Close up

 

 

 

To all the vegan fall goodies,
Christy

A Hug From Dr. Will Tuttle!

Yes, it is another post about Dr. Will Tuttle. Elena and I went to World Peace Yoga and Motion Studio last night to hear Dr Tuttle discuss the metaphysics of food.  Elena seemed to enjoy hearing him speak at the Walk so I told her she could go. When we got there, I had second thoughts. It hit me that this discussion would more sophisticated than the Saturday one. I worried she would get bored and make tons of noise. Thankfully, I did think to bring a note pad and pencil so she could draw if she decided. She did draw. She drew a collage of animals that Will referenced throughout the night. It was beautiful and little did I know, she drew it for him. Unfortunately, she ripped the edge a little when she tore it out of the note pad. She didn't seem to mind and neither did he. When he hugged and thanked her,  she was so excited. A vegan celebrity gave her a hug! (her words) On the way home, we talked about what he had said and it was obvious that she paid attention and understood what she heard.

It made my heart smile to hear Elena telling Rebecca about the eggless egg salad she made for us. She is not able to talk "vegan" with too many people so I know she is loving this conversation.

Elena and Rebecca when they first met ay WPY

To discussing our vegan passion with vegan friends,
Christy

What We Don't Eat

Being vegan for Elena is about what we don't eat as well as what we do eat. We don't eat animals. Elena and I participated in the Cincinnati Walk for the Farm Animals yesterday. Elena proudly carried the chicken poster she picked from the Farm Sanctuary's table of stickers and posters and held it up high for all cars and park goers to see. I am proud to see my daughter living according to her values and letting her actions influence others. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time. There was a vegan picnic after the walk, live music and many compassionate, friendly people to meet.

Compassionate kid with her poster
 

The best part of the walk for me was listening to Dr. Will Tuttle, the author of The World Peace Diet which is an Amazon best seller! According to his website, he is decribed as "Dr. Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, is a pianist, composer, educator, and recipient of the Courage of Conscience Award. A former Zen monk, his Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley focused on educating intuition and altruism. He presents ongoing events promoting peace through compassion for all life".

I read The World Peace Diet earlier this year and  recommended it previously through Thierbach Vegan Adventure. I remember reading the book in the dermatologist waiting room (when the lorikeet bit off my mole if anyone remembers that previous post) when I read the chapter on fish. Tears streamed down my face as I learned things about the treatment of fish that I felt stupid for not figuring out previously.  This was such a powerful and informative chapter for me. Imagine how vegan geeky I felt yesterday when Dr. Will Tuttle mentioned fish while sitting in front of me after the walk. There were maybe 125 people who came out to walk and hear him speak. The setting was intimate and we met him afterwards. He signed the chicken poster you see above.

Dr. Will Tuttle

 

As he reiterated the environmental impacts of eating meat and dairy explaining how much more water and land are needed, he encouraged everyone to become vegan and then to encourage others to become vegan. This spoke to me as many friends have made it clear that they think our veganism is great but they are not willing to change and are almost looking for repect or an OK for them to eat whatever they want. It is not OK to use more water, land and resources than necessary. It is not OK to eat whatever you want and no regard for anything or anyone else. I understand that not everyone is ready to give up animal products however how can everyone not reduce the amount they consume when they know the negative impacts of their choices? I would like to think that people don't know because of course, they would change if they knew. His speech inspired me to have a different conversation the next time I am asked to respect or OK someone else's choices. Instead of politely changing the subject because I am in uncomfortable territory, I will conjure the eloquence, bravery and grace of the Will Tuttles, the Colleen Patrick-Goudreaus and the Elena Thierbachs.  I will respectively point out the environmental impact and health impact of their choices and suggest they learn as much as possible about what they eat so they can truly make the best choice for not only themselves but also for the animals and for the Earth.

My vegan inspiration

I found out today that Will will be speaking at World Peace Yoga next Tuesday. Jason, Elena and I are going! The event is open to the public and free. Click the link to learn more. I hope to see you there.

To World Peace,
Christy