Day 233 -- Happy Birthday To Me!

It's day 233 and it's my birthday, so I'm taking the day off of blogging.  But I will leave everyone with this -- a recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cake from MarthaStewart.com!

And I hope that's not a glass of cow's milk sitting next to that plate!

Day 232 -- Looking Back -- And Forward

Tomorrow is my birthday!  I won't say how old I am.  Old enough.  As the big day approaches, I've been thinking about the changes I've made in my life in the past year.

Last August 16th, I was pretty unhappy with myself.  I'd spent the summer feeling exhausted and sick and uncomfortable.  I was way too heavy and I began to wonder if I'd ever do anything about it.  Birthdays are always a time to reflect on the past year and the upcoming year and for the first time in many years, I have an optimistic outlook.

I've lost 74 pounds since the start of the year and I'm pretty happy with that.  I've been sitting at the same weight for about a month now, but I also haven't been focusing on diet as much as I should.  So I hope August 16th will be motivation to finish this thing.  The end of my "vegan year" is approaching more quickly every day.  And I'd like to lose at least another 40  pounds before the end of the year.  That's going to be a pretty tough thing.  So maybe I'll have two years as a vegan.

I have made one decision, though.  I won't be a strict vegan.  I'm going to try to eat vegan as much as I possibly can, at home and out when there are vegan option on the menu.  But I am going to eat fish occasionally and cheese when I have pizza.  Other than that, I think I should be able to stick to a vegan diet and be perfectly happy.

Day 231 -- One Stop Website For Vegans

I've been talking about the VegNews survey and never really mentioned VegNews.com.  So, we'll begin with this photo from their homepage.

Yeah, a few days ago it was Rice Krispy Treats and now it's Ryan Gosling.  Did you know that he's a vegan?  I didn't until I read it in VegNews!

I also found 9 Vegan Foods For Healthy Skin -- tomatoes, flax seeds, dark chocolate, sweet potatoes, spinach, citrus fruits, safflower oil, walnuts, and carrots.  And I found tons of great recipes.  So, this site is moving up on my list of sites to visit every week.

Day 230 -- Thug Kitchen

One of the blogs listed in my recent post was Thug Kitchen.  I stumbled across this blog early on in my vegan journey and I thought it was really funny.  It's liberal use of curse words in order to persuade that reader to try recipes is strangely at odds with the "chill" vegan persona.  And that's why it's so entertaining.  Here's the photo of a recent entry for a Chickpea Pesto Sandwich that I plan to try very soon (with a slice of fresh tomato from my dad's garden).

All right, I'm definitely going to try this sandwich!  And not because I feel threatened but because it looks really, really good!

Day 229 -- One Potato, Two Potato . . . Fifty Potato?

I'm reaping the benefits of my dad's huge garden this summer.  And one of the veggies he's planted is potatoes.  Actually, two types, red and yellow.  Until I saw my dad dig potatoes for the first time last year, I never really knew how potatoes grew.  I knew they grew underground, of course, but seeing them emerge from the dirt for the first time is so much fun!

When the shovel turns the dirt over, there they are, small and large, breaking free and lying at your feet.  When you dig a plant, the potatoes come up in a variety of sizes, so I have a bucket of very small red potatoes, about the size of a ping-pong ball, and then larger potatoes, almost the size of my fist.  Freshly dug potatoes are so tasty, too!

I found this recipe for Smoky Potato, Cabbage and Chickpea Skillet on a vegan blog called MapleSpice.  Though it calls for vegan "parmesan cheese" which I'm not sure I can find anywhere in my area, I'm stil going to give this a try!

A little tip I'll pass along about freshly dug potatoes -- It's best not to wash off the dirt until right before you use them.  They'll remain fresh longer!

Day 228 -- Blogging About Blogs . . . Again!

See what I did there?  I lured you in with promises of Rice Krispy Treats.  As a kid, my siblings and I lived for Rice Krispy treats -- and Scotcheroos, which were made with peanut butter instead of marshmallows.  But back to the treats later.  VegNews website and newsletter does its awards survey this month and one of the categories is best vegan blog.  I thought I'd list the candidates here since I might find some new sources of inspiration for my vegan cooking.  Several of my favorite blogs are on the list.  I've gone through the list and will feature a few new favorites over the next few days, but I'm pretty fussy about what I eat, so if the blog doesn't grab me right away, then I probably won't go back.

Here's the list!
Bittersweet
Chocolate-Covered Katie
Choosing Raw
FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Happy Herbivore
Healthy. Happy. Life.
Maple Spice
Mouthwatering Vegan Recipes
Oh She Glows
This Rawsome Vegan Life
Thug Kitchen
Vegan Yack Attack
Vegansaurus

I'm a big fan of FatFree Vegan Kitchen and Oh She Glows.  And I'm going to add a new blog to my list.  Happy.Healthy.Life.  And as a reward for following along, here's the link for vegan Rice Krispy treats from the Healthy.Happy.Life.    See, it does pay to explore new blogs!

Day 227 -- A Whole Lotta Tomatoes

My father always plants a lot of tomatoes in his garden, so about this time of year, everyone around him gets inundated with fresh tomatoes.  Since BLTs are out this year, as is a Caprese Salad (with fresh mozz), I've been looking for some good recipes.  I love roasting fresh tomatoes and one of my favorite dishes is the Roasted Artichokes, Leeks and Tomatoes over Warm Farro that I posted a few weeks back.

This recipe for Eat Your Greens Chickpea Medley comes from Oh She Glows, one of my favorite vegan blogs.  The recipe calls for both spinach and cilantro ground up and tossed with the chickpeas, but I might try basil instead of the cilantro as I have a lot of basil in my herb garden.  The dressing for this uses lime juice, olive oil, garlic and cumin.  Sounds yummy!  I'll let you know how it was.

Day 226 -- The Next Not-So-Super Food?

I was watching a new reality show the other night -- I think it's called Supermarket Superstar?  Three people come on the show and try to pitch and sell a new grocery item.  One guy came on and pitched a cricket -- yes, the insect -- power bar.  Apparently, crickets are very high in protein and can be a sustainable food source.

Insects are eaten in many places of the world.  Crickets and grubs seem to be the most popular, but people also eat scorpions and grasshoppers and even spiders!  Thiis wasn't news to me because I'd seen a news item on group that was trying to market crickets as a food source to Americans.  They're easy to raise (all they eat is raw potatoes).  They believed it was possible to convince Americans to eat crickets and were using sushi as the model.  About thirty years ago, Americans turned up their noses at raw fish and now it's one of the most popular cuisines in the country.

Strangely, my reaction to eating ground (finely, I might add) crickets was not what I thought it would be.  I was actually quite interested in knowing how much protein they offered in relation to fat.  As a vegan, protein is always a concern and if it's possible to find a good source of protein, I'm always interested.  Of course, crickets aren't vegan, but that didn't stop me from  checking them out.  I guess they're supposed to have a nutty taste.  At least they don't taste like chicken!

Day 225 -- The Next Superfood?

Huffington Post is running a contest to name the next superfood.  I found this kind of funny because of the foods listed -- hemp seed, chia seed, rhubarb, kohlrabi, tumeric, maca, kimchi and kelp -- there was only one that I haven't ever had in my kitchen.

My father is a huge fan of kohlrabi and has always had them in his garden.  I have hemp and chia seed in the house and a rhubarb plant in my back yard (although, I didn't make my favorite rhubarb dessert this year because it has dairy in it).  Turmeric is the new weapon in the war on Alzheimer's.  Kelp is . . . well, kelp.  And everyone knows about my fondness for kimchi (see multiples posts on multiple days).

But . . . I have never heard of maca!  A potential superfood that I've never heard of?  What is it?  According to HuffPost maca is a powder made from an Andean root and has been used as a fertility aid and aphrodisiac for centuries. Modern research agrees: Small studies have found that men who ingested maca produced more sperm and both men and women who take it reported increased energy.

Okay, I don't think I'm going to be adding this to the diet any time soon.  I'll stick with my kimchi and maybe up my intake of kelp.  

Day 224 -- I'm Behind! I'm Behind!

This post was supposed to be written on August 7th, my two-hundred and twenty-fourth day.  But it is now August 13th.  I'm eight days behind on my blog and I have no excuses except that I've been ridiculously busy and have barely even been on my computer for the past week.  So I will simply try to catch up over the next few days and provide some clever insights into my new life as a vegan.

By the way, after my big fall off the vegan wagon, I hopped back on again and am doing well.  So, my apologies to my blog and to any readers I may have out there, wherever you may be!

Day 222 -- Oh, My!

I usually try to be as honest as I can on this blog.  It's like a journal of sorts.  But I'm really reluctant to write about the events of Tuesday, August 5th.  I've fallen off the wagon before, but this was a complete diet disaster.  I suppose I should try to explain and rationalize it, but let's just say that the next time I work for 24 hours straight, I need to make sure I have healthy food in the house.

I was working under a pretty intense deadline for work and over the course of four days, I was working 18 hour days to finish.  I jumped off the diet to enjoy a pizza, thinking that would give me the energy to complete the project.  And it was good.  But then, once I finished the project, I was on my way to Starbucks to get my iced green tea latte and I made a little detour to Perkins.

I had a deep-fried shrimp, and mac and cheese and corn for my two sides  I followed that up with a slice of peanut butter silk pie.  Yes, it was bad.  In fact, it was worse because it wasn't even good food.  If I was going cheat, I should have at least had something really great to eat.  So, I left the restaurant feeling guilty and stupid.

Then, my friend L. called and asked if I wanted to meet her for dinner.  I decided to go, thinking I'd just have a drink and maybe a salad so I suggested Texas Roadhouse, knowing that there probably wouldn't be anything on the menu to eat.  Well, this place was set up to tempt even the most dedicated dieter.  They started by dropping off a bucket of salted peanuts.  Then we order margaritas (which were excellent, I might add).  And then, I decided, what the hell, I'll order dinner.  So I ordered the dinner I should have had in the first place -- grilled shrimp, a baked potato with sour cream and butter (soooo yummy) and a salad with french and bleu cheese dressing.

The toll for this little trip into gluttony -- 2+ pounds on the scale.  So, it's right back to eating healthy again.  But this time with the knowledge that it is so easy to fall back into old habits.  I have no idea how long it will take before my mind will be able to say "No!" in a case like this.  I'm sure I'll find out along the way.

Day 221 -- Is It Peaches Yet?

Second only to "cherry time" in my summer calendar, and right before "sweet corn time", comes "peaches time."

There are certain foods that you can only enjoy once a year and peaches are one of them.  When they're sweet and juicy and perfect, I'm even more excited to put fruit into my diet.  But I'm very fussy about my peaches.  They can't be mealy or I throw them out immediately.  So buying peaches is like gambling -- you never know what you're going to get.

I've found that peaches that smell "peachy" are usually the best bet, although I've been fooled by scent before.  Because of this, I'm reluctant to buy one of my favorite fruits for fear that I'll be disappointed.  So today, when I go to the grocery store, I'm going to buy peaches AND nectarines AND maybe a few plums.  Hey, I bought 10 Powerball tickets Wednesday night (and didn't match a single number).  Maybe this time I'll come out a winner.

ETA:  And just in time for peaches, Fat Free Vegan has a wonderful Peach Oatmeal Bar recipe.  Check it out!

Day 220 -- More Clinton Recipes -- Part Two

And here are the last three recipes from Clinton's vegan lunch.  I'm going to try the quinoa right away.  It sounds really yummy!  All recipes are from this article on the AARP website.

Spiced and Herbed Quinoa With Green Onions
Serves 4

1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable stock or water
1/2 cup hothouse cucumber, diced
1/2 cup tomato, diced
2 tablespoons red onion, diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeño
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. In a small pot, combine the quinoa and stock (or water) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Let cool completely.
2. In a large bowl, combine the quinoa with the remaining ingredients. Toss to mix thoroughly. Serve chilled.

Snow Pea Salad
Serves 4

5 ounces snow peas, strings and tips removed, cut diagonally
2 ounces bean sprouts
1/4 medium red bell pepper, julienned
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
Salt, to taste

1. Blanch snow peas in boiling water for 8 to 10 seconds, then shock quickly in ice water. Pat dry.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the snow peas, bean sprouts and red pepper. Toss with the soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Season to taste with salt. Serve chilled.

Garlicky Hummus With Raw Vegetable Batons
Serves 4
1 bulb garlic, roasted
Extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces chickpeas, cooked
2 tablespoons tahini paste
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt, to taste
Raw vegetables for dipping (carrots, red bell pepper, haricots verts, hothouse cucumber, fennel, pencil asparagus)

1. Cut 1/2 inch off the top of the garlic bulb. Place on a 9-inch square of foil. Drizzle with olive oil. Close the foil around the garlic and roast at 350° F about 40 to 50 minutes, until soft. Squeeze the garlic out of 3 cloves. Save the remainder of the bulb for other uses.
2. Combine the cooked chickpeas, roasted garlic and remaining hummus ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust the consistency of the hummus with a little water. Season to taste with salt.
3. Cut the dipping vegetables into batons (1/4-inch french fry shape). Lightly blanch the haricots verts and pencil asparagus and shock in ice water. Serve chilled.

Day 219 -- More Clinton Recipes -- Part One

Continuing on from yesterday's post, here are a few more recipes, vegan dishes that are Bill Clinton's favorites.

Gigante Bean Salad
Serves 4

1/2 cup dried gigante beans (or cannellini beans)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup thinly sliced onion
1/4 cup thinly sliced green bell pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
Black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1. Place the beans in a bowl and cover with water. Let them stand overnight. Drain.
2. Place the beans in a medium pot and cover with 6 inches of water. Add the bay leaf and bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender. Season with the salt and cook an additional 5 minutes. Drain the beans and discard the bay leaf.
3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the bell peppers, lightly season with salt and black pepper, and stir frequently until the bell pepper mixture is tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and vinegar and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the beans and parsley to the bell pepper mixture. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled.

Shredded Red Beets in Vinaigrette
Serves 4

8 ounces red or yellow beets, shredded
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced chives, mint and parsley
Kosher salt, to taste

1. Peel the beets with a vegetable peeler and grate with a mandoline or in a food processor fitted with a shredding blade.
2. Combine the orange juice, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss with the beets and herbs. Season to taste with the salt.
3. Marinate at least 1 hour. Serve chilled.

Day 218 -- Bill Clinton, Vegan-In-Chief

I came across this article on the AARP website (no, I don't visit there, it was linked from another blog) about Bill Clinton and his recent switch to veganism -- Bill Clinton Explains Why He Became A Vegan.  To be honest, Clinton was one of the inspirations I had for trying a vegan diet.  He had experienced the kind of heart problems that have plagued my own parents and he chose veganism because it represented the best and fastest way to get healthy.

The reporter describes a lunch they had along with his conversation about Clinton's vegan diet.  Many of Clinton's thoughts about the diet are the same as mine are.  He misses yogurt and cheese, eats as much as he wants as long as it's low fat, and is feeling more healthy than he has in years.  All things that I've expressed.

I was bemused by one of the comments -- that because Clinton eats a piece of salmon or Omega-3 eggs once a week, that he isn't a "real" vegan.  I know that ethical vegans seem to hold themselves to a higher standard, but my feeling is that if 99% of your calories come from plants, you should be able to call yourself a vegan.  There is no other term to describe the diet you maintain for the majority of the time.  I wouldn't tell someone I was a vegetarian, because they might choose to make me a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.  I say I'm a vegan because, for the great majority of the time, I choose not to eat meat, eggs or cheese.  I'm a vegan who occasionally cheats on their diet.  Besides, who made you the word police?

On another note, the recipes were posted for the vegan lunch, so I've decided to repost them here because, hey, if they're good enough for Bill Clinton, they're good enough for me!

Roasted Cauliflower and Cherry Tomatoes
Serves 4
1 head cauliflower
5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Salt, to taste
White pepper, to taste
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1. Clean the cauliflower and cut into small florets.
2. Toss the cauliflower with 2 teaspoons olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, and roast at 375° F for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Toss the tomatoes in 1 teaspoon olive oil and add to the cauliflower. Roast an additional 8 minutes.
4. Whisk together the Dijon mustard and the vinegar, then slowly incorporate the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil to make the vinaigrette.
5. In a bowl, gently toss together the cauliflower-tomatoes mixture, the parsley and the vinaigrette. Serve. 

Day 217 -- Vacationing On The Diet Plateau

I'm quickly approaching my birthday and I was hoping to reach a major milestone in my weight loss goal by that date.  It doesn't look like I'm going to make it because I've been vacationing on the diet plateau.  I don't use the term vacationing lightly because, beyond eating healthy, I haven't done much to shed pounds.  I haven't added an exercise plan to my routine, which would probably be of great help.

The diet plateau is so common that NPR even did an article about it.  Called, How To Find A Path Off The Dreaded Diet Plateau, the article lays out the reasons why, despite our best efforts, we sometimes get stuck at a weight.

I think back to the weeks, early on in this vegan adventure, when I was losing five pounds in a week.  Now, I lose a pound a week.  Although that's still good, it's not getting me to my weight loss goal as fast as I want to.  I hoped to be down to my goal weight by Christmas and I'm halfway there now!  I've been eating vegan for thirty-one weeks and my average weight loss per week has been 2.3 pounds.  Which means I've lost a total of 72 pounds!  Not bad for seven months work!

But it is time to jump start this program!  Eat more greens, get more exercise, drink more water!  Hopefully by the end of August, I can say that I've jumped off the plateau and I'm back on the road again.