Point of View

Thanksgiving dinner's sad and thankless
Christmas dinner's dark and blue
When you stop and try to see it
From the turkey's point of view.

Sunday dinner isn't sunny
Easter feasts are just bad luck
When you see it from the viewpoint
Of a chicken or a duck.

Oh how I once loved tuna salad
Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too
Till I stopped and looked at dinner
From the dinner's point of view.

-Shel Silverstein

Quote

"Nobody can come up with a good argument for eating animals — nobody can. People as some kind of a joke say, well, 'It's tasty', but it's only tasty once you garnish it and you put salt and pepper, and you cook it, and you have to do 300 things to it to disguise its true taste. If you put garnishes on a chair or fabric, it would probably taste quite nice."
-Morrissey

whew!

Hi all-

Just wanted to apologize for my brevity as of late. My brand new HP notebook died, and have only had short bursts of time available online. That, combined with my personal drama over the last 3 weeks... my blog has not been as in-depth as I would have preferred. :-(

I want to assure you that I am re-commiting to this project, and will be continuing my "veggie blog", even though the official 3 weeks of the challenge has now passed. How did you do, by the way???

Thanks,
j.

Unfortunate...

I decided to try strawberry-flavored tofu in my smoothie this morning. It was NOT good. It tastes VERY sweet, and adds a boost of flavor, that's for sure. If it sounds good to you, go for it! But again, not for me.

Quote

"The time will come in the world’s history, and a movement is setting in that direction even now, when it will be deemed as strange a thing to find a man or a woman who eats flesh as food, as it is now to find a man or woman who refrains from eating it."
-Ralph Waldo Trine (1866-1958), Every Living Creature

Quote

"A pitiful fellow! Such a ridiculous kind of pity his, as those silly souls have, who would not kill an innocent chicken for the world; but when killed to their hands, are always the most greedy devourers of it."
-Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, volume 4

Quote

"I drink soy milk, and that’s the right thing."
-Howard Stern, Animal Times, Spring, 2008

Famous Veg*ns

Ted Leo (Vegan-musician)
The Roots (all veg band)
Thom Yorke Vegan-musician)
Thomas Dekker (Vegan-actor)
Thomas Edison (inventor)
Thora Birch (actress)
Tim Butler (musician)
Tobey Maguire (Vegan-actor)
Todd Oldham (fashion designer)
Tom Morello (activist, musician)
Tommy Lee (musician)
Tony Gonzales (Vegan-NFL star)
Tracy Chapman (musician)

Tofu Tips

Not sure how to make your new protein source more enjoyable??? Taking a little extra time with with your tofu will make all the difference!

First, make sure you have the right type. I usually stick with Silken (really soft) or Extra Firm (self-explanatory). Silken, or soft, tofu works best for smoothies; stick with Extra Firm for a stir-fry or a scramble!

When it comes to creating a meaty texture, start with draining all the water from the cube of tofu. Don't just let the water out... take a few minutes to press the tofu by putting it in a strainer and setting plates on top to add wait and squeeze out additional water. To take this a step further, freezing tofu will really make it chewier. Just thaw and cook as you choose!

When making a stir-fry, I start the tofu 15 minutes before the vegetables. In a bit of oil, you can fry cubed tofu until golden brown on one side and then flip it. Be sure not to get it too hot... the slower the tofu fries, the chewier the consistency will be. Your call!

Another one of my favorites is a tofu scramble. Completely crumbling drained (extra firm) tofu will be JUST like scrambled eggs. Just fry up in a bit of oil, add garlic and veggies; you've got brunch!

Enjoy... and let me know if you have any questions!

Quote

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men."
-Alice Walker

New Product...

...or at least "new to me". I found this at Whole Foods last night, and almost did a little dance right there in the aisle. I've missed my chai tea lattes @ Starbuck's, and now I can just make them at home, with Oregon Chai's VEGAN version!!! Just like the original, minus the honey, of course. Mix it with soy milk, vanilla for me-and heat or serve iced. De-lish.

Check out Oregon Chai online, I've added their link to the list!

Quote

Vegetarian: old Indian word for "lousy hunter."
-bumper sticker

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie
-sweet potato fries w/ maple syrup (try it! so yummy nummy...)

Lunch:
-PB & J
-chocolate soy milk

Dinner:
-salad
-vanilla So Delicious "ice cream" w/ grilled mangoes in raspberry sauce (this is the BEST non-dairy frozen desert on the market!)

Quote

"I think and speak clearer since I cut the dairy out. I can breathe better and perform at a better rate, and my voice is clearer. I can explore different things with my voice that I couldn't do because of my meat and dairy ingestion. I am proud and blessed to be a vegetarian. Everything became clear."
-Common

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee

Lunch:
-soba noodles with chili sauce and peppers
-green grapes
-chocolate soy milk

Dinner:
-last of the Roasted Red Pepper soup (told you it was a big batch!)

Famous Veg*ns

Sade Adu (musician)
Samuel L. Jackson (actor)
Sandra Oh (actress)
Scott Jurek (Vegan-athlete)
Seal (musician)
Sean Lennon (musician, son of John & Yoko)
Seba Johnson (Vegan-Olympian, actress, writer)
Stella McCartney (designer, Paul's daughter)
Steve Vai (musician)
Summer Phoenix (Vegan-actress)
Superman/Clark Kent (superhero)
Susan B. Anthony (women's suffrage pioneer)
Suzanne Vega (musician)

Quote

"I am a vegetarian for health reasons - the health of the chicken."
-Isaac Bashevis Singer

What did the Vegan eat today?

Ok, this is actually for what I ate YESTERDAY... I was just a slacker and didn't post!

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-Roasted Red Pepper soup

Snacks:
-PB & J

Dinner:
-MORE Roasted Red Pepper soup
-whole wheat bread w/ Earth Balance
-green grapes

Famous Veg*ns

Radha Mitchell (actress)
Ralph Waldo Emerson (poet, writer)
Ricky Williams (professional football player)
Rikki Rocket (Vegan-musician)
Ringo Star (the Beatles)
River Phoenix (Vegan-actor)
Rivers Cuomo (musician)
Rob Zombie (director, musician)
Robert Redford (actor, producer)
Robin Gibb (Vegan-musician)
Rosa Parks (civil rights activist)
Russel Simmons (music producer)
RZA (musician)

Quote

”The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined.”
–Neal Barnard, M. D.

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-salad
-pita chips

Snacks:
-Odwalla bar

Dinner:
-Roasted Red Pepper soup (see below)
-whole wheat bread w/ Earth Balance
-Mike's Hard Lemonade

Recipe!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

I made this soup for the first time tonight, and it makes a BIG batch! Turned out really great and flavorful, though... perfect for when you have lots of peppers and basil from the garden.

Ingredients:
10-12 medium red bell peppers, halved (seeds removed)
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 medium yukon gold or sweet potato, peeled and diced
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
4 Cups veggie broth
2 bay leaves
2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
sea salt to taste
1 basil leaf (garnish)

1. Preheat broiler. Place red peppers cut side down on baking sheet(s). Lightly coat the outside of each pepper with olive oil. Place baking sheet under the broiler and cook until the skins blacken. Remove from broiler and place all peppers in a large bowl immediately. Cover tightly with plastic wrap... this helps the peppers sweat, which loosens the skins. Wait until the peppers are cool enough to handle and gently remove the skin from each. Put skinned peppers in a bowl and set aside.

2. In a stock pot, heat 1 Tbsp. oil over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute briefly. Add potato, herbs (it's gonna be smelling SOOO good right about now!), veggie broth, roasted peppers, and bay leaves. Simmer until all vegetables are soft. When ready, remove the bay leaves and puree the soup until smooth. Return to stock pot, add vinegar and cayenne pepper. Season with sea salt, garnish with fresh basil leaf and serve immediately!

Famous Veg*ns

Pamela Anderson (actress)
Paramahansa Yogananda (yogi)
Paul McCartney (the Beatles)
Pauly Shore (actor)
Peter Gabriel (musician)
Phil Lesh (the Grateful Dead)
Phylicia Rashad (actress)
Pierce Brosnan (actor)
Pink (pop singer)
PJ Harvey (musician)
Plato (Greek philosopher)
Prince (musician)
Pythagoras (mathematician)

Quinn Allman (musician)

Quote

"Jesus' message is about love and compassion, but there is nothing loving or compassionate at factory farms and slaughterhouses, where billions of animals endure miserable lives and die violent deaths. Jesus mandates kindness and mercy for all God's creatures. He'd be appalled by the suffering that we inflict on animals today to indulge our acquired taste for their flesh."
-Bruce Friedrich, Is Eating Meat A Catholic Sin?

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-plain soft pretzel (spent breakfast hours @ theater w/ Harry Potter)

Lunch:
-pasta primavera

Snacks:
-PB & J
-pineapple/orange/banana juice

Dinner:
-Black Bean Mango dinner from Kashi

Famous Veg*ns

Naomi Watts (actress)
Nastassja Kinski (actress)
Natalie Merchant (musician)
Natalie Portman (actress)
Nelly (rapper)
Nick Rhodes (musician)
Nicole Lapin (Vegan-journalist, CNN anchor)
Noah Wyle (actor)

Oliver Stone (director)
Olivia Newton John (actress, musician)
Omar Epps (actor)
Orlando Bloom (actor)
Orlando Jones (actor)

Quote

"The same quantity of ground has been proved to be capable of sustaining a larger and stronger population on a vegetable than on a meat diet."
-Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster, Philozoia, 1839, p. 43

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee (don't leave home without it)
-smoothie

Lunch:
-veggie stacked sandwich (not without my Vegenaise, of course)

Snacks:
-cucumber slices
-Mrs. May's Cashew Crunch
-chocolate soy milk

Dinner:
-Veggie Masala "burger" (Trader Joe's)
-sauteed red bell pepper
-Snap Pea Crisps
-Peach

Famous Veg*ns

Mark Twain (writer)
Martha Plimpton (actress)
Marv Levy (football coach)
Melanie Griffith (actress)
Melissa Etheridge (musician)
Michael Franti (Vegan-musician)
Michael Jackson (!!!)
Mike Gordon (musician)
Mike Ness (musician)
Moby (Vegan-musician)
Morrissey (Vegan-musician)
Mr. Rogers (...of his neighborhood)
Mr. Spock (Star Trek)

Quote

"To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana."
-Buddha

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-cucumber & avacado rolls (veg sushi)

Snacks:
-pita chips

Dinner:
-pasta w/ broccoli & red bell pepper (olive oil & gomashio to taste)
-leftover quinoa salad (still yum!)

Famous Veg*ns

Larry Hagman (actor)
Leo Tolstoy (Russian writer, philosopher)
Leonard Cohen (musician)
Leonardo Da Vinci (Vegan-inventor, painter)
Leona Lewis (Vegan-musician)
Linda Blair (Vegan-actress)
Linda Carter (Wonder Woman!)
Linda McCartney (cookbook author, wife of Paul)
Lisa Simpson (cartoon)
Lord Byron (writer)
Lori Petty (Vegan-actress)
Louisa May Alcott (writer)
Luke Cummo (Vegan-UFC contender)

Quote

"Pigs and cows and chicken and people are all competing for grain."
-Margaret Mead

For Her

Good Morning, lovely reader.

I wanted to take a moment to explain my 24-hour absence. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my companion and best girl, Belle. Belle was a black lab-mix that has been along my side since she was 5 months old. She was a perfect pup that alway kept watch over me; sleeping at the foot of the bed. She loved taking road trips, and didn't even mind when I sang too loud to the radio.

We discovered Belle's cancer four months ago, and put her through two surgeries since. The tumors continued to grow, and things took a turn for the worse nine days ago. I finally had to make the decision to end her pain.

Seeing her suffer was one of the hardest things I've had to do. While I won't go into the details of her symptoms, I CAN tell you how it has affected me in terms of my veganism (since this seems to be the appropriate venue). I know that seeing her in any capacity other than her happy, tail-wagging self has just confirmed that I never want to see that kind of misery again. In addition, I don't ever want any animal to suffer at my hand (or by my request, or for my "taste") EVER AGAIN.

People who don't believe that animals can understand pain, physical or emotional, are simply shutting their eyes to what's right in front of them. Ignorance is NOT bliss, it's just ignorance.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
-Thomas Campbell

'Bye for now, my sweet Bella. Until we meet again...

Quote

"You don’t have to give antibiotics to broccoli."
-Michael Klamper, MD

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie (ran out of flax today, used oatmeal instead... hearty!)

Lunch:
-quinoa salad (so good a day later)
-Snap Pea Crisps

Snacks:
-Odwalla Bar
-chocolate soy milk

Dinner:
-Kashi brand frozen dinner; Black Bean Mango (my favorite 4-minute meal! But I do have to pick out the onions...)
-IZZE sparkling blackberry

Famous Veg*ns

Kal Penn (actor)
K D Lang (Vegan-singer)
Kate Winslet (actress)
Keenan Ivory Wayans (comedian)
Kelly Osbourne (Ozzy's daughter)
Kevin Nealon (Vegan-actor)
Killer Kowalski (professional wrestler)
Kim Basinger (actress)
Krist Novoselic (musician)
Kirsten Johnson (actress)
Kristen Bell (actress)
Kurt Halsey (Vegan-artist)
Kyle Vincent (Vegan-musician)

Quote

"Now I can look at you in peace; I don`t eat you anymore."
-Franz Kafka (quoted by Max Brod in Franz Kafka: A Biography)

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-teaching from 9am to 2:30pm... couldn't really sit down for a meal, had snacks instead!

Snacks:
-Odwalla bar (Berries GoMega)
-Mrs. May's Cashew Crunch
-IZZE sparkling juice (blackberry)

Dinner:
-quinoa, corn, & basil salad
-Corona! (hey-it IS Saturday)

Recipe!

Quinoa with Corn & Basil

Leftover basil? Use it up in this hearty summer salad from Vegetarian Times. This was my "weekly experiment", and it turned out great!

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/7718?utm_source=EatingWisely&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ew182

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is super-packed with protein, and a great alternative to rice.
Enjoy!

Famous Veg*ns

Jack Johnson (musician)
James Cromwell (Vegan-actor, animal rights advocate)
Jamie Kennedy (comedian)
Jamie Lee Curtis (actress)
Jared Leto (actor, musician)
Jason Mraz (Vegan-musician)
JD Salinger (writer)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (philosopher)
Jenna Jameson (porn star)
Joan Baez (musician)
Joan Jett (musician)
Joaquin Phoenix (Vegan-actor)
John Cleese (actor)
John Lennon (musician)
John Melton (writer, politician)
John Salley (NBA champion)
Johnny Cash (musician)
Joss Stone (musician)

Quote

"What we often fail to recognize is how efficient a vegan diet is. Less land, less water, more food for our spiraling population."
-Ed Begley, Jr.

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-grape nuts (w/ soy milk & wild blueberries)
*that's right... I'm changing things up today*

Lunch:
-smoothie! (nope-it didn't go far.)

Snacks:
-whole wheat bread w/ almond butter
-chocolate soy milk

Dinner:
-veggie fried rice
-green salad

My Favorite Vegan Cookbooks!!!

-Vegan with a Vengeance- Isa Chandra Moskowitz... houses the heartiest, most fabulous gravy recipe EVER!

-How it all Vegan!- Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer

-La Dolce Vegan!- Sarah Kramer... "Vegan Livin' Made Easy"

-The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen- Donna Klein

-Sinfully Vegan- Lois Dieterly... "Decadent Desserts to Satisfy Every Vegan's Sweet Tooth"

Famous Veg*ns

H.G. Wells (writer)
Harriet Beecher Stowe (writer)
Hayley Mills (actress)
Heather Mills (Vegan-activist, model)
Henry David Thoreau (poet, writer)
Howard Lyman (Vegan-cattle rancher turned activist)
Hunter Burgan (Vegan-musician)

Ian MacKaye (Vegan-musician)
Ian McKellan (actor)
Immanuel Kant (philosopher)
India Arie (musician)
Ira Glass (NPR's "This American Life")
Isaac Bashevis Singer (Nobel Prize winner)

Quote

"I do feel that spiritual progress does demand, at some stage, that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants."
-Mahatma Gandhi

a must-have...

...for any veg*n refrigerator? Udo's Oil, 3-6-9 Blend.

Afraid to leave your fish oil behind? Check out this link and read all about Udo's Oil; the perfect vegan blend of the good fats you need! We put our bodies through a great deal of stress from day to day...

Oil the machine.

http://oilthemachine.com/About-Udo.html

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-stir fry (Simply Asia brand-Chili Garlic) with broccoli, red bell pepper, and pineapple
-peach

Snacks:
-Snap Pea Crisps
-PB & J on flour tortilla

Dinner:
-lunch's leftovers!
-chocolate soy milk

Famous Veg*ns

Fat Mike (musician)
Fiona Apple (Vegan-musician)
Forest Whitaker (actor)
Franz Kafka (writer)
Fred Schneider (musician)

Gandhi (spiritual leader)
Gavin Rossdale (musician)
Geoff Rowley (Vegan-professional skateboarder)
George Harrison (musician)
Georger Bernard Shaw (writer)
Gillian Anderson (actress)
Ginnifer Goodwin (Vegan-actress)
Grace Slick (Vegan-musician)

Quote

"I am oppressed with a dread of living forever. That is the only disadvantage of vegetarianism."
-George Bernard Shaw

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee
-smoothie

Lunch:
-brown rice & soy nuggets
-cucumber slices
-red grapes

Snacks:
-Odwalla bar (chocolate chip peanut-SO the best one)
-Cliff Bar Shot Bloks

Dinner:
-PB & J. (not kidding... )

Recipe!

Jen's Pesto

Today I was lucky enough to be given a crazy-big batch of fresh basil from a student (thanks, Suzanne!). NOW, I get to make pesto... and so do you!

This recipe originally comes from -The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen-, by Donna Klein. After trying out some variations in the kitchen of an old friend, I (we) decided this was the favorite version. Makes 1 Cup... Hope you like it!

3 Cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
6 Tbs. pistachio nuts, unsalted
2-4 large cloves garlic
3/4 tsp. sea salt, or to taste
6 Tbs. fruity extra-virgin olive oil

Combine the basil, pistachios, garlic, and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade or a blender. Process or blend until the ingredients are finely chopped, scraping down the sides of the work bowl as necessary. Add the oil and process until smooth and creamy. If not using immediately, store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, or place in ice cube trays, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and store in the freezer no longer than one month for the best flavor.

Goes well with gnocchi, pasta, as well as fresh veggies!

Famous Veg*ns

Ed Asner (actor, activist)
Ed Templeton (Vegan-professional skateboarder)
Eddie Vedder (musician)
Edward Furlong (actor)
Edwin Moses (athlete)
Elijah Wood (Vegan-actor)
Elizabeth Berkley (actress)
Ellen Degeneres (Vegan-comedian)
Emily Dickinson (poet, writer)
Emmylou Harris (musician)
Epicurus (Greek philosopher)
Eric Roberts (Vegan-actor)
Erykah Badu (Vegan-musician)

Quote

"Here's a test you can try at home: put a two-year-old in a playpen with an apple and a rabbit. If it plays with the apple and eats the rabbit, you've got a carnivore."
-Dan Piraro

a must-have...

...for any veg*n library? -Food Revolution-, by John Robbins.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the VEGAN BIBLE. Robbins discusses the dangers to our health from consuming meat and dairy products, along with fad diets and genetically modified organisms (GMO's). We also learn about the environmental repercussions of these industries and their mass "food production", and what REALLY happens to the kind, sentient creatures that end up on our plates.

Robbins speaks to all of these issues with great authority; backed up by numerous objective, scientific references. -Food Revolution- was published in 2001, a follow up to Robbins' 1987 phenomenon, -Diet for a New America- (the book that brought me to veganism and changed my life for the better).

Please read this book.

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee! (my usual)
-smoothie (also the usual)

Lunch:
-cucumber & avacado rolls (vegetarian sushi from Whole Foods deli)
-red grapes

Snacks:
-peanut butter-filled pretzels (Trader Joe's)
-ruby red grapefruit/pomegranate juice

Dinner:
-veggie sandwich on whole wheat
(romaine, bell pepper, cucumber, and cilantro with vegan-mayo dressing)
-peach
-chocolate soy milk

Famous Veg*ns

Dan Piraro (Vegan-cartoonist)
Daryl Hannah (Vegan-actress, environmental activist)
Dave Gorman (comedian)
Davey Havok (Vegan-musician)
Dean Ornish, MD (author, physician)
Deepak Chopra (author, doctor)
Dennis Kucinich (Vegan-politician)
Diane Keaton (actress)
Diogenes (Greek philosopher)
Dizzie Gillespie (musician)
Doris Day (actress)
Dustin Hoffman (actor)
Dyan Cannon (actress)

Quote

"There is a true correlation between our food choices and violence in the world. The only person who would disagree with that is a meat-eater."
-Peter Burwash

a must-have...

...for any veg*n kitchen? A blender!
and a should-have (if at all possible) for any veg*n kitchen? A food processor! Helps in making your own hummus & salsa...

What did the Vegan eat today?

Breakfast:
-coffee! (with my Silk brand soy creamer-french vanilla, and raw sugar)
-smoothie

Lunch:
-rotini pasta with sauteed zucchinni & red bell pepper, tossed in olive oil & garlic gomashio
-slice of whole wheat bread with almond butter

Snack:
-Odwalla bar ('Berries Go-mega'-yum)

Dinner:
-brown rice and steamed broccoli with Braggs & garlic
-red grapes
-chocolate soy milk

Recipe!

Have a smoothie!

I do, every morning. This is my breakfast smoothie formula... I have perfected it (for my own tastebuds, of course!), feel free to modify with different frozen fruits/berries and juices to suit your taste!

makes approx. 18 oz-vegan-5 minutes

1 banana
4 oz. silken tofu (1/4 container) *protein source*
1 Tbs. ground flaxseed *Omega-3's*
3/4 Cup orange-pineapple-banana juice
4 oz. frozen mixed berries
(I like the blueberry/blackberry/raspberry/strawberry blend from Trader Joes)

Just throw it in the blender and GO! This is a full meal in a glass. You can experiment with the amount of juice you add to accomodate preferred thickness, but make sure you get SOFT or SILKEN tofu... this will give it a nice smooth consistency.

Enjoy!

Famous Veg*ns

Candice Bergen (actress)
Carrie Anne Moss (Vegan-actress)
Casey Affleck (Vegan-actor)
Casey Kasem (Vegan-radio host)
Charles Darwin (scientist)
Charlie Watts (musician)
Chelsea Clinton (Bill's daughter!)
Chrissie Hynde (Vegan-musician)
Christy Turlington (yogi and supermodel)
Cillian Murphy (actor)
Coretta Scott King (Vegan-activist)
Common (actor, rapper)
Corey Feldman (actor)

Quote

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian."
-Sir Paul McCartney

Recipe!

Zucchini Sauteed with Pine Nuts, Capers, and Raisins

(courtesy of Vegetarian Times; Jul/Aug '09)
serves 4-vegan-30 minutes or less-gluten free

I like to try at least one new recipe every week; to introduce new ingredients and, especially, to keep myself from getting stuck in a kitchen/recipe/cooking rut. This was tonight's dish!

"Have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you turn on the skillet--the dish cooks very quickly because the zucchini are sliced so small.

2 medium zucchini (1 lb.)
2 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 Tbs. pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, minced (2 tsp.)
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. raisins
1 Tbs. capers, drained

1. Cut each zucchini crosswise into 3-2 & 1/2 inch-long cylinders. Strand each cylinder upright, then shave 1/8-inch-thick strips away from seedy core. Discard core. Cut zucchini strips into matchsticks. (should be about 3 cups)

2. Heat 1 Tbs. oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini, and season with salt, if desired. Saute 2 minutes, or until zucchini are tender. Transfer to plate.

3. Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts and garlic. Saute 1 minute, or just until mixture is straw colored. Stir in vinegar, raisins, and capers. Cook 30 seconds, then return zucchini to skillet and stir to heat through. Season with salt and pepper, if desired."

Again, this was dinner for me tonight. The recipe says it serves 4, but I nearly made a meal of it all by itself! I had at least 2/3 of the dish, along with a slice of whole wheat bread with some Earth Balance (the BEST butter substitute E-V-E-R), and a glass of Silk brand chocolate soymilk... A yummy nummy meal. :)

Famous Veg*ns

Barry White (Vegan-musician)
Benjamin Spock, M.D. (pediatrician)
Benji Madden (musician)
Bill Pearl (bodybuilder)
Bill Walton (NBA player)
Billie Jean King (tennis player)
Billie Joe Armstrong (musician)
Bonnie Raitt (musician)
Brad Pitt (actor)
Brandon Boyd (musician)
Brigitte Bardot (actress)
Bryan Adams (Vegan-musician)
Buddha :-)

Quote

"Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends."
-George Bernard Shaw

Famous Veg*ns

Alanis Morissette (Vegan-musician)
Albert Einstein (scientist)
Albert Schweitzer (theologian, philosopher, and physician)
Alicia Silverstone (Vegan-actress)
Andre 3000 Benjamin (Vegan-actor, musician)
Andy Serkis (actor)
Anna Paquin (actress)
Anne Hathaway (actress)
Anthony Kiedis (Vegan-musician)
Anthony Perkins (actor)
Aristotle (philosopher)
Ashley Judd (actress)
Avril Lavigne (musician)

Quote

"You never hear anybody talk about mad tofu disease."
-John Robbins