Sunday, December 21, 2008

Sunny Blueberry-Corn Muffins

This is the recipe from VWAV and it is fantastic! I will definitively do it again. The muffins are kinda crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Taste amazing! They remind me on my non vegan days that I used to eat lot of cornbread or corn cakes. Yay!, but these ones are definitively better, they have no cholesterol, they're vegan, plus I used 1/2 all purpose flour and 1/2 whole wheat to make them more heart healthy and stuff. They came out perfect. Isa Chandra on the book wrote that they are perfect for spreading with a pat of soy margarine. My mom said they would be amazing with her cup of coffee in the morning. They are amazing on their own, but I might try them like Isa said, it seems tasty, I don't like coffee alone, though. They are perfect sweet corn muffins, and the blueberries and the lemon zest makes them more special, [and tasty!]


Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour (you can use 1/2 all purpose and 1/2 whole wheat if desired)
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn or vegetable oil
3/4 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons soy yogurt (I used plain, but I think vanilla or even blueberry will work fine)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 1/4 cups of blueberries (I used 1 cup, I didn't had more, and they were fine)

Preheat oven to 400
ºF. Lightly grease a twelve muffin tin (I used liners, so I didn't made this step).
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, soy milk, soy yogurt, vanilla and lemon zest. With a wooden spoon, fold the wet ingredients into the dry. Fold in the blueberries, being careful not to over mix.

Fill each muffin cup three-quarters full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center of one muffin comes out clean. Serve warm.

Enjoy!! :]






Thursday, December 4, 2008

Stuffed Jumbo Shells With Vegan Ricotta "Cheese"

Photobucket

Few months ago I went to Freshmart and bought a little box that came with 3 stuffed shells with a vegan ricotta-like "cheese"[tofu] and with broccoli, spinach, spices and sauce. That for $5 and some cents, yes pricey for only 3 shells. I've never made any stuffed shell pasta before. And I loved those I bought, so I got ideas and made them my self today because I save more $ doing them myself and are fresher. I think I was kinda lazy or was very busy so I didn't made this before. But I did today and I loved the results, my mom tried them and she loves it! I did all to taste so I don't have exactly amounts of the ingredients, but accommodate them to your needs and taste.

Ingredients:

-Jumbo Pasta shells
-Firm or Extra firm Tofu (mashed well)
-Sugar
-Basil
-Onion powder
-Garlic Powder
-Few tsp. of fresh lemon juice
-Sea salt
-Spinach (thawed and squeezed dry)
-Broccoli
-A little soy milk (depending on how many shells are you doing)
-Your favorite tomato sauce
-Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F

Prepare the pasta shells according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Prepare the broccoli. Drain and set aside.

Place the tofu, sugar, soy milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, basil, and salt in a large bowl and mash together with a fork until it has a ricotta-like consistency.

Add the spinach & cooked broccoli and mix again. Set aside.

Pour half of the tomato sauce into a casserole dish. Fill each pasta shell with the "cheese" filling and place it, open side up in the tomato sauce. Continue until all shells and filling are used up. Pour the remained tomato sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle some vegan parmesan cheese over the top of the entire dish.

Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for some minutes until all are good, and the sauce is not dried up. Remove foil and bake few minutes more.

Serve and Enjoy. =)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Late, but for sure. Well today was Thanksgiving day, the day that name should be changed because most people don't even say thanks and are only for eating that turkey that is on the table.

I am thankful for having my family in good health all year, for my health, my pets, my boyfriend, my grades, also thankful for the great things I've learned throughout this year. For another year of veganism, peace of mind, soul and happiness. Thankful for my life, for all the goals I've reached and all the good things God gave me. For the person I've become. Thanks to God, and thanks to veganism<3

Anyways, today was a nice day for me, I loved it. I passed it with my family and my boyfriend, and my pet friends. This was my second thanksgiving being vegan, awesome! haha.

My mom cooked her turkey, sadly [but I know there will be a day that no turkey will be].
She made the rice vegan so me and my boyfriend could eat [with pigeon peas, tofurky kielbasa, vegan scallops, and spices, it was awesome]. I ate that with some mashed potatoes I made with gravy, some macaronis [with vegan mayo, onion, and peppers=wow] a green salad and my tofurky [I made it with carrots, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, and with the orange baste+I added some olive oil, because it tend to dry] I also made pumpkin muffins/cupcakes from the VWAV cookbook and vegan cream cheese frosting from VCTOTW, they were amazing! everyone loved them, they wanted more! lol but there were only 24, so, anyways. Few people also tried the tofurky and were shocked, my mom was one that loved it, and my daddy [who is trying to be vegetarian].

My home is more veganized now, though. When we're going to bake something for us, we make it vegan, we all use Earth Balance instead, my mom use less eggs, less dairy, cook less meat than she used before, my dad buy vegan bread sop I can eat bread. My parents are so good on that stuff with me =) I'm glad to have them, most teens are not supported by their parents.

Well, here are some pics of my tofurky and my cupcakes, before being frosted, and after, looking cute! =)

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
All of this was amazing, the tofurky was juicy and tasty!
The cupcakes, wow amazing too!

Let me know everything you would like to know about veganism or recipes or product reviews, or about my Thanksgiving menu! haha!

I hope you had a nice day today!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Almost Thanksgiving day! =)

I've always loved Thanksgiving day! and tomorrow is! I can't wait for tomorrow. This is my second vegan Thanksgiving. Last year I made my own Tofurky, this year I bought the Tofurky. I want to try it! I've read lots of reviews saying it is darn good. Tomorrow I'll post pictures of my vegan thanksgiving menu. There will be here a family reunion though, and there will be a real dead/cooked turkey =( . I don't know what's the really "thankfull" part of eating the flesh of a turkey. Anyways I will be enjoying my cruelty free "turkey" with all of the other things I'll prepare to eat! =) I also will be wearing my "Save a Turkey, eat Tofu" shirt. I love that shirt, and I think it's perfect for tomorrow. And I'll make vegan pumpkin cupcakes for everyone.

At least there will be a part that no cruelty will be served to everyone. My mom is so sweet she will do the rice vegan for me =) with tofurky kielbasa sausage and vegan "scallops" instead of the ham in the rice! And there will be my vegan cupcakes instead of a cake made with eggs and dairy! Tomorrow I'll post the pictures. Thanks God for all this things He gave to us in this year, let's have a cruelty free thanksgiving!

Happy tofurky day to everyone!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The doggie problems resolved...almost :-)

The dog dind't had his spine broke. Some non hearted person threw him on my brother's backyard after poisoning him. When we took him to the vet and revised the doggie he said he have been poisoned and that is was a miracle he didn't died. Hopefuly, he didn't died!!. And in the morning when I went to check him, he tried to stand up and he did, a little weak yet, though, but at least something is better.

The doctor treated him, he is wormed and vaccinated. I am so happy that he is good right now. Because it was heartbreaking seeing him the way he was. I though he was going to die. Now he is really good! Jumping and barking and moving his tail of happiness, full of energy! =) He was also dehydrated, because of the poison. I am giving him the medicines.

HE IS LOOKING FOR A HOME. In one week he will be able to be adopted. I will give him vaccinated, wormed & neutered.
Look at him now!!! =) I am so happy I've save his life!
Photobucket


And this other doggie -Bimbo- that I can't have permanently in my house neither is also looking for a home. He is a good guardian, and both dogs can be with children and other good dogs.
Photobucket

**Look at this blog for more information, or if you are interested in donating something to them or if you want to adopt the dogs. Thanks for reading =) COMPASSION IS OUR ACTION, BLOG

Monday, November 17, 2008

I need my animal sanctuary urgently.

Yesterday was such a bad and sad day for me.

I am well known here in my town as the animal lover/activist and every time a person have a problem with their dogs/cats or other animal they call me. Every time a person abandon a dog here [I never see who is that idiot, and here are lots of homeless dogs] some dog come to my house, because I have lots of animals here that are mine [2 ducks, 2 bunnies, 5 dogs, 1 cat, but right now 2 dogs more that are not really mine-a total of 7 dogs-, I give them food and shelter, though] and the other dogs know I bring mine love/protection and they come here and I end giving food to them and caring for them. My mom told me that I can't have another dog here anymore because is more money, and the situation right now worldwide is not good. She accepted a doggie that came here named Perrito [means doggie in Spanish] and he is a member of my family now =)and Bimbo [a homeless dog] came to my house, but she said I can't have him, or another dog, anymore, because we have 5!! Well she wanted to call the local shelter, but I told her NO! I told her to wait if someone want the dog, he is a good doggie. And I know that if we bring him to the local shelter they are going to kill him [euthanasia] and he have been here for like a month now. I posted bulletins on myspace of him to see if someone wanted him, nobody. I called the animal sanctuary[Faro de los animales] but they are full, I called and contacted Amigo de los animales and I hope they accept that doggie with a donation I am going to give them.

But that is not the really sad part of this. The sad thing is that yesterday a neighbor called my mom telling her that in my brother's house there was a dog that was dying, but wasn't my bro's dog. The dog can't stand, I called the veterinary and told me it was a rupture in the spine. I cried a lot, but he is happy [moves his tail] and eats well and poop well, and drink water :) but I am hoping that the other sanctuary I contacted accept them because he have a remedy to walk and run again!! :) Hopefully today he is better than yesterday, we stand him up, but shaking a little bit, I think he is weak I don't know the reason, exactly. I don't know if some idiot threw him on the floor, or is a car hit him, but he don't have any scar or w/e.

I dream to create my own sanctuary and I need it! I know I will do it! yes I know! I'm getting involve in all of this stuff right now, getting in contact with people that rescue animals, etc :)

And please if you can contact Amigo de los animales and donate, or adopt!! They are helping me so much with this case of the dog and a lot of people is calling me for helping me with him :-) I really thanks them so much.

Thanks for reading.
God Bless<3

This is Bimbo[finding home]
Photobucket

And The one that can't stand up :(
but soon will be ok :) and also wants a home.
Photobucket

Thursday, November 13, 2008

VEGAN CUPCAKES TAKE OVER MY WORLD!

I was so exited to try at least one vegan cupcake recipe from my VCTOTW book that I received like a month ago and didn't made any until few minutes ago! And that was because I have lots of work at school and stuff, but today I decided to make some, because I was craving them so bad. Well they went pretty and cute and everything. Now I love this book!! I want to try all of those cute vegan cupcakes! This was my first time making vegan cupcakes, they are fabulous and yummy! I made the Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Vegan cream cheese frosting! YUM!
Here's a picture of them:

Photobucket
[The cupcake that is not there...my mom ate it]


If you are vegan [or not!] and you don't have this book, YOU SHOULD BUY IT! The cupcakes came out perfectly!


*In other part, my dad bought another bread [we all used here a vegan one so we don't have to buy 2 different] and we decided now to try another brand because that one wasn't so healthy at all, even the "whole wheat" one, so he bought another brand, and I read the ingredients, are not vegan :( Maybe he read them but didn't knew that whey is an animal product, aw, but anyways, we decided to make our own breads now when we can, if we can't anyways we use the only vegan brand. My mom told me I was an exaggerated/extremist girl because I didn't wanted the bread because of the whey, she said: " It doesn't have a gallon of milk on it" and I was like, ok, but I'm not eating animal products! ;P

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Awesome Cashew Spread!

This spread is excellent over salty crackers like Ritz! This is a recipe that a veggie neighbor gave to my mom, my mom loved it, she bring me home a little to try it, I loved it too I ended eating all =D. So my mom asked for the recipe and we decided to do it, it was amazing! Anyways, you'll love it =) I know it. It tastes a little bit like some spread I used to eat in my non-vegan days that was with Cheez Whiz, luncheon meat & canned red bell peppers [or so I don't know how it's said in English, we call it here "pimientos morrones"] only better ;) of course.

Well it's super easy to prepare, you can spread it over Ritz, or something like that, other crackers or bread.

Ingredients:

- 20 oz. Cashews [raw, lightly roasted, salted or so, any works well]
- 1 small jar olives
- 1 1/2 "pimientos morrones", of the can
- 1 garlic clove
- olive oil [like half of a medium bottle]

Directions:

-Put the cashews in a bowl of water, covered and let it like that for 1 hour or so.

-After the hour, drain the water of the cashews & put them on the food processor or blender, blend & pour some amount of olive oil & the jar of olives, then the "pimientos morrones" & garlic, finish with the remained olive oil. Blend well, until it's creamy. No chunks of cashews can be there.

**You have to place this on an airtight container, or in a jar on the fridge if not using all of it in the moment.**

Yum! Enjoy. (=







Wednesday, October 15, 2008

My First Vegan Pizza (with Teese)

I was crazy to try Teese vegan cheese, because all the good reviews on the web from people that really love this cheese and I was like I had to try it. Oh and the pictures were so mouthwatering that oh God I just wanted this cheese! haha and well I finally ordered 1 Lb. from VeganEssentials.com. I was crazy to have it. And when I finally had it I stared to plan a vegan pizza! I didn't made the crust or the sauce, but for the next one I will.

And last Saturday, my boyfriend came to my house and we prepared the crust following the instructions on the package. We opened that package of cheese and OMG! it smells so good, it really smells like mozzarella, or almost, but I love it. It has a buttery yummy smell. wow. I spread the salsa & the toppings: Pizza sauce, Teese vegan cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, Lightlife Gimme Lean sausage, & Yves vegan pepperoni. This cheese really freaking melts!! And tastes oh so good! Even my omni mom likes it, my little brother & my cousin. The other day with the dough that I didn't used I made a calzone! My older brother tried it and like it too!

I have tried FYH [Vegan Gourmet] mozzarella cheese on pizzas and I don't know what the hell happens that it doesn't melts, and I can't find the flavor, I like the FYH cheddar better. What more can I say! Teese is the best Vegan Mozzarella I've tried. Yesterday I made another vegan lasagna and it was better than my other ones, so good. And right now I'm planning to do vegan mozzarella sticks, when do them I'll post some pictures too! Oh mozzarella sticks...vegan, with marinara sauce, yum!! I'm crazy to do them!

Here's the pizza before the oven and after the oven [it looks so cute, melted vegan cheese]
PhotobucketPhotobucket

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Product Review: Bahama Rice Burger

Hey everyone again!
Photobucket
I recently bought this RICE burgers, these Jerkin Spicy ones, because some of the workers at Freshmart said they were good and that is a new product! And they are good! The only thing I didn't like much was that when they're done they're kinda flaky and can brake easily, but taste good. I like spicy food, but this one is REALLY spicy jeje, I couldn't even finished it. But for all of you that likes spicy food here it is =D
They come in another (3) flavors: Pineapple-Mango, Mediterranean, and Original.
They are soy free, and free of all those common allergens, they are all vegan. Also they're the first rice based meat on the market. They call this "meat" 'Risofu' like Tofu is soy based, this one is rice based and free of soy, something like a rice tofu. I enjoyed it with lettuce, tomato, and a slice of vegan gourmet cheddar style and ketchup =D oh so good...(and hot!)



Here is their website, for more information visit their FAQs page or contact them :-)

Bahama Rice Burger Home Page

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Help make a difference!

Hey I haven't wrote anything few days ago. I was a little busy with school and stuff. This post is not about what I used to write but I think is important. I just want to let you know that if you already haven't you should click everyday on this sites and you will help women who need mammograms, you'll be helping animals, kids, people in hunger, etc :-) it's a nice website. In these days there's no excuse for people not to help make a difference. You can do it right there sat on you chair in front of your computer ;)
The Hunger Site
The Breast Cancer Site
The Child Health Site
The Literacy Site
The Rainforest Site
The Animal Rescue Site

And this one is another site where you play+learn+giverice at the same time. You don't need to pay for that, it's free, just play and feed the hungry at the same time :) easier it can't be. Check it out.
Help end world hunger

Another place is SocialVibe, is an amazing website where you can also make a BIG change in the world. Check this out:




Sunday, September 28, 2008

Product Review: Purely Decadent Cookie Dough(new)

Photobucket
One of the new Purely decadent ice creams : Cookie Dough is quite delicious!! I bought the Gluten Free one the past Friday at Freshmart [Caguas, PR]. I went to Freshmart to buy some stuff I needed to eat and when I passed through the ice cream aisle I saw it and I picked it up to try it and I love it! My local supermarkets used to carry Purely Decadent ice cream, but I don't know what happened that they just stopped selling it =( I was so happy that they carried them because I've never tried an ice cream since I became vegan, the first one I tried was Cherry Nirvana and it's good but not better than Chocolate Brownie Almond =D. Anyways, too bad they don't carry them anymore. But I can find them at Freshmart and others health food stores :-) lol I dream when there will be a Vegan Creamery at Puerto Rico :D

The Cheeziest Vegan Mac N' Cheese

Photobucket
-I know that you have searched before for a vegan mac n' cheese recipe, and all that recipes have nutritional yeast as the main flavor for cheese, and I like nutritional yeast but not for mac n' 'cheese', this one do not use nutritional yeast, and I promise it tastes just like Mac n' Cheese from Kraft! lol =D This one have that melty cheesy texture and taste, without all that fat,cholesterol of the non-vegan version, though it may not be the healthiest vegan mac ' cheese out there, but it still healthy in comparison to the non-vegan version.

- I know it because I have searched for vegan mac n' cheese recipes too and I really don't like the taste of them much because of the too much nutritional yeast on it! I can eat those mac n' cheese though, but because of the weird taste I can't eat them with all my desires.

-
I created this recipe, thinking about something else for mac n' cheeze that wasn't nutritional yeast! So I hope you like it. I don't have an exactly amount of the ingredients but I suggest you to accommodate them for the consistency you want. So try it!

Ingredients:
-Plain Soy Milk

-Vegan Gourmet Cheddar Style "cheese"

-elbow pasta, or another one

-vegan butter, such as Earth balance or Soy Garden

-little bit of salt


Instructions:


1) Boil the pasta as you always do. When It's done, quit all the water and place pasta to the saucepan again, in medium. Add a little bit of soy milk & butter.

2) Cut some of the vegan gourmet into cubes [the quantity depends on how much pasta you have made], place them in a small bowl with a bit of the soy milk and put it on the microwave for some seconds until the 'cheese' is all melted, then pour it on the pasta and mix.

3) Add a little more soy milk and 'butter' if needed and a little salt.

4) Keep moving until all is mixed and have the consistency you want.

Serve immediately and enjoy. :-)

The Vegan's 100

The Vegan's 100
How many of the following have you tried? We're talking vegan versions of all the below.

From Bittersweet:

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1) Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
5) Pass it on!"

1. Natto
2. Green Smoothie
3. Tofu Scramble
4. Haggis
5. Mangosteen
6. Creme brulee
7. Fondue
8. Marmite/Vegemite
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Nachos
12. Authentic soba noodles
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Taco from a street cart
16. Boba Tea
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Gyoza
20. Vanilla ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Ceviche
24. Rice and beans
25. Knish
26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Caviar
29. Baklava
30. Pate
31. Wasabi peas
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Mango lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Mulled cider
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Fast food french fries
41. Raw Brownies
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans
43. Dahl
44. Homemade Soymilk
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Stroopwafel
47. Samosas
48. Vegetable Sushi
49. Glazed doughnut
50. Seaweed
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Tofurkey
54. Sheese
55. Cotton candy
56. Gnocchi
57. Piña colada
58. Birch beer
59. Scrapple
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Soy curls
63. Chickpea cutlets
64. Curry
65. Durian
66. Homemade Sausages
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake
68. Smoked tofu
69.Fried plantain
70. Mochi
71. Gazpacho
72. Warm chocolate chip cookies
73. Absinthe
74. Corn on the cob
75. Whipped cream, straight from the can
76. Pomegranate
77. Fauxstess Cupcake
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy
79.Jerky
80. Croissants
81. French onion soup
82. Savory crepes
83. Tings
84. A meal at Candle 79
85. Moussaka
86. Sprouted grains or seeds
87. Macaroni and “cheese”
88. Flowers
89. Matzoh ball soup
90. White chocolate
91. Seitan
92. Kimchi
93. Butterscotch chips
94. Yellow watermelon
95. Chili with chocolate
96. Bagel and Tofutti
97. Potato milk
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Raw cookie dough