Whoa Wren

Four weeks in, five books down

2012-01-22T20:50:00.000-06:00

As I stated before, my new year's resolution was to read 52 books that I had never read before and I am a week ahead of schedule. Granted, it helps that I am focusing on books that are less than 300 pages, rather than giant tomes, but five books in four weeks is still pretty fantastic. Here are the latest additions to list:

Tomcat in Love by Tim O'Brien: The story of Thomas H. Chippering and his quest to exact revenge on his ex-wife, and the love of his life, Lorna Sue. I have to say that I prefer O'Brien's writing when set in military combat, rather than civilian combat, but I did love the sense of humor present. It was a nice change from the lemon tree incident.

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson: A quick and easy read about a brother and sister in a dystopian future who discover that they are actually magical, hence the title. I bought this one (the first of the series) off iBooks for 99¢ and I had finished it by the next evening. Think Harry Potter, in an industrial setting.

Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter: My favorite of the three, it is the story of an uncertain war veteran who is trying to find a future for his son after his wife dies in childbirth. This book bounces around in time to tell not only Bright's story but the story of his in-laws as they try to find him and his son. Slightly surreal and compelling, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will most likely be re-reading it. And yes, this is by the same Josh Ritter who wrote the song about the girl who brings the mummy back to life with her love, the video of which will make you weep.

Up next: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Neat Market and Vegan Van: Be jealous of Denver

2012-01-16T15:42:00.001-06:00

This Sunday, Denver witnessed a magical event: Neat Market, put on by Plants and Animals Denver. What was so magical about it? Soy curls, Cleo's, donuts, purses, and almost any other vegan delight you could ever want was available- P & A's inaugural pop-up vegan market was a rousing success. I left with a full belly and a full bag of goodies. The next one can't come fast enough- my treats won't last long.

Stationed outside of the market was Denver's Vegan Van, our all vegan food truck. I enjoyed the Planet Rock, which was crispy buffalo tofu and coleslaw on a hefty roll, alongside some popcorn while my mom enjoyed the Car Wash, a sandwich of beer battered tofu and dill tartar sauce. I will most likely become a stalker of the Vegan Van, as this was some of the best buffalo tofu I've ever had- and I am an expert. Delicious food, fabulous service and popcorn on the side, how could I ever say no?

New Year, New Books: Robopocalypse and The Great Fitness Experiment

2012-01-08T10:28:00.000-06:00

While writing about my favorite books in December, I came to two conclusions:

1) I need to read more.

2) I need to read more new books instead of repeating my favorites over and over.

Source

I tend to become very attached to the characters in books, and I like to re-read the books in order to interact with them again. So, my new year's resolution, inspired by my friend Alice, is to read at least 52 new to me books this year. Obviously, I will blog about them and let you know my opinion. Here are my first two books:

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson: I loved this book. The story of the inevitable robot uprising and the humans who fight back against it. Fast paced, written in a variety of styles (storytelling, transcripts, interviews), I tore through this book in about two days. Highly recommended. It also looks like Steven Spielberg is directing the film version of this, so I have high hopes. Don't let me down, Stevie.

The Great Fitness Experiment by Charlotte Hilton Andersen: I thought I would love this book. I was wrong. While the premise of the book isn't inaccurate (lady tries a different fitness routine each month for a year), it also details her struggle with compulsive exercising and disordered eating. Super uncomfortable to alternate reading about her finding out high intensity interval training burns the most fat while going to therapy for her eating and exercising. I mostly just wanted to give her a hug and have a stern discussion with her publisher.

30 Days of Books: I have lots of opinions.

2011-12-26T23:02:00.000-06:00

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Day 26- A book that changed your opinion about something: This book didn't so much change my opinion about anything, but it did convince me that being vegan was easy and absolutely do-able, even in Nebraska. This book is Vegan with a Vengeance by the incomparable Isa Chandra Moskowitz. This is the book that taught me how to cook tofu and tempeh, how to use various egg substitutes and how to make the best darn chocolate chip cookies of all time. As a scared, little vegan newbie, the recipes, banter and tips in this book shoved my fear out of the way and got me into the kitchen for the first time in my life, and I could not be any more grateful for that.

30 Days of Books: With five days left, I'm getting better at this!

2011-12-25T22:09:00.000-06:00

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Day 24- A book that you wish more people would've read: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. When this book was released in America, the last chapter, for whatever reason, was cut out. What's so important about that last chapter is that it basically explains all the violence and horrible things that happens and, you know, completes the point that Burgess is trying to get across. The writing in this book is fantastic and well worth reading, but still pretty violent (just a warning, it's still not a fluffy book by any means).

Day 25- A character who you can relate to the most: Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. After reading about the Wakefield twins, it was refreshing to have an awkward heroine who relied on her intelligence and resourcefulness rather than her social skills and looks. Plus, she lands that dreamboat Calvin. Rawr.

30 Days of Books: Ten Days at a Time

2011-12-23T23:51:00.000-06:00

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December is maybe not my best month for continuous blogging, huh? Anyway.

Day 14- Favorite book of your favorite writer: My favorite book of Ray Bradbury's is a toss-up between Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Illustrated Man, with the winner being The Illustrated Man. What gives it the edge? Haunting short stories such as "The Rocket Man", "The Last Night of the World" and "The Long Rain". However, it spawned one of the worst movies ever. Don't ever watch the movie version. Just trust me.

Day 15- Favorite Male Character: That would be Reepicheep from the Chronicles of Narnia. He's short, sassy and fiercely loyal, not to mention adorable. If I had a tattoo, it would be of him (Mom, don't worry, I'm still tattoo free).

Day 16- Favorite Female Character: Sticking with the YA theme here and picking Katniss Everdeen. So refreshing to have a strong, resourceful, intelligent female protagonist after Bella Swan. Katniss has mad skills.

Day 17- Favorite quotes from your favorite books: I'm skipping this one because there is too much here to take on in a catch-up post. I have a lot of highlighted quotes in The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, such as:

"I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all of these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved these songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs.And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean."

This book also introduced me to the saddest song ever.

Day 18- A book that disappointed you: I Was a Teenage Fairy by Francesca Lia Block. Love Francesca's other works (Psyche in a Dress, The Rose and the Beast, Girl Goddess #9) but I just couldn't handle the level of fairy in this one. I probably should have read it when I was 12, instead of 23.

Day 19- Favorite book turned movie: Jurassic Park. Hands down.

Day 20- Favorite romance book: Ummmmmm. Pass.

Day 21- Favorite book from your childhood: Barbara Cartland's Princess to the Rescue, a pop-up book that tells the story of a princess who goes on a quest to find an elixir to cure her mother, the original Katniss if you will.

Day 22- Favorite book you own: The Watchmen because it is an amazing graphic novel or this version of Lady Chatterly's Lover, because it has a pretty cover.

Day 23- A book you wanted to read for a long time but haven't: Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. I don't own it yet, so that's probably why I haven't read it. This is also the part where I am sad that I deleted my list of books to read by syncing my iPad.

30 Days of Books: Um, catching up

2011-12-13T20:56:00.000-06:00

I'm not going to offer excuses as to why I haven't posted, so here are my catch-up books (let's pretend I didn't skip day eight).

Day Nine: A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
The answer to this one is Not Wanted On The Voyage by Timothy Findley. Totally weird and surreal, this is a retelling of Noah's ark, and God and Noah are the villians of the piece. It took me a little while to realize how surreal it was and I hated it until I was figured out that the dragons were just a normal part of reality in Findley's book.

Day Ten: Favorite classic book
This question is hard because what exactly makes a book a classic? I'm going to go with the general definition of 'oldish' and select Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. The story of an anonymous soldier who wakes up in a hospital lacking arms, legs and a lower jaw, as well as now being blind and deaf. The whole story takes place in his head. He lacks a specific country of origin, which makes the story that much more powerful.

Day 11: A book you hated
I don't hate a lot of books but I really hated The Daughters of the Plaza Del Mayo. I had to read it for a class and now I can't find anything about it on the internet, but it is intensely boring and not super well written.

Day 12: A book you used to love but don’t anymore
The first time I read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, I was in seventh or eighth grade and it seemed like the greatest book ever: compelling characters, interesting story, tragic ending. My dad warned me never to read it again because I would not be so impressed reading it as an adult. I read it again when I was 24 and my dad was right. We're just going to leave it at that.

Day 13: Your favourite writer
Ray Bradbury. Love an author that can write great science fiction but make the scariest parts of it entirely human.

30 Days of Books: You read what?

2011-12-07T22:35:00.000-06:00

The first image you get when you
google 'young adult' (linked to source)

Day Seven: Most underrated book

This day was hard for me because I don't really read reviews. I don't like going into a book with a pre-conceived notion of how good it will be, and sometimes that works out well and sometimes it works out really, really poorly. So, I'm going to say that, for me, the most underrated part of literature is the young adult genre. Yes, there are some stinkers out there but the same goes for books for grown-ups. You want hard hitting, realistic novels? Check. Compelling, imaginative fantasy? Check. Cliffhangers at the end of every chapter to make you keep reading even when you needed to go to bed three hours ago? Check (Anthony Horowitz, I'm looking at you). People absolutely make fun of me when almost every book I mention is a young adult book, but I feel no shame for what I love so purely. What's so wrong about wanting compelling, thought provoking books with some sassy slang? Just please don't judge me when you see me in the paranormal romance teen section. Thanks in advance.

30 Days of Books: Books for when you want to cry

2011-12-06T14:48:00.000-06:00

Day Six: A book that makes you sad

This was a toss-up between The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Host by Stephanie Meyer. The Host won. I realize this means I found a book about the Holocaust written from Death's point of view less depressing than a book about aliens written by the author of Twilight, but while The Book Thief put me in regular cry zone, The Host put me straight into ugly cry, I can't go anywhere because I am too destroyed to function as a human being zone. If I tell you why it was so sad, I will straight up spoil it for you, and I just can't do that, so go ahead and read it with a box of tissues nearby. Plus, it's going to be a movie soon and you'll want to prepare yourself.

What other books are perfect for a good cry?

30 Days of Books: Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face

2011-12-05T23:26:00.000-06:00

Day Five: A book that makes you happy

This day was a battle waged between Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris and I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee. While Sedaris's tale of how he spent a season working as an elf is laugh-until-I-cry hilarious, I've never carried the book around with me and made people listen to me reading it aloud, which I have done with Bee's book (you can hear Bee herself talk about the book here, and the less aurally inclined can read an excerpt here). From her stories of learning about the birds and the bees from her mother, to her views on pets to how she met her husband, each story is a gem that will make you laugh. To put this in perspective, the first time I read this, I was bedridden with strep throat and I soldiered through this book even though every time I laughed, I experienced a horrendous coughing fit. Worth it.

30 Days of Books: Like picking a favorite child

2011-12-04T19:00:00.000-06:00

Day 4: Favorite book of your favorite series.

Since I've already outed The Hunger Games Trilogy as my current favorite series, logic (and the meme) would say that I should now tell you which of the three is my favorite. However, I like to occasionally break the rules, and when it comes down to it, I really can't pick a favorite, so here are my favorite things about each book:

The Hunger Games: Where it all begins! We meet Katniss and become completely absorbed by how awesome she is- love that we got a strong female protagonist after Bella Swan. What I love about this book is that it is the beginning of a revolution and that we finally see a strong female in action.

Catching Fire: The book that introduced us to Finnick Odair, who is my favorite character in the trilogy, as well as my ipad's namesake. The arena in this one is brilliant and we also get a deeper look into life in The Capitol.

Mockingjay: This book both inspires me as you get to see a revolution in action but you also see how it can completely destroy those involved on either side. This book is great for making me cry in public but also because it doesn't paint one side as good and the other as bad- they are both shades of gray and half the tension is just watching Katniss ponder whether or not she is fighting for the right side.

As a side note, I totally pretend I'm in the Hunger Games when I'm bored during a work out. Being a tribute is a big motivator.

30 Days of Books: Favorite Series

2011-12-03T22:03:00.000-06:00

Day Four: Your Favorite Series

I'm going to go ahead and go with my current favorite series, as I've had several over my life, such as The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, so on and so forth. So, my current favorite series is The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins which tells the story of Katniss Everdeen after she volunteers (in order to save her sister) for the yearly event that is the Hunger Games. I love this dystopian trilogy because instead of the sides being black and white, they both fall into shades of gray. There isn't a clear-cut right side for Katniss to be fighting for and I will totally admit to crying during every single book. If you haven't read these books, go read them now.

30 Days of Books: Reading it thrice is just as nice

2011-12-02T23:59:00.000-06:00

Day 2: A book that you've read more than three times

Although I've read every book in The Chronic(what)cles of Narnia more than three times, except for The Last Battle, my favorite is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Influenced by Lewis's love of tales of the journeys of knights, Voyage takes Edmund, Lucy, Caspian and Eustace, among others, on a journey to several different islands to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia. Crazy hijinks ensue and we get to spend time with my all time favorite Narnian- Reepicheep. Small, fiesty and fiercely loyal, Reepicheep is just the best. On an unrelated note, let's pretend that the most recent movie version of this does not exist.

PS- Was anyone else bummed when they realized that they were too old to go to Narnia? Or that they would never get a letter from Hogwarts? I totally was/am.

30 Days of Books Kick in the Butt

2011-12-01T23:11:00.000-06:00

To explain my silence, I haven't been doing much that's super exciting in general and my dinners have been variations of whole wheat pasta with veggies, which would make for boring pictures that are taken in artificial light. In light of this, I am going to be doing the 30 Day Book Meme, which I found through Windy City Vegan. Without further ado, here is day one:

Day One- The best book you read last year:

Twilight! Just kidding, but it is a vampire book: The Historian: A Novel by Elizabeth Kostova. To be perfectly blunt, when I describe the plot to people, all I can think about is how lame I make it sound. It's the story of a young woman searching for her missing father. Also missing are her mother and her father's advisor, who are all linked to Dracula. Yes, the book is about Dracula, but it never feels cliched or boring. Between lush descriptions of various locations throughout the world and the overwhelming sense of dread that pervades the book, you forget all the stereotypes of Dracula that culture has provided and become immersed in the story provided.

Custom Made Feline Friday

2011-11-18T22:09:00.000-06:00

From Pandacookie's Etsy

Purchasing gifts for a cat enthusiast can be difficult. How far is too far? How far is not far enough? A generic cat figurine most likely isn't far enough but a larger than life size mosaic of someone's favorite feline may be a bit much. Luckily, the illustrious Pandacookie is creating custom cat ornaments for the cat lover in your life (or yourself). The prices range from $8 - $12 and 10% of all proceeds from now to December 31st will go to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. I've placed my order and I'm very, very satisfied with the results and am looking forward to giving them to their future owners. Custom-made, reasonably priced, proceeds going to a good cause and totally adorable? Count me in.

PS- Not into cats? Pandacookie's page has tons of great goods! Check it out!

What's in your Vegan Holiday Kitchen?

2011-11-15T22:23:00.000-06:00

Holidays mean something different to everyone: obnoxious songs, lots of eating, time with loved ones, so on and so forth. While I don't appreciate the yearly unearthing of Angela Lansbury's "We Need a Little Christmas", I do appreciate holidays for the time spent with family and all the tasty food. Unfortunately, I sometimes get so wrapped in creating the tasty food, that I sometimes accidentally forgo the time with family part. Whoops.

Because of that I'm super psyched about Nava Atlas's Vegan Holiday Kitchen. The recipes in here are the kinds of recipes that are simple but impressive. When it comes down to it, I want the focus of my holiday to be on family, not the time I spent in the kitchen. While reading the book, two thoughts repeatedly came to mind: "that looks delicious" and "that looks easy." Atlas's book features recipes such as Hot Artichoke and White Bean Spread, Glazed Onions and Brussels Sprouts and Cashew Chocolate Mousse Pie and is divided by holiday. Well-organized with tasty, delicious recipes? Count me in. Just don't play Angela Lansbury.

Feline Friday: Mido

2011-11-11T20:43:00.001-06:00

This week's feline is Mido, a resident of New York City. She was adopted by my friend Alice from Empty Cages Collective in Brooklyn and now lives a life of luxury. Mido enjoys chasing bug-like toys, being sung to and batting her food out of the dish before she eats it.

Mile High Runs: An Update

2011-11-08T22:30:00.001-06:00

Not those kind of runs. The runs you do with your legs, while pumping your arms.

One of the side effects of moving to Denver was that my fitness essentially reset itself to zero. The altitude is absolutely killer, or at least it is for me. It's absolutely frustrating to live in one state, then move one over and not be able to do things you could the day before. Luckily, I'm stubborn with my running. At this point, I have not only completed the Couch to 5K program, but I'm up to running 8ish miles at a time (um, not every time though), even with the altitude! Even better news is that I run by dinosaur statues (pictured), which is pretty darn inspiring. Dinos to the left, mountains to my right.

As of right now, I am trying to create the perfect playlist to work on my pace. Apparently, songs at 180 bpm are optimal, so I'm trying to fill my playlist with those. Jog.fm has been a giant help in figuring out bpms for songs, but if you have a suggestion for a song or an app (I have an iphone) to create great running playlists, that would be bomb.

I can't wait to run the next time I'm at sea level. I'll be like a superhero.

Feline Fridays: Pudds is tired of the paparazzi

2011-11-04T14:10:00.001-05:00

Pudds sometimes gets fed up with me taking his picture. The result is adorable!

Thanksliving at Chomp!

2011-11-03T20:21:00.002-05:00

Gravy. Green bean casserole. Stuffing. These are a few of my favorite things and they were all at this month's Chomp! The first Wednesday of each month, Plants and Animals Denver puts on a massive vegan dinner party, complete with raffles and live entertainment. An added bonus? Awesome vegan dinner conversation. This month's theme was Thanksliving and featured quinoa stuffed apples, cupcakes with caramelized pecans, sourdough biscuits with a roasted vegetable stew and many other mouth-watering options. If you are in the Denver area for Chomp!, definitely stop by- great food, great conversation and the potential for prizes? Heck yes.

Edit: Sorry for the cell phone picture! I'll use a real camera next time.

A Revelation in Trash Can Liners

2011-11-01T22:18:00.000-05:00

While being a functional adult this weekend, I took out the trash. When I went to replace my can liner with one from my collection of paper sacks from grocery stores, I realized something moderately terrifying: none of my liners were from an actual grocery store. They were all from Chipotle, the big ones for carrying your burrito bowl home. I made do with one of those for my trash can and vowed that I would be cooking at home more often, in effort to save both money and my waistline. Tonight's feature came together in less than ten minutes: Rising Moon ravioli with sauteed mixed greens, yellow tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice and nutritional yeast. Sad picture, but quick and delicious. Easy peasy, but that's sometimes hard to remember when I'm hungry and there's a Chipotle on every route I take home from work.

What are your favorite tips, tricks and resources for easy, quick weeknight dinners?

Feline Fri...Saturday

2011-10-29T17:27:00.001-05:00

This morning, I realized that I missed Feline Friday! My favorite day of the week! This week's felines are Chewbacca (the striped one) and Gizmo. Chewie and Gizmo live with my parents and were adopted from the Capitol Humane Society. Gizmo enjoys pipe cleaners and treats, while Chewie enjoys naps and laying next to you but not on you.

Celestial Seasonings loves vegans!

2011-10-26T19:02:00.000-05:00

One of the great things about my relocation to Denver is that I am now only about 30 minutes away from Celestial Seasonings, which is located in Boulder. This means that I no longer have to pay full price for Celestial Seasonings and that if I want any tea-related paraphernalia, I'm all set. This also means that I've been on the free factory tour more than once, which is actually a blast. You receive tea packets as your tickets, and then you can taste test teas and kombucha until your tour starts, where you will learn all about tea, Celestial Seasonings and experience the somewhat intense and mysterious mint room. Celestial Seasonings offers both agave nectar and soy milk for their tea tasting area and sells Cocomels in their gift shop- a perfect way to begin and end your tour!

PS- I was interviewed for Buffy Tuesday at Seitan Beats Your Meat and Pudds (my cat) wrote a piece on what vegan foods he'd like to get his paws on over at Get Sconed. Check it out!
PPS- Did you know that Celestial Seasonings sells the lower quality tea leaves they don't use to Lipton? Seriously! Fun facts from the tour!

Sleepytime Bear veers dangerously close to drunk

Uno, Dos, Tres Pupusas

2011-10-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

If I've learned one thing, it is that a wonderful way to start your Sunday is with sunshine and Tres Pupusas. A pupusa is a thick, fried corn disks filled with delights, such as black beans and sweet corn, which is the vegan (and gluten-free) option at Tres Pupusas. It comes with side of cabbage salad and I always order it with guacamole and add a healthy does of hot sauce. Hot, crunchy on the outside and a surprisingly hearty meal, I love starting out my week by people-watching and eating my Tres Pupusas. Tres Pupusas are sold at select Whole Foods and have a permanent location in Boulder.

Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

2011-10-23T22:46:00.000-05:00

Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary is one of my favorite places on Earth. Located about 45 minutes outside of Denver, this place is a must-see. Full of rescued farm animals, Peaceful Prairie allows you to see animals as they were meant to be: content, safe and free. From Justice the cow to Lucas the pig, each animal has their own story and Michelle, one of the owners, knows every one by heart. They are a small organization, so each donation counts, and you can donate by clicking on the link to their home page- even five dollars helps. It's so amazing to watch llamas rolling casually on the ground while feeding a goat by hand. Below are some pictures from a recent visit to Peaceful Prairie, please consider donating to help out a small non-profit doing a great thing!

Feline Friday is mental with Kittens Gone Lentil

2011-10-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

This week's feisty felines come from Susan of Kittens Gone Lentil. Susan herself dished out the details on these little buddies:

Dim Sim is a tiny black pixie princess. Her greatest dream is one-cat world domination, where she is the one cat. She likes sleeping on her pink snuggie, drinking water out of my glass using her paw, rolling in warm dirt and smooching shoes.

Gizmo is my eldest girl. She has the most epic purr in the history of purrs. She likes sniffing catnip, having her belly rubbed, licking my plate clean and sneaking into the favourite sleeping spots of the others when they aren't looking.

Sahara is a cheeky little minx. She likes to be involved in all things all the time, and supervises me every morning as I get ready. She likes sharing my morning oatmilk, steamed broccoli, stealing food from the other cats' bowls and sniffing flowers.

Happy Feline Friday!

Wednesday Round Up: True Blood Edition

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

PITA Vegan's Mofo Banner

While I normally do round ups from several blogs, this round up will focus on just one: That Pain in the Ass Vegan. Jen is awesome for doing a theme (True Blood) for the month of Mofo, but even more so because she is donating the money she receives for page views to local charities. All you have to do to help out is click on the links to her amazing creations to help her help local food bank and local humane association. Without further ado:

Sheriff Bellefleur's Beignets: Fried baked goods? Don't mind if I do.

Jason Stackhouse Po' Boy: I have a hard time saying no to a sandwich and this one looks unbelievable.

Debbie is on V Again: Chocolate, bananas, I'm clearly craving sugar today and these bars make that okay.

Vegan Milestone: Loving Hut

2011-10-18T20:00:00.000-05:00

I've been fascinated with Loving Hut since my discovery of this vegan restaurant chain. Not only was I intrigued by the fact that a 100% vegan chain existed, I was also interested in trying a restaurant that offered both Asian cuisine and spaghetti. My experience with Loving Hut took place at the Seattle location, a sparkling clean restaurant located in the International District. For my inaugural order, I selected the spring rolls, lucky drumsticks and pad thai. I have no idea why I ordered so much food, but it was worth stuffing myself. The spring rolls were fresh with a side of peanut sauce and the drumsticks were the perfect, slightly greasy appetizer I've been searching for. I also enjoyed how the pad thai featured every type of fake meat the restaurant offers- no skipping the vegan ham or fish for me! My one caveat with Loving Hut was that my dining companion asked for her meal to be extra spicy, which was interpreted as "please cover it liberally with black pepper". Other than that, my meal was lovely, and I will definitely be checking out other locations in the future.

On My Shelf: Vegan Books

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

There are an immense amount of vegan resources available today, with different ones being the best for different people, but here are my favorites:

The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone: This book outlines the reasons for becoming vegan, as well as outlines a three step process for becoming vegan, from flirt to superstar.

Vegan for Life by Jack Norris and Virginia Messina and Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis: Knowing the reasons for your veganism is important, but knowing the nutrition to being vegan successfully is just as important and these are great resources.

Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero: This is my fancy pants cookbook, considering I'm not too fancy. The enchiladas and bread pudding are favorites.

Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz: My go-to cookbook for everyday cooking with quick and simple recipe utilizing easy to find ingredients.

What are your favorite vegan books?

Check me out being lazy over at Laziest Vegans in the World!

Vegan Flash Mob!

2011-10-14T11:59:00.001-05:00

It's Vegan Hump Day! Halfway through this year's mofo and the incomparable Leslie Hall is helping us celebrate! Leslie is not only super cool but also a vegan and wrote this song (mp3 at link) to celebrate veganism:

I eat the finest cuisines, in the finest of places Stuff my mouth full and always say thank you. But if it's raised in a cage, and it can't even move, if it's hormone filled and in a bad mood. I'm gonna pass on that. Reach for something better. The only milk I'll drink comes from the nipple of a soy bean. Veggies make you live forever, and they seem to taste much better. when they're cooked and grown with love. So give a chef who knows what's up a hug. Momma just can't seem to get it, Papa he just rolls his eyes. When I tell them I'm much healthier, they just say that it's all lies. But beans, nuts, fruits and veggies can really fill the belly. Get you vitamins you need, shiny hair and extra speed. Don't take that meat-wich any further, I want a marinated, deep fried, hand-tied mushroom burger. I like it! We gotta stand strong for our feathered furry sometimes scaly animal friends and their little babies. 'Cuz I wouldn't want to live in a cage in a dark warehouse killed at an early age. Pumped full of hormones, sleeping in my feces. Never met my mother, raised by machines. Never get sunshine never get green, but that's just me. [That girl loves fruit leather.] So ask us what we're eating. Delicious and repeating, fruits and veggies are so nice. With a slice of tempeh, yes, I'll have that twice. Don't forget the legumes!

Love veganism. Love Leslie. Word.

Big ups to Kittee for organizing a virtual flashmob!

Feline Fridays: Give Chance a chance!

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

If there is one thing I am grateful for, it is my cat Puddleglum (as discussed last week). I adopted Puddleglum from Town and Country Humane Society, a no-kill shelter just outside of Omaha, NE. Ever since I adopted him, I've kept an eye on the T & C website, and the incredibly handsome Chance has been at the shelter since I adopted Pudds over two years ago. He was a mercy boarding for a homeless woman who never returned for him, so he more than deserves a happy home. Look at his little face! If you live in Omaha, the surrounding area or know someone who does, send them in Chance's direction and let's get him to a forever home!

As always, if you would like me to feature your cats/kittens, shoot me an email or comment below!

Cyber Dogs and Warm Fuzzies

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

For me, eating a hot dog is not so much about the dog itself, but more about
using the dog as a method of transportation for my favorite toppings. Seattle's Cyber Dogs gets this. This vegetarian eatery, located within walking distance of Pike's Place Market offers up pretty much every hot dog topping known, from the humble mustard to hummus, Cyber-Dogs has it all. I throughly enjoyed my hot dog, which I had to eat with a fork, but more importantly, I loved the experience I had in the restaurant. The customer service went beyond superb into making me feel like I was sitting in my really cool friend's living room. I spoke with the owner at length about how awesome Bill Clinton's veganism is and about second hand treasures (she had just returned with an armful). I dine by myself a lot when I travel, so I truly appreciated how the staff at Cyber Dogs made me feel like part of the family. Sitting in a warm cafe in a strange town, with a crazy movie on mute, talking about how awesome veganism is after eating a great vegan dog- this is a perfect example of the connection I love experiencing in the vegan community. Nice work, Cyber Dogs.

Week Two Vegan Round-Up

2011-10-12T22:35:00.001-05:00

I've been bookmarking so many amazing things during this year's Mofo, but here are some recent favorites:

Salted Caramel Cupcakes: I'll take at least two, please. Look at the pretty topper!

Mac & Cheese Pizza: No words, just happiness and inspiration.

Pumpkin Throw-Up Oatmeal: I have a pretty strong stomach, so trust me when I say not to read this while you're eating.

Bloody Mary Biscuits: Not a huge fan of the drink, but I would be more than okay starting off a Sunday brunch with these.

Ultimate Vegan Sub: Can't argue with that.

What have been your favorites so far?

Fried Food Festival: Highline Seattle

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

FYI: I'm giving away a case of Larabars over at Vegan Coloradical today! Come on down!

One of my favorite reality stars is best selling author Snooki of Jersey Shore. From the pouf to the slippers to the deep love for pickles, Snooki is a girl I could hang with. When I saw Snooki try fried pickles for the first time, I felt both joy and longing: joy for the enhancement Snooki's life had just received and longing, for where would I find a vegan fried pickle?

In an answer to my prayers, Highline in Seattle has an amazing,
100% vegan menu featuring all your favorite bar foods, including fried pickles. To celebrate this glorious occasion, Kelly and I ordered the fried pickles, seitan wings (buffalo wings with a cooler name) and a sandwich each, with my choice being a Reuben. I would like to note that neither of us was actually hungry when this order was placed.

The food arrived and, honestly, everything was wonderful. You can't really go wrong with fried vegan food, right? However, the fried pickles were the crowning glory of our meal. Round disks of crispy heaven with the delicate balance of salty and savory and juicy perfectly matched. Oh, little fried pickle disks, I shall dream of you until my return to your glorious home.

I don't rely on mirrors, so I always take Polaroids: vegan clothing

2011-10-09T23:17:00.001-05:00

Even Clueless's Cher
is vegan, so why not take a moment to talk about vegan clothes? Here are some of my favorite places for vegan-friendly fashion:

Pure Citizen: this site boasts killer deals on brands like Matt and Nat and Hearts of Darkness shoes. While not everything the site features is vegan, a good chunk of it is. Another great thing about this site is that it lets you adjust your percentage off, and every extra dollar you pay means a donation to a specified non-profit.

Herbivore Clothing Company: need a flawlessly designed vegan graphic tee or hoodie? How about a sassy cruelty free wallet? Or maybe just a plain black leather-look-a-like belt? Herbivores has you covered for all this and more.

Vaute Couture: I spend an unhealthy amount of time looking at these coats. Stunning design and all vegan, these coats are a worthy investment. I'll know I'm truly an adult when I own one of these bad boys. Vaute Couture also features adorable (um, or manly, for the men's section) non-coat clothing, such as graphic tees and hoodies.

Of course, vegans aren't limited to these stores- there's vegan clothes everywhere! Just do a little label checking to avoid things like wool, leather, merino, down, etc. and don't be afraid to google a fiber- I've done my fair share of googling in the Gap to determine if a cardigan is vegan or not. In all honesty, I have yet to find a store with absolutely zero vegan options (disclaimer: I haven't checked at any fur or leather based stores), so get out there and build a vegan wardrobe that Dionne would approve of!

PS: don't forget thrift stores! One of a kind treasures at a bargain price while generally providing a charity with revenue! Win win situation!

Where are your favorite spots to pick up vegan fashion?

Best tofu scramble ever and I didn't take a picture

2011-10-07T23:52:00.002-05:00

Before my recent trip to Seattle, I can't say I had ever heard of Cafe Flora. Sure, maybe a blip mention here or there but nothing that engaged my attention enough to give it a second thought or drool over the menu online. Lucky for me, my dear friend Chelsea had heard of it and wanted to give it a try. Since I had had my Mighty-O Donuts at this point, I was game for anything. Thank goodness.

Cafe Flora blessed me with some of the greatest food I've ever had. The
tofu scramble was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, noochy crumbles of perfection that I didn't take a picture of and a bowl of fresh fruit accompanied it perfectly. There was also a cinnamon roll. An amazing cinnamon roll. A cinnamon roll with a delicate glaze and caramelized pecans on top. Easily split between two (with a possibility of more), this trio of dishes constituted an amazing brunch.

To make it even better, the actual restaurant is stunning. We ate in the atrium and enjoyed both fresh air and our napkins staying put, along with the sounds of a gentle fountain. Highly recommended for any occasion, except perhaps the Juggalo Gathering. That might not go so well.

Feline Friday

2011-10-07T10:59:00.001-05:00

There is one force on Earth that has the power to unite and compel vegans. That force, that power is kitty cats. For this reason, Fridays on Whoa Wren will be Feline Fridays, where I post pictures of cats (mostly mine, because I love him) and say a thing or two. Without further ado, this is Puddleglum:

Puddleglum enjoys licking nutritional yeast off my fingers, aggressively sniffing Chipotle burritos and falling asleep while being groomed.

If you would like your kitty to be featured on Feline Friday, shoot me an email or let me know in the comments!

Round 'Em Up: My favorite posts so far!

2011-10-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hey party people, I'm blogging about Denver's amazing South Broadway area over at Vegan Coloradical today. Come for the vegan salted butterscotch ice cream, stay for the all vegan shoe store.

Confession: I find Vegan Mofo overwhelming. Whether you're a blogger, writing every day, or reader, waking up can to over 300 new posts in your feed, Mofo can definitely be a media overload waiting to happen. But you know what? It is absolutely worth it, especially when gems like these show up:

Fried Buffy Foods!

Spike's Onion Blossom: when you combine fried food and Buffy, you win my friendship forever. BFF charms are being sent to Veganarium as we speak. Plus, how amazing does that vegan onion blossom look?

Vegan is Reasonable's Meal Planning Guide: Sometimes I need things spelled out for me. Vegan is Reasonable does that for me in an area I desperately need to improve on.

Cheesy Jalapeno Wafers: Cheesy and spicy are two of my favorite taste sensations. Big ups to Left Coast Vegan for combining the two and making it easy and delicious.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Poisoned Caramel Apples: Vegan CineGrub made caramel apples and created themes for them based on each dwarf and on Snow White. Dying of both the adorable idea and execution and of jealously that Vegan CineGrub had eight caramel apples in her possession.

What have your favorites been so far?

Seattle's Finest Non-Coffee/Grunge Offerings: Mighty-O Donuts and Wayward Cafe

2011-10-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

If there is one thing that I learned on my recent trip to Seattle, it is that my life is substantially better when there are donuts present. This theory was proven to be true by none other than the revered Mighty-O. When all was said and done, I had eaten five donuts in a 72 hour period, which is definitely above average. What sets Mighty-O apart is the fact that all of their donuts are vegan, organic and they carry both cake and yeasted donuts. Not willing to stop there, they include apple fritters, creme filled donuts, jelly donuts and awesome flavors like French toast and Grasshopper donuts. The donuts pictured are a chocolate creme filled yeast donut (think Nutella in a donut) and the cocoloco donut, which is a chocolate cake donut covered with cinnamon and sugar. The cocoloco was fantastic but my dreams will be haunted (in a good way) by that delightfully gooey chocolate creme filled masterpiece.

Another staple on the Seattle vegan scene is Wayward Vegan Cafe, an all vegan breakfast, brunch and lunch joint, located by Pizza Pi and Sidecar Pigs for Peace. I was lured in by the promise of a chiggen wrap, and won over by the nutritional yeast shakers and incredibly friendly service. I ordered the chiggen wrap made with seitan, while my friend ordered the Pull No Pork sandwich. Portions were, to put it mildly, generous and delicious. The chiggen wrap was taken to an even higher level of taste bud satisfaction by a hearty slathering of house made hot sauce and my friend raved about her pork-free sandwich through the whole meal. I would absolutely love to go back to Wayward for their breakfast offerings and to give their lemon meringue pie a whirl.

Believe it or not, donuts and wraps were just the beginning...to be continued.

What are your favorite Seattle stops?

Sassy Vegan Shoes: A Necessity

2011-10-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

Recently, a friend said to me "I just don't think I can commit to vegan shoes." This is an absolutely valid comment, seeing as how vegan shoes can often look...vegan. However, there are plenty of vegan options for those of us who want to wear cruelty-free footwear, but also want to make walking long distances difficult.

1) Mooshoes: independent boutique in New York City goes digital, carrying brands such as Olsen Haus, Hearts of Darkness and Macbeth

Jeffrey Campbell Vita

2) Alternative Outfitters: entirely vegan, and not just limited to shoes (think coats and accessories), as well as reasonably priced

3) Lulu's: Trendy, difficult to walk in shoes with a vegan search option. Perfect. Okay, they aren't all difficult to walk in, but you're picking up what I'm putting down, right?

4) True Love: You have to be in Denver to shop here, but what a treasure! All vegan shoe store with very reasonable prices that sometimes hands out champagne while you're shopping. There's also vegan ice cream next door.

5) Zappos: Again, utilize that vegan search function. This one skews towards practical shoes.

6) Madden Girl: Steve Madden's unintentionally vegan line. I usually pick these up at DSW (in the clearance section).

I know there's more out there- what's your favorite vegan friendly shoe source?

Also, I am aware that this is the vegan month of food, but shoes are important.

Vegan Mofo: It has begun. Kind of.

2011-10-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

Vegan Mofo has begun and I am doing it again this year. However, I am doing it in the sense that blogging every day actually means blogging Monday through Friday. Stay tuned for adventures of the greatest kind (maybe, but there will for sure be pictures of my cat)!

The 30 Day Vegan Challenge

2011-09-25T22:20:00.000-05:00

Confession: my first month of veganism was kind of awful. I was settled in my decision and happy with it, but I got incredibly sick of soy milk, cereal and random vegetables. Because of my experience, I'm overjoyed to see so many new resources available for vegan newbies, such as Vegucated. One resource I definitely wish would have been available during my first month of veganism is Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's The 30-Day Vegan Challenge. This book holds your hand through the first 30 days of veganism and answers such basic questions as 'what do I eat?' and 'what is tofu and how do I use it?' It also deals with dining out, holidays, supplements and touches on almost every subject a new vegan would have questions about. While the book doesn't go greatly in depth on any one subject, it covers enough information to assuage the fears of any new vegan (or the parent or partner of a new vegan). In addition, it outlines an easy way to figure out nine vegan recipes to keep in rotation and addresses several questions about nutrition that new vegans will have. There's also a slew of easy recipes for familiar dishes (examples: quesadillas, lasagna, chocolate cake) and four weeks worth of meal ideas. The whole time I read this book, I just kept thinking 'why hasn't someone already written this?' A day by day guide to the first month of veganism is something that every new vegan should have and is now available. Whether your questions about veganism have to do with pregnancy or with replacing eggs, this book will answer your question. Definite must-read material for the new vegan!

Get Vegucated

2011-08-31T13:05:00.000-05:00

Source

Last Thursday, I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview of Vegucated, the story of three volunteers who go vegan for six weeks to see what happens. Here are three reasons why Vegucated is important:

It covers the health, environmental and animal right aspects of being vegan.
It does so within the highly entertaining and compelling story of the three volunteers.
It is an incredibly approachable, informative movie.

As a fairly old hat vegan, did I learn any new facts? Not really. Was I motivated to show this movie to everyone I know? Absolutely. Vegucated outlines every reason to be reason to be vegan and does so in an entertaining and informative manner. I laughed, I cried and I want to sign up to host a screening in 2012. For the squeamish (myself included), there are some scenes of animal cruelty but it is not the bulk, or overall tone, of the movie and is not used gratuitously. Vegucated will premiere at the Toronto Independent Film Festival on September 10th and will proceed to take over the world from there. Find a screening, host a screening, see this movie. It's important.

Vegan Cheese Platter: Delicious Reality

2011-08-21T21:08:00.001-05:00

Found at Watercourse Foods, vegans missing fancy cheese platters won't be missing anything after trying this tray with options like smoked jalapeño cheddar and sweet onion pâté. Served with accoutrements such a champagne grapes, this is a perfect accompaniment to any celebration or, really, any time you want something insanely delicious for dinner.

Finally, vegan cupcakes in Omaha!

2011-08-17T10:24:00.002-05:00

There have always been vegan cupcakes in Omaha, in the sense that nobody was going to stop you from making them yourself. However, if you wanted to grab a delicious pre-made cupcake from a bakery, you were out of luck. Not anymore! Bliss Bakery, located in the Old Market provides vegans with delectable cupcakes in flavors such as chocolate, red velvet, carrot and spiced chai.

In addition, you can have chocolate, vanilla or chocolate peanut butter frosting. I know, right? I was blessed with the opportunity to try the chocolate cupcake with chocolate peanut butter frosting and the vanilla with vanilla frosting. Both were a dream come true.

Vegans in Omaha have waited a long time for bakery cupcakes. They're here now and they're delicious. Go forth and eat.

New York Chicken & Gyro

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Tucked away on Farman Street, just off the Old Market is vegan gyro heaven, located behind the unassuming storefront of New York Chicken & Gyro. While the name doesn't exactly make New York Chicken & Gyro sound vegan friendly, it definitely is. The gyro, shawarma and philly cheesesteak can all be made vegan and there are additional specials that can be made vegan or come vegan as is. I've gotten the gyro and the philly cheesesteak and both were outstanding. The seitan used in their sandwiches is made in-house, as well as the creamy sauce that is part of the gyro (it is vegenaise based). The philly cheesesteak also uses the house seitan and offers an extremely generous portion for the hungry among us. New York Chicken & Gyro offers up some of the best vegan sandwiches in Omaha and it would be a great place for omnis and veggies to break bread together. Stop in and get a gyro- maybe two.

Whoa Wren goes west

2011-07-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

I'm moving to Denver! In 18 days! I'm so excited about being able to explore a new city and everything around. I'm also excited about completing my transformation into a hippie, thanks to the prevalence of Tevas and nature. 300+ days of sun a year, here I come!

Also, if anyone has any tips on moving cats long distance or living in a 200 square foot studio, please share!

I love New York: Food Snaps 2

2011-07-25T09:32:00.000-05:00

Second round of delicious food stuffs from New York. If it's pictured, I recommend it.

Lula's Sweet Apothecary- All vegan ice cream parlor

Papacitos- delicious Mexican street food with a good chunk of the menu available to be made vegan. I apologize for the horrendous quality of the picture, but it was dark and I really wanted to dig in.

Red Bamboo- Right off Washington Square Park, with a focus on faux meats and lunch specials Monday - Friday. I got the fish and chips and loved it.

Not pictured but highly recommended:

Wishes Do Come True: My Adventures With Dosa Man

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, as a baby vegan, I was watching Food Network and saw a man. A dosa man. I dreamed of one day eating this man's dosas. Fast forward four years and I found myself in New York City, ready to dosa it up. However, when I arrived in Washington Square Park, there were no dosas to be found- dosa man was on vacation. Tragedy.

Undeterred, I returned this year, determined to eat my dosa. First visit: no dosa, vacation again. Second visit (and double checking via the discovery of Dosa Man's facebook page): success! I got my dosa! Waiting in the line for the truck, I selected the special pondicherry from the 100% vegan menu and then placed my order. Once I received my dosa, along with chutney and a tiny cup of soup, I sauntered over to the tiny dog park (it's a dog park for tiny dogs) to enjoy my dosa. Despite the 100° weather, I ate my steaming hot, crispy dosa and felt all my dreams come true via delicious potatoes and vegetables and chutney. If you go to New York, definitely take time hit up Dosa Man- nearby you can find the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, Mark Twain's home and the Stonewall Inn.

I love New York: Food Snaps

2011-07-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Shockingly, I ate an abundance of delicious food in New York. Here are some snapshots from that adventure.

Sushi from Vine- get the vegetable sushi entree and get three rolls and salad for $13.50!

H & H Bagels- delicious bagels slathered with vegan cream cheese, best when eaten on the steps of The Met

Good To Go Organics Food Truck, featuring vegan hot dogs, located by Wollman Rink in Central Park

Delicious, filling vegan omelet at Organic Grill

Heads Up: Mighty-O Donuts in Denver

2011-07-02T06:37:00.001-05:00

Exciting news: The Capitol Hill location of Whole Foods (900 E 11th Avenue) now carries Mighty-O Donuts, all the way from Seattle. I selected a chocolate raspberry donut which was amazingly fresh and it was obvious the frosting was made from actual raspberries, not just

flavored to seem like it. These are definitely worth picking up for just $1.99 each and they are located in the baked goods case after the check-out lanes. I am unsure if other area Whole Foods carry these round orbs of joy, but it's something I'm more than willing to investigate. Until then, delicious donuts at Capitol Hill WF- check it out.

NYC 2011

2011-06-23T13:38:00.000-05:00

I am now back from NYC (and honestly have been for a bit) but I am still processing everything that I saw and did while I was there. From dim sum to the ruins of Pompeii, it was a whirlwind of a trip. Proper food posts coming soon...

Power Jams: Songs For Running (for me, and maybe you)

2011-06-16T06:00:00.007-05:00

I need music when I exercise. If my music dies, so does my motivation. Here are my current favorites for running to, with links to the songs if they're available.

Jack Sparrow - The Lonely Island featuring Michael Bolton (there's some crass language, so don't listen without headphones if you're babysitting)
Til The World Ends - Britney Spears
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys
Dying Day- Brandi Carlile
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Dancing On My Own - Robyn
Planetary (Go!) - My Chemical Romance
Take It Off - Ke$ha
Lost Without Each Other - Hanson

Only a mere sampling, friends. What are your favorite songs to work out to? What am I missing out on?

Tulsa is awesome: The Coffee House on Cherry Street

2011-06-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Last post on Tulsa and then back to my regular shenanigans! The Coffee House on Cherry Street was a semi-random late night stop when my fellow Hanson fans and I were in desperate need of caffeine. While they definitely had some delicious coffee, I was even more excited to see vegan baked goods. I opted for a pumpkin muffin over a cookie, and I was glad I did. My muffin-related kryptonite is a crumbly top and this one delivered in spades, with the addition of a moist interior. Overall, The Coffee House on Cherry Street was a perfect stop for some sugar, caffeine and some chatting, as the coffee house itself is full of cozy couches and chairs. Absolutely worth a stop for a muffin, coffee or conversation.

Obligatory Picture Post because I've been busy and am in New York.

2011-06-05T15:59:00.001-05:00

Despite the list of topics I have to post about, I have neglected to do so because I've been frantically planning for a trip to the big apple. I'm in New York right now (H & M's dressing room line, to be specific), so here are some pictures from my trip so far. Any places I have to hit up before I leave on Thursday?

Tulsa is awesome: Whole Foods

2011-05-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

As any true grocery store aficionado knows, not all Whole Foods are created equal. Sure, they may all have couscous and flax oil, but while one Whole Food may have a magical wall of a variety of salts, another may lack a bulk section altogether. This is why it's important to investigate every Whole Foods one comes across. I am happy to say that Tulsa's Whole Foods is worth your time. I didn't investigate it as throughly as I could have (I skipped the freezer and the refrigerated sections) but I was impressed.
I have to start with the fact there was a shelf of vegan cakes in the deli section. That's right. A shelf of vegan cakes. Multiple kinds of vegan cakes. There was also a vegan sheet cake of the cookies and cream variety to take home if you so desired. I settled for a single piece of cookies and cream cake, but other options included lemon blueberry and carrot cake. Another standout in their deli section was their buffalo mock chicken salad, which I ate by itself and definitely had deliciously addictive qualities.

In addition, there was not one, but two kinds of vegan queso, Nacho Mom's and Food For Lovers. I've mentioned Food For Lovers queso before, so it shouldn't be too surprising to discover that I bought four jars. That's just how I roll. I also purchased Chocolate Pirate's Booty, which I have yet to try.
There was also a case of frozen vegan taquitos. I didn't get any because I knew my chances of getting them home intact in the approximately seven hours that it takes to drive back to Omaha from Tulsa were slim but I really wanted them, almost as badly as I want a vegan taquito case at my local Whole Foods. Get on that, Omaha.

What's awesome about your Whole Foods? No secrets among vegans!

Dill and Green Garlic Pasta + More Running

2011-05-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

For me, it isn't actually summer until I've had that first mouthful of fresh dill. This year's first mouthful was courtesy of the Aksarben Farmer's Market. Along with dill, I also picked up green garlic, cilantro, tomatoes and asparagus. When I got home, I boiled some whole wheat pasta and then proceeded to sautée the green garlic for a few minutes, then stirred in some dill, the juice of half a lemon and some diced fresh tomatoes. I stirred it all together and served it with a few cranks of pink salt. It was a great dish to begin the summer with, full of fresh dill, a mild garlic taste and bright with lemon. I also enjoyed eating it out of my favorite bowl, which smiles while you eat what is essentially his brain. Awesome.

My bowl

As far as running, I'm back on the figurative horse. I'm still icing and elevating my knee but it feels much better and I've logged some trail time. I've moved onto the second week and as far as I can tell, each week's workouts seem to elicit the same reaction from me, as follows:

Workout One: *Silently praying for death*
Workout Two: I feel pretty darn good.
Workout Three: Ready for the next challenge, yo.This is schwag, yo (we all remember Manny the Hippie, right?).

I'm really looking forward to getting faster, but first I have to be able to do the distance. Anyone have good suggestions for music to run to?

Tulsa is awesome: Glacier Confection

2011-05-21T15:06:00.000-05:00

My stash

When I first started planning my trip to Tulsa, my immediate concern was what I would eat. Though I knew I would be fine with a pack of Tofurky and a trip to Subway, I prefer my dining establishments to smell a little less like the dentist. While in the midst of my obsessive googling, I stumbled upon Glacier Confection and, lo and behold, in their little sidebar read the word 'vegan'. My heart immediately went pitter patter and I began to dream of my fancy vegan chocolate. With flavors like "Bananas Foster Caramel" and "Raspberry Caramel", how could I go wrong?

Inside Glacier Chocolate

Answer: I couldn't. Glacier Confections lived up to everything I dreamed it would be. Delicious, high quality chocolate was met with exceptional customer service. An unexpected bonus was that, in addition to the advertised vegan chocolate, there was an accidentally vegan chocolate made with cacao beans thought to be extinct since 1916, and the chocolate is similar to what chocolate tasted like in the 17th to 18th centuries. That's right. They have time travel chocolate. I also purchased three vegan truffles, one Bananas Foster Caramel, one Butterscotch Caramel and one Coconut Pecan Caramel. I definitely had to go back the next day for more Bananas Foster Caramel.

I could go on and on about how magical Glacier Chocolate is, but I will keep it simple with: it's delicious and worth the time to stop in if you are anywhere near. How often do you get time travel chocolate made by an actual Chocoletier? Not often, but in Tulsa, you totally do.

Tulsa is awesome: Yokozuna Sushi

2011-05-18T12:37:00.000-05:00

My first meal in Tulsa was at Yokozuna, located in the Blue Dome District. My first indication that this meal would be awesome was when my server informed me that they had Diet Dr. Pepper fountain pop. Unlimited DDP and sushi? Fantastic. Edamame was ordered as an appetizer, and for my main course I ordered a veggie roll and an avocado roll. The edamame arrived quickly and was literally steaming hot. The rolls also came out promptly and were both delicious. The veggie roll was comprised of cucumber, avocado, asparagus, sprouts, artichoke and red bell pepper and the avocado roll kept it simple with, well, avocado. Both rolls were fresh and tightly packed (loose sushi is my enemy). In addition, it appeared that there were items on their regular menu that were vegan or could easily be made vegan. I didn't ask because I hadn't eaten in about seven hours and wanted my food as fast as possible. I also noticed a girl drinking the largest mixed drink I have ever seen and a sushi platter (intentionally) on fire while dining in Yokozuna. Make of that what you will. If I lived in Tulsa, this would definitely be a regular stop of mine. Between simple but lovely decor, delicious food, Diet Dr. Pepper and food intentionally on fire, this place is a winner.

PS- My fortune cookie said "Ask a hobo for $20 bill. You never know."

Summer Food and C25K #2

2011-05-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about summer is the produce. Fresh and readily available, summer is the time of minimal preparation and maximum taste. Roasted asparagus with lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment to pasta with red sauce while eating on one's deck.

In a running update, I finished my second work-out flawlessly and it felt awesome. I think I'm going to love running. Unfortunately, when I took my very first step of my third work-out yesterday, I caught my foot on the sidewalk and fell, the kind of fall where your body sounds like a melon when it hits the ground. Now, with a swollen knee and general sore-from-impact body, I'm going to take a day or two off. I feel that running on swollen body parts is generally not a good idea. Until then, I'll be hitting the weights at the gym. Lifting heavy things is awesome.

Posts from my Tulsa trip coming soon!

Pantry Cleaning Party! Let's get crazy!

2011-05-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Not my pantry (from stock.xchng)

I'm a good intentions shopper. Even though I try to make a menu plan, make a list from said plan and then shop exclusively off of the list, what really happens is that I go to the grocery store and throw whatever looks pretty into my basket. As a result of my inspired method of shopping, my pantry is stocked to the gills with a mishmash of ingredients that were bought for recipes in long recycled magazines, on a whim or just bought in an unnecessarily large amount. This means one thing: pantry clean out time. My rules are:

I may buy food from the perimeter of the store or from the farmer's market (fruits, veggies, bread [yeast is not in my pantry]).
I guess I only have one rule.

I've used most of the ingredients I've accidentally stocked up on but I'd love suggestions on sassy new ways to prepare:

cous cous
rice noodles
jackfruit
oatmeal
pasta (I'm a slave to marinara)
brown rice
oatmeal
nori
sunflower seeds
soy curls...endless soy curls

Any suggestions? Any general tips on pantry cleaning? Anything I desperately need to avoid?

I'm going to try out this whole 'running' thing

2011-05-10T14:17:00.000-05:00

My trail.

I've always been jealous of runners, mostly due to the fact that running causes me to break out in hives, making it difficult for me to run. I finally decided to stop letting jealously eat me alive and downloaded the Couch to 5K app, hoping that being forced to run in gradually increasing intervals would train my body not only to run but to run without hiving out (hive is also a verb in my world). If you haven't heard of Couch to 5K, here's a brief summary.

I completed my first workout this morning, running in early morning, 80 degree heat, into the wind. I like challenges though, so that was a good start for me. The trail by my house is a perfect, flat 1.72 miles long and I look forward to spending lots of time on it. The app was also fabulous- telling me when to stop and start and walk and run, all to music of my choice.

Any advice for a novice runner? Any tweaks for running form that I should use? Any running songs you recommend to pump one up?

Dante Pizzeria Napoletana: An Inferno of Delicious

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, Vegan Omaha held a meet up at Dante Pizzeria with the basic premise being all you can eat pizza. I can eat a lot of pizza. However, due to matinee tickets of Les Miserables, my mom and I were about two hours late and basically ran into people as they were leaving (my life is super rough, I know). We decided to stay and try the pizza out anyway and I am endlessly glad that we did.

Dante's has quite possibly perfected the pizza crust. Thin enough that it doesn't overwhelm the toppings, thick enough to stand up several toppings and an endnote of some seriously tasty crusts. The pizza we ordered was the Pollo made vegan (Teese in place of mozzerella, no chicken) and featured green garlic, spring onions, basil, roasted red peppers and Teese. It should be noted that Dante's doesn't always have Teese but a) their pizza is good enough without fake cheese and b) they are considering adding it to their regular menu.
In addition, we ordered some warm olives and some sort of amazing mushroom dish that wasn't on the menu that day but was the best thing I'd eaten in quite some time. Unfortunately, they didn't photograph well (lots of brown), so you'll have to use your imagination.

Dante Pizzeria Napoletana is located in The Shops of Legacy at 168th and Center, so it's a great vegan option for when you have to travel way out west. Though you may have to spend a few seconds veganizing something on the menu, it will be absolutely worth it. Also, they play great music.

Food For Lovers Queso: Love in a Jar

2011-05-06T08:24:00.001-05:00

On a recent online shopping expedition for vegan chapstick, I bought, on impulse, a jar of Food For Lovers vegan queso. All I have to

say is that it was worth every impulse penny I spent on it. Creamy and spicy, it's perfect for just dipping chips in for a little snack or for making your everyday vegan mac and cheese a little bit special. To be honest, it's so good that I really haven't expanded beyond the chips idea, but I will be stocking up to
experiment in the future.

Tulsa Bound and Ready to Go

2011-05-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the next couple weeks, I will be heading down to what I will assume will be beautiful Tulsa, Oklahoma to see my beloved Hanson play a show in their hometown. I have done my research, as any good vegan would do, but I'd like to see if anyone else has any tips for what to see, do or eat in Tulsa. Here's my plans so far:

Eat:

Downtown Tulsa (From Stock Xchng)

Cafe Samana
Be Le Vegetarian Restaurant
Whole Foods
Cherry Street Farmer's Market
Glacier Confection Chocolate

See:

Philbrook Museum of Art
Oral Roberts University Campus

Do (I realize that 'do' could easily be replaced with 'shop' but that's okay):

Ida Red
Dwelling Spaces

Am I missing anything? Google is great, but people are better, so if there's something I must see/do/eat in Tulsa, let me know in the comments!

Ecreamery in Dundee

2011-04-30T10:27:00.001-05:00

On a cold and rainy afternoon, my roommate and I decided that it was the perfect day to get ice cream. We were wrong but the ice cream (mine was sorbet, to be completely honest) was wonderful. The ice cream from the local eCreamery which features tons of different, homemade flavors and has been featured in many magazines. I opted for the mango sorbet and the raspberry sorbet, both of which mastered the balance between sweet and tangy. Though eCreamery usually features fruit sorbet, they have been known to throw chocolate in there as well.

Another great thing about eCreamery is their online store. You can create custom sorbets, which would make fabulous gifts for loved ones (or yourself). However, the brick and mortar location in Dundee is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

Easter "Brunch": Vegan Quiche

2011-04-27T21:48:00.001-05:00

I realize that the Easter-related posting flurry is over but everyone loves vegan quiche, right? Especially the recipe from the PPK? I know I do and although my family had celebrated Easter he day before (my basket contained an IOU for a suitcase, score!), I still wanted to be a little bit fancy on my own. Enter the classic broccoli vegan quiche, with a base of tofu and
cashews.

I love simplicity of it and how it looks lovely but tastes like comfort food. I'm thinking of mixing in some tempeh bacon in future incarnations of this recipe or perhaps some sun-dried tomatoes. In short, if you want something delicious, moderately fancy and surprisingly simple, turn to vegan quiche.

Before & After: Omaha Ethiopian Restaurant

2011-04-20T17:08:00.001-05:00

Before (At Omaha Ethiopian Restaurant):

After:

How do you eat a Justin's Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup?

2011-04-15T10:34:00.001-05:00

Growing up, I loved the "How do you eat a Reese's?" ads. They introduced me to Reese-demolishing techniques such as punching out the middle, as well as sucking out the sweet innards with my vampiric fangs (never really got that one down). For a long while, I was forced to abstain from eating my peanut butter cups in a variety of
fashions due to the fact that Reese's aren't vegan. However, Justin's, purveyors of fine nut butters, has stepped up to the plate and provided vegans with a dark chocolate peanut butter

cup. These are better than the original with a creamy, sweet but not too sweet middle and a dark chocolate covering. I will definitely be buying these again. I will update when I perfect my vampire peanut butter cup technique.

The World's Largest Ball of Stamps

2011-04-09T11:54:00.001-05:00

There's not much else to say after a title like that. I was recently lucky enough to see the largest ball of stamps in the world. Located in Boys Town, Nebraska, it's worth swinging through their gift shop to see, if only to say that you've seen it. It's also completely free. I love random stops on the road.

Welcome to the Joslyn. Would you like to see our Jackson Pollock?

2011-03-23T19:03:00.000-05:00

Despite being in the midwest, Omaha refuses to be a cultural black hole. One example of this is the Joslyn Art Museum. The building itself is magnificent, a stunning example of art deco. The permanent collection is worth a visit in itself, and the temporary collections only add to the experience. Definitely worth a stop if you are in Omaha. The Joslyn has free admission on Saturdays before noon, as well as discounts for students and seniors. Additionally, the EdTech portion of the museum provides kids with backpacks to help them explore the museum. The following pictures were taken in the museum (no flash photography please).

An Apology

2011-03-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

So, I've been neglecting my little blog. I've been working about 60 hours a week, so the only thing I've really been doing is sleeping. In addition, the meal you see posted (everything bagel with hummus, tomato, avocado and salt and pepper) comprises about 45% of my meals, with the other parts being cereal or soygurt. At any rate, I apologize for being a crappy blogger and will try to be more interesting in the future. At least you have a picture of my bagel!

Kansas City: A Post in Pictures

2011-02-11T06:08:00.000-06:00

I recently took a day trip to Kansas City with my parents. Dinosaurs and pizza were involved.

Nha Trang: Peanut Sauce of the Angels

2011-02-09T06:08:00.001-06:00

Living in Lincoln, I always wondered what kind of food was served in the white restaurant with the round windows on 13th and L street. Once I finally explored, I discovered that within the walls was a giant menu of Vietnamese and Chinese food, featuring the best peanut sauce I've ever had. Inexpensive, with generous portions and employees who know what veganism is, Nha Trang quickly became one of my favorite places to eat.

To be fair, I always get the same thing: vegetable spring rolls and B10, bún chay or a rice noodle bowl. Basically, I'm just trying to get as much of that smooth, coconut-y peanut sauce sent to my table as possible. The spring rolls feature cooked vegetables, bean curd and rice noodles, as well as peanut sauce to dip them in. Though the house sauce that the bún comes with isn't vegan, a substitution of peanut is easily made and absolutely delicious. Rice noodles, bean curd, pickled and fresh vegetables all combine to form a delicious, refreshing meal. Maybe someday I'll order something else, but only if I can get a side of peanut sauce to eat with a spoon.

As a bonus, this place is totally omni-friendly, as evidenced by my father's enthusiastic thumbs up. With such a huge menu, there's definitely something for everyone here. Plus, it was $22 for myself, my mom and my dad to eat there. It's officially been added to my list of places I can eat with my dad.

NVS Potluck featuring Isa making waffles and puppies

2011-02-07T14:06:00.000-06:00

To begin, NVS stands for Nebraska Vegetarian Society, a group that holds potlucks for vegetarians, vegans and the veg-curious. January's NVS potluck was a combination of potluck, bake sale for Town and Country Humane Society and a cooking demonstration by the lovely Isa Chandra Moskowitz.

Potluck standouts included vegan quesadillas and a spaghetti-rice pasta bake, but there was plenty (two tables worth) of other delicious food to be had. Unfortunately, I was too busy stuffing my face to take any pictures. But really, how can pictures of my packed potluck plate compare to puppies? Over $300 was raised for Town and Country, as well as several instances of interest in adoption for our furry guests of honor.

Our other guest of honor, Isa, gave a cooking demonstration on waffles. Considering that I've never made waffles before, I definitely found it informative, as well as entertaining. You can watch clips of it here and here. Sorry about moving the camera a little, my arms got tired. I did my best not to induce motion sickness.

I love going to NVS events and seeing people come together to enjoy cruelty-free food, as well as watching the organization grow. Veganism and vegetarianism have both come a long way since I stopped eating meat and it is always rewarding to see so many people getting involved with these movements in my home state.

Yay for Yia Yia's!

2011-02-02T14:48:00.000-06:00

The bread is also vegan. Score!

My love for Yia Yia's pizza goes back to eighth grade, the first time I ate at their establishment. Cozy, a little bit dark, with outstanding food, Yia Yia's has held a place in my heart from the first time I took a bite of their pie. I've always loved Yia Yia's for the fact that you can order by the slice, preventing any topping related fracas among friends, but also allowing you to try crazy combinations (sauerkrauts, potatoes and almonds, anyone?) without committing to the whole pie. My love for Yia Yia's was finally cemented when I found out that they had vegan cheese for their pizza. As a new vegan, I had condemned myself to a sauce-only existence when it came to dining out, but Yia Yia's showed me the light and I now know better.

Up until a week ago, I thought I couldn't love them any more. I was wrong. They introduced a whole wheat crust. The new crust is thick, a major change from their traditional thin crust. It's also fantastic. It held up perfectly to the onslaught of ingredients I requested on my pie (black olives, sauerkraut and garlic), without overpowering their flavors. The thick wheat crust is a welcome option at Yia Yia's and will most likely be my go to from now on.

Yia Yia's is located at 14th and O Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. It's a great place to take anyone- friends, family, meat eaters, vegans and picky eaters. Seriously, I've never heard anyone say they don't like Yia Yia's.

Zoya's Cassi

2011-01-28T06:30:00.002-06:00

Zoya recently rang in 2011 with a promotion offering three free nail polishes, as long as you coughed up the money for shipping. Obviously I took advantage of the offer and selected Cassi, Harley and Robyn as my colors of choice. Since part of my selection process involved me endlessly google image searching for pictures of different shades, I thought I would add to the pile with a picture of the first polish I tried: Cassi. It must be said that Cassi is a shade pinker than it appears in the picture, but that the picture was also taken after a day and a half of wear, with no touch-ups. It also received several compliments and the color reminds me of summer, so it's safe to say that I'm a fan of this color. Good choice, self.

A Pitch for Pitch Pizzeria

2011-01-27T06:30:00.001-06:00

I've been hearing about how great Pitch is ever since it opened. Located in the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, it offers a low key setting for some tasty, coal fired pizza. The menu offers one accidentally vegan pizza, the marinara, which features marinara sauce (duh, right?), oregano and roasted garlic. The pizza is simple, and not super photogenic, which is why the picture also features my roommate, but it is delicious. The simple flavors come together perfectly, all on top of an awesome crust. Really, how can you go wrong with tomato, garlic and oregano? I'm looking forward to trying some of their other options, such as the veggie pizza made vegan or a creation of my own. Another thing I liked about Pitch was the giant bottle of water left on the table so that you can refill your drink at your own desire. I hate waiting for refills, and this bottle was extra perfect because it has a top, so it is harder for me to spill. Though I wish they offered a vegan cheese on the menu, I will definitely go back to Pitch because I love pizza and I love local restaurants that I can eat at with my dad.

I continue to love Grease 2

2011-01-19T06:30:00.000-06:00

There is one post that brings more people to this blog than any other post: Stephanie Zinone's style. I don't blog about fashion because, even though I love looking at pictures of fashionable people, my own personal method of getting dressed generally involves throwing on enough clothing to cover my body and hoping that it matches. I figure that since I can't walk the walk, I shouldn't talk the talk. However, since I was dorky enough to take far too many screenshots of Grease 2 (caution: link contains the worst trailer ever), here are some more of my favorite looks from the movie:

While I love the Pink Ladies' matching jackets and bowling shirts, the real stand-out here is Delores's roller skate sweater.

Ignoring the impressive budget for a high school talent show, wouldn't Stephanie's Christmas tree be the best Halloween costume ever? You could zone out and perform half a duet by yourself all night!

While Stephanie probably only wore these shoes in rehearsal, I think the color combo with her shirt would make for a pretty snappy look.

Fuzzy sweaters? Check. Awesome white jacket? Check. People who are clearly too old to be in high school? Check.

There are so many great things about this screenshot but my favorite is the sweater vest, blue top and pink pencil skirt, all with some big blond hair and sassy dance moves.

Armchair Volunteering

2011-01-18T06:30:00.002-06:00

Image Source

This post was born because I had to spend Martin Luther King Day working, instead of volunteering or donating my time to a service project. While I do volunteer regularly, I love being part of the spirit of a bigger event, so I sought out ways that I could help out a little without stepping away from my computer. So, for those of us who couldn't make it to this event, or any others, for whatever reason, here are some ways to volunteer from wherever you may be:

Free Rice: This site is incredibly addictive. For every question you answer correctly, 10 grains of rice are donated to those who need it the most through the United Nations World Food Programme. Learning new information while doing good always ranks high in my book.
GoodSearch: Select a charity, hit 'search' and half of the profits that GoodSearch makes will be delivered to the charity of your choice. If you are going to be prowling the internet for lolcats and for how babby is formed, you might as well make it count.
Donate to animals at Town & Country: Each animal listed on the T & C website has a paypal link to help pay for that animal's care. May I recommend Maui? She's been there since I adopted my cat there over a year ago. Even better: fall in love with one of the animals and give them a forever home.
Care 2 Click to Donate: Easier than Free Rice, all you do here is click to donate, in several catergories that cover basically any issue you could care about. The donations are paid for with advertiser's dollars.
The Animal Rescue Site: Much like Care 2 Click, you just click and sponsors donate to causes ranging from animal rescue to literacy.

So whether you're at home, work, school or anywhere else instead of volunteering, take a few minutes and click around on these sites and do a little something without even having to put on non-sweatpant pants.

Vegan Pizza Day!

2011-01-15T16:17:00.001-06:00

Mama's Pizza in Omaha

Full disclosure: I love pizza. If I was told that for the rest of my life, my meals would alternate between sushi and pizza, I would be ecstatic. So, I am obviously super amped for Vegan Pizza Day. I'm still trying to decide if I want to eat only pizza that day, or just focus on one meal, but I will definitely be participating. For more information or for a list of vegan pizza in your area, go to the Vegan Pizza Day . Eat some vegan pizza and show some love!

Project Thrive: Days For Girls

2011-01-14T16:13:00.000-06:00

While reading my copy of Bust magazine, I came upon an article about a project called Days For Girls. The basic premise is that Days For Girls provides reusable pads for women in developing countries so that they have something sanitary to use during their period in order to continue going to school, work and carrying on with their lives. Currently, women who have no other option generally either stay indoors during their period or use less than sanitary options, such as mattress padding, which can lead to infection.

After reading the article about this project, I was both infuriated and inspired. Infuriated because there is no reason that this problem should continue to exist, nor should these women have to suffer past simply having their period. However, the inspiration took over and I messaged some friends via facebook to get together and sew reusable pads for Days For Girls.

I won't detail the frantic last minute search for polyurethane lined fabric (PUL) or exactly how many sugar cookies we made, but I will outline what I learned:

Make one pad first so that you have a model to learn from
Ask for reusable diaper material at the fabric store to obtain your PUL
Days For Girls will accept any type of reusable fabric pad, so if there's a pattern you love, use it! If not, the Days For Girls site has patterns that are free to download
Days For Girls will apply the snaps to the reusable pads for you
If you can't sew, Days For Girls also accepts donations of soap, washcloths, panties and sturdy one gallon bags

This is a highly rewarding project- I definitely encourage you to get together with friends for an afternoon of sewing and chatting, with your end product changing a woman's life for the better. For more information, go to Project Thrive and click on Days For Girls.

Also, a giant thanks goes out to Alexia of Autopilot Art for letting us take over her studio for a day and for her willingness to serge endlessly.

Whiskers on Kittens

2011-01-14T06:08:00.000-06:00

I have a couple websites to add to my list of my favorite things...

Vegan Omaha: Check out Omaha's spiffy new guide to veganism in Omaha. From a restaurant guide, to resources on both veganism and Omaha to meet-ups, Vegan Omaha is a fantastic resource. It's my new homepage and I have already spent quite a bit of time on it.

Owl Be There: Adorable name aside, this blog focuses on parenting, green living, veg food and awesome stuff in Omaha. Run by my friend Drea, if it's half as awesome as she is, it will be..pretty darn awesome.

What awesome stuff have you been looking at lately?

Sakura Bana

2011-01-13T06:08:00.000-06:00

When it comes to going out for sushi in Omaha, my friends and I can narrow down our choices quickly and it always comes down to Matsu Sushi or Sakura Bana. What tips the scale in favor of Sakura Bana is when we want the carrot ginger dressing served with their side salad. I always start my meals there with a side salad topped with this outstanding dressing. I will even confess that sometimes I am gross and dip my avocado rolls in the leftover dressing. Delicious.

While they don't have the selection of rolls that Matsu presents, they don't exactly slouch in that area either. On the platter pictured, we have an avocado roll, a yasai (veggie) roll, a kanpyo (cooked gourd) roll and a seaweed salad roll. There are a few other options, including inari. The sushi always tastes fresh and is rolled perfectly. One of my pet peeves is when sushi is rolled poorly, making it difficult to eat.

The final part of my meal at Sakura Bana always includes a sasadango. Sasadangos are made of mochi rice on the outside and sweet red bean paste on the inside. They come wrapped in a bamboo leaf and while they aren't much to look at, they are a delectable and rich way to finish your meal at Sakura Bana.

Aside from the food, Sakura Bana is a great place to enjoy a quiet meal. They start your meal out with hot towels and you have the option of sitting in a private tea room where you get to take your shoes off- great for a group!

I might be psychic: Bieber for PETA

2011-01-05T09:36:00.001-06:00

Remember when I said that the one person I wanted to go vegan was Justin Bieber for all the Vegan Bieber Fever? Look what he's doing now:


Picture from Popcrunch

Eerie, right? I know it isn't veganism and that PETA isn't really my thing, but still. I am going to go buy a lottery ticket.

Christmas Morning

2010-12-29T11:27:00.000-06:00

I recognize that it has been a week since I've posted on here. I could say that I've been busy, but, really, it's mostly that I've been lazy and had a bit of a cold. However, I am now only slightly under the haze of Benadryl, so it seems that this is the perfect time to show off my Christmas morning breakfast.

Christmas was a simple affair for my family. On Christmas eve, I drove down to my parents' home and we ate Chinese food, opened gifts and watched old Christmas specials on their giant TV. Seriously, the thing is almost as wide as I am tall.

The next morning, we made Fast and Fabulous French Toast from The Vegan Table, as well as fried up some potato slices that I cut up with my new mandoline. All of the french toast was topped off with powdered sugar, I chose to cover mine with some fruit salsa my mom made. Very tasty.

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday. Perhaps the best gift I got was this picture of my dad photobombing the french toast when I tried to take a picture of it. Thanks dad.

So much for simple....

2010-12-22T19:48:00.000-06:00

It's amazing what a few days, some Christmas shopping and a couple bags of decor from mom can do.

Cella's Chocolate Covered Cherries

2010-12-20T12:09:00.000-06:00

Growing up, one of my favorite treats were chocolate covered cherries. Finding them as a vegan has been a little challenging but, this season, Walgreen's has come through for me and made my dreams come true. In their holiday aisle, you can find Cella's Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries, which are vegan and delicious! They do have a milk chocolate variation, so double check that you've grabbed the right one because you are going to want to tear straight into these. Individually wrapped, you get 22 for $3.99 and they are a wonderful holiday treat. Definitely worth a stop into Walgreen's, and it's a perfect gift for you last minute shoppers to pick up, since Walgreen's is always open.

Here We Come A Wassailing: My Favorite Christmas Albums

2010-12-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

To be honest, most Christmas music makes me less than pleased. I've been known to use the phrase 'drive me to kill' in regard to "We Need A Little Christmas". However, I would like to focus on the good and talk about what Christmas music doesn't make me shudder. If you want the bad stuff, head on over to Everything Is Terrible, because they have it covered.

XO For The Holidays: Some classics, some new songs and all for free! You can download every album at the link, but my favorite is album II, which features Drew Grow's cover of "Tennessee Christmas". I'm actually pretty into these and will even listen to these in November.

Picture from Paste Magazine

Christmas in the Heart by Bob Dylan: Sometimes the holidays make me feel disoriented. When I want to whip that disorientation and confusion into a frenzy, I turn to Bob Dylan's Christmas album. Also, the cover reminds me of when the Russian couple were thrown to the wolves in My Antonia.

White Christmas by Bing Crosby: Ignoring the fact that this album contains several gold standards for many Christmas songs, this album contains both Christmas in Killarney and Mele Kalikimaka, which are two Christmas I really, really enjoy.

Snowed In by Hanson: Duh. Really. I listen to this in July. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) has been my favorite Christmas song since 1997. It isn't Christmas without Snowed In. As a bonus, the song I linked to is the soundtrack for an excellent Power Rangers montage. As a side note, if you go to Hanson's website, you can listen to all of Snowed In for free using their media player. Seriously, this one is good. Do it.

Deck The Halls, Simply

2010-12-18T08:00:00.005-06:00

My roommate and I have a few decorations up in the holiday spirit. I'm hoping to get more up before the big day- stockings are a must since we now have a fireplace. Another necessity? The collection of nutcrackers I've amassed over the years.

Hanson's Lemon Sugar Cookies

2010-12-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

If you know me in real life, you probably know that I love Hanson. So, when they made lemon sugar cookies on their new Christmas special, it was obvious that I would be veganizing them and sharing the vegan recipe with the world and possibly using the cookies as gifts for my relatives. These have a fairly delicate lemon flavor, so load them up with lemon zest if you're into that. These may actually be my new favorite sugar cookies- sugar and lemon is a flavor combo I can never say no to.

Hanson's Lemon Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup Earth Balance, at room temperature, diced
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs worth of egg replacer (I used Bob's Red Mill brand)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
grated rind of 1 lemon
pinch of salt
2 2/3 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
Frosting pen (I used a Wilton Fondant Icing Writer)
colored sugar or other decorations of your choice (I used India Sugar)

Cream the butter, then proceed to cream the sugar into the butter. Add in the egg replacer, vanilla extract, lemon rind and salt. Cream until blended. Gradually mix in the flour. At this point, you may need to add some liquid to the dough, as mine was a bit crumbly. Don't worry, a little moisture will solve that problem. Once mixed, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes- the longer the better.

Once the dough is chilled, it's time to cut 'em out! First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line some cookie trays with parchment paper. You'll want to roll your sugar cookies out, flouring (or powdered sugaring) both the dough and the rolling surface. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick and cut your cookies out! Place on cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes. When they are done, decorate how you see fit. I made Hanson symbols and dinosaurs (not pictured). Enjoy.

Me, I want a hula hoop...A Very Specific Gift Guide

2010-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes people are hard to buy for. Here's a helpful guide for that.

For the vegan Simpsons fan: "I Do Win Friends With Salad" T- Shirt from Vaute Couture. Form a conga line!

For your friend who is always cold but also lacks shame: The Coz-E Electric Blanket! It's basically the electric blanket version of a snuggie, which means it's basically awesome.

For your friend who has more TOMS than they can count: Socks For Happy People! When you purchase a pair of these socks, a pair is donated to a child in Mongolia. And the socks are so bright and fun!

For the person who loved Harry Potter so much that they have a lightning bolt tattooed on their forehead: The Magic Wand- Programmable Remote. Swish and flick because this channel stinks.

For the person who frames pictures of their pets: Trust me, based on how anxious I get when I leave Puddleglum alone, they will love the Pet's Eye View Camera, which attaches to their pet's collar and lets the owner check in on what their precious does all day.

For the philanthropic wine enthusiast: CellarThief wines provide 100 days of clean drinking water to people in need for each bottle purchased. Also, they focus on having a heavily edited selection of tasty wines, to make shopping easier.

Do you see what I see: My favorite Christmas shows #5-#1

2010-12-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Carrying on from yesterday...

From Animated Toast

5) A Garfield Christmas Special: My dad hates this one because he thinks it promotes materialism. I love it, even though my dad clearly missed the message of Christmas being about love. I love the songs, I love how it features a cat. I also want to be like the grandma in this when I'm elderly.

4) Nutcracker: The Motion Picture: I love nutcrackers and actually have a collection of them at my parents' house. My favorite interpretation is this one, especially because most aspects of the design were left to Maurice Sendak. On a visual level alone, this movie is worth watching. A little bit trippy, occasionally scary and breathtaking overall. You can buy or rent it from Amazon here.

3) I Love Lucy Christmas Special: This episode of I Love Lucy has both a Christmas plot and several flashbacks of some fantastic moments in Lucy history. If you love Lucy, you'll love her Christmas special. If only the loving cup were included.

2) Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas: I adore stop motion animation and this special is full of it. Also, it's hosted by two dinosaurs and features the California Raisins. Most of the songs in this one are presented with a sense of humor, and are so fun to watch. Check out Herb's awesome 80's glasses.

1) Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special: My absolute favorite! It introduced me to Judaism, KD Lang and yo-yo tricks. I have this one on DVD and it's amazing. Not only is it Pee Wee at a hilarious, heightened level, but there are also many guest stars, from Cher to Grace Jones to Frankie Avalon to a bunch of marines. Seriously, Oprah pops up. It's crazy. This special is one for the ages. Also, Pee Wee learns a lesson.

Do you see what I see: My favorite Christmas shows #10-#5

2010-12-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

I probably shouldn't share this with the internet but a significant amount of my Christmas memories involve the television. Sure, there was the time my cat threw up from her catnip present and the time I made a snow caterpillar but living in Nebraska and being an only child leads to lots of TV time in December. Without further nostalgia, here are my first five favorites (with links to either the full show or a good clip, because I love you. Yes, you).

10) The Holiday: Two ladies switch houses for the holidays and (spoiler alert) fall in love. There is also a cute little old man. I can seriously watch this over and over and I'm only slightly embarrassed about that.

9) Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer: The classic story of how outsiders are only accepted when they prove useful to the majority. That being said, it is really pretty to look at and I'll always love The Island of Misfit Toys and the Bumble.

8) Elf: Ah, the new classic. An elf finds out he's really a human and goes to New York City to find his father, who is on the naughty list. Hilarious hijinks and heartwarming moments occur.

7) Home Alone: Oh, Kevin. You and the Wet Bandits make my holiday complete. Seriously, what would Christmas be without a lovely (vegan) cheese pizza, just for me? Buzz, your girlfriend, woof.

6) How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The original version, thank you very much. This is such a classic, taking the script straight from the Dr. Seuss book and adding in a few memorable songs. Voiced by Boris Karloff, this cartoon means Christmas to me.

On the first day of Christmas, my mailman brought to me...

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

....a new book of vegan cooking. Sing it, it makes sense.

Anyway, I recently got my hot little hands on the new Isa cookbook, Appetite For Reduction and I love it. The recipes take simple ingredients and put them together in such a way that they become part of a masterpiece. In a wonderful twist, these recipes are also super easy. They are either fast or allow for tons of downtime. The meal that I have posted is the Hottie Black Eyed Peas and Greens. Savory, filling and with a bit of a kick, this recipe is typical within Appetite for Reduction as it came together quickly, didn't need unusual ingredients and had the nutrition listed. Yes, the nutrition facts are listed for each recipe. It's fantastic. This book is great for anyone who wants to focus on eating food that is both healthy and delicious. Consider it highly recommended.

As a side note, this is my first of 12 Christmas/holiday posts. I feel this counts because it was a Christmas gift for me, from me.

More Kansas eats: Eden Alley and Local Burger

2010-12-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

Eden Alley is the first of Kansas City's vegetarian friendly restaurants that I ever tried, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love their desserts and the convenient location (right by the Country Club Plaza). On my last trip, my mom and I decided to hit up Eden Alley on Friday night to take advantage of their date night special: an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert, all for $30. We started off with the spinach dip, filled in the middle with Eggplant Parmesan and the Grilled Tofu Ruelke Sandwich and finished things off with a Mandarin Mexican Chocolate Cake. It was a lovely ending to a great night shopping on the Country Club Plaza. I would absolutely recommend hitting up the Friday date night special at Eden Alley- it's a cost efficient way to try out the different food at Eden Alley.

The next day, my mom and I took a detour to Lawrence, which is about half an hour away from Kansas City. Being a college town, it has several vegan friendly spots, but my favorite stop is Local Burger. Local Burger is based off serving local food (obviously) and though they do serve meat, they also serve a fantastic veggie burger made with quinoa. The food straddles the line of classic diner and healthy fare. They also have vegan milkshakes. Love this place.

FÜD: The best nachos I've ever had

2010-12-01T22:11:00.000-06:00

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my mom and I took a quick trip down to Kansas City and Lawrence. At the top of my list (and therefore our first stop) was FÜD, a new all-vegan restaurant where jackfruit is featured prominently on the menu.

The meal started with a small order of fully loaded nachos. Yes, the nachos pictured would be the same small serving that I ate. It was amazing. Loaded with vegan cheese (I'm guessing a nutritional yeast sauce), sour cream, guacamole, salsa and jack phish, this behemoth was delicious and I would be completely satisfied ordering the large as a meal. This plate was definitely one of my top nacho plates of all time.
My mom and I both ordered sandwiches with jackfruit- I got the jack reuben and she got the pulled jack reuben. Both sandwiches, despite being made with the same base ingredient, had distinct, delicious flavors and were most definitely filling. The pulled jack sandwich was a perfect example of classic barbecue made vegan, while the jack reuben was an excellent example of a twist on an old favorite.
Even though we were both stuffed, my mom and I also split a chocolate shake for dessert. The ice cream was made with cashews and agave, and it was the perfect ending to a lovely meal.
I definitely recommend checking out FÜD if you are in the Kansas City area- not only was the food great but the service was attentive and pleasant without being overbearing, and the actual restaurant was adorable. I will definitely be stopping in for another serving of nachos.

The Simple Pleasures of Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T22:20:00.000-06:00

As much as I love stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, when it comes to planning for Thanksgiving, I find myself gravitating towards non-traditional fare. This year's meal was centered around Veganomicon's Penne Vodka. While our noodle of choice was bowtie, the sauce remained as delicious and creamy as ever. The meal was rounded out with brussels sprouts, Italian tofu, kale chips, garden salad with maple mustard dressing (also from Veganomicon) and some bread for soaking up any remaining sauces. While our Thanksgiving meal was simple, it also took about an hour to prepare, which meant more time to spend contemplating what I'm thankful for/taking a two hour nap.

Crystal Jade and Daikon Swans

2010-11-24T21:44:00.000-06:00

The newest buzz in Omaha vegan dining is Crystal Jade. Housed in a former Village Inn, Crystal Jade offers a fantastic vegetarian menu (with vegan items clearly marked) and also a vegan night with the offer of free soup with any vegan entree. Armed with this knowledge, I met up with several of my vegan cohorts to experience vegan night for myself.

It was wonderful.

The food was delicious. I got the Volcano Tofu, which was the perfect balance of sweet and savory, but also got to sample the Spicy Tofu Bulgogi, Sweet and Sour Tofu, Tofu and Veggie in Katsu Sauce and the Yellow Tofu Curry. Each dish was distinctive and made me want to order one for myself. However, the serving sizes are easily enough for two meals, so I restrained myself. The dishes were also presented beautifully, with swans and flowers created out of vegetables gracing every plate.

One thing I need to note about Crystal Jade was the remarkable service. Not only were orders taken, questions answered and food delivered promptly, the staff went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. The end of the meal brought free chocolate pie, and when they realized that there were not enough thawed slices left for a family dining with us, they gave them the whole pie. For free. A free pie! How can you beat that?! They also taught us how to turn daikon slices into a beautiful flower (like the one shown at left) with a patient lesson.

Crystal Jade serves up a winning combination of great food and wonderful, friendly service. I will definitely be going back.

Vegan Mofo Survey 2010

2010-11-23T21:31:00.000-06:00

If there's one thing I enjoy doing, it is talking about myself. As a result of this, today's post is a mini-survey that originated from the PPK forums. So, without further distraction:

1) What's your favorite spice or spice blend? Pink salt! I use it almost every day.

2) You have $20 to spend on fresh groceries and produce for the whole week (with a fairly well stocked pantry of dry goods, legumes, grains, and spices). What do you buy? Mostly produce (especially grapes, bananas and kale!) as well as cereal and coconut milk and some tofu. I am a simple lady. Also, either tots or potatoes, onions and garlic.

3) What's your favorite way to make tofu? Freeze, thaw, marinate and bake! I love the texture that the freezing process gives tofu.

Puddleglum: Picture kind of related

4) What's your favorite vegan guilty pleasure? Skittles. Not only do they have some great commercials but they are really, really tasty.

5) If you could make anyone vegan, who would it be? Justin Bieber. Think of all the Bieber Fever related veganism!

6)If you could only read one other vegan blog, what would it be? Joanna's blog- she does a great job of blending food and life while keeping it interesting

7) Were you always interested in cooking, or did veganism change the way you saw and interacted with food? Oh my goodness. My ability to cook pre-veganism was limited to peeling back the plastic wrapper of Healthy Choice's Fettuccine Alfredo and then throwing it in the microwave. Being vegan forced me to learn how to cook so that I wasn't spending all of my money on tofurky slices, and learning how to cook is one of the best things that's ever happened to me.

8) Excluding analogues, what new things have you tried that you probably wouldn't have as an omni? I have to say it's a toss-up between nutritional yeast and quinoa.

9) What is the one vegan staple that everyone seems to love, but you can't get behind? You know what? I can't think of any vegan staples I can't get behind. Apparently I'm far too loving.

10) What was your first "wow, I'm such a stereotypical vegan" moment? There's an unopened carton of almond milk by my bed, I just came from buying potatoes and kombucha at Whole Foods and I'm wearing one of my many Herbivore hoodies. My whole life is a stereotypical vegan moment. Oh, and I'm cuddling with my rescued cat.

11) What was the first recipe you veganized? It was a cookie recipe before I really learned how to sub out eggs and I still thought carob was the only vegan chocolate. It was bad but I'm pretty sure I still ate all of them.

12) What would you like to veganize, but haven't yet? Runzas. The runza is a combination of ground beef, cabbage and onions inside a bun and there needs to be a vegan version.

13) Favorite kitchen utensil/appliance? I really appreciate my food processor because it makes my life so much easier and now I can make pesto and hummus much faster than in a blender. My most used utensil would be my wooden spoons.

14) Most disastrous kitchen failure? It was a soup. I had never made soup before. I didn't use a recipe. I had to throw it all away.

15) First vegan cookbook? Vegan With a Vengeance. It was the best introduction to cooking (and vegan cooking) that I could ever ask for.

16) What question about being vegan do you HATE answering? I don't hate answering it, but I'm very tired of answering the question of where I get my protein. Could you at least ask me about B-12 instead?

17) If you could tell the world one thing about vegans, what would it be? I would like to have our dietary choices respected. I'm not asking that you immediately become vegan upon the uttering of the word, but I would like to not have to worry about chicken stock or butter in my dinner or someone criticizing my meal and then freaking out if I respond because I am "attacking" them. Any diet of any kind is a choice- you choose everything you put in your mouth, be it an all beef patty, a microwaved dinner or a chunk of tofu. Please respect my right to eat what I think is best for myself and I will respect yours. Thanks.

18) Funniest vegetable? Carrot Top. Yes, I went there.