Slacker style survey

I think this orchid likes me. Jonathan gave it to me as a gift two birthdays ago. It was lovely, and then the flowers died but the leaves were still healthy and green. I left it alone. Only to notice a year later that the stem was dried up and all brown. I Googled it, and read that I should trim the stem and water it...so I did. A year after that the stem grew back with buds on it! It opened the other day!

You probably already noticed that I am a bit of a slacker today.
What's with the plant?! hey plants are vegan!
I am in luck... found a Vegan MOFO survey that's floating around.

What's your favorite spice or spice blend? 

Cumin, it goes well with everything!

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?  

broccoli, tofu, soymilk, bananas, froazen berries, bell pepper, bread, tomato, potato, ...soup, sandwiches, rice bowls and stir frys washed down with a smoothie.

What's your favorite way to make tofu?  

Sprinkled with garlic powder and a splash of tamari, sauted until golden in a cast iron pan.

Vegan guilty pleasure?

 CUTIES! ( or any vegan ice cream)

 

If you could make anyone vegan, who would it be?  

My parents ( that would be SO awesome!)

If you could only read one other vegan blog, what would it be?

Really?! come on....

Were you always interested in cooking, or did veganism change the way you saw and interacted with food?  

I have always loved cooking! Becoming vegan made me re-think what I was taught in school.

Excluding analogues, what new things have you tried that you probably wouldn't have as an omni? 

I love trying new things! 

What is the one vegan staple that everyone seems to love, but you can't get behind?  

I have never used agave syrup, but mostly because I live in Canada where maple syrup is everywhere!

What was your first "wow, I'm such a stereotypical vegan" moment?

Hmmm not sure that "moment" ever happened to me. At least not that I thought about.  

First recipe you veganized? 

spaghetti, haha just without the parmasan!

What would you like to veganize, but haven't yet? 

eggplant parmasan, I  keep saying that. Why can't I just make it!! ARGH

Favorite kitchen utensil/appliance? 

I really like my 4 cup Cuisinart food processor. Its tiny and easy to clean, I use it for everything!

Most disastrous kitchen failure?

I made a rose water  loaf bread that turned out very gluttonous. It sucked! I threw it in the compost.

First vegan cookbook?  

Vegan Planet 

What question about being vegan do you HATE answering?

I don't hate questions about veganism.

If you could tell the world one thing about vegans, what would it be? 

We are just trying to make the world a better place.
that sounds cheesie but true 

Funniest vegetable? 

Buddhas hand...its more of a fruit (lemon), but when I saw it at the store, it was super weird looking!

What is a family recipe you have veganized? 

chicken divan
I make my own cream of mushroom soup and use tofu.
It is special requested by the kid often!

Weirdest food combination ? 

Leeluu likes to dip cucumbers into ketchup, that is pretty weird.

Is there something you wish you could veganize, but can't/couldn't?  

Creme brulee.

By far my most favorite dessert in the world! 

Favorite ways to prepare tofu, seitan, tempeh, any other vegan proteins? 

sandwich style!

Are your pets vegan? if so, what do you feed them? 

no. I recently read an article about feeding dogs. We are trying to switch her to fresh food.

Favorite non-dairy milk? 

I don't have a favorite...I switch it up between soy, rice, almond and coconut. Usually whatever is on sale.

What’s one “vegan myth” you’d like to squash? 

Where do you get your protein from! HA

And the survey says.....

There is a survey floating around the vegan blog world, and since I am being lazy today I thought it would be fun to fill it out.



1. What is one food you thought you’d miss when you went vegan, but don’t?

Fish

2. What is a food or dish you wouldn’t touch as a child, but enjoy now?

Squash, made me gag

3. What vegan dish or food you feel like you should like, but don’t?

Hmmm, that's a tough one. I like everything that is vegan

4. What beverage do you consume the most of on any given day?

Coffee

5. What dish are you famous for making or bringing to gatherings?

I am not know for any particular dish

6. Do you have any self-imposed food rules (like no food touching on the plate or no nuts in sweets)?

Nope

7. What’s one food or dish you tend to eat too much of when you have it in your home?

We like vegan sandwich meats, and I really love potato chips!

8. What ingredient or food do you prefer to make yourself despite it being widely available prepackaged?

granola, dips, baked goods

9. What ingredient or food is worth spending the extra money to get the good stuff?

Olive Oil

10. Are you much of a snacker? What are your favorite snacks?

YES! COOKIES :)

11. What are your favorite vegan pizza toppings?

pineapple, mushrooms, and green olives

12. What is your favorite vegetable? Fruit?

For veggie...broccoli

For fruit....avocado

13. What is the best salad dressing?

balsamic vinegar, olive oil & maple syrup with a squeeze of Dijon

14. What is your favorite thing to put on toasted bread?

Its a toss up between peanut butter or tomato & vegenaise

15. What kind of soup do you most often turn to on a chilly day or when you aren’t feeling your best?

Carrot & Ginger

16. What is your favorite cupcake flavor? Frosting flavor?

Chocolate and Chocolate

17. What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Chocolate chip

18. What is your most-loved weeknight meal?

breakfast for dinner

19. What is one dish or food you enjoy, but can’t get anyone else in your household to eat?

Kale

20. Favorite non-dairy milk?

I don't really have a favorite...I like to switch it up, rice, almond, soy.

21. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?

This week I made some apple spice muffins that turned out like rocks. I was out of baking soda and substituted baking powder. Lesson learned : /

22. Favorite pickled item?

dill pickles

23. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods…what would they be (don’t worry about how you’ll cook them)?

Beans, Pasta & Cookies

24. Most loved kitchen appliance?

Toaster

25. Spice/herb you would die without?

Cumin

26. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?

blueberry

27. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?

Seitan

28. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?

breakfast for dinner

29.  Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.

frozen blueberries, bread, peas

30. Name a recipe you’d love to veganize, but haven’t yet.

Eggplant Parmesan

 

one happy vegan

{products+love} Orla Kiely Kitchenware

Take a peek at the fantastic new Orla Kiely kitchen range due out late summer- pitchers, pots, creamers galore! It is no secret that I love her retro patterns and color use. They are uniquely groovy, graphic and oh so much fun. Products will be available at BlissHome and John Lewis. Oh Orla, don't we just adore thee?!

*photography via Home Shopping Spy

Save an egg...Crack a smile, success at the Halifax Crafters Market

 

Well the crazy week has finally come to an end for me. I have been baking and cooking since Tuesday morning, preparing for the market. I have never been a a vendor at a market before, I didn't know what to expect.  When all my vegan treats sold out on Saturday afternoon I was super happy, but then I had to make everything that took me 3 days to prepare again for the next day! Which was stressful, but I did it.
I'll sleep when I'm dead!

It was nice hanging out with my mom and dad, they helped me out big time. My mom was the dishwasher/grandma and my dad was the chauffeur/grampy, they leave tomorrow morning on an 8 hour flight across the country. I won't see them again for another 6 months:( xo

The crafters market was super fun, and with the help from my daughter Ocean, it made our very first market something special. (selling out, was pretty awesome too!) I couldn't of done it without her!

I had a little time to browse around the market. I took a picture of my cool finds, the beautiful pottery bowl is my friends work...check it out www.annepryde.ca.

The handkerchief is so special to me, because it reminds me of my mom, she loves pussy willows. My neighbor at the market made it wanderlust .The little plant sign says "sunlight tastes like mmm", I couldn't resist. and the flower pin, well it just rocks. The Russian doll is a lavender sachet, that I got from louloubell , a gift for my mom, a little something something for all the help.

Here are some pictures of a few things I made, I didn't take a picture of everything I made. It was hectic around here!

 

This was a lot of work for me and I felt bad that I had so much to do while my family was visiting, but I feel great about my accomplishment!  Now its time to chill out and drink a glass of wine.

Spring Fling : Halifax Crafters Market

I am going to be at the Halifax Crafters Market next weekend April 17 and 18th. I am really excited! I have been busy preparing and getting all my supplies little by little. I bought a cute table cloth the other day at the second hand store, along with a pretty glass plate. I hope to meet some new friends and spread the importance of a vegan food diet :)
My friend, Anne got me hooked up with this...her pottery is beautiful. Check it out www.annepryde.ca .

Come by...say "hi", grab yourself a vegan treat while you check out the market! Pick up something special for Mother's Day May 9th :)

Let Them Eat (cup) Cake

It's time to celebrate and ring in another new year as today is my birthday! In celebration I am hosting a baking party to whip up my very favorite dessert... CUPCAKES! Check out the fabulous finds below, a selection I have gathered dedicated to making any day in the kitchen a bit more the festive. Happy Birthday to everyone (let's all eat cake)!!!

• 500 Cupcakes cookbook from Crate&Barrel
• The Lady's Apron from Anthropologie
• KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer from Williams-Sonoma (I adore the empire red, komen pink and buttercup yellow versions!)
• Martha Stewart Collection 6-Piece Multi Color Melamine Bowl Set from Martha Stewart
• Odd Size Measuring Spoons from The Spoon Sisters
• Emma Dessert Plate from Crate&Barrel
• Alaska Ice Cream Dish Set of Six from Target
• Emile Henry Ruffled Cake Stand, Red from Williams-Sonoma
  

*Image courtesy of MarthaStewart. com (entertaining/parties section)

avocado [ a-voh-KAH-doh ]

I thought it would be fun to do a bit of research on the avocado, since it is one of my favorite foods to eat, here is what I found  interesting and put together...


Avocados are native to Central and South America and have been cultivated in these regions since 8,000 B.C.  Avocados are the fruit from the Persea Americana, a tall evergreen tree that can grow up to 65 feet in height. That is a pretty big tree!

Avocados have a lot of good things in them like, vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and copper. They are a good source of potassium: higher in potassium than a medium banana!
Avocados are loaded with a variety of antioxidants, including familiar disease-fighting compounds such as lutein, beta-carotene, and vitamin E.


One cup of avocado provides almost a quarter of your recommended daily intake of folate, a vitamin which cuts the risk of birth defects. If you’re pregnant,or planning to be, you should eat them!

Avocados are a great choice food for babies, soft and easy to eat, plus avocados come in their own natural packaging, great for when you need to take it on the go.

Its funny that they are referred to as the "poor man's butter".

If you want to check out more about the Avocado check out
http://www.whfoods.com

Veganmofo

Over the last 3 months my family and I have gone from vegetarian to vegans. I am happy to say I have never felt better. It has been relatively easy for me, probably because I worked at a vegan restaurant for two years, where I learned many cool things. The hardest part about becoming a vegan is having a baby, I find myself always questioning if she is getting enough of the proper nutrition, ie: good fats.

I give her Udos DHA oil in her food, and lots of avocado (she loves that stuff:) I am still breastfeeding her, mostly at night but I give her a bottle in the day, usually consisting of rice milk. Recently I did some research on if it was okay to give rice milk to babies, and I came across a few articles, that rice milk contains arsenic and should not be given to babies, which completely freaked me out. So I am giving her half oat milk, half almond milk. Fortified of course. I think that the whole milk thing for kids is really misleading.There are so many other foods in the world that have equal if not more beneficial properties. Take the fortified "health" milks, not only do they have the same amount of calcium and vitamin D as cow's milk, but they also contain B vitamins and a whole lot of others.

So I did a little clean up of my blog, because some of the earlier recipes contained eggs and dairy.
Which I'm not into anymore. Don't worry though, I will revise the recipes and make them vegan!

A little love for the ppk.com 

Blueberry Acres U-Pick

I went blueberry picking today with my kids,we spent about 1/2 hour and picked 17 pounds!
The blueberry's are HUGE, sweet and juicy. I was surprised at how big they were, and how easy it was to get pounds and pounds of them in such a short time. The farm was excellent! I definitely recommend Blueberry Acres.
Stay tuned for some recipes.....

For the LOVE of cooking

The more I spend on the Internet looking on cooking websites, the more I realize that people don't want to be spending precious time in the grocery store, looking for some specialty item they have never seen or heard of before. They want to get in and get out with out breaking the bank.
I guess my whole outlook on cooking is making things that taste amazing without to much fuss,
using the freshest ingredients possible.
I want to inspire people to want to cook, not just look at pretty pictures.
To be creative and try new things, even if you don't have that particular ingredient...
you make due, substitute.
So what if you can't find that fancy lettuce, vinegar, or sugar.
You improvise, that is what cooking is all about.
It is suppose to be fun, and full of LOVE.

Just for fun, check out the movie...
Like water for chocolate

simplicity

Funny thing that simplicity...I find that the simpler the recipes the more enjoyable it is too cook less clean up, and quick to the table = more time with the family:)
This month I am going to focus on limiting the ingredients, keep it simple.

Spring!

Now that I am back from my vacation, I hope to be blogging a bit more often..... my body is rejuvenated and I am ready to cook! Spring has sprung and I am seeing leaves on the trees and flowers on the ground, and with that comes warm weather! Yippie!
I am looking forward to the farmers market, and all the goodies spring and summer has to offer!
Stay tuned for some tasty recipes:)

I am always told that I should open my own restaurant......but that seems like a fantasy.
I don't really know what I am going to do? Mostly just being a good mother, friend, daughter, lover, human, etc...

I do know that I love cooking! Something inside of me? I just feel great when I am in the kitchen. I love timing things perfectly and having everything reach the table together in harmony.

Taking care of a family is a full time job..and I don't mean the 9 to 5 job...I mean 24/7 job. So I don't have much me time...and by the time I get me time, I am to tired to do anything except eat a bowl of ice-cream, knit a few stitches and jump into bed.

So I am going to try and post my meals that I make everyday.....