Meet My Kitty Cat Patches

Meet Patches, my father in law got him from some children on a farm in the town that he lives in. Long story short, but my father in law decided he couldn't take care of him anymore. So my husband and I said that we would take him till we could find him a new home, because we already have 2 cats at our house. Mike's sister said that she would take him but just never came for him. After $500.00 invested in having him fixed and groomed to remove the fleas, we decided to keep him. We named him Patches because he was white with grey patches all over him. After a while we noticed that when he stood with his front legs together that one of his patches was shaped in a heart. How perfect for Valentine's day! Needless to say he has won our hearts and rules the house. There is know way that that he is going anywhere...but our house. 

   For some reason Patches likes sleeping in the middle of the vacuum hose! 

Mike and I were going out of town for a few days, Patches was laying on my suitcase making sure that he wasn't left behind.

    Patches hiding behind a plant, I think he thinks he is in a jungle!

10 Tips for Eating Out as a Vegan

This past weekend we went to our local dancing with the stars. I had thought about calling ahead to see what they were serving. But I didn't! Well, when they started bringing out the food, first was the salad, everything in the salad was ok for me to eat. Next was the dinner... steak, chicken one small scoop of mashed potatoes and a few green beans! Needless to say I didn't eat much. I have had this problem before when I have gone to dinners or parties. I don't want to be one of those people that the host or hostess hates to have for dinner or feel like they have to accommodate me! So I started to do a little research and I found that the blog ohsheglows that I follow, had done a post on the problem that I was having. I hope this helps anyone with this same problem.

10 Tips for Eating Out as a Vegan

One of the most requested topics in my Vegan How To series is about eating out at restaurants as
a vegan. I can totally relate to your struggles with eating out. Even to this day, I find restaurant
experiences as a vegan can be very hit or miss depending on the restaurant/chef. The good news is that more and more restaurants are becoming sensitive to dietary restrictions and allergies, opening up new options on menus for those who need them. Plus, the more demand there is for something, the more change there will be in the future. I personally look forward to the day when vegan options on a menu are the norm, rather than scarce or uncommon. Oh yes, it will happen!

I’ve put together some of my tips and tricks that I’ve picked up over the past few years. I hope they’re
helpful for you. As always, I’d love to hear your own tips and experiences below!

1. Happy Cow Website

Searching the Happy Cow website is probably my best tip when you are looking for a veg-friendly restaurant in your area or when traveling. You simply type in your location and a list of veg-
friendly restaurants usually pop up. I use this website almost exclusively when I travel or just looking for new options in my own area (of course, asking you on Facebook is always helpful too!). There are also reviews and ratings, so you can read what others are saying about the restaurants. Many times people will write what dish they modified to be vegan or what the chef prepared for them on the spot.

2. Plan ahead and look up the restaurant menu online

Of course, it’s not always possible to eat somewhere that’s veg-friendly. Whether it’s a family gathering or a friend’s birthday, I attend my fair share of non-vegan restaurants. Before I go to a new restaurant I always scope out the menu online to see if there are any obvious vegan menu items. Hopefully, I can find a couple vegetarian menu items that can be veganized, but vegan options are often non-existent on many restaurant menus. If there are a couple vegetarian options or dishes that might easily modify to be vegan (such as removing chicken from a noodle stir fry), I will make a note of them.

3. Call restaurant for options

If there aren’t any obvious meal options on the menu, I will often call the restaurant and ask whether
they can accommodate a vegan. Don’t feel like you are being a pain in the ass because restaurants actually like to get a heads up whenever possible, or so I’ve been told. I’ve never been turned away (not surprisingly), but I have received my fair share of enthusiastic promises (“Oh yes we can makeanything you want!!”) only to get there and find out that the chef thinks a small plate of vegetables qualifies as a satisfying vegan dinner. It helps to be specific about what you would like. If there is a dish you have in mind (for example, a pizza or tofu stir-fry) don’t be afraid to ask if they can make it happen!

4. Ask if they have a vegetarian menu

Did you know that some restaurants have secret menus? What the heck! I discovered this only because my friend Heather told me that a local restaurant (Paradiso in Oakville) has a vegetarian menu. But guess what? They don’t even put the vegetarian menu on the table unless you ask for it. The horrors. I was so thankful that Heather told me about the menu because it has several vegetarian options and a delicious vegan option that I order every time I’m there (kinda obsessed with portobello steaks). I realize this isn’t the norm for restaurants to have separate menus, but it never hurts to ask and let them know that you’d love the option!

5. Get creative with sides

Sometimes vegetarian menu items can be made vegan quite easily by just replacing the butter for oil or
leaving off the cheese. If my options are limited I always ask if these swaps can be made. One thing I’ve done in the past is to order a few side dishes (asking them to hold the butter) to create a meal. A few sides of brown rice, beans, and veggies easily adds up to a balanced meal.

6. If you think options will be severely limited, eat beforehand

When I’ve done my research and suspect my options will be severely limited, I usually have a light meal beforehand to ensure that I don’t feel deprived at the restaurant. No big deal.

7. Seek out ethnic cuisines

Many cuisines have a lot of “naturally” vegan options or they can easily be modified. I absolutely love dining at Indian, Mexican, and Thai restaurants because they have so many options for me. Even dishes with cream can easily be made without impacting the overall flavour too much.

8. Try a fun beverage

Treat yourself to a fun non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink. Even if the food options are limited it will still feel
special to have a fun drink you normally wouldn’t have! [Side note: Barnivore is a good site for looking up vegan alcohol brands. Check out the apps too.]

9. Comment card or online review

As I was writing this, I asked myself…do restaurants even do comment cards these days? And then I realized, well, duh, people do online reviews! Silly me. Well, whether it’s a comment card or an online review, they are great ways to let your voice be heard. Feel free to ask for more vegan options – you can bet that most restaurant owners will be reading and taking note of common requests!

10. Don’t sweat it

I generally have low expectations when it comes to dining out at restaurants that aren’t veg-friendly, so I don’t let a less than stellar experience ruffle my feathers. Instead, I focus on the experience itself – the great company – and know that in the grand scheme of things it’s really not a big deal. Cheers to that.

What have your experiences been like eating out as a vegan? 

Magical Burrito Mojado

I just love the magazine VegNews, it has great recipes and ideas in it. There is a restaurant in Syracuse that I love, that I have written about in the past. It is called Alto Cinco. They have great Vegan Burritos. I have been trying to copy the recipe but just haven't been able to do it till now. Alto Cinco puts rice in there's and this recipe uses Quinoa. This is no ordinary bean-and rice combo. Instead, this behemoth is filled with garlicky pinto beans and quinoa, then toped with not one but two sauces: a cocoa infused mole and chipotle-lime cashew cheese.  It was so yummy you have to try it. If you are not vegan, you still need to try the cheese, it is so good!! Even my husband Mike who is not Vegan liked it.


Ingredients:

For The Filling: 

1 tbsp olive oil 

3/4 cup chopped onion

1  garlic clove, minced 

1 1/4 tsp ground cumin 

1 tsp chili powder 

1 can pinto beans semi mashed

2 cups cooked quinoa

1 jalapeno, deseeded and minced 

3/4 tsp Salt

For The Mole Sauce:

2 cups tomato puree or crushed tomatos 

2 tsp chili powder 

2 tsp cocoa powder 

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 

1 tsp salt

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 tsp dried oregano

For The Chipolte-Lime Cheese 

Sauce

1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 3 hours and drained
3/4 cup plain, unsweetened non-dairy milk
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp minced onion 
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar 
1/2 tsp paprika 
3/4 tsp salt 
1 garlic clove 
1/8 tsp chipotle powder

To Assemble: 


6 12" flour tortillas, warmed 

1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce

3 avocados, sliced 

1 cup diced tomatos 

1/2 cup chopped scallions

1/2 cup sliced black olives 

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 

6 fresh Lime Wedges, For Garnish

Directions:

1. For the filling, in a large skillet over medium heat, add oil and onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and chili powder and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in beans, quinoa, jalapeno, and salt. Reduce heat low, cover and warm for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and keep covered.

2. For the mole sauce, in a small saucepan, whisk together all ingredients, then heat on low for 5 minutes and set aside.

3. For the chipotle-lime sauce, in a high speed blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and blend for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth.

4. To assemble, fill a tortilla with 1/2 cup of filling,1/4 cup of shredded lettuce, and 3-4 of avocado slices. Fold in ends and roll to wrap, placing seam side down. Pour 1/2 cup of moles sauce and 3 tablespoons of cheese sauce on top of each one. Sprinkle with tomato, scallion, olives, and cilantro, and garnish with a lime wedges.

Notes: You can make this dish ahead and just warm up when ready to serve.Try serving Margarita's for a drink or any other Mexican drink!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

A very simple, easy way to make chocolate-covered strawberries...great for Valentine's Day! I found this recipe on The Kind Life Blog. 

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Ingredients

• 1 pound strawberries
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips

Directions

1. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for 1 minute.
2. Stir chocolate chips and then microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again.
3. At this point the chocolate should be completely melted (if not, heat for in 10 second intervals, stirring until ready).
4. Take individual strawberries by the stem and dip them into the chocolate, twirling slightly as you remove them to coat all sides thoroughly.
5. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl before placing them on parchment or wax paper to cool.
6. For more on this and other recipes, checkout my cooking site: http://www.littleveganeats.com/2013/01/simply-scrumptious-chocolate-covered.html

• 
  


 
• prep time
  5 min.


 
• yields
  4 serv.
  
  

Visit To My Friend's Glass Studio

Recently a friend of mine from Church invited me to her house to see her glass studio, that she had built to the back of their garage. For those of you that don't know it, I am a Stained Glass Artist and have been creating glass windows since 1988.  I first became interested by watching my mother who had taken stained glass classes as a hobby when she retired. Now I make fused glass jewelry and gifts and sell them in my Etsy shop.

 First let me tell you a little about my friend Laurie. She is a warm, kind and a very talented women. She is the president of our local Art Association here in Oswego. She has a wonderful family and I am so happy to call her my friend. When I first started going to Elim Grace Church she welcomed me with open arms, and invited me to sit with her and her family. She has truly made me feel welcome!

                                              

                                         Laurie has a beautiful studio which is well organized.  

                                           This is her in front of her selves of colorful glass.

 

The day I visited it was a beautiful sunny day.

Laurie in front of a window that she is making for our church.

Her gift display.

Great sky lights!! What a bright idea for sure! 

If ever I were to build a studio I would defiantly put that in my designs. 

Even if my husband told me that it was a heat loss. 

It was the first thing that he said to me when I told him how much I love them!!

This is the best!! I have a Cricut and may try to make one for my studio.

 It will remind me of what is important in life!

Edamame Hummus

I am always looking for a new Hummus recipe. I love Edamame and when I saw this recipe on Oh She Glows I had to try it. So give it a try and serve it at your next get together. You will keep them guessing on what it is! Enjoy!!

Ingredients (2 heaping cups)

• 1 (500g) bag frozen organic shelled edamame (equal to 3 cups thawed/drained)
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3-4 tbsp fresh lemon juice (I used 4T)
• 1/4 cup tahini (stir well before measuring)
• 2-4 tbsp water, to thin as needed (I used 3T)
• 1/2-1 tsp fine grain sea salt, or to taste (I used 3/4 tsp)
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander seeds, optional
• 1/8th tsp cayenne pepper, optional
• To garnish: smoked paprika, freshly ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, edamame

Instructions:

1. If starting with thawed edamame, rinse and drain before using. If starting with frozen edamame, simmer in a pot of water until edamame is heated through. Rinse and drain before using. You can also remove the skins of the edamame for a slightly smoother spread, but I didn’t bother. Set aside a handful of edamame beans for garnish just before serving.

• 2. With motor running on food processor, drop in 2 garlic cloves to mince.
• 3. Next, add edamame to processor and process until somewhat smooth, stopping to scrape down the side of the bowl as necessary.
• 4. Add in the lemon juice, tahini, and water and process again until smooth. Don’t be afraid to let the processor run for a few minutes and get it really smooth!
• 5. Add salt to taste along with the optional cayenne pepper and ground coriander. Process again until combined.
• 6. Scoop into a serving bowl. Garnish with smoked paprika, freshly ground black pepper, a generous drizzle of olive oil, and reserved edamame. Serve with crostini, toasted pita chips, crudités, and/or crackers.

The Day I Tried Hot Yoga

 

Over Christmas break my daughter Liz who lives in NYC wanted me to try hot yoga. My oldest daughter Erin who lives in St. Lois, MO just happened to give me a 10 class pack to our local Bikram Yoga studio. So, very reluctant to going because I am not a heat person at all. I also worried because it was 90 minutes long! But much to my surprise... I loved it! I must say my best part was at the end of class where the instructor put a cold wet wash cloth over our eyes that had been soaked in essential oils. Then I had a cold cocoanut water waiting for me for the ride home! It is such a great workout and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a challenge. 

Bikram Yoga is a sequence of 26 Yoga postures and 2 breathing exercises practiced in a Hot room.  Each class is designed to systematically restore health and vitality to every system of the body.  Each posture provides a specific therapeutic benefit while preparing the body for the next posture in the sequence.  Bikram Yoga is based on the science of Hatha Yoga researched by its founder Yoga master Bikram Choudhury and tested upon the millions of students who practice Bikram Yoga every day.  Bikram Yoga is the original Hot Yoga practiced the world over by regular folks who are ready to work hard and feel amazing from the inside-out. 

Common benefits include:  body weight balance, improved sleep, increased strength/flexibility/balance, improved coordination and mental clarity, improved cardiovascular strength, reduced stress/anxiety/physical tension, strengthened connection between body/mind/spirit, decreased symptoms of back pain, knee injury, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, tennis elbow, scoliosis, depression, high/low blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, chronic fatigue, and reduced symptoms of a myriad of common chronic conditions.

                 "You don't do Yoga, you try Yoga." --Bikram Choudhury

                                              Namaste!