Raw Week Wrap-Up

I was so good this week! This was my by far my most successful attempt at adopting a raw diet. I've always thought that raw vegans are crazy. I used to think that all vegans were crazy, but I honestly don't think I could ever do the raw thing 100% of the time. It's not about money or prep time, I just really like warm and cooked food. But who knows. I have been working on giving up gluten, and it is going very well. I'll admit that it was complete and total hell when I first started, and I am still working on it. I started weaning myself early this summer. My goal is to be 100% gluten-free by 2012. It seems like a very long-term goal, but it's very realistic in this case. Wheat is in EVERYTHING.

My main dependency on cooked foods is due to my protein needs. I think most raw/sprouted beans taste like crap. I have been hooked on my home sprouted mung beans lately, but raw chickpeas, lentils, and fava beans really gross me out for some reason. There is just some flavor there that does not agree with me until it is cooked away. I have the same aversion to falafel also. I do prefer raw nuts to roasted ones, but I would not want to have to rely on them for my only protein source. Plus, soy beans and tofu are awesome.

Yes this is my shoulder...edamame FTW!

Even though I was mostly raw this week, I ate a lot of steamed edamame for protein. Everything else was pretty much raw, thanks to a huge shopping trip to Sam's Club.

I can report that after 6 days the mushrooms, strawberries, spinach, grapes, broccoli, and carrot juice are all gone. The carrot juice is not raw, of course. I just used it to get my smoothies moving because almost every day I had a super tasty fruit smoothie made with 1 cup each of green grapes, fresh strawberries, carrot juice, packed baby spinach leaves...and a chunk of fresh ginger. If you have never added spinach to your smoothies, what are you waiting for?? I promise you that you will not be able to taste it. The only negative effect is that it turns things a lovely shade of ick.

I have stupid tattoos and I drink ugly smoothies out of 600 ml lab beakers. Jealous?

I promise you this tasted much better than it looked. Other food highlights included raw broccoli salads with tahini based dressings, and spinach salads loaded with raw goodies. I made 2 different kinds of tahini broccoli salads: one with carrots, pumpkin seeds, dried zante currants, ginger, and cumin. The other one had carrots, ginger, garlic, green onions, sesame seeds, and chili garlic sauce.

Yum! I also experimented with eating raw portobello mushrooms for the first time. I sliced them super thin and then marinated the strips in some oil, Braggs, cumin, and garlic. It didn't take long for them so soak up the marinade, which I also used as a salad dressing. I layered the marinated mushrooms over a HUGE bowl of baby spinach, and then piled on tons of red onions, pumpkin seeds, currants, and sprouted mung beans. It was hard to get a picture of everything since it was all stacked in a big mixing bowl.

So nothing I ate was quite 100% raw, but I felt good that I didn't really crave any warm cooked foods. My only complaint is that after about 4 days I was super bloated and miserable. I thought at first that it was because I had a massive smoothie for dinner. It was a satisfying dinner but it left me miserable soon after I drank it. I think I was probably suffering from a fiber overload. I did not eat any grains all week, and I think this might have been the problem. On Friday my mom came to visit and I ate some rice noodles, and honestly the next day I felt amazing the next day. Maybe it was just in my head, or maybe it's proof that a raw diet is just not for me. I suppose you could get used to it after a while, and the bloating would probably go away. I have to be in a wedding next weekend so bloating isn't something I'm going for this week! I've also put myself on a pretty intense fitness plan, so I need some carbs. More on that later!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Oktoberfest and Detox Diet

About 2 months ago, I made the best decision of my life and quit my horrible job. I used to boast that going vegan was the best decision I have ever made. It was, until I decided to stop killing myself and drop all negativity from my life, my old job being the largest contributing source of it. I have never been viewed or viewed myself as an optimist, but DAMN my life kicks so much ass right now, and it's all my fault! I'm not even afraid of jynxing myself by saying that. Nothing can be as bad as the hell I went through my first 2 years post-college.

That all being said, I will step down off my soap-box and carry on. I was pretty busy last week. Doing exactly what, I don't really recall. I guess I spent a lot of time at the gym and running around town on various errands. I probably spent the most time waiting for the weekend so I could attend Oktoberfest in La Crosse, WI.

Yep, my first once since I've been of legal drinking age. Not that I drank a lot or anything. I went with a co-worker and got a ride from some family friends who own a bar in my home town. They were friends with some people who own a bar in downtown La Crosse, so we were kinda VIP and stuff when we went back to the bar after the parade.

Totally not German but whatevs.

The parade was pretty awesome, and it did last 3+ hours as I was promised. Seriously. It took an hour before it even got downtown. We got lucky and found a spot on the curb to sit and watch a sip some beer. After things wrapped up, we went back to our bar and mingled for a bit before our ride departed. So really we weren't even drinking a lot and didn't stay out really late.

Next year we want to plan ahead and get a hotel way in advance. The bar scene in La Crosse was definitely way better than where I am living in Minnesota. Several people told me that I look like Mila Kunis, which is new to me. I'm not offended, because I think she is gorgeous, but I really don't see it.

The next big event in my life involves watching my best friend take the next step in his. Yep, he's getting married. I will be traveling in Iowa in 2 weeks to don a fluffy dress and stand beside him this decision. Judging by the hordes of Facebook photos my friends have been tagged in recently, it is definitely Hitchin' Season. Those of my acquaintances whom have subjected themselves to previous seasons are now starting to generate little humans with their faces on them.


I won't go into detail about I am pretending not to care about all of this. What I am caring out right now is having to look good in pictures in 2 weeks! I haven't exactly been eating the best over the past couple of months, due to the whole moving process, work-week lunch outings, and having a ton of amazing food easily accessible in my new town, including a vegan restaurant right by my job. Excuses aside, I am going on a super-detox mission!

I am not concerned about weight loss as much as I am about feeling pure and cleaning myself of past mistakes. I have been really really good about drinking less alcohol, working out more, and eating drastically less wheat. The only real problem I have had lately is poor skin. This irritates the hell out of me because I get tons of vitamins from my diet and supplements. I make sure I eat enough protein, and I have really been making myself eat lots of almonds for the vitamin E.

To detox my skin and the rest of my body, I am going to go on a high-raw diet with emphasis on smoothies. I recently found this page and I really want to try some of these. I am going to go buy a boatload of fresh fruit and veggies after work tomorrow so I can get my Vita-Mix out and get started! I will post some updates about how I am doing.

Meatless Tuesday

I am a strong support of the "Meatless Monday" initiative. I don't expect the entire country to just up and go vegan overnight, but people should make the effort to include less meat in their diet as it is. One day a week will not kill anybody, I promise.

So why am I, already a vegan, writing about Meatless Monday, on a Tuesday of all days? Well my avocado extravaganza kind of upset my meal plans for the week, but in a good way. They need to make some magical meter to wave over those things to tell you exactly what day they will be ripe. I am doing the meatless post theme to support some of my friends in their quest for veggie enlightenment and to show that even stubborn omnivores can still eat their favorite foods without eating animal products. These posts will also give me a chance to try and review some new products. And who doesn't like that?

One thing I always hear people say when they learn that I am vegan is "I could never give up cheese!" Trust me, I used to think the same thing. I was probably a bigger cheese freak than a lot of people, and I can not honestly say that I do not miss it. The same with meat. I just really don't care or think about it anymore. I am also not a huge fan of fake meats, and a lot of them are gluten-based. I used to pick up some Boca chicken nuggets from time to time as a guilty pleasure, until I discovered Gardein.

Gardein is a vegetable-based protein that is used to make some pretty convincing vegan meat substitutes. Convincing to the point of being creepy. The first product of theirs I ever tried were the chicken tenders. They were delicious, but did weird me out in their accuracy. You can find Gardein products in the freezer section of your local health food store, but I recently picked some up at Super Target and I am starting to see more of these products at regular chain grocery stores also.

This week's mock meat installment features Gardein's "Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n"
Vegan orange chicken?? What's not to love? Instructions are simple: dump frozen pieces into skillet with some oil, saute until crisp (they are lightly breaded), thaw sauce packet, toss, and enjoy. Hmmm. Can't say I was a fan. Yes, it did have a similar texture to chicken. Yes, it did make my house smell like Panda Express...but something just wasn't "there".

I think that deep down inside I was really wanting it to be like the horrible calorie-bomb orange chicken you get at your local hole-in-the-wall Chinese grease trap. The kind with the thick deep-fried breading and cloyingly sweet sauce. Once I put that image out of my head and told myself that this was a much healthier alternative, it still didn't do anything for me. The sauce was extremely boring. I had to add some sesame seeds and chili garlic sauce (oh darn!) to get it to actually taste like anything. To make it a meal, I tossed in some steamed broccoli and carrots and threw it all over some brown rice. Here is a picture of what the skillet ended up looking like:

It looks tasty, and it was after I doctored it up. I just feel like if I spend the money on a convenience product, it should deliver. Eating vegan does not have to be expensive, but companies can really get you on prepared foods, especially if they say "vegan" anywhere on the packaging.

Avocado Four Ways

Due to recent avocado inflation, I was forced to buy one of those weird Florida avocados. You know, those really big ones with the smooth lighter green skin? They are being marketed as "Slimcados" now because I guess they have less fat and calories. Who cares, it's plant fat. Anywho, Hass avocados were $2.28 a piece at Hy-Vee, but the giant weirdocados were $2.99 each and easily twice as big.

I lived in Florida for 7 months last year and let me tell you, the avocados were fabulous! I ate one plain at least 3 times a week. After I moved back up north (everything is north of Florida), I tried eating one plain and it quickly killed my habit. GROSS. Sadly I now eat very few avocados, but every once in a while I jones for one. Like this week.

Florida avocados have a lighter flesh and solid but very creamy texture to them. I don't really know how else to describe it. I ended up supplementing four meals* with mine, due to its size. And it wasn't even the biggest one I've seen. Some of these suckers have pits so big that I am sure a well-aimed blow to the temple could ruin somebody's day (aka kill them). Giant pit aside, there is still plenty of tasty flesh to be enjoyed.

Meal #1: Fajita-Style Dinner Plate

The first dinner I enjoyed was a result of leftover items from making fajita salads last week. Fajita salads are something I created to use up some random leftover veggies. Here is a picture of one that is actually a salad:


And here is a picture of almost the same thing, but with brown rice instead of lettuce, and the addition of avocado:


The delicious toppings over the brown rice include:
- Sauteed fajita-style button mushrooms with onions and fresh garlic
- Diced tomatoes roasted with cumin
- Sweet corn (frozen) roasted with chili powder
- Diced avocado (duh)
- Vegan sour cream
- Chili garlic sauce (condiment of the gods...more on this later)

Sometimes I add black beans to this. Sometimes I only have one can left and want to horde it for later. This was one of the latter times. Plus, avocados are packed with protein as it is. When this is all stirred together and less pretty, the sour cream, chili garlic sauce, and juicy tomatoes make a tasty sauce that coats everything. Nom.

Meal #2: Sushi Rolls for Lunch

Here is my cute little lunch container, consisting of avocado rolls and kimchi:


I may not roll the prettiest nori rolls, but they still taste delicious. Kimchi is also one of the greatest side dishes/condiments in the world. If you have never had it, it is basically a spicy Korean version of sauerkraut. It is usually not vegan though, as it traditionally contains ingredients such as fish or shrimp paste. Totally gross and non-vegan. You can find vegan kimchi every now and then if you make the effort to look for it, and it's totally worth it.

Meal #3: Deconstructed Sushi Roll Cobb Salad

Ok, so I got the idea for this from a cookbook. If you haven't picked it up yet, the newest vegan bible from Isa Chandra Moskowitz is called Appetite for Reduction. I bought this for my mom and it is fabulous. We made her sushi roll salad for dinner one night, and as with any of Isa's recipes, it did not disappoint. I unfortunately do not personally own a copy of this book (yet), so I kind of winged it. Results: still insanely delicious.


How's that for food porn?? This plate includes:

- Brown rice with sesame seeds, seasoned with a little rice vinegar and tamari
- Sliced cucumbers and carrots
- Shelled edamame (soy beans)
- Slivered nori, green onions, and pickled sushi ginger for garnish
- And avocado, I guess...

Yeah, I ate this whole plate and did not feel guilty about it! And I didn't feel overly stuffed or gross afterwards. It was SO GOOD. Tasted just like a huge California roll (sans nasty fake crab) exploded in my mouth. Next time I will make enough to roll around in as I eat it! (I wish)

Meal #4: Spring Rolls

So I haven't actually eaten this yet, but I just made it for my lunch tomorrow. Have you even seen those pretty veggie rolls at the sushi counter? The ones with the veggies all nicely rolled up alongside a pack of sweet chili sauce? Did you know that you can make those at home super cheap? Now you do! First, you will need to find some rice paper skins in the Asian section of you grocery store, your local Asian market, Chinatown, etc.

"Good For Restaurant"

These are cheap and store indefinitely. Now find some veggies to roll in them. Here is my selection:


Cucumbers, carrots, avocado, and yes, crappy garden salad mix. I had part of a bag left that needed used. It's not my fault it was on sale for $1 a bag. To make the rolls, you just need to soak a sheet of the rice paper in water for about 30 seconds. I do this on a place, flipping over about halfway through. Then you place the veggies in the middle like so...


...and roll it up, burrito-style. No, I DO NOT have a picture of this process, or of the end result. Frankly, I suck horribly at making these things. They still taste great dipped in sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, or whatever. Mine just turn out loose, lumpy, and other unappealing adjectives. And somehow my first one always turns out way better than its followers. It makes no sense and it frustrates me. Aren't you supposed to get better at something the more you do it??

If you actually read all of this, you can see how flexible avocados can be. I know this post was heavy on the Asian-style cuisine, but that's how I usually do things. Last week was Mexican week, as seen with the leftover fajita ingredients. This week is apparently Asian week. I have a stir-fry meal planned for tomorrow too, as a sort of late "meatless Monday" deal. You'll just have to wait and see!

*You can actually store a cut avocado in the fridge and not have it brown on you. You just need to make sure you cover it, remove as much air as possible, and not store it more than a day or two. Just seal it up tight in a sandwich bag or stretch cling wrap or aluminum foil over it.

Weekly Non-Food News

I recently re-located to Minnesota, after spending 2 years of hell with my last job. I have settled in to the area in record time, seen how I am working literally half of the hours I was at my last job. There is actually a lot to do in a hundred mile radius of where I live. For example, a few days ago I finally saw mc chris!


If you have never heard of mc chris, he is a rapper with a really high voice that does songs about Star Wars, video games, being a nerd, etc. I know that is not the best way to sell him, but he is hilarious. He has done a lot of work for shows on Adult Swim, and has voiced characters on several of their shows (i.e. MC Pee Pants on Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Hesh on Sealab 2021). He played a sold-out show at a tiny room in the back of a larger venue. There were no more than 200 people there, so it was very up-close and personal. I found it amusing that he was wearing a Tyrion Lannister shirt. (more on the pure awesomeness that is know as Game of Thrones in a later post!)

He had a laptop set up on a table behind him, open to iTunes. He would hit play on a track and then do his thing without live musicians or a DJ or anything. He had a very dedicated crowd, including myself, that knew every word to every song. His stand-up between songs was pretty funny also. The opening song was kind of a surprise/non-surprise for me, "I Want Candy" from ATHF. When he did his biggest hit, "Fett's Vette", he rapped over the instrumentals from "Another One Bites the Dust". It worked, but I was pretty surprised that he didn't stick to the original score since he is most known for this song.

As far as the rest of the set, he did "The Tussin", "Hoodie Ninja", "Pizza Butt", "Emo Party", "Drinkin Blunts", "Jelly Inside", "Nerd Cave", Popcorn Frog", "Hijack", among others, and closed with "White Kids Love Hip Hop", which I found fitting. The other artists at the show didn't really do anything for me (sorry Adam WarRock and Mega Ran), but MC Lars was pretty funny. Overall, I would most definitely pay $16 for this show again.

A couple of days later, a colleague and I decided to check out the fall fashion show in downtown Rochester.

First of all, I am about as far from a fashionista as you can get. Results of attempting to put on make-up and style my hair often result in poked eyes and burns. Somehow I missed the becoming feminine part of growing up. Not that I truly mind. I prefer to decorate myself with tattoos anyway. So how the hell did I end up at some fashion show? A co-worker and I were sitting the break room one day and we saw a style week/fall fashion thing advertised in the paper. We are both new to the area, and it was something to do that was local and only $12. And it came with the promise of a goody bag.

It wasn't too bad of a time except that it was FREAKING FREEZING OUTSIDE. Seriously, less than a week before I was downtown on the same block, wearing a short dress and drinking cocktails on a rooftop.


Now I am wearing a coat and pants, and missing my long underwear! My colleague had a cocktail that was barely drinkable, and even after holding it in her hand for almost 2 hours, the ice didn't even melt! There were some models painted like statues who were visibly shivering, since they were wearing little more than metallic paint.

Don't ask what that creepy photographer was taking a picture of.

The fashion show lasted almost an hour, but it went by pretty quickly. All in all, it probably wasn't worth the $12. Maybe if it wasn't freezing and the goody bags were better. We got some lame coupons, peppermints, and Swedish Fish.


My companion and I are pretty cynical, so I guess we got some good laughs at some of the outfits and models. But seriously, we can make fun of people in the comfort of the mall for free.

First Post and Raw Wednesday

I have been toying with the idea of starting a vegan/personal blog for a while, and now I finally have the time to do it. I have lots of fun little things planned, so let's get started.

First of all, I am going to adopt "Raw Wednesday". This first post may seem like I opted for the easy way out. Yes, a salad. And I don't even have a picture! It was a pretty substantial kale salad with dressing I make quite often. Tahini, Braggs, garlic, ginger, and cayenne. I used the last of my tahini and it was pretty dry so I added some almond milk and gave it a whirl in my Magic Bullet. Yes, I know this isn't exactly a 100% raw dressing. It does not lack in the flavor department though. Salad toppings were all raw though: carrots, cucumbers, radishes, onions, mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Quite the nutritious dish! (not to mention crunchy). I will plan ahead better next time and try to take a pretty picture of it before I devour it. I did, however, including my first sprouting effort in this salad. Green mung beans!


I didn't let them sprout very long, only about 2 days. They are crisp and super delicious all on their own. I purchased a Now Foods sprouting jar at the local food co-op for $4.99. You can't beat that! It has simple directions printed on the side of the label, and it came with a little instructional pamphlet. Pretty much idiot proof. I am currently attempting to sprout some black quinoa. More on that later.