Veganmofo: Happy Veganiverasy to me!

Hey all! Today I'll be out and about chowing down on the town to celebrate 9-10 years of veganism. Oh so many years ago, a much news broad cast turned me into the green-haired-punk-hippy-freak- I am today!

So enjoy the mofo, I'll be reading your blogs, taking photos and re-caping on my eating adventures soon!

Yay veganism!

:celebrating all day/night long:

VeganMofo: Daiya the experiment in Vegan Mac-N-Cheeze

Silky smooth
Originally uploaded by B_A_Dxxx88

So a few days ago I discovered Planet Organic carried Daiya, the vegan cheeze craze of the internet. I bought some a decided in honour of Mofo I'd do up some experiments.

Let me just say. WOW. This was possibly the smoothiest, silkiest, creamiest experience of my life. I had 3 bowls and have hidden the rest away in the mini fridge downstairs to ensure my roommates don't steal any.



I used the recipe more or less as is from Daiya's website. Kids.. believe the hype.

Bonus photos.

Veganmofo-IV:Busy Student Lunches

Busy Student Lunch
Originally uploaded by B_A_Dxxx88

You know the drill, you have 4 proposals due, 2 research essays a book report, board meeting followed by some volunteer events and D&D group.

So I get it, we don't always have time to cook, eat right and sometimes even eat period. And we've all been there, the prospect of taking the 4 minutes to make yourself a PB sandwich.. knowing damn well how much you don't want to eat it and somehow manage to talk yourself out of it.

So in honour of eating better and making the time I've vowed to bring at least 1 snack/meal with me to school/work for my busy days. To help facilitate the beauty sleep and tight schedule I grabbed a pack of 12 vegan yogurt cups. It's not super classy, filling or economical but when it prevents a trip to the cafeteria or other lame-expensive-7$-dry falafel scenario all the better.

This might not work for everyone but for now it's working for me. Take some small steps and don't sweat buying pre-made foods. If it keeps you full and stops you from eating out all the better!

My lunches for the busier days will be some golden flax meal, tossed with pumpkin seed granola, dried coconut shards and vegan yogurt. Tossed together and eaten on the go!

Speaking off enjoy yourselfs Mofoers! I'm off to D&D!

VeganMofo: Day 2: HeartWood Bakery and Vegan Cafe

PICT0093
Originally uploaded by B_A_Dxxx88

Heart wood is one of the many fabulous local buisness in Halifax that cater to vegetarians, vegans and those with dietary constraints. Don't let the dessert case fool you, heartwood means seriously filling, healthy, and organic eating.

The majority of their menu items rely on fresh local produce and changes slightly to accommodate regional flavours and what they have on stock. Lately it's been beets. In everything, included our beet salsa and freshly grated redness over everything.

Whenever I'm feeling under the weather or as if my non-green days have been too many, I hit up heartwood. On cold rainy halifax days, their soups call to me. Different batches each day full of vegetable goodness they never disappoint.

Another daily go to is their special board. The daily special changes daily (duh) so try and get it while it lasts. Unlike most daily specials this isn't a reduced price main, but rather a unique creation made by the kitchen staff based on sheer whim and fairy dust. I've only rarely seen specials repeat, so it's always a good bet to try it out while it's there, because who knows when you'll get the change again.
The special is usually 10.99 and includes a main, side, condiments and other assortments based on the dish. This time it was a vegan Quesadia stuffed with black bean, vegetables, tofu all sauted in spices with some fresh herbs, peppers, onions and shredded carrot. There was a spicy mole sauce on the side, the ww crispy tortilla was topped with their vegan cream sauce. Kinda like cheesy sour scream but with more flavour.

The side was steam greens a heartwood favourite. We also ordered vegan nachos to start. And I couldn't resist dessert, which was much better than I remembered.

The lovely mole sauce


All their desserts are gluten free and often chocolate free as well so i've had issues with the texture (i'm a gluten snob). But the cheese cake today was great!

The lovely chocolate PB, so creamy smooth. Despite their lack of sweeterners it was pleasantly rich and tasty.

VEGANMOFO-FILLER:Veganism Survey: Via Kittee on the mofo forum, via some student looking for mofo-info

1. There are many definitions of veganism out there. What is your definition of veganism? Moreover, what is the difference between being a vegetarian and being a vegan?
Veganism may have started out as a simple dietary change and movement away from something I was no longer comfortable supporting. But since then it's become a lot more, Veganism is now one of my defining characteristics, my lifestyle, a movement, and most of all it's a community. I've met a lot of people whom I consider family, and in reality our only ties are veganism, cooking and a little spot of Internet. Veganism for me is compassion and making simple life choices to make your world a better place.

The difference between vegetarian and vegan can be a lot of things, for various people but strictly speaking it's an abstinence from all harm (dairy eggs honey etc).
2. What are the benefits to being a vegan? Is it a lifestyle choice, or is it restricted solely to what one eats?
Lifestyle choice all the way. The immediate benefits for me personally was a vast improvement of health. It cleared up my skin, brought me down to a healthy weight, helped me overcome issues I had with food and provided me the ground work for overcoming my eating issues. Since going vegan, everything has gotten a little brighter. I went from being a sickly kid, missing weeks of school/work due to common illness to rarely ever getting sick. Taking charge in the kitchen and having something to be passionate about and work towards. It helped me focus and brought back my love of food, cooking and baking.
3. What are some common misconceptions about vegans or veganism?
Mainly that vegan food is simple, boring or bland. That vegans don't eat and are unhealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Also that there are no vegan guys, they exist (they just have to spend some time in hiding to avoid being mauled by ladies/boys)
4. University students don't usually have the time or financial means to cook proper, nutritious meals everyday. What would you recommend to students in this situation?
Cooking tasty and healthy doesn't have to break the bank! Some of the cheapest and healthiest things are vegan. The Cheap Vegan is a zine that changed my life, it's amazing rational guide for eating well and living thrifty. The best thing I did in university was a) move out of the dorms and get a real kitchen b) buy a crock pot/slow cooker or pressure cooker and get to it! There are all kinds of cheap living and cooking advice out there. The best thing is to know what you like and shop accordingly. Buy bulk grains, legumes and beans. Shop on discount days and get an easy simplistic cookbook full of recipes you like. If you enjoy your food, you'll enjoy eating and making it too. Plus crock pots are great for cooking beans during school etc and coming home to chili, soup or other amazing dishes.

Don't give up! Plan ahead! and find some recipes/favourites to love!

5. The University of Victoria is currently ranked in second place by PETA2's Most Vegetarian-Friendly University Campus Ranking in Canada. How can students promote more awareness about vegetarianism and, more specifically, veganism?
One thing that worked well for us was hosting monthly vegan potlucks on campus, try talking to your women/gender centre to see about a partnership and being able to use their space. Advertise in local free papers or through posters. We also did monthly cooking classes which introduced students to cheap, easy meals they could make that tasted great and were vegan! cupcakes 101, fancy eatings on cheap livings and basic intro to cooking courses had great success.

We also did some postering, leafleting on campus and hosted film screenings. They are pretty easy and quick to get going.
6. This is the fourth year for the Vegan Month of Food. What are some of the biggest changes you've noticed since the event began?
Publicity! Each year Mofo is getting bigger and badder! This year the blog list alone is outstanding and press is really starting to notice our little endeavour. I've witnessed a lot of blogs and bloggers growing in both their design, writing, photo and recipe skills. Each year people are getting better, learning to cook better and improving in some way. It's amazing to watch people learn as we go along. Some of the ideas and creativity is just unbelievable.
7. Lastly, what are the main goals of Vegan Month of Food?
To raise awareness about veganism and the love of food. Showing people through good food and food geekery what veganism looks, taste and smells like. Feeding people and food are one of the greatest forms of activism we have. Once people see how awesome veganism and vegan food can be, it makes the politics and their implications just a little bit less scary. And shines some warm fuzzies on veganism.

VeganMofo: Day 1!

Ok, so a less than impressive start. Despite my lack of cooking, photo taking and general free time, I've decided to post anyway!

Today my food related activities are limited to grocery shopping at Planet Organic the local organic market. But, I bring you halagonians fantastic news. THEY NOW HAVE DAIYA!!!!

I know, I'm soo excited... It's lurking in my fridge now, so stay tuned for some reviews and trials.

What's more as my dad was in town I also splurged on a few new cool vegan items like tofurkey breakfast links and soy yogurts.

I will try to keep up to date with the Mofoing. Mostly a run down of what I manage to eat in a day with my busy schedule and maybe some suggestions for things to make or grab on the go for the busy among us. Specifically, I splurged at the market and bought a lot of processed/ready made foods I normally wouldn't go near for budget reasons.

However, lately my commitment to not buying pre-made has turned into a commitment to not eating because I'm too lazy/busy/tired etc to make food. Which is bad, so sometimes the extra $ on things like mini soy yogurts or other grab and go foods are justifiable if it means eating something when you would otherwise have nothing, go without or eat out (which is not budget friendly!).

I've also been in the bad habit of eating out, a habit I may continue for mofo and do some HRM Vegan Review series of where to eat and what to order!

Happy Mofo everyone!

And because posts are incomplete without photos I bring you Cell Phone shot of the coconut banana creme pie from the HeartWood bakery/cafe. Please excuse the bite marks.

Thanksgiving: Last minute and beyond epic

Sorry no photos, it was a hectic and less minute affair with 16 people to feed!

Items made:
I made two different roasts, one was the holiday roast from everyday dish, the other was a round one like tofurky but stuffed with homemade stuffing and then marinaded/pressure cooked with veggies.

Candied Lime Sweet potatoes, sweet potato maple garlic grattini, stuffing, stuffing more stuffing some dry some steamed in the rice cooker. Roast garlic mashed potatoes, two kinds of gravy, stuffed and roasted acorn squash, sweet chili maple roast squash, ginger garlic roasted veggies (carrorts butternup sweet potatoe), green bean casserol, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, faux meat pie, apple baked beans, roasted carrot/squash soup, braised carrorts with white wine/EB and finally roasted garlic brussel sprouts.

I think that was it.