musings of a maniacal genius

Rest is good

2010-04-14T09:20:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I last posted and it will be a while until I post again! Rest is good.
If you are interested in the raw vegan lifestyle, please visit my other blog, For the Love of Raw, where I'll be concentrating all my time for the foreseeable future. Two jobs and two blogs are a lot to keep up with.
Thanks for reading!

Mother - In Theatres March 12th

2010-03-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

Can't wait to see this!

Mother - In Theatres March 12th

SeaWorld Orlando: 1 dead at SeaWorld Orlando Shamu attraction - latimes.com

2010-02-24T15:50:00.001-05:00

SeaWorld Orlando: 1 dead at SeaWorld Orlando Shamu attraction - latimes.com

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Vegan news in the area

2010-02-22T16:34:00.000-05:00

For starters bargain-hunters, get your shop on, because Natural Goodness is closing after 15 years! This was my neighborhood health food store for YEARS! I'm so sad to see it leave. Where am I going to go for a fresh carrot juice in the middle of the afternoon for a pick-me-up now? Stock up on vitamins, toilet paper, teas essential oils while you can!

There's a new semi-vegan eatery in town. Maru Global serves Japanese street food. They offer quite a few vegan options, including soups and desserts. They have pizza, burritos and all kinds of good stuff. Haven't tried it out it, but take-out seems like a good option, especially when it starts getting warmer and you can take lunch to Washington Square West park!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this organic, vegan, soy-free ice cream sweetened with agave from Coconut Bliss. I can't wait for summer when I'm craving ice cream and won't feel guilt free when eating this. Available at Whole Foods.

And vegans beware! I saw these amazing-looking and very tempting donuts in the frozen aisle at Whole Foods, but upon closer inspection I see that eggs are listed twice in the ingredients. It says dairy-free...I don't know about you, but I consider eggs a dairy product. Make sure you read labels!

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

2010-02-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

People talking about Food

2010-02-10T11:14:00.000-05:00

People come over my house all the time and say, "oh you guys should totally watch Food Inc." We haven't watched it yet, only because we've been researching this stuff for over a decade. I'm vegan because of factory farming, and while in a perfect world everyone would be vegan, I know a 'perfect' world is also a non-reality.

Thankfully, to people like first lady Michelle Obama and food researcher and author Michael Pollan, people are talking and more people are starting to listen.
Michael Pollan appeared on Democracy Now on Monday. Tuesday, Michelle Obama talks to Larry King about childhood obesity. After listening to Pollan discuss Oprah's lawsuit with Big Beef, I was curious to see how deeply Michelle would delve into our food industry and she just barely grazed upon the subject matter. Larry seemed much more intent on finding out about life in the White House, instead of focusing on the issue. Probably no fault of either of them. Big Beef strongly discourages any flack on their industry, as we've seen in the Oprah case, which she has not broached since.

I'm happy to see food as a discussion in our society. After reading Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle I have a new respect for this Slow Food Movement and I'm a supporter of bringing back extinct breeds of livestock, versus factory farming. If that is what it takes for people to eat healthy. I like the idea of America re-inventing itself based on tradition.

What this country needs is more discussions about food, and to invigorate the public to make better choices. Healthy living costs more. I spend a lot of money on food, but since it's my health and future I'm investing in, it's a no brainer. I stopped thinking that I need a new pair of shoes, or a new bag and instead, buy lots of fresh produce, super-foods and supplements. Talking about food is the first step, now we must ALL put it into action. However you eat healthier, it's up to you, but fresh food is key. Banish prepared foods, processed foods and sugar and you will have a healthier, more fulfilling life of purpose. Both Pollan and Michelle Obama stress the importance of the family meal. This couldn't be more important. Take a step towards eating healthier today. Your body will thank you.

animal cruelty, Louis XIV style

2010-01-14T13:07:00.001-05:00

Here's a disturbing illustration of some archaic pig siren that used to make people like Marie Antoinette giggle like a school child. This got me riled up this morning but then I thought: we've come a long way. Long way to go, but at least we don't tie wires to pigs tails and make them scream for amusement

New York wants you to eat less salt

2010-01-12T10:35:00.000-05:00

Mayor Bloomberg wants all New Yorkers to eat less salt, thereby asking the restaurant industry to lower their salt usage. Wanna know what I think? Eat at home more! Make food yourselves! You have all the control over your diet this way. Have to eat out 3 meals a day 7 days a week? Well, besides there being much wrong with this lifestyle you also have no control over what goes into your body. However, order green salads with olive oil and vinegar, no added salt. In all the restaurants I've worked in, which tally over a dozen, any chef is willing to make a low-sodium meal upon request. Pretty soon, New Yorkers will be hand-fed tablespoons of mysterious green goo, if Bloomberg gets his way.
Stand up for yourselves and eat responsibly.

Snow fall means snow boots

2009-12-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

I've been avoiding buying snow boots for the entirety of my adult existence. With last weeks' huge storm dropping 23.2 inches in Philadelphia, it became painfully obvious that I need to purchase snow boots if I'm going to last the winter. After all it is only December! High top sneakers were just not cutting it, and wearing plastic baggies over my socks, although frugal, was just not fashionable.
The solution? Rubber Duck snow joggers.Can't afford $100 on snow boots? Check out their outlet section on the web site. Prices for last season's snow booots have been slashed in half. What a bargain. What else is so great about Rubber Duck? Cruelty free footwear for the snow bunny in all of us.

Give yourself warm cozy feet. They get enough abuse as it is.

Paula Dean & Ham in the Face

2009-11-23T19:16:00.000-05:00

This video of Paula Dean getting hit in the face with a ham cannot be any funnier! I have nothing against Paula Dean, and love that she was able to laugh it off like a true professional.

Paula, maybe that ham was getting its revenge!

Vegan issues on NYT

2009-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

I love this op-ed from NY Times. Finally someone who echoes my intent. Meat-eaters today are self-righteous, defensive gluttons with little remorse. I believe if you are going to eat meat, you should be able to kill and butcher it too, and I don't think many of my friends can do that. Eating out is a total drag these days and I do it only when I fee obligated, I simply cannot watch someone eat meat from a bone, smell it wafting over my plate as I lift a spoonful of veggies to my mouth or be around it in any capacity.
This piece hits the point home the fallacy of free-range. If you really care about the fate of animals on this planet than you wouldn't eat them. Period.

This author can count on one hand the number of vegan friends he has. It is a sad state of affairs when people are breaking their backs trying to get around their guilt, all so they can eat a piece of bloody flesh.

Adopt a turkey for the holidays! If your family doesn't thank you, well maybe they don't deserve it. But the turkeys thank you and that should be most important. Change it up a bit, buck tradition. This year, for Thanksgiving, my in-laws asked me to bring the vegan pot-pie I made last year, and it is so nice to be able to share healthy, delicious vegan meals that a whole family loves.

Over-fishing...is your sushi worth it?

2009-11-19T12:58:00.000-05:00

lately I'm obsessed with over-fishing, and it seems that my sentitments are echoed around the world. Listen to the NPR story here.
There are healthy fish to eat: tilapia, sardines, herring to name few. Leave the big tuna to the big sea and eat what can easily reproduce. Simple as that.

That not all...think that cigarette you've stumped out on the beach will just...disappear? Not only is your health at risk, but fish too! read more here. Of course nicotine is toxic...just remember where you dump your butts.

I'm taking on this crusade. Protect our oceans!

I heart Tony Gonzales

2009-11-12T09:29:00.001-05:00

It's really important for fellow football players to support PETA's initiatives. I love that Tony Gonzales is sticking it to Vick and other animal abusers by using his celebrity to bring attention to the atrocities of wearing fur. Go Tony! I'll root for you any day.

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2575
While you are at it, sign the anti-fur petition, and you'll never wear fur again.

A Whale of a Truce? : Discovery News

2009-11-10T15:30:00.001-05:00

A Whale of a Truce? : Discovery News

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So you're a pescatarian?

2009-11-06T18:04:00.001-05:00

So you're a pescatarian... Do you ever consider the impact that your meat-free, yet fish-filled diet has on the planet? Terry Gross on Fresh Air has a great 2 part expose on the fishing industry, how it is killing our planet and the not-so-romantic image of the swarthy fisherman.

I stopped eating fish as soon as I left the nest. Too many early mornings visiting lobster traps with my father before school marred the romantic image of fishing. But at least it was one man (and a girl) against the sea. I spent too many days witnessing the brutal harpooning and watching fish flap themselves lifeless to ever really enjoy a seafood meal, and for that I'm thankful. I'm thankful also that I was forced to watch my dad kill my pet chickens and force me to pluck it, because little did he know that there was a young vegan in the making. I have so many friends who have said, "I only eat fish" And I say to them, "well pretty soon you'll start feeling guilt about the over-fishing problem and you'll stop eating fish too."
In this interview the facts are indisputable. Gone is the image of the swarthy fisherman with a crew of 2, trying to eek out a living. Instead we have floating factories with underpaid workers in less-than-desirable conditions fishing our oceans dry. 80% of the fish consumed in the US are from foreign countries. We use technology originally used in wartime to locate submarines to find schools of fish. Trawlers, huge nets that boats tow behind them, are sometimes large enough to accommodate 6 jumbo jets. This is factory farming people! We are literally ripping ecosystems directly out of the ocean. We are eating fish faster than they can reproduce and giving nice-sounding names to things that really sound inedible. Oh and the jellyfish. Jellyfish will soon run the world if we don't watch it.

If you are interested in the environment, overfishing, vegan issues or simply curious about what the science says, take a listen. Hey, it might just change what you eat.

Larry King grills the Burger industry

2009-10-13T15:00:00.000-04:00

Last night on Larry King Live (LKL), the suspender-wearing journalist probed deep into the burger industry. Read the transcript here. Deaths from e-coli, especially in children, are on the rise and it's big beef's fault! Nearly everyone on the panel said that they don't eat burgers, with the exception of one woman who was obviously paid big bucks by big beef to extoll the virtues of an animal protein diet. In a nut shell, her argument went something like this: "It's so much easier to gulp down a burger than to actually think about eating sensibly"
Even Anthony Bourdain, self-professed carnivore, looks unfavorbaly on factory farming. I have a new-found love for Bourdain after a recent episode where he swore he would not take part in the slaughtering of animals for his tv show since he's been dating a vegetarian!

So what's the final word? Everyone, except for the paid-lobby lady, agrees that there needs to be a major overhaul in the meat industry in the US. that means more testing. 90% of our meat comes from factory farms, so if you think you are safe, read the label. Lucky for me, as a raw vegan, there are no worries, except for the run-off from factory farms infecting crops like spinach. Eat organic, know where your food comes from. If you must eat meat, raise a cow at a local farm, but please think twice about our beautiful cow-eyed friends before eating them!

Discovery News : Earth: It's The End of the World! It's an Alien Invasion! No, It's a Cloud.

2009-10-12T19:55:00.001-04:00

Discovery News : Earth: It's The End of the World! It's an Alien Invasion! No, It's a Cloud.

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end animal cruelty in Cananda

2009-09-24T13:25:00.000-04:00

I was contacted over on my blog, For the Love of Raw, by a fellow animal rights activist and advocate. Please visit this sight to sign a petition to end animal testing and seal blugdeoning in the otherwise awesome country of Canada. Let's get some action and see the end of unnecessary animal cruelty.

Sign the petition here.

Ride me, I'm Irish?

2009-09-22T18:12:00.003-04:00

I saw this Harley on the way to work a few weeks ago and have been waiting for it to reappear so I can share it. Look at the atrocious shamrock detail work on an otherwise beautiful bike. It's painful, but, hey it's not mine.

TOMS Shoes

2009-09-15T15:32:00.002-04:00

I'm loving these vegan-friendly fall boots from TOMS! Check out their site for other vegan options. Look sharp, live vegan.

TOMS Shoes

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kanye

2009-09-15T09:53:00.002-04:00

If I were to propose to boycott Kanye West after his incredibly stupid outburst on the VMA's the other evening, it would not affect my life at all. Kanye has always been a no-talent hack with songs for school kids. I always think of him as the new Diddy, someone who rips off samples and makes millions off of other peoples' talent. I also partially credit him with the demise of hip-hop, and I vow to spend part of my day listening to old Nas albums just to relish in decent hip hop that doesn't infect the airwaves. Besides being a major jerk, Kanye wears clown clothes and starts ridiculous trends, acts like an ass 9 out of ten times and oh yeah, he makes pretty young girls cry.
If I had kids, I would not let my children listen to his junky music and they would be much better off because of it. Lots of us tuned in to award shows in the late 80's and 90's looking for bad outfits and off-color remarks during acceptance speeches, but this was taking it a little too far. Perhaps he was trying to out-shine Lady Gaga, and in some respects he did, but not in a good way. Kanye, stay off the airwaves, stop making music and go hide in a cave until you learn to act like a man, because all you've proved over the last 5 years is you are nothing but a big, ugly baby.

Beyonce deserves major props for being such a classy lady, passing the torch to a new young person who is deserving of the awards that the people voted for.

Michael Vick, Sadistic Prick

2009-08-16T12:33:00.002-04:00

That's right people, say it loud! Michael Vick sadistic prick! Michael Vick sadisitic Prick!
Only the Philadelphia Eagles would hire a convicted felon to marshal this years' football season. Would the school board hire back a convicted felon as a teacher, would the government hire someone convicted of extortion? I wonder what morals the NFL is trying to pass onto their legions of disappearing fans. I'm disapointed in Philadelpia, again, but now that the dust has settled, I'm not surprised. It's not like I can boycott football, since I don't watch sports anyway. I don't even know why sports people are role models, but they are. Most kids think he's done his time and that he should be given a second chance. Everyone should be given a second chance, in life, but perhaps Vick should focus being a role model in animal advocacy instead of being given a second chance as a multi-million dollar contract player for another football team. Personally it makes me sick to think that a convicted felon, one who elecrocuted, hung and raped dogs is going to now be a starting quarterback for the football team that represents my city. Well it doesn't represent me, I'll tell you that. Martha Stewart cannot fly into London, Heathrow airport because she is a convicted felon, so why should Michael Vick be able to pour back into mainstream to be idolized? Michael Vick, sadistic prick...Michael Vick, sadisitic prick!!

the Great healthcare Debate

2009-08-11T21:00:00.003-04:00

Over my morning caffeine, I had the pleasure of watching Arlen Spector preside over a bunch of Pennsylvanians at a town hall in Lebanon. I know what PA is truly like, having lived here for over 15 years. I see the difference between the city people and the country folk. I was somewhat prepared for the misshapen 35-year-old who identified herself as a Republican and a Conservative and asked Sen. Spector to uphold the Constitution so that we don't turn into a Socialized country like Russia! I screamed at the television at that point, angrily sloshing my tea and feeling disgusted.

This opinion piece from NPR neatly sums up my feelings, and probably a whole lot of other peoples'. After hearing a sad story from my 65+ friend who recently had surgery, but is entirely active and able, that she might have to move into a senior building because of her medical bills. This from a woman who rides her bike all over the city and looks 50. Straight from the source and it broke my heart.

For cat owners: Automatic litter-box cleaners!

2009-08-01T19:17:00.004-04:00

My product rave of the summer has got to be my brand-new electric litter box cleaner for cats. I'm not so good at housework and even though I do my best to clean after the kitties, I'll be the first to admit that I don't do it enough. It's not fair to anyone; my cats, my boyfriend or myself.
At first I was hesitant to purchase it, because it is rather expensive and I don't know enough people who've had experiences with them in any capacity, other than one person who said all things great, so it is with great fanfare that I recommend
the Littermaid Elite Mega. I must say that my life has improved dramatically since. I eased my cats into it, first leaving both litter boxes side by side, and then sprinkling some of the old litter into the new litter box. Eventually, after about two days, the cats were using it and I was able to remove the old box. Hurray!
The machine is a little loud at first, but after a while you get used to it. My cats think it is a hoot. Both run and stare in awe at this magical rake that leaves their litter box clean, every time. I caught my calico frustratingly tugging at one part trying desperately how to figure out how it works; she is so smart. Clean up is a snap; all I have to do is empty this little container every other day. There is absolutely no odor, the cats seem to love it, and most importantly it has greatly improved our life. So for all you curious cat owners out there...
Highly recommended!

burnin' books in 2009

2009-07-22T18:39:00.004-04:00

Every few years a few maniacs come along who want to ban books. This time it is happening in Wisconsin, with brave and righteous elderly Christians at the helm who don't want to even so much as hear about gay-coming-of-age sexuality that they'd like to literally cease the existence of said book. Censorship is not what this country is about and when we go back to book burning we also go back to public flogging on the square.
The article states that some of these outraged elderly citizens are not library card holders and some are not from that particular town. I don't understand the meddling. Reading through the Amazon reviews, it becomes apparent to me that a.) this book was first published in 1995 b.) The author is an established teen serial writer, and c.)all the reviews I read were glowing, vibrant reviews, with one person warning about adult issues. My question is, what took these octogenarians so long? By this time, nearly everybody that wants to read this book, already has, and they are only increasing visibility to this once-dormant teen lit.
Besides the fact that censorship is un-American, I don't this it is very Christian either. Jesus wouldn't ban books.

minivan drivers (a passengers experience and log)

2009-07-08T12:38:00.004-04:00

Minivan drivers have got to be the world's worst drivers. After hours back and forth on the highway this weekend, I feel that I can attest to this fact. Driving on the highway, nearly every snafu, weird traffic pattern and/or congestion can be attributed to the minivan driver. Let's call them MV's. Up ahead a car is careening back and forth, weaving and bobbing in their lane, the culprit, yep a MV driver, probably swerving due to yelling at their unruly children in the backseats. Slow driver up ahead in the fast lane, a minivan driver? you bet! These people refuse to let fast cars pass and idly bide their time while an entire queue forms for miles for this one idiotic driver. Broken down vehicle on side of road? This weekend, not only was a rubber-necking MV driver the cause of the slowed traffic, but the broken down vehicle was also a minivan and I kid you not, a Hasidic Jew had also pulled over to take a picture of the minivan broken down. Hasidic Jews love Upstate New York and also make up a high-percentage of minivan drivers on the road.
I'm not sure what makes a MV driver worst than the rest of us. Could it be the awkward visibility? The steering column, mechanics. What I do know is that MV drivers are a different breed and after this weekend of passing every traffic jam due to a minivan driver, I'm convinced that if they all got off the road travelling would be a breeze. It became comical after a while because rarely was my theory incorrect. I think they need to be re-tested because they are running on their own set of rules.

4th of July musings

2009-07-02T13:02:00.003-04:00

I'm not a fan of July 4th and I'll tell you why. Barbecues, people, barbecues. I can't recall a smell more offensive than that of a rotting, raw corpse upon which someone has smothered a greasy, red sauce and intends to call dinner hours later. Living in a tiny shot-gun apartment doesn't make it any easier. Anticipating all my neighbors grilling meats, especially those using that chemical fire-starter, has me shuddering with rage already. My weekend, inevitably, is either spent gagging on the odor or shut inside my hot apartment with doors and windows sealed tightly as waves of rotting meat stench roll by my windows, seeping in cracks and making me miserable. If people can't smoke cigarettes inside, than maybe they shouldn't cook meat outside. I think, and this is a big one, that I'd rather smoke a cigarette then be exposed to toxic meat smell. Walking home every day, I can pin-point the restaurants that contribute the most carcinogens to the environment and I wonder if normal people have any idea how offensive this stuff really is!
Even though I'm escaping out of the city this year, I recall last summer, where the same thing happened at an open camp ground. We could hardly find anywhere to settle down to eat our delicious, raw vegan picnic due to the mass-hysteria of barbecuing on July 4th.
Some people say, aw suck it up. I say, next time someone lights a toxic can of ass under your window, you can suck it up, buster. Cheers, and happy fourth to those individuals who find a quiet, undisturbed, unscented spot upon which to eat their nature's bounty.

Wanna be startin' something

2009-06-25T20:31:00.004-04:00

Today I stepped in a big, juicy wad of gum, sitting in the blazing hot sun on the sidewalk where I picked up a City Paper to use as padding for a package I was about to send. "Bleeping Bleep!" I yelled, angry, fuming for the next thirty minutes as I could feel my shoe stick ever-so-slightly to the sidewalk below. In line at the post-office I could faintly smell sweat mingled with peppermint chewing gum. "Bleep!"
When I stepped into the office my co-worker told me, "Farrah Fawcett is dead." Heartbroken, I mused, "I guess stepping in gum isn't so bad."
Later, at my other job, my friend was looking at a blog that said Michael Jackson was dead. No Way! I said, but sure enough he's gone too. Walking home I saw a candlelit vigil in Rittenhouse Park, and I was wondering if it was for Farrah, Neda, or Michael Jackson.
I still have that gum stuck to my shoe.

'Sup Republicans?

2009-06-24T18:34:00.003-04:00

What is going on with Republicans and infidelity? That Senator in the gay bathroom incident, that Senator from Nevada last week and today that guy from South Carolina. Seriously there's a trend and I'm kind of enjoying the show...play on boys!

Shower Curtain On-Demand

2009-06-01T18:52:00.003-04:00

Wow, I wish I had thought of this idea. Get your favorite photo on a shower curtain! Supposedly they are non-fade and machine washable. Better be for $200! Still, this is a great idea.

All about the 80's

2009-05-28T10:31:00.006-04:00

I'm all about the 80's and 90's house music lately. Can't get enough. I'm not embarrassed about it either. Last night I downloaded Crystal Water's Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) and cannot stop listening to it. Ce Ce Peniston, KLF and Black Box are making a comeback, and I am totally digging it.
Another very 80's thing I'm obsessed with is neon, so I was more-than pleased when I opened the new Victoria's Secret catalog and saw neon tank tops. I snagged one in day-glow yellow. They make dresses and tops too! Warning: don't wear if you are trying to lay low.
Also really into Roseanne re-runs.

One thing that isn't cool and please God don't let it catch on: Neon scrunchies from American Apparel. Not cool. Scrunchies were never cool. I want to say "Run for the Hills", but in the hills they are still wearing the original scrunchie. I fear this scrunchie implosion as much as Uggs.
Say no to the scrunchie!

backyard chicks

2009-05-21T15:47:00.003-04:00

I came across this story on NPR today. Thought some of you urban urchins with a penchant for nature would find this interesting. My co-worker gets green eggs from his CSA and here's why.
I'm not gonna start eating eggs or anything, but man would I love to hug a chick. And I also wouldn't be opposed to raising chickens for eggs-for-profit, but I think my fire escape has enough going on right now without an added chicken coop.

When I was a little girl, we had a backyard chicken coop just like these newbies. Only my family did it to save money, and probably for the animals too. I had to clean the chicken coop every day as my chore, harvest the eggs and feed the birds. There's a fabulous photo of me, age 3, with a huge bird in my arms. (sigh). Nowadays, people are doing it more to avoid additives and ensure quality. I think it is awesome.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104304441&ft=1&f=1001

caught me a possum

2009-05-07T17:17:00.005-04:00

As if this week wasn't hectic enough! Over the last year, I've tried my hand at gardening, trying to exorcise my black-thumb for a green one and do my daddy proud. Lo and behold I was successful at a few herbs but mainly delicious red tomatoes. Only...I would eye a delicious orb that would be of the perfect ripeness and the following day, when I went to pluck the fruit, I'd discover that it had a gigantic bite out if it. Thus began my problems with Peter Possum. Not only did he eat my crops, he showed me his under-belly and his long rat tail by climbing up my window grate. Not a sight to see at midnight. At least once a week since the debacle began a year ago, have I seen him. He's not afraid to sit and stare, hiss and harass my cats and basically be an all-around nuisance.
I'm an animal lover, first and foremost and after calling around various Philly humane animal rescue and quoted a fat $375, I decided to take matters into my own hands. With my friendly neighbors support, (the whole neighborhood is involved at this point, which kind of makes me like Philly again), we've borrowed a humane trap.
Yesterday I baited the trap with a juicy juicy apple and today, he is there, inside the trap. Tonight, Peter, you will leave the city and enjoy a country life. City living has you far too comfortable and I need to grow my garden.

ADDENDUM: Releasing the possum was the biggest concern I had. I honestly didn't know how to let him out of the cage. Would he be viscous and bite me? After pocketing my identification and my insurance card, I brought him downstairs and into the trunk of the car, covered in a dark plastic the whole time. We took our time while driving, avoiding huge pot-holes and, once we arrived at our undisclosed location where I know for a fact opossums thrive, we shuttled him out to the woods. I in my gardening gloves and long-sleeves with a big stick, and J with nothing but bare hands. Eventually we rolled the trap on its upside and watched our possum, tentatively at first, hop away into the wild. Free at last.

Tweets are for kids

2009-04-28T16:18:00.003-04:00

Is anyone else totally sick of twitter invading their space? CNN and all the other networks have a constant stream of tweets from the illiterate and unemployed. Why would I care what someone who spells believe as 'beleave' thinks? Really CNN Really. What about the news? If I wanted to know what other twitterers think I'd be on twitter, but I'm not, yet I'm still burdened by the mass of non-news and opinions of ingrates. Uninformed twitters on swine flu is not informative. Give me news, give me facts but don't show me tweets.
Tweets are for kids.

The Organic Myth

2009-04-11T11:38:00.004-04:00

Farming isn't something so alien to me. Even though I'm a city girl, currently working on my own container garden, I can still recall the days when I was forced out of bed at an early hour before school, to help my Dad in the small, but manageable garden that would feed our family of five for the better part of the year, squishing potato bugs for a penny each, and yanking threatening weeds before they overtook our precious harvest. Across the street was a larger plot of land used by a local farmer, where he usually planted corn, pumpkins or beans that were regularly visited by a giant winged John Deere contraption, set on eliminating those very things we despised in our own garden.
Of course we borrowed corn from this field until our own were ready, and the difference in taste is still remarkable. The loving care we put into our own vegetables was so good you could taste it. Literally.
Listening to my friend recently opine how she only eats organic meat and only organic all the time, made me realize how ignorant most of the world is regarding the organic food boom. Organics take time, commitment and loving care and attention, so how do super-stores like Wal-mart and even Whole Foods for that matter, stock their shelves? I'm not saying I don't shop at Whole Foods, of course I do, it's conveniently nearly next door to my home and that is another issue for another time, but when compared with local produce bought at farmer's markets, produce bought at any of these super-stores pales in comparison. Why? Because when companies like Chiquita or Green Giant start producing organic foods your mind has to ask questions about its origins. Surely no human hand is systematically squishing bugs between their fingers for quality control, right?
To maintain quality, these huge companies have successfully lobbied to the USDA to incorporate some type of pesticide control for their quote unquote organic crops.Food companies have standards, which explain why all tomatoes are nearly the exact same size, and anyone who has experience with their own farm knows that is simply not the case. What happens to all these 'ugly ducklings'? Independent farmers struggle with keeping up with industry standards set up by these mega-giant producers.
The USDA has made it virtually impossible for small locally-based farms to certify their product organic, yet these small farms produce a far more healthy version than the type of stuff that is available to the mass market. The reason the USDA allows these lax restrictions is that as a business, they are in trouble. More people are trying to control what they put in their bodies. The government provides stipends to the large companies, but not the small independents who deserve it and the cost of certifying one vegetable far exceeds the profits some small farms might make all year. Fed up yet?
Well the meat industry is far dirtier and sordid. Even though your chicken might be free-range or organic, the term carries very little value in the real world. Big Beef, Chicken and Pork have manipulated this market to meet their ideals. It literally angers me to hear people talking so ignorantly that they only eat free-range when they have no idea what it actually means. Free range does not automatically dictate an open pasture where chickens peck to their hearts content. It means the there is a door that leads to an area where they might be allowed to roam in a mud-soaked, vitamin deprived atmosphere. The more interest people have in eating guilt-free food, the more lobbies will be presented the the USDA to thwart your efforts. I applaud Whole Foods for bringing free-range to the public vocabulary, but unless you want Whole Foods to become as ubiquitous as Wal-mart, people better start challenging their food sources regularly. I remember when I was young, my family raised a cow at a neighboring farm, that we visited quite regularly. My parents should have known then that I was vegetarian, since I would look into our giant freezer and cry over my friend Bessie, lying in peices. That said, allowing a local farm to raise your beef is probably your best option, if you can eat it!
Your best bet is to talk to your locals. My favorite farmer last year was a very kind Amish man who talked to us for 20 minutes about his special lettuces, rare breeds and varieties. We walked away with enough to tide us over til the following week to see what else he came up with. We ended up visiting him all summer, always coming home with an heirloom vegetable or some other vegetable that literally inspired awe.
My partner and I can't wait until we start our weekend dates of biking to the nearest farmers market, sampling the produce and asking questions to the caretakers of the beautiful bounty, excited about our choices, plannning the weekly menu, all without a shred of guilt at supporting unethical foods from unethical sources.

Alert! Babycakes new book!

2009-04-04T11:20:00.007-04:00

Amazon.com: BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery: Erin McKenna

Probably the high-point of my Manhattan existence, was being able to visit the vegan Babycakes bakery in Lower Manhattan. Part of what makes Babycakes so unique is that they focus on gluten-free cupcakes and other baked goods. All items are dairy free, some made with spelt, but all are delicious and gentle on your tummy, which is why it is probably easy to eat two or three cupcakes in one sitting. When I took my friends, I think each of us ended up with a bakers dozen that lasted a day or two. So hard to resist. Walking into Babycakes is an experience to mention; all the girls are wearing cute fifties-style aprons and the place is a super-chic little 50's bakery. Worth it if you are in town!
Can't make it to their storefront? Now you too, can make Babycakes cupcakes in your own kitchen. Word on the street is they are also opening a Los Angeles location, lucky Californians!
Preorder your babycakes cookbook here.

Looking for a way to incorporate delicious baked goods back into your diet? Well, this might be the book for you. Recommended for families, people with food allergies and...vegans!

shiraleah vegan bags

2009-04-02T12:50:00.002-04:00

I'm in love with the Shiraleah brand. Shiraleah products are kind of ubiquitous in the Philadelphia area. Open House, Blendo and a couple other boutique stores in Philadelphia carry the brand. Shiraleah bags, clutches, wallets and other items are vegan! They also have a nice home decor selection using recycled products, including chairs from newspaper, and plastic rugs from recycled plastic. AND it won't break the bank.
Right now, Shiraleah is donating 3% of their proceeds to disabled children in Vietnam.

I scored a super-hot mustard yellow Chloe knock-off at Blendo, 1002 Pine St, Philadelphia.

I love you Mary Jane

2009-03-19T13:14:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, in that free little paper, the Metro, there was an article introducing the possibility of legalizing pot for the city of Philadelphia. State rep Mark B Cohen supports this idea, but sees little public support. Say What? I did, what apparently many others did. I contacted Mark Cohen and offered to help get this bill on the ballot. What kind of help are we talking about? Let's start by getting some signatures. I have yet to hear from Cohen, but in today's Metro, he said he received thousands of contacts through facebook and other networking sites.
If you live in Philadelphia and support this idea, now is a time to be heard. On a day when Mayor Nutter announced a miserable financial outlook, I think it's either time for serious change or a mass exodus from this city. If you are tired of living in the shadows of New York and DC, then maybe this idea isn't such a bad one. Tax dollars, for one, would pour into the city, and wouldn't you just love a place to chill out at, a leisure cafe a la Amsterdam, Toronto, and Vancouver. Philadelphia could be a destination. Can you imagine? And businesses would blossom, money would pour into our poor city.

What can you do? Contact Rep Mark Cohen. Join PA Norml and march in this spring's annual marijuana march this may. Most importantly: Be Heard!

Word of the Day

2009-03-13T21:57:00.005-04:00

Ki Ki - When two drag queens have sex.

I learned this interesting factoid off my new favorite show, RuPaul's Drag Race, shown on VH1 and Logo channels.
Not to be missed!It's not too late to start watching.

What!? Foie Gras Week!?

2009-03-12T09:02:00.005-04:00

Yep, you read correctly. Next week marks the start of Philadelphia's Foie Gras Week. While other places like the city of Chicago and the state of California have banned the sale of foie gras in stores and restaurants, this backward city is celebrating this archaic brand of animal torture.
For a list of restaurants to avoid, see here. Again, I wonder, how can I live in this unhealthy city that was put on the map for another vulgar specialty, the cheesesteak.
I like to compare foie gras eaters with Hummer drivers. People think they look good eating their engorged, toxic liver, but they really look like insensitive brutes, kind of like SUV drivers! The car industry is working hard to make economical, responsible cars, so why are we still eating foie gras? huh? Can't foie gras farmers farm stuff like ...vegetables! Move forward!
One person defending the foie gras industry asks why protesters don't protest McDonalds or KFC. uhh, we do, we don't eat there and have you checked out PETA's website lately, it's an ongoing campaign? duh. Do your research before saying something ignorant.
Oh Philadelphia, you disgust me.

Sea Mammals, News and abuse

2009-03-10T14:49:00.004-04:00

I'm always a sucker for a good documentary and the new film that NatGeo channel is showing right now on the fate, plight and habits of the Blue Whale did not disappoint. Highlights include beautiful footage of blue whales up close and personal. Also footage of scientists posing as customers at a seafood market where whale meat is sold in Japan. Because they are mammals, their meat is highly prized and resembles beef. That had never occurred to me, and even more, I'm inspired to end whale hunting once and for all.
Japan, Norway and Iceland all support whale hunts for research, and this doc reveals that Japan imported whale meat from North American waters, one no-no, and also that they speared a rare hybrid whale for their endeavors.

On a similar note, PETA is launching a huge campaign to stop the bludgeoning of baby seals in Canada in conjunction with the proposed 2010 Olympics. Check out their website to get active, write a letter to the Olympic Committee to get them to see the light. As much as I love Canada for being progressive in many respects, they really can't be taken seriously in my eyes, Morrissey's and countless others until they stop this senseless, bloody slaughter and I said as much in my letter sent yesterday.

Write a letter, get active. It's free, and makes you feel good while accomplishing your personal and universal goals!

Our Daily Bread

2009-02-20T09:47:00.005-05:00

Our Daily Bread is a haunting, relatively new documentary about the modern food business. Visually stunning and often disturbing, this film is not for the faint of heart. As a vegan for many years, I couldn't bear to watch the scenes of abuse and slaughter unfold yet another time before my eyes, and I ended up fast-forwarding through the animal scenes and focused instead on the farming. If you could call it that. Gone are the farmers on their hands and knees, weeding their crops and caring for their plants. Here to stay are GMO crops looking slightly alien, yet identical to the thousands of others under the same roof. I found myself gazing at the beautiful symmetry of the hydroponic greenhouse, comparing it to the pyramids at the Louvre. Gigantic machines spray pesticides, thrash wheat, while workers at night quickly pluck and wrap cabbages while the machine dictates their progress. Farming is no longer romanticized in this vision of food production.
Memorable scenes include one where a huge industrial crop waterer spread its wings like a giant, graceful pterodactyl. Beautiful sunflowers are covered in a haze of pesticides.
Disturbing scenes include a baby chick processing plant where women unfeelingly toss baby chicks into a giant machine which takes them through a crazy amusement park-like ride until, presumably their death. Farmed fish swimming like sardines in a can, never given the opportunity to swim free and have a chance at life.
Despite the beauty of the film, I was left feeling dirty and sad. For most people living on a modest budget, there is little one can do to avoid the commercial food chain. Alex Jones, yesterday on his podcast on Infowars.com, was speaking of a future, fifty years from now, where we will all be vegans, not by choice, but because there will be no room to raise animals and of a future where all our food comes from genetically modified sources controlled by the government. Now is the best time to try your hand at container gardens for city-dwellers and more ambitious planting for those fortunate enough to own green space. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes, but the most important thing when choosing your food is knowing where it came from, not necessarily organic, since the big producers are getting around federal guidelines and establishing their own, but local, farm-raised produce, picked and raised by loving human hands.
I'm thankful that I no longer eat meat, so I don't feel the guilt that often accompanies meat consumption, but I also feel the duty to raise my own food to keep various strains of vegetables alive, until they take that from us too.

Oh yeah, and the best part of this film? Even though it is a foreign film, there are no subtitles; the machines do the talking.

Seen on Rittenhouse Square

2009-02-19T09:57:00.002-05:00

I can't tell you how many times I'm behind someone on the street as they throw out their wrapper to their big mac or cigarettes. Often, I fume with anger and mutter unintelligible things behind their backs, but sometimes I actually say stuff. I don't understand why someone would throw trash on the street when there are two trash cans on either side of the block. Laziness? Some sort of culture barrier? A secret effort to keep Philly dirty and rough-n-tumble? It's time to grow up Philadelphia. Some neighborhoods are showing their true colors.

Yesterday I saw a solar powered trash compactor in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Wow, I thought; the only neighborhood where people actually put trash in trash cans gets this newfangled contraption. Neat.
Now if we can only get people to actually us it.
Read more here.
On the slate: Teaching people how to properly use a trash can.

Nutrition tips from a beached whale

2009-02-09T10:43:00.002-05:00

This morning on Rachel Ray, beached whale Winona Judd gives nutrition tips. I'm sorry, but if someone with two chins is giving you tips on how to eat healty, run, as fast as you can, to the nearest salad bar.

exlusive:word usage

2009-02-08T10:03:00.003-05:00

Exclusive: a piece of news, or the reporting of a piece of news, obtained by a newspaper or other news organization, along with the privilege of using it first.

All day long I hear on the news, "join us for our exclusive interview with ________ tomorrow evening". The thing is, every network says the same thing. Rachel Maddow made fun of herself last week, saying she had an exclusive interview with Rod Blagoyevich, adding, the she was the only person on her network at that time slot to host the interview, making light of the fact that there wasn't a soul he wasn't willing to talk with. What I'm getting at is, the word exclusive prompts me to wonder if this term isn't overused. Katie Couric is hosting an exclusive interview with the pilot that landed in the Hudson weeks ago, but wait, wasn't Larry King the first person to interview him, like over two weeks ago? Please clarify, oh holy media.

What's with this exclusivity. Networks want you to think they have the only word, even though it has already been broadcast all over the place all week. I'm not challenging the media or anything, I just wish they'd stop exploiting the English language for their express purposes.

Sign O' the Times: depression II

2009-01-23T10:25:00.002-05:00

I was having a conversation with my boss not too long ago. During the Great Depression, her in-laws were seriously hurting, everyone was in those days. Sharing what you could, what you had to offer, was often all you had. This family used to pay a woman 1-3 cents to brush their hair. It's not like they needed someone to brush their hair, nor did they have two pennies of their own to rub together, yet it was this sharing that helped keep people going and helped keep communities tight.

Yesterday, I saw a shoe shine man, going door to door to luxury businesses, shining shoes in doorways and I was reminded of this story. To me, this looked like a bad sign of times to come. Pretty soon, we will start seeing hookers in the streets again, (I've seen them on 12th and Pine recently) and people will be wanting to wash your windsheilds with dirty rags again. I guess, if you can give, you should, because things are taking a turn for the worse.

Rumor has it

2009-01-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

Word on the street is that the Fair Food Farm Stand in Reading Terminal Market will be moving to the former home of Rick's Steaks! Yay, more visibility to veggies. Front and Center.
Rick's is moving to the basement at the Bellevue, and I'm more than happy to get that stench out of the market. While I'm happy that the farm stand is moving to a far-more visible spot in the market, I hope that they still have stuff left for my lazy bones when I get there at 3 in the afternoon.
Look for it happening soon.

Big Box lunch at KFC

2009-01-21T11:11:00.003-05:00

When I first saw this Variety Big Box lunch from KFC advertised, my first thought was total disgust. I mean, have you looked at this lunch, that is meant to feed one human? No wonder we have an obesity problem on our hands. Who eats this crap? And more importantly who encourages us to eat this?
Who can possibly fit this in their body. Answer, many more Americans than you can imagine. And probably an entire village in Africa.
Who needs 3 types of fried chicken with a biscuit, gravy and mac-n-cheese? I guess obese people think they do, or at least that's what KFC is gonna tell you. What ever happened to a balanced plate? Where are the veggies? Oh, that skinny green leaf in that bulky sandwich hardly counts. And coleslaw slathered in artery-clogging mayo hardly constitutes a vegetable.

Oh KFC, just because you've so courageously stopped debeaking birds does not mean you have to serve more to the masses. It's counterproductive. And you are hurting people by serving this. Heart-attack on a plate, coming up.

How cold is it?

2009-01-18T09:53:00.001-05:00

It is so cold that when I went to use the bathroom at work yesterday the water in the toilet was frozen. Yikes!

out on the town; living the vegan loca

2009-01-14T15:28:00.006-05:00

Over the last couple weeks, I've found myself venturing out on the town a bit more than usual. I've been hunkered down most of the season, eating at home most nights because I've been so involved in the raw foods lifestyle to take notice of much else. I might as well be an alien in my own city, as raw foods are very elusive. Birthdays, holidays and a general malaise over the state of affairs has taken me to the streets.

Last week, my friends and I checked out Apothecary, or APO bar as it is confusingly referred to. Let me just preface by saying that my friends were certain they had walked straight into a scene from The Shining, complete with a weird, Frankensteinian bartender, but all that aside, it is worth checking out.
Apothecary makes drinking seem healthy. I indulged in one concoction made for healthy skin, with organic vodka, cucumber juice, aloe vera and a bunch of other little ingredients encased in amber vials and employed with droppers.
My friends had other cocktails made with gin and tequila, both chock full of ingredients I like to see, like lemon verbena, echinacea and Valerian. I'm hooked on APO bar and am secretly planning my June birthday on their roof deck.

After cocktails, we mosied across the street to Bindi, a nouveau Indian restaurant and byob. A delicious bottle of chilean reisling complemented the spicy dishes. I chose Bindi, because I always notice they have a vegan option. Not the night I went, alas, but the staff was quite knowledgeable about what my options were. Even though I could have had the pumpkin curry, I'm on a strict no-tofu diet and opted instead for this massive vegan sampler dish that I could've easily finished if I didn't feel like such a pig. For a starter I had a salad of beet and jicama with a minty, tamarind dressing that was killer (and raw!). The entree consisted of about 9 little silver tureens, including chutney, chana, lentil bread, delicious basmati rice with raisins and a whole host of other treats. The only item I wasn't crazy about was the bread, because it was obviously deep-fried, which I avoid at all costs, and tasted like burnt oil. I will definitely will make the trip back. It's so hard to eat Indian vegan, because of the oft-heavy-handed ghee in vegetarian dishes, that has left me very ill in the past, so I'm happy to find this wonderful little place that went the extra mile for vegans.

Later in the week, I checked out a new vegetarian restaurant in Philadelphia, Mi Lah on 16th between Locust and Walnut. The place is simple and should succeed as a nice place to lunch in center city. I should first preface by saying that there was only one item on the menu that was vegetarian, all else was vegan, all desserts vegan and it is byob. yippee, more for me.
I ended up with a great spinach salad with avocado and mango with a slightly spicy dressing (raw), you can get salads in two sizes which a another good option. I also tried the pad thai which was everything you could ever want in pad thai. All the flavors melted together and made my mouth very happy. I will definitely be making Mi Lah my new place to meet for lunch.
Although it might sound like it has an Asian flare, it really doesn't, with dishes like African stew, pot pie, pizzas and sandwiches peppering the menu. The chef, formerly worked at Philadelphia's Horizon's vegan restaurant, which gives him eve more clout, in my book.

Provided I have no other birthdays or events in the coming weeks, I will be strictly concentrating on new raw creations, but it is also wonderful to see and support vegan ventures in my carnivorous city.

word to the wise; spreading the wealth

2009-01-14T14:54:00.003-05:00

I was speaking with an acquaintance the other day about this horrible state of affairs our economy is in. We've just watched about 4 stores close on our block and the scent of fear is in the air.
She said, that although only one of her friends has been laid off so far, no one she knows is spending money.
Do you love that little boutique where you used to buy those cute t-shirts all the time. Well it's not gonna be there if you don't support it. I walk down busy retail avenues all the time, and each day, notice that one more has bitten the dust. I don't want my favorite soap store, gift shops or wine bars to close, and while I can't afford to spend money every day, I try to remember that since I do have a job and a steady income, these people need our support. So, next time you go to Target, or better yet, the Internet) for some cheap supplies you can also get at a neighborhood shop, think about the dozens of lives you are affecting by your decision, the impact on the value of your home in said neighborhood and the cost of shopping corporate. If you like the way little shops line your street and city, well, brace yourself, because pretty soon it might just all be Targets and Walmarts and we'll all look like little ugg-clad clones. Spend a little, save a lot.

The media won't tell you to spend right now, but you owe your community a little something, especially if you want that community to be in a good position when this all blows over.

Lollibomb rocks

2008-12-30T14:13:00.004-05:00

My veg-curious friend gave me the best gift this Christmas: A collection of body creams from cruelty-free Brooklyn-based company Lollibomb! (This same friend, in the past year, has reduced her red meat and poultry intake almost entirely and confessed to me that she really feels a difference in her energy level, her complexion and general health. (yay veg!))
Back to Lollibomb: this vegan bath and body company whips up some deliciously scented, seriously creamy body butters. I'm not usually a fan of sweet body spreads, but this time around the winds have changed. So far I've indulged in Sweet Vanilla Bean and Sugar Rush body frosting, which nearly resembles actual frosting in texture, and I become pleasantly surprised, hours later knowing that I've carried that scent with me all day. It's not over powerful, but a little bit does go a long way. My skin is already softer and I smell good enough to eat!
Lollibomb for everyone. Check out their website for ridiculous flavors like Frosted Donuts and Gingerbread.

Vegan Pot Pie

2008-12-29T10:06:00.002-05:00

I love a savory, steaming delicious pot pie. This year, although I've been raw for almost 9 months, I decided to stick with what I know people enjoy and make a vegan pot pie for Christmas Dinner.
I choose to use spelt flour, because it has more nutrients and is easier to digest than wheat flour. I also chose to use tempeh, because it is delicious and unprocessed. You can use tofu, if you prefer.

Vegan Pot Pie:
2 potatoes, diced (1 red, 1 white)
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 C chopped yellow onion
1 C chopped carrots
4 C cubed tempeh * see note
1/2 C frozen peas
1/2 C frozen green beans
1 TBSP fresh parsley, minced

Gravy
1 vegetable bouillon, dissolved in 2 Cups boiling water
2 1/2 TBSP shoyu
1 tsp dried herbs (sage, thyme, oregano)
2 TBSP cornstarch or 4 tbsp arrowroot
1/4 C rice milk
salt and pepper

Crust:
1 C organic spelt flour
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 C olive oil
1-2 TBSP ice water *must be iced!

*note: Start by boiling tempeh for 10 minutes, set aside to cool and dice into small bite-sized pieces.
Thaw frozen vegetables during this time.

Boil diced potatoes in salted water until just tender. Drain and set aside.
Saute onions and carrots in heated saucepan until onions are translucent and carrots are tender. Transfer to a casserole dish. I use an 8x8 2 Quart baking dish. Add potatoes, tempeh and parsley.

Make gravy in small saucepan on stove top. Combine veg stock, shoyu, herbs, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and whisk in cornstarch or arrowroot until sauce begins to thicken. This should take a about 1 minute. Add more thickening agent if mixture doesn't thicken. Slowly whisk in rice milk and take off heat. Pour mixture into casserole dish.

Preparing the crust is simple.
Combine salt and flour in food processor, pulsing until well-mixed. Add oil and process until mixture is crumbly. Slowly add water, with machine running until mixture forms a ball. Roll ball onto lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness or until large enough to cover casserole dish.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until crust becomes slightly browned. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Delicious.

This recipe serves 6-8 comfortably and is great for pot-luck dinners or as another side dish for the carnies.

holiday shuffle

2008-12-29T09:44:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted on Musings, but I've been busy over at For the Love of Raw. For delicious tips on the raw stuffed mushrooms from Christmas Eve dinner, see Mushroom Love
The holidays totally wiped me out, between working retail, shopping and preparing a menu for two different dinners with my partners' family, I'm lucky I'm still standing.
After being reminded how much they loved my oatmeal cookies last year, I decided to make a huge batch of cookies for Christmas Eve, along with a delicious vegan pot pie for Christmas Day. December 23rd rolls around and wouldn't you know it, my oven is broken. Hardly a surprise, considering I haven't even turned it on since going raw in April!
The cookies never made it to Christmas Eve, but they did make it into an oven on Christmas.
The recipe is simple and one of my favorites. These cookies are so good, I recommend making at least two batches:

Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips (or Raisins) (OR both!)
1 C Spelt Flour
1 C organic rolled oats
3/4 C maple syrup
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon

1/3 C water
1/4 C safflower oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 whole vanilla bean, seeds scraped from inside.

3/4 C vegan chocolate chips, or raisins, or combo of both

Preheat oven to 350'. Coat baking sheets with oil.

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. Set aside.
Mix wet ingredients in small bowl.
Stir wet mixture gradually into dry ingredients until well mixed. Add chips and/or raisins until well-mixed.

Drop cookies on sheet using two teaspoons to make uniform-sized cookies, about 1 dozen per sheet.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.
Let sit on sheet until slightly cool.
Continue until all cookies are baked. Serve warm, they will be a crowd-pleaser!

*note: I especially love this recipe because it contains heart-healthy oatmeal and warming cinnamon. It is surprisingly low in fat, contains no soy products and no refined sugar. No one will ever know they are eating a cookie that might actually be good for them!

See following post for Vegan Pot Pie

Adopt a Turkey

2008-11-25T11:55:00.005-05:00

In direct response to Sarah Palin's unfortunate choice of where she chose to stand while pardonning Turkey's in Alaska, I thought now is as good a time as any to remind you that one of the best gifts you can give this year is life. In case you didn't see it, and I urge those who are sensitive to animal cruelty to simply take my word for it, as it was horrifying; Mrs. Palin stood in front of a turkey grinder so that all the world could watch live turkeys getting shoved down a bloody grinder shoot while she stood on a pedestal and spared the life of just a few. First of all, how insensitive. And haven't we had enough of her already?

Adopting a turkey is easy and there are more than a few places to do it. The Farm Sanctuary is a great place to start and you can even visit the turkey you chose to sponser so you can see your dollars at work. Last year, when I visited, all the turkeys, although extrememly breast-heavy thanks to genetic modifications, were so happy to see humans that cared. The turkeys were probably one of the best parts of my visit to the sanctuary.

So while you watch your friends and family shove turkey down their gullet over the next week or so, at least you can have the piece of mind that you helped save the life of a helpless creature. Want to stir up a little trouble over the holidays? Sponsor one for an insenstive family member as a holiday gift this year.

Heard on the radio

2008-11-23T18:31:00.003-05:00

The secret is out of the bag. Vegetarianism helps the planet!
On NPR today, just in time for the glutinous holidays, an impressive chunk of time was devoted to a show about vegetarianism, health and global warming. The segment was called, Healthy Planet, Healthy People, and focused on how what is good for the planet is actually good for us too. They discuss how going vegetarian is the easiest thing you can do to counteract global warming. At least on privately-funded radio we can still seek the truth. I hope they do this every Sunday.
Included in the segment are interviews with vegetarians and their personal experience as to why they chose that path. Even though animal cruelty is a big motivator for some of us, sometimes health and science are also factors. It's interesting to hear other points of view and a wide range of topics all converging around my favorite subject: Vegetarianism. The show also offers advice to those who are interested in changing their eating habits, so I recommend it to newbies. I must add my two cents, however. They recommend taking it slow, like cut out bacon this month, sausage the next, and so on 'til you're meat free. I recommend cold tofurky. I understand maybe eliminating red meat, then chicken and fish, and perhaps that might be an option for you, but try to nip that bad habit in the bud and just end your relationship with the burger. Meat will probably end up grossing you out before you know it anyway.
Think about what you eat this Thursday on Thanksgiving, and bring a veg option to dinner, just in case. Remember, Mother Earth will thank you.

Staying fit over the holidays

2008-11-22T10:38:00.003-05:00

This is usually the time of year that I notice a couple extra pounds on my body with a shrug, oh well, I'll lose it after the holidays. I'm not alone in this response.
Here are some veg-friendly tips for staying fit over the next few months.

If you do the cooking, you have more control over what you eat. Have dinner at your house. Opt for steamed greens and squash with cold-pressed oils and fresh herbs, in lieu of rich casseroles or complicated dishes. The flavor and simplicity of the veggies outweighs those complicated, fattening recipes. This is the time of year you can splurge on high-quality exotic oils like macadamia and avocado to add extra flavor. I like to sprinkle veggies with raw sesame seeds for an extra crunch. If you are visiting family, bring your own healthy dish or two so you can enjoy those while eating just a taste of the others. My favorite: steamed kabocha squash with parsley, olive oil and sesame. It's a hit!

Bring a meat alternative: Last year I brought vegetable pot pie to my carnivorous "in-laws'". I made a spelt crust and filled the pie with loads of fresh veggies. I was more than surprised to see nearly everyone take a helping and hearing the oohs and ahhs. Some people even took two helpings. Make a lot, you'll be surprised how willing people are to try the veg option.

Stay away from soy margarine and stick with heart-healthy oils and herbs. Make mashed potatoes with olive oil; even soy milk and soy butter will add extra calories. I like to place a dish of oil mixed with salt and herbs in the fridge until it turns hard and use this as a delicious buttery spread.

Say no to the roll. Offer baskets of pita wedges or homemade flax bread. If you are eating stuffing this holiday, then all the more reason to avoid that bread, there is no need to double-down. Keep in mind, oftentimes at Thanksgiving, stuffing is prepared inside the turkey. Gross! This year I'm going to take a stab at a raw nut-based stuffing with flax seeds and seasonings. I'll keep you posted with a recipe following the holiday.

Be inventive with cranberry sauce. One year my friend arrived at Thanksgiving with the most delicious homemade cranberry sauce made with spears of fresh rosemary and chunks of mandarin oranges. It was the best cranberry sauce I ever tasted and inspired me to never open that can of sugary jello-like sauce. Make your own being creative and use your sweetener preference, like agave or date syrups.

Don't shirk the salad! I was always given salad duty on the holidays for my knack of putting extraordinary ingredients into one giant bowl. Start with a mix of organic greens and go nuts. Sprouts, radish, shredded carrots, along with dried fruit and nuts always make a great base. Add an unusual veg like artichokes or avocado to make it that much better. Don't offer heavy dressings. Make a simple olive oil and lemon vinaigrette and no one will go without a huge helping of salad.

Egg Nog: For those of you who indulge in the typical eggnog, lighten it up with some soy milk. Yesterday at Whole Foods, I noticed that Rice Dream is making an eggnog for the holidays, that would be a better option than the rich-soy-based version. You can always water it down with some plain rice milk and don't forget the nutmeg for added energy!

Crudite: Avoid the rich cream-based dips, and load up on raw veggies. Make some flax chips to replace those fattening potato chips, served toasted pita wedges. Make your own vegan pate, by using a combination of veggies, nuts and spices, this also makes filling for tomorrow's sandwich. This year, I'm going to make a raw cashew-based sour cream and chive dip. Salsa, though not typically festive for these holidays, offers a refreshing flavor. Today, you can get all types of fruit salsas. Check out your local natural grocer to see what they have.

Dessert: Go easy. Have just one slice of pie. There's no need to deny yourself that delicious pecan pie after carefully saving calories all dinner. Opt for a homemade version, if you can. Eat fresh fruit also. It may seem lame to eat only one, but you'll be the only one with energy after mealtime.

Go for a walk. Holidays are a great time to catch up with that long lost relative. Offer to go for a walk around the block, play an active game with your niece or nephew. Alone in the big city? T-Day is great time to go window shopping! Keep off those extra pounds and spark your metabolism.

Have just two. Holidays are the time of year when we like to drink. Unfortunately, alcohol is loaded with empty calories. Have just two drinks, enjoy them, savor them, but say no to a third. Bring a high-quality wine to enjoy and when it is done, say no to more.

Most of all, have fun. Embrace the flavors of the harvest, sit back and laugh and eats lots of good food.

Living Local in the City

2008-11-18T17:37:00.003-05:00

After lamenting over high-priced, imported tomatoes at Whole Foods (see Animal Vegetable Miracle post), I took the day off yesterday to check out Reading Terminal Market. Iovine's Produce stand offers a lot of organic produce, but not one sign tells you where the veggies originated, in fact a sign saying "produce from all over the world", sent a shiver down my spine.
I remembered the Fair Food Farmstand, in the North-East corner of the market, and decided to press my luck and see what I could turn up.
I was surprised to even find them open, because in the past, when I've visited on a weekday, they are often closed by the time I make the trek. I was expecting crates and crates of potatoes, which they surely had, but they also had a lot of other great items that I didn't imagine to find.
Yesterday, the Fair Food Farmstand was stocked with everything I could possible want to make a delicious dinner. Albeit a bit more expensive, the local purple kale blows conventional kale out of the water. Tomatoes, you got 'em and heirloom varieties too! Lettuce, yep, an oak leaf lettuce fresh from a farm. Mushrooms, many varieties, a rainbow offering of squash, peppers, radishes, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, apples. I've already started lining up my produce picks for a very raw Thanksgiving meal, and the Fair Food Farmstand has pretty much everything I could want. Every item here is local and organic, from small farms all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Each item has a little sign so you know exactly what you are getting. Is it more expensive? Well, maybe. I spent 13 dollars on three very necessary items, kabocha squash, purple kale and some awesome-looking spinach. Then I went to Iovine's and spent the same amount on 4 other organic items. Maybe eating local does cost slightly more, but remember you are helping the small farming industry and not some stupid conglomerate who has no clue about tasty food.
So, just when I thought the going for local produce was getting tough, the Fair Food Farmstand saved the day. Check out your local city market for a similar stand, if it doesn't exist, press for it by contacting local farmers and co-ops into making it happen for your locality.

friends helping friends

2008-11-18T17:09:00.004-05:00

Philadelphia's relatively new mayor, Michael Nutter, announced plans to cut funding for many arts-based projects and programs in Philadelphia in a desperate measure to curb spending. Like many American cities, Philadelphia is sinking fast.
One place where Nutter wants to implement cuts is libraries, and if all goes according to plan, 11 libraries will close in the city. It may not seem vital to you, who are reading this blog from the comfort of your office, or home, or better yet home office, but there are millions of Americans who rely on the actuality of a library to be their information hub. Libraries provide free Internet service to those who can't afford a computer (or a home!). They assist with research, provide guidance and help you get the answers you need. Libraries provide countless books to patrons every year, and in this economy it has been proven that circulation of loaned books through libraries is on the rise
The library also furnishes programs for kids. Especially inner-city kids whose parents count on the safety and educational promise that a library brings. In this city, especially, with the crime rate on a constant rise, the last place I want my child to be is on the streets after school. In Philadelphia, the library hosts poetry readings, book signings and a whole host of other programs keep kids interested and involved. I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, I was always at the library. My mother was a working mother and I was a ravenous reader and she knew I would be quite at home with a book and a place to read.
So, what can we do, other then be outraged? A good place to start is a donation of $10 to the Friends of the Library. Ten dollars from every Philadelphian is enough to keep these libraries open for a short time while they hustle to find a lasting solution. I won't forget to mention the people who will be out of a job. How is this helping us? Mayor Nutter's preposterous budget cuts leaves us with more unemployed people on the street and the chance that a future poet might become a thug instead. Oh, did I mention that I've worked in the Free Library of Philadelphia before and that I have my masters' degree in library science?
Budget cuts always fall in places that hit hardest. Libraries are not day care centers but they do foster ingenuity and a healthy mind. Think this won't affect you? Think again. and donate 10 bucks, please.

Here's a link to the FLP's website: http://www.library.phila.gov/
Check it out for weekly events, sign up for a library card and utilize their databases. Think Google can answer all your questions? You are sadly mistaken.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

2008-11-14T11:00:00.003-05:00

I have to admit, Barbara Kingsolver was one of my favorite authors for a long time, so when her most-recent book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle was loaned to me by an Epicurean co-worker, I dove in, ravenous for what she had to offer.
The premise of the book is a hot topic in today's' green-minded culture. Eat local, eat only what you can raise yourself or what's in season, and relish the treasures of your community. Kingsolver and her clan moved to the Southern portion of the Appalachian Mountains with the goal of raising her family on the fruits of the land. She is not a vegetarian and I cringed when I read the part about her raising her own turkeys for food, but I'm also inclined to doff my hat to her; that she can raise her own food and feed her family. She is adamant about the sources of other meats, insisting on locally, grass-fed varieties, so that's all I'm going to mention about the meat-eating, but still, her approach is a noble one, ensuring that at least the animals she does consume, led a decent life eating good food too!
I haven't finished the book yet, but I am already under the influence. For years I tried to eat locally, (I think it's called macro-biotic), and with the exception of bananas or citrus fruit, managed to subsist fairly well. Today, I know a lot more than I did then.
Now, when I go to Whole Foods, because the farmer's markets have ended for the year, I scan the tags looking for locally grown food. Tomatoes, forget about it. The closest tomato I can find is shipped from Florida. Luckily I still have some growing on my back porch, but I've harvested the last few before the frost and dread life without tomatoes. Avocados? Lettuce? It all comes from California, and this is Kingsolver's main contention. We've been spoiled by luxurious produce shipped from all over the world, oblivious as to what the cost on our environment is. I spotted these lovely oranges that looked great for juicing, bu when I saw they were from South Africa, I quietly passed them by. Kingsolver, equates calories with gas mileage, and in one instance, says that eating an apple from Washington State for someone on the East Coast is similar to driving 3 hours to walk 3 miles on a treadmill. Kind of counter-productive. In a time when global warming is directly linked to issues such as these, I want to take my part in this mission and try not to eat something, just because it's exotic, looks delicious or I need it for my recipe. Chances are that that red, delicious apple, might not taste as tasty as it looks. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy, but I put my foot down at unnecessary items that have been shipped across the ocean.
For a raw foodist like myself, it is especially difficult. We subsist on nuts, that are primarily grown in places like Thailand, and while I grapple with that issue, I must remember to choose other items that haven't travelled as far for the rest of the meal.
Right now, I'm really digging squash, all types, simply steamed and topped with my own fresh-grown parsley. You can also make a nice squash mash, with steamed squash processed with olive oil and herbs. In the northeast, pickings are slim, but this is also the time of year when home-cooked foods, like root vegetables and onions can make a great meal. Stews really benefit from local produce. Can't live without that avocado? Well neither can I, but at least if we take small steps in passing by those delicious fruits from South Africa, we are making a difference.

XM/Sirius merger

2008-11-13T16:49:00.002-05:00

In our household, XM is on all the time. Whether it's talk radio, classic blues, dance or new wave and everything in between. It has been approximately one day since the XM merger with Sirius became final. What do we get? Well, for XM users, we get a lesser quality of music. I'm lost, all the stations changed names and the music is not what I get with XM> So, while Sirius users are reveling in all their music glory. I am cringing every other song, saying Fred would never play this.

One step forward, two steps back

2008-11-13T14:39:00.004-05:00

Proposition 2 was a victory for farm animals. The day after the election, when I learned that Californians had voted for more humane farming techniques, I wasn't surprised, but I was pleased. I know how long it had taken PETA to convince KFC to stop debeaking their birds, and while some don't see it as a victory, baby steps, all the way. Nothing gets done over night, especially the big battle with corporate, greedy farmers who do see animals as dollar signs and not as sentient beings.
However, one week after Prop 2, the Supreme Court has ruled against the welfare of whales in the name of national security. The US Navy uses sonar off the coast of California to train their recruits and insist that sonar is a vital part of the training. You know, just in case Russia decided to invade us with submarines. Sonar is said to be damaging to whales, causing disorientation and other catastrophic effects.
So whales, our vital marine life mammals, who are slowly going extinct thanks to global warming and illegal fishing, have lost against the US Navy.

you can read an article about whales and sonar here, or just do a google search.

If you are interested in saving whales, think about joining an organization that makes that its mission. Click here for more details about volunteering to help bring attention to whales plight. It's a global problem and they were here before we were.

Coincidence? I think not.

2008-11-09T12:24:00.002-05:00

This week, three major networks unveiled a similar type of comedy-news, each anchored by a prominent black comedian. Last week, if you recall, our country's first black president was also elected.
Was the media aware that Obama was to become our next president, or were they taking a gamble. Is making fun of black people more acceptable when a black person does it? Because, judging on what I've seen so far, that is exactly where they are taking this. Sometimes I really, truly believe that it is the media that runs this country.
CNN has the very un-funny D.L. Hughley anchoring, D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, and Bill Bellamy has a new show on BET. But the creme de la creme lies with the very talented David Alan Grier's new show Chocolate News.
I tried to watch DL Hughley last night, but it's a snoozer. He's never been very funny and I'm not sure what CNN is trying to do by hiring a half-rate comic to anchor a comedy show on a news channel. Perhaps they want a piece of the John Stewart pie. The only thing that kept me riveted to Hughley's show for the ten minutes I could last, was looking at his train-wreck of a face. DL Hugley has gotten some major face-work and has ended up looking like a cross between Diana Ross and a billy goat. You can plainly see the eye-tuck, the cheek implants and the botoxed forehead, so if you like looking at future disasters then this could be a very interesting show for you.
I probably won't give Bill Bellamy the time of day. I never watched any of those Rush Hour movies and don't think I would even get most of his references.
But David Alan Grier! I've been waiting for him to come out with his own show since the days of Living Color and finally it's has arrived. David Alan Grier's skits are so wrong they're right and I cannot tell you how hard I laughed during his latest post-election show. Highly recommended.
So that sums up the weekly review of all the recent 'news-comedy' shows that have emerged with the new president. Even if Barack doesn't take this country in a new direction, at least the media is attempting to do their part.

Whales back on top

2008-11-06T09:45:00.002-05:00

Now that this whole election is over and the right man won, my efforts can be turned back to things that matter most. Whales!
Tune in tomorrow to Animal Planet's Whale Wars to watch American environmentalists battle those evil Japanese whalers.
Japan wants to turn whaling back into a successful, viable industry, while the rest of the world disagrees. (except for some backward countries like Iceland. Hey Iceland, maybe if you abandon your whaling, your economy might come back. Ain't karma a bitch?)
Whale Wars. watch it!

The Flight of the salmon

2008-11-04T12:57:00.003-05:00

Attempting to leave town on Friday, the day of the Phillies parade, was much like a salmon swimming upstream, against the current. I felt I was battling ages and ages of tradition and at one point thought it would be easier just to join the revelling masses. However, much like a determined salmon, I got the hell out of Philadelphia, and after viewing the sea of Ugg-clad girls in sweatpants and Phillies gear with their drunkard loser boyfriends I couldn't have been happier with my decision to head upstream.
When they won the World Series, I was in my living room, alone, surrounded by the yelps of a million fans. Minutes later, Broad Street was flooded with hundreds of thousands of ignorant fans, looting stores and toppling shrubbery. Why the destruction, Philly fans? Is this the way you show love for your city and your team. I've never understood this whole sports thing. Why does one think that some guy who was not born in Philadelphia and is making millions more per year than most do in a lifetime, is doing this for them? But what I really don't understand is why they had to topple and uproot my favorite statue in the city, the man with the umbrella, and why they felt the need to loot businesses.
I'm not on board with this whole revelry, this spirit of destruction. But if there is one thing that will make the world notice Philadelphia, I guess this was it. Thanks a lot. The Phillies team may be world champions, but its fans are a whole bunch of losers.

Is she or isn't she?

2008-10-22T12:06:00.002-04:00

As my partner cozied up in bed late last night, he whispered in my ear, "Jennifer Aniston is pregnant with John Mayer's baby!" My dreams were filled with thoughts of espionage and when I awoke the question still remained. Is Jennifer Ansiston finally going to be a mom? I trolled the scroll on CNN while watching the morning news, and searched People's daily headlines, but to no avail. Sure I found some unreliable sources that claimed it as fact, but until E news or People tells me so the question still remains: Is she or isn't she?

the PETA breast-milk thing

2008-09-29T11:46:00.003-04:00

In case you've been hiding under a rock this past week, PETA approached Ben & Jerry's with the radical idea that they switch from using cows' milk in their ice cream to the healthier human breast milk. Quite honestly, this is an idea that they've been tossing around for a while, it's just now they got the press to notice.

After reading John Robbins' Diet for a New America, years ago, the simple dietary fact that rats' milk is amongst the most nutritious milk from all mammals, has stayed with me. Cows' milk offers some of the least nutrition of all breast milks. Because no matter how you view it, all milk comes from a teet. Chocolate chip Rat milk ice cream, does that sound delicious or what?

Dairy cows are some of the most abused animals out there, and even though B&J claim to use non GMO milk, blah blah blah, the point is that they still insist on using old-fashioned milk from cows. There are some great soy-based ice-creams out there, that don't contribute to poor health and animal welfare, and even better, there are great fruit-based sorbets and creams out there that blow the traditional dairy treat out of the water.

PETA's point, I think, was to imagine a world where humans were tethered up to machines, where, like clockwork their precious milk would be extracted for mass consumption in the form of the devilish ice cream. Would these humans be injected with hormones, with their young torn away moments after birth, only to be used as a tasty veal meal for some uncompassionate diner miles away. You can safely assume that the answer would be no. Would humans be perpetual milk machines, with sometimes only a day of rest before being forced into another milking cycle. No!

What PETA is trying to do, is to make the plight of the dairy cattle known. Would you subject a fellow human into this inhumane treatment. Maybe we can tether all Republican women up to a milk machine, they deserve it. Perhaps then we can allow these ill-abused cattle to live the remainder of their days, doing things that cows should do, like eat grass, raise their young. Basic rights that all animals should be granted.

Next time you lean down to lick that dripping cone, think, where is this coming from and to what cost? It is not merely the issue of human health and cholesterol, it is basic animal rights.

Organic Nectars make some the best gelato I've ever tasted, and it's guilt-free, raw and vegan. AND it tasted like the real deal. Check here for ordering.

I support Oprah's right to choose

2008-09-15T11:19:00.002-04:00

Oprah is coming under fire by Republican women for refusing to interview Sarah Palin on her show. Republican women around the nation have boycotted her show, ceased subscriptions to O magazine and loudly voice their opinions are on all the news shows.
Personally, I support Oprah's right to choose her guests. Oprah herself said early on that she wouldn't be putting any political candidate on her show in lieu of her publicly supporting Barack Obama. She would be biased, it would not be fair to her other guests, and quite frankly, it's her own freakin show!

We have raised a nation of whiners. wahh wahh, wahh all the way to the losers podium, there's plenty of room!
You know what, I've never been a fan of Oprah, but today, I think I'm going to go out and buy O magazine, just to support her decision. You should consider doing so too. Send a message to all those whiners.

Another reason to hate Sarah Palin

2008-09-15T11:01:00.003-04:00

I've spent hours honing my imitation of Sarah Palin in front of mirrors and for my partner. I've got that bridge to nowhere speech down pat, including that awful accent. Tina Fey, watch out!
Sarah Palin stands for everything I don't. She's a hypocritical mess. Pro-Life, Palin is glad her pregnant 17 year-old daughter CHOSE to have her baby. Pro-Oil, Palin is taking a stance against polar bears as an endangered species. She don't believe the hype, thinks the data is skewed. See, if we let Alaska drill for oil, there will be less and less land for these beautiful threatened species to feed upon, thereby ensuring their extinction within our lifetime. And once those topple, what comes next? We got frogs and bees, wolves and other thousands of other species that are slowly becoming extinct thanks to mankinds' addiction to oil.
If you envision a world where the only place we can view polar bears in a sub-tropic zoo, then sure, vote for her. But if you care about guns invading your city and killing children, or the education system, (yep, she wants creationism taught in schools) which is in a state of near-disrepair, and freedom of speech (banning books anyone?) then maybe you should reconsider. I secretly thinks she hates women, which makes me dislike her even more.
Let's face it, the only thing she has going for her is her good looks, (which is not much). Her family is riddled with controversy, and she actually said she'd consider starting a war with Russia! Ooooh if she gets elected I'm starting an ex-pat colony South of the Border. Any takers? We are slowly plotting our escape.
For more info on the Palin-Polar bear controversy check here

Check here later in the year for more info on my ex-pat colony, because I really feel that's what the conservatives want, is for all us level-minded people to pack up and leave.

another reason to be veg

2008-09-08T11:53:00.002-04:00

On CNN today, there was a report on luncheon meats and sodium nitrates. Apparently, processed meats, including hot dogs, contain cancer-causing sodium nitrates. Yumm-O!
This mostly affects children, school lunches are loaded with such debilitating foods, and unhealthy single men who never grew up. Health officials advise you to take your kids off processed meats, as they have a direct link to cancer. Thanks Mom! Oh how I wished I was raised vegetarian, knowing these toxins may lurk somewhere deep within.

A spokesman for the American Meat Association makes the counter-claim that pomegranates contain mega-doses of nitrates, but health official re butt by adding that it is when nitrates are combined with meat that it becomes a problem. Besides, Have you ever seen, "Thank you for Not Smoking?" Those spokespeople will say anything to get paid and keep their company flourishing.

I couldn't find the direct link to the story I just saw run on CNN, but here's an article from 2005. This is not new news. Come on people. Stop eating that Baloney!

Karl the Teddy Bear

2008-09-08T11:17:00.003-04:00

My fashion roots don't run as deep as they did a year or two ago, but that doesn't stop me hearing the latest news about Karl Lagerfeld. If you know me well, you know that he gives me the creeps. Steiff, A German teddy bear company has released a limited-edition Karl Lagerfeld teddy bear running oh, a measly 1500 dollars. Have you hugged your freaky-looking Karl Lagerfeld teddy bear today? Do I want one? you bet.
What's next, a Michael Jackson bear? Liz Taylor? Let's make Teddy Bears out of all the freaks of the fashion world.

become a Vegan mentor!

2008-09-02T18:08:00.003-04:00

I dropped in on a conversation between co-workers and students the other week, and they dragged me in with, "You're a vegan aren't you? Constance is considering going vegan."
Because of tricky digestion, her Dr. advised her to stay away from meat and dairy, and from what I gathered, she ate it often. I started talking about health and digestion and all the good things being a vegetarian does to the body and mind. Pretty soon, I had the pescatarian considering a return to vegetarianism, and Constance, well, I promised to bring in some vegan cookbooks that I thought would work for her student budget and busy life.
After giving the books to her and telling her she can always ask for help, I crossed my fingers and hoped that she would follow through.
A week or two later, I saw her on the street and asked her how her diet was. She told me, "I'm never eating meat again, I feel great!" We were both running late, so few words were spoken, but I'm anxious to see how it all pans out in the end.
Become a vegan mentor! It's fun and rewarding!

Glenn Beck vs the Environment

2008-08-25T12:21:00.004-04:00

This morning I awoke to the awful sounds of the Glenn Beck morning show bellowing from the radio. Beck, the old curmudgeon who rules the rednecks with an AM radio show and nightly television show, decided, like a confused teen hitting puberty, that it would be funny, even cool, to offset the DNC party's pledge to be environmentally friendly at this years' convention. Beck had his wife on the radio as she promised to drive at least 90 extra miles this week while she ran around the house plugging in all sorts of electronics, while his hick-listeners jumped on the band wagon and stupidly called in telling America what they are doing to offset the energy saved by the DNC.
Really Glenn, what are you, twelve? Your stupid listeners, many who can't even afford their electric bill, are literally eating every word you feed them, while they can't even fill afford to fill their gas tanks. Not everyone makes millions like you Glenn and can afford this type of irresponsible behavior. Is this the best you can do?
But hey, if it stops those damn liberals who cares what damage we do, right? When I listen to you Glenn, you remind me of the class clown in high-school that everyone laughed at. I feel sorry for you, you stupid clown.

Olympics ban Jamaicans?

2008-08-25T11:28:00.003-04:00

My friend forwarded me this official statement from the Olympics Commission and I feel that it should be shared with as many people as possible. That is why I forwarded it to liberal radio show host Mike Malloy to see if he can delve further into this issue. I hope to hear him discuss tonight (NovaM radio)
In the meantime, the Olympics have decided to ban all these natural foods from Jamaica, basically saying that the natural diet of Jamaicans provide an unfair advantage to their athletes. This list below bans foods such as yams, breadfruit, jerk chicken and cocoa amongst others. If this isn't blatant rascism then I don't know what is. How can Michael Phelps eat plates and plates of eggs and waffles only to go on to win 9 gold medals while Jamaicans, who proved they produce some of the worlds greatest runners, have been prohibited to eat the natural produce and cultural dishes of their country and habitat? My opinion? People should be eating this stuff with wild abandon, if it helps provide an energy boost only nature can give.

Yams are banned but their American cousin, the sweet potato is not.
Cassava root is banned but the good 'ole potato is still allowed.
How is this fair? Well, who said anything about being fair?

see below:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT:In a joint statement issued by the presidents of the World Anti-Doping Agency, International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the following foods have been placed on the list of banned substances issued by WADA: yam, green bananas, cocoa, dasheen, breadfruit, ackee and saltfish, mackeral run down, turned cornmeal, Jerked pork and chicken, escovietched fish Malta, Supligen, Milo (said to be the food drink of Champions), Horlicks and coconut oil. Jamaicans seem to become extremely athletic on diets with these foods. Coming out of WADA labs, one of the major banned substances from Jamaica is the Cassava root, a high fibre, high starch tuber root eaten in Jamaica. It has properties which are said to enhance endurance and cause muscle fibres to twitch faster. This comes after extensive study of the diets of the Jamaican athletes which took part in the Beijing 2008 Olympic games. Though natural foods it is felt by WADA that these foods because of their unique properties give Jamaican athletes an unfair advantage. High concentrations of carbohydrates and other naturally occurring substances are said to be mimicking the effects of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). Some foods have been noted to in particular cause an unusual increase in the male hormone testosterone. As such WADA has seen it fit to add these foods to the list of banned substances. Given the sensitivity of this issue,Jamaican athletes participating in the current Olympic games underway in Beijing have not been banned but must submit to these new restrictions within the next two years. Two substances which have been discovered in testing of the Jamaican foods are “yamstenine”, a yam derivative and “cocosterone”, a derivative of the coco plant. These substances have been found to mimic nandrolone and the blood booster EPO, hence the preliminary banning of the substances themselves and the banning of the foods they derive from.This ruling will also affect other Caribbean and some African countries which share similar dietsas Jamaicans.

sick days in the summer

2008-08-22T17:18:00.002-04:00

There's arguably nothing worse than a summer cold. Everyone else you know is frolicking around enjoying the last lazy days of summer while you are stuck inside trying to get well again.
Thus was how my week began, a sore throat and sinus headache, most likely caused by lack of substantial breakfasts and working overtime.
The best thing about being sick, anytime, is taking advantage of all those movies you've DVR'd. Movies that your boyfriend would never, in a million years, attempt to enjoy.
This week I finally got to watch Romi and Michelle: In the Beginning which I had recorded months ago and was not disappointed. I now have a new-found appreciation for Katherine Heigl who does a wicked job of playing a major air-head. Kudos!I also had a second-viewing of Reality Bites, which was just as good as the 1st, and the original 1970's version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with very handsome Donald Sutherland.
So I apologize for not keeping up with my blogs this week, but rest-assured I was getting some much-needed rest and quality viewing time while on my couch.

staycations

2008-08-14T15:28:00.003-04:00

So the new term out there, thanks to our dwindling economy, is "staycation." Like what to do in your very own town or locale to entertain yourself and family, without breaking the bank. Silly me, coming from Philly (home of the cheesesteak) and hearing it out of the mouth of a Philadelphian for the first time, thought it meant "steakation." Like, "come to Philly and eat a steak." Thankfully, it has not gotten that far yet, but when will marketers in Philly start using that term, which I inadvertently coined, to get the rotund meat-eaters into the city to eat a big, awful heart-burn inducing cheesesteak on their next steakation to Philly. Can't wait for that billboard. hmm?

Animal lovers take a stand; police brutality

2008-08-08T10:48:00.002-04:00

Did you ear about the new controversial police raid on a Maryland Mayor Cheye Calvo home yesterday where police busted into the Mayor's home, without a warrant, and ruthlessly shot and killed the couples two Black Labs? While I'm pissed that police are kicking down doors of upstanding citizens without a warrant, I'm even more upset that they took the lives of two beloved innocent pets. And all this for the cause of tracking down some harmless marijuana. Read the article here, or just do a google search and watch the wife of the Mayor in her heart-breaking speech to the general public where she deplores the conduct of said police department for killing her dogs. Really, this world is going to shit.
Coincidentally, and this is a subject I normally shy away from, on this very same website where I cited the former article, comes news that Congress is finally taking seriously the issue of medical marijuana and the decriminalization of drugs in America. Read it here. For the first time since 1978 Congress is making sense. Obviously Maryland police officers did not get the memo.

tooting my own horn

2008-08-07T22:27:00.002-04:00

Tonight on the Green Network, Miley Cyrus was talking about her "eco-friendly lyrics" to her new song!? I mean, I guess it's cool that she's influencing all these young teeny-boppers to be environmentally conscious and all, but the girl works for Disney! I told you the Green Network was lame.
Eco living is quickly becoming a really crazy insane trend that is catching on like rapid fire, which is great but we know how trends go. People turn their backs on it, they move on, the trend fades to ridicule. Which is what I wish would happen to Miley Cyrus.

For the Love of Raw

2008-08-05T19:05:00.005-04:00

I've begun a new blog, to replace Wandering Cup and to embrace the raw foods lifestyle that has taken over my brain. It's unfair to bog down this blog with all things raw, so I deemed it best to begin again with a new scope in mind. If you are interested in raw foods, please join me at For the Love of Raw. Recipes, reviews, insights and observations coming soon to a blog near you.

more stores close for Starbucks

2008-07-31T09:32:00.003-04:00

Starbucks is closing 2/3 of all stores in Australia. Guess those Aussies have come to their senses and want that bitter brew out of their country. Who could blame them really? That's like seeing a McDonald's in Antarctica. It just doesn't belong.

Dennis Kucinich is my hero

2008-07-30T09:20:00.004-04:00

Today is the last day to sign the impeachment petition put forth by Dennis Kucinich. If you feel that President Bush has violated his presidency by say, oh falsely leading us into war, jeopardizing our national currency and blatantly ignoring our Constitutional rights than you should also sign this petition. It takes two minutes, tops.
This is a rare moment in history and we should all take note. Congressmen Kucinich is risking it all to stand up for OUR rights and we should respond by thanking him profusely for his work and dedication to the American people.

Thank you Dennis!

Vegan shoes for classy gals

2008-07-29T23:02:00.002-04:00

Natalie Portman was on Project Runway as a guest judge to pump up her new upscale vegan shoe line. Follow the link here.
Just today yet another pair of cheap vegan shoes I recently purchased fell to pieces and reinforced my need for some quality shoes.
Thanks Natalie!

Product Nods

2008-07-26T09:46:00.007-04:00

There are so many things in the world right now that make me angry that for the time being I'm going to give a couple of vegan-centric product nods that make me happy instead of analyzing the evil ways of the world.
I've long-been of the notion to purchase cruelty-free products, products that promote a like-minded consciousness and products that aren't produced and shelved by The Man. For example, I stopped shopping at Target, because I really don't need all that stuff made by poor, exploited Chinese workers, and if I do, somewhere in my neighborhood probably has something better, produced locally. I'm lucky enough to be in a central neighborhood with thriving independent delis, hardware stores, used book shops and cute, local gift stores all within walking distance.
My boyfriend recently came home with dish soap made by Ivory, aka Procter and Gamble and it got me thinking why we don't stop to read our labels more carefully. Even our neighborhood grocer stocks products that are conscious. I quickly switched out that nasty ole Ivory for some Method soap, which doesn't test on animals. I know we can all make that hasty choice and small mistakes, but if we just remind ourselves to think about the choices and take that extra minute to scan the label, then we are happier all along.
Recently I stopped into Duross and Langel on 13th St. in Philadelphia to pick up a bar of soap, instead of going to Whole Foods to get my normal glycerin bar. This store is usually a treat for me or my first stop for gifts. All the soaps are handmade using fine ingredients, they have a large selection of men's skin care and fun bath toys! While I spent more than I would have normally, I feel great about my purchase because I supported a local business that also supports veganism and I had fun doing it. This store is like a candy shop for adults. Read the labels carefully, because some items may contain goats milk, but all vegan bars are labelled vegan. They also host workshops which I would love to do, but where will I find the time? Shop away, I love their soap, and they are always stocking up with new crazy combinations. Soaps make great gifts and this stuff beats pricey Lush if you ask me. They always include free samples with every purchase, and this time, the mojito soap really gets me moving in the morning. I can't wait to try the new exfoliating bar chock-full of sesame seeds and nuts to really get my face clean and smooth. You can't get this stuff at your local grocery store.
Another place I like to check up on from time to time is Sick on Sin, a Toronto-based company that sells really cute T-shirts, pins and magnets, many vegan-centric. Check it out, they are having a sale! I ran into this girl Jen, last year at the Toronto Vegetarian Festival and purchased a witty t-shirt that supports veganism, (see above logo.) She also stocks aprons which make a great gift for that vegan chef in your life. I bought one with an anti-steak logo for mine, but you have to ask. I also love her magnets and not all have to do with vegetarianism, some are just plain cute, make great gifts for kids or teens. I recently bought my 11 year-old niece a bunch of stuff from this site and while it would have pleased me tons to be the recipient, she was all smiles! But seriously, a "flesh is for zombies" pin? Bring it on!
Lastly on my list of recent purchase, which I'm kind of embarrassed about, is a fanny-pack! Yep, in case you haven't heard the fanny pack is making a comeback. Sometimes I don't want to carry a bag and I don't want bulky pockets. No I don't look like a dorky, lost tourist. I ride my bike often and I can't think of a more convenient way to carry my crap. I bought a cute one from Jansport ($9.99) at I Goldberg. I could have gone a more eco-route and bought something made of natural fibers, but quite frankly they all look frumpy and if there's any quality I'm looking for in a fanny-pack, it is certainly not frumpiness.
Well there you go, some shopping tips for the week that won't inspire guilt. Support local shops, it'll make you feel good.

Philly DON"T recycle

2008-07-15T19:21:00.001-04:00

Alarming statistic for you: Only eight percent of Philadelphians recycle.

Why God, oh why do I live here?

veggin' out in D.C.

2008-07-15T17:32:00.008-04:00

This weekend I took the Chinatown bus down to Washington DC for an overnight trip. Taking the bus sure beats that Washington traffic, solves those vicious, costly parking problems and also shaves off over 30 bucks for two round-trip tickets from the standard bus fare. I travelled to DC a lot with my family as a kid, but never since, and I had always meant to while living so close by.
I was meeting up with my oldest friend, whom I've known since I was a toddler. She, an open-minded meat-eater and myself, of course, a raw-ist. Coming up with an appropriate place to eat for two radically different people didn't prove to be much of a challenge, however. Despite the many misconceptions of DC, it proved to be a pretty progressive city. She directed me to vegdc.com, a vegetarian-based dining guide that breaks the city's many neighborhoods into manageable dining destinations. Mulling over where to eat the night before, we decided to keep it open-ended and found a little Mediterranean cafe, Pasha Bistro, close by my luxe hotel where we could nosh on a couple of really fresh, delicious salads, and some rather nice, but inexpensive white wine.
I say luxe hotel, but it was really just a Doubletree. After so many risky choices in the past, this standard proved superb. Complete with Temporpedic mattresses and a mini-suite, we milked our check-out until the very last minute. Highly recommended, very central and affordable.
For dinner on the first night, we stopped in a bustling Japanese restaurant on N st and 21st, which doesn't deserve a mention by name, but does deserve a nod for the incredibly interesting health salad on the menu chock-full of over 5 kinds of seaweeds!
I can't forget to mention, Second Story Books, located close by Dupont Circle, that is not to be missed. I ran in there to pick up a specific book and ended up spending $40 on things I couldn't possibly live without. Aside from having books on everything under the sun, and lots of them, they also have a nice selection of first editions and sell leather-bound sets of all the classic writers, like my favorites, E.M. Forster and Thomas Hardy. I'm secretly plotting my next visit back, only it would have been helpful to have the car trunk to pop our heavy load in, instead of lugging them around all next day in that hot DC sun. what fun!
Nightlife in DC made me feel like an old hag, not because I wasn't decked out in the heels and short skirts that the future lobbyists of America were wearing but because it was a definite college scene. All the while I'm thinking, "was I ever that annoying?" My partner certainly didn't fit the usual frat-boy uniform of the many young men in the street, so we called it an early night and stayed in the comfort of our room.
The following day we stopped in Java Green, a place I was originally excited to try, but wary, based on my boyfriends' previous adventure there the day before. He pointed out the lazy, oblivious owner when we entered the cafe, which is set up for seriously high-volume. I think for a vegan, this place would prove to be a jewel, but for a raw-ist, it proved to be a conundrum. According to their menu, they had a lot of raw food offerings, but none of them were that tasty. The kale salad was too sweet, and the seaweed-cucumber soup was OK, but I wouldn't order it again. We ordered two very expensive raw smoothies and I swear I watched her pour soy milk into mine in place of nut milk and scoop huge scoops of soy ice-cream into my boyfriends' pina colada. That said, I watched as many errors were made, all the while the owner sat obliviously enjoying food with friends. Two smoothies cost over 18 bucks and I'm not even sure they were made correctly. erg.
The best part of the day came when we were wandering the Mall and a park ranger gave us free tickets to tour the White House Gardens! It only happens seven days a year, what the hell. We were probably the two most unlikely people to ever step foot on the White House lawn, but here we were, laughing every step of the way. Pretty tight security, all in all. One guard took my tea ball that I travel with, held it up, shrugged and put it back in my bag. As an archivist, I found it really fun to compare the photos posted on the lawn of past presidents planting trees with the lush grounds that exist today.
Word to the wise: avoid, at all costs, going to the Smithsonian on weekends. Unless you love crying babies, dodging humongous baby carriages and dealing with about a billion people in your face at all times.
The highlight of our trip was dinner at Zaytinya, another Mediterranean restaurant. Although there were many meat-based options on the menu, they had a vegetarian mezze menu (small plates) and we were able to indulge in a chilled yellow tomato soup, amazing olives, lightly grilled asparagus and delicious salads. 6pm time to go, chug that wine, get on that bus and hold it til you get to your destination. It went something like that.

The new Green channel and why it irks me

2008-07-10T14:00:00.005-04:00

The new Green Channel on cable TV launched about a month ago ...have you seen it? In theory, its a great concept. People showcasing their green products, builders explaining how to better your home, celebrities showing you how to be green. Entourage star, Adrien Grenier has his own show, "Alter Eco", where he pals around with a bunch of hip LAsters, showing products in local eco-stores, meeting local gardeners who can tell you how to build a compost in your backyard, all while having a hip cool approach to life that only celebrity can bring. yawn... Bored yet?
My favorite cookbook author, Rene Loux has her own show, where she consults with other hip celebrities and tells them how to be green. I love her cookbooks and recommend them whole-heartedly but OMG if I hear the word "green" one more time from her lips I might hurt someone. On a particularly recent episode Rene meets up with her "friend" Alice Cooper and tells him how he can be green on the golf course. First of all, I really don't buy into their artificial friendship and secondly, isn't being green and golfing polar opposites? Aren't golf courses artificial green spaces where once thrived natural wildlife habitats which have been torn down and turned into luxury golf courses where mostly rich, wealthy people waste much of their time? I recommend the John Sayles film, Sunshine State, for those unaware of this fact. So, what did she tell him? "Wear bamboo or organic cotton, use these golf-tees made out of corn, use these recycled golf balls. Well, some of her advice is nice,. I mean bamboo fabric is awesome, but all in all golfing tears down eco-cultures, destroys communities and displaces wildlife, all which we need if we are going to continue life on earth. So take that for some honest advice, Alice. Lastly, a vegan like Rene should at least sneak in a few words about snacks on the golf course and pump up her books!
The Ed Bagley show, "Living with Ed" is the saving grace of the Green Channel. Ed Bagely has been doing his own thing for years, installing solar panels on his roof long before it was chic, riding his bike in LA where everyone opts for a hybrid instead of using their own two legs. He's the real pioneer, the others are just marketing goods. Oh and did I mention that Emeril Lagasse has his own show? Ugh serioulsy, a carnivorous meat eater telling me how to be green. puh-leeese.

Ding-dong, starbucks is dead

2008-07-02T09:19:00.007-04:00

In case you haven't heard, the coffee chain responsible for putting thousands of independent coffee shops out of business is shuttering 600 stores. Could it be the high price of coffee simply doesn't jibe with todays economy? hmmm, gallon of gas or cup of coffee? Get yourself to work or get a morning buzz? Not to mention the amount of calories that one consumes in a decaf grande mocha-caramel iced-coffee latte.
This weekend, I visited the small Massachusetts town of Ipswich, and was happy to find that Zumi's, http://www.zumis.com/ the local fair-trade coffee shop was still there and buzzing with business. And can you believe that one tea and one coffee only cost me $2.83?? Take that Starbucks.
For those of you who followed Wandering Cup, my short-lived independent-themed vegan-based blog, you will probably be revelling in the streets at this fortiutous news. I'm trying to think which shop will close in Philly first, and I'm hoping it's the one on Broad and Pine, robbing those poor University of the Arts students of their hard-earned money, and forcing them to walk a short block to Last Drop or Spruce Street Espresso. As much as I hate Starbucks, I do love to see that little green logo on long highway drives, because I know I can get a quality tea. Now if we can only get everyone to carry quality supplies we wouldn't have the need for a major conglomerate taking all the business. Can you believe places still sell Lipton tea?
If you do one thing today, support your local coffee shop and thank them for being there.

Cats of Mirikitani

2008-06-25T22:17:00.004-04:00

If you can't decide what movie to rent this weekend, Cats of Mirikitani is a great pick.
This movie focuses on a homeless Japanese man who makes a living as an artist in New York City. A woman made a documentary about his life, tracking down lost family and friends and truly making a diference to this man's life. This wacky little man is quite a character, and it makes you realize how little one needs in life. I don't want to give much away. This is a tear-jerker folks, in a good way, so make sure you have tissues on hand.

as good a time as any

2008-06-25T16:54:00.002-04:00

With major flooding severely impairing crops in the Midwest, one can only forecast higher prices for a commodity known as corn. Corn is used to feed livestock, and it's only natural that the US will see dramatic rises in everyday favorites, like milk, cheese, beef and pork.

You know what that means? Take the plunge, go vegan, save yourself some money.

it ain't easy bein green part II

2008-06-23T11:35:00.005-04:00

I went raw in April. It's been a full two months, I've lost fifteen pounds, can finally wear a bikini after 32 years of life, have boundless energy, glow like a Mohegan sunset blah blah blah. People notice, they say stuff, like, "you are glowing", "you look amazing", and wow! I didn't expect eating living foods to impact my life so dramatically, that it would affect so intrinsically, the way I look, the way I feel and the way I live.
Going raw has impacted the amount of trash we produce. Eating only bulk nuts and produce, we soon realized that we buy hardly any packaged foods! After about a month, we are one less bag of trash per week. If I didn't have a tiny fire escape in place of a backyard, I'd probably be composting. But here in the inner city, the squirrels and pigeons would soon mess that up, let alone complaints from my neighbors. That doesn't stop me from growing herbs, tomatoes and peppers in my limited space.
OK, so you ask, what is the hard part? It is simply being able to interact with human society. Limiting what foods you eat, first as vegetarians, next as vegans and now as a rawist, I'm about as far out there as possible. (I guess there are fruitarians, but I'm not going there anytime soon.)
I find that I avoid going out to dinner with friends, or insist on Japanese or a place where I know I can eat things that are good quality.
For my birthday a few weeks ago, I couldn't avoid dining out and opted for Japanese both times. At least there I can have miso, seaweeds and salad. Both times, though, I sacrificed a little of my ethics and chowed down on avocado rolls. The rice was surprisingly OK for my tummy, though later I regretted eating off my diet. In retrospect, however, I think I would skip the rice, ask if they can roll a roll sans rice, or just order another salad and hang in there.
I also ate at Horizons, the local vegan restaurant in Philly. My friend, while chowing down on tofu asked why I don't eat it, "is it because it's so processed?", she asked. I didn't want to get into a conversation about processed foods while she was eating a processed food, so I nodded and continued to eat my raw avocado-cucumber soup and chopped spinach salad.
The big deal is summer barbeques. I can't manage, never really enjoyed, the smell of charred meat wafting in my hair, my clothes, making me smell like a bloody steak. It's become so bad that often, even on the most mild of days, when there is a BBQ in my neighborhood I am forced to close my windows and put on the air conditioning to keep the offensive smell out of my home. This year, I've been invited to a pig roast and part of me wanted to say I was insulted that I'd be invited to a party where a pig is roasting on a spit over a flame. Needless to say, I politely declined, despite the fact that we are guaranteed a meat-free grill. I just can't be a part of this All-American tradition of eating roasted meat in the summer. Going raw has cemented this fact, and I simply choose to not take part.
My friends, I'm sure, find me a drag. I wonder if I'm just not invited out because I'm so difficult. I often wonder if they discuss what a downer I am, and I'm getting insulted at people's comments about my weight loss. People think because I found a successful diet that keeps weight down, keeps me healthy, that I'm a target for derogatory comments about the way I eat.
I say fuck 'em.

This weekend a trip to Atlantic City was preceeded by about an hour of prepping foods for the trip. A simple Almond pate, leaves of romaine, fresh tomato, avocodo and sprouts yeilded enough food to keep us sated for the day, along with fresh fruits, coconut water and a raw trail mix. Later in the evening, hunger struck, but luckily we were able to eat Japanese, yet again, subsiting on seaweed salad and miso, ending up happy and full. Earlier in the day we were foiled by buying smoothies off the boardwalk, finding that the peaches had been canned in a sugary syrup, making my smoothie inedible. Ew, did I just eat high-fructose corn syrup? We add sugar to everything in America, even the most perfect fruit, which should be relativly easy to obtain in fresh state this time of year in New Jersey. My new way of looking at things...if you want something done right, do it yourself.

It's been a learning process and I love preparing foods at home with my partner. We've grown together as part of this new lifestyle and I woudln't change it for the world. Now, will the rest of the world please wake up!

Oh Tyra!

2008-06-23T11:02:00.003-04:00

I've been having a field day with Tyra lately. So has Talk Soup.
Last week Tyra did her "butt" show, embracing their booties of thousands of women. Literally embracing. Footage from the show has emerged, showing Tyra rubbing, slapping, pinching and grabbing the asses of women on her show. Watching this led me to wonder, Is Tyra Banks a lesbian? Has she ever been linked to a man before? I can't remember. It's all good Tyra, but seriously, you got to get that butt-rubbing under control! I wish I could have my own show where I can pick and grab at people at my own free will. (wait, no I don't, um germs!)

Which leads me to my second point, germs, today's topic on Tyra. I tuned in only for the last three minutes, but it was enough to fuel my fire. Germs, to me are a big deal. My days living in Manhattan soon turned into a Howard Hughes-like obsession with cleanliness. I washed my hands with scalding water every time I entered the office or returned home after clinging to the grubby subway lines. I scrubbed my vegetables vigorously before consumption. I could envision dead skin flakes just settling down on everything I touched, I went insane, slowly. Once I moved from NYC, my germ phobia subsided. I still wash my hands at every chance, carry hand sanitizer and wash my food, but not with the same unhealthy obsession as before.
Today on Tyra, they were discussing germs on the bathing suits you buy. Turns out there were more germs on the higher-end suit than the lower-end suit, leading me to believe that rich girls are total skanks. When I go bathing suit shopping, I wear a skimpy thong and try my suit on over the panties. This was how I was raised, this was a practice I thought most people use. Au contraire! most people try on suits bare-bottomed, remove that little liner and splish-splash to the beach, unbeknownst that there are little yeasts and fecal matter still attached to the suit. Ew.
Ladies, a word to the wise, germaphobes unite! Wash those swimsuits before taking the plunge, for you know not whose germs you are wearing.

reuses for ribbon

2008-06-09T19:18:00.004-04:00

My friend gave me a birthday gift and said, "the ribbon is reusable." She needn't tell me, I stow away all kinds of unnecessary stuff. However, when I opened the door to my apartment, I knew the perfect reuse for my ribbon. There was my little pretty kitty, Phoebe ready to tackle that string, shred it to bits and play with that string until we both were exhausted~!

*note, ribbon isn't always good for cats to play with, it can cause blockages. Keep a close eye on your loved one or put it somewhere they can't reach unless you are around to watch!

Other reuses for ribbon:
wrap a gift
tie back your hair
tie back curtains
hang a charm around your neck or doorway
mend something broken, temporarily

Spider Bites

2008-06-01T10:08:00.002-04:00

I have a spider bite on my face. This is the third time in one year that I've been struck by a spider. The last two were on my rarely-used left ring finger. The bites rose to great heights of swelling, redness and pain, and I just hope it doesn't happen to my face. This is a great way to start the summer. whohooo!
Spider Bite, Spider bite, just when you thought they wouldn't strike, they BITE!

as Promised - KALE SALAD

2008-05-21T14:50:00.003-04:00

Kale is a great food. One serving contains your daily recommended serving size of calcium, vitamins A and K; kale is rich in b-vitamins and essential minerals making it an excellent addition to any meal.
Here is my favorite way to eat kale.

Kale Salad

ingredients:
4 C chopped Kale
2 t Chunky sea salt
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/4 C Olive oil
1-2 chopped tomatoes
1 avocado
1 C clover or alfalfa sprouts
1/4 finely chopped red onion (you can also use shallots)

Combine kale and salt in large bowl. Using your hands, massage kale and salt gently in a kneading motion, being sure to coat all the leaves. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes. Add in lemon juice and massage again. Let rest for a few minutes. Add olive oil and massage once more. Add the remainder of the ingredients, tossing thoroughly. et...voila, your kale salad is ready!

note: Always use organic veggies when possible. I recommend Celtic Sea Salt, if possible.

The Mad Cowboy

2008-05-20T10:02:00.004-04:00

Howard Lyman, the former cattle-rancher turned vegetarian who is probably best known for getting Oprah to say she'll never eat another burger, was on Coast to Coast Saturday night, http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/05/18.html, discussing the USDA's new bill, The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and Mad Cow disease in America. Mad Cow and avian bird flu loom as some of the biggest threats to mankind and unbeknownst to us, our government is turning a blind eye to the situation and keeping their fingers crossed. Makes you feel safe, right?Haven't eaten meat in a decade and think you're in the clear? Hungry yet? Mad Cow can incubate in your system for years! By now, most of us know that animals prepared for human consumption are more than likely injected with hormones, coated with chemicals., mishandled, deprived of necessary sunlight and pastures and possibly diseased. Lymnam's interview goes into much much more and I urge you to take a listen.
As a seasoned vegan I know damn well what happens to cows in slaughterhouses and on dairy farms and that's one of the biggest reasons why I don't eat meat. For Howard Lymnan, a fourth-generation cattle rancher who got a tumor after pouring chemicals on the backs of cows, he is vegetarian for the plain reason that humans in general have to much protein, cholesterol and fat in their diet, coupled with the insider knowledge of what, exactly, goes into our food supply. Coast to Coast is on late at night, but that didn't stop me from staying up into the wee hours entranced by his tales of truth and horror.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was put in effect in order to place stricter penalties on those who try to discourage others from the consumption of animal products. Because Animal Rights activists serve as bigger threats than other terrorists? uhhmm ...But even if you speak the truth?

Can't get Coast to Coast? then check out the Lymans' website: www.madcowboy.com

Gwyneth Relates

2008-05-14T19:10:00.005-04:00

Remember a few years ago when Gwyneth Paltrow came out and openly admitted she was macrobiotic? (ahh the horrors!) Remember when she had the Chinese Cupping all down her back with an-open backed dress? (I've done it, it's awesome and I can totally understand why she wanted to show that off, that's a lot of stagnation!)
Well, Gwyneth has long been viewed as kind of an enigma in Hollywood, she's a bit quirky a bit off, kind of new age, experimental and eats weird stuff. Well, not anymore, Gwyneth has returned to eating fish and dairy and admits she has unhealthy vices. Read the article here: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20200197,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines
I'm kind of disappointed. I can take or leave most of her movies, though I liked Sliding Doors and Sylvia, she really stood out as someone in Hollywood that didn't give a shit, someone I could relate to, not that I'd given it much thought beyond today, someone kind of in tune with herself. I think it's because she had kids. Kids change people, they tend to eat more sugar and more junk food, in general, I mean I don't have statistics to back it up, but it's a well-founded theory based on the vast array of parents I've come to know over the years. A dietary observation, if you will.
Anyway Gwyneth shows off that she's normal, kind of, in this article and I'm really disappointed that she eats dairy.

Going Raw

2008-05-10T09:19:00.003-04:00

About two months ago, my boyfriend surprised me with the purchase of about 5 raw food cookbooks. I wasn't sold on the whole raw idea, since having eaten at a few strictly raw restaurants in the past, while my taste buds were impressed, my stomach, the following few days was a mess. Nevertheless, my interest was piqued. I know, I know, the raw food craze hit years ago, but I never said I was one to follow fads. Being a vegetarian for over 10 years, a vegan for almost 3, going raw seems like a natural progression.
I'd given up fried foods over two years ago, with the very very occasional indulgence. I make the effort to incorporate a salad with every meal, something I learned from my mother and have carried with me for life. I add fresh fruit to every breakfast. Keeping those ideals in minds, the transition to raw is easy!
At first, I curled up each night with a new book, reading the recipes, swallowing advice, trying out salads and other simple, basic recipes, all the while becoming really intimidated. Eating raw food seems expensive! You need a good food processor, a high-powered blender, a food dehydrator, sprouters, and a juicer. All in all expect to drop about $1000 to truly benefit from raw food and start living with ease. I found it extremely difficult to practice raw food living without any major kitchen appliances other than my dilapidated old blender, so the first big purchase I made was a decent food processor. I cannot tell you how much easier it all became. I also bought a sprouting jar, (or you could just put cheesecloth over an existing jar) and before you know it, you'll be munching on your very own fresh sprouts that you can add to salads and wraps! It's easy and fun to watch them grow.
I've been living pretty healthy for a while, so the transition for me was pretty easy. Every day or so, I'd wander into the grocery store and stock up on a few more items from the bulk section; almonds, cashews, dates, unsulphered dried fruits and raw nut butters and before you know it, I had a pretty well-stocked pantry. Going raw means I had to give up a lot of my favorite foods: rice, grains, peanut butter, noodles but I also discovered that I got to keep a lot of familiar foods around, like miso, steamed greens, raw nut butters, and off course nuts, fruits and vegetables.
Tofu, I learned, is highly processed and hasn't been fitting into my life style for a while, so giving that up was a snap. Besides being highly processed, soy is also one of the largest commercially grown crops around and if not organic, you are literally welcoming pesticides into your body. No thanks! Most raw foodies say that tempeh (organic) is okay, on occasion, because, it's fermented whole soy beans with some enzymes preserved. Steam it lightly for easy digestibility. Although I hardly ever go out to dinner anymore, I know that I can choose tempeh and feel pretty good about my choice.
I would say I'm at about 80% raw right now. I'm waiting for my dehydrator to be delivered as I write, and that should open up another door. It's nearly impossible to make breads without the dehydrator, so for sandwiches, everything is raw but the wrap.
So far I've made my all-time favorite Kale Salad (watch for recipe later this week, it's too delicious not to share), A sausage-like pate made with fennel and sunflower seeds, (I can't get enough, makes great sandwiches and tastes amazing), beanless hummus, a strawberry pie with raw almond crust and cashew lemon creme (helloooo!), Broccoli mashed 'potatoes' with miso gravy, the list goes on. Making raw food is trial and error too, expect to be disappointed until you get it down. I made a raw cous-cous out of cauliflower and couldn't even eat it, I added too much lemon and ruined it. Last night I added hemp oil to my favorite Kale Salad and had to fight off a gag-reflex (hemp oil is fishy to me and I never liked seafood). Raw garlic can be a shock to your system, so you might want to cut the amount to a quarter of the recommended serving.
I thought it would be expensive, keeping all these nuts and seeds on hand, but its really not, you just have to learn to anticipate what you'll be eating later in the week and learn to plan a little bit better. I haven't had too much difficulty throwing together a last-minute meal with a well-stocked pantry.
Watch for more stories as I delve further into my foray with raw foods.

Gordon Loves Greens

2008-05-10T08:30:00.002-04:00

Britain's' most famous chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsey has taken his plea for fresh seasonal veggies to the highest place possible. Ramsey, well-known for the gratuitous shirtless shot during each and every episode of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares and his frequent use of the word bollocks, feels that chefs should be fined if they use out-of-season vegetables for their cuisine. He's taken the issue to Gordon Brown.
See the link here . http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0949726820080509?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

As a practicing macrobiotic I couldn't agree more. Living in the Northeast my choices for veggies are always limited in the winter months. This year I lived on squash, kale and potatoes for the majority of winter. Living by New Jersey, tomato capital of the East, I can't wait for the first few months of fresh, delicious red tomatoes and sweet sweet corn. Sure, I'm tempted by vegetables of all kind, but have you ever been truly grossed out by a greenhouse-grown, color-injected unripe, grainy, pink tomato? Besides the 'green' aspect of this whole argument, keeping things local thereby reducing emissions to get our food on the table, we are also supporting our local farmers and living a bit more realistically, and truly benefiting from the freshest food possible. Here in Philadelphia, the local farmers markets have all been pushed back to the first few weeks of June, (thank you climate change!) which is when you can see with your own eyes what's local, what's fresh and what's for dinner.

hot tranny mess

2008-04-30T11:59:00.001-04:00

This morning, on my way to work, I was behind a transvestite ( or transsexual, I never know the correct usage) But anyway she was dressed just like those women from the polygamist cult in Texas. No joke. Baby blue dress with tight bodice, puffy sleeves and a full skirt. Weird. Had to share. Polygamist fashion, a new trend, who knew?

obama likes arugula...so what?

2008-04-27T10:13:00.002-04:00

I'm listening to this incredibly inane argument on CNN right now about why some people don't want to vote for Obama. "He's lofty, he likes arugula" Oh, so people don't know what arugula is therefore they don't understand where Obama is coming from. Does this not validate all that he was saying about Western PA and its' hardnose bible thumping gun toting citizens? "Well he eats this stuff called arugula, what the hell is that? I don't like him (grunt)" Is that how we make decisions anymore? Well maybe I'm lofty too, because arugula is one of the most delicious, spiciest salad greens out there.