it's all about the cupcakes

Things that make me go…arrrrggghh!

So I don’t mind it if I don’t get invited to a dinner at a friends house where everyone is there BUT me because I am vegan. Their excuse was, “There wasn’t anything for you to eat.” Far be it from me to offer to bring a dish for not only me to eat but others to try. See, no, no, this situation isn’t what burns my buns, what burns my buns is when someone DOES invited me and KNOWS I am vegan and has nothing for me to eat and turned down the offer of me bringing a dish or two for not only me but for others to try. Their reasoning for why I shouldn’t bring a dish, “There will be plenty of food. I’m sure there will be something here you can eat.” Well, in this season of turkey, ham, chicken stuffing, meat, meat and more meat and buttery rolls, whip cream, dairy, dairy and more dairy, I am very upfront on offering to bring food. It not only makes me look gracious, but it prevents me from starving. So color me surprised when I arrived at this dinner party and come to find out there was nothing, literally nothing I could eat. It drives me banana sandwich when the host first apologizes then gets huffy and tries to find something for me to eat. Grrrrarrrgh.

So now that is off my chest, I’d like to present some ideas and recipes to the vegans out there for this Thanksgiving season. First of all, the Tofurkey Thanksgiving dinner box. PERfect! I tried it last year. Totally AWesome. This year I am going to change it up though. Last year, I just followed the directions on the box and let the “turkey” cook. This year I am going to let it slow roast and perhaps put a light coat of honey (yes, I do honey) or agave sweetener, you know to give it a little crunch and let the mushroom gravy soak in. I got you drooling now having I? Plus I plan to Google for many other Thanksgiving favorites, veganized. Check out this recipe for vegan pumpkin pie, http://www.simple-vegetarian-recipes.com/desserts-vegan-pumpkin-pie.html

I personally am planning on bringing the Tofurkey dinner along with the pie and some other goodies to my uncle’s house where I am having my Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, he will have plenty of food but I am still bringing it!

November 13, 2008 | Filed Under Cooking, Food, Recipes | 3 Comments 

Call for Vegan Entrepreneur’s

Are you vegan, are a small business owner, and live in the DC area? If so send us some info about you and your business, and you may be featured on DCVegan. View other Vegan Entrepreneur’s in DC.

tim@dcvegan.com

November 11, 2008 | Filed Under News | Leave a Comment 

sticky fingers bakery! free stuff today, COK benefit tomorrow

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the new website for VegNews magazine , you’re missing out!  Among other great features, throughout the entire month of November, VegNews is giving away free vegan stuff each day — and today’s lucky winner will get one dozen little devils from Sticky Fingers Bakery.

Which leads to the next reminder that tomorrow (Tues., Nov. 11) is a Compassion Over Killing benefit day at Sticky Fingers Bakery - stop by there anytime from 7am to 7pm, and a portion of entire day’s sales will be donated towards COK’s farmed animal advocacy efforts!

November 10, 2008 | Filed Under Benefit, COK, Events, Food, The Web | 1 Comment 

Why I went Vegan…

It all started right after Thanksgiving of ‘07. I saw this girl reading a book called Skinny Bitch on the metro. The title ALONE raised my eyebrow. So on my next trip to a bookstore; I sought out this book to see what it was about. Color me surprised when I found out it was a nutrition book. At this point of my life I was a little overweight, unhappy and self-confidence slowly going down the toilet so it was perfect. It was a book about going vegan. At this point in my life I was already semi vegetarian. I hardly ever ate chicken, beef, turkey I ate sometimes fish but I NEVER ate pork or pig products. I did a book report when I was in 6th grade about food poisoning for my Home Ec class. It was on trichinosis and from hence forth I never touched a pig product of any kind. However there were just some days when I just didn’t want to eat any of it. My boyfriend constantly bugged me that I wasn’t eating enough protein so reluctantly I would eat some meat. I just wish there was some magic word or phrase I could say to people instead of giving them a long explanation on why I just didn’t want to eat the meat. Plus, if I didn’t have an explanation on tap, people at parties will just think I am just a “picky” bitch.

Skinny Bitch showed me the way. There was a phrase I could say without having an explanation needing to follow why I just don’t want the meat. “I’m vegan.” Done and done. I claimed being vegan right before Christmas. Giving up meat was not problem, especially after reading Chapter 7 and Chapter 9. Giving up dairy was the hardest, since I just LOVE me some cheese. Slowly but surely I took one day at a time. Then, finally one day, I saw a Pizza Hut commercial that normally would’ve made me drool with all that drippy, gooey cheese, instead it made me gag. So hence forth I have a complete and totally aversion to all dairy products. I don’t do butter, milk, cheese, eggs (yes, strangely eggs are a “dairy” product), cream cheese, sour cream, cream anything. Plus, after reading Chapter 5 in Skinny Bitch, I was more gung-ho about giving up dairy.

So after nearly a year of being vegan and also losing 25 pounds, I still have my copy of Skinny Bitch and believe you me, it IS my Vegan Bible. I have leaps and bounds of energy. I used to be plagued by sinus issues and allergies but no more.

Going Vegan was the best decision I’ve ever made and I encourage anyone and everyone to just try it. I challenged one of my friends a few weeks ago to just stop eating dairy. Everyday he emails me and says he has so much energy and his pants are starting to get loose. Next he’s cutting out the meat. Come join with my friend on his journey of veganism. You’ll be glad that you did. Especially when your pants start falling off you.

November 6, 2008 | Filed Under Rambling | 7 Comments 

VegNews has a new website

VegNews has a new website, personally i really like it, they were overdue for a makeover. check them out at http://vegnews.com

October 30, 2008 | Filed Under News, The Web | 1 Comment 

Winners of VegDC.com’s 2008 Best Vegetarian Food Contest Announced

Winners of VegDC.com’s 2008 Best Vegetarian Food Contest Announced
“Three Green Stars” Awards Recognize 12 D.C.-Area Veg-Friendly Establishments

Washington, D.C.—For the second year a row, VegDC.com voters have chosen Java Green as the “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” in the D.C.-Metro area. Compassion Over Killing, which runs the VegDC.com web site, is proud to present this popular downtown eatery with a 2008 Three Green Stars award for offering Washingtonians, both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, with savory meatless options including a Veg Max Panini and “Chicken” Chili Wrap.

VegDC.com’s Three Green Stars awards are also being dished out to:

“It’s never been easier, or more delicious, to choose vegetarian fare in and around the nation’s capital,” said Erica Meier, executive director of Compassion Over Killing. “Whether we’re concerned about animals, the environment, or our health, a growing number of people are looking for meatless cuisine and our city’s restaurants are responding.”

The D.C.-Metro area is home to more than two dozen all-vegetarian restaurants as well as hundreds of restaurants offering veg-friendly menus. To celebrate the growing availability of delicious and innovative animal-friendly fare, Washingtonians voted for their favorites in VegDC.com’s second annual “Best Vegetarian Food” contest last month, and the winners are being honored with awards in October, which is Vegetarian Awareness Month.

For all twelve 2008 Three Green Stars award winners, visit VegDC.com.

Contact: Erica Meier at emeier@cok.net, 301-891-2458 (office) or 202-270-8253(cell)

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a nonprofit animal advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Since 1995, COK has worked to end the abuse of animals in agriculture through undercover investigations, public outreach, litigation, and other advocacy programs. On the web at COK.net.

October 20, 2008 | Filed Under COK, News | 3 Comments 

Vegan / Vegetarian Tasting

Vegan & Vegetarian Tasting at Roots Market
Where: Roots Market, 16800 Georgia Avenue Olney, MD 20832
When: Saturday, October 11, 12pm-3pm
Who:

Sweet & Natural Vegan Desserts
Quality Vegetarian
Arora Creations
Phil’s Veggie Fajita & Spicy Tofu Buritto
Amy’s Baked Ziti
Emily’s Vegan Desserts
Concious Alchemy Soaps
Cava Mazze

October 9, 2008 | Filed Under Rambling | Leave a Comment 

Vegan / Vegetarian Tasting

Where: Roots Market (Clarksville)
When: October 5th 12pm-3pm
Who:

Sweet & Natural Vegan Desserts (Cakes)
Arora Creations (Rice Pilaf and Vegan Chick Pea Chana Masala)
Quality Vegetarian
Phil’s Veggie Fajita & Spicy Tofu Burrito
Emily’s Desserts (Cookies)

October 3, 2008 | Filed Under Food | Leave a Comment 

Veg Wine Dinner at Great Sage

Great Sage and Constantine Wines Presents: An Organic Vegetarian Wine Tasting Dinner on Thursday September 18th  7:00pm

Here is the menu, all courses have a vegan alternative.

First Course
Roasted fennel, leek and potato soup with crème fraîche.
Masciarelli Rosè 2006 from Italy

Second Course
Romaine hearts, roasted nuts with green grapes and a creamy caramelized onion vinaigrette.
Masciarelli Trebbiano 2006 Italy

Main Course
Marinated vegan chicken breast with fresh pasta, Wine soaked Portobello mushrooms in a fresh herb tomato sauce.
Masciarelli Montepulciano 2004 Italy

Dessert Course
Fresh blackberry shortcake with freshly whipped cream.
Perlage Riva Moretta  Prosecco 2006 Italy

$60 per person tax and gratuity not included, call to make a reservation or contact Kristen at 443.535.9400 or KristenB@great-sage.com. Roots Market will have available a special pre-order sale of all wines with a 10% case discount offer for this night only!

September 5, 2008 | Filed Under Beer / Wine, Events, Food | Leave a Comment 

COK Benefit at Vegetable Garden

Support COK while enjoying delicious cruelty-free fare and socializing with other activists! Please join us at the monthly Vegetable Garden funding day, the first Thursday of every month, when D.C.’s vegan favorite donates 10 percent of your bill to COK.

WHERE: Vegetable Garden, 11618 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md.
METRO: White Flint Metro station on the red line
WHEN: All day! 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

September 3, 2008 | Filed Under Benefit, Food | Leave a Comment 

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