Today's Whole Living Action Plan Daily Challenge is to take 10 minutes or more to workout or get your body moving, so even if you don't have a long time to get to the gym, do not underestimate the benefits of a quick run, some weight training, or even a dance party!
I can't help but shake it to almost all of Yelle's songs, here is Je Veux Te Voir by Yelle:
(lyrics not for the faint of heart...but if you don't know French you can just pretend that she is singing about wholesome things!)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Hearty and Filling Vegan Whole Wheat Mixed Berry Muffins
If you are trying to cut out white flour, this vegan muffin recipe is great for just that! I can't attest to how "healthy" they are, as you see there is a full cup of sugar in the recipe...but there's no eggs, and if you get a good soy margarine you don't have to feel awful about snacking it up with these guys!
Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup soy margarine
1 cup applesauce
1 cup raw sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup almond milk
2 cups fresh or frozen berries (I used blueberries, blackberries and chopped strawberries)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside.
Mix wet ingredients thoroughly: soy margarine, applesauce, sugar, vanilla and almond milk.
Slowly add in flour mixture and stir until just mixed. The batter should be kind of sticky. Feel free to add a bit more applesauce or almond milk if the batter seems too thick.
Fill up muffin tins (I would grease these a little) or baking cups (I use If You Care large baking cups) 3/4 full with batter and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.
I realized after I went to make muffins that in my move and in an effort to simplify, I donated my muffin pan. No sweat, I just poured the batter into double muffin pan liners and set them on a baking sheet, which did the trick!
Okay, so they are a little bit like muffin discs, but that's cool too!
ENJOY!
Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup soy margarine
1 cup applesauce
1 cup raw sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup almond milk
2 cups fresh or frozen berries (I used blueberries, blackberries and chopped strawberries)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside.
Mix wet ingredients thoroughly: soy margarine, applesauce, sugar, vanilla and almond milk.
Slowly add in flour mixture and stir until just mixed. The batter should be kind of sticky. Feel free to add a bit more applesauce or almond milk if the batter seems too thick.
Fill up muffin tins (I would grease these a little) or baking cups (I use If You Care large baking cups) 3/4 full with batter and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I ate (cheese) pizza and wasn't struck by lightening!
Nor did I get sick....
I have been grappling with the idea of vegan versus local versus what the heck do I eat and why do I eat it?
After completing October Unprocessed, I got to thinking a lot about what processed foods I put into my system as a result of being vegan. One of the things that I am concerned about is vegan cheese.
Let's for a minute take a look at the ingredients:
organic soy base (filtered water, organic soymilk powder)
organic rice malodextrin
organic soybean oil
organic rice flour
pea protein
calcium and sodium phosphates
contains 2% or less of: sea salt, carrageenan, mono & diclycerides, natural flavors, lactic acid (non-dairy).
Okay, so it is vegan, but could I make it myself? NOPE! This ingredient list screams made in a lab. Not to mention, it is distributed in Florida, so the fossil fuels it takes to get to Brooklyn contribute to my questioning of it.
Yes Yes I know, "But D you are not a locavore anyway!" I mean, if you check out what is in my fridge you will see that I have tomatoes out of season, avocado, bananas, and a pineapple for gosh sakes! But I DO try to think about what I eat and try to eat and support a lot of local agriculture.
Now, the next thing. I disagree with the way animals are treated and kept in factory farms. Disagree is way nicer than how I feel but for all intents and purposes, I disagree with it. So how can I support farmers who are keeping animals the correct way? How do I support my local farmers that are competing with big factory farms; my local farmers who have higher prices but also higher ethical standards, and less face it, better products.
I support these farmers by going to the farmer's market, by looking for locally sourced goods at my neighborhood stores, and I support them with my money, by things like joining a co-op or a CSA.
This day, I supported them by eating cheese.
I still am not completely decided on what way to swing. I doubt I will find myself being a regular cheese maker or eater, but for this one time, I didn't feel so terrible about what I was consuming. I think it is up to each and every person to make their own decisions that are best for them and their beliefs....but the most important thing I think, is to be an educated consumer. Think about where your food comes from, and let that guide you.
Some books that I recommend on the subject:
These are absolute MUST READS:
An awesome (un)cookbook with great benefits inside on eating vegan and raw:
If you have some extra time and are interested, these are good resources:
I have been grappling with the idea of vegan versus local versus what the heck do I eat and why do I eat it?
After completing October Unprocessed, I got to thinking a lot about what processed foods I put into my system as a result of being vegan. One of the things that I am concerned about is vegan cheese.
Let's for a minute take a look at the ingredients:
organic rice malodextrin
organic soybean oil
organic rice flour
pea protein
calcium and sodium phosphates
contains 2% or less of: sea salt, carrageenan, mono & diclycerides, natural flavors, lactic acid (non-dairy).
Okay, so it is vegan, but could I make it myself? NOPE! This ingredient list screams made in a lab. Not to mention, it is distributed in Florida, so the fossil fuels it takes to get to Brooklyn contribute to my questioning of it.
Yes Yes I know, "But D you are not a locavore anyway!" I mean, if you check out what is in my fridge you will see that I have tomatoes out of season, avocado, bananas, and a pineapple for gosh sakes! But I DO try to think about what I eat and try to eat and support a lot of local agriculture.
Now, the next thing. I disagree with the way animals are treated and kept in factory farms. Disagree is way nicer than how I feel but for all intents and purposes, I disagree with it. So how can I support farmers who are keeping animals the correct way? How do I support my local farmers that are competing with big factory farms; my local farmers who have higher prices but also higher ethical standards, and less face it, better products.
I support these farmers by going to the farmer's market, by looking for locally sourced goods at my neighborhood stores, and I support them with my money, by things like joining a co-op or a CSA.
This day, I supported them by eating cheese.
I still am not completely decided on what way to swing. I doubt I will find myself being a regular cheese maker or eater, but for this one time, I didn't feel so terrible about what I was consuming. I think it is up to each and every person to make their own decisions that are best for them and their beliefs....but the most important thing I think, is to be an educated consumer. Think about where your food comes from, and let that guide you.
Some books that I recommend on the subject:
Art Happenings: NYC: Thursday!
Two openings tonight, not to be missed! First, head up to Queens, Queens College Art Center. 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY 11367 for a peek inside Looking for Home.
From MildeArt.com:
Looking for a Home is a work -in- progress installation which concerns the themes of consumerism and the culture of disposal, recalling environmental awareness in the realm of domesticity. For one month this installation will monitor and examine the rejection of household objects, which are often thrown away while still in usable condition.
This space is being populated with found furniture and domestic objects dumped on the streets of the New York metropolitan area. It will grow out of sidewalk finds that the artists make during their residency. The objects are cleaned, repaired and categorized; the progress is monitored and then documented. The resulting piece will be a fully or partially equipped living environment, depending on the luck of the findings.
The objects, which assumingly have been replaced by new commodities are, in Looking for a Home, kept relevant by the artists’ discovery. This site-specific environment reflects the state of abundance and rejection in the item‘s found location. While the sale of anonymously mass-produced household objects is encouraged by the supportive framework of fictional stories around the objects and designers, Looking for a Home focuses on the stories of the objects’ lives and their use, adding an enriching personal layer of a real story connected to specific people and their environment.
The public is encouraged to use this space as a working area, and to share thoughts/comments on the items. Since Looking for a Home is a work in progress, please follow its development on site and online here.
Open Studio at Queens College Art Center, Thursday March 24, 5-8PM of Marek and Kristyna Milde's installation project, Looking for Home.
Then head on down to the Lower East Side for Silent Noise Art Opening and Auction at Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard St. NY, NY.
Silent Noise is a silent art auction and party curated by Alexandria LaPorte and Chris Barreto, featuring the work of 25 emerging New York City artists. SilentNoise is a mixed medium show including photography, sculpture, illustration, painting, and mixed media.
Thursday, March, 24th at Gallery Bar, bidding from 6:30-10pm. All opening bids $50 or less.
At the SilentNoiseNYC Tumblr page you can preview the work that will be up for auction tonight.
From MildeArt.com:
Looking for a Home is a work -in- progress installation which concerns the themes of consumerism and the culture of disposal, recalling environmental awareness in the realm of domesticity. For one month this installation will monitor and examine the rejection of household objects, which are often thrown away while still in usable condition.
This space is being populated with found furniture and domestic objects dumped on the streets of the New York metropolitan area. It will grow out of sidewalk finds that the artists make during their residency. The objects are cleaned, repaired and categorized; the progress is monitored and then documented. The resulting piece will be a fully or partially equipped living environment, depending on the luck of the findings.
The objects, which assumingly have been replaced by new commodities are, in Looking for a Home, kept relevant by the artists’ discovery. This site-specific environment reflects the state of abundance and rejection in the item‘s found location. While the sale of anonymously mass-produced household objects is encouraged by the supportive framework of fictional stories around the objects and designers, Looking for a Home focuses on the stories of the objects’ lives and their use, adding an enriching personal layer of a real story connected to specific people and their environment.
The public is encouraged to use this space as a working area, and to share thoughts/comments on the items. Since Looking for a Home is a work in progress, please follow its development on site and online here.
Open Studio at Queens College Art Center, Thursday March 24, 5-8PM of Marek and Kristyna Milde's installation project, Looking for Home.
Then head on down to the Lower East Side for Silent Noise Art Opening and Auction at Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard St. NY, NY.
Silent Noise is a silent art auction and party curated by Alexandria LaPorte and Chris Barreto, featuring the work of 25 emerging New York City artists. SilentNoise is a mixed medium show including photography, sculpture, illustration, painting, and mixed media.
Thursday, March, 24th at Gallery Bar, bidding from 6:30-10pm. All opening bids $50 or less.
At the SilentNoiseNYC Tumblr page you can preview the work that will be up for auction tonight.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Live, Listen and Learn
I talk A LOT! I really talk so much that I used to find myself (and sometimes still do), after a hang out session or date thinking, "oh my, I didn't let the other person/people get a word in edgewise...I need to stop talking and start listening!"
I have gotten a lot better at this, but it always helps me to remember just how much I learn if I shut up and listen sometimes!
In my Live, Listen and Learn posts I will be highlighting some form of really valuable information, tips or tricks that I have learned from others. Some info could be from someone that I have dated (because a relationship is never really a failure if you learn some secret recipes!), some may be friends that I am still close with, or others that have faded into obscurity. Regardless of where they are now, I know that each person I come in contact with, makes some sort of impact on me, some big, some small. And each person you meet and spend time with, or speak with...could be a person that changes the way you think, live, or simply sort your laundry.
Let's start simple!
Bethanie who was a close friend in High School kept the neatest closet that I ever saw, (I on the other hand, used my closet as a fort or sometimes vampire hangout). Whenever she came to school her clothes were very nicely pressed, and somehow she never had any lint or pet hair on her clothes despite having a dog (Patches: wow, how do I remember her dog's name!?)
Basically, with my complete lack of care for what I wore in High School, unless by care you mean cared enough to purposely draw the design with marker myself, she was the polar opposite of me. I did shut up and listen however and learned a trick that comes in handy for adult me.
I know that Bethanie learned this trick from her mom, so really I can credit Mrs. P for this gem:
If you want to avoid lint/dog hair on your clothes, especially clothes that are black, hang them inside out. Simple and it works!
Thanks Bethanie and Mrs. P!
(this post would not be complete without an awful High School picture of us, Bethy is in front of me, and I am the one in the pink...with the...haircut, ha!)
I have gotten a lot better at this, but it always helps me to remember just how much I learn if I shut up and listen sometimes!
In my Live, Listen and Learn posts I will be highlighting some form of really valuable information, tips or tricks that I have learned from others. Some info could be from someone that I have dated (because a relationship is never really a failure if you learn some secret recipes!), some may be friends that I am still close with, or others that have faded into obscurity. Regardless of where they are now, I know that each person I come in contact with, makes some sort of impact on me, some big, some small. And each person you meet and spend time with, or speak with...could be a person that changes the way you think, live, or simply sort your laundry.
Let's start simple!
Bethanie who was a close friend in High School kept the neatest closet that I ever saw, (I on the other hand, used my closet as a fort or sometimes vampire hangout). Whenever she came to school her clothes were very nicely pressed, and somehow she never had any lint or pet hair on her clothes despite having a dog (Patches: wow, how do I remember her dog's name!?)
Basically, with my complete lack of care for what I wore in High School, unless by care you mean cared enough to purposely draw the design with marker myself, she was the polar opposite of me. I did shut up and listen however and learned a trick that comes in handy for adult me.
I know that Bethanie learned this trick from her mom, so really I can credit Mrs. P for this gem:
If you want to avoid lint/dog hair on your clothes, especially clothes that are black, hang them inside out. Simple and it works!
Thanks Bethanie and Mrs. P!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Snack Attack!
I have been eating baked kale almost every night this week, and for good reason. It is quick, and super yummy, and in terms of a snack food, does not make me feel like I am eating snack food...you know that guilty feeling when you eat potato chips? Well I don't because I eat BAKED KALE! :)
I have used this as a side dish to meals, like pairing it with mushrooms and grains; or quite often just eat it on its own.
The longer you leave it in the oven, or the less olive oil you use, the crispier it gets, so you can tailor your recipe to your mood.
Baked Kale:
1 bunch kale
olive oil
salt (I use coarse sea salt)
variations: (use in addition to or instead of salt)
cayenne pepper
curry
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
1. De-stem kale and roughly chop or rip the leaves into smaller pieces.
2. Place kale in a loose pile on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil onto kale pile (either a couple of sprays, or pour for about 2 seconds...I never really measure the amount, you just need a teeny bit)
4. Time to get messy! Take your hands and scrunch together the kale to coat as many pieces with the olive oil.
5. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
6. Bake for about 10 minutes (remember, the longer you have it in-the crispier, so the first time you make this, check it as you go and bake to taste).
Consume sans guilt!
I have used this as a side dish to meals, like pairing it with mushrooms and grains; or quite often just eat it on its own.
The longer you leave it in the oven, or the less olive oil you use, the crispier it gets, so you can tailor your recipe to your mood.
Baked Kale:
1 bunch kale
olive oil
salt (I use coarse sea salt)
variations: (use in addition to or instead of salt)
cayenne pepper
curry
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
1. De-stem kale and roughly chop or rip the leaves into smaller pieces.
2. Place kale in a loose pile on a baking sheet.
4. Time to get messy! Take your hands and scrunch together the kale to coat as many pieces with the olive oil.
5. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
6. Bake for about 10 minutes (remember, the longer you have it in-the crispier, so the first time you make this, check it as you go and bake to taste).
Marek's Birthday
A little get together for Marek's birthday. I got home from Seattle and the NAEA conference, and Alex and I headed over to Bushwick to celebrate with Marek, Kristyna and friends.
The spread. They always outdo themselves. There are various homemade dips, some vegan and raw, along with all different types of breads, stuffed peppers, veggies and more!
Kristyna explaining her work to Alex.
The ladies reviewing a magazine which recently published an article about Kristyna's work.
Beautiful homemade cake made by Kristyna!
Vegan Risotto, yum!
Marek opening presents.
Honza and Alex telling weirdo stories.
In addition to the amazing foods already prepared, Marek whipped me up some vegan berry ice cream with cashew cream on top of it when he realized I couldn't have the cake (eggs in it), this is just the way they are! So amazing! One of their dips was made with cashews, almonds and homemade (homegrown) sundried tomatoes. They are inspiring! We also enjoyed Honza's homebrewed beer, including his much sought after pumpkin ale!
Always a fun time!
If you didn't check the link, definitely check out the project Marek and Kristyna are collaborating on right now, LOOKING FOR HOME...currently being installed at the Queens College Art Center.
In addition to the amazing foods already prepared, Marek whipped me up some vegan berry ice cream with cashew cream on top of it when he realized I couldn't have the cake (eggs in it), this is just the way they are! So amazing! One of their dips was made with cashews, almonds and homemade (homegrown) sundried tomatoes. They are inspiring! We also enjoyed Honza's homebrewed beer, including his much sought after pumpkin ale!
Always a fun time!
If you didn't check the link, definitely check out the project Marek and Kristyna are collaborating on right now, LOOKING FOR HOME...currently being installed at the Queens College Art Center.
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