That Was Vegan?

You’ve all watched The Night Of, right? If yes, did you love it as much as I did? If you haven’t watched it yet, I promise no spoilers… except this one. I proposed to Riz Ahmed during his recent QnA on twitter… and he accepted!

Yes, I’m a dork, but we already knew this. 

I’ve been reading A TON lately, and even though I gave up on that whole ‘reading with intention‘ project, I still want to share. 

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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – How is it that I never read this classic? Especially since so many people compare it to Jane Eyre which is my all time favorite. Amazing, timeless story, so well written. I love a good love story, especially a tragic one. 

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle – A look at the racism of the 1920’s through the lens of magic… It’s a short novella, a very quick read, but it pulls you in quickly. I never read the Lovecraft book this is always compared to (and now that we know how shitty of a human being Lovecraft was- do I want to) but most reviewers say this is much, much better.

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders – I am really not a fan of science fiction or YA but loved this book- which makes me think all those who categorize it as such are just plain wrong. It’s whimsical, and it’s dark and it’s sad… but it’s also hopeful. Two outcasts who knew each other from childhood have gone on to two very different specialties as adults- science and magic. Then, you know, the apocalypse. Typical love story 😉

The Cartel by Don Winslow – Not true crime, but close enough! I sped through the 600+ pages of this book in less than a week. It’s a very real look at the lives lived and lost in the Mexican-American drug wars, from both sides. And it’s not always clear who the bad guy is. Don’t get me wrong- the cartels are horrific… but honestly so is the US war on drugs, IMO. If you like true crime, or gory fiction, you’ll probably like this.

The Girls by Lori Lansens – This starts out feeling very YA, and I almost put it down, but so glad I didn’t! It’s the story of a pair of conjoined twins named Rose and Ruby, and they life they lead. Their dreams and hopes and heartbreaks. It’s the kind of book where you really feel like you knew the characters by the end. Fiction, but doesn’t really feel that way.

After her by Joyce Maynard – If you read my podcast roundup a few weeks back you know I’m really into murder podcasts right now, and this book fit right in. It’s a “coming of age during a serial killer spree” story. Very well written. A bit predictable, but very enjoyable. I actually went on to read two more books by the same author right after (although didn’t enjoy either as much as this one).

What are you reading? Anything I might like?

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Mmmm mmm millet! It’s healthy, full of nutrients like iron, magnesium, and B-6. It’s gluten-free if that matters to you, and it’s one of the least expensive grains you can buy. And when you cook it up with fresh veggies and spicy fajita seasoning, it makes a fantastic side dish or entree all on its own! 

I cook with millet a lot these days… “these days” being since I realized that I know a millet farmer who will share with me, haha! I’ve made Early Morning Maple Bacon Millet:

And I’ve made Peanut Butter Bourbon Buckeyes with Crispy Millet:

Those buckeyes, OMG. You need to make them immediately. I need to make them immediately! The best thing about them (besides their amazing flavor and bitesized-ness) is that you can keep them in the freezer and just eat one or two or seven at a time. It’s not like a cake that you (feel like you) need to eat all at once before it gets stale, you know?

But before I get all sidetracked with dessert, let us focus on dinner, or lunch. Spicy Fajita Millet. 

So easy to make. While you’re cooking the millet in one pot, simple water saute some veggies and seasonings in another pan, and then mix them all together. I used mini sweet peppers because I love their shape and size, and half a sweet onion. And TONS of spice. I ate one serving right away for dinner, and the rest became lunches for the week.

I topped it with a few sliced scallions, but you could go more decadent and use a little vegan cheese or sour cream- that would be delicious too!

Spicy Fajita Millet Bowl

2016-08-16 08:54:29

Serves 4

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Ingredients

1. 1 cup uncooked millet
2. 8 sweet mini peppers
3. 1 small sweet onion (or half of a regular sized one)
4. 3 tablespoons fajita seasoning plus 1 teaspoon (store bought or homemade)
5. Couple shakes chili powder and crushed red pepper flakes for extra flavor
6. Salt & pepper to taste
7. Toppings like vegan cheese, sour cream, sliced scallions, etc!

Instructions

1. Cook millet per package instructions, adding in 1 teaspoon of the fajita seasoning
2. Slice the peppers into pretty little circles, halve and slice the onion (for shorter strips)
3. Water saute the veggies over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the seasonings and more water as needed, and continue to saute for 5-6 more minutes. You want the veggies cooked but not mushy.
4. Combine with the cooked millet stirring well. Taste and add salt and pepper, or more spice. Top and serve!

By Barb@ThatWasVegan?

That Was Vegan? https://www.thatwasvegan.com/

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I miss my foster kittens! Last Saturday they hit the two important milestones- 8 weeks old and over 2lbs, which means they were ready to be spayed and find their new homes. Mama too. Of course, as you can see in the photo above, they had just learned how much fun it is to climb up and down my headboard, so I supposed it’s for the best, before their tiny little claws cause too much damage. So goodbye Squirrel, Mouse, Bunny, and Chipmunk. I hope you have long, happy, healthy lives full of catnip and silly toys! 💖

Other important updates? Two weeks and counting until my Grandma Josie moves here!

She’s 86 and this will be her first time living in a city, which she finds very exciting. I can’t wait to have her here and help her get settled in. I’m sure she’ll miss the beautiful lake house, but she’ll still have White Russians here in Denver, haha! And even better, a couple weeks after that, my mom will be moving here too – talk about exciting changes! I haven’t lived near my Mama since I left NH in 1999, and I’ve very happy that will soon be changing. 

In the meantime, here are some yummy bits I’ve had to eat… 

From a recent shopping spree at Nooch Vegan Market here in Denver, my favorite Earth Balance White Cheddar Puffs! I also splurged and tried two new products, the Late July Bacon Habanero Chips and WayFare Nacho Cheddar Dip. Both were amazing. The chips were spicy and had a really strong bacon flavor, but the cheese dip stole my heart. The best pre-made vegan queso I’ve ever had, by far.

Buffalo Seitan wings (with vegan ranch!) and fries from City O’ City… the ultimate happy hour snack, right!? And no, I didn’t eat them all myself, they were shared with two other girlfriends – I swear!

I wont lie… by the end of August, if you were to cut me open, I’d probably be bleeding Gin & Tonic. But I feel like that’s okay because limes are a fruit and add a nutritional legitimacy to my summer drink of choice. Right? 

Dinner the other night was a baked sweet potato, steamed kale, and BBQ baked tofu. I don’t usually have such healthy, well-rounded meals so I’m always careful to document them when I do 😉 

Speaking of which, this was from the weekend before last at a friend’s BBQ- My Spicy Pasta Salad, a corn and avocado salad another friend made, a boca burger, and saw raw veggies and fruit. Everything was fantastic, and I need to get the recipe for that corn salad. It had feta in it, but she set aside a cheese-free portion for me, how sweet is that?

I always forget about my Hummus Veggie Melts which is a shame because they’re really delicious, easy, and healthy! And when paired with a salad, they make a great lunch or dinner.

And finally, a little Tex-Mex feast: Seitan fajitas, brown rice mixed with cumin and chili powder and sweet corn, and black beans. I used my own homemade seitan (which is easier to make than you probably think!) and added a little vegan sour cream. Mexican food is probably my most favorite, if I had to choose. 

And speaking of spicy flavors, I’ll be back Thursday with a recipe for my new, favorite way to enjoy millet! 

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Who says online friends can’t become IRL friends? Not I! Angie and I first became acquainted in October 2012 through the old monthly vegan swap. Bloggers and readers would sign up to participate, and we’d be matched… and send each other boxes of vegan deliciousness. It was a lot of fun, although also a lot of work for the organizers which is probably why it no longer exists. Anyway, back then Angie had signed up and drew my (lucky) name… and proceeded to send me the best box I ever received- mostly because of these chocolate chip cookies from Loving Hut. And also because I had just spent a day flying back from DC with a broken foot, had lost my car at DIA, then had to drive over an hour home and got there after midnight. It was a rough day, but this box was waiting for me on the front step and it made everything better. 

Fast forward a bit and Angie now has two great blogs: Angie Eats Peace, where she shares her vegan journey, and Spiritual Bahana where she and her spiritual “sister” blog about religion and spiritualism. They call it “A girl, a gay, and God” which I love.  

So we were reading each other’s blogs and even guest posting for each other here and there, but we still hadn’t met in person. But we finally did! We had brunch the other morning in Boulder at Tangerine. The food was delicious, but the company was even better!

We each had The Vegan, which was tempeh, avocado, fresh arugula, sauteed spinach, eggplant caponata, pinto beans, almond romesco sauce and walnut pesto. Delicious, and healthy, and perfect for brunch on a hot day.

And Angie? She’s that person who can only be described as beautiful, both inside and out. She emanates gentleness and understanding and empathy, and just being around her is calming. She really makes me want to do more yoga haha! Her MIL lives in Estes Park, so we’re hoping to plan a snowshoeing outing this winter, which would be great. Angie, I’m so glad we finally met! 

Okay, podcasts!

I take the bus back and forth to work most days, and I’ve found this is time best spent with my earbuds in and a “Don’t talk to me” look on my face. Sometimes I’ll listen to audio books or music, but mostly I’m listening to podcasts. There are a few that I really love, and wanted to share with you in case you’re looking for any new ones to listen to.

In no particular order… 

• Lore with Aaron Mahnke: I know lots of people have jumped on the Lore bandwagon, but I have to brag and say I’ve been a listener since the get.  Mahnke has an incredibly voice and is a great story teller, which really draws you in… but the stories themselves are of course the hook. True life scary stories is what this podcast is all about, many of which are quite historical. And there is a tv show in the works (from the producers of The Walking Dead, no less), which I will definitely be DVRing!
• Awesome Etiquette with actual relatives of Emily Post: The premise of this one is simple – listeners send in emails with etiquette questions, and these two answer. Very much like the Emily Post columns back in the day, except way more fun! These two are young, hip, hilarious AND very polite. You’ll actually learn from this podcast, but you’ll also laugh and be amused. 
• My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark: I’ve only recently started listening to this one, but I literally can’t get enough. I listen on the bus. I listen at home while playing with the kittens. While cleaning the kitchen. Also, I want to be BFFs with both of these women. They are so funny and witty and uproarious and over-the-top. Nothing would delight me more than to have them over for wine and snacks and murder talk. Basically these podcasts are the two of them comparing the true crime stories they like best. They’ll say the things that it’s not always socially acceptable to say (for example, that you’re obsessed with true crime stories), and they’re willing to admit their weaknesses (they’re both scared silly of being home alone after dark). The two things are certainly related. 
• Fresh Air with Terry Gross: Probably everyone already listens to this one, but I never get tired of Terry. She’s so smart and the topics she explores are all so interesting (How the New England Colonists Embraced the Slave Trade, or Bracing for Zika in the US). I especially love when she interviews book authors- some of the best book recommendations have come from Fresh Air! 
• Young House Love Has a Podcast: I feel rather basic for admitting that I enjoy this podcast, but I do. I love DIY and “real life” design (as opposed to design that costs a gazillion dollars), and I always used to read their blog. If you liked the blog, you’ll like the podcast. If you found the blog annoying, well… you get it. 

I have an iphone so I get my podcasts directly from My Podcasts, but these are also available via iTunes or Stitcher. Tell us, what are your favorite podcasts? 

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I’m an unapologetic fan of spicy Korean BBQ flavors. Tacos, pizza, bowls… all are fair game when it comes to incorporating that wonderful, sticky sauce into my mouth meals.

You can use any veggie meatball you prefer, or make your own. I used Nate’s, a brand that’s sold at Sprouts and Trader Joe’s (although at TJ’s is sold under their own brand name). I also used canned pineapple which made this a super quick dish. I made the sauce from scratch but many mainstream grocery stores (Kroger, etc) carry a jarred Korean BBQ sauce, and if you go that route, it’s even quicker. Definitely something you could throw together at the last minute when guests stop by. 

Very much like that other meatball and pineapple recipe that I’m a huge fan of… Kathy’s 5-Minute Spicy-Sweet Glazed Cocktail Balls! If you haven’t made those yet, please do. A different flavor profile, but still very similar. And easy! 

Not as easy? Climbing a 14er. It’s been two years since I summited Grays Peak and Mt. Bierstadt, and I’m ready for my next. A girlfriend and I have decided to do Quandry Peak in August… and I can’t wait! I love having something to work towards, it keeps me from getting lazy. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

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I’ve always been a huge fan of Coco Roons, and was VERY excited to get a box of their new minis in the mail recently. They sent Brownie, Lemon Pie and Vanilla Maple. 

Vanilla Maple was easily my favorite. Sweet with just a hint of maple. Not overwhelming at all. Lemon Pie was a close second- I really enjoyed the light tartness of it. Brownie was delicious too- I’m not a huge chocolate freak, and I found the coconut flavor kept it was being too much chocolate for me. 

I also like their size- you can pop one or two into your mouth for a quick treat without feeling guilty. Or, you know, eat the whole bag. It’s all good! 

Check out their website– they have bunches of flavors to try out (Apple Pie and Orange Dreamsicle sound pretty great!). You can order directly from them, or find a retailer near you. And because they’re organic, non-gmo, paleo, vegan, gluten-free and kosher, everyone can enjoy them!

And speaking of things we all enjoy… KITTENS!

I’ve been craving kittens, so I picked up this beautiful mama and her three babies from the Dumb Friends League last weekend. They’ll stay with me until the kittens are 8 weeks old and ready to be adopted. They’re so much fun!

Mama’s name is Squirrel, and she’s so sweet and trusting and affectionate. Great lap kitty. The babies, from left to right (below) are Bunny, Mouse, and Chipmunk.

I’m trying not to play favorites, but… little Mousie loves to be held against my chest and immediately falls asleep. It’s precious and impossible to resist:

Adorable, right?

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Another round-up of all the “fascinating” things I eat when I’m not cooking for the blog, or eating for the blog… In no particular order EXCEPT for the first because it’s wine and wine is awesome!

I don’t remember who introduced me to McManis Family Wines, but I’m glad they did- for around $9 per bottle, this wine is fantastic. I’ve had the cabernet and the pinot noir and both taste more like $20 bottles. Great for that “everyday” sort of drinking, but when you want to take it a few notches above that box we all know you keep hidden away… Also, Sally is cute!

Have you guys tried the new Ben & Jerry’s vegan flavors yet? The PB & Cookies is my favorite. Granted, it’s the only I’ve tried so far, but still! I also happen to believe it’s best enjoyed by the cone, scooped fresh in a B&J’s shop, if you have one near you.

These next three are what Randy and I ate for brunch at Real Food Daily on my last day in LA…  I had The Weekender which was way too big, but came with 2 pancakes, tofu scramble with cashew cheese, tempeh bacon, and hash browns. It was delicious, but I couldn’t eat it all. And it was $17. I realize I’ve been away from LA for a while now so that’s why the prices seem shocking, but… 

Randy ordered The Charlie, which was a mock tuna salad and SO GOOD (I may have stolen a couple 8 bites), and also a plate of Pasta Bravas to share, roasted red potatoes with a spicy cashew cheese: 

Next we have a really fresh and filling California Mixed Green Salad I had at Gladstones in Malibu. Tons of cucumbers and tomatoes and asparagus and of course avocado in there, with a red wine vinaigrette. True story: Both of my roommates worked at Gladstones when we first moved to LA. I was also hired as a cocktail waitress, but quit before I ever even started. Silly me, I would’ve made mad money! 

This delicious Veggie Burger was enjoyed at The Sidewalk Cafe on Venice Beach. People who don’t really know LA, or who have only been once or twice think Venice Beach is gross… and while the boardwalk is still a little cray, it’s got some gorgeous sand and coast! Also this cafe had a bunch of vegan and vegetarian options, which is always nice to see. 

Mmmmmm Vegan Reuben from Subculture (who I’ve told you about before). They rock the best subs in Capitol Hill, IMO. 

This Lemon Meringue cupcake from Watercourse Bakery/City O’ City isn’t much to look at, but believe me when I tell you it was totally scrumptious. The tartness of the lemon offset the sugary sweetness and kept it from being overwhelming. I’m so lucky to have an all-vegan bakery right across the street from my office!

Every summer, Denver has this great event on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays where Civic Center Park is filled up by food trucks for lunch. Here are two of my recent finds: A Valley Veggie Wrap from Cali Wraps, and (I think?) The Colorado from Keenwah Co. 

From a street fair in the Valverde neighborhood, I got the Boulder Veggie Philly from a truck called Wong Way Veg, the name of which seems… a tiny bit racist?

Annnnnnnd finally some more veggies. A Beet Salad with red and gold beets and a citrus vinaigrette from Vendetta’s in Vail:

A regular ol’ salad I made at home with Follow Your Heart Ranch (I love, love, LOVE salads like this in the summer!):

And, as a strange sort of grand finale, the crazy thing I’ve been eating for breakfast lately… Steamed Broccoli with salt and pepper. I swear it’s good though, and it’s a great way to pre-load some nutrition in your day!

Have you guys been eating anything fun or unusual lately?? 

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Every year I’d see my LA blogger friends posting pics and stories from the LA Vegan Beer and Food Festival and would succumb to massive jealousy. I lived in LA for years (and San Diego for years after that) and I wasted all that time by not being vegan! Gah! But this year I finally put things right, got my butt on a plane, and went to the festival. And let me tell you… it did not disappoint! If you’re thinking of attending next year, be sure and scroll all the way down for my own personal checklist of ways to make it more enjoyable! 

Although I spent most of the long weekend partying it up with canine celebrities in WeHo, my old bestie Patrick was my date for the fest. I did a very poor job of documenting all that we ate and drank, but here are some of the highlights: 

A plant-based version of KFC’s “Double Down” from the Herbivorious Butcher – 2 pieces of fried seitan with the bacon, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion in between. We waited in line for at least 45 minutes for this bad boy, and it was delicious! Too big for me to finish though. 

Coconut macaroons and peanut butter cheesecake from The Little Sweet Place:

I won (WON!!) this 2lb bottle of FYH Vegan Egg just for tweeting a picture of my posing with their logo! I can’t even imagine how much this would cost in a store?

This was an avocado taco from somewhere I can’t remember (See? I did a terrible job!) but it was good. The avocado was dehydrated, covered in salsa, and wrapped in lettuce which was perfect for the hot day:

There were lots of brands with lots of freebies too. FYH, in addition to giving away the yummy Vegan Egg were also serving up free “pizza” grilled cheese sandwiches, and handing out cheese samples. Gardein was there with their fishless filets and fries:

And of course there was a lot of beer. A.Lot.Of.Beer. But I didn’t take pics of that. It was so hot and I didn’t have enough hands, so I decided to just enjoy myself. And I finally met my favorite Instagrammer- The Unhealthy Vegan!

He was a food judge and was set up at a table with one of EVERYTHING. And he shared! Love that guy. 

There were so many people there, it was insane. 

And this was a shot taken from the VIP area, where it was a lot less crowded:

Okay, enough pictures… here are my thoughts:

1. VIP access is worth the extra $$ for 3 reasons: You get in two hours earlier which allows you to get in line for things like the “double down” or the vegan “big mac” before that line is a mile long. The VIP area has their own bathrooms (in the regular area you have to actually leave the beer/food space to get to any) with no lines, and they stay cleaner because fewer people are using them. And, finally, it gives you a less crowded place to go if you’re like me and get a little uncomfortable in crowds. 
2. Go with friends/a group is better than a duo: First of all, you have more people to talk to, or walk around with. It’s summer in Pasadena so it’s hot. Some of you are going to walk to chill in the shade while others are all “Let’s get more beer!” Also the portions are huge so that way you can share and try more things! Set up a blanket in the shade, and you all have a sort of homebase for the rest of the day. And draw straws so one of you is the DD. 
3. Bring a blanket: See #2
4. Bring a tote bag or backpack: Don’t be that person carrying a 2lb jar of Vegan Egg around all day, juggling her beer glass and phone and food.  The parking lot is really far away, you don’t want to be going back and forth, trust me. 
5. Wear something light but fun: I saw people in all sorts of crazy outfits and I wished I had thought of that. Next year I’m wearing a pink tiara and maybe a tutu. Depends on the weather. 

Did any of you attend? Do you have other ideas? Add them to the comments section!!

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Yep, I went to LA and met Giggy! But first my old roomie/forever friend Randy picked me up from the airport and we went straight to hiking in the Pacific Palisades. 

Gorgeous views of both ocean and mansions. See the one with the vineyard in the backyard? That’s Steven Spielberg’s house.

Randy and I met in college back in NH, and moved to LA in 1999 where we were roommates for 4 years (along with Theron, who missed this trip).  So, we’ve known each other for about 20 years.  We both look so hot and youthful you’d never know it though! I hadn’t seen him since moving to CO more than 10 years ago, but as it always is with real friends, we jumped right back into it. It was like no time had gone by – at least after we caught each other up a bit. 

I had THE BEST weekend. Randy lives in West Hollywood so it was dubbed The WeHo Weekend, and JT’s CAN’T STOP THE FEELING was our theme song, because it came on the radio every time we got in the car. We went to the beach twice:

Did lots of sightseeing (including the beautiful canals in Venice Beach):

And generally ate and drank a ton. I also went to the LA Vegan Beer & Food festival, but I’m saving those deets for my next post. The best night was Friday… we got all dolled up and hit the happy hour at Pump… as in Lisa Vanderpump from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 

We each ordered a Gigster and mingled…

Until THE REAL Gigster showed up!

My head practically exploded in so many directions. 

1. Because Randy is fabulous, he’s friends with that guy Dwight we’ve all seen on the show being besties with Lisa and Taylor, so we got an actual introduction (as opposed to me just being a dorky fan girl)
2. Ken is so nice and OMFG Giggy is so adorable in person dog!
3. Giggy and I matched. Swoon. 
4. Lisa is tiny in person but so sweet!
5. Ken admired my Cooper paw tattoo and I told him about Cooper and he thought it was great
6. I can now walk around saying things like “Well, my friends Ken and Lisa…“
7. Bucket list CHECK!

Best part is, the fun that night was just beginning. Randy had made reservations for us at Gracias Madre, a super swank all vegan spot in WeHo (and yes, it’s the spot with all the owner drama, but we didn’t know that… not that it would necessarily have kept us from eating there anyway). And I apologize for the pics- it was so dark in there, but I really want to share!

We were waiting for Randy’s BF Mark to join us (and for some reason I have no pics of the three of us, sad), so we sat at the bar for our first cocktail. You know how regular bars have the tray of lemon wedges and fluorescent cherries and such? Not Gracias Madre! They have this: 

Their cocktail menu is amazing- they only serve drinks made with tequila and mezcal but there are tons of delicious options. I am fairly certain that I had the One In A Melon:

We ordered a lot and shared among the three of us. We started with the Coliflor Frito (cauliflower with a cashew nacho cheese sauce) and this insane Grilled Street Corn with chipotle aioli, pumpkin seed parmesan, and lemon: 

We also had the Enchiladas Verde (tomatillo enchiladas served open faced with sauteed greens, grilled zucchini, avocado cashew crema, and black beans) and the Coconut Ceviche Tostadas with guacamole, cashew crema, and cilantro:

Both dessert pictures came out terrible, but we had the Strawberry Shortcake (coconut cashew whipped cream, cinnamon biscuit, and balsamic reduction) and the Peanut Butter Cup (raw cacao crust with toasted peanut ganache). Both were delicious. We ate it all! 

One last cute shot of me and Randy… 

… and I’ll be back in a few days with my post about the LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest which I am DEFINITELY heading back for next year! 

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