Archive for category Vegetarian

Things I’m Excited About #11

New snack you will love! popchips

I don’t think I usually do 2 of these “excited about” posts in one month- do I? I just have a few things floating around in my mind and I thought I should unload some of them on my unsuspecting, but hopefully receptive, readers.

Ever lost your digital camera? Or found one maybe and checked out the pics taken? Thanks to my bro for sending me the link to a site that posts pics from ‘found’ cameras all over the world in the hopes SOMEBODY will recognize them. The site doesn’t really have a name except ifoundyourcamera.net and that’s about it…it tells it like it is. I’m super proud to report the site is based in Canada and I think they’re doing a great job. We all know how important our photo’s are to us, so if you can help in identifying some pics or have some of your own to post- please do! Help these lost pics find the way home…

I blogged a little while back about the distressing fact My Guy and I could no longer find the PC Blue Label Meatless Beef Strips anymore.  They appear to be gone from the coolers and the label has vanished…BUT there was a new product to be seen in the frozen section. I’d love to provide a link to it, but alas I can’t find it in the PC Blue Menu vegetarian (meatless) line up on the site. The product is called “Vegetarian Tips” and look like ‘beef tips’ or chunks. In my excitement of spotting this product I must not have read the packaging completely; I swear it said meatless beef on it…not just vegetarian tips. No worries because there is no meat in it, and it’s a combo of wheat gluten, soy protein and ancient grains. Really. I didn’t make that last part up, it truly says ancient grains. The taste was not identical to the meatless beef strips and now that I’ve looked at the actual packaging I can see why; it’s not the same product. I chose to brown it and then use in a stew and it was flavourful and tasty, the stew was a success, but I’m honestly not sure how it will stand up in one of my My Guy’s legendary stir-fry’s. Stay tuned.

Last weekend I tried a ‘new to me’ snack. I think the product itself is relatively new however and it’s called popchips. The tag line states, ‘think popped. Never fried. Never baked.’ The website states fried is fattening and baked is tasteless. How true. Anyway I scored a sample of the plain popchips and have to admit I was very impressed, and very intrigued to try more. A regular potato chip it’s not and I don’t think it will really satisfy that craving we sometimes desire….BUT it did satisfy my need to snack. It was a new sensation and not at all a bad one! The chips were light, really crunchy and airy (without being fluffy and empty!). I only had a tiny bag and was sad when it came to the end. I easily could have eaten more. I know what you’re thinking- what about the label?? I had the single serving packet and that came in at just 100 calories! I’m always looking for 100 calorie snacks because it’s a nice round number to track calories by. If you have snacks that equal 100 calories each, you can easily monitor what you’re eating between meals. The flavours available are amazing too! Chili Lime, Parmesan & Garlic and Cheddar to name a few. Check out popchips for your next snack.

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“How I Spent my Summer Vacation Part 1″

While most people take their summer vacation in the summer months, I just got back from mine. It was spent in Great Britain; with a large amount of time in Scotland (where My Guy is from). To say I fell in love with the land would be an understatement. It was everything I imagined it would be, everything my mind pictured over all the years of reading books about the area…it was all so much larger than life. I was enveloped in history and culture- something our nation, and continent for that matter, simply is too young to have. Just a simple drive in the country meant passing castle ruins, ancient stone walls and historical monuments such as the one dedicated to William Wallace.

Alongside the beautiful country were of course, the beautiful people. I was lucky enough to meet and hang out with several of My Guys treasured and dearest friends from when he was younger. I met some fantastic individuals that I’m looking forward to learning more about over the years to come. It was a time of self discovery, learning, acceptance and love. I had an amazing time and it was with a somewhat heavy heart we boarded the place at Gatwick to come “home.”

But now to answer the question on everyone’s mind: What is the food like? Is it true the Brits deep fry EVERYTHING? I don’t know about that personally because I didn’t have alot of deep fried things regularly, but did ingest a helluva lot of carbs and processed food. Much more than I would normally! I didn’t have as much fresh veggies as I do here at home, but that was probably just because there was a fair amount of ‘eating out’. Supermarkets however, don’t have the abundance or array of produce that North American chains offer; and display it in plastic crates. From what I saw and tasted though, the quality and freshness was not lacking! I think it comes down to differences in packaging and displaying…

We had a disastrous introduction to Quorn that some of my readers may already know about. I don’t care if I NEVER see this product again. It was nasty. Pure nasty. I feel a bit of sorrow for UK Newbie Vegetarians who may try this product thinking it’s their only choice and be totally and completely turned off. One of the local grocer chains, Morrisons, offered up their own version of some veggie delights such as “Chicken Kiev” that was incredibly delicious. My Guy and I tried several of their entrees for vegetarians and were quite impressed. Way to go Morrisons!

A major food highlight was a trip to Hendersons of Edinburgh- Vegetarian Restaurant and Arts Venue. My Guy had told me how he used to have lunches there and was always amazed with the selection and quality available to Vegetarians. I had read through the website before our trip so I was familiar with the history and how much the business had grown over the years. I was thrilled to see a thriving family business amongst so many chain-type eateries pumping out the same crap day after day. Hendersons did NOT disappoint in the slightest. We ate there 2 times and both were absolutely delicious and not overpriced! I found the counter help friendly and didn’t mind my endless questions about the items offered. All in all it was an experience and one I recommend highly to anyone, vegetarian or omni, travelling to Edinburgh to try out!

Now to end this post I want to mention a little something I fell in love with, called a Chip Buttie. It’s far from healthy, it’s loaded with calories and fat and it’s sinfully delectable. Since I don’t eat fish, there isn’t much I can have at the local fish ‘n chip shops…but My Guy introduced me to the almighty Chip Buttie and I haven’t been the same since. The magic though, is in the Scottish Morning Roll…I have to admit I didn’t enjoy the English ones so much…

The Almighty Chip Buttie (ok yes it's a glorified french-fry sandwich but really its so much more!)

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On the Island

So we’re in the UK…and one of the 1st things I wanted to do was go to a supermarket over here. I know, I know…exciting right? But being a sorta-foodie and a Vegetarian as well, I’m always intrigued by what various grocery chains offer. I’d read about the Quorn products before online and once I spied them in the refrigerated section of the local Tesco I jumped at the chance to finally try it. First off, I ‘assumed’ Quorn was made from CORN. I don’t know why I thought this, perhaps the name implied that to me? Looking on the website I found out it’s made from something called Mycoprotein. What is that you ask? Damned if I know!

The site says the following:

Mycoprotein is the ingredient common to all Quorn products. Mycoprotein is a healthy meat-free form of high quality protein and is also a good source of dietary fibre. It is naturally low in fat and saturated fat.

 This doesn’t answer the question of what is Quorn made of. It’s not soy. It’s not gluten. So how did it taste? First impression wasn’t too favourable…we sampled the Sweet and Sour dinner and while it cooked up fast and was convenient, it wasn’t high on taste. The veggies (peppers, water chestnuts and some pineapple) were nicely cooked, not soggy…and the rice reheated well. The actual Quorn had a good consistency and was tender…but man oh man, it had NO TASTE. I couldn’t have been more disappointed to be honest. Even the sweet and sour sauce was flavourless! I think there is super potential for this product, and it’s highly possible this wasn’t the best product to try first. Tonight we’re using the Quorn Steak Strips in a stir fry and I have high hopes for this product!

 Stay tuned for more- and for more info about being in the UK- and not just EATING in the UK!

The Vegetarian Butcher

When I first saw this story, Vegetarian Butcher Makes a Killing, I had formed an opinion BEFORE I even read the article. I scoffed. What did vegetarian butcher mean? I thought it was a ridiculous title…but nevertheless my interest was obviously piqued. I found the website but unfortunately my Dutch is rusty. Bottom line with this story is the amount of Dutch citizens who have decreased their meat consumption: 75% of people no longer eat meat on a daily basis. The Vegetarian Butcher is a chain of shops selling ONLY vegetable and grain based mock “meats” and they have 30 so far in the country. I would LOVE to see this in person but alas, Holland is not on our vacation itinerary this year…or the next…but the Dutch certainly know how to do things right, don’t they?

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Kale Chip Chaos and More…

I finally did it. We had some kale in the fridge so I thought, ‘fine, I’ll see what all this fuss is about and make some kale chips.’ I followed the directions online, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F, lightly tossed the bite sized pieces of kale (minus the tough stems) in olive oil, added some salt….and threw in for 10 minutes or so. This site had over 600 reviews, sounds positive right?

First bite? NASTY. I got a very enthusiastic thumbs down from My Guy upon his first taste. He proclaimed they needed more seasoning salt. I countered with, ‘I didn’t use any seasoning salt! We don’t have any!’ But I highly doubt seasoning salt would have made that much of a difference. I had about 5 ‘chips’ in total before I gave up and near my last one, I did sort of see the possibility when I got a completely crunchy one…but with it I got a mouthful of disintegrated kale-dust coating my gums and a bitter flavour. What did I do wrong my faithful readers?? Does anyone know why kale chips get all these amazing reviews online? Are these reviews planted by fakes? Someone tell me! We want to eat more kale, we know we should eat more kale…but I don’t see it happening in the form of ‘chips’ again anytime soon.

Second thing I want to talk about is Holy Crap Cereal. For the umpteenth time I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS STUFF! I simply can’t justify paying over $10 for what looks like maybe 2 cups of product in an inflated bag. If I was to be sent some, I’d surely try it because I’m curious, just like the people writing to me asking me about the cereal! But folks it’s simply not in my budget at this time, and I’m not sure it ever will be. I’ve looked at the ingredient list and think I can maybe come up with something similar on my own…Alas, I’m proud of their story and proud they’re Canadian but unless it comes down about 50% in cost, it won’t be on my breakfast menu.

We’ve been partaking in a few cold brews this summer in the back yard. To shake things up a bit, I started buying mingler or sampler packs. Some have been great and others, well, have been forgettable. I want to give a shout to a local tried-and-true-never-disappointed brew made right here in my little ‘ol town. Granville Island Brewery is a treasured establishment here in Van City that continuously produces top-notch ales that make the craft brewing industry proud. My current fave is the Brockton IPA.

I also want to make sure I give a proper shout out as well to the other hometown brew of choice hailing from the Okanagan: Okanagan Spring Brewery. I’m currently digging the 1516 Lager. There are alot of choices when it comes to craft beers and sometimes it can be overwhelming. If you want something great, want something local…for a reasonable price, then don’t overlook these 2 breweries! Trust me. I’m thirsty just thinking about it…

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A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That…

So I have lots to talk about tonight! It’s been a fairly eventful week in the world of ideas and blogging and “stuff”. I can’t promise my thoughts and rambles will interest EVERYONE out there but one can hope I manage to snag a few new readers…

A little birdie (OK a co-worker…) told me the price of Genuine Health Greens + has gone up in price- significantly! We already pay $59.99 a tub here in Vancouver and if you’re lucky you can find it on sale somewhere for maybe $5 cheaper. My co-worker told me she paid up to $10 more recently! I haven’t had to purchase a new tub yet but I will have to soon, and can I afford to fork out almost $70 for my Greens? I honestly don’t know but it isn’t looking all that possible right now. I’ll be cutting the amount I use in half in hopes I can stretch the container and still have the benefits I’ve come to love from the product. I find it helps my tummy dramatically and if I lose this little bit of peace for my guts, I’m not sure what I’ll do.

The regular readers to this blog know I rave on and on about the PC Blue Label Worlds Best Meatless products…and other meat subs that use gardein. I’ve always been able to buy these products at Superstore here on the West Coast since they are Presidents Choice items…until recently. It started out innocently enough: we couldn’t find the Worlds Best Meatless Meatballs ANYWHERE. I thought, ‘OK they are popular, they’re just out of stock…’ and I held on to this belief for a month or so while I ran around the city checking out No Frills and Superstore for the balls. I could never find them and eventually the label disappeared from the freezer shelf where it had always been….it was replaced with Angus Beef Meatballs. Two rows of them! Why?? Why would Presidents Choice do this? These meatballs are a superior product. I know meat-eaters who love them! We have spaghetti and meatball night in our house that is now ruined and has become Taco Tuesday much to Moops chagrin…tacos sometimes just don’t cut it. I’m wondering if the Worlds Best Meatless Burger will be next? I love being a Vegetarian but too often we get these cool new products, they grab and hook us in…and then the product disappears…like the stuffed “chicken” breasts from Schneider’s. Remember those fellow Veggies?

I’ve got a bone to pick with the PC people and I’m looking for ways to get hold of Galen Weston Jr so I can REALLY vent how I feel! I could go on because there is ANOTHER product we can’t find….*sigh* It’s just simply gone from Superstore. The Meatless Beef Strips. But alas, I’ll leave this for now until I speak to Mr. Weston. Inquiring Veggie minds (and those who simply want to eat more healthy) want to know…stay tuned.

My dear friend M has been experimenting with spaghetti squash. To be specific, she is looking to use it as a traditional wheat spaghetti substitute due to gastrointestinal issues. She has tried the oven and microwave methods and says it always comes out crunchy. It seems like it’s a really sore spot with M, because she wants her dishes to turn out, but wants a spaghetti like texture. I personally have zero experience with this squash; it’s always freaked me out to be honest. I think I will expand my horizons however and experiment with this…I found some amazing recipes online today. I also found this informative article about how to best prepare the squash…it certainly looks appealing! And easy. I like that.

I’m still plagued by a stalker of YEARS ago. I know that person is reading this very post, because I can see all the various places they access my website from in the city they live in. As each new one appears, I flag it and block the access thinking surely they will get the hint. Sadly, their life must be so empty (and lonely) that to dwell on the past and re-live the hurt and anguish they put me through, is the only way to get some sort of satisfaction each day. I was really bothered at first because I’d been left alone for years and knew that once I did put a blog and website up, that I would become vulnerable in a sense…but now I feel sadness for this person. I haven’t forgiven and don’t know that I ever will…and I haven’t forgotten either because my life WAS hell during that time. I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart if I could just be left alone by this person and nothing would bring me more peace than to know they had moved on…I certainly did and with thanks.

Always go with your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, someone seems too possessive…too weird…go with your gut. I wish I had.

I’m in a better place obviously now and LOVE the people in my life. With all my heart.

“Sing as if nobody can hear you…live like there is no tomorrow.”

 

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Things I’m Excited About #8

OK, it has been FAR TOO LONG since my last ‘real’ blog post. I sincerely apologize. No excuse except that life just got in the way like it sometimes does. And with the recent appearance of the sun in my neck of the woods, the idea of plunking down in front of my computer to write something halfway intelligent, seemed crazy to me! But alas tonight I said to Moops, “I should write in my blog tonight.” She replied, “Yeah you should. If I had a blog I would write every day!” So thank you Moops…I dedicate tonight’s post to you…

PC Blue Menu The Worlds Best Seasoned Meatless Chicken Breasts: I was desperately looking through the frozen section at Superstore YET AGAIN, for the Worlds Best Meatless Meatballs and stumbled across these beauties. Imagine my total surprise. Here was what we’d been waiting for….gardein “chickn” breasts in a bulk package in the frozen section for a reasonable price! Now the stuff I saw wasn’t seasoned…and it was made with gardein…so I’m not sure if this is the exact product but you get the idea. I love the idea of buying these, but as much as I love the gardein brand on it’s own, it’s simply out of my price range unless a HUGE sale is on. The fact PC Blue Menu uses gardein (obviously through some private agreement) is amazing because its makes this versatile protein choice for vegetarians very affordable. Now if only I could find out what happened the meatless meatballs……..

Raising Money for a Good Cause: Last weekend Moops set up shop outside the front of the house here in Mount Pleasant and sold chocolate brownies, iced tea and various household items we didn’t need….and it was all to raise money for a good cause. In case you didn’t know, Moops is 8 years old and came up with this idea on her own. She raised $64 which she will be presenting to the BCSPCA later this week. She was thrilled when her 1st customer climbed the steps and saddened when the last walked away. We couldn’t be more proud.

Possibly the Cutest Idea for Sandals…EVER: I’m in love with these adorable sandals with animal prints ON THE BOTTOM! How cool is this??  There are 5 styles to choose from and include birds too! I just love the idea and think they look so whimsical in the sand. Now I can’t say for sure how comfy square sandals would truly be; I would no doubt be tripping over my own feet but then again, I’d be so tickled with my footprints I wouldn’t notice…I hope.

New Body Butter at The Body Shop: I was getting my Body Butter fix last weekend and noticed some new scents at The Body Shop. I picked up my usual Shea Butter and had a Coconut Butter in hand but then saw a new line called Dreams Unlimited. It smelled really damn fresh…uplifting even….but fresh and clean. Personally I’m always looking for those clean scents that are subtle but feminine and this seemed to be it. I bought it and I’ve not used it on my entire body yet, just a few places to ‘test drive’ the scent if you will, and fear it may be overpowering. I’ll try my whole body and get back to you. I want to love this body butter so I hope I’m not disappointed!

Fairy Cakes Now has a HOME on Fraser Street in Vancouver! OPENING SOON at 3586 Fraser Street… Website coming soon I’m told.

 

 

 

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Is it the Soy or the Additive?

I touched base on Friday with a dear friend I’ve been missing. As we connected I discovered she’s been suffering from Ulcerative Colitis for some years now. I had no idea she was battling this, or that it was so extreme, painful and often debilitating. I thought that she was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known to get out of bed and continue to go through each day living with this disease. She opened my eyes to what ulcerative colitis is, what triggers it, how it affects her life and how it can even go into remission. As we talked she let me in on a little additive the food industry uses ALOT and how she feels it’s a trigger for her colitis. She discovered through her own research, and trial and error, that this ingredient can cause a serious flare up.

That additive is called carageenan and she first noticed it in her soy milk (I ran home and checked my beloved Silk Soy Milk and sure enough, it’s listed as an ingredient). Carageenan comes from algae or seaweed and is often used as a thickener in place of an animal product, such as gelatin. Its found in most soy milks to thicken and allow for a more “cow’s milk” like texture and mouth feel. I decided to do some of my own research and found this ingredient in the following items: beer, toothpaste, 4 brands of soy milk at the grocery store, pet food and diet soda. I realized at this point, I could probably look at almost every item in the grocery store and find carageenan.

So what’s the big deal you ask? So what if there is a natural additive in our food? When I think “natural” I think of MSG which is extracted from rice or good ‘ol asparatame from decayed plant matter…all natural baby!

When carageenan gets singled out in numerous articles and studies online, as well as from some personal sources, it makes me wonder. Digging a little deeper I found that since the 1940′s when it was discovered, carageenan has been used frequently in lab tests to produce inflammatory tumors and immunodeficiency related conditions. It has long been written about as a ‘toxin’ or ‘allergen’ and those with forms of colitis should steer clear of foods that contain it.

I feel I’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg here and want to explore the world of carageenan further. I wanted to get the word out now and hope that my readers may want to share their experiences. I’ve only found 2 soymilks that do NOT use this additive so far: 8th Continent and Vitasoy and neither of these I personally drink.

Since I’m on a quest to find out as many triggers I can for my own tummy and bowel issues, I thought this was a topic worth mentioning. Stay tuned.

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NEW! Fairy Cakes!

New Vegan Cupcakes on the Horizon and I have the inside scoop! While the website may be under construction, Fairy Cakes is on Facebook with tons of amazing pics! The Owner, Master Baker and Creative Drive behind this enterprise is a Vegan with a passion to bring tasty sweet-treats to the masses. I’ve heard it a million times, people think if it’s Vegan it must taste like “crap”. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve tasted several of Fairy Cakes creations and while I’m always partial to the icing, I will say the cupcakes themselves are moist and DELISH. Watch my bog for more info on when the store front will open and if you need more details, email Cera at fairycakes@live.ca
 
 If you log on to Facebook and check out the Fairy Cakes page you can flip through about 50 gorgeous photo’s of cupcakes with more on the way. Trust me, they look as great in real life as they do online.
 
It’s a good thing I can’t lick the screen.
 
Fairy Cakes. Remember the name. Check back often :-)

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Now That Hockey is Over…

I have no excuses to NOT exercise and to not have these extra pounds come off. Ideally I’d love to drop the weight before My Guy and I go to the UK in September. That’s my goal and since it’s not a huge amount of weight, I feel it’s a realistic and attainable goal. You know, even when it’s not alot of weight, it’s enough that clothes don’t feel right on my body, my self esteem is lower and overall I don’t feel very positive. I try not to let it bother me and just let my mind settle on it late at night; usually when I’m in bed. I promise myself to be more comfortable in my own skin and to lose these extra pounds safely and intelligently. If you have a goal you can set, and join me in the journey, all the better! This is one task that’s better done with someone for sure…

Clockwise top left: Potato & Cauliflower Curry, Chana Masala, Mango Chutney, Roti, Vegetarian Tofu Chili and Rice with Cumin Seeds

Today My Guy dished up an amazing vegetarian meal before we headed to (how appropriate) VegFest!  He started this food last night because curries and chili get better with time and he wanted them to sit. This my readers, is how I eat. My Guy is a genius with East Indian food which is fabulous because it happens to be MY COMFORT FOOD. I find Indian food soothing, warming, satisfying and the fact it’s mostly vegetarian makes my soul happy. I know the chili isn’t Indian but it happens to be something Moops thoroughly enjoys (as do I of course) so it was a welcome addition. All this food was completely vegan and cruelty free- and how good does that taste! The curry was thickened with coconut milk if you’re wondering why it’s so light coloured. All I can say is WOW. I am one lucky girl.

Once we stuffed our bellies we wandered over 2 blocks to VegFest and the Car Free Days on Main Street. Now I love the idea of car free days and letting people take over the streets….what I don’t love however is how 4 neighborhoods have them ON THE SAME DAY. What if I, who live in Mount Pleasant, want to take in Car Free Days in Kitsilano and maybe explore a new side of my city? I can’t unless I rush from one event across town to the other! It’s Sunday…it’s a car free day, I don’t want to rush. I also don’t want to be deprived of checking out the other local neighborhoods and what they have to offer. I’m sure there is a valid reason why they all occur on the same day; probably city permits, logistics and public transit play a role in the decision, but I don’t like. Not one bit.

My Guy and one of his bands (he’s in a few), called The Singles, performed at the Main Street Car Free Days. They are a Motown/Swing/Funk/Rock cover band with My Guy on the drums. They had people grooving and tapping thier toes all the while munching on top-notch vegetarian fare. The only thing that would have made it even better was if the sun made an appearance, but we saw not even the slightest glimpse all day. (If the link for The Singles doesn’t work, please let me know- here is the MySpace link…)

Of course today was Fathers Day. Moops and I took out My Guy for breakfast at dinner time, and now we’re just chilling out. As My Guy sat down on the couch he sighed and said, “Ah this is what it’s all about. Just relaxing at home with the people I love…” I couldn’t agree more! They’re watching a movie on Netflix while I try to write something that may appeal to some readers out there…My father lives far away so while I can’t spend time with him on this day, we have the phone and the computer. Unfortunately due to the damn postal strike my lovely hand made card is sitting God-knows-where waiting to be delivered…

Sleep well tonight my friends, hug your loved ones and be thankful for all you DO have. Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers!

Keep me updated if you’re joining me on shedding a few unwanted pounds…

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