tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65441792090646066772024-03-19T04:19:31.431-04:00Be Vegantastic!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-54317903979941048062021-02-21T16:17:00.001-05:002021-02-21T16:17:23.916-05:00Smart Gardener Review<p>Short answer, don't do it. Save yourself $30. Full review to come shortly, but just in case you saw them recommended by people just putting out lists of available apps but haven't actually used Smart Gardener, don't do it. They are advertising things they don't do, and when I pointed it out, they thanked me for my suggestions. Um...what?</p><p>They partner with Baker Creek, yet the majority of information on the seeds they sell aren't here.</p><p>You want accurate advice based on specific plants? Nope. You're getting info users inputted. If I wanted info from non-experts, I would Google the answers, not pay for it.</p><p>Is Square Foot Gardening easier with this? Nope. The majority of recommended plants per square wasn't right and it won't allow you to customize it.</p><p>Anyway, go old school. Write it out. This has been a waste of time. </p><p>I thought they don't offer refunds because they didn't want people to get the info they needed and then request a refund. Nope. It's because they know they aren't doing what they advertise. But you can't falsely advertise a product and get paid for it. Now I have to waste more time filing a dispute with my credit card company.</p><p>Very frustrating. </p>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-33297717268963854622020-06-24T20:55:00.001-04:002020-06-28T16:23:31.921-04:00NJ SFG Garden Tour - June 24, 2020<div class="separator">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
I'm a lousy blogger. Not even sure why I'm posting now, but....I like documenting the garden's progress. We took down the deck, and put in a stone, paver patio. It's covered and has ceiling fans... It's been my dream for a long time and we've been spending more time outside than we have been inside.</div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
In addition to us spending a lot of time outside, so has Chloe (a.k.a. Bear). She is often bothered by the boys in the house, so she loves having time otuside in her catio, surrounded by catnip.</div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;">
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;">
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOruWrHkqtGax1sjFycajs95ep2LUbPwIL_bY1m8F0a_wEvE_4X_SqVNcl5niBZiVAICrUjUhS5E-5RFZ-2ex1llLb9oDQZZozXNtEHtqePDUEOhezsnGDuSLQgFrVbaIQ0rZQYZCp3EQ/s3024/IMG_20200614_165654_586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOruWrHkqtGax1sjFycajs95ep2LUbPwIL_bY1m8F0a_wEvE_4X_SqVNcl5niBZiVAICrUjUhS5E-5RFZ-2ex1llLb9oDQZZozXNtEHtqePDUEOhezsnGDuSLQgFrVbaIQ0rZQYZCp3EQ/w400-h400/IMG_20200614_165654_586.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided to try herbs in pots. Dill, chives, thyme, Emily basil, Greek basil, cilantro and several other things that did not germinate.... I've been good about watering them. Guess what? That makes a huge difference! And people, stop painting your terracotta. The point of clay planters is that they breath. Painting them stops that and will eventually cause the paint to just peel off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMdwnJtn6SInjohfp9HmxsFjpRRxrVmPpdgTOAoyUcRTGFGXZr8_a9PyB37IjdoUyZNu4SycwdxMBAEYnMdOo4zUoyPv_7KsV1-nb2ufLMO4d1HmRUSJtaiUeGAshdycIPhhwRqn2VZo/w375-h500/20200624_172122.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="375" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been talking about raised beds and Square Foot Gardening for a very long time. So, after dismantling the deck, I saved the board to build these boxes. I used roofing nails and nylon twine to make the squares. Unfortunately, the whole thing came together so late, that I wound up direct sowing everything. Somehow, it all seems to be working out. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULT71hSPIVM242nRiakuzngxP5rZ2fM_Pus8kdSqzFG4c7_sgvsqF_QCuf-erWisRfY3iyPnY0ug7V4y36WS5QOnLUbxkHmFUjQLco55IzE2qosYr1wtwov6SQQIjmesR9fyaYXRZDq0/s4032/20200624_172230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULT71hSPIVM242nRiakuzngxP5rZ2fM_Pus8kdSqzFG4c7_sgvsqF_QCuf-erWisRfY3iyPnY0ug7V4y36WS5QOnLUbxkHmFUjQLco55IzE2qosYr1wtwov6SQQIjmesR9fyaYXRZDq0/w625-h469/20200624_172230.jpg" width="625" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I did buy new strawberry plants at Gaskow's in Monroe. That place is insane! And I left my kid and the dogs (a.k.a. the Goobies) in the car with it running so they could listen to the radio, and my battery died. I had to flag down a cop who procured some jumper cables and jump started my car for me. We've been picking a few strawberries everyday. Well, the ones the birds haven't picked at.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfuywWRYL111X8NbtC8OvXYaE0l-vnQROVCbz-O2nMslYDB8dAZl4xuv1Tb-9SwBk7ziy47HaKFgqMGWdB2iBH2XHHlQrC_-IiV94FZ0hVkfJn2buUG4WlI83K2f-iOylO4LlyYn2Puc/s4032/20200624_172429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfuywWRYL111X8NbtC8OvXYaE0l-vnQROVCbz-O2nMslYDB8dAZl4xuv1Tb-9SwBk7ziy47HaKFgqMGWdB2iBH2XHHlQrC_-IiV94FZ0hVkfJn2buUG4WlI83K2f-iOylO4LlyYn2Puc/w500-h375/20200624_172429.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The peas and sugar snap peas are starting to flower.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMsyWocjMyFb4fB6AVSwrmVgLI_q2UBmk9Jbwg5P8qdHkT4zAYO28tDDssqkCilGw89Fn7pQ06MgKzdjXyN4ZJ_UhEp94aP1iTsQ-yKEX8DSQgyKwfVSoEKjpm0BSiwy0qqvmcNGGbyY/s4032/20200624_172416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMsyWocjMyFb4fB6AVSwrmVgLI_q2UBmk9Jbwg5P8qdHkT4zAYO28tDDssqkCilGw89Fn7pQ06MgKzdjXyN4ZJ_UhEp94aP1iTsQ-yKEX8DSQgyKwfVSoEKjpm0BSiwy0qqvmcNGGbyY/w375-h500/20200624_172416.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So are the cucumbers. I tried out Dar Cucumbers this year, not realizing it was a bush variety and didn't actually need to be trellised. So basically, I built it for nothing. Live and learn.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnMz2R_Asy6emipKOGHNFtqrnCUM_hBfgr6juphLWpz0UwrxNXsKuMgb7wEbdTjmdpuIlBB7soStPcipCLm1MPH4uBVGN6jePEtbCRArzD3nENKfay9MiYJLg1AvwBVMuaVn7BlxWXcY/s4032/20200624_172351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnMz2R_Asy6emipKOGHNFtqrnCUM_hBfgr6juphLWpz0UwrxNXsKuMgb7wEbdTjmdpuIlBB7soStPcipCLm1MPH4uBVGN6jePEtbCRArzD3nENKfay9MiYJLg1AvwBVMuaVn7BlxWXcY/w500-h375/20200624_172351.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
See that huge empty spot? You can't see them, but there are some peppers, eggplant and celery growing between the sugar snap peas and beets. I'm not sure why they're growing so slowly, but I will be sure to start them in modules next year for sure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z9DYVXeJ1Zb7NCWXLRb9AQYKEZMcvwVhG_8PeV0XZzEytDl3oeZDO5fGK1cWFWl_LozqiqRTsZQXhYQw6prNcyJ4AGesaADNb2l5W1ufZYN6T4klM5SbMbDZT7DsmhpKeLVVSPrZy-0/s4032/20200624_172316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z9DYVXeJ1Zb7NCWXLRb9AQYKEZMcvwVhG_8PeV0XZzEytDl3oeZDO5fGK1cWFWl_LozqiqRTsZQXhYQw6prNcyJ4AGesaADNb2l5W1ufZYN6T4klM5SbMbDZT7DsmhpKeLVVSPrZy-0/w500-h375/20200624_172316.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Only a few lettuce and spinach germinated. But I have carrots and beets galore. Do I super love beets? No, I just didn't realize there are actually 2-3 seeds in each beet seed. So I wound up with about 5000 extra beet seedlings which I transplanted all around the garden. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vA4Ft1teg55r809T9neeBwi2POaddVHfWbKNWeIhmqIgGBhRnAeiMsjI-psyQ16qjJaNuuPbVfdsW1XRR07l_B3XD2LtxFuIe6t_9MWGIy57S2TVG8VBcalc_9ccTVCtRCrYqe8_v8k/s4032/20200624_172309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vA4Ft1teg55r809T9neeBwi2POaddVHfWbKNWeIhmqIgGBhRnAeiMsjI-psyQ16qjJaNuuPbVfdsW1XRR07l_B3XD2LtxFuIe6t_9MWGIy57S2TVG8VBcalc_9ccTVCtRCrYqe8_v8k/w500-h375/20200624_172309.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also accidentally planted more collard greens than I meant to. Plus I interplanted collards and swiss chard, and thought the chard was beets, so now I have beets and chard mixed together. Which is which? Who knows! There are also lactino kale, curly kale and zucchinis. Well, two zucchinis because no matter how many I tried to start in that third box, it just wasn't happening. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8VwTKhVkyTDzem152vk-bEGIQMghHg4kPb73lNHyb95KunGJA-6_uYsRXP0QyF7YAA47oLCR2XSFF8skHe4IeNSrp5o_MGJwsfMhKORsviaASusBY7xbOs0ABdabyMv0gz_MpXvxOBY/s4032/20200624_172303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8VwTKhVkyTDzem152vk-bEGIQMghHg4kPb73lNHyb95KunGJA-6_uYsRXP0QyF7YAA47oLCR2XSFF8skHe4IeNSrp5o_MGJwsfMhKORsviaASusBY7xbOs0ABdabyMv0gz_MpXvxOBY/w500-h375/20200624_172303.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also panicked and thought none of the tomato seeds were going to grow, started an extra set and now I have twice as many plants as I wanted. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What have I learned so far? The whole four foot deep boxes is legit. The two boxes that are six foot deep are a disaster. It's so hard to reach the middle! No clue how I'm going to readjust for that next year. Also, now that the beds are in and the fence is up, I will start those seedlings indoors much earlier. Direct sowing has been stressful. Mostly because I'm pretty OCD, and the uncertainty of what will or won't germinate was making me anxious. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love the SFG method because I'm definitely growing more veg than ever before and less weeding. Much less weeding! Oh, my arthritis-ridden hands are so grateful for that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Gardening my friends.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-9609706446589655352019-08-14T13:50:00.003-04:002019-08-19T09:52:13.360-04:00Want an Easier and Faster Tofu Scramble? Make a Tofu Scramble Mix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4ahrBXtO1ivDGwTQb09UAm9ztp3eoKLb6fGGYB986Grpjfj3hI8JVAGYbJSgljLlCvzThiqnEOmcOIMJvXA9q44uKIMf8XK3gRSecBrMSmWZ33QROy-haDm5i3Qi2F9t6wEqhH4Jrtk/s1600/tofuscramble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4ahrBXtO1ivDGwTQb09UAm9ztp3eoKLb6fGGYB986Grpjfj3hI8JVAGYbJSgljLlCvzThiqnEOmcOIMJvXA9q44uKIMf8XK3gRSecBrMSmWZ33QROy-haDm5i3Qi2F9t6wEqhH4Jrtk/s640/tofuscramble.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I don't know what to call this. A seasoning blend? Tofu scramble mix? Whatever you want to call it, it will make your mornings go faster if you're a tofu scramble kind of person. You take my basic ratio and double, triple, quadruple...you get my point...it to whatever will fit your container. Mix it together so it's well-blended and use however much makes you happy.<br />
<br />
My basic ratio is this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tofu Scramble Mix</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tablespoon of<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OK0IAOO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00OK0IAOO&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=d92d332abc490c58fe356acdb4c25bb0%22%3EBragg%20Nutritional%20Premium%20Yeast%20Seasoning,%204.5%20Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00OK0IAOO%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"> </a> <a href="https://amzn.to/31RY3tF" target="_blank">nutritional yeast</a> (aka nooch)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 teaspoon of <a href="https://amzn.to/2TL4tIc" target="_blank">kala namak</a> (aka black salt)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 teaspoon of turmeric</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I think I use more turmeric (every Asian I know pronounces it tumeric, no R. Just saying) and black salt than other people. Turmeric has a lot of health benefits, including being an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. But to really magnify it's benefits, you need to combine it with pepper. Black salt also has health benefits, primarily aiding in digestion. Random info, black salt isn't really salty tasting. Indian Asian people use it a lot, which is why you're going to get the best price buying it at an Indian Asian store. It's not a specialty item that you get up-charged on, it's just a regular old spice.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How much do you use? It's your tofu scramble, use as much as you want! After I crumble the tofu in a hot, oiled frying pan, I add about 2-3 teaspoons per package of tofu. Mix it together and cook until you think it's heated through, and voila. I usually add onions, spinach, tomatoes, cheese...but this is your tofu scramble, so you do you. You can also rub it on slices of tofu and fry it. Now you have the perfect faux egg for an egg sandwich!</div>
<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-14405587148112986322019-07-31T13:12:00.000-04:002019-08-19T09:53:53.531-04:00EVA Accidentally Vegan Birkenstocks Review PLUS How to Stop Them from Making NoiseDid you know Birkenstock now makes some vegan friendly shoes? I did buy a pair of the <a href="https://amzn.to/2MqECUx" target="_blank">Mayari Vegan Birko-Flor sandals</a>, I'll talk about that some other time. But in addition to those, their EVA collection falls into the accidentally vegan category.<br />
<br />
EVA stands for Ethylene vinyl acetate. As per their site, "EVA is a skin-friendly plastic with exceptional abrasion resistance... EVA is flexible and, of course, water-friendly." I couldn't find them locally at a store so I could try them out, so I ordered the <a href="https://amzn.to/2YysQ0M" target="_blank">Birkenstock Essentials Gizeh EVA Anthracite sandals</a>. Yes, they look a little odd, but apparently Birkenstocks are now trendy? When did that happen?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Ce97F2Q8HTZt2A7gg2aXQcXNj8cbdJkFVSbrV7z5OGxSIq_skfupkgs4iXCVgYMRbO0Xk2XayWF0giTzleqtGzDcVIi3eSW-0TmGa9D1vteh09chCgER6KiTH1F50YZIXV_0c90C_Q/s1600/20190703_075610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Ce97F2Q8HTZt2A7gg2aXQcXNj8cbdJkFVSbrV7z5OGxSIq_skfupkgs4iXCVgYMRbO0Xk2XayWF0giTzleqtGzDcVIi3eSW-0TmGa9D1vteh09chCgER6KiTH1F50YZIXV_0c90C_Q/s640/20190703_075610.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was a girl of the nineties, with my pointy-toed high heels, running around to bars and clubs, inadvertently destroying my feet in the process. I need more support than a traditional flip flop can offer. At about forty dollars a pop, I thought it was a better to own one pair that don't hurt my feet and shins than several pairs that do.<br />
<br />
I tried them on, walked around and just loved them. Great support. Good fit despite my insanely wide feet. But then there was the noise. This horrible farting sound every time I walked. Hmmm...were these worth keeping if they sounded like this? Nope. But I wanted to keep them! So to the internet I went.<br />
<br />
Pages of pages of reading and I found someone with a solution. It was a random comment on some random site. Reddit maybe? I wish I remembered or could find it again so I could give that person credit. The very simple solution is <a href="https://amzn.to/2T4bLXz" target="_blank">Velcro</a>. Yes, you read that right, <a href="https://amzn.to/2T4bLXz" target="_blank">Velcro</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6TxfOM1K6_JNfc4icLQBnK5hOHYc299on9DtLU4edsfBwak5SkvVtJqDnTb24ehsumVzpB8bB6z1aa_NaP547MMI4zMqvvbc4G56oqy20Y-rses8dfQB2HVezJvsaSAis0J9yRYBn4Y/s1600/20190703_075507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6TxfOM1K6_JNfc4icLQBnK5hOHYc299on9DtLU4edsfBwak5SkvVtJqDnTb24ehsumVzpB8bB6z1aa_NaP547MMI4zMqvvbc4G56oqy20Y-rses8dfQB2HVezJvsaSAis0J9yRYBn4Y/s640/20190703_075507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Take a piece of <a href="https://amzn.to/2T4bLXz" target="_blank">Velcro,</a> the soft fuzzy part, obviously not the hard scratchy side. Cut it to the length of the inner arch. I recommend rounding the corners so it doesn't lift up and start scratching at your foot. I don't know for sure that it would happen, but err on the side of caution.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCI7mQx8l0n7ydTOXTJroOdMk3aq1pQwg05tjcYxTkNzn25eQi8ecYc3aAOJTVodKstjBA0wH_CH-2_a8I0Zj2Acw_QGav8O0oVJ35dRRyQhyphenhyphenpExqahloO8FT94DH6ZRUbBxD2ikcGYY/s1600/20190703_075521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCI7mQx8l0n7ydTOXTJroOdMk3aq1pQwg05tjcYxTkNzn25eQi8ecYc3aAOJTVodKstjBA0wH_CH-2_a8I0Zj2Acw_QGav8O0oVJ35dRRyQhyphenhyphenpExqahloO8FT94DH6ZRUbBxD2ikcGYY/s640/20190703_075521.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Obviously, everyone's feet and adventures are different. But for me, I've warn these <a href="https://amzn.to/2YysQ0M" target="_blank">Birkenstock Gizeh EVAs</a> out and about, to the beach, and to the park for the past two months. They've been holding up really well and I've had no issues with the <a href="https://amzn.to/2T4bLXz" target="_blank">Velcro</a> staining or pulling off. For me, the comfort of these outweigh the look and if I do wind up having to replace the Velcro every few months, I'd be okay with that. Hope this tip helps! That farting noise is a deal breaker! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXODiuwC_aCi_axMS1L-g0rZ-M1P00aIT2kCA6_YkwyHRsD6NvYBM3KFmq18JpyMOVhuQhZzmdViiEFYo-k3FfozUA7ybRf_0kpDt4VXykgY0LuiLmxfg2drjASE91kZEqrssbW6T69Y/s1600/20190703_075500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXODiuwC_aCi_axMS1L-g0rZ-M1P00aIT2kCA6_YkwyHRsD6NvYBM3KFmq18JpyMOVhuQhZzmdViiEFYo-k3FfozUA7ybRf_0kpDt4VXykgY0LuiLmxfg2drjASE91kZEqrssbW6T69Y/s640/20190703_075500.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-86098442244574846302019-01-30T12:00:00.001-05:002019-01-30T12:00:46.945-05:00Book Review: Veggie Burger Atelier by Nina OlssonIf you've been following me on Instagram, then you know I've developed quite the love affair with <a href="https://amzn.to/2WskXpH" target="_blank">Veggie Burger Atelier</a> by Nina Olsson. It's only $8.14 on Amazon right now. Talk about an underrated book!<br />
<br />
Yes, it's a vegetarian cookbook, not vegan, but she provides plenty of vegan options. The rest are things you can easily figure out substitutions yourself. I do have four suggestions if you do go buy this, or take it out of your local library.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bgJtul0bL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for veggie burger atelier" border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bgJtul0bL.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The first is to ignore all of the panko breadcrumbs listed in the ingredient section. It tends to be dry and not hold together that well when you use it. Instead, use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDK5LM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EDK5LM&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=b8b96d64c828566e5e8076e3a41dc3c4" target="_blank">vital wheat gluten</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000EDK5LM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It gives it a much meatier feel and holds the burger together better.<br />
<br />
Secondly, do everything by weight. If you substitute panko for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDK5LM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EDK5LM&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=b8b96d64c828566e5e8076e3a41dc3c4" target="_blank">v</a>ital wheat gluten cup for cup, it'll be a disastor. You have to do it by weight. I feel like these recipes in general work better when you measure everything by weight.<br />
<br />
Third, all the ones that say to bake them are too squishy when you eat them. Add a little extra vital wheat gluten so it holds together better and then pan fry them. The texture is better this way. I always use my trusty cast iron pan, but that's up to you.<br />
<br />
Lastly, these recipes make gigantic burgers. I cut them in half and make three more normal size burgers. I think they cook better that way and are simply easier to eat.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sage, Kale and Butternut Squash Burger. This is the first burger I made. Too squishy, but otherwise really good. I'd definitely use vital wheat gluten next time.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia31igWOAPj3TUQs_bqA4Dnswj169vbokxmkmyZrP8qbG8K3AFQCXXmM-L6MY9iLHvcSVeACLtvVzizvf-u1BKIMpw0vF3mcHQY_My1jOhxHqA_KAW0Eqmkl8LOKQOEb7tWAamA9UJBsE/s1600/sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia31igWOAPj3TUQs_bqA4Dnswj169vbokxmkmyZrP8qbG8K3AFQCXXmM-L6MY9iLHvcSVeACLtvVzizvf-u1BKIMpw0vF3mcHQY_My1jOhxHqA_KAW0Eqmkl8LOKQOEb7tWAamA9UJBsE/s400/sage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Le Parisien. So good! Listen to her topping suggestions. They sound crazy, but they're great with every burger. I used Follow Your Heart Gouda in lieu of Gruyere cheese, Just Mayo, homemade peach jam and caramelized onions. It was the perfect mix of salty, sweet and sour.</div>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=163159348X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vFx3KkbLP7hz0wARRDq9YUuGrynLiDPqpv8t9Gj-RTCBw_bGDmuPiOUtwYWakNqJROUpDkYyZRABapbnZGvYodcKYvJh2f08brRkB0yzcgIkeQo_pAODWbpna5taOmBkii2Fu1C-nj0/s1600/IMG_20190129_204644_732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vFx3KkbLP7hz0wARRDq9YUuGrynLiDPqpv8t9Gj-RTCBw_bGDmuPiOUtwYWakNqJROUpDkYyZRABapbnZGvYodcKYvJh2f08brRkB0yzcgIkeQo_pAODWbpna5taOmBkii2Fu1C-nj0/s400/IMG_20190129_204644_732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
'Shroom and Egg Burger. OMFG. This was my favorite out of the book. It would be a great brunch burger. There are a million ways to make a vegan egg, use what you like. There are great vegan yolk recipes, but you can just use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ESNTYUM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ESNTYUM&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=048d280cd18e8f806f1e97fdc7c7a501" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">The Vegg Vegan Egg Yolk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00ESNTYUM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Don't skip it, the yolk makes the burger.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCWAvbhv6u4qkT7ewb6r1-5FPcPE5A53NQpLlnMFZ5xnpOCKFaI18mX7nizOs7p88DxMLHFxUSV4Ekx-hbU_7tWMiFgLzoWg0C36ZCy8vmiqD6LNrPaiRn8O5v-gTpaGbgMzqSqvoqsU/s1600/IMG_20181111_133326_593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCWAvbhv6u4qkT7ewb6r1-5FPcPE5A53NQpLlnMFZ5xnpOCKFaI18mX7nizOs7p88DxMLHFxUSV4Ekx-hbU_7tWMiFgLzoWg0C36ZCy8vmiqD6LNrPaiRn8O5v-gTpaGbgMzqSqvoqsU/s400/IMG_20181111_133326_593.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Lahmacun Burger topped with cashew toum (my daughter is obsessed with this and forgoes cream cheese for toum on her bagel), red onions, lettuce, and a dollop of harissa.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yMRRSP_YoqpajRQLZIaiNvADnNPqDbTud6OBVaEKqUE-Mda6BvqxfbwoxQVhlSMhFoyM2mw4nLzfoGj4hSbuqkOIB3GuMA-YYtZw-g_yX8XrBnGeQwYrZI9Qgi7t8GL79bdqb7q2gFo/s1600/IMG_20181109_195754_641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yMRRSP_YoqpajRQLZIaiNvADnNPqDbTud6OBVaEKqUE-Mda6BvqxfbwoxQVhlSMhFoyM2mw4nLzfoGj4hSbuqkOIB3GuMA-YYtZw-g_yX8XrBnGeQwYrZI9Qgi7t8GL79bdqb7q2gFo/s400/IMG_20181109_195754_641.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Berlinger Burger served with homemade curry ketchup and homemade sauerkraut and potato wedges on the side. I wasn't sure about the kraut, but it all really went together so well.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUo2R8ZC-QFRgyFzjhroYyFPYGGpU_sv5CK9d9e9z0EpZgkwSf_3ueASlW8ql6cDitDCcZfxQ8f_OeTDrTLGKFXg0xYiq3A1urXMOzuyWYnNJiTPBIT_qhtio5_Gllz3zcTf9ivDBCgU/s1600/IMG_20190125_195216_481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUo2R8ZC-QFRgyFzjhroYyFPYGGpU_sv5CK9d9e9z0EpZgkwSf_3ueASlW8ql6cDitDCcZfxQ8f_OeTDrTLGKFXg0xYiq3A1urXMOzuyWYnNJiTPBIT_qhtio5_Gllz3zcTf9ivDBCgU/s400/IMG_20190125_195216_481.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">IS IT VEGAN-FRIENDLY? </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> Yes, most definitely. There are some things she didn't provide a vegan option for like halloumi cheese, but really...you can google "vegan...whatever" and I'm sure you can figure something out. The bulk of the book is easily veganizable if it's not already vegan.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">WOULD I BUY IT?</b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Yes, I did buy it! I cannot believe the success I've had with </span></span></span><a href="https://amzn.to/2WskXpH" target="_blank">Veggie Burger Atelier</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">. I can't believe how every recipe, including the condiment and side suggestions, have been so amazing! Granted the panko was a mistake, but whatever. Make a few tweeks and this book is well worth the money. I love that I finally have some great options for veggie burgers that aren't the usual black bean or Beyond Burger. I highly recommend you check out this book.</span></span></span></div>
<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-60719952520165000012018-11-21T10:21:00.002-05:002018-11-21T10:21:58.830-05:00Is Dr. Bronner's Vegan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
No. Well, kind of. Yes, their products are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. <br />
<br />
The no is if you are someone that cares about companies as a whole, then no, they're not.<br />
<br />
I was shocked when I saw this article from <a href="http://www.upc-online.org/alerts/180117_dr_bronners_supports_humane_washing_enterprise.html?fbclid=IwAR1uNa-CBP3wyYg7KkhygZII06qnWPK6t1PljCxePW__xAwiVFyA0BRtwic" target="_blank">"Dr. Bronner's Supports "Humane Washing" Enterprise from United Poultry Concerns</a>: <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of us animal rights activists have used Dr. Bronner’s’ “Magic Soap” for years, confident that the company’s lofty rhetoric reflected the highest ethical standards toward animals and the planet as professed in their Cosmic Principles of guidance “in everything we do, from soapmaking to peacemaking.”</span></i></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine our surprise on learning that Dr. Bronner’s business, which espouses “<a href="https://www.drbronner.com/about/#about-our-earth" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0c87eb; font-weight: bold; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Be kind to animals, earth and body</a>,” is funneling profits to <a href="http://www.farmforward.com/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0c87eb; font-weight: bold; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Farm Forward</a>, an organization that promotes farmed animal production and consumption, including the Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch in Kansas and the <a href="https://farmforward.com/our_work/good-shepherd-poultry-institute/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0c87eb; font-weight: bold; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Good Shepherd Poultry Institute</a> dedicated to preserving “heritage poultry breeds and helping rebuild an agricultural system that puts animals back in the center of farming.”</span></i></div>
<br />
Um. WTF?! Right. Then there was this <a href="https://www.drbronner.com/media-center/press-release/dr-bronners-celebrates-world-vegan-day-announcement-600000-donations-support-animal-advocacy-2017/" target="_blank">press release from Dr. Bronner's</a>, that said in part:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upc-online.org/diet/img/dr_bronner_supports_farm_forward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dr. Bronner's infographic showing support for Farm Forward" border="0" height="400" src="http://upc-online.org/diet/img/dr_bronner_supports_farm_forward.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; word-spacing: -0.04em;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Support of Farm Forward and Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals</b></span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />This year the company is proud to continue to support Farm Forward, an organization that supports advocacy around the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">New York Times</span> best-selling book <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Eating Animals</span>, which has been adapted into a documentary produced by Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman and directed by Christopher Quinn, the award-winning director of <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">God Grew Tired of Us</span>. The film premiered at the Telluride film festival this past September. Farm Forward collaborated extensively with board member and author, Jonathan Safran Foer, for three years while he wrote <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Eating Animals</span> and is planning to organize advocacy around the film. Just like Foer’s book, the documentary uses a combination of humor, adventure, muckraking, and memoir to explore the realities of contemporary animal agriculture alongside the complexities of food ethics.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; word-spacing: -0.04em;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We’re incredibly grateful for Dr. Bronner’s generosity and commitment to an ethical, just, and sustainable food system,” said Aaron Gross, Founder and CEO of Farm Forward. “<span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Eating Animals</span> has galvanized resistance to factory farming like no other work. With the support of Dr. Bronner’s, Farm Forward and other animal advocates are able to leverage the book and ultimately the film in tremendous ways,” continued Gross.</span></i></div>
When I tweeted them about it, this was their response:<br />
<br />
<div class="stream-item-header" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; display: flex; font-family: "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="ProfileTweet-action ProfileTweet-action--more js-more-ProfileTweet-actions" style="display: inline-block; margin: -2px -9px 0px auto; min-width: inherit;">
<div class="dropdown" style="position: relative;">
<button class="ProfileTweet-actionButton u-textUserColorHover dropdown-toggle js-dropdown-toggle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; color: #657786; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 2px 9px; position: relative; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s;" type="button"><div class="IconContainer js-tooltip" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" title="More">
<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px) !important; font-size: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">More</span></div>
</button></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="ReplyingToContextBelowAuthor" data-aria-label-part="" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; font-family: "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-top: 4px;">
<i>Replying to <a class="pretty-link js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="4827510575" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/ndab227" rel="noopener" style="background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="username u-dir u-textTruncate" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: normal !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: nowrap !important;">@ndab227</span></a> <a class="pretty-link js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="16866978" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/FarmForward" rel="noopener" style="background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="username u-dir u-textTruncate" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: normal !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: nowrap !important;">@FarmForward</span></a></i></div>
<div class="js-tweet-text-container" style="background-color: #f5f8fa; font-family: "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div class="TweetTextSize js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en" style="line-height: 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<i>Hey there! Our support for Farm Forward to date has been around their outreach related to “Eating Animals,” one of the most successful books of recent years addressing the problem of factory farming. -Stacey</i></div>
<div class="TweetTextSize js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en" style="line-height: 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="TweetTextSize js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en" style="line-height: 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Yay! Supporting a book that promotes veganism! Awesome. Hey! You know what else Farm Forward promotes? "Humane" animal agriculture. Here's the <a href="https://www.farmforward.com/#!/page?type=wppage&slug=mission" target="_blank">mission statement</a> from their site.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>We pursue this work by:</i></span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: circle inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Promoting agriculture that combines the best in traditional husbandry and animal welfare science by increasing the market share of more humane, sustainable family farms.</i></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Eliminating the worst practices in factory farming.</i></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Advocating an acute reduction in the consumption of factory-farmed meat, fish, eggs, and dairy by encouraging conscientious consumer and institutional decision making.</i></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Supporting interdisciplinary research and undergraduate teaching about the cultural significance of animals and animal agriculture.</i></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Stimulating the production of essays, books, films, and religious activities that raise awareness about the problems in animal agriculture and the deeper cultural issues behind them.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Let me say this. I shop at stores that sell non-vegan products. I bought a car that isn't vegan-friendly. I have bought products from companies that sell vegan and non-vegan merchandise. But here's the thing. None of those companies are out there promoting themselves as a vegan-friendly company. <br />
<br />
For Dr. Bronner's to support an organization who is promoting the false idea of humane animal agriculture goes against everything they used to stand for. And it makes their new campaign to "End Factory Farming" completely hypocritical in my opinion.<br />
<br />
So you decide. If they are supporting an organization like Farm Forward, are they really an company you still want to support? Too bad really, I did like their products. <br />
<br />
What are you other options? I like <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N2ORISU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01N2ORISU&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=deb2779bbf4ff0b15d6f6574b723eb05%22%3EMrs.%20Meyer%27s%20Clean%20Day%20Kitchen%20Basics%20Set,%20Lemon%20Verbena,%203%20ct:%20Dish%20Soap%20(16%20fl%20oz),%20Hand%20Soap%20(12.5%20fl%20oz),%20Multi-Surface%20Everyday%20Cleaner%20(16%20fl%20oz)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01N2ORISU%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Mrs. Meyers</a>. Do you make your own with vinegar? That's a bad idea, but I'll tell you why in another post. Have a great holiday. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">All ideas in this post are my own opinions. I have presented publicly available information and test directly from the groups involved. I have a first amendment right to my opinions. Just thought i'd add this in case Dr. Bronner's is the type to sue bloggers for pointing out what is going on.</span>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-28126988920907694242018-11-14T12:29:00.000-05:002018-11-14T12:29:26.163-05:00Is Angry Orchard Hard Cider Vegan?<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I never thought about booze not being vegan. Apparently it is a thing. Check out <a href="http://www.barnivore.com/" target="_blank">Barnivore</a>. It's a super helpful site that let's you know what's what.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the meantime, here's why you're here. I have recently fallen in love with Angry Orchard Hard Cider and thought, of course it's vegan! Nope. I was shocked when I saw on Barnivore that some of their ciders are not. So, of course, I emailed for confirmation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>November 08, 2018</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><i>Dear Naomi,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Thank you for contacting us at Angry Orchard! Sorry for the delay in response. The following ciders do not use honey:<br /><br />Green Apple<br />Pear<br />Rose<br />Stone Dry<br />Knotty Pear<br />The Old Fashioned</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><i>We hope you will get a chance to enjoy some of these vegan-friendly cider styles soon! Cheers to you for branching out and continuing to explore Angry Orchard!</i></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Argh, I just had the Crisp Apple and loved it. Oh well, thankfully, they have other options.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Remember to drink responsibily this holiday season.</span></div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-41655409850091129312018-08-08T11:33:00.000-04:002022-01-10T14:46:25.197-05:00Garden Tour - August 6, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember last year, when over a dozen cucumber plants decided to appear along the side of my garden? I wound up bringing over 40 pounds of overripe cucumbers to a sanctuary. That doesn't count the ten plus quarts of cucumbers I picked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHbf2YuEOyTcpQFUaPBC13SidAN639Y4Rr1A4oJf8DnIQZINfTrPU0_MbCTE3LMTVL2-IihUyEaY1SP2aTMxPIYgy9vsLT0PKU8hfsH6933csoEn6TZJMCGohcJAVwWre9D07BPPPRvU/s640/SAM_5439.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, this year, I only had one cucumber plant survive. None grew outside of the garden. So far only three, oddly shaped, small cucumbers grew this year. But instead of an over-abundance of cucumbers, I wound up with dozens of cherry tomato plants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cw4QDwu2CW2zvyzRvVRmggI-8kNok0ZBvuBMFIGlF3g32pxLAM4qw23yRWniYpCv2IkBWE9llZoNaYqTVpLbhE2_p5Nu_6FxzQQQKeQ7z6mgzcziR6xNrOEuQVSKeWNQEwiiB8dLiGk/s1600/20180804_133430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cw4QDwu2CW2zvyzRvVRmggI-8kNok0ZBvuBMFIGlF3g32pxLAM4qw23yRWniYpCv2IkBWE9llZoNaYqTVpLbhE2_p5Nu_6FxzQQQKeQ7z6mgzcziR6xNrOEuQVSKeWNQEwiiB8dLiGk/s640/20180804_133430.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, those are all cherry tomatoes. Here's another angle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj-A5eSXqd1BHuFoZZtgEvpsuDyEaA74TX3qPz0waGnXEAMEb46_dDsVyCF3jZqtnWo4sddaJWmeXIAvG8mKyFuXNQK30rB9sWdM54taqnM2_angK9obzMaD1NUEfPwgHqee6duFse3E/s1600/20180804_133448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj-A5eSXqd1BHuFoZZtgEvpsuDyEaA74TX3qPz0waGnXEAMEb46_dDsVyCF3jZqtnWo4sddaJWmeXIAvG8mKyFuXNQK30rB9sWdM54taqnM2_angK9obzMaD1NUEfPwgHqee6duFse3E/s640/20180804_133448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">But wait! There's more!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO67S2Xo5CeQjozBnIaLqZGpxmdbfXn_O-bXEiUfboEhpSjmrADuJiM2il6gZ4ySsvXzkezYiRFhQJBzRQ3wIyg0GsS4L0hg2QMF0x8Iy297B-Ay25k3WLMhXWryOOhTzRGn3zxCh3HRY/s1600/20180804_133810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO67S2Xo5CeQjozBnIaLqZGpxmdbfXn_O-bXEiUfboEhpSjmrADuJiM2il6gZ4ySsvXzkezYiRFhQJBzRQ3wIyg0GsS4L0hg2QMF0x8Iy297B-Ay25k3WLMhXWryOOhTzRGn3zxCh3HRY/s640/20180804_133810.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">About a fifth of the garden that exists inside the fence is also cherry tomatoes! But there's more!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrwt3ReViIavfIgqo0AcKbLF0adYSHvhF_0XxhvvEPjjMDqiFZTk76lj7mc8IM2J2NMKUKftDJAn-1dEU1nKQIEMmHPgYpJxOW3lJMH_i0SqtBqSvlTlsF8zYij14_qIDX55W0p3vf4o/s1600/20180804_133911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrwt3ReViIavfIgqo0AcKbLF0adYSHvhF_0XxhvvEPjjMDqiFZTk76lj7mc8IM2J2NMKUKftDJAn-1dEU1nKQIEMmHPgYpJxOW3lJMH_i0SqtBqSvlTlsF8zYij14_qIDX55W0p3vf4o/s640/20180804_133911.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's more growing along and through the slats of my deck! Geez Louise...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3I_vXgy_rvui-F1Lh76JPxRaoPjFB7SKhyZ2T6c24HyVh28b3awG2IP2ONUdkPk55Ydr_t5cZwGHstak_iNUV04ldaGYJqaPr7X-zhRyEulJ38SLNLQJkYbBVwMITqrCcULP-Rpv30M/s1600/20180804_133501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3I_vXgy_rvui-F1Lh76JPxRaoPjFB7SKhyZ2T6c24HyVh28b3awG2IP2ONUdkPk55Ydr_t5cZwGHstak_iNUV04ldaGYJqaPr7X-zhRyEulJ38SLNLQJkYbBVwMITqrCcULP-Rpv30M/s640/20180804_133501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't get me wrong. I do like cherry tomatoes. I hate picking them. And now I have a million pounds of them to pick. I have no clue how they took over the yard. And it seems bizarre that none of the cucumber plants returned. My garden grows how it wants. I'm just here to do the weeding.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy_sLG16AY2MxA2A1EkoU8V6UXdCTOP15KB21V3ig8g9J7VA0dUVAdbWt9lRWhqrzsbD01n-18gUk0yWiQY7BGYk87a3lhvs5q4qU3M9Mb1EUhZzFQ6s1WN06U7WgdfStkSjR0LG24eQ/s1600/20180804_133528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy_sLG16AY2MxA2A1EkoU8V6UXdCTOP15KB21V3ig8g9J7VA0dUVAdbWt9lRWhqrzsbD01n-18gUk0yWiQY7BGYk87a3lhvs5q4qU3M9Mb1EUhZzFQ6s1WN06U7WgdfStkSjR0LG24eQ/s640/20180804_133528.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the one lone cucumber plant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-bhNyyr1phZS5I2kdke4ox1UbxZKCbjjUDAWCNP1PRpqNDuomElvFFLvXJw9HXHn67G3uAPKUlbuukafg7jMJw2CfaVDWuZ_U1A5jOCPRdP1WkqLfGcnwQAJWtvbSxjD7CT22b4Y5lE/s1600/20180804_133800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-bhNyyr1phZS5I2kdke4ox1UbxZKCbjjUDAWCNP1PRpqNDuomElvFFLvXJw9HXHn67G3uAPKUlbuukafg7jMJw2CfaVDWuZ_U1A5jOCPRdP1WkqLfGcnwQAJWtvbSxjD7CT22b4Y5lE/s640/20180804_133800.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last year this time, I also had a slew of ripe tomatoes. This year, they're only turning red now. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJD4Ttdvcf-V9-iX99z6vaIuzZjkqJT4ziERvLa6IMvU1ANyURJVjgaXdivv8fcrsrKuQyLOrJLjSvXAQlYOrmpDoSuzwEwRVHPR3cuxiZbJtbEXib7NiyOPRf1KW66J-d3X9ogWVXpw/s1600/20180804_133551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJD4Ttdvcf-V9-iX99z6vaIuzZjkqJT4ziERvLa6IMvU1ANyURJVjgaXdivv8fcrsrKuQyLOrJLjSvXAQlYOrmpDoSuzwEwRVHPR3cuxiZbJtbEXib7NiyOPRf1KW66J-d3X9ogWVXpw/s640/20180804_133551.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HTRGEC3YeUB_MxiYHtEFjBS4S7Mi2ZIerDBXFvm3_foKCaJxlmZZuaR1Lzg7DtNbues8Lw8xoRK2KbORBSUAAOFMROW_pEohftcisT8w4N7fSKEawKCto5V-4xhkxl7M9Q3EDoSqWdQ/s1600/20180804_133626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HTRGEC3YeUB_MxiYHtEFjBS4S7Mi2ZIerDBXFvm3_foKCaJxlmZZuaR1Lzg7DtNbues8Lw8xoRK2KbORBSUAAOFMROW_pEohftcisT8w4N7fSKEawKCto5V-4xhkxl7M9Q3EDoSqWdQ/s640/20180804_133626.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't remember if these are cantaloupe or watermelon. I'll find out eventually. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk2rHgQt_9YywdDvfN2G1dMeEYWsM0LCQGDN20rZScD4al7m_MVaYdXP9EordFqiKsDskUV9mQIJfjbsnYKWK1EhDPB1NtEpI-_6w7v5KvNcziwlYS_i7wDeFSOj6gF-6CTEc8Qg7h7M/s1600/20180804_133600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk2rHgQt_9YywdDvfN2G1dMeEYWsM0LCQGDN20rZScD4al7m_MVaYdXP9EordFqiKsDskUV9mQIJfjbsnYKWK1EhDPB1NtEpI-_6w7v5KvNcziwlYS_i7wDeFSOj6gF-6CTEc8Qg7h7M/s640/20180804_133600.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I planted at least 12 bean seeds, and only one grew.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbpgVFjwapi3_VlP3zFxxV4lZGwXCPfMKRyIfNpmyRMsY-kB0e5vSZVIgwO3oZxZQRQrivYGmP_aj6-NViai9d4myom3147-YHA16iU7l4xIcLKhkg2vME3RZFL9B0HVcW4xjP1tbfnE/s1600/20180804_133609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbpgVFjwapi3_VlP3zFxxV4lZGwXCPfMKRyIfNpmyRMsY-kB0e5vSZVIgwO3oZxZQRQrivYGmP_aj6-NViai9d4myom3147-YHA16iU7l4xIcLKhkg2vME3RZFL9B0HVcW4xjP1tbfnE/s640/20180804_133609.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We already ate quite a bit of the early sprouting broccoli, but now it looks like it's actually growing heads of broccoli. The rest of my brassicas were eaten by a teeny tiny bunny I've named Cornelius. He doesn't appear to be growing at all. He easily squeezes into the garden. He's cute, but apparently also a jerk. It is what it is, he needs to eat too I guess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhmfAwacpkau20jdbVx65oWjUOL1uKdg9F6DIpLyk1ltdmR1wT7itHG7Orjlwn3CDyqggHftTaoZ1R0P7KIGaBXZwY7W28cYr40dyc7QsNwJnL93fYQVfy-8s7VklgjBSX1aWkmc6StM/s1600/20180804_133647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhmfAwacpkau20jdbVx65oWjUOL1uKdg9F6DIpLyk1ltdmR1wT7itHG7Orjlwn3CDyqggHftTaoZ1R0P7KIGaBXZwY7W28cYr40dyc7QsNwJnL93fYQVfy-8s7VklgjBSX1aWkmc6StM/s640/20180804_133647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I use a spray of a half gallon of water, two tablespoons of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUTXYGW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GUTXYGW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=4a7b02fea67955f8d3b4826fd9836fc0" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Super Clean Neem Oil</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00GUTXYGW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, two tablespoons of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2F1MBO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00A2F1MBO&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=7b917d08c703f29a486b4585ac22999b" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Dr. Bronner's Organic Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00A2F1MBO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and 10 drops of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KK90ZH8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01KK90ZH8&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=2668d2788a4f01784e48aeb7dd019dfb" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Essential Oils</a> (I mix clove, rosemary, orange, and peppermint) to combat the whitefly problem. It's been the only thing that works for me. I've included affiliate links for the specific brands I use.</div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01KK90ZH8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7awZIT_WjA1MNzmN8g3IrFHnBiOp_BcgLV6r6V_oMIiN09KOgK_EIwt0rXGbmbtfFBX56yHB-ygsH-IfCAHYLpbUOCIq-VoBqmwKjg4cJ_RtQ_U9-e58AfVNNJUNjdh5pfImnVREpbQ/s1600/20180804_133653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7awZIT_WjA1MNzmN8g3IrFHnBiOp_BcgLV6r6V_oMIiN09KOgK_EIwt0rXGbmbtfFBX56yHB-ygsH-IfCAHYLpbUOCIq-VoBqmwKjg4cJ_RtQ_U9-e58AfVNNJUNjdh5pfImnVREpbQ/s640/20180804_133653.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The peppers are starting to flower. I grew a mix of hot peppers and bell peppers. Don't ask me what kind of which plant is which. I like to be surprised, or maybe I just keep bad records.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Ea2Re7gEnGyDPONKZVr7LMfiZGe6q0AqK_PxcbEnikNGSzmF9Th_7mh-SnQbQs5dzVRQUOscOb_U9H8HWQ__GlT0LqqDJAMthR3ZITcX0ED951_Ttl8Rz1EeKNVF-G2XWfWWXzSOns/s1600/20180804_133729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Ea2Re7gEnGyDPONKZVr7LMfiZGe6q0AqK_PxcbEnikNGSzmF9Th_7mh-SnQbQs5dzVRQUOscOb_U9H8HWQ__GlT0LqqDJAMthR3ZITcX0ED951_Ttl8Rz1EeKNVF-G2XWfWWXzSOns/s640/20180804_133729.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The eggplants are starting to flower. Asian and Globe, I believe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzmYDtnQrJsc7KrefiC_q2KSO4HMJ0GU8Jixsy804y9TQDzIKX-2beUIzXKsTmd6odnt4sGlWV4fPaysfcSS6ghjSvcYPyYvedQ5unWNc6T-Acxx3fMql0n5BPlC624BJrJTQTYJbaxA/s1600/20180804_133741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzmYDtnQrJsc7KrefiC_q2KSO4HMJ0GU8Jixsy804y9TQDzIKX-2beUIzXKsTmd6odnt4sGlWV4fPaysfcSS6ghjSvcYPyYvedQ5unWNc6T-Acxx3fMql0n5BPlC624BJrJTQTYJbaxA/s640/20180804_133741.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Either the bunnies or the groundhog ate almost all my peas. I knew there was a reason I wanted to plant them inside the fenced in portion of the garden... Hopefully, I'll remember next year. While badly weeded, here are the carrots.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeEpvexS_frqMP9iS6pb1oG2Aq_qCpjVJUuOHMH-GBx0eWyPebQnPdEB6rQu0wBZ8vLrh2ZsufP7lxjZRaa8AwzJNp2ZjKj_GMxePCOulSSWIe-Ho1ccvbbA_5Uii6kNchGbhd5pfXSQ/s1600/20180804_133929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeEpvexS_frqMP9iS6pb1oG2Aq_qCpjVJUuOHMH-GBx0eWyPebQnPdEB6rQu0wBZ8vLrh2ZsufP7lxjZRaa8AwzJNp2ZjKj_GMxePCOulSSWIe-Ho1ccvbbA_5Uii6kNchGbhd5pfXSQ/s640/20180804_133929.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the beets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuWO7-14xURwaPTXoakQXZ28FTIoO9JfOmyYpEwuXcuxODwyfo9qvz_BBQ5pe4cWBokxOiDjBW4ELss9yV0HgD47jlAZ3aeiFZwwUZRLHQmqEk_OcPLrAKO6vjdXOmEG5cKjN96F8DSE/s1600/20180804_133945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuWO7-14xURwaPTXoakQXZ28FTIoO9JfOmyYpEwuXcuxODwyfo9qvz_BBQ5pe4cWBokxOiDjBW4ELss9yV0HgD47jlAZ3aeiFZwwUZRLHQmqEk_OcPLrAKO6vjdXOmEG5cKjN96F8DSE/s640/20180804_133945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe loves to go outside, but I strongly feel letting your cat roam about outside unsupervised is a crappy idea. Do you know some moron cop in Alabama (that statement does not mean I hate all cops or I am anti-cop, I am specifically referring to one cop...why do I need that disclaimer...yeesh) told my mom that it's fine for people to abandon cats outside because they can survive, no problem. Seriously? Good Lord, all this technology and information at your fingertips yet people continue to be incredibly dumb. Point is, I don't let her walk outside because they can be exposed to parasites and I have had enough worm issues with the cat we adopted from the shelter. So instead. I tell her I'm going outside, she runs into her crate, and I carry her around and talk to her.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrcqkVF5xu9mv7ugcq7ZLYucbJUzayWFLsEzQ0lTAI5hCm2_mzo3Y0fUqX7iPGdpRHPnROPtZlo6i7-rFyFyNchfrvR_QK2JaD8RMZLobG7eCnfW_oj0jUOGLfoUDXvFPyKTQQaqwecA/s1600/20180804_134033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrcqkVF5xu9mv7ugcq7ZLYucbJUzayWFLsEzQ0lTAI5hCm2_mzo3Y0fUqX7iPGdpRHPnROPtZlo6i7-rFyFyNchfrvR_QK2JaD8RMZLobG7eCnfW_oj0jUOGLfoUDXvFPyKTQQaqwecA/s640/20180804_134033.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I might wire tie the giant dog crate my dog destroyed and see if I can bring her outside and let her hang out in that. Either way, it's nice to have the company.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So that's it, folks. Other than the overabundance of cherry tomatoes, it's been a weird and not super successful gardening year. Even my gigantic kale plants called it a day. I started new ones recently. Hopefully, it wasn't too late. I'll keep you posted. Hope you're all enjoying your summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-6081696114363154182018-05-10T11:56:00.000-04:002022-01-10T14:46:25.224-05:00Quickie Garden Tour - May 4, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am so far behind on my gardening tasks, I can't even begin to explain. The weather was wonky, so I started all my seeds late. My seedlings are still tiny. I did sow some seeds outside: cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, three different types of bush beans, dill, parsley, and basil. I thought my asparagus were all eaten by one of my outdoor critters, so I started 12 new ones. Then yesterday, I had asparagus popping up! Who knows what's going on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Rutgers Scarlet Strawberry Plants started coming up. I planted them in three boxes last year. One is now pretty full, the second has not so much and the third has nothing. While they are good strawberries, they were hella expensive. I'm going to get some regular ones at the garden center and put them in late too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQciNQHiW3NDzqAdgfemL8fgnuOXyubaEFP-WyqsXoHC12RaGD2zHP0Gou3zqSdcwFhJApPYtR6QFBniF-ytb_fZOJg_ev7wY_z27POsCmecJgCvEmHTF3Z09C9tGCGBWF4SqS-Q8XQOY/s1600/20180504_064108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQciNQHiW3NDzqAdgfemL8fgnuOXyubaEFP-WyqsXoHC12RaGD2zHP0Gou3zqSdcwFhJApPYtR6QFBniF-ytb_fZOJg_ev7wY_z27POsCmecJgCvEmHTF3Z09C9tGCGBWF4SqS-Q8XQOY/s640/20180504_064108.jpg" width="360" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pear tree went from barren to covered in leaves and flowers in three days. Literally, three days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanNWeN1gVyZWJGZ7XMchEiI0ckrcMwWqs21yxv7UngnCH04D6Bd5UYMlPfHIrAroSvpjGUNn00-NL_zE1heeWz9CeagogaQZe3pzM5iy1y_lPfs3LlV4xigJ3SPVstYjEXOFs10inZgY/s1600/20180504_064051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanNWeN1gVyZWJGZ7XMchEiI0ckrcMwWqs21yxv7UngnCH04D6Bd5UYMlPfHIrAroSvpjGUNn00-NL_zE1heeWz9CeagogaQZe3pzM5iy1y_lPfs3LlV4xigJ3SPVstYjEXOFs10inZgY/s640/20180504_064051.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mint patch is overrun with some random weed, but there is still plenty of mint growing. I've started the tedious process of pulling those weeds out so the mint has room to grow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HJWr8Tui_F-VD5HaM6R8yK9-y47k-MvXo9dlRa0-KTC5hofhs6RECGwr0zJJSLL9xeTnud9jP42Jz7wRuxmo7riUOXJ2MB9kYJw7lRA4fK81itN-iwZIJLMgsBvKwz9ehqk7bJThLA/s1600/20180504_064040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2HJWr8Tui_F-VD5HaM6R8yK9-y47k-MvXo9dlRa0-KTC5hofhs6RECGwr0zJJSLL9xeTnud9jP42Jz7wRuxmo7riUOXJ2MB9kYJw7lRA4fK81itN-iwZIJLMgsBvKwz9ehqk7bJThLA/s640/20180504_064040.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli overwintered, but was covered in whiteflies and their irritating eggs. I mixed a batch of non-toxic whitefly killer (recipe to follow, I just want to confirm that it works long term). It did kill all the eggs and the leaves are shiny, healthy and bug-free. Let's see if this is the cure for my whitefly problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5Xv4EmW8Rx33gExLMt4IWrRRl_Jj3xpi_De9uH0yNMhZENjEcxkEp6OLLeN382ICosVQO5YIBQF5QjL0exMUA3NUsiec7L2bX2pCMeGdzZwqnSQBtNTykCwNadF9KK_0b1qQS2HWfF0/s1600/20180504_064015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5Xv4EmW8Rx33gExLMt4IWrRRl_Jj3xpi_De9uH0yNMhZENjEcxkEp6OLLeN382ICosVQO5YIBQF5QjL0exMUA3NUsiec7L2bX2pCMeGdzZwqnSQBtNTykCwNadF9KK_0b1qQS2HWfF0/s640/20180504_064015.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This zucchini was the first of my seedlings to sprout and looked just beautiful. Then I put it outside, and we went from beautiful weather to freezing and it hasn't held up too well. I am trying to give it some extra attention and fingers crossed, it will survive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8qxb65KZRTXH4y_7L1czrYxj2icwtOYhBHf8KCoD74sEJt20STH9xwAKBoytEYQEIZ9hy-5St0FynTT_RkySoTsr8Sj_4bW2DIHqkn4RZR-KREi0-Wa_SXKHw3r9Ps2aQWQ9OUKnKnE/s1600/20180504_063946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8qxb65KZRTXH4y_7L1czrYxj2icwtOYhBHf8KCoD74sEJt20STH9xwAKBoytEYQEIZ9hy-5St0FynTT_RkySoTsr8Sj_4bW2DIHqkn4RZR-KREi0-Wa_SXKHw3r9Ps2aQWQ9OUKnKnE/s640/20180504_063946.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the first year I didn't plant my peas on St. Patrick's Day. But they seem to be doing fine nonetheless. I planted carrots and beets in the boxes with them. Hopefully, this year I'll remember to harvest them instead of letting them rot in the box like an idiot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL3rkBnYSdBXtYQm5GUuhwsJhM4u4tdhWvGiv7nkUOd1IfkEFKi26UlSMVjW_iRCjxRmOf5mpTBTS3cS_M_76K62lT230yoSsH8qEGO9_QpmldxBYTZ0izUaVZO4ZTLT2ci-2nhHQD6A/s1600/20180504_063915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL3rkBnYSdBXtYQm5GUuhwsJhM4u4tdhWvGiv7nkUOd1IfkEFKi26UlSMVjW_iRCjxRmOf5mpTBTS3cS_M_76K62lT230yoSsH8qEGO9_QpmldxBYTZ0izUaVZO4ZTLT2ci-2nhHQD6A/s640/20180504_063915.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rain barrels are set up. I'm going to turn the blue barrel someone gave me into an overflow barrel. More on that later.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwtAd90rOa86Sgk42z5aoXyVkSt5TSYta-Zqsg6EFzEBcFH2jKLsqzDvXPApF1NOYyTL61bzFpG51VFkPoMdLG2jTSqbYWG9dnqel3n62HNBUhM6Ja2Au-v82PnMxe4caqPNUEyRQaZA/s1600/20180504_063922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwtAd90rOa86Sgk42z5aoXyVkSt5TSYta-Zqsg6EFzEBcFH2jKLsqzDvXPApF1NOYyTL61bzFpG51VFkPoMdLG2jTSqbYWG9dnqel3n62HNBUhM6Ja2Au-v82PnMxe4caqPNUEyRQaZA/s640/20180504_063922.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So not much to show yet, but come back soon. That whitefly killer spray looks like it could be a winner and I'll post it as soon as I'm sure. Hope you're all enjoying the warmer weather. </div>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-57734440911502595742018-04-26T10:06:00.001-04:002018-04-26T14:21:10.341-04:00What's Vegan at Jose Tejas?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for jose tejas eat sign" src="http://www.goodiesfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/jose-tejas.jpg" height="425" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image was found on Google, when you click on it, it brings you to <a href="http://www.goodiesfirst.com/?s=jose+tejas" target="_blank">Goodies First</a> blog post (go check it out, it's not a vegan post so it should be informative to omnivores) but the picture isn't on that blog, so I don't know...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let me start by saying, there is no way to contact Jose Tejas via email, messenger, or even Twitter. They have no contact information listed other the number for each store, if they do, I couldn't find it. There is no corporate information listed anywhere. They apparently are owned by Border Cafe, who also has no contact information listed anywhere. It's the most bizarre thing...<br />
<br />
So, I could not contact anyone at their corporate location to confirm anything and I didn't personally call my local Jose Tejas in Woodbridge, NJ because someone from my Vegans of Central Jersey group on Facebook already spoke to the manager at the Iselin, NJ location for 45 minutes. Yes, 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">New flash, if you think they're accommodating to vegans, then you have been sorely misinformed!</span></b></div>
<br />
Here's the 411 posted with permission from the person who wrote the post:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The beans, rice and all the veggies they serve contain margarine with dairy. <i>(Yes, you can buy margarine without dairy, but they don't. The one they use contains dairy.)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their flour tortillas contain eggs. <i> (I know, bizarre, but true as per the manager.)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The corn tortillas are grilled on the same grills used to cook meat and cheese.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The corn chips are sometimes cooked in the same fryers they use to fry animal products.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>The ONLY vegan options are salad, steamed veggies, salsa, and guacamole.</i></b></div>
<br />
<br />
What makes this whole situation disturbing is that their staff has clearly not been trained on what is in the food they are serving and have been misinforming people for years. At the very least, they should be trained on known allergens...like dairy and eggs... Not knowing at least that basic information is irresponsible and possibly dangerous.<br />
<br />
And before anyone who half-reads this points out they have a "vegetarian menu" not a "vegan menu" I understand that. But if you ask specific questions to your server, they should absolutely be able to give you accurate information or get you the information you need. Why all restaurants don't provide a menu notating common allergens is beyond me.<br />
<br />
Now you know, just in time for Cinco de Mayo, stay far away from Jose Tejas if you're vegan...or if you have a dairy allergy. If you're in Jersey, there are a million restaurants serving authentic Mexican food....go there! Or try out the handful of restaurants that offer vegan options like <a href="http://www.villanj.com/menu.html" target="_blank">Johnny Tequila's </a>which I haven't been to yet, but plan on going to check it out very soon!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-63592820234803561932018-04-18T10:45:00.001-04:002018-04-18T10:45:19.306-04:00Vegan Options at Six Flags Great Adventure<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I emailed the Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ last year to find out why they don't have an allergen menu and what their vegan options are. Remember, this response may not be relevant to your local Great Adventure theme park so I would contact them directly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, always ask to see the packaging of the food their serving (don't feel weird, I do it all the time and no one ever cares. Plus most theme park attendants are teens and could seriously care less about showing you the package). Let me add that the salt ingredients explanation came from me asking about their popcorn, which I always ask now that I know a lot of places add dairy to their salt.</span><br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"...<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> we prefer our guest to ask any stand supervisor to see the ingredient list on the box to ensure there is none of the allergen they are looking for in the product. Sometimes products may be switched throughout the year and we want to ensure the guest is getting the most accurate and up to date information as possible. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i>As far as Vegan options are concernred, we do offer Gardein Black Bean Burgers at Garden State Grill, Yum Yum Café and Go Fresh Café throughout the year. We also have Vegan Tenders available at Go Fresh Café (Yum Yum Café during Holiday in the Park).<u></u><u></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i>The ingredients in our salt used in our products are:<u></u><u></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i>Salt, Sodium Silicoaluminate, Dextrose, Potassium Iodide and Sodium Bicarbonate."</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I will admit I was super surprised they had any vegan options! I would double check the bread on the Gardein Burgers, a friend went and at that time the bun had dairy in it. I know they now serve hummus and falafel, which is usually a safe bet for vegans. There are also random salads, but nothing to write home about. I really do wish they would make this whole process easier. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To be honest, we usually leave around lunchtime so it's not an issue. Or we just stop at Gloria Jean's at the Jackson Premium Outlet (lots of non-dairy milk options and baked goods, love that place) or Chipotle in Freehold. Ocean Organics in Jackson also opened near the park. We went right after they opened and everything was just okay. Now that they've been up and running and have probably worked out any kinks, I'll definitely head back to give them another shot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Non-vegan related word of advice, they're sticklers for not bringing bags or having things in your pockets at the beginning of the season. By the middle to the end, they let you bring whatever you want. But seriously...don't come carrying a bunch of crap. I mean really, you're going on rides, where do you think you're putting all of that? I bring my keys and my cards to get in. That's literally all you need. Stop being insane carrying ten bags. And no jewelry...you're whipping around on roller coasters, it's going to hurt your ears or get flung off. Common sense people...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, as a side-note, you cannot wait in line and then have your twenty person party join you when you get to the front. That's line cutting. I will call your ass out on that. Just saying.</span></div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-86595692870119592692018-03-16T14:18:00.000-04:002018-03-16T14:22:33.254-04:00Vegan Options at Arooga's<a href="http://www.aroogas.com/" target="_blank">Arooga's</a> in opening up in a town close to me, and they have the Impossible Burger! Exciting, right? I know some people don't consider it vegan because the company that took part in animal testing. You can find a pdf of their statement, The Agonizing Dilemma of Animal Testing" <a href="https://impossiblefoods.app.box.com/s/27skctwxb3jbyu7dxqfnxa3srji2jevv" target="_blank">here</a>. But I shop at stores that sell animal products and animal-tested products, and most of my favorite vegan products are being bought out by non-vegan companies. If I villanize them for what they did, wouldn't I be a hypocrite?<br />
<br />
Back to why you're here. When I checked out Arooga's menu, I noticed their Impossible Burger comes on a brioche bun, with (what I'm going to assume is) a non-vegan-friendly special sauce and American or Cheddar cheese. The rest of the menu seemed pretty non-vegan-friendly too. I couldn't find contact information on their site, so I tweeted them asking for one. Radio silence. Then I messaged my local chain on Facebook and they did respond with the following:<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">"The Impossible burger is vegan but the process in which we cook and prepare it makes it vegetarian only. Our brioche bun has egg as well as our faux wings. Our vegan options are limited to our salads with a few replacements."</span></b></i><br />
<i><br /></i> Well, that's disappointing. I'm uncertain who they think they're marketing this burger too. Vegetarians don't normally eat eggs and if you're cutting back on red meat as per doctor's orders, then why is there not-so-heart-healthy items like cheese, mayo, and eggs? Even getting back to the vegetarian aspect, there are eight items listed on their menu as "vegetarian", most of which contain eggs. So unless you're an Ovo-Vegetarian (Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian if you're eating eggs and dairy, FYI)...yeah, that stuff is a no-go too.<br />
<br />
I'm always baffled why these chains understand there is a demand for vegan items, but half-ass add them. How hard would it be to make actual vegetarian or vegan food? I'll steer clear of Arooga's until they can, at the very least, learn the definition of a vegetarian...<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-85722438686445760252018-03-15T10:26:00.000-04:002018-03-15T10:26:07.288-04:00Sweet Potato Soul, Bringing Vegan Soul Food Recipes to the Masses <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yes. I know. I already reviewed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451498895/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451498895&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=e0f7952a967d256560332c8ef571dd3f" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0451498895" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> book for <a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2018/02/book-review-sweet-potato-soul.html" target="_blank">Blogging for Books</a>. But I had to post a follow-up review because I'm obsessed with this cookbook. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have only a small smattering of soul food prior to going vegan. Maybe. Honestly, I'm not even sure. I watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SweetPotatoSoul" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Soul's youtube channel</a>, which is fine, but too much music and stuff for me. I'm old and ornery and I like things simple. When I got this book, I was feeling kind of "eh" about it. I'm used to Asian cooking, which involves 500 million ingredients. Short ingredient lists always underwhelm me when I see them. Which is stupid, since I love <a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2018/02/whats-best-cookbook-for-new-vegans.html" target="_blank">Chloe Coscarelli</a> recipes and they have short ingredient lists and easy directions. Who knows. I'm clearly just insane.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWinRSWm3WftgYshVzGt9PTNgMKyL7S6QMYLFrpz25tOXH-tVWoZp1sT5323Dv1AxLb1HnPOmRCck0htCj2jQGaItMMNMP3Kl-jKRlAuXpU8oY06gsrMPaLK5PVK873JmqO2y12kR0qqc/s1600/IMG_20180310_074701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWinRSWm3WftgYshVzGt9PTNgMKyL7S6QMYLFrpz25tOXH-tVWoZp1sT5323Dv1AxLb1HnPOmRCck0htCj2jQGaItMMNMP3Kl-jKRlAuXpU8oY06gsrMPaLK5PVK873JmqO2y12kR0qqc/s640/IMG_20180310_074701.jpg" width="491" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I decided to try out some recipes in here. I needed a change of pace from rice and pasta bowls, Chinese/Korean/Japanese/Thai, Sri Lankan and "American" style food like burgers and pizza. A while back, I bought a ton of vital wheat gluten believing I'd make a ton of seitan, and then never did. When I saw her two sausage recipes, I thought this was a good opportunity to use some of it up. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Holy crap. Both of these recipes were banging! It was like Tofurky sausage but better (sorry Tofurky, I still love you). Want the secret for really firm seitan sausages? Buy pre-cut foil like this one <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A3ZIL1C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00A3ZIL1C&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=8fc993979a739783a0f55ebc4662ec01" target="_blank">Pop-Up Aluminum Foil Sheets</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00A3ZIL1C" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and use a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UEYXK4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000UEYXK4&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=7f2f1f22620af3e39d5c09efd63c5a0a" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">sushi mat</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000UEYXK4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to roll it tightly. The box of pre-cut foil is the way to go because you don't have to struggle with trying to tear foil the right size, you can just whip out a sheet, and they're the perfect size for sausages.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZ9wHVJLSw8VvP2PaeYiSqQq0uY_Ct8fPRgTuOEUxjKNv5VPtzSWPVBdPvToYqvW5i1lbTeFgSW2p4aGB5OSQEdYTU2LzLJHwUHZuOh5BldV4ZM6zkkOco8P6CtvHNm2RB8Czo953l4/s1600/IMG_20180301_192703_757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZ9wHVJLSw8VvP2PaeYiSqQq0uY_Ct8fPRgTuOEUxjKNv5VPtzSWPVBdPvToYqvW5i1lbTeFgSW2p4aGB5OSQEdYTU2LzLJHwUHZuOh5BldV4ZM6zkkOco8P6CtvHNm2RB8Czo953l4/s640/IMG_20180301_192703_757.jpg" width="611" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I haven't had Red Beans and Rice in a million years. These were great. There was a little pre-prep with the sausage and making the creole seasoning (which I still have plenty of even after making a lot of recipes from her book). My beans were old and refused to cook completely. I gave up and ate them anyway. I might use the pressure cooker next time, these do take a while to cook. Old, under cooked beans aside, this was an easy to make meal with deep, rich flavor. Definitely worth the wait.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhHQkHV87HdPPvkpfEM6k8SzlltGKwZygLz5cBoKYpDDbC34GUDxe8YVr2V-mgd9FA1BBttZ0FcsU8Xt-UaGUuDJAeYaFKZ761qkD7SLbOFwZh1PpL59MusDylCot_moP-2UonviqGe8/s1600/IMG_20180301_195706_565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhHQkHV87HdPPvkpfEM6k8SzlltGKwZygLz5cBoKYpDDbC34GUDxe8YVr2V-mgd9FA1BBttZ0FcsU8Xt-UaGUuDJAeYaFKZ761qkD7SLbOFwZh1PpL59MusDylCot_moP-2UonviqGe8/s640/IMG_20180301_195706_565.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jambalaya. OMG. What an easy weeknight one pot meal! And I love that she used jackfruit for something other than bbq "pulled pork" which is literally everywhere now. You were supposed to use fresh parsley, but I used dried since fresh herbs die in my house in five minutes no matter what I do.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F8PfBOb5OcU4DjuGEMQPmpJwqggaQmahTJ0hOE4NKglSJ8zPx0edpEWmRs_xPUfyKb4QFVHCx4gxP9HjCypyxZ6-986t-JfkqvqjYpdEhq6wgvfeLvPc1paXFGwNa84WwrbV9WTVdDQ/s1600/IMG_20180228_191459_242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F8PfBOb5OcU4DjuGEMQPmpJwqggaQmahTJ0hOE4NKglSJ8zPx0edpEWmRs_xPUfyKb4QFVHCx4gxP9HjCypyxZ6-986t-JfkqvqjYpdEhq6wgvfeLvPc1paXFGwNa84WwrbV9WTVdDQ/s640/IMG_20180228_191459_242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Low Country Grits was listed in the breakfast section. While I have had grits with my breakfast at random diners over the years, to me this is a lunch/dinner meal. Never had grits? You're missing out. They're so smooth and creamy. You'll want to lick your bowl at the end. I really appreciate her random mix of veggies. Chickpea and jackfruit in the jambalaya and zucchini, artichokes, and corn in the low country grits. She uses things you think don't make sense, and wind up being perfect.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTLyAPcNQck2oFxaJdtbudSFfL8DO1FHkXihVfa2hB5Jhwyalt1V0NEWQDZvcFaRj40vdj-XxqugClg-BZrWByaHqWt4ykcbKfCDTwY-6GBkUVq4N6SZKjUO2Ik21kzjhtm62B2JCGQo/s1600/IMG_20180306_193119_309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTLyAPcNQck2oFxaJdtbudSFfL8DO1FHkXihVfa2hB5Jhwyalt1V0NEWQDZvcFaRj40vdj-XxqugClg-BZrWByaHqWt4ykcbKfCDTwY-6GBkUVq4N6SZKjUO2Ik21kzjhtm62B2JCGQo/s640/IMG_20180306_193119_309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Her recipe for Oyster Mushroom Etouffee tastes like you're eating seafood. I don't know how, but it tastes so much like seafood that you could fool a non-vegan. No joke. Vegan magic, baby! I've only used oyster mushrooms as a faux fried chicken (which is awesome btw) but now I understand how they got their name. It really is like biting into a cooked oyster or clam. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT23SbjxX5UYCzqwtRmcLpz-POWy8fvSS9U9nQESUQeRFW3qeQXyjaF1TeYgDeUuhwnfegQzjow6Nnp9ui7dAc94nZho9wtZV7ztTZZQ_FnDHCbXQJJm-FfOI4KSPDohiBn58qn_aZ-M/s1600/IMG_20180309_184149_758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT23SbjxX5UYCzqwtRmcLpz-POWy8fvSS9U9nQESUQeRFW3qeQXyjaF1TeYgDeUuhwnfegQzjow6Nnp9ui7dAc94nZho9wtZV7ztTZZQ_FnDHCbXQJJm-FfOI4KSPDohiBn58qn_aZ-M/s640/IMG_20180309_184149_758.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lentil Loaf with Oooh Mama Mushroom Gravy was something in between a meatloaf and a vegan holiday roast. When she says to chop the nuts finely, she means finely...I wrote myself a note for next time. And don't forget to add the breadcrumbs like I did, or you too will have to dump the whole thing out halfway through its cook time, mix them in, squish it back into the loaf pan again. Yeesh. If you're not a gravy making master like me, this is a great one to add to your repertoire.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9Jwu-3jywm6d822xaWaS12zCM5Gj2yoKxwBdN0hJi_VUwqv6Bd3viCVJpga93ctgzT0EIrysKbm_AudGQOutpkUgfpltQ0UaRCKgyMEOR76pSZ33-mNY40YD4ZjvbHx-WMXabd0goQU/s1600/IMG_20180311_204733_722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9Jwu-3jywm6d822xaWaS12zCM5Gj2yoKxwBdN0hJi_VUwqv6Bd3viCVJpga93ctgzT0EIrysKbm_AudGQOutpkUgfpltQ0UaRCKgyMEOR76pSZ33-mNY40YD4ZjvbHx-WMXabd0goQU/s640/IMG_20180311_204733_722.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorghum Cornmeal Waffles, or in my case Maple Syrup Cornmeal Waffles. I was going to grow sorghum once upon a time. Then I realized the enormity of work that goes into harvesting it and turning it into a syrup...and so here I am still buying maple syrup. Anywho, they were crisp with a little crunch from the cornmeal. They were just as good the next morning heated up in the toaster.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMal-4fBj1btWPVD_Dy-uDuYreqlfa-6xdHymP9Bji-zDyyMOYCbiV4-kfp3PB4q-6bS3v6P_7uB1bKLgB8sFkz4FGA54Ar1iaY8lmUrKAttzWL0CuAOhkbrzYeemasaHqEvsgWAhlGs/s1600/IMG_20180310_075130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1235" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMal-4fBj1btWPVD_Dy-uDuYreqlfa-6xdHymP9Bji-zDyyMOYCbiV4-kfp3PB4q-6bS3v6P_7uB1bKLgB8sFkz4FGA54Ar1iaY8lmUrKAttzWL0CuAOhkbrzYeemasaHqEvsgWAhlGs/s640/IMG_20180310_075130.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And there you have it. Literally, every recipe in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451498895/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451498895&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=e0f7952a967d256560332c8ef571dd3f" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0451498895" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> has been a winner. Clearly, delicious food can be made with simple ingredient lists and easy instructions, who knew? If you love soul food or have never had it, this is a book you need to get. If you don't care about soul food or vegan food, and you just like really good food, get this book. If you want to stop spending a million dollars of plant-based sausages, go buy this book, and try out her seitan sausage recipes. This book will remain in heavy rotation at my house from now on. If you do pick it up, let me know what you think in the comments.</div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-34758970683551601672018-02-26T14:13:00.001-05:002018-03-13T13:33:06.455-04:00What's the Best Cookbook for New Vegans? (Part 1)Chloe Coscarelli's books are the books I recommend to every new vegan. Her recipes are easy to make and consistently amazing. Well, some are just okay, but nothing is ever bad. Ever. Some reviews confuse me because they knock her books for not being healthy. FYI vegan doesn't automatically mean healthy. If that's what you're looking for, then go look for someone who claims to make healthy vegan food, don't knock someone who doesn't. I think her recipes are the ones that can convince non-vegans that vegan food is good because it tastes like the things they are used to eating. Her books are my go-to, especially for desserts when I go to parties.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476736073/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1476736073&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=f9ea2d3402cfeaae42b9237b9cf1f5fe" target="_blank">Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen</a> is pretty pasta focused, but amazing. You have to make the apple cake. Takes 5 minutes to put together, with an amazing result. You can feed any of these recipes to a non-vegan or even someone lactose intolerant and they'd never believe these recipes weren't full of butter and cream.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476736073/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1476736073&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=cced4751a1bdef251b679a43ca7e361a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1476736073&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=appivebeedom-20" width="324" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451636768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451636768&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=e17fc9b3c622973c8ed5e68d585923da" target="_blank">Chloe's Vegan Desserts</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1451636768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is an amazing collection of easy to make desserts. The lemon poppy seed muffins are amazing! Don't be a cheap ass like me and use almond milk instead of a can of coconut milk, it really does make a difference. Bake some vegan treats yourself for an eighth of what they cost at vegan bakeries. Then with all that money you save, go buy her new book.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451636768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451636768&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=5ef4ef0cd5e361507fd61f47ed63216c" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1451636768&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=appivebeedom-20" width="323" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
What's great about those two books is also great about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045149962X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=045149962X&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=358fbfe3d0500bb480884d9f89432df6" target="_blank">Chloe Flavor</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=045149962X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, the recipes have minimal, easy-to-find ingredients and simple instructions. Normally, I'm the type that wants a picture per recipe, but I don't mind that this doesn't have that. I know her recipes are going to be good, so if my choices are more recipes or more pictures, I'll take more recipes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045149962X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=045149962X&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=cb81a2414fa8e4d55754cc3e49788178" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=045149962X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=appivebeedom-20" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
So far I've made the French Toast, Sweet Tamale Cakes, and the Fiesta Mac & Cheese. The French Toast was really good, using something similar to a crepe batter to coat the bread. The tamale cakes were a little sweet to me, similar to cornbread. But the siracha mayo you serve it with was banging! I wasn't sure about the Fiesta Mac & Cheese, it did have a picture and it wasn't that pretty. Even my daughter, who likes mac n' cheese any way she can get it, was unsure about this one. The end result was so good! Full-flavored, rich and creamy, it reminded me Hamburger Helper sans dead cow.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">IS IT VEGAN-FRIENDLY? </b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Of course. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><b style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"></span><b style="font-size: 15.4px;">WOULD I BUY IT?</b><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Hell yes. Bottom line, Chloe Coscarelli makes great food. If you get to go to her restaurant, go, it's worth it. In the meantime, go buy </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045149962X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=045149962X&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=358fbfe3d0500bb480884d9f89432df6" target="_blank">Chloe Flavor</a>, and then go buy her other books. These are the recipes that will convince your family and friends that vegans aren't sitting around eating nothing but salad, tofu, and Buddha bowls. You can thank me later.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">I received a free copy of this book from the <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc3300;">Blogging for Books</span></a> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">program in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to give a positive review, and if you read my blog, you know I'm a tell-it-like-it-is kind of girl. I mean what I say and say what I mean, that holds true for my review.</em><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=045149962X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=045149962X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1476736073" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1451636768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-34263452734169916912018-02-15T22:59:00.000-05:002018-02-16T11:11:16.551-05:00Book Review: Sweet Potato Soul by Jenne Claiborne<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you've ever been on that little site called YouTube, you may have seen the lovely J</span><span style="background-color: white;">enné Claiborne on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SweetPotatoSoul" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> cooking delicious vegan meals. On her blog and channel, she cooks many different styles of food, but this book focused on Southern food. Atlanta born and raised, she works to show people you can still eat delicious Soul Food sans meat, eggs, and dairy, and not feel like you're missing a thing. </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451498895/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451498895&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=02b7dc8a19a518c1fa14099983a6ebf1" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0451498895" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is her first foray into the printed cookbook world.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Her intro story is fascinating. so don't just breeze by it. All these recipes are very accessible, with easy to find ingredients. Beautiful pictures! Quite a bit of sweet potato use, but that shouldn't be a surprise considering the title. Seriously, how amazing does the cover picture of Fried Cauliflower Chicken look? Sweet potato cinnamon rolls and jalapeno hush puppies are on my long list of recipes I want to try from this book. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780451498892?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780451498892?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="359" height="640" width="508" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">IS IT VEGAN-FRIENDLY? </b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> Duh. It's a vegan cookbook. "100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice and Soul." Yes, of course, it's vegan-friendly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">WOULD I BUY IT?</b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> Yes, if for no other reason, I've been watching her on YouTube for what feels like forever. For no real reason other than a lack of time, I haven't actually tried any of her recipes before, so I'm super excited to see if they taste as good as they look on TV. </span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">I received a free copy of this book from the <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/" style="color: #993322;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc3300;">Blogging for Books</span></a> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">program in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to give a positive review, and if you read my blog, you know I'm a tell-it-like-it-is kind of girl. I mean what I say and say what I mean, that holds true for my review.</em>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-29640076539143283852018-02-05T15:28:00.000-05:002018-02-05T15:40:50.049-05:00Book Review: Power Plates by Gena Hamshaw<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Gena Hamshaw, of Food52 fame, has put out another book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399579052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399579052&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=ae47831cc177e552b789f05ea480f50f" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals</a><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0399579052" style="border: none; font-size: medium; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">She starts the book by talking about ingredients, followed by how to batch cook beans and grains. There's even a bit on macronutrients if you follow that kind of thing. The book ends with meal planning ideas. The pages are a good weight, and there are gorgeous pictures of every recipe. There is a lot of roast this, puree that. Nothing complicated. The book is divided into six sections, Breakfast, Salads, Soups, Bowls, Skillets and Stovetop and Bakes. She gives the same advice I give everyone, try a recipe as it was originally intended, onwards from there, make it your own by modifying ingredients to suit your taste.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">There's a misconception that vegan food is not only expensive but time-consuming to make. This book helps to disprove that idea. All the recipes are easy to make and uses ingredients that I have in my pantry. Albeit, not everyone has bulgur wheat or miso, but I didn't see anything I couldn't find at a local market or on Amazon. I do like that none (well, none that I saw) of these recipes relied on faux meats or commercially-made vegan products. It's all veggies, fruits, beans, and grains.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780399579059?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780399579059?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="381" height="640" width="539" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">IS IT VEGAN-FRIENDLY? </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> Duh. It's a vegan cookbook. "100 Nutritionally balanced, one-dish vegan meals." Yes, of course, it's vegan-friendly.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">WOULD I BUY IT?</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> Yes, I'm made many recipes from Gena Hamshaw's </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607747995/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1607747995&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=eae1213a8e1b4c1dd41b3f1db2189902" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Food52 Vegan: 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1607747995" style="border: none; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">. Just about everything in that book was really good, so my guess is that everything in here is </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">equally amazing. I would definitely buy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399579052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399579052&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=ae47831cc177e552b789f05ea480f50f" target="_blank">Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0399579052" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> for anyone trying to switch over to a plant-based lifestyle but is lost on what to make.</span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">I received a free copy of this book from the <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc3300;">Blogging for Books</span></a> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 20.28px;">program in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to give a positive review, and if you read my blog, you know I'm a tell-it-like-it-is kind of girl. I mean what I say and say what I mean, that holds true for my review.</em>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-9909815250559092132017-11-02T09:14:00.000-04:002018-02-26T21:56:59.619-05:00Vegan Options at TGIFridaysI saw something come across my Facebook feed about vegan options at TGIFridays. The gave you options that I don't believe are remotely accurate. As per the email I received from TGIFridays:<br />
<br />
<i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Thank you for emailing TGI Fridays.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We apologize for the inconvenience. The only vegan item we have on the menu is Beyond Burger on Test Locations in Boston Area.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thank you for your interest in TGI Fridays!"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
So yeah...nothing.<br />
<br />
Just look at their <a href="https://www.tgifridays.com/content/dam/www/pdf/menu-allergen.pdf" target="_blank">Allergen Menu</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://orthodoxandvegan.com/2015/01/02/vegan-fridays/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Vegan Menu TGI Friday" src="http://i1.wp.com/orthodoxandvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-1-2-vegan-menu-tgi-friday2.jpg?resize=600%2C450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from http://orthodoxandvegan.com/2015/01/02/vegan-fridays/ go check out her experience at TGIFridays</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Side salad has dairy. The fries have egg, dairy, fish and shellfish....fish and shellfish! What the....? And why does 99% of their menu have dairy? Ewww. I'm going to bet their bread has dairy, so I'd double check that before ordering their Beyond Burger.<br />
<br />
I'm surprised so many sites are listing things like the fries. Never trust any site...even this one. Always do your own research. Asking a server isn't enough. Check out their allergen menus. Whenever possible, ask to see the packaging of the food (that's how one person from my vegan Facebook group discovered the salt at her movie theatre had dairy in it and how I discovered my local White Castle doesn't stock vegan bread for their veggie burgers even though they're supposed to).<br />
<br />
And please, before I get comments from people talking about cross contamination, that is not what this is. If it was, they would specifically state that due to cross-contamination they can't guarantee that their food won't have allergens. Also, if they were listing possible cross-contamination, then every item would list everything. No. This is a list that, based on the ingredients in the food, contain these allergens. If you think I'm wrong, and that the TGIFridays representative was wrong, then contact them yourself.<br />
<br />
I'm not a chain person myself. I prefer supporting local restaurants. But, perhaps you should check out a different chain when you go out, because no one wants fish in their french fries...or maybe you do...to each their own.<br />
<br />
<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-13144797218324850322017-11-01T09:49:00.000-04:002017-11-01T09:49:02.126-04:00Don't Eat a Turkey, Sponsor One Instead: Woodstock Farm Sanctuary<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #ce9c47; border-collapse: collapse; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" id="yiv4619177794templateHeader" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 9px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794headerContainer" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794mcnImageBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody class="yiv4619177794mcnImageBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794mcnImageContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794mcnImageContent" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><a class="yiv4619177794" href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=4438114803&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #196ad4;" target="_blank" title=""><img align="center" alt="" class="yiv4619177794mcnImage" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3/images/1d9d0c76-38fd-4a3c-963e-f3a3e1f8150c.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; max-width: 1024px; min-height: auto; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: bottom;" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" id="yiv4619177794templateBody" style="background: none center center / cover no-repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794templateContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 600px !important; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794bodyContainer" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody class="yiv4619177794mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter">
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 9px 18px;"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv4619177794mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="yiv4619177794mcnTextContent" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; padding: 18px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=d2c9d90fe0&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="142" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3/images/e320aebf-c76c-4691-b920-a71f9fea1f31.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; min-height: 142px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 230px;" width="230" /></a>Thanksgiving is just around the corner and while this holiday is filled with gratitude and happiness, it is a day of violence and loss for 46 million turkeys. But this Thanksgiving, you can <strong>celebrate peace and compassion</strong> <strong>by sponsoring a turkey friend at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. </strong><br /><br />For the month of November, <a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=2cb4abaaff&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">sponsor a turkey for only $50</a> and receive a beautiful sponsorship package – a card, photo, and story of your rescued turkey. Be an effective advocate by introducing your family and friends to one of our friendly turkeys <strong>who has a name, unique personality, and lives a happy life</strong>, like our friend Antoinette.<br /><a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=13811b64e8&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="left" height="234" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3/images/7a417b72-3500-4d0e-bf52-20868d7c82d3.png" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 5px 5px 0px; min-height: 234px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 235px;" width="235" /></a><br />At just a few weeks old, Antoinette was found near a live-kill market in New York City, a type of market where people go to pick out a live turkey among the hundreds of other young, terrified birds and rabbits trapped in small crates. He or she is then killed on-site while the others await the same horrible fate.<br /><br />At Woodstock Sanctuary, Antoinette is safe and free to be her friendly, affectionate self. <strong>She is very sociable and will come right up to sit on your lap and cuddle. </strong>Many visitors are blown away by her cheery personality and come to realize that, though she has feathers instead of fur, she is just like the dogs and cats who we love and care for. She is a beautiful individual deserving of life and happiness.<br /><br /><a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=236a946147&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><strong>Antoinette</strong></a> <a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=222dddccd5&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="222" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3/images/2bdf5e3a-0f85-4bdf-b5fc-bb9ce340402f.png" style="border: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; min-height: 222px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 285px;" width="285" /><strong>is an inspiring ambassador who moves people to view animals as friends, not food.</strong></a><br /><br />Introduce Antoinette to your family and friends this Thanksgiving by sponsoring her for only $50. It is a great (and affordable!) way to help us cover the costs of caring for turkeys in need while raising awareness of their plight on this holiday.<br /><br />This holiday season, <strong>let’s give turkeys something to be thankful for by leaving them, and all animals, off our plates.</strong>We encourage everyone to celebrate <em>ThanksLiving </em>with us – in reverence and gratitude for all life.<br /><br />From all of the animals and people here at Woodstock Sanctuary, <a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=d99623f0a3&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">thank you for caring!</a><br /><br /><a href="https://woodstocksanctuary.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3&id=728e9cba0e&e=32df8103b0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #186583; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="center" height="355" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0b222948deccc2bbbdda0b4c3/_compresseds/34931808-3eff-492c-bf43-7c42ffbe260c.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; min-height: 355px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 550px;" width="550" /></a></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Yes, I stole this whole post from <a href="http://woodstocksanctuary.org/" target="_blank">Woodstock Farm Sanctuary</a>, but I don't think they'd mind me sharing this info. I'll post the emails I get from other sanctuaries about their Sponsor a Turkey programs this month. Thanksgiving is a horrible holiday, celebrating a horrible thing. Don't be part of that. Start a new tradition of getting together with the people you love and share a cruelty-free meal.)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-38825834173203015152017-10-30T10:46:00.000-04:002017-10-30T10:46:01.996-04:00Should I Buy a Vitamix?Yes, you need a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BF8QKW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BF8QKW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=64e3be365910956d257ff0ca002e9189" target="_blank">Vitamix</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B008BF8QKW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, to varying degrees. What the heck does that mean? Read ahead.<br />
<br />
If I'm being completely honest, if you eat the standard American diet, then you could probably live without this. How much liquifying of things are you really doing? Maybe soup? Chances are, people eating the standard American diet tend to eat more soup out of cans than homemade soup, not being an ass, but have you seen the millions of casserole recipes using canned soup? Yeesh. So, yeah, you probably won't get your money's worth.<br />
<br />
If you're in between the standard American diet and trying to be healthy, then yes, you could get some real use. Other than soups you could use them for the smoothest smoothies, nut milk and sorbets or banana based ice creams. When I dump in whole chia and flax seeds in my smoothies, they get ground up so fine, you wouldn't know they were in my <a href="http://www.ivebeendomesticated.com/2017/07/what-to-do-with-too-many-overgrown.html" target="_blank">smoothie</a>.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0puwXDU_MR4jf-4_V8d80DreMyU3cJ3PgHeZnSH5_tjSLEv53LW0Dav2VfIMTDYf_LiZdLmcTscVROwjeUw3cSEKpI7rxDF9jOG3Tm7g0QZh74Gcop-WlKbmF57xhy7vxjjpOlLofYc/s640/20170718_073759.jpg" /><br />
<br />
If you're vegan, then unequivocally, yes. You have to have a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BF8QKW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BF8QKW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=64e3be365910956d257ff0ca002e9189" target="_blank">Vitamix</a>. You can obviously make all the above, but you really need a high powered blender for making vegan sour cream or cheese sauces. You're never going to get the perfectly grain-free and luxuriously rich mouth-free without a high-speed blender. Maybe you'll get close but I am betting, not as good.<br />
<br />
Let me add, if you're gluten-sensitive, this would also be a great investment piece because you could grind all your own flours. Gluten-free stuff is hella expensive, so this would certainly pay for itself.<br />
<br />
I use my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BF8QKW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BF8QKW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=64e3be365910956d257ff0ca002e9189" target="_blank">Vitamix</a> literally every day to make everything from smoothies to snack, cheese sauces, nice cream and soy milk. Is it expensive? Hell yes, but it's an investment. You can buy a $20 blender every other year for your life, none that will work as well as this. Or save up and just buy it once and probably have it for a lifetime.<br />
<br />
I used to always buy cheaper stuff until I realized how dumb that was. Especially since most of the people saying it's too expensive spent...what? $600 on an iPhone...and pay probably close to, if not more than, $100 a month for service. You will always find the money for the things you want...this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BF8QKW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BF8QKW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=64e3be365910956d257ff0ca002e9189" target="_blank">Vitamix</a> is something you want. Believe me.<br />
<br />
On a final note, there are a lot of options model-wise. I chose the wider, shorter container over the tall skinny one. I thought it would be easier to clean, but I don't know if that's true. I have, use and love this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ESCL0KA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ESCL0KA&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=70d11ed38b53d83540e14e992b375ed6" target="_blank">OXO Good Grips Jar Spatula</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00ESCL0KA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, so far it works to best to get almost all of my smoothie out.<br />
<br />
There are ones with fancy pre-sets and that are computerized or whatever...not my thing. I bought the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BF8QKW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008BF8QKW&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=64e3be365910956d257ff0ca002e9189" target="_blank">Vitamix 5200</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B008BF8QKW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> because of the wider container, plus this package came with the grain container. I also liked the pulse option and not all of them have it.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/02/what-do-vegans-eat-nachos.html" target="_blank">Vegan Nachos (nacho cheese sauce and sour cream)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDQG0oHzNyeo3bwGROJI3nm4QqvrvmyJ-NQMSWoP3lzS-aB7VyBKQw9ZGZ_0lwvik44gZ0Nb1QuzOJUrODFUMJUzSXrf3cfVhTrEBPYw1tsDmLfXRfH-BRQNNg-V_-fy0TmL2UkeeGoY/s400/20160216_194745.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/02/what-do-vegans-eat-vegan-french-bread.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/02/what-do-vegans-eat-vegan-french-bread.html" target="_blank">Frech Bread Pizza (Foxy Moxy Mozzerella Cheese Sauce)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9hnvHuRz27plHpdnmGDv4E47QuldW3RhblhacBiXu2zUkkpCsygWjgrNjo2A8JSTt_Cku4KUYR2_E-tKxLskKVH-tGC5xXKPn6E5yibtSnF4xR0pNepJXTX0AIiYrAu0hRcqFbrgRVM/s400/20160221_185402.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/04/what-vegans-eat-morning-kickstart.html" target="_blank">Green Smoothies</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWgelJgliMH64F8fbHcgfW2PPZazt8LDUfHkdE7NM68b8W-ROMbwR6FY2VbQw6eLA33j0cyiP2Jth2ViBVRbtlSR_ZFRBse7c6BH_hNqZBKOGskbPanrANlsqk55vWTfKdRM12khpAvk/s400/20160425_073113.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/11/easy-homemade-vegan-butter.html" target="_blank">Large batches of vegan butter (I made this one with my old blender and a mason jar)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvWqM9wf76oyus7-q2vm81M7n6jO-v2F8P0qU6MqMF3L3YwBLXyt1PXEkTFDOEXneYHKzev53M74DAPx4JIRDp5PSU1Fb-vRiTXIu7ypx9j9A6Z1mjGHrdqICGSFLxre1IJxzMdhaiz0/s400/SAM_5344.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2016/11/vegan-mac-n-cheese.html" target="_blank">Vegan Mac n' Cheese</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNOSJtaqonFph7-6JyTmgc2-e87JzuSU3m5ScuX-Or98Zca1UBCI1334fcOm6wuEM14Mj_1P9_Zl5SthqIQEZfkioULqLvJzijWHbiySc8Yv7Ol0ZPgNpTnp6KZ8-3O0F1nfMbtuY-wU/s400/SAM_5354.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vegan Mayo</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wGMow0CM530/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wGMow0CM530?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bevegantastic.com/2017/10/vegan-butternut-squash-mac-n-cheese.html" target="_blank">Butternut Mac n' Cheese</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2gS-ULMPo8kaB_Nx9AjkiP4wxMNOI_bJZbpMWnZFHlW6HlA91AqqNhHdWUFCR-Wewxp8rotNNaQ5Oe3NoNh_-FTgnSE5dAxgu-j8RBBFs21iWWy-VJAUy24zA1hwqZTGyQ-ny1EMdew/s400/IMG_20171017_190545_921.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Make the investment. Stop researching whether you should buy it, and just do it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, the links are affiliate links for which I get paid some nominal something if you buy something. Read my disclosure on my blog's sidebar. I'm sure there's some more official way I'm supposed to say this, but since everyone's using affiliate links now, I'm sure you know the deal.</span>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-12880213515825076002017-10-24T14:04:00.000-04:002018-03-16T13:55:57.065-04:00Vegan Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2gS-ULMPo8kaB_Nx9AjkiP4wxMNOI_bJZbpMWnZFHlW6HlA91AqqNhHdWUFCR-Wewxp8rotNNaQ5Oe3NoNh_-FTgnSE5dAxgu-j8RBBFs21iWWy-VJAUy24zA1hwqZTGyQ-ny1EMdew/s1600/IMG_20171017_190545_921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2gS-ULMPo8kaB_Nx9AjkiP4wxMNOI_bJZbpMWnZFHlW6HlA91AqqNhHdWUFCR-Wewxp8rotNNaQ5Oe3NoNh_-FTgnSE5dAxgu-j8RBBFs21iWWy-VJAUy24zA1hwqZTGyQ-ny1EMdew/s640/IMG_20171017_190545_921.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My CSA box came with a butternut squash, and I had no desire to make soup...which it seems is the most popular recipe for butternut squash. It's fine, it's just not my thing. I started looking around for recipes online when I realized I could just substitute out the squash for the veggies in my go-to vegan mac n cheese recipe. For the record, I hate when people don't give you specific amounts and say a small/medium/large whatever. In this case, I have no choice because 1. I didn't measure it 2. It's not that serious, just wing it, it'll be fine.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h3>
<b>Ingredients </b></h3>
</div>
</div>
1 pound of cooked elbow macaroni<br />
1 cup of reserved pasta water<br />
1 cup-ish of frozen peas<br />
<br />
1 butternut squash<br />
1/2 a medium onion (again, not that serious) roughly chopped<br />
2 cloved garlic, whole<br />
1-2 TBS of olive oil<br />
<br />
1/2 cup of cashews<br />
3-4 tsp of salt (I use kosher, but use what you like)<br />
5 TBS of vegan butter<br />
1/2 tsp dijon mustard (whatever you have will be fine)<br />
2 TBS lemon juice (fresh or from a bottle)<br />
black pepper to taste (I crank my pepper grinder 10-20 times)<br />
1/2 tsp paprika<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b> Directions: </b></h3>
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.<br />
<br />
Peel and cube a butternut squash. Put squash, onions and garlic on a baking tray with a silpat or parchment liner. Coat lightly with olive oil (or whatever oil you like). Put the tray on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for approximately a half hour. Flip everything around half way through.<br />
<br />
While that's baking, put pasta in a pot of salted water. Yes, put it in before it boils. Pasta in cold water is pasta that doesn't stick together. Don't waste time waiting for it to boil<br />
<br />
Now that you're waiting on things to bake and boil, put everything from the last set of ingredients (cashews down to the paprika) into blender. And...wait.<br />
<br />
Okay, you're pasta should be boiling...don't forget to flip around the veggies in the oven. They should be more or less cooked through and starting to brown a little. Carefully take a cup of pasta water (I dip my pyrex measuring cup in, do what you want, just don't burn yourself.) Pour that hot water into the blender. (Since I don't pre-soak the cashews, I feel like this helps to soften everything up.)<br />
<br />
Carefully blend everything. Drain your pasta (assuming it's done) and put it back in the pot. Pour in the peas and mix it up. Take your veggies out of the oven (also assuming it's done) and dump everything into the blender. Blend again until everything is creamy and super smooth. Now pour this mix in with the pasta and give it a stir.<br />
<br />
Voila!Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-33405566896870604002017-10-06T14:07:00.001-04:002017-10-06T14:07:43.207-04:00Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEkZTlJ6eJlSiszmomdfvOlAaPKL8sb_jnM3_-0JyDnGNL5oPJJ6IUwRpDgsOQDqGeclFVSfUfEQqSqhRWhBUR3tF1eYUoH_jhooK1IYz6n2eSa0AzctfV_yNrPz9MLFg0Io6QQ6zrxs/s1600/2017-10-03+08.46.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEkZTlJ6eJlSiszmomdfvOlAaPKL8sb_jnM3_-0JyDnGNL5oPJJ6IUwRpDgsOQDqGeclFVSfUfEQqSqhRWhBUR3tF1eYUoH_jhooK1IYz6n2eSa0AzctfV_yNrPz9MLFg0Io6QQ6zrxs/s640/2017-10-03+08.46.27.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Do you see this crappily-staged photo of our box? Did you notice I haven't been posting about the CSA? I know it's too early to write a review, but clearly, I'm not going to post about my CSA boxed share anymore, so now is as good of a time as any.</div>
<br />
When we started, I was very excited about being in a CSA. I had talked about joining one for a long time, searched through all the farms in our area, and was happy to find one that sounded good (despite not great Yelp reviews) and that was both organic and vegan-friendly. After taking the tour, I was excited at the prospect of not only the fruit and veggies it appeared we were getting, but by the idea of helping support a farmer. No farms, no food, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I posted religiously so I could keep track of what we got to make sure this was a worthwhile endeavor. As the weeks went by, I realized I haven't wanted to post about each weeks box because I've become so disillusioned with the whole process. Here are the reasons I won't be rejoining the Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Both Chesterfield and Pennington are about an hour away. Had they been more transparent about the differences between the farms (i.e. Chesterfield gets figs, Pennington does not, etc.) I would have joined Chesterfield instead since you seem to get a larger variety of items from there. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Chesterfield's season started sooner, due to weather issues which I understood. But then they were going to allow on-farm pickup people to start PYO at Pennington earlier than the off-site, boxed share people...how is that fair? I think if people hadn't started emailing about it, the boxed share people would have gotten a week or two less produce than the on-farm pickup people. They don't seem to understand that they should treat all CSA members equally.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. I am STILL annoyed with the PYO program. I don't like that if you do the PYO during the week, you get more than on the weekends. I especially don't like that the amount they post online is about less than what they actually let you pick; and that when I questioned it, they acted like I was crazy. It literally happened every single time. And I'm saying they posted it, and I was there a half hour later...not five hours later...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. People picking up at the farm seemed to pay less, yet get more produce as well as more of a variety of produce. By my perception from when we were there and there were a lot of on-farm pick up people picking up their shares. I don't know that for a fact.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. The amount of greens I got was unmanageable for us, and unless I remembered to freeze it, a lot went to waste.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. They started having some man sell honey and beeswax products at the farm. I know people are all like yay honey! But honey doesn't have the beneficial properties it used to. It did when it was seasonal and the bees weren't being fed fast food (aka sugar water). Sorry, but I'm not interested in animal agriculture of any kind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Not a direct issue with the farm, but someone from my pick up location was rifling through the boxes and either swapping stuff or outright taking things. So I had to switch from going after work to going on my lunch break which was very annoying.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. It didn't feel like a community coming together as much as I'm a customer who didn't really matter to such a large scale CSA. I think they cater more to their local community, which is a more high-end crowd, who I'm sure care more concerned with telling their friends they're in a CSA than they actually care about how the CSA is run. I could be totally off about that, but based on some of the people on the tour, and the kinds of cars in the parking lot...I don't think I'm totally off base.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It wasn't the right CSA for me, but maybe it is for you. If you live close to the farm and can get your CSA pickups from there and do the PYO during the week, then you are definitely going to get more bang for your buck than I did. The produce was really good, fresh and crisp. I enjoyed the newsletters. The corn was phenomenal. There was also a convenience factor to picking up a box of veggies without having to go search around the grocery store trying to figure out what was fresh that week. Since the items weren't necessarily things I would buy on a regular basis, I had to think outside the box in using everything up. Follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bevegantastic/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> if you want to see what I've made.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am on the fence about taking part in a CSA next year. We did find some really great farmers markets near us. Well, actually the ones near us, like Rutgers, does it during the week during work hours...perhaps they also want to cater to higher-income folks that don't work, who knows. I mean, why make organic, locally grown produce easily accessible to middle and lower-middle-class folks...but that's a different discussion for another time. But further away from us, there are great ones, selling produce from local, organic farms on the weekends. We were thinking about going to a farmer's market on the weekend, put aside the same amount we were spending to be part of this CSA and buy our own produce. Let's see if that works out better or not. If not, then I'll try to find a CSA.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm not disappointed that we joined this CSA. It was an interesting experience, and I am still very pro-CSAs. I would recommend that everyone look into CSAs in their area. Try it out for a season and see what you think.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-17318007903208014202017-09-22T10:44:00.000-04:002017-09-22T10:44:07.948-04:00Are the Veggie Burgers at Bobby's Burger Palace Vegan?The short answer is a resounding no.<br />
<br />
I emailed Bobby's Burger Palace's customer service about their vegan options, as they provide no nutritional information online, and this was their response:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIBjtYMUMAAfjRR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from their twitter httpshttps://twitter.com/bobbysburgerpal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Hello Naomi. My name is Jim and i am one of the area managers for Bobby's </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">burger</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> palace.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></span> </i><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<i>1st as of right now we do not have any specific nutritional information regarding our products. The info I do have for you is that our fries and all of our sides are fried in canola oil. The salt we use is kosher salt and contains no dairy but the sauce that is served on the side does. The onion rings contain buttermilk. Our veggie <span class="il">burger</span> contains our BBQ sauce as 1 of the ingredients which contains honey, It is also basted with egg and dredged in quinoa flour before cooking. You can always ask for that part of the procedure to be skipped but the honey cannot be omitted. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<i>Other vegan options include our Chopped Crunch Salad, Super Kale Salad and our Palace Quinoa Salad but all do contain some sort of cheese. The dressings that we offer also contain either honey or pomegranate Molasses. Hope this was helpful. Thanks." </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
I appreciate the detailed response, so thank you, Jim, that was more information than I expected. I really do appreciate that they took the time to give me a complete answer. <br />
<br />
I am disappointed that their only vegan option are french fries. Maybe I should have messaged back to say if the salads have cheese, then they're not vegan. I feel like all these Food Network chefs are in cahoots with Big Pharm, working hard to keep us all sick. Here...let me show you how to make unhealthy food! Let me feed you unhealthy food at our restaurants! Everything's better with butter and bacon! Oh, now you're diabetic and have high cholesterol? Go talk to our friends at Big Pharm! I wonder if they get kickbacks... All alleged and all my opinions, don't sue me. Do we still have first amendment rights? Yeesh.<br />
<br />
Yay, no dairy in the salt like certain movie theatres. And yay, they don't fry their french fries in beef fat or anything weird. But all their salads have cheese? Why is there honey in everything? How don't people know that honey doesn't have the health benefits it used to? And most importantly what is the point of a veggie burger that isn't vegan, and if you include the entire process, isn't even vegetarian? (Yes, I know there are sub-groups of vegetarians that eat eggs, but sorry, that's not actually vegetarian. But feel free to identify as whatever and call yourself whatever. I'm not trying to argue about it, I'm just happy you're not eating meat.)<br />
<br />
I also take issue with restaurants that don't make this type of information readily available on their website. If you're proud of your menu, then be transparent... It should be required that all menus make notations for eggs, dairy, and gluten at the very least.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'll continue to steer clear of this place. I hear TGIFridays may start carrying Beyond Burgers. Or I'll just buy them and make a burger at home. Making a good burger isn't rocket science, and definitely doesn't need to include eggs or honey.Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-22950414415549399262017-09-07T11:53:00.000-04:002017-09-07T11:53:06.581-04:00Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 13 Pennington Premium Boxed Share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5CrF_RDW0sJukC9XEas1XL-0XOg5UTAavtRrmLeXwYh8Cy_YZxdYQgtNMJfzixoYVilXcOKCJ9mZPm2djxzb3r5HEqjlO3wnA8Qwz6DeVAUXW_aauUcdq1JDa0j-190LFe1X-U3BSE4/s1600/2017-09-06+04.51.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5CrF_RDW0sJukC9XEas1XL-0XOg5UTAavtRrmLeXwYh8Cy_YZxdYQgtNMJfzixoYVilXcOKCJ9mZPm2djxzb3r5HEqjlO3wnA8Qwz6DeVAUXW_aauUcdq1JDa0j-190LFe1X-U3BSE4/s640/2017-09-06+04.51.49.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This week we picked up: </div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>spaghetti squash, potatoes, parsley, summer squash, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, hot peppers, slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, snap beans and a leek.</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Things have been hectic, and there has been some food waste. I hate food waste. I have to get on top of using these veggies. Thank goodness for the tomatoes. My garden has been a mess this year thanks to the rain. I need to pickle these bell peppers or freeze them, we can't eat them fast enough. I've also been super sucky drying or freezing the herbs. That's been annoying. They're such nice bunches and I'm letting them go to waste. And I have no clue what I'll do with the leek. I braised them using a Martha Stewart recipe a million years ago, I may have to dig that up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In terms of the CSA, I will say on weeks that I'm not cooking as much, it's been hard to use things up before they go bad. I'm also on the fence regarding value. At about $26 a week, I'm not sure it's worth it. Also, having to get there early because some crappy person is either taking things out of boxes, or perhaps swapping stuff so they get the bigger produce, is annoying. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The PYO (pick your own) stuff has seemed good with tomatoes, peppers, okra, herbs and flowers being offered. But knowing that just because they list a pint and a half of something in the morning, that when I drive an hour there, it'll be down to only a half pint make it not worth it. The whole situation with the PYO has really left a sour taste in my mouth about the CSA at Honey Brook. If their attitude was more, "Thank you for telling us, that is something we'll work to correct" as opposed to "Sorry if that happened to you once...sorry YOU had such an EXTREME issue..." Okay, that's not a direct quote, but you get the gist. They acted as if I were making up a problem that didn't exist... If you post a quart, then it should be a quart. If half way through the day, you have to reduce that to a pint, fine...but not right after you post it. And to always reduce the amount you can pick on weekends...I mean come on. Box share people can't come during the week, we shouldn't be penalized because I have to work and can only come on weekends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whateves. I was so excited about this CSA, and now I'm getting more and more blah.</div>
<br />
<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-23309310816860493372017-09-04T12:59:00.001-04:002017-09-04T12:59:29.329-04:00Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 11 and 12 Pennington Premium Boxed Share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMg8maHeVnyygJvidFDOejv6oTMfud2Kj2g_xwCOqIOr-OJ_90pT4q14tuPvI_VhM1dn0DJp8FYzKBPOJfF1OmC526gCqbVgB09B_d5YpdIA_D_aMNrFTiRgdqxCSZA-mb_O505pw01s/s1600/20170829_160206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMg8maHeVnyygJvidFDOejv6oTMfud2Kj2g_xwCOqIOr-OJ_90pT4q14tuPvI_VhM1dn0DJp8FYzKBPOJfF1OmC526gCqbVgB09B_d5YpdIA_D_aMNrFTiRgdqxCSZA-mb_O505pw01s/s640/20170829_160206.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I forgot to take a picture of the veggies from last week. We were on vacation, had grabbed the box, threw everything in the fridge and ran back out the door. Sorry. Here's a list of what we got: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Cherry Tomatoes, Onions, Potatoes, Parsley, Chard, Heirloom Tomatoes, Shallots, Slicing Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Peppers, Watermelon.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then last Tuesday, we went and picked up our Week 12 box.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Eggplant, Potatoes, Parsley, Sage, Chard, Heirloom Tomatoes, Peppers, Hot Peppers, Slicing Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you want to see what we're going with our box, you should follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bevegantastic/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. I made a black rice with bloody mary tomato salad from Anna Jones' book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399578420/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578420&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=23e5fd007a388b2b4d58758f775c8c70" target="_blank">A Modern Way to Cook.</a> I also fried up a bunch of eggplant slices using panko and <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0399578420" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016V9W6QE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B016V9W6QE&linkCode=as2&tag=appivebeedom-20&linkId=d5ec3b88a1140da649cdb2617b59bd74" target="_blank">VeganEgg by Follow Your Heart</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=appivebeedom-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B016V9W6QE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. I served it with a simple tomato, garlic, onion sauce for a quick weeknight dinner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIrQBDGWAAEFcsN.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We even did some veggie sushi with tomato "tuna," mirin and rice vinegar pickled peppers, and carrot lox. Nothing tasted really fishy, but everything was really good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIjdg8CWAAAcmro.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorry again for posting everything late. In addition to the vacation, I was remodeling the bathroom. I'll post links to that later. I'll try to get Week 13 out on Wednesday.</div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544179209064606677.post-91365646646738624112017-08-16T15:08:00.000-04:002017-08-16T15:08:03.041-04:00Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 10 Pennington Premium Boxed Share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pAU70N65FxoGWj-iQ2mWNJx6VQAMUOdFNr9RZuGAZULel5jRCu044gHHZ8t8QEdtqA-uaVlpxQKaBAtA9TrqOheprlp4ii04Dt5cFTMp_qGUzdyJWp4ktnWkbolBXHVRICJV59QL5Qg/s1600/20170815_162604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pAU70N65FxoGWj-iQ2mWNJx6VQAMUOdFNr9RZuGAZULel5jRCu044gHHZ8t8QEdtqA-uaVlpxQKaBAtA9TrqOheprlp4ii04Dt5cFTMp_qGUzdyJWp4ktnWkbolBXHVRICJV59QL5Qg/s640/20170815_162604.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This week's box had:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Garlic, Onions, Potatoes, Parsley, Chard, Heirloom Tomatoes, Scallions, Shallots, Slicing Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Peppers, and a large Watermelon.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If I ignore the newly acknowledged bee keeper, the mismanagement of the Pick Your Own program and the inequality of the produce being given to on-farm pickup and boxed share people, then I will say I am really starting to feel like this CSA was a good idea.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the beginning, all the greens were overwhelming. But I understood, what's in season is in season. We got through those greens, between salads and smoothies, and stir-fries. It's just been extra nice to start getting the "good" stuff, the tomatoes, melons and squash. I've even loved the onions, shallots, garlic and potatoes. While inexpensive to buy, usually what you find in the store is old produce. The fresh stuff is a whole different world.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That watermelon was so sweet. You know how to pick a good melon? There should be a yellow patch on the bottom from where it naturally ripened in the sun, and it should feel heavy for its size.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I realized this box along with my large assortment of overgrown cucumbers, I have the makings for gazpacho! I had it last night after the gym and today for dinner. Mmm gazpacho...</div>
Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16097861031161779598noreply@blogger.com1