Navigating the Omega

First let me say that I am no doctor. I ended up researching this info in search of a good Omega 3. I thought it was important enough to pass along.

Omega 3. What a lovely Omega. Unlike Omega 6 which is found abundantly in virtually everything we eat, Omega 3's are mostly found in flaxseed and walnuts (and fish, but that's not an option in this blog). Now, the Omega's from flaxseed and walnuts is called an ALA. It's essential, but not as much as Omega 3's DHA and EPA (the latter being the most important).

If you pick up any conventional Omega 3 with DHA, you will see that it has fish oil and a high amount of DHA and EPA. As a vegan, these are not an option. When it comes to vegan options, most Omega 3's are usually just that, plain old Omega 3 (ALA). Some have DHA, but in small amounts, and if it has EPA the amounts are tiny. I was only able to find 2 Omega 3 products that have DHA and EPA. V-Pure and Pure One.

I wanted to pass along this info because if all you are buying is Omega 3, then you are not getting the the essential fatty acids your body needs. In short, Omega 6 is a pro-inflammatory and Omega 3 w/ EFA is an anti-inflammatory. If you have both, your body will be in balance.

Inflammation is good when there is a wound that needs healing, but inflammation could also cause complications to the heart, diabetes, cancer, hormones, and those asthma.

So you see, just eating some walnuts or flaxseeds isn't enough. Get those Omega's with DHA and EPA in them!

Healthy Habits Inc.

Every morning I'm faced with the same decision, do I hit the road and go for my walk/jog or hit the snooze? Then after that I'm thinking of all the healthy things I want to do and ask myself "do I have enough time".

I've been wanting to incorporate more yoga and meditation, drink more water, read, journal and eat more consciously. I know that if I do these things, me and my life will be much healthier. But trying to do it all everyday is exhausting and stressful.

As usual, as I sat on the loo, the answer came to me, I need to incorporate healthy habit one at a time vs. all at once.

As for now, my journaling will be as needed, and my reading will be at least 4 days a week.

I want to start Eating Consciously. Eating Consciously means more greens, less carbs, no unnecessary snacking increasing water everyday.

After a week of Conscious Eating, I will incorporate Yoga 5 times a week.

After 2 weeks of yoga, I will incorporate Cardio 5 days a week, either by bike, DVD or a walk/run.

After 2 weeks of Cardio, Meditation will be daily in the a.m. for a minimum of 10 minutes.

We'll see how this little experiment goes, and of course I'll keep you posted. In about 2 months, if all goes well, I should have this routine in my life as second nature. My goal is for it to be as natural in a part of my life as brushing my teeth or taking a shower. This is my medicine, and I know that having these things in my life will only make be a more balanced person.

Wanda Wisdom and other Podcasts

I have been perusing the landscape of Podcasts lately for new (to me) ones and came across a few that I think are worth passing around. In my opinion, most are well done, entertaining, and informative. The links on my main page have 3 podcasts that are my regulars (Vegan Freak Radio, Alternative Vegan, and The Angry Hippie). Here are a few new additions to my Podcast family.

Lucky Bitch Radio with Wanda Wisdom: She is direct, sincere, funny, driven, and a joy to hear. I love the Random Mini-Disco Dance Party (cos really, how often does one fail to stop and take a dance break?) and listening to her personal growth stories that I can SO relate to or just plain need to hear.

Kinsey Confidential: Not as entertaining, but informative. The podcasts are in a short Q&A format of inquiring sexual minds (sex and sexual health). Take a listen and you may learn a thing or two.

Man and Wife: It's a VideoCast and funny as hell. This couple keeps it real and share so much with their listeners. They talk about love, sex, relationships and life in general. I've always loved getting advice from others who have walked a well worn path before me, and this couple just happens to be one of them.

Beyond Diet Podcast: It can be "rambly" at times, but for the most part, the hosts provide good information on a variety of health topics such as weight-loss, cancer, and hormones. I like that they talk about more real foods and acknowledge big industry's control over the media.

The Vegan News: Fairly new (only 8 episodes in), this is a VideoCast that wraps up the latest in vegan news. Their episodes are short and I like their Anti-PETA approach, but in my opinion, can be kinda corny at times (depending on my mood). Worth checking out though.

Vegan A Go-Go: This VideoCast is high production vegan cooking. Plenty of easy recipes and short episodes.

Vegan Nutrition: Only 2 episodes in and both topics are on calcium. Did I mention the podcast is sponsored by Purely Decadent (the makers of dairy alternatives)? Hmmm.... This makes me think that I need to further research the info presented. Which isn't so bad really.

YOGAmazing - Yoga Lifestyle: I don't think you have to be a yoga-head to be able to watch this VideoCast. I'm trying to incorporate more yoga in my week and anything helps. This VideoCast is pretty good as it's not cheezy new age crap.

How Stuff Works: Very informative, entertaining, and funny with a wide range of topics from parasites and lucid dreaming and everything in between.

FitGirl: Lot's of episodes and lots of information on fitness. She covers mindset, motivation, and exercises.

A Freaky Weekend

This weekend my time was split between visiting my father for Father's Day and meeting with my Northern California Vegan Freaks.

I've been pondering a project to record my Dad as he is a great story teller and has a past that I find inspiring. I managed to record almost 2 hours of him and afterwards he showed me around the yard to see the growth of the grape vines and various herbs. My Dad also lives with 4 Chihuahua's, one of which seems to follow him around the most.

Visiting with other Vegans is always a good time. It's nice to feel a sense of community after living day to day in a world where everyone around you doesn't comprehend compassion. What I love is that we never have to go out and take over the town/city, we have a great time just being together and having a outright food-fest!

To view all the pics, go here.

Lemon-Poppy Sunburst Bread plus Summer Strawberries

My landlord grew three planters worth of strawberries and she invited me to pick a few. Oh goodness, I was not prepared for the amazing sweetness of fresh picked strawberries.

I also decided to bake a loaf of Lemon-Poppy Sunburst Bread from a recipe I've had for years. If you have some extra tahini lying around, here's a great recipe to use it in. The recipe calls for Golden Raisins, but I only had regular raisins. If you don't like raisins, I think this recipe would be great with cranberries or even dried apricots.

Ingredient List

12 slices

• 2 Tbs. flaxseeds
• 1/3 cup sunflower oil
• 3 Tbs. tahini
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbs. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup plain soy milk
• Juice and peel of 1 lemon ( 1/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup chopped sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 2 Tbs. poppy seeds

Directions

1. In blender, grind flaxseeds to fine powder. Add 1/3 cup water and blend until frothy. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350ûF. Grease and flour 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
3. In large bowl, combine oil, tahini and sugar. Beat with electric mixer on medium until blended. Beat in reserved flax mixture. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add to wet mixture, beating at low speed until smooth. Beat in soy milk, lemon juice and peel. Fold in sunflower seeds and raisins until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
4. Sprinkle poppy seeds evenly over top. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then invert loaf onto rack and cool completely before slicing.

Nutritional Information

Per slice: Calories: 278, Protein: 5g, Total fat: 13g, Saturated fat: 1g, Carbs: 38g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 98mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: g

A trip to the beach

After a week with the flu, I was having a major case of cabin fever! My poor BabyGrrrl was confused the whole time because when I'm home, we usually go on our walks. As I lay on the couch (sniffling, congested, and coughing) she would look up at me, tail wagging, with curious perked up ears. "Sorry Baby, no walks today".

So at the first opportunity of feeling well, I decided to take little miss out for a long walk along the beach (Natural Bridges).

It was overcast but I didn't care. Apparently, neither did many other people, because the ocean was full of surfers. We walked along the coastline cliffs and I decided to stop for a bit so we could sit and watch the surfers.

I don't know how to swim, I'm afraid of being underwater, but I love the ocean. I envy those people who can jump in and be surrounded by the sea. As I watched the surfers heads bobbing up and down in the ocean, I noticed, that they were like that for a while. A long while.

Then slowly a wave would curl in. Then another, slightly larger one. Then what appeared to be one worth paddling towards.

Although a few would try to clammer onto their boards, one would actually be able to get up and ride.

"How beautiful" I thought, "to be able to practice patience like that."

Earthlings Trailer

The film "Earthlings" truly ties everything together to explain why I am Vegan.

If you haven't seen the trailer for it, here it is.

To see the whole film, go here.

Revisiting Leo

It's no secret that I'm a romantic at heart. For years I tried to deny it, but it's authentically who I am. 

Growing up as a PBS kid, I was exposed to shows that explored science, nature, storytelling, etc. 

Every once in a while I would catch a great presentation, and Leo Buscaglia happened to be one of them.

Recently I decided to look him up on YouTube and in hearing him again, I was surprised to realize that so much of what he said is what I believe to be true today. 

As a kid, hearing Leo speak was much needed. I didn't realize it then, but I now see that he provided a piece of hope for me to hold onto.

He passed away in 1998, and I so wish I could have talked with him. I miss his presence in the world.

Classic Leo. I absolutely love this poem as it sums up how I feel and try to remember.

Two months late

Every year for my birthday I either do something I've never done before or go somewhere I've never been. I decided to do this in 2002 in the spirit of my mom. She passed away 12 years ago, we shared the same birthday, she loved to travel, but limited herself to places where she only knew people. In her memory (and with her in spirit) I decided to spend our birthdays this way.

This year I visited the SonoMa Ashram in Sonoma, CA. I wasn't sure what to expect or even look for, but after researching so many ashrams, this one seemed to be the most down to earth. The only thing I only knew was that I needed a place to run away to. A place where I could disappear from everything and collect myself again. At the time felt like I was falling to pieces and not only loosing myself, but loosing connection with everyone around me. Basically I felt alone and lost.

I was going for 2 days and 1 night, so I packed a simple bag of clothing and snacks, printed up my map, and hit the 101 North before the sunrise.

When I got there, I arrived in time for the sunrise meditation. I had no idea of what to do so as usual, I just observed and did what I felt comfortable doing. The building was circular and the bare inside with one main entrance. I grabbed a cushion and found a place to sit. Since I knew none of the chants, I simply listened, then began meditating in the way I knew how, by focusing on my breath and letting go of thought. It was a challenge at first, and it had been years since I really tried to meditate, but I eventually fell right back into it. We closed the meditation through chants and offering and then I stayed for the Sunday Satsang. Afterwards, I joined the others for conversation in the main building and a quick meditation lesson from a long time member of the ashram.

I won't go into all the details of my time there, but I will say that I truly enjoyed my visit. For starters, I loved that they accommodated my vegan lifestyle, not just for me, but for everyone (everyone eats the same food). I also loved the sense of community and respect. Meals are eaten together in silence and prepared using their garden vegetables. Visitors are encouraged to help out there, but are in no way expected to. I helped in the kitchen for several of the meals as they were so kind as to plan for vegan meals. I also liked that religion is not mentioned or emphasized.

The Ashram itself is simple, and no one invades your space. You set up your own bed, clean your own room, and launder your own sheets. You can also go to any of the yoga classes, but I didn't get a chance to.

A tiny bridge leading to the main building

Freshly weeded garden, ready for new veggies

I loved this fence

A stone labrynth

Common sense

Good advice

Yoga flow

In the end I am so glad I went. I needed this more than anything and felt ready to reconnect with myself. I was a mess. I plan on returning for a longer stay. I loved the meditation and would like to attend the yoga classes. To help pay for your lodging (which includes meals) you can offer your services to do chores, or share your talents (teach, etc.). Maybe I'll offer a class on veganism along with helping in the kitchen and garden.

On the way home, I took in the scenery of the Sonoma area. What a beautiful landscape! Rolling hills and vineyards and lush greener made me wish I packed my Nikon. I picked up fruit at a local stand, briefly visited San Francisco, and came home, ready to re-start my new year.

The fruit stand on my way home

SonoMa Ashram website

Memories - of the smelly kind

I was out with at the Farmers Market last week with a friend. I was looking for some greens, some rich lush veggies, to prepare and enjoy. Instead, I found some unexpected memories. It's amazing how the sense of smell can trigger the strongest most vivid memories. Not just images, but memories filled with emotions.

The first scent came from a box of guavas. My friend bought a few and as he was selecting them, I inhaled the smell of a ripe guava. Immediately I was transported back to Mexico. I was 10 again with my family standing in the Mercado in Juarez. I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted to bottle the smell so that I would never be without it.

yummy guavas

The second scent was bittersweet. As most farmers markets have, there were buckets of flowers for sale. I decided to take a look at a few and saw a box of Hyacinths. I wondered if they smelled like the ones that grew in the yard of my old house in Washington. I leaned over, and again, was transported to another time. This time it was long summer days filled with the smell of fresh cut grass and mixed emotions. There were Grape Hyacinths growing in the backyard that my (then) boyfriend planted. He had an amazing skill for landscaping and the yard never looked better. Smellling those Hyacinths at the Farmers Market almost made me cry. I could feel the thick cool grass below my feet, the smell of the soil, and the strong emotions I had at that time almost 13 years ago.

Hyacinth - full of memories

New Beginning (sort of)

Santa Cruz, CA

Well I finally made the move from Salinas to Santa Cruz. I traded in a 700+ sq ft apt w/a washer & dryer for a 400 sq ft granny unit with no washer or dryer, but a small yard, 40 minutes further from where I work.

Crazy? Not really. Not when you consider that I feel much more at home in Santa Cruz than in most other places (for now anyhow).

First of all, it's vegan and GLBTQ friendly. The Del Mar theater serves vegan brownies and uses margarine for it's popcorn, there is a local co-op 3 blocks away from me that serves tofu scramble in the a.m., a pizza place close by that uses vegan cheese, shops that have vegan beauty and household products galore. The Saturn Cafe serves up the best vegan nachos & shakes I've ever had. Lot's of cafes, thrift stores, and plenty of wide bike lanes. The weather is great most of the time, and there is art and culture everywhere.

I feel like I can create here and be inspired here.

BabyGrrrl isn't acclimating too well yet. She has a small yard now, but HATES it when I go to work. She already started to bully the two (big) dogs that live on the property, but I know she's afraid of them.

Moving Day (I almost forgot to leave enough room for BabyGrrrl)

The move itself was tedious. A lot of purging was involved and it STILL wasn't enough. It turned out to be a metaphorical lesson in "wants and needs" and my new place houses only the essentials. Now if I could only get rid of the crap in my storage...

Bloggiversary

This Blog is a year old and I have to look back and see what progress has been made and what needs to continue. Originally, this blog was created to focus on being vegan, chunky, single, and living with two dogs. Well, I'm still vegan, still single, still chunky, and only live with one dog.

Los Dogs

BabyGrrrl did not welcome Minnie at all. For a year BabyG kept bullying Minnie and after a particularly nasty fight (which left a bite mark near Minnie's eye) I decided to call her old dad back to see if Minnie could live with him. You see, Minnie's dad was supposed to be stationed in Florida, but plans changed and he stayed in California. He was able to get his other dog Marley back and the timing couldn't be better. he was ecstatic to have Minnie back and we met to get bring Minnie back home to his dad and old doggie friend. It was a sad and tough task and I miss her still. But I know that she is much happier living in place where she has a friend who will play with her instead of bullying her.

On Being Single

Being single has had it's ups and down. I've had a blast taking advantage of my singledom by traveling and exploring interests freely as well as dating and meeting new people. But by the end of the year I began to feel more loneliness than ever. This year I have decided to back off from dating and to just relax into what the future may bring. I'll be moving soon, which will bring new opportunities to meet new people, build new friendships, and have more time to invest in those things that are important to me.

I learned that I need to re-connect with me and break free from those people and thoughts which cause me pain. I need to be as giving to myself as I am to others. What I didn't expect was that this shift just may mean a new career path or location.

The Fluff

Oh my eternal battle. On a good note I learned that I am able to loose weight again after years of stagnation. I also learned to ride a bike last year which added to my arsenal. My motivation though, is half-hearted, mostly out of boredom and that fact that I hate having to do anything.

I am looking forward to eating less processed foods, cooking more, and riding my bike more. Cardio is a MUST and strength training is a supplement.

So a new year is here and this blog remains one of a vegan and single Chicana. Let's see what this year brings...

Dating

Since this blog is also about being single, I suppose I should write about it.

For me, being single goes through cycles of loving it and abhorring it. 

When I love it, it's mainly the love of freedom. The freedom to do as I please, when I please. Spontaneous action and knowing that I can enjoy what I like without having to consult anyone. I can explore all my interests fully.

When I hate it, oh it's bad. I am passionate and tactile so it's very awkward when I have no human touch. I miss the feeling of my heart racing or the passion of taking in a persons presence. 

I used to think that it was a "needy" thing to want to be in a relationship, but I now believe that it's simply human nature to want to be partnered. Although I am not an extrovert, I still feel that it is only natural to want human contact.

Dating. Oh dating.  Now this is a concept that, try as I may, is just so foreign to me. 

I grew up hearing my Dad's stories of his love for my Mom. They met at a young age and married at 15  years old. They stayed married until she passed away 11 years ago at the age of 65. Despite his tough exterior, he is also a very passionate man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid of love. Hearing him shaped my concept of relationships. I remember him telling me that finding love should not be like picking out a watermelon. You don't test several options to find the best one. Instead, you know who you want to be with because you can't stop thinking of them and when you see them, your day is perfect and your heart is full.

So go figure. 

This makes dating so difficult since I am a one person gal. Once I've fallen for someone, it's pretty much a done deal. So the concept of dating several people at the same time in order to get to know them and eventually see if anything thing grows from that is very very awkward for me.

A Mexican Family's Vegan Thanksgiving

"¿Que? Ummm....Well...." My dad was pensive as he tried to wrap his brain around the concept of having no turkey for this year's Thanksgiving. "I'll ask your brother and sister and let you know." I really had no desire to be around a dead body this year, but I also had no expectations when I suggested that we have an all vegan Thanksgiving. To my surprise, my family was open to the idea and so this year, my family will have their first vegan Thanksgiving.

Thanks to my friends on the Vegan Freak Forums and VegWeb for these amazing recipes and to my sisters for cooking up a great feast!

The Recap

I am happy to say that everything went REALLy good! My two sisters helped prep and cook the food and my dad helped make the spanish rice.

There was not a complaint to be heard and everyone chowed down and complimented the feast.

In the prep, my grand-nephew came along and asked if he could help. He's 3 and so I showed him how to peel garlic. I only needed a few, but he wanted to keep going. Who am I to stop him?

"unwrapping" (as he says) garlic

"show me what your doing?"

Then his older brother (7) came along. He likes to cook and so I asked the 3 year old to show his older brother what to do. In the end, they ended up peeling 2 1/2 heads of garlic.

Child slave labor.

Then it was my Dad's turn to make Spanish Rice.

He's a genius in the kitchen and his skills transfer well into the veganized versions of our family dishes (I'm so jealous).

Pre-Feasting Event

After the "unwrapping", my grand-nephews played softball with a plush in the living room...

Roughhoused a bit...

then went into time out by grandma. =(

Here was our Thanksgiving dinner menu:

Glazed Tofurkey

Whole cloves

1/4 c. agave nectar
1 tbsp. orange juice
1/2 tsp. Dijon style mustard
Insert cloves all over Tofurkey roast. Mix the remaining ingredients, then glaze the Tofurky, close it up in the foil, let it cook up until 30 minutes before it's supposed to be done. Open oven, foil, glaze again. 15 minutes later, open, glaze again. Done!

Mashed Potatoes

12-14 garlic cloves (to taste), unpeeled

4 lbs. potatoes (preferably yukon golds), peeled, and cut into cubes
2/3 cup soy milk, rice milk, or other non-dairy milk of choice
salt and white pepper, to taste
2 T. freshly snipped chives
paprika, for garnish

Place the unpeeled garlic cloves in a pie pan and bake at 450 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cloves are soft. Remove the pie pan from the oven and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, in a large pot, place the cubed potatoes, cover them with water, and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain the potatoes, saving the cooking liquid for use in the mashed potatoes, and the remaining cooking liquid can be used in soups or sauces. Transfer the drained potatoes to a mixer (or return to the large pot if using a hand mixer or potato masher) and set aside for 5 minutes to dry. Using your fingers, squeeze the cloves of garlic from their skins, and place them in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash the cloves of garlic to form a paste. Add the mashed garlic, soy milk, sprinkle with a little salt and white pepper, and whip the potatoes until smooth. Add a little of the reserved potato cooking liquid, if needed, to achieve a creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, as needed. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a large bowl, sprinkle with the snipped chives and a little paprika before serving.

Crock Pot Stuffing

My sister added olives and tomato sauce. A good idea!

2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 (12 ounce) pkg sliced mushrooms
12 cups bread crumbs
Salt to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups veggie broth

Sauté onion, celery, mushroom, and parsley in a little veggie broth. Pour sautéed veggies over bread crumbs in a very large mixing bowl. Add all seasonings and toss together. Pour in enough broth to moisten. (I added extra broth halfway through for a moister stuffing). Pack stuffing lightly into crock pot, and cover. Set on High for 45 minutes; reduce to Low and cook for 3 - 4 hours.

Green Bean Casserole

(tasted better than it looks)

Green Beans

2 quarts water

1 tablespoon table salt
1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces

Bring the water to boil in a large pot. While it's heating, cut up the beans. Add the salt and beans to the boiling water. Cover and cook for 6 minutes. Drain beans in a colander, and then spray for a minute with cold water to stop the cooking. Let them drain in the colander, shaking every now and then to get off all the water.
Sauce
10 ounces mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
generous pinch cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Fresh pepper to taste
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon dry sherry
3/4 cup soy creamer

Trim and discard the mushroom stems and chop the mushrooms into pieces. Spray a non-stick pan with canola oil and heat it. Add the mushrooms, garlic, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Cook until mushrooms are very soft and exude their juices. Whisk the flour into the vegetable broth and add to the mushrooms along with the sherry. Simmer, stirring, until mixture thickens. Add the soy creamer and simmer until thick, about 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasonings and stir in the beans.
Topping
1 1/2 slices whole grain bread
1 tablespoon Earth Balance margarine (the best tasting margarine in the world and no trans-fat)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/16 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 3-ounce can of French fried onions

Put the bread, margarine, salt, and pepper into a food processor and pulse until crumbly. Pour into a bowl and add the onions. Stir to combine.
To assemble:
Put the green beans into an oiled casserole dish and top with the onion mixture. Bake at 425 F for about 15 minutes. If you are not serving this right away, refrigerate the topping separately; bring to room temperature before sprinkling the topping on the casserole and baking for about 20 minutes or until hot throughout.

Baked Apples and Yams

6 to 8 yams
5 to 6 pippen or golden delicious apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup margarine
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt

Boil yams until barely tender (whole or cut width wise, in big pieces). Peel. Cool. Slice and alternate yams and peeled apple rings in margarined casserole dish. Boil together: 1/2 c. vegan sugar, 1 c. water, 1/4 c. margarine, 1 1/2 T cornstarch and 1/2 t salt, until it begins to thicken. Pour over yams and apples and bake covered at 350 for 1 hr.

Baked Corn

15 oz can whole kernel corn


14 oz can cream style corn

8 oz sour vegan cream (Tofutti or Follow Your Heart)


1/2 cup melted margarine


egg substitute to equal 2 eggs (Ener-G egg replacer)

8 oz. ounces corn muffin mix (El Torito Sweet Corn Cake Mix is vegan)

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all ingredients. Mix well and pour into one 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

1/2 cup of sugar
1 15 oz. can of pumpkin
1 cup of soy milk (plain)
1/2 block silken tofu
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 container of vegan cream cheese
1 tablespoon (or more) of maple syrup
Keebler Graham Cracker Crust

Blend all ingredients (excluding crust, of course) in blender until creamy texture. Pour mixture into crust and place in the oven at about 400 degrees for 45 min - 1 hr 30 min (check in between time to make sure pie is becoming firm) Place in fridge overnight.

Cranberry Sauce

1 1/2 - 2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar (or other granulated sweetener)

Bring the orange juice to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Meanwhile, rinse the cranberries. Once the juice is simmering, stir in the sugar. Once sugar is dissolved, add cranberries. Simmer, covered, until all of the cranberries have burst and mixture becomes thick and syrupy (about 30 minutes). Taste-test to see if you'd like to add any more sweetener. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool for at least 15 minutes. It will thicken more as it cools.

The following are our family recipes that were veganized this year;

Spanish Rice

Using vegetable broth in place of chicken seasoning.

(pictured with Cranberry Sauce, gravy and rolls)

Pancit

Using smoke seitan instead of pork

Fruit Salad: Using Vegenaise, Tofutti Sour Cream, & Silk Soy Creamer instead of Mayo, Sour Cream and Heavy Cream.

Store bought items;

Tofurkey Roast

Good Karma Very Vanilla Rice Cream

Soyatoo! Soy Whip

Sara Lee Apple Pie (yes, the frozen one is vegan)

Tofurkey Mushroom Gravy

Francisco International Sourdough Rolls

The Gran Finale

Dad's plate gets served first

Loading up!

My nephew (not the dad of the grandnephews). I'm still not use to him being 21!

Getting ready to chow down

On the trail

It was another gorgeous day, so I decided to go to Monterey for a bike ride. I'm still amazed that I can actually ride a bike! I was on a new trail and thought "My gawd I'm one of those bike riding people!"

This is the new trail I rode on. see that patch of land on the other side? Yeah, by the end of my ride I'll be on that side.

Along the trail, I spotted some some sea lions sunning themselves. Can you say big smile?

The trail cuts through the warf. 

I always thought that the holiday season in a sunny location was strange.

Bonjour geese!

I love the smell of eucalyptus. At least I think those are eucalyptus trees.

The coolest auto shop. There are always some hot cars out front.

Fearless

At times I find myself looking back at my past relationships, most of which were painful. I know now that I have a pattern of choosing partners who are emotionally unavailable. A self-fulfilling prophecy if you will, because at my core, I believe that I do not deserve what I want. I'm also learning that I have no idea how to express what I want. It's a strange concept for me.

But not all of my past relationships were so painful and at one point in my life, I felt that I deserved what I wanted. Why did this go away?

I have twice felt a love returned. It's a beautiful experience regardless of the fact that those relationships ended. It echoes true the lyric "The greatest thing you ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return". 

The first was a juvenile love. A love where you're thoughts are consumed by the other, and you have no doubt that the other feels the same about you. You spend countless hours in each others presence and somehow it's not enough. It lasted  years, but the bliss lasted for about a year. It was my first heartbreak.

The second one was a little over 10 years later. I was in emotional pain from a terrible relationship that had ended. I was in no condition to start a new relationship, but somehow I managed to go out on a date. To my surprise we clicked incredibly and in a way I hadn't experienced before. Problem was, I was moving away, but as the months passed, we kept in touch. Then one day I realized that I wanted to take a chance at having a relationship that was giving, loving, healthy, and fearless.

This generous person was willing to be just as fearless as me and this is what made the relationship fabulous and unlike any other I had before. We put our emotions on the line, and checked our baggage at the door. Unknowing where the future wold take us, we took a chance at falling in love. I remember telling myself, "Why not try something different. Why not try a relationship that is giving?"

It was a great experience. Many months passed and the relationship seemed to stay solid. Who knows why things ended, but they did. Maybe it was too much of a good thing. Maybe it was boredom. Maybe it was self-sabotage. Whatever the case, it ended mutually and without malice. 

I don't regret the ending of either of these relationships. Mostly because I learned what love feels like both given and received. But mainly because I now know that the difference between a healthy love and unhealthy love is simple. 

Both of you must be fearless to fall in love. 

Dia de los Muertos

This past Saturday and Sunday I attended two events for El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). At Saturday's event there were a series of altars, a wall of remembrance, and Aztec (Mixtec) Danzantes were there to bless the altars and perform. Sunday's event was at two locations. The college art gallery and the Steinbeck Center. Both locations had art exhibits and a procession came from the college to the Steinbeck Center. Once there a group of Aztec Danzantes performed.

Each event brought to mind all the people whom I've lost in my life. My brother, grandfather, uncle, mom, aunts, friends. I thought about my own mortality and wondered what people will remember about me when I pass on. What will my story be? What will I do with the life I have now?

Traditionally on El Dia de los Muertos, colorful altars are made with photos of the deceased along with small items of what they liked. Candles, water, and flowers decorate the altar as well. In Mexico, their grave sites are cleaned and decorated while the family stays late into the night eating and singing their favorite songs.

At times I feel like this celebration brings sadness in remembering my mom but it always ends with celebrating her life and reminding me of the life I still have, and the things I have yet to do. I am reminded that my time here is short and am inspired to life with purpose (even if it self-indulgent).

A few years back I was practicing Aztec Danza when I ran into a ethical dilemma. Typical regalia for ceremonies are adorned with feathers, and as a Vegan, I was in no way comfortable in wearing them. I searched for imitation feathers, but found none. This is when I decided to stop until I could find some way to reach a solution. It was a bit hard because I loved the ceremonies. I missed the unity, the early mornings, the smell of copal, and thundering of the drums and the sounds of our rattles and steps. There is a strength in each dance, a purpose in each move and an energy steeped in survival. Life from death.

I am considering returning to Danza, if only to attend practices. I am certain that I will find an alternative to feathers (even if I have to make them), and hopefully I can return to ceremonies in a Vegan regalia. I could always perform at ceremonies without regalia. I have done it before, but I grew uncomfortable in being around so many feathers, conch shells, leather wraps and such. But it was brought to my attention that it is no more than the daily surroundings I already have in my life.

So I am inspired again to paint, to dance, to create, to continue in uncertainty, even if it is a day at a time.

FINALLY!

After months and months of trying to figure out WHY I was gaining weight despite my workout and healthy eating, I finally broke it down to the final factor.

PCOS?

no.

Veganism?

Hells no.

Unresolved Issues?

Nope.

It turn out it was the medication I had been on. I have been off that medication for at least 4 months now and since I have been going back to the gym more consistently, I'm noticing that my weight is actually going down. Wow, I haven't had that happen in over 4 years!

It feels so good to be active again and actually see results! If I continue this path I'll be back to my old self by next summer.

In retrospect...

You may as well tell me that grass is really pink and that the sun is really green. I can't believe that all this time, what I thought was "normal" was really just sad and pathetic.

For a while I've known that (despite my better judgement) I tend to have relationships with people who are emotionally unavailable. I wasn't sure why this kept happening since this is not what I want. 

I asked a few people what they considered "normal" contact in a relatio

nship. How often do you call each other? How often do you see each other? Everyone I asked said almost daily. Three days of no contact was unacceptable and a sign of problems. 

WHAT?!?

Here I was thinking that daily was too much and that calling maybe 2 times a week was normal. I was floored. 

It was clear to me that I had become accustomed to neglect.

Naturally I looked back. I reflected on my choices and environment. I thought of my friends, sisters, brothers, and parents. What jumped out at me was unexpected. I realized that growing up I was taught that weakness is unacceptable. 

Our family speaks so negatively of people (women) who are whiny, clingy, & needy. They are seen as weak. 

So I naturally wanted to be the exact opposite of that. 

Which is quiet, strong, self-sufficient. Independent to a fault. To the point where I push away everyone and attract only those who cannot (will not) give. 

I am independent by nature. But I don't want to be dependent. I know no middle ground to that. What does that look like in regards to relationships???

Nothing like being sick...

There's nothing like being sick to let you know how alone you are.

As some may know, I have PCOS and it really screws with my periods. I haven't had one for 2-3 months and this month hit me like ton of bricks. For the last four days I have been cramping and it sucks. My pain pills don't help much, and when I move around I feel it more. It's been frustrating, cause I feel like my life in on hold until this is over and I have no idea when that will be.

So I have been working half days and have been lying on the couch with heating pads and tea. It's slightly depressing because it reminds me of how alone I am. I revert to childhood and wish I had my mom here to bring me tea and re-heat the hot water bottle, rub my head and just talk to me.

I miss having someone here right now asking me how I feel and if I need anything (even though I don't think I ever had a partner who did as much).