my favorite mayo alternative recipes

can't get your hands on vegenaise?

fear not!

there are yummy (and easy!)
 alternatives for mayo lovers.

these are my two TOFU-FREE favorites!

RECIPE # 1

• organic haas avocado (a fairly big one)
• juice of half of a lemon
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• pinch cayenne pepper (or more)
• 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil (the good stuff)

* cut avocado in half. scoop out the flesh and throw it into your food processor.
* add lemon juice, salt, and pepper and blendddddd!
*  with the motor whirring, drizzle olive oil slowly to the other ingredients. 
* stop, scrape, puree, repeat... you want a lovely smooth, creamy texture.
* eat on stuff!



RECIPE # 2

• organic haas avocado
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp dijon mustard (not the kind with the giant mustard seeds!)
• fine sea salt to taste
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

* cut avocado in half. scoop out the flesh and throw it into your food processor.

* add lemon juice, dijon, and sea salt to the food processor and puree.

* scrape as needed.

* puree until you have your desired texture.

* eattttttttttttttttt! (and eat some more)

you CAN raise a vegetarian child!

Kai Maximilian
Healthy and Happy!

I am raising my child vegetarian due to my own beliefs and experiences.
His father is a carnivore, but acknowledges the health benefits of vegetarianism.

We both agreed that this was the healthiest way to raise our son!

Kai receives well-balanced meals and L-O-V-E-S his veggies!

He is also very open to trying to things and experiencing new flavors!

It seems as if the common misconception is that
all vegetarian parents feed their kids nothing but grass and hay.

Vegetarian kids aren't horses!

Protein seems to be the biggest argument for not going vegetarian.

Protein is actually rarely an issue in vegetarian diets.  

Vegetarian parents tend to worry and overcompensate
and feed their children foods that may be TOO high in calories and fat.

Other sources of worry I constantly hear about are Iron and Calcium--
BOTH of these can be had from meatless sources-- it takes a little research!

By providing well-balanced meals and snacks, you can make sure that

your child has all the vitamins and minerals they need

to be a happy, healthy, and amazing child!



Some great foods high in nutrients for vegetarian children are:

PROTEIN	IRON	CALCIUM
Tofu	Tofu	Kale
Tempeh	Spinach & Kale	Fortified Soy Milk
Seitan	Black Beans	Fortified Nut Milk
Chickpeas	Figs	Hemp Milk
Mushrooms	Raisins	Tempeh
Nut Milk	Fortified Cereal	Tahini & Hummus
Soy Milk	Chickpeas	Fortified Juice
Nut & Seed Butter	Broccoli	Great Northern Beans
Beans & Lentils	Bok Choy	Almond Butter
Hemp	Lentils	Bok Choy
Avocados	Pumpkin Seeds	Tofu
Yogurt	Quinoa	Wakame
Eggs	Blackstrap Molasses	Tempeh
Whole Grains	Swiss Chard	Yogurt

fibromyalgia and plant-based diets

this is a pretty interesting video! as you may or may not know,  i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia after almost a decade of misdiagnoses. a plant-based diet can cause significant improvements in fibromyalgia pain management. check it out!

WOW! dye your easter eggs naturally?!

my sister, kim, sent me this amazing article 

about using natural ingredients to dye your easter eggs!

it is pretty darn exciting, 

and i cannot wait for the veggie baby to try it out!

you gotta see this!!!

check it out

>>>HERE<<<

Nutritional Yeast

i found a pretty great article explaining the origin and uses for nutritional yeast!

it is by far one of my favorite cooking ingredients.

i plan on posting my family's favorite breakfast recipe, 

which uses nutritional yeast as a tofu coating.

check out the article 

>>>HERE<<<

tips for seitan with and without gluten!

you may have attempted to make your own mock meat from scratch,
and you may have succeeded... 
or you may have failed.

what did you do? 
you bought a box of vital wheat gluten and followed the directions EXACTLY...
but somehow, it has NO FLAVOR.

none.

don't hang up your hat!  there are a few tips and tricks for better seitan!

1. IT ISN'T ELASTIC-Y! IT IS SO MUSHY!
solution #1: buy VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN.  if you buy plain flour, it is extremely time consuming, and you may not get the texture you want.
solution #2: add less water next time-- or other liquid ingredients.
solution #3: add less secondary dry ingredients.


2. I COOKED IT IN BROTH, BUT IT HAS A FUNNY TASTE!
solution #1: i normally never say this, but add more salt.
solution #2: if you are using store-bought broth, CHECK THE INGREDIENTS.  sometimes veggie broth contains lemon or lime and i have noticed this gives seitan a funny flavor. if you want a citrus taste, wait til the seitan is done-- then add it to your sauce or whatever.
solution #3: don't boil / simmer your seitan in plain water!
solution #4: add miso to your broth.
solution #5: other yummy broth add-ins are ketchup, vegan worcestershire, vegan bouillon, kombu, brown sugar, liquid smoke, braggs or soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and more! make your own combo! what spices do you like? broth it up!


3. WTF DID I BOIL A LEATHER JACKET?!
solution #1: if your seitan is too rubbery, you may have over-kneaded. the longer you knead, the tougher it gets. you want a springy, elastic texture.
solution #2: add more water next time.


4. I FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY.  IT TASTES LIKE CRAP!
solution #1: i will repeat-- don't boil / simmer your seitan in plain water.  screw the directions.
solution #2: add some spices to your vital wheat gluten before you mix it-- thyme, garlic powder, ginger, smoked paprika, sage, black pepper, onion powder, chipotle powder,  cumin, fennel, and nutritional yeast are all delicious options to add to your vital wheat gluten. find your own combo and run with it!
solution #3: lessen the amount of water you are using to mix your dough, and add some liquid seasonings instead-- braggs or soy sauce, liquid smoke, tahini, sesame oil (a small amount), ketchup, and broth are such options.  

(p.s. i have not yet tried ketchup, but i know some people swear by it)


5. I SEASONED IT, BUT NOW IT IS A YUMMY, BLOBBY, BRAINY MESS!
solution #1: try simmering your seitan or cooking it in a crock pot instead of the boil method.  i personally love the crock pot.
solution #2: cut or tear the seitan into the size / shape you want BEFORE you add it to the broth.
solution #3: cut up the blob into the size / shape you want AFTER it is done.
solution #4: aluminum foil method A-- roll your dough in aluminum foil, twist the ends to seal them,  and steam in a pot!
solution #5: aluminum foil method B-- roll your dough in aluminum foil, twist the ends to seal them, bake for 45 minutes. turn it over, bake for another 30-45 minutes.
solution #6: put your seitan dough in cheesecloth before you add it to the pot of broth.


6. IT IS OKAY, BUT I WANT IT LAYERED, LIKE MOCK CHICKEN!
solution #1: layer and then put it in broth-- stretch it out, roll it over itself.  stretch the sides, roll over the other rolled part. stretch, roll.
solution #2: layer... and bake-- preheat your oven to 375 and place your layered and CUT (large cutlets won't have the same effect) seitan on an oiled cookie sheet.  brush them with olive oil or other oil that you use. bake for 8-10 minutes. turn them over then bake for another 2-3 minutes.
solution #3: fried chicken method-- layer, cut or tear, and deep fry! drain off the oil on your yummies with paper towels. (p.s. its so fattening haha!)


7. I CAN'T HAVE GLUTEN... DOES THIS MEAN I CAN'T MAKE MOCK MEAT?!
solution #1: you could always go back to tofu.
solution #2: try this recipe-- IT ROCKS!
solution #3: another good one!

PRAISE SEITAN!

what to do with leftover... CITRUS PEELS

1. juiced a lemon and now left with an empty shell? then clean! sprinkle some baking soda on a greasy nasty mess and rub it with the lemon half.  smells great and non-toxic! you can also add salt as an extra abrasive!  (just be careful on delicate surfaces!)

2. compost! contrary to popular belief, YOU CAN ADD CITRUS PEELS TO YOUR COMPOST! i don't know who started the myth that you couldn't, but many a gardening site says that doing so is JUST FINE. you just don't want an entire compost pile made up of mostly citrus.

3. does your garbage disposal smell like old feet and rot?  throw in a few citrus peels and turn it on!

4. i haven't tried this, but a friend of mine swears that if you take a dingy glass coffee pot and  throw in some salt, ice, and leftover lemon peels and mix it up for a bit, your coffee pot will look sparkling clean when you rinse it!  

5.  aromatics! simmer some lemon peels in water!  mmm lemony fresh! want a stronger smell? simmer orange peels and cinnamon sticks (and cloves if you got em!) in water, and your house will smell AMAZING. this will also clean out any old gunky stains you may have in your pot while you simmer!

6. dry for potpourri!  ugh... somehow, every time i try to type potpourri, i type poopourri... anyway!  

7. rub a juiced lemon shell on a cutting board to freshen it up! it also removes stains and sanitizes!

8. one cup of leftover citrus peels + 750ml of vodka in a jar = awesome. (you want it to sit in a cool, dark place for a week to make sure to really get the flavor in there!) for a sweeter recipe, try THIS.

9. cleaning spray! put leftover lime, lemon, or orange peels in a jar and cover them with three cups of white vinegar.  let this mixture sit for about two weeks in a dark place.  dilute the mixture when you are ready to use in a clean spray bottle. spray and clean! (you really only need about one cup of the peel mixture per spray bottle when you go to dilute it!)

10.  start a fire! from what i have been told, dried citrus peels make a great addition to kindling.

11. clean that funky cheese grater... take your left over juiced lemon and rub it on your grater.. all the gunked up stuff should come right off and it should rinse nicely.

12. zest and DRY (spread out on a clean paper towel and to let it dry out)!  you can freeze it for later use or add zest to pepper or salt for an amazing seasoning!

13. orange sugar scrub!  there is an amazing recipe HERE.  check it out.  your skin will love you.


14. make candied orange peels!  i don't have a favorite recipe for this, but THIS ONE is pretty nice.  you can also dip the finished "candy" in dark chocolate for an extra yummy kick!

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LEFTOVER PEELS?!

How To Go VEGAN (an article by the NYT)

wanting to go vegan? don't know how?!

the new york times has recently published an article on how to do so.

(thanks, cari, for showing it to me!!)

the article is mostly about ways to substitute your favorite foods with vegan options.

it covers everything from soy milk, non-dairy cheeses, omitting eggs, 

and trying out nutritional yeast.

nutritional yeast is one of my favoritest things on the planet.

if there ARE any of you thinking about making a switch to a vegan diet,

my first suggestion is usually NOT to replace everything all at once.
i would push you to try to eat more fruits and veggies and nuts first--

then try out the processed substitutes later.  

get your body used to eating different foods or you won't last a week.

for the die-hard meat-a-tarians (haha), get used to eating salads and 

learn how to prepare tofu in different ways. 

if you drop all meat and try to go directly to greenery 

without ever having really eaten any veggies before, 

you will CRAVEEEEE your meaty flesh and give up.

we don't want that!

add extra portions of vegetables as you decrease your meat and dairy intake.

slowly incorporate tofu and tempeh, 

and try out some exotics grains like couscous and quinoa.

silken tofu is just one type you can experiment with

your transition will be MUCH easier.  

there will be less cravings 

because you are eating food you already are used to 

and enjoy.

one more thing i would like to mention is that 

NOT ALL TOFU IS CREATED EQUAL.

try out different brands, textures, and recipes before you decide that you hate the bean curd.

i cannot tell you how many people tell me they hate tofu, 

but then try something i have made and like it.

i personally do not care too much for nasoya brand, 

but i will use it if that is all that is available.

it is really a matter of personal taste!

happy veganizing!

p.s.

feeling lost? 

ask a friend! heck, ask me!

i will be more than happy to talk to you about my own transition into veganism 

and the things i struggled with personally.  

send me an email!

what do you mean, it's not vegan?! : ruby red grapefruit juice

today's culprit...

MINUTE MAID
RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

whaaaaat? what the hell kinda animal product would be in juice?

INSECTS.

this one surprised me. i looove me some grapefruit.

according to the ingredients,

this product contains COCHINEAL EXTRACT.

the cochineal is an insect native to mexico and south america.  
the extract is a by-product made from the raw dried and pulverized bodies of these insects. 
look at all the tasty buggies on the cactus below...

this extract has been linked to diarrhea, anaphylaxis, asthma, 
hives, and hyperactivity in children!  yayyy! fun.

your best bet is to juice your own grapefruits
or make sure you read the labels carefully to avoid these critters
if their extract bugs you! (lol, pun...)

ALWAYS

read the labels!

what do you mean, it's not vegan?! : worcestershire sauce

today's culprit...

WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

whaaaaat? what the hell kinda animal product would be in this?

ANCHOVIES.

fishies? 

quite a few vegan i have spoken to did NOT know
that this was a typical non-vegan condiment.
and it is used in a LOT of recipes.

but there are SOME brands that are vegan!
annie's naturals, wizard's, some trader joe's varieties,
edward and son's, robbie's worcestershire,
biona, kroger brand, world harbors,
kikkoman delicious sauce,
wa jan shan...

or make your own!
check out a recipe for vegan worcestershire on
martha stewart! 

so there you have it folks... 

read the labels!

what do you mean, it's not vegan?! : some orange juice

today's culprit...

TROPICANA HEALTHY HEART
ORANGE JUICE

whaaaaat? what the hell kinda animal product would be in this?

FISH OIL AND FISH GELATIN.

yup... 

it even has a nice little side note stating

"contains tilapia, sardine, and anchovy."

since freaking when do fish grow on orange trees?

and this ingredient is not that uncommon...
so... 

read the labels!

what do you mean, it's not vegan?! : frosted mini-wheats

it is pretty exciting when you stumble across a food that 

was "vegan this whole time?!"  and you never even knew it! 

oreos? awhhh yeahhhhh... 

peanut chews? awesome! 

ghirardelli hot chocolate? whoaaa!

but what about the things you ASSUME are vegan and really aren't?

i am gonna start posting those various items that vegans get duped by
at least once a month to give you a heads up.

(hey, even i get fooled sometimes!)

today's culprit...

FROSTED MINI-WHEATS

whaaaaat? what the hell kinda animal product would be in this?

GELATIN.

yup... 

and for those who are unclear as to what gelatin is made from exactly,

i will give you a quote from the gelatin manufacturers institute of america...

"the primary raw materials used in making gelatin are 

bovine bones, bovine hides, porcine skins, porcine bones, and fish skins."

oh yummy! 

i so wanted some ground up cow hide and pork bones in my cereal!

ugghhhh.

but have no fear! 

there are yummy and sweet alternatives that may surprise you:

life, frosted flakes, cinnamon life, apple jacks, fruity pebbles,

reese's peanut butter puffs, apple cinnamon cheerios,

peanut butter crunch, kix, trix, golden grahams, 

fruit loops, special k red berries, chocolate malt-o-meal,

coco roos, nature's path crunchy vanilla sunrise, 

gorilla munch, annie's fruity bunnies, peanut butter puffins, 

kashi strawberry fields, kashi island vanilla,

and many more!

so there you have it folks... 

read the labels!

i can't find that fancy vegan shit... well, try may wah!

"i don't live near whole foods or trader joe's  or earth fare or china town, 

so i can't find any of those faux seafoods or mock meats."

you don't need to!

there is an amazing vegan food-ordering website 

that is chock-full of vegan meat alternatives

that you might not be able to find locally.

>>may wah vegetarian market<<

click the link above to check out their site!

every once in a while, 

when we don't feel like trucking out to the vegetarian food stores in philly or frazer, 

we will stockpile items from this mouth-watering website.  

they have a nice selection, great prices, and SUPER FAST shipping.

my personal favorites are the shrimp, the ham rolls, and fish...  all vegan, of course!
i am totally addicted.

they also have mock chicken steak, lemon chicken, chicken legs, chicken nuggets, riblets, pepper steak,   

cocktail franks, bacon, sausage, ham steak, stewed lamb, smoked goose, gizzards, 

jerky, duck meat, squid, crab steak, fish cakes, shrimp rolls, salmon, abalone...

the list is pretty extensive!

so next time you realllllly have a hunkering to make coconut shrimp or crab rangoon, 

and you don't want to cheat on your new vegan or vegetarian lifestyle-- 

check these guys out!

--------
what vegan or mock meat product do YOU have trouble finding?
any foods you miss?
tell me in a comment!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! put a punkin on it!

it is the most wonderful time of the year (for me)  ha!

it is the one time of the year you can dress up as anything you ever wanted, drop all of your inhibitions, and go out and have a blast!

to celebrate.... let's talk pumpkins! i know you are probably sick of making pumpkin cookies and pumpkin muffins, so try out some of these ideas instead!

• pumpkin soup! mix one can of pumpkin puree  with your favorite veggie broth and a couple of cups soymilk. season it with nutmeg, sugar, salt, and pepper for a new holiday favorite! p.s. coconut is also super yummy in pumpkin soup!
• pumpkin on a pizza! add a cup or two of diced or chunked roasted pumpkin on your favorite vegan pizza as a topping. deliciousssss.
• vegan pumpkin latte! check out this amazing recipe for a yummy halloween beverage!
• mashed pumpkin-cauliflower delight! add some pureed pumpkin to your cauliflower mash! add vegan margarine, and season with cinnamon and nutmeg and a tad bit of your favorite sweetener for a yummy side dish!
• creamy pumpkin dip! add equal parts pumpkin puree and tofutti better than cream cheese in a bowl. sweeten with agave or maple syrup (what you prefer) and season with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger to taste. add a dollop of vanilla or orange extract for some flavor. you can also use pumpkin pie filling and mix it with the cream cheese. pumpkin pie filling is already seasoned, but you still might want to add the extracts for added flavor. your crackers, ginger snaps, and apple slices will thank you!
• arborio pumpkin! have a favorite risotto base recipe and are running out of things to add to it? try pureed pumpkin! 
• pumpkin pasta sauce! add some sauteed onion and garlic to pureed pumpkin in a pan. add a little olive oil and a little veggie broth to thin it out. season to taste (savory? sweet? what do you like?!) and pour over your fave pasta! 
• amazing pumpkin smoothies! mix together approx a cup of vanilla almond or soy milk, a half cup of canned pureed pumpkin, a half of a banana (or a whole banana if you want it thicker), a few table spoons of vanilla soy yogurt, spices to taste (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice) and a dollop of vanilla extract in a blender. blend!  top with vegan whipped cream or your own homemade whipped topping recipe. sprinkle cinnamon on top.  DRINK.
• pumpkin butter or applesauce! add pumpkin puree to your favorite applesauce. add cinnamon and sweetener to taste.  yummm!
• pumpkin peanut butter! add pureed pumpkin in a food processor along with your favorite natural peanut butter (just a little at a time). add a little cinnamon and a dollop of agave. process! adjust ingredients until you find the right texture and taste to suit your needs.  this is SOOO good on toast!
• pumpkin mac and cheese!  i have never had this, but a friend of mine swears that if you add pumpkin puree to your mac and cheese casserole, it makes it soooo creamy and tasty.  i am definitely gonna try this next time i make vegan mac.
• pumpkin oatmeal! stir some pumpkin puree into your oatmeal and add a little cinnamon and sweetener.  top with raisins or vegan chocolate chips. OMG i love this year round.
• pumpkin hummus! mix pumpkin puree with your normal hummus ingredients (tahini, olive oil, lemon, chickpeas) and season! this is delicious whether seasoned savory (garlic and cumin) or sweet (cinnamon and sweetener).
• pumpkin chili!  pumpkin is an amazing ingredient to thicken your chili, and its super tasty!
• pumpkin martini! i love this recipe. substitute the half and half for silk soy creamer. i also substitute the sweeteners based on my mood ha! 
• pumpkin quinoa! add pureed pumpkin and some vanilla almond milk to prepared quinoa. season with cinnamon and nutmeg. add a little agave nectar to taste. simmer until all the moisture is absorbed.  so good.
• pumpkin whip! bored with your favorite vegan whipped topping? mix in one half to one cup of pumpkin puree to two cups of your homemade or store bought whipped topping. season with your favorite pumpkin-y pie seasonings. this is amazing on top of a mug of hot soy chocolate.
• candied pumpkin seeds! sick of toasted plain old pumpkin seeds? me, too! try taking your freshly removed pumpkin seeds and mixing them in a bowl with brown sugar, a pinch of salt,  and your favorite pumpkin pie spices. after they are coated, spread them onto a greased and foil-lined baking pan. bake at 250 degrees until they are glazed (about 45 minutes). so much better!

would you try any of these?!

do you know any other quick and easy things 

to do with pumpkin?  

let me know!

vegan halloween candy and some music!

i have temporarily added some spooky music at the bottom of my blog's sidebar.

just some of my personal halloween faves-- i think i have it on shuffle,
but you can pick any song on there you want =]

(nothing is too obnoxious-- i left off anything too screamy or loud) 

ANYWAYSSS!

YES, there is such a thing as vegan halloween candy!

check it out-- you might be surprised! 
which is YOUR favorite?

VEGAN HALLOWEEN TREATS
(compiled from PETA and other random sites and company pages around the web
if you see something that you know is incorrect or no longer vegan or want to add to the list, send me a message!)

airheads taffy

atkin's peanut butter bars

annie's bunny fruit snacks

bazooka bubble gum (not gumballs)

big league chew

blow pops

brach's cinnamon hard candy

brach's dem bones

brach's hi-c fruit and orange slices

brach's root beer barrels

brach's star brites peppermint candy

boston baked beans

bottlecaps

bug city

charms lollipops (without gum)

cherry heads

chewy atomic fireballs

chocolove dark chocolate bar

chocolove cherries and almonds dark chocolate bar

chocolove crystallized ginger dark chocolate bar

chocolove orange peel dark chocolate bar

chocolove raspberry dark chocolate bar

chick-o-sticks

cracker jack

crows

cry babies

crystal light candies

dots

dubble-bubble

dum-dums lollipops

endangered species dark chocolate

ferrara pan anise bears

ferrara pan cinnamon hearts

ferrara pan gum drops (regular and halloween)

ferrara pan spearmint leaves

fireballs

fluffy stuff cotton candy

french burnt peanuts

fruitabu

ginger people ginger chews

gobstoppers

goldberg's peanut chews (original)

grapeheads

hot tamales

hubba bubba bubblegum

jelly belly (only if you are okay with beeswax)

jolly ranchers hard candy

jujubees

jujyfruits

laffy taffy (only some flavors)

lemonheads

lifesavers (hard candy, not gummies)

mamba fruit chews

mary janes (regular and peanut butter kisses)

mike and ikes

nabisco oreos

nerds

now and later

nutter butter bites

orangeheads

panda licorice

paul newman's orange dark chocolate

pez

pure fun chocolate meltdowns

pure fun fruit rocks

rainblo

red vines

ring pops

rose city vegan chocolates

runts

saf-t-pops

sjaak's chocolate

sjaak's peanut butter bites

skittles (except for crazy cores)

smarties 

sorbee butterscotch lites

sour jacks

sour patch kids

squirrel nut zippers

starburst (jellybeans and hard candies)

sunkist fruit gems

super bubble

surf sweets fruity bears

swedish fish

sweet tarts

tropical source chocolate bars

twizzlers

whizzers chocolate beans

yummy earth gummy worms

zotz

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!

does anyone actually get prizes from these blog giveaways?

the answer is YES!
YES YES YES YES!

most important rule:
after you have been contacted by email,
make sure you respond in the designated time!

ALWAYS read the terms and conditions beneath the rafflecopter or website--
some websites don't let people from the same household enter!
this means that if your roommate or sister already entered from your IP address,
they might delete your entries!
(not on my blog though! roommates and whoever lives with you can enter, too!)

also, check that the pictures in the blog post are relevant to the prize being offered.  

you may see countless pictures of diamond rings, but if you read the last sentence, 

they are giving away thumbtacks, not diamonds lol.


ALWAYS check to see if they are covering prize shipping!
if you win a gift card to an online store,
more than likely you will have to pay for item shipping after you redeem it.
it is pretty rare for gift cards to cover shipping costs.

and lastly, make sure if you enter multiple giveaways, that your entries aren't being wasted.
some blogs only allow you to win one prize in a certain period of time.
(not here!-- you can enter every giveaway and try to win as many as you can!)

some of the stuff i have won from blog giveaways:

*kindle fire
*nail polish
*indie nail polish
*eyeshadow
*make-up brushes
*shampoo
*body wash and scrub

*a vegan conscious box
*dog lover's cravebox
*vegan cookie sampler box
*necklaces
*custom compact
*pillbox
*awesome rings
*giant box of samples
*baby bedding
*baby onesies
*purses
*hair ties
*coupons for free food
*personalized jewelry
*gift certificates
*t-shirts
*ad space
*web design help
*candy
*dvds

*coupon for almond milk

*perfume

*discount coupon for a diamond candle
*kid's halloween shirt
*moisturizer
*baby eczema cream
*dog bandana
*baby sling
*handmade candles
*custom reusable sandwich bag
*handmade cat toys
*8" bundt cake
*handmade bib
*handmade cat toys
*vegan cookbook
*make-up wipes
*custom painting
*argan oil
*nail striping tape

some of my friends win tons of electronics-type items.  

you just have to look and enter contests for what appeals to you.

make sure you also keep the original "you won!" email and keep track of what you have received.  it is common courtesy to email the host back and thank them and let them know when you received your item.  some of us worry that you never get anything!

if you DON'T receive an item, let the person know in a polite manner-- sometimes it is NOT their fault.  they may just be hosting the giveaway, and forwarding your information to a sponsor.  just let them know so that they can contact whoever is involved.  sometimes the sponsors are just overloaded. this has only happened to me once... i won a box of sponsored prizes and never received a thing-- but it was NOT the hosts fault. sometimes it happens and you have to shrug your shoulders and move on.

HAPPY ENTERING!

p.s.  you can follow me on twitter
if you wanna see all the giveaways i enter.

i am a giveaway hound (especially indie nail polish)

kid friendly - sloppy joes

little kai loves his joes

5 minute meal for kids... sloppy joes! 

and you can get most of the ingredients pre-packaged!

believe it or not... 

manwich sloppy joe sauce is vegan! woohooo! 

some other brands may also be, but you always need to check the ingredients for anchovies!

(weird, right?!)

the only challenge in assembling your joes is determining what to use in place of the ground beef.  you can use reconstituted tvp or tsp, boca crumbles, morningstar crumbles, crumbled tempeh, lentils, or pretty much anything that will give you that great, hearty texture. 

my personal favorite is trader joe's beefless ground beef-- joe's in my joes. lol.

even the meat-eater in the house likes it!

another tasty option is to saute some sweet vidalia onions and toss them in with your "beef" mix.

throw it on a bun... and patiently wait by with a wash rag to clean up the messy, happy faces =]

i will post a from-scratch sloppy joe recipe at a later date =]

vegan "ricotta" or italian pasta dish mix-y cheese stuff

frankly, most vegan lasagne, manicotti, stuff shells, etc recipes are gross. 
they use a plain old tofu and nutritional yeast combo to mimick the ricotta in the recipe.  

who are they trying to fool?

its not creamy or cheesy... just... blah.

i add tofutti cream cheese to my mixture... it really helps with the flavor.



MOCK RICOTTA

INGREDIENTS: 
* one tub of extra firm tofu
* a tub of tofutti cream cheese
* a few spoonfuls of nutritional yeast, to taste
* sea salt, to taste
* a drizzle of lemon juice (optional)
* garlic, to taste
* basil and oregano to taste (you dont need a whole lot!)
* a drizzle of oil oil (helps with mixing it all together)


mix it all together! you add just enough olive oil to make the mixing process a little easier.  
the lemon juice is optional-- just gives it that wee bit of zing, but i don't always have lemons on hand (oh noes!) and it tastes fine without it.


trust me, this will give new life to your bland and boring  tofu lasagna recipe!

store-bought gravy (as in pasta sauce)

sure, it is 100000000x better to make your own gravy from scratch, but sometimes you are just feeling too lazy or too overwhelmed, and you need a quick fix.

what do you do? you pull out some crappy jar of schtuff you found on the bargain shelf of the grocery store.

and it tastes like…. shit.

so fix it! there are a few easy things you can do that will still let you have plenty of free non-cooking time, and won’t make you want to hang yourself because your dinner tastes like cat ass.

1. OMG THIS IS SO FRIGGIN SALTY!

solution #1: add half of a peeled potato to the pot as you’re heating/cooking it.

solution #2: add a tiny bit of lemon juice. it will help cut the saltiness.  BE CAREFUL or you’ll end up with lemon gravy. ew.

solution #3: if it is just a tiny bit too salty, just cook your pasta noodles without salt. this way you won’t have a salt overload.

2. SUH-WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

solution #1: add a little vinegar. the acid will help get rid of the sugary nastiness.

solution #2: add half of a peeled potato to the pot as you’re heating/cooking it.

solution #3: add a tiny bit (as in 1/4 tsp tiny) of cream of tartar

3. HOT HOT HOT! OMFG SPIICCCCYYYYYYYY!

solution #1: i could bathe in a vat of hot peppers. i don’t believe in this thing called “too spicy”.

solution #2: you can add some sugar or brown sugar, but c’mon.. too spicy? nahhhhh.

4. HOLY BITTERNESS, BATMAN!

solution #1: add a weeeee bit of sugar or brown sugar.

solution #2: add sugar AND baking soda.

solution #3: add pureed or shredded carrots for a sweetness boost.

5. WARNING! ITALIAN SEASONING OVERLOAD!

solution #1: add some extra tomato paste.

solution #2: add an extra can of tomato sauce.

6. OH SHIT! I BURN EVERYTHING!

solution #1: throw it away and make aglio e olio instead, lol.

solution #2: pour the gravy/sauce into a bowl - DO NOT SCRAPE THE BURNT SHIT INTO THE BOWL. add about 2 oz of red wine into a new saucepan with a wee bit of salt and sugar. once it is bubbly, add the gravy/sauce into the pan. season to taste.

7. UGHH THIS IS LIKE WATER!

solution#1: simmer until it thickens.

solution #2: add some chopped tomato or a can/jar of diced tomatoes.

solution #3: add some nutritional yeast, veg parmesan (or the real stuff if you prefer), or vegan (or real) cream cheese.

solution #4: add some veggies like mushrooms or carrots or zucchini! go crazy!

have a happy dinner! <3