It’s almost time for the holidays!

Posted on November 24, 2009 by jodie

But yeah, I’m sure you already knew that.

Today Slate reprinted their Guide to Vegetarian Turkey. I don’t know; I think that the Field Roast Celebration Roast really deserved a better score- I like it a lot more than Tofurkey (though I have nothing against Tofurkey). I haven’t had the opportunity to the the Gardein version (though new that I have a Whole Foods nearby, I should see if they have it).
Although I’m having a Celebration Roast this year, remember that you don’t have to do a mock turkey for Thanksgiving. Some of the best Thanksgivings I’ve had involved pasta for the main dish (but with all the traditional sides, because come on, when else is it socially acceptable to eat mashed potatoes and stuffing and green bean casserole and pie all in one meal?). There’s lot of other flavors of fall out there to try, so here’s a few that I’ve done in the past:
And here’s a picture of my more “traditional” meal from last year:

last year

Happy (American) Thanksgiving!
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Tempeh Piccata with Warm Wheat Berry Salad

Posted on November 22, 2009 by jodie

This one is actually from a few months ago, but I never got around to posting it.

Tempeh Piccata with Warm Wheatberry Salad

The Tempeh Piccata is basically the Candle Café recipe, but using steamed tempeh instead of seitan (because it’s what I had. I’ve made it with seitan before, both options are really good). I can’t remember what exactly is in the Wheat Berry Salad, but I think it’s cooked wheat berries, rainbow swiss chard and balsamic reduction. There might be some onion in there too, but I don’t remember. That will teach me to post pictures so late!
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Vegan Swap!

Posted on November 20, 2009 by jodie

Vegan Swap!

I joined up in the Vegan Care Package Swap over at Cooking For A Vegan Lover’s blog. I was paired with Pixiepine, who sent me an awesome package. Unfortunately, I can’t find my camera so I could only take the pic with my iPhone, but if you click through, I have notes on the picture. Included are a Kiss My Face bar of soap, Raw Cacao Nibs, Vega Smoothie infusion, a granola plank, a chocolate bar (one for eating and one for baking!), sugar cookies, Sweet Thai Delight tea, Gummi Bears, and… a Lush conditioning bar!!!!!!!
I was a slacker and didn’t send mine until today, but I hope she’ll like the one I sent as much I like the one she sent!

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Claire’s Corner Copia

Posted on November 20, 2009 by jodie

I don’t go to Claire’s Corner Copia often because of the usual long line, but I happened to go early enough a few weeks ago that I beat the lunch rush. My favorite is the “CLT” (fake) Chicken, Lettuce and Tomato. Of course, I never eat the tomato. The sandwich was great, but the pasta salad on the side was awful- it tasted like it was just plain frozen spinach, when I was expecting a pesto. Aside from that, all was well, and Claire’s is one of those places you just have to go to if you’re ever visiting New Haven.

CLT

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Last San Diego Post

Posted on November 18, 2009 by jodie

While I was researching restaurants I would be able to get to in San Diego, I came across Nature’s Express. I jokingly posted on my Facebook page, “Would it be wrong to rent a car for the express purpose of going to an all-vegan drive-thru?” I swear I was joking, but I ended up renting a car while I was there so I could drive up to Los Angles to visit my brother.

So before I went to LA, I stopped at Nature’s Express. I had planned to take the bus, but since it was Saturday and the bus ran less frequently, I was afraid I wouldn’t be back in time for my presentation. Because of that, I went in the rental car, but there’s not actually any need to drive. I actually walked up to the window, and you can order the food inside, too. The window was more like a 1950s drive thru.
Here’s the menu:

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I took my food back to my hotel room, so I knew I would be on time for my presentation (it would be really bad to be late to that!). I ordered the bacon cheese burger and fries. SO GOOD. This restaurant should totally replace McDonald’s. I don’t think that most people would even know the difference.

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So that evening, I drove up to LA to visit my brother and see his band, The Quiet, play. We did go to a tiny vegan restaurant near the Hotel Cafe where he was playing, called Vegan House 2. None of the pictures came out at all (it was really dark in there). The food was okay, but nothing to write home about, as the saying goes. My brother said there was a fancy vegan restaurant that he wanted to try elsewhere, but traffic kept me from getting there at a decent hour. I guess I’ll have to go back some time! 🙂
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And even more from San Diego!

Posted on November 18, 2009 by jodie

One of my best friends from elementary and high school lives in San Diego, so we got together while I was out there (I’m posting from home, now). She and her husband aren’t vegan, but are really down with the vegan lifestyle. One of her favorite restaurants is Sipz, a vegetarian restaurant in San Diego. I’m not sure what neighborhood it’s in, but it’s pretty far from where my hotel was. 🙂

Most items on the menu are vegan (the few that are not are clearly marked). The food is Pan-Asian Cuisine, much like the restaurant where I ate the previous evening. Definitely good food! I could live out here!

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Summer rolls
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Another type of summer roll
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Fried tofu
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Pho- I again forgot to take the picture before I started
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Banana-coconut cake for dessert!
I surprisingly managed not to gain any weight during this trip, but I’m not sure how.
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More from San Diego

Posted on November 13, 2009 by jodie

Last night’s dinner was from The Asian Bistro, which is not entirely vegan, but will prepare all vegan/vegetarian options without fish sauce and with seperate utensils in a seperate part of the kitchen, which makes it pretty awesome in my book. Please excuse the low lighting in the photos- it’s always so hard to get a goo pic when you go out for dinner!

I started off with a lychee martini.
lychee martini
Next up, appetizers.
“Flower” cups:

flower cups

and Vegan Gyoza.

gyoza

And some Pad Thai. I forgot to take a picture before I started eating, so it’s half-eaten here.

pad thai

There were a number of things on the menu that I would have liked to try- I would definitely come back here if my trip weren’t so short!
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Pizza Rules.

Posted on November 12, 2009 by jodie

I am sitting in beautiful San Diego, CA, here for the American Music Therapy Association annual conference. My day started this morning in New Haven, CT when my alarm clock (well, iPhone) went off at 3:30AM. It took me a bit to drag myself out of bed and to get dressed, but by 4:20AM (huh huh) I was on the road to Hartford, CT to catch a 6AM flight to San Diego, by way of Dallas-Fort Worth. I barely made it!

During the first leg of my flight this morning, I slept most of the time. I did bring some dried fruit and granola with me so I would have something to eat, which is good, because the food options at Dallas-Forth Worth are pretty useless for a vegan. The second leg of my flight this morning was much more entertaining, as it had on-board wireless. Best $14 I’ve ever spent (but totally would not do if I traveled by air frequently. Way too expensive for regular use). I kept taking pictures and posting them to Facebook to pass the time. Here’s a picture taken somewhere over western Texas:

Pic from a plane! I'm not sure where I am right now, but it sure is pretty.
But you came here for the food, right?
I had high hopes that I’d be able to go out and explore this afternoon, since because of the time difference I arrived just a little after 12P, but I was (and am!) exhausted. I had checked out restaurants online before arriving however, and was interested in trying Pizza Fusion. Since they deliver to my hotel, pizza it was!
After I went vegan I still once in a while would order a pizza without cheese initally, but I stopped when I moved to New Haven. So it’s been over two years since I’ve had pizza that I didn’t have to make myself (or get from the freezer case!). Best part?
Pizza Fusion Vegan Pizza!
Do you see that “cheese?”
It’s Daiya. First time I’ve been able to try it, and I’m very impressed. I think I’ll stick with Teese as my standby for it’s greater versatility, but I really liked Daiya. Plus pineapple and onion on a multigrain crust. Pizza just does not get better than this!
Stay tuned for more!
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I almost forgot…

Posted on November 1, 2009 by jodie

Happy World Vegan Day, everybody!

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Take Your Cookie to Work Day

Posted on November 1, 2009 by jodie

cookies

Especially take them if they are Mexican Chocolate Snickerdoodles from

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone’s Favorite Treats. Man, they are good. I have no self control when it comes to sweet baked goods, so if I want to make cookies, I have to bring them somewhere that I can unload them. I am glad my coworkers don’t seem to mind!

Yes, it is the last day of VeganMoFo. I have been terrible this year. All I can say is that hopefully this is my last year of school for a very long time, so maybe next October I will have more time for blogging. Happy end of VeganMoFo, everyone!

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