Taking time off....

with so much going on this holiday season I have been too busy to continue posting....

however, I will begin again with new places and recipes starting in 2009....

see you then!

I'm On Facebook now

wow...took awhile, but i finally signed up for facebook.....

micah turnquist.......

Restaurants - Indianapolis, In cont....

two more places that served pretty decent Thai food....not great, but decent....

Compassion on the Slopes

I had always heard of people not liking snowboarders because they act like they own the mountain, but in the past few times we have been skiing, it has become much more blatant to me. It DOES seem to be that MOST snowboarders are dumbasses who seem to care less about anyone else on the slopes. We have witnessed MANY collisions caused by snowboarders trying to do stupid stuff. At Keystone last week, a snowboarder hit a woman skiing, she screamed and fell and the guy kept going. At Vail we saw that happen twice. Sadly it is because most snowboarders tend to be younger Males who could give a shit about anyone but themselves; but PLEASE, can we get some Compassion for the other people on the slopes????? I know there are many nice and compassionate snowboarders, but sadly they are being overshadowed by assholes. If you are going to do some crazy stuff, do it in the Terrain Park or NON-Beginner slopes (I would actually go further and say don't do it on ANY Green or Blue slope). Let's try and be civil up there!!!

Compassion on the Road During a Snowstorm

slow down people and drive a steady speed!!!!.....in the snow it is better to drive 30 than 50 or 10.....too much braking causes issues.....more ranting later....

Restaurants - Indianapolis, IN

In a place where I was not expecting much, I found one great place that definitely caters to vegetarians.

Thai Cafe is located at 1041 Broad Ripple Ave, in a small shopping center on the south side of Broad Ripple. It is a traditional Thai place, but makes sure that vegans have plenty to eat. I met the woman who ran the restaurant and when I said I was vegan, she told me ALL about the fact that all of their curries were vegan, their sauces could ALL be made vegan and they would substitute Tofu, Veggie Chicken, or Veggie Beef for most dishes. I also met her son, who was down from Chicago and he had some dishes already out, so when I was waiting for my food he let me sample some of it. Their Fried Tofu was excellent and he had the Red Curry with Veggie Chicken and it was really, really, really good. I had their Vegetarian Spring Rolls and they came in a pack of 6, so I had a couple with multiple dinners while in Indy. My dinner was awesome; their number 22, "Padd Prik Bal Horapa" (Choice of meat; I chose Veggie Chicken; garlic, onions, basil, carrots, ginger, green beans, and sliced chili peppers) and it was HOT, but really good. The people here were amazingly friendly and I highly recommend patronizing this restaurant!!!!! www.indythaicafe.com 317-722-1008

Back from Indy...

wow....a long trip has finally come to an end....I will post more about Indianapolis shortly...
however, Indianapolis might very well be the LEAST vegetarian friendly city in the country...

Business Travels

I leave tomorrow at noon until next Wednesday on a business trip to Indianapolis......posting to come if I can.....

Restaurants - Christchurch, Canterbury (New Zealand)

Welcome Chinese Vegetarian Food was a great place to have a meal, just outside the city. Located at 2 Wharenui Road, the place looks small, but the taste of their food made it worth it....

a review to come soon.....

Compassion for the Poor....

I was at the gas station yesterday and a homeless man approached me. He asked for some change and I gave him a few quarters. He then proceeded to ask me for a cigarette. To which I said "no" and then told him I felt it was odd that someone who had no money for food would be smoking, since cigarettes are SOOO expensive. He replied "shut up, you have NO compassion for the homeless!" and walked away.

I took great offense to that since I have had a long history with trying to HELP the homeless. I have always felt that I was one of the few people out there who would argue that the homeless are NOT there by choice and that this country NEEDS compassion for them. This entire country has a bad image of the homeless and for this guy to say that TO ME made we really wonder whether or not most people are right.

more to come soon....

Eating Out....

Well, Andy asks a good question about eating out. It is true that pretty much ANYWHERE in the world a vegetarian can get a meal at an Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Nepalese, or Japanese restaurant. In the case of Indian, they do not use many animal products, but they do use Butter and other Dairy based sauces; so vegans need to be sure to ask for NO cream sauce or butter in their meals. Thai food is pretty heavy on the Fish Sauce or Oyster Sauce as they give the sauces (apparently) a good sodium jolt. If you go to a Thai place you HAVE to ask for NO fish or oyster sauce. Some places I have found know what vegetarian means and will automatically leave those products out. (Especially Asian places; if you say you are Buddhist, Jain, or Hindu they know to leave out all animal products) So, when I travel I tend to not say vegetarian, but Buddhist and all the places know what that means; even if they do not speak English. Vietnamese places also tend to have Chicken Stock as bases for their sauces and soups, so if eating at a Vietnamese place, be sure to ask if the sauce is vegetarian (which there are some). (Also be sure to ask them about fish sauce) Tibetan and Nepalese tend to fall alongside with Indian since they are both steeped in religions that accept vegetarianism.

It is generally a good idea to forgo American, French, German, or Latin cuisine. Whereas there are some places in these genres that have SOME veggie cuisine, they are all based on meat; even sauces. The only thing on an "American" menu that is good would be a veggie burger, but beware where it is cooked.

The exception to that rule would be Mexican. Most Mexican places know about lard and if you ask, most places have beans that have not been cooked in lard. Even in Mexico it was not hard to get a bean and rice burrito, or veggie fajitas, or a veggie quesadilla.

Italian Cuisine is relatively vegetarian friendly. Most chains like Olive Garden use Vegetable Stock for their Minestrone, but beware of Chicken Stock in soups elsewhere, including Minestrone (which is mildly humerous since Minestrone soup is known as a vegetarian soup; some people do not count the Stock as part of the soup....so ASK before eating). Also beware of Chicken Stock in their sauces; always ask if the sauce is vegetarian.

Recipes - Tofu and Sweet Potato Masala

my own take on an Indian dish....

Restaurants - Atlanta, GA.....number 4

Cafe Sunflower is another wonderful veggie meal if you are in the ATL. This one is more on the north side, located at 5975 Roswell Rd. It is a fully vegetarian restaurant and MOST of their stuff can be made vegan. It is a little hard to find, but is in a strip mall behind a BP Station; the Hammond Springs Shopping Center. Their menu is fresh and innovative, with most of the traditional favorites. Their "Starters" include Spaghetti Squash Cakes, Sandy Spring Rolls, Basil Rolls, Dumplings, Potstickers, Stuffed Mushrooms, and Hummus; among others. Their "Salads" are varied, but the best one is called "Garden Steak Salad" which includes homemade Soy Pepper Steak. The menu also lists which items are Dairy Free and which are Wheat free. In the "Entrees" section they have some of the favorites; Spicy Pad Thai Noodles, Sweet and SOur Soy Chicken, Black Bean Burrito, Soy Burger, Chili, and a Quesadilla. Their Entrees also include Stuffed Mushrooms, Jamaican Black Bean Cakes, Baked Samosas, Lasagne, Fettuccine, Stuffed Acorn Squash, and several Stir Fries. For dessert they have several cakes; some of which are vegan and they have Soy Ice Cream. This place was not as good as Soul Vegetarian, Harmony, or Green Sprout, but it still makes for a good meal if you are in the area. 404-256-1675 www.cafesunflower.com

Restaurants - Atlanta, GA....take 3

Harmony Vegetarian Chinese Restaurant is another great place in the ATL. It is located in what is known as the "Orient Center", 4897 Buford Hwy Suite 109; technically in the city of Chamblee (on the North side of ATL). It is an interesting amalgam of Asian Shops, Grocery Stores, and Restaurants; including a few veggie places, but I only tried Harmony. This place's menu is HUGE and I cannot begin to explain how many items are on it. They have ALL the traditional vegetarian Chinese items like Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso's Chicekn, Beef with Broccoli, and Sweet and Sour Tofu. In their Appetizer section are all the mainstays (Spring Roll, Fried Tofu, Dumplings, etc..), but with some noteable new items such as Fried Stuffed Eggplant, Chinese Pizza, Curry Pockets, and Fried Chicken (I got that and it was soooo good). They break their menu into the type of soy-based meat you want; Beef, Chicken, Soup, Seafood, Pork, Lo mein, Hot Pot, Fried Rice, Noodles, and "Chinese Vegetarian Specialties". I would highly recommend the Chicken with Cashew Nuts; it was very tasty and the mock meat was different than any I had tasted. The vegetables were cooked just right, which is to say, NOT for very long. The sauce was light enough to not be overly heavy, but had enough taste to satisfy me. I think everyone should check out the Orient Center for sheer intrigue, but also for some great food. 770-457-7288

Comments and Questions

Andy has been kind enough to post some Comments to which I can respond. I welcome anyone's questions and/or comments. Please feel free to ask questions and even point out where you might think my philosophy falls short. Thanks!

Restaurants - Atlanta, GA cont....

Green Sprout Vegetarian Cuisine is another great place in metro Atlanta. Located at 1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite D, it is a Buddhist-run vegetarian Chinese restaurant. It reminded me a lot of Yuan Fu in Rockville, MD. It is a clean looking place with friendly staff and an amazing menu; it is completely vegan possible (some dishes might have eggs, but they know about being vegan and easily make anything vegan). Their appetizers shine; I had their Curry Spring Roll, and their Fried Bean Curd. Other Appetizers include Scallion Pancake, Cold Vegetarian Duck, Stuffed Zucchini, Chicken Drumsticks, and Seaweed Tofu Roll (but they have MANY more). They have different sections for whatever mock meat you like; Vegetarian Chicken, Vegetables, Vegetarian Beef, Vegetarian Pork, Vegetarian Seafood, Sweet and Sour, and Fried Rice and Noodles. I had their Lemon Chicken, which was excellent. Other selections in the Chicken portion were Moo Shu Chicken, Chicken with Honey Walnuts, Chicken with BBQ Sauce, and Mongolian Chicken. Some selections in the Beef portion were Beef with Broccoli, Beef with Tomato and Basil, Asparagus with Beef, and Basil Beef with Crispy Portobello Mushrooms. Some examples of the Pork and Seafood portions were Pork with Tofu in Szechuan Sauce, Twice Cooked Pork, Kung Pao Squid, Fish Filets with Crispy Bean Curd Skin, and Seafood Casserole with Tofu. All in all, this place was great and a spot where even carnivores will enjoy the veggie cuisine. I recommend this place to anyone near Downtown Atlanta. www.greensproutga.com 404-874-7373

Restaurants - Atlanta, GA

The Soul Vegetarian is a restaurant at the top of my list for Best in the country. It has locations in more cities, like Washington DC, but the main one in Atlanta is unbelievably good. That location is 879-A Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW. It is run by a group of Old Testament followers known as "Black Hebrews". They have a literal view of the Biblical Story of Creation and of the "Fall". They believe that in a perfect world ALL peoples are vegetarian and point to several passages in the Old Testament to prove their view that meat-eating was brought on because of the "Fall" of Humanity. As for food, this place rocks. They make their own Gluten, which they call Kalebone. They prepare it in a traditional Southern way, with Collard Greens, Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread, etc... I got a BBQ Kalebone steak which was phenomenal! They also produce homemade Soycream; they have several flavors, but it is BETTER than Ice Cream. I highly recommend this place whenever you are near the 5 Points area of Atlanta; or if you are near Howard University in Downtown Washington DC. Apparently they now have restaurants in Chicago, Charleston, and Tallahassee. Another plus is that they take their time; do not expect rapid service as they believe being laid back and "going with the flow" are virtues. They do not preach, but will talk at length about their Religious decision to forego meat if you ask. GO HERE!!!!!!!! www.soulvegetarian.com 404-752-5194

Rise Against.....

Went to see Rise Against last night and it was awesome. My only concern was that they were not political enough. (Actually that was Kelly's problem with the show) However, I think it is a good thing because it does not immediately turn people off; it actually brings people into their music by simply putting on a great Rock show instead of preaching. Their music is really thoughtful and socially responsible, but you could not tell from their live show; it was just kick ass heavy rock music. I am also very pleased to see the turnout for them; sold out first night and packed the second night. The message they bring is one in which ALL Americans should believe; Social Equality, Compassion for Animals, and Political Discourse. For anyone new to them, a good example would be their video for "Ready To Fall" which can be viewed on Youtube. Anyone who plays Guitar Hero already knows about "Prayer of the Refugee" which was on Guitar Hero 3 and "Re-Education Through Labor" which is on the new Guitar Hero World Tour. Some people might say that they have sold out and no longer listen to them because of the fact that they are MUCH more melodic now and significantly less screaming than their first 3 albums. I like the older material, but the newer stuff is much better. The message they try and present is much more palatable now and you can understand his singing, whereas before you could not understand much of what he was saying. I highly recommend their album "The Sufferer and the Witness", which is almost flawless. Also, their album "Siren Song of the Counterculture" is mostly good. Their NEW album "Appeal to Reason" is growing on me and I bet that it will be great in my eyes after a few more listens. Rise Against is a rock band that happens to be vegan, not the other way around; all vegans should find some comfort in the fact that there IS someone out there trying to push OUR point of view.
"We are the angry and the desperate
The hungry and the cold
We are the ones who kept quiet and always
Did what we were told
But we've been sweating while you slept some calm
In the safety of your home
We've been pulling out the nails that hold up
Everything you've known

Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down, down......"
-Prayer of the Refugee

Compassion on the Road....

My brother Josh was in a bad car accident on Friday night. I was struck by how compassionate some of the people involved were, but also how UNcompassionate some of them were. It was a 3 car accident with one person completely at fault and 2 (Josh included) not at fault. The guy driving the other car 'not at fault' was unbelievably nice about it and actually was not injured; which was definitely lucky. He and Josh bonded, as did the Tow Truck driver and several passing cars. However, the car 'at fault' never once came over to ask if Josh and the other guy were OK and I feel that is terrible. The person driving that car was obviously not paying attention; even though that stretch of Arapahoe is known as a bad section. So, I ask for a greater sense of compassion while driving nowadays. Speed is not the issue, simply looking out for everyone else on the road is the key. Please take extra care when driving to have a 100% consistent view of what is occurring out there. If you are in an accident that involves injuries, PLEASE do the compassionate thing and find out if everyone is OK. The compassion shown by the passing motorists, the 'other' car, and the tow truck drivers gives me Hope for Humanity. The UNcompassion shown by the car at fault leaves me wondering if people really are compassionate at heart.

Restaurants -Denver....Watercourse....

We went to Watercourse again last night and, once again, it proved itself to me as being one of the best veggie restaurants in the country. I ventured away from my usual entrees and tried their veggie burger (tempeh burger) and I will admit that it IS the best veggie burger ever made!!! Also, we learned that they now make Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls; so we will definitely have to try them sometime soon. I still have yet to have a bad meal at this place.....

KFC introduces "Unchicken"

well...a victory of sorts....KFC has agreed to start marketing a Vegetarian (yes, not vegan; except in SOME locations for some reason) Chicken sandwich and nuggets. It is only available in Canada right now and is cooked in the same oil as the chicken; so some might be turned off for that fact alone. However, PETA is working with KFC to get seperate fryers and more options and hopefully by the time it makes it to the States, it will be vegan. Apparently you can ask for it vegan and they'll give it to you in a wrap without the Mayo. I look forward to seeing this take hold in the States, but won't hold my breath since McDonald's has had a veggie burger in Europe for many years and we have yet to see it here. I am not a huge fan of PETA, but I commend their efforts over 5 years to get KFC to update their practices; both with veggie food and with better conditions for its chickens. As with Burger King's addition of a veggie burger (which, by the way, is now called "BK Veggie by Morningstar Farms") I am unsure of whether or not I would actually patronise KFC. I like the fact that they are branching out, but I think I need to see way more cooperation from the Corporate Giants that own KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, etc... before I begin to buy stuff from them. People in Canada seem to be responding well and that is a very good sign. There is a decent amount of literature out there for anyone with further questions, but it seems that it is now available in all 461 KFC stores all over Canada.
http://www.kypost.com/content/middleblue3/story.aspx?content_id=8fb4e87a-9481-4f02-a2a4-671ca8b0a280

Restaurants - Evanston, IL (Chicago)

one of the best places I have ever eaten.....

Blind Faith Cafe is located at 525 Dempster St in Evanston. It calls itself "A Natural Alternative" and is a restaurant and bakery. First glance was great as this place looks fantastic, but it was so busy that we got Take Out instead of eating in. We got two of their appetizers; Seitan Fingers and Tofu Satay, both of which were excellent. Other appetizers include Potstickers, Grilled Tofu "Crab" Cakes, Guacamole, Pizza of the Day, and Hummus. Their selection of Entrees is possibly the best I have ever seen. It was REALLY difficult to decide on which dish to try. I had the Mongolian Seitan (Seitan, Broccoli, Red Bell Pepper, and Scallions in a Spicy Mongolian Sauce over Brown Rice), but they also have Seitan Marsala, Seitan Fajitas, Lemon Seitan, Bibim Bop (Grilled Seitan with veggies and more), Enchiladas Verde, Teriyaki Grilled Tofu, Thai Peanut Noodles, Black Bean Burrito, and a Macrobiotic Plate. They have a nice selection of Salads too. Also, they call them "Small Dishes" and are great too; Jerk Tempeh Sandwich, Barbeque Seitan Sandwich, Blind Faith Burger, and Chili Plate are just a few examples. They have a seperate section for Breakfast foods too; Tofu Scramble Eggs (can be vegan), Pancakes, Hash, Chilaquiles (all can be vegan), and Omelettes too (obviously not vegan). Definitely check out their Desserts too, which change daily and are mostly vegan! I highly recommend this place to anyone in Chicago; it is not too far north of the city. www.blindfaithcafe.com 847-328-6875

"Vegetable" - Broccoli

Broccoli is actually part of the Cabbage family. I LOVE me some broccoli on just about anything.
Broccoli is high in vitamin C and soluble fiber and contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties including diindolylmethane and selenium. The 3,3'-Diindolylmethane found in broccoli is a potent modulator of the innate immune response system with anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity. Broccoli also contains the compound glucoraphanin, which can be processed into an anticancer compound sulforaphane, though the benefits of broccoli are greatly reduced if the vegetable is boiled more than ten minutes. A high intake of broccoli has been found to reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. It is also very high in Vitamin K.

This is per 100 grams....a typical serving for us would be about 3 times these estimates...

Carbohydrates 6.64 g
Sugars 1.7 g
Dietary fiber 2.6 g
Fat 0.37 g
Protein 2.82 g
Water 89.30g
Vitamin A 3%
- β-carotene 3%
Thiamin (Vit. B1) 0.071 mg 5%
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.117 mg 8%
Niacin (Vit. B3) 0.639 mg 4%
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.573 mg 11%
Vitamin B6 0.175 mg 13%
Folate (Vit. B9) 16%
Vitamin C 89.2 mg 149%
Calcium 47 mg 5%
Iron 0.73 mg 6%
Magnesium 21 mg 6%
Phosphorus 66 mg 9%
Potassium 316 mg 7%
Zinc 0.41 mg 4%

Restaurants - Boston, MA cont...

In the heart of downtown, near Boston University is a great Buddhist run vegetarian place.

Buddha's Delight Vegetarian Restaurant is located at404 Harvard St and another one located at 5 Beach St in Chinatown. This was a great looking place, traditional paintings and sculpture with a very vegetarian friendly philosophy. I do not even know where to start because this place has an incredible amount of food; and it is unique compared to most other vegetarian Chinese places. However, I will attempt to talk about their Appetizers first; Wheat Gluten Spring Rolls, Tofu "Chicken Fingers", Crispy Dumplings, Vietnamese Bean Cakes, Fried Wontons to name a few. They have tons of Soups and Salads and won't even go there for now. Their Specialties range from basic vegetable dishes to vegetarian Lobster; yes, veggie-Lobster. The entrees are amazing, I recommend a few; Velvet Tofu "Chicken", Sliced Tofu "Chicken" with onions, Ginger Gluten "Chicken" and Tofu-Ki, Moo Shi "Pork" Tofu, Sweet and Sour "Pork" Tofu, Large Tung Ting "Shrimp" and Large Wheat Gluten, and Tofu "Chicken" Lo Mein. The House Specialties are where this place shines the most. A few great examples of their Specialties are "Lamb" Tofu Stir fried with vegetables, "Beef" with Broccoli, Triple Taste Delight ("Shrimp", "Beef", and "Pork") with Oriental vegetables, BBQ Gluten with tomato, and "Duck" with onion and tomato. If you like Noodles, then they have a TON of Noodle options. Also, they have great Lunch Specials. I did not visit the one in Chinatown, but the one on Harvard St was absolutely Amazing!


DISCLAIMER: Just found out this place closed!!!!!! now it is My Thai Vegan Cafe..... www.mythaivegancafe.com

Well...California has SOME Compassion....

by passing Proposition 2, California redeemed itself in my eyes...
I know it was a very controversial Proposition, but it made sense and I am glad to see that most Californians agree that it is a good idea that Chickens, Pigs, and Veal Calves can actually turn around in their cages. It'll cost the industry a lot of money to retrofit, but they should not have put Compassion aside for profits in the beginning; if you ask me. I watched the Oprah episode about this and felt that the Meat Industry was lying and spewing hateful speech upon what they called "Animal Lovers". All in all, the decision rested with the people and they found it to be absurd that Pigs live their whole lives in cages where they cannot even turn around. Hopefully this will make ALL meat-based industry take a new look at their compartmental cages.

No Compassion in California

California banned Gay Marriage?....sounds to me like the compassionate side of Californians got lost on election day.....
One of the most compassionate things voters could have done was grant Gay Couples the ability to devote their lives to each other in front of their God. I disagree with most people about the rules of Marriage as it pertains to Public Life. While it is true that Marriage is a Religious Institution, it has become a Secular Institution over the years and laws that govern Secular Institutions should take over. Gays being allowed to marry will also NOT desecrate the Institution of Marriage, like most Christians like to say. 55% of all Marriages currently end in divorce anyway, so 55% of Heterosexual people are desecrating the Institution already. Christians have always been good at scaring people into accepting things, especially when talking about Gays. The fact is, under the US Constitution, Gays should be allowed to marry. Marriage is allowed by THE STATE, so should the Constitution rule instead of the Bible? Hello Seperation of Church and State! The most used argument from the Christians is that "Marriage is between a Man and a Woman". However, the argument falls flat once Marriage became a Secular Institution as well. Also, the argument that it will defame Marriage as we know it is totally false. Where were the traditionalists when The Bachelor started? Is not going on TV to find Marriage against the tenets of Traditional Marriage? Why was there not some HUGE outcry from the Christians about it? In fact, some Christian groups have said they accept The Bachelor and other shows like it on TV.

The US Constitution guarantees Rights to ALL. If specific Religions want to exclude Gays from their Marriage, then fine. However, this should NOT have anything to do with a Secular Marriage, guaranteed under our Constitution.

Californians showed their ability to vote on FEAR-based propaganda. If you're against Gay Marriage, DON'T MARRY A GAY PERSON!

Restaurants - Boston, MA

The first place I visited here was west of downtown, in the town of West Newton.

Life and Light Vegetarian Chinese Cuisine is a small place located at 115 Elm St in West Newton. Do not be fooled, the food is magnificent and their choices are incredible! The menu is chock full of goodness (and vegan!), starting with the Appetizers; Spring or Summer Rolls, Fried Tofu, Fried Wontons, BBQ Ribs, and Veggie Chicken Skewers to name a few. Their Entree section and House Special section are both varied and immense. In the Entree section, some great choices are (but not ONLY these) Sweet and Sour Veggie Pork, Veggie Chicken with Almonds, Veggie Curry Chicken, Szechuan Spicy Veggie Fish, and Hunan Veggie Pork. In the House Special section, I would recommend any of these (even though I only had 2 of them); Gluten with Brown Sauce, Veggie Chicken with Lemon Flavor, Kung Pao Veggie Squid, Crispy Veggie Fish, Veggie Beef with Broccoli, Veggie Shrimp with Snow Peas, and Sea World with Saute Sauce. If you are not sure about the veggie meats, then they do have a Vegetable and a Tofu section. In the Tofu section they have choices such as Home Style Tofu, Spicy Tofu, Pressed Beancurd with Ginger Strips, Emerald Tofu, Sunshine Tofu, and Tofu with Brown Sauce. You can also get any vegetable you like in their Vegetable section. Also included on the menu are Moo Shi (Veggie Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, Pork, or Beef), Noodles, and Fried Rices. I highly recommend this place for anyone in the greater Boston Area. 617-630-8101

Restaurants - Tucson, AZ cont...

Guilin Chinese Restaurant is located at 3250 E Speedway. It labels itself as "Your Healthy Choice" and is a traditional Chinese place with a seperate Vegetarian/Vegan section of their menu. They will use NO oil if you like as well. I was impressed by this place and ate there 3 times. It is a nice looking place, pretty large and busy. Apparently there are a TON of vegans that frequent this place; according to the waitress. On their "Vegetarian Menu" they have quite an impressive array of items. Appetizers include Veggie Dumplings, Spring Rolls, Fried Eggplant, Fried Pumpkin, Fried Yam, and Fried Tofu; but there are more. They had a special appetizer when I was there; Veggie Chicken Drumsticks. They have some great soups too; Corn and Tofu, Seaweed, Hot and Sour are just a few. They breakup the menu into sections; Tofu Dishes, Vegetable Dishes, Noodle/Pasta/Fried Rice, Vegetarian Chicken/Beef/Pork/other, and Vegetarian Shrimp and Fish. In the Tofu section were Kung Pao Tofu, Fresh Tofu and Chinese Greens, Shredded Baked Tofu with Veggies, Szechuan Tofu, and Fresh Tofu Skins with Chinese Greens are just a few examples. The Vegetable section includes pretty much ANY vegetables you could want; as does the Noodle section. The other sections had some great choices, all of which I had were amazing! Kung Pao Veggie Chicken or Beef, Almond or Cashew Veggie Chicken or Beef, Sweet and Sour Veggie Chicken, General Tso's Veggie Chicken or Beef, Gluten Flowers with Vegetables in a Brown Sauce, Mongolian Veggie Chicken or Beef, and Veggie Chicken with Black Bean Sauce to name some. I am not a huge fan of the Vegetarian Seafood, but if you were so inclined, they have Kung Pao Veggie Shrimp, Moo Shu Veggie Shrimp, Veggie Shrimp with Broccoli, and Veggie Fish Filet with Chinese Greens are just a smattering of their choices. I HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone in the Tucson area. http://www.guilintucson.com/ 520-320-7768

Election is Over...YAY!

wow...finally we can stop hearing about the Election....
Compassion won over fear, so, for the first time in a long time, I am actually excited for what the next 4 years will bring....
However, this campaign was way too long and way too dirty for my tastes, hence the reason I am super excited that it is over. The rest of the world is breathing a sigh of relief, as is most of this country. The world recognized the importance of choosing Hope, Compassion, and Change over the same old fear-mongering tactics of the past 8 years. Finally the USA agreed with 99% of the world in this regard. Finally we had an undisputed Election. Finally we have an intelligent person as President. I have never been a Democrat because I do not like Party Politics, but I can say that I am proud to have Barack Obama as my President. He definitely is the 'breath of fresh air' this country has sorely needed for years. My only hope is that he does not get bogged down in all the of the crap of which this country has become part. His acceptance speech was magnificent and only gives us more Hope that he will deliver on at least MOST of the promises. It was an historic election for sure, but I found it phenomenal since Compassion ruled the day. No more fear mongering, no more hate speech, no more illegal wars. Yes, I said it; our war in Iraq is illegal when looking at the Geneva Convention and other World Law, but we skirted the legality and obviously have been paying the price for 8 years. Hopefully Barack will end it in a timely fashion (how about January 21st?).
I am finally NOT pissed off at our electorate. I am finally NOT pissed off at the Democrats for choosing such painfully terrible candidates (hello John Kerry and AL Gore!). I am hopeful for the future in this country now for the first time, possibly, ever.

Recipes- Pumpkin Cupcakes

mmmmm....chocolate chip pumpkin cupcakes.......

This recipe is another one taken from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/3 cup Oil
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 cup Soy Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 and 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 to 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup to 1 cup Chocolate Chips
top with Cinnamon Icing (to follow the recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 350; line muffin pan with liners
2. In a medium bowl, stir together pumpkin, oil, sugar, soy milk, and vanilla. Sift in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stri together with a fork- don't use a hand mixer, as it will make the batter gummy. Once well combined, fold in chocolate chips.
3. Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for 22-24 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before icing.

Cinnamon Icing

1/2 cup Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 tablespoons Earth Balance Soy Spread (melted)
1 tablespoon Soy Milk
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1. Place sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the margarine (Earth Balance), soy milk, can vanilla and stir with a fork until smooth. Keep at room temperature until ready to use. The mixture should look opaque and honey brown. If it is glistening a lot or looks too liquid, add more sugar.

Restaurants- Tucson, AZ

Tucson is a very vegetarian friendly place and I found a couple great places and a few moderately good ones. I was excited to go there because they had a vegetarian restaurant that was interested in franchising, so I figured it was worth a shot to try; maybe I would like it so much that I would buy a franchise! Not so, the food was decent, but not great.

Lovin' Spoonfuls is that vegetarian restaurant (mostly vegan). It is located at 2990 N. Campbell, Suite 120; right near the University of Arizona. The menu looked delectable on-line and I was REALLY excited to try it out. I arrived really late on a Tuesday night and needed some food quick so I drove there before going to my hotel. I have to say that the Golden Nuggets appetizer was the one bright spot. It was simply soy chicken batter fried, so it cannot be bad; really, anything deep fried is usually good. As for entrees, I did visit here twice thinking I was unlucky the first time; however, both entrees I got were not that great. The food was decent, don't get me wrong, but from the descriptions of the food, I was expecting a lot more. I tried their Pepper Steak (Triple colored peppers, onions and "beef" in a savory brown sauce served over organic brown rice) which, by the definition should have been excellent. I found that the sauce was watery, the "beef" was chewy, and the peppers were overcooked. Then, the next time I chose the Country Fried Chicken Platter (Crispy fried soy chicken with savory stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and steam grilled vegetables) and found that only the "chicken" was good, but the potatoes were bland and the vegetables were, again, overcooked. I ended up getting ONLY appetizers for lunch one day; at least those were good. I liked the Tempura "Shrimp" and the Spring Rolls. I still think this place was a great find since it is hard to find veggie food, but it could be a LOT better. They had some good desserts, but even those were not GREAT; too healthy tasting, maybe not enough sugar. They also serve breakfast, which looks really good, but I never did get to try it. Good place for a quick bite, but don't rely on this place for your dinner. http://www.lovinspoonfuls.com/ 520-325-7766

Restaurants- Las Vegas, NV cont...

We found this place on-line, but it was hard to find when walking around the Strip. It was way too hot to have been walking around, but once we found this place, it was completely worth it.

Komol Restaurant labels itself as "Authentic Thai and Vegetarian Cuisine" and is located at 953 E. Sahara Ave; a large Strip Mall center and hard to find (not 100% vegetarian). Their menu is enormous and has a specifically vegetarian section which is about half of the entire menu. They have pretty much ANY dish you can think of in the realm of Thai food. The staff was courteous and informative about their vegetarian options. They have a ton of appetizers; Spring Rolls, Fried Tofu, Crispy Spinach, Fried Sweet Potato, Vegetarian Sa-Tay, and Vegetarian Tod-Mun to name a few. They have a bunch of Salads, Soups, and Noodle Soups; Tofu Soup, Veggie Seaweed Soup, Rice Noodle Soup, Bean Thread Noodle Soup, Vegetarian Papaya Salad, Laap Tofu Salad, Hot and Sour Salad, and Bean Thread Noodle Salad to name a few. Their entrees are really where they shine, however. The choices are amazing and it was very hard to choose ONE dish to try; we have eaten here twice and have totally different dishes each time. Several Veggie Curries start the entrees, Tofu Panang/Gluten Panang, Tofu Chili Mint, Gluten Chili Mint, Garlic Tofu, 2 kinds of Sweet and Sour Tofu/Vegetables, Tofu Ginger, Orange Tofu, Cashew Tofu, Tofu with Chili Paste, Hot and Spicy Tofu/Gluten, and Kung Pao Tofu are just some of the amazing choices. All dishes can have Gluten added to them; I thought the combination of Tofu and Gluten with their sauces was excellent. They also have really inexpensive Lunch Specials. www.komolrestaurant.com 702-731-6542

Restaurants- Breckenridge, CO

Rasta Pasta is another great place if you are trying to eat in the town of Breckenridge. It is located just across the street from My Thai at 411 South Main St. It is also home to the Breckenridge Burrito Company, so you can get some great pasta OR a burrito. The menu is great because you can tell them you want it "Vegan with Tofu" and they will makle ANY of their pasta dishes vegan. I had the Spicy Jammin and it was excellent. It is a traditional pasta and vegetables with a Carribean flare; meaning they use Jerk spices and other spices not typically used with pasta. Kelly got a dish that had Sun Dried Tomatoes and Grapes as part of the sauce and it was sweet and excellent. If you want a burrito, the Vegetarian Burrito looked awesome. They are very knowledgeable about veganism, so do not fear Chicken Stock or Cheese. Apparently even the Garlic Bread is vegan, and it was really good. The House Salad that came with the dishes had an interesting dressing on it; which was vegan. I still prefer My Thai, but it was way too busy; so this place is a great alternative. www.rastapasta.net 970-453-PIMP (yes, that is actually their number)

Restaurants- Ottawa, ON....Take 3

another gem of a place in Ottawa's Chinatown.....

I found myself walking around Chinatown one night and had already eaten at So Good twice that week, so I wanted to find a new place. I walked for hours it seemed and found several Chinese places with tofu dishes, but nothing that jumped out at me. I stumbled (almost literally since I had been drinking) upon a Vietnamese place just down the street from So Good.

Vietnam Palace is located at 819 Somerset West and is a very nicely decorated restaurant. The staff there was very interested when I said I was vegan; they have what they called "Specialty Vegetarian Food". It was not much, but it was cool to see they were trying to offer something different. Their menu is 90% meat, but the 10% that is veggie was very good. Their menu is also in French and English, which meant that the section was called "Vegetarian/Mets Vegetariens". I had their Vegetarian Salad Rolls, which were what we usually call Rice Paper Rolls; tofu, noodles, carrots, in a rice paper roll with peantu sauce. Their Spring Rolls were also good (I got an order for later that night). They had some good looking soups (not that I ate them); Tomato and Beancurd Soup, Pineapple Sour Soup, and Vegetable Soup to name a few. They had a fried tofu appetizer, Lotus Salad, and Young Papaya Salad amongst other Appetizers and Salads. I was really impressed with their entrees though (yes, I got two of them). Their specialties were Vegetarian Chicken stir fried with Lemongrass and Chili, the same dish with Vegetarian Beef, Vegetarian Grilled Pork Wrap with Salad Vegetables in Rice Paper, and the same dish with Grilled Vegetables too. I got the Fried Beancurd with Tomato Sauce (and I added Veggie Chicken to it) and it was amazing! I also got the Fried Beancurd with Black Bean Sauce (and added Veggie Beef to it) and was also equally amazing. They had tons of other noodle dishes, fried rices, and assorted other vegetable dishes. I still think that So Good is a healthier and better choice, but if you are in Ottawa and wanted some good Vietnamese food; go here! 613-238-6758

Restaurants- Ottawa cont...

Just a short walk from my hotel in Downtown was a fantastic Vegetarian Restaurant next to the University of Ottawa.

Perfection-Satisfaction-Promise is a intimate place where the food is really fresh and consists mainly of Hindu/Hare Krishna philosophy and great vegetarian food. I went here MANY times since I could walk there and received excellent food each and every time. The staff was very helpful and courteous. I told them I was vegan and they pointed out the 90% of the menu that was vegan. My favorite dish was the "Tofu Tamari Painted Potato" which was mashed potatoes covered in a great sauce and Tofu with fresh vegetables. I tried another of their "Painted Potatoes", the Paprikas Roasted Red Peppers one; it was excellent as well. The dishes proved to be very filling as I had one for lunch and then forgot to eat dinner until 9 PM that night; I really was not hungry. Their Lentil Soup was fantastic, as was the 3 bean Soup that was on special when I was there. They have good salads too (not that I ate them, but if you are so inclined, they have it). They also have a homemade Veggie Burger and a Pizza that they will make vegan. This place was very healthy, so if you wanted fried food, go somewhere else. They also had a great selection of desserts in thei front case; most of which were vegan. If you are near downtown and want a very healthy and tasty meal; go to this place first. http://www.perfectionsatisfactionpromise.ca/ 613-234-7299

Restaurants- Ottawa, ON (Canada, eh?)

I have spent probably TOO much time in Ottawa over the last couple of years. It is a very vegetarian friendly city.

They have a nice Chinatown area with TONS of restaurants, both Chinese and assorted other Asian food. Most, if not alll of them, are very vegetarian friendly since there is a large Buddhist and Hindu population. There was ONE that was far and away better than the others....

So Good Restaurant was exactly that, SO GOOD. Located on the main street in Chinatown, at 717 Somerset West, it looks like a small and dirty place, but the people were very friendly and the food was excellent. It is marketed as a "Vegetarian and Asian Food" restaurant, so it is not 100% veggie, but it has so much food for us, it did not matter that it was not completely veggie. I went here three times and got different food each time and was never disappointed. They have a Vegetarian section of their menu that made it really easy. Their Vegetarian Spring Rolls were excellent, as was their Vegetarian Dumpling appetizer. They had a tons of soups, so I tried a Sweet Corn Tofu Soup that rocked! Also, their Hot and Sour soup was good. On their menu, they have different sections for certain veggies. They have a Fried Rice section, Vermicelli and Other Noodles section, Vegetables, Beancurd, Eggplant, and Mushroom sections. They have some very interesting tofu dishes; for example; Deep Fried Tofu Balls in Mushroom Sauce, Spicy Tingly Tofu, Tofu with Ginger and Pineapple, Fried Tofu with Capital Sauce, and Tofu Ball with vegetables and Bean Thread to name a few. They also have ALL the staples; Kung Pao Tofu, General Tso's Tofu, Hunan Tofu, and Szechuan Tofu to name a few. The Eggplant Section was great too, they do NOT overcook it (which is MOST places downfall with Eggplant); Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce, Deep Fried Sweet Heart Eggplant, Thai Style Eggplant in Tofu Cheese, Eggplant in Garlic Sauce and many others. If you like Mushrooms, they have over 10 specifically Mushroom dishes. I highly recommend this place if you are in Ottawa; it is only minutes from Downtown. http://www.sogoodfood.com/ 613-233-0138

Processed Food...

Andy hit the nail on the head when he talks about being less reliant on "Processing" as it pertains to our diet. The vast majority of our food these days is processed to some degree, and most to a HUGE degree. I highly recommend buying locally and doing as much as possible to minimize the purchasing of goods that have been heavily processed.

I will reference the quote from Albert Schweitzer again (from previous postings) to answer his points about eating meat....

"From experiences like these (seeing animals suffer), which moved my heart and often made me feel ashamed, there slowly grew up in me an unshakeable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another creature unless there is some unavoidable necessity for it."

I agree that we are Animals; humans are NOT that different from the rest of the animal kingdom. What sets us apart is our cognition (some more than others...). However, I feel that this quote says it all for me. I agree that some people eat animals, but mainly I want to say that WE DO NOT HAVE TO anymore. Even without processed products like tofu and TVP, there are PLENTY of vegetable, fruit, nut, grain options for Protein and ALL vitamins. Therefore, sure we can eat animals, but we no longer HAVE to; so without a necessity, why do it? We have the intelligence to no longer kill for our food, so why not save Life? We can make a rational choice to stop whereas all other animals do it to survive.

So, to answer Andy......

Sure, Humans are Animals and have a ton of evolutionary and biological reasons for eating meat. We have evolved into a species that no longer has to do it. We should respect suffering in all its forms and CHOOSE to stop eating meat because we have the intellect. As for processing, Meat Eaters might find it harder to function without processing (all Deli meats, hot dogs, sausage, etc..) than a vegetarian as our main staples come straight from our own soil.

ps- I think that a human that eats meat should NOT be disgusted by the prospect of eating a human; cultural taboos aside. Meat is Meat. If I were stranded in the wilderness and needed to survive, you better believe it that I would eat whatever I had to......

Recipes- Lasagna

Here is my own version of a vegan Lasagna....

16 Lasagne Noodles (either prepared or using the Pre-Cooked Noodles) (if preparing the noodles, boil them in water according to package directions)
2 cups Morningstar Farm's Grillers Crumbles
1 large onion (sauteed in 1 tablespoon Olive Oil)
2 cups fresh spinach
16 oz of Soft Tofu (1 package)
1 large Green Pepper (diced)
2 cloves of Garlic (minced)
Seasonings as per your taste; Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, etc...
1/2 jar of Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce

Line a glass or metal casserole dish with noodles along the bottom; with a little sauce to cover the bottom. Using a Food Processor, put the tofu, sauteed onion, garlic, spinach, and 2 tablesopons of Olive Oil into the Processor. Blend until this mixture is smooth and creamy. Set Aside.
On the first layer of noodles, put a layer of Grillers crumbles (half) and green pepper (half). Put another section of noodles down. On this layer, spread the Tofu Mixture over the noodles (half). Put down another layer of noodles. Put the rest of the Grillers crumbles and pepper on this layer. Put down another noodle section. Spread the rest of the Tofu Mixture over this one. One more layer of noodles goes over this. Then spread the pasta sauce over top until the entire dish until sauce covers every portion. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes with foil over top. Take the foil off and bake again for 10 minutes. Serve with Garlic or Cheese bread.
Some people like to add a little cheese (soy, of course) onto their lasagna. I feel that the Tofu mixture makes up for the cheese, so none is really needed. You can expand on this recipe very easliy by adding/subtracting layers and adding your own touch.

Restaurants- Las Vegas, NV

In a place where you would NOT think of vegetarian food, even though the people are known as "Las Vegans", Vegas has a couple bright examples of great veggie food.

Long Life Vege Restaurant is a hidden gem amidst the craziness that is Las Vegas. Located at 4130 S Sandhill Rd #A4, it is in a strip mall just south of E Flamingo Rd. It bases its vegetarianism upon the idea of Health; therefore it also serves fish (which is a weird one for me). Mostly it is vegan, with the obvious exceptions of the fish. Their veggie Spring Rolls were excellent, as were the Wontons and Potstickers. They have a ton of options for entrees; from Moo Shu with Veggie Chicken/Beef/Pork, to several Fried Rices, Chow Mein, Egg Foo Young, and MANY rice based stir fry dishes. Their selection of Veggie Chicken was amazing; Chicken with Broccoli, Almond Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Orange Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and General Tso's Chicken are only a few. Their Veggie Beef too; Beef with Broccoli, Hunan Beef, Szechuan Beef, Mongolian Beef, and Garlic Beef are, again, only a few. They also have Veggie Pork dishes. However, if the mock meats do not do it for you, then they do have a wide array of vegetable and tofu dishes; Spinach Tofu, Ma Po Tofu, Mango Tofu, and ANY vegetable dish you would ever want. This place has great Lunch Specials too. If you are in Vegas, go here for a great vegetarian meal. 702-436-4488

Compassion for the Voter

I am usually a laid back person, but this election is getting on my nerves. I am TIRED of all the phone calls and people coming by to ask us 'are you leaning for obama?'. I have talked with numerous people and am more frustrated with them every single time. I have even begun to hide from them so I do not have to talk with them. The phone calls are even worse; every day we get home from work and there are at least 2 missed calls from political telemarketers. Is it impossible for these groups to SHARE information? I do not like having to tell 15 different people that 'I have already voted and NO I won't tell you which way I voted!'. Compassion disallows me from saying what I REALLY want to say, but I also feel that the pollsters should have some Compassion for us as the voting public. I know I live in a 'Battleground State', but come on already! Stop bad mouthing each other! We want to know how you will FIX it, not how the other guy WON'T! We want to hear your ideas, not what you think your donors want to hear. Speak to the 54% of people that do not vote and tell them why they should! Too often our politicians forget that MOST people in this country simply want to believe their leaders are competent, intelligent, and most of all, doing what is best for the Country. Negative campaigning will NEVER be what is best for the Country; calling Barack a terrorist is not what is best for the Country (even if you are not going to vote for him); making light of Sarah Palin's obvous lack of experience is not what is best for the Country (even if you feel she is a terrible fit). Tell us what, SPECIFICALLY, you will do to bring us out of the messes we are in. Tell us what you'll do about Energy Policy, Iraq, China, Afghanistan, Health Care, and the current Housing Crisis. Do NOT tell us about Barack's supposed link to Bill Ayers (a CRAZY idea, but sadly, a lot of people believe that; I want to go on the record to deny that claim vociferously). Do NOT tell us about John McCain's links to the old Savings and Loan crises of the 80's. Pollsters, Pundits, and Newspeople: STOP scaring people and let's have Compassion for our voters; let's highlight the positives and throw away the old-style of negative campaigning!!!!!!

Restaurants- Rockville, MD cont....

another gem of a place in Rockville.....

Yuan Fu Vegetarian sits about 4 miles away from The Vegetable Garden at 798 Rockville Pike, across the street from the big Marlo building. The owners used to be partners with the people at Vegetable Garden, but left for various reasons and opened their own vegetarian place. It does not look like much, but I think the food is wonderful. It is in a small strip mall on the east side of Rockville Pike. I loved everything about their food, but their Crispy Beef with Broccoli was fantastic. Their Sesame Veggie Chicken was also really good. Their Wonton Soup and Hot and Sour soup werew both good too. I would recommend ANY of their appetizers, but for me the Spring Roll was magnificent. I used to frequent this place in the late High School/Early College years while involved with several Animal Rights groups. It is nice to see they have not changed much over the years and I hope they continue to provide a wonderful alternative to the traditional Chinese restaurant. 301-762-5938

Influences- John Robbins

A major force for me growing up was John Robbins and his veganism manifesto entitled "Diet for a New America". It struck me deeply because he was the Heir Apparent for Baskin-Robbins and he denied it because he felt that veganism was the better route to take. It is a scathing indictment of Factory Farming and provided me with my first insights into the world of vegetarianism. Looking back, he is a little course for me sometimes, but it still spoke to me on such a profound level that it has stuck ever since. It was (and IS) a great read (I think I read it 5 or 6 times, which for me was a BIG deal). He made some follow up attempts like "Diet for a New World" and a couple others, but "Diet for a New America" was by far the best. I would like to read something of his that is more recent to see how he feels about the current state of our farms. He was speaking of atrocities in the early 90s and late 80s that still persist to this day. I would recommend this book to any "newbie" to vegetarianism.

Restaurants- Houston again...

another post about Nam Vietnamese....

Nam Vietnamese is a wonderful place. I posted about it awhile back, but I managed to go there twice while in Houston this past weekend since my hotel was less than 2 miles from it. I went there with my brother Josh once and with my wife Kelly another time. I was struck by how vegetarian friendly the woman that runs the restaurant was. We got Spring Rolls with Tofu; a classic! With Josh I got their Garlic Vegetarian Chicken and he got their Vegetarian Beef in Orange Sauce. I liked mine a lot, but it was almost TOO healthy for me. Josh's was excellent and was significantly less healthy since the 'beef' chunks were deep fried. I ordered that dish when I went with Kelly, but the woman remembered me and gave me Vegetarian Chicken in Orange Sauce instead; she thought I would like to try different things. That is true, but the 'chicken' was not nearly as good as the 'beef'. I wish I had received the 'beef' instead. Kelly got Tofu with Tomato Sauce, which was excellent. I think everything about this restaurant is fantastic and more Asian Cuisine places should take a note of their menu and try and incorporate more interesting Vegetarian Cuisine into their own menus.

Restaurants- Long Island, NY....Take 4

My first day in Melville had me go to the town of Hicksville to find food. When I arrived, the choices at this place were magnificent and totally worth the drive.

Jaiya Thai-Oriental Restaurant is located at 46 West Old Country Rd in Hicksville. It is kind of hard to see from the road at first, but is just after you make a right onto Old Country Rd, near a tire place. It is a large place with great artwork; looks like it would have a good buffet, but I did not find out for sure. The staff was friendly and were accomodating to me when I said "Vegan". They have an entire section of their menu dedicated to vegetarian options. They have tons of appetizers and salads too. I had their Vegetarian Spring Rolls which were different than the typical spring roll. It was lightly fried rice paper with cabbage, carrot, tofu, and a few other spices that I could not put my finger on; but it was delicious! Their entrees were more Thai-like; curries, stir fries, etc... However, they use tofu AND gluten in their dishes. I had the Bean Curd Gluten with Ginger Sauce and it was excellent. The sauce was nice and light and the tofu was well cooked. The gluten was interesting, but ended up tasting fine after I got over its oddness. I like the attempt at making the proteins taste different than most places. I talked with the waitor while I waited for my take out and he said that most Buddhists in the area and assorted other vegetarians usually choose one of their MANY salads (Spicy Gluten & Mushroom Salad, Vegetarian Papaya Salad, or Spicy Gluten & Baby Corn are their usual favorites), or the Vegetarian Duck, Sweet and Sour Bean Curd, Vegetarian Pad-Thai, Gluten Bean Curd Panang, or any of their assorted Bean Curd dishes. I highly recommend this place for anyone who is near Hicksville.

Eric's Wedding

been at my oldest brother's wedding....sorry for the lack of posting....i will post more later today...

Restaurants- Long Island, NY cont... again

I found a GREAT hidden Chinese place in the village of Plainview, about 10 minutes west of Melville.

Hunan Cottage is located at 135 Central Park Road in Plainview. It is in a small strip mall and is much better than it looks. It even goes so far as to have a Vegetarian Menu. I liked their Vegetarian Egg Roll, but also their Dumplings were vegan. I had the "Pepper Steak" entree which was veggie-beef with onions, peppers, and carrots in a light Hunan sauce. I was impressed that the sauce was not overpowering and was perfectly selected for the vegetables in the dish. I talked at length with the owner and, as it turns out, he had relatives that were Buddhist and needed a place to eat regularly. He was convinced that a vegetarian food side of the business was needed. They also use tofu well, apparently even the General Tso's Tofu is better than the General Tso's Chicken (or so said the woman sitting by the door). They have tons of options, all of which were vegan; Chicken with Brocolli, Hunan Beef, Pork with Black Bean Sauce, and even a "Happy Family" (the first time I have seen a vegan Happy Family). This place was very tasty and I recommend going there anytime you are on Long Island.

Restaurants -Long Island, NY cont...

Another gem of a place is hidden in the town of Huntington, just north of Melville.

Sri Thai is located at 14 New St in Huntington. It is located just south of Main St. At first glance it would appear to be a generic Thai place. However, the staff was courteous and knowledgeable and were very open to vegetarian food. Their menu mostly typical of Thai places, with a ton of veggie options. The Buddha Delight appetizer was great; fried tofu with a chili sauce. I ordered Vegetarain Duck as an entree and was not disappointed. It was soy "duck" mixed with green beans, carrots, onions, peppers, chili, and basil. It was wonderful; the sauce was light and the vegetables cooked just right. They have several other options that I did not get a chance to eat, but talked with a patron who really likes their Garlic Tofu, Prik King Tofu, Spicy Tofu, and assorted Tofu Curries. In an area lacking in Asian cuisine, this place was a definite bright light. If you live anywhere near Huntington, I highly recommend this place.

Sentient Beings

Thank you Andy for bringing up a wonderful point that gets lost on a lot of Animal Rights people. When I speak of 'sentience', I use the old definition used by Buddhists, which tends to be incomplete. A Sentient Lifeform as it pertains to the Buddhist and Hindu world-view simply states that a being is 'sentient' when they can feel pain and have some semblance of consciousness. Buddhist never tried to understand the physiological aspects of this, they were merely pointing out that we cannot cause harm to any being unnecessarily. As for me, I know for a fact that animals can feel pain; not necessarily in the manner of which WE as humans do, but we will never know that for sure since they cannot communicate with us. If we had a term for 'being that can feel pain, has SOME consciousness (even though we cannot discern), and is "valuable" then that is the term I would use. My use of Sentient is merely making up for the lack of specific terminology in this regard.

I feel that certainty is also a problem when discussing things of this nature. As with Religion, I do not like when anyone is "certain" they are right. I hold dearly to the idea that all Life is sacred; does not mean we cannot eat animals. Life begets death begets life in the circle of Samsara (for the Buddhists) means that some die, some live. It is HOW the life is taken that is the issue for me. MOST people in this world do not give a shit about from where their dinner comes. Most Christians, Jews, and Muslims believe that God gave them dominion over the animals and therefore should not care about them. The Pure Science version seems to be in line with the Pure Religion version here; neither of which give a second thought to being Compassionate. I also hold dear the fact that I might be wrong, which keeps me on my toes and allows me to fully delve into the issues.

All in all, Sentience does not enter into it (shout out to Monty!). The term is a human construct and has had different meanings in different times. Compassion makes one rethink from where their dinner comes, and most people if they really thought about it would come to the conclusion that the current system is terrible. I hope that we can all agree that cages where chickens, pigs, and veal calves cannot even turn around should be BANNED.

Restaurants- Long Island, NY

The first place to mention from my time on Long Island would be Croxley Ale House in Farmingdale.
Croxley Ale House has four locations in the the greater New York area. The location I visited was the one in Farmingdale, near Melville; on Long Island. I had the pleasure of eating here twice on my visit. It is a great place in downtown Farmingdale, at 190 Main St. At first glance it is a typical American restaurant. The staff was very friendly and was very courteous when they found out I was a vegetarian. They had several options for me, but the big one was their Veggie Burger. It was obviously homemade and was delicious. I have been on the hunt for places that make their own Veggie Burger instead of simply reheating a Boca or Garden burger. This place had plenty of good beer and other options. They have good fries, zucchini sticks, onion rings, salads, veggie soup, and a grilled vegetable sandwich. If you find yourself on Long Island and need to have a good beer and a meal, check this place out! http://www.croxley.com/

Compassion for Chickens

It was reported today in our paper, the Daily Camera, that Caliornia has put a Proposition on its November ballot that would make it illegal for poultry farms to house chickens in spaces where they could not turn around. It should be pretty obvious that this should be the case, but obviously in our world of cheap goods, people have become accustomed to turning the other way when confronted by truths like the fact that most poultry farms keep their chickens so crammed together. The measure is meant to allow egg-producing chickens to have 'a little more room' instead of spending their days in a 'battery cage'. It is also meant to have an effect on pig farming and veal; two other industries that notoriously keep their animals in terrible conditions. It will be interesting to see how the people vote. If you vote against the measure, you will appear to have NO compassion for the animals. Therefore, I encourage ALL Californians to vote for this measure, even if it means your Fried Chicken will cost 50 cents more. It baffles me that still, to this day, people are more concerned with their profits than the lives and suffering of the sentient lifeforms that give them their sustenance. Even if you eat meat, this type of Factory Farming should not exist. Please go to the polls and vote for Compassion.

Recipes -Pasta 2

if using spinach in Pasta, I suggest steaming the spinach with the pasta noodles in its water...
if you want to put spinach in the sauce, i would put it in about 5-7 minutes before you want to eat...spinach does not require cooking for very long at all....

New York....

I am in New York for the week, so that is why I have not posted in a few days....but rest assured that when I return I will begin posting again....

I also want to emphatically deny that I meant my wife was "Flaky"....only that Nutrition was not her Number 1 priority back then.....

Financial Compassion

Many people have asked about my impression of the current financial "crisis" and how Compassion could intercede and assist.....
First and foremost, the issue is with Greedy Wall St types trying to make 100 Million instead of being happy with 50 Million....therefore, there is NO compassion at play in the High Finance game....to be truly compassionate, we should now move into a country that helps its poor, not hurt them....now that we as taxpayers have purchased all of these bad mortgages, we should hold our leaders accountable and make sure that they use the profits for helping inner city kids, education, and other infrastructure that is in desperate need of assistance.....if we can turn this around and use it for good, we could become the only Nation on Earth to actually care for its less-economically gited citizens.....

Influences- Dave Hucks

My Father-In-Law, Dave, was a big influence over my cooking. When I started dating his daughter (my wife Kelly) she had been vegetarian for many years at that point. Dave and V (Mom-in-Law) had me over one evening at their previous house in Virginia Beach for a cook out. We were grilling veggies and it was Dave's first try at Tofu. They had expressed concern over the vegetarian diet because Kelly had not been too interested in Nutrition; she was mainly against Animal Suffering and, at that time, couldn't have cared less about getting the necessary vitamins. We had a great conversation that evening and I began to think moreso about making sure we got sufficient nutrients. I think that over the years Dave's questioning of our diet kept me on my toes and made me a better Cook. I feel that I have shown them how you CAN get all your vitamins eating a well-balanced vegetarian (vegan) diet. I hope to have impressed Dave to a degree with my skills and knowledge. Dave and I have a lot in common; both Kelly and V do not cook, leaving the cooking to us. I know I have relished this experience because cooking is something I love to do. I have also loved eating Dave's vegetarian Stir Fry and Pizza. I hope that our relationship as Father-In-Law to Son-In-Law will only continue to grow; I thank him for making me a better Cook.

Restaurants- Houston, TX

When I last visited Houston I had several vegetarian places in mind. However, I did not make it to many of them. I was driving near the Galleria when I discovered a place that was NOT on any of the sites.

Nam Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant is located at 2727 Fondren St. 3A in Houston, near the Galleria. I was driving to a place that was closed when I got there and needed some food, so I stumbled upon this place by accident. It is a great looking place, very comfortable; and the staff was friendly. Unbeknownst to me, this place uses mock meats for some of their dishes. Their spring rolls were excellent as an appetizer; very fresh. Their Menu has good stuff like Garlic Tofu, Tofu with Tomato Sauce, and Shaken Tofu. Not on their Take Out Menu are all the mock meat dishes. I asked them several times and all their veggie-meats are vegan. I had the Veggie Pepper Steak and it was superb! They had several other items like Veggie Chicken in Garlic Sauce. I highly recommend this place for anyone since they serve both vegetarian and carnivore food. It is hidden from the road, so you have to take the right turn; it is next to the Scientology Center.

Recipes- Pizza

Pizza dough is easy to make, but I always use the Bread Maker for this; so if you have a Bread Maker, use it to make the dough. Once the dough is made and rolled into the right size, bake the crust for 15-18 minutes at 375 to brown the crust. I brush the dough with olive oil prior to baking.

I top my pizza with Sauce, Onions, Green Peppers, Spinach (or Broccoli), some sort of Veggie Meat substitute (like veggie-pepperoni, or seitan), and Soy Cheese.

It is best to cook the pizza for longer than you think. I discovered that the best time was about 35 minutes at 375.

Try not to overload the pizza with toppings, but fill it out.

Restaurants- Denver, CO

Watercourse has a sister restaurant located in its old location. It is called City 'O City and is wonderful.

City O' City is located in the old Watercourse location, at 206. E. 13th Ave in Denver; just south of the Capitol building. It is more of a bistro, with Coffee drinks and spirits for happy hour. They have good drinks, but even better food. They, like Watercourse, use homemade seitan to make Wings; but they give you the option of Buffalo or Teriyaki Wings; both of which are excellent, but the Teriyaki ones are not TOO hot. Their pizzas are innovative and can be made vegan using their own 'cheeses'; they have a Vegan Mozzarella (one that I am not TOO fond of) and a Cashew Ricotta, which is much better. The pizzas are fresh and come with organic cheese unless you ask for it vegan. They also have salads and wraps; the BBQ Tofu Wrap was incredible. The best part is dessert. They are right next to the Watercourse Bakery, so they have tons of vegan desserts. We highly recommend the Ho Ho Cupcake. Over the weekend we had a Cookie DOugh Ho Ho Cupcake that was sooooooooo good. If you have time to sit for awhile, I would say go to Watercourse. If you are driving by and want to pick something up, go to City O City. www.watercoursefoods.com/cityocity.html

Compassion for People

Vegans tend to disagree with me about a lot of things in regards to talking to people. I used to be one of those who would try and convert everyone because "I was right". I learned over the years that the only way for people to truly see the goodness inherent to Veganism is to be kind and treat them with respect. You won't win over anyone if all you do is tell them why they are wrong (PETA, I am looking at you). I also tend to be compassionate towards anyone trying to do something nice for me. If someone bakes me some cookies and they are not vegan, I will accept them and eat them. To make a big deal about how they didn't make them vegan simply adds stress to the situation and, instead, I take the route of keeping people happy. The more one complains about how non-vegan a situation is, the more it makes the other people stressed out or worried. However, I do place the line at meat. I will NOT eat something with meat in it, but would eat something with dairy (in some cases). Compassion also means that we understand that everyone has a choice; if we want them to rethink that choice, we need to make a strong argument. It is that argument that mostly fails for typical vegans. Most vegans (and MOST people who are passionate about one particular point) get upset or mad at people who disagree; most people tune out someone who is ranting and raving. However, most people will listen to a calm, rational argument for eating less meat. In fact, I have MANY examples of how my type of compassion has helped people decide that they should consume less. I can also point to MANY people who have been turned off to the idea because of past problems with militant vegetarians. All in all, if we as vegans understand that there is MORE to being vegan than not eating animals, we will become better people and show others the better way. Compassion for ALL; even those that eat meat.

Political Compassion

Many people have asked me about this year's election. Most have their minds made up and question me fervently for not having decided yet. I have always been against voting for someone "because the other guy sucks", but this year I might have to make a change. I am a longtime Progressive with Left-leaning views. However, I feel the MOST compassionate thing any politician could do is admit that the other guy MIGHT be right in some instances. This will not happen because our country is so engrained in our Two-Party system that no one can see that the best thing for all of us is for everyone to try and work together. I want a REAL third party to shake things up and make both the Republicrats and the Democans realize they are both out for themselves and not for the majority of us citizens. Compassion is NOT dirty politics; it is NOT telling everyone that 'the other guy' is less Patriotic; it is not bad mouthing your opponent and spreading lies about them. BOTH parties this year are guilty of all of that. Yes, Barack has lied about McCain; McCain has lied about Barack; Everyone seems to be lying about Palin and Hillary. All in all I do not see much of a difference since they are all pandering to their bases. Barack WAS a Progressive until he decided to run for the White House. McCain WAS a maverick until he got into bed with George Bush. Both are simply trying to put their party in power so they can do favors for their people. McCain will cut taxes on Rich people and pad his pocket with Oil money. Barack will cut taxes on the Middle Class (Supposedly), but ramp up insurance premiums to pay for his Universal Health Care (thus making HIS people happy). Barack's undoing with Progressives was his choice of Joe Biden as VP; Biden is "Washington" to the 10th degree and will not sell Independants on voting for Barack. Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate, is the only viable solution for me. He has not been fake, has not lied about his opponents, does not run smear campaigns, and will make the government leaner and more efficient. He does not have a REAL chance to win, but until people like me vote their conscience and not what they are being told to believe, NO ONE will ever beat the 2 parties. Someone PLEASE tell me why I am scolded each and every time I tell someone "I am unsure for who I am voting"? Barack is better than McCain, but by how much? At least McCain made a gutsy move by nominating Palin, whereas Barack went backwards with nominating Biden. I do find myself liking Barack as a person; he is articulate, intelligent, and hard workingl; so he is the better choice of the two.

Compassion gets lost once you breach the Politics subject. My question is WHY? This country NEEDS someone who is Compassionate (not the George Bush Fake-Compassionate Conservatism).

Restaurants- Rockville, MD

Growing up in suburban DC made it easy to find veggie restaurants in the area. In an Animal Rights group meeting once in High School I was told about The Vegetable Garden in Rockville. As soon as I ate there once, I was hooked. Since that day there have been several other vegetarian places that have opened on Rockville Pike, but The Vegetable Garden still stands atop the pack.

The Vegetable Garden is located at 11618 Rockville Pike, just north of White Flint Mall. It is in a strip mall, but the atmosphere, staff, and food make this a wonderful dining experience. They have introduced many new, innovative methods of making vegetarian cuisine. They were one of the first I ever knew of that used the mock meats in multiple dishes. They have wonderful lunch specials, but their dinner is still worth it. Try the Whole Wheat Steamed Dumplings or Crispy Black Mushrooms as an appetizer. It appears they have several more than when I used to go; I really want to try their "Golden Pond" appetizer. They have tons of salads and soups, but their entrees really stand out. Veggie Chicken with Cashew Nuts was amazing, as was the Hunan Beef. The Sesame Veggie Chicken was great, but not as good as the General Tsao's Veggie Chicken. They also have sandwiches, including a Vegan Gyro. They have Macrobiotic foods, Raw Foods, and many other options for the entire family. If you are in the Rockville area, this one deserves a chance. http://www.thevegetablegarden.com/

Influences- Gary Hall

Another big influence over my cooking was my first college 'roommate' Gary and his girlfriend (now wife) Laura....

My mom taught me quite a bit, but it wasn't until I got to college that I started actually cooking for myself. I moved in with an old family friend (Gary) and Laura in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They were mostly vegetarian at the time and were very helpful in showing me proper ways of chopping vegetagbles, making pasta, and they were big into stir fry. Gary showed me how to cook tofu for the first time and how to best cook onions, peppers, and assorted other vegetables. They were an amazing force for me; passionate about food and a couple who obviously loved each other and helped me understand communication better. It was when I lived with them that I first got together with Kelly, so they were there to see the beginnings of my own lifetime relationship.

Recipes- Cream Cheese Frosting

this frosting can be used on the Agave Cupcakes, or for any reason you see fit....


1 container 'Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese'
1 stick Earth Balance Soy Spread (not margarine)
4 cups Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla


Beat the 'butter' and 'cream cheese' until smooth. Slowly fold in the sugar and add vanilla until the frosting is thick and to your taste.

Yummy....

For CHOCOLATE frosting; omit the Vanilla and Add Chocolate Extract, OR use 3.5 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Recipes- Vegan Agave Cupcakes

this recipe is taken from the BEST vegan dessert book EVER: "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. We love each and every cupcake we have made from this book, but the Agave sweetened one is the easiest.

Simple Vanilla and Agave Nectar Cupcakes (makes 12)

2/3 cup Soy Milk
1/2 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (yes, it matters; you HAVE to use Apple Cider Vinegar)
2/3 cup Agave Nectar
1/3 cup Canola Oil
1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
1 1/3 cup Flour
3/4 teaspoon Baing Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners and preheat oven to 325.

2. Mix the soy milk and apple cider vinegar in a bowl; allow to sit for a few minutes to curdle. Beat in agave, oil, vanilla, and almond extract. Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until very smooth. Fill liners two-thirds full. Bake 20-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do Not Overbake as this will dry out the cupcake.

3. Let cool for at least 1 hour.

Restaurants- Toronto, ON

Toronto is one of the most vegetarian friendly cities in the world; it has too many restuarants to count....but one in particular was my favorite....

Vegetarian Haven is located at 17 Baldwin St in the Chinatown section of Toronto. I ate outside on a nice outdoor patio. The staff was very friendly and accomodating to an American looking for good Canadian veggie food. I started with the Grilled BBQ Soya Kebab and it was magnificent. The kebab was very filling, but I had to try a few other items since their menu is very extensive. I had the Spicy Szechuan Seitan Nuggets as an entree and it was unbelievably good; homemade seitan and a great, light sauce. Other patrons told me that Sweet and Sour Tempeh, the Spicy Black Bean Eggplant Tofu, and the Spaghetti with Black Pepper Steakette are some of the best vegetarian options around. They have tons of salads, soups, and various other incredibly innovative vegetarian cuisine. A vegan dessert case caps this place off well. Their double chocolate brwonie was awesome! A definite must if you're ever in Toronto. http://www.vegetarianhaven.com/

Hiking....

part of being able to be compassionate in daily life is being able to be compassionate to yourself and your loved ones.....one way we make sure we are in sync with each other is by hiking regularly....once on the trail the worries of daily life go away.......

Recipes- Shepherd's Pie

this recipe is taken from "Vegan Planet" by Robin Robertson (the best vegan cookbook author out there) and is on page 365....we make it so much, we know what page it is on... :)

Ultimate Shepherd's Pie

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Large Onion (she likes Yellow, but we prefer White), diced
1 Large Carrot, chopped
4 ounces White Mushrooms, chopped (we actually add Green Pepper instead of mushrooms)
1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
2 tablespoons Tamari or other Soy Sauce
1 cup Vegetable Stock (get the Organic kind; Pacific makes a good one)
1 teaspoon fresh minced Thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon fresh minced Marjoram leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch (dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water)
3 frozen veggie burgers, crumbled (another idea is chopped Seitan, which adds a different flavor)
1/2 cup frozen green peas (thawed)
1/4 cup ground walnuts
3 cups of Mashed Potatoes (for a vegan version, use soy milk with the potatoes)
1/4 teaspoon Paprika

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot, cover, and cook until tender; about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms (or peppers) and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, tamari, stock, thyme, marjoram, and salt and pepper (to taste). Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer to thicken slightly; about 1 minute.
2. Spoon the filling mixture into a lightly oiled 2 1/2 quart baking dish. Stir in the burgers (or seitan), peas, and walnuts. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top. Sprinkle with paprika and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
3. Bake until potatoes are hot and bubbly and the top is golden brown; about 30 minutes. Serve HOT.

Thanks to Robin Robertson for this recipe; more of her to come in future installments since everything she makes seems to taste REALLY good!

Restaurants- Washington DC

Harmony Cafe located at 3287.5 M St NW in the Georgetown area of Washington DC makes for a phenomenal meal. It is hard to see, but there are stairs leading downstairs to the restaurant and it opens up nicely down there. They are a traditional Chinese place, but with the mock meats and they will make any of their dishes vegan if you ask. I used to go here in High School, so it has been around for quite some time. It always looked like there was ONE woman working everytime we were there, but she was very friendly and even knew several of us because we went there so often. I will post about specifics later when I can find their menu, but rest assured, this place is awesome. MENU to come....

Influences- My Mother

I am going to give a shout out to those who have influenced me over the past 16 years of vegetarian cooking.....and the first person to mention is certainly my MOM....

When I was 15 my brother became a vegetarian for Animal Rights reasons. I felt inclined at the time to agree with him and forced myself to give up meat. One thing my mother did incredibly well was to show me how to get the proper nutrition out of a vegetarian diet. She told me that she would support my decision only if I was healthy about it. Later on in my teenage years she began a Nursing degree at George Mason and part of her degree was nutrition. At that time I had started to become Vegan; more cause for nutritional concern. However, I feel I was taught very well on how to get the most out of what I ate. Also, she was (and IS) very supportive about trying out old favorite recipes , but making them Vegan. When I went to College I was always impressed by her efforts when I would return; Vegan desserts, tons of experimental dishes for me to consume. To this day she impresses me with her Vegan Cooking.

Throughout the years she has also influenced me philosophically. Touting the tenets of "true" Chrisitanity; love for your neighbor, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and helping the poor and needy, she made a huge impression on me. Even as I delved further into the depths of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, we would always have wonderful intellectual conversations. She never pretended to completely agree with my vegetarianism, but she would ALWAYS try; and along the way, I think I have shown her some great attributes of myself.

I will forever remember the times when she and I would walk the dogs down to the reservoir and talk. They are some of my fondest memories of growing up. These walks helped solidify hers and my relationship beyond that of son/mom. She always knows when to add humor to the discussion as well as when to be serious. The walks were my first indication that I needed to be outdoors and commune with Nature; hence the current situation of going to the Mountains every weekend. Her visits to us in Colorado definitely count as some of the best days of our lives; and will continue to do so until we move.

Spiciness.....

as an answer to andy's comment....yes, I LOVE spicy food....

I do feel that spiciness does help get rid of extraneous 'stuff', but I hesitate to use the term 'toxins'. I struggle with that term since it has become merely a label used to try and convince people they are toxic. Of course our world is full of bad substances, but to say that this food or that food will clean your body of said 'toxins'? Spiciness clears out mucus, some of which COULD be considered 'toxic'. Moreso I would say that spicy food tastes better.... :)

Meditation...

Hiking and skiing are both favorites of ours, but it is what they do for our minds that really helps us out. I was a big fan of meditation in college, but have found that simply cleansing your mind anywhere you can will really help your life. When we hike, we try and get far away from anyone and become ONE with our surroundings. Sitting at 13,000 feet overlooking the Continental Divide is a great way to clear your mind and become ready for the work week. Anyone can do this in their area. Whether it is walking a little while into the woods and sitting for an hour by yourself, or calmly sitting at the beach, even if you are not close to 'mountains'; your mind can become calm and relaxed enough for you to let yourself become happier.

The beauty of a High Alpine environment will always be my passion; hiking it, skiing it, or simply staring at it. After 5 hard days of work I need to relax my mind for at least 3-4 hours every weekend. Once I have (to use a computer term) "defragmented" my mind I am ready to go back to work.

I would highly recommend to everyone that they take at least 1 hour every week to sit. Whilst sitting you can answer unanswered questions, deal with issues, and come to conclusions in your life. Then you'll feel a lot better once you no longer have to "worry" about those items. Quiet meditation won't be the answer for ALL one's issues, but it will ALWAYS help clarify one's Life.

Restaurants- Boulder, CO cont....

The Scotch Corner Restaurant and Pub in downtown Boulder is a great outing for veggies and carnivores alike. Located at 1800 Broadway Ste. 150 in One Boulder Plaza, it has validated garage parking, which makes going downtown easy. It has two kitchens, one for meat and one for vegetarians. Thye have a veggie section of the menu, but other items are labeled as "vegetarian version available" such as vegetarian sausage rolls and veggie-haggas. They have Vegan Sliders (small veggie burgers), as well as vegetarian 'bangers and mash'. This place was a lot better yesterday than it was awhile ago. when they first opened, their food was relatively bland, but they have made a more concerted effort to be more tasty. They also have a great selection of Beer and Scotch. I would also recommend the Vegetarian BLT sandwich. http://www.scotchcornerpub.com/

Recipes- Morning Smoothie

here's what we have for breakfast every day....

2 bananas
2 handfuls of frozen strawberries
2 cups of Orange Juice
1/2 container of Silk Soy Yogurt

mix these in a blender and voila! you have a great morning boost....and unbelievably healthy for you!.....

"Climate Change"

an interesting article published in Time magazine....

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1839995,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner

I have been saying this for 15 years, but it is nice to see that the Mainstream media is taking notice....

Restaurants- Fairfax, VA

I have to give much Love to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant in Vienna (just outside Fairfax). This has NO link to Sunflower Organic Dining in Boulder. Growing up in a place with a lack of veggie options, Sunflower was always a breath of fresh air. They have been steady and there for many years, with some of the most wonderful vegetarian options ever. They are a Buddhist Vegetarian community and have plenty of reading if you are waiting for take out. When I was there they had one location, but now it appears they have a second location in Falls Church; yay!

Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant is located right on Route 123, just north of I-66; at 2531 Chain Bridge Road in Vienna. Their other location is on Route 7; 6304 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. One of the main things they have done better than most is labeling their food. I am impressed when a restaurant does not have to say "Veggie Chicken" or something like that. The "Fried Chicken" appetizer does this, but mostly they name their dishes around the main portion of the dish; ie; Wheat Gluten in Fermented Black Bean Sauce instead of Veggie Beef in Black Bean Sauce. The "Chicken" appetizer is wonderful and I would almost say that two orders of this makes a perfect meal. It is homemade soy protein nuggets and tastes nothing like Boca or any of the other major brands. Their soups are wonderful; a vegan Wonton Soup is one example. They have burgers and sandwiches that are better than anywhere else. Their entrees are where they shine the most. All cooked fresh, they bear names like Popeye's Favorite, Sweet and Sour Sensation, and Adventures in Tempeh Land. The two key ones are Songbird (Sauteed chunks of wheat gluten, soy protein, konnyaku & celery in a hot kong-pao flavored sauce. Tossed w. steamed watercress & peanuts.) and the General Tso's Surprise (chunks of soy protein in hot kong-pao sauce, garnished with steamed broccoli and carrots.). Anytime you can go here, do it; there Lunch Specials are amazing for 7 bucks as well. http://www.crystalsunflower.com/

Compassion at Work....

well not at the Workplace...but at work in daily living...

Compassion for all starts with what you eat. By lowering one's footprint on the Earth by consuming less resources, one can begin to become empowered in all other facets of life. Vegetarianism is a clear choice for anyone worried about Climate Change (or whatever term They are using these days) or the suffering of sentient beings. It affects Climate Change because of the severely reduced emissions caused by producing vegetables and fruits versus the MASSIVE waste of producing animal products. It affects animals' and humans' suffering because more grain and vegetables can be diverted to help starving people and, obviously, less animals will be harmed. Life on this planet is intertwined and what you do for animals needs to equate to being compassionate towards humans. This is where traditional Veganism falls short for me. To do something only because it helps animals but not to understand its effect on humans is NOT to be compassionate. Compassion in this sense is more a Utilitarian philosophy (the greatest good for the greatest amount of Life).

Recipes- Tofu

Alas...I have to say SOMETHING about tofu....

I like my tofu a little fried.....so, for me, it is best to pan fry the tofu first....

Take a block of tofu...if at all possible, drain it and put it on a plate with paper towels underneath...put a paper towel over it and another plate to press down on it....this will drain the liquid out....refrigerate for 1-2 hours prior to cooking....

then cut into half inch thick slices.....using a griddle, or other pan, fry each side until golden brown.....once the larger chunks are all brown, then you can cut them into smaller cubes or pieces and use in the Stir Fry Recipe (see other posts) or use the tofu chunks as a BBQ sandwich.....

Restaurants- Northern Virginia

Big ups to Woodbridge, Fairfax, Washington DC, Rockville, and everyone inside or just outside the Beltway!...

Woodbridge: This is the town of my birth and, up to a few years back, you had to go to Fairfax or DC to get good veggie stuff. Once I left, they got two great places;

Shanghai Cafe: Located at 12760 Darby Brook Ct, it is just off Old Bridge Rd and in a shopping center. Nothing specifically unique about this place except it has several vegetarian options. They use faux meats for a couple items and the Lemon Vegetarian Chicken is the best. I would try all of them if I still lived there.

Siam Bistro: Located on the west side of Lake Ridge at 4129 Merchant Plaza, this is the first truly great Asian restaurant in Woodbridge. They know if you say 'vegan' and will accomodate most tastes. They have two great appetizers, either the Fried Tofu or the Summer Roll. They have some great entrees; Pad Kra Pow with tofu is excellent and they have a Vegetarian Duck that is actually VERY tasty. In NOVA and want good Thai food? Then you should go here. http://www.siambistrothai.com/

Restaurants- Central Virginia continued

I cannot mention Central Virginia without giving another shout out to Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Williamsburg..

Richmond:

China Panda is a class in and of itself. They have three locations in the metro Richmond area (even though when I was there, it was only 2; so they must be doing well). The main location at 616 N Sheppard St in downtown is an enigma. On first glance it looks like a dive restaurant, dirty, etc.. but the food is unbelievably fresh and tasty. It is vegan Chinese and rivals that of Ming Dynasty in C'Ville. The sauces are great, they have veggie chicken and beef and seafood, and the people are friendly. I really enjoyed their Sesame Vegetarian Chicken. As far as I remember, the other site in southern Richmond (10020 Robious Rd) has the same menu and vegan options. A definite must for any vegan in Richmond, or anyone traveling through the area.

Fredericksburg:

Bangkok Cafe is a great Thai place in Downtown, located at 825 Caroline St. This is the first place my brother Josh actually got some food that was TOO spicy for him (he LOVES things 'as spicy as possible'. They have good fried tofu as an appetizer and several good entrees. They will substitute tofu for meat in any dish and leave out fish sauce. The Eggplant with Tofu and Basil was phenomenal. http://www.bangkokcafeva.com/

Sammy T's is a staple in F'Burg and is located in the Historic Caroline St area, at 801 Caroline St. It is a great outing for all involved and they have a TON of vegetarian options. They have a Black Bean Cake appetizer and several soups that are vegan. They have two veggie burgers, one is actually a Tempeh Burger. A couple veggie sandwiches and a great Bean Burrito add to the great menu. They also have a falafel sandiwch. Anytime you are in Fredericksburg, check this place out! www.sammyts.com

Williamsburg: This place is terrible for vegetarians. You have to go to Hampton to find some good Asian food or to Richmond for their great options.

Restaurants- Telluride, CO.

Kelly, the dogs, and I spent our last anniversary in Telluride. Apart from being one of the most beautiful places in the world, its vegetarian options abound. There is plenty of great hiking around town and a good meal makes a full day of hiking worth it.

Smuggler's Brewpub located at 225 S Pine St is a great place for Happy Hour and food. The beer is really good and fresh. The Smuggler's Beer Nuggets appetizer was wonderful (fried dough with marinara). Their Onion Rings appetizer was also vegan (so they said), but we did not try them. They have tons of salads and a vegetarian soup as well. We both tried their veggie burger and it was really good. They also have a bean and rice burrito that looked phenomenal. Their menu closes out with Linguine over marinara that is also supposedly vegan. The place has some cool seating outside; the seats are old ski lift cars that they have made into booths. This is a cool restaurant and anyone who is veggie and likes beer should frequent this place. http://www.smugglersbrew.com/

Siam is a great Thai place. Located at 200 S Davis St (corner of Davis and Pacific) they are very well versed in what 'vegan' means, so they have a good amount of choices already labeled, but will make any dish with tofu and leave out fish sauce. Specifics are coming shortly....