What Have I been Eating? Not things I have cooked myself....

Lately, I have done very little "real cooking." For the purpose of this post, I am going to define "real cooking" as anything that falls into one of these categories: (1) takes longer than 10 minutes to prep (cut, slice, peel, season, etc...); (2) takes longer than 20 minutes total--prep to done; or, (3) requires more than one dish to make.Now I know, there are "one pot" dishes, but I am sure these more than likely fall into areas (1) or (2).

Anyways, between teaching my 5 classes (it is nearing the end of the semester, student now magically decide to turn in work that they have had all semester to complete) and going through random bouts of illness, cooking hasn't been on my priority list. This means, among other things, that I have not been getting enough vegetables (which I am sure didn't help my sickness at all). I actually went to the grocery store and picked up some of my favorites: kale, broccoli, sweet potatoes, oranges and limes. I figure I can make some delicious food from these items this week.

I already made a broccoli, kale, soy beans and rice concoction that was delicious (I made the rice with coconut milk and lime juice---yum!!!). Tomorrow, when I get home from work, I plan on making some sweet potato fries, some sauteed kale and maybe some fresh-squeezed orange juice. Hopefully, there will finally be some new posts on food to come!

Aji Amarillo Sauce

 So, after some rather depressing news yesterday (an article I submitted didn't get accepted for publication), I went home and made some much needed comforting food.

I bought this jar of aji amarillo paste at the local Mexican grocery to make a recipe. Well, it was just sitting there, and I had a feeling it would be tasty in other things too, I just didn't know what. After perusing teh internets for a while, I took some ideas from many different sauces--meant to go with aji de gallina (a creamy, spicy chicken dish) and veganized the heck outta it.

Here's what's in my version of the sauce:

--1 piece whole wheat sprouted bread soaked in almond milk with some sugar (don't eat condensed milk and didn't have any soy creamer, it worked fine)
--1/2 jar of aji amarillo paste
--2 tsp. aji panca (same pepper, just dried then pasted)
--2 cloves minced garlic
--1-2 tsp. lemon juice (all out of limes, they would have been better probably)
--pinch of Mexican oregano and tumeric
--splash or two of veggie broth

1. Put ingredients in blender (all but the veggie broth)
2. Mix around and such until everything is dissolved.
3. Add veggie broth until sauce is desired consistency.

I put this over some Gardein cutlets. It would have worked with tofu, seitan or even maybe tempeh. I also made my favorite lime and garlic rice (just add lime juice, garlic, and olive oil to brown rice and cook it normally). I served it up with some tostones, and it was delicious! Aji amarillo is different than other spicy sauces you may be used to. It's hotter than a jalapeno, but has a different flavor. It starts off somewhat fruity and finishes hot.

Yum!

The night was finished off by checking out some bands at a local pub. They were both great! I really enjoyed the all-female group, Frankie Rose and The Outs--super great!
The first was was great too, except the bassist kept giving me the weird eye. But I was handed a free cd without prompting so, oh well:)

"I don't Believe in Vegans"

Here is a photo (note the conclusion at the bottom):

Check out the awesome response at My Face Is On Fire.

My response to the "there is no such thing as a vegan" is like my friend Grace's response to "I don't believe in abortion":

Well, they EXIST.

Another Quick Link to Inspiration..

Part of my major problem when I first went vegetarian (about 7 years ago) and then vegan (about 6 months ago with a few occasional slip-ups that I am really, really working on!!!!) was the utter lack, of under-emphasis on, the ways in which food "choices" are greatly constrained not only by culture, but by material circumstances.

Many people cannot (1) afford to buy healthy food options; (2) do not have access to fresh produce, vegetables and non-GMO meat-substitutes and other veg products anywhere near their neighborhood; or, (3) do not have access to knowledge about genetic modification of food, dangers of food (particularly meat and dairy), and what to do to pressure those in power to make sure they get it. Well, I stumbled across this AMAZING website, Appetite for Justice by Food Empowerment Project. I think that every, single last damn vegan in the world should be reading about the important social justice activism this group is doing and support (however they can) the work that they do.

Here is a link to their most recent study as well.

Something Inspriational

By all accounts, I am far more angst-ridden and too busy being irritated most of the time (whether it's from teaching my 5 classes, being disrespected and/or treated like a sex object by my students, not having any $$$, hearing something racist/sexist/homophobic/specieist, having to clean-up cat puke when I come home from working for 10 hours) to really stop and think about the amazing things I have in my life. (I am trying to work on that!) I also do not often stop to really think about being a "Joyful Vegan," in the words of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau or about how I decided to stop eating meat and why, or what I am actually doing to make a difference. Of course, I had better start if I want to get this super cute necklace at Colleen's site (and you KNOW I do!)

Part of this, of course, is due to my Marxist-Feminist inclinations on collective action as a necessary catalyst for social change (so, I do not always *or ever* think of my food choices as being activism) and the other part is due in large part to my feeling that my individual actions simply do not do much in terms of eradicating environmental racism/classism, ending exploitation of animals, bridging gaps between various types of oppressions and violent behaviors and a slew of other things. I could talk about this for a while; however, I have not completely formulated my thoughts on the subject. I will post on it in-depth once I sort out the various theoretical/practical inclinations I have and how those relate (or don't) to other passions I have. Part of this searching for information involves looking for things for inspiration and once in a while I stumble upon a website and links to videos that at least make me feel as if I am doing something--and validate that what I am doing is not "bourgeois," "unimportant" or "stupid."

So, I would like to thank Lindsay at Kiss Me, I'm Vegan for inspiring me to take on more activism in my area and for providing me with something to smile about. In addition, a wonderful thought-provoking video by the aforementioned Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on female animal exploitation:




And, of course, since I love links to browsing stuff I wish I could have on a Sunday night when I am all prepared for the week (and wrote 1st drafts for 3 of my 7 PhD applications this weekend), I came across Vegan Etsy and this cool video about deciding to go vegan and making the connections between animals we love to play with and animals whose flesh we love to eat:




Inspiration is a great way to end a day!