me?? cool??

 well we are here and mostly unpacked. Mom made a great dinner of vegetables for me,  and with the kids in bed we can rest from all the driving and driving and driving!!

I opened a comment and saw that River had sent me an award! 

Its an honor enough that I have people that consistently read my blog and leave wonderful comments.. but to get an award is always so nice!!

While I wouldnt say that I am a cool veggie mom.. I am hoping to get there so that when my girls are old enough to  make consistent decisions about a compassionate lifstyle. Maybe even some activism, which I havent really done. I am happy to say though that when I was driving my husband asked me some questions about "what if we stopped killing the cows, would they just roam free like the deer? would there be cow season like deer season?" While I dont have all the answers, its good to communicate things and talk about what can be done. If you have any thoughts on such a conversation, I would appreciate hearing them.  

Where is clarke's house?

As we drove through Kansas (yesterday) my husband told our daughter "This is where clark lives".. Being a five year old, she wanted to know where his house was and if we could go see him. Oh if only!! we didnt actually find a smalleville or superman, but we did get to see a museum to the wizard of oz. I took a few photos, then my batteries died!!! aaaaarrghh!!
So anyhow we are about to leave and drive through St. Louis on our way through Kentucky and then West Virginia. I did a search on Happycow.com to find some vegan vittles, but I think it will be soups, salads, and sides (veggies) for the most part along the way...
Thanks to disposable aardvarks for letting me know there was vegan pizza crust at Pizza hut!!!
Pics to come soon!!
Melanie

here is a shot to remind you of the great udon noodles I bought from the asiana store....
... and here is the wonderful soup I had last night using it. This is another gem fromt the Vcon cookbook, its called "Udon with Shiitake Mushrooms and Kale in Miso broth"

1/2 pound fresh udon noodles or dried (mine were frozen)

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 medium sized red onion sliced thin into half moons

4 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems trimmed, sliced (I just used left over cremini mushrooms)

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsps ginger minced

2 tbsps mirin (optional)

2 C water

3 tbsp Miso

4 cups chopped kale

2 tsps soy suace or to taste.

Cook Udon according to package. In a stock pot, saute onions and mushrooms for 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and saute for another minute. Add water, mirin, and miso and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and simmer, adding the kale. Toss the mixture around until Kale starts to wilt.

I forgot to take a picture of the tomato-rice soup with roasted garlic and navy beans. the dark bits are the onions I burned, but it was really good even though it was burned.
Here are the wonderful diner potatoes, and the french toast. Do you know how long I have been missing french toast? This was really good! This was my first time to make it and I think I can do better next time... but it was thoroughly enjoyed. You too can take back breakfast!
and lastly, here is the wonderful baby bok choy... I used peanut oil for the first time. Smelling it cooked made me feel like I was eating the yummiest peanut butter and it added so much flavor to the yummy onions. My ginger stuck together becuase I grated it. I am going to try something different next time.. but still amazing.

I thought it was interesting, to say the least. So, here goes:

1. List the last 5 people who have commented on your blog
2. If you’re on my list then you should do the meme on your blog too. (Although this is part of the rules, this is a very complicated and time consuming meme. I loved doing it, would love to read your answers, but I won’t make anybody do it. Most of you are too busy.)

1. beauty and bread
2. river
3. miss marie
4. bex
5. jess (of get sconed!)


1: What is your favourite post from number 3’s blog?

October 16 I think. Its the first post I read and she was talking about what she felt blessed about. but then she also got her purse stolen.. and she was real about how it made her feel.. and everything between those two has been a chance to see some great things in a wonderful person.. and delicious food!!


2. Has number 5 taken any pictures that have moved you?
The house of dreams post.. She was hanging with Isa eating great food for a great cause! I wish (alot of times) that I had those opportunities.. we do have a small vegetarian group out here, but I havent been able to participate much. I was moved to see a great community getting together for something beyond themselves. I want to be part of that someday.. I am looking into food not bombs in my area...

3. Does number 3 reply to comments on their blog?

Miss Marie is very welcoming and also posts on other's blogs. She is great about following up on a question too!

4. Which part of blogland is number 2 from?

I believe River's post says midwest. I am not sure.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to number 4 what would it be?

have you seen her blog? I am sure I have NO advice that could make perfect any better.

6. Have you ever tried something from number 1’s blog?

I am eyeing a couple things. Maybe when I get a full nights sleep and can wake at bakers hours to rise knead and bake.. I havent baked in MONTH.. (aside from zuchinni bread and cakes.. not bread though!)

7. Has number 2's blogged something that inspired you?

Seeing how creative vegan food and cooking can be was awesome during Vegan Mofo. River was amazing with her little ghosts and dracula cookies. She should have printed and sold that as a BOOK for halloween to be judged by. I want to be that creative someday.. and she is so easy going about it.. like "look how fun" and not like "so how will your cookbook recipe review compare to my genuis little eyeball cupcake?"...!!! lol

8. How often do you comment on number 3’s blog?

I like to comment alot. I feel like posts are converstations (sometimes) and that people want to hear feedback. Then again, I dont want to be a stalker, so I just sometimes talk about her on my blog instead!!

9. Do you wait for number 4 to post excitedly?

Yes, because she does great little photos with captions or bubble talk.. its great!!

10. How did number 5’s blog change your life?

I guessed for a while I thought most vegans were pot smoking hippies. LOL.. I really came into this with just an allergy and was looking for a way to enjoy life without missing what I couldnt have. Its not really in a moral/ethical way.. but she just looks like she is having so much fun! Who doesnt want to live through her vicariously?

11. Do you know any of the 5 bloggers in person.

No. So which one of you is going to invite me over first?

12. Do any of your 5 bloggers know each other in person?
I dont know that one?

13. Out of the 5, which updates more frequently?

now that MOFO is over I dont know.. they are not meeting my need quota of great blogs to read!! No really, I think that when they do post its great stuff. I think maybe Miss Marie, but I could be wrong.

14. Which of the 5 keep you laughing?

Probably bex with her posts, and miss marie with our comments.. the things we have in common.. they're funny. Maybe in a "you do that too?" sort of way..

15. Which of the 10 has made you cry? Well no tears yet. but who knows!

this post is for YOU

Hey... so
whats everyone doing this weekend?
I decided to combine the tasks of tagging and just post about it here. Later I will post about the yummy food I have made including my wonderful exciting breakfast!!!


I wanted to tag but not decide which one they will choose... Maybe 11/or 11/13????
Beauty and the bread from... beautyandbread.blogspot.com
I havent really seen her tagged but I am hoping she will do this so we can get a glimpse into her world a bit!

Lula Lee at veganbilly.blogspot.com
I really enjoy her blog, and she needs to do MORE this month.. so maybe a MEME??? Please?

Shelby at labellevegan.blogspot.com becuase she is working her butt off at school and needs to take a break and fill this out. I didnt see any other Memes on her blog either, but if you go visit her she might do this!!

hurrah hurrah

http://www.silksoymilk.com/Images/ProductShots/silk_nog.jpg

So, today I visited the natural grocers in town. I missed seeing the friendly face of the produce manager. He always gives me way more information than I know what to do with.. but its always exciting. He has been telling me I can get my carrots and apples in bulk and save money. I should post a pic of my very small apartment and see where we could fit all those yummies!
The frozen corn and peas and mixed veggies were on a great sale so I grab what I could fit in my freezer and a few things I needed. I got peanut oil to make the Baby Bok Choy from Vcon. wow. I have a pic but I am too lazt to go through the hoops. Plus I have found Silk NOG yipppeeee!
But anyhow I have to say the kids gobbled up the bok choy even if they couldnt figure out how to say what it was "Broccoli" Bok Chips"... etc. The crunchy shallots in the peanut oil were soooo good.
I am just worried that I am making all these foods that should just be made for special occasions???
Well I am doing a test run on the "chinese take out (in) menu" From Vcon for a friend who is adopting her son from China and gets home on Sunday. I am making a meal for them and she knows I am Vegan.. I think she will at least like the Bok Choy.. I dont know about the green tea dessert..
I was tagged so I need to post about that now..


Random fact about me....
My hair doesnt stay red for very long when I dye it. I am trying to go back to natural but its was platinum blonde... so I was having fun with the red. I felt like Susan Serandon or something. I struggle with hair color envy... the kind of hair color that doesnt make people look like the havent slept for weeks and washed out.. Miss Marie has really pretty hair...


I have a pogo addiction. I play on pogo.com with my friend Mhoney.. my name is Missey 8385 and it says I am from Barcelona. I didnt make up the profile, but my friend lets me use it. The games vary from frogs jumping lily pads.. to solitare and popping balloons. It helps me get my mind off of stress and the games are so dumb at times that my mind can just defrag...


I was a stalker to my husband. He is very shy and quiet, and very handsome. I beat out millions of women who wanted him. It was like The Bachelor except we were in college and he didnt make out with ANY of us. (some of that was a joke) Our first kiss was our wedding day... and no one believed me when I told them I was engaged.. they thought I lost my mind. It didnt help that at times he would pretend not to know me.... He did ask me out once in front of 700 students. We went to a hockey game and when the crowd screamed for a goal (or a fight) He yelled "I LOVE MELANIE" but.. yeah.. I didnt hear it.. he told me later.

My desk is always messy but I am a freak about having a clean house. At night the shoe makers elves dumb loads of mail and crayon drawings and orders for products on my clean counter. If I dont stay on top of them they try to multiply the dishes in my sink. I gave away alot of dishes becuase I got tired of washing them. But that doesnt help my desk, because I would have to get rid of the desk.. not the things piled on it..


I like going and staying in hotels. It doesnt matter where we go, its just nice to get away. Bed and Breakfasts are even better but with kids they are harder to come by. I like arriving after long hours of driving the kids strip down and jump in the tub and then jump on the beds. I get a queen with Natalie and Susan either sleeps with me too or hogs the other bed. They manage to write something on every piece of paper they provide (like marking territory) and I like to surf for the movies that are on demand. Once in a while we get room service. Its fun.


Most nights I sleep on the couch. Last night my husband was snoring, the cat always sleeps on my pillow and the kids try to climb in bed about four times. If I am asleep on the couch I sleep through all of that and Jerami gets to wake up with a bed full of monkeys!!



I think that Sweet November is alot like the story of my life. Granted to some she was a loose woman who had a new boyfriend every month (and that part does NOT describe me), But she also was so impacted by the events of her life that she wanted to be an impact on others. Jerami says I have her personality, and he could see me breaking in to rescue dogs. This was even before I was vegan. I have the movie memorized and I always cry at the end. I feel at such a loss to not have Sarah Deaver for December at the end of the movie.. sniff sniff....

Okay so now I am really getting behind with the tagging. But I just dont know who is into these things too!!! I love that someone wants to read the randomness in my head.. I feel like I am in such a cool little group. So I promise to find some people that I havent tagged a bunch already and see whats in their head!!

a feast of photos not in order....

Tada! Look its Seitan! I finally found a recipe that I thought would be good enough to fool a tough crowd and yet easy enough for me to try!! I have to apologize becuase I actually made bbq sauce and coleslaw and had this on a monster sandwich for dinner.. but only took a photo of the finished product from grilling it. I wanted to make it like "pulled meat" so I cut it thinly and small.

Susan kept eating it out of the bowl while we waited for the rest of the goodies to be made. Both girls really loved it, and though I think I could have done better with the bbq sauce this was very good. Its from Vcon I did the slaw and the bbq sauce from the book. My husband thought it was chicken!! But I couldnt let him enjoy this meal without the credit it deserved. Plus I was eating it, so he figured something was "different"... lol cant really fool a meat eater when you are eating it too.. So I am ready to try my hand at it home made. More to come on that..
More great grilling.. this is the last of my teriyaki tofu. I fell in love with this, and was so happy to find it on sale. I did use it before the date (cause I am a weirdo about that stuff) but this was my last harrah! I want to mention that this is a small shot of my vegenaise. This is the one product that SOLD me on how great eating vegan can be.. why you ask??? Well my journey started because I was getting sick all the time... and it was due to an egg allergy. It was at the beginning of summer when everyone was making potato salad and macaroni salad.. and just salad dressing in general... I had been emailing with Erik Marcus @ vegan.com and when I saw this for sale online it was like I was welcomed back into the world of eating.  ok enough name dropping..
"I'm leaving on a JET PLANE" This is our Juicer! We got it off craig's list. I love bartering. Please barter with me. I even found a good use for our glasses from our wedding.. yummy carrot apple and lettuce juice. 
This is my trip to the "asiana" store. I got veggie potstickers (I think) some great noodles (I think) and one of those mats since I roll my own sushi but didnt have one.. and green tea MACHA (I really really hope) for a recipe from Vcon about green tea cookies. My greatest sadness in life is that my brain isnt a downloadable computer so that I can speak every language.. I think this is Korean.... maybe..
And here was just a great shot of breakfast. I wanted to try something new, since I either skip breakfast or make oatmeal.  Now my brain froze and I forget what its called.. AHHHHH!!! oh mueslix!