*Fun Finds*

Just a little entry to share a few things that I recently found inspiring, tasty, or delightful :)

Harmony by Mr. Doob:  Check this out!  A very cool online doodler ;)  Be sure to check out the different "brush" and color options

Any Edward Scissorhands fans?  This was on an artist's blog that I just found and it made me happy.  I really like this one, too.

STAMP MAKING!!  I haven't done this before, but would like to try my hand at it soon.  Here's one nifty tutorial and here's another.

Whether you have kids or work with them, you have to admit that this robot is a cutie!

A few recipes that are making my mouth water:
Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli and Deep Dish Pizza on Vegan Meow!
Blackforest Chocolate Cheesecake and raw SAMOAS!! on Bitt of Raw

Want to win something?

There's still time to win a sweet little necklace at Coffee & Sunshine.

A cute planner and vegan zine are available at the Peace to All Creatures 'Zine Project.

Monday News

Welcome to the second edition of the Monday News!  This is just a sampling of my recent discoveries, click the links for the whole story.  If you have any ideas or news stories that you would like to contribute please let me know!

Monkey Cat
Ok, not literally, but this is seriously cool.  Observers have suspected wild cats of mimicking other animals, but until now it had never been documented.  "Cats are known for their physical agility, but this vocal manipulation of prey species indicates a psychological cunning which merits further study," said WCS researcher Fabio Rohe."  A cat making monkey calls?  That seems like a cunning cat to me!

Obama Responds to a Vegan Outreach
(discovered through Vegan Outreach)
"Americas would actually benefit from change in diet."  Check out Obama, too bad we can't be too progressive.  But I can appreciate that he cares, even if it's not enough.   

Cage-free Coming to California
A step in the right direction.  Check out Vegan Outreach for more.

An Act of Terrorism?
Evidently not!  The case against 4 animal rights activists who were arrested in Santa Cruz in 2009 has been dismissed!  Get more details here and here.

New Species
(I'm a sucker for a new species, so from now on when I spot one you're sure to hear about it!)
Pancake Batfish - 2 new species!

 


From the BLOG WORLD

A Squat Cafe?
Perhaps, like me, you thought that squatting was reserved for homeless or bohemian types that take up temporary residency in an abandoned building.  Well, at the Vegan Backpacker they put this myth in it's place.

My Thoughts
I can really appreciate this thought on Vegan Outreach.  I won't lie, I've been a little frustrated by the question of honey popping up on various blogs lately.  But I truly do not mean my frustrations to be an insult to anyone.  It's good that people question things and put thoughtful efforts into making their own decisions about how to live their lives.  But Vegan Outreach reminded me of something important.  As vegans, we are all striving to make a difference.  And while I do think it's important for us to support one another and discuss our questions and concerns, perhaps I shouldn't feel so much frustration.  After all, we have bigger problems to contend with ;)

Contest Update
The Give-away is still coming!  I will be out of town part of the week for my friend Tiff's wedding :)  So I may not be able to start the reviews until next week.  Sorry to put you all in suspense, but I promise the day will come!

CARTOONS!!!
So, here's some good news:  The awesome vegan cartoonist Dan Piraro is allowing me to post some of his comics for my news entries :)  He's very talented and of course I'm very flattered to share these right here with you guys.   (I will work on making these more viewer friendly, for now click for an enlarged image.)

 

Crafty Contests

There are a couple of contests you might not want to miss out on!

 TreeWool:  Are you a knitter or crafter?  Then check out this interview with Vegancraftastic and enter when some goods ;)






Speaking of Vegancraftastic, get over to her blog for a chance to write down your thoughts and dreams in a new pocket journal made by Studio827 KC.

And stay tuned!  I will be having a Giveaway of my own very soon...

Here are so more artistic and crafty blogs that I have recently discovered that you might enjoy ;)
My Zoetrope
The Sassy Crafter
Journal Artista
Herbivore Knits
Do Stuff Blog
iHanna's Blog: Create and Live Happy
GPP Network Street Team
Woven Letters
Creating FTW!
Film and Thread
Carbon Torbus

Know of any other great contests or arts/crafts blogs?  Feel free to post the link ;)

Nutty for Nut Butters

It's Thursday...question day!

What is your favorite nut butter?  And how do you like to eat it?  If you have a delightfully nutty recipe, please share!  (I realize seed butters are becoming popular, as well, so feel free to discuss those, too.)

Adam and I have grown quite fond of cashew butter.  It's creamier than peanut butter and so delicious.  Our weekday morning breakfast consists of a bowl of oats, seeds, dried fruit, etc. - topped with a generous helping of cashew butter :)  We usually buy East Wind Community cashew butter.  Lucky for us they are located in Tecumseh, MO, which makes it a "small footprint" buy AND it tastes wonderful!

Overboard with Anxiety

I'm going to sidetrack from my current blog agenda for a more personal note.  I happened on a new blog today (Yummy Raw Kitchen) and was inspired by this post.  And because I've seen it a few times now on various blogs and think it's grand, here's an inspiring photo:

We all, at least sometimes, have issues that we would like to resolve.  Recently I was able to put a name to some of the crap I have been experiencing - ANXIETY.  And it's wonderful to know and be able to identify what's going on with you.  More and more I have realized that some of my emotions are a little out of control.  It's not the sort of thing you know about unless you live with me (I don't think).  But my mind will sometimes be constantly churning, feeling pressure that doesn't exist.  Expecting what I think others must be expecting of me.  Does that sound a little loony?  Well it is!  And recently I've determined that I'm not so sure I can just practice mind control to work it out.  So, I've been looking at herbs and vitamins that might do the trick.  My trial cure of choice (as of yesterday) is Niacinamide.  It is a vitamin and comes from niacin (vitamin B3).  I have read many good things about it and am very excited.

Today I am extremely happy because I have taken it for the first time and think it may already be helping.  Maybe it's just a quieter day for me, but some of my anxious thoughts have seemed less existent today.  And it's quite pleasant :)  Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.  It's nice to talk about.

So, what are you happy about?  (And if anyone is interested in Gluten Free cooking I would love to read your thoughts, please check out my last entry ;)

Your Thoughts on Thursday

As I mentioned on Mon., Thursday is my new space to ask a question (or two) and get your thoughts.  Feel free to give as lengthy a response as you desire!  And feel free to e-mail me with ideas for future Thursdays.

What are your favorite gluten free flours and recipes?  I am very interested in the details, so if you have any tips on mixing gluten free flours or on other ingredients to use with them, feel quite free to elaborate! (You can even mention the things you don't like)

Some Gluten Free blogs and websites to check out (not necessarily vegan):
Alternative Flours on allrecipes.com
Book of Yum
Celiac Sprue Assoc. Flour List 
Celiac Sprue Association Recipes
Celiac.com
Gluten Free on Fat Free Vegan
Gluten-free Girl and the Chef
Gluten Free Gobswacked
Gluten Free Goddess
 Gluten Free Mommy
Gluten Free Vegan
Information on Vegfamily

Awesome Things

For those who visited my blog in January, you might remember Weekly Intrigue posts where I listed some of the wonderful things I came across on the net.  (If you want to check any of those out again click here or just click inspiration under labels).  In that same spirit, and because I just couldn't keep up the weekly thing, here are some new awesome things I have come across.

TREEHOUSES!  What is not cool about tree-houses?  I remember dreaming of living in treetops or inside of trees as a kid.  And now I realize people build these dreams and it is absolutely amazing!

Wilkinson Residence:  This looks like something out of a sci-fi movie and is super sweet!  It is located in Portland, OR, somewhere I still dream of visiting.

Recycled Houses:  This is actually something I heard about awhile ago (thanks to Gina Marie - fellow librarian friend) and it is so cool!  Not only is this guy building up in the trees, but he is using recycled items to do it!  He, also, encourages and teaches others the skills to build their own.  He is truly an inspiration :)  The link above features a cool image of this guy and one of his houses.  Here is a video that shows you what it's all about.

Villages in the Sky:  East Wind, an intentional community in Tecumseh, Mo, is hosting a festival in June.  People will have the chance to help build tree houses and windmills.  It's an opportunity to bring people together to promote sustainable building, renewable energy and volunteer efforts.  This one's close to home, so I may have to check it out!

FOOD

Interested in Fermenting?  A quick visit to Green & Crunchy is sure to give you any motivation you need to get started!

Vegan sausages, pasta, and apples?!  You bet!  Head over to Healthy Happy Life and you're sure to get excited by this combo.

I miss croissants and am extremely inspired by these rolled up fellas over at Cupcake Kitteh.  Mmm, almond croissants even!

SWEET TREATS!  Yep, the sweets belong in a category all their own :)
Over at the Crafty Kook, River is making some mighty fine sweets with coconut milk!  Check out this thick and creamy Mousse and some deliciously fudgy looking Eureka Brownies!

Decadent Chocolate Caramel Bars await you on Seitan is my Motor.  Your mouth is sure to water as soon as you see these!

GARDENING

How cool would it be to have plants growing on the side of your house, literally?!  Mo Zone is a really cool blog that features all kinds of planting ideas and helpful tips for those on a budget.  Especially rad are the many recycled planter ideas that pop up!

As excited as I am about gardening, I'm worried that my aims are a little too ambitious this year.  It's important to me that nothing goes to waste (which may involve some free food for family and friends).  This entry on Living the Frugal Life provides helpful tips for meal planning with your garden.

Roof gardens, like these pictured on Fresh Dirt are amazing!  And I must say I have been very intrigued by succulents lately, which are part of these garden schemes.

BRAIN FOOD

Heathen Vegan:  I've visited the blog many times, but this is the first time I saw the new front page.  It is FULL of reasons to be vegan, very motivating reasons.  Check it out!

Canadians on Seal:  Many of you have probably already heard about this, but it sickens me, so it deserved a mention.

Food Safety Offender:  America PLEASE get your food act together!

Weekly Intrigue (4)

In the middle of the week Cassie?  That's right!  As I mentioned in my previous entry I'm working to find that balance between blogging and blog gazing, and other things.  It's so silly, but I don't think I'm alone.  And because I feel that these entries are important because there are too many cool blogs that it's important to recognize ;)  Actually, for that reason, this week I will focus on...
New (to me) and Stumbled Upon Again Blog Spotlight: Some of these I've just recently found and some are blogs I recently rediscovered.  Either way, they're worth a look ;)
Vegan (and Raw)
A Bitt of Raw
...aka Darzy...
Another One Bites the Crust
Blessed Vegan Life
ChicVegan
Earth Muffin
Escapades in Cooking
Happy. Healthy. Life
Holistically Heather
I Eat Food
In the Mood for Noodles
Kristen's Raw
Lustrous Musings
The Tropical Vegan
Unpopular Vegan Essays
Veg Health News
Vegan...but not Scary
Vegan Cowgirl
Vegan Parenting
Vegan Soapbox
Vegan Soul Power
Vegan Tickles
Yo Soy!

Other Food Blogs
A Year in Bread
Bread and Honey
Elle's New England Kitchen
Kids Playing with Skulls
Kitchen M
Madhuram's Eggless Cookings
The Ordinary Vegetarian 
Pink Stripes
Wayfaring Chocolate
Where's the beef?

Other Things (Inspiration, Gardening, Frugality, Environmental, Crafts, and more)
Chiot's Run
Civil Eats
Crafting Green World
Crunchy Chicken
Eco Women
Farmgirl Fare
Green as a Thistle
In My Kitchen Garden
The Inadvertent Gardener
Little House in the Suburbs
Living in a Local Zone
Magic: Everyday
Milkweed Diaries
Mo Zone
Plain Old Kristi
(not so) Urban Hennery
Rachel's Tiny Farm 
Simple Green Frugal Co-op
Skippy's Vegetable Garden
You Grow Girl

AND Please welcome my blogging family :)
Hidden Treasures
Fiddlewitch

Weekly Intrigue (3)

First off, I would like to mention a little food discovery.  I made up a wrap from some leftover falafel, spinach, tomato and tahini, but realized it needed something moist.  So, looking in my fridge I saw some applesauce and thought why not?  I drizzled a little on and it was fantastic!  It wasn't enough to give it an overwhelming apple taste, but enough to add a hint of sweetness and moisture.

So, on to the goods.  You may notice that the vegan blogroll over there is getting long.  That's because I'm constantly remembering blogs that I meant to add and discovering new (to me) blogs that should be listed.  So, keep an eye on it, it will keep growing.  Soon I will be adding some craft and garden links, as well.

Food
These first two were left off of last week's list:
Chocolate Donuts (The Life):  If only I had a donut pan to make these wonderful treats.  (Any suggestions?)  Perfectly glazed images!

Kaiser Rolls (Vegan Thyme):  A detailed and simplified how-to with pics for preparing kaiser rolls.  These babies will encourage even the most intimidated would-be baker!

Cacao Buckwheat Bars (Veggie Wedgie):  We're pretty fond of buckwheat these days and a new raw bar is always exciting!  Check these out for a chocolaty, healthy treat (also includes goji berries)!

Pumpkin Kibbeh (Vegan Feast Kitchen):  Kibbeh is a middle-eastern dish with minced meat, bulgur and spices, often served with tahini.  There are many variations and traditions depending on location which you can read more about at the Vegan Feast Kitchen.  This variation sounds wonderful and might be something to consider for those participating in the EAT world challenge ;)

Lentil Taco Salad (Thrifty Living):  This should interest frugal cooks and anyone who prefers few processed ingredients.  Lentils are a great pick for taco filling! Why did I think of this?

Seitan Parmesan (My Veggie Kitchen):  Well, if you've been thinking about veganizing chicken parm. and aren't interested in the eggplant variety, this seems like a good match!  You can create your own recipe for it, but looking at this page will definitely give you inspiration.

Massaman Lentil Pumpkin Soup (My Veggie Kitchen):  I think I've mentioned that we love our Thai curry dishes, so how could I ignore this?!  A warm spiced soup perfect for the season.

Chickpea Idea List (Get Sconed!):  This includes tips for using dried beans, why you should and some great recipe recommendations.

Cashew Cheese Log (Tofu-n-Sprouts):  Cashew cheese?  Yes please!  So, I've just started experimenting with cashews mixed in sauces for a cheesy flavor, it's wonderful.  But that's the extent of my testing and there is so much more to be done.  A little fancy and quite lovely, this would look lovely laid out for any sort of festivity!

Wild Rice Crepes (Maple Spice):  Filled with chickpeas, mushrooms and spinach, and topped with a roasted red pepper tomato sauce.  Doesn't that sound like a fantastic gourmet dish?

Glögi (Tofu for Two):  This is the perfect time of year for mulled wine, wassail and other spiced drinks.  In the mood?  Then this might be for you.

Sweet Treats:
Almond Joy Cookies (Bicycle Bread):  Coconut and chocolate, oh my!  These sound wonderful and use agave!

Maple Glazed Sweet Potato Doughnuts (Peaces by Pastries):  Donuts always sound good to me and I have yet to make my own.  But these sound great, even adapted from a recipe by the author's grandma - you know that means good things!

Caramel frosted Dark Chocolate Brownies (Seitan is My Motor):  I really can't say enough about how enticing these look!

It's not food, but it's still great!:
Vegan Sock Yarn List (Vegan Knitting):  I was so excited to find this!  I haven't made any socks yet, but am very anxious to try (and maybe a little intimidated).  It's so wonderful to have such a comprehensive list available!

We're all made out of meat (These Little Piggies Had Tofu):  Every wondered what to tell the kiddies before they decided animals might be something to munch on?  Well, this explanation seemed perfect!  Maybe a little grotesque, but hey, it's the truth!

Vegan.com: I could not say enough about this site to encompass how wonderful it is.  If you have not been here you should.  This is one of the best sources for staying up to date on all things vegan.

Contests:
The Saucy Vegetarian (Vegan Appetite):  Interested in a copy of The Saucy Vegetarian by Joanne Stepaniak?  Head over to this link for a chance to win a cookbook by the Uncheese Queen.

The Conscious Cook (Vegan.com):  Want a copy of Tal Ronnen's popular new book? 

New (to me) Blog Spotlight:  Because there are so many to stumble upon, these might be new to you, too.  I came across tons this week, so some might spill over into next week.  Check these out!
Hot Knives 
Vegan Family House
Kitchen Dancing
Love Star Plate
Kirsten's Kitchen
Sword and Bean
An Opera Singer in the Kitchen
The Innocent Primate
Peace by Pastries

Craft/Garden:
Tiny White Daisies
Colleen's Organic Gardening Blog
Vegan Knitting
Vegan Sock KAL
Affectioknit

Honest Scrap

Please, check out this blog: Vegan Thyme.  If you've been there before then you know why I'm recommending it.  If you haven't, you'll soon find out why.  Not only does Kelly make great food, but she's thoughtful and has interesting things to say about her life.  And she has completely flattered me with an award!  I can hardly believe it.  When I popped on her site for a daily review and noticed my name in a list of ten, well I had to look over it again to be sure, I just couldn't believe it!  I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now and am flattered by any recognition and comments I receive, and then she gives me an award!  I am so honored.  Thanks Kelly!

So what is this award?  Well, that's a good question.  It's origin is a bit of a mystery.  Over at Vegan Thyme and Cajun Chef Ryan (the one who nominated her) I learned that it came about in 2008 and the logo came from a brand of chewing tobacco or snuff.  Wild, huh?  I tried to search it myself, but after two pages of googling I had enough and decided that it didn't really matter.  I think the important thing is to recognize the one who gave it to you and those who you will pass it on to.  Kind of a "thanksgiving" type of thing, you know?

Well, I'm a little nervous, being new to the blog world and to get so honest with you, but I will do my best.

The Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to that blog post.  (Kelly (Vegan Thyme) thank you so much, again!)
2. Tell ten honest things about yourself and make them interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
3. Pass the award on to ten bloggers you feel embody the spirit of Honest Scrap, and whose blog you find brilliant in design and/or concept.

My "Honest Scrap" (These are the things that came to mind tonight):
1.  I rarely bake with sugar and try not to eat it, but I love coffee and tea too much to consider giving up caffeine.  (At least I watch my intake!)
2.  In Australia I got a $200 speeding ticket.  Pretty awful huh?  I was studying abroad for 4 months.  A few friends and I had rented a car for a couple of days in Melbourne over Spring Break.  We were driving along the Great Ocean Road, ending at the Twelve Apostles.  As we were leaving it started raining.  Hard.  So there we were, it's pitch black, raining, and I'm winding around hills on the wrong side of the road trying to get back to our hostle.  Just as we were coming back in to town I was pulled over.  They don't go easy on foreigners, either.  On the good side, the girls riding with me were good sports and split the ticket with me - how awesome is that?!
3.   I became vegan in Feb. 2007.  I was planning to give up meat for awhile and my boyfriend suggested that I watch "Meet your Meat" to help me out (since I was whining so much about how hard it would be).  When I saw them cutting the beaks off of baby chicks I realized that vegetarianism was not good enough (it was all or nothing!).  And that's how I went from vegetarian to vegan in 8 hours or less.
4.  Possums used to piss me off.  Not sure why, but I used to want to kick them when I saw them and I would get angry just talking about them.  This isn't really the case anymore, though!
5.  I toured with a saxophone ensemble in China for 2 weeks (during the holidays of 2004).
6.  I went to school for music (saxophone).  When I decided that I didn't want to teach, I finished my degree and decided to just try out different things and see where life took me.  I am quite happy with my current position as a librarian in a teen department.
7.  I am consistently late or "just on time".  It's not a good thing.  I think I have a fear of being early and waiting around by myself or with nothing to do, and I seem to always be able to find something to do just before I need to be somewhere!
8.  My biggest dream is to some day own my own coffee shop/cafe.  Everything will be vegan, fairly traded, fresh, and wonderful!
9.  Cameron is my huge, sweet, lovable baby.  He's not vegan, but I will care for him his whole life.  I picked Cameron up at a pet shop while living in my first apartment (only rescue animals from now on!).  I knew he was the one when he took me on an adventure around the shop after being placed on the ground and then later, when he pounced from my shoulder onto a parrot's cage and knocked him down (the parrot had been hanging upside down).  I might mention that this parrot had been picking on me, pulling at my hair and squawking at me.  So, I guess that makes Cam my hero ;)
10.  Adam is my love who I plan to spend my life with.  We have been together for nearly 3 years and it's been wonderful the whole way through.  Though we attended the same college, I hardly knew him until my last semester.  He was two years younger than me and a composition student, a more quiet type than the loud-mouthed musician variety.  Luckily I had to drop out of Music History 1 the first go around and when I retook it Adam was in my class.  I was, also, taking Comp. lessons that semester, so we were in the Composers' society together.  And on blossomed our romance.  (I don't think I want to go into the "honest" details, haha.  Not that they're that bad!)

My "Honest Scrap" Nominations:
How did I pick?  They have blogs that I happily visit, I want to get to know them better, but mostly they just seemed like the right picks to me right now :) - meaning, I have my reasons! :)   Check these out, you won't be sorry!
*Scottish Vegan Homemaker
*Vegan in New England
*Skint Vegan
*Earthy Foody
*Going Down Swinging
*A Little Hungry
*Bitter Sweet
*Vegan Eats and Treats
*Be My Playground
*The Fairest Seed

Weekly Intrigue (2)

As I mentioned in another entry, I am constantly amazed by all of the awesome blogs and recipes I come across. Not only that, but the fact that there are so many vegan blogs alone that I seem to discover new ones weekly. So, despite the fact that I have made few entries this week I still want to take this time to celebrate wonderful things that I have come across, something I started last week. Not all of these will be recent entries because I've decided that old entries are just as worthy of notice ;) (Naturally!)

I'd like to start off with my neice's blog, Life of a Homeschooled Teenager. She just got started and has some fun things going on, not to mention sweet pics of kitties and a chicken :)

FOOD:
Raw Cranberry Goji Berry Bars (Gluten-free Vegan Family): Raw bars are great snacks to have on hand. You can fix batches and have a week or two's worth of snacks to pack for work or wherever you might be headed. Tasty and nutritious, these bars drizzled in chocolate look delightful!

Pull-Apart Wheat Dinner Rolls (Beans and Greens): Do you love bread? Because I do! Bread is one of the many reasons that I don't ever see myself going completely raw. Kristin over at Beans & Greens says that she's found the perfect dinner roll. Well, I'm excited to try it! And this is a good time of year for such things :)

Guiltless Quiche Provencal (Yoga.Food.Art): Quiche was one thing I ate a lot before becoming vegan. A lunch stop at the local coffee shop meant a slice of quiche and bread. The images for this recipe make my mouth water and I hope to try it very soon.

Sweet Potato Tart with Maple Icing (Manifest:Vegan): I really wasn't a sweet potato fan until I met Adam and it was one of the things he requested and could not live without. My tastes have adapted since and I enjoy a good baked sweet potato or treat now and then. This looks amazing and uses dates and Agave!

Spiced Beans in Coconut Milk (Maharagwe) (The Fairest Feed): Trying a new recipe from somewhere exotic (for me anywhere outside the US) is exciting. This is an African dish that looks appetizing and filling. Not sure if I've mentioned before, but coconut milk has become one of my favorite ingredients. With this spice combination mixed with beans and tomatoes I expect some tasty results.

Cauliflower Poppers (VegWeb.com): Finger foods are very appealing to me. One of those loves you don't really lose past childhood (as with many things for me ;). These have definitely caught my eye and I will be sure to post results whenever I try them for myself!

Sweet Potato Kale Balls (Cupcake Punk): Finger foods? Well, I just covered that. These little guys also have the potential to be a hit mixed with pasta (like shown in the post) or with a variety of things I can imagine.

Pistachio Matcha Muffins (Bitter Sweet): I could not resist including this. Though, I have no idea what these might be like the idea is very intriguing. Adam loves pistachios and I'm always ready for a good muffin. Like the blogger (at Bitter Sweet), I agree that there are too few recipes that call for these wonderful nuts!

Chocolate Spritz Cookies with Candy Cane Filling (Bitter Sweet): I'm a fan of chocolate and mint combinations. These cookies look delightful and would be a hit at any holiday gathering I'm sure!

DIY Hot Pockets (Tiny Choices): This is such a great idea! I have been thinking a lot lately about items to make and freeze for quick meals. These definitely hit the spot!

Truffles: A whole label to itself? Well, I found so many good-looking recipes this week that it was hard to resist. Each of these offers something a little different, so get excited and experiment with your own version! (And please let me know if you create something wonderful!)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Cookies (Manifest:Vegan)
Chocolate Truffles for Your Vegan Valentine (La Vie En Vegan)
White Chocolate Walnut Truffles (VegSpinz)
White Chocolate Orange Almond Truffles (Vegan Etsy)

Other Things:
More At Home Toxic-Free Beauty (Diary of a Vegan): I'm always a sucker for info. on DIY natural health and body products. Though I have experimented very little in this area myself, I get very excited when I see tips from others.

Hearts for Haiti: Treat yourself and help people in Haiti by visiting this Etsy shop where 100% of proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders. (Thanks to Vegancraftastic for posting an entry on this!)

Fast food slows down (Sustainable Food): Has anyone read Infinite Jest? Every time I read articles like this it seems like the future described in that book is close to reality. And that's scary. This article describes the ways fast food chains are working to capitalize on Americans' obsession with TV. (Entertainment obsession is a key element in David Foster Wallace's incredible novel.)

If you try any of these out let me know! And if you have found anything wonderful lately let me know that, too :)

Weekly Intrigue (1)

It's the end of the week, so I'd like to pass on a few blogs that inspired or intrigued me this week. Since it was in visiting so many wonderful blogs that encouraged me to start this in the first place this is the least I can do. I will try to do this at the end of most weeks.

First, this being my first week, I would like to thank those who have encouraged me and welcomed me into the blog world.
The bloggers: Kelly (Vegan Thyme), DJ (Skint Vegan), Tough Cookie, Vegan in New England and Debra (Vegan Family Style).
And the friends who already knew me: Dana, Bobbie and fiddlewitch.
Thanks guys, it means a lot to me!

The Food
Vegan in Brighton: Vegan Cheese and Wine party? What's not inspiring about that?! These images get me exiting about the vegan potlucks I hope to have in the spring.

Herbivore Dinosaur: Baked Tofu Teriyaki on Ciabatta Rolls
Gourmet sandwiches are often appealing. They look delicious, not difficult to throw together, but extra exciting. This is one of those!

Bankrupt Vegan: Coconut Curry Quinoa
When I see curry and coconut milk combined I am hooked. This is a great looking recipe and easy to toss together. It includes quinoa, which sounds like a wonderful combination!

The Bad Vegan: Hot Reuben Dip
Reubens are one thing we've enjoyed several times in the past few weeks. But I have never had a Reuben Dip and am very intrigued with the idea.

Vegan Dance if you Want to: Banana French Toast
I love french toast. This one includes bananas and coffee, need I say more?

Seitan is My Motor: Gomba Paprikás - Mushrooms w/paprika flavored cream sauce
This sounds like a delightfully creamy dish. I would, also, like to add that this is a newer blog to me and quite wonderful. Not only do entries contain grand recipes and pictures, but these are loaded with cultural and historical information - quite an experience!


The Words
PPK: Call for Vegan bake sales for Haiti!

Thoughts of Jess Five: Another blog that's new to me that I've enjoyed reading this past week.


Feel free to let me know what you think of these and discoveries you've had this week.