I am one lucky girl!!!!
This afternoon (well, evening) I arrived back at my apartment in Orlando after a way too massive W.F. grocery shop to find an amazon.com box waiting for me!! Miss VeggieGirl was SO sweet to order me HER favorite vegan baking book, My Sweet Vegan! Oh my goodness—does it ever look wonderful! I’m so excited to relax in bed just reading it tonight and getting inspiration! Thank you times a million, VeggieGirl!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!
But let’s backtrack….this afternoon it was so nice to lay around in the sun with Ryan and be totally lazy! Before I headed back to my apartment, I went over to my parent’s house for a while to hang out with my mom and dad and snacked on a banana + pb. I went straight to W.F. (whole foods!) upon arriving back in town and, first and foremost, got dinner! I knew I couldn’t shop hungry (I would buy the whole store) and it was soo nice outside! I got buffalo garlic tofu, brown rice, a couple roasted garlic potatoes, steamed veggies and 2 of my favorite sickly sweet plantains. I didn’t end up finishing all the tofu or the veggies, but I def. did eat those yummy plantains! 🙂
I had sort of a major grocery shop….I needed a lot of “basics” because I’m sort of in the process of redoing my kitchen to be more cruelty-free and that involved getting rid of some stuff and replacing it with better stuff! I think most of the stuff in my groceries picture is pretty self-explanatory but ask me if you want to know what something is and you can’t tell! The highlight of my shop are these WONDERFUL vegan peanut butter cookies! They are these little homemade cookies that come individually wrapped and I got them to take to my new night classes for a little mid-bake “treat” since I will have to eat an early dinner and won’t get home at night till close to midnight! These cookies (I just ate one!) are sooooo good!!! They are fruit juice sweetened and aren’t “too” sweet…just the way I like my pb cookies….you can really taste the chunky peanut butter! Each cookie is 130 calories, which is perfect for a nighttime sweet 🙂 Try to find them if you can!!
Thanks again, VeggieGirl!! I can hardly wait to start baking from this!! I’m so blessed and honored to have so many wonderful friends all over the country! (and Canada and Africa, too!!)
Emma
February 18, 2008 at 1:08 amHey Jenna and everyone else! I don’t know how I came upon your blog but it is fantastic! I am a 23 and am moving to FL for grad school! anyways I was thinking of going vegan but to be honest I don’t know that much about it..I am training for a marathon in march and I am eating meat because it gives me fuel for my runs..but I don’t like how heavy I feel..I was wondering if you or anyone else has any suggesstions of books I should read to find out more about being a vegan Thanks!
Emily W.
February 18, 2008 at 1:08 amI just wanted to share a YUMMY recipe I made earlier ( and just consumed!). It does contain dairy, but maybe someone can try tweaking the recipe….Im not sure!? Anyways here it is…
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeID=37146&Source=SearchResultPage
I used cocoa powder instead of coffee and I baked it for about 34 minutes! I also made a half portion and for the “crust” I used 5 chocolate sandwich cookies with the filling scraped out and discarded (Yes I used that many for only half the serving size….the crust is my favorite part!) These taste so great and pop right out of the moldS (I used heart shaped mini pans, but muffin pans would work fine!! Even more, they can be frozen and popped out for a special treat! MMMM!
Annie
February 18, 2008 at 1:12 amThat was so nice of Veggie Girl. How did your parents like the dinner you made them the other night, Did your dad even notice?
suze
February 18, 2008 at 1:16 amHey Jenna!
I also went shopping today and I bought this soy yogurt ice cream. You DEFINATELY have to try it…it’s from WholeSoy&Co. (http://www.wholesoyco.com/); I bought the chocolate & hazelnut flavor and it’s sooo creamy and flavorful. Loved it!
VeggieGirl
February 18, 2008 at 1:20 amI too went to WF today!! I’ll be posting my grocery load on my blog tomorrow, along with what I’ve been baking lately :0)
Your lunch looks/sounds quite sensational – yum!! Oh and those cookies ARE amazing – I used to buy them all the time, before I learned how to bake!! :0D
So glad you like the cookbook!! Enjoy it!!
**Emma:
I HIGHLY recommend the books “Becoming Vegan” and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Vegan Living” (I know, I know, kooky title – but it REALLY is a great resource). My parents bought me these books when I decided to become a vegan, and they are FILLED with EVERY SINGLE piece of information you will EVER need to thrive on a vegan diet; and there’s even special sections for vegan athletes and such!! These books are available at Amazon.com
arimcg
February 18, 2008 at 1:28 amI just had one of those cookies the other day – the oatmeal raisin kind. They make HUGE ones that come in a single serving package, and my boyfriend bought one. I just had a bite but it was really good. They have a double chocolate flavor too and I am ALL OVER IT next time I see it.
linds
February 18, 2008 at 1:47 amDisturbing- largest recall of beef in US history, 143 million lbs deemed unfit for human consumption. However, nearly all of the recalled product was consumed before this information came to light. Recall is due to allegations of animal abuse at a California slaughterhouse.
NYTimes link: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Slaughterhouse-Abuse.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Mallory
February 18, 2008 at 1:51 amI made the WONDERFUL mushroom-olive risotto tonight! It was so good and so filling. Thanks for the recipe!
Alex
February 18, 2008 at 1:54 amSo I was wondering if you guys could help me out on this. I saw that Kath posted a survey she had to do for a class, and that a lot of people responded.
I also have a survey for my class, only drawback is that I am looking for college students only to take this survey.
If you could take a few minutes and fill it out that would be awesome!
P.S. There are TWO parts to the survey (it only takes 5 minutes!)
Survey Part 1: Click Here to take survey
Survey Part II: Click Here to take survey
Thanks!
Alex
February 18, 2008 at 1:57 amClick Here to take survey
^Part I
Click Here to take survey
^Part II
Natalie
February 18, 2008 at 1:57 amAlex, your links don’t work.
Alex
February 18, 2008 at 1:58 amI fixed it! Sorry about that!
Serena
February 18, 2008 at 2:00 amI love those Luna Tea Cakes! I like the Orange Blossom. Super tasty!
Emma, having trained for two marathons, I can honestly say that I felt better training when I limited/cut out meat. What you eat really does impact your runs, and I felt much lighter and had more energy on a cleaner diet. I don’t eat red meat at all, and I did eat some fish while training, but the biggest change I noticed came from limiting dairy before long runs. The only downside (and it’s not a big one, you just have to be creative) is that you do need protein and running after a big meal of beans and veggies can be rather hard on the digestive system! 🙂 But I recommend at least trying to go meat-free the day before your long runs and see how you feel after that.
VeggieGirl, that was so sweet of you to send Jenna the book! I think when both of you open your vegan bakeries, you have to make sure to sell your sweets by mail order so we can all order them!
Annie
February 18, 2008 at 2:16 amLinds, I actually watched an awful video the other day about “downer” animals like that on http://www.goveg.com/ (I actualy only got a couple min into it before I had to close the window-so disturbing)
I dont eat beef, but I do eat chicken and turkey, and Im sure things like this go on with the chickens as well. Its so horrible how animals are treated. I totaly get why there are so many vegetarians and vegans on thsi blog! Im hoping to become one soon as well, I just need to get my family and boyfriend to understand my new lifestyle, and do some more research about meeting my dietary needs etc.
Becky
February 18, 2008 at 2:18 amHey, quick question for any bakers out there. I cook a ton but don’t bake so often, but decided to bake chocolate chip cookies today (Sadly, not vegan … my husband is still getting used to the more vegetarian diet and would have freaked out). I read that you can substitute half the butter for applesauce, so I substituted one cup of butter with one cup of applesauce. The cookies are still completely yummy, but the batter was so thin that they kind of spilled all over the pan while baking and totally lost their shape. Does anyone have any idea of where I went wrong?
Alex
February 18, 2008 at 2:30 amFor the question about whether or not you voted in the MI primary, just answer if you voted in your states primary (or if you plan to).
Thanks again 🙂
Lori- the pleasantly plump vegan
February 18, 2008 at 2:30 amVeggieGirl is a sweetheart! you are a lucky girl. i don’t have that book yet and want it so bad!
yr plate of food is so up my alley! i could eat plantains everyday.
nice grocery loot. i love seeing what people get from the grocery store. i think grocery shopping is one of my hobbies : )
linds
February 18, 2008 at 2:43 amugh Annie you’re right I couldn’t even watch a full minute. Have you read the ‘interviews with slaughterhouse employees’ in Skinny Bitch? I couldn’t read all of that either it was way too graphic for me…
Kristie
February 18, 2008 at 2:44 amJenna — soon you’ll have a friend in Argentina too 🙂 I leave on Wed. to study there for five months… I’m so excited for a new culture and new food!
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 2:56 amLinds,
Reading that section in skinny bitch was like THE deciding factor for me!! I am so sensitive to things like that! I burst into tears and through away all animal products in my kitchen!!! It really breaks my heart…the one about the pig nuzzling the guy then him having to kill it a minute later?!! I get choked up thinking about it. It makes me want to run to the slaughterhouses and free all the animals myself. ahh!!
ps- pigs actually have the mental capacity of a 3 year old person and are smarter than dogs….so, so , SO sad!
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 2:58 amSorry! i didn’t mean to sound preachy to any meat-eaters out there! I just get so sad thinking about things like that!!
Christie
February 18, 2008 at 2:58 amJenna,
Let me know how you like the cheese you bought, I had cut out all artifical sweetners from my diet and it helped a lot of my stomach problems but now my stomach is getting irritated latley again, bloated etc and it might be from dairy. I guess the only way to know is to eliminate it
Susan
February 18, 2008 at 3:14 amIs there a reason you went bake to sprouted bread? I was about to purchase it for the first time, but I know you said you liked rudi’s better, so i have been hesistating. Have a good day at class!
Natalie
February 18, 2008 at 3:18 amKristie, which program are you going there through?
Nadia
February 18, 2008 at 3:24 amI went to whole foods for a big grocery shop today too. My parents came over to see my new place and I cooked dinner for them…actually ended up making your shrimp recipe and my parents LOVED it. Thanks SO much Jenna. I also made asparagus and mushroom stir fry on the side and a vegetarian pasta with eggplant…also, bread on the side. I also made the “chicken” salad that you have posted here for lunch today and had it on 2 slices of rye bread..delicious as well. I had my parents taste a little of it and they didn’t even know it wasn’t chicken! My dad loved it and he loves meat. haha. I wanted to make the olive oil cake but ended up making vegan brownies instead – came out really good. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful shrimp and chicken salad recipe. Looking forward to making the sloppy joes next – I bought everything for it today at whole foods…just need to get cumin somewhere. Thanks again 🙂
Adeline
February 18, 2008 at 3:29 amHi Jenna, you’ve a friend in Singapore (Asia) as well 🙂 I went to grad school in the US, and just got home to teach at the university here… but I may be back in the US sometime (doing LDR with my American boyfriend too, sigh…)
Mel H
February 18, 2008 at 3:34 amHey Jenna! Just wondering if you replaced Kashi crackers for the ones in the pic or just switched for this week? I love love Kashi’s but didn’t know if they contained anything you didn’t want to eat anymore! Take care !!
kay
February 18, 2008 at 3:36 amVeggieGirl, you are so sweet!! That is really nice of you!
Erica
February 18, 2008 at 3:51 amAww VeggieGirl, you are just too kind for words! That looks like a great book, I might have to go out and get it myself!!
Hey guys, I was wondering if any of you had any interesting, fun ideas for ways to stuff pitas aside from using hummus. Thanks!! 🙂
Mel H
February 18, 2008 at 4:07 amVeggie Girl- I tried to post something on your blog but I couldn’t bc I don’t have a google acct!! You are too sweet and I love that you made your parents a choc cake for v day!! My parents would have loved that!! Take care hun
Beth
February 18, 2008 at 4:28 amI made the olive oil cake tonight and think it’s fabulous!! Thanks so much for recipe!
I know Jenna mentioned the beauty products that she uses by Ole Henriksen. I have battled acne for a really long time but find that my diet does make a difference. Does anyone have beauty products or foods that really seem to make a difference in their skin?? I would love to hear thoughts from such a wise group!
Ashley H
February 18, 2008 at 4:30 amHey becky, I think you said traded all the butter for applesauce right? Thats the problem while fruit (or even veg.) purees can take the place of some of the butter not all of it.
kay
February 18, 2008 at 4:44 amBeth:
About acne, I read that milk/dairy products appear to have some effect on skin due to hormones given to the poor cows….. they even milk cows when they are pregnant!!!!
Birth control pills also seem to help some women if their acne is hormone related.
kay
February 18, 2008 at 4:49 amI do worry about animals but I worry and think about people and children from third world countries (or even around us) as well… It is there that a lot of clothes/bags/shoes etc. are made by the hands of small children in less than “humane” conditions.
Ashley H
February 18, 2008 at 4:49 amHas anyone found hempmilk in Southern California? I went to WF today and I couldnt find it!! I looked in the section with the soy and rice milks thats where it would be right?
**Anyone who doesnt drink milk:
what kind of lactose free product do you like best?
Robin
February 18, 2008 at 6:19 amHi. I was also wondering about the switch to all the Ezekiel products this time around. How come?
twinks
February 18, 2008 at 7:43 amjenna, what is the red canister…it looks like “N.O. explode”…a vasodialater for meatheads.
yolie
February 18, 2008 at 7:58 amhi everybody!
i’m a big fan of the blog, but this is the first time i’ve posted.
i spotted on your grocery shop photo, jenna, that you bought lots of food for life bread products, and i was wondering if these are frozen or fresh?
i live in the UK and we cannot get hold of them, it is so frustrating because i have been told by my nutritionist natalia rose to eat them, but cannot find them anywhere here!
just trying to figure out if i can get some sent over to me, which is why i’m asking!
thanks so much, and keep up the good work – you’re an amazing inspiration!
yolie xxx 🙂
Erin
February 18, 2008 at 9:54 amYou have a friend in Ireland too! I’m studying here until May. I actually live with another girl from the US who is a vegetarian, and she suggested that I give up meat for Lent. I wasn’t a HUGE meat-eater to begin with (mostly just chicken and fish), but I’m finding it surprisingly easy so far. We’ve found some great vegetarian restaurants in Dublin!
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 12:02 pmSusan and Robin,
No reason—I just get bored and like to switch it up!
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 12:04 pmThat red cannister is not from my shop…its my roommate’s protein powder!
Kristie
February 18, 2008 at 12:16 pmNatalie — I’m going with CIEE.
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 12:18 pmMel,
Nope…just switched for a change. I can’t seem to eat the same things week after week because I get bored and these seemed like the same ingredients but were a dollar cheaper……
VeggieGirl
February 18, 2008 at 12:21 pm**Mel H:
You should be able to post even without a google account – you could try posting “anonymously,” but then signing your name in your comment :0)
jenna
February 18, 2008 at 12:31 pmAnnie,
I think my mom told him about the “chicken” after the fact. He didn’t know in the beginning though!! They both enjoyed the salad 🙂
Bev
February 18, 2008 at 12:36 pmYou are so preparred for the week. Good luck with your new schedule : ) I’m going to my health food ( Raisin Rack ) store today to get and look for the cookiies and dairy free chocolate chips.
Scott @ One Food Guy
February 18, 2008 at 2:48 pmI see you like Earth Balance, have you tried the whipped variety in the green and white tub? I like it a little better than the red and yellow tub. You should try it if you haven’t. I don’t always see it at Whole Foods, but I’ve see it at other grocery stores.
anonymous
February 18, 2008 at 4:37 pmHi,
I love the site, and read that you are going to make your kitchen more cruelty free- what is this entailing? I noticed how many individual foods/small packages you buy, do you ever worry about the amount of packaging/waste that may be harmful to the environment? Just curious- keep up the good work 🙂
Steph
April 12, 2008 at 1:49 amI’m really interested in the Luna Tea Cakes.. do they leave you pretty full?