It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like…Vegan.
(Picture Purge)

What’s going on? Vegan stuff is popping up all over the place! The word, once plagued by stigma and ostracism, is being embraced by Big Food, fast food, the Food Network, and foodie culture. Most of this has to do with the Almighty Dollar, yes— but this vegan is quite pleased. I never thought I’d see the v-word on a jar of Hellmann‘s mayonnaise.

And–at work! In-class visits by Ethical Choices Program and Farm Sanctuary (which I organized! See here.) has piqued interest in “vegan” among some teachers. I have enjoyed exchanging baking conquests and now have a regular group for distributing the load of baked goods I often make. Also, these coconut-based Vietnamese treats below shared by a colleague who is within Buddhist mourning, a period of 49 days–the span of time it takes for a soul to reincarnate into new life–when deceased loved ones eat pure vegetarian.

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Also from a colleague, a parve chocolate treat she was trying to bribe my student with… which I ate. 😂

These Rice Krispies treats were going to be handed out to visiting students when my classes presented their independent projects (which had to do with speaking for animals who need our help). I used Dandies, but forgot that Rice Krispies are NOT vegan! Ugh! So I gave them all out the day before the presentation as the purpose was to share a totally plant-based treat to the students.

Ok, now just a bunch of food pictures I have had laying around. I made a batch of pancakes for dinner the other night. I forgot how much I enjoy pancakes as an easy dinner… these are blueberry. I make great pancakes. Did you know this about me?

I’ve been really enjoying pineapple jalapeño hummus from my local grocer these days, so I tried to make it myself. This is what I did with the chickpeas I needed for the aquafaba for the marshmallows I recently made. Efficiency is a turn-on.

And speaking of… this is the last of the dough I had in my freezer. And the last of the seitan I had in my freezer. Now the freezer is all clear! Well, besides mashed banana portions. Time to make a whole bunch of something again.

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My lunch for this week is my very own Buddha Bowl: raw kale, roasted beets and carrots, marinated tofu, and quinoa with a tahini drizzle. And I am drooling as I type this…

Fruit season is coming! Nothing beats ripe mango doused with lime juice and seasoning for a few bucks from a street vendor. In a park. Under a bright blue sky.

On the other side of the snack spectrum, there’s this gold-dusted chocolate chip cookie from Lively in Park Slope. Like twice the price.

The Beyond Burger is at the bar across the street from my job. More excitedly, there are really good fried at the bar across the street from my job. Fryday indeed!