An unforeseen jouney and my VEGAN daughter!

Part one: I know I have been missing from blogland for quite sometime and I hope that I still have some blog buddies out there. I have missed you all. I have been quietly checking on most of you and making sure you are OK. I am sorry I have been missing but life can get in the way and to put it lightly my past life has gotten in the way. It's my time to seek help, time to heal, time to grow, and time to learn how to deal with what life throws my way. I am told I will be OK, that I will heal, and that I will learn to be happy and enjoy.

I have been given these words of encouragement along with many more. Sometimes daily by someone very close to me who is trying so hard to help me on my journey. Thank you! Maybe if you are struggling you can put your name in and read it as though it is for you. Maybe it can help you too.

Think that it's fun, Sheree', that you're guided, and that all is well;
that there's time, that life is easy, and that the best has yet to come.

Think that the reasons that elude you will one day catch up, that the lessons that have stumped you will one day bring joy, and that the sorrows that have crippled you will soon give you wings.

Think that you're important, that you cannot fail, and that happiness always returns.

And think that you're beautiful, Sheree'.

If you are inclined to hang in there the best is yet to come, Part two:

Enough about my unforeseen journey and let me lead you to some well written words of my daughter.

Now as any proud mama would be I need to brag about my daughter, Brandie. Life has thrown her a few curve balls this past year and she still had the strength to move into her new conviction and go vegan as of the first of this year. She is amazing and is learning and growing by leaps and bounds. She is an amazing cook, loves experimenting, and is being a wonderful example to her wonderful son, my amazing, smart, funny, and the cutest little grandson in the world. I don't have the words to explain her journey so PLEASE check out her newest post. I know that comments and support are what we all need as new vegans and old vegans because life can get in the way. I hope you will all hop on over to Brandie's blog and see a very inspiring post. Sorry folks, Brandie had some trouble on her blog with rude people so she blocked her blog, but she said if you email her at Horse dot lover at yahoo dot com and tell her you came from my blog she will invite you. I hope this doesn't discourage any of you visiting..

How could I not be proud?

Eat for Life and Eat for Health

Sorry folks for the long overdue posting. Life happens and then I hibernate. I figured that it is time to come out of my cave and try to adapt to the life around me. While hibernating I put on a few pounds, sunk myself into a drab attitude, and now it is time to do something about it. I will be back to work full time very soon, school was put on hold by necessity, and I can only thank God for my dear husband, Brandie, Erin, and our bishop for their support and needed strength through this. Out of my cave I am, but I need to work to stay out. I have been reading all of your blogs even if I didn't comment and love you all. I am thankful to have you all in my life. That said I have been reading Dr. Fuhrman's books Eat for Health volumes 1 and 2. Already being a vegan the concept is easy to understand and it is full of healthy reminders and yummy recipes for all of us vegans and nonvegans. While in my cave, cookies and potato chips, toast with earth balance, and onion dip made with tofutti sour cream were my staples. Vegan yes, Good idea, NO! I told DH the other day that I am a vegan who has forgotten how to eat veggies. WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME! ENOUGH ALREADY! So here is a yummy breakfast that does not include sour dough bread or earth balance. :o)

My body is having a party right now after drinking this delicious smoothie from Dr. Fuhrman's Eat for Health book 2. Frozen blueberries, an orange, dates, banana, and ground flax seeds.
It is really good. I don't have a super blender and I can only imagine how perfect this would be if I had a Vitamix, but having a little texture never hurt anyone. :o)
Love you all and know that you are very important to me.

Don't forget to hug someone, you never know when they just might need help getting out of their cave.

Hugs!

Mofo Day 10 - Meet Mock Tuna

There are so many wonderful veggie bloggers who have made my journey so much easier. Thank you to all! Today I am giving a shout out to Lindsay at Happy Herbivore. She is a wonderful low fat/fat free vegan cook. After checking out one of my favorite dishes head over to her site. She also has some really good, really inexpensive e-books for sale on her site. Thank you Lindsay!

Here is one of my all time favorite go to lunches thanks to Lindsay. Mock tuna that is made with garbanzo beans in place of the tuna with vegetables of your choice. This batch was made the traditional way with onions, celery, and sweet pickle relish. It is so good!

Mock Tuna on Sourdough Please!

Here is another wonderful way to enjoy this mouth watering variation,
Mock Tuna with cherry tomatoes served on crisp romaine lettuce leaves.
Roll up, wrap up, and yum up!

Of course I couldn't end this post without a cutie pie picture to share with you all.
Look at that cute boy eating plums in gramma's chair. :o)

Ok, now run over to Lindsay's blog and enjoy your visit!

Mofo Day 6 and where did the time go!

How come the days just flew by? Wow, slacker I am. Well, now everyone gets some MOFOfood porn for their enjoyment. Here is what we have been eating!

You just can't go wrong with a delicious marinara sauce over whole wheat spaghetti, zucchini, and garlic bread. This is one of DH's favorite meals.

Tofu scramble is the breakfast of champions! Filled with any and all the vegetables you want. For seasoning I use Bryanna's homemade tofu scramble seasoning. Go check it out it is fantastic!

My favorite meal is cooked brown rice and veggies. I just love the texture and taste of brown rice. Sometimes I cook it in just pure filtered water, other times with "No-Chicken broth, or with a variety of seasoning and veggies. I have never found a brown rice I did not like!


Of course I have to leave you with our precious grandson riding his new 4 wheeler that we got a the swap meet for a buck! He loves it! Check out our daughters mofo blog! She has some really good cooking over there!

Mofo Day 2 - TGIF

What do you do when you need to drown your sorrows? Been a hard day at work? Did you get called into the office of the big guns again for the second time in a week? Well, this is what I do or should I say EAT when one or all of these things happen in less than a week!

Uncle Eddies Vegan Cookies and Purely Decadent Vegan Ice cream come to the rescue!
Brandie, gave me these cookies for my birthday and they are fantastic cookies. DH and I just love them. I think our favorite is Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Tonight we had Walnut and Chocolate chip with Purely Decadent Pecan Praline Soy Ice Cream for dessert.

My DH is an omniman and he really enjoys both of these. Needless to say if you had a rough day and need a pick me up run out and get yourself some of these delicious vegan goodies!
Oh and no worries about my job, I just need to get back to full time as quickly as possible to keep my job. Dear God, please fix my back and leg quickly!!!!

PS everyone. If you want to see some good cooking and the cutest little man ever check out my daughters blog. You will not be disappointed and this is here first time joining in with the MOFO challenge.

Veganmofo 3 has begun!

Happy World Vegetarian Day and the first day ofHi everyone! I missed you all, but am back and ready to meet the challenge of posting something tasty, fun, informational, and interesting concerning my vegan life daily for October! Three years ago today I began my vegan journey and have loved every minute of it.

Happy veganniversary to me!

My life turned upside down last week when my work schedule changed. I needed to go with the flow in order to keep my job so once again school has been put on the back burner of life as I once again drop my classes. This is the second or third time I have had to do it this, so I am thinking that there are more important things in life than school and that is ok. I have been focusing on the positive things, which include no more studying, sleeping more, spending time with family and friends, and just in time to join in with the VEGANMOFO CRAZE! If you have never done VEGANMOFO and are ready to have the time of your life meeting new vegan bloggers, new recipes, and ideas now is the time. Head over to Kittee's blog and get your name and blog signed up right away. Hurry, what are you waiting for? Oh, yes please finish reading my post and get a look at some mouth watering faux sausages!

So, Brandie, my daughter, which many of you know found a super recipe over at Susan's site for faux Irish sausage. Using Brandie's adaptation here are some delicious, yummy, mouthwatering faux sausages. Brandie figured out that if you toast your bread just before burning it and wrapping the sausage a bit looser you get a wonderful texture in your sausages. DH just finished off this plate and loved them.


Ok, now being the wonderful grandma it is my duty to share with you the cutest vegan grandson in the world. Meet my lil man, Jr. This month PETA is having a contest for the cutest vegetarian kid and I am asking all of you to vote for this little man. He truly is the cutest little vegan I ever did meet! Look at him swimming in the deep end of our pool thinking he is all that. Isn't he just the cutest lil man ever. I can't believe he is already 15 1/2 months old. WOW!!!

My behind is getting kicked big time!

Hi everyone! Yes, I am still alive. Nothing like being kicked in the behind twice. Not only is the heat kicking our behinds so is school. I have put off taking Statistics far to long. Someday I want to proudly walk with my cap and gown on, but statistics is just one of the many horrors I must endure to make my dream come true. Well, the time is now or at least I thought it was. Quit hiding from your fears I told myself. Hmmm, Did I speak to soon? Thank God, I have a great professor, tutor, and the never-ending support from my best friend, DH! I have two tests coming up next week and I told him starting Saturday Morning until Tuesday morning I will be hiding out in a cave, which means FEND FOR YOURSELF! He is so ok with that. Encouraging me all the way!!! On a better note, I also am taking a Nutrition class, which I love, even though there are some things I differ on. OK, to be honest quite a few, but it is ok. Learn, apply what I believe, do the work and feel proud. I took my second quiz in the class yesterday and got an A+ yeepee!!! And finally DH and I are taking a deep water aerobics class together. It is fun to be in the class together. So that is my SCHOOL news. Now onto some quick food porn!

Yep, nooch craziness with veggies, hummus, and biscuits!

I love this time of year, fresh fruit is so good and a side of

Julie's sausages isn't too bad either.

My dehydrator has been working again.

Flax crackers and kale chips with a noochie sauce. They are good,

but the veins are a bit hard to chew. I think maybe collards would be better.

Now off to my calculator and a math book. Wish me luck in my cave.

:o)

Hugs to all

Julie's test recipe is the star this week

I am so blessed to be able to be one of Julie's testers from Everyday Dish. This week I made one of her new burger recipes. Probably one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had. Easy to make, incredible taste, texture, and versatile! DH said they were very tasty! They are great for leftovers and just look below at what else we did with them!

Just out of the frying pan resting!

No this is not a burger, but wanted you to see the size of the tomato we got from our CSA! Huge! It is bigger than the large veganaise jar. They are so good!

Here is a perfect veggie burger, thanks to Julie, on a whole wheat bun, lettuce, veganaise, mustard, and rice cheese with a scoop of baked beans. MMMM GOOD!


So, I started back to college today, which meant packing a lunch. I love my laptop lunch system. Sure beats school cafeteria lunches. CSA grape tomatoes, carrots, red grapes, and one of Julie's burgers with mustard in the little blue container. Just what the doctor ordered after going

to my nutrition class. :o)

Remember I said that the burgers were versatile? Well, here they are rolled in little "meetballs" lightly fried and served along some of DH's extra spicy vegan chili. He made a 19 cup pot of this chili today while I was at school. What a guy. We served it over baked potatoes, with corn, and a dollop of vegan sour cream. Thanks Babe!!!

Ok, I promised a birthday picture and here it is!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

Happy 51st Birthday to me! Brandie took me to Stephanie's Pizza. It is a vegan bakery in Ocean Beach, which is in the San Diego area. Words can not describe how delicious there pizza's are. Maybe telling you that the 2 of us ate the whole thing is proof enough. Well, we couldn't just leave leftovers in the car while we went to the movies. Gross! And you don't waste this pizza! Thank you, Brandie for making my day so special!

The server at the restaurant took our picture together. Brandie you are the best! She gave me vegan fruit sweetened cookies, zevia (rootbeer flavor), and made me a bunch of family cloth with an accompanying wet bag! I love it all!

The end of our 21 days and doing it all over again

It has been so long that my blog forgot who I was. How sad is that? So, my birthday was Friday and that was the last day of DH 21 day vegan diet. I will get pictures of my birthday as soon as I get them uploaded from Brandie's camera. DH had a few vegetarian days and a couple "chicken" days (at least it wasn't beef). He told me he wants to do it again and do it right so we are continuing on. Here is a quick photo essay of a few of our days.

What better way to start off then to have a green smoothie baby!

This was a spinach, beet, and grape smoothie, which he loved!

Quick dinner this night. Just open a can of Amy's Minestrone soup. We rarely eat these because of the sodium content, but some nights are just too crazy!

DH veganized his habanero chili and it was fantastic! Good job, babe



DH's chili over baked potato. This really hit the spot!



Veggie burgers, with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, and some delicious zucchini mash. Mash, you ask? Well, I put the zucchini, sunburst squash, and tomatoes in the pan and steamed them until they were just done. After draining them I put them on our plates and the water just kept running on the plate. Not wanting soggy buns they went back in the colander were mashed together with added nooch, "poof" zucchini mash. :o) It was really good!

Here is DH with his new beginning green smoothie of spinach, mango, banana, and super foods Boco green powder.

Wish us luck everyone!


Jr. sure loves to swim!

Busy week and "burgers"

First DH is grateful for all the encouragement. It has not been real easy nor real hard, but he is still trying to hang in there. Well, this week has been busy. We have either been watching our adorable grandson or going to doctors. All is ok, just tests for DH's back. Brandie has been cleaning some houses for some of the ladies in our church, which gave us time with Jr. We get to enjoy playing while she is working hard earning a few bucks. This has been a blessing on both accounts. So proud of you sweetheart. You are such a hard worker. Now on with some food porn. :o)

Look at this healthy Vegan grandson of ours!

He loves smoothies. This one is spinach, bananas, and blueberry.

Snack time at work. Heirloom tomatoes, peach, and carrots all from our CSA.

Can't forget "An apple a Day keeps the Doctor Away"

Apples are near the top of the deadly dozen. They are heavily coated with pesticides.

I only eat organic apples.

Organic Fuji. Yummm my favorite

Green smoothies are the breakfast of choice. Here we have spinach, banana, pineapple, and a little bit of kiwi. Don't you just love the color?

Boca burger dinner. DH loved these. I coated them with just a bit of BBQ sauce, added lettuce, onion, yellow heirloom tomatoes and mustard. Along side is some CSA zucchini and potato salad with cherry tomatoes from our garden.

Now isn't that a priceless picture. Two very important men in my life. DH and Jr.

DH loves green smoothies

Morning all! DH loves green smoothies. So far his favorite is blueberry. This morning we had spinach, strawberry, and banana. Yum! Can you believe that DH is drinking 4 cups of spinach in the mornings. His body is celebrating and throwing a party. He said that he woke up hungry this morning, but feels good. Today for Linner (we combine lunch and dinner on Sundays), we are having burgers and potato salad. Fingers are crossed on the veggie burger. DH has had Boca burgers, but these are going to be homemade thanks to Joni! Testing for her was so much fun!

Dinner to be posted later!

Question of the day: What is your favorite veggie burger, bought or homemade or your favorite side? Oh feel free to link to any good recipes. :o)

Now to get ready for church.

Hugs all!

DH made it through day 1

I know, I know, two posts in one day? lol... DH made it through day one. He razed me all day for a diet soda (bad stuff), and notice his anonymous comment? He laughed his head off razing me. All and all he said he survived. He liked dinner, but we both agree that the eggplant should be skinned before cooking. The cheese sauce is amazing as is the tomato sauce. I am going to use them both to make pizza one night this coming week, so stay tuned. On to our dinner photo.

This is Susan's Vegan Eggplant "Parmesan" along with a fresh garden salad of romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado.

Definitely worth making. Enjoy!

DH going vegan for 21 days!!!

Hi all! Well here is the latest and greatest news! My DH has made the decision to go VEGAN for 21 days. Now all of you may or may not know that my DH is a 100% carnivore! So there maybe some grumpy days, but he wants to do this. Detoxing is not always easy. He is a great advocate for veganism and knows it is best for him. He is my best supporter, always telling everyone he talks to how healthy a vegetarian diet is. Today is the day he marked as his starting day. I am going to be eating a very healthy vegan diet to help him along. He wants to detox a bit so he is hoping to have breakfast, lunch, and snacks HIGH RAW. Pictures are worth a thousand words. :o) You can do this honey! I believe in you! Enjoy!!

Green smoothie breakfast. Spinach, banana, and blueberries. Look at that awesome watermelon! It is huge, sure hope it tastes as good as it looks. :o)

He is so melodramatic!

His last words before drinking his green smoothie were, "No More Steaks!"

All gone! 2 quarts consisted of 4 cups of spinach, 1 banana, and blueberries. I added a bit of stevia because DH has an awful sweet tooth. His last words after drinking his smoothie were,

"Hey this was really good!"

Snack time and he was ready! We had been out working in the yard, garden, and pool so his morning calories were burnt. 2 organic white peaches and an ounce of raw mixed nuts.

I only had a peach, but man was it a good peach. I love my CSA!

Lunch time! DH had CSA cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes along side a chocolate protein drink. His drink is made with chocolate rice milk (yes he loves chocolate), banana, and Sun Warrior Raw Brown Rice Protein Powder. Veggie girl turned me on to this and I love it. DH said it was a good lunch, but the drink was a bit grainy.

He said he will get used to it because the flavor was great.

Here is my lunch. Cherry tomatoes fresh from the garden, cucumbers, and carrots. My protein drink is made from vanilla hemp milk, Sun Warrior Raw Brown Rice Protein Powder, and a bit of orange juice. I was trying to get a "50- 50 bar flavor" Kinda worked.

Dinner tonight is going to be Eggplant Parmesan from Susan at Fatfreevegan.com.

I will keep you posted on DH's success! I am hoping that he will feel so good and see such great results that he will want to continue on with a vegetarian diet.

Oh you ask, why 21 days? Because my birthday is in 21 days so it

just seemed like a good number. :O)

Thanks for visiting!

High Raw Week and Feeling Great!

I finally feel good this morning! Even with a stressful week, I somehow feel emotionally, mentally, and physically good. Yes, my back hurts, but it is the inside that feels good! Could it be my high raw week? Below I am only posting 2 days worth of food, but my mom is here on vacation and she was supposed to fly home last Tuesday, but ended up in the ER last Sunday with heart problems and pneumonia. All fingers crossed that she will be able to get out of the hospital today and fly home this coming Tuesday. Scary, very scary! Even DH was scared. We just lost dad and didn't want to loose mom too. Praise the Lord there has been daily improvement and things are looking up.

Also, this week was the last week of my workout class at college. I will miss all the good friends I made. A few of us plan on staying in touch. I am hoping to take a nutrition class with my good friend Jasmine and I am already signed up for the water aerobics class with Heather. Taylor, I hope we can get together even though you are going to be a busy girl at State. Now on to food.

I got myself focused this week to eat a high raw diet and to get some low key detoxing done, I needed to get out of my toxic waste land. I feel as though I met my challenge head on and feel good about it. Everyday was pretty much the same. With work and being at the hospital with mom I only have 2 days worth of pictures. Enjoy!

I am in love with GREEN SMOOTHIES! Breakfast was a combination of spinach,

banana, and a few blueberries.

Lunch was Sun Warrior Raw Rice Protein Drink made with Hemp milk
(gotta get those Omega 3's) and fresh from the garden cherry tomatoes and corn on the cob, which I lightly steamed.

Oh my Gosh! Our CSA included fresh white organic peaches. Peaches are one of the fruits that I will only buy if it is organic. They are at the top of the dirty dozen list and I do not want all that pesticide in my body. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I saw them. Along with an organic apple and some raw almonds my afternoon snack was perfect!

On to dinner! Yes this is my cooked meal. Fresh from the garden we have cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and corn all lightly steamed. CSA also included golden beets, which are the bomb. I roast them in the oven in a covered dish with about 1/4 inch of water. Perfection. Last and certainly not least Julie's Smokey Sausage. Yes, I am still addicted to them. :o) Oh and everything is always better with a small sprinkling of nooch.

Another GREEN SMOOTHIE! Yes, it really is a green smoothie. 2 cups of spinach, about 1/2 cup of cherries, a few strawberries, and a couple blueberries. I did find out that maybe 1/2 cup of cherries was too much. Very cherry smoothie, that turned brown from oxidation by the time I drank it at work. Everyone was, "What the heck are you drinking?"I reassured them that the color did not mean the taste.

Morning snack was another CSA treasure. Organic peach, carrots, and cucumbers. I am in love with fresh organic cucumbers. Try a taste test for yourself. I have found that conventional cucumbers have a slightly bitter taste to them, which I really do not care for. The organic ones are sweet with a hint of a watermelon taste. I know weird sensation, but that is how my taste buds taste them. :o)

Lunch was quick as I was on the run to pick up DH, he is still in his cast, so he can't drive. Another wonderful Sun Warrior Raw Rice Protein Smoothie made from hemp milk and organic strawberries from our CSA. Oh and we can't forget my organic fuji apple! You know what they say: An apple a day keeps the doctors away and I want them far, far, away!

This is a repeat dinner without the nooch. Gotta eat yummy leftovers. This time I did slice my tomatoes in half before cooking them with my zucchini. Does anyone else remember the zucchini and stewed tomatoes in a can? Well, I grew up on that stuff. I am not sure I ever had a fresh zucchini until I was married. My mom still raves about those canned zucchini.

Boy, she needs to try the fresh version!

Question of the day?

What memory do you have of a canned food that you now

make with fresh goodness?