We have made it to the last day of Vegan MoFo. It has been a wonderful month filled with food and laughter. There is always a feeling of sadness when it ends because I miss the daily posts of awesome food and stories. I hope to do a better job this year in keeping up with blogs. After my rough start this year, I had not been much into blogging. MoFo has renewed my spirits and I am back!
I love that MoFo is during the month of October. It is my favorite month because it is the start of Autumn, the leaves are changing, seasonal rain, spooky decorations, sweaters, corduroys, and HALLOWEEN! Ollie has made an appearance in his Halloween outfit to say hello and "Happy Halloween!" to you MoFo'ers! It is too bad I only had my phone handy when he posed so sweetly, I would have loved to have my camera out so I could get a better quality photo. Either way, you can see how darn cute he is. His grandma and grandpa Newman got him this cute shirt.
Ollie has to stay warm as the weather gets cooler so, he will don this shirt even after the festivities today. I also have to stay warm and hot chocolate usually does that trick for me as I get cozy under my snuggie and read a book, watch TV, or use the computer. In the past you have seen Mint Hot Chocolate, Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate, and today I bring you Spicy Hot Chocolate.
This drink was inspired by a spicy chocolate drink I had at Escazu in downtown Raleigh. This drink has a nice level of spiciness. The interesting note is that the spice does not hit the front of your tongue, but the back towards your throat. Like the peanut butter hot chocolate I made, this one was also created in the Vitamix. Do not worry if you do not have a Vitamix or other high powered blender, you could heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave. It will not be frothy, but it will be just as delicious!
Spicy Hot Chocolate
- 1 cup of almond, soy, rice or coconut milk
- 2 tbsp mimic creme
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips
- 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper (start out slow and then increase the amount)
Place
all of the ingredients into the Vitamix, or high powered blender, and
blend for 4 minutes or until steam comes out of the top of the lid.
Check for desired heat level and blend more or pour into a mug and
enjoy!
I know, I know-I promised I'd be back to blogging at the beginning of the 2012. It is now almost March and I'm barely back. I planned to post blogs and to read blogs in January, but I failed. The past couple of months have been...well...let's just say they have been. It is a long story, but there is no need to tell it here. Sometimes we just have to shrug our shoulders and agree that things are what they are and move on.
In the spirit of moving on, I bring you another post about letters. I received a request from a childhood friend, Carrie (also known as "Taweewee"), to make letters for her niece. I agreed, but it took me longer than it should have to complete the letters. She asked me in April and I sent them to her in time for Christmas. I guess they are better late than never.
Carrie informed me that the theme was animals and I wanted to make the letters cute, but not too girlie. Those of you that know me, know my disdain for all things pink and girlie. I just don't get the love that some people have for that color- it makes me want to puke. So do girlie things. The thought of monogrammed handbags, aprons, and floral patterns literally makes my head spin. I must have missed the girlie boat. I'm cool with it though, I like my boat better- it has less flowers. :-)
With the theme information, I made the design my own hoping that it matches Lilly's room. Carrie seemed pleased with the letters and I hope that Lilly enjoys them for years to come! Happy first year, Lilly!
I have been absent from reading and writing blogs in the past month. I have been quite busy with some life changes and the holidays. While things have not slowed down completely, I still plan on coming back. I have a lot of favorite blogs to catch up on as part of my return. I might be slow, but I'm still here.
As you know, it is the new year and time for resolutions and rebirths. I personally have not made any resolutions this year. I find it hard to choose a resolution that I feel committed too. Eighteen years ago, I made a resolution to go vegetarian. That resolution has evolved into becoming a vegan. I can't top that resolution, so I don't try any longer. Instead, I have a life-long resolution to stay vegetarian and continue to increase my compassion and commitment towards animals.
As part of my commitment, I have already made a significant change this year. I gave up my career in the corporate world to pursue my passion for animals. Starting on January 3, I will begin a position with an animal rights organization. (I would love to say more, but I am not sure how much I am allowed to say at this point, so I'll have to speak in general terms.) Words can't express how excited and honored I am to be working for an organization whose mission is similar to how I live my life.
I feel so fortunate to say that I will begin work each day with saving animals from torture, suffering, and pain at the forefront of my thoughts. So many of us go to work each day as drones, working for the weekends. It feels so surreal that I won't have to live my life like that any longer. It reminds me of a quote I saw recently by Confucius that encouraged me to take a chance and apply to this position.
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
I try not to kid myself as I know this job won't be perfect, as with any job, but I will always be able to fall back on the passion for animals that I feel. And, while your passions may be different, I hope you will consider the impact you have with each meal you choose to eat. Remember that with each bite you take, you have a chance to make a choice. You can choose to lessen suffering by eating a cruelty-free vegan meal. My wish is that more of the world will come to realize and accept this choice.
Here is to a New Year, a new start, and for pursuing our passions! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I have been absent from blogging for several weeks. The short of it is that I have been busy and have not had a chance to focus on blogging. I will get back into the groove at some point in the near future.
I wanted to share the Adopt-A-Turkey project from Farm Sanctuary. If you don't already know about this, I recommend you give this site a view. This campaign offers a humane alternative during Thanksgiving by offering a chance to donate money to sponsor a turkey. It is after Thanksgiving, but not too late to donate to help sponsor a turkey.
As a vegan I do not consume turkey, but felt I needed to do more. Each year John and I donate money to save a turkey. I like the idea of knowing that my money is going directly to the sponsorship of turkeys during this time of year. Not all turkeys are as lucky as those saved by Farm Sanctuary. There are more than 46 million turkeys that are killed each year so that those in the United States can celebrate Thanksgiving. These and all factory farmed turkeys are subject to cruel practices such as being packed into small cages, de-beaking, de-toeing, genetic manipulation, rough handling during transport, hanging from metal shackles, heads submerged in electrified water, throats slashed, and many other awful practices. I hope you will consider being part of the solution this year and future years by having a meatless Thanksgiving and donating to Farm Sanctuary.
I hope you all had a Happy Turkey-free and cruelty-free Thanksgiving!
