Back on track

Excuse my absence but senior year is busy for me!


Of course, I have to stay in touch with all my vegan followers! So whats new? My club at school started up again and let me tell you we are going to get things done this year. Our campaign right now is to get vegan food in our cafeteria. We are working on a garden for our school as well.


Also as well I am having a vegan potluck celebrating my birthday next weekend. I am so excited!

Veganism ISN'T hard

        And this is coming from the person who once said "I can never be vegan! I LOVE ice-cream too much!" or "I'm helping animals just by being vegetarian" and even "Vegans are no more superior than I am, I am helping just as much as they are!"

       Boy was I so wrong. The best way to help animals, save our environment, Save our oceans, and have a more peaceful environment is to go vegan.

      One big excuse people make is saying they get no support from there parents.
Well my mom NEVER supported me. I had to do it all on my own. When I first became vegetarian she just thought I was a picky eater. And when I told her I was going to be vegan she freaked. She said I wouldn't eat anything but I did it anyway. My friends aren't oh so supportive either. With constant questions/comments like: "what do you eat?", "just go back to vegetarian" "omg you're too extreme" it can be annoying but as long as YOU know that you are making a difference thats what really matters. As long as you stick to it thats what matters.

        Another excuse is "I can't afford to be vegan" LAMEST excuse ever. I live in a low-income family my mom is a single mom and I have two brothers and two sisters. My mom gets help from the government with $200 a month ONLY. Thats a little bit for a big family. But I'm STILL vegan AND healthy! I eat things anyone has in their household. Things that everyone buys vegan or not. I eat grains, beans, rice, lentils, vegetables, and fruits. I get my calcium from soymilk. I rarely eat meat subsitutes they are NOT necessary. Sure I spoil myself to fancy vegan meals once in a while but its not neccesary anyone can be a cheap vegan and still eat delicious.
In the generation we live in it has never been easier to be vegan. We have vegan apps for people with iphones and millions of websites dedicated to veganism and animal rights. Along with my favorite blogs:
http://theveganstoner.com/
 http://veganyumyum.com/
  http://quarrygirl.com
GO VEGAN

Lentil Tomatoe Soup

I know we all have those days when we just want to make a quick meal and eat already. Sometimes I don't feel like spending so much time in the kitchen. So I make lentil tomatoe soup it is delicious especially on a cold day <3

 Ingridients:

•     1 teaspoon olive oil
•     1 medium onion, diced
•     2 cloves garlic, minced
•     1/2 cup apple juice
•     1 tablespoon basil
•     1 tablespoon oregano
•     4 cups water
•     1 cup lentils
•     1 can diced tomatoes
•     sea salt
•     1 cup of spinache

Directions:

 

1. Heat a large soup pan on medium heat. Add the olive oil and saute the onions and garlic until translucent (not browned).  Pour in the apple juice and allow it to bubble to deglaze the pot and burn off the alcohol.

 

2. If using dried herbs, stir them in now, followed by the lentils. Pour in the water and boil for 30 minutes or until the lentils are softened. Stir in the tomatoes and sea salt and leave for 10 or preferably 20 minutes.

 

3. Stir in the greens a few minutes before serving so they wilt. If using fresh herbs, stir them in now.

 

4. Garnish this lentil tomato soup recipe with fresh herbs or a roasted nut or seed and enjoy.

 

 

Makes: Makes 4 bowls., Preparation time: 10 min., Cooking time: 40-50 min.

LA Shoe Show anti-leather protest

Yesterday I attended the La Show Show protest against leather. PETA organized it even though I got an e-mail from them saying to join them it felt like I was just watching them. It was cool how they got there message out. They dressed up as cows (as you can see in the photos above). Cars passing nearby honked at them and waved. PETA also passed out flyers about the leather industry.

Did you know?

Most leather comes from other countries like China or India. The animals have their throuts cut and there skin (fur) is torn from them all while they are still conscious! Watch a video and trust me it is horrible!

Don't wear or buy leather!

"Every year, most of the millions of cows slaughtered for the leather industry endure castration, tail-docking, and de-horning—all without being given any painkillers. Leather is also bad for the environment: In order to preserve the skins, companies use toxic chemicals that can end up in nearby soil and water supplies."

Vegansexual

So I googled Vegansexual yesterday and the urban definition is: A vegan who refuses to have sexual relations with a non-vegan. Makes sense right? The term "vegansexuality" was coined last year by Dr. Annie Potts, co-director of the New Zealand Centre for Human and Animal Studies at the University of Canterbury. Its not a cult as many claimed it was (on google) its a "new" category for sexuality.

  If you are what you eat then meat eaters are basically a walking graveyard. I can see where this is a little uncomfortable. Sometimes a vegan and a meat-eater can make it in the realationship. But sometimes there is too many differences.I think it's perfectly natural that some vegans would have a strong attraction to other vegans over meat eaters.

 This makes sense in a way. I admit I do have a boyfriend that eats meat but sometimes i do wish he was vegan. I know very little people who are vegans and I haven't really met a vegan guy yet but I do wish <3
I think me being vegan makes it a big part of my life and I would like to meet a vegan guy someday or maybe convert my current boyfriend into a vegan.

  Thats another thing sometimes if you're with a meat eating boyfriend you can influence them to go vegan. Being in a relationship makes it easier to be more open about feelings and such so why not bring up veganism? I won't label myself anything ever! Not gay straight or bi. But I must atmit vegansexual makes sense!

Gardein Scallopini Chicken Breast with Bowtie pasta

(Amount per ingredient varies person to person based on your liking)

 

Ingridients:
-Bow tie pasta. (Make sure its vegan!) 

-Zucchini

-Italian Dressing (Kraft Good Seasons )

-Gardein Scallopini Chicken Breast

-Seasoning: pepper, garlic powder

 

1. Cook pasta like the master vegan you are. Drain it and let sit.
2.  Next, heat Olive Oil in a pan.
3. Add the chicken making sure to flip it occasionally.
4. Once "chicken" begins to cook, add sliced zucchini to the pan. Sprinkle garlic powder and other spices that you like onto it.
5. Once that is finished cooking, put it on a plate to avoid sticking onto the pan.
6. Going back to the pasta, you put the italian dressing onto it. I like putting alot!. Then put noodles onto the plate.
7. Add Pepper and Vegan Parmesan if you please. ( It makes it more yummy!)

Beware Vegans

Cake Mixes & HOSTESS products!! = Beef fat!

Of course if you're vegetarian some find it okay  I guess. I can't really define vegetarianism. But beef fat is a common ingredient in many boxed cake mixes. They list it on the ingredients as lard! Beware all Hostess products they all contain beef fat. I wouldn't even consider that vegetarian!

Red Candys = Beetles

Red candies often contain red pigments extracted from the female Dactylopius coccus costa, or cochineal insect. Red bug dye is typically listed as cochineal, carminic acid or carmine in the ingredients. its even found in things like wine, vinegar, juice and colored pasta.So be very careful. Read labels! Many candies are also coated with shellac, a resin excreted by the lac bug, which is usually listed as confectioner’s glaze.

Beer & Wine = Fish Bladder

Some beers and wines are made with fish bladdr.This happens because a membrane taken from the bladders of tropical fish, is used to filter cloudy yeast extracts out of many brands of beer and wine.

If you have anything else to be listed e-mail me! soyypunk@hotmail.com

Indiginous Vegans

    Veganism is a diet rooted from indigenous culture. In fact, Aztecs and Indians in south america lived mostly on a vegan diet rarely eating meat on occasion (and this happened rarely!) Yet things changed since the arrival of European colonists.
    European colonists were the ones that introduced red meat to indigenous people such as beef and pork. Because before the europeans took over natives had a different view of animals. They actually had a relationship based upon respect and responsibility. They took care of them and looked at them as if they were friends. They were treated equal and weren't looked down upon.
        Natives had the believe that animals were not made for food, but willingly became food as a sacrifice for their friends where as white hunters perspective is that animals are constructed to require population control, justifying slaughter into a service performed. (Which side sounds better?)

Maybe our world would be a better placed if we had that mentality. Don't you think? That animals are equal to us and they are our friends.

       
              So when people of color complain about it being hard being vegan because they're mexican or puerto rican, etc. the white people were the ones to introduce us to meat. Indigenous people lived a vegan lifestyle and lived a compassionate life. So why can't you. Anyone can be vegan if you're white brown yellow it doesn't matter. Go vegan!

Vegan Mushroom Chilaquile

So here's the thing about this recipe. It was an accident! I know as you can probably tell it doesn't look all that but trust me it is delicious. I was at my boyfriends house and he was eating egg chilacile and i was starving so he decided to make me something like it but vegan style. I am a complete control freak so i didn't want him to cook i wanted to know what i was eating but he insisted on cooking for me so here is what you will need: (For one serving)

• 3 tortillas
• chili sauce
• mushroom (thinly sliced)
• onion (diced)
• vegetable oil

1) So once you have the tortillas you cut them into small squares.
2) Meanwhile you leave that aside and start with putting the vegetable oil in the pan and leave it tio heat for 30 seconds. Then you put diced onion and it wil start sizzling. Then you put the mushrooms in. Mushrooms don't need to be in there for long so you take them out once they are a brown or golden color.
3)You take them out and then start frying the tortillas until they are golden. Then you pour the chili sauce (preferably red) and then the ,ushrooms with onion.
4) by then its about down and well mixed you take it out and eat it. Trust me it is very good I love it <3

Vegan lunch on the Quick!

Has any of you ever craved fastfood? I know i have! Especially ,u favorite In'N'Out!

So on the weekend i was starving and i decided to make fries and with fries i wanted a good sandwich!

Heres what you'll need:

• 3 potaoes
• 2 slices of bread
• red onion
• tomatoe
• ketchup
• vegetable oil
• lettuce
• avocado

1. So first you cut the potatoes into slices. I like to keep them with the skin but you could take that out if you like.

2. Next you heat the vegetable oil and put in the potatoes pieces. Make sure to move them around. You remove them once they are golden brown. And you add salt. (sorry about the bad pictures there from my phone)

The Sandwich:

1. For the sandwich I prefer toasting it but you don't have too.

2. Instead of mayo I put ketchup on one bread and avocado on the other.

3. After you just put the lettuce, tomatoe, and onion.

Trust me this is one of my favorite lunches to eat its super quick and super tasty. I recommend everyone to try this!

Vegan Challenge on Oprah

I thought the whole episode was messed up and just wrong. I never watch oprah but when I heared she was talking about veganism i had to watch it! Here are some things i disliked:

• Vegan-ish? Seriously there is no such thing! They really made the vegan movement look bad.. One can't be  "veganish" because veganism is a LIFESTYLE not just something you choose to do for that day or week! It is not a diet. 

• They kep talking about being vegan for a few days. Which is not possible because you have to be vegan as a lifestyle. Like I said it is not a diet its a lifestyle choice.

• I hated when they were showing how vegans can eat yummy and normal meals, and that they can shop at a supermarket they went to Whole Foods. And even worse they stuffed their cart with SO many fake meats. Vegans don't need to buy expensive' they don't need all that prosessed food, and they don't need to go to special supermarkets just to get fake meat!

• I also hated that they didn't really talk about what terrible things go on in slaughter houses.The employee at the factory didn't even mention that bolting often fails and the animals suffer horrific pain. She lied. She also said killing animals is the "natural order of life". I don't know how anybody could think that anything that goes on in that factory is natural.  They even showed people just saying that animals feel no pain in slaughterhouses. Seriously are you going to believe that? Then Micheal Pollen says "We need to think about the animals" and 2 minutes later "I like meat, and I do eat it"

• I also I didn't like that she called it a "radical" experiment. Why is it "radical" to abstain from eating confined, tortured, and slaughtered animals? Eating animals is radical. Not eating them is humane! 

THIS DID GRAVE HARM TO THE MOVEMENT, mainly for lies and misinformtion

Evidence on veganism becoming Mainstream!

But things change, and suddenly vegans and veganism seem to be everywhere. Some Americans going all the way.  Some toe-dipping. It’s a remarkable moment, a remarkable shift.
We look at what’s up with Americans going vegan.

http://summerisover.com/browse.php?u=Oi8vd3d3Lm9ucG9pbnRyYWRpby5vcmcvMjAxMS8wMS92ZWdhbnMtYW1lcmljYQ%3D%3D&b=5

Vegan

 Everyday animals are being killed for food. And everyday people can be the change they want to see. Stop the cruelty and go vegan. Nobody should have to die for our food, and nobody should suffer for it either. The easiest thing to do is go vegan. Veganism is getting more and more easier by the day. From vegan pizza to vegan donuts being vegan is easy!

When i was a vegetarian i thought i was helping ALOT. Maybe i was but not as much as i should have. I still drank milk and ate eggs. Going vegan was the best thing ever. One of my biggest inspirations is Christofer Drew. I fell in love with him 3 years ago and i especially loved that he was vegetarian too. I love when artists are vegetarians or vegan it shows how caring they really are. Christofer Drew gained many fans throughout a few years and i think of that as a positive. Fans will see that he is vegetarian and hopefully take it into consideration and want to go vegan themselfs.

Everytime  a baby is born the first thing they recognize is their mothers.All they want to do is be with them. Children are inside their mothers womb for nine months and they get attached to them right away. A child learns how to say "mama" and all those cute things.

• Cow mothers babysit their friends babys.
• Penguins recognize the voice of their own baby.
• Hens can talk to their baby chicks when their still in the egg.
• Most mammals recognise their young ones by smell.
• The baby chimpanzee clings tightly to its mother with its tiny hands as she moves and climbs. 

But theirs a horrible thing going around in the entertainment industry and food industry. Circus's seperate the baby elephants from their mothers. If you've seen the movie Dumbo you know the pain the baby elephants face. The elephant mothers cry for their babys and some even die from depression.

If you're a vegetarian you're still supporting animal cruelty. Calfs are raken from their mother shortly after birth. Boys are raised for veal and girls are used to milk just like their mothers. The mother cow cries for her baby the night for weeks.

The best way you could stop this kind of cruelty is by going vegan. Don't get me wrong i love all you vegetarians out their but there needs to be more effort put into it. Go vegan <3

If you need help you can always contact me. I help everyone. Being vegan will be the best thing you do for yourself,  the animals, and the environment.

Go Vegan.

Peace. Love & Tofu Grease <3

How To bake Vegan Donuts

Me as a new vegan has always been a vegan lover <3
And since I'm vegan i made it my mission to make the best vegan donuts ever.

2 cups soymilk (I love to use Silk)
1/4 cup canola
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 1/2 tsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup applesauce    (Add the applesauce and vanilla during the first flour stage!)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 Tbsp salt    
4 3/4 cups & 2 Tbsp flour

Quick Vegan Food

BREAKFASTcereal/granola with soy/rice milk
oatmeal or other hot cereal
bagel/toast with jelly
pancakes
soy yogurt
fruit smoothie
SNACKS/DESSERTpretzels, popcorn
peanuts, almonds, walnuts
sunflower or pumpkin seeds
chips & salsa
banana, apple, orange
raisins, figs, dried apricots
pie, cookies, cake
LUNCH/DINNER
peanut butter & jelly
grain/soy burger
vegetarian hotdog
veggie lunchmeat sandwich
baked/mashed potatoes
french fries
tofu, tempeh, or Seitan stir fry
Seitan casserole
pasta with tomato sauce
tofu lasagna
bean burrito
seitan casserole
tofu lasagna
spinach lasana (my favorite)
spinach raviolli <3

Recipes coming soon!

Veganism goes Mainstream

Its no mystery why veganism is growing and becoming more mainstream. What with it being embraced by celebrities, the media, and even the business world, the vegan lifestyle has skyrocketed into popularity over the past year. We have alot of non-profit organizations spreading the word on veganism. Some even give out free brochures, flyers, and vegetarian starter kits for free all just to get more people into veganism.

Every individual no matter what you are a student, an adult, a kid, in high school, college, or with a job if you have a voice to speak out for animals: thank you. The animals thank you, your body thanks you, the environment thanks you, and I personaly thank you as well.

 As for me I am trying to make a stand for animals. I want this year to be all about veganism. I started a club at school called Vegg Club. I'm trying to make veganism big this year and my goal for the moment is to make it big at my school. I don't know any vegans and very few vegetarians but last friday Vegg Club had its first meeting and alot of people came. I want to gain vegan outreach at Huntington Park High School. I want there to be more knowledge on what truly goes on with factory farms and i want people to know what they are eating.

"The Washington Post published an article noting veganism’s rise in popularity, due to concerns over food safety, the environment, and personal health" everywere people are thinking over what they are eating. Don't give into what society wants you to believe. Think for yourself do you really want to be eating something that ones moved, something that once cried in pain. There needs to be more vegan options everywere, we are in a generation were people are learning not be so ignorant. We should have the right to eat healthy and more plant based (and trust me there is more veganoptiona available than you think! Delicious foods <3)

Now with many great vegan restraunts it has never been more easier to eat out. These are some of my favorites: Cruzer Pizza, Flore Vegan, Stuff I Eat, Shajin, and Madelein Bistro. I will try to go to these soon so I can give a review on them so stay tuned.

Veganism is so easy now. If you have any questions or concerns you can e-mail me soyypunk@hotmail.com

Peace. Love. & Tofu Grease <3

Student Vegan Tips

As a vegan student in high school, I know its hard. During lunch time your friends are eating mystery meat and what-not. And then between classes students are muching on unhealthy food like Hot Cheetos and buying things from vending machines. I've had those days when I felt like I couldn't eat anything my school offered me. It sucked going vegan at first, everyone was happily eating food and I was refusing everything they offered. I felt like a jerk too. So I want to give some tips on quick snacks you can buy or make to snack on at school.

First we have Trader Joes baked onion rings <3 They are the VEGAN FUNYUNS and let me tell you they are delish! When i first went vegan i started craving onions like crazy! But sadly onion rings from many places contained dairy. I remember telling my boyfriend once before he came to my house to bring me onion rings. He came to my house with Funyuns and sadly I couldn't eat them. But now with Vegan baked onion rings from Trader Joes I love them (:

Secondly everyone should try taking peanutbutter ritz sandwiched with banana. You just put peanutbutter on two ritz crackers and put a slice of banana between them and trust me they are really good. I love taking them because believe it or not they satisfy hunger and thats very important. Us vegans got to keep that healthy image right?

Third everyone whos everyone has got to love burritos. What vegan doesn't? you can fill them with anything! But beans, rice, lettuce, onion, avocado, and salsa and you got yourself a yummy lunch.

What else? You could take juice and water as well. The important thing about being a vegan at school is always to take your own food. I do! I carry a "Meat Sucks" lunchbag by Drop Dead. I love making my food for school I know it beats mystery meat from school or glow in the dark macaroni and cheese!

Vegan Enchiladas

So here is a picture of vegan enchiladas. Looks savory, huh? The best part is that they are 100% vegan. That just proves that vegan food is AWSOME! Here's what you'll need:

-tortillas

-enchilada sauce

-vegan cheese (daiya)

-lettuce

-tomatoe

-avocado

-onion

1.First off you need to fry the tortillas until they are a golden color. I use vegetable oil.

2. Next, you put the enchilada sauce on a pan and when it starts boiling you dip in the tortillas for a few seconds.

3.After. you just take them out put them on a plate and put cheese inside and fold it taco style.

4.Finally, you add your toppings: lettuce, tomatoe, onion, and avocado (my favorite!)

Super easy! Its fast and delicious! Enjoy everyone, thank me later! (;