The Choices We Make

Pretty Plain Sweet Curry Quinoa Burger, but Oh So Tasty.

Yes, I tried Guinea Pig.

So I'm not a huge proponent of processed foods. I don't want to be a junk food vegan. However, I recently came across these at Target and when you take limited time in the day and the option of toasting up a yummy "Sweet Curry Quinoa Burger" vs. McDonald's, the choice would seem clear, but is it?


There was something nagging at the back of my head... what did I hear? Could it have been about the the trend of Westerners flocking to Quinoa for their health, while unknowingly pricing out and starving the Peruvian and Bolivian farmers that subsist on this crop? Here's the first article that came up when I searched out the topic: Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa? Can we not do anything right? I've been to Peru. It doesn't give me any kind of cool cred, but I can tell you that most of them do not live like we do here.

Perhaps this Quinoa is grown somewhere great. Perhaps it's not. Can we truly be informed on where all of our food comes from and who it may affect in a positive or harmful manner? Is it our responsibility to do so? Buy local. Buy organic. Don't buy GMO. Don't do this. Don't do that. I can't keep track all of the time.

Were these tasty? Hell ya they were. Did my purchase hurt a Peruvian farmer? I have no real idea. Would me buying a McDonald's burger hurt a cow or hurt an underpaid/undocumented worker that is operating in unsafe conditions? Probably, yes.

I do have to say these listed ingredients are better than anything you'll find at McDonald's:

Bottom line is I'm doing the best I can. First and foremost for me and my family's health. Hopefully not at the expense of someone else. But is that even possible anymore?  - jaded consumer

Oven Baked Vegetable Fajitas!

 Wow it's been a while! Life took over doing what life does, but I'm still 56 days strong in my plant eating adventure!

Amber and I recently ate at El Loro, which had some fantastic vegetable fajitas which included some potato and squash. Since I really liked this oven baked chicken fajita recipe before ditching meat, I thought I'd modify it for the plant lovers out there.

Freshly Sliced Veggies

Ingredients

• 1 can no salt added pinto beans
• 2 Tbsp Olive oil
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 medium onion (sliced)
• 1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• 2 Potatoes (sliced)
• 1 zucchini (sliced)
• 3 carrots (julienned)
• Whole Wheat flour tortillas
• Extras like Daiya cheese, avocado, salsa, brown rice – if desired

Devour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place pinto beans in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
2. In a large bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt
3. Place all vegetables into the bowl and mix by hand.
4. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

Breakfast is Back Baby!

Naniboujou Lodge:
Best Breakfast Buffet I've Experienced (Not Vegan Friendly)

I love breakfast. I love everything about it from the pancakes, to waffles, to scrambled eggs with cheese, thick cut maple bacon, sausage and orange juice. It makes my mouth water just to daydream of the feast. Is there anything better than an amazing breakfast buffet?

However, now that I'm not eating animal products, is my love affair with breakfast over? Is it condemned to variations of oatmeal, raisin bran and green smoothies?  Actually, most of those are pretty good too. But No! There is breakfast after vegan.

Some of the best waffles I've ever had the pleasure to eat

Without high hopes, we decided to try some vegan waffles. With a little modification from this recipe, we found success. So much so that we ate them two mornings in a row and for dinner on a third.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of soy or almond milk
• 1 Tbsp of coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp of baking powder
• Couple shakes of cinnamon
• Dash of vanilla
• strawberries or other fruit (optional)

Whisk all together in a bowl and put in a waffle iron to cook to your desired crispness. If batter is too thick, add a little more milk substitute.

Top with fresh fruit and all natural maple syrup.

Breakfast is back baby!