2009 Repeat Performance

Life has gotten in the way of me starting up this blog in honor of my vegan repeat performance during the month of May. But here I am finally writing on Day 3. My goal is to go the month of May, as I did in 2008, although I've recently thought about going for two months. Why? Right now the only answer I can give is: just because.

I did a bit of training for this year's vegan fest by (mostly) eliminating coffee a week leading up to May 1 (I use half and half) and cutting back on eggs and meat. Seems to have helped because this time around I'm not having the horrific morning egg cravings that I had last year, and not drinking coffee isn't so bad. I drink green tea instead.

I don't have any pithy observations to share just out of the gate, but speaking of gates, I pulled out of the bowl the winning horse for yesterday's Kentucky Derby: Mine That Bird. Those of you who know me, know I love birds. And, the fact that the odds for this horse were 50-1 seems poetic to me. So, I can't help but feel a profound connection to this long shot equine Cannuck (he's from Canada, eh?).

Here's my first vegan creation of the month. The outcome is gorgeous. I call it Beet Slaw:

Shred:
- a beet
- two carrots
- some jicama, about equal portions for all root veggies
Put all shredded veggies in a bowl.
Make the dressing:
- juice from one lime
- 2 tbls olive oil (or as much as you prefer)
- 2 tsp grated ginger
- splash of soy
- 2-3 dashes of cayenne
- salt and pepper to taste
Blend dressing and pour over shredded veggies.

Enjoy!

The Last Day

Here I am in Washington state, on vacation and out of my normal routine - if such a thing exists. I'm somewhat melancholy over the end of my 30-day vegan experiment. While there is a part of me that is excited to return to eating without limits, there is also a part of me that is sad to see this experiment come to an end. I reached my goal - no known consumption of meat, dairy or cheese for 30-days. The purpose: to feel an increased sense of health.

I've thought more about where food comes from in the last month than in the last year. Frankly, I'm a little exhausted from the endeavor, but I realize that not eating meat is one of the simplest ways to eliminate concern over the quality of meat purchased (farm-raised? grass fed? cage free? Hormone-free? organic? on sale? need a second mortgag to purchase?). Frankly, I'm a little exhausted from thinking about how much food costs. Chris and I just returned from the store here in Washington and we spent a wad just on fresh, semi-local produce.

I've been thinking lately that the more meaningful and potentially rewarding experiment would be to eat within one's watershed or with 100-mile geographic area. This isn't for health so much as for sustainable eating. I'm overwhelmed by how far removed we are from the source of the majority of our calories. If I could have it anyway, it'd be to eat as seasonally and as locally as possible. But, I'm under the assumption that I would need a great sum of money to do so, as it would require I have the land to plant my own garden, the time to tend to it, and the know-how to put it up. My mom and dad have been doing this successfully for years. I'm amazed at how lucky I was to grow up on fresh or fresh-frozen garden vegetables.

Thanks to everyone who has had the good fortune to put up with my 30-day food experiment, especially Chris. Your acceptance of my food choices has been wonderful. While I can't see a full-on vegan future for myself, I do see a substantial reduction in my meat and dairy intake. Overall, I feel stronger, and this is good.

And now for something completely different: beetsauce salad with blueberries vegan fajitas for the Last Supper.

Peace out.

Day 25 - Oprah steals my thunder

I learned this morning that Oprah is doing a 21-day cleanse that is vegan based, but also includes no alcohol, bread, caffeine or sugars (the fruit kind are OK). She even has a blog! The good news is that her chef (of course she has a chef!) is preparing some tasty treats and she's posting some of the recipes on line (lucky Carol)! I need to plan my last supper, so I think I'll draw from her recipe line-up to create a grand finale splash. Lookout Sister!! (I'll be in Washington and staying at my sister's during my last remaining days of veganism). Am I going to cook you a meal!

So hey - if Oprah can do this vegan thing - anyone can, right? Of course, it's got to be way easier to do this if you have a personal chef. Oprah. Go figure. I'm an inspiration to the stars. To check out her blog go here: http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/cleanse_main.jhtml

By the way, I've decided to forgo the vegan thing at least as long as it takes me to experience some fresh northwest salmon (grilled, I hope).

Day 23 - The Final Frontier

With only one week remaining in my 30-day experiment, the question that comes to mind for me is, what can I do differently (in terms of food intake) in these remaining days than what I did the previous 3 weeks?

What I recognize is that 30 days is really not sufficient time to evolve a healthy vegan strategy. Certainly I can get by without eating dairy/eggs/meat for 30 days, but I can't say that I've crafted a routine or learned enough about food varieties so that I could live well off everything I know. I think the experiment requires more time, but I'm not sure how much I'm willing to give. So I have that to ponder while considering how to best play out my remaining days. I think I'll try to do a bit more with tofu and consider other grains. I had an interesting kale/green lentil meal earlier in the week. I think the enjoyment of it would have been increased by adequately washing the lentils before cooking them. The end product tasted kind of gritty and it creeped me out a little.

So onward. I think in this last week I will seek out new breakfast concepts. This morning I had baked mochi with sliced fruit. It was a nice alternative from cereal. I'd also like to make another batch of vegan brownies while finding the courage to move beyond pasta as a go to meal maker.

In the meantime, I encourage you to try one new meal you haven't made before and to make it as healthy, organic and local as you can. There's nothing better than nourishing yourself with wholesome food.

Day Whatever - Namesake

So, a quick story I haven't shared. When I sat around contemplating this blog thing, knowing full well that the blog was more for me than for anyone, I realized I wanted a name for it. I bounced some names off Chris, but we never found one we liked. Truth be told, I can't even recall the nonsense that came out of my mouth.

That same evening I whipped up a batch of my new found friend, the Shocking Beet Vinaigrette. I made some reference about my 'beetsauce' to Chris and he suggested that as a title. And it stuck.

But to the point - this stuff is so great, you'll use it for everything - as a sandwich spread, on toast with sliced avocado and tomato, as a salad dressing, on your sliced polenta. In fact, you'll want to keep a batch of it always ready in your fridge. So, without further ado, I present the Shocking Beet Vinaigrette (unashamedly reprinted with no permission of any kind from 'Vegetarian Planet by Didi Emmons).

Ingredients
1 small beet (about 3 ounces) trimmed but unpeeled
1 tsp minced fresh ginger (I tend to just grate mine)
1 shallot, chopped
1 tbls Dijon mustard
3 tbls balsamic vinegar
3/4 C mild olive oil (extra virgin is the way to go)
1/2 tsp salt
fresh-ground black pepper to taste

Directions
1. Boil the beet in water (just enough to cover it). Simmer until tender 30 - 35 minutes. Drain and cool with cold, running water. You can try to press the skin off, or just make it easy on yourself and swiftly peel the skin with a high quality peeler. Cut the beet into 5 or 6 pieces.

2. In a food processor or blender (I've been using a blender), puree the beet, ginger, shallot, and mustard. Blend in the balsamic vinegar.

3. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil (add as much as you like depending on your preferred consistency - I stay a bit on the thick side so I can use it as a spread). Add salt and pepper.

4. Store in an airtight container

5. Enjoy at will and often (that's my addition).

Day 16 - Ode to Breakfast

When the morning breaks and the tummy rumbles
I stretch my bones and feel quite humble.
I think of eggs, scrambled and yellow,
a cup of creamed coffee, hot and mellow.
There on the side two slices of bacon
And tall yogurt smoothie if oj's not taken.
But here in the middle of vegan objective
I'm faced with the truth that I must be selective.
So I reach for polenta and strawberries sliced,
An odd combination, but I find it quite nice.

~

So, day 16 and I'm feeling good. The last week I've been wracked by some tummy discomfort and I'm not sure the source - food or stress? Fortunately, I think I've pushed through that. And it's true - for breakfast this morning I sauted up some sliced polenta (the kind that comes in the tube), strawberries and bananas and had the strangest combination of foods I've had in some time, but it worked great and I found it rather filling and yummy. The other wonder food that I encountered last night was adding some tapenade we bought at a winery near Fruita to farfalle pasta and broccoli.

The really great news for me is that I went out on a quick bike ride this afternoon up to Copper from Frisco (still snow on the bike path) and I felt strong. I attribute this to the pilates I'm doing along with this switch in foods. But, then again - I just haven't been doing this long enough (and it was only my second ride of the season and brief at that). But, I'm inclined to keep this up where I can after the 30 days are over.

Don't quote me on that. Yet.

Week 2 - Where does all the time go?

Here's what I've learned so far about being vegan:

• It takes a lot of time to make menus and prepare food - although this is rather satisfying (the eating part). I've had incredible meals the last two weeks. Still - I've spent more time thinking about and preparing food in the last two weeks than in the last two months.
• Breakfast is the toughest meal. I've been craving eggs and yogurt. Cereal (hot and cold) doesn't cut it all the time. I need to transition into some kind of power breakfast drink.
• Eating out isn't all that fun. With no control over what goes into or on the food, you just never know what you're getting. I ate a carrot ginger soup over the weekend and as I was spooning it into my mouth, it occurred to me that the soup probably was made from a chicken base. I didn't ask. I didn't want to know. Also, when you go out to a burger place after doing a big ski and you're tired, you don't always read the menu so well. My portobella mushroom burger came with mayonnaise and I didn't even realize it until half-way through the burger when I noticed some white stuff oozing out from under the bun. So, not until day 10 did I end up having a confirmed party foul (I thought the burger was tasting suspiciously sinful).

I'm almost half-way through this experiment. In the last week I've had a nasty bout of gas (like you wanted to know). It's frankly been uncomfortable. Not sure if it's from the french fries I ate on Monday, the coffee without cream, or the anxiety at work, but wow - it's been rather intense. The first week was brilliant. My system worked like a charm and better than it has in months.

I also managed to do a big ski the other day - Quandry Peak with birthday girl Sarah Marcikonis - and my energy reserves held strong. Nothing like the week before when I was brought to my knees in hunger. I made some no-bake almond energy balls (thanks for the recipe, Emily!) and they helped charge me for sure.

Shall I start posting some of my favorite recipes?