Crafty Christmas

I tried making a some of my gifts this year. I ended up knitting 4 simple rib scarves, 2 pair of knitted fingerless gloves, 2 8-bit art pieces for my boyfriend and a whole lot of rocky road bark with Dandies marshmallows!

Our friend Kyle and the scarf I made him - the scarf that started my month of crazy knitting! I used my camera phone and the a app with tons of film effects for something muted and vintage..



Mega Man portrait for Matt - my first big piece - I used some ideas I found off the net because I am still new to pixels and beads...



Mario piranha for Matt, my first time using 2 boards in a project:



Rocky road bark...It is a hit now and being requested like crazy!

Happy Holidays!

I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and I hope everyone gets to spend it with the people they love! Be thankful for all the miracles in your life - big or small!

Day Trip - Sacramento

So last weekend we headed a hour up north to Sacramento. Over the last few years I have really fallen in love with Sac! From vegan restaurants and Whole foods to walking around mid town and all the little shops.

Here are some of my favorite Sacramento places, some big and some small - however they are all worth checkin' out!

-First up is what I like to think of as the 'vegan house' on K Street. Sugar Plum Vegan and Never Felt Better team up to offer food, baked goods, stuff for the house and all your vegan cheeze needs! I love having so many choices under one roof!

Potato mashers at Sugar Plum:


-Staying on the grid I like going over to the Gluten Free Specialty Market that carry a lot of vegan products! Even if you are not GF (I am not) it is worth seeing what vegan stuff they have to buy!

-Lush in Macy's at the K Street Mall. The staff at this location are super nice, some of the nicest sales people I have encountered!

-Queen Sheba has a all you can eat vegan buffet for lunch Monday through Friday. The best day to go is Friday for the tofu tibs. The bread is so tasty you will want to smuggle it out in your pockets!

-Teavana in Arden mall is a good place to sample a lot of teas. I love the fact that they have sample stations and little cups you can help yourself to trying some exotic blends. Matt who is not a big fan of tea even likes the Strawberry Paraiso White Tea with popcorn bits...

-Whole Foods on Arden gets Bicycle Bakery fudge cake in - so damn tasty, you need a slice - now!

-On our way home from Sacramento we have been stopping at the recently opened Loving Hut in Elk Grove. We love starting off with something fried - which is a rare treat and I then take 20 minutes trying to pick something since I want to try it all!


Bonus picture - Matt at his gallery debut at Side Show Studios. There was a lot of cool art going on that night! I can't wait to go back and get tattooed by Char!

The Season Of Germs

For the last few weeks I have been battling a cold/cough/runny nose. Once the cold was gone I have been stuck with a lingering cough. I have my arsenal of cold fighters to help me feel better and get back on track.


Once I feel a cold come on I reach for Emergen-C. I mix a packet in with my water and I continue doing so daily till I feel better. It kick starts the feel good energy in my system.


So this tea kinda tastes like herbal chest rub, however it really breaks down your cough and helps soothes a achy chest. It contains a lot of feel good herbs like cinnamon, clove, ginger and cardamom. Drink a warm cup in the morning to help you breathe better all day long.


Another tea by Yogi - this is more pleasant to drink and ginger is known to help stomach aches - good for when you really do not want to eat. Both of these teas can be found at Trader Joe's at around $3 a box.


When your appetite is weak reach for some Amy's "No Chicken Noodle" soup. It is comforting and will warm you up without making your stomach ache more. I think it tastes great with a pinch of nutritional yeast sprinkled in.

Remember get a lot of rest, take it easy and feel better soon.

Sacramento Shows!

If you are in the Sacramento area this Saturday come out and check out these two events. My boyfriend and I will both be vending at the Sugar Plum Vegan/Never Felt Better event and my boyfriend's Lego sculptures will be at the Side Show Gallery!

[day 21] Post Craft Show Slow Down

I had a crazy busy weekend. We did Hand Born for the fourth year in a row - the biggest indie craft show in the area on Saturday night, 5 hours of selling, chatting, loud music and fun! My table set up this year was packed the night before so I did not stress.


I love crafting and baking - my dream is to open a cute lil vegan bakery/art space/retail shop/concert venue. Doing craft shows help me figure out business plans for the future and see what skills I need to improve on. I like promoting veganisim with yummy treats. One of my top sellers is my 'cakey moist brownie'...This year I made those and rice cereal treats. One lady bought a brownie even though she just bought food from the cafe after seeing my brownies. She ate my brownie first! Don't bother asking for my brownie recipe!



I sold out on a lot of things and have another show coming up in two weeks. I started making more stuff! I can't wait. While I am busy sewing and knitting my boyfriend will be busy editing a new music video he directed! He also has a gallery premier showing off his 8-bit work. I just started holiday shopping, and have lots of baking to do and holiday pictures of Mar to take. It is going to be a creative holiday this year!

[day 20] Thankgiving Part 2 - Plus Easy Cheeze Cake

Tonight I was able to go to a vegan potluck - I brought a pumpkin cheeze cake and a big ol' dish of baked mac & cheeze. The last vegan potluck I went to nothing but a few slabs of burnt tofu were actually vegan, everything had dairy and eggs - um OK. So I was kinda worried on if I should bring more food or eat beforehand. This time around I was really happy with the outcome!


There was so much food - it was crazy. Two things of tofurkey, noochy potatoes with gravey, 2 things of different green beans, cranberry stuffing, sweet potatoes, garlic rolls, veggies, pies, cake...I loaded up my plate...I event went back for more tofurkey - I am not a fan of mock meats but it was really good! There was so much stand out food!





The last two years I have been making vegan pumpkin cheeze cake to bring as my dish to places. It is very simple to make and thanks to Keebler's Ready Made Graham Crust it is super easy and stress free. This is actually a veganized recipe from Keebler!
[Easy Vegan Pumpkin Cheeze Cake]
Ingredients

2 containers (12 oz) od Tofutti cream cheeze
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (I use Trader Joe's it has the addition of lemon peel!)
2 egg replacer 'eggs'
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust

In large mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and spice. Beat until combined. Add egg - replacer 1/2 mixture at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition. Stir in pumpkin. Pour into crust. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool for 1 hour on wire rack. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.


*sorry for more low light cell phone pictures, I always have my phone yet never think to bring my camera!

[day 19] Thanksgiving Part 1

I am thankful for so much this year...A year of cancer free life for Mar, Matt having a new job, a roof over our heads...All is good.


This was dinner at my mom's: baked savory tofu, mashed potatoes, veggies, corn! It was simple but delicious!


I made a pumpkin cheeze cake - a new tradition. In fact I am making another tomorrow and will post the recipe!

I am full and have a crazy busy weekend ahead! Tomorrow we have been invited to a vegan potluck. I am stoked!

*sorry for the low light cell phone pictures!

[day 18] Interview With Jen - Never Felt Better

Last month I got to check out the new all vegan shop Never Felt Better in Sacramento creating a buzz! Not only does Jen - the owner know how to pick some awesome stuff (including some of my handmade goods)she is super awesome and all around nice!

I got to ask Jen a few questions about being vegan in Sacramento. I can't wait to be back in Sacramento next month for shopping!


-what gave you the idea to open Never Felt Better?
i have always wanted to open my very own store. in the early 90's it was a flower shop, then a buy-sell-trade, then a craft co-op. when we lived in portland we saw how successfully herbivore/foodfight! grocery thrived within the vegan community and it became a no-brainer. i think with NFB, i have found a marriage of my passion for veganism and handmade that can be sustainable here in sacramento.

-how do you pick what goes into the shop?
i love to support my friends who work so hard at their businesses and who have supported me over time. i have had a mental checklist of folks whose items i have fancied for years since going vegan that i would love to carry in the store. i like to think the handmade items i buy are not only cute and well made but things people want to spend money on.

-what are your favorite items you carry?
the vegan dish pottery bowls and mugs, herbivore tee's, and all the food items. especially now i have a fridge full of sweet and sara smores and marshmallows!

-what is your favorite place to eat in the Sacramento area?
we love au lac veggie, of course sugar plum vegan, loving hut in elk grove and zpizza in roseville. we love to eat out so i could not even come close to choosing just one.

[day 17] Super Cool Things For Your Kitchen

It's no lie how I love accessories - be it ones I wear or ones that help me cook up something tasty!


I know a Snoopy snow cone machine is not for everybody - but I had one as a kid, my sister and I played with it for hours. I have one still in the box - it bring back many memories.


I have tone of aprons (and never wear them!) but I love these cool skeleton ones!


I think these dishes are totally awesome! I can see them working in a kitchen or a handy potluck accessory.


Not really a tool to help in the kitchen but pair these Pac-Man shot glasses with your booze of choice and you will have help relaxing!

No matter what your kitchen docore is - just remember to have fun!

[day 16] Product Reviews

Last week we got a order in from Vegan Essentials of some much needed and not so needed products. I tried to get some things that seemed interesting and a few things that looked good. Here are a few hits and misses including what Matt thought.


We love queso around here, we just plop it over tortilla chips and call it a day. I was curious to see what a jar version tastes like. Nacho Mom's Ultimate Vegan Queso called out to me - who can resist cheezy flavor in a jar! I found it tasty, it had a slight kick and it is super healthy. For the price I am happy making my own though!
Matt says: Not high on the cheese factor, thick though and overall good.


Dark Angell Organic Candy Bar has a nice chocolaty taste and I love the addition of the nuts, it reminds me of a old school in your lunchbox Kudos bar!
Matt says: The candy bar was good, but not the best I've ever eaten. It had a nice chewy chocolate bite.


Cheese Crackers by Eco Planet are so tasty. The reminded me or cheesy crackers, a cross between the fish shaped ones and the ones that ended with it!I opened the box when we had company and we munched away happily. I am just a bit disappointed that a third of the box was crumbs.
Matt says: The cheese crackers have a great after taste. At first it tastes bland but then it the "cheese" kicks in and it's good.


The only disappointment with the products we tried was the gumballs by Dylan and Delaney . We tried the sour apple flavor wich was not really flavorful. The big complaint though was the texture of the gum. It was just mush and never really formed into something you could chew, so after a minute we spit it out.
Matt says: The gum balls were gross, they had absolutely no taste and they were not chewy.

[day 15] When You Have Tummy Troubles...

I have been kinda-sorta sick these last few weeks possibly from stress. My stomach has been in a funky mood so blogging about food has been nauseating at times and I have not been in the kitchen much. I tried OTC vegan safe meds, tried avoiding spicey food and above all trying to stay away from stress...



Tonight when I was shopping for books I stopped by the yoga section and saw a few DVD that are supposed to help with digestion and other problems. I picked up Healing Yoga in hopes of some healing. I tried the stomachache section tonight and it relaxed me and I want to try out the whole DVD.
With the holiday season on us and lots of yummy vegan food to be had stress is upon us with food prep and crazy schedules, with stress comes stomachaches for some. I am curious about any natural remedies anyone uses! Please post if you have any.

Look out next week for some vegan product reviews since I received a order from Vegan Essentials tonight!

[day 14] Eating At New To Me Places

I have been kinda ill the last few weeks and lately have not had much of a appetite. Last weekend while Matt and I handed out peanut butter sandwiches to the homeless we came upon Tasty Thai which we heard had vegan options, I ran in and picked up a to go menu. After going over it and seeing lots of vegetarian dishes I decided to try to see what could be made vegan. Tonight when nothing sounded good Matt and I decided to try something new. So I went in and told them what I wanted/did not want in my dish (fish sauce, eggs, animal stock) and they were cool.


We ended up with two dishes to split with rice and tea. Matt ordered a spicy noodle dish with tofu and I ordered eggplant tofu. Yummy dishes served family style so we can pick and choose. I am stuffed and have a cup of tea waiting for me! Goodnight!

[day 13] Tofu Tips!

We all know it can be a pain to press tofu, not to mention the wasted paper towels. Well, after my go to tofu source ran out of extra firm tofu this week and I needed a few block to make Matt's BBQ tofu I turned to WildWood. The block I got was huge and it was vacuumed sealed without water. It did not need to be pressed just blotted and it was good to go! It was firmer than the old water packed tofu many of us are used to but it was good!

A few months ago over on the PPK someone mentioned using a Shamwow to press tofu. My good ol' pal Kyle gave me a Shamwow and I tried it and it worked great. It made me use less kitchen towels and paper towels! Who said info commercial products are junk?