Sunday, November 27, 2011
Post-Thanksgiving musings
Thanksgiving dinner's sad and thankless
Christmas dinner's dark and blue
When you stop and try to see it
From the turkey's point of view.
~Shel Silverstein
I'm going to admit something. I used to be somewhat of a Thanksgiving Scrooge. But the more I read and experience, the less alone I feel and the more I'm warming up to this holiday. Thanksgiving is a strange holiday for a vegan. Every other day of the year, the vegan buys and eats their cruelty-free groceries while the rest of the world goes on eating meat. But on Thanksgiving, it is quite difficult to avoid the incessant imagery of a dead animal carcass as centerpiece to the family feast. It is disheartening to many to have to sit down with friends and family and watch them ooh and awe over a dead bird.
Somehow, this became the American tradition. A holiday guised to be about thankfulness, often just becomes a gluttonous bird-eating fest. I remember my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. I was fully unprepared and was subject to mocking, and a dinner plate that consisted of a white dinner roll and some fruit salad. My stomach growled as the rest of the family feasted, but I would not give in. After that first year, there was a very gradual shift toward meals that I could enjoy, while I, along with family members learned of ways to prepare dishes that everyone - even vegetarians could enjoy. And after a few years of that, I finally got into cooking and even offered to contribute to family meals by preparing dishes I knew I could eat - and that everyone else could also enjoy.
This year, George and I were separated from our families by our move to Oregon. This was not my first year away from family on this holiday, but I truly missed them. But as much as I missed spending time with family, I actually got excited at the prospect of preparing an entire Thanksgiving feast all by myself! Crazy? probably. But I do miss certain family culinary traditions, and have been acutely aware of Dad's chef-genes kicking in lately.
Dad was, and still is, clearly master of the kitchen. Mom always was an excellent cook as well, but when Dad's a professional chef, apparently you don't mess with him. I attempted to take him on a few years back, thinking I was doing him a favor by offering to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner and give him the night off. Even with my offer to do everything for one night, he was not willing to relinquish control of the kitchen and instead put me on potato duty. I briefly entertained the idea of turning him down in favor of an all-or-nothing approach, but decided to take what I could get in Dad's kitchen and prepare my famous garlic roasted potatoes.
On a side note, everyone always asks me for the 'recipe' for the garlic roasted potatoes, and to tell the truth: there isn't one. This is a trait I'm sure comes from my chef-father, but I hate recipes, as well as measuring. I love to cook, but to me it's all a nuanced, experimental art. For anyone still seeking the recipe, this is as close as you're going to get: Dice potatoes of choice, spread on as many cookie sheets as necessary, and coat GENEROUSLY with olive oil. Sprinkle plenty of garlic salt and parsley on top and roast in the oven, somewhere between 350 and 450 for, I don't know, several hours? When they're done, you'll know it. The first time I made these, it was for a family gathering and I chopped an entire 10 lb. bag of potatoes to much chastisement and derision. Trust me, I said... and the entire 10 lbs. was gone.
Back to my story. Ever since volunteering to cook the entire family meal - and to have everyone enjoy a vegetarian dinner, I've been absolutely itching to do just that. So, when George and I resolved that we'd be staying home alone for the holiday, my meal-planning genes went into overdrive. Dad's ability to perfectly prepare an entire meal, combined with Grandma Ev's inclination to set a perfect table days in advance of an event suddenly clicked and I spent weeks planning the perfect vegan meal, poring over magazine recipes, grocery shopping, and yes - actually drawing diagrams of the placement of dishes on the table.
My first inclination was to make something truly out of the ordinary, but since we were far away from family, I wanted to have a meal that was grounded in tradition and comfort. And when speaking of tradition in my family, Thanksgiving begins at breakfast. With the Macy's parade on in the background, we would prepare "breakfast turkeys" - hollowed out oranges, filled with fruit salad, and bedecked with froot-loop 'feathers' and a grape for a head. This was always served alongside Mom's special cheesy-scrambled-eggs, something I would indulge in once a year as a vegetarian, as missed as a vegan. Last year, in my old apartment, I prepared the fruit turkeys for George and myself, indulging my inner child. This year, I skipped the elaborate fruit dish in the mess that would be our dinner, but decided to give the scrambled eggs a make-over. Combining a few recipes, I apparently struck gold with my new cheesy tofu scramble. A block of firm tofu, mashed, with olive oil, and a hint of spice (garlic, salt, pepper, paprika) sauteed with my new favorite discovery that deserves its own posting, nutritional yeast, or "nootch" as it's familiarly called in several vegan blogs. This nondescript, unassuming brown powder is completely vegan, a complete protein full of B vitamins, and when sprinkled into food, creates an amazing 'cheese-sauce' taste and texture that you have to try to believe. Consider it my new miracle food. My scramble was served alongside oven-roasted tomatoes to provide the sweet, tangy counterpart to the creaminess of the 'cheesy' tofu. This dish would appease even the most discerning omnivore.
For dinner, I made the tofurky our centerpiece, with my special orange-soy sauce baste, surrounded by potatoes, carrots, and apples. I updated tired mashed potatoes with a yukon potato, carrot, and white bean mash - perfectly creamy without the dairy! Roasted acorn squash was stuffed with quinoa-pistachio stuffing and, garnished with fresh parsley, made a beautiful presentation. Green beans with a dash of lemon juice rounded out the dinner. For a tart-sweet counterpart, I made an earl grey tea spiced cranberry sauce. The meal was completed with pinot noir and a vegan pumpkin pie - my first foray into pie-making! I probably spent the most time on that dish, combining several different recipes to arrive at the right combination of pumpkin, soymilk, spices, and an easy graham cracker crust. Meanwhile, Isa enjoyed a special plate of fresh parsley, with a garnish of apple and carrot slices.
While I truly miss heartily laughing along with family to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I adopted George's tradition of after-dinner entertainment, in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles which had a far more endearing ending than I had remembered. I added my own mix to the traditions by playing all of the epic Thanksgiving episodes of FRIENDS while I was busy in the kitchen.
The whole day was a mixture of several family traditions, as well as new rituals that I'm sure will make their way into our lexicon of tradition. Much as we both missed our families, I cannot express how thrilled I was to be in charge of a whole holiday meal, and how much it meant to me to be able to share a table full of traditional, yet veganized foods, with not a dead animal in sight. In truth, it was a dream come true. I cherish being able to share the experience with the one I love, and I hope to be able to one day prepare a larger feast to share with our families as well!
And so, for the first time in a very long time, I was able to truly enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without giving any thought to where the food had come from, to not be the subject of any teasing or ridicule about my culinary choices. In a way, it was refreshing. Looking ahead on the calendar, we will likely be doing the same for Christmas, and my gears are already spinning, planning an amazing Christmas dinner.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Considering Hunting Season
November again already. Here in Oregon, the weather is a little more crisp, a little more wet, but still quite mild. The leaves have turned, but still greenery is plentiful. I never really liked autumn in Minnesota and was looking forward to experiencing the season in a new locale. But even with the distance, every year at about this time, with any modicum of facebook checking, the absurd Northern Minnesota calendar designation known as "deer season" is utterly unavoidable. Each year I try to keep clear of it as much as possible, try to not let it get to me. But every year, people start talking about the anticipation of heading to the shack. And then the pictures start showing up. Oh, the gory pictures. Hunters are so proud of the animals they've just killed. I've always found a strange exhibitionism in these photos, the smiles and the dead animals. I have become so far removed from this culture, but the farther away I get, the more senseless the whole enterprise seems.
Some may say I'm just being too sensitive. But I think that it's the hunters who have become desensitized to the killing. I also know that in my commitment to speaking up for animals, it is difficult to just close my eyes to any injustice, especially one that is so celebrated. Even when I try to shield myself from the images, to not think about it too much, the truth is it still breaks my heart. I've never understood the joy in such a "sport." One of my favorite quotes comes from actor Paul Rodriguez and sums it up perfectly: "Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they’re in the game." This is not a well-matched football game. "It is cruel and inhumane to stalk, injure and murder animals for recreation." (All-Creatures.org) I just don't see anything that can be gained recreationally by taking another life.
Most hunters are quick to defend, giving some variation of the "population control" argument. This argument is, in fact, complete fallacy perpetuated for the benefit of the hunters themselves. The population of deer, as with any species, is able to control itself naturally, and the interference of hunters is not needed. Most state game agencies "manage" the deer populations by purposely inflating them for the hunters to have something to hunt. Any hunter thinking (s)he is preventing the herd from starvation is completely misguided. Starvation is a process of natural selection and hunters rarely kill the weakest, most mal-nourished deer of the herd. Hunting actually PROMOTES overpopulation because the herd will focus on mating and propagating to compensate for the initial dip in population of the herd from the hunt. The argument of population control is simply false justification.
Still others argue that hunting is a family tradition and a way to bond with Dad (or sometimes even Mom). While shared experiences with parents are essential to bonding, they do not need to include animal suffering. Many studies point out that animal violence learned early in life can lead to desensitization, as well as human violence later in life. An Australian academic paper pointed especially to hunting in childhood as a hindrance to empathy development and a precursor to aggressive behaviors. Bonding with a parent can be done through a plethora of more enriching, compassionate activities. If an appreciation of nature and animals is truly the goal, nature hikes and photography are far less invasive and non-violent alternatives.
My own dad continues to hunt and while I wish he didn't, I know I probably won't ultimately change his mind. When I was a little girl, often the whole family would accompany him into the woods. However, even at a young age, I vehemently protested the hunt, begging him through tear-filled eyes to stop. I believe the animal activist in me was born when Dad decided to go after a snapping turtle for "soup." Crammed in the backseat of that old green jeep with my mom, sister, and grandma, I let out a wail for the turtle, climbed over Mom to pry open the door and run down the gravel road screaming at my dad to stop. My outburst made my little sister cry, and eventually Mom and even Grandma were touched and started to tear up. I wouldn't stop until Dad let the turtle go. There was more bonding in the fact that Dad listened to me and shared a moment of compassion then there ever was in any hunting experience.
Make no mistake: I love my dad dearly, but there has been absolutely nothing shared over hunting. I have many fond memories of growing up and spending time with him. But they involve watching old episodes of Dragnet, learning from him to cook and play chess, hearing bedtime stories and creating things together in the wood shop. An appreciation of nature was still cultivated, but for me only when the weapons were left at home and a peaceful walk through the woods or boat ride on the lake was shared.
Call me a hippie or a vegan freak, but I won't be wishing any hunters "good luck" nor will I be congratulating anyone posting pictures of their kill. I am saddened by the callousness of such images and am hoping instead for safe hiding places for all the deer out there. And I will take comfort in the fact that statistics show that hunting is on the decline and the number of people opposed to hunting is increasing. Autumn in Portland is pretty awesome and I'll be focused on enjoying the local culture. I love being able to just throw on a scarf and my trademark flip flops, grab a coffee and take a walk in the rain.
Some may say I'm just being too sensitive. But I think that it's the hunters who have become desensitized to the killing. I also know that in my commitment to speaking up for animals, it is difficult to just close my eyes to any injustice, especially one that is so celebrated. Even when I try to shield myself from the images, to not think about it too much, the truth is it still breaks my heart. I've never understood the joy in such a "sport." One of my favorite quotes comes from actor Paul Rodriguez and sums it up perfectly: "Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they’re in the game." This is not a well-matched football game. "It is cruel and inhumane to stalk, injure and murder animals for recreation." (All-Creatures.org) I just don't see anything that can be gained recreationally by taking another life.
Most hunters are quick to defend, giving some variation of the "population control" argument. This argument is, in fact, complete fallacy perpetuated for the benefit of the hunters themselves. The population of deer, as with any species, is able to control itself naturally, and the interference of hunters is not needed. Most state game agencies "manage" the deer populations by purposely inflating them for the hunters to have something to hunt. Any hunter thinking (s)he is preventing the herd from starvation is completely misguided. Starvation is a process of natural selection and hunters rarely kill the weakest, most mal-nourished deer of the herd. Hunting actually PROMOTES overpopulation because the herd will focus on mating and propagating to compensate for the initial dip in population of the herd from the hunt. The argument of population control is simply false justification.
Still others argue that hunting is a family tradition and a way to bond with Dad (or sometimes even Mom). While shared experiences with parents are essential to bonding, they do not need to include animal suffering. Many studies point out that animal violence learned early in life can lead to desensitization, as well as human violence later in life. An Australian academic paper pointed especially to hunting in childhood as a hindrance to empathy development and a precursor to aggressive behaviors. Bonding with a parent can be done through a plethora of more enriching, compassionate activities. If an appreciation of nature and animals is truly the goal, nature hikes and photography are far less invasive and non-violent alternatives.
My own dad continues to hunt and while I wish he didn't, I know I probably won't ultimately change his mind. When I was a little girl, often the whole family would accompany him into the woods. However, even at a young age, I vehemently protested the hunt, begging him through tear-filled eyes to stop. I believe the animal activist in me was born when Dad decided to go after a snapping turtle for "soup." Crammed in the backseat of that old green jeep with my mom, sister, and grandma, I let out a wail for the turtle, climbed over Mom to pry open the door and run down the gravel road screaming at my dad to stop. My outburst made my little sister cry, and eventually Mom and even Grandma were touched and started to tear up. I wouldn't stop until Dad let the turtle go. There was more bonding in the fact that Dad listened to me and shared a moment of compassion then there ever was in any hunting experience.
Make no mistake: I love my dad dearly, but there has been absolutely nothing shared over hunting. I have many fond memories of growing up and spending time with him. But they involve watching old episodes of Dragnet, learning from him to cook and play chess, hearing bedtime stories and creating things together in the wood shop. An appreciation of nature was still cultivated, but for me only when the weapons were left at home and a peaceful walk through the woods or boat ride on the lake was shared.
Call me a hippie or a vegan freak, but I won't be wishing any hunters "good luck" nor will I be congratulating anyone posting pictures of their kill. I am saddened by the callousness of such images and am hoping instead for safe hiding places for all the deer out there. And I will take comfort in the fact that statistics show that hunting is on the decline and the number of people opposed to hunting is increasing. Autumn in Portland is pretty awesome and I'll be focused on enjoying the local culture. I love being able to just throw on a scarf and my trademark flip flops, grab a coffee and take a walk in the rain.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Vegan-ings
Somewhere in the middle of Montana, this vegetarian became a vegan. I am nearing 12 years of vegetarianism and have spent much of that time wishing I was a full vegan, arguing with myself whether or not to eat a piece of cheese, feeling guilty any time I ate something non-vegan. And so, while sitting shotgun in that godforsaken moving truck, I surprised myself at how quickly I exclaimed, "Yes!" when George asked me if I thought we should go vegan.
We thought, what better time, than when moving cross-country to change the routine and switch to even healthier habits? (Little did we know at the time that we would be stuck in Montana for 5 days, rather than promptly arriving in the most veg-friendly city in America.) For our first official vegan meal, we were forced to scavenge a Montana Wal-mart in the middle of the night for anything edible, settling for a parking lot tailgate party of cold soy-dogs, soy-cheese and ketchup. After a long day on the road, it was surprisingly good.
While stranded in Bozeman for nearly a week, the Community Food Co-op downtown appeared over the horizon like an oasis in the desert. Our moods drastically improved once inside the co-op, with plenty of "comfort foods" in full view. And yes, for us, comfort foods include Tofurkey dogs, fake cheese, organic cereal bars, vegan-deli-salads, and of course hummus. The hotel's minifridge was thus well-stocked and we got along just fine during our accidental vacation in Bozeman. Even Isa enjoyed a bag of organic mixed greens while hopping around the hotel room.
There have certainly been challenges, like trying to find fast food on the road, but as soon as we got settled in, the vegan habits became old hat. The new kitchen here is more conducive to cooking and general mess-making than the tiny, ill-equipped kitchens of our old apartments, and so I've been a bit more adventurous with our meals, trying to make more healthy, budget-conscious dinners at home.
When I began the blog, almost a year ago, my intent was to share more recipes and meal ideas because, surprisingly to me, I still get asked all the time, "So, what DO you eat?" The truth is, I eat a wider variety of foods now than I ever did as a carnivore. My eyes have been opened to more healthful cooking and a variety of ethnic cuisines. I don't see vegetarianism, or veganism for that matter, as a restrictive diet, but rather a new way of looking at food and a new opportunity to be healthy and guilt-free!
Just before the move, I picked up a new cookbook, Veggie Burgers Every Which Way and just last week, finally got to try my hand at made-from-scratch veggie burgers. I started with the simple black bean burger, forgoing the suggested parmesan in order to make them vegan. Served up with some oven fries, they got rave reviews. The extra-large batch made enough leftovers to keep us fed all week. Next up, Seitan burgers with mango BBQ, or perhaps Armenian lentil burgers? Stay tuned.
We've had tacos, or mock-os (as my sister so aptly coined them) on several occasions. Tonight, I used fresh jalepenos from our garden to flavor the boca-crumbles and black beans. I found a great recipe on Ellen's website: Soft Tacos with Avocado Salsa, which we sampled last week. We subbed in Morningstar black bean burgers for the Gardein, as that's what we had on-hand, and they were simply fantastic.
Last night, I made a veggie roast, a kind of "baked riff on ratatouille" that was delicious. I couldn't find the recipe online, but it was quite simple. Sliced summer squash, tomatoes, and yukon gold potatoes, drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, cracked pepper, and fresh rosemary from our garden, baked for about an hour. The result was a savory, tender dinner, and I'm told the leftovers make a great sandwich for lunch. I'd like to make it again for a fancy brunch and serve it beside a tofu scramble.
Finally tonight, an unexpected dessert: chocolate pudding. At first glance, this dessert looks, and tastes, like a creamy chocolate pudding. The surprise is it is actually whipped avocados that lend the pudding its smooth creaminess. If you can get over the mental block of eating vegetables for dessert, it's quite delicious, and healthy too! Vegan, organic, and raw!
We thought, what better time, than when moving cross-country to change the routine and switch to even healthier habits? (Little did we know at the time that we would be stuck in Montana for 5 days, rather than promptly arriving in the most veg-friendly city in America.) For our first official vegan meal, we were forced to scavenge a Montana Wal-mart in the middle of the night for anything edible, settling for a parking lot tailgate party of cold soy-dogs, soy-cheese and ketchup. After a long day on the road, it was surprisingly good.
While stranded in Bozeman for nearly a week, the Community Food Co-op downtown appeared over the horizon like an oasis in the desert. Our moods drastically improved once inside the co-op, with plenty of "comfort foods" in full view. And yes, for us, comfort foods include Tofurkey dogs, fake cheese, organic cereal bars, vegan-deli-salads, and of course hummus. The hotel's minifridge was thus well-stocked and we got along just fine during our accidental vacation in Bozeman. Even Isa enjoyed a bag of organic mixed greens while hopping around the hotel room.
There have certainly been challenges, like trying to find fast food on the road, but as soon as we got settled in, the vegan habits became old hat. The new kitchen here is more conducive to cooking and general mess-making than the tiny, ill-equipped kitchens of our old apartments, and so I've been a bit more adventurous with our meals, trying to make more healthy, budget-conscious dinners at home.
When I began the blog, almost a year ago, my intent was to share more recipes and meal ideas because, surprisingly to me, I still get asked all the time, "So, what DO you eat?" The truth is, I eat a wider variety of foods now than I ever did as a carnivore. My eyes have been opened to more healthful cooking and a variety of ethnic cuisines. I don't see vegetarianism, or veganism for that matter, as a restrictive diet, but rather a new way of looking at food and a new opportunity to be healthy and guilt-free!
Just before the move, I picked up a new cookbook, Veggie Burgers Every Which Way and just last week, finally got to try my hand at made-from-scratch veggie burgers. I started with the simple black bean burger, forgoing the suggested parmesan in order to make them vegan. Served up with some oven fries, they got rave reviews. The extra-large batch made enough leftovers to keep us fed all week. Next up, Seitan burgers with mango BBQ, or perhaps Armenian lentil burgers? Stay tuned.
We've had tacos, or mock-os (as my sister so aptly coined them) on several occasions. Tonight, I used fresh jalepenos from our garden to flavor the boca-crumbles and black beans. I found a great recipe on Ellen's website: Soft Tacos with Avocado Salsa, which we sampled last week. We subbed in Morningstar black bean burgers for the Gardein, as that's what we had on-hand, and they were simply fantastic.
Last night, I made a veggie roast, a kind of "baked riff on ratatouille" that was delicious. I couldn't find the recipe online, but it was quite simple. Sliced summer squash, tomatoes, and yukon gold potatoes, drizzled with olive oil, sea salt, cracked pepper, and fresh rosemary from our garden, baked for about an hour. The result was a savory, tender dinner, and I'm told the leftovers make a great sandwich for lunch. I'd like to make it again for a fancy brunch and serve it beside a tofu scramble.
Finally tonight, an unexpected dessert: chocolate pudding. At first glance, this dessert looks, and tastes, like a creamy chocolate pudding. The surprise is it is actually whipped avocados that lend the pudding its smooth creaminess. If you can get over the mental block of eating vegetables for dessert, it's quite delicious, and healthy too! Vegan, organic, and raw!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Let's talk about paper
While visiting my hometown this weekend, I perused the local paper one morning over coffee. As usual, the front page was smattered not with world news but with pictures of fish being caught and Boise-sponsored events for schoolchildren. Even before turning the page, I remarked at the propaganda of this local paper mill shamelessly promoting itself. I remember during my own elementary years there, Boise representatives would visit the classroom often, to help us plant trees or write papers about how great the paper mill was for our little town. In 5th grade, I even won an essay contest supporting the mill. As soon as I had written my little essay, however, I felt extremely uncomfortable. Even at a young age, I was interested in environmental causes and quickly became skeptical of the paper mill's intents.
What truly made my jaw drop was when I did turn the page and read a rather disturbing editorial entitled, It's Ok to Use Paper. The article maddeningly referred to the environmental movement (which has been going strong for several decades) as mere "buzz" and actually sought to encourage paper usage. A quick line about not being wasteful and noting paper is recyclable felt disingenuous and forced, like fine print disclaimers a lawyer would add to corporate advertising. Such blatant denial of ecological concerns is appalling. I am incredulous that anyone would believe that this "buzz" about reducing paper consumption isn't really necessary and that it's really ok to use as much paper as you need.
The editorial mentions, but does not cite, an article from the Wall Street Journal. I think I found the article it refers to. I was hoping to find more scientific fact in this reference, but it was just another opinion piece. Really the only supporting fact to the argument (which was repeated in the Daily Journal editorial) is: "Thanks to improved forest management, we have more trees in America today than we had 100 years ago." Laughably, this "fact" is not from a scientific journal, but is sourced from an e-mail tagline from "Chuck." This line has been used by the anti-environmental movement for years in an effort to make people feel better about environmental destruction. Even if we assume it is true, there are still problems with it. First of all, 100 years ago was not the beginning of time. 100 years ago, the country was very industrial, there wasn't much of a conservation effort to speak of yet, and deforestation was rampant. Are there more trees now than during the pre-industrial era? No! That would be impossible considering the population growth and urban sprawl over the years.
The kernel of truth in that article is that the industry has been stepping up and re-planting forests. That is great, but the issue is far more complicated than simply a band-aid effort of re-planting trees. Even if trees are re-planted, it's not necessarily the same as it was. It takes years for the trees to grow to that size again. Meanwhile wildlife is displaced, habitats lost, and the re-planted forest grows back in unnatural, awkward rows. Songbird populations have decreased because of this fragmentation of the forests. Trees don't grow in farms the way they would naturally in an untouched forest and tree-farmers often resort to genetically-modified species (a scary practice that has already been banned in Canada).
Beyond the issue of using trees and tree farms, there are a whole host of other threats to the environment and public health that the paper industry is responsible for. The logging of trees for paper, as well as their transport and the transport of finished products like paper require the burning of fossil fuels. The plant itself uses electricity to produce the paper, as well as toxic chemicals to get that lovely shade of chlorine-bleached white that everyone seems to crave. The water and air are so polluted that Boise is constantly at odds with Environmental Protection Agency standards. I was told at the local water treatment plant that the treated sewage being spewed back into Rainy River is far cleaner than what Boise is putting back into the water. Anyone daring to breathe, drink water, or heaven forbid, eat fish there risks health complications.
Locals are quick to support the industry, however, jumping to point out just how many jobs the mill provides, thereby supporting the local economy. But simply citing economics and stating that paper usage keeps local jobs is not a valid defense for using such resources and is missing the point. Worrying about jobs in a small town is like micro-managing. A larger worldview sees the global impact, the environmental concern.
If Boise was a forward-thinking, innovating, socially and ecologically concerned company, they would put more effort into keeping up with the times - and the demands of like-minded consumers instead of pandering to the masses, using marketing tactics to encourage more paper consumption while pretending to care about recycling. They could be on the forefront of the paper industry if they were innovating even more sustainable forestry practices and manufacturing processes that involved less chemicals, thereby being less harmful to the environment. They should be implementing their own recycling processes and collect used paper to be used in recycled products. Instead, they continue to use virgin materials while ironically telling us to recycle. I'm tired of standing by while the air and water of my hometown is being further polluted, friends and family getting sick.
End note:
I have veered slightly off my vegetarian path for just a moment to discuss something other than the life of a vegetarian for 2 reasons. First, the topic at hand further illustrates the attitudes of the hometown where this black sheep was raised. Second, I feel that vegetarianism and environmentalism go hand-in-hand. Many go vegetarian for environmental reasons and they are intrinsically linked as issues of health, conservation, and the betterment of the planet. I by no means wish to offend anyone making a living in that community and welcome comments for discussion.
What truly made my jaw drop was when I did turn the page and read a rather disturbing editorial entitled, It's Ok to Use Paper. The article maddeningly referred to the environmental movement (which has been going strong for several decades) as mere "buzz" and actually sought to encourage paper usage. A quick line about not being wasteful and noting paper is recyclable felt disingenuous and forced, like fine print disclaimers a lawyer would add to corporate advertising. Such blatant denial of ecological concerns is appalling. I am incredulous that anyone would believe that this "buzz" about reducing paper consumption isn't really necessary and that it's really ok to use as much paper as you need.
The editorial mentions, but does not cite, an article from the Wall Street Journal. I think I found the article it refers to. I was hoping to find more scientific fact in this reference, but it was just another opinion piece. Really the only supporting fact to the argument (which was repeated in the Daily Journal editorial) is: "Thanks to improved forest management, we have more trees in America today than we had 100 years ago." Laughably, this "fact" is not from a scientific journal, but is sourced from an e-mail tagline from "Chuck." This line has been used by the anti-environmental movement for years in an effort to make people feel better about environmental destruction. Even if we assume it is true, there are still problems with it. First of all, 100 years ago was not the beginning of time. 100 years ago, the country was very industrial, there wasn't much of a conservation effort to speak of yet, and deforestation was rampant. Are there more trees now than during the pre-industrial era? No! That would be impossible considering the population growth and urban sprawl over the years.
The kernel of truth in that article is that the industry has been stepping up and re-planting forests. That is great, but the issue is far more complicated than simply a band-aid effort of re-planting trees. Even if trees are re-planted, it's not necessarily the same as it was. It takes years for the trees to grow to that size again. Meanwhile wildlife is displaced, habitats lost, and the re-planted forest grows back in unnatural, awkward rows. Songbird populations have decreased because of this fragmentation of the forests. Trees don't grow in farms the way they would naturally in an untouched forest and tree-farmers often resort to genetically-modified species (a scary practice that has already been banned in Canada).
Beyond the issue of using trees and tree farms, there are a whole host of other threats to the environment and public health that the paper industry is responsible for. The logging of trees for paper, as well as their transport and the transport of finished products like paper require the burning of fossil fuels. The plant itself uses electricity to produce the paper, as well as toxic chemicals to get that lovely shade of chlorine-bleached white that everyone seems to crave. The water and air are so polluted that Boise is constantly at odds with Environmental Protection Agency standards. I was told at the local water treatment plant that the treated sewage being spewed back into Rainy River is far cleaner than what Boise is putting back into the water. Anyone daring to breathe, drink water, or heaven forbid, eat fish there risks health complications.
Locals are quick to support the industry, however, jumping to point out just how many jobs the mill provides, thereby supporting the local economy. But simply citing economics and stating that paper usage keeps local jobs is not a valid defense for using such resources and is missing the point. Worrying about jobs in a small town is like micro-managing. A larger worldview sees the global impact, the environmental concern.
If Boise was a forward-thinking, innovating, socially and ecologically concerned company, they would put more effort into keeping up with the times - and the demands of like-minded consumers instead of pandering to the masses, using marketing tactics to encourage more paper consumption while pretending to care about recycling. They could be on the forefront of the paper industry if they were innovating even more sustainable forestry practices and manufacturing processes that involved less chemicals, thereby being less harmful to the environment. They should be implementing their own recycling processes and collect used paper to be used in recycled products. Instead, they continue to use virgin materials while ironically telling us to recycle. I'm tired of standing by while the air and water of my hometown is being further polluted, friends and family getting sick.
End note:
I have veered slightly off my vegetarian path for just a moment to discuss something other than the life of a vegetarian for 2 reasons. First, the topic at hand further illustrates the attitudes of the hometown where this black sheep was raised. Second, I feel that vegetarianism and environmentalism go hand-in-hand. Many go vegetarian for environmental reasons and they are intrinsically linked as issues of health, conservation, and the betterment of the planet. I by no means wish to offend anyone making a living in that community and welcome comments for discussion.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
PDX! PDX! PDX!
Already, a month has passed since returning from Portland. Strangely, it seems as though the trip was just yesterday, but also eons ago. Eight glorious days spent with my favorite partner in crime, trying this urban paradise on for size. The City of Roses fit better than a well-worn favorite t-shirt. A t-shirt with an eco-friendly, vegetarian slogan no less, given the demographics of this progressive city.
The "green" vibe of Portland is quite well-known and in the world of vegetarians and vegans, the city is practically Mecca. I was quite curious to check out the city that consistently landed high on PETA's list of most vegetarian-friendly cities. Turns out, it IS all that... and a bag of (sea salt and cracked pepper kettle) chips.
Arriving from snowy, cold Minnesota, Portland was an oasis of greenery, lush with earthy moss. City parks at every turn were home to gorgeous fountains, and gigantic fern-covered trees. The light, intermittent rains were far from the oppressive rainstorms of the midwest, but instead felt refreshing and full of life. People were friendly, the accommodations clean and welcoming, the city easy to navigate. The streets were clean, and recycling and composting programs ran rampant. For the vegetarian, a deliciously dizzying array of options await.
It was immediately evident the larger population of veg-minded folks, just by glancing at the lists of restaurants and menus - or by walking down the street, seeing neon signs advertising Vegan Pizza! Grocery and convenience stores were rife with choices, and coffee shops always had soy milk on tap. One relaxing evening spent at Anna Banana's, I inquired about a smoothie and it's dairy content. The barista happily exclaimed he could easily make it with soy, rice, or hemp instead of the requisite dairy milk. One soy-acai smoothie, and one very happy veggie-girl. Even at an Irish pub, we were informed by the waitress which items contained chicken. A chicken quesadilla that arrived somewhat accidentally at our table at another pub, was quickly and very apologetically replaced - the same pub where a veggie burger was comped and several tasters of scotch and whiskey were generously poured. Clearly this is a waitstaff accustomed to happily serving the veggie crowd.
On one of my favorite excursions, we sought out Herbivore Clothing Co. The former vegetarian culture magazine and publisher turned clothing store was one of few must-sees on my list for the trip. Taking the bus across the river, we found ourselves in a shabby-chic neighborhood of hipsters, hippies and skinny, tattooed vegan freaks. Several dozen bicycles were parked outside on the block where Herbivore resides. Herbivore itself, albeit small, was a beautiful shop full of t-shirts, vegan accessories, and books. Being a follower of their magazine for several years, I felt like I was in the Disneyland of vegetarian culture, and purchased my lone souvenir of the trip - a bright pink Herbivore-PDX t-shirt.
If PDX is Veggie Land, then this 1200 block of Stark Street is its capitol. Herbivore sits sandwiched between Sweetpea Bakery - a delightful coffee shop serving all manner of cupcakes and other vegan treats, and the aptly-named Food Fight - an all-vegan grocer. Top it all off with a vegan-owned tattoo parlor on the corner. After perusing all the delectable goodies at Food Fight, we found our lunch - a spicy tempeh and carrot sandwich and a butternut squash tart - sweet, salty goodness! We enjoyed our feast from a couple of lawn chairs perched on the sidewalk where the people-watching was prime. With the sun warming our skin, this was the moment I knew we were "home." Surely, had there been an open apartment on that block, we may have signed the lease that afternoon. Upon finishing our meal, the grocer politely separated the remains into their respective recycling and compost bins behind the counter. Icing on the vegan cake.
No trip to Portland could possibly be complete, we soon found out, without a visit to Voodoo Donuts - the little donut shop with a big cult following. After a half an hour of waiting outside in a line that wrapped around the block, and being harrassed by a mirror-toting homeless schizophrenic, we arrived at the counter. A plethora of donuts with unique, creative flavors and cheeky names were displayed - and yes - they were all available in vegan versions! We couldn't wait to try our treats and spoiled our dinner by devouring a vegan chocolate glaze on the sidewalk outside. Later that evening, we shared the vegan grape ape - a purple-sprinkled behemoth that tasted like the artificially flavored candies of childhood. Not previously a donut fan, consider this girl converted.
So many other fine Portland delicacies were tasted over the course of the trip, including a giant mushroom-and-veggie burrito and comfort food at its finest: a creamy mac-n-cheese made with local Tillamook cheese and microbrewed stout. The trip was bookended by what I'm sure will become our new favorite Thai place, Peemkaew. Its small, but welcoming dining room was painted in cheerful saturated color, and bedecked with paper lanterns. The curries were spicy and delicious. On my last night there, alone, I returned to Peemkaew and ordered a specialty - pumpkin curry. Cubes of pumpkin, tofu, and red peppers in the sweet and spicy red coconut curry sauce. So good, I had the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. The trip was also soaked in plenty of the local beverages - pinot noirs and microwbrews were abundant and fantastic. Even more marvelous was the ability to buy decent wine and beer in grocery stores... and even convenience stores... even on a Sunday!
It was difficult to leave such a wondrous place, so full of good eats. But don't worry Portland, we'll be back soon enough. In July, these two vegetarians will be loading up the wagon, er, moving truck and heading west on the Oregon Trail. Somewhere my eight-year-old self is squealing in delight.
The "green" vibe of Portland is quite well-known and in the world of vegetarians and vegans, the city is practically Mecca. I was quite curious to check out the city that consistently landed high on PETA's list of most vegetarian-friendly cities. Turns out, it IS all that... and a bag of (sea salt and cracked pepper kettle) chips.
Arriving from snowy, cold Minnesota, Portland was an oasis of greenery, lush with earthy moss. City parks at every turn were home to gorgeous fountains, and gigantic fern-covered trees. The light, intermittent rains were far from the oppressive rainstorms of the midwest, but instead felt refreshing and full of life. People were friendly, the accommodations clean and welcoming, the city easy to navigate. The streets were clean, and recycling and composting programs ran rampant. For the vegetarian, a deliciously dizzying array of options await.
It was immediately evident the larger population of veg-minded folks, just by glancing at the lists of restaurants and menus - or by walking down the street, seeing neon signs advertising Vegan Pizza! Grocery and convenience stores were rife with choices, and coffee shops always had soy milk on tap. One relaxing evening spent at Anna Banana's, I inquired about a smoothie and it's dairy content. The barista happily exclaimed he could easily make it with soy, rice, or hemp instead of the requisite dairy milk. One soy-acai smoothie, and one very happy veggie-girl. Even at an Irish pub, we were informed by the waitress which items contained chicken. A chicken quesadilla that arrived somewhat accidentally at our table at another pub, was quickly and very apologetically replaced - the same pub where a veggie burger was comped and several tasters of scotch and whiskey were generously poured. Clearly this is a waitstaff accustomed to happily serving the veggie crowd.
On one of my favorite excursions, we sought out Herbivore Clothing Co. The former vegetarian culture magazine and publisher turned clothing store was one of few must-sees on my list for the trip. Taking the bus across the river, we found ourselves in a shabby-chic neighborhood of hipsters, hippies and skinny, tattooed vegan freaks. Several dozen bicycles were parked outside on the block where Herbivore resides. Herbivore itself, albeit small, was a beautiful shop full of t-shirts, vegan accessories, and books. Being a follower of their magazine for several years, I felt like I was in the Disneyland of vegetarian culture, and purchased my lone souvenir of the trip - a bright pink Herbivore-PDX t-shirt.
If PDX is Veggie Land, then this 1200 block of Stark Street is its capitol. Herbivore sits sandwiched between Sweetpea Bakery - a delightful coffee shop serving all manner of cupcakes and other vegan treats, and the aptly-named Food Fight - an all-vegan grocer. Top it all off with a vegan-owned tattoo parlor on the corner. After perusing all the delectable goodies at Food Fight, we found our lunch - a spicy tempeh and carrot sandwich and a butternut squash tart - sweet, salty goodness! We enjoyed our feast from a couple of lawn chairs perched on the sidewalk where the people-watching was prime. With the sun warming our skin, this was the moment I knew we were "home." Surely, had there been an open apartment on that block, we may have signed the lease that afternoon. Upon finishing our meal, the grocer politely separated the remains into their respective recycling and compost bins behind the counter. Icing on the vegan cake.
No trip to Portland could possibly be complete, we soon found out, without a visit to Voodoo Donuts - the little donut shop with a big cult following. After a half an hour of waiting outside in a line that wrapped around the block, and being harrassed by a mirror-toting homeless schizophrenic, we arrived at the counter. A plethora of donuts with unique, creative flavors and cheeky names were displayed - and yes - they were all available in vegan versions! We couldn't wait to try our treats and spoiled our dinner by devouring a vegan chocolate glaze on the sidewalk outside. Later that evening, we shared the vegan grape ape - a purple-sprinkled behemoth that tasted like the artificially flavored candies of childhood. Not previously a donut fan, consider this girl converted.
So many other fine Portland delicacies were tasted over the course of the trip, including a giant mushroom-and-veggie burrito and comfort food at its finest: a creamy mac-n-cheese made with local Tillamook cheese and microbrewed stout. The trip was bookended by what I'm sure will become our new favorite Thai place, Peemkaew. Its small, but welcoming dining room was painted in cheerful saturated color, and bedecked with paper lanterns. The curries were spicy and delicious. On my last night there, alone, I returned to Peemkaew and ordered a specialty - pumpkin curry. Cubes of pumpkin, tofu, and red peppers in the sweet and spicy red coconut curry sauce. So good, I had the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. The trip was also soaked in plenty of the local beverages - pinot noirs and microwbrews were abundant and fantastic. Even more marvelous was the ability to buy decent wine and beer in grocery stores... and even convenience stores... even on a Sunday!
It was difficult to leave such a wondrous place, so full of good eats. But don't worry Portland, we'll be back soon enough. In July, these two vegetarians will be loading up the wagon, er, moving truck and heading west on the Oregon Trail. Somewhere my eight-year-old self is squealing in delight.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Story of a Vegan Chef
Just a quick post tonight to share an article I just read: The Best Decision I Ever Made. This posting was written by a professional chef who has spent years in the restaurant industry serving up meat, but finally turned vegan. For someone who has made their livelihood in the food industry, the decision to go vegetarian or vegan threatens to upend a way of life and affect income. His story was especially poignant for me, given my upbringing in a family restaurant. I have been searching for stories such as this to connect to for years.
It reminded me of those first few years as a vegetarian myself, still helping out at the family's restaurant. Supporting the family business was non-negotiable, and of course I wanted to see the restaurant, and in turn, the family be successful. But suddenly, it seemed an ethical dilemma, as now 95% of the menu included items I wouldn't eat myself. Tricky situations arose when customers asked for menu recommendations and I would stand by quietly as these same customers would exclaim to me how great their gigantic serving of beef tasted.
As the fourth generation of restauranteurs, I often dreamed of running the place myself one day. But I know I wouldn't be able to serve meat to my customers. And I doubt an all-vegetarian restaurant would be well-received in such a small town!
I commend Doug for putting his livelihood on the line for his own health - and for animals. A chef has the power to influence the palates of others and make an even bigger difference!
It reminded me of those first few years as a vegetarian myself, still helping out at the family's restaurant. Supporting the family business was non-negotiable, and of course I wanted to see the restaurant, and in turn, the family be successful. But suddenly, it seemed an ethical dilemma, as now 95% of the menu included items I wouldn't eat myself. Tricky situations arose when customers asked for menu recommendations and I would stand by quietly as these same customers would exclaim to me how great their gigantic serving of beef tasted.
As the fourth generation of restauranteurs, I often dreamed of running the place myself one day. But I know I wouldn't be able to serve meat to my customers. And I doubt an all-vegetarian restaurant would be well-received in such a small town!
I commend Doug for putting his livelihood on the line for his own health - and for animals. A chef has the power to influence the palates of others and make an even bigger difference!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Veggie Day XI
I know it has been several months since you've heard from the black sheep; busy holidays and an even busier work schedule has kept me away from the blog. But this is the perfect week to dive back in! Those of you closest to me may already be aware that Veggie Day is upon us. For anyone new, Veggie Day is a figment of my imagination, a 'holiday' designed for celebrating my vegetarian lifestyle choice. Traditional festivities of the day include imbibing in a gluttonous amount of vegetarian fare, wearing t-shirts bearing animal rights slogans, and shamelessly guilting carniverous family members into eating vegetarian for the day.
But why add another day to the multitude of veg-centric holidays already on the calendar? With an increasing number of vegetarians and vegetarian groups, everyone wants to show that this lifestyle is fun and worth celebrating. And what better way than fabricating holidays? There are vegetarian awareness days, World Vegan Day, days that support awareness of farm animals, animal testing, fur manufacturing, circuses, even an entire month devoted to vegans (November). And of course who could forget Vegan Pizza Day, and my personal favorite, Hug a Vegetarian Day!
It would seem there are already plenty of days that honor the herbivore. But today holds a personal significance in my life. During the winter of senior year of high school, I decided to finally take the plunge and fully embrace a vegetarian life. About a year later, I marveled at the fact that I'd made it a whole year, and decided to celebrate. Wearing my "Green Goddess Cafe" t-shirt, I invited the whole family over for grilled cheese and tomato soup. This was one of few dishes that was 'naturally' vegetarian without being 'weird' to the traditional northern Minnesotan carnivorous palate. I remember being mocked a little, as usual. But this was a day that I just didn't care. It was so fun, I decided to make it a yearly event. Ever since, I have invited various friends and family to dine with me, exploring new cuisines and listening to friends exclaim, "This is great! I could be a vegetarian too!" And that really is the whole point of this day - sharing a way of life with people I care about.
Veggie day for me has always been a unique mixture of pride in the fact that I've upheld such strict guidelines for yet another year, improving my health and saving animal lives in the process - and a mock seriousness that allows for the element of enjoyment and silliness. Because life needs more reasons for celebration. So, feel free to celebrate with me today by enjoying an animal-free meal. Or make up your own reason to celebrate. Whether it's Christmakkah, Festivus, or making a commitment to healthier eating, go ahead and throw a party!
Gifts for Veggie Day are certainly not necessary, but for anyone who insists, I am registered at Pizza Luce and Mississippi Market.
But why add another day to the multitude of veg-centric holidays already on the calendar? With an increasing number of vegetarians and vegetarian groups, everyone wants to show that this lifestyle is fun and worth celebrating. And what better way than fabricating holidays? There are vegetarian awareness days, World Vegan Day, days that support awareness of farm animals, animal testing, fur manufacturing, circuses, even an entire month devoted to vegans (November). And of course who could forget Vegan Pizza Day, and my personal favorite, Hug a Vegetarian Day!
It would seem there are already plenty of days that honor the herbivore. But today holds a personal significance in my life. During the winter of senior year of high school, I decided to finally take the plunge and fully embrace a vegetarian life. About a year later, I marveled at the fact that I'd made it a whole year, and decided to celebrate. Wearing my "Green Goddess Cafe" t-shirt, I invited the whole family over for grilled cheese and tomato soup. This was one of few dishes that was 'naturally' vegetarian without being 'weird' to the traditional northern Minnesotan carnivorous palate. I remember being mocked a little, as usual. But this was a day that I just didn't care. It was so fun, I decided to make it a yearly event. Ever since, I have invited various friends and family to dine with me, exploring new cuisines and listening to friends exclaim, "This is great! I could be a vegetarian too!" And that really is the whole point of this day - sharing a way of life with people I care about.
Veggie day for me has always been a unique mixture of pride in the fact that I've upheld such strict guidelines for yet another year, improving my health and saving animal lives in the process - and a mock seriousness that allows for the element of enjoyment and silliness. Because life needs more reasons for celebration. So, feel free to celebrate with me today by enjoying an animal-free meal. Or make up your own reason to celebrate. Whether it's Christmakkah, Festivus, or making a commitment to healthier eating, go ahead and throw a party!
Gifts for Veggie Day are certainly not necessary, but for anyone who insists, I am registered at Pizza Luce and Mississippi Market.
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