Samuel Smith's Organic Raspberry Ale

I really wanted framboise this evening, but was feeling too cheap to buy it, so I decided to try Samuel Smith's Organic Raspberry Ale. All Samuel Smith beers are certified vegan by The Vegan Society - how cool is that?!? I found it to be more beery and less fruity than framboise (though I think that's actually malt liquor and not beer?), but still very tasty and refreshing. It's also available in strawberry and cherry.

Cheers! xoxo Chelsea

P.S. Cookie says hello!

Hail Seitan!

I buy seitan every now and then, and I especially like the Cast Iron kind, but I've always been intimidated by the idea of making it at home. Baking is my biggest kitchen challenge, and I think it was the whole kneading the dough part that freaked me out. The recipes being more than a page long didn't help, either... After having baking successes in the last few months, I decided to try out seitan! I used the recipe from Vegan with a Vengeance (omitting the lemon zest), and it was wicked easy, cheap, and tasty!

Seitan blobs on the stove forever! I got bored so...

I took a picture of my new shoes. Cute, huh? $6 at Ross!

And I needed a drink with all that waiting! Vodka, natural soda, and canned berries are a good combo! :)

Still simmering... time for a Cookie photo shoot!

She loves the camera!

Finally, it was all ready! I simply sliced and sauteed the seitan, and served it with salad and the Crash Hot Potatoes that Jessy and Shellyfish have featured on their fabulous blogs - what a dinner! Even though I didn't cook the potatoes long enough to properly squash them, it was good eatin'!

Mmm mmmmmm!

TGIF

Happy Friday everyone!!!

P.S. This is the mixer I used - no fishy Worcestershire sauce! And cheap at Fred Meyers.

Happy New Year!

Today is my 4 year veganniversary. Though the transition from vegetarian to vegan took me (literally!) years, going vegan is the best decision I have ever made. It is better for the animals, better for the environment, and better for my own body and soul. Thank you all for your commitment to veganism, and to changing the world through delicious food. Cheers!

Salud! Strawberry chocolate chip pancakes and a mimosa

Veganism and booze

There are many vegan straightedgers, but there are plenty of us who enjoy imbibing from time to time. I work the typical M-F schedule, and sadly, my husband works really long days and weekends, so our time together is pretty limited. He does have Fridays off, though, so we try to go out to happy hour after I get off work when we can. It's a nice time to catch up with each other and spend time together without the tv and computers and cell phones and all the distractions of modern-day life. We went out today, and both had an awesome baked avocado salad, which I conveniently forgot to photograph, but when it came time to order more drinks I couldn't specify what I wanted and ended up with an (admittedly tasty) pinos gris. What I wanted was a coffee drink, but I always get confused about what has dairy (Kahlua is safe? But not Irish Creme? Maybe?). So I decided when I got home I would make myself something tasty. Right now I'm nursing chocolate ricemilk spiked with spiced rum. And it's pretty tasty! What crazy vegan ingredients do you all substitute in alcohol beverages? I also enjoy making my own hot toddies at home with agave nectar...

P.S. Sorry for no pictures... my camera cord died, so I ordered this cool thing to stick in the empty slot where cd drives and stuff go that has a usb drive and is a card reader! So I just pop that baby in nice and easy! Thanks newegg.com! It just came today and Jesse is installing it as we speak :)