MoFo 28 Video and Crazy Boy's Barley Soup Recipe

Anybody else writing up their final MoFo 2012 while wearing their Halloween costume?  As usual I shot for 31 posts and fell just short with 28 posts. I know I know I owe you a soup recipe from Psycho Boy and a parfait recipe from me. Look for Psycho Boy's recipe after the video. Hey if you are here for the Virtual Pot Luck Weclome. My entry was just before this, but do stay for the video :)

Here's the recipe Crazy Boy/Psycho Boy handed me. Please note I did not edit it. Perhaps you can now get a glimpse into PB's inner sanctum. 

He calls it Crazy Boy's Famous Crazy Mushroom Barley Soup

2 C pearl barley
6 C organic hearty veggie broth
1 lb  mushrooms sliced (his word) mediumly?
spray oil
1/2 large onion sliced and diced
2 large cloves of garlic minced
1 C baby carrots chopped
1 medium yukon sliced
1 tofurky sausage sliced nice
2 tsp each dried oregano, dried, basil, dried thyme

salt and pepper to taste
more water if the soup is getting too thick.

In your soup pot spray or add oil. and saute onion, garlic tofurky, potato and carrots until a bit brown. Stir. Sprinkle on herbs. Stir. Add salt and pepper. Stir. Add veggie broth, stir and stir. 
(no wonder he's stir crazy)
Bring it all to a boil then bring it Down to a gentle simmer.
Cook 40-45 minutes or until your barley is at your chewable desire. 
I am a mother hen stirring the pot. 
Add or don't add water for your preferred thickness.
Go crazy and enjoy your soup.

MoFo 27 Training Tuesday Parfait Love

MoFo count down. Anybody still here? It's my last Training Tuesday of Mofo. I got so tired of hearing myself bitch and moan about my low running mileage week after week that I pounded the pavement this week. Yay! Psycho boy must have even felt bad for me because he went out and found a new running trail for me and clocked the mileage even. How sweet is that?! I ran 5 miles today and 5 miles the other day, and also put in a 4 mile run on the new trail. I've increased my sit ups, and did strength and cardio training too. I'm back in the saddle again. Progress not perfection is always a good thing to remember.
Running was a necessity after whipping up and devouring this dessert doozy.

I tell you that dessert is a many splendid layered thing. After today's run I hope I have the stamina to write out the recipe. The pudding contains chia seed and flax seed and is perfect for after a workout. Hey speaking of workouts, I know I promised you an exercise video. Remember I promised to show you how to run the lines. I finally came through. ;) Most public tennis courts are empty mid day or late morning and this is a great exercise to do on a tennis court to get you moving. I recently heard an interview with the singer Pink, and when she was asked about how she lost her pregnancy weight she said that running short sprints was what cracked the metabolic code. And if you didn't already know it, yes Pink is a vegan too!

I hope I can sleep after those magic chia seeds. Zzzz. I now owe you one Psycho Boy soup recipe and one Magic Chia Parfait recipe. Tomorrow, I promise. Thanks for um swinging by.

MoFo 23 Who Dat Vegan? Video Interview with Kylie

As much as I have complained about my MoFo themes this week, I realize they actually have kept me in check and have given me some kind of frame work to work in. Can you believe this is the last Thursday of MoFo? I've so enjoyed Thursdays here at Veganville. Every Thursday I have had the enormous fortune to interview another fantastic vegan for
Who Dat Vegan?

Before I introduce you to tonight's guest, let's do a quick recap of the vegans we've met along the way.

We began our series with a journey to India. There we met with the very warm and chatty, adorable ice creme goddess Susmitha, from the blog Veganosaurus
Click here for the interview.

We followed up by venturing to the Iowa heartland and Cadry's Kitchen where we chatted with the very smart, funny, smoothee taco/queen and party extraordinaire herself, Cadry. Click here for the interview

My third interviewee, Kendy aka Miss Muffcake travelled from the Central Valley of California to meet with me at a nearby restaurant. We broke bread (or ate wraps) and I had a great time hanging with the really candid, witty, eclectic Miss Muffcake.

Did I find a commonality with all the interviewees? Yes. Of course they are all talented, and bring their special voice to their blogs. I think every one I've met is dedicated to their various crafts, and are disciplined enough to bring it to life on their pages. They were all funny and engaging, and have an unshakeable belief in Veganism. I feel so honored to be part of the Vegan blogging community.

I met Kylie from the Etsy store, Fabulously Fierce and my vegan Etsy team about a year ago. I dug her kitschy punk and goth aprons and kitchen towels. We began chatting a little on the team boards, and her kindness and dependability and talent immediately shined through. She then approached me to do an interview for her blog, Fellowship of the Vegetable and now here I am doing the same ;) Kylie was also kind enough to splice and edit the video over on her end. Many thanks to the multi-talented Kylie.

Many of you have been so receptive and we've recieved so many comments on each interview, thank you so much. Many of you have asked if we would continue these interviews beyond MoFo. We will back with another Who Dat Vegan the second Thursday of November. On the first Thursday of November, Veganville will be participating in that virtual
global potluck over at An Unrefined Vegan's blog. I promise to give a link to that very soon, but for now I have too many linkies.

MoFo 17 Who Dat Vegan? Video Interview With Kendy

 Hi and welcome to this week's installment of "Who Dat Vegan?" We invite you to sit back and watch my interview with the delightful Kendy Paxia from Miss Muffcake.

 

  

G: I first met Kendy though veganetsy a team of vegan stores managed by vegans on Etsy. What do you sell on Etsy and where else do you sell?

K: I sell zines now. I started off doing accessories, now I do accessories for shows and just sell my zines! I might launch some limited edition necklaces soon though! I try to do as much retail and craft shows that I can. Things are always changing!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/missmuffcake

You can also find special edition bows in Sarah Kramer's shop in vintage prints:

http://store.govegan.net/miss-muffcakes-hair-bows/

G: You include Mar in all your zines? Tell me a little about this Mar.

K: Mar is my 15 year old, 19 pound cancer surviving superstar panda cat! I have had him since he was a wee little booger, my sister rescued Mickey, Mar's mom and when Mickey had kittens (we never had a female companion animal before and was like OMG - she is pregnant!) my sister said "look she had a goth one for you!"... I was a senior in high school and Marilyn Manson was my idol... So Mar's full name is Marilyn Manson... we just call him Mar (pronounced Mare)...

G: I recently reread a couple of your zines (I'll include their names) and in addition to your humor, and creativity, I like that you shoot from the hip. In addition to being a voice for the animals, your sense or social conscience seems to be all pervasive. What other issues are you passionate about?

K: Being nice! Seriously it is that simple! Saying thank you and please do not take much effort but it seems people forget these little things. I know we are all busy and have a million things on our minds but when someone opens a door for you or brings your food to the table if you are dining out - say thank you!
I also think we learn from life experiences that we share. That is why I write my zine! I do not believe I am the best writer on the block but I have stories and my stories come from the heart, it counts for something right? Sharing a story of being bullied, a story about suffering from an eating disorder or a story about overcoming something might comfort someone... Often when we face life's problems we feel alone and we seek out others to help us. Sometimes all we have are words on the net to inspire us and not a friend to turn to. The words we write, the stories we share - those can be friends in a time of need!
 

G: How do you stay positive? Any special practices? or Affirmations?

K:Trying to take one problem at a time... I also try to shift focus. I do not like to think about stuff - which is bad, I guess that is why I procrastinate at times. Yoga, tai chi, chi gong... bringing balance in my life with physical balancing has helped me be a better person. I also wish on stars, light prayer candles and pray to the universe daily! I am not a religious person but I am spiritual!
 

G: Let's switch gears and chat makeup. Current cruelty free fave raves? What's always in your purse?

K: Right now and for the last year I freakin' love E.L.F.'s bronzing compact. You get 4 colors and I use them to contour, highlight and give my cheeks color. The darker color even works as a crease color for my lids! I cannot live without black eyeliner and currently it is Wet N Wild's black liquid liner. Even though it is not waterproof it stays on all day! I use 3 coats of Urban Decay's Lush Lash mascara and love the wand - it really is a nice formula!
It is kinda sad how much crap I carry around in my purse... Like really - do I need 5 lip glosses? I have a ton of balms, glosses, lip pencils and a few lip sticks. I also have blotting papers and Fresh's Brown Sugar perfume in a roll on applicator! I also carry around a brush and hair ties - just in case... Oh and 3 mini bottles of lotion right now... I need to clean my purse!
 

G: Favorite HM cosmetic tips?

K: Wash your face! Do not go to bed with makeup on... Really at least invest in makeup remover wipes! I am lucky because my handsome boyfriend bought me a leopard print Clairsonic Mia. I love washing my face with it. Skin care is so important! Makeup can only do so much, start with a great canvas!
 

G: What recipe are you going to share today?

K: This is an easy Fall inspired dish I came up with on a whim. It is easy and comforting! I wanted to add hominy - but I could only find these hugggeee industrial sized cans at the store. I think garbanzo beans resemble hominy so I added them to the mix. You can play around with the bean mixtures here...

Seitan 2 Bean Chili-Stew

1/4 cup of vegetable broth
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 10 oz can of black beans - drained
1 10 oz can of gabanzo beans - drained
1 can of Original Rotel
1 package of seitan strips/small chunks
2 tablespoons of Wizard's hot sauce (or what you have on hand)
a dash of paprika

Mix the vegetable broth with the tomato sauce. Add beans, Rotel, seitan, hot sauce and paprika. Stir everything together and heat over a low-medium heat for an hour! Serve it however you like, corn bread, Fritos, a dollop of soy sour cream...
 

G: Where can we find you?

K: www.missmuffcake.com for all of you Kendy needs!

 

Thank you again for swinging by. It was so wonderful to meet up with you and spend some time getting to know you and Matt.

 

 

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MoFo 11 Who Dat Vegan Interview with Cadry from Cadry's Kitchen

Hey Boys and Girls! It's Thursday, well actually Friday since I had technical difficulties up the wazzoo. My apologies. Now it's time to tune in your tellies for Veganville's

WHO DAT VEGAN?

 

 

Today's special guest is that party girl and gal about town Cadry, from Cadry's Kitchen. In case you live under a rock, Cadry is having a virtual MoFo party over at her blog all this month and this week she is having a slumber party. She's playing all kinds of spooky games and making prank/crank calls. I crashed the party last night but one of her posse kicked me out. You know why cuz, cuz um my hair wasn't big enough. I don't care, Cadry's still cool.  

And before we get to WHO DAT VEGAN?, let's hear it for the boys!! Woohoo! Yay and stuff!

 

Larry aka psycho boy aka husband as always thank you for shooting this video in impossibly bad lighting, small quarters and with a tiny Kodak.

 

David Bush- A major shout out for a fantastic job filming, splicing, and editing this video in bigger digs, with better camera and natural light. Thank you. Thank you!

And Cadry...well I'll thank you at the end of the show.

 

 

 

 



Oh yeah, if today's guest wasn't talented enough, you can check out Cadry's wonderful pottery at Olive Pit Pottery on Etsy .

MoFo 7 Sundays With Seitan Bahahaha

Now that I've gotten you here, there's no turning back...really, is there? Even if seitan keeps you prisoner in digestive tract hell, you might as well stay and watch my special message. It's meant just for you. And besides... there is no where else go...really. Bahahaha.

Bracciole with Sauteed Spinach and Shitake Gravy
1 Package of wheat meat gluten bahahah
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 lemon juiced
2 T nooch
1/2 T sea salt
1 C unflavored wheat panko
3 T vegan broth
1/2 T sea salt
1 Can of artichokes drained and chopped
3 T chopped sundried tomatoes (let's revisit that 90's ingredient)

cotton twine

Stuffing
Spray pan and heat, add garlic, saute for two minutes, add artichokes, sea salt, sundrieds and cook for 5 minutes, add T of broth if it begins to stick, or spray again. Add panko, lemon and remaining 2 T of broth. Heat (we are already hot here) for about three more minutes, then transfer to bowl.
Lay seitan out on cutting board with the short end facing you. Spoon a big dollop of artichoke stuffing into each seitan. Roll up and secure with twine. Yes, twine has many uses. Meanwhile add the spinach to the fry pan and sautee 'til wilted.  Are you wilting yet? Remove. Set aside spinach. Add bracciole to pan and brown on each side.

Shitake Gravy
1/4 C shitake mushrooms chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1 C vegan broth
2 T soy or tamari
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp thyme
1 T cornstarch mixed with 1/4 C cold water

Spray large sauce pan with oil. Saute mushrooms with garlic and seasonings for about 7 minutes. Add soy sauce or tamari, and broth and cook to simmer for about 13 minutes. Add cornstarch mix well for another two minutes. Serve over bracciole and spinach or on the side.

Worship the plate. See you when I'll be seeing you. Bahahahaha.