Vegan Ice Cream

This is so easy to make!

Ingredients:
Soymilk
Honey

Pour however much soymilk you want into a bowl and then add enough honey to make it sweet. Put the bowl into the freezer and let the ice cream start freezing. Stir every 30 minutes or so, until thick. Enjoy!

My First Vegan Thanksgiving

At first I was pretty worried about how this year's Thanksgiving was going to go for me, since it was my first vegan Thanksgiving. It actually went really well, and I had an abundance of foods to choose from. I didn't feel deprived one bit (in fact, I felt rather special). I started preparing my food on Wednesday, and I had a fabulous time getting to cook and work in the kitchen.

My Thanksgiving Menu:

Dressing
Cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes
Green beans
Pumpkin pie
Ice cream

I wish I had taken pictures of everything because it all looked so good! Here are some little tidbits on how I made each food.

Dressing:
First I made some vegan cornbread, which was pretty easy. I just got a recipe off some vegan website. After it cooled completely, I crumbled it up in a bowl with some wheat bread that my sister had made a few days before (we always keep our pantry well-stocked with homemade bread), and then I added some sauteed celery and onions and some spices. Finally, I added vegetable broth, stirred everything together, and cooked it for about 30 minutes. It turned out really well. It was moist in the middle and a little crispy on top, just how I like it.

Cranberry sauce: Well, I sort of cheated on this one because I just ate the stuff from a can, but it tasted awesome anyway!

Mashed potatoes: My sister and I started by boiling the potatoes until they were practically mush, and then we drained them and started blending them. Right before the milk and butter was added (for my family and the rest of our holiday guests), I scooped myself a portion of the potatoes and salted them. Later my dad sauteed some onions and celery for me to put in them to add some flavor.

Green beans: A friend who visited for Thanksgiving kindly saved out for me some green beans from her green bean casserole. They tasted wonderful and went perfectly with my mashed potatoes.

Pumpkin pie:This one was my favorite item to make. First I made a pie shell from flour, oil, soymilk, and salt, pressed it into a pie tin, and then put it in the refrigerator to set. After that I made the filling, which was basically pumpkin (from a friend's garden), soymilk, spices, and oil. I mixed it up, poured it into the pie shell, and cooked it for about 40 minutes. I did this on Wednesday night and left the pie in the refrigerator after I had finished cooking it because I figured it should let it set for a little while since I did not use any egg replacer to "glue" it together.

Ice cream: I was thinking of making my own ice cream (I'll post that recipe one of these days), but a friend called ahead of time to let me know that she was bringing some vegan sherbet for me to try. It was so good! I looked at the ingredients on the back of the carton and read that it was basically made of fruit juices. No sugar added, just fruit juices. I'm going to have to try my hand at making sherbet myself.

So my Thanksgiving turned out to be rather lovely. At the end of the day my tummy was full of tasty and (mostly) healthy food, and I even had leftovers that lasted me a few days. Luckily most everyone in my family is scared of my vegan food, so I got to keep my whole feast all to myself.  I really did have a wonderful time.

How to enjoy doing something you don't like to do

Well, the school semester is coming to a close, which means it's time for finals-frenzy. I've been studying like crazy, and when I'm not studying I'm worrying about how much I have left to study. Last weekend I spent every spare second I had sitting at the dining room table pouring over biology. I had a test Monday and I was frantically trying to get ready for it, hoping desperately that I could pull off a B. Needless to say, after about a day and a half of nothing but mitochondria, photosynthesis, chromosome transcription, and phospholipid bilayers, I was ready to scream. I couldn't concentrate on the words in front of me because I couldn't stop thinking about all the things that I would have rather been doing. I thought of biking, sewing, blogging, gardening, and hanging out with friends. After about twenty minutes of this I realized that I wasn't helping myself out one bit.  It didn't matter how much I wanted to do something else, I had to study that weekend, and I had to study well in order to be ready for the test.

I'm sure all of us have been in this position before, whether it be working a boring job, doing yucky chores, dealing with (sometimes yucky) people, or, like I was doing, studying like mad to get ready for a test.The thing is, these "yucky" things are always going to be yucky unless we make them enjoyable. No one else is going to make biology more fun or make a job more interesting. We have to do these things ourselves. But how? How can biology be more interesting after nine hours straight of studying it? How can a boring job suddenly be made enjoyable?

It's all about perspective. If a person can be optimistic about the yucky things in life, he or she can enjoy just about anything. Here is a simple guide to making yucky things interesting again:

1. Instead of thinking of all the things that would be better than doing the yucky thing, make a list of all the things that would be worse than doing the yucky thing. This really helps me to be thankful for the things that I am doing, even if they are hard or boring at the time. Here's what my list looked like:
Things that would be worse than doing biology:
-having absolutely nothing to do
-cutting/cooking meat
-cleaning something gross
-working outside in the cold
-feeling ill
-listening to annoying music that gets stuck in my head

2. Make a list of things that make doing the yucky thing worthwhile. For example, I studied biology all weekend because I wanted to get a good grade on the test so that I could get a good grade in the class so that I could move on to the next biology class so that I could further my education and hopefully in the future get a degree. If someone is working a yucky job he or she may decide that the reason the job is worthwhile is because he or she gets paid well and can support a family, buy good food, pay for nice things, and not go into debt. Once you come up with one reason why the thing you are doing is worthwhile, keep asking yourself more and more "why" questions relating to the first reason, and before you know it you will have a whole page of reasons.

3. Incorporate something you enjoy doing into the yucky thing. For example, sometimes when I am doing chores I don't like to do or working outside in the cold, I listen to my favorite music to get my mind off the yuckiness of what I am doing. Or when I am studying biology and beginning to get sick of it I treat myself to a little happiness by enjoying some fresh, sweet fruit or cold glass of chocolate soymilk. Make what you are doing fun by adding in something you really like to do.

4. Find something interesting about the yucky thing. If you have a boring job, find something new that you can learn about the job to make it more interesting. Start asking people questions and exploring things that you wouldn't normally spend time exploring. For biology I decided to quit concentrating so much on all the little details and instead concentrate (for awhile) on the part that I really like to learn about: genetics. I let all those cell definitions go by the wayside for a short bit while I had some fun learning about what I really enjoy, and then when I came back to the definitions I felt refreshed and ready to memorize all those long words.

5. Just get it done! Don't stall on the job or take forever making it enjoyable. Spend a little bit of time making it fun, and then just work your butt off until it is finished. Also, do a really good job. Being proud of the work you have done (no matter how boring or yucky) is one of the best ways to make it worthwhile. Give it everything you've got.

6. Reward yourself! After all that hard work, a reward is definitely deserved. Write out a list of all the things you would really like to do and then enjoy yourself!

Calories for "Vegan Power Bars"

I always count how many calories I consume so that I can be sure that I am getting enough, mainly because I work out a lot and I want to be sure that I never put my body into starvation mode. I began wondering the other day how many calories my vegan power bars have in them, so I went ahead and calculated it all out. I also changed the recipe a bit by simplifying the ingredients and adding oats for a little more flavor (and to save costs on nuts). Here goes:

Vegan Power Bars, Revised:

1/4 c almonds
1/4 c peanuts
1/4 cup pecans
1 c oats
1/4 c raisins

chop in blender and put into bowl. add:

3 tbsp peanut butter
4 tbsp honey
1 tbsp molasses

Mix thoroughly, spread into 9'x9' pan, and put into the refrigerator.
The entire batch is about 1720 calories, so if you divide it into 10 bars, each bar is 172 calories.

Another Awesome Green Blog

Reason For Raw #11 – Going Green

I really like this blog, and I especially enjoy this article. Check it out!

Recipe: Pumkin Apple Spice

We had some pumpkins left over from Halloween that needed to be eaten, so I came up with this recipe. It's easy and fast, and tastes like Christmas.

Ingredients:

- A couple of diced apples
- One small raw pumpkin, diced
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Honey
- Olive oil

Put apples and pumpkin with the olive oil in a skillet turned on meduim heat. Start frying, and once the pumkin and apple starts to get soft add the honey and spices in whatever quantities you think will taste best. I did about 1/4 c honey, a couple of teaspoons of cinnamon, and a few sprinkles of nutmeg and allspice. Continue cooking until the pumpkin and apple get pretty soft, and then enjoy!

Stuff, Stuff, and More Stuff!

I try hard to maintain a minimalist lifestyle. I just think that life is so much simpler when I have less stuff to worry about. With less clutter, my space stays cleaner, my school backpack stays lighter, and I don't get stressed out as often about messes. I was originally convinced to be a minimalst by this website:
http://zenhabits.net/
And I also have found this website to be extremely helpful:
http://mnmlist.com/

Recently I became even more convinced that minimalism is the way to go by this eye-opening video:
http://www.storyofstuff.com./
The entire website is really good, actually.

I often wonder why people get so attached to their stuff. I'm guilty of this attachment at times, too. I keep buying things just because I think they are nice or pretty, even though I have no use for them. I spend money on stuff that I get rid of a few weeks later, and then I feel like I have to go out and buy something else. Just like the above video states many times, we Americans are consumers. We consume and consume and consume, and then we consume some more. Food, clothes, toys, books, electronics, furniture, stuff, stuff, STUFF! It's gotten pretty ridiculous. Shopping and eating are both major parts of our cutlure. They are both social activities that are enjoyed far too much in our society. I often find it difficult to participate in social gatherings at church or school or with friends without having to face the prospect of food- mostly food that isn't vegan. And many times people just want to go shopping when they are bored. This is a major waste of time and money.

Why can't we have social gatherings that involve something other than consuming? What about those old quilting bees that the fronteir women used to have? What about having a food making party instead of a food eating party? We could benefit so many people and improve our own lifestyles significantly if we would just limit our consumption.

I read a quote from Gentle World once that has really stuck with me. (Gentle World is an amazing vegan website that I visit quite regularly: http://www.gentleworld.org/) The quote is very simple. "Tread lightly." That's it. Apparently it originated from an old American Indian proverb. The idea that is being conveyed is that we should tread lightly on the earth while we are here. In other words, we should try to leave as small a mark as possible on the planet. The way America consumes stuff is a perfect example of how not  to follow this idea. I believe that the best way to live life is to own and buy as little stuff as possible, eat what plants provide (so that no animals have to be killed for our meals), and be producers. By "producer", I mean someone who does something to repay what he or she has consumed. This "producing" could take place in the form of making and selling something, such as clothes or soap. A "producer" might also garden and sell produce. The idea is that a producer gives back to the earth and other people instead of just consuming.

Every day I strive to live up to this description. I try to be a producer, and I hope to tread lightly on this beautiful earth that God has given us.

Recipe: Raw Vegan "Power Bars"

This recipe found its beginning on a cold Sunday afternoon when my sister and I decided to try making our own granola bars. We didn't have much to work with so we made do with what we had. Over time I worked with our recipe until it was all raw, all natural, and extremely tasty. It's one of those recipes that doesn't require any measuring or anything more complex than stirring and tasting, so it's definitely one of my favorites. Anyways, here it is!

1 handful of almonds
1 handful of pecans
1 handful of peanuts
1 handful of sesame seeds
1 handful of sunflower seeds
1 handful of cashews
Any other kinds of nuts or seeds you want to try

Usually I chop all of these up in the food processor, but my sister likes hers whole or broken into bite-sized pieces. Either way works. Put all the nuts and seeds into a bowl and add:

some peanut butter
some honey
some molasses
some vegan butter or some kind of oil

Stir thoroughly. Now, here comes the fun part. My sister and I both have our own preferences as to what kinds of "special" ingredients we like to add, so I'll just go ahead and list them all:

coconut
raisins/craisins
chocolate chips
baking chocolate
anything else you want to try

Once you have added your special ingredients and stirred them in well, put the mixture into a greased bread pan and then put the pan in the refrigerator. After the bars have had time to set and harden, they make for a wonderful on-the-go snack.
Enjoy!

Why I'm Vegan

A friend suggested that I write a post about why I became vegan in the first place, so here goes. This is an essay that I wrote recently for an English class:

Eating Veggies like a Bunny

When I told my friend Jeremiah that I had gone vegan, his first response was a surprised “What?? Why?!” I told him that it was not that big of a deal, but I could tell he thought I was crazy for first becoming vegetarian a year ago, and now, vegan. Unfortunately, many vegans get this response all through their lives because in our culture, eating like a bunny is just not normal. People think that eating vegan is some kind of crazed way to get skinny by starving oneself or some strange satisfaction to unnatural cravings. Actually, it is neither of these things. Eating vegan is a healthy way for one to improve his or her life. Despite common belief that states otherwise, switching to a purely plant-based diet is one of the healthiest things that a person can do for his or her body.

Most of the concerns about vegans not getting enough nutrients are baseless. One of the main ongoing debates about vegan nutrition concerns protein (or lack thereof). Do vegans get enough protein? According to the RDA’s recommendations, the answer is no. But it turns out that the RDA’s recommendations are not always accurate. Recent studies from the American Dietetic Association and from the Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer of the National Research Council suggest that we only need a small amount of protein – less than half of the recommended daily intake from the RDA. (vrg) In fact, high-protein diets have been linked to many health problems such as kidney disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, and can also increase the risk for kidney stones. (gentleworld) Vegans get plenty of protein in plants and also avoid the risks that come with the high-protein diet of non-vegans.

Another concern in vegan diets is calcium. Do vegans get enough calcium without taking supplements? Actually, yes they do. In fact, it is easier to get enough calcium through vegetables than it is through milk, because most green vegetables have a higher concentration of calcium in them than milk does. (vrg) Also, diets high in protein increase the need for calcium in the body, so vegans actually have a lower need for calcium than meat-eaters. This low need for calcium is usually met completely in vegans through vegetables and grains. (gentleworld)

So then, by eating a plant-based diet, vegans avoid excess protein, get plenty of calcium, and also do not have to be concerned with limiting fat intake because vegetables are so low in fat. Animal fat clogs arteries, causes heart disease (among many other diseases), and, of course, expands waistlines. (veganhealth) Neal Barnard, M.D., President, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, states, "The first reason why I don’t consume dairy products, and why I think other people should not, is the fat content. The fat is saturated fat, and you may as well be eating beef tallow. The fat in these dairy products encourages heart disease and numerous other problems. It’s a risk factor for some forms of cancer as well." Another doctor, Michael A. Klaper, says, "My medical experience affirms that many health problems -from asthma to colitis - respond favorably to the removal of dairy products from the diet." (gentleworld)

Vegans have their very own food pyramid, which includes vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. Unlike the USDA's food pyramid, we only have four different kinds of foods to worry about. The USDA's food pyramid recommends far too many proteins, calories, and fats, and vegans following the four food pyramid experience a dramatically lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke, than meat eaters following the USDA's pyramid do. (gentleworld) Four different kinds of food may sound very limiting, but vegans actually have a huge variety of fun and tasty foods to enjoy. Vegans have a lot of fun mixing different fruits, trying new kinds of salads, and making tasty juices and smoothies. There are also many vegan alternatives for several favorite American foods such as pancakes, muffins, and biscuits. Frequently vegans find that there are many more vegan options out there than they originally thought.

Eating vegan is not just beneficial because of health reasons. Many people go vegan purely because they prefer not to kill animals for food. Although I am not much of an animal person, I prefer not to kill animals simply for a meal. It is too high a price to pay- an animal's life for a meal? I do not like entertaining that thought. I would rather see a cow alive in a field of green grass than on my plate at dinner.

Not all vegans are crazy, like we sound. Many famous, respected, and well rounded men and women in the past and today are vegans. Take Einstein for example. He stated, "It is my view that a vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind." Da Vinci also joins the ranks of vegans because he loved animals so much he could not bring himself to eat them. He said, "The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." Plato stated that "The Gods created certain kinds of beings to replenish our bodies; they are the trees and the plants and the seeds." Count Leo Tolstoy said that, "If a man earnestly seeks a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from animal food..." Even Benjamin Franklin was a vegetarian. He said, "My refusing to eat meat occasioned an inconveniency, and I have been frequently chided for my singularity. But my light repast allows for greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension." (all quotes from gentleworld) Apparently these men of genius knew how to eat correctly!

Not only is being vegan smart, but it is also fun. Vegans often are the gentlest people, taking care of animals and the earth, enjoying that wonderful feeling of being truly alive, and experiencing the fullest taste of life. Eating all plants and plant-based foods provides increased energy, healthier nails, skin and hair, better immunity, and healthy weight loss. (vrg.org) Vegans feel great and look great, and often this overall well-being is reflected in their personalities. I truly believe that eating vegan is the best thing that a person can do for him- or herself.

vrg.org. The Vegetarian Resource Group, 2009. Web. October 11, 2009.
Norris, Jack. veganhealth.org. Vegan Outreach, 2003. Web. October 9, 2009. 
gentleworld.org. Getle World, 2009. Web. October 12, 2009.

Tranquil Earth is alive!

Yay! Tranquil Earth is now officially up and running!

I've had the idea for this blog for a few months now, but it's taken me awhile to actually put the idea to action. I wanted to start a blog about my experiences with becoming vegan, and over time that idea evolved to include a whole range of topics about the earth, not just being vegan. So, if all goes according to plan, Tranquil Earth will include posts about veganism, taking good care of the earth, using the earth's free resources to our advantage, and taking good care of our bodies. Hopefully all will go well!

Until next post,
-Porf