Vegan Mofo 2013 Cheesecake

Recently I was visiting my parents house for dinner. They sent me off to the grocery store around the corner to look for something more to eat than the potatoes that I could have. I was first set on some rosemary and green onions to put over those potatoes, but I was flying in the wind from there.

As I walked through and checked out the three places in the store that carry "specialized" vegan foods I came to an abrupt halt. For there in the freezer, was vegan gluten free cheesecake.

I think for a minute I actually jumped up and down. It was so exciting! The only vegan cheesecake I have ever eaten was from a friend who is an excellent vegan baker, and one that I made myself. Actually, I have never even tried non-vegan cheesecake. Realizing that it was also gluten free was icing on the cake. Nothing excites me more than finding fun treats that my children can eat too.

What wasn't so exciting was the cost, roughly $15.00 is steep for one large boxed vegan gluten-free cheesecake. Having made one before though, I knew that cost was close to the price it would be to make my own. So I bought one "just this once" to try it out.

http://www.sweetsfromtheearth.com/

I have to say, it's pretty good! It is not as creamy as the homemade version that I am used to, but only because they used tofu with the cream cheese so it is a bit diluted. I think I like that better, because just using the cream cheese is too rich for my tastes.

As you can see, it was devoured and enjoyed. Don't worry, I shared some with my Mom too!

Vegan Mofo: School Lunch Post 1

Let's just jump right in, shall we?

My big little man, on his first day of grade one!

You can't tell from the picture, but he actually doesn't like school.

He's not a morning person.
He is pretty smitten with his teacher though.

My big little girl, on her first day of senior kindergarten.

She was her social self, making friends as soon as her toes were over the line between sidewalk to school grounds. The first thing she did was take a little girls hand.

Now every morning, she is like a busy bee going from flower to flower.

She just makes the rounds saying hello to kids, parents, boys and girls of any grade. 

Here is their lunch for tomorrow. Usually I have more crackers and vegan cheese items, but we have a  lot of fruit to be eaten and are out of the less healthy, 'fun' items.

From left to right along the top: Annie's gluten-free bunny crackers, blueberries, strawberry soy milk, olives, gluten free chocolate chip cookies.
From left to right on the bottom: A dish of grapes (concord and huge red grapes cut in half), strawberries and an applesauce.

I try to keep both of the kids lunches the same, because they like to tell each other what they ate after school. And as it seems to go with siblings, everything becomes a competition.

Here's a quick note about what is coming up..

Tomorrow is bread day at our local health food store. The shelves fill up with vegan, non-vegan and gluten free bread and baked goods. As fast as they fill up, items disappear. I try to get there in time for the kids special lunch treat, because Friday is treat day for my big littles.

This weekend I will try to photograph what a single vegan eats, because the kids will be away.

Next week, my small little starts story time at our library and the big littles and I take a field trip with the school to the International Plowing Match. I have my doubts on it's vegan food availability and more, so we plan to take a good lunch. Pictures will follow of the event.

My city is having a food festival next weekend, more to come later.

Mofo Picture Post!

 To make my absence up to you, today I will be doing a post of tons of yummy vegan eats that I have photographed over the past four years. Are you ready? You'd better be.

I would also like to say, thank you for your patience. This transition into single motherhood hasn't been an easy one, but I am slowly beginning to pick up the pieces.

Thanksgiving 2011

Garden Harvest 2012

Briefly fruity 2011

October salad 2011

Fruity smoothie

Farm share basket.

I made this huge vegan cake in 2010 for my Mom, a cake baker hobbyist.

My daughter 2009.

Lovely kiwi tomato salad 2012.

Pumpkin carving 2011.

Vegan potluck 2012

Vegan potluck 2012

Vegan potluck 2012

Salad bowl 2013

Stinky feet potatoes 2012

Vegan potluck 2012

Vegan potluck 2012

Vegan potluck 2012

Vegan magician hat birthday cake 2012

Chips n' chili 2012

Fruit strawberry smoothie 2011

Favorite raw meal 2011

Picnic in the woods 2012

Black bean brownies 2012

Before you go, check out my friends cloth diapers! She makes them from home and makes them from the heart. She currently has a great auction going on a beautiful Princess diaper! Cloth is so much more economically friendly than disposables, is more comfortable and healthy for baby's bottom and in the grand overall cost can save you a lot of money.

Peep.Ooie Cloth Diapers Etsy

Peep.Ooie Cloth Diapers Facebook

Peep.Ooie Blog!

My little guy showing off his Peep.Ooie Cloth Diaper.

Yikes! It's Vegan MOFO Time Again.

I need to apologize because, while I had signed up for the Vegan Mofo of 2013 (that's vegan Month of Food) I was expecting some kind of confirmation email back. When nothing came, I assumed that the registration didn't work. Until now, while I was scrolling through the list and saw Quirky Vegans there. My bad!

So let me just say, it has been one hectic start to September. My three littles and I just moved from our spacious apartment into a tiny little house and both of my big littles started school again this week. It was only yesterday that I had my computer available and running since Friday of last week. It is good to be back.

My plan for Vegan Mofo this year was to show you a bit of what we are doing for school lunches. It can be a challenge to plan out a well balanced vegan lunch, that also happens to be gluten free! With my sons sensory preferences added into the mix, this should be a great adventure.

I am taking this coming weekend to relax with my littles who are having a rough go transitioning, and realizing that this separation between their father and I will not be changing. In one week, both him and I changed locations, the kids started school after a long absence and we're still settling in. So please excuse my being late to the Mofo fun. I will return to you on Monday complete with photos.

Running Fast.

The thing about one's past is that it never goes away. If you turn around, it's right there staring you in the face, and if you pause to look for too long it catches up to you. Sometimes it's like it calls out to you, "Hey, over here!" and it takes a strong conscious effort not to glance over your shoulder to see whats up.

Tonight was one of those times. A new person came into my virtual life, somebody that I was to meet this coming weekend. But somehow, this person contacted my past and whispered in it's ear. This person told my past that now would be a good time to try for a little attention. This person was wise, because they were right. Congratulations, past, you won!

Now I sit here struggling to ignore the domino effect that the past can have if you allow it a thread of recognition. No, past. I will not let you do this to me. I am moving forward, and have friends that like to keep me there. Thank you very much for reminding me where we stand. Good night past, and good bye for now. I'm off to the races, and you can damn well eat my dust.

Of Sun and Misery

I love the sun. I love it so much, that I dance every time it is out to play. Unfortunately, my skin does not. On this particular day I have had too much sun, and am starting to feel as though my body has been poisoned. Aside from becoming sick and dizzy, my skin breaks out in these little bumps or sometimes patches that feel like thousands of insects are stinging me. All. Day. Long.

But stubborn me who enjoys nature so much desperately wanted to reconnect. I set out with the stroller ahead of me in a long (what I would call) cargo jacket, and anytime I was in the suns rays I simply put up my hood. Oh the stares! I could see people sitting on benches ahead of me around the river. Those people whispered, pointed, and stared the entire three whole minutes it took me to reach them, then tried to be polite and smile at me like I didn't know.

Yes, it's 20 degrees Celsius out and I am walking around in a long coat, jeans and my hood is up. What gives these people the right to judge others anyway? I thought as a society we promoted diversity as having a great value. I didn't realise that the value that was so great is entertainment and criticism.

So the next time you see somebody walking down the street and you think they might be a little bit strange, ask yourself why. After all, it is that "strange" person that is daring to be different. Is different a bad thing? A lot of people seem to think so. The thing is, we are all the same physiologically and we all have battles to face. Dare to be different. Think outside the box. Please always remember that each and every individual has reasons to their every behaviour and style choices. Maybe it's really not that strange after all.

The Night I Burned The Rice

Today my ex is moving out. I consider this day to be the beginning of the end. It is the start in a long process of changing addresses, bank appointments, custody and support agreements, and more. It is the end of a relationship past it's expiry date.

More than all of that though, today is the beginning of something new. A life on my own full of courage and strength, tears and lonely nights. What a mix of emotions this day brings! I am excited for this life change, but I'm bummed at what might have been. Tonight for the first time in many years I will be completely alone in the sense of not having a man around.

My heart is bruised and battered, as all the hurts from seven long years catch up to me. I'm amazed at how willingly we sometimes blind ourselves to our own pain, for the sake of the bigger picture.

As his stuff slowly disappears from my hallway, I feel renewed. With every box that goes I breathe a little bit easier.

On a side note, I was being very clever tonight and decided to throw an extra cup of rice in the pot to help myself out for a meal tomorrow. Apparently, rice cooks faster the more you add because it's all burnt! I'll forever remember this day by the night I burnt the rice.