Wholesome Hipster

slacker...

2011-03-17T09:07:00.005-05:00

So, I've been a terrible slacker about the blog lately.... it maybe partly because I was wrapped up in some family business (going home to care for my sick brother too some time and effort) or school (decided to take 15 credits this semester).

Maybe it's because we bought a house and I've been systematically redecorating / renovating! It has only been a few months and I have new plans drawn up for the main floor. Those changes will have to take a back seat for now, though because we are knee deep in [several] other projects... Plus, spring has sprung and we'll be addressing the yard, too. Yikes.

Easy Chair Covers...

2010-11-20T11:24:00.007-06:00

And when I say easy chair covers, I mean easy. This job (completing 6 chairs) took me about 8 hours. For the tiny time investment, the impact is really spectacular.

First, I began with an old 1960's set. The table is teak and has a Danish modern feel, so I knew I wanted it. The set was very well taken care of by its former owners, but the chairs were a bit dated (not in a good way, either) and had some wear. With the holidays quickly approaching and my in-laws coming for our annual Thanksgiving celebrating, I decided to invest $20 in fabric and a day of labor to dress up my new set.

Here's what I did:

Step #1 - Measure chair backs and cut fabric to fit. I cut my fabric long enough to fold over the top, then pinned the sides closed. Using felt gave me an advantage - thicker material will hide imperfections and allow a larger margin of error. If you're using a thin fabric, add a layer of batting to even out bumps.

Step #2 - Sew the slip-covers for the back, leaving an opening at the bottom.

Step #3 - Remove the seats and cut the excess old fabric away from the edges. Depending on the condition of the existing fabric, you may want to remove all of it... however this takes time and may include replacing the padding as well.

Step #4 - Measure and cut the new fabric - make sure you have the fabric centered and straight on each seat. This is especially important when using a pattern or stripe.

Step#5 - Pull fabric tight and staple.

Step #6 - Replace the seat.

Step #7 - Add the slip covers to the chair backs and enjoy your 'new' dining set.

Eventually I would like to sand the table legs and perhaps paint the chairs. For now, I'm just happy they are no longer an eye sore!

Gift Ideas

2010-11-17T06:40:00.008-06:00

As the holidays approach, my list of things to do gets longer. Even so, I love this time of year - all of the planning and crafting; the family gatherings. I know it's silly, but my fondness for the season grows ever year... in a very 'non-holiday' way, of course. What I mean is that I would never, ever, ever decorate for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I would never wear holiday sweaters (unless it was to an ugly sweater pub crawl) and I would never send a fruitcake. That said, I love to give gifts, cook and entertain.

So, what is on my list of gifts to make this year?

ü Re-fillable, personalized coloring books

ü Tool kits

ü Toss pillow covers

ü Half-scarves... Harves?

ü Paintings and art

ü Secret compartment books

And...

ü This super easy-to-make, unbelievably soft, fuzzy blanket:

The blanket simply requires two square pieces of fabric (mine were 60" x 72") pinned together carefully - insides out! Next, the squares were sewn together, with a 9" opening remaining - this is needed to turn the blanket back to 'right-side-out.' Finally, I carefully stitched a 3/8" border around the outside edge to close the gap and for reinforcement. Last, I added cross-stitches at the 1' x 1' intervals to keep the two pieces of fabric from pulling apart.

All in all, this blanket takes about an hour to make. Online stores charge upwards of $40 to do the same thing! I made mine for a whopping total of about $12. And I didn't pay shipping.

Stew-pendous.

2010-11-10T20:36:00.006-06:00

Every Sunday I dutifully read the New York Times... I catch up on the world news and read the political columns, but I always save the best(s) for last: Dining and Wine, and Home and Garden. Although their food column is not catered toward vegans (excuse the pun), NYT does a good job of choosing recipes which are thoughtful and easy to modify. This weeks big hit was the Herbed White Bean Stew.

With a few substitutions and served along side fresh pears and homemade flax bread, this was a perfect vegan meal. To finish off the flavorful variety, I paired it with this little buttery goodness:

Here is my vegan version of this stew:

* Added 1 cube of vegan bullion

* Added 1 tblsp of parsley and a dash of sage

* Added 2 potatoes

* Substituted Tofurkey Italian 'Sausage' for the less friendly, non-vegan version.

Over all, it was the most fantastic new recipe of 2010 (so far). This combination seems to be the quintessential fall meal, with its savory flavors and long cook time, smells waft throughout the house all afternoon preparing your appetite for a wholesome and filling dinner. Perfect.

Vegan Halloween

2010-10-31T09:47:00.004-05:00

Happy Halloween! Although I love halloween, it (like most other holidays) comes with its fair share of vegan challenges... for instance, which candies are vegan?

I am not a huge fan of PETA (ok, I hate them) but I do appreciate their efforts to educate parents who want to allow for some mainstream popular traditions, like Halloween. They post a list of vegan candy on their PETA Kids website. For those of us who don't have kids, but want to be good neighbors, it definitely comes in handy.

This year, I'll be handing out twizzlers and mini-oreo packs. And I may indulge in a handful of each, myself. After all, it is Halloween!

Nog Heaven.

2010-10-30T12:38:00.003-05:00

I am not proud to admit it, but I'm addicted to this stuff.... and I'll be in nog heaven for the next two months.

Does Rejection Build Character?

2010-10-26T06:38:00.003-05:00

I have often thought that I have better friends, more interests and happen to be a more well-rounded individual because I was never coddled as a child. I often chalk up my determination to lots of challenges and believe that I am lucky to have been a shade homely during my formative years. I mean, growing up was awkward, but it worked... right?

It's easy to look at the past and say, "Hey - all that rejection wasn't too bad. It built character."

And then, when you're faced with it as an adult, what are you supposed to say? I believed that my character was done building. However the past year has been simultaneously the most rewarding and most difficult year of my life.

In 2009, I turned down 4 offers from top architecture schools to move to Nashville with my future husband. I left a job where my boss loved me and allowed me a flexible work schedule. Scholarship money was left on the table. And it was for something good - Joe was promoted. It was (and still is) a big deal.

Nashville has been wonderful. I have made the best friends here - not an easy task as an adult. We love our house, neighborhood and the city in general. However I did not find a job in my field and after 6 months of looking, decided it was best to just wait tables.

Soon after we moved, I applied to Vanderbilt thinking that it might be a good fit. The assigned adivsor lost my transcripts 4 separate times resulting in a late submission. I was placed on the wait-list and subsequently not admitted.

I swallowed my pride and applied to MTSU. I was offered an academic scholarship and accepted without any real plan. The majors offered did not match many of my credits, and I would be starting fresh. When I decided on finishing my BFA, I was relieved and felt that things were going to be fine.

Then, a professor pushed me to apply for an art scholarship. I put the effort in, applied, revised my artist statement and gave a presentation to a room full of faculty. Yesterday, the list of recipients was posted. I was not on it.

Sometimes rejection is just an opportunity for you to try harder. And sometimes it sucks, but sometimes it needs to happen. Time to dust myself off and try again.

Pear Up-Side-Down Cake

2010-10-22T19:48:00.009-05:00

Oh, how I love fall. And I love to bake when the weather is cool! Lately, I have been brave in the baking department. Usually I am pretty experimental with the stove top, but baking seems like such a commitment. When you make a batch of muffins, there is no chance to add a dash of this or that if they taste a bit off. However, I've had some successes lately. What changed? The other day, I realized that because I'm vegan, there are no "gross" uncooked ingredients (like eggs) in the batter (well, duh), so I have actually begun to taste batter before I bake things. I know - I'm a bit behind the curve.

As I was prepping dinner tonight, I decided we needed a little desert for later.... enter the experimental cake. A fabulous success.

Pear Up-Side-Down Cake

1/4 cup Almonds (ground)

1-1/3 cup Flour

3/4 cup Sugar

2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 cup Almond Milk (mixed with 1 tblsp Apple Cider Vinegar)

1/4 cup Oil

1 tsp Vanilla

16 oz. can Pears

1 tsp Margarine

1 tsp Water

2 tblsp Brown Sugar

In a greased 9-1/2" round pan, melt butter, water and brown sugar - to do this, I just set the pan on the stovetop while the oven is pre-heating. Slice pears and arrange in the bottom of the pan and set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add a single pear from the can of pears and smash it very well. Stir in the almond milk, oil and vanilla. When the mixture is smooth and no pockets of dry ingredients remain, spoon over the pears. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes.

After the cake has cooled a bit (15 minutes or so), place a plate over the pan and flip up-side-down. Wait until cake falls naturally - do not try to force it out!

This cake is dense and not too sweet, but with a good flavor... it has the feeling of a good bread pudding or a very moist coffee cake. I'm going to serve the rest of it with ganache to dress it up. Yum.

And, of course, we must post a 'finished-with-ganache' photo. For the ganache recipe, see this post.

A new venture...

2010-10-09T08:52:00.006-05:00

After the climax of the wedding, I have been feeling a little lost and directionless. The plans I had made during the past 5 years have not come to fruition - I was going to be an architect, finish my master's degree and have a career. However, our move to Nashville interrupted all of that... the nearest NAAB accredited architecture program is a 3 hour drive, my career in design has dwindled and I am finishing my BFA at a university I had never even heard of before we moved. None of these factors mattered very much before the wedding because I was busily working toward a goal. Needless to say, once that goal was reached, the reality of my life began to feel like a let down. Worse - a failure. Ouch.

After a month of feeling frustrated and icky, I have decided to re-visit some of the ideas I have had about creating my own business. The thing is, have always been an idea person... people have borrowed my ideas and been successful in their businesses. It is time for me to try for myself.

It was near this time last year that I had an idea for a pet portrait studio. I tossed around a few names (Dog Vinci, Pupcasso, ect.) but a lot of the names had been used and I lost momentum on the project.

Recently I have revisited the idea... I did some research and came up with some names of friends who actually work in the pet industry (dog walking businesses, pet care, etc) and realized that if I just asked for help from my friends I might be able to jump start my work.

For now, I am shooting from the hip, building my portfolio and putting my energy into something I care about. And it helps that I love dogs.

This is Jaxon:

And this is my first painting of him:

We are married!

2010-09-17T08:08:00.003-05:00

It's a rare thing to be near perfection. And I'm not talking about the wedding... it was a combination of things: we are closer to our loved ones (friends and family) and to each other than we have ever been, work is good for many of us, there are many happy occasions that have just occurred or are on the brink of occurring. For the first time in my life, most of the people I know are wonderfully happy and well. All of this contributed to an unbelievable wedding.

Joe and I wrote our vows and a close friend officiated, which made it all the more special. When we began our walk down the isle to "That's How Strong My Love Is" by Otis Redding, I cried tears of joy - overwhelmed by happiness at being surrounded by people that I love deeply, love for my husband and sheer bliss at the thought of such a bright and happy future.

We were lucky to have 60 of our closest friends, family and colleagues there to celebrate with us and wish us well.

A pared-down dinner...

2010-08-18T20:06:00.007-05:00

There is no place quite so wonderful as the farmer's market. There is something incredibly wholesome about it: people grow food, harvest it and sell it. End of story.

The Nashville Farmer's Market is nothing short of spectacular, if only for their generous hours. I have never had such access - mid week? Yes, please! Ok. Enough gushing.

Tonight, as I strolled through the market sipping my wheat grass shot (yup), a giant bunch of lovely zucchinis caught my eye. Dinner. I pounced and bought the prettiest few, along with some corn, a bunch of basil and a bell pepper. You know what that means:

Fried Zucchini & Succotash

1 small Zucchini

1 small Summer squash

3/4 cup Lima beans

3/4 cup Corn

1/2 medium Red bell pepper (diced)

LOTS of Garlic - crushed (and I'm talking brazen amounts here... like 5 cloves)

1/2 cup Basil (fresh - then mash with mortar & pestle or chop it up like you're Chef Tony)

Salt & Pepper to taste.

Olive oil for saute.

Sauce:

3/4 cup Non-dairy milk (soy is great)

1/4 cup Roux (1-1/2 tblsp Flour + 3 tblsp Water)

Slice the zucchini and summer squash, dice red pepper and crush garlic. Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium-high heat, then add everything from the first list of ingredients. Saute until wilted and slightly brown (about 10-12 minutes for a full pan). Add milk and stir. When well-mixed, add the roux a little at a time, stirring constantly. The sauce should thicken up pretty quickly.

This dish is wonderful over a bed of rice - the spices aren't overwhelming and it's a lovely, quick, simple dinner for those of us who love zucchini and lima beans (my mom is proud - mission accomplished).

Mustache Mania

2010-08-17T07:09:00.004-05:00

It should go without mentioning that as a native Minnesotan, I am also a Twins fan. Of course, it helps to note the Twins won the pennant twice during my formative years (at age 7 they beat the Cardinals and at 11 they took the Braves), solidifying my forever fan status. With Pavano doing a great job on the mound, we have taken up saying "mandatory mustaches" around the house whenever someone makes a mistake.

With that in mind, I have designed our wedding programs. Mandatory mustaches for all, to ensure the evening goes well.

Oh, right. And they serve a purpose, too.

Slacking.

2010-08-13T07:05:00.003-05:00

I feel like my recipe posts have been lacking... which is a shame because the whole, original purpose of this blog was to organize recipes with photos and really have an idea of whether or not I should put some effort into a cook book. Right now, it's not looking like much of anything.

To my credit, however, I still cook all the time. The fact that I haven't taken photos or written ingredients down while cooking doesn't mean that I have been neglecting my kitchen. Just this week I made a stew:

And an excellent saute (succotash with garden zucchini - served with a creamy sauce over jasmine rice... oh, it was soooooo good). And, I bake fresh bread once a week. Here is my bread recipe... if nothing else, at least I feel better about posting something relevant.

Country Flax Bread

2-1/2 cups Unbleached Bread Flour

1/4 cup Ground flax

1/2 cup Water (warm - about 80° F)

1/2 cup Non-dairy milk (warm - about 80° F)

1 tsp Apple cider vinegar

2 tblsp Sugar

1-1/2 tsp Salt

2 tblsp Olive oil

2-1/4 tsp Yeast

Sift flour and mix with flax. Add salt to dry mix and set aside. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and about 1/2 tblsp sugar (add remaining sugar to dry mixture). Add vinegar to milk and let curdle. When milk has curdled, add it to the dry mixture along with the olive oil. When yeast has risen, add it to the rest of the ingredients.

Stir well and let rest, about 10 minutes. Then, kneed for about 10 - 15 minutes, cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place, about 45 minute to 1 hour. Punch dough down and let rest again. Turn dough out onto floured surface and kneed a few minutes, shape and place in a greased bread pan. Cover with damp towel and let rise until doubled in size - about 45 minutes. Bake at 350° F for 40 - 50 minutes, until golden brown. Turn pan on its side and let cool 15 minutes, when bread has cooled a bit, remove it from the pan and let cool (still on its side) for another hour or so.

A little something for the Kiddos.

2010-08-10T10:41:00.007-05:00

Because there are quite a few important people under the age of 12 attending our wedding, it was important to see it from their perspective. Sure, it's fun to dance for a while, but what then? With the grown-ups preoccupied, there should be something a little extra for the short people.

There is a long-standing gift exchange tradition in my family: my aunt stocks up on cheap but cool flea market finds and funny dollar store gadgets. All the gifts are wrapped without names and distributed evenly. Next, we all unwrap our gifts and a musical-chairs-style swap and utter madness ensues. It's all very fun...

What does this have to do with a wedding, though? Well, we're going to have prizes. We decided that a game table would be a great alternative for those who need a break from dancing. I've been stocking up on old games and decks of vintage cards from flea markets and borrowed an idea for an "I-Spy" treasure hunt. The kids will be armed with disposable cameras and set out to find each item on the list (a rhyming description about the wedding).

When they've crossed off all the items on the card, they can return the camera (so I have a perspective on their take of the wedding) and they get a prize (flea market / dollar store) - which they can then trade or barter. Sounds like fun, huh?

Using the scraps.

2010-08-03T21:05:00.020-05:00

When I began planning the wedding, I budgeted for a nice, hand-made French lace shrug from an Etsy shop. As I brushed up on my sewing skills and remembered how much I enjoy making clothes, the idea of buying a shrug (albeit a hand-made / indie shop one) seemed silly.

Today, I looked at the scraps from my wedding dress and thought, "I could probably do this." So I did.

Using a shrug that I have in the house, I traced an outline on onion-skin. If you try this, make sure to leave enough room for a 5/8" seam (or what ever size seam you are most comfortable sewing).

Next, I pinned and cut the pattern from my 1/2 yard of left-over material.

By pinning the fabric on a dress-form, I could make adjustments to be sure the shrug would fit.

After pinning and stitching the shoulders, the arm holes can be stitched to the lining.

The seam around the neck, bust and back should be left open, so the ruffle can be added easily. After what seemed like an obscene number of pins (seriously - I pinned the edge about every 1" or 1-1/2") and quite a few sweeps of the iron, it was ready to sew.

The end result was better than I had expected... the effort (2 hours) and materials (leftover scrap) yielded a pretty good result without a lot of resources!

The best part? The thing fits.

Frosting..

2010-07-31T19:08:00.003-05:00

So, most buttercream frostings call for quite a few eggs (whole or whites) and that's difficult to get around as a vegan. I love the flavor of buttercream-style frostings, so I did a little work and came up with a recipe modified from several other (non-vegan) recipes.

Buttercream Frosting

1-1/4 cup Powdered sugar

1/2 cup Margarine (room temperature)

2 tblsp Coconut milk (full fat)

2 tblsp Corn starch

1/2 tsp Cream of tartar

Beat ingredients together using a whisk or blender on medium. When the frosting is well mixed, refrigerate until stiff. Good for about a week or can be frozen for later use.

Awesome Chocolate Cupcakes

2010-07-27T17:27:00.012-05:00

The thing about these cupcakes that makes them soooooo awesome (besides the fact that they are vegan) is the fact that they are slightly dense and rich and sweet.

Once upon a time, I had a regular job in an office. Last year, I made cupcakes to bring for my birthday. Because we were always presented with a cake on birthdays, I decided to bring extra that I could enjoy and share, rather than weirdly avoiding my own birthday party. One of the lawyers who had consistently given me a hard about how gross vegan cooking was, had wandered in and picked up a cupcake, unwrapped it, and stuffed the whole thing in his mouth. "Mmpfftgood cup-mmmpffcake." Yup. These are those cupcakes:

(also pictured in previous cake-stand post)

Dark-Chocolate Rum Cake

1 cup Non-dairy milk (almond is delicious, or soy works well)

1 tblsp Apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup Olive oil

2/3 cup Sugar

1 tsp Dark spiced rum

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 cup Flour

1/2 cup Cocoa (unsweetened)

1 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix milk with vinegar and set aside. Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add oil, sugar, rum and vanilla to the milk and vinegar concoction. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, a little at a time. When the ingredients are well-mixed, pour into lined cupcake pan or 8" round cake pan. Bake cupcakes for approximately 20 minutes or cakes approximately 30 - 35 minutes or test with toothpick. Great with vegan ice cream (Purely Decadent is my favorite), a light dusting of powdered sugar or frosting.

D-I-Why is my house such a mess?

2010-07-21T10:23:00.011-05:00

Yep. That about says it. As the wedding draws near, I have projects spread out over every surface in my living room, dining room, kitchen and office. Here is a photo of the madness in the dining room:

I'll spare you the rest of it. The outcome, however, is truly worth the disaster in my poor living space. These babies were made from records (12" and 7") and wooden candle sticks and milk glass candy dishes. Flea markets are the jam... total cost was about $2 per plate and they look pretty great in person.

I will post a step-by-step explanation later... when I have a moment to catch my breath. For now, you'll just have to enjoy the photos. Oh, and I'll post the awesome vegan chocolate cupcake recipe, too.

Potato Salad

2010-07-18T11:33:00.009-05:00

It's too hot to cook. And lets face it - no one wants to eat hot food in this weather anyway. Joe and I have been surviving on meals centered around raw veggies and hummus, chips and guacamole, and cold sandwiches and potato salad. Happily, there are quite a few right ways to make vegan potato salad. Here is my favorite:

Three-Potato Salad

1 large Sweet potato

2 medium Yukon gold potatoes

3-4 Baby red potatoes

1 small Onion, diced (any color will work, but I prefer red because it's prettier)

1/8 cup Veganaise

2 tblsp Pickle relish (or 1 large pickle, diced)

2 tblsp Mustard (dijon or yellow - either will work)

1 tsp Celery seed

1/2 tsp Dill

1/2 tsp Onion powder

1/2 tsp Garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a medium pan, heat water to boiling. Wash and dice Yukon and Red potatoes, peel and quarter sweet potato. Add sweet potato to boiling water and let cook for approximately 5 minutes. Add diced Yukon and Red potatoes and cook until easily pierced with a fork. Strain and rinse. Refrigerate over night or for at lease two hours. When cool, dice sweet potato. Mix remaining ingredients together and add potatoes. I swear, you will never miss regular potato salad again - we make a batch of this pretty much every week and never get tired of it!

It is a little past the Fourth of July, but this is a good addition to any Independence Day cook-out.

Change of a Dress

2010-07-15T13:38:00.007-05:00

When we started planning the big, fun party to celebrate liking each other (i.e. wedding), Joe and I knew we wanted to do it our way. That meant a lot of do-it-yourself projects (you've seen my list) and working hard to get the important things done.

It also meant that there were certain elements of doing-it-yourself that would be failures. The flower girl dresses were one of those items. What I had planned did not turn out very well. Oh, hell. Who's concerned with being polite? They were down-right ugly. U-G-L-Y, they ain't got no alibi. Pukey, even. It was seriously disappointing that I had created something so incredibly disgusting.

So, I put them aside for a while and considered what I wanted to do. The thought of buying something cheap and made in China seemed horrible. And, conversely, the thought of buying something expensive that the girls would wear maybe once or twice seemed silly and ridiculous. Plus, they are 4 and 7 - they will be running and playing in these dresses.

With the help of my Mister of Honor (Sam) who was in town for a few days, I selected new, more appropriate fabric and started over. I am pleased to say that the dresses are much better looking this time around... and more importantly, they will be more wearable, too.

Time off for the summer...

2010-06-14T20:21:00.005-05:00

I haven't updated the blog lately. Reason? I've been busy with things not necessarily related to the blog. Those things are books... I've had my nose buried in the pages of philosophy books this summer, and I'm loving it.

On a totally unrelated note, we have a crazy owl living in the tree behind our house. Here is his call. Apparently, he is saying, "Who, who cooks for you?"

Shoes to dye for

2010-05-20T11:43:00.012-05:00

Although I'm not incredibly 'girly' the idea of wearing super-fun pink shoes for our wedding seemed appropriate. I don't own any pink clothing, shoes, accessories - nothing; that makes the wearing of pink such a special occasion.

The shoes I picked out were these lovelies from Kate Spade:

Of course they were unavailable... so I went in search of something that had a similar silhouette. Finally, after several (dreaded) trips to the mall and DSW, I brought a pair home. They were the wrong color, but the salesgirl assured me that I could "bring them to David's Bridal and have them dyed." This statement turned out to be 100% false - and not just at David's Bridal, but everywhere else I could think of asking. So, I dyed them myself!

Dylon turned up the most positive reviews, so I purchased a few packs. As I dunked the shoes into the pot of hazard-red water, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. The shoes were a champagne color and not white, so there was a risk of awful color mix.

The color was perfect about half way through the process, but I had vowed to follow the instructions. I am NOT an expert; the directions are not printed by the company out of convenience, but because they've been tested and they work!

When the process was complete, I rinsed them thoroughly and set them aside to dry. The color, although not exactly what I had pictured, is really lovely.

If you're going to try this yourself, it would be helpful to start with white shoes. Synthetic fabrics tend to hold less color, so be prepared for a lighter shade if you're working with a polyester or nylon blend.

Community Spirit

2010-05-15T09:13:00.005-05:00

This is a thank you note written by a local business owner who helped organize 1,500 East Nashville volunteers for the post-flood disaster relief. Most of us wanted to help, but didn't know how. Alan at Art House Gardens gave us an outlet and organized us in such a way that our efforts grew exponentially into an amazing success story. And now he's thanking us. What an incredible example of "community spirit". His letter is as follows:

"...When I made my post on Sunday as the rains subsided on the east  nashville listserv looking for volunteers 2 people immediately contacted me. First, a gentleman named Bob Rochford who had finished pumping his parents basement out in west Nashville, called me and stated he was on his way back to east Nashville to pump out his friends house. We set up an email command post on Sunday night where I kept him informed of houses I already knew needed help Sunday night. Bob pumped houses into the wee morning – 3 am if I recall correctly. The second person to contact me (within a few minutes of my post) was Catherine McTamaney. She immediately asked “What can I do to help”?. My reply is now a running joke and we refer to it almost daily. I said, “I think we might need a sump pump or two and could you answer the phone at our garden center Monday morning? We might get some calls for help”. There’s been a few times over the  past two weeks that Catherine has looked at me and said, “answer phones, hmmm?” Who knew that our garden center would become a makeshift disaster relief center. Certainly not me.

It is not completely clear just how many heroes stepped up the plate these past two weeks (other than the 1500 physical volunteers that came into ArtHouse Gardens). Some of our heroes organized from home sending out emails and making calls asking for donations from their friends and family members. They called their pastors and friends when we needed people to just go out and hug the victims of the flood and they called their pastors and counselor friends when we needed them for intervention for families grieving and in shock. Those who worked from home were unwavering in their support. Others worked independently with a group of friends or with their Church groups. Some set up outside our doors at Art and Invention creating an impromptu outdoor bakery with a plethora of the best --- I MEAN THE BEST cookies, cakes, pies and more. Proceeds from these sales purchased air masks, extension cords, mops, spray bottles and gloves. Other heroes brought the volunteers water, food (lots of fabulous cupcakes and meals) and hugs. Moms came out on Mothers Day saying, “this is where I want to be on Mother’s Day” showing why we even designate a special day for you in the first place and volunteers came out to pass out flowers and hug the mom’s toiling away in their damaged homes. You came in masses. Over 1,500 of you entered our gates at ArtHouse Gardens.

It is impossible for me to name all of the heroes this week as I know it’s in the thousands...There are two ways that you can continue to help:

1. Jamie Hollin set up an East Nashville Flood Relief account at First Tennessee (account # 183687876) that will go directly to victims in our community. Others like Paige LaGrone Babcock have on-line organized fund drives too.

2. Visit The Next 100 Years. Some called this the 100 year flood, others the 500 year flood. But we're calling it the 100 year opportunity to connect with our community and to help set up a means that will help us connect in the future if such a disaster happens again."

Invites are complete!

2010-05-10T10:54:00.005-05:00

With the wedding just four months away, I have a lot of DIY projects to finish. The wedding dress is nearly complete (just missing a zipper). The flower girl dresses have yet to be started (still waiting on measurements). The center pieces and cake stands are at about 80% (a post will follow about those when they are done).

But.... a major item has been crossed off the list!

ü DIY invitations

ü Hand-drawn maps

ü RSVP cards

ü Custom-stamped RSVP envelopes

Peanut Butter Heaven

2010-05-01T15:01:00.007-05:00

Lots of forums and websites claim to have the best "vegan cheesecake" recipe... and they all kind of look the same; calling for 3 tubs of Tofutti brand vegan "cream cheese". Now, if you ask me, that sounds kind of gross and not very creative. Here is my answer to those recipes:

Vegan Peanut Butter 'Cheesecake' with Marbled Chocolate Ganache

Shortbread Crust:

1 cup Margarine, cold

1/2 cup Confectioners sugar

2 cups Flour (pastry)

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Baking powder

Lemon zest, as desired

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients. Cut the margarine into the dry mixture until crumbly. Add the lemon zest and mix well with a large spoon or fingers. When dough can be pressed into a ball, transfer it into a greased 9" spring-form pan (or any equivalent). Press the dough into the bottom of the pan and about 1/2" up the edge to form a lip; prick with a fork to avoid bubbling. Pre-heat oven to 350° F.

Filling:

14 oz. Tofu (silken, firm)

8 oz. Tofutti vegan 'Better than Cream Cheese'

1/8 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup Coconut milk (full-fat)

1 tblsp Vanilla

2 tblsp Margarine (vegan)

1-1/4 cup Confectioners sugar

1/2 cup Flour (pastry)

In a food processor, puree the tofu and coconut milk. Blend very well and transfer to a large bowl. Whisk together remaining wet ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Mix well - with a mixer on medium for 2 minutes or with a whisk for 200 strokes or so. Spoon 2/3 of the batter into the crust and set the remainder aside.

Chocolate Ganache:

1 cup Coconut milk (full-fat or low-fat)

1 cup Chocolate chips (vegan)

2 tblsp. Margarine

In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt chocolate and coconut milk. If necessary, use a double boiler - do not burn the chocolate sauce! Spoon about 2/3 of the ganache into the spring-form pan, on top of the batter. Add the remaining 1/3 of the batter and finally, the last of the ganache. Cut with a butter knife to marble the ganache and the batter. Place in oven and bake at 350° F until firm, about 1 hour. Let cool on rack for 1 hour and refrigerate over night. Enjoy!

Have you seen 'Sin Nombre'?

2010-04-19T12:19:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, Joe and I watched 'Sin Nombre' - it was compelling and interesting... and heartbreaking. It struck me that many of the independent hispanic films I have seen in the past few years have a similar, hopeless feeling.

Recent films (like 'Sin Nombre', 'El Violin' and 'Y Tu Mama Tambien') have embodied a sort of modern existentialism - one that feels completely sincere and relevant. Although the existentialist movement developed in the 19th and 20th centuries and was founded mostly by European men, the new school of Mexican filmmakers do an incredible job of capturing the conditions of existence: hopelessness, despair, and alienation - and they are translated beautifully as they occur in these movies.

Help!

2010-04-14T00:34:00.009-05:00

So, it's been nearly two decades since anyone wanted to take a serious photo of me. And now that we're PAYING someone to take our pictures, I have no idea what to wear. I am beyond baffled when it comes to ideas for our engagement shoot. It would be ideal to look natural - not trying too hard or too dated.

Items from my closet (read: not interested in buying "outfits")...

Casual:

Dresses:

Any ideas? Our photographer wants to feature my pink vintage beach cruiser, and maybe have Jaxon in a few photos. Joe would love to have the motorcycle in an industrial setting. Right now all I can think is: I am not a stylist. I am not very girly. I need help.

With a shrug:

2010-04-13T08:22:00.005-05:00

All that remains is the installation of the zipper... Then, on to the flower girl dresses.

Quinoa with Tofu and Roasted Veggies

2010-04-12T22:05:00.005-05:00

A quick post about a "health-food" recipe... I only say that because Joe said it tasted like "health-food" which is not necessarily an insult. It's just that I make a lot of guy-friendly vegan cuisine. This recipe definitely has a savory, sweet and healthy flavor - one of my favorites.

Quinoa with Tofu and Roasted Vegetables

Marinade:

1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar

1/8 cup Olive oil

3 tblsp Braggs

2 tblsp Vegan worchestershire sauce

1 tsp Garlic powder

1 tsp Onion powder

1 tsp Sage

3/4 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved

3/4 cup Baby portabella mushrooms, halved or quartered

3/4 cup Bell peppers, cut into 1" squares

3/4 cup Red onion, cut into 1" squares

1 cup Tofu cut into 1" cubes

1 cup Quinoa

2 cups Vegetable broth

1 tsp Sage

Combine marinade ingredients and toss with vegetables and tofu and refrigerate over night. Drain off excess marinade and place vegetables in a greased pan, evenly spaced. Broil in a 500°

oven for 30 - 40 minutes, until vegetables are slightly crisp and dark around the edges.

Meanwhile, heat broth to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Add quinoa, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook (stirring occasionally) for 15 - 20 minutes. When broth is absorbed and seams are broken, quinoa is fully cooked. Toss with vegetables and tofu for a delicious, nourishing meal.

Something old, something new (part III)

2010-04-04T09:41:00.012-05:00

This project was something I had wanted to finish for a while... but I wasn't sure it was reasonable to salvage such and ugly shelf. It was constructed of plywood which had chipped in places that made it impossible to sand, so painting it was out of the question. So, it took a different direction.

The best alternative to painting seemed to be upholstery. Rather than choosing a single color, coordinating patterns give the shelf some interest - and when it's filled in with boxes and books, it gives just a hint of mystique.

Broccoli and Mushroom with Garlic Sauce -

2010-03-30T09:51:00.007-05:00

Broccoli and garlic sauce with shiitake mushrooms and seitan is an awesome substitution for the traditional 'beef and broccoli' dishes served at Chinese restaurants. This recipe has a mellow flavor with just a little kick of seasoning. It's a great quick dinner and reheats beautifully.

Broccoli and Mushroom with Garlic Sauce

4 cloves Garlic, crushed

2 tblsp Sesame oil

1 tblsp Olive oil

1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes (or traditional paste)

1 tblsp Worchestershire sauce (vegan version)

1/2 tsp Ginger (ground)

1 tblsp Soy sauce

1-1/2 cup Vegetable broth

4-5 large Shiitake mushrooms (julienne cut)

1 cup Seitan (julienne cut)

2 cups Broccoli (chopped into bite-sized chunks)

1 tblsp Potato starch (mixed with about twice as much cold water)

2-3 cups Rice (prepared)

Follow cooking instructions for rice. In a wok over medium-high heat, combine oil and spices. Heat until oil moves easily and add mushrooms. Saute until golden brown; about 5 minutes. Add seitan and cook 5 more minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce and Worchestershire sauce, coating ingredients well. Add broccoli and saute for just a minute or two, then add broth. When broccoli is bright green and al dente, add potato starch mixture, stirring constantly. When sauce is slightly thicker, remove from heat. Serve over rice for a well-balanced meal... not to mention delicious!!

Nerd Alert.

2010-03-23T20:13:00.006-05:00

Ok. This pretty much proves how uptight I am about house-keeping: Hand Held Ironing Board.

Take a standard wooden clipboard...

Sew a linen bag with an elastic band at the top (and monogram it so everyone knows it's yours - you don't want just anyone using your portable ironing board, right?)...

And voila; the nerdiest contraption ever. But, they are great for pressing huge, awkward pieces of fabric like bed skirts and draperies.

Perspective on Aging - Socially

2010-03-20T10:08:00.006-05:00

This morning I heard something that made me laugh; something that made me think of how we mature socially and learn to respect diversity. Here is the quote:

"I only like open-minded people... like me."

When I was younger (lets say, seventeen through early twenties), I was pretty socially active. I attended hundreds of shows and helped organize some, designed flyers and spent nights at Kinkos photocopying, volunteered for non-profit government reform movements, participated in helping friends host art openings and fashion shows... Not to mention, I went out a fair amount (read: dinner and drinks 4-5 nights a week). Spending my formative years in Minneapolis and enjoying hundreds of acquaintances who shared an affinity for art and indie rock was a blessing - I wouldn't change it for the world. But I surrounded myself with people who were like me.

Then, when I was twenty five, we moved to Detroit. Learning to regroup and make new friends (each with a different background) accelerated my social maturity immensely. Suddenly, I was taking interest in things my MPLS crew would have judged harshly (like sororities and fast cars). It was enlightening to be the odd man out - to have zero vegetarian friends who listened to punk or indie rock, who had never even been to a show. I attended my very first concert (Justin Timberlake) and had a blast exploring more conventional forms of entertainment. Not to mention, I was able to ask tons of questions and abandon some stereotypes I had adopted.

Last year when we moved again, this time to Nashville, I felt much more comfortable in meeting new people. Our neighbors are wonderfully diverse and each is fun and interesting in their own way. The friends we've gained are like us, but not like us. They are kind and open; lively and confident. And that is pretty much where the similarities end. The spectrum of experiences, jobs, musical taste and senses of humor are all "to each his own".

With that in mind, I am planning to revive my social life a little - attend shows and openings on a regular basis again. Because you never know who you'll meet.

'TuNot' Salad

2010-03-18T20:10:00.006-05:00

This is one of my favorite concoctions... as a vegan, I often miss tuna - I feel awful about loving the taste, but it is the one thing I crave consistently. Well, that and hot dogs. What can I say? I have the palette of a seven-year-old. This recipe uses chickpeas rather than tuna, but still includes all the 'good stuff'.

'TuNot' Salad

2 cups Chickpeas, cooked and drained (or straight outa the can)

1 stalk Celery, finely chopped

1 medium Pickle, diced ~ OR ~ 1-1/2 tblsp Relish

1/2 small Onion (red is best)

2 tblsp Vegenaise ~ OR ~ 1 tblsp each Oil and Vinegar

1 tsp Lemon pepper

Salt and Pepper to taste

Dill to taste (optional)

Pulse the chickpeas in a food processor until they are coarsely chopped and crumbled (do not over process; the chickpeas will become a paste). Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Makes 2-4 large servings and will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

This dish has endless serving options - as a terrific small dinner on a bed of greens, satisfying lunch on whole grain bread with mustard and tomatoes (yum) or perfect light snack on rye crisp with a thin slice of cucumber. Enjoy!

A Sneak Peek

2010-03-01T07:33:00.008-06:00

As requested by my friend, Grace, I will post a snapshot of my wedding dress. As I said before, I am going to be making a ton of the items for my wedding. So... what have I done so far?

ü Designing, printing and assembling save-the-dates.

ü Create cute little hand-drawn maps for the invitations.

ü Designing and sewing my dress.

ü Making the center pieces for (12+) tables.

ü Developing a vegan menu with a local organic farmer.

ü Create a wed-site for our out of town guests.

These items have been removed from the list, because… well, I can be a bit too ambitious for my own good sometimes. In an attempt to be more realistic about how much responsibility I want so close to the wedding date, I have decided to remove the ‘perishables’ from my to-do list. Plus, we have to be in Minneapolis for a wedding (in which Joe is a groomsman) two weeks before ours!

~~Growing the flowers for bouquets.~~

~~Harvesting and assembling flowers.~~

~~Making the decorations for the venue.~~

~~Making cupcakes (both vegan options and gluten-free versions).~~

And finally, the items that are underway, but too far from being finished to even pretend they are complete:

Designing and sewing (2) flower girl dresses.

Creating a wedding playlist for iPod (which my brother pointed out would NOT know how to segue) and choosing the order of 200+ songs.

Designing, printing and assembling invitations.

With that said, here is a sneak peek at my dress. I used a 1960's vintage Vogue pattern for the basic shape, and have altered the look just a bit.

Dog Day Afternoon...

2010-02-22T07:51:00.004-06:00

Sundays are perfect for hosting our friends and their furry families. And yesterday was about as good as it gets; it was 65° and sunny, the dogs were in good spirits, Joe made the best vegan bloody mary I've ever tasted (secret seasoning in the salt rim = amazing) and brunch was great.

These little bad-boys were an experiment... and pretty labor intensive, but they were surprisingly good.

Carmel Apple Rolls

For the rolls:

1/2 cup Non-dairy milk, 80° F

3 tblsp Apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup Water, 80° F

3 cups Unbleached bread flour

4 tblsp Sugar

1 tblsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Salt

3 tblsp Margarine (we love Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread)

2-1/4 tsp Active dry yeast

Add vinegar to non-dairy milk and let stand until the milk curdles. Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients together. Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring until dough is stiff and sticky. Turn out onto a floured surface and kneed for 10 minutes. Roll dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until double in size - about 1 hour.

For the filling:

1/3 cup Margarine

1/3 cup Brown sugar, packed firm

1 tblsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1-2 medium Apples, julienne cut

In a sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter and add sugar. Add cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring until smooth. Add apples and remove from heat.

For the caramel:

2/3 cup Coconut milk (light)

1/3 cup Margarine

1/2 cup Brown sugar, packed firm

1/4 cup Brown rice syrup

In a different sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter and add sugar and coconut milk. Add cinnamon and syrup, stirring until smooth. Add flax and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Do not burn sauce! Add the apples and pour into a 9" x 13" [GREASED] cake pan.

After the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and turn out onto a floured surface. Let it rest for about 15 minutes, then roll out into a large rectangle - about 12" x 18" or so. Spread the filling evenly over the dough and roll up tightly (the long way). You should have an 18" evenly shaped roll.

Next, using a piece of thread or a knife, cut into 1-1/2" pieces, placing them evenly in the pan containing the caramel. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes - 1 hour. Pre-heat the oven to 350 ° F. When the rolls are almost double in size, place them in the warm oven and cook for 25 minutes or until golden brown. They will rise a bit more in the oven, so don't worry if they seem small.

When the rolls have cooled a bit, cover the pan with a cookie sheet. Holding the pans together tightly, flip them over, allowing the rolls to fall onto the cookie sheet. Serve warm and enjoy! Makes 12 generous rolls.

Something Old, Something New (part II)

2010-02-12T13:19:00.008-06:00

A few weeks ago I noticed an old trunk peeking out of a ditch. I kept on driving, but when I drove by again, it was still there. After the third pass, I just had to see what it was. I parked my car and took a look.

It was either an accident (fell off a truck) or the trunk had been crushed and then disposed of by its owners. Either way, it was in pretty rough shape. The lid came right off when I picked it up and there was only one other side that could be salvaged. Being the dumpster diver I am, I put the two pieces in my car and took them home.

After sitting in the garage for a few days, an idea began to take shape. The top was a perfect size and shape for a little writing desk, and we happened to need something for Joe's office. The sanding alone was a labor of love, but after all was said and done, we ended up with a pretty darn cute little table.

Game Day Eats

2010-02-08T12:18:00.007-06:00

Everyone loves a Super Bowl party... am I right? And because we love to participate in the ridiculous traditions of popular culture in our own unconventional way, we had a vegan Super Bowl party.

The food was a huge success. We served 7-layer bean dip (guacamole and lettuce layers on the side) with Garden of Eatin' Blue Chips, cocktail BBQ meatless balls, pickles and olives, Red Stripe and Fat Tire... and peanut butter swirl brownies. Mixed nuts and vegan pizza from our favorite pizza place on the East Side are also very good add-ons to the traditional game-day fare.

The brownies are a special treat - a simple twist on my mom's awesome vegan brownie recipe. I'm not ready to share the whole recipe... but to make PB swirl out of any regular brownie recipe, simply mix a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter with a little almond milk and powdered sugar. Spoon onto batter and cut in with a butter knife. Yum.

Banana Oat Muffins

2010-02-07T08:11:00.004-06:00

There's something about warm muffins on a cold, clammy day... the oven warms the kitchen and the smell of fresh baking sweetbread wafts through the house, making everything just a bit brighter. This is one of my favorite modified recipes for cheering up a bland day.

Banana Oat Muffins

2 Large ripe bananas

1/2 cup Non-dairy milk +1 tblsp Apple cider vinegar

2 tblsp Ground flax + 3 tblsp Cold water

4 tblsp Oil

2 tblsp Brown sugar

1 cup Oats (quick are best)

1-1/2 cup Flour

1 tsp Nutmeg

1-1/2 tsp Baking soda

Pre-heat oven to 375°. In a large bowl pour milk and vinegar together and let sit until milk has curdled. In a separate bowl or small container mix flax and water. Add bananas, oil and brown sugar, mashing bananas while mixing ingredients together. In another dish, combine dry ingredients. Mix well and add to wet mixture a little at a time. The muffin batter should be lumpy. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy warm with jam or vegan buttery spread.

* Just a note - I usually grease the paper baking cups if I'm using them - so much easier than having the banana stick to the paper and destroying the muffin.

Wedding Plans...

2010-02-01T06:32:00.006-06:00

Because I'm incredibly picky about how things should be, I'm doing a lot of the work for my wedding by myself. The list includes, but is not limited to:

Designing, printing and assembling invites.

Designing and sewing my dress.

Designing and sewing (2) flower girl dresses.

Growing the flowers for bouquets.

Harvesting and assembling flowers.

Making the center pieces for (12+) tables.

Making the decorations for the venue.

Developing a vegan menu with a local organic farmer.

Making cupcakes (both vegan options and gluten-free versions).

Creating a wedding playlist for iPod (which my brother pointed out would NOT know how to segue) and choosing the order of 200+ songs.

Start with #1 - invitations. Because we're pretty non-traditional, we wanted the invitations to feel more like vintage show flyers. Our wedding is in Nashville, lets have a Nashville-feel to the invites.

First, I created an icon that had some meaning to us. Every time I've done a mock up of an invite, Joe has asked if we could maybe, just in the corner, add a little motorcycle. I took it a step further and traced a photo of the Norton he has been restoring for the past 2 years, and created a silhouette for the main graphic.

Next, I used this tutorial to create a sunburst for the background. Because I've been working as an interior designer, my first instinct was to use the "array" command from CAD. Hah. Not even close.

Last, I added some text and adjusted the placement. Although the invitations are not thoroughly complete, it's nice to know that I've got a good start.

BBQ Sandwich

2010-01-18T11:20:00.004-06:00

Moving to Nashville has given me a better appreciation for BBQ. Sure, I love a good grilled portobello sandwich or smoked tofu, but there are some really delicious options around here for vegan BBQ (Drifter's is probably our favorite). The only problem is that we haven't found a really good BBQ sandwich - something greasy and dripping with sauce... so I developed a recipe, myself.

BBQ Sandwich

1 lb. Seitan

1 cup Vegetable broth

1 tsp. Sage (ground)

1 Onion (small - sliced fajita style)

1 Bell pepper (small - any color you prefer - sliced fajita style)

1/8 cup Mixed olives (chopped)

1/2 cup Barbeque Sauce

1/4 cup Water

Oil for saute

Hoagie buns

Cut the seitan into thin strips and add them to a frying pan with the vegetable broth and sage. Simmer over medium heat until the moisture is absorbed. Add the peppers, onions and oil to the pan and saute until onion and peppers are soft. Add olives and cook for just a minute or three longer. Dilute the 1/2 cup Barbeque sauce with 1/4 cup water and add it to the pan. Stir well and coat all the ingredients. Simmer until sauce thickens and serve on warm toasted hoagie buns with tomato slices and vegan mayo for the full effect.

We love this meal with fried potatoes or home made baked vegan mack n' cheese. Yum.

Something Old / Something New

2010-01-13T09:19:00.011-06:00

It's amazing what people throw away. The fine items located in dumpsters and junk piles everywhere are a testament to salvaging. Sure, you get a little dirty and sometimes you wind up with something that really does need to be thrown away, but the work is usually not without reward.

Case in point, when we moved into our house, someone had abandoned a desk. The owner offered to throw it out for us, but (knowing that I would probably like to have a new project) my lovely Joe asked them to leave it.

Something old:

Something new:

Southern Blizzard

2010-01-09T10:55:00.005-06:00

Usually I have something interesting to do. I had something planned.... and then I got snowed in! Amazingly, a little less than 1" of snow has left me stranded at the base of our hilly drive.

Forced 'time-outs' are welcome from time to time. They allow for little luxuries that fall by the wayside during real life (like reading fiction). Yesterday, Jaxon and I strolled through the deserted golf course in the cold, the little flakes falling slowly and silently. It was beautiful to see the neighborhood so quietly tucked under a blanket of snow. The streets were empty except for teenage boys with sleds (which would never happen in the north - by the time you're a teenager, you are way too cool for sledding). It's charming in a way that I didn't expect.

Apple Pancakes

2010-01-03T10:48:00.005-06:00

Sunday brunch is one of my favorite things. The combination of sweet and savory foods, coffee and juice is unbeatable. This morning I made one of my favorite recipes:

Apple Pancakes

1-1/2 cup Flour

3 tblsp Sugar

1-1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1-1/2 cup Non-dairy milk

1 tblsp Apple cider vinegar

1/8 cup Unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 tsp Vanilla

2 tblsp Oil

Garnish:

1-2 Peeled and sliced apples

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tblsp Brown sugar

Oil for saute

Set a griddle to medium heat. Place garnish ingredients in a pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally. Meanwhile, combine first list of ingredients in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix non-dairy milk and vinegar. When milk has curdled, add it to the first mixture and stir a few times. Add applesauce, vanilla and oil. Batter should be just a little lumpy. Pour 1/2 cup at a time on to griddle and cook until golden brown. Flip cakes and cook another 5 minutes or so. Serve with fried apples and garnish with a dash of powdered sugar and cinnamon.

Fabulous for any brunch lover!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T11:42:00.005-06:00

Let me preface this with some information:

I am insulted by 'health food'.

Just because I'm vegan does NOT mean I'm on a diet. Food should taste like food - not like an old shoe. That said, I want my chocolate chip cookies to taste like cookies... I don't want to taste the whole grain and the fiber. They should be sweet, soft and chewy!

This year, instead of some generic New Year's resolution, I'm resolving to develop the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Yesterday, after whipping up yet another batch of mediocre cookies from a vegan cook book (which shall remain unnamed -- the rest of the book is fabulous), I realized that I actually intend to keep my resolution. Wish me luck.

Tool Kits

2009-12-31T10:58:00.010-06:00

Because the men in my life love things with 2 wheels (especially bicycles and motorcycles), I decided to make handy little repair tool kits that they can carry with them in a back pack or a messenger bag.

To make a kit, first purchase the necessary tools from a local bike shop (like Eastside Cycles) or motorcycle shop. For a bicycle, the basics should cost $15 - $20. If you're making a motorcycle kit, it really depends on the bike.

Next, assemble fabrics, elastics and snaps. For my tool kits, I used heavy duty canvas, samples discarded by a furniture dealer and left-over mother of pearl snaps from another project. Cut the interior fabric about 1" larger than the faux leather, so it can be folded over for a clean edge.

Trace out a pocket for each item on the interior fabric with a washable writing tool (my favorite is a colored pencil - which should wipe right off). Cut out the appropriately sized pockets and sew 'em up. The elastic is great for securing allen wrenches, pencils or small screw drivers.

When finished with the interior fabric and all of the pockets, attach to exterior fabric with 3M 77 or similar adhesive. Fold the edges over and stitch through with a diamond tip needle. Add a canvas tie strap for a great little tool wallet you can throw in your bad and forget about... until you need it!

About a boy - Part 2

2009-12-31T10:39:00.003-06:00

Otis was a very good little house guest. The longer he stayed with us, the more attached we all became. But as a good dog owner, I had to be honest about what our family could commit to right now. Unfortunately, the timing was off for adding a new member to our household.

Unwilling to let Otis go to the pound or send the little guy to a foster care provider, we opted to find a new family for him by ourselves. Luckily, an acquaintance in Knoxville (about 3 hours away) offered to adopt him. His other 2 dogs were accepting of the new pup and he had the right amenities for little Otis, including a huge fenced yard.

So, with great sadness, my partner took the little guy to his new home. It was heartbreaking for us to say good-bye, but we believe it was the right decision... Well, we're working on believing it was the right decision. Either way, we trust his new owner and know he will have a happy life from now on.

Substitute Ricotta

2009-12-24T11:51:00.007-06:00

Every year on Christmas Eve, I make ravioli with red sauce. It has become a tradition in our house to have a hearty Italian supper and a glass of wine; then open a few gifts. When we became vegan, it took me a long time to figure out how to substitute for the cheese so often used in Italian dishes. This 'spread' has a lovely consistency and a flavor that doesn't taste like a substitute at all.

Vegan 'Ricotta"

8 oz. Firm tofu (drained and excess liquid squeezed out)

6-7 Baby portabella mushrooms, sliced

3 cloves Garlic, minced

1/3 cup Artichokes (marinated / cooked - you can buy them prepared)

1 tsp. Parsley

1 tsp. Basil

1 tsp. Oregano

Salt & Pepper to taste

Olive oil for saute

Place the mushrooms, garlic and oil in a medium sauce pan. Increase the heat and saute until mushrooms are golden brown. Add tofu, salt and pepper and cook for a few more minutes, smashing up the tofu as it cooks. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add a few drops of water to even out the consistency if needed. Makes about 1-1/2 cups - refrigerate until you need it!

This is a great substitution in lasagna, home made ravioli and many other dishes - it's also very good with sauteed broccoli and spinach as a filling for manicotti.

About a boy...

2009-12-24T10:25:00.006-06:00

This is Otis:

Until yesterday he probably had a different name... the poor little feller was abandoned near our house. With times as they are (economically challenging), the abandonment of family pets seems to be on the rise.

Here in East Nashville, stray dogs are seen on a weekly, even daily basis. It breaks my heart. We are very lucky to have organizations like the East Nashville Community Action Network (East CAN) who hold fund raisers, adoption days, and dog-food-drives.

Hopefully we will find a loving home for little Otis Eskimotis - one where his owners will seek out help if they need it, rather then dumping him like garbage on the side of the road.

Holiday Menus

2009-12-23T07:13:00.009-06:00

A question that many non-vegans have is, "What on earth do you eat on holidays?" My reply is always, "Pretty much the same thing you eat... but with a few minor adjustments". It's amusing when people react with comments about how boring and unappetizing veganism must be... The cashier who rang me up at Trader Joe's right before Thanksgiving actually responded, "Gross!" when I told him I was making a vegan dinner for my future in-laws. Maybe I should bring him a copy of the menu for next time.

HOLIDAY MENU:

Winter Bisque: see earlier entry

Vegan Green Bean Casserole: 1 tablespoon table salt , 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, 10 ounces mushrooms, 3 cloves garlic, minced, generous pinch cayenne pepper, Salt to taste, Fresh pepper to taste, 2 tablespoons flour, 3/4 cup vegetable broth, 1 tablespoon dry sherry, 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (blend all and add green beans). Sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil - bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.

Vegan Gravy: Saute mushrooms, onions and garlic in olive oil until tender, puree in blender with a few tablespoons vegetable broth and return to pan. Add 2 cups broth, flour and water roux and stir until thick. Salt, pepper & parsley to taste. A few drops of Braggs or soy sauce for color.

Chutney (store-bought apple and pear)

Cranberry Polenta Cakes: Make polenta with half non-dairy milk, half water; stir in chopped fresh or dried cranberries. When thick, pour onto a sheet tray and let cool. Cut into squares, drizzle with olive oil and broil until slightly crisp. Drizzle with maple syrup.

Green Salad: endive, cranberries, onions, & slivered almonds and balsamic vinegrette

Pecan Apple Tart: 1 large pre-baked pie crust, 2 1/2 to 3 cups of lightly roasted pecans all chopped, 1/3 cup of rice syrup, 3/4 to 1 cup of Maple syrup , 1 tbsp to 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract, Grated ginger to taste , 1 tbsp to 2 tbsp salt couple of pinches or so, 1 1/2 to not quite 2 tsp of Arrowroot , 3 to 3 1/2 tbsp of flax seeds ground, 1/3 to 1/2 cup of non-dairy milk + 1 or 2 granny smith apple(s) sauteed in a little oil, cinnamon & brown sugar.

Combine syrups, salt, extract, and ginger into a sauce pan and simmer for about five minutes. Set aside and let cool to room temp. Mix the soy milk with the flax and arrowroot; blend that mixture with the syrups in a blender or food processor. Put pecans into a big mixing bowl and add the liquid stirring until well coated. Arrange apples in bottom of pie crust and pour the filling over them. Bake at 350 for about 30 to 45 minutes

Dressing w/ apples, celery, onions & sage

Yams w/ olive oil & brown sugar

Mashed Potatoes

Bread

Celebration Roast (store-bought from Whole Foods)

Cranberries

Crackers & Chevre

Tofu Scramble

2009-12-22T11:21:00.010-06:00

I often take for granted the fact that my partner is very patient and willing to try all sorts of crazy concoctions whipped up in my kitchen. I also take for granted that I'm supplied with lots of good information and a solid background in cookery. That is why I'm posting a tidbit about tofu scramble.

As a vegan who loves breakfast, I believe that tofu scramble is essential to my survival. It's something I make twice a week, sometimes more... and it wasn't a skill I developed overnight. Believe me, it took me several tries!

The first step to a really outstanding scramble is to prepare the tofu separately - and prepare it well. Using firm tofu (excess liquid squeezed out) works very well. Add it to a well oiled pan over medium heat by crumbling it with your hands. Smash up the large chunks with a fork.

Next, add garlic powder, seasoning salt, parsley and black pepper to taste. You can make your own seasoning salt or purchase an organic version. When the tofu is springy and golden in color, add a dash of turmeric.

By sauteing the veggies, beans, mushrooms, etc. in a separate pan, you isolate the flavors and avoid over seasoning the veggies. I always use 2 pans and toss the tofu in just before serving. That way, the spices adhere to the tofu and the veggies are simply added flavor.

My favorite blend: black beans, peppers, broccoli and onion. I usually add a side of home-made country flax toast with Earth Balance vegan spread and a side of roasted potatoes (cubed and tossed with olive oil, salt & pepper - broiled for 30 minutes)... and LOTS of hot sauce!

Tutus are better than one.

2009-12-21T07:55:00.008-06:00

I hardly ever go into Saks Fifth Avenue, but occasionally I'll indulge. Of course, I love to peruse the kids section for niece gift ideas. Because they are 5 and 7, the ballerina stuff is always a big hit and Juicy Couture had a perfect little tutu. However, at $98, I passed in favor of making my own.

Materials needed:

Elastic for waist band

Thread & sewing machine

3 yards of colored tulle

Scissors

First, choose the tulle ( I purchased mine from my favorite fabric wholesaler in Minneapolis,S.R. Harris, for about $1 per yard). After deciding how long to make the tutu, double the decided length and cut the tulle into 2" strips.

Next, sew the elastic into an appropriately sized waist band.

Last, tie the 2" strips of tulle at the mid-point and drape the excess over the outer edge of the elastic band.

A perfect tutu in about an hour's time and for much, much less than the Juicy version... and don't feel bad for Jaxon - he loves to model.

A fantastic film...

2009-12-18T11:29:00.016-06:00

Just a quick note - Objectified is a really interesting and engaging film. Even if you're not a design fanatic, this documentary is thought provoking. It addresses how objects are modified to appeal to us. The film also focuses on the progression from analog items (ones which give indication to their purpose by their look or shape) to digital items (things that have no indication of their purpose by their physical characteristics).

Because the movie deals with things we take for granted on a daily basis, it's incredibly relevant - modern and historical all in the same breath. We rented it the other night and really enjoyed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9E2D2PaIcI

Greet your in-laws like an out-law.

2009-12-16T16:57:00.019-06:00

Ah, the holidays: mad scrambling to finish making gifts (then wrap them), secure travel dates and make holiday cards. Because we recently moved to Nashville, I felt that a cowboy stencil card would be appropriate. Cards are cheap, easy and fun to make if you have time... and they're a simple way to brighten someone's day.

Design a few simple stencils on recycled card stock (print multiples - just in case you make a mistake). With an Exacto knife, carefully, carefully remove the areas to be painted. The left-over paper should be cut up into rectangles for your prints. Green paint is perfect for the tree and the "happy".

After the first coat of paint has dried, add black for the cowboy silhouette, the ground and "holidays". Note: removing the "H" to use as a guide is really helpful when lining up the stencils.

Lovely little DIY holiday cards for the outlaw in you. If you have more time (and have the tools) linoleum cuts are excellent for cards and invitations.

The curse of vegan white-sauces.

2009-12-11T07:51:00.006-06:00

In my experience, vegan white sauces are awful. Because such sauces are based in butter, cream and cheese, vegan versions tend to taste like substitutions instead of natural ingredients. And they lose my vote... I began avoiding them all together in favor of tomato based sauces like marinara or arrabiata.

Recently, I had a hankering for some 'alfredo' so I read multiple versions of vegan and non-vegan recipes to see what I could come up with. This combination seems to be a success:

Alfredo Sauce

2 Whole heads of garlic

1/2 tsp. Rosemary

1/2 tsp. Thyme

1 tblsp. Olive oil

2/3 cup Non-dairy milk *unsweetened

1 cup Vegetable broth

3-4 tblsp. Olive oil

2 tblsp. Arrowroot (mixed with about as much water)

2 tblsp. Fresh basil (chopped or ground)

1 tsp. Oregano

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Pepper

Prepare a pan with first list of ingredients. Add about 1/2" water and cover with foil. Roast in a 375° oven for approximately 45 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all other ingredients except the basil in a sauce pan. Stir more or less constantly over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken.

When garlic is soft, remove from oven and let cool (about 5 minutes). Remove casing by smashing and add to a food processor with about 1 cup of sauce. Blend until smooth and return to saucepan. Add basil and whisk smooth - about 5 minutes or so. If sauce seems thin, you can add more arrowroot.

I love to add sauteed asparagus, walnuts and red onion over fettucini (Quinoa versions are great) and serve with a tossed salad and home-made garlic bread for a hearty meal.

Winter Bisque

2009-11-24T08:54:00.009-06:00

Ok. Two posts in one day is over-kill, but I have to post this right away for anyone who needs a vegan dish to pass at Thanksgiving. It's 8:55 a.m. and I just finished this bisque recipe... I'm having some for breakfast and it's divine.

Winter Bisque:

1 Acorn squash

1 Celery stalk

2-3 Mushrooms

1 Head of garlic (small)

2 Granny Smith apples (small)

1 White onion (small)

1 tsp. Rosemary

Olive oil (for greasing pan)

1 cup Coconut milk

1 cup Vegetable broth

2 tblsp Arrowroot (mixed with about 1/4 cup cold water)

1 tblsp Brown sugar

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Sage

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Salt & Pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 375° F. Wash and chop vegetables, cut squash in half and remove seeds. Separate garlic, but do not remove skins or crush. Add first set of ingredients to greased baking dish, add 1/2" of water, and sprinkle with Rosemary. Cover with lid or foil and place in oven for 45 minutes, or until squash is tender when pierced - side note: my apples always cook fastest, but they're going to be blended so it won't matter.

While the vegetables are roasting, assemble second set of ingredients in a medium soup pot. Stir over low heat until slightly thick. Set aside.

When vegetables are cool enough, remove skins (don't forget the garlic skins), add to food processor and puree until smooth. Add a little of the stock if necessary. Whisk the vegetable puree into the coconut and broth mixture. Heat over medium heat until thick and slightly bubbly. Garnish with a few drops of coconut milk and enjoy!

Guilt-Free Swiffing

2009-11-24T07:28:00.011-06:00

A long time ago, inventors created something everyone would need: a swiffer. Now, even though the broom was a long standing tradition for the assemblage and removal of dust and debris, many people in towns and villages wanted this new, better invention. Ok... so I was a sucker, too.

Anyway, I got attached to my swiffer, and couldn't bring myself to throw it out/give it away but I refused to buy refills for it (really!? $5 so I can throw it in the trash?? Waste of money and careless excess rubbish - sold!). So, it sat in my broom closet for years. And then, an old towel came along - it was a match made in heaven.

Simply cut the towel down to an appropriate size, and make a 1" hem around all sides by folding the edge over as you sew in a circle... but remember to leave an opening.

Next, use a safety pin to thread a short length of elastic through the 1" hem opening. This can be frustrating and time consuming if the hem is too small. The 1" works well, but if you you're using an old t-shirt or a dish towel, 1/2" or 3/4" should suffice.

Sew the ends together and you have a washable sock for your swiffer. Guilt free.

Wiki-wack.

2009-11-11T21:32:00.008-06:00

Information sites where users can edit content are as much relevant and accurate as they are extraneous and opinion. Case in point, I stumbled upon this article on how to be a hipster from wiki-how.

Wow. Someone (or multiple some-ones) took time to write that. This one is even better. Enjoy!

I Relish the Thought

2009-11-10T08:34:00.008-06:00

This is one of my favorite eggplant recipes. It's a combination of tapenade, relish and just plain goodness. I cannot take full credit - it happened by accident in a kitchen with one of my best girlfriends over a bottle of wine... and a fridge full of wilting veggies.

Eggplant Tapenade

1 Small Eggplant

1 Red Pepper (roasted)

1 stalk Celery (diced)

16 oz. Stewed Tomatoes

12 oz. Mixed Olives (in brine)

3 cloves Garlic (crushed)

2-3 tblsp. Olive Oil

2-3 tblsp. Balsamic or Red Wine Vinegar

2 tblsp. Fresh Basil (chopped)

1 tsp. Parsley

1/2 tsp. Thyme

1/2 tsp. Rosemary

Slice the eggplant 1/2" thick and salt the surface to extract liquid; set aside. Quarter pepper and place in roasting pan, fill 1/2" full of water and add a pinch of garlic, thyme and rosemary. Cover with foil and roast at 375° for 35-40 minutes. Remove pits from olives and dice, reserving some of the brine for flavor.

Pat the eggplant dry; dice both eggplant and the roasted pepper. Heat oil in small sauce pan over medium high heat. When oil is hot and moves easily, add eggplant, spices and celery. When eggplant begins to darken in color add balsamic vinegar, roasted pepper and olives. Stirring occasionally, add brine (to taste) and stewed tomatoes. Cook until thick and rich in color.

Serve hot or cold, on crackers or baguette. Pictured above with chevre (from one of my favorite blogs)!

Yours, Mine and Owls

2009-11-09T06:58:00.009-06:00

A few months ago my good friend Tammy found a great necklace at a garage sale. The woman selling it had a plethora of vintage and antique pendants, necklaces, earrings - you name it, she was getting rid of it. So, for a mere $0.25, Tammy took some items off of her hands.

I had purchased a great vintage necklace from a thrift shop near my house and used some of the beads to make another arrangement to wear. Tammy loved the beads and promptly handed over her necklace for me to 'rearrange'. So, with a few items from my stock and her vintage necklace, I set to work on something 'new'.

This was such a fun project - and easy. As we move toward the holiday season, and as people spend thousands of dollars on stuff they don't really need to give to family and friends who may not even want the stuff, I have to wonder whether or not it would be beneficial to just make something. Or rearrange something.... then again, not everyone likes owls.

Very, very verde

2009-11-07T07:23:00.006-06:00

This is more of a suggested list of ingredients and a recipe for guacamole... but it was so delicious that I had to share!

Burrito

Refried Beans

Fajita-style Peppers & Onions

Lettuce

Guacamole

Salsa

Spinach Tortilla

Guacamole

2 Ripened Avocados

4 Cloves Garlic (crushed)

1/2 Lime (juiced)

1/2 Small Onion (diced)

1/4 Small Tomato (diced)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Smash avocados with a fork and add lime juice and garlic. Stir in onion and tomato, salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate. If you are not going to eat the guacamole within 2 or 3 hours, sprinkle a little lime use over the top to prevent discoloration.

Enjoy!

Trees Please.

2009-11-06T08:30:00.008-06:00

Architect Roald Gunderson is giving new meaning to the term "tree house". He and his firm are using stripped saplings to build homes. That means preservation for big ol' buggers, like the one pictured above. Everybody's happy.

The NYT just published this article on his method and firm - Whole Tree Architecture and Construction... definitely worth a peek! And the slide show is a must-see, too.

Portfolio Scrap Book

2009-11-05T17:09:00.005-06:00

I'm not exactly an expert... not exactly, but I applied to 4 architecture programs last year at very, very competitive schools. And I don't know if there are professional application completion and portfolio creation specialists, but I think I'm close. Or, as close as you can get.

So here's the deal: most art/architecture/design programs require a book of your work-samples, no larger than 9" x 12" in size. If you're applying to a school as a freshman, a transfer, a non-trad, or what ever, you want to make sure you stand out of the crowd. What better way than to make a DIY book? None of that iLife stuff here. We get our hands dirty!

To start you'll need some "Binding Screws" or screws that come with a shaft to screw themselves into. (Got these at Cumberland Hardware for about $0.89 each) This metal stripping is for plumbing purposes, but makes a nice fastener - about $2.49 for 3' roll.

Next, you'll need some 100% recycled card stock for the pages (Utrecht has good stuffs OR just use your local art supply store - good karma) and any random cardboard (I swiped mine from the back of a large sketch pad).

Cutting mat, metal ruler and Exacto knife all come in handy - as does a drill. I like to use photo corners to secure the photos and/or artworks, but really any adhesive will work.

Step #1. Cut the cardboard to size (a bit larger than the paper...)

Step #2. Score the cardboard about 1" from the edge (but don't cut through it) so you can open it! Place the metal strip on the cover between the scored line and the left edge; trace the holes you want to punch out.

Step #3. Score the paper about 1" from the left edge (so you can open your book!)

Step #4. Assemble the pages between the front and back cover. Using a few clamps, secure the cardboard and paper tightly.

Step #5. Drill holes with appropriately sized drill bit - this is sooooo much easier than trying to punch through card board!

Step #6. Screw metal strip onto the book with the binding screws.

Step #7. Assemble your work or photos, tags etc. Add them to your book for a killer DIY portfolio that blows any Kinko's bound book out of the water.

Voila ~ A lovely little book. They also make wonderful gifts, photo albums, wedding albums, baby albums, scrap books, journals, etc. Whatever your pleasure!

*If you're wondering: yes, I was accepted where I applied. One of the schools I turned down even called and asked if I wanted them to send my book back. How nice.

Biscuits n' Gravy

2009-11-04T06:49:00.005-06:00

Breakfast food... if you're vegan, chances are good that you usually eat before you meet your friends for Sunday brunch and bloodies/mimiosas. It's such a damn shame there aren't more breakfast options for vegans around here (or in general).

Then, last week in a fog of many beers, my Joe decided to invite our new [omnivore] friends over for breakfast. "Ren makes a damn good tofu scramble," he said. And you could almost see them gag. So, I will make something else - something a bit more omni-friendly.

Enter the Biscuits and White Bean Gravy (with 'sausage') concoction: less offensive than tofu. Easy to make... but easier still if you prep everything the night before!

'Buttermilk' Biscuits:

2 cups Flour (unbleached, all purpose)

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/3 cup Non-Dairy Butter

3/4 cup Non-Dairy Milk *unsweetened

2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar

Pre-heat oven to 400° (F).

Mix vinegar with non-dairy milk and set aside to curdle. Combine the dry ingredients and cut butter in with a pastry knife. Add the curdled 'milk' and stir until the mixture is not sticky. Turn onto a floured board and kneed a few times. Press or roll flat into a 3/4" thickness. Using a tin can or drinking glass, cut out biscuits and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.

White Bean Gravy (with optional 'Sausage')

1/2 cup White Kidney Beans

1/2 cup Vegetable Broth

1/4 cup Onion (white or yellow, diced)

2 tblsp Oil (for saute)

3 cloves Garlic (minced or crushed)

1/2 tsp Rosemary

1/2 tsp Thyme

Dash Salt+ Pepper

1-1/2 c. Vegetable Broth

1/2 cup Roux (simple flour/water mixture)

1/4 cup Olive Oil or Non-Dairy Butter

Salt & Pepper to taste

Using set of first ingredients, heat oil in sauce pan until it moves easily. Saute the beans, onion and spices for a few minutes, until beans are soft and smash easily. Pour mixture and 1/2 cup broth into blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Return to pan and add remaining 1-1/2 cups vegetable broth and 1/4 cup oil. Heat over medium-high, whisking frequently. Add roux, whisking constantly until sauce becomes thick. If sauce is too thin, add more roux - or if too thick, add more broth. Serve over warm biscuits for a less intimidating introduction to vegan breakfast! This is awesome with oven-roasted potatoes or browns.

NOTE: 'Sausage' is optional. Sometimes I make my own, sometimes I cheat and buy the Gimme-Lean stuff. You can fry it up and add it to the gravy or use it as a garnish as I did - see photo.

New Blog!

2009-11-03T09:32:00.002-06:00

Ok. So I'm new to this whole blogging thing... I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of this yet, so we'll see how it unfolds.

Basically, I'm interested in "wholesome living" - but my definition might be a tad different from the standard. I want super-comfortable furniture that is gorgeous and has minimal impact on the environment... delicious comfort food, but I want it vegan and I want it to look like it came out of Martha Stuart Living... clothes that are stylish and comfortable, but vintage or thrift or local and organic... Seems easy, right?

The agenda is this: a blog that will hopefully turn out to be a reference guide and an organized way for me to collect and record my projects. Input is widely accepted and greatly appreciated!