Vegan Chili

This is a quick and easy vegan chili recipe for parties or a hearty meal at home.  As this version serves 4,  you might want to make 2 batches for a party!

Ingredients:

*   1 package of vegan alternative "beef" crumbles. (Usually in the frozen foods section with other "meat" alternatives.)
*   1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed tomato soup. (Read ingredients to make sure it's vegan and, if possible, organic.)
*   1 cup salsa. (Choose according to your taste.  Because of the tomato soup, you might want less tomato in your salsa.  Also, control the "heat" factor here by selecting mild, medium, or hot.)
*   1/2 cup soy milk. (I use Silk.)
*   6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas torn into bite-sized pieces.
*   1 cup vegan cheddar or pepper-jack cheese, shredded.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Pour "beef" crumbles, soup, salsa, soy milk, tortillas and half of the cheese into a 2-quart baking dish.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Top with the cheese you have set aside.

I hope this chili will warm you up on a cold winter day!

Recycle Your Broken Vacuum Cleaner

If you have a broken vacuum cleaner, you have a recycling challenge.  In many places it is illegal to put a vacuum cleaner in the trash, and rightfully so.  However, most local recycling programs do not accept intact vacuum cleaners, although you may be able to disassemble it and recycle specific metal or plastic parts.  Good luck with that.  My online research indicates that you can often sell non-working vacuums on Ebay, presumably for parts.  Similarly, a local repair shop might take it off your hands for parts.  All of this seems unnecessarily complicated.  According to Dyson's website, in the United Kingdom, Dyson will pick up your old vacuum for free anywhere on the UK mainland, under Europe's WEEE initiative, when you buy a new Dyson vacuum online at http://www.dyson.co.uk/.  (WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and is a law enacted in Europe in 2007 to reduce electronics in landfills.)  That does not help us in the United States.  Why don't we have such a law in the United States and what can we do about it?  Share your ideas.

Whole Wheat Tortillas Make Delicious Wraps for Lunch!

Sometimes I need a departure from the standard sandwich lunch.  Whole wheat tortillas can be the start of a delicious wrap!  The varieties are endless, but here are some ideas for toppings to get you started:

*   Peanut butter and vegan chocolate chips, melted in the microwave.
*   Peanut butter and anything: jelly, banana slices, apple slices, etc., heated in the microwave.
*   Mozzarella vegan soy cheese shreds with vegan dressing or sub sauce, melted in the microwave.
*   Vegan refried beans, salsa and soy cheese shreds, heated through in the microwave.
*   Vegan soy "mayonnaise," lettuce, tomato, and Tofurky sandwich slice of choice.

These wraps are all scrumptious and satisfying.  Share your own creations with us!

Soy Yogurt for Breakfast!

When I made the decision to be vegan, I was so disappointed to give up yogurt, as it had previously been a mainstay of my diet.  I was so excited to learn that Silk makes soy yogurt in a variety of flavors!  And just like dairy yogurt, it contains live and active cultures.  The vanilla flavor is an especially good base for add-ins, such as nuts, vegan chocolate chips, granola, crushed whole grain cereal, or even chocolate drink mix.  Try it for breakfast or a nutritious snack!

Note:  Be careful to read ingredients when selecting prepared granola, cereal and drink mixes.  Many contain honey or milk powder, which of course are not vegan.

My Top 10 Vegan Foods

 Here is a list of my top 10 go-to vegan foods:

• 1.   Silk soy milk, coffee creamer and yogurt, all in several flavors.
• 2.   Daiya soy cheese alternatives, in a variety of flavors, including cheddar and mozzarella.  (If not available, use Follow Your Heart instead.)
• 3.   Tofutti "Better Than Cream Cheese" and "Better Than Sour Cream."
• 4.   Boca Meatless Chik'n Nuggets and Original Vegan Meatless Burgers.
• 5.   Tofurky meat alternatives, including various "sausages," sandwich slices and Thanksgiving turkey replacement.
• 6.   Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Bread and Burger Buns.
• 7.   So Delicious non-dairy frozen dessert (ice cream alternative).
• 8.   365 Every Day Value vegan chocolate chips from Whole Foods.
• 9.   Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread.
• 10. Spectrum Eggless,Vegan Light Canola Mayo.

While this list is by no means all-inclusive, these are day-to-day items my family could not do without.  Please share your vegan "must haves."

Considering Being Vegan? Take The First Step!

Are you considering a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle?  Everyone's motivation for making that choice is as individual as you are, but the beginning of a new year is a great time to make a change. Don't worry too much about not being prepared, not knowing enough or wasting food and other products you already have.  Online resources are plentiful, books are available, and you can learn as you go, as I did. If you're interested, give it a try.

 You can start by finishing the non-vegan/vegetarian food you have at home and replacing it with vegetarian or vegan alternatives the next time you shop.  Just walking around a Whole Foods or similar grocery store will provide you with surprising inspiration. For information from acceptable ingredients and nutritional facts to recipes and current issues, try the Vegetarian Resource Group at http://www.vrg.org/.  You can use your search engine to find many more informational websites.  Alicia Silverstone's book, "The Kind Diet," is filled with fantastic information, advice, and recipes.

 Realizing that veganism involves clothing material, cosmetics and cleaning products, as well as food choices, can be overwhelming. You don't need to take on everything at once!  After all, even one baby step toward the goal is better than no step at all!  And if you have questions as you go, post them here or try participating in one of the online vegetarian or vegan discussion forums. Of course, if you have medical concerns, you should consult with your healthcare professional.  I hope you find your inspiration to take the first step, and I hope you'll share your story with us!

Vegan 7-Layer Dip

Everyone loves a good 7-layer dip, and it's really easy to prepare a vegan version.

Ingredients:
1  16 oz. can vegan refried beans, preferably organic.
1  Tbsp. vegan taco seasoning mix
1  cup vegan sour cream alternative (I use Tofutti brand.)
1  cup salsa
1  cup shredded organic lettuce
1  cup vegan shredded "cheese" (Tofutti is a good choice.)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2  Tbsp. sliced black olives

Directions:
Mix the refried beans and taco mix and spread into the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate.  Layer the remaining ingredients over the beans.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Note:  When purchasing prepared foods such as the refried beans, taco seasoning and dairy alternatives, it is important to read the ingredients.  Animal by-products often appear in unexpected places.  One of the most common is casein, a milk protein, in some vegetarian (but not vegan) cheese and dairy alternatives. Be careful with the refried beans, too, as some are made with lard or beef  "natural flavors."