Monday, March 15, 2010
Lunch at Real Food Daily in LA
I don't have any pictures of lunch. But today we went to a place called Real Food Daily on La Cienega which in LA terms was also close to our hotel. Of course we had to drive there, but technically it was in the same neighborhood. It was delicious. I had a reuben which was actually made with thousand island dressing instead of mustard (which seems to be PNW thing) that came with a Caesar salad. It was so delicious. Mark had the El Bandito Rojo which were enchiladas with spanish rice and black beans. And for dessert we shared the Key Lime Cheesecake which was amazing. Lunch was definitely a hit and I'm not sure we'll have room for dinner after the breakfast and lunch we've already had today.
Vegan Breakfast in Los Angeles at Millies
We are staying in LA for a couple of days while on Mark's book tour. We really wanted to go out to breakfast this morning. All the vegan places around us seem to not open until 11am which is too late for breakkies. Mark queried vegan breakfast in LA and we found a pretty great greasy spoon called Millie's on Sunset Blvd not too far from our hotel that had a bunch of vegan options. I had this which is the Angel's Mess. It was scrambled tofu with vegan sausage and vegan cheese, served with pico and guacamole, toast, and a fruit cup. It was delicious. Mark had the No Huevos Rancheros, which they sauteed tofu with veggies and put it on 3 tortillas that had melted vegan cheese on them. It was so much food, that we have leftovers for breakfast tomorrow in the hotel. It was delicious, and it was the first big breakfast I've had in years that I didn't have to make myself.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
10th Anniversary at Nimbus
Yesterday we celebrated our 10th anniversary at Nimbus. They made us a 4 course vegan meal that was amazing. We sat at a table overlooking the water and ate and ate and ate.
Our first course was a Heirloom tomato gazpacho w/ 4 types of basil, spring shallot, and cucumber. It was easily the best soup I have ever eaten, it tasted like heaven.
Our second course was homemade tofu blackened on a bed of heirloom tomatoes (that melted in my mouth) onion and cauliflower pickle, garbanzo beans, and topped with a cucumber mint salad. It was perfect.
Our third course was sunflower risotto with summer squash, sunflower sprouts, and squash. It was delicious, but I was already starting to feel so full I couldn't finish. Mark ate my leftovers when we got home later that evening.
Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of our fourth course. I wish we had it was so beautiful and so delicious. It was fresh local melon, peaches, and white raspberries topped with a chili lime granita and basil. It was the perfect end to a wonderful meal.
I recommend Nimbus for a special occasion. If you just let them know you're a vegan when you call to make your reservation, they'll have a great meal planned for you. We've also just gone there spur of the moment before, and they're gracious and quick to make us a vegan meal without prior notice. They have great customer service and food.
Our first course was a Heirloom tomato gazpacho w/ 4 types of basil, spring shallot, and cucumber. It was easily the best soup I have ever eaten, it tasted like heaven.
Our second course was homemade tofu blackened on a bed of heirloom tomatoes (that melted in my mouth) onion and cauliflower pickle, garbanzo beans, and topped with a cucumber mint salad. It was perfect.
Our third course was sunflower risotto with summer squash, sunflower sprouts, and squash. It was delicious, but I was already starting to feel so full I couldn't finish. Mark ate my leftovers when we got home later that evening.
Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of our fourth course. I wish we had it was so beautiful and so delicious. It was fresh local melon, peaches, and white raspberries topped with a chili lime granita and basil. It was the perfect end to a wonderful meal.
I recommend Nimbus for a special occasion. If you just let them know you're a vegan when you call to make your reservation, they'll have a great meal planned for you. We've also just gone there spur of the moment before, and they're gracious and quick to make us a vegan meal without prior notice. They have great customer service and food.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Vegan Donuts in Bellingham Finally!
We were on our way to breakfast at Old Town this
morning when we passed by Rocket Donuts...they are now making Vegan Donuts. They were delicious, light and crisp, and the chocolate glaze was awesome. Thanks Rocket!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Happy Spring!
Today we took the puppy for a walk from Boulevard Park to Fairhaven where we got some sorbetto from Sirena, Walter thinks Strawberry Sorbetto is delicious. Then I made an awesome dinner, Field Roast, quinoa, spicy collards, and roasted baby broccoli. We're going to have strawberries for desert. I'm so happy that the sun is finally showing itself again.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
Buster
I don't remember if I wrote about it...but about 2 weeks after Clarence died our Shih-Tzu Mia had emergency obstruction surgery. In ways I won't discuss, Buster had eaten a toy...and Mia did sort of too. We knew Buster had eaten the toy and watched him, but he never showed any signs of an obstruction. He seemed happy and healthy. On Saturday he started having seizures...the animal emergency clinic said he could probably wait until Monday to see his regular vet. Even then...the vet asked us if he had been vomiting, we said no...so they tried to diagnose the seizures, they took blood and urine. Everything looked pretty ok...so our vet sent it out again for more extensive testing. Then on Wednesday morning December 3, Buster wouldn't finish his breakfast for the first time ever. We took him to the vet...the blood work came back again looking ok for disease. They x-rayed him and he had 3 pieces of the toy still in his stomach all that time. They tried to remove them surgically but Buster's little body gave out before they could even start. So we have now lost our second baby within 4 months. The girls are inconsolable. We are in shock...how could our little baby be so sick for so long and not tell us so we could help him? We are so lost without our little man...he was the sweetest boy, never demanding, never angry...just always willing to give a kiss and sit in your lap. He was only 4...he was a rescue. Someone found him a woodshed...a 1 yr old 13lb terrier mix. His fur was so long & he was so neglected that he had moss and grass growing in the mats in his fur. He was adopted out once & returned because they couldn't potty train him. That didn't bother us...we had Mia Pia who refuses still to this day to go outside if it's below 50 or wet. He immediately fell in love with Mark and was his constant companion. When Mark would go out of town Buster would refuse to go to the bathroom for me unless he was about to burst...he would pace around a mope. He was Mark's baby. He could jump forever and thought rubbing his butt on you was being affectionate. He loved to lick and nip at your nose as a kiss. He was crazy about popcorn and couldn't control stealing it out of the bowl in your face. He was scared of loud noises and any violence. He liked to sit next to his mom under the quilts while watching tv. He loved his sister Mia and they were inseparable most of the time. We are all missing our little Buster so much...Buster baby why didn't you tell us you were sick? We would have done anything to keep you with us. Now we're so lonely without you! You make sure that Clarence takes good care of you until we're all back together again. Miss you so much baby!Buster Gluth
2004-2008
With mom and dad 2005-2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Day after Election Celebration Sushi!
Tonight we had sushi I made and sparkling sake to celebrate the election last night. We don't have TV, so we went to a friend's last night to watch the coverage. As soon as the polls closed here out west they declared Obama the winner. It was pretty cool. But even better was the fact that he took Ohio & Florida! As we drove home, people were roaming the streets cheering & waving. We were shouting to them and to people in the car next to us on our ride home and honking the horn. It was pretty awesome!Friday, October 17, 2008
Two Months
Today it is 2 months since Boy left us and so much has changed. I got a promotion at work, Mark's getting a demotion (since we chose not to move to Seattle to follow his job), his novel is getting published in 2009 by Akashic Books, I don't worry about tripping over him in the dark anymore, Pearl stops running to his crate when we get home. I miss him so much. We're going to sell our house since Mark (the bill payer of this relationship) is taking a huge demotion by not following his job. Clarence would hate the packing, and he would really hate moving to a new house, that would have been too stressful for him. So maybe in some way it was a blessing that he left when he did. I wish I could tell him how much his dad is missing their evening walks, especially now that the rainy season has started again, this was Clarence's favorite time of year. They would both come home completely drenched, only Clarence smiling.
Things Clarence loved: Scooby Doo, any sort of flat bread (tortillas, pita, naan, didn't matter), cold rainy weather, cabbage, sleeping with only his head under the bed, his dog bed, Pearl his best friend, my mother, taking walks, running up and down hills, getting his ears cleaned by his mom (he was weird), getting his teeth brushed, listening to music, running around the house playing with his mom, going to Cedarwoods, smelling flowers, and last but never least in his mind meal time!
Still missing you so much Bear!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Goodbye Friend
Clarence passed away last night after fighting an unknown illness for over a week. All 5 of us are in shock and mourning his loss. I miss hearing him pace around on the tiles and laying on my feet when I'm at the computer. I will never forget my best friend and will miss him for the rest of my life.
Clarence 2002-2008
I love you so much.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Holy Toledo!
I can't believe I haven't posted since August. I missed Halloween and Turkey day, Christmas, New Years, and Valentines!
Well, we're planning our little family vacation outing to my parent's place on one of the San Juan Islands. I have decided to make a unhealthy vegan feast & will have to take pictures. I'm planning to make vegan mac & cheez, vegan ribs, collards, and whatever else strikes our fancy. More to come, if I can get my act together. :-)
Well, we're planning our little family vacation outing to my parent's place on one of the San Juan Islands. I have decided to make a unhealthy vegan feast & will have to take pictures. I'm planning to make vegan mac & cheez, vegan ribs, collards, and whatever else strikes our fancy. More to come, if I can get my act together. :-)
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
My Vegan Coq au Vin recipe
which is french for chicken with wine i believe :-) Sorry I don't have a picture of what it looks like finished, maybe the next time I make it I will take a photo....hmm...I still haven't made dinner for tonight!
I'm really bad at following recipes, but my vegan coq au vin is basically as follows.
I make my own seitan. I got the recipe from Vegan Vittles by Joanne Stepaniak & it is the best seitan recipe I have found! 1 1/2 cups gluten flour (although now I'm thinking I need to contact the suppliers & find out where they're getting this because I don't think I want Chinese gluten)1/4 cup nutritional yeast 1 tsp garlic powder1 cup water3 tbsp soy sauce.
if you haven't made this recipe before, mix the dried goods first before adding the liquids.
i made a big old dough lump & slice it into cutlets. I use about 2-3 tbsp of canola oil, heat it up in a saute pan & then brown the cutlets. (While this is going on I usually start to dice my onions for my sauce). Once the cutlets are browned I set them aside & start on the sauce.
the coq au vin sauce:
i really like sauce, so I tend to make a large recipe...so if you like less sauce, maybe cut this recipe in half.
1 cup diced red onion2-4 carrots sliced 1/2 lb-3/4 lb sliced mushrooms depending of if you really like them
1 cup red wine1/2 cup sherry1 cup broth (i like to make my own using Better than Bullion, i love that stuff!)1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp marjoram1 tsp thyme1 tbsp margarine1-2 tbsp flour
first i brown the onions...i like to get them almost burned. then i add the mushrooms & carrots to get them nice & cooked, i don't like it when the carrots are crunchy in this particular sauce. Once they start to soften I add the wine, sherry, broth, and spices & let the alcohol cook out...about 5 minutes.
I make a roux by melting the margarine & whisking the flour in.Then I whisk the roux into the sauce to thicken it.
Once that's done I add my cutlets back into the sauce and cook them for a couple of minutes or so.
This sauce is super tasty on pasta or potatoes or rice. And any kind of green or roasted veggie is delicious with this as well.
The recipe really sounds more difficult than it is...it's very easy to make and very tasty!
I'm really bad at following recipes, but my vegan coq au vin is basically as follows.
I make my own seitan. I got the recipe from Vegan Vittles by Joanne Stepaniak & it is the best seitan recipe I have found! 1 1/2 cups gluten flour (although now I'm thinking I need to contact the suppliers & find out where they're getting this because I don't think I want Chinese gluten)1/4 cup nutritional yeast 1 tsp garlic powder1 cup water3 tbsp soy sauce.
if you haven't made this recipe before, mix the dried goods first before adding the liquids.
i made a big old dough lump & slice it into cutlets. I use about 2-3 tbsp of canola oil, heat it up in a saute pan & then brown the cutlets. (While this is going on I usually start to dice my onions for my sauce). Once the cutlets are browned I set them aside & start on the sauce.
the coq au vin sauce:
i really like sauce, so I tend to make a large recipe...so if you like less sauce, maybe cut this recipe in half.
1 cup diced red onion2-4 carrots sliced 1/2 lb-3/4 lb sliced mushrooms depending of if you really like them
1 cup red wine1/2 cup sherry1 cup broth (i like to make my own using Better than Bullion, i love that stuff!)1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp marjoram1 tsp thyme1 tbsp margarine1-2 tbsp flour
first i brown the onions...i like to get them almost burned. then i add the mushrooms & carrots to get them nice & cooked, i don't like it when the carrots are crunchy in this particular sauce. Once they start to soften I add the wine, sherry, broth, and spices & let the alcohol cook out...about 5 minutes.
I make a roux by melting the margarine & whisking the flour in.Then I whisk the roux into the sauce to thicken it.
Once that's done I add my cutlets back into the sauce and cook them for a couple of minutes or so.
This sauce is super tasty on pasta or potatoes or rice. And any kind of green or roasted veggie is delicious with this as well.
The recipe really sounds more difficult than it is...it's very easy to make and very tasty!
Friday, July 13, 2007
girl bands rock my world!
I was just watching a Go-Go video on youtube & just realized how often i see women as the front of a band, but not the core, the soul of the band. The Go-Go's were all female, no men on drums, bass, or guitar. Kinda like the Charlie's Angels of pop.
They rock my world right now! (especially while trying not to think about polar bears or penguins or vanishing lakes in Chile).
They rock my world right now! (especially while trying not to think about polar bears or penguins or vanishing lakes in Chile).
All I can do is love my dogs and try to be the best person I can.
So Kick Ass Girl Bands! Keep empowering girls...because someday we will grow up to be a Charlie's Angel or Go-Go!
Or a doggy mommy...which is better :-)
Monday, June 25, 2007
Princess Pearl loves to sleep with her mom
I've been obsessed with Edward Norton as an actor for the past few weeks. Today I decided just to query him on PETA...I didn't think he was vegan, we usually know which actors are. But you know just in case he was a hunter or something gross like that. When I went to PETA I immediately saw a photo of of a poor little monkey being tested on. It made me realize how ridiculous my original idea what. How can I care about actors or movies when such things are happening? In corporate lingo...it brought my mood elevator down. But it was also good to be reminded again of why it is important that I made the decision to go vegan. So now I am off to lay in the puppy pile with my babies and remember that they shouldn't be lucky to live in my house, but in this world they are. And I'll think about all the babies out there who don't have the life my babies do and how wrong, horrible, and disgusting it is that they don't.
Princess Pearl says good night.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Questions & Answers
I am totally stealing this from Pisces Place, but it seemed like such a good idea. I'm making Mark answer the questions too...
But for now we're off to watch dvd's with the puppies. YAY!
1. I love...my partner in crime mark, my other partners in crime clarence, pearl, mia & buster. and all my friends who daily put up with my eccentricities.
2. Right now I want...the world to be vegan, war to end, and the global warming to be fiction.
3. I feel like...crying & cleaning my kitchen
4. I hate it when...when people are hypocrites. people act like i'm a freak because i think animals are as valuable as human life. those same people have dogs & cats. they love their pets as much as i love mine.
5. I fear...my loved ones dying before me
6. I'm lonely without... my dogs & markey
7. I need...my baby dogs
8. Today I...watching movies in bed with the dogs. i also made an awesome dinner. it was delicious!
9. Tomorrow I'm...going to work. i love my job :-)
10. I just...played bingo on the computer
11. I want to meet...mos def, he's a really cool vegan
12. I'm hungry for...well today it was a yves hotdog, a blt with yummy tempeh bacon, and my vegan version of coq qu vin. it was awesome. Although I wouldn't had said no if we had some chips in the house. oh well.
13. I love it when...i start my day with a walk.
14. I'm afraid of...the dark
15. I'm listening to...amy winehouse and stevie wonder right now.
16. I'm wearing...my pj bottoms, a camisole and a sweatshirt. very sexy!
17. I wish I was in...bellingham washington...wait, that is where i am! lucky me!
18. I'm craving...a week long vacation on lopez island with unlimited book money and a good pair of walking shoes.
19. I want to get...learn to make good pasta sauce
20. I can...pizza from scratch
21. I can't...watch horror movies.
22. I have...lots of books and movies.
23. I haven't...ever been outside the us or canada.
24. I'm nervous...about my family getting older
25. My Mom thinks I'm...the best think since sliced bread
26. My Dad thinks I'm...not the person he wanted me to be
27. I think...nancy drew is the coolest girl ever
28. I'm happy when...i'm sleeping in with my dogs. they have a schedule about who gets to be in bed. they all take turns cuddling me.
29. I'm sad when...i think about the reality of our world
30. I like eating...pretty much anything eggplant
31. I hate eating...anything with broccoli or cauliflower in it.
32. I love watching...my dogs play, my garden, the water, and nero wolfe & poirot. can't get enough mysteries!
33. I love listening to...chopin even though he makes me very emotional
34. I love playing...yahtzee, spades, canasta, and nancy drew computer games.
35. I hate waking up to...being late for work. it rushes my day & sets the tone badly.
36. I can see...how much my dogs & mark love me.
37. I'm glad that...i have a life partner that i love and like and harry potter #7 comes out in just over a month. i'm dying here!
38. I'm disappointed that...people can't be more respectful of how others choose to live their life.
39. I look like...well mark says kate winslet...but to be honest i don't look like anyone other than me :-)
40. I wish I looked like...when i was 18...i was pretty hot then!
But for now we're off to watch dvd's with the puppies. YAY!
1. I love...my partner in crime mark, my other partners in crime clarence, pearl, mia & buster. and all my friends who daily put up with my eccentricities.
2. Right now I want...the world to be vegan, war to end, and the global warming to be fiction.
3. I feel like...crying & cleaning my kitchen
4. I hate it when...when people are hypocrites. people act like i'm a freak because i think animals are as valuable as human life. those same people have dogs & cats. they love their pets as much as i love mine.
5. I fear...my loved ones dying before me
6. I'm lonely without... my dogs & markey
7. I need...my baby dogs
8. Today I...watching movies in bed with the dogs. i also made an awesome dinner. it was delicious!
9. Tomorrow I'm...going to work. i love my job :-)
10. I just...played bingo on the computer
11. I want to meet...mos def, he's a really cool vegan
12. I'm hungry for...well today it was a yves hotdog, a blt with yummy tempeh bacon, and my vegan version of coq qu vin. it was awesome. Although I wouldn't had said no if we had some chips in the house. oh well.
13. I love it when...i start my day with a walk.
14. I'm afraid of...the dark
15. I'm listening to...amy winehouse and stevie wonder right now.
16. I'm wearing...my pj bottoms, a camisole and a sweatshirt. very sexy!
17. I wish I was in...bellingham washington...wait, that is where i am! lucky me!
18. I'm craving...a week long vacation on lopez island with unlimited book money and a good pair of walking shoes.
19. I want to get...learn to make good pasta sauce
20. I can...pizza from scratch
21. I can't...watch horror movies.
22. I have...lots of books and movies.
23. I haven't...ever been outside the us or canada.
24. I'm nervous...about my family getting older
25. My Mom thinks I'm...the best think since sliced bread
26. My Dad thinks I'm...not the person he wanted me to be
27. I think...nancy drew is the coolest girl ever
28. I'm happy when...i'm sleeping in with my dogs. they have a schedule about who gets to be in bed. they all take turns cuddling me.
29. I'm sad when...i think about the reality of our world
30. I like eating...pretty much anything eggplant
31. I hate eating...anything with broccoli or cauliflower in it.
32. I love watching...my dogs play, my garden, the water, and nero wolfe & poirot. can't get enough mysteries!
33. I love listening to...chopin even though he makes me very emotional
34. I love playing...yahtzee, spades, canasta, and nancy drew computer games.
35. I hate waking up to...being late for work. it rushes my day & sets the tone badly.
36. I can see...how much my dogs & mark love me.
37. I'm glad that...i have a life partner that i love and like and harry potter #7 comes out in just over a month. i'm dying here!
38. I'm disappointed that...people can't be more respectful of how others choose to live their life.
39. I look like...well mark says kate winslet...but to be honest i don't look like anyone other than me :-)
40. I wish I looked like...when i was 18...i was pretty hot then!
My new favorite movie....
If ever I told my tale of how I became a vegan....Mike White told it for me. Because I did go kicking & screaming. It wasn't easy or pretty. I mean how did I live with a vegetarian partner for 5 years when I wasn't one and a vegan partner for 3 years when I was only a vegetarian/pescatarian? I loved meat! I still miss it! I cannot lie...I won't lie! But I love my babies! Clarence my guardian! He is always on high alert when he feels I'm in distress. Pearl the beautiful slutty princess who gets everything she wants...we love her so. Mia(pia) who puts the name shih-tzu to a whole new meaning. She tries...she really doesn't :-) And Buster...well...he's just special. Those dogs mean more to me than anything. And because of them...we'll I'll continue to love my fake meat & no more dairy...:-)UGH....
I am so focused on global warming any more. I walk around with a certainty that we are going to go. What kind of way is that to live? Nevertheless...it is the way that I live.
I have made a few amazing recipes. Sorry I wasn't camera friendly. We're still not used to having a camera as we haven't had one for years; Pearl ate our last camera when she was a baby. I am off for this evening....but keep global warming in mind!
I have made a few amazing recipes. Sorry I wasn't camera friendly. We're still not used to having a camera as we haven't had one for years; Pearl ate our last camera when she was a baby. I am off for this evening....but keep global warming in mind!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Earth Day
I don't say that Paul Watson is kind, or always correct, or even always PC...but I do think that he makes a lot of sense. I have already been feeling very ill with the crazy weather going on. The Day After Tomorrow is looking like less of a fictional film & more like a documentary. That has really put a damper on my spring. But that aside, this from Paul really started me thinking. That and where are all the bees?
Paul Watson...over population...bees...veganism
http://www.seashepherd.org/editorials/editorial_070420_1.html
New York Times...bees
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27bees.html?ex=1330232400&en=3aaa0148837b8977&ei=5088
All this & one of the types of kibble from the brand of dog food that we have been feeding our dogs was recalled. Lucky for us, the tainted rice bran was not an ingredient in their food. But needless to say we now strictly feeding them home cooked dog food. Screw people with their messed up priorities. Money and power over everything else. Money & power is more important that life. Who cares that we wouldn't even know about these things if we weren't alive. So...bees, dog food...government conspiracies... Happy Spring 2007!
Paul Watson...over population...bees...veganism
http://www.seashepherd.org/editorials/editorial_070420_1.html
New York Times...bees
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27bees.html?ex=1330232400&en=3aaa0148837b8977&ei=5088
All this & one of the types of kibble from the brand of dog food that we have been feeding our dogs was recalled. Lucky for us, the tainted rice bran was not an ingredient in their food. But needless to say we now strictly feeding them home cooked dog food. Screw people with their messed up priorities. Money and power over everything else. Money & power is more important that life. Who cares that we wouldn't even know about these things if we weren't alive. So...bees, dog food...government conspiracies... Happy Spring 2007!
Yes yes...I have been MIA for awhile. I went through my normal winter funk. So glad that spring is finally here. I have been reading & re-reading Harry Potter like crazy. Can't wait for #7 to come out in July. I really really hope she doesn't kill off Harry. I think that real life stinks enough...let our fiction be kind.
Tonight we watched a documentary....we're still not sure what to think of it.
http://www.loosechange911.com/
I think our initial reaction is one of some belief, some disbelief (we don't like propaganda), and some horror as we can see for ourselves now 5 years removed that what we thought we saw, we didn't see. I think we'll just retire to bed for the evening with our Harry Potter books and try to think non global warming, non bee missing, happy dog thoughts.
Tonight we watched a documentary....we're still not sure what to think of it.
http://www.loosechange911.com/
I think our initial reaction is one of some belief, some disbelief (we don't like propaganda), and some horror as we can see for ourselves now 5 years removed that what we thought we saw, we didn't see. I think we'll just retire to bed for the evening with our Harry Potter books and try to think non global warming, non bee missing, happy dog thoughts.
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