Practically Vegan!

It’s been a while since practically vegan has been active but that needs to change. I’m sure bloggers all around the world say this same thing over and over but at some point you either have to keep a blog or get rid of it. The few random comments here and there that I’ve gotten on this blog (even though there have been no new entries) have been so inspiring to me. I’m amazed at the random people who stumble upon it and who get something out the little info that is on here. Well that is about to change. I’ve decided that practically vegan will be a wealth of information on becoming vegan and how to do it in an easy and sensible manner. Over the last few months I’ve had many experiences that have furthered my dedication in my choice to become vegan. I’ve also seen that there are a lot of people who are interested in learning more but are confused at how to make the change. They think it is too hard or complicated. Well I’m here to show you it isn’t. Here are some of the new topics you will see on practically vegan. I felt like we needed a bit more structure (plus I’m an organization nut).

-Reviews of vegan products (food, beauty, household, clothing, companies, pet supplies, etc)
-Vegan Breakfast Ideas
-Vegan Lunches Ideas
-Vegan Dinner Ideas
-Vegan Dessert Ideas
-Vegan Snack Ideas
-Vegan Baking
-Animal Ingredient of the day (so you can learn little by little what to look out for)
-”Why I went Vegan” section (write in and tell me why you went vegan and I’ll post your story!
-”Help what do I do about this?” (write in and ask me your vegan questions)
-Get to know your Spices
-Get to know your Veggies
-Get to know your Fruit
-Get to know your Grains
-Get to know your Nuts & Seeds
-Advocacy Issues
-Substitutions (what you can use instead of common products with animal ingredients)

How does that sound? Any other topics of interest? Just let me know and I’ll work it in.

For those who have been reading from the start: Thanks for sticking it out with me. I hope you’ll be happy with the new format.
For those who have just discovered the site: Your in for a treat! (a vegan one of course!)

Well the Practical Vegan is off to Greece. Athens to be precise and for work. Boy can I not complain! I really lucked out on this one. I’m pretty excited as its been since Oct that I’ve gone on an installation for work and I was getting kinda antsy. Its been a while since I’ve posted too! Actually my last post was my last work trip lol! I guess that I tend to have some down time when on the trips. Not that I’m not working my butt off but at night in the hotel rooms I usually can’t sleep so I write!

Well just in case you were wondering I do have a bunch in store this year for the blog. Even though I haven’t been posting I’ve feverishly been trying out new recipes, creating a pantry system and a monthly vegan/omni menu (husband is omni so been trying to come up with a dinner system that works for both of us). Needless to say I’ve been busy and in a good way.

So stay tuned for Practically Vegan 09 baby! It’s going to be a good year!

Well wish me luck. The practical vegan is headed to Puerto Rico tomororw. Just my luck so is hurricane Omar. lol. Should be interesting as Im going for work and my hotel is right on the beach. Im thinking either the flight is severly delayed or Im not comming back the day Im schedueled to. Should be interesting so Im packing my vegan passport and some extra clothes. What does one wear for a hurricane? A rain jacket would be nice. If only I owned one.

Miso!, originally uploaded by oneredsock.

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I’ve tried a few times to grow sprouts.

My mom gave me this three tier sprouter and I used it in Brooklyn for a bit. When it workd it worked great but it was pretty flimsy and the seeds would keep on clogging the drain so the water wouldn’t pour to the next tier. Then I tried a sprout canister and I made one successful crop of alfalfa sprouts but then the rest were all moldy. So the other day while shopping at Garden of Eden I found The sprout sac. Unlike the others it is a mesh bag that you wet and rince twice daily. Since the seeds are not soaking in the water they have less of a chance to get moldy.

I hesitate to buy sprouts in the store because I rarely finish them all and they jsut go to waste. But I figured if I had my own crop I would eat them more. So currently I am growing Mung Bean sprouts. (they came with the sprout bag) I leave it hanging near my sink to remind me to rinse it out twice a day and todya I saw a little sprout comming out of one of the beans. Yay!! So it must be working.

It takes a few days for it to start up and then a few days to fully grow, but maybe I will have found the sprouter for me =)

I’ll keep you updated.

So I have to say. I’ve tried most of the soymilk brands out there and my favorite by far is Silk (unsweetened). I try to keep out the sugar where I can as its just in everything. But lately ive wanted to see if I could incorporate other milks instead of soy into my diet. I’ve read some really good things on Hemp milk but have never been able to find it until now. I couldn’t find an unsweet version so I just bought original and It was pretty good. Though the price was a bit more it has a nice flavor. If they made an unsweet version I might buy it again. Now things with added sugar are just too sweet and it only tasted like I would want to use this in cereal and not for cooking. It has sort of a nutty flavor. I can only compare it to hazlenut milk (also hard to find here in GA unlike NY) You also have to shake it before each use as it seems to separate more then soy milk does. I poured it out without shaking and got a clear liquid in my coffee. Worth the try! Quite yummie and from what the box says its loaded with some good stuff!

The photos are so fun.

Aside from the fact that they have bento info VegFamily is an amazing resource for recipies, nutritional information and is a great community to ask questions to.

Yes yes, I know its been a ridiculously long time since I’ve posted. I did just start a new job, have been traveling quite a bit and have been non stop. Ironically I’ve been very involved with Flickr and have really kept up with photos and ideas in a hope I could get a good chunk of data to post so that when I don’t have time to post I’m posting ideas and topics that have already been photographed. I’m definitely not at a loss for ideas, its more of a loss of time to post the photos. If this blog were just words it would be so easy, but that would be boring. 

The wonderful thing is that now I have flickr set up automatically to post to my blog. Also my camera phone is set up to the blog as well so it uploads to flickr and flickr posts my email and the photo to the blog…ahhhhhhhhhh ( sounds of angels singing). Thank you Flickr!!!!

My only only thing is I’m planning on storing future posts on it so if you don’t want to spoil the future posts don’t look at my flickr. Or maybe I’ll have to just have to create a folder that says future blogging.

It’s exciting to be back and to share the great things I’ve learned in the past few months.

I am just getting into wheat grass and so far I have to say its pretty nice. 

I’ve lost all desire for iced coffed. (I was drinking it every day just to wake up)

I feel way more energized

My skin has this nice glow to it

Its prompting me to eat better 

Currently I am drinking the powder form of whole wheat grass leaf. I think it has more fiber but less chlorophyll. I also just get a wheat grass juicer and started my first batch of seeds that are sprouting nicely! Hopefully in a week I will have my first batch ready to juice. 

The power form was about 17 dollars for a bottle but you get 32 servings out of it so thats not so bad. At the juice bars its 2-3 dollars for a 1oz shot. Im pretty excited to juice my first batch.

Heres a snipit on the benefits of wheat grass.