Since it's Easter Sunday, not all of the vendors showed up, but I still got some fun stuff.
This is one of the pictures painted on the pillars there. It says "It's what you focus on that grows." I don't mind telling you that I need that reminder A LOT. My negativity can be overwhelming at times. I need to learn to cultivate more compassion towards human animals.
Right now I'm a little unsure what to do with the Lion's Mane/Pom Pom Mushrooms I got, but we'll see what happens. They're a little creepy looking! I also got spinach, squash, and beets, but photography is not top priority today. By photography, I mean snapping pictures on my phone. Also, those other things are not so creepy as to deserve a picture.
I learned today that a 5 year old may weep at the sight of tofu scramble, but will devour blueberry lavender scones. After watching her physically reject blueberry scones from Whole Foods, I was sure there was no chance, but I guess if it tastes like soap, kids are all in?
Here's a scone reference picture that I took a few days ago.
I live here now - in a smaller apartment, with a smaller kitchen, and way less money. That's what happens when you have no job! Well no full time job. I'm a substitute teacher at a school that's way too far away from me, and way too stressful.
I was about to say it's easy to be vegan under these circumstances, but then I took a sip of coffee from a mug that's been on the desk for a few days ... arguably this isn't a strictly vegan problem though. And frankly, I'm not in the mood to write about how cheap and awesome beans are right now.
I'm off to the Baltimore Farmer's Market tomorrow morning. It opens at 7 am! It's beneath an overpass! How very urban. I was there last week and bought some amazing stuff, including beautiful mushrooms.
So I'm a few days late to the party. Last year MoFo really inspired me to write every day and it was wonderful. This year I have severe limits on my time and technology access due a change in the day job circumstances.
I almost didn't sign up this year, but I have been wanting a reason to write more regularly (even though I shouldn't need a reason), so here I am.
Last year I fantasized about a 2011 MoFo with a creative theme, amazing pictures, thrilling give aways, and all the internet praise I could stomach. But then I didn't really think about how I wouldn't be wasting away in a soul-crushing job that afforded me little except for long days with little to do and internet access. Given the choice, I'm happy to blog a little (lot) less and be much happier 8-10 hours a day. Also, since I'm in an unpaid internship, there will be no improvements that require money.
So I didn't really set any posting goals, and this first week of October has already sped by with little input from me, and I'm out of town all weekend - maybe that'll give me some material though, since I'm going to be at a festival and camping.
I will probably also have a pretty stellar post at some point about the lavish dinner I make to celebrate the return of Arrested Development. Or I'll sit and rewatch seasons 1-3, eating blueberry muffins and making I blue myself jokes. I've gotten some serious non-AD mileage out of that line as recently as this summer.
If you're in the MD/DC/VA area, I recommend checking out Scotlund Haisley's exhibit, SUFFERING RENDERED at the Art Works Studio School gallery. The pieces are heavy representation of animal rescues - a look at individual animals' last moment before freedom.
I was able to attend the opening reception and speak with Haisley, who explained the mission of, successes won by, and setbacks encountered by his organization, Animal Rescue Corps.
I also got to speak with a lot of people who had never given much thought to the welfare of animals that are considered livestock. It was easy for people to express outrage and shock at the`idea of stray dogs being rounded up and shot to death, but coversations about pieces like the one depicting factory farmed pigs were puncuated by discomfort.
Maybe I've been in a bit of an angry vegan mood lately, but I felt no discomfort and was pretty blunt with everyone I talked to. The things you're seeing can end now with you. All you have to do is to live mindfully and with respect for all life in your heart. If you do that, your actions will effect change. Or you can continue to clutch your pearls at the sights depicted, and then continue to do things the way you always did. So let's see what kind of social change art inspires.
The exhibit will remain up through October, so do get in touch with the directors to stop in to see the works. In the meantime, check out this video tour.
For the record, I am affiliated with ArtWorks, and due to that fact, the opening reception featured vegan food exclusively. Future events will always include vegan options as well, but it's worth pointing out that the more vegans who drop a line to the school, the more likely and frequent vegan catering will be featured.
You should also know that I skipped the cocktail hour dress code and rocked my Arm The Animals T-shirt. I was assured by several fashion-minded people that this was totally OK, since the political message was apropros. It wasn't lost on Haisley or his wife.
"Windmills do not work that way! Good night!" has become the stock phrase in my house to indicate that someone is just not getting it.
I wanted to chant it last night at the Rise Against show at the Electric Factory. Of course, no one would have heard me over the loud chants of "USA! USA!"
It was baffling as Tim McIlrath changed guitars and in that silence people began their ridiculous chant. He addressed it saying that he had intended to speak about it after one more song, but he'd do it now. He said he gets that we can breathe a collective sigh of relief, but now we have to take all of that energy and emotion and channel it into bringing the troops home.
He was greeted with more "USA! USA!" Now maybe I was projecting a bit here, but when I saw him bring his palm to his forehead and wipe it down the front of his face, I could have sworn I saw disbelief.
Rise Against went on to play whatever it was that was on the set list before getting to play "Hero of War."
I don't listen to this song often. Say what you will, but it makes me tear up on a good day. It was satisfying to hear it live, though.
It was awful to hear the now-familiar chant, "USA! USA!" when it ended.
I don't have a problem with patriotism, but this isn't the goddamned Superbowl. To distill such a complex series of events to a stupid half-time chant is beyond ignorant and a Rise Against concert is really one of the most innappropriate places to break your arm patting yourself on the back for being a citizen of a country that got its revenge.
So is a vegan blog the appropriate place to complain about this? Of course it is.
Another huge disconnect occurred when McIlrath dedicated "Ready to Fall" to those who speak for "the voiceless" - for the animals. The crowd was mostly silent and some even booed when he said it, but not a single person held still when he started the song. It was like a moonbounce up in there with people jumping around, and no one held back from shouting "Now I'm standing on the rooftop" each time.
(I went with Vevo to get the video, even though this one is censored. If you want to have a terrible day, watch the more graphic version here. I've already done it, so you won't be alone.)
All in all, it was a good show and I'm glad I went. And I do hope that all those kids who memorized every lyric eventually start to think about those lyrics and make changes in how they engage with the world around them. I'm grateful that there are bands who use their music to promote social justice and to bring awareness to the sad state of so many things. I just hope that people start listening.
I may be a bit spoiled, because this is one of two books that I bought for the challenge, though it's been on my list for ages. (The other book I ordered was 500 Vegan Recipes).
On my first flip-through, I was feeling uninspired, but then I realized that a lot of the recipes are super easy, and I need more of that in my life. After actually preparing a few dishes, I'm in love. Everything is great so far. It's too early to say, but this book may join the ranks of desert island cookbooks.
Accordingly, the Teriyaki Quinoa came together super fast while I made a cake and cookies. Most of the time is downtime, and had I been on top of things, I would have made a lovely salad with mandarin oranges and ginger-lime dressing, but I wasn't. Luckily, it's filling and complete with steamed broccoli and I didn't feel the need to make extra sauce to cover the veggies.
It doesn't make as much food as most of the recipes I'm used to do, but I would say this is 3 main dishes (with a side) or 4 side dishes for two hungry adults.
The 5-Spice Cookies are likewise easy, but are definitely a grown-up cookie. I was skeptical about the use of barley flour, b/c I'd never baked with it, and I was afriad it would make the cookies too faux-health-food, but they turned out really well. (Note that this fear is not rooted in experience).
They have a slight licorice taste to them, and I really like that, but I know not everyone is a fan. This is also one of the few times I'll approve of nuts in cookies. Usually, nuts interrupt the texture of baked goods when baked in, but these work. I'll definitely make these when I hang out wih my tea-snob pals - they like unconventional desserts.
Admittedly, I didn't actually cook the next dish myself, so my report on the process is second hand, but I did eat quite a lot, so I can assure you authenticity there.
Apparently, the Lemony Cashew Pesto over linguine is a matter of boiling pasta and blending some stuff, then combing the results of each process. I guess all pasta is essentially that, but this was really easy! The lemon flavor is really mellow and adds sunniness without overbearing tartness to the dish. I love it. This is going to be my go-to when the CSA dumps loads of basil into my box this summer.
You know grad school has really done a number on my willingness to write here. I kept up with the whole PPK Cookbook Challenge, even though I stopped taking pictures and posting.
Since then, I've been going simple. The semester is coming to a close, so deadlines are tight and I've made several bowls from Appetite for Reduction, and this week I've been on a Vegan Italiano kick. Donna Klein deserves more love from me because everything I've made from her book has been easy and super delicious.
The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen was the first gift I got for my sister when she went vegan, but I haven't gotten any reviews on that one. I would get my own copy, but I'm on a semi-self-imposed cookbook buying ban. Maybe my sister will give up hers, since she's into macro eating these days.
Speaking of which, she has raved about a book I gave her this year called The Saucy Vegetarian. Since she structures her meals a certain way, she can make sauces to add variety, especially when eating leftovers. I'm pretty sure my sister said that despite the name, the recipes are all vegan.
In other niche diet news, the weather is getting nice here, the farmer's market will be opening soon, and my mom got me two new raw food books for my birthday, so I'm ready to once again implement Raw Wednesdays ... except they'll probably be on Tuesdays or Sundays. I haven't decided yet.
Time to dust off some of my favorite raw blog links too and start planning.
Back to the Baltimore Farmer's Market!
