13 Things You Didn't Know About Me

Hello! I thought that this would be a fun time to do a different little post. A post for you to kind of get to know me, and some of the quirky things I may exhibit. In return, be sure to share your quirks too! 

• I'm naturally, without distortion or exaggeration, exceptionally terrible at math...but somehow managed to pull the highest grade in my college physics class. Math = nonsensical, but physics = commonsense. 
• I was prophesied to become a Veterinarian by my third grade teacher who did "profession predictions". As an adult, I know that I have a boundless love for animals, and I did go into the medical field...but I could never, ever be a vet!
• I got into Radiology because I thought it would be the least gorey of all the medical professions. Wrong. Wrong on so many levels. I've literally been hit in the face with a blood clot and a bone fragment during surgery. In the ER, I x-rayed a hand that looked like just a bloody clump of bone and flesh (got caught in the spring of a garage door) and I've "tipped" more people than I can count...it involves your bum-bum and it's not fun. Now that I'm a Mammographer all I do mostly is boobies and that's fine by me!
• I'm a really difficult sleeper. Ever since high school I've been sleeping with earplugs and a eyemask. I grew up on 40 acres in a rural town in Alaska...needless to say it doesn't make a lot of sense. 
• I'm a Highly Sensitive Person. If you don't know what a highly sensitive person is, here are 16 habits of such a person. It's basically me in a nutshell. Or read a book on it here.
• Flying is more and more terrifying the older I get and the more I really think about it. Have you thought about it? I mean really thought about it. It's an incomprehensible fall to Earth...skeezes me out big-time.  
• I co-piloted a plane when under the age of seven. My Grandpa has planes.
• I take the stairs instead of the elevator, as well as long or alternative routes, and use the self-checkout at the store just to avoid contact with people.
• I have essential tremors. It's a good thing I didn't want to become a surgeon. 
• I've never dyed or highlighted my hair (unless you count the one that washes out in eight days).
• The coolest places I've traveled are The Galapoagas Islands and Turks & Caicos. 
• I only own one pair of heels. 
• Winter is my favorite season.

Changes I've Noticed Since Becoming Vegan

Sassy Alert! I woke up on the sassy part of the bed today (it happens sometimes) and my ardent animal activist is out in full force today. I am usually quite a mellow little vegan, but not today! You've been warned.

Getting back in the swing of things after my unfortunate week off has been tough. I had a spectacular cookie recipe all lined up, but I forgot to edit and upload the photos! So, it'll have to be saved for tomorrow instead I suppose. But that's okay because I have a different sort of post for today. 

Photo by the exceptionally talented Todd.

It's been a little over one year since I became vegan and it's honestly been one of the happiest decisions of my life. It's brought Todd and me so much joy and peace with regards to our health and mental wellness. I thought I'd share some changes in my life since going plant-based.

Changes I've noticed since becoming vegan.

Some occurred instantaneously and some took some time to notice.   

- There's been some concern with relation to my excessive consumption of nutritional yeast. I've been encouraged to research if one can consume too much of the stuff (conclusion...no). NOOCH BELONGS ON EVERYTHING! No joke. It's cheesy, a complete protein, packed with B-12, and I'm fairly certain they put crack in it. Todd told me I should just contact the distributor so I can get it in super bulk quantities.

- I now find animal meat completely repulsive. Physically it grosses me out. Having grown up in Alaska, I wasn't sure that would ever happen to me, but it has. The connection has been made... it's really been made. Seriously, I imagine that a particular chicken once stood, afraid, and cramped in shockingly horrendous conditions before being slaughtered every time I see a cooked chicken leg.

- I used to cough in the mornings. Every morning. For years and years. Since I've been vegan that's gone away. I now know the culprit was dairy. So, bye-bye apocalypse size bottle of Zyrtec. Unfortunately, my allergies to Bobbledore haven't gone away....I still have my eye drops for that!

- My friends and family eat more vegan products and less animal products (at least when I'm around), woot woot! Eating more fruits and vegetables? Words patients have been ignoring from their doctors and/or nutritionists for a long time now. Now you should be able to say, "Yes!"

- If a friend or family member mentions a recipe or dish that they made or enjoyed that contains animal products, I don't fake it any longer and go "Ooo, that sounds so good!" Because it doesn't. I'm not cool with having an animal die simply because I want beef tacos (lentil tacos are way better anyways, fo real). There's nothing good about milk and if you people don't believe me then they should march down to the commercial dairy farm where that milk they bought was produced. Seriously...this isn't the 1950's anymore. We know there's really nothing good about cow's milk, in fact quite the opposite. Be an informed consumer and see the research here at NutritionFacts.org

-  I seriously haven't had to see my primary care doctor since I've been vegan. I was a frequent flyer before. I was always sick. Colds, flus, bronchitis, strep, pneumonia....straight up. You should know that my place of employment is a hospital. I am constantly around plaque monkeys. Last week a little girl coughed in my face at point blank range. Yep. Still not sick though! I'm invincible!! Okay, maybe not...there was a visit to the Urgent Care, but that was non-food related as you may know if you follow me on social media. Don't worry, I know I'll get sick eventually...but I'll be damned if I've not had a single cough for over a year now.

- My hair isn't straw-like anymore. For real. It wasn't pretty. Plus, it seems to have been growing faster too. I attribute this to lots of avocado, nuts, and seeds. 

- I don't count calories anymore. I just eat healthily (most of the time). Calories, fat, and carbs no longer linger on my brain. Plus, I've lost a cool 10-15 lbs. and ain't nothing wrong with that.

- Our pantry is full of all kinds of things I would have never tried if I hadn't become vegan. Nutritional yeast, millet, adzuki beans, kombu, etc. Playing with new food sure can be fun, and hey, variety is the spice of life! Red quinoa, TVP, and millet...oh my!

- I experiment with fermenting and sprouting, something I might not have done before becoming vegan. Almond milk kefir, lacto-fermented veggies, water kefir, mung bean sprouts, broccoli sprouts..some have been more successful than others. I can't wait to try my hand at plant-based yogurt and cheese!

- I feel inclusive and welcomed into a community of like minded people who share the same values and ethics. There's not a lot that feels better than being accepted. Even for an awkward, antisocial little monster like myself.

- I care more. I'm more compassionate and my decisions are more thought-out. Instead of thinking how something will impact only me, I think about how it will impact animals, people, and the planet. It's important to think beyond yourself. We are all connected to this earth and everything on it. We all need to work on being less egocentric. 

- I'm an animal advocate. People are curious about me being vegan and they want to know more. This provides a great opportunity to speak up for animals and boast the joys and gratification not contributing to animal abuse! 

The sad truth of it.

- My mind is clear and my conscious is free from the guilt of contributing to the harm of animals and of our planet as well. You vote for the kind of world you want every time you lift a fork. I want to be happier, healthier, and for no animals to be harmed and I'm voting for that everyday!

- I'm happier, healthier, and more at peace. It's as plain and simple as that. Try it!

Creamy Chard Pasta with Porcinis and Peas

Poor chard. Everyone is all about kale right now. I get the hype, but sometimes we need to pay our respects to the classical beauty that is...chard.

Yep, this green darling is absolutely magical sauteed. Plus, it comes in so many beautiful forms. Red chard, swiss chard, rainbow chard!? When sauteed, this leafy gal transforms into a silky and deliciate green that's perfect for eating alone, or blending into a sauce. 

A silky chard sauce saturates shell pasta studded with sliced, hearty porcini mushrooms and tender sweet peas. 

Creamy Chard Pasta with Porcinis and Peas

Serves 6

• 8 oz. dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted
• 16 oz. dry pasta shells
• 1/2 cup frozen peas (6 oz.)
• Saute:
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 large brown onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large bunch of chard, de-stemmed and chopped
• Sauce:
• 12 oz. silken firm tofu (Mori-Nu)
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• splash of lemon juice
• dash of black pepper
• dash of salt
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of sugar

Directions:

Start by reconstituting the porcinis. Place the in a bowl and submerge completely with boiling water. Allow to rest until ready to use or about 20-30 minutes. 

Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.

In a large rimmed frying pan, heat oil over medium-low. Add onion and garlic and saute a few minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add the chard and saute 5-8 minutes, until quite wilted.

In a blender, combine all the sauce ingredients and add the sauteed chard mixture. Blend on high until very creamy and smooth. 

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just al dente. Drain. 

Transfer the sauce back to the frying pan along with the peas. Remove the mushrooms from their water with a slotted spoon and slice. Add to the sauce and heat over low until the pasta is ready.

Add the drained pasta to the sauce and stir well to coat. 

Serve hot. 

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German Word of The Day:

Chard --> Mangold (pronounced: mangold)

Good Deed of The Day:

Tell Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, to Protect Critical Habitat for North Atlantic Right Whales!

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