Has anyone else been watching Mad Men lately? They just won an Emmy on Sunday night! I am only on Season 1 (hey, I don’t have a TV!) but I am getting super addicted. I find that whenever I am watching it, I suddenly get the urge to throw on an a-line dress and pink lipstick and stick a martini in my hand. And that Don Draper, super-cool but also such a skeez – how does that happen?
(This is my “Mad Men Yourself” character. I don’t know if this looks like me…)
I really can’t fathom how Don and the gang are able to down cocktails and return to work. They really take the “liquid lunch” (and liquid snack and dinner) to a whole new level. Not to be outdone, I decided to have a liquid lunch today as well…
Mad Men style liquid lunch:
Bohemian Vegan liquid lunch:
I’m certain my version leads to less of a hangover, but also may be less fun 
. I highly recommend drinking smoothies in a martini glass, wine glass, maybe even a champagne flute or a mug. It’s nice to change things up!
Cherry Mad Men BV Martini Smoothie
Handful of frozen cherries
A bunch of kale
1/4 cup of Nasoya Silken Tofu Creations in Vanilla (This stuff is delish, but if you want less sugar, skip this and add more rice milk, a dollop of almond butter or regular silken tofu. Bananas also work great.)
1/2 cup of rice milk
Blend, pour, sip!
On Saturday, Zoey and Rocket got “fixed“ (a term I’m not so crazy about) I brought them to the Humane Society of NY clinic at the early hour of 8:00 am to be spayed and neutered. In my perfect world, I wouldn’t have to get them “fixed” but I also am not ready to be a grandmother or bare witness to any baby-making kitty activity. I know in the grand scheme of things it’s the right thing to do, but I still feel terrible about it. I knew the two of them were scared when I saw them shaking on the vet table. (Despite all the scaredy-ness, they did manage to try to climb into everything. The nurse even said, “my, these are curious cats”).
The HS Clinic in NYC isn’t the quietest place. There are puppies and kitties waiting to be seen all over the office, amidst people shuffling in and out to bring homeless and feral dogs and cats into the shelter. I felt my blood boiling when a woman brought in her cat because she wanted to drop it off at the shelter. Not for a check-up or a procedure, but because she didn’t want it anymore. The saddest part about it was that this cat was gorgeous and very well behaved. You realize the harsh reality for sheltered and/or neglected dogs and cats when you are staring one right in the face. A pretty beautiful face at that.
I put my trust and faith in the veterinary staff at the clinic. The vet and their nurses seemed very knowledgeable and warm. When I picked up Zoey and Rocket later that day, I got the feeling I am certain my Mom used to get when my sister or I were very sick or needed hospital care. I just wanted to squeeze them, wrap them in blankets, plop them in front of a TV and feed them ice cream until it was “all better.” Never had I seen these two curious, energetic creatures so out-of-whack. Zoey started a hissing battle with Rocket. Rocket wouldn’t stop crying unless I held him. The whole thing seemed very strange. The nurses told me it would take them a day or two to re-adjust to each other, but just hours earlier they were cuddled next to each other on my bed. Luckily, things seem to be almost back to normal.
I know I’m not a terrible Mom, but I sure felt like it. In efforts not to make too much noise, I decided not to make my planned smoothie. I’m trying to clean out my fridge to start on a clean slate and happen to have lots of great smoothie making ingredients, but my blender isn’t exactly “recovery noise friendly.” I did manage to whip up a delicious oatmeal pudding/soup that I am calling the Cherry Almond Butter Bomb. Add in some vegan ice cream and you have your own post-vet-trauma comfort food.
Cherry Almond Butter Bomb
A handful of frozen cherries
1/2 cup oats
Water
1/4 cup of Nasoya Silken Style Creations, Vanilla
1 big, heaping tablespoon of almond butter
A sprinkle of salt
Optional: a scoop or five of your favorite vegan ice cream. (Tempt in Chocolate Fudge would do just fine)
They key here is to add most of the ingredients while the oatmeal is still really hot. To make the oatmeal part, I boiled hot water on my stove and added it to a 1/4 cup of instant oats. I used a little bit more water than the recipe requires as I wanted a little bit more of a soupy texture. Then I immediately added the cherries and started stirring them in. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the oats started turning a little pink and really sucked up the cherry flavor. I also sprinkled in the salt and a heaping tablespoon of almond butter. I only mixed in the almond butter a little bit because I like to have a nice ball of AB surprise in the middle. (It’s the little things).
After it had cooled somewhat, I added a 1/4 cup of the Vanilla Nasoya Silken Style Creations. The Vanilla silken tofu is sweet, so there isn’t really a need to add any additional sweeteners. Unless of course, you throw in some ice cream .
Photo from Cakespy.com
Hi hotstuffs! Here is some veg news for today. There’s a lot of fighting going on!:
That the sun finally decided to come back out.
Photo by Mark Sperry, marksperryphoto.com
That it’s almost Friday.
That pumping iron yesterday paid off.
That it’s almost time for Fall TV.
For The Pump! (not to be confused with Pumps, a strip club in Brookyn).
This wasn’t the original post I had planned. I planned on going running this morning. I much prefer to plan, make and take my own meals. But plans change, especially if you have an urgent work ordeal to take care of at very early hours in the A.M. And today around lunchtime, I needed a plan and fast. So I resorted to an old stand-by of mine: The Pump NYC. On the outside, The Pump might seem like the last place someone like me (and maybe even someone like you) might order from. The name alone conjures up images of buff dudes looking for a protein shake, egg whites and turkey burgers. Granted, Pump has their share of meaty proteins and egg white sandwiches, but they also have a great amount of local, clean, unprocessed fresh foods, nutrient dense veggies, healthy, vegan options and delicious smoothies. Their online menu allows you to pick and choose from a variety of lean proteins, including baked tofu, vegetables and legumes, good fats, like guacamole or hummus, and toppings and sauces to form your own well-rounded meal. As you build your meal, the nutrition facts are automatically counted for you right on the screen.
For me, it’s easy, fast but fresh and within delivery distance of my office, which is nice if you’re chained to your desk like I was today. Plus, the delivery guys have always been super nice. For lunch, I ordered a mix of fresh greens, baked tofu, onions and peppers, tomatoes with basil, mushrooms and a spicy roasted red pepper dressing. According to The Pump calc, my salad tallied up to 239 calories.
I know you guys love my sneak, cell phone, salad-in-the-office-kitchen-picture. It’s not doing the salad justice, let me tell you. Other times, I order one of their delicious smoothies, which you can customize to suit your needs and tastes. My other favorite is a twist on their Sunrise smoothie, a mix of fresh squeezed orange juice, Source of Life, soymilk, ice and sometimes a banana and/or soy protein if I am feeling jazzy. I love places like The Pump that can deliver fast and fresh food with options for everyone, but I’m also pumped for my own home cooked/blended/tossed meal.
Image courtesy of Geeksugar.com
Hey all! I thought it would be fun to start compiling and posting some upcoming events and cool tidbits from around NY for all of you NY vegans (or wanna-be vegans). Here are some fun things from around the city:
Know an awesome vegan (or vegan-friendly) event, happening or news in NYC? Let me know: bohemianveggie@gmail.com
One of the perks of living in New York City, is the abundance of “speakeasy” style secret bars and niche restaurants. Well, if you ever wondered what it would look like if Alice had fallen into a Cuban rum party versus a tea party, look no further than 6th and A in NYC. In the best Pirates of the Carribbean meets Alice in Wonderland meets cute cuban sandwich shop fashion, Cienfuegos is both a secret hideaway and an adult wonderland.
Photo by: (Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
My good friend Tricia and I decided to get together at Cienfuegos for a girls’ date night. But first we had to find the place. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: I know I read there’s a back door through the sandwich shop.
Tricia: I don’t see it.
Me: Let me pretend to be reading the menu and you peek inside.
Tricia: We’re going to mess this up.
Me: I feel like an idiot.
Tricia: Wait, I got it. Let’s go.
Photo by: Katie Sokoler/Gothamist
Once inside, there was a line waiting to sneak through the back hallway and up the stairs. The sandwich shop/waiting room, Carteles, is super tiny, but has cute 50′s style decor like old-school telephones and yellow tints. Going up the stairs, I had no idea what to anticipate. I thought it would be dark, but it was far the opposite, with candy-colored, bright teal walls that compliment the colors of the many cocktails and punch bowls being shuffled around. The seats, in true storybook fashion, seemed oversized (unless Tricia and I are just super short) and the atmosphere felt cozy. There are even rumors that the staff will surprise guests with cupcakes.
Photo by: Katie Sokoler/Gothamist
We didn’t eat but did sample a few of the rum drinks. Let me warn you, Cienfuegos is not cheap. The food seemed moderately priced, but the cheapest rum drink is about $13. (Standard beer and wine range from $8-$12). Normally, I wouldn’t love spending this kind of cash on a drink, but Tricia and I went with the when in rome mentality and wound up trying two each. Our favorite? One we nicknamed the “Nacho Cheese Drink.” It seriously tasted like nachos. I know this sounds odd, but if you don’t believe me you need to try it. We suspect is has something to do with the jalapeno-infused honey. (Side note: although honey isn’t technically vegan, I eat it sometimes. I’m not perfect). I forget the real name and it isn’t posted on their website, but trust me, it’s there.
Photo by: Katie Sokoler/Gothamist
At the end of the night, we both agreed that our significant others would proably not find this place just as magical as we did, but we did spot plenty of guys. I doubt Cienfuegos will become a habit, but it’s a nice once in a while trip out of the streets of NYC.
Yesterday, I mentioned how I was going to start being more careful with how I waste spend my money. Last night, a little birdie whispered in my ear a reminder about a website I had bookmarked long ago and never returned to, Mint.com. Basically, Mint collects information from all of your accounts, checking, savings and credit card (they promise it’s safe), and shows you where and how you are spending or overspending your money. You can set up budgets for yourself as well as goals and Mint sends alerts and reminders right to your email box. Mint also tracks your spending trends so you can really see, in pretty colorful graph form, where you are throwing away your money or spending it wisely. It takes a little time to set up, but so far it has been a really valuable tool and a pretty big eye opener (Starbucks is slurping away my cash like nobody’s business).
I also did a little more “cupboard cooking” and used whole grain, spiral pasta to make lunch. Truthfully, pasta isn’t my favorite thing. I barely eat it and think the best parts of any pasta dish are the add-ins like sauce. But, pasta keeps well, is easy to make and take with you. I used my favorite dressing/cooking sauce of the moment, Ginger People’s Ginger Sesame Sauce, and frozen corn to make a nice Ginger Sesame Summer Pasta, which can be devoured cold or heated up.
First, I prepared the pasta by throwing about 1/2 cup into boiling water and letting it cook until the noodles were soft. Meanwhile, on the other stovetop, I threw about 2/3 cups of frozen corn into a pan and drizzled over about 1tbsp of Ginger Sesame Sauce.
I cooked it until the corn was a little brown and hot. Once both were done, I simply mixed them together!
I poured another tbsp of the Ginger Sesame sauce over the pasta and corn, add a dab of salt and let it cool. After a few minutes I put it in the refrigerator and left it overnight. For lunch today, I had a little bit of it cold and then heated up the rest. The Ginger sauce is really tasty, especially if you let it marinade overnight. And I didn’t spend any extra dimes.
I like to set challenges for myself, especially in food and fitness. But there’s another area in my life that needs a little tough love – my wallet. I’d like you to know, I am not a frivolous spender but I am also not particularly frugal. Every month, some of my money just disappears. I have no idea where it goes. I haven’t bought new clothes in months, I stopped spending $35 a pop on workout classes – so where am I going wrong? As I was sitting at my desk today contemplating this, it hit me like a shaken Seagram’s seltzer flying out of the vending machine: food, snacks and drinks. Yeah, yeah, you need food and drinks to survive, but living in a city makes it so easy to spend an upwards of $15-$20 for a lunch a day! Besides that, Starbuck’s iced coffees, a few dark chocolate covered almonds from the snack machine, bottles of water, they add up fast. I noticed yesterday I bought a venti iced coffee ($3+), a big bottle of water because I forgot my Klean Kanteen ($2), almonds from the snack machine ($1) and dinner ($10). That’s $16 dollars! Maybe it doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you do this everyday, sometimes for all three meals, you are chewing your money away, literally.
Not only that, but think of all the garbage that’s accumulating from little tidbits here and there. Delivery food often comes in way too much packaging and water bottles are significantly damaging to the Earth. So, the bottom line, I am challenging myself to not be an over-consumptious consumer. No more snacks from the vending machines, no more diet sodas and water bottles (ack!), no more buying lunch and definitely no more venti Starbucks iced coffees. There might get headaches, there might be tears and there will be temptation, but maybe then I can buy one of the heart monitors I have been eyeing.
To start my fat wallet mission, I took inventory of everything I had in my cupboards, fridge and freezer and whipped up today’s meals last night. I find the best take-and-make travel meals are those that can be eaten cold or hot. Case in point, Cake Batter Breakfast!
I had no idea this was going to turn out tasting like chocolate cake batter, I just wanted to use the oats I had! Full of whole grain, chocolaty, protein goodness, you can heat this up but I prefer it cold.
Chocolate Cake Batter Breakfast
1/2 cup of oats, prepared
2 scoops of chocolate vegan protein powder (I used Nutribiotic Brown Rice Protein in Chocolate)
1 tbsp of almond butter
Stevia
Sugar-free maple syrup
Prepare the oats just like you are making oatmeal. Stir in the chocolate vegan protein while the oats are still warm. I left a tiny bit of water in there for easy mixing. Sprinkle in some stevia as desired. I let this cool a tad and then I added one scoop of almond butter. I slightly mixed in the almond butter because I like having a little almond buttery surprise in the middle. Seal this up and leave it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, I drizzled on just a tad of the maple syrup.
Perfect, easy, yummy and held me way over until lunch.
P.S. Get that cute PB&J wallet at Fredflare.
I recently mentioned my new addiction to Bikram yoga & peanut flour, but failed to explain what peanut flour is and why it’s awesome. So, here goes. But before you scroll down you should know I am a terrible pancake flipper and objects on blog are yummier than they appear.
I was first introduced to powdered peanut butter a year or so ago when I heard about PB2. At the time, I was a PB junkie (ok, still am) and it was tempting to try a PB product that carried a similar protein amount with less calories and fat. I have to admit, although it was only a taste test, I wasn’t crazy about it. Enter Trader Joe’s Peanut Flour. I had heard of other companies making peanut flour that you could order, but it wasn’t until Julie (also my inspiration for the peanut flour pancakes) discovered that Trader Joe’s was carrying their very own, that I lost my bananas. It was time to revisit powdered peanut butter. Peanut Flour can be used for multiple things, but if you add a little bit of water, you can make your own peanut buttery spread. And get a load of the stats on this Peanut puppy: 110 calories for 1/4 cup, only 2 grams of sugar, only 8 grams of a carbs and a super sco
op of 16 grams of protein! You can make your own lower calorie Peanut butter, mix it in to smoothies, shakes and puddings and/or make peanut flour pancakes until your heart’s content.
If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you that’s just a crime. But you can buy it online from Byrd Mill.
P.S. I also wanted to start sharing with you what I am going to be doing in terms of my fitness/workout plan. I’m trying to kick my butt into super high gear.
Today I:
Ran for 35 minutes on the treadmill
P90x Chest, Back + Ab Ripper
I’m going to be ripped by tomorrow .