Vegan MoFo Survey #3

So October is VeganMoFo month. What, you say? Isa of Post Punk Kitchen created VMF as a month to express ones creativity with veganism. Last year I followed along fairly haphazardly, but this year I created a VeganMoFo blog search feed for my RSS reader, and man has it been nice to see some great recipes.

But I also ran across this survey from Liz over at Food Snobbery is my Hobbery. And I figured since I normally run away from labeling myself a vegan, fearing the vitriolic reaction people often get from runs in with the dreaded vegangelicals, that I would play along and get another blog posting out of the deal.

So here goes:

1. Name a song that involves food in some way.

Lemongrass - Parker Paul (Sadly, I can not find a free streaming copy, but know it is a great great great song)

2. What criteria do you use when choosing a new cookbook to buy?

It has been forever sense I bought a cookbook. I really just pursue the web for ideas and fill in the blanks with what I have. I am not one who colors well in the lines and recipes are just templates for me, so just seeing a dish gives me many ideas of how to get to the food being in my belly. I do often look through cook books at the store or library though, just to get ideas.

3. What did you eat today?

Just under a pound of pickles for breakfast (I have a serious pickle problem currently), a banana, rice noodles with a spicy peanut sauce, curried quinoa salad with chickpeas and assorted veggies, 1.5 bunches of kale. 1/4 a bar of dark chocolate.

4. Name a vegan food that you know exists but you have never tried.

Corn dogs. I thankfully have never seen one either. I might have to hit the person who was wielding it. Let the meat centric dishes go people! Embrace the veggies and the good health they will bring. Eff the meat substitutes!!!

5. The Food Network just called and needs you to start your new show tomorrow. What will the title of the show be?

Great Greens and Grains

6. Favorite hot sauce or other spicy condiment?

I use Siracha like ketchup. There are others, but I am certainly having a difficult time thinking of them.

7. How old were you when you became vegetarian/vegan?

Vegetarian: 11
Vegan: 17

8. Favorite vegan cheeze?

I make a sort of tofu ricotta that i really like. I have not bought commercial vegan cheeze in years and really see no point to change that soon.It has been so long I just do not miss it.

9. Cutest baby animal?

Marsupial babies! preferably pandas, but I take what I can get.

10. Favorite type of jam/jelly/marmalade/preserves?

I almost exclusively eat blueberry fruit spreads.

11. Do you take any vitamins/supplements?

Just B-12.

12. What food/dish most embodies the Fall season?

Stuffed squash

13. What food would you have a hard time living without?

Pickles.

14. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Tea all the way. It has been far more than 10 years since i have had either of the other two.

15. It's 10 PM and you're starving. What do you eat?

If I am home, hummus and raw veggies/pita. If i am out, falafel.

16. If you have an animal companion, what is his/her favorite food?

Sadly, my kitty got old and no longer needed this world.

17. Worst injury you've gotten in the kitchen?

I cut off about an 1/8th of an inch of my left ring finger chopping broccoli for tofu scramble Jan 1st, 2000. Good times!!!

18. When you have a food-related question, who do you call?

No one. People seem to call me though.

19. Summer is ending- What food will you miss most?

Fresh tomatoes.

20. What snacks do you keep in your purse/backpack/desk at work?

Almonds or other nuts and/or bananas

21. Favorite soup to make on a rainy day?

A carrot ginger lime soup I made up, or really make up a new every time i make it.

22. What's your favorite combination of fresh vegetable and/or fruit juices?

I really do not have a favorite, I do enjoy tarter juices to sweeter juices though.

23. Favorite brand of root beer?

Most taste like diabetes to me, so I would rather have one mixed at a soda fountain sans all that sweet crap.

Vegangelicals

Vegangelicals. WTF is that?

Well Vegan Bits posted what is quite possibly the best post on the subject.

Every movement has those that want to steam power you into their way of thinking. I always think this type of person needs to have others agree with them as their value stems more from others than from within. Vegangelicals are the fanatical vegans that try to make everyone feel horrible about themselves if they do not behave/think/eat like them. They are Brownshirts whose only goal in life seems to be "making the trains run on time".

I was completely unaware of this term, but not the type, until the NY Times published an article 2 weeks ago, I Love You, but You eat Meat. The Urban Vegan was quoted using it saying, “I’m not a vegangelical. He’s an adult and I respect his choices just as he respects mine, ” describing how she is able to live with and love an omnivore. I feel in love with it immediately. She recently posted another great bit on her blog about how her using the term has caused a small uproar from other vegans. She rightly puts them in their place.

If you could not guess from this post so far, I am vegan, have been now for over 17 years. But about 7 years ago I stopped ever referring to myself as vegan as I was utterly sick of the associations people were making with me, comparing me to some holier-than-thou vegan they had met that immediately soured their opinion on the concept entirely. So, as I am less than fanatical, I have been a vegetarian that does not eat any animal products ever since.

My goal is to consume what my values afford me, and let everyone else do the same. Would I mind if someone felt my values were great and wanted to join up and follow them, hell no. But preaching and/or demanding that others follow my way of thinking is about as appealing ever going back to eating meat; thus, the Vegan Bits piece made me extremely happy as they put many of my feelings on the subject into words. Words I have been far too lazy to ever type out. The idea that anyone can change anyones mind through intimidation has always seemed silly to me. Actions are emulated, force and intimidation only begets resistance.

Live they way your body/mind tells you to and let others do the same.