special christmas tilt!

This week, in honour of the spirit of Christmas and general non-denominational holiday goodwill, tilt is all about things that money can't buy. In no particular order, as always:

• Baking. I have rediscovered the joy of baking since reintroducing wheat into my diet, and I have been having SO MUCH FUN I can barely stand it! My boyfriend definitely benefits ("Here, have another slice of cake before it dries out..."; "Let me make you some coffee, I think you need a snack to go with your coffee."), as does anyone that I am visiting this season (boyfriend's family got these for Christmas eve). Gluten-free baking can definitely be done successfully, and vegan baking can be done successfully, but it's a rare occasion where both of these things meet and don't taste, er, healthy. Or more likely, where they meet and don't end in complete disaster, the kind of disaster where loaves of bread weigh 12 lbs and need you to put your shoulder into it to slice off a piece (let's not even talk about that). My biggest fear in gluten-free baking was the cost. Four-cup bags of flour for eight dollars don't lend themselves to experimentation, and honestly, it was just cheaper for me to avoid grains entirely. I've spent the last three years away from baking, which I had only just started to discover, and I didn't realise until I started doing it again that I really, really missed it a lot.
• Family. This year we spent the pre-Christmas frenzy with my boyfriend's family. It was a difficult time - my boyfriend's uncle passed away just over a week ago (hence no tilt last week) - so it felt more poignant somehow, more significant and urgent that we visit and let everyone know that we care. I am truly blessed to have an extended family that welcomes me without prejudice and with such warmth and genuine interest and caring - and I am not the type to throw the term 'blessed' around so you know it's the real deal. Of course, my family is no less important. They are smaller in numbers, and sometimes frustrating in the way that only relatives can be ("What do you mean, you can cook me fish instead? I'm vegan! I don't eat animals! A fish is an animal!" - true story that made me feel like I was 16 all over again), but they have big hearts and have helped to shape me into the person that I am today.
• Friends. Somehow December has been a total dud for seeing my wonderful friends, but I am determined to make January and February the new December. I am not a person who has a lot of friends, but the few people I count among my friends are very important to me and I am extremely fortunate to have them in my life.
• Cats. Okay, so they wake me up at 4:00am, they eat paper, they sleep in my clothes, they knock things off shelves and are pretty much the reason I don't want grown-up (read: expensive) furniture. And this is why I love them so much. Elvis, Fidel and Morgan, you probably scared away potential suitors who took me for one of those types (the social message of a single girl with three cats is not lost on me), and for that I thank you because you have made me more tolerant, more understanding, more caring and more appreciative of the small things.
• Music. Not albums, radio, MP3s, but just notes strung together into an order that commits to memory.
  

tilt

I realise this would be more exciting if I posted more often that just once a week. However, it's gifting season, so I have been busy sewing and cutting and printing and modpodging...but no photos of the crafting, because that would give away the surprise! I did make some ornaments, but on account of my camera not being with me right now I can't upload any photos.

I have also been job hunting. I am employed, but my little start-up company is rumoured to have only a short time left, and morale is at an all-time low (probably the most dangerous thing, more dangerous than not having money). I am suprised at how the job market is...well, beyond slow. It shouldn't be shocking, but I can't remember ever having seen such a low volume of new postings. Oh well, it's almost the new year, and things will look up. Convincing?

Since it's Thursday, I bring you another TILT!

• Driving shoes. Specifically these ones - which are somewhere between a loafer and a driving shoe, but most importantly they can be thrown in the washing machine! So they don't get stinky! I don't like socks so much so these are perfect. I already have two pairs BUT NOT IN THAT COLOUR! So these are on my list for this year.
• Having a heater under my desk at work. The office is freezing but I am toasty while I am working, thanks to an extra heater finding its way under my desk and keeping my legs and feet warm.
• Denim. Yes, I love jeans, but that's not what I am talking about here. I have been making my holiday crafts using pieces of denim from my collection and then embroidering festive motifs on them (photos soon!) and I just love how they have ended up looking clean and modern, yet rustic at the same time. I think it helps that our tree is white and then all the ornaments are either light or dark denim (I like a theme).
• Eyeglasses! I have been switching up between my old frames and really like them as an accessory.

tilt

I am taking a cue from Gala Darling and am going to try to post TILT entries. For those of you who have never seen Gala's site (how you have been missing out!), it's called iCiNG. TILT is "Things I Love Thursday." When it's so easy to get distracted by either the nonsense small things or the nonsense big things, it's important to remember the things you love. Although I try to be thankful every day, putting it in writing really makes me think about what it is that keeps me going every day.

1. My boyfriend. Maybe a given, but I often take him for granted. He is the one that gets the short end of my day, and it's not fair so I am trying to do better. It's easy to fall into a rut where he only gets the leftover energy at the end of the day, which is so often bad energy, and he is so deserving of more. This is why they say it takes work to keep a relationship. Honorable mention to him also for eating my (often experimental) vegan dishes without any bias, and actually requesting repeats!
   
   
2. Holiday crafts. I've never been especially festive or keen on doing a lot of decorating. This year I feel differently, and will be making some of these guys for display in both seasonal and non-seasonal colours.
   
   
3. Weleda. I have been using their Skin Food for the extra-dry spots on my hands (they don't respond well to winter) and just picked up their Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream. Such pretty smells! To me they smell healthy and clean. Plus the Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream doesn't leave greasy fingerprints on my keyboard (a big issue).
   
   I just noticed that the website says that Skin Food is an all-over cream. For me it is a little too greasy so I just put it on the spots where my skin is red and chapped.
   
   
4. Bigelow Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine. Seriously fantastic.
   
   
5. Crisp fall/winter air. Every year it's so disheartening when the days get shorter and it's dark well before leaving work, however my secret favourite thing is the feeling of the air when the seasons change from summer to fall and then again from fall to winter.
   
   
6. Mason jars. So timeless and chic! I use them for absolutely everything, from storing leftovers to carrying smoothies to keeping bathroom goodies organized. The wide-mouth ones are my favourite. You can buy them new for cheap, and if you are so inclined they are very easily embellished.
   
   
7. Eyeliner. Thanks to the always lovely Janis, I found myself with a DuWop EyeCatcher pencil. At first I only used it for special occasions, but it's slowly become part of my everyday morning routine. Secret: I use the one for brown eyes, even though my eyes are blue, which was not intentional however I love the office-appropriate drama it creates!
   
   
8. Menswear for women. Annie Hall is the cultural benchmark, and I love how this look can be updated with different silhouettes. I'm slowly moving towards a work uniform of sorts, and the menswear shirt with trousers is a strong frontrunner. Add a vest in the spring/fall, and a pullover or cardigan when temperatures are cooler. Librarian chic is also a possibility, however I really am partial to a good trouser and the librarian chic does best with a skirt I think.

Vegan MoFo Survey

Via My Vegan Spoons:

1. Choose between locally grown or organic, which do you usually choose?

I prefer local. I like the fuzzy feeling of knowing where my food is from.

2. Favorite way to prepare potatoes:

I like them mashed, with garlic. Mmmm.

3. Do you press your tofu before preparing/cooking it (if you eat soy)?

I have pressed tofu only a handful of times. I just don't have the patience so I usually buy the extra-firm.

4. Name your favorite recipe that is a tradition in your family:

Candy Cane Cookies.

5. Any food allergies?

Clearly you are just meeting me.

Gluten, dairy, egg, strawberries.

6. When you want to go to a fancy dinner, where do you go?

Fressen. (um, what has happened to their website?) I highly recommend their Taro things, deep-fried goodness!

7. When you have a cold, what do you crave?

Hot and Sour Soup. And potato chips.

8. What kind of water do you drink? (Filtered, spring, tap, etc.)

Tap water.

9. Name a flavor of soda you'd love to see:

I am not a big fan of carbonated drinks, but I really like the taste of Banana Almond Milk. I know that isn't really an answer.

10. If the recipes you ate as a child were compiled into a cookbook, what would the title be?

Five Things To Do With Pasta. Or, Six Meals You Can Make With One Pot. I love my mother, but a chef she was not.

11. If you were allowed to grow one food that can't grow in your climate, what would it be?

Avocado. Or pineapple.

12. Favorite type of mushroom?

I feel that the shiitake is the bready, unsung hero of the mushroom world.

13. Most frustrating part of your kitchen?

The food and oil residue that is permanently baked onto the floor, walls and ceiling from previous tenants. My kitchen never really looks clean.

14. Last food you burned?

A chunk of toast that was stuck in the toaster yesterday.

15. Usual response to a veg*n's favorite question, "But where do you get your protein?":

Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes. Occasionally soy but I try not to eat too much of it.

16. If you were baking your own birthday cake today, what flavor would it be?

Jos Louis flavour. Or just a box of gluten-free vegan Jos Louis. If anyone wants to make me gluten-free Fauxstess Cupcakes, I would so kiss you.

17. Favorite brand of chocolate chips?

I don't really have a favourite brand. Just whatever has no dairy and is actually made of chocolate.

18. You have $200 of your tax return reserved for Williams Sonoma- What do you buy?

The Le Creuset Dutch Oven and a Citrus Reamer.

19. Do you plan your menus in advance? Any tips to share?

I try. My biggest tip is to have a huge salad for lunch every day. To make it easy I make a big jar of dressing at the start of the week and bring it to work. I pre-chop salad vegetables and keep a tub of tofu marinating (from a recipe in reFresh) in the fridge so assembly is fast. I also try to make one or two large-quantity dishes on the weekend, freeze half of each and then eat leftovers and fresh greens for dinner every night. The half that gets frozen is for variety when I am out of ideas.

20. You have 3 minutes before you have to leave the house and you're starving- What do you eat?

Quick salad. Or, the typical Lazy Vegan answer - rice cake with nut butter, banana and raisins, and a glass of spirulina.

21. If Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, and Rachel Ray got into a fight, who would win?

It would TOTALLY be Paula Deen! Those Southern Belles, they are so tough!

22. If you eat oatmeal, what do you add to it before serving?

I don't eat oatmeal (due to contamination from gluten), but I do have flaked quinoa porridge or cream of rice cereal. I like it pretty plain, just the way my grandparents make it - with a swirl of milk and Rogers Golden Syrup.

23. If you got to travel to one country and learn all the traditional dishes there, where would you go (ignore commitments in your current place of residence)?

I have a soft spot for Italy.

24. Favorite late night snack?

Nacho chips and hummus.

25. Favorite springtime food?

Asparagus!

26. Favorite food-related magazine?

The vegetarian/vegan ones are often disappointing...I like delicious or olive. I really just like pictures, and trying to figure out how I can adapt the recipes.

27. Which do you prefer: shoyu, tamari, conventional soy sauce, or Bragg's Aminos?

I haven't had anything other than Bragg's for about 3 years. I think I like tamari but can't quite recall.

28. What vegetable or fruit do you dislike the most?

Durian. Eeew.

29. Name a holiday food you look forward to all year long:

Raw Almond Nog!

30. If you could convert anyone to veganism with your magic wand, who would you convert?

First choice is my boyfriend, for his health but also the selfish reason that I wouldn't come home and find tripe in my fridge (yes, really). I would also pick someone of influence who isn't seen as radical, counter-culture or granola - like Oprah, or Martha Stewart - to show that veganism is about compassion, health and inclusion, and so that they would have the power to enact change (and perhaps grow a chain of vegan fast-food restaurants - a girl can dream).

Darkness

I often wonder how the Scandinavian people do it, how they maintain sunny dispositions and positive outlooks for months and months with what we are led to believe is limited sunlight. I believe I have long Scandinavian winters to thank for the delightfully large lighting section at Ikea.

I come from a family that will sit underneath a lamp at night and not turn the light on. I'm not sure why, but we all do it. I often have to remind myself to fight my instincts and turn on the lights.

Despite having windows on all sides and facing all directions, my apartment is dark. There are two large trees out front that stop the light from coming in the living room. This is a blessing in the summer to keep out the morning heat. In the winter the leaves are off the trees and the light comes streaming in and forms the perfect backdrop for a cozy breakfast.

The bedroom has more of a glow than the advantage of any direct beams. I think it gets the best sun in the afternoon but the only time I am in the bedroom is for starting sleeping or finishing sleeping, I haven't monitored the light situation closely but I seem to recall a blissful slice hitting the bathroom over the afternoon and for sure the bedroom shares that sun.

I was going to paint one wall of the bedroom a rich gray colour but now in anticipation of the changing seasons I am leaning towards a crisp white.

Comfort Food

I'm not very political or activist-minded. I make my choices fairly quietly and feel that the best answer for anything, even if nobody has asked the question, is good food.

Being gluten-free and also free of meat, dairy and egg, there are obviously a few foods that have needed, er, adjustments so that they may remain in my repertoire. The one that has stalked me, ever since I first cut out dairy, is macaroni and cheese.

Mmm, the gooey noodleyness of warm melty cheese with slippery al dente noodles and little crunchy browned bready bits on top. Just thinking about it makes me hungry and ready to curl up under a blanket with a big bowl, a fork and the teevee.

I have tried vegan cheese, I have tried soy milk, I have tried tofu. I finally found something tasty, tinkered, and came up with some tummy-warming goodness that has no equal.

I give you my new favourite Macaroni and Cheese. Be warned: it uses three (three!) separate pots, but I can assure you the dishes are worth it.

Ingredients:
1 lb gluten-free pasta, elbows or shells (Tinkyada is the brand that I use)
1/4 cup grapeseed oil or melted vegan butter
1 small yellow onion, diced finely
1/4 cup gluten-free flour (sorghum works well, or baking mix if you have it)
2 cups non-dairy milk (I like unsweetened almond milk but rice milk or soy milk will work too)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne (depending how you feel about heat)
1 clove of garlic, minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan topping:
1/3 cup walnuts
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
Generous pinch of sea salt (or to taste)

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F.

Prepare topping while you are waiting for pasta water to boil. Put walnuts, nutritional yeast and salt in a food processor and pulse until combined and the texture of parmesan cheese. I have a small food processor attachment that goes on my hand blender that is perfect for this.

First pot: Cook pasta until just al dente. You can start the water while you prep the other ingredients, and put the sauces on when the pasta goes in (the Tinjyada elbows take about 15 minutes to cook).

Second pot (white sauce): In large pot over medium heat, heat grapeseed oil or vegan butter until melted. Add onion and saute for a few minutes until softened but not browned (if some bits brown it isn't the end of the world). Add 1/4 cup flour along with salt and pepper to taste, and whisk for one minute. Pour in non-dairy milk and continue whisking.

Third pot(cheese sauce): In smaller saucepan, heat olive oil and add nutritional yeast, corn starch, cayenne, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper plus 1 cup of water. Whisk until sauce thickens.

Pour cheese sauce into white sauce and whisk to combine. Add in drained macaroni and stir. Top with Parmesan topping. Make sure your oven racks are in the middle (not the top) of your oven and bake for 20 minutes. Turn on broiler and DO NOT WALK AWAY! It should take just a few minutes for the top of your macaroni and cheese to brown and get crispy, but guaranteed if you leave the kitchen as you are broiling your dish will catch fire (I speak from experience here).

Take out of the oven, let sit for 10 minutes so you don't burn your tongue, and then serve to hungry omnivores who were dubious about your excitement. Prove them wrong and watch them have seconds.

Note that the photo doesn't show the vegan parmesan topping (in case you are looking for it), I made that addition after I took photos but then I was so excited to eat I forgot that I was supposed to take a new picture. Just imagine if you sprinkled a crumbly breadcrumb-like topping and then broiled until crispy.

The Vegan Hundred

I love lists, and I love food, so I have concluded that there is truly no better way to start off a blog than with a list about food.

Hannah Kaminsky (of BitterSweet blog and My Sweet Vegan fame) has created The Vegan Hundred, a much friendlier version of the Omnivore’s Hundred. Check out Hannah’s post for yourself.

Here is how to play:

1) Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
5) Pass it on!

Here is my list:

1. Natto
2. Green Smoothie
3. Tofu Scramble
4. Haggis
5. Mangosteen
6. Creme brulee
7. Fondue
8. Marmite/Vegemite
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Nachos
12. Authentic soba noodles
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Taco from a street cart
16. Boba Tea
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Gyoza
20. Vanilla ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Ceviche
24. Rice and beans
25. Knish
26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Caviar
29. Baklava
30. Pate
31. Wasabi peas
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Mango lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Mulled cider
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Fast food french fries
41. Raw Brownies
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans
43. Dahl
44. Homemade Soymilk
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Stroopwafle
47. Samosas
48. Vegetable Sushi
49. Glazed doughnut
50. Seaweed
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Tofurkey
54. Sheese
55. Cotton candy
56. Gnocchi
57. Piña colada
58. Birch beer
59. Scrapple
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Soy curls
63. Chickpea cutlets
64. Curry
65. Durian
66. Homemade Sausages
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake
68. Smoked tofu
69. Fried plantain
70. Mochi
71. Gazpacho
72. Warm chocolate chip cookies
73. Absinthe
74. Corn on the cob
75. Whipped cream, straight from the can
76. Pomegranate
77. Fauxstess Cupcake
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy
79. Jerky
80. Croissants
81. French onion soup
82. Savory crepes
83. Tings
84. A meal at Candle 79
85. Moussaka
86. Sprouted grains or seeds
87. Macaroni and “cheese”
88. Flowers
89. Matzoh ball soup
90. White chocolate
91. Seitan
92. Kimchi
93. Butterscotch chips
94. Yellow watermelon
95. Chili with chocolate
96. Bagel and Tofutti
97. Potato milk
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Raw cookie dough

Updated: I realised I have actually had Boba tea on many occasions, although I know it as Bubble tea. One of my favourite things, with a giant straw to catch all the bubbles!