Happy Robbie Burns Day

Vegan Haggis… but I still refuse to eat it! I got this from Veg World

This recipe can be prepared in advance, ready to bake before serving. The quantities are for four people, but don't worry if the servings look small - the dish is very filling.
• ½ cup (3 oz, 75 g) fine oatmeal (the pinhead variety works best)
• 2/3 cup (4 oz, 110g) of brown or green lentils
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 large carrots, finely grated
• 4 to 6 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tsp. ground spices (your choice of cumin, turmeric, paprika or nutmeg, in any combination)
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• One 14-oz (400 g) can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Knob of dairy-free margarine
Oven: Pre-heat to 375F (190C)
Put the oatmeal in a bowl and cover with water. Let it stand for at least an hour. Drain thoroughly.
Place the lentils in a pan of water and boil rapidly for 20 - 30 minutes or until soft (the time will vary according to the type of lentils). When the lentils are ready, drain and rinse them in a sieve.
Sautée the onion in the oil until it is soft. Add the carrots and mushrooms, and cook for a little longer. Then add the spices, soy sauce, cooked lentils and about a quarter of the kidney beans.
Using a food processor or blender, purée the remainder of the beans to form a thick paste (add a little water if necessary to prevent it getting too stiff). Add this to the lentil and vegetable mixture.
Finally, add the drained oatmeal, salt and pepper, and the garlic. If the mixture looks too dry, add the margarine. Mix well.
Transfer to an oven-proof dish and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Hello Grade 9

Why is it that all the people around me, seem like they are still living in grade nine??? I've taken a hard, long look at them and most are in their 30's, good jobs, dress like adults, yet, act like grade niners.

~They gossip

~They ignore you when you ask a question

~They talk about things that I would think kids in grade nine would talk about, such as video games, or TV shows meant for teenagers.

~They judge you by what you are wearing

~They have meaningless conversations... blah blah blah

I would like to escape from this never ending grade nine nightmare. I expecting to start running down a highschool hallway, past the lockers, naked and never able to get to the door at the end. You know that dream, the one where everyone is pointing and laughing. I'm sure it will happen, these people are all around me!

Where did the weekend go?

It was a busy one. New issue is live a shebytches.com, I entered a 24 hour short story contest. Fingers crossed I win! I also did alot of cooking! I cooked:

slow cooker chana masala
magical meatloaf.. recipe is a few entries below
mash potatoes and mushroom gravy
faux beef stew
coffee cake
brownies

all vegan, all yummy... I would take pictures but my camera is shit. I need to buy a new one!!!!!

needless to say I have tonnes of food for the week. of course tomorrow I'm fasting and every monday going forward.

Zine Makers and Beguiling Toronto

Zine Makers
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email us at indiereviews@shebytches.com

cheers!

New Recipes posted at V V

We have new recipes posted at Voluptuous Vegans.

A day too long...

Today is the first official day off the fast. It's the day of orange juice! I am however wondering if I went a day too long. By mid afternoon yesterday the lemonade was upsetting my stomach, but the time I drank the last glass it was worse. My body was definetly telling me I was done.

I am so looking forward to tomorrow when I get to eat fruit and soup!!!

I'm done!

Today is going to be the last day of my fast. My body is telling me it's done, so, I'm done! Tomorrow is orange juice all day. Then the next two days are lemonade in the am, seeds and fruit for lunch, veggie soup for dinner. After that I will follow a similar diet but will not eat soup every night, will have a nice healthy meal.

Day 14 What is that I'm seeing.

Is it the light at the end of the tunnel?

Tomorrow will officially be the last day of the fast. I could probably stop today, but said 15 days so will do one more. My body has told me it's done, so it's done. My tongue is pink again, and I haven't lost any more weight for two days, so those are the signs I am doneskys!!!

I will be glad to taste something other than lemonade and tea. I am massively craving spicey foods and am obsessing about food!!!

New issue of shebytches.com

It's live and ready for you to read!!!

Magical Meatloaf

Ok, I haven’t actually tried this yet. I made the recipe using the Magical Meatloaf generator at the Vegan Lunchbox Blog. Jennifer is brilliant by the way :)

Once I am done the fast, this is the first thing I am cooking. Please go ahead and try it in the meantime and let me know what happens.

Magical Meatloaf

Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnuts
2 TB canola oil
One onion, diced
One large garlic clove, minced
Two celery ribs, diced
One cup mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
2 cups vegetarian burger or sausage crumbles
1 cup dry whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable broth, as needed
1/2 cup uncooked polenta
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. ground cumin
Several dashes vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce
2 TB soy sauce
1 can tomato sauce

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350º. Spray a loaf pan or 8x8 square baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside (an 8x8 pan makes a crisper loaf).

Grind the walnuts into a coarse meal using a food processor or spice/coffee grinder. Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Sauté any vegetables you've chosen in the vegetable oil until soft. Add to the large mixing bowl along with all the remaining ingredients. Mix and mash together well, adding only as much liquid as needed to create a soft, moist loaf that holds together and is not runny (you may not need to add any liquid if the grains and protein are very moist). Add more binder/carbohydrate as needed if the loaf seems too wet.
Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cooked through. Add the tomato sauce to the top of the loaf during the last 10 minutes.

Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn out onto a plate or platter and slice. Serve with potatoes, vegetables, and vegetarian gravy, if desired.
Cold leftover slices of make a great sandwich filling.

Lucky #13

13 has always been a lucky number for me. Why people think it is unlucky I will never understand. Today is day 13. Once I get through today, 2 more days of fasting and three to come off. I am soooo looking forward to Wednesday morning when I can finally sip orange juice!

I am keeping myself preoccupied with getting my work caught up. Yesterday I finished designing all the new 1" buttons for Shebytches.com and finished off zines. I just need to print them, take one final look and off to the printer they go. Then I have the next one to put together. Today I am writing all day. Being at home and near the fridge makes it hard. Every time I open the fridge to get water or my lemonade I am faced with all the food that staring back at me begging to eaten. I usually tell it to 'Fuck Off' and then shut the door.

Some how I have gotten it in my head that the first thing I am going to cook when I can finally eat regular food again is Vegan Meatless Loaf. There is a yummy looking recipe in La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer, so, me thinks that is the one I will be making! The God's know I have worn out all three of her cookbooks in the last week, fantasying about what recipes I will make when the fast is over!

Day 12 Slow but sure...

It's day 12 and I am officially at the point of is it day 15 yet? I was ok up until about late yesterday afternoon. I LOVE the lemonade, but am getting bored with it. Really bored. I have been reading through my cookbooks and stating 'when I'm done the fast... I'm going to make that and that and that...' so that's not helping. I am just hoping the white coating is gone on my tongue by day 15. It's still there, though it does seem a bit less today.

I've also just discovered that you can download a pdf of the master cleanse book. In a way I wish I had know that from the first cleanse, but am a book whore and would have bought it anyway, but for those of you wanting to do the cleanse and having a hard time getting the book, print off the pdf.

I'm also back on the Senna tea for the weekend. Man does that stuff work...

~Tips to succeed at a fast/cleanse (my tips anyway):
~Prepare yourself mentally ahead of time. For a week or more before pump yourself up.
~Prepare your fridge. Make sure you eat up all the food that will go bad and don't have anything in your fridge that will tempt you to eat. Though condiments do look mighty tasty when you are hungry.
~Have your ingredients ready the day before. Make sure you always have enough for a few days at a time. This saves less trips to the grocery store. You need, lemons, grade 3 organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water, senna tea and peppermint tea (to aid upset tummy)
~Only do it if you know you can do it for 10 days straight. If you have a dinner or wedding or function to attend half way through, don't do the cleanse.
~Follow the three days of coming off instructions. Don't go nuts and start gorging yourself on food right away. Your stomach will revolt!

If I think of any more I will add them :)

Whoo hoo Day 11

I'm officially past the 10 day mark. If I do only end up doing 15 days that means 4 and half more to do. I feel great. My skin is glowing. I'm losing inches. I feel light and healthy! The only complaint is the constant gross film that is on my teeth. No matter how much I brush I can't seem to get rid of it!

I'm also afraid I will have to start drinking the Senna again over the weekend. No BM's since Wednesday. I'm assuming because there just isn't anything in there but... the book says you should still have movements ever day. Which I don't get but...

Check out this thread at the theppk.com. It's about the cleanse http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16356&p=1. You should should check out theppk.com anyway and buy their cookbooks!

Too cool for words......

Apple is taking over the world it seems and I am glad. The new iPhone is their latest gadget and it is uber cool! I want one!

This is also out of the world. Google Earth has released a new version. Check it out!

Day 10 This Lemonade's becoming famous.

The lemonade recipe is becoming very popular it seems. Not as a cleanse/fast but as a drink. I've now read, in several magazines, it's health benefits (huge kick of Vit C for starters). Especially for this time of year. Again I saw a blurb about it this morning, this time in Eye magazine.

I can understand it's poplularity. It's tasty, the ingredients are very basic and it's easy to make. As a matter of fact I'm going to share the recipe with you now:

2 TBSPs fresh squeezed lemon juice (organic preferred but not necessary)
2 TBSPs Pure Maple Syrup (Grade #3, you can buy it at Big Carrot and most heath food markets)
pinch of cayenne

You can serve it cold, room temp or hot. Hot is nice is you need something soothing.

Drink up!

In other news....

Starbucks is now supporting vegans.... in a small way. They are introducing Vegan brownies!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 9 Here I come

I'm more than half way! 9 down, 6? to go (plus 3 days to come off). Though once in a while I get a urge to eat food, seeing and smelling it actually repulses me. So does many peoples body order. The longer into the fast I go the more sensitive to smell I become. Having to take the subway every single day isn't helping!

I've also been doing alot of reading on juice fasting. Most of the authors fast. I'm not surprised. They do regular lengthy fasts a few times a year, plus they do a one day fast every single week. They have food for 6 days, juice fast for one. The reason they do this is to not lose the benefits of the longer fasts. Fasting once a week helps the body to continue detoxing. Once the fast is done, I am also going to start practicing this. I think I might do it on Monday's. It's a great way to start the week off.

Day 8 Half way?

It's day 8, if I choose to do only 15 days, this means I am half way there. Well... of the fast part anyway. I will still have three days to come off the fast after that. Overall I am feeling really good. Am tired this morning, but that is because I had another night of fitful sleep and bizarre dreams.

The dreams get weirder to. I had one where I was tasting food and then spitting it out, because I wasn't allowed to eat anything, but desperately wanted to taste food. Crazy, Crazy, but am not surprised.

The last few nights I have also been going through all my vegan cookbooks marking all the new stuff I am going to be trying out. I promised myself last fast that I will try new things all the time and not eat the same things over and over again. Life is too short!

Day 7 Sweet Lemonade!

I'm now at the point in the fast where I start to enjoy it. Last night I had a better sleep and woke up energized, which is a bit odd for a Monday morning. I am also starting to see a physical difference. I've lost 1.5 inches so far, my skin is starting to glow and over all am feeling good.

I know I still have a long ways to go, but am no longer counting down to the end. I know there isn't a specific end, whether it be 15 or 20 days, I will just know when the time is right.

Day 6 Hello, Hello, Hello, is there anybody out there, out there, out there

It's day six and my stomach feels hollow. It surprises me that there is still anything in there, but apparently there is. I've decided to lay off the Senna, I can't chance an upset stomach tomorrow, being Monday and I have to take the subway... with my luck there will be a delay or something.

Otherwise, feel strong and in over all great mood. My cough is GONE. I again thank the super doses of Vit C from the lemons.

I just wish I could stop dreaming about food and craving it. Last night I dreamt I cooked a huge feast. Then the cravings (yes these are all vegan):

Poutine
Club Sandwich
Pizza
Salt and Vinegar Chips
tacos

That is making me nuts. As well each time I open the fridge to get my lemonade I am tortured by all the food that is in there!

Tomorrow is day 7... almost half way!

1930's movie obsession

I'm obsessed with the 1930's. You can see just how much by reading this.

Lately I've been watching tonnes of movies from the 1930's on TMC. The most amazing I've seen in the last few days were Jezebelle, 42nd St and White Banners. I so love that era!

New issue @ Shebytches.com

The new issue is LIVE!!! Live I tell you. Also check out our new 1" buttons.

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Day 5 Senna cleaner upper

It's day 5 and I am now 1/3 of the way through. I feel pretty good, other than the gurgling tummy. That is part there is nothing in there and part the Senna Tea I am using. I used it last time as well and I will tell you. It works almost too well! It's from Celebration Herbals. I've also had their peppermint tea and so far it is the yummiest. I have a picture on the left. It isn't of the Senna Tea but it will give you an idea of what the box looks like incase you are looking for a good Laxative tea. I will warn you though, if you need to go somewhere and won't be near a washroom for a long period of time. Don't drink it. It starts working after 2-4 hours. At least it does for me.

I haven't tried the lemonade hot yet, but will this evening. Viki say's it's super yummy!

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Day 4 Gurgle Gurgle

My stomach won't stop gurgling and it now has that familar hollow feeling. This is the same as the last time. Day four all the weird noises start. Day 4 the weight or shall I say fat starts to melt away as well. When I measured myself this morning I lost an inch off my waist and belly.

I am finding with this round that I have less energy. The factor to that is I was ill with the flu right before starting the fast. Hopefully that will change soon! I am also going to start yoga again tonight. I've been too exhausted to do it the last few days.

I also read last night that having nightmare in the first part of a fast is normal. That would explain all the bizarre dreams!!!!!!

It's all downhill on skiis from here :)

Day 3 Over the hump day

It's day 3 today. It seemed last time that once I got past day three things were peachy. I am guessing it takes at least that long for your body to get use to the liquid diet and to stop being hungry. I also noticed last time that it was after day 3 that I also started to lose weight. Seems to be the same right now. I have measured myself each morning and no change yet.

As with last time I am very sensitive to smell. The man beside me on the subway reeked of garlic. The car was packed and I couldn't move.... yuck!

My cough seems to be going away as well. I am sure it is from the mega dose of Vit C I am getting from the lemons.

Again last night with the bizarre dreams... not sure if it's the fast or the full moon.

I am also craving tonnes of things:

salt and vinegar chips
toast and jam
baked beans
club house sandwich??? though now I am going to create a recipe for a vegan one.

Day 2 Stop Annoying me!

Grrrrrrrrrrr am very cranky this morning. I didn't sleep well at all last night due to getting up several times to pee and bizarre dreams. I had bizarre dreams last fast but for some reason thought they were later on.

To top it all of people are really annoying me this morning. Between bumping into me and torturing me with their coffee smells and bad body odour! Take a bloody shower or use some deodorant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least I didn't wake up hungry. Just cranky!

Day 1 Phase 2 of the Cleanse

It's been three months since the first Cleanse. It's a new year and a second cleanse. Today is day 1. Oddly I woke up craving toast and jam and right this very second am very hungry. That's not normal for me. I have to say it is psycological!!! and nothing else. Once I get past day 3 it is smooth sailing... and at this point day 3 seems light years away!

Viki and Janis started yesterday, so they are already on Day 2. As with the last cleanse I will keep you updated.

12:41 the smell of other peoples lunches is making me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

At least I'm not having caffiene withdrawal this time.... That was the worst of it last time.

Time for another peppermint tea

2:33 pm am on my third glass of lemonade.. trying to kill the hunger pangs. I intend on doing this fast till my tongue is pink... last time I did the fast I stopped at 10 days and probably should have kept going. I am in for the long haul whether it's 10 days, 15 or 20 days. If I'm not going to do it right, there is no point in doing it.

Other than the hunger I feel fine. No headaches.. yeah, but am quite thirsty.

I am also going to work out everyday with the fast, last time I only worked out a few days a week.

2007 is finally here!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Wishing everyone all the best in 2007!!!!

xo c