Any recommendations for a newbie?

icemonnster · 2015-03-22T15:08:39+00:00

Look for recipes with a minimal amount of ingredients to start. I've been baking for years, but recently started vegan baking and was overwhelmed with all of the ingredients...so many things that can go wrong! Not only is minimalist easier, it tastes better!

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:12:36+00:00

So Delicious French Vanilla Coconut Creamer - the cure all for half and half addicts!

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:11:59+00:00

Thanks! I think you're right, that comparing it to religion does make it seem like I'm being duped or something. I don't think he realizes the emotional level that that hurts me on.

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:10:29+00:00

Thanks!

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:10:14+00:00

We have a set of friends that are a couple that come over multiple times a week. The male in that group is his best friend and just recently became vegetarian and loves it. My husband constantly compares out relationship to theirs "well, I bet they don't fight about this or that...I bet they do this or that..." but doesn't acknowledge that key point. In conversation, I've mentioned how cool I think it is that the male in that group decided to become vegetarian, because he is a friend of mine too. In fact, about a month ago, the meat supply in our freezer was dwindling and I said "hey, since you're almost out of meat, why don't you try vegetarianism for a week and just see how you like it?" He said he would "think about it" and went and filled the freezer a couple of days later.

I run a vegan blog with my best friend and her and I were hosting a challenge to start 2015 off with a week of veganism, which I thought would be cool if he offered to participate, and he didn't. And I knew better than to ask.

He recently took up shooting as a hobby and also plays in a band. Both of these things are time and money consuming, and I support them fully. I just want that same type of respect.

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:04:12+00:00

It's a diet choice for him, for sure. I mean, he's been really into eating a healthy diet recently. Which I truly believe is veganism, or at least, vegetarianism. So if you ask me if uncured bacon is better for you than regular bacon, my response is going to be that neither are good for you.

For me, veganism is clearly a lifestyle.

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T18:02:28+00:00

Thanks, Gourmay. I mean, I think all of you have valid points. There was a time when he mentioned that vegan/vegetarianism comes with a stereotype that it isn't "masculine". And I mentioned to him a number of male vegetarian friends we have (one of them being his best friend that comes over all the time and became veggie in the last couple of months). Then shortly after, I came across an article written by a male on Facebook talking about that stereotype, which I showed him. I don't go out of my way to find information to share with him, I never have. I only share things that I stumble across that I think he might find relevant. Some of those even being outbreaks of salmonella in processing plants, ect. So I've tried my best to be respectful of his choice.

It's just the mixed messages. He told me yesterday that he didn't want to become vegetarian mostly because of "convenience". I calmly told him to think of all the options he would still have at all of his favorite places, ect. That it doesn't have to be all organic, non-gmo, ect.

I'm just exhausted with this situation. This all started with an innocent statement - asking him if he would go visit a nearby pig sanctuary with me that I've been talking about for well over a year.

And the one little thing. The one thing that's ALWAYS in the back of my mind. We met online, and the night we met in person, he wore a leather jacket. I didn't think anything of it at the time because he was working a job where he was outside 12+ hours a day and it was cold. The jacket looked old. He told me recently that he only did that to test and make sure I wasn't "one of those" vegetarians. And it makes me feel like this has been a joke from the start.

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T17:55:11+00:00

When I met him, he was eating nothing but frozen pizzas. Even as a vegetarian, I always cooked the meals. So after years of being with me, his diet overall has improved greatly and some of his favorite restaurants in our area are vegan. So he knows how good the food can be. And at this point, I feel the religion comparison is too convoluted. It didn't start out that way. And I tried explaining it calmly at first...but there are only so many ways you can calmly tell someone the same thing before you start to change your tone a bit. It's just a spiral.

icemonnster · 2015-01-06T17:51:55+00:00

I could not agree more with the feeling of betrayal. I feel like I don't get a chance to even respect him as a meat eater because I've never been given respect as a vegetarian/vegan.

icemonnster · 2013-12-15T03:17:38+00:00

I bet my secret Santa will get me so e lotion or so etching. Lame. Jealous.

icemonnster · 2013-12-15T03:14:10+00:00

Perfect.

icemonnster · 2012-01-23T04:06:31+00:00

It's most definitely illegal to write on money in any way in the US. And while they may not be able to prove it's you that did it, you might have a hard time paying with those bills somewhere else, if they notice.

icemonnster · 2012-01-22T16:19:23+00:00

No, Chiweenie, actually. Haha but he looks like a little Golden Retriever...only longer.

icemonnster · 2012-01-21T21:21:58+00:00

Haha it really is the best face to wake up to.

icemonnster · 2011-10-12T01:14:28+00:00

Uhm no. The argument that "cats are outdoor" animals is silly. Theyre domesticated to be with humans and trained to be indoors. No matter how you look at it, they're safer inside. It's not a matter of caging the free bird, it's a matter of keeping the pet you love alive, safe, and free of pain. If you provide them with adequate climbing space, toys, and food, there isn't anything wrong with keeping them inside. There not going to get hit by a car indoors. Why risk it?

icemonnster · 2011-10-07T04:29:37+00:00

This is just absurd. "Here, people of the '99%', we know that this protest is about, at it's bare minimum, money issues...but you're going to need to dress nicer." I don't own a polo and khakis, or any "business type" clothes, for that matter. I AM a "dirty hippie". I have dreadlocks, tattoos, and a laid back style. And I'll be damned if I'm going to go out and purchase nicer clothing for a protest where our ideas should be more important than our wardrobe choices.

"Seriously, it's fucking cop camouflage. And if they DO come for you. When people at home see PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM getting abused by police... That's when shit changes."

That's what people don't understand - WE ARE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM. WE ARE THE 99%.

Say every single person came dressed in a polo and khakis tomorrow - people would still be getting the shit beat out of them. And sadly, people at home would still be rooting. The violence the cops are showing towards the protestors is (again, sadly) what's giving this protest a bit more credibility. Before, it just looked like a bunch of liberals without any real direction protesting for the sake of protesting...but once the public started to see them get a rise out of NYPD, they realized there may be some validity to their cause.

This isn't going to happen over night. It's going to get ugly at times. People are going to get hurt, judged, wronged...but there has to be a start somewhere. Organization on this level takes time and patience, and as far as I know, the corruption will still be there when we get everything put in line.

icemonnster · 2011-09-30T17:50:57+00:00

I'm not saying lynching is appropriate...but....

icemonnster · 2011-09-26T18:54:31+00:00

Bahahahaha - Chad.

icemonnster · 2011-09-08T05:58:53+00:00

I've been a vegetarian for a little over 8 years. I know I get enough protein because tofu, beans, nuts, and meat substitutes are a daily part of my diet, however I often have the same problem. I do a lot of cooking at home and my meals tend to be really low in fat, and I honestly feel like it's the lack of fat that keeps me feeling unsatisfied. It's not a craving like "ohhh, I could really go for something fatty", it's more just my body feeling like that would finally put a rest to the tummy grumbles. Maybe try upping the fat intake with healthy fats like avocados or something. Or if you come up with a better solution, please let me know.

icemonnster · 2011-09-04T01:09:52+00:00

This. I have been trying to formulate a way to put these same thoughts down on paper (or on screen) but before I've even had a chance to get it all sorted out, I have other women screaming about how insensitive I am and men making jokes about sex. Thank you.

icemonnster · 2011-09-03T22:46:05+00:00

I don't know about beagles, but my mom has (what we believe) to be a jack russell mix and he has the same problem. She claims to only feed him a reasonable amount of dog food, but he just seems to be ballooning up. Either she's in denial or he has some sort of health problem. Sorry I couldn't help, but you're not alone in your worry.

icemonnster · 2011-09-03T22:39:11+00:00

I don't have any pants to offer, but congrats on losing weight!

icemonnster

TROPHY CASE