Vegan Waffles!

 

Vegan Waffles, they do exist!

Here Is a DELICIOUS recipe I adapted from Food.com 

Yields 7 Waffles:

3/4 cup white flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup ground/flax seed
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups soymilk (I used sweetened vanilla almond milk)
1/8 cup canola oil or SUBSTITUTE: 1/8 cup applesauce for lower fat
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:

1
In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. In a large measuring cup, mix the wet ingredients. Pour the wet into the dry and blend using a hand mixer on a low setting until you get a smooth batter.
2
Heat a waffle iron and spray with oil. Pour in the batter and cook until it stops steaming and the waffles are browned.

 

In the picture, mine are topped with PB & J, but they are lovely plain. Throw this together in 20 minutes, chop up some fresh fruit, and viola! Easy, healthy, vegan breakfast!

 

-D.B.

 

 

Adventures into Meat Alternatives: Not As Scary As You’d Think!

Yesterday was my first venture into the world of meat that isn’t meat, meaning that I had everyone wanting to run away when I whipped out: DUH DUH DUH

The dreaded “veggie dogs”.

My thoughts? They taste better than they smell and look, but not something I will have a need to stock at all times. 

Next came Soy Chicken, this is a real adventure kids, woo!

While these are DELICIOUS I will not likely buy them again, as they contain egg whites (presumably for the breading process). So for any curious meat eaters out there, these “chik patties” will be sure to delight with less calories, fat, and random chicken parts!

 

Have you had any delicious or tragic ventures into soy based meat products? Let me know!

 

What, Why?

Thanks to some very convincing scientific and clinical data, presented to me by the excellent documentaries Get Vegucated and Forks Over Knives (both available on Netflix), I have decided to attempt to cease my unhealthy relationship with animal products and become a Vegan. It probably won’t be easy, as it can be both more expensive and more time consuming to prepare Vegan friendly foods, and humans are creatures of (bad) habit. However, by taking it one meal, one day, and one week at a time, I believe it may very well be possible. By putting this proposition out here so virtually anyone, anywhere can see it, I am making this into a real commitment.

To kick things off, I’ll answer the question so many have on their minds: “What the heck is a Vegan?”

A: To put it very basically, Vegans do not consume or purchase anything made with or by animal products. That means all dairy and meat (yes chicken and fish included) as well as wearing leather, furs, or any other animal based product is a no-no.

“No meat AND no cheese? Why would anyone do this?”

A: There are multitude of reasons that people have for embarking on or maintaining a Vegan diet. These reasons include (but are not limited to) religion, animal rights/treatment/morality, environmental concern, and to simply be healthier.

“You need meat/dairy to survive!”

A: Nope. If the Vegan diet is properly done (i.e., not just eating Oreo’s and drinking soda), then you will not perish, or be malnourished, and (more likely than not) you will actually be HEALTHIER (mind=blown).

 

Any more questions? I’d love to find the answer for you, so I can become more well rounded on the subject as well.

-D