Our Thanksgiving menu

Around the holidays it seems there is always one common question I get, "so what exactly do you eat?" Everyone seems to think that as a vegetarian or vegan we only eat grass and pasta. And I'll admit, I do enjoy a big bowl of noodles or a shot of wheat grass every now and then, but living a vegan life has been super easy to adjust to. And is very healthy too, I just got back from my doctor's visit to check up on the growing little one and she is doing just fab! So for those of you getting ready to start your cooking engines, might I suggest a few options that are not only meat free but are full of flavor you won't even miss the more traditional meats.

The husband and I are driving out to our family to gorge ourselves silly and today is my big food making day. On our menu we are feasting on Happy Herbivore's hippie loaf with gravy for our main portion, its super tasty and full of good for you nutrition. I will also be preparing a raw kale salad and vegan stuffing which is quite possibly the most favorite side for me. My Mom is also preparing some baked yams and a medley of root veggies for us to nibble on too. And of course no Thanksgiving meal would be complete without a bit of dessert so this year I am preparing to make the pumpkin pie I mentioned yesterday as well as a sweet potato pie for the husband. I've never had it before but sure am looking forward to giving it a try. And if you are prepping your own pies from scratch might I suggest my go to pie crust from Martha Stewart. Its so good and so easy you will never want to spend money on prepared crusts again! Can you say food coma!?

hippie loaf via happy herbivore, pie crust via martha stewart

Pumpkin pie oh my!

While everyone is gearing up for all things Thanksgiving around here I've been busy collecting new recipes to try out and bring to our family functions. This year we are planning two days of all things food, thank goodness for maternity pants that are nice and stretchy! Last year I had luck with the food I brought for my family to try until we got to the dessert. I'm not sure if it was the recipe or the inferior ingredients I had used but the pumpkin pie was just so so, even to my standards of loving all things baked. So when I came across this recipe for a vegan pumpkin pie from Post Punk Kitchen I knew I had to give it a whirl. I mean, doesn't it just look fantastic? I will be in line with the masses today scouring the aisles for the best of the best ingredients to showcase my cooking skills, nothing like a little vegan pressure then having to impress over 20 people with a few tasty bits. Are you planning anything special in the kitchen this year or sticking to the standards? And if you need a few interesting ideas do check out PPK's Thanksgiving suggestions there are some very lovely and mouthwatering recipes, I'm thinking of trying out those scallion mashed potatoes too!

image via post punk kitchen

Vegan MOFO: day 1

orange banner via vegan mofo, eating meat is dumb image by our designed life

Hi friends. Throughout the month of October I will be participating in Vegan MOFO {month of food} where I will share my favorite recipes, local San Francisco eateries, tips and general vegan issues. Now don't get me wrong, I am not here to judge anyone, so please, I ask the same to you. For some the topic of herbivores vs. carnivores can be very touchy but I assure you, I come from a very loving heart {for all things, not just people} and am doing the best I can to maintain a healthy diet for myself, my husband and my growing baby belly. Heck I even have a dog who's favorite snack is oranges and brussel sprouts, but more on that later! I will start each vegan post this month with the bright orange banner, if you would like please participate- it will be fun! If not, just skip on down I will continue to also bring my meat eating friends daily design and lifestyle inspiration, but I do encourage you to give a few recipes a try. You never know, you may even find yourself surprised with how simple a vegan diet can actually be, not to mention cheaper!

Now that that is out of the way, welcome to my very first vegan MOFO post! A little about me: I have been vegetarian for about 6 years now, vegan for the last 5 months {right when I found out I was pregnant with my first itty bitty}. The {then fiancee} and I took to a vegetarian diet a little slow at first, in fact, our first go round in college we gave up and gave in to the calls of cheap and fast food. But after learning a bit more have been growing to find a great balance in what works for us and what doesn't. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that I can say we really got it. We tried our hardest at being good veggie eaters but it was hard. Especially for me coming from a large Mexican family where everything was centered around food and animal products. Not so say we don't struggle every now and then {still to this day when I pass by a doughnut shop and the wind is just right my mouth still salivates} but we give it our best we possibly can and really that's all I can ask for. 

Now for all of you that may be unfamiliar with a vegan diet you may be wondering what the heck am I doing 5 months pregnant and not eating meat or dairy. Well friends, eating a balanced diet not only works for my growing belly it is giving me a head start in providing a healthy environment for my baby. When I was a meat eater not only was a little heavier then need be but I was also at a risk for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Today I can proudly say I am nice and healthy. And in case you are wondering I get my protein from many natural sources- did you know you can actually get more from some whole foods then from a piece of meat? True story.

Well, enough about me- this post is verging on the longest I have ever written- its about time we get to the food! Join me tomorrow as I share with you one of my {and my husband's} favorite breakfast foods that you can whip up in less then 30 minutes from start to finish. And a big ol' welcome to those that have stopped by from Vegan MOFO. I can't wait to get reading and find fantastic recipes that everyone will be sharing!

If you are interested in finding out more from this huge vegan community please check out the 2012 Vegan MOFO blogroll where you will find hundreds of folks sharing all things food.

Blog love: Sprinkle Bakes

I totally have a foodie blog crush for Sprinkle Bakes, a collection of the most amazing and almost all simple to make desserts you will see. Filled with color and a little whimsy, brilliant baker Heather Baird has not only given us drool worthy photography, she even includes recipes- and even though they seem out of this world difficult, Heather is known to throw in a few boxed cake mixes to make it that much easier. Although I strictly bake vegan in our kitchen, I am always tempted to try out new desserts with my own vegan twist... and you can bet I've added Heather's recipes to my 'to bake' folder.  So head on over to Sprinkle Bakes for such amazing treats you will want to lick your monitor.

photos via sprinkle bakes

Make this, Pumpkin edition

October always makes me think of all the yummy ways to use pumpkin in my cooking, and now that I am full force on trying new recipes, I thought I would find a few new ones to try this year in honor of the delectable gourd. I've done the traditional salted roasted seeds and of course pie, but why not a pumpkin and bean casserole? I never think savory when it comes to pumpkin, so this one might just have to be tested as soon as possible. Don't these caramelized seeds look divine!

 photos via cooking with my kid and fat free vegan kitchen

I've also never tried pumpkin cookies, so these are definitely going into the baking rotation stat. I love baking and this time of year is perfect to try out tons of recipes on the family. I'm the only vegan {I only bake vegan} so its nice to introduce them to new flavors. And that pumpkin seed brittle down there is going to be made as soon as the first pumpkin is carved!

photos via veg web- muffins, cookies and i eat trees

Beautiful food

I simply love when I come across a blog where every single item posted is divine.  And that just happened over at Golubka, a raw food blog written and photographed by a Mother and daughter team on the east coast.  Oh how I wish to make food as delectable and darn good looking.  If you are at all a bit of a foodie, you have got to check out their jaw dropping eats, especially their Thanksgiving dinner!  I'm now seriously considering a dehydrator just to try out all these recipes.  Just a few I am dying to try out asap...

Holiday macaroons

Lavender ice cream with apricots poached in blueberry sauce

Building block cakes

Chocolate avocado truffles and grape sorbet

photos via golubka

Designed treats

Seems over the last few years, I find myself saying if I would love to go into the baking business.  There is just something about creating a tiny morsel for others to enjoy that makes me grin ear to ear.  I suppose that is why I find myself drooling over decadent sites, and I sure wasn't let down over at I am baker.  Not only are the photos lovely, the recipes are super creative! I've never even thought to use zucchini in a cupcake, but now I'm going to try!

And how creative are these Facebook and Twitter cookies!  Its mixing every girls dream, a wedding announcement, cookies and gossip.  

I think I am going to have to try these fondant cupcakes!  A few of these stacked upon my new dessert stand, yes, I think that will do.

photos via i am baker