Vegan pesto Mini Pizza

It had been a long and delightful weekend. Ken and I spent a wonderful weekend in San Diego, taking bubble baths in the hotel and walking to the Gas Lamp district for all of our meals. Sunday afternoon after our lunch we decided to head back to Riverside. We were both tired and our pockets had been emptied on the streets of SD. As we got in the car I adjusted my seat, what better way to enjoy a car ride I thought, then to take a nap.

As I lay in slumber for about an hour I began to feel the all familiar pain in my stomach indicating the need for food. Thoughts began to run though my head, should I stop somewhere, maybe pupusas? or perhaps I can cook something when I go home? equally as delicious at a fraction of the cost.

We stopped in Moreno Valley, Mana's Restaurant was sadly closed, out of business would be more like it. This was a clear indication from the higher being that I indeed had to cook my own meal. It occurred to me at that moment that I had a canister of fresh basil, some nutritional yeast, nuts, and more pasta than I may consume this year. I got home and headed straight to the kitchen. First I gathered the ingredients.

Basil about 2 cups
(fresh) pine nuts (about 1 cup)
Olive oil (1/4 cup, give or take)
Nutritional yeast (1/3 cup)

I put all the ingredients in the blender, as my sad existence has disallowed me the luxury of a good food processor. I overworked the blender of course, the poor thing began to blow smoke, and I unintentionally cooked the pesto sauce I was going to use. After about twenty minutes of blending, poking, prodding, and yelling at the blender, I had a nice, textured but smooth pesto sauce. I poured some of it over some pasta and had my first home made vegan pesto pasta.

THREE DAYS LATER
I opened the refrigerator, the food supply was dwindling right before my eyes. I stared at the empty refrigerator, SUDDENLY I spotted the Tupperware under some Naan. It was the left over pesto. There had to be another use, I wasn't in the mood for pasta.

Ken came home while I was pondering.

"Happy Birthday" I said as I greeted him with some store bought sushi rolls, and a beer.

Yet I stood there, with a rumble in my stomach thinking, why didn't I make myself some dinner. I watched Ken eat his sushi and stole a piece or two from him. They were delicious...yet still a part of me was incomplete. I needed to do something with that pesto and I had to do it soon, before it, like the broccoli moved on to a better world, were vegetables thrive and live without the fear of being eaten.

Ken went upstairs to change for a night out with his friends. He had every right to celebrate, and I thought about tagging along, but all I could do was turn over the notion of various dishes that might include pesto. Many required me to buy ingredients and I needed to use what I already had, before it too, like the broccoli....yes you understand.

When Ken finished getting ready we both grabbed our things turned on the alarm and climbed in the car. We had, on a whim, decided to buy a new dishwasher. The excitement in my belly was no longer hunger, it was butterflies at the thought of getting a new dishwasher. It was more like Happy Birthday Jackie!!!! We picked out a nice black Frigidaire, paid for it and mosied on out of Best Buy, satisfied and excited, at least on my part.

The drive down magnolia was less than inspiring, it was downright depressing. The amount of closed down buildings, failed businesses, was astounding. Then, in the distance, I saw it. My heart sank and broke into a million pieces at the sight of the closed building. CHICO'S Mexican Restaurant was gone. No more delicious Vegan Mexican food in Riverside. I thought about all their delicious food and wondered, did they ever use pesto? No...

As we neared Central a thought came to my head. Sweetie Face?(that's what I call Ken) Can we stop by Trader Joe's? I need some Pita. There was a swirling explosion of ideas in my head, Pesto, Tomatoes, cheese, Peppers!!! PIZZA.

I walked into Trader's made my purchase and ran out to the car. Ken drove me home and as we walked in we walked our separate ways. He went upstairs to get finish getting ready for his night out with the boys and I took my regular spot in the kitchen.

I took out the following things from my ice box

Pesto Sauce (home made)
Vegan Creamed Cheese
Vegan Cheese
Fresh Tomatoes, from someones garden
Bell Peppers
and of course the highly sought after Flat bread.

FLAT BREAD not Pita there's a slight difference. I took out three round flat bread slices, with my butter knife I spread an even layer of vegan creamed cheese on all of them. I continued the trend and added a nice even layer of pesto to each, I sprinkled just a bit of grated vegan cheese and topped it off with a nice delicious layer of fresh tomatoes, and a few bell pepper slices on top. I baked at 350 for about 15 minutes and then at 400 for five minutes. This gave me an especially crispy crust. The Pizza was delicious. I ate all of it on my own and I didn't even feel guilty about it. Thank you oh mighty god of pesto. Your creation has made my day slightly more appealing.

Vegan Peach Pie

There is nothing I love more than some good old fashioned pie. My problem with pie at the moment is that most pies aren't vegan, and unless I make my own pie, it'susually off the menu. Today I took advantage of a peach sale at Vons. I arrived at my boyfriends house thinking, I have a pie tin, I can do this. Determination is key. I've only made pie once before so it was a vague memory. I used the following recipe.

For the Filling

5 or 6 ripe peaches washed and sliced thin-ish

1 cup of sugar

For the crust

about 1 1/2 cups of flour, give or take a pinch here and there.

about a 1/4 cup of vegan butter. give or take. You can see how your flour is holding up.

a large-ish pinch of sea salt

about 3 TBS of water

First

Take the sliced peaches, I don't used canned fruit for pie, but feel free to try if you want. Put the peaches in a bowl and add about one cup of sugar. You can add more if you so wish. Make this all your own. leave these to set in the sugar for about 45 minutes to an hour. (I went to the movies during this step. Note to the cook, don't make the dough if you plan to be gone for more than 45 minutes). When you are done putting some sugar on the peaches, start the crust

combined salt and flour

Mix in butter and stir around until it is a bit clumpy and chunky, then add water one spoonful at a time, until the dough is workable. Soon you will have a nice clump of dough which you can wrap in saran and put in the fridge for about a 1/2 hour.

After a half hour or so you can take out the dough. Take your pie plate, glass or tin whichever you have and take out a nice chunk of dough. press it on the tin making sure you leave some hanging on the edge. Take the rest and smash it with your rolling pin. Pretend it's someone you don't like...but don't beat it. roll until you have a nice roundish thing you can place on top. Rolling over some flour is recommended so it doesn't stick to the counter. This is important. Before you put in the peaches... Make some very small incisions at the bottom of the crust. Trust me! put in the peaches. and then cover it with your squished dough. crimp edges to close. Bake for about 45 minutes. Then eat and Enjoy.

I love to share my delicious pies with friends and co workers. I had no more left over after my hard day at work. PHEW!!!! I love Peach Pie :) Wish I had taken a picture. Next time...

The Green Eyed Savior

Sometime between last June and today I turned into a Green Monster. I'm not sure exactly how this movement took over my very soul. Today as I rummaged and incredible sale at a department store that's closing down I picked up a pair of Steve Madden Shoes. They were beautiful, the color, the feel, the fit, they were perfect. As I contemplated the purchase I stopped, looked at Jennifer and said, "Do you think these are Vegan?" Jennifer quickly replied, probably not, I sighed, put the shoes down, and somehow ended up buying some crocs. Last June, I would have bought those shoes and worn them as I walked out of the store not caring or realizing I was wearing a poor innocent cow. 

Rabbi Herald Kushner told a story in one of his books that hit the nail. It answered the very core of my question. How did I turn into this? I wont bother telling you the story, (code for I don't want to butcher it) but the moral stuck with me. The point of the story was to make the listener realize that one had to do good things, not because they wanted to, but because they had to. He said we do nice things because we are supposed to, we don't always do it willingly or with a smile on our face, sometimes we are forced by our religious beliefs or morals. However, conducting these acts of kindness eventually takes a toll on your heart, they begin to make you feel good, and thus over the span of your life time, you come to realize the good that your actions are causing. 

When I went Veg I did it because I realized that if I did not change my lifestyle I would probably die an obese diabetic woman with hypertension, because these things all run in my family. I still had leather shoes and bags, and I really had no intension to make it an ethical issue. As the months progressed my life style changed drastically, I began to read more books on being vegan, I explored websites and talked to other veg people. Still when people would ask me why I was Vegan I would say, health concerns. However, detaching myself from meat changed me, I began to see meat as lifeless creatures not as dinner. I still remember standing at the grocery store one day, the man in front of me was buying ribs. I took one looked at the Raw meat and almost gaged. It was flesh, that man was about to eat something that was once a happy living creature (well maybe that particular creature wasn't so happy in its lifetime). 

Over a half a year past when I started realizing the value of the animals I was no longer eating. When my friends would taunt me with meat, I would think to myself, I don't think I could ever eat another animal in my life. What right do I have to take their life or cut it short so I can have a meal. What right do I have to kill a creature and in defense say I need the nutrients, when I can get all the nutrients I need from plants, and vitamin supplements. Why does the golden rule only apply to humans. I'm applying that rule across the board because I would never want to be violently slaughtered and become a meal. 

After I became a believer in the movement to save the animals, I also began to take compassion on good ol mother earth. I bought my last role of paper towels in January. So began my obsession with napkins of the reusable variety. I bought them in varied colors, with matching napkin wrings for those special occasions. We got some delightfully colorful kitchen towels, and I even went as far as buying reusable sandwich bags at reusablebags.com. The other day I caught myself digging through my own trash can because my roommates threw away plastic bottles. I spent about 10 minutes making sure they all made it to the blue can (No worried girls, I do it at Ken's house all the time). I LOVE RECYCLING!!!!! I still buy plastic bottles every now and then, but I usually buy the kind that gives part of the proceeds to charity, then I use the bottle for a few weeks, until I lose it or it gets lost in my car.  

Ask anyone, this is a complete 180 from a year ago. My approach on life is completely different, and I still hope and pray that one day, in the distant future, when the economy isn't shit, I can open my own little place of pastries and coffee. The Kosher Vegan, bakery and coffee shop, for all your sweet tooth needs. This is the story of how I learned compassion. This is only the beginning of something beautiful, a whole hearted attempt to save the earth and all the living creatures in it. Like I said before, I will do good, and hope others will follow my lead. 

When I was a young Activist

I recall a few years back when I was in College. I as many other young college goers had the dream of saving the world. Somehow I thought that if I stood in a corner with a group of people holding up signs, others would realize the war was bad and stop it. I had faith in the human race, I honestly thought we could make the world a better place. I jumped on all the bandwagons, lets promote electric cars, solar power, and organic foods, what I found is that most people don't care. My dreams were shattered as I took a real look at our world and all the corruption in it. A small activist like me, couldn't even make a notable dent, because the big guns had the best steel in the world.

Fastforward to now, reality check. People are terrible, they're selfish, irresponsible and greedy. There is no changing them, the only thing one can do is have faith in living by example. I do good in hopes other will do good, but I'm fully aware it may never happen. I'm green because I trully want to save the world, not because it's trendy. Trust me...there was nothing I liked more than a good burger from In and Out!

Why is this a subject I'm addressing. The other day, as I was driving home a car full of teenagers, I became a part of their conversations. They had such hopes and aspirations for saving the world. They began to dream of a day when someone would invent the electric car, and all our problems would be solved...they may be to young to know this...the electric car was already invented, it roamed the streets for most of the 90's and then GM sold the company that made the electric car batteries to the oild companies, who shut it down. GM took back all the cars, which it leased...no one could actually purchase an electric car, they were destroyed, and now everyone acts like we don't have the technology to make one. I didn't really want to shatter their dreams though. Now we have the hydrogen car...which is gaining popularity, but unlike the electric car, you actually have to go to a pump and pay someone for your fuel. It's all about money.
They moved on to finding ways to end world hunger, all this as they ate their In and out burgers...I wonder if they knew that if they just stopped feeding into this mass meat eating culture, we might actually extinguish world hunger, afterall, 90% of the grain grown in the world goes to feed cattle. why cant we use it to feed those in need. They kept moving on from topic to topic, and in my head I knew exactly what was wrong, how it could be fixed, and I was hightly aware that no one would ever do it. I realized how dreary I really am. These kids had such faith and determination. I wish I could have that back. I want to have faith in the world again, but man, it's hard.

Big Moves

We make many moves in life as we grow up. Our life is nothing but a bunch of big moves, or little moves, strategic moves, or stupid moves. We move a lot, all the time, every minute has the potential for a new move.

When I was growing up I made a big move, from my little kid bike, to my big girl bike. Two wheels gave me the ability to move faster and fit in more spaces. I would say it was a good move, it has allowed me to ride a bike to my hearts content, up hill, downhill, or across town. I love riding MY bike.

When I was in High school I made yet another move. I moved to college, it was a lot like letting go of my training wheels and riding free into the sunset of desert scape on my two wheels. That move allowed me to explore a new city, to travel to new countries and to meet some of the most amazing people of my life. I would say that was one of the best moves of my life, despite the debt in bestowed upon me.

When I graduated from college I made another move. I became a Jew, officially, I moved into poverty, homelessness and the biggest adventure of my life. This adventure gave me the courage to get behind the wheel of a car, to drive until I mastered the art of parallel parking and to go back to school to pursue another degree and essentially increase my debt. LOL. That very move led me to the home of Jen Lister, who became one my closest and dearest friends. I embarked on series of adventures with her, moving in, moving out, almost dying alone in the bathroom and on many occasions laughing, laughing until our belly hurt, and Jade barked at us.

Later in life I quit my job. This move led me to become homeless again, to live off my loans,

and to finally find another job in the homes of the most amazing Jews I know. This move led me to become a Vegan, to find compassion in my heart for living things and to love two kids more than I could ever imagine loving someone who isn't part of my family. That move helped me feel in a way I had never felt before. I became a better person because I was around good people. I realized how wonderful people could be, that family cared for me regardless of the fact that they barely knew me, I became a better Jew. I gave money to the poor even though I had non to give. I saved mosquito eaters when everyone wanted to kill them, I realized what a wonderful person Jen was for becoming a Vegetarian for the right reasons.

When Jen started dating and I found myself alone and bored I made another move. I tried online dating. That move led me...well, I had some times. I learned a lot about myself, about the things I wanted and I matured. I quit online dating because I was convinced it was not what I wanted, and in a moment of boredom, and during a special offer I joined in the fun again. On my second try I found him. I decided to keep him and that move has made me happier than I have ever been. He makes me smile even when he's not around. This move led me to understand love, it helped me love like I had never loved before.

So what is the next move in my life going to be? To move or not to move, to accept the consequences or to hide the action. To move or not to move IN with the man I love and adore and who I know will make me the happiest woman in the world....TO MOVE~

Wash my Car

Don't you just hate it when complete strangers think it's funny to ask you to wash their car just because your washing yours. I always laugh and smile, but in my head, I'm saying, FUCK OFF!!! People are so irritating some times. All I'm saying is unless you know me, don't ask me to wash your car because one day I might retaliate by washing your face!

Imagination

I saw my nephew playing in the yard today. It was really interesting to watch him. Why? you ask, because he was the incredible Hulk that's why! I know he was just pretending, but in his mind he really was the HULK. He had super strength and he was invincible. I wish I could pretend like that. I feel like I lost a vital part of my imagination when I hit 15, I think that was the turning point, when I realized how drab it was to pretend. Really though, when does pretending just become a sad realization that you may never have what you want. Isn't that was it really is? My nephew will never really have super strength, unless he gets bitten by some radioactive spider, or falls into a vat of nuclear waste, which is quite likely I suppose....in a comic book!  The kid can have anything he wants right now, but when will he actually realize, what a horrible tease the imagination really is? 

Dancing in the Rain

    I still recall the days, not too long ago when I would yearn for the rain, not for its practical purposes like avoiding drought but for it whimsical potential. I remember praying for rain so I could show up from school soaked to the bone and ready for a cup of hot coco. I would run from puddle to puddle each time jumping harder and loving it. I always knew there would be a warm towel waiting for me by the door. So day after day in the rainy season I would pretend I was part of some kind of musical, swinging from posts imagining what a wonderful world it would be if only it rained every day all year long. The rain was perfect back then, it was everything a kid with a good imagination needed. 

     Flash forward to present day, I'm 25 years old, and terrified that the rain is going to get me.  The mere sight of rain drops send me running to the closest awning. I feel as though I'm somehow related to the wicked witch of the west. Rain could quite possibly take a toll on my body and melt me until all that is left is puddle, and once I turn into a puddle some bratty kid will disturb my very existence by jumping on me. What on earth happened to my childhood love of water? Did I forget how to enjoy the little things in life? These days I'm so worried about ruining my clothes, staining my shoes, having my hair frizz,  or even just getting the carpet wet when I come home that I stopped enjoying the amazing miracle that is rain. 

    How did I go from thinking the  feel of rain on my face was the most amazing thing in the world to thinking that the sound of rain drops on my umbrella was all I needed to enjoy rain. Doesn't every girl dream of being kissed in the rain? Not if she's wearing Gucci I suppose.