Fitness Fitness » Vegan

xmas recap and buttons update

fitness trainer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:32:03 +0000

Today, we’re having dessert first: my Perfected Vegan Tira mi Su [Yes, the recipe is in the cookbook!]. I brought it for Christmas dessert and it was a huge hit with Omniman and his Italian family. Making Tira Mi Su might sound mysterious, but it’s just a simple trifle: a sponge base soaked with a creamy, liquor-infused topping. Much debate remains over which liquor to use to flavor the topping. Some use cognac. Others use rum or Amaretto while others swear by rum. I prefer the elegance of brandy here, with cognac coming in second.

I found 99% of the vegan Tira Mi Su I’ve tried to be either grainy, “healthy” tasting or just plain “off.” So I experimented until I came up with this version. It’s important to use the best ingredients possible. [Avoid American coffee or instant espresso, for example, and generic cocoa powder.] This is my very favorite dessert recipe in the entire cookbook and one of my proudest accomplishments as a vegan cook. As with any tira mi su, it’s better if you make it the day before serving it, so the sponge can properly soak up the liquid.

Flashback to Christmas dinner. The omnivores had pasta with meat balls red sauce. But lucky me!…before adding the meatballs to her famous sauce, Omnimom set some aside for me and served it over gnocchi. How nice was that? It tasted as delicious as it looks.

Kitty Updates

Even though Bossa Nova was super-cranky this year, Sandy Claws still left a little something in her stocking…

Pablo loved his sock monkey and has already gleefully eviscerated three of the stuffed mice that his “Aunt” Michele gave him.

Unfortunately, it was not such a Merry Xmas for Buttons, our newest, semi-feral addition. Although Santa and various family members showered her with kindness, toys and treats, she’s still way to terrified to do anything more than hide and sleep [at least in our presence].

After hiding for an entire week behind the washer/dryer in the bathroom, Omniman and I decided that if Buttons was ever going to get socialized and learn to live with humans, we had to block off the area from her access. Omniman moved the massive washer/dryer. I crawled behind to get her, but then she jammed herself behind the water heater. So I had not choice but to hold her and pull her out. She hissed once –quite understandably! – but other than that was just docile and frightened. Ever since then, in our presence, Buttons just curls up and covers her eyes with her paws. It reminds me of the way little kids cover their heads with their blankets when they’re scared. She has a blanketed box to retreat to, but prefers the corner.

Unfortunately, the bathroom where she is sequestered is the only room in our place with a door, but it’s not exactly the most peaceful of places. [Better than the gutter, though!] We do need to bathe and use the bathroom, which makes noise. And eventually, I’m going to have to do eventually some laundry…our wash basket is overflowing.

From today onward, I’m trying only to feed Buttons in my presence [so far, she's on a hunger strike] and to spend more quiet time with her in the bathroom. I’m also leaning heavily on Feliway spray, Rescue Remedy, distance reiki from kind practitioners, and all the good vibes you’re sending her way. Thank you – and please, keep the advice coming.

Moving
As I mentioned earlier in the month, because of RSS feed and irreconcilable coding problems, I’ll be moving to a new blog address in 2009. Stay tuned. Happy New Year!

booze-infused layer cake (for special occassions) & buttons update

booze-infused layer cake (for special occassions) & buttons update

fitness trainer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:32:02 +0000

Booze-Infused Layer Cake (for Special Occassions) from
“The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes”

Your brother-in-law Tom loves Kahlua. Your husband is a fan of Amaretto, and your best friend can’t do without her Jamaican Rum. I created this cake so you could personalize it with a heaping helping of their favorite tipple. The liqueur infuses the cake and frosting with added moistness and a subtle “je ne sais quoi.” It’s perfect for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and holiday parties. Or if you’ve had a really, really bad day, you can just make a cake for yourself.

Buttons is still too wary of the trap to take the bait.

Buttons Update
Those of you who have been following my blog know that I’ve been feeding and caring for Buttons, a street cat who lives in the alley behind my apartment, for the past year. Since he “talks” to me and occasionally even touches my hand with his paw from behind the safety of the grate under which he lives, I don’t believe he is feral. He may have been lost or abandoned.

In any event, for the past few weeks, I’ve been trying – unsuccessfully – to trap Buttons, as you can see from the photo. I just can’t bear the thought of this sweet cat spending another winter outside in the freezing cold. Once I catch Buttons, he’s going to the vet to get neutered, checked out, de-flea-ed and bathed. And then, he will stay with us for awhile [even though we have zero room!]. I’ll see if I can re-socialize him and teach him somehow to trust humans again. Then we’ll try to find him a loving, forever home. But first things first. I still need to catch Buttons – and he is terribly suspicious of the trap. Please send me good thoughts and any suggestions.

Most of you already know that Pablo is also a former street kitten, who also lived under the grate with Buttons before I trapped him. I used to think Buttons was Pablo’s mamma, but since I didn’t see any kittens hanging ’round this year, I think Buttons is a boy. We’ll see.

3 food shots and a wedding

fitness trainer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:32:00 +0000

More cookbook food porn. Tapenade…a Provençal black olive spread with a bright hit of citrus.

Alternative Granola – alternative, because it uses dried quinoa and amaranth, in addition to the more traditional nuts and oats.

Chocolate-Pumpkin Bread Pudding, shown here with a scoop of vanilla soy ice cream. This has quickly become one of Omniman’s new favorites.

Weekend wedding

My beautiful niece Kristin was married this weekend in Philadelphia. She’s a hospital nurse and cares for newborns. Ken is an obstetrician; he delivers babies. How perfect is that? They make each other so happy and have so much fun together. I’m thrilled for them.

Doesn’t Omniman look good in a suit? We snuck a photo in the ballroom at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel before the guests arrived. It looked especially lovely, decorated for the holidays.

Philadelphia is known as “The City of Brotherly Love.” We have a park, aptly named “Love Park,” where one of Robert Indiana’s famous LOVE sculptures is displayed prominently. So what would a Philly wedding be without its very own LOVE ice sculpture?

Look at the menu. “Vegan” is actually a dinner option! [Click on the photo to enlarge.] I love my niece and my new nephew.

look, look! more from the book

fitness trainer — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:32:02 +0000

Vidalia Onion Tart:
Sweet, creamy and savory

Served here with Pear-Pepper Chutney:
A balancing contrast.

Parsnips St. Jacques.
All the garlicky goodness of Coquilles St, Jacques; none of the cruelty.

Finer-Than-Diner Cinnamon Raisin Bread:
I wish you could smell my kitchen right now.

Meanwhile, from their perch above my kitchen, Bossa Nova and Pablo supervise.

Buttons: The Continuing Saga
Following the advice of Vegan Nutritionista, I camouflaged the trap with a towel. It worked. Buttons walked right in, but doh! I didn’t put the food far enough back for him to step on the device that closes the trap. So I quietly snuck up behind him and tried to close the trap.

It didn’t work. He got spooked and ran away. At least I know he will go into the trap. Eventually. Hopefully before it gets too cold.

booze-infused layer cake (for special occassions) & buttons update