contest winners and misc meals

Violet and I shared the Sweet Potato Fries last week at HipCityVeg. Sweet-salty perfection.

Just a quick post today to announce recent contest winners and share a few shots of what I've been consuming lately. My poor F-stop had some surgery earlier in the week, and is in the hospital for a few more days, so obviously, he is my main focus.

We also split HipCityVeg's famous "Groothie," made from spinach, pineapple, banana and apple.

Without further ado, the winner of the DermOrganics haircare giveaway is...drumroll....Suburban Snow White! And the winner of the Colativa olive oil contest is Vegan Fazool! Please email me your mailing addresses, ladies. Congratulations, and thanks to all who entered.

I finally made the Tempeh Helper from Isa Moskowitz' Appetite for Reduction Comfort food with a capital COMFORT. And it's low-fat and low-cal!

With my honey in the hospital, I've been consuming lots of salads, smoothies, leftovers and hospital sushi [the cafeteria actually makes a tasty avocado roll]. But I'll be posting more recipes soon. Send F-stop some healing vibes, please?

dermorganics hair care review and giveaway

I'm no beauty blogger, but it's fun to occasionally get the opportunity to "play" one on the Internet. I got my chance when the nice folks at DermOrganic sent me some hair care products to review – Conditioning Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Intensive Masque, and Leave-In Treatment.

I was excited to try them – I've been using the same shampoo [Deva Curl No Poo] and Conditioner [cheapo Trader Joe's Refresh ] for years, and I fear I'm in a hair care rut. I have problematic baby-fine, curly hair that, like most curly hair, is very dry and never looks the same two days in a row. During summer, especially when it's humid, I get little ringlets, but in the winter, I just get a dry mess of chaos. The bone-dry humidity and forced-air heat don't help my cause.

Before even trying these products, I liked the fact that, besides being vegan and cruelty-free, they are also gluten- and paraben-free. I've been reading a lot about parabens lately. They are known to disrupt hormone function and they're linked into breast cancer. Who needs them? I've been weaning myself off of any personal care item that contains them. DermOrganic products are all made with cold-pressed Moroccan argan oil, the "new-new" ancient ingredient in the news these days.

My hair is actually behaving in winter thanks to DermOrganic. No frizz!

In a nutshell, I really loved these products! Although like most curly girls, I will never have shiny locks, these wonders actually added a ton of body and sheen to my winter-weary hair. I first tried the shampoo – lovely smell and a little goes a long way, even with Philadelphia's hard water. Next, I applied the masque to my moisture-starved hair. My tresses drank it right up [I did have to use a third of the bottle, but that's just me.]

Next was the Leave-In Treatment. Love at first try. This is my new favorite product, and I will absolutely buy this again. First, it smells so wonderful – sweet, citrusy, light – that you could also use it as perfume. Needless to say it makes your hair smell great, and it also adds moisture and sheen. The web site said the Leave-in Treatment "speeds up drying time by 40%." I was especially curious to try this because my hair takes forever to dry, even though it's baby fine.  I was skeptical, but it actually did speed up the drying time, though not by 40%. Instructions say to use this when your hair is wet, which I did. But I've also tried rubbing a dollop into my palms and distributing it through dry hair. I like both applications. The Conditioner was also nice – light and moisturizing, and it kept its promise to "control frizz."

DermOrganic Giveaway Contest!
The nice folks at DermOrganic have offered to giveaway a surprise package to one lucky reader [US and Canadian readers only, please]. All you have to do is leave a comment and describe your "dream" hair care product. I'll announce the winner next week. Please make sure there's a way I can contact you. Good luck!

use it up tuesday :: very green soup

Creamy, nutritious – and very green

Large, lush bunches of kale beckon me like sirens from the produce aisle. I usually eat gorgeously green Lacinato kale fresh and raw in a massaged salad. But this week, between mourning my Buttons' passing, dealing with Bossa Nova who was also ill, and work, the kale was forgotten in the produce drawer. When I rediscovered it, the once-firm leaves were just starting to droop and look sad. So I decided to make soup. A very green soup.

This potage is light, nutrient-dense and, you guessed it, easy to make. The frozen artichokes and cup of lettuce infuse it with a sweet, subtle creaminess, and the basil gives you just a hint of the impending warmer weather – much needed on a frigid day like this. As with most of my recipes, it's modular. You can sub any leafy green [eg, chard, spinach] for the kale. And if you are craving something richer, sub a non-dairy milk for half of the vegetable broth.

Very Green Soup

• 1 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 7-8 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• Pinch nutmeg
• 1 bunch kale, preferably Lacinato, de-stemmed and roughly chopped 
• 1 cup frozen artichoke hearts
• 2-3 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 T fresh basil, chopped (or 1 T, dried)
• 6 cups vegetable broth [I recommend Better Than Bouillon, No Chicken Base]  
• Salt, to taste

Serves 8

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium. Saute garlic and red pepper flakes for about 5 minutes, or until garlic is soft. Stir nutmeg into the oil, then add kale and cook until it wilts a bit, about 5 minutes. 

Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low, and simmer covered for about 30 minutes or until kale is soft. Puree very carefully in a blender or using an immersion blender 

Thank you

I will always love my little girl Buttons. 

A thousand thank yous all for your kind words about my little Buttons. I have been a mess this week, even though I know she is in a better place. I miss her presence terribly – her meow, her tenacity, her big personality and just knowing she is here with us. The negative space left by this 3.8 pound kitty is abysmal. Bossa Nova and Pablo have also been grieving, though they're doing much better, and it's heartbreaking to watch them. For the first two days, Pablo just say on the couch and stared at the corner where Buttons liked to sleep, as if he were watching for her. And Bossa Nova, who is super cranky, has become clingy and a veritable cuddle monster. 

rest in peace, my sweet buttons :: photo tribute

I had to help Buttons cross over the rainbow bridge yesterday morning after a very long illness. I will always love my elfin little girl and carry her in my heart. I take comfort in the fact that she is now safe from suffering and everything unpleasant. She was the most tenacious little cat I have ever known.

A plumper Buttons during healthier times

Buttons was with me just over four years, after enduring a hellish life and countless blizzards in a filthy city gutter. I'm so happy she spent her "retirement" with me, Bossa Nova and Pablo, surrounded with love, food and comfy blankets instead of trash and scraps.

Me in 2007, making a shelter for Buttons and lining it with hay for warmth.

I first discovered Buttons living in a gutter in the alley behind my loft in 2007. The ex-husband would not let me bring her in, so I fed her everyday. I built her a cold-weather shelter and set out extra protective cardboard during snowstorms. Pablo, then a kitten, was also living in the same gutter with Buttons. [At first I though she was his mamma, but I later learned she was already neutered and much older than I thought.]

Buttons' original city-gutter home. She slept down under the grate and crawled out when I brought food.  As soon as I got too close though, she would run,

Eventually, I decided I had to trap Buttons. In deference to the ex, I promised to just foster her until I found her a home. [Ironically, he ended up being the foster.] If you click on the picture, you can see Buttons eating near the trap. It took about 5 tries until she finally walked into it and a better life.

Buttons spent her first weeks cowering behind the toilet.

The transition from alley cat to loft cat was rough for Buttons. Because I live in an open-floor loft. I had no choice but to keep her in the bathoom, where she hid behind the toilet and then the water heater for 3 weeks.

A dog crate helped Buttons adjust

Eventually I moved her to a dog crate that my friend Karen lent me. This was a tremendous help in socializing her. Pablo immediately recognized her from the gutter and as soon as I opened the crate, he dove in and started cleaning her.

"Okay, I think I like it here."

I handled Buttons often to socialize her. It took about 3 months for her to earn her LCE [Lap Cat Extraordinaire] degree.

After that, Buttons settled into loft kitty life: sleeping, eating, playing, cuddling, an occasional cat fight, and more of the same happy routine for the next four years.

Even though Bossa Nova hated Buttons at first, she grew to love her and gave her massive daily head butts.

About a year ago, Buttons started suffering from garden-variety geriatric illnesses and lost 2/3 her body weight [went from 9.5 to 3.8 pounds]. Over her last few months then weeks, she became frailer; instead of hopping on my lap, she meowed for me to pick her up and put her on my lap. One day, she stopped getting up to greet me at the bathroom door as had been her routine for the past 4 years. I knew she was saying goodbye and I tried to be aware of and cherish the beautiful, precious moments. In spite of this, she seemed content, in her present, and I could tell that she truly wanted to stick around

One of the last photos I took of Buttons, resting before we went to the vet yesterday,

...Until about a week ago. At that point, she could not even jump on the couch to nap. She walked by dragging her legs, but she still wanted to eat. Yesterday, she was too weak to stand, eat or make it to the litter box. It was time to let her go. She passed very peacefully, even though I was a mess. I have no idea how old she was at the time of her death – Dr. Eigner guessed late teens.

I've been through this before a few times, but experience does not help one navigate these losses. I know time heals, so I will try to endure until my heart aches less. But time also has a way of washing memories away. These are the things I don't want to forget about Buttons:

• Buttons meowed. A lot. Since she was profoundly deaf, she had no idea what a big voice she had. Her voice weighed more than her body.
• She knew some sign language. Because Buttons was deaf, "here, Kitty-Kitty" was wasted on her. So, I would gently wiggle my fingers, and she learned that this meant "Here, kitty." She always responded to it.
• Even though she couldn't hear me, I called her by a bunch of silly nicknames which I will keep between Buttons and me.
• She was a classic lap cat, despite her agoraphobic beginnings. She loved to cuddle in the nook of my armpit while I read or watched TV. She loved to sit on F-stop's lap and "listen" to him talk to her. She loved to bury her head in my hand, as if hiding. About a month ago, she was laying on my chest purring like a motor and I recorded this video [audio, really] of her.

• She made the most adorable, friendly trill sound whenever I initiated petting her as if to say "Hi!"
• She loved to be doted on. In the end, I had to coax her to eat, but I really think she liked the ritual. She had an adorable way of hobbling into the kitchen, looking up at me and meowing, waiting for me to tempt her with more food. She even tried a few nibbles of pumpkin the day before she passed. 
• She was tiny. She had the shortest legs and was never able to jump as high as the bed, even in the early days. Buttons was the equivalent of a Dachshund cat.

Buttons on my chalkboard, watching over us.

I made this drawing on my kitchen chalkboard yesterday, a few hours after Buttons left this life and its pain. It felt almost like she was posing for me from the other side. Having this big drawing in my loft makes me feel like Buttons is still here in a small way, watching over us.

All the moments we spend with those souls we love are precious. Hold your loved ones, furry and human, a little bit tighter, please.

I want to thank the wonderful staff at The Cat Doctor for caring for Buttons for all these years, especially Dr. Milner and Miriam. And I want to thank Dr. Eigner, Miriam, and Lori, and for making her transition so loving and for taking care of me, too.

shirataki noodles with creamy pesto-artichoke sauce

Easy vegan low-carb pasta in about 10 minutes.

Lots of people dislike the distinctive flavor of shirataki noodles  but I happen to love it. Even more than the assertive umami taste, I like the texture – infinitely al dente, but in a Japanese sort of way. For me, shirataki noodles are the perfect "what the hell am I going to make for dinner" fodder, because they're so easy and quick to cook. They're also ridiculously low in calories – about 40 calories and less than 1 gram of fat in an entire bag [which is reported to have 2 servings. Ha! I eat the whole bag myself.]. The real trick with shirataki noodles is to rinse them really well.

Use your noodle: rinse your noodles well

If you like these noodles, save money by ordering  them online or buying them in your friendly neighborhood Asian grocery. They are ridiculously overpriced in Whole Foods and regular supermarkets.

I threw together this midweek quickie dinner for one in about 10 minutes. I happened to use frozen artichoke hearts, because I had a bag on hand, but you can use any cooked veggie that goes well with pesto. Think spinach, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, peas....you get the picture. So improvise away, my friends.

Not in the mood for pesto? Try my Creamy Vegan Bolognese Sauce with these little noodle wonders.

Shirataki Noodles with Creamy Pesto-Artichoke Sauce

• 1 package shiritaki noodles, drained and well rinsed
• 2 T pesto [I used leftover pesto from my windowsill harvest]
• 2 T vegan cream cheese at room temperature
• About 1/4 tsp red hot pepper flakes [Optional]
• 1 cup frozen artichoke hearts, cooked [or any other pesto-compatible veggie]
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Serves one normal eater or 2 bird-like eaters

In a small saucepan, melt cream cheese and pesto, along with red pepper flakes, if using, over low heat.

Toss in artichoke hearts. Cook for 5 minutes or until warmed through. Puree with an immersion blender if you feel so inclined. Or not. [I didn't]

Toss in noodles, Cook another 5 minutes. Enjoy!

vegan cuts review, 5 lucky readers get second box free!

Who doesn't love a surprise? The Vegan Cuts subscription snack box is gaining popularity in vegan circles. It's filled with a range of tasty treats, some savory, some sweet, all vegan. It's like getting a healthy present every 30-odd days. The nice folks at Vegan Cuts sent me a box to review. Boxes are tricky because, when you think about it. you can't please everyone. I recently reviewed a Healthy Surprise box, for example, but those items were tailored to gluten-free raw foodists – people who eat much more virtuously than me. I'm happy to report that if you generally eat healthily but also like an indulgence here and there, you will probably love the Vegan Cuts box. At $19 a month, it's a bargain and a fun way to sample new products. Everything in my box just happened to be gluten-free.

Eat your heart out, Slim Jim

Here's what my Vegan Cuts box included, in my order of preference:

• Nori-Wrapped Power Wrap, Texas BBQ flavor: This was my favorite item in the box. Think of it as a vegan slim Jim. The product name is a bit long and awkward, but it was truly delicious and impeccably flavored – a little sweet, a little savory and salty. Chewy. And a portion of the purchase protects cows. Moo-ya!
• Angel Organic Candy Bar: This angelically light chocolate bar reminded me of Wispa bars that used to be sold in the UK [Are Wispas still around?]. I also like the fact that the portion is appropriate; the king-size candy bars prevalent here in the US just encourage overeating and under-tasting.  
• Just Persimmon dried fruit bag: I'm not the world's biggest dried-fruit fan, but in addition to being vitamin-rich, these tiny flecks of dried persimmon were surprisingly flavorful.
• Raw Rev Organic Live Food Bar – Cherry Chocolate Chunk flavor: Flavor-packed power bar. The perfect snack to take along on a long run or bike ride. 
• Organic Chocolate-Covered Cacao Nibs: Cacao nibs enrobed in silky dark chocolate? Yes, please. Plus the purchase directly supports sustainable farming.
• Carrot Crisps flavored with paprika: I'm not the world's biggest dried carrot fan, but as dried carrots, these tasted good, and the paprika was a nice contrast to the sweetness. Not many single-serve chip or pretzel bags can give you the 50% RDA of Vitamin A and 70% RDA of Vitamin C that these little orange wonders do. Of course, I love that these are made in Poland. [Yay!]

I also got:

• 4 travel-sized Organic Indulgence lotions (French Lavender and Plumeria, Sweet Cherry and Almond, Orchard Pear and Fig, White Nectarine and Orange Blossom): Silky smooth with gorgeous scents
• A cute Vegan Cuts button
• A candy cane: [I received my package over the holidays] A perfectly respectable, intensely peppermint candy cane

Special offer for 5 lucky – and quick – readers!

The first 5 people who sign up for the Vegan Cuts snack box for first time and reply to the email confirmation with the code "urbanveganfree" get  their second box free / $19 credit added to their account. Sweet!

The catch? You need to register by the January 15 deadline. So if you want this, don't wait!

2-hour chunky crochet cowl and other crafty acts of rebellion

Pardon the pun, but cowls are hot this season – groan! – because they are both fashionable and functional. Since my giraffe neck is always freezing, I knew I needed [okay, wanted] a cute cowl this winter to help keep me warm. In November, trendy cowls were all over hip clothing stores like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. But when I saw the price tags – anywhere from $48-100 – I laughed out loud. I knew I could make my own while still being able to pay my mortgage, so I headed straight to the yarn store.

Cost of my homemade cowl: $5. The smug satisfaction of wearing something you've made and saving  $43: priceless.

I crocheted this cowl using a ginormous size Q crochet hook and one – get this! – one $5 skein of Lion Brand Hometown USA yarn in Napa Valley Pinot. Scroll down for the "recipe." Even if you are a beginning crocheter, you can easily finish this cowl in about 2 hours.


In this age of technology, the quantified self and ready-made everything, wearing or using something DIY is nostalgically self-satisfying. If only for a few minutes, you feel as self-reliant as Ma in Little House on the Prairie. What, besides food, have you made from scratch lately?  Below are a few other things I've recently sewn:

Liverpool dress. Pattern by Amy Butler. My first sewn collar. I had to lie down after finishing it.

Easy-peasy halter dress from One-Yard Wonders. This cost about $6 to make!

Scrap-bag potholders from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects

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My 2-Hour Chunky Crochet Cowl

Left cowl: $5; right cowl: $48 at Anthropologie. Both are acrylic. I like mine better.

You'll need:

• 1 skein Lion Brand Hometown Yarn
• 1 Q crochet hook

Loosely cast on 35 stitches.

Row 1: Single crochet to end. Chain 2. Turn
Row 2. Double crochet in third stitch. Double crochet to end. Chain 3, turn then begin single crochet row in second stitch.

Repeat these rows until you are just about out of year Sew or crochet together seam. If you want an infinity cowl, twist the seam before sewing the edge. Trim yarn ends and wear proudly.

This non-food recipe is dedicated to my pal, the ever-fabulous Kittee who just knitted this amazing sweater. Kittee makes a lot of her own clothing. I vividly one of her kreations – a chicken-print skirt she wore at the VidaVeganConference in 2011. Our styles are very different but we both love making our own stuff from scratch. 

colavita olive oil review, contest and discount

Tossing Colavita garlic-infused oil with a veggie and pasta makes for a delicioso quickie dinner

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am not a brand-name kind of girl. I buy generics without batting an eyelash, and if there's parity between similar products, I choose the cheaper option. But I am loyal to a handful of brand-name foodstuffs I deem exceptional. Colavita Private Selection Fruttato Extra-Virgin Olive Oil has consistently been one of them. I've used it for years and even recommended this product in my first two cookbooks, long before Colavita ever knew about me or my blog.

All oils are first-cold-pressed from different olive varieties, hence the color variations.

So you can imagine the happy dance I did the when the nice folks at Colavita sent me a sampling of 4 EVOOs to review. They even threw in a Roasted Garlic Cooking Oil Blend for good measure. I am happy to report that I love each of them. Colavita agreed to share the love with a 25% off coupon for Urban Vegan readers at their online store. Just enter the coupon code UV25. I'd also like to announce a fun cooking contest. The winner gets a FREE bottle of EVOO my favorite Private Selection Fruttato. More on that in a minute after my reviews.

My Colavita taste-test line-up

• Private Selection Fruttato: I am still in love with my steady EVOO after all these years: assertive but not overly so, with a pleasant peppery finish. I love this on everything – salads, pasta, drizzled inn soups. How do you say "yum" in Italian?
• Argentinian: When I visited Buenos Aires, I loved the city's passion and intensity. So it didn't surprise me that the Argentinian EVOO tasted like my beloved Fruttato on steroids. I mean that in a good way. It's like the tango – showy, elegant and bold. Fruity flavors but kicked up a notch. Colavita recommends this oil in savory dishes but I used this oil in my Bizcocho cake recipe with great success.
• Californian: Smooth and light, just like the state. Since I like a stronger olive oil, this was my least favorite of the bunch, but it's nice when you want a more delicate olive flavor.
• Roasted Garlic EVOO: This olive oil actually tastes like you slowly infused it with garlic yourself. It's a huge timesaver if you want to make pasta aglio e olio, or need any garlic-infused oil for recipes like soups, dressing or marinades.To be honest, I had low expectations since other garlic-infused oils I tried all tasted "off" – garlic flavor seemed either burned or synthetic, so this was a nice surprise. I see it as a definite staple.
• Roasted Garlic Cooking Oil Blend: This is a respectable, garlic-infused canola-olive oil. I usually use olive oil, but it's a nice respite.

I used the garlic-infused EVOO and San Marzano tomatoes to make easy marinara sauce.A real time saver.

The contest: "EVOO? Sweet!" 
We don't often use olive oils in desserts and it's a shame, because olive oil provides an interesting counterpoint when properly balanced with sweet ingredients. Did you see my Bizcocho recipe the other day? This sweet orange-scented cake featured olive oil as a prime ingredient and it was a shameless hint about this contest.

Your mission is to create an easy-but-inventive vegan dessert recipe using olive oil as a prominent ingredient. [A friendly word of advice: I would stay away from the garlic, but if you can make it work, more power to you.] Then comment here with a link to the recipe/photo on your blog. If you don't have a blog, email me the photo/recipe with the words "EVOO Contest" in the header, but you will also need to comment here. The winner will receive a free bottle of Private Selection Fruttato Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, plus Colavita may even publish your recipe on their web site. Deadline is January 31. I'll announce the winner during the first week of February. 

This could be the start of your culinary career, plant-based Iron Chefs!  Ladies and gentlemen: start your ovens. And blenders. And mixers.