Happy Valentine's Day!

Sending many hearts to all you lovebirds out there (that includes you single pringles too, of course)! Valentine's Day always seems to be one of those occasions that are either embraced with all shades of reds and pinks that you can imagine OR, detested with all the inner annoyance and disgust that one could possibly muster (that is, if you don't have a special cuddle buddy to spend it with). I suppose men who aren't particularly keen on buying into this commercialized holiday might share that latter sentiment as well.

In any case! Out of curiosity, I looked up the history of this day and it actually traces to way back in the 1400s when the Roman priest/physician, St. Valentine, was beheaded by emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples wed during the time when Christians were widely persecuted in Rome. It's also said that St. Valentine refused to deny Christ before the emperor, which led to his martyrdom as a result. There's some amount of Roman tradition mixed in there too, but for the most part, February 14th was set as a day in memory of this saint. 

Well that's nice to know a bit of the back story behind this day that's generally associated with dozens of roses, boxes of chocolate hearts, and other random things that gals and guys gift each other. Who knew that a saint's death from 600 years ago would eventually somehow turn into this kind of holiday for us today?

Anyway, that's enough background information, on with the highlight of this post! This year, I didn't want flowers, chocolates, or anything of the kind. I asked for one thing and one thing only, and the bf really outdid himself (much to my pleasant surprise): DATES! 

He knows me so well... thanks bf 💗

Now we're not talking about the dinner-and-a-movie kind of dates, but the dates that are basically like nature's candy from date palm trees. It's not processed in any way and has just the right amount of sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth! It's also a great source of different vitamins (A, K, riboflavin, thiamin, folate), minerals (calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc to name a few), and fiber. 

What dates are good for: broad range from aiding digestion, reducing risk of heart disease, anemia, bone health and strength, energy booster, sexual wellness, diarrhea, and relief from constipation. Talk about a well-rounded and nutritious treat!

These natural goodies come in different kinds, but the ones that we usually see in grocery stores and have available to us are the Medjool and Deglet Noor (there is a difference in firmness, texture, and sweetness with each type of dates).

Not only is it a great snack by itself (mmmm the ooey gooey sweet nuggets), but dates are also great sweeteners that can be used in a variety of ways-- stuff them with nuts for a heartier snack, blend them into smoothies, make them into date chutney or date syrup, add them into fruit salads, and dates are often used to make caramel too! (Store-bought caramel is usually not vegan because they have butter and milk products in them, always check the ingredients).

If you're not sharing my enthusiasm for the pizzazz of dates just yet, check out this list of things you can do with them, Buzzfeed to the rescue: 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ahmedaliakbar/date-recipes-for-eid?utm_term=.awqkggg92#.omvNYYYal

To speak a little bit about what we have up there, the bf got me a bag of organic dates from Date Lady, and boy, does this lady have quite the line of date products (see link to website). Everything from these plain dried gems, to bottles of date syrup, caramel sauce, and balsamic vinegar, chocolate spread, date sugar, and caramel sticks (great candy alternative)! These products are on the pricier end, and you can certainly make all of these things at home for much cheaper. *hint: all you need are dates* A little bit of time and patience can take you a long way (both for your wallet and for your health).

Then, as if that wasn't enough, the bf spoiled me with a 1 lb. box of dates, dried Turkish apricots, pears, and Angelino plums 😍💖 I would take these over a box of nauseating milk chocolates any day! 

If you want to know why, here is this video that does a good job of backtracking the process of how milk chocolates are made:

Milk Chocolate In Reverse

...because guess what's in them? Milk. The milk that comes from dairy cows that suffer in stalls that don't allow them any movement, with their infected udders that expand way beyond their normal size and leak with pus, blood, and even their own feces that they end up sitting in because of such limited space that they're given. These dairy cows are the products of artificial insemination (which is basically rape, no matter how you try to justify it), and regardless of their health condition, they are whipped, beaten, shot with injections of antibiotics, and abused in ways that we could not imagine. Not too long upon birth, the baby calves are ripped away from their mothers to either serve as veal meat (boys) or be taken away to be raised as yet another dairy cow (girls). How ironic is it that on a day that celebrates love, millions of these milk chocolates are sold all across our country, and so many of these poor cows suffer the consequences to meet the demands. Let alone love and care, these guys don't even have fitting living quarters, or the proper means of socialization that they are meant to have...

We, as consumers, are so far removed from this production process, and people like the undercover investigators from the Mercy for Animals (MFA) organization put so much of themselves at risk-- mentally, emotionally, physically-- to reveal these horrible truths within factory farms. They also work hard in the areas of legal advocacy, corporate outreach, and education for the public. This isn't just a silly "let's save the animals" approach, and all that we ask for is humane treatment, because really: no living being should ever be treated this way. Also, I find it quite repulsive and gross that so many people enjoy eating food that comes from this kind of industry. You like enjoying that piece of chocolate, that block of cheese with your wine, or that glass of milk that the USDA claims to be good for you? Might want to think again and reevaluate where these dairy products are sourced from.

Not to end on such a negative note... but this is just to say that I feel very passionately for this area and it is one of many reasons why I went vegan. As you can see, there are so many other natural treats out there that are not only good for just you, but also for the environment in the long run, and I also like to think that as one more person joins the plant-based movement, the crowd grows bigger, the voice becomes louder, and the demand for non-meat/non-dairy alternatives becomes greater. Such a presence cannot be ignored and it continues to pique curiosity among even those who do not care for the cause initially. 

All that aside, can't wait to enjoy these sweet treats! All in moderation of course, otherwise I'd be on a serious sugar high 😆 Happy Valentine's Day to you all (or Happy Galentine's Day, as Leslie Knope would say)! 

Daniel Fast and Cheers to 2017!

I never understood those writers who abandon their blogs for months on end, and I'm realizing now just how easy it is to fall into that lapse of negligence. Admittedly, the past month and a half since Thanksgiving has been quite a blur with Christmas break with the fambam, New Year's celebrations, friends visiting, furniture shopping trips and various other pit-stops here and there to make my new apartment both livable and presentable. With only one box left waiting to be unpacked and put away, I can finally tend to things here. Happy New Year to me, to you, and to the rest of the world!

That being said, it's that time of year in January for the Daniel Fast to take place-- a great way to start off 2017! Our church is partaking in this together, and a few people have asked whether I could share what I know of plant-based eating, since the physical part of this fast involves refraining from any meat, dairy, and processed food.

Below are some things we can keep in mind for when we cook and eat out the next three weeks-- hopefully it will help us stay full and still enjoy what we eat throughout this time. As is with all fasts and as Pastor M. has reiterated, the principle is to focus more on God, be reminded of our dependency on Him, and also to give ourselves a bigger opportunity to focus on the word, so why not enjoy it from all angles!

That being said, here are some recipes along with little blurbs on cooking and nutrition:

Tofu Steak

*For any true meat lovers out there, I'm sure you wouldn't ever consider this a real steak, but they do say tofu is "meat of the gardens", and for good reason too-- it's a chockablock (yes, I used this word because it's fun to say out loud!) of protein that helps lower bad cholesterol, iron, calcium, along with all the other amino acids and micronutrients that your body needs, and it has less fat than you'd find in meat. 

Firm tofu can be used for a variety of savory dishes, and the softer silken tofu is not only for Korean soondubu, but can also be a base for desserts like chocolate pudding, mousse, smoothies, custard, etc. It might sound gross, but it's actually pretty good! As such, tofu is a very versatile ingredient in many dishes since it absorbs a variety of flavors easily due to it's bland nature. 

Photo credits to Tofu Cartoon Gallery

Now, this versatility factor of tofu is both a good thing and bad thing-- bad thing if you don't know how to prepare it properly because then it will always taste blah and flavorless (for this reason many people give up on tofu 😢). So especially for the savory recipes, it does help to marinate tofu in advance, about 30 min to an hour prior to cooking with whatever sauce or seasoning you choose. I usually drain from the container before cutting it up, press down gently on the tofu slices/cubes with paper towels to eliminate excess water, then throw them into a Ziploc baggie after patting in the seasoning and have it sit in the fridge while I'm prepping other things. Normally, I add in a dash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of coconut sugar to make it tasty, but for this fast it's probably best to stick with sea salt and dry spices and herbs (read here).

Yields 1-2 servings.

Ingredients: 

• A package of tofu 
• Sea salt
• Black Pepper
• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Quality oil (vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, peanut, sesame, etc.)

*Not going to put specific measurements because everyone's preferences are different-- season to your taste! Experimenting is all part of the fun ;)

Spread oil onto pan and bring to medium-high heat. Give a minute or two for it to warm up, then transfer tofu from Ziploc baggie to pan. As the tofu cooks, you should here a pleasant sizzle and an equally pleasant aroma (yum!). Flip each piece to the other side to cook completely. When I make tofu this way, I like to let it cook a little longer until it's crisp and chewy, but if you like the softer texture, then remove from heat once it's lightly browned on both sides. Add stir-fried veggies with rice, quinoa, farro, or the carb of your choice, and you have yourself a delicious and filling meal! 

Also, for those who might miss having scrambled eggs for breakfast, here's a great one as an alternative! Minimalist Baker has a whole encyclopedia of meat/dairy-free recipes based on each meal category (sweet and savory breakfast ideas, entrees, snacks, drinks ranging from smoothies to milkshakes to cocktails, desserts and baked goods, it's all there-- definitely check it out!):

http://minimalistbaker.com/southwest-tofu-scramble/

Mushroom Farro Risotto

Obviously this is not a real risotto either, that has to have cheese in it... BUT, this is just as good! I don't want this to be too long of a read, so I'll share about the nutritional benefits of farro another time.

Yields about 4-5 servings.

Ingredients:

• About a tablespoon of Quality oil
• 1 Onion
• 2 cups of Mushroom
• 1.5 cups of Farro 
• A generous fistful of kale (carrots or celery are good too, whatever veggie that you like!)
• Thyme (either the dry herbs in a shaker or the fresh leaves, whichever is available to you)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Sea salt
• Black Pepper
• 3 cups of water

Prep: Clean and chop up the onion, mushroom, carrot, and mince the garlic.

Then, in a roomy pot, coat the bottom with olive oil and add in the onion and carrots once the oil starts to crackle (these take longer to cook). After about 5 min, add in the mushroom, minced garlic, and farro, stir for another 2 minutes or so. Sprinkle in the sea salt, black pepper, and thyme to your desired taste, then pour in 3 cups of water. Cover pot with lid halfway and let the stove do it's magic for the next half hour - 45 minutes. Once the farro is tender and it has absorbed all the veggie juices, it's done! Transfer to a bowl, add an extra drizzle of olive oil and thyme if you like. This is easier than making bokkeumbap in my opinion, and definitely a satisfying meal :)

Mushrooms are good, but you can honestly sub in anything here: black beans, pinto beans, edamame, green peas, black eyed peas, chickpeas, artichokes, sweet potatoes, lentils, tempeh, so many options! I like to get a bunch of different things while grocery shopping and play around with different combinations-- the results are quite rewarding because they all have their own flavors and textures that make it hearty and oh-so-delicioussss.

Nice Cream

We can't forget about sweets! I've put up a post on Chocolate Nice Cream before, but since that involved some non-Daniel Fast friendly ingredients, here's a modified version with just two groups of food items:

Ingredients:

5 Frozen Bananas

2 generous fistfuls of Raisins (check to see that they're free of preservatives, etc.)

Drop everything into your trusty blender and let it mix away! If the frozen bananas get stuck, add in a teensy bit of soy or almond milk (or rice milk, whatever non-dairy drink you prefer). If you want to get more creative, feel free to add in other fruits like strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, peaches, pineapple chunks, dates, and more. Top with chopped nuts and or seeds (i.e. pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds), and you have yourself an all-natural fruit-based nice cream sundae!

Photo credit to Nature's Path

There's obviously a ton of different ways to cook with the plant-based non-dairy foods, it just takes some patience and a sense of adventure to try out new recipes! More than anything, I think a fast such as this really helps to remind us to be thankful for what we have, and for being able to nourish our bodies even while abstaining from the "king's food". 

So here's to the next few weeks together, this fast coupled with our time devoted to praying, reflecting, and sharing with one another! :)

Other Resources:

Caring Carrot

http://www.caringcarrot.com/

Ultimate Daniel Fast
http://www.ultimatedanielfast.com/

Spelhouse Love
http://spelhouselove.com/2013/01/08/20-daniel-fast-recipes/