its EASY being green (pancakes)!

Earth Day is on it's way - http://www.earthday.ca/pub/

Green Pancakes

buckwheat pancake mix

water

one smushed banana

handful of strawberries

carob chips

walnut crumble

green food colouring

1 to 2 tsp hemp protien

agave nectar

shredded coconut

1 to 2 tsp macha green tea powder

Serve with vegan butter and syrups!

Compost Fun, Literally!

So even though winter composting is a go here in snowy Canada (there is currently spring snow here in London, ON!?!!!!), its not the easiest time to install one! We have had some very sunny and mild days and as soon as the ground thawed I installed a composter as pictured below. It gave me great pleasure to know that so much of the kitchen waste was no longer garbage but instead a way to eliminate the number of trash bags and fertilize the world!



Composting is basically a necessary action, whether situated in an urban or rural location. Since it does not include animal products and byproducts being broken down, there should not be significant trouble with critters wanting their share. A few select items are alright like eggshells but dairy and meat products are a no-no as they throw off the most ideal soil nutrient content and composting process. Animal feces (i.e. from your pets or farm animals) are of course great fertiizer but from what I understand are best to keep separately from your decomposing organic materials. Think about where this eventually rich soil will end up - for many the answer is in the garden - in your piece of earth - in your produce - and in you!

Finding the right location was a question I needed answers for. What I discovered through research about the topic enabled me to choose a convenient (near the kitchen) and ideal spot!

So what makes an ideal composting location so ideal?

-good drainage -medium sunlight exposure -close to kitchen -away from wind

-away from wooden structures as it causes rotting

The links below should provide you with what you need to know including a list of compost friendly materials! Get ready to fertilize and produce rich garden material the organic and sustainable way.

Organic Garden Info

Thames Regional Ecological Association

Recycled Art Projects at the Handmade Festival May 7th 2011 in London, ON

http://handmadefest.blogspot.com/

Eco-Veg Footprint will be at London's Handmade Festival along with Bezanson Dezign on Saturday May 7th! Come and see us along with other creative folk at London Central Public Library from 10am-4pm. This event is part of a program series offering various DIY workshops throughout the months of April and May. Experience personal creative ability and celebrate that of others in the main hall vendors area.

"The Library is proud to cosponsor the Second Annual Handmade Festival with the London Arts Council and the Handmade Collective. After a series of free workshops dedicated to sharing the art of craft and the cottage industry leading up to this event, this one day Festival will allow selected crafters to display their art and craft for the public. For more information please contact the Community Outreach and Program Services dept. at 519-661-5122"

My graphic designer friend Michelle will be along side me, hopefully with some of the other talented ladies and their creations at our booth! Since London's 6th Annual Indie Media Fair was so successful, we are even more excited and motivated for this upcoming artisan fair. I will be featuring this blog, cook books and poetry books once again! Instead of collaged postcards I will have collaged bookmarks available along with some hand sewn aprons for all that vegan cooking and baking you do! We will both have mixed media art pieces available along with Michelle's amazing and eye-catching clothing, independently printed.

SUPPORT THE CREATIVE USE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS! ! ALL ECO-ART TO BE FEATURED!

Flavourfull Roasted Squash Soup

I'd like to start this post by giving kudos to the most excellent blog Reduce Footprints! Having just finished dinner my belly is happy and full of flavour. The roasted butternut squash recipe I found on this eco blog was the basis of inspiration for my kitchen this evening. This is one of the best soups I've ever made even though I'm not a seasoned chef in that department. Impress yourself with this healthy hearty dish! Vegan Health Yum Wow!

Parsnips (above)

You may need: oil, salt& pepper, carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, squash, leeks, garlic, ginger, zucchini, spices Begin by heating veggie broth on the stove. Great option is to add previously prepared wild rice! Spice with various to taste. Suggested: cayenne, paprika, rosemary, thyme, nutritional yeast (to get this vegan some B12!) Simultaneously - Dice carrots, parsnips, sweet potato and squash into cubes/disks. Roast at 400 degrees and drizzle with oil, salt & pepper. Cook for 10 minutes. Add garlic, chopped leeks and mushrooms and cook for another 10 minutes. Puree veggies with veg stock and water as needed for consistency. I just used a little smoothie blender! Add to broth mix, leaving mushrooms whole if preferred. Stew the soup until ingredients are well blended and desired heat and consistency is reached. Garnish with shredded zuchini and shredded ginger!

Vegan Poppyseed Dressing

Tried out this dressing the other day with quinoa salad - excellent! Modification of a great recipe I found on the vegan Lunch Box Bunch blog.

2 tbsp veganaise

2 tsp spicy dijon mustard

1 1/2 tsp mustard oil

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp agave nectar

2 tbsp poppy seeds

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp nutritional yeast

salt & pepper

add water and almond milk for desired consistency!

Carrot & Ginger Bean Salad

Easy peasy stuff, this dish is full of protien, flavour and colour! Also impresses easily making a great item to serve at a potluck, though is delicious as a side dish to your main course as well. Upon experiencing the shredded carrot and caper salad with the Vegan Coconut BLT wrap (WOW) at Au Vivres in Montreal, friend and I returned to Ontario only too excited to embark on a veg cooking adventure. This particular recipe is usually how we prepare the dish - enjoy and frankly, get your tastebuds ready! WARNING: cautionary note - if fed to non-vegans, may induce conversion! Mmmmmm and would go awesome with ginger beer...................................

Carrot & Ginger Bean Salada

three med/large carrots, shredded

1/2 can (or 1 cup of cooked) assorted beans

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/4 spanish onion, chopped

1 tsp ginger paste

1/4 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp poppyseeds

juice of 1/4 lemon

To taste: salt & pepper, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sesame or olive oil

garnish with chives, chopped

Bon Appetit! Buen Provecho! Enjoy Your Meal Veggies!

Vegan Ceasar Dressing

Vegan food is delicious. Vegan food is nutritious. Vegan food can replicate and taste even better than non-veg food! There is a replacement for everything - if you've eaten it or heard of it, there is a yummy vegan answer! Glad I tried this one out as I was beginning to miss the taste of ceasar salad dressing!

Vegan Ceasar Dressing

mustard oil

mustard

dijon mustard

chopped walnuts

almond milk

water

tofu

salt & pepper

cucumber

chives

Spring Air Vegan Detox

Well I suppose that St. Patty's Day is probably not the most ideal occasion to make detoxing efforts! Despite this, the need for at least a mini cleanse, somewhat of my own creation, is underway. The day began with a double shot of wheatgrass and dried apricots. For lunch, an apple and a green smoothie blend - a common detox cleansing tool and raw foodism transition item. It is apparently really easy to care for and grow plants from the grass family! Though, a juicer is needed for substances such as wheatgrass since it is impossible for our human stomachs to process it - or else I'm sure you'll end up on the toilet all day (which is also what can happen if artichoke leaves are injested)! Anyhow, during any cleanse your body is going to want to expel toxins so make sure a washroom is nearby regardless! Give this a try and experiment with other healthy ingredients like ginger, hemp seeds or preferred protien infusion.

Green Day Blend! Smoothie Recipe

1 tsp frozen chopped lemongrass

1 1/2 tsp macha powder

200ml rice milk

blueberries

small lemon wedge

Overcoming a recent bout of sickness, holiday cuisine, consumption of animal products, substance intake as well as excessive exposure to and/or injestion of various harmful chemicals are some of the many reasons for detox. Different plans to fit your individual needs and preferences can be found on line, especially on vegan blogs! Vegan Around the World Network is a helpful fusion of veg individuals and their ideas from around the globe. Recently just got some detox ideas from Your Daily Vegan. Yoga, sweat, exercise, sauna if you can! Drinking lemon water constantly throughout the day paired with fresh fruits and veggies, whole foods, non-processed selections and taking a break from soy as much as possible!

Happy Spring Cleaning!