The working out thing is going great!

Sorry I wasn't around for the past few days. I have been trying to stay away from the computer because I tend to sit for way too long here. I decided to do some baking Saturday night and the vegan cookies I made were delicious! I've been doing really well keeping up with working out. Monday, I worked out on the wii for 30 minutes and today I sweat my ass off doing the wii for 65 minutes! I am thrilled with my progress. My weigh in for today is 189! 2 lbs lost since I started this blog. I have been researching more into being a vegan, and I love it so far. Being lactose intolerant, I find that most of the time after I eat I feel sick, and sometimes even lathargic. My switching my diet and getting rid of egg and dairy products, I feel so much better and more motivated. There are many options out there for people who are looking to become vegan. Vegweb.com is a great starting point for all of you home cooks who love making and baking homemade. They have great vegan recipes of all different categories and wonderful ideas for egg replacements for those who love to bake, like me! Vegweb features everything from homemade bread, breakfast (including "egg-type" dishes!), dips and dressing, even event and holiday recipes, all vegan friendly. I highly recommend you check them out for some different dishes to spice up your eating. My favorite cookie recipe is called Happy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies. Follow the directions just right and they taste exactly like a real cookie. The only thing I found to dislike is the smell of them. So find a delicious tasting Yankee Candle cookie scent to burn while you make them!!

Here is the recipe for Happy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies found on my favorite website vegweb.com...

Happy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

2 cups unbleached flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp.salt
cinnamon to taste (optional)
vegan chocolate or carob chips - put in as many as you like
1 cup raw sugar (turbinado #1, sucanat works too but sucks up a lot of the moisture)
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water

Directions:

VERY IMPORTANT-make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. It will work if they're not at room temp but it works MUCH better if they are. Also while your oven is pre-heating put the cookie sheets you are going to use on top of the oven so they get preheated as well. Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon (if you choose). Add chips. Make a well in the center and set aside.

In a medium size bowl mix vegan sugar and oil. Mix it well. Add the vanilla and then add the water. Mix it well. Add the wet to the well in the dry. Mix it well but be careful not to overwork it. Add more chips if you need to. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Put them in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes and then flip and rotate the sheets.(top to bottom,and 180 degree rotation) Bake another 4 minutes and check them.

The cookies are done when they seem a little bit softer then you want them to be. They will harden up some as they cool. I usually go in two minute increments from here untill they get to where I like them.

Take them out when they are done and move them to wire cooling racks. If they split or come apart when you try to remove them let them sit on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring them to the racks.

These cookies have come a long way, lots of time and tasting spent on getting them to where they are now. Vegans and non vegans LOVE them. In the words of my 6 year old son-Mom, you're the greatest because you know how to make the best cookies. Enjoy and let me know if you have questions. Sweet travels.


ChubbyGirlT

My first ever VEGAN meal!

After long thought of the benefits of becoming vegan, I decided to give it a whirl. I went into the whole process very shyly, walking into my local organic/vegetarian store. I found a few recipes for "beginner vegans," one of which was a very tasty taco dish made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) and it came out delicious! Although I changed the recipe from the original, it still only took me about 5 minutes to make. It tasted like the real thing, but the after affect made me feel so much better than eating a beef stuffed taco! I wasn't ready to take a nap, I didn't feel like a gigantic grease ball and it was actually quite nutritious. I went to a few different places to find some organic and vegan friendly things that I'm planning on trying during the week. I have to say, being a vegan is a little discouraging sometimes. You really don't realise how many things have animal based products in them until you start looking at all the ingredients. I don't think I'm going to be a full-time vegan (partly because of my lack of expenses) but it's opening my eyes to a whole new world that I never considered exploring before I decided to become a healthier person. Here's the recipe, with alterations for a tasty vegan dinner.

Chubby Girl T's TVP Tacos
2 c TVP
2 c water
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp olive oil
1 pk. taco seasoning (I used Simply organic southern style taco seasoning)
flour tortillas

Heat water on medium heat in a frying pan until water forms small bubbles.
Add TVP to water, and continually mix well until TVP starts to swell.
Lower heat.
Add oil and soy sauce, then add taco mix. Stir well until mix has fully dissloved in TVP.
Turn heat off and take pan off stove. ( I made the mistake of leaving it on low, and the bottom layer of taco filling was sticking and burning)
*You can also add some red or yellow peppers by cooking them in the pan prior to putting the water in, and put them in while you add the oil and soy sauce.
I used non-dairy cheese, tortillas, and my girlfriend made salsa as well.


I'm pretty proud of myself for starting this journey and my girlfriend says my attitude is starting to change, which I'm really happy about. I'm in the process of listening to her yell at the Red Sox for losing to the Yankees and baking vegan Lemon Poppyseed muffins, which I will most likely be blogging about tomorrow on a pass or fail basis.

A question I have on my mind for anyone that is or has been vegan is What is a good substitue for recipes that call for eggs? I know that applesauce is a good one, but eggs have a thicker consistancy and are also an emulsifier for water and oil, and some baking really requires an egg or two. I have found some mixes that don't have animal based products and only require water, but I love making my own food, so if anyone has any ideas, please pop me a line.

Happy eating all of my fellow weight losers.

ChubbyGirlT