The joy of Chocolate Chips

I cannot tell you how addicted I have become to the chocolate chip. I pretty much can't settle on a dessert that doesn't incorporate my little brown friend. My husband and I have discovered a ridiculous recipe for "chewy granola bars" in Vegetarian Times Magazine. There are a few details I have added just in case you are allergic to nuts or cannot find some ingredients on the list. So FAR from healthy, these granola bars will grab and run away FAST with your willpower. You have been warned, but please ignore it.

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS


Vegetarian Times Issue: July 1, 2007 p.78 — Member Rating: 1111
These treats will be just as tender and chewy at the end of the vacation as they were at the start (if they last that long).
Ingredient List

Makes 25 squares

* 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
* 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
* 1/2 tsp. baking soda
* 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
* 2/3 cup chopped dried apricots (I like dried cherries better)
* 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (if you can't find mini just use regular)
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (eew, I don't add these, I am not fond of walnuts)
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1/2 cup maple syrup
* 1/2 cup almond butter (if you are allergic to nuts, use soynut butter)
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 2 large egg whites (USE EGG REPLACER, you will NEVER know the difference)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and 1/4 tsp. salt in bowl. Stir in apricots, chocolate chips and walnuts.
3. Beat brown sugar, maple syrup, almond butter, oil and egg whites with electric beater until smooth. Stir in oat mixture.
4. Spread mixture in prepared baking dish, and pat down firmly. Sprinkle top with remaining salt. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm. Cool 20 minutes before slicing into bars. Unmold, and store in airtight container.

Nutritional Information

Per SQUARE: Calories: 202, Protein: 4g, Total fat: 8.5g, Carbs: 29g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 97mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 14g

Know the ICKY from A-Z for FREE!

GOOD NEWS for youz VEGANS! I am sure you have an Ipod already OR you were given one for Christmas or Hanukkah, so go ahead and download a list of animal derived ingredients for FREE. All you do is go HERE and copy it to your Ipod. Now you can be in the know AND rock out at the grocery store.

Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert

After hearing about this book and feeling like the last person on earth to read it, I tracked down a copy from one of my fellow Moms. Ready for my spiritual journey to begin all snuggled in my bed, I found myself understanding her words which resulted in my having great respect for her easy-going attitude towards views on "God" and other controversial topics. She wasn't trying to be politically correct or overly dramatic to make a point. I found her tone refreshing. UNTIL, I got to the page about her desire to eat VEAL in Italy.
I had a really hard time accepting Ms. Gilbert's story about a spiritual journey with much introspection after reading her desire to eat veal on the way. EVERYONE knows the cruelty involved in raising veal. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, is another story.
Having respect for animals is an important part in creating harmony in your life. If you believe that God is me, you, everyone....doesn't that include the chicken you are eating and your pet dog? Studies on violent offenders frequently reveal abuse of animals earlier in life. Learning to love all of Earth's creatures is the first step to having love for yourself.
I couldn't go on after reading that sentence. Ms. Gilbert's credibility is lost in a simple four letter word starting with a V.
To read more on the sadness of raising veal read this.

Cravings

I might be an odd specimen. I tend to go through stages when I have really strong cravings for foods that are not exactly high on people's lists of desirables. From about June to August I desperately needed spinach in my lunch and/or dinner. The last couple of months I have been SO obsessed with Dinosaur Kale. I suppose I am needed iron or something, but I find it funny that something green and leafy can make me so happy!
Vegetarians tend to share their bouts with gas. I find gas to be funny, and my husband and I get a good laugh when discussing or hearing it. I noticed when I was pregnant, I rarely had gas. I don't have any idea why that is. Even now, 6 months after having my baby girl, I still don't get gas as often as I used to. I remember EVERYTHING giving me gas to the point of thinking I had a real problem. Even Gas X didn't solve the problem. I am shocked that I can eat onions and garlic in dishes that I make and not have an issue afterward! Garlic is another craving I have been experiencing lately. YUM!
My best friend on the other hand (who is vegan) was extremely ill for about a week with pain in her lungs and overall just feeling horribly. The last straw was her arm going numb. Thinking she needed to boost her immunity, she was downing ridiculous amounts of garlic. After rushing herself to the ER, the doctor discovered that she had an allergy. She is allergic to GARLIC! No more Wildwood Aioli for poor Michelle.

Yay Natalie Portman!

As I crawled into bed last night, I decided to read my latest issue of Teen Vogue that arrived in my mailbox earlier that day. I will NOT renew my subscription when it runs out, however, because it makes me sick how they go about advertising to teens. Is it just me or were we targeted to buy $1000+ purses in 1988? Scary.
Fortunately, something good comes of this over the top rag this month because Natalie Portman is on the cover. The editor explains how NP will not wear fur or leather, so they had plenty of some vegan brand of shoes on hand. I LOVE reading that in a magazine that girls pull their beliefs and behaviors from.
I know, I am 32 and shouldn't be reading a teen magazine to begin with. I DO read other periodicals of quality such as the NY Times. Sunday's paper featured various vegetarian restaurant reviews centered in San Francisco. Even though I live in SF, I do like to check out where veg out of towner's come to eat when they are visiting. The article covers the sad fact that 1 in 100 restaurants in San Francisco are vegetarian. I always feel that SF is undermining their cruelty-free residents by no offering more options when eating out. Its interesting that someone visiting makes that point! Anyway, the usual suspects are patronized. Millennium, Greens (which has always been just OKAY in my opinion), Herbivore and Cafe Gratitude. Reading about their meals made me hungry. Check it out if you want to visit San Francisco and you are veg curious!
EXPANDING THE FRONTIERS OF THE VEGETARIAN PLATE

Absurdity at its finest

I don't know if you have seen the commercial for this incredibly wasteful and odd new product ironically called "One's" (I think TWO'S would be more appropriate considering they are prunes) but there is one spectacularly ridiculous quote by a "hip teen" which is: OH, THAT IS SOOOOO COOOL!

I am not quite sure that ANYONE would call an individually wrapped laxative snack SO COOL. The commercial features a representative passing out samples and of course getting nothing but extraordinary reviews.

As with many products on the market these days, I wonder where this idea came from. Who, in the right mind during this time of eco-awareness, decided to create more waste than the prunes do in the toilet by wrapping each one individually in plastic? I am sure whoever it was is going to be wondering where their job went in a couple months.

Strange Days

I still feel outnumbered when it comes to living a vegan lifestyle. I ask myself every day why there are not more people in my camp. I am nobody special. I don't use some magic powers to avoid animal products. I easily shop for clothing and shoes without cruelty. I enjoy my soy latte just like the dairy slurpers do. I can go to most restaurants and order a decent meal even if it consists of tidbits of sides.
I do feel hopeful though, as this weekend I stumbled upon a story about a MEGATREND of vegan children. Apparently Moms N Dads are frightened of animal products and the junk that rides sidesaddle with them. Some delightful examples are pesticides, e-coli, and additives that plump up the meat. Jim Cramer of CNBC is responsible for noting this trend. 3 million children don't eat meat in America? I guess I am not alone after all! Read more here.
There was also an interesting article about the importance of buying organic I read this morning. This specific study proves that organics have better impact on your health than conventionally grown items. Read more here.
Lastly, how great is a good old pb&j sometimes? Damn it hits the spot when feeling lazy and wanting a sweet treat. I love creamy pb from Whole Foods (organic of course) and some mixed berry jelly without the stupid seeds on some yummy 5 grain sourdough. MMMMM!