Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Sweet and Sara's Peanut Butter Smores


I finally did it guys, I finally splurged on Sweet and Sara's already prepared smores (I raved about their products before HERE)! As you can see above and below, it looks like a moon pie (oh man do I miss those...but now I have this much healthier and cruelty-free option...yay!). I picked the peanut butter flavor (I LOOOOVE anything peanut butter flavored...in my opinion it just makes everything better!) and couldn't wait to pop it in the microwave so it got all melty (a little trick I learned from watching a segment on Sweet and Sara on Unwrapped!)!!

Seriously, this was a HUGE smore and could have easily been shared with another person...but I was particularly fiendy for chocolate-y vegan goodness and ended up eating it all myself! Oops...but definitely a delicious indulgence! I mean, how could I resist against this:

Drool!

The marshmallows were perfectly flavored, the chocolate was silky and it had a perfect light peanut buttery flavor to it. I mean, I ate the whole thing in one sitting, so that should tell you something!! If you miss good old fashioned moon pies or smores, then Sweet and Sara's vegan versions of these treats are a perfect dessert for you!

You can find them at Whole Foods, Mother's Market and other fine grocery stores!

For more info, check out Sweet and Sara's site!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Last Week in Pictures

I didn't update too much last week, so I just wanted to do a quick photo post to show you all what I've been up to. I promise I'll update more this week, time permitting! I haven't exactly been absent, but I've been hard at work on posts for my first ever 31 Days of Halloween, coming this October!

More on that later, but for now enjoy these pics from my past week:

So festive! Even though candy corn isn't vegan, I'll admit I still 
sneak a few!

Veggie Fajitas at Acapulco

Korean chocolate!

Pumpkin and Frankenstein Monster 
Color Blanks from Michael's!

An absolute standby...pita and hummus! 
Loving Sabra's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Awesome...saw this at the grocery store!

Playing some Halloween Jenga with the BF

My new fave dressing!

Havoc

 L.A. Derby Dolls Roller Derby - Tough Cookies vs. Sirens

Smores made with Sweet and Sara vegan marshmallows
YUM!

Got my Sept./Oct. VegNews! Woot!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

It's Coming...

Spotted THIS last week:


All I can say is YAY!! Roughly about a week or so until most stores REALLY start stocking their Halloween stuff and the Spirit stores open!

WOO HOO!

(P.S. I know I've been slacking on posts this past week, but I'll try to get caught up this upcoming week!)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Target's Halloween Shirts Now in Stock!

I was shopping at Target today and what did I spy? Their Halloween shirts!!

I've bought Target Halloween shirts the past couple years and just LOVE them! They are cheap, usually ranging in price from $5 to $10, but have lasted me years! Some appear in their pj department, while others lurk in the woman's department. They also have little boy's tees that I've bought before and are usually cheaper than the ladies' shirts. I'm guessing they have guys' shirts too, but I've never looked (sorry gentlemen).

Here are a few that they now have available (sorry if some of the pics are iffy...I took them with my camera phone):










I seriously love ALL of these!! I decided to treat myself and buy one:

Jack 'O Lantern!

Target.com has a lot of Halloween stuff, too...I just hope they start stocking their stores soon!! The anticipation is killing me!

Film Review: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)


This 1959 film is Hammer Studios’ treatment of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story. With a wonderful cast, including Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and an atmospheric setting of a castle on the foggy English moors, this is a classic that pairs well with a dimmed room and plenty of popcorn.

Gardein Vegan BBQ Pulled Shreds


I recently picked up my first Gardein product, their Meat-Free BBQ Pulled Shreds! I've been dying to try a Gardein product and while on vacation I decided to try these tasty looking "shreds".

The shreds are super easy to prepare - just pierce the bag they come in, pop them in the microwave for 2 minutes and they are ready to go! I piled mine on slices of bread and made a tasty sandwich. I didn't even need any other condiments because the BBQ marinate on the shreds was so hearty.

I took my first bite and found the shreds to be really flavorful! I don't know how Gardein did it, but even the texture mimicked that of pulled pork. Kinda disturbing, to tell the truth. Still, it was very good and surprisingly filling. I was stuffed after one sandwich.

Gardein makes many different kinds of meat-free "mock meats", from Buffalo Wings to Chick'n Scallopini, and I can't wait to try more of their products!! Not only are they good for you, but they are also good for the planet! Read all about it on Gardein's site.

These Meat-Free BBQ Pulled Shreds are so close to the real thing that I'm surprised people still insist on murdering animals to satisfy their flesh cravings instead of sticking to these meat-free alternatives. Hopefully people will begin to see the health, environmental and ethical benefits in switching to plant-based alternatives like Gardein products and will leave the flesh-eating to the zombies!!

For more info and a complete list of products and where to find them, visit Gardein's site!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Book Review: Day by Day Armageddon - Beyond Exile


Following up his novel Day by Day Armageddon (disclaimer: which I’ve never read), author J.L. Bourne gives us Beyond Exile, the next chapter in a military soldier’s attempt at surviving and journaling the zombie apocalypse.

I’ll be honest (as I always am) – I really wasn’t into this book when I first started reading. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t read the original, but I just couldn’t get into the short, direct journal entries filled with military jargon. However, after about 100 pages in the story really started making pace and I started enjoying it more and more!

Film Review: A Whisper in the Dark (1976)


I gotta tell you, I love slow-burning, mysterious ghost stories. The psychological impact of such films leave me wanting more, so I eagerly seek out titles I’m unfamiliar with. Such was the case with A Whisper in the Dark (aka Un Sussurro nel Buio), a 1976 production from Italy.

In this film, a wealthy family is vexed by the existence of Luca, the imaginary friend of their 12-year-old son Martino. Mother Camilla is affected the most, so much that her nerves are shot. It doesn’t help that she has two bratty daughters, or that her mother, The Countess, is visiting the mansion and her husband is a philandering fool. However, everyone soon begins to fear Martino and his imaginary friend Luca.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Lost Coast Cafe and Bakery - Ferndale, CA


While visiting my grandma up in Northern California (check out pictures here), I had lunch in the Victorian town of Ferndale at the charming Lost Coast Cafe and Bakery. In such a tiny town I was surprised to find that Lost Coast Cafe and Bakery is an all vegetarian restaurant!

In talking with the owner, I found that he originally wanted to make it an all vegan cafe, but that necessarily wouldn't fly in the predominately dairy town. However, many of the dishes were either already vegan or could be made vegan on request. I was absolutely giddy to try something!

Just check out their specials the day I visited:

The Lunch Specials

After chatting up the friendly and helpful owner on what the vegan options were, I decided to order the "Roll Up Your Sleeves" Gardenburger with all the fixin's. I choose the chili as a side and then went outside to find a spot on the sunny patio:

Sunny patio nook that overlooks 
Main Street Ferndale

As I was soaking up the sun (the first real day of sun I had up there!), they brought out the gorgeous chili! It was so vibrant that I just couldn't wait to dig in...and it was as tasty as it was pretty! Full of different kinds of beans floating in a flavorful sauce with the perfect balance of spice, I gobbled it right up!

Lost Coast Cafe's Chili

After the chili I was pretty full, but then they brought out the succulent veggie burger! It was piled full of sauteed veggies, lettuce and a juicy Gardenburger and topped with yummy pesto sauce. Even though I was full, I just couldn't resist taking a bite...and another...and another...until I polished off the whole thing!! It was just that good!

"Roll Up Your Sleeves" Gardenburger Piled High with Veggies

The only negative aspect of the whole experience was the inefficient service when trying to pay the bill. See, you order your food at the counter upon arriving, but instead of paying then you pay later. PLUS they don't bring you your bill, but you have to go back to the counter to pay. Since someone was ahead of me in line making a huge to-go order, it took at least 10 minutes for me just to pay! I had wanted to try some of their baked goods (they make vegan ones!!), but I was so fed up with waiting that I just left. If they could work out the kinks in their service and make things more efficient and not make the customer make so long, Lost Coast Cafe and Bakery would be perfect!

Despite this gripe, I have to praise Lost Coast Cafe for their delicious food and friendly owner. He is obviously running the restaurant out of love and passion and I sincerely hope he succeeds! Plus, he knows how to make a mean chili, and I gotta respect that! 

If you ever find yourself visiting Humboldt County, do yourself a favor and check out Lost Coast Cafe and Bakery in the beautiful Victorian town of Ferndale, California!

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Ray Bradbury!

Yesterday was Ray Bradbury's birthday, and coincidentally when I was up north at my grandma's house I found some old books of his that belonged to my mom (she loved Bradbury! Thanks for passing the books along, Mom!). There were too many for me to take home, so I chose these two:




Excellent choices, I think!

And, the hilarious video that swept the web last week for good measure (NSFW):


A very happy birthday, indeed, Mr. Bradbury!

Vacation Photos!

Sunset at Grandma's house

Hello my darlings!

I've returned from a blissful week-long getaway up at my grandma's house in NorCal! I did a lot of hiking in the cool weather, toured some neat historical places and bummed around my old hometown of Ferndale, California! The week-long sabbatical without cell phone reception and internet was extremely relaxing, but I'm glad to be back to civilization!

A picture is worth a thousand words, so below you'll find pics of the trip rather than a lengthy description of everything I did. Enjoy!

My bags - laptop, food, purse, book/snack bag for the car, luggage!

The road to grandma's house!

Grandma's house!

"Baaaaaaa!"

Old shack on grandma's ranch

Mmmmm...fresh raspberries!

Banana Slug!

Antique fireworks?

Ferndale Cemetery

Ferndale Cemetery

Love this cemetery!

Ferndale Cemetery

Ferndale Cemetery

Ferndale Cemetery

Awesome church-turned-private-residence right next to the cemetery!

Main Street Ferndale

 Excellent vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Ferndale!

Menu at Lost Coast Cafe...I had the yummy
"Roll Up Your Sleeves" Gardenburger!

Gingerbread Mansion - Ferndale, CA



Adorable Halloween display

View of the ocean from my grandma's ranch

Hiking with my grandma on the ranch

Cute lil' snake!

 Grandma's border collie, Annie...soooo cute!

Sunset on the ranch

"Moooooo!"

Centerville Beach

The Redwoods!

Tree-hugger!

The desolate road home in 100 degree weather...ick!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...