Thursday, March 31, 2011
Jamba Juice: New Fruit and Veggie Smoothies
I went with the Berry UpBEET and the husband tried the Orange Carrot Karma. Mine was delicious! You definitely don't taste any of the veggies in the juice blend, it's all fruity an delicious. It's a very red smoothie and reminds me of all of their other red fruit based tangy creations. Shane's Orange Carrot Karma was only meh. It was a bit bland and needed something to make it more zingy and interesting. On our next trip, one of us will have to try the Apple n' Greens smoothie, I'm curious about how Jamba's take on a green smoothie will taste.
So what smoothies do you guys like from Jamba Juice?
-kala
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Kelly Peloza Interview: The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur
Today I'm very excited to share an interview with cookbook author Kelly Peloza! Kelly is the author of the amazing book The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur, a must have for anyone that loves cookies (that's everyone, right?!?) A big thanks to Kelly for taking the time to answer a few of my questions! Without further ado, please enjoy the following interview:
1. How long have you been vegan and what inspired you to start?
I've been vegan for nearly 6 years now. I have always loved animals and made the connection between animals and the food we eat, then started to experiment with vegetarianism at age 10. I didn't really know what to eat or how to cook for myself at such a young age, so it only lasted a year. I revisited vegetarianism when I was 14, learned more about factory farming and what's in our food, then became vegan a few months later and have been ever since.
2. If you were baking cookies for a group of people who had never tasted vegan cookies, which recipes from your book would you choose?
I would bake the giant bakery style double chocolate chip cookies. They're easy to make, familiar, extremely fudgy, and decadent, just the qualities that will win over a wary omnivore. Another favorite is the chocolate peppermint cream bars to really wow them.
3. What are your baking staples that you always have on hand in your pantry or fridge?
Flour, sugar, oil, baking powder/soda, chocolate chips, cocoa, vanilla, and a big tub of Earth Balance margarine.
4. While working on The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur book, were there any cookies that were epic fails, or flavor combinations that sounded better in your head than they ended up tasting? I always wonder about the recipes that don't make it to the final book.
I had the idea to make Bloody Mary Cookies, with every component of the drink included in the cookie. It was mostly a joke, but they actually weren't horrendous. I'll probably revisit the idea with scones instead.
There weren't too many recipes that didn't make the final cut. I remember there was one that just had way too much going on: cocoa, pistachios, chocolate chips, nuts, dried cherries, and maybe even apricots. There are also quite a few recipes I wanted to include but simply didn't have the extra time to create more new recipes, like rainbow cookies and some other veganized versions of packaged cookies.
5. What are your top 3 essential cookbooks that everyone should have in their collection?
It's so hard to pick just three! My first vegan cookbook was Vegan with a Vengeance
, so that definitely is my number one. It's approachable, but still requires making food from scratch. It would be a great way for a new vegan to learn different kitchen techniques and have fun with it.Veganomicon
, for the vast array of different dishes, and you can never go wrong with an Isa/Terry book.Third, everyone needs a few dessert books in their collection!
6. You're known for your sweet treats, but what are some of your favorite savory dishes to prepare?
My favorite cuisines when dining out are Ethiopian, Indian, and Thai. At home, I like making a lot of stir fries, Italian food, hummus, grilled sandwiches, and scrambles.
7. Are you working on another book or other exciting project?
I just started writing a few recipes for a new book. It will include cookies, but it's definitely not all cookies again! Once I get all the details ironed out, I'll announce exactly what it is. I can promise it won't take as long this time around since the book writing process is a lot clearer now!
As for other projects, I'm revamping the design of my blogs, working on proposing to bake for local vegan-friendly restaurants and shops that don't have vegan baked goods (yet!) and offer catering services, maybe write a new zine or two, getting involved in as many events and bake sales as possible, and taking any opportunities that present themselves. It's going to be a busy summer!
Thanks Kelly!
Kelly Peloza's book The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur is available in bookstores, in her online shop, and at all major online retailers.
-kala
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tomato Power!
You can tell I was excited, I took a picture of the tomatoes with a wee house! Anyway, on Sunday I decided to use my fancy tomatoes to make a pasta sauce. I made a very simple sauce: tomatoes, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic....and sauteed some mushrooms for the top while the whole wheat pasta was boiling. It came out amazing:
Doesn't it look yummy? The tomatoes were really amazing, nothing like store bought canned tomatoes, and they were the key to this delicious sauce. Thank you Flannery!
In related news, I've decided that this is going to be the year that I learn how to can food. I've been itching to learn how to make and can jams, preserves, salsas, and more for years but I think I've been a bit afraid that I'd do something wrong and kill myself :) But I got a book that seems like a great guide, The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving
. Do any of you guys can food?
. Do any of you guys can food?p.s. don't forget to enter my giveaway sponsored by Twig and Leaf Botanicals!
-kala
Monday, March 28, 2011
Twig and Leaf Botanicals: Feature and Giveaway - Closed
Giveaway is now closed, thanks so much to everyone who entered!
I have to admit, I'm really excited about today's feature and giveaway! After a long time of coveting, I finally ordered a bottle of Organic Coconut Vegan Lotion from Twig and Leaf Botanicals, a 100% vegan Etsy shop run by a fellow member of the Vegan Etsy Team. And I'm so glad I did, it smells fantastic and soothes my dry winter-abused skin! Even my husband loves it and he usually hates lotion like vampires hate garlic. I also love that the lotion comes in a 100% recycled glass bottle which is both beautiful and eco friendly.
Kelly, the owner of Twig and Leaf Botanicals is kindly offering one lucky winner a bottle of Sleep Salt Elixer and a bottle of lotion in the winner's choice of scent! Be sure to read to the end of the post to find out how to enter. Ok, let's get to know Kelly and her shop:
1. What inspired you to start creating handmade home and body care items?
Well, I have terribly dry skin, and there’s absolutely no humidity out here in Colorado. The vegan lotions that I’ve found are all water-based and dry skin out even more, or smell bad, or they just claim to be “natural” when there really is just a ton of icky goo in them. I believe that you shouldn’t put anything on your body that you wouldn’t put in your mouth. My lotions might not taste so great if you put them in your mouth, but they’re 100% non-toxic, baby-safe & awesome.
I started making my lotions for myself & my dry-skinned friends over 3 years ago, and they’re now being loved & sold everywhere from Colorado to Connecticut!
2. What is your favorite product that you make (or a few that you use everyday)?
The Utopia lotion is my must-have everyday thing. I even take a bottle with me when I travel, because it has both a cap & pump and is airport travel-sized! My favorite bath product is by far the “Sleep Salt Elixir” because of how effective it is and how amazing it smells. It’s scented with organic Blue Yarrow Essential Oil, which is hella pricey, but is so, so amazing. I’m not a bath person, but I do soak my feet, hands, and even use it as a salt scrub in the shower, and follow it with the Bed Down body lotion before bed. Perfect.
3. Do you have any fun hobbies outside of your shop?
I am just a creataholic! When I’m not experimenting with new spice blends, teas, and bath products, I’m out hiking in those beautiful Rocky Mountains, dining out at our local vegetarian/vegan restaurant The Leaf, playing the violin, reading or just enjoying my time with my guy and kitty face or tending and talking to my lovely plants.
4. How do you fit creative time into your day?
twig & leaf is my full-time job and I love it! I start working around 7am and don’t stop until 9pm. My non-business time is very limited, so doing those aforementioned activities is a complete necessity for my sanity to get out of the studio and into the world of people.
Ready to win a bottle of Sleep Salt Elixer and a bottle of lotion in your choice of scent? There are 4 possible entries, only the first is mandatory. Please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win!
1. Visit Twig and Leaf Botanicals and comment here telling me what tempts you most.
2. Follow this blog and leave a comment letting me know.
3. "Like" Vegancraftastic and Twig and Leaf Botanicals on Facebook.
4. Tweet, blog, stumble, or post on facebook about this giveaway. It's easy to tweet this post, check out the tweet button at the bottom of the post!
Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on Monday, April 4 2011. Good luck! And please, don't eat lotion or other body care items, even if they smell really really good ;)
-kala
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Things I Love: Herbivore Clothing Company
Compassion is Invincible Shirt - printed on organic cotton:
So what's your favorite?
-kala
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Finished Knit: Dashing
I joked on twitter that I caused a cold snap because I knit something warm for my husband and should have knit him a tube top instead so it would be warm and sunny :) But something tells me he wouldn't appreciate that...
I knit these mitts using the Dashing pattern from Knitty and they were a quick and easy knit, there are only three cable rounds on each mitt, so it's a great project for knit night or tv watching time. The yarn is one skein of Everyday Soft from Premiere, a really soft and nice to work with acrylic. When making things for my husband, washable is key!
And as an aside, his hands aren't as pale in real life as in this photo, the bright sun reflecting on the snow was making everything super bright and reflective. Although my half Finnish half Swedish husband is pretty dang pale, he doesn't glow in the dark as this picture might lead you to believe, ha ha!
-kala
Friday, March 25, 2011
My First Cross Stitch Project!
Funny right? I had to go with something silly, so I pulled out a kit that my husband bought me from Subversive Cross Stitch. But since I can never leave well enough along, I used different thread in different colors (I much much much prefer perle cotton to embroidery floss, I pretty much refuse to ever use embroidery floss) and I changed the border so my piece would fit into the frame I wanted to use.
Now that I know how easy it is to cross stitch, I can't wait to get more cloth so I can start another project! Maybe one of these cuties from MochiMochi Land?
Do any of you guys cross stitch?
-kala
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Vegan Strawberry Muffins
So simple, and so delicious, these little vegan muffins are perfect for a quick breakfast or a little afternoon snack. After many muffin attempts over the years, my all time favorite go-to recipe is from the awesome book Vegan Comfort Food. I made these on Tuesday using some strawberries I had in the fridge and I've been munching my way through them with the help of my husband ever since! The texture of these muffins is perfect, and the flavor is perfect too, what's not to love?
So what's your favorite muffin flavor?
-kala
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Must See Movie: Paul
As you can probably tell from the title of this post, I absolutely love the move Paul! The husband and I went to see it on Monday and it was fantastic, even better than I thought it would be. Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and the voice of Seth Rogan, Paul is a comedy about two nerdy friends on a road trip following Comic-Con that turns into more of an adventure than they bargained for when they meet up with the alien Paul.
If you're a fan of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's other films like Shaun of the Dead
or Hot Fuzz 
, then you'll love this one too, those guys just have perfect comedic chemistry! The movie is FULL of geeky jokes that the nerdy among us will definitely appreciate. I will warn you though, only about 5-10% of the audience seemed to get most of the jokes, so if you're not into geek culture, sci fi, or anything too nerdy, this might not be the movie for you. But to my geeky readers out there, go see this movie immediately, it's a ton of fun and hilarious!-kala
Krug's Eco-Logic Winner!
Thanks everyone for entering and extra thanks to Erin for providing such a great prize!
-kala
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Spicy Sriracha Hummus
Spicy Sriracha Hummus
1 - 16 oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 TB lemon juice
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 TB tahini
1/3 cup Sriracha (use less if you want a milder hummus)
Throw everything into a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Enjoy in wraps, with pita, or with fresh veggies!
-kala
Local Eats: People's Organic Coffee and Wine Cafe
Last night, my husband and I had a bit of a date night! We caught the last matinee of an awesome movie (I'll share the movie in it's own post, it was THAT good) and then we had dinner at a new place for us, the People's Organic Coffee and Wine Cafe in Edina. I've been hearing lots of great things about this place, it's been said that they serve the best vegan burger in the metro area. And I have to agree, the veggie burger is made in house and it was by far the best burger I've ever had in a restaurant:
We also had a side of warmed olives which was good, but I wish the olives were pitted. Overall, the dinner was amazing and we'll be back for sure. We used a Groupon for this visit, so it was extra awesome! As I've said before, neither the husband nor I drink alcohol, but for those who do, they serve all kinds of local and organic booze :) Here's a bonus picture of the husband, I think he's musing about the burger...
-kala
Monday, March 21, 2011
Minimalist Knitter: Feature and Pattern Giveaway!
Helping Haiti Hat. Cute and simple hat that would be perfect for gift or charity knitting:
Red Velvet Hat. This cabled unisex hat is super cute and just begs to be knit in a nice warm yarn:
April Showers Flowers. These cute flowers would be perfect decorations to greet Spring!
Ready to win your choice of any one pattern from the Minimalist Knitter? There are four possible entries, only the first one is mandatory, and please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Also, please leave a separate comment for each entry!
1. Visit the Minimalist Knitter on Etsy and let me know your favorite design.
2. Follow this blog and the Minimalist Knitter blog.
4. Tweet, blog, stumble, or post on Facebook about this giveaway.
Good luck! Giveaway is open to both US and international folks and ends on Monday, March 28th, 2011.
-kala
Lobug Designs Winner!
-kala
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Gnome Pillow
Amazing, right? She cross-stitched the cute little gnome onto linen and then, using her own design, made a patchwork pillow. I absolutely love it, thank you Kathy!
-kala
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Soft Spring Finds
What's your favorite?
-kala
Friday, March 18, 2011
A Very Vegan St. Patrick's Day!
It's a Celtic Heart Knot headband! Here's a side pic so you can see the knot better:
Cute, right? The inspiration came late last night when I read the newest post on Emmakat. She made a super cute Celtic knot necklace and I had to give it a try. I have to admit, I'm not a master of knots and this project was nearly the death of me, but two youtube videos later I finally figured out the knot! The pattern was super easy to follow and it's called the Celtic Heart Knot from maddycraft. Here's a link to the youtube video that helped me the most. As you can see, I'm wearing the project as a headband rather than a necklace and I think it's pretty dang cute!
I don't drink alcohol, but I did have a festive green drink yesterday, here's my green apple iced green tea from the Tea Garden, it was delicious! Sorry for the less than awesome cell phone pic :)
While working on my headband, the husband and I watched an awesome Irish zombie movie called Boy Eats Girl
- you guys know how much I love my zombie movies and this one was really fun!
- you guys know how much I love my zombie movies and this one was really fun!
Finally, I did a bit of late night baking and made some delicious vegan whoopie pies with green filling! The recipe I used is from the book My Sweet Vegan
and it was fantastic, I'd never made whoopie pies before but they were a breeze to make. The only change I made to the recipe was that I used strawberry soy yogurt instead of the vegan sour cream because that's what we had on hand.
and it was fantastic, I'd never made whoopie pies before but they were a breeze to make. The only change I made to the recipe was that I used strawberry soy yogurt instead of the vegan sour cream because that's what we had on hand. 
So what did you guys do on St. Patrick's Day?
-kala
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Krug's Eco-Logic: Feature and Vegan Lotion Giveaway! - Closed
Giveaway is now closed, thanks everyone for entering!
Today I'm happy to feature an awesome bath and body shop on Etsy, Krug's Eco-Logic! I love handmade lotions, and Erin, the shop owner, has tons of tempting scents to choose from. Krug's Eco-Logic also offers vegan perfume, face products, sugar scrubs, and skincare for men. The owner of Krug's Eco-Logic is generously offering one lucky winner her choice of two of her handmade vegan lotions. Let's get to know Erin and her shop:
1. How long have you been making bath and body products and what inspired you to start?
For about 4 years now. My son started getting really dry hands from anti-bacterial hand soap (they cracked and bled), and my infant daughter cried at the sight of 'big brand' diaper cream - it just hurt her so badly when it was applied to her sensitive skin.
2. What's your favorite scent that you can't live without.
Oh boy ... this is a tough one. I love "Grounded" - it's an earthy, musky, sweet, and very slightly spicy blend of patchouli, vetiver and a few other natural oils. I am not one that cares much for patchouli ... but I just love this blend!
3. How do you fit creative time into your day?
I do my best to only work when the kids are asleep or at school. This means I have about two hours during the afternoon when my daughter is napping and my son is at school ... and 2 hours three days a week in the morning when my daughter is in preschool. The only other time I have is in the evening hours when the kiddo's are asleep.
Be sure to keep up with Krug's Eco-Logic on both Facebook and Twitter!
Ready to win two bottles of Erin's handmade lotion? There are four possible entries, only the first one is mandatory, and please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win.
1. Visit Krug's Eco-Logic and comment here telling me what item looks most tempting.
2. Follow this blog.
3. Follow Vegancraftastic and Krug's Eco-Logic on twitter.
4. Tweet, blog, stumble, or post on Facebook about this giveaway.
Giveaway ends Wednesday March 23rd and is open to US folks only. Good luck!
-kala
Monday, March 14, 2011
Lobug Designs - Feature and Giveaway! - Closed
Today's knitwear design feature is with Laurel of Lobug Designs. Laurel has designed some very cute and fun patterns, from sweaters to socks and even a onesy! Be sure to read to the end of this post for your chance to win a pattern from Lobug! Also, be sure to check out Laurel's blog to keep up with her crafty adventures. Here are a few of my favorite Lobug patterns:
Erratic Argyle. Originally published in Yarn Forward magazine, this mens sweater is fun and interesting, a much needed break from the usual boring sweater offerings for guys.
Woven Bath Set. Very cute bath set and this picture is simply adorable:
Cheshire Cat Socks. These socks are really cool and feature a unique stitch pattern inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland:
Want a chance to win a copy of the Cheshire Cat Sock pattern from Lobug Designs? There are three possible entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win, thanks!
1. Visit Lobug on Ravelry and comment here telling me your favorite design.
2. Follow this blog.
3. Tweet, blog, stumble, or post on Facebook about this giveaway.
Giveaway is open to both US and International folks and ends on Monday, March 21st. Good luck!
-kala
ButterflyKnit Winner!
thanks again, and extra thanks to ButterflyKnit!
-kala
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Things I Love: Baubles 4 Knitwits
If you're like me, you're always looking for cute accessories to making knitting and crafting easier (or at least prettier!). Recently, I gladly helped a fellow vegan crafter while she was setting up her Etsy shop, Baubles 4 Knitwits and in return she was awesome enough to send me some goodies. The package arrived yesterday on my birthday and it was a wonderful and thoughtful delight to receive!
When Jenn asked me what I'd like to try from her shop, I knew I had to get my hands on one of her Scissor Keepers. These are really unique, and I never would have thought of something like this and I LOVE mine! The Scissor Keeper clips onto the handle of your scissors and has a cap on the end to cover the point of your tool. Often, I'll rummage around my bag and get stabbed by the end of a pair of scissors so this is something I really needed. The keeper itself if also beautiful and the colorful beads will make it much harder for me to misplace my scissors, gotta love that! If you have a crafter in your life, I totally recommend this as a gift, it's such a unique find. She also sent me some lovely matching stitch markers:
Pretty, right? Baubles 4 Knitwits also features hemp wrapped knitting needles, needle keepers, and more! Be sure to check out her shop and add her to your faves, she's just starting out and already has a beautiful Etsy shop.
What's your favorite item from Baubles 4 Knitwits?
-kala
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Discovery Of Witches: A Review
It begins with absence and desire.
It begins with blood and fear.
It begins with a discovery of witches.
These words are the first to greet you in Deborah Harkness' debut novel A Discovery of Witches
. Months before this book hit the shelves, I heard so many great things about it that I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. The book ended up being a gift from my sweet husband and let me tell you, the initial buzz on this novel was totally warranted! The story begins with a discovery, or perhaps rediscovery, of an ancient manuscript by a reluctant witch from the powerful Bishop family of witches. Early on, Diana meets a vampire that will soon become her companion on a life changing journey of discovery and acceptance of her powers, and her protector from the many forces eager to get their hands on the manuscript and Diana herself.
A Discovery of Witches is, at it's heart, a love story. A love story populated with vampires, witches, and daemons, but a love story nonetheless! Deborah Harkness does a fantastic job of immersing the reader into the world she has created, and the characters come alive and evolve throughout the story in a way that you don't often see in novels with paranormal elements. If you're looking for a new read, I definitely recommend this book, it's immensely entertaining and will leave you hoping for a sequel!
-kala
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Things I Love: Daisy Wares
If there's one thing I love, it's yummy smelling bath and body care goodies! But I'm extremely picky, I'm not a fan of perfume that you can smell from across the room, so I was super excited when I got my hands on these roll on perfumes from Daisy Wares. In exchange for some knitting notions she was in need of, Roni of Daisy Wares sent me these amazing goodies to try: lovely handmade soap and two kinds of perfume. My favorite by far was the Cucumber and Cantaloupe perfume, not a scent I would have chosen on my own, but it smells amazing! It reminds me of Spring and Summer, and that's a much needed thing in the lingering weeks of a Minnesota winter. I also love that Roni's perfumes are made from organic, vegan, natural ingredients! So if you're in the mood for smelling delicious, be sure to check out Daisy Wares!
what scent from Roni's shop sounds yummy to you?
-kala
Monday, March 07, 2011
ButterflyKnit Feature and Giveaway! - Closed
Today's feature and giveaway is with Meghan of ButterflyKnit! Meghan has some beautiful knitting patterrns to offer, including some gorgeous shawls and socks! I also love that Meghan donates 10% of all her pattern sales to SickKids Children's Hospital.
At the end of this post, be sure to enter for your chance to win a pattern of your choice from ButterflyKnit. Meghan was also generous enough to offer you guys a coupon code to her Ravelry shop - use code vegan at checkout for 10% off all patterns.
Here are some of my favorite designs from ButterflyKnit:
Buttercup. This lovely shawl is Meghan's newest design and it's beautiful!
Beach. These cute socks are a free pattern in her Ravelry shop and feature a unique cuff and heel design:
Pathways Shawl - here's the Ravelry link. You guys know I love a good shawl, and this one is lovely:
Ready to win a pattern from ButterflyKnit? One luck winner will win a pattern of their choice from Meghan's selection of desings. There are three possible entries, only the first is mandatory, and please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you win, thanks!
1. Leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite ButteflyKnit design.
2. Follow ButterflyKnit on twitter.
3. Follow this blog.
4. Blog, tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway.
Giveaway is open to both US and International folks and ends on March 14th 2011.
-kala
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