tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43379069390777669832012-01-29T15:17:42.118-05:00Say it. Eat it. Live it.Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.comBlogger1571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-72743172884766457592012-01-29T15:12:00.000-05:002012-01-29T15:12:56.862-05:00

I love Mexican food. When I was in med school, I used to hang out at a Mexican restaurant in the city called Mexico Lindo. I was there so often everyone got to know me very well. The owner knew I was a struggling student and gave me free food all the time. I learned enough Spanish to be able to order my dinner and flirt with the handsome waiters. That, along with the Spanish I was learning at

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-16402050839528294762012-01-24T13:05:00.002-05:002012-01-29T15:17:42.130-05:00

Go Giants!! The New York Giants are in the Superbowl! Woo Hoo! The New York Giants will be going against the New England Patriots in Superbowl XLVI on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis. There is a lot of buzz around the game. Some of the excitement is about how the Giants upset the Patriots perfect season in Superbowl XLII and now this game is being seen as a rematch. Some of the talk is about

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-69104777787258989162012-01-21T15:19:00.000-05:002012-01-21T15:19:01.272-05:00

One of the foods I REALLY miss eating out is pizza. Yes, I know that in many places, especially in the city, you can get vegan pizza. But for those people not in the city, vegan pizza can still be hard to come by. So you think you can just order a pizza minus the cheese, right? Wrong! Ask specifically what ingredients are in the sauce and the pizza dough and you might be unpleasantly surprised

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-3923658538943293272012-01-15T14:42:00.000-05:002012-01-15T14:42:26.070-05:00

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE appetizers. In my perfect world, when you're done with dinner, the waiter hands you back the appetizer menu instead of the dessert menu. Sometimes the best dinner is when everyone at the table just orders a bunch of different appetizers and everyone shares. Appetizer hell is when there is an uneven number of items on the plate and everyone stares at that

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-30847932420288492622012-01-09T13:44:00.002-05:002012-01-24T20:09:23.738-05:00

Sometimes when I would order Chinese take-out, I would get Sweet and Sour Chicken. Then I would eat the chicken and not even touch the sauce. I loved the way they breaded the chicken; I think it was a beer batter but I didn't like the sauce - it was WAY to sweet for me. When I met Tom, whenever we got Chinese food, he ordered Sweet and Sour Chicken. Every single time! That was his favorite. He

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-22469385620700155382012-01-05T12:45:00.000-05:002012-01-05T12:45:58.422-05:00

We had our first snowfall the other day. Beautiful snow that covered the grounds and the cars and looked like whipped cream. It was time to break out Benny's snowsuit. We have never found a coat that was able to keep him from shivering in the cold so we always double-layered him in a sweater and a coat. But then we had a special snowsuit custom-made for him. It's made specifically to his

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-82770866679172412502012-01-03T16:38:00.000-05:002012-01-03T16:38:04.136-05:00

It's a new year and the time when people are making resolutions about how they are going to improve their lives. One of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight and eat better. Unfortunately, too many resolutions are abandoned before the first week of the year is over. I tend not to make New Year's resolutions because I have goals that I set for myself all year long. But this year I did

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-41689982168002371192011-12-31T14:13:00.000-05:002011-12-31T14:13:53.597-05:00

One of the traditions of New Year's Eve is the countdown to the New Year, the ball dropping, kisses and confetti. So here is a countdown of The "V" Word's most popular posts of 2011. 10. Mexican Sunday Brunch - a delicious feast of Mexican Tofu Scramble, Spanish-Style Potatoes, Pico de Gallo and Red Guacamole. Delicioso! 9. Vegan Gluten-Free, Soy-Free Whipped Creams and Chocolate Mousse -

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-51531757100972842712011-12-26T13:23:00.000-05:002011-12-26T13:23:46.208-05:00

Christmas may be over but the holiday season is still in full swing. Today is Boxing Day, the first day of Kwanzaa and the 6th day (7th night) of Chanukah. Friends and family are still getting together for celebrations and that means more delicious party foods are still needed. Here's a great twist on finger foods: eggplant fries. Delicious, healthy eggplant made even more delicious and a bit

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-68202401390477842482011-12-23T15:48:00.001-05:002011-12-23T15:49:18.334-05:00

A friend of mine suggested veganizing holiday songs. Here is my version, a Vegan version of "Do You Hear What I Hear." Said the turkey to the little lamb Do you see what I see On tables all across the land Do you see what I see Our selves, our flesh All cut up with a knife To celebrate our Savior’s life To celebrate our Savior’s life Said the piglet to the hare Do you hear what I hear Cries

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-33864193195237734402011-12-21T13:30:00.001-05:002011-12-21T21:36:09.346-05:00

Once again I find myself preparing a vegan version of a dish I never tasted as a non-vegan. That's right, this Jewish, Yeshivah-schooled girl has never tasted chopped liver. As a kid, my mother did force me to eat liver a couple of times but I hated it and she (thankfully) gave up. While it took me way too long to realize that it's disgusting to consume any part of a dead body, I always had an

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-50665978505724142522011-12-20T16:39:00.000-05:002011-12-20T16:39:20.526-05:00

Whenever the Bitchin' Kitchen Supperclub Challenge is a dessert, I cringe. I am not good at making desserts. But I am also not one to shy away from a challenge and this dessert of Nadia G's was a big one. Since I don't normally make desserts, I didn't even have the appropriate equipment. I had to go out and buy a hand mixer, a metal bowl and a pie plate. Then not only did I have to make this

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-56558417355835757572011-12-19T17:05:00.000-05:002011-12-19T17:05:27.306-05:00

Vegans are the sweetest people. I know this because there has never been so much demand for a recipe as there has been for my gluten-free, soy-free whipped creams and chocolate mousse. My soups and broccoli dishes, even kale, never get this kind of attention. Or maybe it's because everyone knows that I don't do desserts. So I guess that makes this a sort of limited edition type of recipe (psst.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-91352791280899808372011-12-16T14:34:00.000-05:002011-12-16T14:34:10.025-05:00

It might seem daunting to some people: How can I make a delicious lasagna with no dairy, meat or eggs? Easy! How can I make a delicious vegan lasagna that's gluten-free? No problem! How can I make a delicious vegan, gluten-free lasagna that's also soy-free? Simple! No long story here. Tom loves lasagna. I wanted it to make it for him but now I'm gluten-free and I've been cutting way back on

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-6419672656903029812011-12-15T13:46:00.001-05:002011-12-21T00:48:24.873-05:00

What do pit bulls and chocolate have in common? They are both sweet, they are both often given a bad rap and they are both passions of Sarah Gross, founder of Rescue Chocolate. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Rescue Chocolate donates 100% of the net profits from their sales to animal rescue organizations around the country. The idea for Rescue Chocolate was born one

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-54135782341915516862011-12-12T16:46:00.000-05:002011-12-12T16:46:39.869-05:00

This week Bitchin' Kitchen had their holiday special on TV where Nadia G. prepared "The Feast of the Seven Dishes." At the end of the episode, they showed Nadia's Christmas music video, "A Bitchin' Christmas" which featured several guest stars including Vegan Black Metal Chef. He pops out of a holiday gift box to denounce bacon and praise seitan. Very cool! Vegan Black Metal Chef will also be

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-87780878624982812162011-12-09T19:21:00.002-05:002011-12-09T19:27:16.670-05:00

I love books. Books are among my very favorite things. Is it any wonder I married a librarian? Books make wonderful gifts and these are my top ten choices for vegan/animal rights books (cookbooks are not included in this list; that's a separate list to come). It was hard to limit my choices so I just thought about which books I would have loved to receive as a gift, which books I would never

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-53058305090052465392011-12-04T00:48:00.001-05:002011-12-04T19:06:38.836-05:00

Aaahhh, Sundays! Sundays mean different things to different people. For some it's a day of rest after a long week of work. For some it means attendance at church to pray and give thanks. For some it means a day to spend quality time with family and friends. Throughout my life, Sunday has always had some special meaning. When I was a kid, it meant that Mom was making Matzoh Ball Soup and a red

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-64311206443384847672011-12-02T17:06:00.001-05:002011-12-02T22:40:45.515-05:00

It's that time of year again - time to start buying holiday gifts for our loved ones (and even our not so loved ones). I love buying gifts that give back to the organizations and to the animals. Tom and I have a tradition that at least one of our Chanukah gifts to each other is a donation to the charity of our choosing. It's a tough decision because there are so many worthy causes out there and

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-19333222804437775272011-11-28T18:52:00.001-05:002011-11-28T20:40:30.580-05:00

When I first became vegan, I didn’t realize that I also had to figure out what type of vegan I was going to be. I thought I was just eliminating animal products from my life. It soon became clear, however, that being vegan carries with it a responsibility to advocate for animals and a cruelty-free world. This is especially true when you are passionate about veganism. But how you go about

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-49965959180308151412011-11-26T16:58:00.000-05:002011-11-26T16:58:37.345-05:00

Thanksgiving dinner is over and I know you're probably stuffed full of delicious, vegan goodness. You're on Day 2 of leftovers and you swear you're not eating again until Christmas. But if you've got just a little bit of room left somewhere in your tummy, you MUST try these incredible Black Bean Brownies. Yes, I said brownies made out of black beans. No flour, no eggs, no dairy, no gluten. Just

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-92011739399664245162011-11-24T14:02:00.000-05:002011-11-24T14:02:20.048-05:00

Celebration for the Turkeys at Farm Sanctuary "Studies have shown the mortality rate to be as high as 75 percent during the first weeks of a turkey's life. Birds that survive this critical time typically live a year or two. Some birds make it three years or longer. Turkeys have been known to live 10 years or longer, but those old-timers were certainly exceptions." - Huntingnet.com Point of

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-33597883387745558182011-11-20T15:58:00.000-05:002011-11-20T15:58:46.200-05:00

This week the Bitchin' Kitchen Supperclub Challenge was an old family recipe of Nadia G's - a potato cake filled with sausage, eggs and 3 kinds of cheese. Making the recipe vegan didn't seem like a great challenge. Making it healthier - now that was the challenge! Potatoes are potatoes so no substitutions needed there. Instead of eggs, I added coconut creamer to the potatoes to make them smooth

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-71198533179048915372011-11-14T14:36:00.001-05:002012-01-29T01:00:33.790-05:00

This week the Bitchin' Kitchen Supperclub Challenge was BBQ ribs. I love when the challenge requires me to really veganize the dish beyond just swapping out dairy or eggs. It's fun to push the limits of my (sometimes limited) imagination and come up with a compassionate version of a meat-centric meal. I decided to make two versions of the dish - one made from seitan and one made from tempeh.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-49806680942715396592011-11-11T13:49:00.001-05:002011-11-12T22:02:42.617-05:00

Most likely, you have already been planning your Thanksgiving menu for a month but if you're like me, you may not have yet decided what delicious, compassionate dishes will grace your table this year. Looking back over my recipes, I see so many things I would love to make and attempted to make an organized list. I wanted to make a few sample menus that might inspire others with their own

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-57425074179437040842011-11-07T18:24:00.001-05:002011-11-07T18:52:57.616-05:00

There are so many ways to be a Vegan activist and educate people about compassionate food choices. Obviously cooking and sharing recipes is one of my favorite ways to make my Vegan voice heard. A friend of mine, Gary Lowenthal, who is the co-founder of Compassion for Animals and founder of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale, came up with the wonderful idea of veganizing recipes on non-vegan web

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-63335290188170343922011-11-03T14:21:00.000-04:002011-11-03T14:21:39.274-04:00

Soup or Bisque? Traditionally, a bisque is a soup that contains shellfish but traditions are made to be broken. According to Wikipedia, "bisque is also sometimes used to refer to cream-based soups that do not contain seafood, in which the ingredients are pureed or processed in a food processor or a food mill. Common varieties include tomato, mushroom, and squash bisque." So, yes, bisques can be

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-72973403455400765392011-11-01T16:25:00.003-04:002011-11-14T01:48:28.666-05:00

The “V” Word is celebrating World Vegan Day (and month) by having its first-ever giveaway just in time for the holidays! Woo Hoo! I was given a VIP coupon for a FREE Tofurky Feast to give to one lucky winner! Our Tofurky Roast 2010 Holidays can be a rough time for vegetarians and vegans. Besides the usual stress that family get-togethers can bring, there is the extra issue of food. Will

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-38566795843360571532011-10-30T13:14:00.003-04:002011-11-10T12:48:11.611-05:00

The "V" Word completes its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the last letter of the alphabet. "Z" is for Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. It seems only fitting that we end VeganMoFo the way we started it - with muffins and another attempt on my part at baking. These muffins are gluten-free and delicious. Healthy zucchini, sweet banana and indulgent chocolate chips.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-57714365915568045232011-10-29T13:42:00.000-04:002011-10-29T13:42:30.594-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, a month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "Y" is for Yam Banana Mash and Yam Cakes. Ok, let’s get this straight. Is it yams or is it sweet potatoes? Many people seem to use these terms interchangeably but they are really two different vegetables. And neither of them are potatoes, they are tubers! Sweet potatoes (

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-66410565083870083092011-10-28T11:14:00.000-04:002011-10-28T11:14:04.956-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "X" is for Xi Hong Shi Chao "Jidan." Gotcha! I bet you thought it was going to be Xanthan Gum or Xtra Spicy something or other. Ha! Truth be told, I was worried about what I would do for the letter "X" because I did not want to write an entire post dedicated to Xanthan Gum.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-83482310778866476652011-10-27T12:13:00.003-04:002012-01-07T15:44:07.833-05:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "W" is for Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa. Here is the reason I could probably never go raw. I like my food hot. Really hot. Not spicy hot, though I like that too, but temperature hot. Whenever I eat at a restaurant, I hate when the food is served at room temperature. When I

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-36117957901379657092011-10-26T12:37:00.001-04:002011-12-01T17:44:25.285-05:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, a month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today "U" is for Upma with Millet and Veggies. What is upma, you ask? Upma is a popular hot breakfast dish that originated in South India. In the language of Tamil, upma is written as உப்புமா. Upma is usually made with semolina called rava but the variations, either in the

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-25553281125403060582011-10-25T12:20:00.000-04:002011-10-25T12:20:09.903-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, a month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today's letter is extra-special because it stands for my favorite event at my very favorite place in the world. "T" is for ThanksLiving at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. This was my 2nd time attending ThanksLiving at Woodstock Sanctuary. If it's possible, I enjoyed it even

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-65736407822227311582011-10-24T12:26:00.001-04:002011-10-24T12:26:48.194-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "S" is for Spicy Pumpkin Penne with Soy Feta and Hazelnuts. Here is another dish that should be on your Thanksgiving menu especially if you are having dinner with pre-vegans! This will get rid of all those ideas that Vegan food is bland, boring and always means salad or tofu

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-17812417047708227032011-10-23T12:27:00.001-04:002011-10-23T15:58:10.788-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "R" is for Ropa Vieja. A man's family was coming to his home for dinner. Being very poor, the man could not buy them enough food. So he went to his closet, gathered some old clothes (ropa vieja) and imbued them with his love. When he cooked the clothes, his love for his

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-31996666959544577912011-10-22T12:16:00.001-04:002011-10-23T15:58:51.499-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, a month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "Q" is for Quinoa, Mushroom and Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes. It's probably no surprise that quinoa is my "Q" word. Thank goodness for this delicious, healthy superfood! I love quinoa so much. It's easy to make, it's gluten-free and it's so yummy. It's a wonderful substitute for

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-25085168596387906462011-10-21T14:46:00.005-04:002011-11-10T12:47:53.404-05:00

VeganMoFo is two-thirds done and so far it's been so much fun. A lot of work but also a lot of fun. Being part of a group of over 700 bloggers all promoting the same cause gives this lone cook a great sense of community. It's amazing how many people are out there making delicious Vegan food and posting it for the world to see. Seriously, there is NO way any Vegan could ever get bored or say

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-36406114791614498112011-10-21T13:03:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:00:19.811-04:00

The "V" Word continues the celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of delicious Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "P" is for Potato Crusted Seitan. Since I have been gluten-free for many months, I suppose "P" could also stand for "past" and because I miss seitan so very, very much, it could also stand for "petulant" and "painstaking." This is not to say that I never cheat but

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-86958511929780238562011-10-20T10:41:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:00:03.841-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo, a month of incredible Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today "O" is for Onion and Apple Relish Tofu. Ok, honestly, the name of this dish is Tofu with Onion and Apple Relish but I turned it around to make it start with an "O." Consider it my literary license. This is a dish that is so easy yet so impressive. Crispy pan-fried

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-66158710667685019532011-10-19T12:17:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:00:44.212-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "N" is for Nutrition and my book review of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by registered dietician and certified personal trainer Julieanna Hever. If you are Vegan, you probably get bombarded with questions about nutrition. Where do you get your calcium

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-10206262242048649112011-10-18T12:02:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:01:03.727-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of delicious Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today we hit the half-way mark with the 13th MoFo post. Our letter of the day is "M" which stands for Moo Shu Vegetables with 5-Spice Pancakes. I have to confess to a quirk of mine. I love the idea of sandwiches, tacos and other foods that are wrapped or encased in

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-72786703230752203532011-10-17T12:52:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:01:21.770-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo, the month of delicious Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "L" is for Lentil Veggie Soup. When I was a kid, my mother would make lentil soup and I would refuse to eat it. It was brown and I thought soup should not be brown. She also made a veggie loaf with lentils. I wouldn't eat that either. Just what was a lentil anyway?

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-65265063143762662252011-10-14T07:54:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:01:40.386-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo, the month of delicious Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today "K" is for Kale, Apple and Parsnip Stuffed Squash. Autumn is the most colorful season. The leaves are turning shades of beautiful jewel-tones. These are my favorite colors - the reds, oranges, browns, and yellows that gradually steal the stage from the greens. The

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-61860765325131088902011-10-13T12:07:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:02:04.354-04:00

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, a month of delicious food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today the letter "J" is for Jalapeno Poppers Revisited. Last March I wrote a post with a recipe for my fried Jalapeno Poppers. Fried Jalapeno Popper Well, that has become my most popular recipe post on the blog by a long shot. While my "Breaking Up with Richard Gere"

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-77835753657485424352011-10-12T13:44:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:03:02.038-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today "I" is for my Interview with Carol J. Adams, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat. Carol J. Adams is one of my Vegan heroes and I had the great pleasure of interviewing her earlier this year. Her book, The Sexual Politics of Meat, is fascinating and really made me rethink the way I view meat-eating

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-14715598367711303192011-10-11T10:59:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:24:39.926-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo, a month of delicious Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today the letter "H" is for Herbed Tofu Scramble. When I first learned to make tofu scramble, I added so many ingredients it was way too filling for breakfast. With onions, peppers, mushrooms and greens along with a side of home fries, it was a meal better suited for

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-90916771758145549982011-10-10T12:43:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:03:49.497-04:00

The "V" Word continues to celebrate VeganMoFo with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today the letter "G" is for Gluten-Free Products I Love. After reading Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet and Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live, I decided to switch to a gluten-free diet. I suffer from autoimmune diseases which are worsened by inflammation. Dr. Fuhrman states that the symptoms of many autoimmune

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-26897474121454631732011-10-07T11:47:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:04:09.805-04:00

The "V" Word celebrates VeganMoFo, a month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. We are up to the letter "F" and what better word for the letter "F" than my one remaining vice - "Fried." Today "F" is for Fried Buttermilk Tofu. Along my journey, I have eliminated a lot of things from my diet. First it was MSG, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors. Then

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-36109381049009092172011-10-06T12:33:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:05:01.090-04:00

The "V" Word continues celebrating VeganMoFo with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today is the letter "E" which is for Ethiopian Greens, Beans and Quinoa Stew. The weather is getting colder and if you want something warm and hearty to take the chill off, this is the dish for you. It's healthy, delicious and so satisfying! And spicy! It uses an Ethiopian Spice blend known as Berbere which

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-70574886773780976952011-10-05T12:44:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:05:16.964-04:00

The "V" Word continues the VeganMoFo month of food with the letter "D". Today the letter "D" is for Double-Stuffed Pesto Baked Potatoes. The basil was dying! I had bought a beautiful green bunch of basil, put it in water, and let the aroma fill the kitchen. Some of it got used but I had a lot left. While I was debating what dishes to use it in, it started to wilt. I had to use it and use it

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-24266189909049645522011-10-04T12:55:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:05:32.843-04:00

The "V" celebrates VeganMoFo with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today the letter "C" stands for Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. For me, the type of vegan I want to be is epitomized in one woman, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. She is the author of many amazing cookbooks including The Joy of Vegan Baking, The Vegan Table, Color Me Vegan and The 30-Day Vegan Challenge. Colleen is the founder of

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-88561356101576937832011-10-02T16:56:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:05:48.270-04:00

For this month of VeganMoFo, The "V" Word is celebrating the delicious world of Vegan food with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. Today is the letter "B" which stands for Baby Bok Choy and Mushroom Fried Rice, a healthy and hearty favorite amped up with two of my favorite vegetables. When you think of Chinese food, what dish could be more classic than fried rice? But if you get it at a

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-32984412753382118082011-10-01T12:44:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:06:43.895-04:00

Welcome to my 1st VeganMoFo post! The "V" Word normally celebrates all the wonders of the incredible "V" word - Vegan - but this month I am going to let all the other letters of the alphabet play too! And where better to begin than with the letter "A" which today is all about my Vegan and Gluten-Free Apple Walnut Muffins. Now that might sound simple but those of you who know me know that I

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-40127179993366105112011-09-29T13:17:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:06:58.939-04:00

October is my favorite month in my favorite season. I met Tom in October and we got married on that same date 4 years later. We rescued Benny (and he rescued us) in October. Halloween is my favorite holiday. The leaves are changing to beautiful colors of greens, oranges, reds and browns. The weather is cool and crisp and winter is still a while away. Sweaters and jackets come out of the closet

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-74896971554210062942011-09-22T15:49:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:07:24.098-04:00

Growing up, I didn't have a very sophisticated palate. In fact, I knew no other foods besides my mother's cooking and the occasional restaurant outing. The only "ethnic" foods I ate were Italian and Jewish, both cooked by my mother (and exceptionally, I might add). I guess you could say I was a very picky eater, liking only foods I was familiar with. Once in a while, my parents would take us

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-87767915518546152072011-09-13T19:25:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:07:49.065-04:00

This is the time of year when all the people who are fortunate enough to have gardens start wondering what to do with all the masses of vegetables they have harvested. Their kitchens are overrun with tomatoes, squash, zucchini, eggplants, peppers, corn, etc. They begin marathons of cooking, canning and freezing. Well, I have no sympathy for them! :) Seriously, I WISH that were my problem! I'm

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-25276749229126487312011-09-09T17:21:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:08:15.590-04:00

So in my last recipe, I mentioned that I bought both the purple and the orange cauliflower and how I was agonizing over what to do with them. With the purple head, I made that incredibly beautiful Purple Cauliflower Soup with Cheddar Crisps. That left me with the bright orange head of cauliflower. What to do? All I knew was that I wanted to make a dish that was really colorful. Should I keep

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-41978683762523775492011-09-05T14:11:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:08:33.542-04:00

Dear Poochie, Today is 5 years since you flew to Rainbow Bridge. We love you and miss you Forever, our Special Angel. Love, Mommy and Daddy Make a video - it's fun, easy and free! www.onetruemedia.com Make a video - it's fun, easy and free! www.onetruemedia.com Nothing can tear us apart!

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-35235908115541211612011-09-03T16:08:00.003-04:002011-10-23T12:59:40.382-04:00

It's now September. Summer is almost over and the weather is getting cooler already. Then again, some days have been hot and muggy. The produce sections of the supermarkets and the farmer's market stands illustrate the coming change of seasons. The bright yellow and green summer squash rest next to the deeper yellow butternut and winter squash. Pumpkins share the table with juicy beefsteak

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-56007138589792034352011-08-29T21:06:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:08:59.119-04:00

While I believe everyone in the world should see the light and go Vegan, I have a list of certain celebrity chefs that I especially wish would turn their talents to cruelty-free cooking. Heading that list is Rachael Ray. I have to admit I have a special place in my heart for Rachael. It's because of her that I learned to cook at all. I mean, I knew how to make some dishes from watching my mother

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-72776936357135966922011-08-25T15:16:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:09:25.679-04:00

For the past couple of weeks, I haven't been able to go to the Farmer's Market and I am going through withdrawal really bad! I am missing all the booths, all the color, all the choices, all the new and different vegetables you can't find in a regular supermarket. What to do? It's times like this when what's needed is a good recipe or two that makes use of the more common produce that's easy to

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-11330215654247641202011-08-21T15:11:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:09:48.825-04:00

Leftovers have such a bad connotation. Who wants to eat the same old thing that you just had the other day? That's a recipe for BORING! But rather than see leftover food as just another rerun, see it as an opportunity to turn it into something completely new and delicious! For instance, my recipe for Tempeh "Fish" N'Chips is incredibly delicious but if you follow the recipe exactly and you

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-72857824000413471412011-08-12T16:39:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:10:06.544-04:00

It's August and it's hot. Too hot to cook. And produce is at its peak so what better time to make some delicious, healthy salads? I usually stick to my default salads: romaine lettuce with tomatoes, raw kale with simple dressings of extra-virgin olive oil or safflower oil with balsamic vinegar. Actually, for me those salads are sort of new and adventurous. I grew up eating iceberg lettuce with

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-70413999066440640932011-08-08T13:23:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:10:22.990-04:00

One of the best things about being Vegan is that you can never run out of new foods to try. The variety of plant-based foods is endless. So if you ever get the feeling that you're in a rut, eating the same old things again and again, just pick up a fruit or vegetable you've never tried before. Summer squash is not new to me but I had never tasted patty pan squash (although I did grow them in my

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-78764973836135997352011-08-02T14:09:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:10:42.589-04:00

After several recipes that involve frying, it's time for some healthier, figure-friendly ones. After all, it is summer and there are no jackets and sweaters to hide under. When I began my weight loss journey, there were a few recipes that were sure-fire "eat-this-and-the-scale-will-smile-upon-me" dishes. My scale, by the way, is named Pandora. I chose this name because when I step on her, I

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-89226805739891134332011-07-29T13:49:00.004-04:002011-10-23T16:11:06.494-04:00

If I ever thought it was challenging to go vegetarian or Vegan, it was nothing compared to going gluten-free. Actually, being gluten-free is pretty easy when I'm doing the cooking. It's no big deal to switch out a type of flour or bread crumb mixture. But eating out is really tough. There aren't many places that offer sandwich bread that is both gluten-free and Vegan. I'm pretty sure most places

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-45635421555963287702011-07-27T18:21:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:21:22.412-04:00

  "Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the cafe. Ooh!" - Ninny Threadgoode Summer is the time for green tomatoes and who can hear the name of these delicious fruits without thinking of the awesome movie "Fried Green Tomatoes." The movie is about Evelyn Couch, an unhappy housewife (played by Kathy Bates) who friends Ninny Threadgoode (played by

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-58251802072397108732011-07-24T18:27:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:21:41.401-04:00

If a genie suddenly appeared to me and offered me 3 wishes, I would wish for animal liberation, world peace....and a Vitamix. I really want a Vitamix! But since no genie appears no matter how long and hard I rub every lamp and bottle I see, my wish for a Vitamix will have to sit on the shelf for a while (are you reading this, G. and R.?). We have bought a few blenders but none of them seem to

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-57819254220517191542011-07-18T16:52:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:12:18.413-04:00

July 21st marks my 3-year anniversary of giving up meat. While I celebrate the day I became fully Vegan more, this day is also important because it marks the beginning of my journey towards a cruelty-free life. I could write and sing the praises about being Vegan forever but I thought I would rather share a few lessons I have learned to help those who might be struggling in their own journeys.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-80531345918480545852011-07-05T17:16:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:22:24.529-04:00

The 4th of July may be over but that doesn't mean you can't still have fireworks - and not the kind that are harmful to people, animals and the environment. These fireworks are for your tastebuds! I am always looking for new ways to recreate Buffalo Wings which were my favorite thing to eat before I broke through my denial and became educated about where my food comes from.  Now the thought of

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-87062647776695283162011-06-29T15:09:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:13:05.717-04:00

How do you get me to eat dessert? Fry it! And have it not be too sweet. I know, I know, don't hate me. I just really don't like sweet foods. Instead, feel sorry for me that I have such an affinity for fried foods because that's not good for me, my health or my diet. Still, every once in a while, I want to indulge in something decadent too. These Banana Beignets are perfect for that. They are

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-24127906184639773142011-06-23T16:43:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:13:26.778-04:00

And since we were just speaking about balls and word origins, it seems only fitting that the next recipe be for my Vegan Spinach Tofu Gnudi Balls. Yes, I said Gnudi Balls. Laugh all you want and keep your mind in the gutter if that’s where it’s most comfortable but Gnudi Balls are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. What exactly are Gnudi Balls, you ask? Well, in Italian, gnudi means ‘naked,’ just

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-5500859562148539982011-06-20T22:07:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:13:44.705-04:00

If you have ever looked at my photo albums on Facebook called “My Vegan Recipes” and "My Vegan Recipes II," you know I have A LOT of recipes that have not yet made it to my blog. Mainly, that is because I set this high standard for myself (which I often regret) of requiring some interesting story to go along with each recipe. And I have more recipes than I do interesting stories so you see my

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-32787020322878017692011-06-16T20:56:00.003-04:002012-01-25T15:40:17.072-05:00

Father's Day is coming up and it always brings mixed feelings for me. I didn't have the best relationship with my father but I don't want to write about that. One of my happier memories of my Dad was that when I was little, he always made me my lunch for school. And because I was not an adventurous child when it came to eating, he always made me the same thing: tuna sandwiches. Now, they were

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-3864220949113214262011-06-10T17:04:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:14:22.518-04:00

I didn’t want you at first. Having you meant I didn’t have her anymore. Every time I looked at you, all I thought was “you’re not her.” You didn’t want me at first. You were scared and untrusting. So many changes and unknowns in your short life. You could sense that my heart was not yet open. Benny's Picture on Petfinder.com But here we are almost 5 years later and I cannot imagine my life

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-54099853689567764542011-06-06T15:57:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:14:51.422-04:00

Have you ever participated in an animal rights protest or demonstration? Have you ever joined an animal rights/liberation group online? Have you ever gone to a supermarket or puppy mill and tried to discourage people from doing business there? Have you ever just handed out a leaflet that promotes animal or environmental causes? If so, then you could be labeled a “domestic terrorist.” Scary, huh?

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-19975958469490942902011-06-04T00:02:00.005-04:002011-10-23T16:15:07.187-04:00

Summer is almost here. The weather is getting warmer and we all know what that means: it's time to watch what we are eating. No more coats, no more jackets, no more heavy clothes to cover up any damage we did over the winter. Now is the time we start eating lighter foods - more salads, more fruit and for me, more soup. I know soup might sound comforting on a cold winter day but soup is helpful

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-84324154591077799142011-05-22T16:59:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:15:25.194-04:00

When I was growing up, my dream was to live in City Island.  It wasn't really about City Island, per se. I loved the water, the boats and the marina and City Island was the only place I had ever been that had those things. Having grown up in the South Bronx where swimming in the summer meant playing in an illegally opened fire hydrant, going to City Island was a jaw-dropping experience. City

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-12699244001549520942011-05-16T21:12:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:15:45.104-04:00

One of the best jobs I ever had was when I worked in an Italian restaurant. I was in med school and I desperately needed money for food and expenses. My father had just passed away and I was over my head in loans. When not studying, I spent a lot of my free time hanging out at a Mexican restaurant in Manhattan. A lot of my free weekend time was spent at The Rocky Horror Picture Show but that's a

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-80114167028442001872011-05-09T16:55:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:16:02.640-04:00

A couple of years ago, I was perusing Vegan quotes and sayings to share with people on a discussion board. One day I was looking for something light-hearted (there are some really funny Vegan jokes and riddles) and I found this poem. I instantly loved it and looked up the author. That's how I learned about Ginny Kisch Messina. Ginny Kisch Messina, MPH, RD, lovingly known as "The Vegan Dietician

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-24729273699727259162011-05-06T15:35:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:16:17.399-04:00

Notes: This is an adaptation of an earlier post, Save the Children. Thank you to C-A-L-F  and Evolve! Campaigns for allowing the sharing of pictures. A Mother's Story Chloe had been happily anticipating the birth of her new baby. She carried her baby inside her for nine long months. They were one, mother and child. It had been a difficult pregnancy, as Chloe did not live in optimal conditions.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-61017660758983325232011-05-04T14:48:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:16:33.750-04:00

There are so many things you don’t understand or appreciate about your family until you are older and can see them from a different, wiser perspective. I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother lately. Probably it’s because Mother’s Day is coming up and I miss my mother terribly. And because I am always thinking about food, I’ve been re-examining a lot of things about the way my mother ate. We

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-88558356490715662862011-05-01T14:48:00.004-04:002011-10-23T16:17:06.082-04:00

Do you ever think about the link between race and food? Author Tracye Lynn McQuirter, MPH does. According to her book, By Any Greens Necessary: A Revolutionary Guide for Black Women Who Want to Eat Great, Get Healthy, Lose Weight, and Look Phat, 80% of black women are overweight and 50% are obese. They have “the highest rates of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer” (p. xxiii). Ms.

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-34797996444960473552011-04-27T13:58:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:17:27.829-04:00

When I was single, I used to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. Since I had no one else to think about, I didn’t worry about meal planning. I rarely cooked; to tell the truth, I really didn’t know how. There were a few recipes that I had picked up from my mother but mostly, I either ate out or had food delivered. In fact, when I would call the local Chinese place and say, “Hi, I’d like an order

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-3308052472101264622011-04-25T18:17:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:17:51.570-04:00

We all know how this story goes: you decide to dine out but not at a Vegan restaurant. You anxiously anticipate the meal, wondering what you are going to eat - a salad, a dry baked potato, maybe pasta with marinara sauce or a veggie wrap minus the cow pus...uh, I mean cheese. You dread the fact that you are probably going to have to play 20 Questions with the waitstaff - what's in that? How is

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-21217081288586587702011-04-23T01:39:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:26:43.301-04:00

March was a record-setting month of posting recipes for me.  I posted 7 Extreme Vegan Makeovers; 8 if you let me count the one I wrote in March but posted on April 1st. It felt like I was on a roll and I was having so much fun posting recipes and getting positive feedback including that I should write a cookbook. To that I said, "Yeah, right" but it felt really good to hear. It motivated me to

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-5031888219362422282011-04-20T15:43:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:18:23.457-04:00

Got Milk? Got Child Abuse. The number of television commercials depicting "happy cows" on family farms is growing exponentially. But how happy could any cow be when she is raped and artificially inseminated, spending the majority of her shortened life pregnant just to produce milk her babies will never get to drink?  How happy can she be when the strain of being constantly pregnant and

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-78470903495399925872011-04-19T16:59:00.008-04:002011-10-23T16:27:06.839-04:00

It is Passover and there is no better time to think about going Vegan. Well, any time is a good time to think about going Vegan but Passover is all about persecution, slavery and leading those oppressed out of bondage. Yet as people all over the world sit down to retell the story of the Hebrews' Exodus from Egypt, they will celebrate at a Seder with Gefilite fish, chicken soup, lamb shankbones,

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-27247640616218148712011-04-13T17:56:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:19:08.263-04:00

One of my more annoying fears (to me) is writing blog posts and thinking no one is reading them. I suppose that's why all bloggers love getting comments; even if people don't agree with what you wrote, at least you know they are reading it. Comments on Facebook are great but my heart still falls a bit when I see "0 Comments" under a blog post. It almost seems to get larger, bolder and pulsate a

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-26371932067231478532011-04-11T00:06:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:19:29.886-04:00

“Vegans can no longer be silent in this most important social justice change…anymore than we could have [remained silent]…by just not owning slaves during Antebellum slavery and saying slavery was a choice. Some things are so wrong they can not be tolerated. Time is short and creating a vegan world has become crucial to saving it from possible destruction. It has become everybody’s business what

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-48068492509737661542011-04-01T20:58:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:19:51.698-04:00

Every year at the end of the Spring semester, my colleagues and I would attend the commencement ceremony for our College. Graduation is always held at Madison Square Garden with the marquee congratulating our students, the College’s name up there alongside those of celebrities and athletes. We find, press and then dress up in our doctoral robes, help each other pin the caps on, fix our hoods

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-39299601476679635982011-03-31T16:37:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:20:35.784-04:00

Lately, I’ve been making a lot of comfort foods. Comfort foods for me do not involve sweets or chocolate or bread or pasta. No, for me, comfort food means fried and crunchy. The timing couldn’t be worse for my sudden need for comfort foods. Spring is here. The weather is s-l-o-w-l-y getting warmer and soon it will be time to put away the coats and sweaters. There will be no place to hide. Why

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-88441372876620953062011-03-24T22:20:00.002-04:002011-10-23T16:27:33.139-04:00

  “Oh my G-d! Oh My G-d! OH MY G-D!!!!!” Tom repeatedly cried out last night. I don’t think I have ever seen a look of such pleasure, such passion, such hunger, such rapture on Tom’s face. His eyes were wide with fascination, his mouth wet with desire. “OH MY G-D!” he exclaimed.   And then he was finished. He wiped the sweat from his brow, tried to control his labored breathing and licked his

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-61873832166596975812011-03-23T20:51:00.001-04:002011-10-23T16:27:51.196-04:00

The other night I had a dream in which I broke up with Richard Gere. Apparently, we were in a serious relationship – I even got to touch his hair (swoon) – but I had no choice. I had to end things between us. Before I get into the dream analysis, perhaps I need to give a little back story. I may have what some might call a mild obsession with Richard Gere. Nothing extreme – I don’t stalk him, I

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-62229529175832472562011-03-20T19:20:00.004-04:002011-10-23T16:28:09.566-04:00

It's Purim and even though I am baking-challenged, I decided to try and make Hamentashen. And not just any Hamentashen: Vegan and gluten-free Hamentashen. Purim has always been my favorite Jewish holiday. It's one of the few happy holidays and as I recall, the only one where you get to sit in the synagogue and make noise - stamp your feet and play with graggers (noisemakers). When I was a

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-25988350885943740632011-03-17T23:00:00.003-04:002011-10-23T16:28:26.468-04:00

Today is St. Patrick's Day and I supposed that meant I should cook something green. But I eat green food every single day so I decided to celebrate by trying a green food I've never eaten before. Okra. I had never tried okra although I've wanted to. But it looks strange and I had no idea what it tasted like or how to prepare it. I heard it tasted slimy. Usually when I'm going to try a new

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-24388477856872270392011-03-15T17:42:00.002-04:002012-01-08T16:42:10.962-05:00

You say azuki beans, I say adzuki beans. Or Aduki beans, or asuki beans or Tiensen red beans or red Oriental beans or feijao beans or red chori. Call them whatever you want but add them to your shopping list. These small, reddish-brown, rounded beans are delicious and so good for you. They have a strong, nutty, sweet flavor and work great in stews or salads. They are easy to digest and don’t

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-82334088168562510202011-03-11T23:05:00.002-05:002011-10-23T16:28:58.733-04:00

Being a native New Yorker, when I hear Brooklyn, I think of the Bridge, Prospect Park and the many Vegan eateries in the borough across the river from Manhattan. However, lately I’ve been learning about a very special place in a different Brooklyn: Paint Creek Animal Rescue located in Brooklyn, Michigan. Paint Creek Animal Rescue is run by Sharon Hall. I had the opportunity to talk with her

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337906939077766983.post-82328549891889697702011-03-10T17:24:00.002-05:002012-01-23T14:27:22.341-05:00

Lately I've had a lot of cravings for Chinese food. I miss going to my favorite places and getting takeout. I miss the cartons (and what's happened to those lately? Too many plastic tupperware containers. That SO takes away from the Chinese food experience), the chopsticks, the fotune cookies. I even miss the dozen packets of duck sauce and soy sauce that I never, ever use. The only thing I

Rhea Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381206444697433742noreply@blogger.com0