vegoftheweek

Inside The Oven: My top posts. Week Links: Ditto.

So most of you have seen the T-Mobile “Who’s In You Fave 5?” commercials. Perhaps you’ve even been scorned after learning your not as important to your grandma as she tells you after looking through her purse for her blood pressure medicine and discovering, “Ruth, Herbert, Bob’s Pharmacy, Pastor Mark, and 1-800-Dial-a-Happy-Story have left no room for your seven digits. Not to fear, because you can be in at least someone’s Fave 5: mine. By visiting my blog, you have created my Fave 5: the top five most popular posts I’ve made so far.

I’d thought it’d be nice to share it with you in case you’ve just climbed aboard or missed a couple of weeks. (Shame on you for doing so. Start feeding yourself already.) So take a look at my top five posts, play catch-up if you have to, or refresh your memory and tastebuds.

Meat and Greet: List of Vegetarian Meat-By far the most viewed. Everything you ever wanted to know about what’s out there in terms of fake meat from Fakin Bacon Tempeh to Boca Burgers. 

Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip. Ah…Those Festival and Sports Arena Memories-Because all the other vegan nacho cheeses don’t spread and melt to my liking.

The Quest For Uncle Eddie’s, The Best Vegan Cookies, Wherever They May Be-I think most of the Whole Foods have had their transition from Wild Oats complete by now, but you never know. A post born out of my frustration of not being able to find my favorite vegan cookies. A real transcript of the types of conversations I had with the employees is included.

Interview With Singer Missy Higgins: She really digs her monster wraps-Did you know this lady doesn’t believe in encores? But it’s a good thing. Let me explain. At one of her concerts I attended, she stated that she really didn’t believe in them because it’s not fair to have your audience standing around and clapping for an eternity in hopes of having your favorite band come back out and play a couple of songs after you’ve already clapped for them a dozen times and been standing on your feet forever. Good deal. So she will let you know when it really will be her last song. Oh, and she can’t eat anything with red peppers in it. She didn’t give the details. Many that was for the best.

Marinated Tempeh Recipe: 3rd Time Really Was A Charm-I gave tempeh the ultimatum. We had so many bad experiences in our relationship. Taste good or I’m moving on to commit with tofu. Tempeh stepped up now I still see it from time to time. Tofu doesn’t mind, as it’s quite open.

Even though this list represents the most popular posts, I’m sure it doesn’t include everyone’s favorites. What’s your favorite post or recipe? Any topic you’d like to see me cover more?

Week Links:

Haven’t I given you enough already?

Awhile back, I told you how I was rooting for my favorite protein bar to cross the finish line. But Amelia Kirchoff (right) and her daughter Jolanta Sonkin (left) have already won several races. Amelia beat cancer and both women have a successful macrobiotic food business that started in Amelia’s kitchen. And amazingly, the only real “horror” story, so far, is a burned cookie here and there.

On How Go Macro Got Started:
Amelia: It was really the fact that I got breast cancer. At the time, I was very concerned and Jola had an aunt that had lymphoma and it had been diagnosed as a terminal cancer. And she had been told she only had six months to live. She went on a macrobiotic diet and has been doing great. And it’s been at least 10 years now. So that was a great incentive for me. And I went on a macrobiotic diet at the time as well and later when I got better I started to make desserts-macrobiotic desserts because really there was nothing available.
Jola: My mom wasn’t just making them to start a business. It was my husband who suggested that, “These are so good, you guys should sell them.” It was so random. Who would have thought we’d be here with this company. I said, “Mom will you make a batch of these. I’m going to try to sell them to my local health food store. She made me a batch and we wrapped them in Saran Wrap. We printed up these labels-I just typed up labels and pasted them on the back and went to the local health food store in Downtown Chicago.

On The Challenges Of A Self Owned Business:
Amelia: I can’t think of any real horror stories, other than of course we have thrown out batches. And still do occasionally. Not every batch turns out well. I think Whole Foods told us our first packaging looked washed out. So that was a bit of a disappointment (laughs). But we got new packaging.
Jola: And there was the one issue of gluten-free (testing) and it forced us to invest in gluten-free testing products.
Amelia: We used one testing procedure and we had to change to a different one. We learn as we go along.
Jola: I think there’s been challenges along the way like any business…Everything that happens, really it’s been a positive thing for us because it’s forced us to improve.

What They’ve Eaten For The Week:
Amelia: Years ago, I always used to like Beef Stroganoff. And there was a recipe for something similar using tempeh and several different types of mushrooms. It was a vegan sour cream for the sauce. And some spices.
Jola: Seitan Pear Pie. But not a sweet pie. It was made with wild rice, dried cherries-the pears were on top. The seitan was mixed in with the wild rice and dried cherries. Some brown rice syrup-those are the main ingredients.

Learn what Amelia and Jolanta wouldn’t mind eating over and over again after the break… (more…)

Inside The Oven: When is it okay to trust bears? Week Links: Paul McCartney surrounded by leather-no, it’s not what it sounds like. And vegan dog that finds other pets tasty.

A little note of excitement. We have been widgeterized!

No, that doesn’t mean that I or anyone else who reads this blog for that matter, will received a free wand complete with sparkle dust, shiny gown, and goofy looking cone hat. Although that would be an interesting giveaway if I become rich like Oprah and am able to give my audience cars and things of that sort. Which would you prefer? A Honda or Wizard powers?

What I meant was that I have taken advantage of some widgets in WordPress and now have the “Recent Comments” showing in the sidebar. Now, it’s easier than ever to find out what Joe just said about his vegan mac and cheese and for you to bicker among yourselves about the best substitute for Kudzu root starch. Go ahead, make a comment. Start a revolution, an argument, or at least some interesting discussion.

Zen Soy vegan pudding makes me want to cuddle up with panda bears. This may seem like a bad idea at first because panda bears are…well, bears! But if one were offering me some of Zen Soy’s pudding, I might just have to get friendly with it. Learn why Zen Soy is great vegan pudding after the break… (more…)

Inside The Oven: Uncle Eddie’s Vegan Cookies, Variety Is The Spice Of Life and Essential For Vegan Health, Do You Really Care What Food Critics Think in Week Links.

Update 5/11/08: Uncle Eddie’s Vegan Cookies Are Here! At least at the Whole Foods in my city.  

For the times, they are a changing. And so too will your grocery list. OK, so maybe that is a strange rendition of the famous Bob Dylan song. But who knows, it could have been a B-side. It seems to be the theme song for my food shopping trips these days. There have definitely been changes since Whole Foods acquired Wild Oats, some good, some bad (in my little consumer opinion, of course). The Good: Some of my favorite snacks have been reduced by 50 cents or more. Fresh made guacamole from the deli is scrumptious. The Bad: Rearranging of displays adds minutes to my ”shop time” record as I try to navigate my way around the store. The Ugly: My beloved Uncle Eddie’s Vegan cookies have become near extinct. Since the acquisition, I’ve made numerous calls to the Whole Foods in my town. Exciting conversations have taken place. Here are a few of my favorites:

Me: When are you going to get the Uncle Eddie’s Vegan Cookies in stock again?

WF Bakery Employee: Those are going to grocery. Check with grocery.

2 weeks later

Me: (to WF grocery employee): Do you have any of the Uncle Eddie’s Vegan Cookies in stock?

WF Grocery Employee: Those are in our bakery.

Me to WF Bakery Employee: Grocery told me you were carrying them.

WF Bakery Employee: Actually no, they’re being moved to grocery.

2 weeks later

Me: (bringing this up to Grocery Employee with quote from Bakery Employee)

WF Grocery Employee: Actually, we’re going to have those. But we aren’t able to find a distributor to order from yet.

2 weeks later

Me: (blah, blah, you know the question by now)

WF Grocery Employee:  They’re not in our system to order. But they’ll be in our system as of (insert date of choice). I know as a fact we’ll be able to order them on (insert date of choice). So check back on (insert date of choice) and we should be able to order them.

2 weeks later and eagerly excited. We have a distributor. We have them in the system. Could we have a winner?

Me: Do you have the Uncle Eddie’s cookies in yet?

WF Grocery Employee: I think I saw an invoice for those. Hold on. (Instrumental 80s music plays). No, I’m sorry we don’t have those. You’ll have to check back.

At any rate, this has been going on for several months and while I could give you every scenario that’s taken place, I firmly believe that repetition is good for learning, bad for entertaining your readers. The last answer I received gave the solution to go to the Whole Foods in an adjacent town, that I’ll admit is not so distant, but still distant enough, where Uncle Eddie’s have been sighted. (I called to confirm the speculation and yes, the-not-so-distant-but-still-distant-Whole Foods carries Uncle Eddie’s now.) Sigh…What do you have to do to get your vegan peanut butter chocolate chip fix these days? (Shown above is indeed my favorite, along with a tall glass of Silk Vanilla Soy Milk.)

Quite possibly, the best vegan cookies made, both myself and other known vegans have experimented and concluded there are no other vegan cookies that come close in taste. One bite and you’ll wonder why anyone ever needed butter, milk or eggs to make cookies. If you’re not careful, it will break in your hand as they are so soft and moist. The quote on their website from L.A. Times says it best, ”Uncle Eddie’s puts its competition, vegan or non vegan to shame!” More on the different flavors of Uncle Eddie’s, where you can get them besides Whole Foods after the break…  (more…)