Denny's Goes Vegan!

Strategic Marketing, Sales, and Nutrition joined forces in the Denny's Corporate offices recently when they teamed up with Amy's (you know that amazing brand of frozen veg food you can find at a grocery store near you) to offer a Veggie burger that's VEGAN!

Yes! Denny's now offers a Vegan option. 24 hour dining will never be the same.
Denny's Veggie Burger:

Amy's^® Veggie Burger made from fresh organic grains and vegetables with protein-rich soy. Topped with melted Pepper Jack cheese, fresh spinach, tomato and grilled mushroom on a wheat bun. Served with a side of balsamic vinaigrette.
15 grams of fat or less when you select green beans or seasonal fruit in place of French fries.
**Disclaimer: 86 THE CHEESE PLEASE


Thank you Denny's. Now us Vegans can enjoy some comfort food any time of the day with our meat eating friends.


Verdelicious!

Savvy Vegan Entertaining!

Vegan Entertaining for our Non-Veg friends
is a great way to expose their tastebuds to new adventures and culinary delights!

Every season is party-planning season, but Fall is my favorite time of year during which more warmth and laughter seem to fill a party. I love the smells of the season: the pumpkin spice, the apple cider, the wood burning in the fireplace, the fruits of the harvest. The enjoyment of food and drink begins with the aromas, so make sure your dishes are aromatically enticing and never introduce friends to low fat Vegan dishes. These tend to be flavorless and unsatisfying.

Whether you're planning a large scale event or an intimate gathering at home with friends, Vegan entertaining should be fun and exciting.
Plan ahead and call up your friends or send an online invitation! Give your party a theme! Throw a Champagne party with Vegan finger foods and hors de'houevres. Challenge friends to bring their own Vegan appetizer or bottle of Organic or Bio Dynamic Sparkling wine!


Karinna at Z Lounge for Champagne Girls Night


There are many ways to help our friends try Vegan foods and Entertaining can be fun if you are Veg-savvy! Especially when they are willing to try new things and offer to bring Vegan dishes for the occasion like my friend Ginger of Going Grape and the Wine Chixs who brought over a Vegan Pizza! *There is nothing we Vegans can't enjoy!*
Here are some photos from my latest intimate get together where i served Vegan Tempeh-Dill Stuffed Mushrooms, Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Crostini topped with Vegan Italian Sausage and Baby Heirloom Tomatoes.
I will post recipes soon!
Cheers!



My little Vegan Crostini with Vegan Italian Sausage, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes drizzled with Avocado Oil and garnished with Dill (or basil).

My Friends Kim and Megan sharing my Chaise Lounge with a glass of bubbly


Vegan Pizza with Roasted Garlic, Soy Cheez and Mushrooms
and my Tempeh Dill Stuffed Mushrooms

Special Thanks to all my friends who tried my Vegan Dishes and shared some Strawberries and Champagne with me last night!

For more information on Ginger Baker-Giordano and her extensive knowledge on the California Wine Country, look for her articles in Vine Times Magazine or visit her website!

All Opportunities are Not Equal

This is a warning call to society and mostly to all the girls out there with a mission, with a goal, with a dream and passion to attain it.

My mission and dream begins with my childhood, growing up in a loving, caring, affluent family with parents who never drank, never smoked, and instilled in me the highest of morals. I was taught to care for others, to respect my elders, and to always choose the high road without ever lowering myself to fight for a cause. I developed a fondness for the planet and all living creatures, a rebellious spirit, and a desire to uncover truths hidden by greed. In my day to day choices now, I use those values to evaluate the opportunities I create and the ones presented to me.

I've been able to see through the perverse nature of some troubled individuals trying to manipulate and control young women and use their beauty for their benefit. Unfortunately, some young girls fall for these schemes and are swiftly taken under a whirlwind sad and viscious cycle which will deplete their spirit and exploit their physical beauty. Then guess what happens to their "message?" It's ruined. Tainted. Under no circumstances should women lower their morals for a buck.

It is time for society to WAKE UP and see what this is doing to our children and our future. Why is it that men can be so quick to exploit women and yet if their daughters were caught doing the same, they would disapprove? It is because there is a double standard in American Society.

So, all opportunities are not created equal and this is why I turn things down regularly. Guess what? Sex sells, but I'm not trying to sell sex. I'm trying to help the planet, help increase your longevity, improve the level of compassion in the world, and this global message I have is not going to be effective if I allow one society to exploit my appearance.

On to the NEXT...

Urban Vegan

In a recent article in the Huffington Post, author Victoria Moran writes about her transformation from MidWestern omnivore to animal activist turned vegan and all her experiences in between. I recommend this to any of you curious about the reasons why us vegans change our diets and lifestyles in the name of animal rights, compassion, and global responsibility.

Peace!
-♥K

Loco for Vita Coco

My NEW Favorite Summertime Drink!

At last month's Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, I was introduced to Vita Coco. It is the most delicious, refreshing, light, and nutritious way to hydrate!

I am going on 2 years without purchasing or using sugar, so i prefer drinks with no added sweeteners. You would never believe Vita Coco is not sweetened! It is all natural! It's light as water with just the most natural sweetness ever!

Everytime I leave a tradeshow like the NASFT Fancy Food Show, I wonder "when and where will i ever be able to taste that product again?" Well, in this case, you can get Vita Coco almost anywhere! Last night, while shopping for Organic products at Wal Mart, I found Vita Coco there!
My absolute FAVORITE Flavor: Pineapple! Totally amazing and so perfect for the Beach or Pool parties!
Ingredients: Natural Coconut Water, Pineapple and Coconut Purees, Vitamin C.
More electrolytes than leading sports drinks, 15 times the potassium (more than 2 bananas) which helps with recovery and hydration, 100% natural. Try it and let me know what you think!
♥ K

One Meal at a Time

Our food industry has changed more drastically in the last 60 years than ever before in the history of human kind. That change has been brought on by industrialization and the effect of population growth on supply and demand. Food companies have become empires, farms have become factories, and farmers have been replaced with machines.

Animals are no longer seen as animals, they are referred to as "livestock," "cattle," "poultry," or "pork," and they are "grown" not raised. Huge factory farms are now the breeding ground for mutated disease-causing organisms which multiply rapidly among animals crammed so tight and knee deep in their own filth, feces, pus, and urine that the run off from these factory farms contaminates neighboring farms growing spinach, leafy greens, and other nutritious vegetables.

When we go to our grocery stores, we no longer look for in-season tomatoes. The tomatoes are always bright red, perfectly shaped, and shiny. When we need a quick meal, we no longer shop for wholesome ingredients to cook--we drive through the closest fast food establisment where we can feed a whole family for $10.00!

Salmonella outbreaks, E. Coli deaths, an increase in obesity, heart disease, digestive problems, allergies, immunities to antibiotics, diabetes and a myriad other health issues can be directly linked to our current Food Industry.

But where does your food come from? The transportation of food from thousands of miles away not only congests our highways, but also contributes to the amount of smog and pollution in the environment.

There are ways you can help change this epidemic. You can start by making informed decisions at every meal! You can start getting healthy and making a change ONE MEAL AT A TIME. Don't feed your children food that will cause them to have health issues in the future. Cheap food is not really inexpensive on a social, health, and environmental level.

Buy in-season produce

Shop at Farmer's Markets

Choose Organic produce

Buy free-range

Buy from socially responsible companies that treat their workers, animals, and the earth with respect.

Buy Local

Plant a garden in your own backyard, you will be proud to serve your guests and family food that you grew yourself!

And try a Vegan meal a few times a week!!!

Be well and always QUESTION, READ LABELS, AND ASK "WHERE DID MY FOOD COME FROM?"