Best. Decision. Ever.
I feel better than I did before- no more bloating, constipation, or raw-chicken-phobia-inspired panic attacks.
I do better than I did before - learning about veganism and factory farming made me more aware of other social issues in the world, not limited to those related to animal agriculture. Accepting that all living beings want the same basic things as humans, to live, makes me feel humble and more connected to others. It's also made me more willing to stand up for myself and speak my mind.
My friends and family continue to be incredibly supportive, going out of their way to make sure I am accommodated when we dine out.
Never a rolled eye or a "get over it already". They are solid and I love them. Thank you for putting up with my vegangelizing!
I've met a few new vegan friends who are totally ok with my vegangelizing. We sometimes hang out. It's all pretty normal, ya.
For today's veganniversary I was going to make something super fancy and spectacular and post it here, to illustrate how amazing vegan food can be. But then I got a freaking awful cold, and all I want is soup.
So I made this soup, which I call Potassium Soup. It has lots of potassium in it. I think it's probably good for you and stuff.
Ellen's Potassium Blast Veggie and Bean Soup
1 onion, diced
4 or 5 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil, 1 or 2 Tbs ( I use a little of the oil from the sundried tomatoes)
tomato paste, 1 of those small little tins - ya, the whole thing.
sundried tomatoes, oil packed, about 2 Tbs, or more if you like
thyme, rosemary, basil, and oregano. 1 Tbs each
6 C vegetable broth
carrots, 4 small slices
potato, 3 medium, diced
2 C cooked or canned white beans, 1.5 C cooked or canned red kidney beans
1 C cauliflower cut up very small
4 or 5 C chopped greens (I use a mix of spinach, kale and rainbow chard)
1 red pepper, diced
Saute the onion and garlic in the oil over medium heat until onion is soft. Be careful not to let the garlic burn or you'll be super sorry and the carnivores will win.
Add the sundries tomatoes and tomato paste and herbs and mix together.
Pour in the veggie broth, the potatoes and carrots.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Let simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft but not mooooshy.
Add beans an cauliflower. Cook for another 5 or ten minutes.
Trun off heat. Add red pepper and chopped greens. I just put the greens on top of the soup and then put the lid on to let them slowly wilt. The red pepper will still be crunchy, but it's one of those foods that are more nutritious eaten raw, so adding it at the end saves a bit of the vitaminy goodness.
salt and pepper to taste.
I throw a couple croutons on top for crunch, because croutons are excellent.
Pour in a bowl, feel sorry for yourself because you have had a nasty cold for 6 straight days, and enjoy the surge of potassium the will make you... um.... potassiumy.
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| sorry for the poor photo quality. It's good, so just make it and eat it and shut up about it already. |
So there you have it. Thanks to every who has been so wonderful to me as I continue to be super vegan and everything. You need to know I love you and that the images of sad animals that I post on Facebook, well, that's not going to stop.
PS. If you are considering transitioning to a vegan diet, or just want a few meatless recipes in your rotation, I highly, highly recommend the new cookbook by Angela Liddon, Oh She Glows. I've made about 15 recipes out of the 100 or so, and they are all winners.
