Rabbits Are Not Presents

From http://www.bunnybunch.org

No doubt about it, rabbits are freakin’ adorable! Who can resist that fluffy bundle of cute overload? Unfortunately, not a lot of people, especially around Easter.

Bunnies are bred for the Easter holiday, and many are sold to families who are unprepared for such a responsibility. This results in the increase of neglect, death, and surrender of rabbits to shelters where most will be killed (euthanized). I suppose being cute and wanted has it’s disadvantages after all.

So before you go running out to your local pet store to buy little Brady a bunny of his own (that you’re gonna be responsible for anyway), take a few moments to read the following suggestions:

1. Sponsor a bunny: Many rabbit rescue organizations offer the option to “sponsor” a bunny to help with the cost of care until they find their forever homes. Most gladly accept donations as well. In either case, this a great alternative that offers the opportunity to teach children about the importance of charity and compassion.

2. Chocolate!: What child is gonna turn down a chocolate bunny for Easter? As a kid I remember this being what I looked forward to on this holiday! Luckily there are vegan chocolate bunnies available at  http://www.rescuechocolate.com/products/make-mine-chocolate-bunnies. Rescue Chocolate donates proceeds to various animal rescues around the US.

3. Do your research: When you are thinking of buying a car, do you research various autos by year, make, model, and their miles per gallon? Of course! So why would a living creature deserve no less? Rabbits are not low-maintenance and, like all animals, they have their own special set of behaviors, habits, and needs. A  few examples of some of their needs are:

• Being social, rabbits need a great deal of interaction with their (guardians) and/or other rabbits to be happy.
• Daily playtime and exercise outside of their case are necessary.
• They are not low maintenance – it takes a good deal of work to properly care for a rabbit.
• Rabbit pellets alone are not a sufficient diet — they need lots of roughage in the form of good quality hay and a variety of fresh vegetables.
• They do need to chew, so lots of safe chew toys should be provided, and any spaces where the rabbit is allowed to run must be carefully rabbit-proofed.
• They need a relatively large cage. They are also better off indoors, where they can be more social with their family and also are also safe from predators (even in the city) and extreme weather.
• While they are generally quiet pets, rabbits are not a good match for active young children who may not be careful enough when picking them up or playing around them.
• Rabbits like to be near their people, but they often would rather not be held (which can be disappointing, especially for kids)
• They require some veterinary care, which can be expensive. They should be spayed or neutered (by a vet experienced with surgery on rabbits) and they may require vaccinations depending on where you live (e.g. in the U.K.; see Rabbit Vaccinations from RabbitRehome.org.uk for more on vaccines).
• Rabbit urine can have a strong odor so expect to change their litter box frequently (rabbits usually take quite well to litter box training though, spaying and neutering should help reduce the odor).
• For a more complete resource of rabbit behavior and needs visit: http://www.rabbit.org/index.html

4. Up for the task?: Then adoption is the best option. Petfinder.com is a great place to find a companion animal that is a good match for you and your family. There is usually some background information on the temperament and special needs of most adoptees. As with all companion animals, the more you know, the better the success rate, so many agencies adopting out bunnies will provide services to help increase your awareness of bunny care.

5. Pass it on!: Sharing is caring, so sharing this (or any) information on the dangers of buying bunnies for Easter is greatly appreciated.

I think it’s important to note that no animal is a present. Adding a furry, scaly, or feathered member to your family is a big responsibility that requires research, and a honest look at what you’re capable of giving (time, money, energy, love, etc.). If you realize that you are unable to provide a forever home but would like to providing support and love to animals in need of a forever home, sponsor one from a responsible rescue organization, volunteer your time at one, or inquire about being a foster guardian.

Discrimination: “Vegan” Style

Is this for real?

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/group-suggests-american-airlin.html

Where do I even begin? There is no shortage of stupidity with this whole thing. So much so that I don’t even want to embed the video in this post. So click the link and see for yourself.

I can only attempt to bring some order to this mess via an organized list.

1. What omni would PAY to sit next to a vegan???
2. What vegan wants to sit next to an omni? On purpose??
3. Only vegans would want to sit next to vegans, thus missing the point of the stupid campaign in the first place.
4. NEWSFLASH: Not all vegans are, as this article puts it,  “happy thin people”. I am a cranky fat chick, so anyone who paid to sit next to this vegan could sue American Airlines for false advertising. I am so SICK of vegan chefs, doctors, and nutritionist claiming, sometimes even promising (I’m looking at you Kathy Freston) that going vegan will make you thin. Sure you might lose weight if you cut out crappy processed food and start to eat healthy whole foods, but going vegan doesn’t guarantee it. Speaking for myself, being overweight was an issue for me during my omni years, and going vegan didn’t make it magically go away. My body is not meant to be “thin”. I’ve tried, I’ve done it, and I paid the consequences. Sure I can be healthier and lose some weight, but I won’t be “thin”.
5. I am also sick of vegans in the spotlight (people and agencies) bashing overweight people. As if the rest of the media world isn’t already doing it. Do I really need to hear it from vegans?
6. This quote: “A ‘Sit Next to a Vegan’ policy would be a boon to passengers concerned about their personal space,” Okay, YOU’RE IN A FUCKING AIRPLANE. Unless you’re flying first-class, you should not be expecting to have any personal space. You turned in you personal space when you checked your luggage. I mean really, who hasn’t sat next to any of the following: a crying child,  a sleeping person who leans up against you, a drunk, a chatter box, (need I go on?). Plus this reeks of “Ew, I don’t want to sit next to a fat person!” Way to go. I thought being vegan was about compassion, not about discrimination.
7. “PCRM points out that vegans usually have lower body masses than the typical American adult, making them less intrusive neighbors.” You know what’s intrusive? People eating meat and animal secretions.
8. “(But the committee missed the opportunity to point out how American could save fuel by having less heavily loaded airplanes.)” Just like this article missed the point on how this campaign is offensive as hell.

Oh wait, but it’s humane discrimination! Silly me.

Wait a Minute…

Quite often, there are “news” stories that fly through the vegan grapevine with a quickness. More often than not, I get an initial “oh yeay!” reaction followed by a “wait, there’s something here I’m not comfortable with”. A recent example was the “All Red Meat is Bad for You” story.

Prior to this story, most research claimed that reducing red meat consumption was good for your health. So this bold (sensationalized) statement may initially sound like a vegan’s dream come true. An affirmation, if you will, of what we’ve been saying all along. But for me, something just didn’t seem right and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

Then I saw a tweet by Ginny Kisch Messina ‏(Twitter: @TheVeganRD) that helped me pinpoint the issue.

Her blog post “Bad news for red meat is bad news for chickens” reminded me of the reality of what happens when supposed “authority” figures highlight how bad (or good) a certain animal meat or secretion is for your health. I think it’s a normal reaction for a vegan to get hopeful that an omnivore just might stop eating animals. But no matter how normal is it, it’s important to cultivate a more critical eye of a what really ends up happening when one animal becomes “off-limits”. Those who originally ate that animal will navigate towards eating another animal. A lot more of the other animal(s).

It’s the same thing that happens when many omnivores see slaughterhouse or factory farm footage. They tend to think “How can I eat that animal without them having to suffer? I know, I’ll eat organic, grass-fed, free-rage chicken(s)!” and/or feel-good animal welfare laws get put on the ballot because they “demand bigger cages/no cages!”

Abolishing animal abuse is not the same as putting one animal on the “bad” list or “improving” animal enslavement conditions.

I understand that health and nutrition researchers are not interested in ending animal abuse, but I also understand that many people believe that animal abuse is wrong and genuinely want to make choices that align with this belief.  Given that this is possible, wouldn’t it be amazing if there were more news stories about how adopting a vegan lifestyle does just that?

Check out: http://www.theveganrd.com/

One to Watch: Chef Chloe Coscarelli

Do you know who Chef Chloe is? If not, I think you should.

I first saw this bubbly smiley vegan chef on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. She was the only vegan chef/baker and the other bakers (and judges) kept underestimating her. But Chef Chloe kept baking amazing creative creations, winning over the judges (even the French pastry chef!), and proving to the world that vegan baking has a high place in the food world. When she won, I literally screamed out with excitement.

Well, vegan cupcakes must have made quite the impression because tonight, The Food Network is having an ALL VEGAN CUPCAKE BAKE-OFF!

As for Chef Chloe I’ve been following her ever since she beat the competition in 2010. She truly is an artistic genius when it comes to vegan cooking and baking. Her ability to dissect traditional omni dishes and convert them to delicious vegan versions is quite astounding. Don’t believe me? Check out her recipe for Vegan Goldfish Crackers.

Actually go check out the recipe section of her blog. Here you’ll find her culinary creations, where she not only has veganzied versions of traditional favorites, but she also has some pretty amazing original recipes. C’mon people, we’re talking Cookie Dough Truffles!

Lucky for us, her new cookbook is available for pre-order, and she’ll be on a book signing tour this month.

This gal knows how to make the most of each ingredient and how to combine ingredients for maximum flavor, Each dish is unique unto itself which speaks volumes to her culinary versatility. She is confident in her knowledge of ingredients and techniques, and is able to translate this knowledge to a general audience. I’m no chef, but I never feel intimidated by her recipes. You can tell she loves what she’s doing and my bet is, Chef Chloe is well on her way to becoming a household name.

Swing by her website: http://chefchloe.com/

“If You Can’t Love Yourself…” and the Gift of Being Single

I’ve noticed that, despite not liking being a singleton, I’m getting very picky about dating. Specifically on-line dating. I get messages from people through a dating site I use, but I’m quick to end any pursuit once I notice a red flag. Well, I call them red flags. I may just be too picky, or traumatized, or a combination of all three.

This is a list of things I don’t respond to (anymore )

• Any message that starts with or has any resemblance to, “Are you DTF?”, “Hey Sexy.”, or “Call me”. I’m sorry, did I accidentally post on Craigslist?
• Anyone whose message consists of just one word. If you aren’t going to put any effort into your first message to me, then what kind of effort are you going to put into a relationship?
• Any profile of a person that is hyper religious, has any hint of homophobia, or “Dude it’s FOOTBALL!”. These types are DOA for me.
• Anyone who can’t accept my being vegan and/or pansexual or wants to argue/debate about veganism and/or pansexuality. Why are you messaging me? I pointed it out in my profile.
• Anyone who sounds like a professional stoner. That’s a hard one. Maybe they’re just lazy, but lazy isn’t a good quality either.
• Anyone who rushes into wanting to meet AND I’m not feeling much of a connection with.  At least try to win me over. Plus it reeks of desperation and/or booty call.
• Anyone who messages me and doesn’t ask me a question or reference something I have in my profile. This gives me the impression that you don’t really put much effort into knowing who you’re talking to.
• Anyone without a profile picture. C’mon now. If I can put my mug up there for the world to see it can’t be impossible. What are you hiding? Secrets and/or insecurity aren’t exactly a good way to start any relationship.
• Anyone who is all “Me, Me, Me, and did I tell you how awesome I am?” It doesn’t sound like you want a girlfriend. It sounds like what you want is someone to agree with your awesomeness. Which you apparently already have covered if you look in the mirror.

And this is just the first messages part. There’s a whole other set of hurdles once you meet and have a few dates. Jeez, dating is exhausting!

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not someone who is sitting up on her throne demanding that suitors prove their worthiness. I just have a better idea of who I am and a better idea of the type of person I want in my life. I also have a better idea of the silliness that I’m no longer willing to put up with.

An old boyfriend told me that “guys will get away with as much as you let them”. This may sound like blaming the victim, but in my case, I am no victim when it comes to my past relationships. I own the fact that I chose partners who were not good for me. I put up with a lot of bullshit when I really didn’t have to. But when you know better, you do better. And it may take a few rounds to really get that routine down.

So I don’t necessarily believe that “guys will get away with as much as you let them”. No, I believe that immature people who aren’t able to own their shit will get away with what they can.

So as it stands I’d rather be alone than bounce from one ill-fated relationship (or casual sex partner) to the next. I use to be jealous of people who seamlessly went from one relationship to another. But now, I understand that solitude is gift that many people are too afraid to open. I mean think about it, if you don’t want to be with yourself, then how can you expect others to want to be with you? If you’re so great to be around, then why are you so repulsed by your own presence?

Staying in an unhappy relationship, or rushing into relationships, out of fear of being alone only results in self-abandonment. And the repercussions of those choices will be felt no matter how hard you try to turn a blind eye.

So what does all of this mean?

It means I’m more willing to do this:

Than this:

I Am Not Your Property

This photo prompted me to write this post. I feel gut-wrenching disgust, sorrow, and anger and the site of this gorgeous creature killed. For tusks. Ivory. Money.

This reality begs the question to be asked again. When will people understand that non-human animals do not belong to people? What non-human animals have, belongs to them. Nature has provided them with features and functions CUSTOM MADE FOR THEIR USE AND BENEFIT.

I see this as no different from what I have belonging to me. I get to decide what parts of me (body, mind, spirit, time, resources, etc.) I keep, what parts I share, and what parts I give away. Anything else is stealing. And stealing in a “nice and humane” manner is still stealing.

I’ll end with the following definitions:
Stealing: 1. the act of taking something from someone unlawfully. 2. Avoiding detection by moving carefully.

Animal welfare laws provide a means of stealing by avoiding (masking) detection. It is only when a shift in consciousness happens, and we finally understand that non-human animals do not belong to us, will there be no need for such laws that cause more harm than good.

Note: I am aware of the role that poverty plays in poaching. And I am aware of folklore and the demand for animal parts. I didn’t want to go into those details here as they are complex issues that are both independent and interdependent. Given time, I may post on these issues after further research.

Austin, TX

To see my full set of videos and photos , visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/delmar831/sets/72157628997481593/

Guadalupe/Cash

My mom and I share the same birthday, and in years past, we would always spend them together. But my mom passed on almost 15 years ago. I remember she was always up to travel at a moments notice, however, my mom would never travel to places where she didn’t know anyone. So in 2002, I decided that each year for my birthday, I try  to either do something I’ve never done before or go somewhere I’ve never been. This year it was Austin, TX.

About 17 years ago I would entertain the idea of visiting San Antonio, TX, but when I would tell people this, they’d say to me “Oh no, it’s Austin you want to visit”. I kept that curiosity alive over time and when it came time to decide where to go for my 40th birthday, Austin seemed like a good choice. Why not make that long time desire a reality?

I spent my birthday exploring more areas than planned and walking so much more than I expected. The following days were spent just figuring out the layout of the town, and ultimately I realized that Austin in a place where things are happening at night. There really is no reason to even go out before the sun goes down.

Bitch'in Threads

Austin has some great vintage shops. Clothing, home furnishings, and music galore! A great bonus is that a few of these shops do alterations on site since (as one tailor said) “people are built differently than before”.  Click here for a map of Austin’s vintage shops.

Dolly Parton Happy Hour at The Mohawk

All Are Welcome

The Mohawk‘s motto is “All Are Welcome”. They have two great spaces for live music yet still manages to have a cozy feeling to it. On my birthday, they were having a Dolly Parton Happy Hour (it was her birthday too) and there was no way I was gonna pass that up. “Hard Candy Christmas” shots, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” on the screen, and nothing but Dolly playing on the sound system made for a really great experience.

Queen/Bowie Sing-A-Long

At The Ritz they were having a Queen/David Bowie Sing-A-Long. I decided to swing by to see what that was all about and I’m so glad I did.

Alamo Drafthouse: The Ritz

First off, I don’t know if all Texas movie theaters are this way, but I did not expect to be able to order beer and food from my seat. Second, it was a fun experience watching Queen and David Bowie videos on the big screen while people sang a long with props. I guess booze helps.

6th Street

6th street is pretty lively at night. There’s a couple of blocks that are blocked off to road traffic so there’s a lot of people walking from bar to bar. Music  is literally spilling out of most establishments, and it’s pretty cool hearing the variety of music coming from each place. Country, Blues, Rock, and Dance music is more than abundant here.

South Congress

The South Congress area has some pretty cool shops and a food truck lot that’s pretty cute. I had heard about Austin’s food trucks but for some reason, became really interested in them while I was there. I love the creativity and utility that people put into their food trucks. They are like mobile yummy works of art.

Hey Cupcake and others

Hey Cupcake! on S. Congress has two vegan cupcakes that change every so often. On this day they had an orange-sickle and an Oreo cupcake.

Bus Stop

Besides cabbing it and hoofing it, I also got around Austin by bus. I decided to give this a try since I noticed bus stops with bar codes and a number to text to get info on the next bus. By simply sending a text of where I was and where I wanted to go (by an indicated time or not), I would get a text back on where and when to catch the next bus. This and the $2 day-pass made riding the bus a simple and convenient option to getting around.

The High Ball

My last night there was filled with visiting several bars. The High Ball seemed pretty cool as the decor is very retro and it’s a combo bar/lounge/dance hall/bowling alley/karaoke establishment. Really.

The Broken Spoke

The Broken Spoke was another great place I spent some time in. It’s known as a Honky-Tonk dance hall, and if you enjoy people watching as much as I do, this place does not disappoint The live music was great as the mass of people danced to their heart’s content.

Arlo's Vegan Food Truck

After a night of dance halls and bars, it’s pretty cool to be able to get vegan food until 2am. There are a slew of food truck lots on Austin, and it was pretty easy to find a few that offered vegan options, and a few that were completely vegan. Arlo’s has the most amazing Vegan Bac’n Cheeze Burger I’ve ever had.

The Vegan Yacht

Vegan Nachos

Down the street you’ll find The Vegan Yacht. This vegan food truck has some options that are gluten-free, and their cashew cheese used for their vegan nachos is so yummy. Instead of rice, they use quinoa in their nachos. Why haven’t I thought of that?

Love Balls

In the same lot as The Vegan Yacht, you’ll also find Love Balls. I didn’t try anything here, cos I just scarfed down vegan nachos. They have a few vegan options that sounded interesting. But mainly i just liked the 70′s vibe of their truck complete with an 8-track player.

Drive-in

Right next to the above mentioned food truck lot, is this DIY drive-in. The projector was housed in a small trailer and the screen is propped up against a school bus. I have no idea how they work the sound, but it sure was pretty.

Happy Vegan Baker

I was there on a day in which I could hit up the farmer’s market nearby. It was small, and didn’t seem to have much, but just as I was about to leave I noticed two vendors that made me glad I stuck around. One vendor sold organic vegan tamales, and another, The Happy Vegan Baker, sold both vegan and gluten-free pastries. besides being super pretty, their pastries were pretty damn good.

All in all, Austin is a pretty cool place to visit. If it weren’t for the heat, I’d consider moving there. Then again, I could always go nocturnal for a place like this.

Happy Four Year Bloggiversary!

"The Four Elements" ~ May Ann Licudine

This bloggy blog is now 4 years old. I’ve considered giving this blog a very specific focus, but I’ve learned that life is not that way. These past four years have been a voyage, so the focus of this blog has changed a bit. But this year it has settled into a blog of various randoms from someone who experiences veganism through a Chicana’s perspective. I’m very curious by nature, and will choose to experience most things that cross my curious path. In doing so I learn more about myself, and knowing myself has become a bigger, and more essential, endeavor.

Even though I have spent many years intentionally getting to know me, 2011 was all about taking that journey to another level. In my previous bloggiversay posts, I mentioned some life shifting events that left me feeling cautious about the future. Although there continued to be great turbulence, I can say that there was a whole lotta knowledge gained that I am so grateful for.

As for the vegan voyage, I have considered blogging about the vegan news of the day, but there is so much to write on and other blogs that do it well. For the most part, I want to start making small posts that link to other sites for the full story. Otherwise,  I will continue to touch on vegan news items that I feel moved to write more in-depth about.

There’s no doubt that veganism will continue to be mentioned in the mainstream, and as more people take on the decision to be vegan, I find it important to be very clear about what veganism is and is not. For this reason, it essential that the abolitionist voice continue to be heard.

Vegan Tamales

It’s hard for me to say what a traditional Mexican Christmas is. Time and regions offer a lot of diverse experiences. My father grew up in Juarez in the 1930′s, so his experience of Christmas was one in which he remembers being overjoyed at being given an orange, peanuts, a tamal, and atole (champurrado) on the last day of Las Posadas. There was no gift giving, so this modest meal was a big deal for him.

My memories of Christmas are quite different. Usually the weekend before (or weekend of) Christmas, our family, friends, and anyone who walked through the front door, was given an apron and spoon and joined the tamale assembly line in our kitchen. My father always made the chile and filling, while it was everyone else’s job to spread the masa onto the corn husks. My mom would be the one to fill the tamales and arrange them into the steamer. The kids (including myself) always tried to get out of making them by doing a crappy job and hoping we’d get excused from the table. But that never happened. Every year we would run out of filling, so after my dad scoured the pantry, the last batch of tamales could be anything from canned mixed vegetables to hot dogs. Either way the result would be several dozens of tamales that would be given to those who helped, as well as neighbors, co-workers, and friends.

As the years passed, and people have moved away, the tamale assembly line has grown smaller. It’s almost non-existent really as my dad and brother are the only ones who make them. Each year my dad professes “This is the last year I’m making tamales!” and each year he makes them. In the past I would meet my dad where ever he decided to make them and help out, but even I haven’t done this in a few years.

This year, after he made tamales, my dad decided to stay home instead of coming to visit for Christmas. I understood, but couldn’t help feeling very nostalgic for family tradition. I had a hankering for bunuelos, atole, and tamales. So I asked a friend if he was up for cooking and a few hours later, we were in his kitchen whipping up 2 dozen vegan tamales.

Although the experience wasn’t the same as when I grew up, it felt really good to touch base with family tradition. As we made the tamales, memories of my family kept flooding my mind. This my first attempt at making tamales from start to finish, so I was a bit nervous about them not turning out right. For the last step of filling, wrapping, and placing the tamales in the steamer, I remembered my mother and father. These were the steps reserved for the head of the household, so it felt like a right of passage doing this part for the first time.

In the end, the tamales came out really close to how remembered as a kid. This always makes me happy since I’m vegan and the current recipe is modified to reflect that. Regionally, tamales vary. Some are rolled really small, tied with a strip of corn husk, or are wrapped in banana leaves. In my family they are wide and the corn husk is folded. Although they are time-consuming to make, it isn’t tedious. If you have several people helping it can be a fun and relaxing way to spent the day. I have to say though, the vegan version is so much easier. Preparing the filling takes only a few minutes and you don’t have to worry temperature control to keep the pork from going bad. I’m sure the pigs don’t mind either

(makes 2 dozen)

Ingredients:

16 oz. package Corn Husks
2 Cups Maseca for tamales
1 1/2 Cups No-Chicken Broth (or strong vegetable broth)
1/4 Cup Oil (whichever you prefer. I used peanut)
1/8 teaspoon Salt
2 Packages of Soyrizo

Corn Husks:

In a large stock pot, place the corn husks in very warm water. Use a plate to weight the husks down. Allow the husks to soak until they are soft enough to fold without resistance or breaking (about 30 minutes). When husks are ready, drain all the water from the pot.

Masa:

Mix the Maseca, broth, oil and salt to the consistency of cookie dough (you may need to add a little more oil or broth to get the consistency you like). Do not over mix.

Filling:

Saute and break up the Soyrizo for about 5 minutes (or less).

Assembly:

Hold the husk in your palm with the point facing up and smooth side facing you. Spread masa dough onto the smooth side of the husk with a wet spoon. Do not spread the masa to edge of each side, bottom, or to the top of the husk. Leave about 1″ on each side and bottom, about 2″ form the top free of masa. When the masa gets tough to spread, wet the spoon. If it’s still too tough, add a little more broth and/or oil to the masa mixture.

Place a stripe of Soyrizo (about 1 Tbs) down the middle of the masa on the husk. Carefully fold the right then left sides. Now fold the pointed top down (it’s like putting on a jacket and hoodie). Place the folded tamale pointed side down on a cookie sheet.

Cooking:

When all tamales are assembled, place a vegetable steamer upside-down in a large stock pot (the steamer should look like a dome). add enough water to steam, but not so much that the water touches the tamales being placed. Use the left over soaked husks to line the sides of the pot (you can do this as you add the tamales). Place each tamal, open end up, in the pot until the pot is filled. You can double stack if you need to. Place the left over soaked husks over the top of the tamales (like a lid). Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and steam on low heat for 1 hour.

Husk lining not shown

Check the tamales for doneness (if that isn’t a word, it should be). The masa should fall off the husk and be cooked throughout. If more time is needed, add water by using a measuring cup and pouring water slowly between the husk lining and pot. Check every 15 – 30 minutes. Our tamales took about 2 hours to cook. We were using an electric stove and I had it on a 3 setting.

Unwrap and enjoy!

Note: For variety, make batches of different fillings. Try faux chicken with vegan mole, Soy Cream Cheese with jalapenos, Vegan Chili beans, etc. You can also add spices to the masa that you think would compliment your filling.

Not Going Crazy

Monkey and Seal are a dynamic duo in the art world that I had the pleasure of meeting at this year’s Bazaar Bizarre in San Francisco. Not only are they amazing artists, but they offer classes and resources to empower other artists.
I want to share with you, their recent blog post on how not to go crazy during the creative process.
It’s a simple suggestion that, since I’ve implemented it, has really helped ease that urgent voice in me when not creating.
Enjoy!
A List That Will Save Your Sanity