mushroom minestrone soup

Cooked in a Crock pot

 

1 baking potato (washed and chopped)

2 carrots (quartered and chopped)

1 piece of celery (split and chopped, greens included)

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can corn (fresh cut, drained)

1 can of diced tomatoes

3 cloves garlic (chopped or pressed)

1/2 large sweet onion chopped

1 whole small container of the small brown mushrooms (washed and sliced)

vegetable boulion (cubes or paste from a jar - I used both)

ground pepper corns (to taste)

basil (only a little)

parsley (only a little)

cooked pasta added when the soup is finished.

 

2 cups of water to start and 1 boulion cube with the carrots and potato and slowly add other ingredients. Add water and more boulion as needed. I think I ended up using three boulion cubes in the entire batch of soup and some of the paste boulion.  If the soup doesn't taste rich enough, add a little more boulion.  Use a pepper grinder for the peppercorns to taste. I let it cook all day and it was ready that evening for dinner.  Still tastes good as left overs.

 

2007 in rescue

2007 was a tough year to be a pit bull. Not that any other year isn't tough enough.  Did you know that the average pit bull doesn't not make it to its second birthday?  I say average because I hate to use the word "typical". Unfortunately, many "pit bulls" don't get the luxury of living in a home with caring owners that provide regular vet care.  Many pit bulls are purchased on a whim (like many purebreds) but are quickly discarded as their owners find life with a pit can be difficult and they can be discriminated against. It's hard to find housing that allows the breed, homeowner's insurance companies discriminate against the breed and municipalities are trying to ban the breed altogether. There are so few dogs on these adoption pages because people just don't want to adopt pit bulls nor do they want to foster pit bulls.

Even in this year of Michael Vick, when people started realizing that the dogs are the victims, it's still hard.   It's not the dog but the  monster on the other end of the leash that's the problem. Maybe people are starting to get that picture. Sure there are bad dogs, there are bad dogs in every breed but these bad dogs are a product of abuse or bad breeding in the self fulfilling prophecy that comes with hatred and discrimination.  The more people persecute the breed, the more undesirable people will be drawn to the breed and the more un desirable candidates within the breed will be bred for even more undesirable outcomes.

In the right hands, responsibly owned and responsibly bred (though I take issue with breeding while the breed is in crisis) and responsibly rescued this breed compares to no other in its loving nature and loyalty to family.  The American Pit Bull Terrier and its close cousins (The American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are the ultimate family dog.  They want nothing more than to be in close companionship with their families and thrive on love and affection.

Here's hoping for a better 2008 for the "pit bulls"

Easy Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge

1/2 cup margarine

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup cocoa

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

I always screw up the easy stuff! It's too much fun. You are supposed to put the wet ingredients together first and then mix in the dry and save the peanut butter for last. This was also probably written for commercial peanut butter which is easy to mix and smooth. I made it with natural peanut butter which is basically just peanuts sent through a grinder to make a "paste". Well, lets just say I had to add a lot more liquid to the recipe and it still is pretty dry and nutty. Though this is definitely a step in the right direction from my last batch of regular fudge that had to stay in the refrigerator to keep its shape. When I made this fudge, I added another stick of earth balance (each stick of earth balance buttery sticks is 1/2 c) and even a couple of tablespoons more melted and poured on top as I was trying to mix them in the double boiler. I also added about 1/4-1/2 if Rice Dream and another 1tsp vanilla. I think it could still use more liquid. This makes enough to spread over wax paper in a 9*9 inch pan. Chill in the fridge until solid and then enjoy. So if you want to try my version, it's below

1 small tub (which is about 1 cup) of natural fresh ground peanut butter
3 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4-1/2 cups rice dream original
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup Cocoa
1-2 stick of earth balance

Delicious Vegan Fudge

I made this recipe tonight and am waiting for it to cool. I can't wait.

6 tbs margarine (I think this is almost one stick of earth balance - I used the whole stick)
3.5 c powdered sugar
1/2 cup Cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup soy milk (I used original rice milk and just a dash)

Use a 5*9 inch loaf pan. Grease the pan with a little margarine I just lined with wax paper. Put the rest in a double boiler or metal mixing bowl in a pot of heating water. Mix all of the ingredients until smooth. Pour into your pan and stick it in the fridge. Wait for it to cool. I'm going to make Peanut Butter Fudge next weekend. Bet you can't wait for the recipe.

I can't believe it's Vegan

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/VeganShoppingQS-BakedGoods.asp?Category=Baked%20Goods

For Baking

• Aunt Jemima Coffee Cake Mix
• Aunt Jemima Whole Wheat Pancake/Waffle Mix
• Betty Crocker Bisquick
• Blue Bonnet Light Margarine
• Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening
• Crisco Original Cooking Spray
• Crisco Zero Grams Trans Fat Per Serving All-Vegetable Shortening
• Duncan Hines California Walnut Brownie Mix
• Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Frosting (Chocolate)
• Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Frosting (Classic Vanilla)
• Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Frosting (French Vanilla)
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
• Hodgson Mill Bran Muffin Mix
• Hodgson Mill Caraway Rye Bread Mix
• Hodgson Mill White Bread Mix
• Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Gingerbread Mix
• Jell-O Instant Pudding (Pistachio)
• Jello-O Instant Pudding (Banana Creme)
• Jello-O Instant Pudding (Chocolate)
• Jello-O Instant Pudding (Lemon)
• Jello-O Instant Pudding (Vanilla)
• Keebler Ready Crust Pie Crusts (Graham Cracker)
• Keebler Ready Crust Pie Crusts (Shortbread)
• Martha White Pizza Crust Mix
• Pillsbury Treat Toppers Chocolate
• Pillsbury Treat Toppers Vanilla
• Reduced Fat Bisquick
• Royal Pudding & Pie Filling
• Smart Balance Light Margarine
• Tropical Source Dark Chocolate Chips

Beverages

• Alpine Spiced Cider
• Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Hazelnut)
• Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Mocha)
• Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate (Double Chocolate)
• Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate (Baking Cocoa)
• Kool-Aid Drink Mix
• Nescafe Ice Java Iced Coffee Syrup
• Nestle Nesquick Syrup (Chocolate)
• Nestle Nesquik Syrup (Strawberry)
• Nestle Nesquik Syrup (Very Vanilla)

Vegan Chili

I made this recipe this weekend and it was pretty good.  It was actually better the second day than the first day. All of my recipes are approximate since I don't use measuring utensils to cook most of the time. I just put in what I think I need.

 

1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 small can tomato paste (add three cans of water)

3 cans of organic diced tomatoes

1 medium sweet onion

1-2 cloves garlic

1-3 tsp curry powder

Chili Powder (to taste)

1-3 tsp Cumin

Southwest Chipotle spice (to taste)

crushed dried red pepper (to taste)

1 bag morning star farms vegan crumbles

1/2 cup brown rice

 

Cook until rice is tender and serve. re-heat in microwave.

Worth Watching