Blog Carnival 08.02.10 - "Food for Thought: What do you eat? "

(image - c/o the coconut bliss website)

This month's Blog Carnival for EtsyMetal is:
Food for Thought:
What do you eat? What won't you eat? Do you suggest any interesting pairings? What is your favorite studio snack?

What a fun topic! And quite interesting for me. My first inclination is to say 'everything!' but that is quite far from the truth! I'm vegan, so I don't eat any animal products (no meat, no dairy, etc) Fruits and vegetables are some of my favorite things to eat so it doesn't feel like I avoid anything. and honestly, if it's vegan, there isn't much that I won't eat. I love ethnic food and am particularly fond of Thai and Indian food... and Mexican and Italian and Mediterranean and Chinese. My husband and I cook a lot, though I have to admit he does a bit more than I do :) I like to be creative and sometimes make things that he doesn't think are so great - I think he just has a more discerning palate than I do :)

Oh, actually I did just think of this weird fungi thing at an Asian vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco that was not so great and was kind of like chewing on a rubber band - so after trying it, I left the others on my plate.

What is my favorite studio snack... hmmm...That's tough. I guess it kind of depends what mood I'm in. I think my snacks run to full gambit of healthy to junky. Today I had an apple. Sometimes it's crackers (I do love a triscuit) or a bite of leftovers (the other day it was spicy basil tofu and eggplant) and sometimes it's a cookie. Or if I feel particularly stressed, hot or overwhelmed - it's a few bites of ice cream. Now I know you are thinking "But you're vegan" Yes, yes I know. I remember loving real ice cream until it started not loving me and I actually quit eating ice cream before I became a full fledged vegan. In the years since then, there has become a demand for dairy alternative ice creams. And coconut milk ice cream is one of the most amazing creations ever. I had some soy ice creams now and then when the craving would hit - but it was good, but coconut milk ice cream is in a category all of it's own. I do love coconut, so that helps, though many of the flavors don't have a particularly definitive coconut flavor. I also really like that they aren't made w/ sugar, but agave nectar instead ( do try to stay away from sugar). There are usually only a few ingredients - which is also a huge bonus (can't say the same for the soy ice creams) and so far every one I have had is incredibly yummy. And it likes me too. My particular current favorite is Luna and Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss Cherry Amaretto. It is truly amazing.

I have experimented w/ making my own and so far coconut w/ lime is a real winner. I have yet to try using guar gum to make the right consistency, though eating it right away is just fine - one day when I have all that time on my hands...

As far as recipes to possibly share... hm... I don't do recipes much - kind of like most of my jewelry, I just wing it. We do have a lot of great vegan cookbooks that we sometimes look at for ideas, but we usually just adapt them to whatever we feel like that is similar.

Any interesting pairings... hm... i love apple and peanut butter sandwiches. I think that's probably the oddest thing I make. I wasn't so much on banana and peanut butter - too much mush. But a thinly sliced apple w/ layers of peanut - yummy!

Make sure to check out the other participating EtsyMetal members (some may not have posted yet, but check back for updated links)

ninaG

vic - experimetal

wildflowerdesigns

tomi - metalriot

ann hartley

cynthia del guidice

caitlyn/discomedusa

Inbar Bareket

Lauren/Creative Dexterity

Maria/Fluxplay Jewellery