Jenni's Introduction

Well hello! Welcome to this vegan blog. I'm Jenni - a friend, a wife, a mother. Intelligent, thoughtful, reliable, opinionated (in a good way). Whatever else you want to say about me. First off, I would like to apologize in advance because I know that there will be times that I may not post for days on end, and then have a ton come out all at once. Life gets busy. But I will always take pictures of my food and make mental notes to type later into posts for your reading pleasure (and drooling pleasure over the pictures.)

Here's my story on "this vegan thing" - All through college I would just eat whatever was convenient, cheap, and sounded good enough to not really pay attention to it as I stuffed it in my pie-hole. I wouldn't mind that I had eaten fast food for ten meals straight, or that I had a week full of dinners that consisted of mac-n-cheese with chicken nuggets, a frozen pizza, minute rice and fajita strips, etc. I didn't think much of what I ate, nor how I ate it, nor what was in the "food" I was putting into my body.

Around January 2007, I decided that I was fed up with myself of being lackadaisical about my eating and overall health. I was always tired, mopey, touchy, irritable, and stressed. Something that the quality of food I was eating wasn't helping. I decided to get a personal trainer at the local gym and start writing down what I ate and tracking calories and fat grams, etc. Great idea - until I plateaued and went back to eating junk. Getting pregnant later that fall didn't help the fact that I was "allowed" to eat junk because I was going to get huge anyway with the baby.

Well... putting all of that aside, come April 2009, I'm still eating junk. Maybe not as much, but still not the best. I was making sure I wasn't eating a side of fries with every meal that I ate out. I made sure I was having healthier meals, like lean grilled chicken or pork, brown rice or whole wheat noodles (yes, I say noodles not pasta), and a helping of frozen veggies on the side from those cool steam bags that you throw in the microwave. Ok - so maybe not the most inventive meal, but better than the spicy chicken sandwich with fries and soda. It hit me one day that "hey - Kristie looks great and feels great all the time" (or at least whenever I see her). Something must be working with this vegan lifestyle she's been on for nearly a year now. So I thought to myself, how hard could it be? I can learn to cook (maybe) and make better meals and really think about the food that I am eating and the impact that I have on the world around me.

Fast forward to now, seven weeks later. Yes, nearly two months. A small amount of time in the view of a whole life span, but not just a chump change amount of time. Since starting a vegan lifestyle, I have learned and experienced and eaten so many new things. Who knew I would really like guacamole? I know that it's sad that at my age, I had never really had guac but once until now. No, I don't live under a rock, just in a world surrounded by fast food crap. Who knew I could make some mean sloppy joes with just barbecue sauce and tempeh? (I'll post that recipe later - so quick and easy to make - delicious outcome.) I feel lighter, happier, more energetic, healthier. People have noticed a glow about me and ask what have I be doing different. And so I tell them about this vegan thing.

I would like to mention that I love food porn. Yes, food porn. Go to Flickr and search for food. All sorts of pictures of yummy goodness pop up. And I love my camera at home. So this past week it has been in the kitchen with me nearly every night. I don't know about you but I am a picture learner - Fannie Mae cookbooks can kiss my butt. I need pictures. I like to see what my food should resemble (even if not closely). I like to see what my food will turn out like if I cook it following the directions that they suggest. Yes, suggest. I have found the recipes and cooking are not strict guidelines, not rules. I never measured anything to the exact amount. If I think something looks to dry, I'll add more water or rice milk or whatever liquid is called for (with the exception of oil, always opt for water when adding additional liquid). If you don't have this spice or that spice, don't worry. Make it without it and see how it goes. When you get some of that spice, try the recipe again. Nothing is ever perfect. So Top Chef, Iron Chef, Rachel Ray - you better watch out! My picture book recipes are coming to a blog near you! (Actually, this blog, specifically, but you the idea.)