vegan super girl’s blog

Recently in a conversation with my mom, she brought up that she'd like to get into blogging.  I've always told her that she needs to write a book or something because she has obvious writing talent and plenty to write about.  In response to some of my suggestions she signed up for Vox.  So in support of my mom, I figured I should start updating this again.  I really need to get back to writing, and I also just moved to the gigantic and wonderful city of Chicago, giving me plenty of material. 

As you can tell from my most recent entries, I've been attempting to find the best coffeeshop/study spot around Chicago (or at least in reasonable biking distance from where I live).  Ive been compiling lists of positives and negatives from each place. As we speak I am in Swim Cafe, on Chicago Ave.  It's just a little ways down the street from Mercury Cafe which I mentioned before.  So since I'm here.....

This is a cute little gem right across the street from the Natatorium, hence the name. Here's the basics:

Swim Cafe

 

1357 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL

Hours: 6am-6pm and also now open til 10pm on select days during the week

What I like:

• Early morning hours
• Vegan donuts!
• Vegan Cream cheese for bagels!
• Cheap drinks, and soymilk is only 25cents extra!
• free wifi with convenient power outlets underneath the bench seating
• a good amount of seating for a small place
• friendly staff
• 100% fair trade
• Good atmosphere, not too loud unless you have large groups of people sitting together

What other people might like:

• A large selection of pastries and treats most of which is made inhouse
• large sandwich/salad menu as well as limited breakfast menu
• bottomless cup-o-joe only $1.75!!
• Locally made small batch ice-cream "Nice Cream"
• Large selection of Naked juice
• BYOB after 8pm on nights they are open til 10!
• Now offering delivery via bike messenger
• convenient printed menus to take with you

What I don't Like:

• They could probably offer more vegan stuff as far as sandwiches and such goes (everything has cheese, so you'll have to ask for it without)
• I got an Iced Mocha that kind of sucked
• Wireless is unsecure, so who knows who is lurking
• the vegan donuts were sitting awfully close to the "maple bacon" donuts, it actually kind of made me laugh

I really liked this place and will probably go back especially on days when I need to get going before 8am. I also would like to give some other drinks a try as well as their vegan goodies. 

General Rating: 4 out of 5

SuperVegan Rating: 3 of 5

It's time to give this another go!

This is probably the first time I've said this in my life, but my brother is kinda cool.  He makes movies (since he was like 10) and is pretty good at it.  He started a small film company called Good Quip Films.  Continue to keep your eye out for it in the future.

 Part 1 and Part 2 of his short film "A Month and  Half" are the first two clips below.

He's finishing up editing on the sequel "Another Month and a Half" (Trailer is third clip) right now.  It should be out next week. 

I'm thinking that maybe I need to start a new separate blog made just to post things about Indianapolis.  I've just been finding out lately about a lot of really amazing organizations and things that are here.  I think the one thing that inhibits this city from growing is that the people don't know about the actual good that is going on. 
What started my search was seeing these huge green collection boxes around the city that say:

"The Gaia-Movement, Living Earth, Green World Action".  Basically it's a world movement.  There are boxes in Chicago, Indianapolis and California (Though there is also a Switzerland branch).  They use money they get from selling the donations to help the environment, create water pumps in areas of the world that do not have access to clean water, develop natural reserves, install windmills, build animal sanctuaries, supporting sustainable forestry and the list goes on and on.  Pretty cool, eh?
So I went on to Volunteermatch.com , where I found posts for the Gaia-Movement among many others.  Second Helpings is an amazing organization that uses rescued food to give people free culinary training and distribute meals to over 50 social services organizations that feed hungry people. They even have a professional catering service!  Can we say awesome?  I plan on getting involved in this organization myself :)
There is all the Capital City Garden project as I had mentioned before and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful which plants trees and flowers all over the city.  There is even a Rabbit Rescue organization that is looking for people to become foster parents to rescued rabbits!

So..wow.  I guess there's a lot here, and a lot of places to get involved if you just look. 

I usually avoid politics.  Why?  Because I hate it.  I usually don't like to argue or have an opinion of something I know little about.  Well, I'm sick of being ignorant.  I'm sick of what this country has become, and how it has gotten this way.  I hate the way it is run, and it is partly the people's fault.  We can't blame it all on the leaders because we're the ones that let them get there.  We listen to what the media says instead of finding things out for ourselves.  We believe lies, and don't teach ourselves to distinguish between that and the truth. 

I finally have decided to start doing my homework.  The findings are a bit scary.  After beginning to review the candidates, I've found the the best ones from either party are ones with little to no chance of winning their party's nomination.  I can't even really do anything about it because since I do not affiliate myself with Republicans nor Democrats, I'm not allowed to vote in the primary election.  How does that make things fair by the way?  The president ALWAYS is a republican or democrat, but not everyone in this country associates themselves with those parties.  So how come out of all the people who try to run for the president, we have to choose between 2 people that we never were able to vote to get that far?  Sounds a little ridiculous to me.  So in the end I will probably have to choose between Hillary Clinton and Rudy Guliani both of whom I would NEVER want leading my country.  Of course I wouldn't vote for them, I would probably just vote for whoever the best third party candidate is anyway, who will never win. 
The 2 candidates I would like to see really be in the running for the position of top office are probably more independent in their views and less contemporary republican or democrat, however they are both congressmen, so for them to relinquish their party affiliation would be to also relinquish their seat in the house.  Don't you love all those double edged swords that are in politics?
So on with my two guys:

Dennis Kucinich (D)
Ron Paul (R)

Let's start with Dennis.  Congressman Kucinich is the only presidential candidate who originally opposed the war and still does.  And by opposing I mean plans to bring ALL troops home.  From day one of the Iraqi conflict he had a plan to get out of it.  He even gave a warning speech to the President 5 years ago saying that this war was a bad idea, while many others, a few of which are other presidential candidates, voted for the war.
On a few of the issues, he is for a free non-profit universal healthcare system, he does not believe in abortion but is pro-choice and does not want to pass any legislation to discourage abortion.  He is also a big advocate for sustainability, equal rights, and animals right.  As a matter of fact he is a devoted VEGAN (you know that gets my vote!).  Blam.  The main thing I like about this guy is that he isn't easily swayed.  He can't be bought out by big business and corporate bullies.  He believes in what he believes in, and he's not going to change him mind just because oil companies are swinging a big carrot in front of his face or threatening him.  He is also a great speaker and extremely intelligent.  He was brought up extremely poor so he knows what it's like on the other side of the railroad track.    Do more research on him for yourself.  You may be pleasantly surprised. Check this out to see his voting record.

On to Congressman Ron Paul.  Once again like Mr. Kucinich this guy is anti-war in Iraq, and would like to plan for an immediate withdrawal of all troops.  When other candidates speak you can tell they're just trying to please the audience by talking of honor and patriotism blah blah blah, when what Ron Paul speaks of is the real deal and he doesn't care what others think about it.  He's not sugar coating things.  He tells it the way it is.  He wants votes because he has a plan and can do it, whereas others just try to go on public appeal, and who's got the best smile.  On the issues he is for privatizing healthcare.  He actually takes more of a Libertarian stance on things and used to be a Libertarian.  He tried running for president as such at one time.   He is against government and FDA intervention so that people may have the freedom to use alternative and holistic healthcare.  He is also for the protection of homeschooling, and believes that homeschoolers should have every right that a conventional school child gets.  Amen to that!  He is EXTREMELY pro-life.  He used to be an OB/GYN by profession, and through delivering as many babies as he has, he has become rock solid in his stance against abortion.  He seeks legislation to overturn Roe v Wade.  Go check out his site to see more on the issues, and to see his voting record, go here.

So there you have it.  A brief bit on my favorites.  Unfortunately neither of them have much of a chance.  It's sad.  Unless people take control there is little hope for our country.  People need to start CARING, and free themselves from ignorance.  If the past 8 years has shown the American public anything it is that we cannot trust our current leaders to show us the right way.
 
Go educate yourself!!  See who is running, look at the issues.  If you are a registered R or D PLEASE vote in the primary elections, and VOTE SMART! If you're not registered to vote but are of voting age then DO IT, and register as a D or R so that you can vote in the primary elections. Do your homework first.  If you feel really drawn to a specific candidate and their issues, and happen to have free time  then lend a hand,join the campaign effort.  The best way to get votes is to be in the public eye.  People can't vote for these guys if they don't know they exist.  They don't have the millions of dollars Hillary and Obama have for their campaigns, so every little bit helps. 

This is OUR country and it's time to take it back.

I have not abandoned you!  Thing's have been a little hectic.  I was away in Pennsylvania for a week visiting family, and am also currently trying to get ready to move among other things. 

I have A LOT of interesting things I've come across lately that I plan on posting about.  Cookbooks, recipes, kitchen contraptions, etc.  Except a flood in the next few days...

I've come across a lot of great websites and blog posts already this morning.  I had been in a bit of a slump lately, having a hard time getting motivated.  I don't know if the slump has entirely passed, but it seems to not be as bad.  I'm still sitting on the couch, leisurely with my laptop as has been my most common pose this past week, but now I'm doing it with at least a rush of ideas and thoughts going through my head.  

For one I've been having great brainstorming ideas about the outline of my future restaurant.  Starting a vegan restaurant in Indiana is going to be much more of a challenge (well, a different kind of challenge) than say if it were on the east or west coasts.  I am not going to have real competition as someone may experience in those other areas, but I will have to win over a lot of meat and corn loving Hoosiers.  I may actually not have to win them over at all, or at least not right away.  There is another crowd I can appeal to who may not necessarily be vegan or even vegetarian, but have tendencies towards it simply because they try to eat healthy and organically.  There are quite a few earthy, nerdy, eco-conscious, environmental type folk in the area.  Some people are even getting together to start a much needed food co-op, one very similar to the already well established and successful Bloomingfood's to our south.  Having a restaurant with emphasis on local, seasonal and organic food that just happens to be vegan and quite healthy has great potential to hit big with the community.   Something like being an eco-conscious establishment and doing little things like having biodegradable to-go cups (made from corn) could stir up some interest and perhaps a little bit of press.  These things have already been done in great lengths in other areas of the country but I swear in Indianapolis we're at least 10 years behind.

I've been watching a lot of cooking shows lately, and trying to educate myself in food via other means as well.  Who knew there was so much more to learn than how to make spaghetti sauce?  I'm really not that naive, but things can surely get more complicated than I had thought.  Luckily my restaurant won't be so fancy pantsy.  There might be a day when Indianapolis is ready for a 5 star gourmet cuisine vegan restaurant, or a 100% vegan dedicated bakery/pizzaria/sushi house/catering company/grocery store etc etc etc, but this restaurant needs to happen first.  This will be the foundation.  Indiana doesn't like fancy anyway.  We're a city of race cars and football.  The people like GOOD food; comforting, nourishing, filling, satisfying, home cooking!   That is why the familiarity of foods will also be key.  The Chicago Diner is a great model as far as their menu selection.  Diner style cuisine could really work.  Diners are something we don't have a lot of in Indiana (unlike in Pennsylvania where I'm from), but the idea and type of food is still appealing to the demographic.   Breakfast/Brunch is one of the most difficult meals for vegans to get outside of the home.  And for the non-vegans, what better than some homemade bread with organic seasonal local fruits, and a breakfast with 0% cholesterol?
 
The last establishment I worked for also happened to be the only place to get any real vegan food in this town.  Unfortunately it is mismanaged and poorly run.  The food has a disguise of being healthy, when really behind the kitchen doors is a lot of sub-par produce and refined sugar/flour.  Corners are cut everywhere.  Despite what people don't know, and because they don't know, it is frequented by nearly all Indianapolis vegans and non-vegans alike.  People from all of the country passing through Indiana stop by simply because it's one of the only places listed on vegetarian travel sites for Indianapolis.  I don't see this place as being competition.  They're already near going under.  It wouldn't take much and I wouldn't feel bad about it in the least.  It's not a business I want to support, nor do I think others should.  At the moment however, it is one in very few options for the vegan/vegetarian community.

I don't know when this vision will actually materialize.  I tell people I would like to open it in 2 years or so, but the reality of the matter is that I need to come up with a great deal of capital before then to even be considered for a loan.  I was watching a business program yesterday called the Big Idea, where they interview up and coming entrepreneurs.  One woman started a fitness program using a personal ballet bar.  It took her 6 years to come up with enough money to get it going.  Luckily I am young.  I think that is a big advantage and disadvantage to this game.  I've got a bit of a head start, but I will be met with reluctance and criticism I'm sure. 

I'm not really in any financial situation at the moment to be making extravagant wish lists, but one can dream can't she?  Once upon a time I was into photography.  The interest wained over the years mostly because I couldn't afford the film and equipment and also because at the time I was into concert photography.  I was attempting to take photos inside, with low light and no flash.  My very nice Nikon SLR has been collecting dust for the past few years since the dawn of the digital age.  My little digital point and shoot camera deserves to be in a landfill, recycled for parts or given to safari tourists.  Why safari tourists?  Because the only good picture it is capable of taking is outside in the bright sun where it has the potential to be eaten by a hungry giraffe. 

I am trying to teach myself to become a vegan chef and I want to open a vegan restaurant in a few years.  I have been to countless food blogs and the first thing I notice is the outstanding photography.  Who knew food could look so good?  It wouldn't matter if it had been a photo of a bowl of sewage. It still would have looked good and appetizing!  I would love to start blogging about the food I make, and posting pictures a long with it.  A cookbook someday would be fabulous, and of course I would

love to have amazing photos of my restaurant's food in countless publications.  Food photography fascinates me, and it seems to be simple enough to learn (considering I already know the basics), and inexpensive compared with other photography professions.

I need a new camera and I've found the one.  Kyle got a $900 upright bass with his tax return (partly my tax return, while the rest of mine went to bills), so I don't see why I shouldn't get a $600 camera.  I think I spent $400 or so on my old camera while I was still in high school, and that wasn't even digital.  I would also be going a smarter route, getting a better camera for a cheaper price by purchasing it without the lens.  I should be able to use the same lens from my other camera. I can purchase an additional one if I feel the need later on.

Food photography aside, I would love to just get back into taking  pictures on a regular basis.  I used to be a big picture taker.  I barely ever carry even my digital with me anymore because I know the photos will suck, and I don't have the money to continually buy film and have it processed for the other camera.  I want to fall back in love with photography, and Indianapolis is a great place for it. 

I must grant my husband the credit for this amazing grocery store clearance table find.  I've heard of Vegan Gummi Bears existing,but I don't think I had ever actually seen them.  Thank you Kroger for your $1.32 manager's specialclearance item!  There were quite a few boxes of them, and I vowed to be back if they didn't end up tasting like snot.  I wasn't disappointed.  They're no normal gummi candy but they're definitely not bad.  To the touch they feel like a regular gummi bear, but to the bite the consistency is quite different.  The taste is especially not bad considering they've used all natural, organic flavorings (and color).  I plan on the buying the rest up to use at cupcake toppers in the future.  We also found that this same company has a variety of other products consisting of vegan sprinkles for cake decorating, and a sour gummi variety.  How nice.  GO GUMMI!

I really need to start blogging about interesting websites I come across instead of just putting them in my bookmarks. They end up getting lost amongst all the other links until the day I finally decide to go through and sort them all.  Perhaps I should start going through them all and then each day post a little list with my favorites.

My husband, Kyle, and I were in Chicago a month or so ago, and visited the restaurant VeggieBite.  They publicize themselves as being the "First Fast-Service Vegan Restaurant EVER".  I don't know if that's really true just because I'm pretty sure I've heard of some places on the west coast that were already on top of that idea, but they're definitely the first for the Midwest!  The food was pretty good but the best part for me was getting an opportunity to talk to the owners.  I plan on starting my own vegan restaurant in the next few years, so getting as much information and advice as humanely possible is very important.  I am reluctant about deep frying with vegan food, which was the staple of how this restaurant operated, however they assured us that it was still healthy because all food was fried in 100% Organic Soybean Oil.  Since then we've been on the search for soybean oil, to try it out for ourselves.  After a short investigation I discovered that most generic vegetable oil found in any grocery store is usually 100% soy oil.  Unfortunately, some things I've read have exposed the fact that most generic vegetable oil on the market comes from bio-engineered soybeans. 

On with my website find!  Mountain Rose Herbs. I came across it on my search for organic soybean oil, which it sells in 16oz, 1gal, or 5gal, as well as a variety of other organic oils, and oil isn't there only game.  They also carry bulk organic herbs, teas, essential oils, and other bulk ingredients.  I'm always on the lookout for bulk items for the future restaurant as well as for myself. I have recently been cooking up a storm and going very quickly through a lot of staple items.  Besides having awesome  things  for sale, this is also a business  that I would want to support simply because of their practices, procedures, and dedication to sustainability.