greenlight district

What Snooki and I have in common

I work in New Jersey and thus spend a bulk of my time there or getting there. NJ is definitely cool for some people, and I do enjoy the occasional suburban pleasures it offers, but when Jersey Shore debuted, I honestly couldn't get down. The last thing I want to do while safe at home in Brooklyn is return to the Dirty J, even if it is to its sunny boardwalked-shores.

But I finally gave up and drank a special hipster cool-aid: 1 part Gawker's field guide to the show chased with 4 parts Michael Cera's Youth in Revolt/Jersey Shore mash-up. (Watch all of the videos here! Stand out Cera quote: "I see the appeal. It's fun. Beating up the ground.") I watched a mini marathon, much easier to swallow with Michael's hair-gel fueled, fist-pumping vignettes. And with the knowledge of what a grenade/grenade launcher is.

Like all of us with taste, I was immediately drawn to Snooki, but what really pushed me over the edge was her repulsed reaction to the boys' lobster dinner. "I'm a vet tech," she explained. "I save animals. I don't kill them." 

GIRL. I hear that. Eating lobster is totes like indulging in a big plate of biodiversity-ruining, ocean ecosystem-devastating grossness. Plus they look like big, red cockroaches -- ew! Ignoring the next shot of our animal lovin' star suckling on a ham bone, she wins honorable mention for standing up for what she (kinda) believes in. Bravo, Snooks!

And happy new year, everyone! I would love to know what you all think about Jersey Shore -- and if YOU knew what a grenade was before watching this...

Photoshopping: Courtesy of this guy

Are there vegetarian buffets in Vegas?

I guess I'll find out.

Here's a really fabulous scenario: my job is sending me to Las Vegas for a few days!! As excited as I am, I can't imagine how effing thrilled someone else would be -- like, maybe someone who:
a) drinks more than 3 margaritas a year
b) knows how to count cards (or at least can play poker with them)
c) can enjoy all of the meaty treats on the many buffet lines

This summer has been a mix of trips, some more greenlight district than others (faux cheesesteaks in Philly, wild strawberries along the side of the road in Alaska -- but more on those later...) and I wonder what this work vacay will hold in terms of fake meats and locavore-friendly options. Rest assured, visions of seitan smorgasboards and vegan treat tables will be dancing in my head. As I sleep peacefully in my king size bed in the Wynn Encore Resort...

Even a feminist can love her Kitchenaid Mixer

Increased domesticity is one of the obligatory symptoms of working from home and spending 90% of your time in your apartment, you actually start to shed the dormitory-induced inability to nest and start teaching yourself how to play house. You learn new things like how to jiggle your ancient toilet's handle perfectly until you hear the familiar ::plink:: You buy giant phallic squashes and cut them up and make soup out of them.  And you stop being afraid to do things like bake, which I think I was for awhile.

That sounds totally weird - but understand, baking was always kind of an ominous female force in my family. I grew up in the most heteronormative (hi, I was a double major in Journalism and Gender & Sexuality Studies at NYU) household where mom raised kids and cooked and baked and cleaned and dad manually labored and brought home the money that made ends meet and I was the overacheiving first born daughter who did theater and school stuff and fought about curfews and when I could go on my first date while my brother played sports. There were many things that separated me from the female members of my family but it always manifested in baking, which was a central theme and the glue that brought together all family gatherings. My Mom, Gramma, Aunts, and cousin would bake DOZENS of different varieties of cookies for Christmas and New Year's, no less than five different types of pies for Thanksgiving, breads and more sweet treats for Easter, and specially tailored cakes for everyone's birthday. I always felt like the baking gene missed me, like every other lady in my fam tree was born with a whisk in her hand and the ability to bake from memory and I was some independent non-baking weirdo who no one would ever pass down recipe cards to or ever ask to bring cookies to supplement a tray.

But then I moved into my first apartment and something clicked. My roommate and I had a holiday party and I decided to make my own tray of cookies. They were such a hit (duh) that I made more for a friend's New Year's party. The rest is herstory as we say in the feminist biz. This Christmas my boyfriend answered my vegan baking goddess dreams and gave me a gorgeous TANGERINE KitchenAid mixer, the moneyshot of all kitchens and the only appliance that's possibly more serious a gift than a ring (in the words of one wide-eyed friend, "wow, you guys really love each other") Being the woman-of-the-90s that I am, I think that I thought I was supposed to take my cues from Annie in Father of the Bride and freak out that my boyfriend gave me something to use in my kitchen, but then I (and he) had to remind me that, um, this was something I really wanted - fuck the rom com stereotype of not being able to bake delicious treats and break glass ceilings all.at.the.same.time. And also, what fembot hasn't picked up (subscribed to) Bust recently - reembracing domesticity is so the new feminist frontier! Come on. Where else would stuff like this come from? My baking gene wasn't ingrained but stumbled upon. It was Googled and substituted with organic whole wheat flour and ground flaxseeds and vegan chocolate chips, and it wasn't like what I had grown up observing and eating - (but it will probably be what my kiddies will one day munch on, and you'll be able to find the recipes on my Brooklyn-Mom-healthy-eating blog). My family can keep their Italian cookies, decadent pies, and rich cakes - I am a budding vegan baker in my own right. And hopefully they'll make some room at the table for something I've baked up one of these days.

New Year, new body, new YOU!

JK on this post's title. I hope you guys know that I only save that brand of schmaltzy shit for the kind of writing where I'm actually getting PAID. Anyways. I did just that - I wrote something recently and will eventually get paid for it! And I thought that it would make sense to try to push it on you guys, my wonderful greenlighters, who love all things wholesome and healthy. Also if you're like me, you also love having consistently great poops - vegs and veegs consume something ridic like 5 times the amount of fiber every day than carnivores do, so it's inevitable. You can get all of these things and more with my guide (written for the lurvely Shecky's) on the best drinks for detoxin'! Because even I had 2 glasses of champagne on New Year's Eve...

AND there's more fun times! I also write the indulgences of the day, and try to slip an eco treat in there whenever I can. Thankfully it's easier and easier because so many brands are getting into the green scene so it's not like I'm constantly suggesting patchouli and essential lavender oils to people. Today's was Nature Girl's Flower Fetish Body Cleanser, a treat that I thought would make this week back to work (for those sell outs who actually HAVE jobs) just a little bit better. Also, check out the other indulgences below today's - all plucked out of the beauty world by yours truly!

Save a turkey, eat tofu!

Last Thanksgiving was my first meat-free holiday so, knowing that there was going to be lots of meaty options, I threw on my mom's apron and basted a Tofurk fit for...just me.

Here are a few of the most delicious Tofurky recipes I've come across in my Google pursuits, starting with the one I made last year:

Maple Pecan Tofurky Roast
A real hit with...yeah, me, but ALSO my carnivorous brother and Dad who I guilted into trying a bite. They liked it.

Ginger Garlic Tofurky Roast
 An Asian theme on the original, the g&g work together and are begging for a hearty side of sweet potatoes (sans marshmallows - and with some fakin' bacon instead!!)

Sweet Southwestern Glazed Tofurky
This may stray from your average pumpkin pie-spiced Turkey-day plate, but the sweet and spicy flavors in this just recipe might make it 2008's winner. If I use this one I'll plan on adding some Dinosaur Bar-B-Q sauce to the marinade - maybe some Roasted Garlic Honey BBQ Sauce or Cajun Foreplay Spice Rub??

For the underachievers: The official Tofurky site has a few easy recipes for last minute dishes (just at least remember to thaw the bird pre-baste)
For the overachievers: Any enterprising veg cook can whip up a faux turkey, right? Well, at least with the help of recipes from Vegetarian Times!

All my vegan treats bring the boys to the yard.

No, really. They do! I had a little get together to introduce some old friends to my new roommates and I brought out the big vegan baking guns: a spread that included Apple Crisp Pie, peanut butter cookies, and pumpkin pie brownies. Someone actually REQUESTED one of my recipes, which inspired me to spend the next few posts until Tofurkey day sharing some ideas and recipes! 

I Google for most of my recipes, and usually figure out what I can do with what I have - and of course, how I can make them healthy enough to stuff my face guilt-free.

I nabbed the Pumpkin Pie Brownie recipe from the same vegoddess that brought Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World to my kitchen. It was DELICIOUS. I was nervous that it would be too much - chocolate, and punkin goodness? It's delish though, check out the recipe on the site but here are my recipe card-like notes on it:
-I used whole wheat flour in the brownies just to make them a little healthier, they were definitely "heartier" but I don't think they took away from the sweetness/brownie-ness of them
-I think I also used like beet sugar or something weird in the brownie mix and again, fine.
-I used cornstarch, not tapioca flour in both layers
-with the pumpkin pie layer I was left feeling like it needed a little more spice? I did use "real" (and organic) sugar in this and even vanilla soy milk, but maybe it needed a little more vanilla and a little more of the pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger - i guess too much more might throw off the taste with the brownies) Maybe it would even be more delicious with brown sugar?
-and store in the fridge before serving or if there are leftovers, I thought it was best a little on the colder side.

It would be a fab addition to your family's Thanksgiving dessert menu - my aunt/mom usually make apple, pumpkin, and pecan pie, but this would be a nice change, especially if you need a little chocolate with your fall fruits.

It's a lovely day in the neighborhood!

Lately, there's been a lot going on in our lovely 'hood off of the Graham Avenue L stop. Besides the new weekly stops at Cho's, there's been a lot opening around here the past couple months (not including all of the new condos/apts springing up - insert obligatory complaints from Brooklyn blogger that's an anti-gentrification gentrifier...) 

I'm most excited about Boneshakers! They slipped a bunch of menus under our door and I was DELIGHTED to read that it's a new take out/fast food/coffee shop hybrid with all veg - vegan foods! I will be digging in (and reporting back) soon!

The Richardson, a new bar on Graham by the BQE - must go and review! I've been holding out until they start doing brunch, but I might as well just check it out in the PM.

More shopping! In place of that Mac store that was on Graham next to Mighty Diamond, there's now a fun gifty shop called Brooklynski (a little play on the Polish 'hood we live in) I've only window shopped past it so far, but that needs to change soon.

New coffee shop! More of a to-go than a sip-and-blog kinda place.

Sadly, there's also been a greenlight-friendly closing. Mighty Diamond, the vegan restaurant on Graham just closed! I didn't realize until I walked past a few days ago and saw newspaper in the window. I read on a Billyburg site that it closed Oct. 31 and they are going to open it up with a different type of food, not sure if the management is going to change or what. The food was always just okay even though it was veeg. It was one of those places I wanted to be good more than it actually was - and the first time I went I found a decent sized rock in my mac n cheez... Anyone know any of the deets?

Will scope out the new spots soon!

Mmm, soy mocha break!

So even though the creative juices flow freely in mi casa - what with all of us roommates/dancers/actors/models/writers unemployed freelancing and working from home, Kelbo and I decided it was time to leave the A.P.T. We tore ourselves away from the Jon & Kate Plus 8 mini-marathon - which was a freal accomplishment - this is the [second] best show on television, after all. If you haven't caught this phenomenal program I hope that you make a point to do so, perhaps take a break from your turkey murdering (veg humor!) to pick up an episode (or eight, heh) during the T-day marathon.

Anyways - we decided to take our computers and our empty bladders (we even got dressed, aka put on bras. We wavered on wearing pants and settled on tights/leggings instead, but baby steps, baby steps) over to Cho's Variety - a newish coffee shop on Graham Ave. Close enough to homebase but a new setting with ample outlets and wireless internet. And, frankly, is there really anywhere else to blog than from a coffee shop? Let alone one in Brooklyn. God, my hipster stock is rising rapidly.
Here's the view from our little nook and from my computer's cam:

I think it's a great addition to the neighborhood. Before, if you wanted to indulge in a little caffeine/wi-fi you'd have to cook it up at home or spend too much at Oak Cafe across the street for sit down service. There's also Odara which is questionable; much smaller, and I've walked by at random times and seen someone playing strange instruments, that might be a little too hippy for me... Here, K picked from a delish selection of teas ($2) - they have loose and those fab fat baggies filled with tea stuffs - and I got a soy mocha ($4). I read some reviews on Yelp, which always makes me laugh because dissenters are generally idiots, complaining about price when really they should just be happy that a coffee shop that's not Starbuck's is existing. I resisted the baked goods (Balthazar scones??), and instead smuggled in my own vegan treats (my new favorite peanut butter cookie recipe)!

Besides the good coffee, ambiance blah blah blah - it's a blatant singles scene!! I'm certainly not looking, but am always trying to get my friends/roommates laid. I'm thoughtful like that. So far I tried to get K to make sweet coffee shop love with one flannel-wearing boy up front. You can also invade people's personal space by spying on their iTunes (Michael had no Britney, not even "Toxic," and only 3 JT out of 10,574 songs, disappointment.) The H-factor is pretty high - indie music, organic treats, Portland coffee, Brooklyn boys and lesbians in plaid, thick-rimmed glasses, and even a girl doing needlepoint.

The staff is what you'd expect at a local BK coffee shop, efficient but not exactly brimming with smiles. Whatever, not everyone can be the bubbly barista I once was, and Cho might start attracting a different customer base (um, like gay NYU freshmen? I don't even know) if my iPod controlled the beats. Expect many more posts fueled by their soy mocha and green tea.

And don't forget to always tip your barista! Especially if you're going to spend $4 and sit there for 4 hours and eat outside food...