zenpawn

Apparently, not as much as we’d hope. But, I dare say, we knew that already.

The United States Department of Agriculture is now proposing a set of “feel good,” though not necessarily effective, solutions to the e-coli outbreaks in spinach and other leafy greens.

It’s unclear to me exactly the full extent of what’s included in these new one-size-fits-all regulations. However, the gist is that they’re aimed at nearly eliminating all non-crop plants and microbial soil life in the fields.

These strategies are, of course, critical to organic and small farms in bringing healthy, nutrient rich foods to our tables.

I encourage you to learn more about it via the Organic Consumers Association and other resources. The comment period for public input is open throughout the weekend until Monday, December 3rd.

(Speaking of breaking news, this Clinton campaign hostage situation here in Rochester, NH is crazy! It’s surreal watching live TV of swat teams in action on streets and in front of buildings I pass almost every day.)

Yikes, November is almost over, and I’m just now getting in on the “Vegan Month of Food” festivities.

This list of questions is making the rounds to encourage everyone in our little community to share a bit about themselves.

If this post inspires you to join in, please leave a comment with your blog, so we can learn more about YOU. Or if you don’t have one, feel free to leave your answers here.

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?

Don’t really partake anymore, but I used to make my own soy milk and also enjoyed WestSoy’s unsweetened line.

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?

Chili or dahl, squash soup, and, I don’t know, maybe the holidays will find me making some desserts I wouldn’t make just for myself, but given an excuse…

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?

Haven’t had popcorn in forever, but some brewer’s yeast sounds good.

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?

A few months ago, I turned on the wrong burner and blackened the heck out of a pan that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

5. Favorite pickled item?

Homemade kimchi.

6. How do you organize your recipes?

Organize? What’s that? If I’m being good, it’ll get logged in my nutrition software. Otherwise, it might just get saved as an email draft or, worst of all, a scrap of paper floating around the kitchen.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?

Town “dump run” every Saturday morning, where I also recycle all paper, plastic, tin, and glass. (The joys of living in the boonies.)

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods, what would they be (don’t worry about how you’ll cook them)?

I actually have so many “dailys,” this one’s tough. Let’s go with broccoli, blueberries, and any variety of bean. Wow, didn’t do that on purpose. Guess I’ve now got a Three B’s too. (I like to call the powerful triumvirate of chipotle, cumin, and cinnamon my “Three C’s.”)

Update: Maybe swap out those blueberries with another B, bananas!

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?

You’re going to laugh, considering how I eat now. Not fondest, but right up there are those special Friday nights when we’d be allowed to eat in front of the TV. My sister and I would each get our own can of spaghetti O’s (with m*@tballs) and at least a half pint of Ben & Jerry’s (usually mint chip or cherry garcia). Nowadays, the thought of such an unhealthy meal makes me…

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?

Almost anything in the Purely Decadent and So Delicious lineup from Turtle Mountain. But, haven’t had any in a LONG time (on purpose).

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?

Coffee maker.

12. Spice/herb you would die without?

Cinnamon, with garlic a close second.

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?

Don’t know for sure, but it could be Everyday Cooking with Dr. Dean Ornish. Mine’s the hardcover 1996 edition.

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?

Strawberry preserves.

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?

Chocolate “cream” pie.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?

I’ve gone through obsessions with all, but I’m gluten free now, so no seitan. Also on at least a temporary hiatus from soy.

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?

Any time’s a good time to cook. My biggest meal of the day is dinner, so that’s my favorite.

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?

Three old boxes of cereal and a half bottle of Kahlua. None of which have been touched in ages.

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.

Dried mushrooms, berries, flax seeds.

20. What’s on your grocery list?

Doing this one without looking too, so I’m missing a lot here, but I know there’s red cabbage, kale, and paper towels.

21. Favorite grocery store?

Hannaford. These guys have the best produce section and their own organic store brand of everything from canned foods to coffee.

22. Name a recipe you’d love to veganize, but haven’t yet.

Bring it on!

23. Food blog you read the most? Or maybe the top 3?

I’ve been real bad about this lately. Sorry. The last one I checked was Jackie Vetter’s, and it’s where I learned of this fun little survey.

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?

Any good, DARK chocolate.

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?

Those luscious dates a couple posts down.

p.s. – I hope you’re all enjoying the Raw Food Summit interviews.

This on-line “event” (no driving required) actually started on Thursday, Nov 15th. Apologies for just now announcing it. Fortunately, it runs daily until December 1st, so there’s still plenty of information and motivation to be gained.

What is the Raw Food World Summit? It’s a series of hour-long interviews with advocates and/or practitioner’s of the raw food diet.

Saturday night’s episode with Karen Knowler (and her British accent) was inspiring. She lost a tremendous amount of weight on the diet, and having come from a rather junk food background, she knows (pun intended?) what it’s like to make the transition. If you’re quick, you can still hear it, since they each replay for 24 hours until the next one at 8 PM Eastern time.

I listened to every episode when they last came to town, and I’m doing it again this year. There are many good speakers and topics ahead. Those of us on Dr. Fuhrman‘s Eat To Live program are particularly looking forward to his interview on Friday, November 30th.