Atom Retro (Mod Clothes)

If you're looking for something unique for the mods on your Christmas list; you should check out Atom Retro. I was looking at their Christmas jumpers this morning. I can remember kids on my school bus wearing these back in the '70's. Back then we were far more concerned with being warm, than being cool. Still, nice looking sweaters.

Spinach Salad

Here's a great salad recipe that I appropriated from Giada De Laurentiis. I made this last weekend while I was watching football and making bread. It didn't occur to me to take a picture of it, till it was already gone. 

Giada's calls for prosciutto, but I used tempeh bacon instead (pictured below). I thought is worked pretty well. If you're using fresh citrus in your dressing, remember it'll turn bitter after a day or two.   

1 bag of baby spinach rinsed

4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or walnuts (optional)

6 slices vegan bacon or tempeh cooked according to the instructions

2 oranges, zested, and juiced

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1 clove garlic crushed

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup olive oil

For the dressing:
Combine the orange zest, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth. Add the olive oil in a steady stream until combined.

To serve:

Crumble the bacon onto the spinach, and sprinkle with nuts, if using, then drizzle with dressing and serve.Goes well with some sliced avacodo too.

Fitz and The Tantrums - MoneyGrabber

Kurt Wallander Mysteries - Henning Mankell

Ystad in southern Sweden might seem an unlikely setting for a series of murder mysteries. But there seems to be more than enough crime, crumby weather, and personal demons to keep Inspector Kurt Wallander busy. Henning Mankell's troubled detective has been on the job for nearly 20 years. He's spawned 13 novels and numerous films and television shows, including the award winning BBC series starring Kenneth Branagh featured below. I was probably as intrigued at reading something set in my family's home province of Skane as anything. But I've enjoyed reading the first three novels in the series: Faceless Killers, The Dogs of Riga, and The White Lioness. Cool stuff, if a little grim.

Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten

Shitake Mushrooms

Vegan Beer Brats

Summer might be on the wane, but that doesn't mean it's time to put away the grill. Football season is right around the corner. Whether you're getting in that last summer cook-out or tailgating before gametime, Turtle Island's beer brats are a fantastic way to enjoy an old favorite. I picked these up at Naturally Yours, our local health food store. I couldn't believe how good they tasted. Made with "'Full Sail Ale' and real tofu," the brats are certified vegan and taste delicious.

Vegan Clothing

Catch me if you can!

A friend of mine was asking me about my new shoes the other day. When I got over the initial shock of one of my buddies asking me about shoes, I told him they were just like the running shoes I had in high school; Asics, very light and comfortable, very 80's. I'd just picked them up from Zappos.com. He nodded and said, cool. I then mentioned that they were vegan as well. He asked, "What are vegan shoes?"

I told him it meant they were made of all man-made materials. So, in a pinch, I could eat them should it become necessary. I pointed to his all leather loafers and shook my head. "I wouldn't be able to make a risotto with those."

In all seriousness most vegans and vegetarians are aware that you can buy vegan friendly clothing and accessories, (no wool, no silk, no leather.) They can sometimes run a bit on the pricey side, but more and more designers are creating stylish options. Jenni has picked up purses, wallets, and shoes at sites like Alternative Outfitters and at MooShoes.com, and you can find even more than clothes at sites like Vegan Essentials. If you have any favorites be sure to pass them along.

Hosteling

The af Chapman & Skeppsholmen hostel  in Stockholm

Hostels have come a long way over the years. They aren't just for college kids on a budget, nor are they just an excuse to make a low budget horror film.

Hostels are an affordable option for any independent traveler wanting to see the world and connect with others. Many travelers, like Rick Steves and his son Andy highly recommend them. Hostels come in all shapes and sizes: jumbo jets, sailing ships, cinemas, castles, monasteries, and sometimes the accommodations are on par with what many hotels have to offer.

If you plan on making your own meals or simply want to cut your lodging costs hosteling might be the way to go. HostelWorld has become one of the preferred sites for finding hostels. There you will find the beloved hostels of Lisbon like the Travellers House, winner of the Hoscar (Hostel Oscar) in 2009 and 2010 and many others. They are mobile as well.

Donuts

Harry got his wish for chocolate donuts

Making fresh donuts is easy and fun, especially for kids. I saw Giada De Laurentiis do this on one of her cooking shows and I thought it was a really clever idea. Since I usually have leftover pizza dough sitting in the fridge on Sunday mornings I decided to try frying it up. 

Brad's Pizza Dough

1 1/4 cups warm water
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

1) To make the dough by hand, whisk the yeast and oil into the warm water until it is foamy.
2) Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough comes together.
3) Work the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and not lumpy.
4) Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, turning so the dough is completely coated with olive oil.
5) Cover and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size. You can divide again if you wish and let it rise further.

For donuts, I usually use dough that has sat overnight in the refrigerator. This gives the dough a great consistency as the yeast has had extra time to work on the flour. Just remember to let it come back up to room temperature before using it.

Stretch the dough out on a floured surface without working it too much. Cut into shapes or roll into balls as pictured above. Using a slotted spoon or very quick fingers, place the donuts into an inch of vegetable oil. The oil should be at 300 degrees or higher. I normally use one ball of dough as a test, and if it's started sizzling, we're ready to go.

Fry until golden on both sides. It takes about a minute per side. Remove and allow to cool. Roll in cinnamon and sugar or dip into icing.