Vegan Spicy Pinto Beans

A  major part of a vegan or even a healthy multivore family's diet is beans, lots and lots of beans! We eat beans and rice pretty frequently. I love my pintos and tortilla chips. So yummy! And of course, we eat bean burritos. While the canned refried beans became a staple in the beginning for our family, I really like cheap, easy, homemade options when I can find them. Canned refried beans can often have large amounts of sodium and  added fat. I also like my beans  a little spicy and a little more flavorful than the canned versions.

For  a vegan flavor punch, I love Not-Chick'n Cubes bouillon. They have beef and veggie flavors as well! You can find these at Walmart, Amazon, and just about any grocery store I have been into has them. 

 I also really like that this recipe makes so much. I usually freeze several pints of beans to use later, and that way I am only making beans once a month or so.With that  in mind, here's my recipe for pinto beans. They are thick, spicy, and delicious!

Slow Cooker Spicy Pinto Beans

2 Cups Dry Pinto Beans, rinsed and cleaned
4  Cups Vegetable Broth
1 Not-Chick'n Cube Bouillon
2 Bay Leaves
3-4 Jalapenos, seeded and cored (I leave mine whole so I can remove them later)
Salt And Pepper To Taste
Water*

Add the dry beans, vegetable broth, bouillon, bay leaves, jalapenos, and salt and pepper to slow cooker. Add water until the liquid is 2 inches above the beans. Cook on high for 4 hours, then continue to cook on low for an additional 3-6 hours.

Times will vary based on how thick you like your beans. Less time for soupy beans, and more time for thicker beans. I like mine thicker, so I am closer to 10 hours total cooking time.

Serve with chips, in burritos, with rice, or just as a tasty side dish! Enjoy!

Spicy Pinto Beans, Spinach and Artichoke Twice Baked Potatoes, and Tossed Salads with Vegan Cheddar

And as always, when it doubt...fling it!

About The Placenta

Where to begin. I was on a school bus headed out on a field trip with about 40 juniors and a fellow teacher. We were taking the kids on a college tour, and we had a little time to talk babies. I was seven months pregnant, and she had a two-year-old son. So I was trying to glean all the knowledge I could from her. The topic of postpartum depression came up. We talked a little bit about what I could expect. 

Then out of the blue my friend brought up the fact that she had friend who had done placenta consumption. I have to tell you we are both science teachers, but I nearly gagged the first time the whole idea came up. I guess the disgust was pretty apparent on my face by her response.

That’s when a new phrase entered my vocabulary. Placenta encapsulation. The friend who did this, like me, did NOT fry up her placenta with onions like you might  with liver. So can we just clear the air of that misconception? I did NOT just straight up eat the thing like some sort of primal, earth-mama experience, with drums and incense.

Admit it, you thought I grilled that sucker up and went all Hannibal Lecter on it, didn't you? I know you did, and it's fine. Ok, ok, to be fair I might have allowed you to think that for a second but, the point is that assumptions can be dangerous before facts are presented. Facts to follow.

My teacher buddy went on to tell me that her friend had her placenta encapsulated. It was thoroughly dehydrated, ground up very very small, combined with some traditional Chinese herbs, and put into gelatin capsules like a vitamin. Deep breaths. They were capsules. Just like a vitamin. No knife, no fork. It will be ok, just keep reading.

The biggest question everyone has is, why would you do this?

I did this for a lot of reasons. The first reason is because I have severe hormone swings when I have a normal, non-pregnant month. I can get down in the dumps to the point that it’s almost unhealthy. I always knew it would pass in a few days, but pregnancy was going to be different. I knew that too. I knew the hormone changes at the end of the pregnancy were going to be much more intense. I wasn’t sure I would just be okay in a day or two this time. I heard about baby blues, and I wasn’t sure I would bounce back. I had a pretty valid fear of having serious postpartum depression problems. I also really didn’t want to have to be put on medicine after the baby was born. I have had so many bad experiences with chemical imbalance medications. (Read: Home Pharmacy for more on this)

The second reason I did this was because I have very low iron and very low energy naturally. Both of those things are needed right after baby is born. Little man isn’t going to change his own diapers. Plus, if you are lucky like me to lose a lot of blood during labor, then you really need your iron levels to be back in the game as quickly as possible.

I have to admit when I first started looking into it I really thought it was crazy. Like, voodoo, witch doctors, certifiable crazy. Plus, I was still thinking this is uber gross, even for me. So I did some research, and I pitched it to my husband. His words to me were, “If it could even possibly prevent a bad postpartum experience for you, then that would definitely be worth it.”

Alright, now you know why I did it. Here are the short facts to the questions I know you have.

Where did the encapsulation take place? 
In our home. We had a certified placenta encapsulation specialist come to our house the first two days after Wild Man was born. Placenta encapsulation specialists should be both ServSafe (ServSafe...the same certification professional kitchens must meet to prepare your food at restaurants) and certified through an established and certified placenta encapsulation program like PBiU. We took the placenta home in two ziploc bags and a cooler, she came and dehydrated it the first day, then prepared it on the second day. I even got a cute little dehydrate cord keepsake...and yes it’s cute and precious to me. The placenta was never out of our sight. We were able to watch the whole process and ask questions along the way.

How much did it cost?
It is different depending on how far the specialist has to travel to you. Mine was about $200. Worth every blessed penny...more on that to come.

How many pills did it make and what was that like? 
Most placentas make about 100 pills which lasts about month and a half. Mine made 145 (woohoo!) so I had the pills every day for about 2 months. You start off with two about three times a day for a week, then two twice a day for a week, then two a day for as long as they last. Mine lasted well after I went back to school in January. Not going to lie, there is a little meaty flavor and smell. I did not enjoy that part, but the benefits were SO worth it.

What are the benefits? 
Numerous. The biggest one is reduced postpartum effects since the placenta helps your hormones level back out much quicker after that sudden drop after birth that can be somewhat bumpy for many. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety both with the placenta and the Chinese herbs ground in with it. In addition, placentas are very rich inn minerals and vital nutrients your body needs to get back to normal. One of the best and most abundant is iron. Again, I lost a lot of blood and have naturally low iron. When I went for my 6 week postpartum check-up my iron was great, and I was still taking the pills. a few weeks later I had to go in for another issue, and my iron was exceedingly low. I had a few weeks earlier finished my pills. Could be coincidence, but I doubt it. Finally, the placenta helps speed up the recovery time and the healing process. My midwife said my healing looked like it had been going on for months not weeks when she saw me at that six week appointment. Those are the main benefits of placenta encapsulation.

Now I would be lying if I said I did not feel a little drop in my mood and energy in those first few days. I had about four or five days where I cried inexplicably, but after that I felt like a million bucks. I felt better than I had felt my entire pregnancy in fact. I had more energy. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t have a long or difficult recovery. Now, I will never be able to say with certainty that it was the placenta that did it, but I can say that I will do it again. I feel pretty confident in saying that I would have had a much harder time with the hormone changes had I not done this.

So there is it. How I ate my placenta and you survived. I might have missed something so please feel free to ask me about anything I might have missed. I also HIGHLY endorse the ladies and the company I used. A lot of this same information can be found on their website and through talking to them...like I did! Here’s  the link to that site: http://www.wombmart.com/

So ask me your questions if you have them, and be careful about assumptions. 

And remember, when in doubt, eat it...I mean, uh... fling it.

Product Spotlight - Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are one of those products I just love and highly recommend making the switch over dryer sheets. Not only do they meet my SEE-it-to-buy-it requirements, but the benefits of using wool dryer balls are pretty amazing.

Let's start with the basics and benefits. Wool dryer balls are, just what their name implies, wool balls meant to go into your dryer to hep reduce wrinkles and static just like a dryer sheet.

Buy on Amazon

Big Picture Benefits:

• Cheaper than using dryer sheets
• Free of harsh chemicals
• Shortens drying time
• Reduced electricity use by shortening drying time
• Environmentally responsible in production
• Compostable after full use
• Scents can be customized with essential oils
• Reduces wrinkles and static

Let's break it down by the numbers. In a typical large load of laundry I use 5 to 6 balls per drying cycle. I'll typically use 2-3 for smaller loads.  The set that I bought here contained 6 dryer balls for $16. By comparison to the cost of dryer sheets with Aldi brand:

$16 = 6 wool balls = 1000 loads of laundry (roughly, mine have lasted WAY longer)

Aldi dryer sheets = $1.99 per box = 80 loads (if you only use one per load). 

For that same 1000 loads of laundry, you would need 12.5 boxes of dryer sheets. So the total cost for 1000 loads with Aldi brand is $25. Name brands like Bounce are about double the cost of Aldi dryer sheets. 

$16 for wool vs. $25 to $50 for dryer sheets. Your call.

And since saving money is a big part of why I write this blog, can we just talk about electricity saving for just a minute?

In our home we do roughly 15 loads of laundry a week. I know that seems like a lot, but that's for two adults, one toddlers, towels, cloth diapers, and dog blankets. Dolly the basset hound is an old girl, and well, when you get old you tend to lose your grip a little bit. So making it outside in time only happens on good days.

By using wool dryer balls we have cut our drying time nearly in half. Seriously! Next to line drying, which sorry, I'm a busy mom and I just haven't made that switch yet, this is the best way to lower the amount of energy used by your dryer. 

It might just be me. I might just be hypersensitive to chemicals now that I use far less than I used to, but dryer sheets smell and feel chemically to me. Yes, I know they are loaded toxic chemicals, and yes that might be the reason they smell and feel chemically. Still, that chemical smell and feel just doesn't compare to the fresh feeling and perfectly blended scents ( thank you lavender and lemongrass) that my clothes now have when I open that dryer! 

If you're looking for some nice blends of essential oils to try on your wool dryer balls, give these blends a try:

• Lavender and Lemongrass (my fave!)
• Lavender and Sweet Orange
• Ylang Ylang and Vanilla
• Rose and Lavender

One or two drops per ball really does the trick! 

And talk about chemicals?!?! Read this short article from the National Institute of Environmental Health Science about how dryer sheets affect your indoor air quality, and I promise you'll never go back. 

So go get your wool dryer balls, and enjoy your new cheap and easy, chemical free, low energy use, delicious smelling balls!


And as always...

When in doubt, fling it. 

Multivore Meltdown

It all started with a bag of cheese...

I am a once a week grocery shopper, and yesterday I was going to stop by the store on my way home to pick up some vegan cheese for Prairie Boy. He loved his Smoked Gouda Cheese from Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheese. That's one of the things he misses the most is cheese, although to be fair he doesn't really miss much. I can guarantee he doesn't miss swollen knees and hands. So there's that.

Smoked Gouda!

I walked over to the produce department. Which, just as an aside, I kind of resent the fact that the vegan products are all housed in the produce section. Not that there needs to be an entire section devoted to vegan products, unless that's your clientele. Still, the produce section? Come on. I'm not a rabbit because we a few more veggies than the average household.

Anyway, I am in the 'vegan section' of the produce department, and they have a variety of vegan cheeses. I picked up a couple of bags of mozzarella shreds, and went home. When I got home, after what was admittedly a rough day already, I did what I should have done in the grocery store. I read the label...

I admit it. It was my own fault. I wasn't careful. What can I say? I am new at this vegan stuff.

My newly procured cheese was a "dairy-free" alternative...not animal product free. The very first ingredient was Casein. If you aren't familiar with code names for animal products, check this list! 

I plan to write more about the devious marketing schemes used towards the vegan and vegetarian demographic. But this is about the meltdown...and oh, what a meltdown.

Upon reading the ingredients, I just kind of lost it. I cried. I pitched a fit. Prairie Boy tried to console me. It was no use. I melted like a snowman in July. Then I cried over other things that were sort of related to the vegan thing. I cried over the  4 pounds of bacon in our freezer. I cried for the love of cheese. I cried because I felt like a horrible shopper, girlfriend, you name it. I cried.

And then I decided to drown my sorrows in $3 Pinot Grigio. Probably not the best idea, but it's what I did. Not gonna lie.

So if I have ever given the impression that this shift to a multivore family was a walk in the park, I am so sorry. It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it. The health benefits have absolutely been worth every meltdown.

The only thing more indignant than my meltdown that night was me trying to explain to the store manager t he next day how his cheese in  the vegan aisle of the produce section was actually real cheese. His look was one of confusion and annoyance. Yep, I was that person now.

In summary, the only thing that melts better than actual vegan cheese is apparently and over-worked under-paid wannabe vegan momma.

For future reference, this is my favorite shredded mozzarella almond cheese. It does melt better than me!

Almond Mozzarella !

As always, when in doubt...fling it!

SEE it to buy it

As with all products I buy before I make a purchase, I ask myself a few simple questions: Is it safe? Is it economically feasible for my family? Is it environmentally responsible in it's production?

So, began the SEE it to buy it mentality. The SEE part is an acronym for the questions above. Is it Safe, Economical (in feasibility), and Environmental ( through conscious production)? It's also a literal question. Can I see me using this? Can I see my my family benefiting from this product? 

If one of those answers is no, then I will almost never buy that product. Occasionally, that may mean spending more on another, similar product or doing without. The is step one for me in conscious consumerism. Decide whom you wish to support with your dollars. Decide what values matter to you and your family, and then put your money where your mouth is!

While I can judge for myself and my family whether or not a product is economically feasible based on our family's budget, determining whether or not a product is environmentally responsible takes a little more work. When it comes to researching products, I start with Better World Shopper. Their rating system helps me know whether or not a company is doing more harm than good for the environment. I also try to use B Corp Certified companies whenever possible. Lastly, I shop locally and seasonally. I have individual posts about  Better World Shopper, B Corp, and shopping locally and seasonally. But that's a good start to help you decide if the products you're buying are worth the investment. 

When I began to look at my money as an investment rather than something to be spent, my whole paradigm changed. My family of three lives on about $2,000 a month. I can't afford to be frivolous or wasteful, but I won't be apathetic either. Yes, there are times when the product is safe and environmentally responsible, but I just can't afford to invest in it. Wasteful spending is still waste in my world. Even  if I can afford a product that meets all my criteria, if there is a cheaper options that ticks the same boxes, I go with that. No waste whenever and wherever possible.

One of the problems, I have found with this whole hipster movement is just more consumerism masked as "waste-free" or "greener options". Seriously? I am not paying for a case of lunch sized Mason Jars when I go through a jar of peanut butter a week. I am selective in the kind of peanut butter I invest in, meaning that even the packaging it comes in needs to meet the SEE it to buy it criteria. I end up with good, reusable jars that I didn't spend any extra on! But kudos to the guy who knew that 20-somethings would spend more money on glass jars in order to look like they are saving the planet. That dude is making bank off their vanity, not their conscious consumerism.

Conscious consumerism according to hipsters: $0.50 bar of soap + $8.45 funny label 

But the glass is recyclable. Yes. So is plastic. Waste-free doesn't mean I don't use products that are disposable. It means I dispose of those products in an environmentally conscious way. It means when given the choice between a one-time use product and a multi-purpose or multi-use product, I choose that product. 

I don't suggest anyone just go and overhaul their homes looking for products that they need to replace with SEE approved versions. The key to sustainability is small, consistent changes. They add up! When you run out of dryer sheets, invest in the dryer balls. When it's time to pack your lunch, make it at home and use containers you have on hand. Start by replacing products as you need them. Simple steps towards a more environmentally and economically conscious lifestyle. 

SEE it to buy it!

And when it doubt, fling it.

The Multivore Family

What is my multivore family? In a word: complicated! We're just complicated. Prairie Boy is a vegan. Wild Man eats just about anything, but loves his apples and broccoli the most. And although I limit my dairy and animal products, I am an omnivore. 

So picture it...Sicily 1922..ok, sorry I couldn't resist. Picture dinner time. A toddler, a vegan, and a weight-conscious omnivore. Like I said, complicated. I do have some practical tips on how to be a multivore family without losing your mind or breaking the bank.

Tip One: Change Your Mind.
When Prairie Boy first stated that he wanted to go plant based and then eventually decided that he wanted to be completely vegan I have to be honest, I was less than supportive. Oh I said I was supportive. I wanted to do what was best for him. I knew how painful his past had been struggling with debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 20 years and enduring two knee replacement and one hip replacement surgeries. How was I supposed to say no when he and I had both seen the research about how a plant (specifically starch) based diet could help improve if not repair the damage done by this autoimmune disease? Still, my  inner planner got a hold of me, and all I could think was, "What about our grocery bill? But I don't want to be a vegan! How am I supposed to cook for a toddler, a vegan, and myself? I just can't do all of this!" 

Then I came to my senses, which is code for Prairie Boy talked me off of my mental cliff. We had some good conversations that included assurances that I did not have to be a vegan just because he wanted and needed that. We talked about easing into the whole process, and no, I did not have to throw away the 4 pounds of bacon that I got buy one get one free just the day before. Literally had  a full on meltdown over the bacon. Not gonna lie. I cried over the bacon. You know those heaving, convulsive crying episodes? Yeah, that kind of cried.

Still,  we compromised. I opened my mind to acknowledging that I had some prejudices against the vegan diet. Ultimately though I love Prairie Boy. Any time I make a food choice that could negatively affect him and his road to recovery with the RA, then I am not showing him love in that choice. The same is true for Wild Man. I wouldn't willingly give poison to my son, and if animal products cause negative affects to Prairie Boy then I won't give them to him either.

So I had to make some mental adjustments. I had to do a lot of reading and researching about the links between autoimmune diseases and traditional western diets. I had to sift through a lot of propaganda from the meat, dairy, and sugar producers. Trust me when I tell you, their main goal is NOT your health. Slowly, though the shift happened, and now that's just they way we do things. 

Wild Man helping make pumpkin pie, not vegan but he takes ownership of the food he makes himself.

Tip Two: Be Flexible
I love the term "adjustable meals." In my house I am learning, I won't say I have mastered, but I am learning the art of adjustable meals. I was very  confident in my cooking abilities before. I knew how to make a dish just by looking at a picture and knowing the flavor profiles for certain regions.  I knew I could solve this problem of how to make vegan food, toddler food, and omnivore food with just one meal. After all, I am not a short order cook. I don't play that game. 

I started simple with meatless dishes like a mushroom shepherds pie. Big success. Wild Man and Prairie Boy approved. Then I started dabbling with dishes that I could make vegan and alter later to make them omnivorous. Jambalaya was another huge success. I made it vegan to start, and added sauteed shrimp to mine and the Wild Man's after it was done. Please don't mishear my 'great successes' as I've only had successes. Trust me, we've all choked down some horrendous experiments because we don't like to waste food, we need to eat, and at the end of the day food is fuel first and pleasure second. 

Bottom line, there are meals that can be adjusted halfway through to make omnivorous. There are meals that are vegan that are toddler and omnivore approved. And, let's not get crazy, but I have a few vegan recipes that are...wait for it...better than the original meat-laden version! Say what?!?! I know, I know. More on that later!

Spicy Pinto Beans, Tossed Salads, and Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Twice Baked Potatoes

Tip 3: Be Fearless
You cannot step into the world of vegan diet without being a little fearless. Try the cashew cheese. I promise it will surprise you. Give the new recipe a whirl. It might just become a family favorite. Make no apologies with your family or friends for your own family's choices. They are yours, not theirs. Everyone is just trying to do what is best for their family, and every family is unique. You may find yourself 'defending' your way of eating to your friends and family. Again, be fearless. Your life and your choices are best for your family. Your choices might inspire others to join in or they might make others feel inadequate in their own efforts. I have developed somewhat of a radar for people with whom I can share my thoughts. I usually have productive, curious conversations with them. Other times, I get met with resistance, and at that point I back off. I am not a corner hell-fire preacher. I am not out to evangelize 'the lost' (the meat eaters). I am just here to do what's best for my family. I am a scientist, and my decisions are informed and purposeful. Any chance I get to talk research with willing ears is an opportunity I relish. 

If you find yourself in a similar situation with your multivore family, I'd love to hear about some of your great successes or perhaps how disastrous Taco Tuesday turned out! We keep each other motivated to do our best. Wild Man and Prairie Boy keep me motivated to be fearless in my cooking, my writing, and my own shortcomings. They are my why. Some days it's more like "Why, oh why" but we make it work. 

And as always...

When in doubt, fling it! 



If you want to read the research that led us to making this decision for Prairie Boy, you can find it here: Dr. McDougall's: The Starch Solution - Diet, Only Hope for Arthritis

The Harangue-utan Hippy

My 22-year-old face contorted. My stomach churned and lurched as my mind tried to digest the simple idea that had just been presented to me.

"What do you mean you use cloth diapers? Cloth? As in: poop in it, wash it, and put it BACK on the baby?"

This simple suggestion is the one that started it all.

I was a student teacher. He was my cooperating teacher who, with  one nonchalant comment, changed my life.

Fast forward nine years. 

My significant other hails from the prairies of central Alberta. Thus he is called Prairie Boy. He is my sweet Canadian soulmate. He also has Rheumatoid Arthritis. He developed it in 1996 when he was 21-years-old. He and I have many things we enjoy together, but science and society documentaries are one of our favorites. After watching two particular documentaries, Forks Over Knives and Plant Pure Nation my life changed yet again.

"I want to go vegan. I am tired of swollen joints and pain. I want to heal my body."

The list of reasons that popped into my head of why going vegan was impossible or not a good idea rolled like waves on the ocean through my mind, one after the other. And yet, not one of those ideas held any significance when I looked into those determined blue eyes and held that disease marred hand. 

"Ok, let's do it."

And just like, my family became a multivore family. I had no idea that in a few months I would be a full on vegan as well. 

I began down a path that would change my life and the lives of my family and friends. The conversations, or rather the defensive conversations about how my family lives gave rise to some of the stories you'll find here. And the harangue-utan was born. I have always been a highly outspoken person, especially when it comes to causes or products I believe in, and I am even more outspoken about causes and products that do more harm than good to our world! I began to realize that other people are interested in this lifestyle as well. I get asked questions all the time about waste-free living, healthy eating on a shoe string budget, natural parenting, and environmental conservationism. And I love it! I love to share my ideas and my experiences. I hope that you will come to enjoy this blog as well. 

Not all of my experiences on this journey have been pleasant. Having an old lady at the grocery store ask me if I was part rabbit upon her examining my shopping cart contents or having the nursery workers at church try to negotiate the cloth diapers have been just a couple of times when our life came into stark contrast with mainstream America. That's ok too. Our differences have led to conversations, and conversations are just seeds being planted. I want to plant seeds with our stories. 

I have found a lot of similar blogs of stay-at-home moms who spend their days making homemade laundry soap and growing organic tomatoes in their perfectly composted container gardens all while giving out tips on how to make kale tasty. 

I am just not them. And while I bear them no judgment (do your own thing ladies!)  I can't be like them either. I am not some ultra-hippy. I make some trash, but I am always looking for ways to make less of it. I work outside of my home. In fact I am the sole bread winner for my family, and in my profession it ain't a lot of bread I'll tell you that! So living a green, waste-free lifestyle on a pitiful income is tough! I am a busy mom trying to do the best I can for me, my family, and the world we all share. 

I want to share some of what I know with you. What products do I invest (yes, invest) my money into? How do I reduce my household waste? Who are the unsung heroes making this world better? 

So stick around, and remember when civilized, eye-opening, persuasive conversation just doesn't get the message across...

when in doubt, fling it! 

 ♡ From The Wild Man & The Harangue-utan