Vegan Lox? Whaaaat?

So when you go vegan, you often crave foods that you used to eat.  Well, everyone knows a perfect bagel has cream cheese, salmon or lox, and red onion.   So, when I heard about vegan lox, I was intrigued.   And I decided to make it.  That was one of today's projects.  

Saturdays have become my cooking days.   Since I've been home schooling. the day is filled with helping with studies and going through stuff and making sure work is done.  So experimenting in the kitchen is out on those days.  

But on Saturday, while the kids play and do their thing, I cook.

Today, I made a Giant Burrito Crunch Cake for supper, which was not only delicious, it was packed with healthy vegetables and plant proteins.   I made up a guacamole  to serve with it and it was even better.

The guacamole was my own recipe

2 avocados, mashed
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 TBSP lime juice
1 cup thinly sliced cherry tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste


I also made carrot hot dogs, which I was pretty excited to try.  I mean, I was skeptical; how could carrots taste like hot dogs?  But I decided carrots aren't that expensive, and I had all the ingredients on hand, why not give it a go?  And I did.  And I did not regret it.  They were delicious!  The boys both liked them, but hubby refused to try.   His loss.  This was the recipe.

I decided to tackle a recipe for home made ricotta cheese, but I cheated and used store bought almond milk and it did not turn out.  

But I also found that recipe for Vegan Lox, and threw some carrots in the oven, covered in salt, and let them roast.  Then, after they had cooled, I added the brine.   Now they have to sit for two days.   I can't wait.   I have bagels and vegan cream cheese just waiting...

 But while I was waiting for the carrots to roast, I whipped up some of our family's favorite, these Mama Glo Bars bars from Oh She Glows.  

They are so good, and everyone loves them.  The best thing about them is they are pretty healthy.   No additives or high fructose corn syrup, they are sweetened with brown rice syrup.   And packed with lots of mother earthy type ingredients that you can feel good about, and they taste delicious.  So a win all around.

Everyone talks about how expensive vegan/vegetarian food is, but the truth is, you can make so much of that stuff at home at a fraction of the cost, AND it tastes better.  So it is possible to be vegan or vegetarian and live on a budget.   It is also possible to get all your nutrients in a vegan diet.  For example, people are worried that I won't get calcium if I don't drink milk.  Almond milk actually has MORE calcium than dairy milk does!   And B-12 can be found in lots of plant based foods, not just meat.

We've literally spend about a third of what we usually spend on groceries when I cook from scratch.   And that's with hubby, who is an omnivore, buying stuff he wants to eat.

And every week, it gets even easier, because I find recipes we all like and I know those work.  

Hope you enjoy these recipes!  I sure did.

Culinary Disasters

So learning to cook vegan, in may ways, is like learning to cook all over again.  Because I have things in my pantry and fridge that I never previously knew existed, let alone cooked with.

One thing I knew existed, but wasn't crazy about, was beets.   But I had them in my fridge, because I'd used some in a recipe, and had about half of a can of beets left over, so I threw them in glad ware, and unfortunately for me, forgot about them.

It gets worse.   Because I forgot about them, I shoved something into the fridge, and it pushed the container back, dislodged the lid and sent sugary beet juice everywhere.  It pooled on the top shelf, pooled under the glass shelves, dripped into crevices, down the walls, and onto the shelves and drawers below.   It looked like the scene of a mass murder.  I felt like I was in an episode of CSI: The Kitchen.  

I didn't discover this until I went to put groceries away and opened the fridge, and went to make room and moved a few tupperware containers and saw this red liquid pooling everywhere.   I thought, whatttt?!! And then discovered the beets container, and realized what had happened.

Probably, the best thing to do is store them in a place like, I don't know.. the trash.  

So instead of putting groceries away, I had an impromptu cleaning of the fridge.  Then again, it needed to be done, so this just forced me to do it.

Then, later on that day, I was following a recipe for mushroom gravy, and the instructions said to blend the hot contents in a "food processor" or blender, so I did indeed, foolishly opt for the food processor.    As soon as I turned it on, I realized it was a mistake, because hot mushroom liquid sprayed everywhere, including all over the recipe book that came from the library.  So now, everything covered in a fine spray of mushroom gravy, and the mushrooms still not chopped, I threw it in the blender to achieve the gravy consistency.   Finally, it worked.

Note to self: Use the blender next time.  It works much better.

Experimenting and Learning About Energy (And My Lack of It)

So last night, I foolishly indulged in reading a very good book, past the 3 AM mark.   It was that good.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I couldn't put the book down.   But this morning, I regretted this, as I woke up exhausted and did NOT want to get up and do lessons  or anything that involved thinking.

But there were tests and assessments and projects to turn in and Clay had his first experiment that he had to hand in and be graded on.

Something simple?  Well...

We had to make a thermometer.   My eleven year old had to explain how mass and kinetic energy made a thermometer work.   I couldn't help but see the irony, in the fact that the greater the mass of an object, the more energy it had; because I have plenty of mass, and definitely no energy today.

So we printed off our supplies list and gathered everything together, at which point we discovered we had no metric ruler, aside from my measuring tape for sewing, and a protractor.   Ethan had a ruler that came with his art kit, but when he went to go get it, it was not in his art kit and he had no idea where it was.  And we couldn't find it.  So, we grabbed the protractor.

The list called for a 20 oz drinking bottle, and I searched through our recycling and of course we didn't have any this week.   But then I remembered that I had a half empty bottle in the truck, so I went and got that.  Kaos got excited when I went out, thinking she was going outside too, and began barking and dancing at the gate.   I look at the instructions to see if we need anything else, and realize I need a glass bottle.

I just happened to have a clean maple syrup bottle to recycle, so we used that.  So, we made a maple syrup thermometer.

We also needed red food coloring, and it called for three drops.   So, Clay removes the cap and sticks the dropper in and draws up the coloring.   Then he decides he has too much, so squirts it back in.  He also gets some on the counter.  It immediately stains the counter, but since we have a nice multi colored counter top, the splattered look blends well.

Carefully, we follow the instructions and fill the beaker with water and then add the coloring.  We then pour the mixture into the bottle, which is supposed to be filled to the top.  It fills about one fourth of the bottle.   I start to fill the beaker and then think to myself, "screw it,", and just fill it with tap water and throw some more coloring in.

I mean, we aren't working with reactive chemicals here.   Water and food coloring.   We can skip steps and not go blind or lose a limb in the process.  

So, bottle full.  Check.   Now the instructions say to put the straw in, and leave 10 cm out from the top, and hold in place with modeling clay.   Then add enough colored water so that 5 cm is in the straw.  Finally, top with a drop of cooking oil, to prevent evaporation of water.  

So, now we see if it actually works.   First task is to stick it in hot water, so I boil up the kettle, pour the very hot water in a bowl and set our thermometer in.   Sure enough, it goes to the top. 

My eight year old decided to hang out and observe, but didn't stick around for the written work. Don't mind the dishes that haven't been put away yet or the drool spray the dog has left on the dishwasher.  One thing I learned quickly with our dog was that she drools... ALOT, and when she shakes her head, the drool flies.  So we wipe down appliances and cubboards frequently in this house.  Oh, who am I kidding. I wipe them down.  There is no we. 

Anyway, the next test was to put the thermometer in ice water.  Clay tells me that the water in the straw won't go below the five cm, where it started, but dutifully put the ice water in the bowl and set the thermometer in.  

As you can clearly see, the water DID go below the five cm.  And then we had to mark the lowest point, and the highest point the water went, test two other water temps, and record those temperatures.  Clay had a few pages of questions, one of which was "did you learn anything from this experiment?", to which he shrugged, and told me, "no, I knew what was going to happen,"

I reminded him that he had said that the water would not go below its starting point and he pretended like he couldn't remember making that hypothesis.    He was not impressed with my ability to recall that fact.  By the time we finished this, it was time to make supper.   So tomorrow we'll scan worksheets, and send in the pictures  to complete the assignment.   Thankfully there is flexibility with this program.  

So we have a thermometer!  While I don't recommend it for checking temps when cooking, it does work.   

So that was our first little experiment, which I managed to guide him through relatively successfully.   I think it was neat that he got to visualize how the heat expanded mass, and how the cool water decreased the mass.  Not just reading about it, but seeing it.  

On that note, I'm going to work this "heat expands mass" concept.   Clearly, the fact that I can't lose weight is because I live in a desert, so the HEAT is expanding my mass.  Sounds reasonable to me.  

This amazing Journey on the road less traveled.

It's amazing, watching your child grown and learn in front of you, and mature and watch their personalities develop.   But now that we've decided to do the online schooling with Connections, I've seen them grow in their education as well.  It is both humbling and gratifying.  Humbling, because, as I guide them through each lesson, I think about the awesome task teachers have in shaping and teaching a whole classroom of children every day, as I, with only two, sometimes struggle to find balance between their lessons.   Humbling, when I realize that how I respond to a challenge will dictate how they respond to challenges in life.   They are watching me.  

Gratifying, because I am seeing them learn.  I am seeing the "I get it" moments.   I'm seeing them conquer challenges they haven't faced before.  And sometimes we conquer them together.  Today, my oldest, the sixth grader, wrote his very first essay.   He learned, not only to write, but also to do research, and cite that research.  He learned to organize his thoughts.   And at first, when he thought it would be boring, he resisted.  But we found a topic he was interested in and researched.  And then he wrote.  And suddenly, he decided he wanted to write as if he was a newscaster, and he became engrossed with his project.  And he wrote.   He didn't just type a few sentences. He put down his thoughts and ideas and his impressions of the event.  And I watched and felt pride in my son, as he learned and grew.   And all the headaches and nagging was worth it.   Because he was writing an essay, on his own.  And he was engaged.  He was interested.   THAT made me proud.   Because he was liking school.  He was learning.  And thinking and learning how to put those thoughts on paper.   It is amazing watching them "get it", and seeing those moments where they figure out what they need to do and then get creative.   With Connections, I have the best of both worlds.  I can see his "aha" moments, yet he still has a certified teacher monitoring his learning.  I'm the learning coach, and yes, I do alot of coaching, but with Connections, I don't have to wonder, "is it enough?"  "Am I using the right curriculum?"  "Is this age appropriate", etc.   He has a teacher who is certified and evaluates his learning, and who will tell me if there is a concern.  So far, he is doing well.  No D's or F's on his report card like before.  For us, this is huge.   He says he likes it better than his old school.  Also huge.  It is amazing to watch a child, who formerly hated school, bloom and grow, and thrive.  And actually be interested in learning.  It is an indescribable feeling.  

The youngest is thriving as well.   He loves Connections.   He is enthusiastic about his classes, and does well.  Today, he learned to paint with water colors.   It was fun watching him learn the new techniques, and how they worked, and trying them for himself.    It was fun seeing his excitement and enthusiasm as he opened his new art kit, supplied by Connections.   I love art.  I love painting.   So it was a special moment to see my own son painting, and sharing that joy.  Before, lack of funding meant that there was no Art Class.  No art teacher.   And ours was not an isolated situation.   Art and music programs are the first to be cut when funds are short, and many school districts can't offer these, due to funding.

So, it blows my mind when I hear that the Nevada school board wants to shut Connections down.   Already, in just a few short months, my children have both excelled and grown and excelled.   But, yet, someone on the Nevada school board wants to take that way from them.     But I've seen what they were given before.   Don't get me wrong, the teachers they had were amazing.  But because of a limited budget, the funds supplied to their school were abysmal.   Because they were in large classrooms, there was no individualized attention.  No one on one.   No chance to work at one's pace.  No chance to go ahead if the material was well understood and competencies met.   With Connections, there IS that freedom.

With Connections, for the first time, a child who has hated school for three years, is engaged, and open to learning.   For the first time, he is writing essays.   For the first time, they are both in Art Class.  For the first time, math doesn't bring us both to tears of frustration.   For the first time,  he is not failing.  

And the Nevada Authority wants to take that from them?   My husband is so impressed by this change in both the boys that he is WILLING TO MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE if Nevada Connections is closed down.   And we will.  We will uproot everything, because quality education is that important to us.  I can get a new job.  I don't want to, but I will if I have to.    Because I believe in Connections, too.   That much.  That is how much they have impacted our lives.  In just a few short months.

I'm proud of my boys.  I'm proud of what I've watched them become, but now that I've been an active part of their learning, I see how hard they both work, and how engaged they are and how they LIKE school.   And they both tell me, unequivocally, that they like Connections better.  And after the change I've seen in them, especially my oldest, I'm not willing to lose it because some close minded individual in the Nevada Authority (who calls Connections parents "whiny babies" for choosing Connections over traditional public school) wants to take it from us.   Parents who pulled their children for a multitude of reasons; bullying, autism, health reasons, education concerns; none of that mattered to this person, who simply feels that every child should be enrolled in a traditional public school.  

It may work for some, but it didn't for us.   And so, as I look at my two amazing children, and see their potential, and how far they've come, I cannot go back.   I hope we don't have to move.   I love my new home, my coworkers, my new friends.    But I will not deny them the opportunity to learn, the way they have learned, just in the short few months we have been with Connections.   Because I've seen that "aha" moment.   And I've seen my oldest "get it".  I've heard him swear that if he had to to to regular school, he'd just drop out.    And I won't be the one explaining to him that he has to go back.

Hopefully, that will never happen, because Nevada Connections Academy (NCA) is just as committed.   But even so, small minded individuals will attempt to take away this incredible opportunity, and we will continue to fight it, along with NCA.   I believe in my kids.  I also believe in NCA.

Because "two roads diverged in the wood, and I, I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference".**   Never could I have imagined how much of a difference it would have made.

Where will your journey take you?



** - excerpt from Robert Frost's "The Road Less Taken".  (influential when I first read it, and still influential today)

Well, that didn't turn out as planned.

So today I saw what looked like an awesome recipe for seitan fried chicken, and it was sadly, all lies.  My husband spit it in the trash and said it was "rancid".  The boys didn't like either.  The traitors.  Actually, it didn't taste like chicken.  At. All.  But I've had good seitan, so I'm pretty sure it was the recipe.

It was okay slathered with bbq sauce.  Okay, so it was an epic fail.   I ate it because I was starving after working a 12 hour shift.

 It was just rubbery, and too heavy a flavor.  So, back to the drawing board.   Also, I  had better with steaming the seitan, so that's probably what I need to do.  Or cooking it wrapped in cheesecloth.  It expands to alien like proportions, otherwise, when cooked in the broth.   I kept waiting for it to sprout fangs and devour me.

My husband was no help.  He suggested that next time, I try chicken.  I can't repeat my suggestion to him.

So next time:  Smaller batch.  Different seasonings, and research steaming or baking it.

I figure I can make it work, it just takes a few attempts.

My very first cooking attempt was vanilla pudding when I was ten years old, which went horribly. I scorched it and the pan, and it was not good. At all.  But I learned from that, and figured out how to make alot more than pudding.  So right now, cooking vegan is all new, but I'll figure it out, just like I figured out how to cook when I was a kid.

Many of my co-workers remain unimpressed with my non meat recipes.  I hope to wow them, but let's face it.  Rubbery seitan that is still somewhat water logged in the broth it was cooked in is not going to wow anyone.

Actually, I hope to wow myself, but this week, that hasn't happened.  I certainly haven't wowed my family.   I mean, like Crocodile Dundee once said, "it tastes like shit, but you can live off of it", can apply to a few of the things I've tried this week, but I'd rather not further that trend.

And I like cooking for others.   And if the others don't like it, then it's time to try something new.

So back to the drawing board, or I guess cutting board, it is.  Every day is a brand new day, iwth new beginnings and new opportunities.  Let's see what tomorrow brings.

On being a Nurse

I remember the moment I decided I wanted to be a nurse.   I was actually in school to be a police officer, and was on a police ride along in my home town.   There was this accident; this 19 y/o kid was pinned beneath his car.   He'd missed the turn and crashed, at about 90 mph, into a field and flipped his car.  He hadn't been wearing a seat belt, and went through his windshield while flipping.  The car landed on him.  He had been drinking; that was strongly suspected, from the empty beer cans in his car, to the odor of alcohol, to the accident itself., But my immediate concern was his rescue and whether he would walk again, or even survive.  Thankfully, no one else had been hurt.  I remember being struck that before he'd even been loaded into the ambulance, the officer was writing a ticket.   I remember being struck by that; like, thinking, "I think he's been punished enough.  And, he might not even live, why are you writing a ticket now?  If he dies, are you going to send the bill to his parents?"    It was conflicting; you aren't supposed to feel sorry for the law breaker.  How can you be a good cop if you feel bad about writing a ticket?

You have to be tough.  You have to do the right thing, even when people hate you for it.   You have to see things that would traumatize most people, and stay in control of your emotions and take control of the situation.   Being a cop isn't easy.   Because of the nature of the job, people don't appreciate you.   You're in danger, even when making a traffic stop. There's a high suicide rate.  It's very stressful.  I knew all that.

Then, the whole last semester I was in police school, I had an officer/firearms instructor bully me and tell me every single class that he didn't think I was strong enough to be a cop.  He would single me out, and scream at me in front of the class.  He would pair me up with someone twice my size in defense and arrest tactics and then when I couldn't hold them back, tell me that I just wasn't physically strong enough to make it.  I started to think I couldn't handle it.  God, I hated that man.   But he actually did me a favor.

But on that night, as they closed those ambulance doors, and drove away, I wondered about the kid, who was only a few years younger than I was.  The image of him lying under that car haunted me. Because I never knew what happened.   And I realized, I want to be on the other side.  I want to be where the ambulance ends up, and get the patient and help him heal.   I realized that I didn't want to write tickets.  I started police school because I wanted to help people, but I knew my personality.  I hated confrontation.  As a cop, you have to able to face down dangerous people and hold your ground.  You have to do the right thing, even when you're threatened, or threatened with violence.

So fast forward to nursing school, and surviving clinicals, and then passing the dreaded NCLEX. Having two kids while in nursing school, and the tears when  I was exhausted and my baby was crying for me and I had to go to work after a grueling day in clinicals.  Having people tell me I was a bad mom for not staying home with them, when I didn't have the financial option to stay home.   When I was working so hard to provide.  Proving myself.  Getting my license as first and LPN, then an RN.   Taking care of patients.   Seeing them get better and having that sick patient hold my hand and thank me for being there.   Seeing patients get better and go home.  Sobbing over the patients that had become like family, and would not recover and watching them die.   Slowly.   Holding a baby that was on hospice and knowing, whatever care I gave, it wouldn't make it better.   Wanting to fix things and realizing there was no fix for this.

And then, as nurses all do, I DID deal with confrontation.   I learned to deal with angry family members who yelled and were unreasonable in the face of a tragedy they didn't know how to handle.  People watching a loved one die and lashing out at the nurse or CNA just because they were there.   While most people just yell and are rude some people are violent.  Yes, I have been attacked by patients.   I have had angry family members demand that I give someone their scheduled blood pressure medication, when I'm treating them for a blood pressure of 60/40 and praying they don't die. I've been shoved.   I've been hit.   I had someone throw a urine soaked towel at me because she was angry that I told her it was inappropriate to pee on the floor because she couldn't have a candy bar.  I've had family members tell me they wanted to blow up the hospital because they didn't like what the doctor said.   I've had a patient threaten to shoot all the healthcare staff in the head, because he didn't get his pain medication fast enough. I can't even count the times I've had inappropriate sexual comments made to me by patients.  Or been touched inappropriately by patients who are NOT confused.  Even in front of family members who laugh and think it's cute.  I've had family members angry because I dared to take a lunch break.  I've had family members come into the staff break room to demand something, like coffee, or water.  I've been threatened because I can't violate HIPAA.  And I had to just keep working.   You can't go home or get a day off because someone threatens you.   You have patients to care for.  People who depend on you. So you get past the crappiness so that you can make the day less crappy for those that need you.

Most healthcare workers have faced violence, and have faced it multiple times.   We have been told we can't defend ourselves, because it's abuse.   We have been told we can't violate patient rights.  And now, we have a culture where it's acceptable assault health care workers.  Now, our job performance is rated by patient satisfaction scores, not by actual care, or treatment.   Now, even if we saved your life, if your coffee was cold, we could have "poor" performance.   But we get past that because we care about our patients.   We care about helping people and saving lives.  

So we are used to abuse from patients and families.   It is NOT okay, but we are used to it.   When the violence gets too bad, who do we call?  Security or the police.   So, you can imagine, how much it shook us to the core to see one of our own attacked, not by a patient, but by a police officer.  Why?  Because she was DOING HER JOB.   She was following policy.  She was calling her supervisors and admin for clarification and they were backing her, yet she was still bullied, harassed and then ultimately arrested because she wouldn't and could not break the law and violate hospital policy.   Because she stood by her patient, even when her loss of liberty and her safety was threatened.

I have never been prouder to be a nurse.   Because we are not "just" a nurse.   We are tough.  We face harassment, and abuse, and violence every day, but we don't shirk from our duty.  We  don't back down.  We don't give in to threats.  We don't violate our patient's rights when we are bullied and intimidated.   We protect our patients, whether they are a CEO of a large company or a homeless person that no one knows.   Because our patients matter to us.   And we protect them.   We do our best to save them, and advocate for them.   We teach.   We help.   We hold their hand when they are scared and freaking out.   Even if it means telling them something they don't want to hear.

I stand with Nurse Alex.  I will admit that I have less grace and dignity than her.  She remained calm while advocating for her patient.   She was not rude or sarcastic.   Even now, she hopes for education and reform, not revenge.   She makes me proud to be a nurse.  And she makes me proud that I changed my mind, so many years ago.   You can be tenderhearted and compassionate and caring, and still be tough.


But after watching that video, I am on my guard.  I look at the cop that comes in to the hospital and wonder if the nurses will be attacked.  And that is sad.   Officer Payne's actions didn't hurt one nurse.  He hurt his fellow officers, and he hurt other nurses.   His department response of simply removing him from the blood draw program until the video was released and then the subsequent outrage  prompting the paid leave and then the total leave tells me that they were okay with what happened, until the public outrage forced them to do more.  ONE MONTH.  One month where they simply removed him from the blood draw program.  Not  really a punishment.  After all, he's a detective.  He collects evidence.   Is it legal?  Because he was demanding illegal evidence at a hospital, and even though, per administration, he was told, this is our policy that YOU AGREED TO, he refused to take that and insisted on getting his evidence.  And now, only now, after the public is aware, is he paying the consequences.   Only now, after the video is released, is the PD apologizing.

Why is this happening?  That's what Alex kept asking.   Because she didn't break the law.  Unfortunately, police brutality has long been an issue.   And people respond with, "well, you should't have broken the law", or "you should have followed orders".   The fact was that she couldn't comply with orders, because if she had, she would have broken the law.  Yet she was still arrested, and roughed up by a cop.  And even after viewing the video, Payne's department did not immediately place him on leave.   They thought that just by removing him from the blood draw program, that would be enough.  

So, thanks to the Salt Lake City PD, and their inaction before the video was released, people will fear that they, too, could be arrested when they haven't broken the law.   That they too, could be arrested for exercising their rights, or the rights of others.   Because very little was done before that video was released.   Certainly no apologies.   How many times did Payne bully someone into giving evidence when he didn't have a warrant?  Or bullied someone into an illegal search because he threatened arrest?  And until the public outrage forced the department to act, Payne got away with it.  Which is tragic, because there are good cops out there.  But with all the police brutality cases out there, tensions are high.   But in most cases,  the victim doesn't have such clear and compelling evidence as was seen in this video.  And it shocked America to the core.   And it made people are more afraid than ever.

And honestly, I am afraid too.   Every time a cop walks into my hospital, I will be afraid.  Because they may prove more a threat to me than an angry patient.  Or an angry family member.  And if the police won't protect me, who will?  Violence against health care professionals is very real, and the last thing we need is for the ones who are sworn to protect us turning on us for DOING OUR JOB.  If you want to repair the rift, then remove the cause of it.  That goes for every excessive force case, not just nurses who are simply following the law and their hospital policy.  However, if you defend and blame, then you only widen that chasm.  

So, SLCPD.  Your inaction has caused a nation to fear you.  A nation that previously backed you. You have put innocent officers in danger, because by protecting Payne, you showed that you were okay with brutality.  A whole police force.  He was only removed from the blood draw program before the video was released.  That was like a slap on the wrist.   He was fired from his job as an EMT, simply for his inappropriate comments.  Yet, he remains employed by your department.   A nation asks, "why?"  "Why is this happening?"  

Zucchini Red Pepper lasagna -- SO good.

We had vegan lasagna today, and as you can see, it was a hit.  

However, it took a little longer to make.  I made the ricotta ahead of time.   I tried a cashew ricotta which I didn't like, and then tried a tofu ricotta from All Recipes and then tweaked it a bit.  

Tofu Ricotta

1 lb extra firm tofu

3-4 cloves minced garlic (or 1 1/2 TBSP garlic powder).  

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. nutritional yeast (or more to taste)

1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)

1/2 - 3/4 cup olive oil (more if needed)**

blend first 6 ingredients in blender until combined, stream in olive oil to get desired consistency.  

Give it a taste.  If it's still too bland, add some more salt, or some more garlic, or some more "nooch" (nutritional yeast).   

** If you don''t like the heavy taste of olive oil, then feel free to substitute for your favorite oil.  

I also made my cheese ahead of time, though this recipe from the  It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken blog  is  quick and easy.  It is definitely perfect for things like lasagna and pizza.  

Now, to the actual lasagna.  

Red Pepper Zucchini Lasagna.   (I adapted this from a vegetarian recipe in Simple and Delicious)

1 recipe of tofu ricotta

2 TBSP ground flax seed + 6 TBSP warm water (combine together and let rest while prepping the           rest of your ingredients)

3 TBSP of sun-dried tomato pesto

      (I found the Barilla Brand had no Parmesan like the basil pesto does, so I used this, and it was            delicious).   If you prefer basil pesto, you can make your own vegan pesto without the dairy                Parmesan.   

about 2 cups chopped zucchini.  (I had a huge zucchini that went rogue in my garden so I used half of       that)

2 large chopped portabella mushrooms (or 2 cups chopped baby bellas)

1/2 chopped onion

2-3 cloves minced garlic.   (Yes, I love garlic)

1 chopped roasted red pepper (or, if you're in a pinch, 1 jar of roasted red pepper, drained, chopped)

1-2 TBSP oil (I used olive oil)

About 40 oz of spaghetti sauce or 2 jars of store bought meatless spaghetti sauce (be sure to read the         ingredients, as many pasta sauces contain milk or cheese.  My favorite store bought brand is               Great Value (Chunky Tomato, garlic and onion flavor).  100% plant based, packed with flavor,           and cheap.

9 oven ready lasagna noodles.  

You can easily roast a pepper on your stove or in the oven, and its alot cheaper than the store bought stuff in a jar.  I have a gas stove, so I set it directly the  burner and let the flames do their magic, and turn it with a tongs every so often so all of it gets kinda blackened.   Then, you can just let it cool and peel off the blackened skin, and you have your roasted pepper.  Let it cool first though (at least enough to handle), otherwise you'll find yourself cursing and sucking your fingers and hating your stove, and regretting life choices.  It's hard to be patient, though, when your stomach is growling and you're thinking of eating all this deliciousness.  

If you have time and want to make your own sauce:

1/2 chopped onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes (or about 2 cups if you're using fresh)

1 28 oz can tomato sauce/puree

1 can tomato paste

1 TBSP dried oregano

1 TBSP dried basil

1 TBSP Italian seasoning

1 TBSP your preferred sweetener. (if you use Truvia, use 1/3 of what you would use for regular                 sugar)

salt and pepper to taste

Anyway, it's time to throw it all together.   Preheat your oven to 375 F.   It's no fun going to throw it all in the oven and realizing you didn't turn the oven on.  You're hungry by this stage and when it's all simmering on your stove and smells amazing, you don't want to wait an extra 20 min. for the oven to preheat.  

Mix your ricotta cheese, pesto, and flax mixture together.  The flax and water is your egg substitute and should have the consistency of "gloopy".   

Heat the oil in a large pot, and throw your zucchini, mushrooms, red pepper and onions in there and saute the crap out of them.   They should be tender and lightly brown.  If you're using the red pepper from a jar, add the chopped red pepper when everything else is softened.  

Add your sauce, and let it simmer.  Your house should smell freaking amazing right about now.  

Grab a 9x13 pan and put about a cup of sauce in the bottom.  throw 3 lasagna noodles on top and cover with half the ricotta mixture, then cover with about 2 cups sauce, top with 3 more noodles, then the rest of the ricotta.  Place the final 3 noodles on top of that, and cover with the rest of the sauce.  If you have some left over, don't sweat it.   It can be used in something else later.  If you can't think of anything to use it for, throw any left over sauce in an ice cube tray and freeze it for a recipe later on.   

Okay, so on that last layer of sauce, you want to add your gooey mozzarella.  Since the cheese is one stretchy, gooey mixture, I found it easiest to just rip off about a TBSP worth and drop clumps of cheesy goodness on top of the lasagna.  Unless you just made it and it's still hot; use a spoon, your fingers will thank you.  

Now, cover with foil and bake in oven at 375 for 45 minutes.   After 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another ten or so to make sure the cheese is all melty.    I like to put a pan under my lasagna dish, because that sauce gets all bubbly and boils over and then you have a mess in the oven.  

After those last ten minutes, remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes.   You'll probably be hungry. But resist temptation.  It allows the dish to "set" and be less runny.  You'll probably still burn your tongue after 15 minutes.  But it will taste so good, you won't care.  

It is definitely worth making.  My family devoured it.  One child hates lasagna, and both of them hate mushrooms.  I may have neglected to mention that it contained mushrooms.   My husband deeply distrusts zucchini, unless it's in bread.  They didn't notice.  My non vegan, meat loving hubby ate it without complaint.   So I think it passed muster.    I'm no Julia Child, but if my picky eaters will not only eat something without complaint, but devour it like starving wolves, I think it's a winner.  

Now, everyone knows that lasagna goes with garlic bread like peanut butter and jelly; it's practically a marriage, but no sweat, there's vegan butter, so you can have your cake and eat it too.   

This is the absolute BEST recipe for Vegan Butter, by blogger A Virtual Vegan, and it is amazing. This was a game changer for me, because I love butter.  Probably even more than cheese.  So, anyway, you can mix this butter with 3-4 cloves minced garlic and spread it on your bread, and bake it for that last 5-10 minutes with your lasagna, and presto, garlic bread.   You could even save some of that cheesy vegan mozzarella, and put it on your garlic bread if you love "Texas Toast".  

You can eat vegan and not have to "give up" anything.   It is possible.   This is coming from someone who thought life without cheese and butter and milk wasn't even possible.   And it is.   

Hope you enjoy.  Carpe Diem!.  

Are we a Police State?

As a nurse, I pay attention to nursing issues.  And this video, of a nurse being arrested after telling an officer (respectfully) that she couldn't legally take a blood sample from an unconscious patient who could not give consent when there was no warrant, or arrest, is not only assault of a nurse, but false arrest, and violation of rights.   This is a police officer demanding that a nurse break the law to accommodate him.  To get evidence.  Evidence that, obtained illegally, would be thrown out in court. And when she does not, even when backed by administration, he arrests her.

She is screaming.  She is terrified.   Because she is following not only hospital policy, but also the law.  And she is arrested.  By a person who wears a badge but doesn't deserve it, and who abuses his power.  He obviously has no comprehension of the actual law or the constitution.  

If this video disturbs you, PLEASE call the Salt Lake City Police Dept. at  801-799-3351   and ask why Officer Payne has not been fired, or call the ACLU.  Or call both.   We  should not be arrested for FOLLOWING THE LAW or protecting our patient.

You should not have to worry about your rights being violated because an officer, unfamiliar with United States Law, or the Constitution, decides that breaking the law is okay, in order to get the results he wants.

My 8 year old son saw this video and had all sorts of questions.   He was scared, and he was upset, and reasonably so, as his mom is a nurse.   He shouldn't have to worry that I'll be arrested  for DOING MY JOB.   He shouldn't have to be afraid of police officers.   He shouldn't have to wonder if the guy in uniform is "safe" or "scary".   He was taught that the guys in uniform are there to help, but clearly, this was not the case in this scenario.  My child  is now afraid of police officers. Thank you, Salt Lake City Police Dept.   Now, whenever I go to work, he's afraid I could be arrested too.

I can't reassure him.  He hasn't seen the murder of Philandro Castille.    He hasn't seen Sandra Bland arrested because she wouldn't put out a damn cigarette.  He hasn't seen those stories.  He hasn't seen countless other instance of police brutality that is excused and dismissed.   He just saw the video as I happened to click on it and watch it, and he was around.   I didn't show it to him purposely, but he's smart.  And he understands things.   And he understands that a cop hurt a nurse, who was just doing her job.   She wasn't even breaking the law or being disrespectful.   She was not only following her hospital's protocol, she was following the law, and the nursing code of ethics, and nursing protocol.   She was doing everything right, and still, the officer felt like he had the right to manhandle, threaten and illegally detain and arrest her.  No one can come up with excuses in this story.  You can see the video for yourself.  She wasn't "high", she wasn't aggressive or threatening or rude.  She was respectful and her administration was on the phone with her.  And still, the officer didn't like how things were going and arrested her.   Illegally.   It is a felony to assault a nurse in Utah.   A. Felony.   This officer committed a felony by attacking and illegally detaining and arresting a nurse who was following the law, protecting her patient, and following her hospital's protocol.   He needs to be arrested, and charged accordingly.  He needs to be fired and prevented from ever being a police officer again.  Will it happen?


But how the Salt Lake City Police Dept. responds to this officer will determine that.  It they fire him and condemn his actions, then there is hope.

If they, like in so many other recent cases, defend his actions and hire an expensive lawyer, once again, people will have less trust in the police and more hostility will arise.

However, if the SLCPD won't do the right thing, hopefully the ACLU will defend this woman.  She is a hero.  She defended her patient and did her job and she did NOT break the law.

This is a nursing issue.   But it is also a human right's issue.   If we stand silent on the violation of the rights of others, then we have no one to speak for us when our own rights are violated.  Speak up, and speak out.  Your voice matters.

Please watch the video and take the time to call the SLCPD to tell them how you feel about this abuse of power and disregard for the law and constitutional rights of both the patient and the nurse.

**** Note, the patient in question was an unconscious accident victim who was injured during a police chase.  Not directly involved in the chase, but a victim when an accident occurred.  Completely innocent.   Not under arrest, no reason for a warrant, but the officer wanted blood to determine if victim was under any "influence" that contributed to crash.   Absolutely no probably cause, and no justification.   Absolutely zero.   Had the blood been obtained, it would have been an illegal search, and any decent lawyer would have had it thrown out as illegal evidence.   Had the nurse complied with his request, she would have violated her patient's right's and her license.   She 100% did the right thing.