Vegan Veggie Chili (#FeelingVeggieGoodFriday -- Recipe #2)

I've only made this recipe twice, but I absolutely love it. The recipe makes enough to yield yummy leftovers the next day. It's simple, easy, healthy, and delicious!

This is a recipe that you can easily customize to fit your tastes and preferences. I'll show you what I used, but you can use any vegetables or beans that you like.

I started by chopping up...

• Two peeled zucchini
• Half a red bell pepper
• One whole, peeled carrot
• About half of a sweet onion, maybe a little more 
• A few cloves of fresh garlic (3-4)

I then drained and rinsed...

• A can of chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans
• A can of black beans 
• A can of tri-blend beans (kidney beans, black beans, & pinto beans)
• A cup of frozen corn
  

Rest of the ingredients...

• Two cans of V8 juice (I used low-sodium)
• Water, as needed
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper (1 teaspoon)
• Cumin (1 1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)
• Chili powder mix or regular chili powder (1 1/2 -2 teaspoons, or to taste)

The recipe is super easy to prepare!

• Just start by sauteing the onion and garlic until their softened on medium-low heat.
• Next, add a cup of frozen corn and let cook for a few minutes.
• Following that, add the rest of the vegetables and water as needed. Let the vegetables cook for a few minutes.
• Lastly add the beans, two cans of V8 juice, and spices. Add water if needed.

That's it! Just let the chili simmer on reduced heat for 20 - 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Prep Suggestions:  You could easily meal prep this meal by chopping up the veggies the night before and placing them in a container in the fridge to just throw into a pot. You could also drain and rinse the beans, throw them in a container, put them in the fridge, and just throw them straight into the pot the next day.

Serving Suggestions:  Bake some potatoes and load them up with the chili.  Serve with a side salad and whole wheat bread.  Be creative and have fun!

If you recreate this, post a photo and tag us so we can see!

Happy and healthy eating,

                           Joy






Copyright 2016-2017 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

My First Vegan Thanksgiving (Making the Connection)

This year I am celebrating my first Thanksgiving as a vegan. Today, as in years past, I will gather with family to visit and celebrate our blessings. There will be turkey on the menu but not on my plate. Instead I will be taking a meatless version of the classic turkey and dressing to share with the curious in my family, as well as vegan green beans, sweet potato casserole, and chocolate cake. Being vegan will not hinder my enjoyment of the traditional Thanksgiving feast. On the contrary, for the first time ever I will enjoy my dinner knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of my meal and that the food on my plate is not only delicious but actually good for me.

As I count my blessings this year I am perhaps most thankful for "making the connection." I am thankful for the documentaries my daughter shared with me that opened my eyes to the horrific animal abuse, environmental destruction, and health issues resulting from factory farming and animal agriculture.

Making the connection between the meat on our plate and the animals -- sentient, intelligent creatures who feel pain and desire to live free, just as we do -- is what separates vegans from non-vegans. Most people claim to love animals, however very few understand that abusing and slaughtering farmed animals for meat is just as unethical as torturing and eating their beloved pet cat. They would never tolerate animal abuse when it comes to their pets, yet they fail to understand that animals raised for meat are as capable of feeling pain and fear as their dear Fluffy or Fido.

Making the connection is necessary not only to fully understand the benefits of a vegan lifestyle -- better health, a cleaner environment, and a greater compassion toward all God's creatures -- but to remain motivated and committed when others around us criticize or fail to understand our choice to leave meat off our plate.

More than anything I desire to be a vegan who can help others make the connection by demonstrating with my own life a greater compassion toward ALL creatures -- human and non-human -- and by sharing my experience with grace and patience, knowing that not everyone sees things the way I do or reaches that connecting point the same way. I want to be an activist who leads assertively but gently, without criticizing or browbeating others. Never do I want my love for animals and my conviction that we can survive and fare better without consuming them to overshadow my love and compassion for humanity.

I realize that the message of veganism, much like the message of Christianity, will be offensive to those not ready to receive it. But just as I am committed to living my life as a witness to all Christ has done for me, I will purpose to show my fellow man that veganism is a compassionate lifestyle with many benefits and that animal cruelty and abuse and the resulting destruction to our health and environment were never God's design.

I am thankful for so many things this year -- improved health, a heightened awareness of our world and those who inhabit it, and a greater sense of compassion toward all living creatures -- human and non-human alike.  I am thankful for those who read our blog and share our passion.  But even more, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference by helping others make the connection.

Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,

Dee Dee





Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Our First Vegan Vacation

To celebrate my 56th birthday (and my first birthday as a vegan), Joy and I took my husband Steve to the Outer Banks for a weekend getaway.  Gracious friends offered us their beach home, complete with a fully-furnished kitchen which came in handy for late-night snacks and quick meals.  Of course, we didn't intend to spend all our time cooking -- what's the fun of a vacation if  you don't eat out, right?

On our trip down we stopped at Hardee's, where Joy and I enjoyed a large order of fries (about the only vegan option there) as a dinnertime snack, until we could stop by a Harris Teeter to pick up a few groceries.  Steve, who is not a vegan, ordered a chicken combo and after reading the nutritional information (750 calories, 42 fat grams, and 85 grams of cholesterol, JUST in the sandwich!) vowed never again to eat a Hardee's chicken sandwich.  By comparison, the large order of fries Joy and I shared had 530 calories, 26 fat grams, and 0 grams cholesterol.  Since we shared, we each consumed half the calories and fat grams but enjoyed all of the flavor with none of the guilt.

With a kitchen at our disposal and a grocery store nearby, Joy and I took advantage of the opportunity to purchase a few items that we had not yet tried and enjoy a late supper at the beach house.  We picked up a couple of Amy's frozen entrees for our dinner the first night.  We were pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of the Thai Pad Thai and Enchilada with Spanish Rice and Beans!  We shared the entrees and found them delicious!

The next morning, before setting out on our day-long excursion to see lighthouses and ride the ferry to Ocracoke, we fired up the Keurig, popped a can of Annie's organic cinnamon rolls in the oven, and waited eagerly as the smell of cinnamon filled the air.  The cinnamon rolls were large and made a satisfying breakfast, served with a luscious cluster of crisp and juicy red seedless grapes.

Along the way we snacked on pretzels, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks to curb our hunger until we arrived at Jason's Restaurant in Ocracoke, where we enjoyed an early dinner.  Steve ordered a pizza with sausage and cheese, but Joy and I opted for a pizza with NO cheese and loaded with veggies.  It was a great choice for us -- all of the enjoyment with none of the guilt!

Our trip to Kill Devil Hills wouldn't have been complete without a trip to Stack 'Em High.  Joy and I had so enjoyed our breakfast on our visit in 2015 that I had to take Steve there.  Instead of bacon and pancakes this trip, I opted for grits (no butter) and fresh fruit and shared an order of their famous hash browns with Steve.  In 2015, before I went vegan, I confess I enjoyed their pancakes and bacon. Joy has found a recipe for vegan pancakes that are every bit as good, if not better, than the cakes at Stack 'Em High, so we eat them often at home.  Yum!

 

For the last meal of our mini-vacation we stopped at Subway, where Joy and I ordered foot-long veggie delight subs on Italian bread -- totally vegan and totally delicious!  With toasted bread, NO cheese, and lots of veggies (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, banana peppers, onions, olives, with a drizzle of sweet onion dressing) we left nourished and satisfied.

We discovered that with a little planning and research (we Google restaurant menus) it is possible to eat vegan while traveling and enjoy it!

Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Our First Vegan Presentation

Joy and I had the honor and privilege of sharing our vegan journey and feeding lunch to our church youth group, youth leaders, and special guests today and what a great time we had!

Since receiving the invitation a few weeks ago Joy and I have been planning our menu and working on a Powerpoint slideshow to share what we have learned about the animal cruelty and environmental destruction caused by factory farming as well as the health benefits of a plant-based diet.  In addition, Joy designed a brochure for all our guests to take home to answer questions they might have about how to go vegan as well as resources they can look to for more information.  She did such a great job presenting the information and making it relevant for her peer group!

Those who attended were not only attentive to our presentation but also receptive to trying new foods, which consisted of Mexican veggie and deli-style wraps, vegan mac and cheese, fresh fruit, chips with salsa and hummus, and of course, brownies and cookies.  Although I had planned to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the skeptics, I completely forgot to but that did not hinder anyone. We came home empty-handed, with not so much as a leftover sandwich!

Vegan Mac and Cheese

Joy prepping the avocados for the Mexican veggie and deli-style wraps

A nice array of wraps -- not one was left

Chips & dips, fresh fruit, and vegan desserts

Chef Joy and her proud mom

Joy's passion has been the driving force in our decision to go vegan and our desire to educate others.  We hope that this will be the first of many opportunities to share our journey to a healthier, more compassionate way of living.

"Feeling veggie good" and very very blessed!

Dee Dee and Joy





Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Storytime: DC VegFest

Ugh! I feel like I haven't written a blog in forever! I've been getting back into the swing of school and figuring out my schedule. But hopefully now my blogs will be more frequent and consistent. I have really missed writing blogs these last few weeks and I guess it's because I never really realized how much I enjoy writing them.

Last Saturday my mom and I drove up to Washington, DC for the day to attend a vegan festival up there. There was music, activities for kids, lots of vendors, and of course awesome vegan food! We walked through the crowds of people, going to different vendors getting information and free handouts. My mom and I, having worn our "Vegan for the animals" and "Don't ask me why I'm a vegan ask yourself why you're not" t-shirts, got several compliments from kind strangers telling us that they loved our shirts.

One thing I haven't had since going vegan is macaroni and cheese, but last Saturday that longing was fulfilled. I had some REALLY good macaroni and cheese that was just as good, if not better, than dairy based macaroni and cheese. It just goes to show that anything can be made vegan.

My mom and I also shared some delicious potato salad, and a loaded cheese steak. Both were amazing!

If you have not been to a vegan/vegetarian festival I highly recommend going. The people at these events are so open and welcoming. They don't shun you and make you feel bad, they're just happy that you're there! These people are more than happy to answer any questions you might have and give you free information and ideas. If you're interested in attending a vegan/vegetarian festival... you have an opportunity next month! Come to the Festival Center in Virginia Beach for the first ever Hampton Roads VegFest! My mother and I are planning to attend and would love to see you there.

If you see a photo of vegan food and are intrigued, instead of just thinking "wow that looks really good" say "wow that looks really good and I want to learn how to make that!" Make an effort. Try looking up some vegan meal ideas and incorporating them into your weekly meal plan, try swapping out meat for vegan meat alternatives, or try going vegetarian or vegan! If our Facebook page, blog, and Instagram (@feelingveggiegood) inspire you to think outside of yourself and try some vegan food and cruelty-free products, then do it! Look for different food options in grocery stores and Google things! Don't be afraid to try something new. There's an entire vegan community out there cheering you on. You're not alone and your choices can make a difference.

  “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” -Albert Einstein

Finding veganism was a blessing and I'm so grateful God allowed me to find it.

                                 ~Joy


































Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com