Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts

2 salads

Put fruits in your salad boys and girls! Strawberry and mango is a favorite. The sweetness of them both cuts well with the peppery arugula and a tangy black pepper/lemon/cilantro dressing.
Tacos used to be a favorite back in the old times, this variety is easy and good for you: Heat olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin and a tiny amount of cayenne pepper in a pan. Throw in some properly cut raw organic walnuts. Mix around, let it all get warm and well incorporated, and serve over a salad of choice. I do like a basic lettuce-tomato-cucumber-onion bowl with this (you could pan fry thin slices of onion in the pan before you add the spices and walnuts too if you fancy.) Eat as a salad or wrap it all up in a nice little bread.

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daily progress

THIS is how happy one become when opening the oven to find such a perfectly cooked - golden, fluffy, sweet scenting, crispy apple cake made with fresh apples from the local farm. Cooking, and more so, baking, vegan foods is a whole different league altogether and it makes me extremely happy and proud each time my experiments lead me to a recipe that is so good that even non-vegan people love what they taste and come back for more. I honestly thought it was going to be hard working against all the stuff most people are used to - butter, eggs and milk - but really, it's just the first threshold that you've got to get past. Now that I know how to substitute each one of them so well, that is when things start to get interesting for real.
And when the bread you let rise for 14 hours comes out of the oven like this... worth all the wait in the world.
Oven roasted mushrooms with olive oil, sea salt and pepper. Perfectly fine to eat as snacks as they are (I always end up eating half off the tray as they come out), or chop them up into stews or soups. J'adore.

You people are so quiet here in the blog these days (more active on Facebook it seems), hence slower updates from over here. Hope you all have had a great summer and that you too are working on some fulfilling things this fall and winter!

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wellness from within


What's a better way to start a day than with a glass or plate of natural organic goodness from mother earth? 

Being exposed to cold weather like this, it is important to keep skin and body hydrated with natural oils. You can splash as much expensive creams and oils on the surface, but it is from the inside that you'll find balance and peace for everything in life.

I've lost quite some weight lately due to the fact that I very seldom eat meat and dairy, so I need to top up my oil levels with the help of other sources. Due to both weight loss and the fact that I'm not 25 any longer, my skin has lost much of the elasticity and fullness (baby face) it once had. It could be considered beautiful when a face gets more character with age, but once the production of collagen slows down as it does for everyone after a certain age, imperfections and lines will also be highlighted. 

I never had perfect skin, I've dealt with mild teenage and hormonal acne that I've been able to keep under somewhat control, and not before now (unfortunately this late in life) have I fully understood the importance of how my diet, lifestyle and environment impacts the look of my face.

I don't believe much in overpriced medication or expensive chemical treatments and branded cremes, but I embrace organic skin care products and think they do good in every day maintenance. What is of greatest importance though is a well balanced lifestyle and food intake.

My everyday philosophy is therefore:
  • To drink as much water that seems reasonable. I guess I could squeeze in almost a gallon/3l per day. Water is such a tricky question yet so necessary for our existence. If I don't have access to tap water with a good carbon filter on, I purchase spring water in BPA-free bottles which unfortunately is super destructive for the planet, not to mention expensive. To produce our own drinking water from sea water is obviously the best thing for us, but the water maker on the boat can't be used when in a marina due to the polluted water in harbour areas, and to purify the water that comes from the city, is also not an option as the membrane of the water maker would get destroyed with the high amount of chlorine that they use in the regular water circuit. In many developed countries you can still find good drinking water straight from the tap but I wouldn't trust it completely outside of Scandinavia and some other European countries. Not sure how it is in for example Australia, New Zealand and South Africa?
  • Brisk walks provide you with fresh air and oxygen, it increases heart rate and blood circulation and it also offers a good meditative time alone in the nature. Can never go wrong with a 40 min walk.
  • Vitamin D is obtained from sunlight, but as it is equally important to protect skin from the dangerous sun rays, you could top up your D-levels with shiitake mushrooms, wild caught fatty fish such as salmon, halibut, mackerel or tuna if you eat that. And it is also found in fortified organic cereals and soy milk.
  • A simple, de-cluttered life full of genuine love, peace and happiness, and as little disturbances and stress as possible is the key to everything, so also to good health. A minimalistic lifestyle is what works best for me, and my mantra is to have less and be at peace with every aspect, material, person that my life is infused with, rather than filling it with things, people or events that has no genuine, soulful or fulfilling meaning to me. 
  • Alcohol only on rare occasions. Good red wine doesn't do much harm if consumed in moderation, and I obviously love it when a good reason for it is given. But as with everything else, I have realized that no good things are to be overdone, which it has taken me many years to conclude. 


  • Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage (free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines, scar formation and wrinkles). I get my Vitamin C from citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, strawberries, avocados, papaya, brussel sprouts, pineapple. 
  • Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body's nerve and blood cells healthy, and which is especially important for us who eat very little or no meat and dairy at all. It can be found in soy milk, tempeh, miso, fortified cereals. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia which can make us feeling tired and weak so be sure to get enough of this. I remember when I first quit meat from my diet, my eyes were often red and dry, and that was probably due to the lack of Vitamin B12.
  • Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found in many nuts, fruits and vegetables. It's an antioxidant that both protects and repairs your skin, and it also helps boosting our immune system. I get what I need from almonds and avocados which provides some of the highest percentage of your RDI of vitamin E.

    • Omega 3 fatty acids for the important EPA and DHA that can be found in both fish and seafood but also in flax, sesame and sunflower seed oils that are good supplements for vegans and vegetarians. I take a spoon per day of this Organic Non-Gmo oil blend that I found at Whole Foods. Be very careful though when you buy American brand oils as a majority of them contain genetically modified organisms. Make sure it has the Non Gmo stamp and is produced in accordance with organic guidelines. 

    If you eat fish as I do 1-2 times per week, this is a good nutritious meal. Consisting of (only organic produce) - baby broccoli and tomatoes for Vitamin E. Cayenne pepper, parsley and kale for Vitamin A. Omega 3 oil in wild caught Alaskan salmon and in the coconut oil and olive oil in which I fried the fish. Shiitake mushrooms provide vitamin D as does the fish. Sodium from natural sea salt, vitamin C from freshly squeezed lemon and the potatoes. And some onion, leek, pepper and spices to taste.

    I sometimes wonder which planet I was living on before I fully embraced the practices and knowledge of how my diet and lifestyle affects my health, skin and well being. I guess priorities always change as we grow older. And good thing is that it's never too late to learn more.

    5 comments

    a fresh quinoa meal


    Thought I'd show you one of my latest all vegan, all natural meals. Some of you have probably cooked with Tofyrky before as it is widely spread here in the US and also UK at least, but it's rather new to me and I must say this veggie sausage has an amazing flavor and offers great diversity. Like any good sausage.

    I used the Tofyrky Kielbasa which has borrowed its name from the flavorful Polish meat sausage, and it's packed with garlic, onion, paprika and spices. Tofyrky has a base of organic tofu but tastes far more interesting than any plain old tofu and is a good vegan staple to keep at home at all times.
    To go with it, I boiled up some quinoa. Salt, white pepper, chopped garlic and a squirt of olive oil for flavor.
    While I browned the onions, tofyrky, grape tomatoes and chives in olive oil, Alex made his heavenly dijon cucumbers. It's basically a mixture made of olive oil, balsamico, dijon mustard, oregano, white pepper, salt and lemon juice (or white wine vinegar) that is poured over carefully peeled and thinly cut cucumber. We're having that approximately five times a week. Absolutely delicious in all its simplicity. We always try to keep it as a side dish to any given meal but somehow we always end up devouring it before dinner's served. It's just. So. Good.
    Serve it up. I separated the quinoa in the image but tossed it all together right after shooting. The hearty flavors of the peppery tofyrko and stewed tomatoes combined with the fluffy grainy quinoa makes for a wonderful flavor sensation. So fresh so real so .... good for you. In particular if you use all organic ingredients like I've done. Some crispy fresh spinach right there at the bottom.
    Finish off the meal with either a home made or all natural fruit sorbet and organic dark chocolate. I found a good sorbet from Talenti with only five ingredients: Raspberries, water, sugar, dextrose, lemon and carob gum. 

    If you want to create your own sorbet which is a piece of cake but takes some time to freeze, you can use exactly those ingredients except perhaps dextrose, and the carob gum which is a natural vegetable gum harvested from a carob tree, and used for thickening stuff. Very easy to do your own and could be made with any fruit or berry of course. I made one with mango once in the Caribbean, remember? 

    2 comments

    bok choy


    .. is an underrated leaf vegetable. A visit to the Chinese market and I always get reminded of its existence. In olive oil I brown onion, garlic and other vegetables (preferably alfalfa, squash and/or aubergine) before I toss the chopped bok choy in and stir it continuously to not let it boil in its own water. Pouring a 20% vinegar, 30% soya sauce and 50% water mixture with grated ginger, black pepper & some thickener in the pan and let it all simmer for a few minutes. Best served with basmati rice, or why not pasta and some good wholewheat bread. 

    Bok choy is packed with vitamin A, C and K as well as folate and it is uniquely beneficial for its calcium availability. It's lower in oxalate, a substance that binds up calcium and prevents it from being absorbed, than most other leafy greens. 54% of the calcium in bok choy can be absorbed by the human body – compared to 5% in spinach, and 32% in milk. We can much more readily absorb calcium from bok choy than from dairy products. Besides being an excellent partner in stir-fry, it's also good steamed (served with sesame oil and roasted garlic), raw or in your morning smoothie. One cup cooked leafs provides more than 100% of the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A, and close to two-thirds the RDA of vitamin C. What's not to love?

    1 comment

    More food

    I know some of you are rolling your eyes now. Can she stop posting pictures of food already?! When are they heading out for some crazy adventures instead, please?! Well I'm sorry but I am in a flow right now that has me spending time only on things I want and need to do and not so much what pleases others so you'll have to bear with me till the blog becomes a priority again. No worries though faithful readers, it will, as soon as we have figured some things out and when I can share more of our plans on here and more. But for now, let's talk food.

    So I've been cooking quite a bit with Seitan lately. The fantastic wheat protein that is brilliant as a meat substitute, if you can and want to incorporate gluten in your diet that is. Wheat gluten is a good alternative to the many soybean-based meat substitutes such as tofu and tempeh, and is more appreciated by people who have hard to let go of meaty flavors as it can look, feel and taste pretty damn close to the real deal if prepared correctly. If you are new to Seitan I'd like to say that it always tastes best when it's been marinated for an hour or more before cooking. The wheat protein doesn't have a lot of flavor in itself, so to soak it in oil, maybe some soy and definitely salt and spices is how you give it some life. At least that is my experience. The price is ok, somewhere around $4-7 USD for a package that serves 3-4, but if you want to save even more, you could always try your hands on making it yourself from scratch. Seitan normally consists of: Water, vital wheat gluten, garbanzo bean or whole wheat flour, soy flour and/or soy sauce, garlic and spices.

    Wheat gluten is often used instead of meat in Asian, vegetarian, Buddhist, and macrobiotic cuisines, so it is naturally what this vegan restaurant in downtown Boston uses for their lovely "veggie-chicken" and "veggie-beef" meals. You still won't find Seitan in every grocery store even though I think we aren't too far from that happening, but well-sorted markets such as Wholefoods and other modern markets do stock a variety of it. I've enjoyed the GMO-free Seitan from WestSoy, though I've heard from a few that Upton's is even better. This one is good, and the ground seitan is an excellent minced meat replacement for bolognese and tacos.

    It's truly amazing the amount of new people that become vegetarians/vegans everyday around the world, and this product and it's more advanced siblings that will show up in the future, will continue helping in dropping the high speed in which factory farming is destructively producing meat today. The more of us that can cut down on eating meat - the better for our nature, world, our bodies, the animals and our karma obviously. If you don't want to quit eating meat completely, you might want to limit your meat consumption to only a few days a week instead of seven. 

    On the image at the top I've marinated Seitan strips in soy, oil and spices and then fried it up with scallions, red pepper and more spices. At the end I added some already oven baked potato wedges. Muy rico!
    This one above was a chicken style meal that I made with butter squash, portobello mushrooms and cherry tomatoes chopped up in tiny pieces. Added both red chili and curry for warming flavor. I simmered the stew a pretty long while in olive oil and a bit of water. 
    Of course while I'm at it and since cooking and food experimenting takes so much of my time at the moment, I've also tried out some new vegan baked goods like these chocolate balls with chocolate frosting. They might look real good but don't let the image fool you, they tasted absolutely horrendous. Not because they're vegan, but because I made them late in the night after a long day of hustlin' already so for some reason I added one too many cups of flour into the batter. I guess I should have been warned when the mixture was hard as it was when I scooped the little shits into the muffin tin, but that totally didn't get my attention before they were baked and done. Consistence was that of a rock. Better luck next time.

    3 comments

    Vegan brownie

    My first vegan cake since I converted a month and half ago. It isn't however the first ever vegan dessert I've made, as some traditional cookies and treats are vegan by nature, for example the ever so lovely snickers cake that I make every once in a while which I think I must share with you very soon. The brownie, on the other hand, is almost unimaginable to be good vegan version, as it is the fluffiness of the eggs and the moist and rich flavor of the butter that makes a brownie, so I am not going to try to fool myself, I sincerely doubt a vegan brownie will ever taste as good as the regular brownie does. But that doesn't hinder me from trying, right? 

    To be the first ever brownie without eggs and butter that has been made by my hands, this one was pretty good. I tossed in some ripe banana too to add some more flavor, and the coconut milk and the sunflower oil made for a pretty nice fudgy texture and a crispy cover after all. I think when we reach the US, there will be even more choices when it comes to finding egg and butter substitutes so I'll continue my experiments then. This is what I used for the cake above in case you're curious to try it out:

    Mix:

    1/2 cup coconut milk (1 dl)
    1/3 cup sunflower, coconut or canola oil  (0,75 dl)
    1 ripe medium size banana - this is optional, you could exchange it for chopped walnuts, or why not both
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract/powder/sugar 
    3/4 cup sugar (1,5 dl)

    In another bowl:

    1 cup all-purpose flour (2,5 dl)
    1/3 cup cocoa powder (0,75 dl)
    3/4 teaspoon baking soda 
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
    1/4 teaspoon salt 
    1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/175 C. 

    Mash the banana with a fork in a small bowl. Whisk in the coconut milk, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour in chocolate and banana mixture. Stir until smooth but do not overmix. Pour into a baking pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

    I have wanted to try making a vegan carrot cheesecake for a while now but since that will require me to process cashew-nuts very finely and I only have a smaller 12 volts hand blender on board, such advance things will have to wait till we get on land. On land... it is still a tad surreal that we are actually going to spend several months living on land starting very shortly. Only the fact that I will have a large kitchen and unlimited electricity to my assistance when cooking and baking is a thought almost too great to handle. 

    9 comments

    A brand new day

    Slowly starting to get back on track being a functioning human being again. Kickstarting this day with a good dose of vitamins as in: Mango, guava, banana, kiwi, pitaya, passionfruit, and a heartful of chia seeds for that extra crunch and added nutrition. 

    Hair is better now, thanks so much for all tips you've shared. I have said it before and I have reason to repeat: you are the best blog readers I could ever wish for. Beside many other good, warm thoughts I had on the sea the other day when storm subsided, I did miss you and the blog, like I always do when away from it/you for too long. This blog has given me so much that I have hard to put into words. Many friendships have developed because of it and only to be able to share and connect with so many likeminded people from all over the world, is such a beautiful beautiful thing that I am so very thankful for. Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and for having patience with me and the fact that I don't always have the possibility to respond every email and comment that goes through. You should know that I read every single one of them and I always value the time you've taken to share a piece of yourselves with me/us. Even if I would want to be more in touch, connectivity is not the same when living and traveling on a boat, and wifi is more of a luxury than something we can take for granted unfortunately. 

    We're going to explore this island by scooter today, it has some lovely beaches on the other side of the hill apparently. One of the main reasons to why we are so extraordinarily happy for us going towards the US, is that the decision literally came up from nowhere and it reminded us about how energizing and beautiful it is with spontaneity. Our life might seem extremely wonderful as it is, to most of you, but having lived three years on a boat, made sailing, traveling and exploring new places to your every-day reality, plus having had the same kind of mindset since the very beginning - which is to sail out into the Pacific and continue around the equator back home to the Med - it does become a bit the same old, same old, in between all the good, how terrible now that might seem. Such are we human beings, we need diversity. So when all of a sudden we came up with this brilliant idea of making a break on the planned route and actually gain something even greater in a way, an added bonus so to say, it gave us an aha experience and boost of energy that we haven't felt in a long time. 

    That we have had to stop here in San Andrés for example, an island we never thought of actually seeing, is one such spontaneous event that we are going to embrace best we can the few days we are "forced" to be here and await better winds. They say they make a mean crab and coconut meal here that we are going to try, and this beach looks very tempting for a tired ol' traveler to get some rest on, wouldn't you say...
    image from here.

    4 comments

    When you close one door, another one opens


    Engine problems solved, oil and filter changed, three bags of laundry done (why do I always leave such a long time in between each round?), heavy stuff removed from forward storage down below, weather prognoses and charts has been carefully studied, water tanks has been filled and food has been purchased. 

    The amazing thing with having become more and more conscious about what I'm eating and the fact that I've quit meat and dairy from my diet - is that I have come closer to these beautiful, colorful guys. It feels like they've previously only worked as some anonymous accompaniments to my meals. They have never got to be the main character and thus I never really took the time to get to know them and their individual behaviors and qualities. This past month that I've been off meat and dairy, I have taken good time to experiment and curiously figure out each of their strengths. And here it comes: I have never felt better. You know I was reluctant to pronounce that cliché, but really, my energy level and my well being has gotten a great big boost in these past few weeks. Not only do I feel fresh, strong, energized and full of life (I know how silly it all sounds but it is a fact) but I also feel great pride in having taken a very important stand.

    Many people who still eat meat and dairy imagines it is a mission impossible to become a vegetarian and not to mention vegan, as the options and varieties of food seem so limited. They couldn't be more wrong. Considering the amount of angry emails and comments that I have received, with people calling me all from hypocrite to declaring they will stop reading the blog if I quit eating meat, I know there is a controversy in the society about what food are right and wrong. Like it was someone else's choice what I or you should eat. 

    The general opinion by the most aggressive commenters have been, if you go vegan, you must automatically become a perfect politically correct human being in all other aspects too. Cause no, no, you cannot be a conscious person doing something good for yourself that rhymes well with your personal ethics AND occasionally enjoy drinking champagne in five star establishments at the same time. Just like being vegan or vegetarian were some secret, hard to get to clubs where only angry, militant, pale, tree-hugging hippie people who wish to save the world are invited. Seriously, not much makes me annoyed these days, but people with no or little connection to reality do make me feel tired.

    Here's also a funny part of an email I got recently: 

    "Are you concerned that this (my new diet) will alienate a large number of your followers? I do not wish to discourage a vegetarian diet for anyone (whatever their reason might be), but since you are in a sales role of sorts, it seems to me that you would want to encourage more customers. Between the lack of videos and now the vegetarian only meals, I'm not sure we will visit the site as often."

    Oh darling, I think you have gotten it all wrong. This blog as well as this journey we're out on, is a celebration of life and purely individualistic and healthy enjoyable living that suits us two as individuals - not to please someone else nor follow destructive, old fashioned ideologies. You can have your meat and eat it if you wish, but if I can share and in some way inspire other people to take control over their own lives and make better choices for themselves, then I feel I have done something good. Besides the good I do for myself already.

    On the other hand, I absolutely love when readers get in touch with me to teach me something substantial, the ones of you who have guided me and educated me to become even more conscious about facts that I haven't noticed or thought about yet. That is the sort of healthy, mutual interaction I believe in and I am glad and proud to have collected a big bunch of very smart and intellectual readers who do think for themselves, and who are willing to share their stories, experiences and thoughts with me. Live and let live as one such intelligent reader once said.

    Here are a few famous people who all are (or were in Steve's case) vegans, just to show that it is indeed a great variety of people in the world that have converted to a healthier, more conscious lifestyle and who embrace this rapidly growing global movement. A movement which I believe is the future:
    Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Mike Tyson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steve Jobs, Natalie Portman and MMA fighter Mac Danzig.

    Then we have the one of our readers who claimed I will have nothing to eat when I cross the Pacific, just like meat was the only thing that could be preserved for a lengthier time. So let's have a look at some of the lovely meat and dairy free meals I've made these past few weeks:
    A big favorite: Chickpea, onion and chili stew with creamy coconut sauce, served with mashed potatoes that was made with sunflower oil, oatmilk and plenty of nutmeg
    Fresh delicious mango for snacks.
    My amazingly flavorful curry that you can find the recipe to here.
    Organic granola with hazelnut milk, some crunchy green apple and freshly chopped dates on top.
    Another lovely breakfast in the making.
    Avocado, banana, kiwi, passionfruit and chia seed smoothie.
    Oops, not a perfect vegan here, so sue me! I previously told you that I still occasionally eat fish and seafood, approximately twice a week or so and will most likely be eating much of it also when we cross the Pacific ocean next year. This is a pasta vongole with clams in white wine sauce, lots of garlic, lemon, parsley and tomatoes. Ridiculously delicious.
    And the soybean stew that can be found here. Impressively similar to a tomato free meat bolognese.
    Cold soybean and lentil ratatouille on healthy, organic wholeweat bread.
    Grilled Chilean salmon fillet with white rice and a clear garlic and basil sauce. Behind is a great lentil/potato/carrot pure that I will share the recipe with you one of these days.
    Warm lentil and couscous salad with fresh herbs and veggies.
    There sure is no limit to what one can concoct that is good for yourself and the world, and which also is extremely flavorful. Deep within, we all know that the meat and dairy industries are extremely cruel and terrible, the question each one of us have to deal with is, how long can I ignore it and pretend the cruelty isn't happening. I blame both ignorance and lack of education for the first 31 years of my life  - but since I now know, there is no turning back to old behaviors. Ignorance sure is bliss and life might seem more complicated the more we know, but it's really only about your own individual mindsets. Everything in life is possible, and I am here to show you that you can both live a very healthy, conscious life, while at the same time being able to enjoy and embrace all the (cruelty free) beauty, pleasure and enjoyment that comes with it. 

    23 comments

    Warming soul food


    Probably the best tasting vegan dish made on this boat so far. I'm still a rookie but it just keeps getting better! This dish was also very much approved by my hardest critic, who declared he'll never need to go back eating meat again if my vegan cookings continue this way. Oh the triumph!

    If you want to do it yourself, this is what I used:

    2-3 finely cut garlic cloves
    1 yellow onion
    1 handful of freshly chopped parsley, basil and coriander
    a bit of fresh or dry chili
    some freshly grated ginger
    salt, pepper, ground cumin and turmeric to taste. You could use ground curry seasoning if you'd like instead.
    olive oil

    Pan fry all above in the oil, first the onions. Add salt, pepper, herbs and other spices. 

    1 good sized tomato, finely cut
    1 sweet green pepper/paprika

    Toss this in when onion and herb mix seems soft and golden

    1 cup (2 dl) freshly prepared chickpeas

    Throw these into the mix when veggies are softish and mash the chickpeas up roughly with a fork, let them blend in well within the mixture. Add some more turmeric perhaps? Should have a nice yellow tone by now.

    1 cup (2 dl) coconut milk (organic if you have the luxury to find it)

    This should be poured in when your chickpea/herb/veggie stew has blended well and you've tasted it off. You'll probably need to add some more spices and turmeric once the milk is in. This meal should be very flavorful so don't hold back on them spices!

    Serve with a Non GMO organic basmati rice, I used this one.

    10 comments

    That's the way to start a day


    Smoothie made of tiny local baby bananas, passionfruit, kiwi, chia seeds and a splash of oat milk. Just the right amount of vitamins, antioxidants, protein, calcium and omega 3 needed to gain energy for an active day. 

    4 comments

    A simple organic vegan meal

    Maybe you'd like to see what cooking I've been up to lately. Vegan cooking is a fairly new territory for me as you know, so it's been an interesting transition and challenge to see what dishes I can come up with that can somewhat compare with the good ole flavor of meat and poultry. I've started pretty easy, no advance concoctions so far, but I have slowly learnt to know a few, for me at least, new products that I would have never thought of using before I stopped buying and eating meat. 
    Soybean is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and has been widely used by vegans and vegetarians in many different ways for decades. Problem with the soybean is that much of it around the world (in particular the soybean from the US) is genetically modified so one got to be careful about which product and brand that is used. This particular brand (BioLand) has their production in Costa Rica and I haven't found anything that says it neither is or isn't GMO, but they claim to be organic so I went for it this time till I find out more.

    If you haven't cooked with textured soy protein before, I can tell you it's a pretty close comparison in texture and even taste, to meat, and can be used in an array of ways, its features are much similar to minced meat. I've started with panfrying onion in olive oil and tossed in the soy protein after a while. I am obsessed with the Grenadian nutmeg so along sea-salt and black pepper, I added a generous portion of that. Nutmeg is great as it has a lovely nutty and almost meaty flavor and suits these vegan dishes well in my opinion. I added water and let is simmer for some time, maybe ten minutes.
    The other day I had mixed up some olive and truffle oil, fresh garlic and basil. This oil mixture went also down into the pan, alongside freshly cut local Panamanian spinach. I could have thrown in some lentils too but we've over-consumed them lately so I cut it out this time. Served the meal with (non-gmo) basmati rice.

    Have you all seen this amazing but scary documentary by Robert Kenner by the way? 

    If not I'd suggest you to take a look when you have time to get to know a bit more about the food and products that surrounds us in the society. It isn't any news that most of the food, candy and drink products you find on the shelves in the super markets, and all what is found in fast food chains are full of destructive ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and genetically modified organisms which has proven to be the cause of various sorts of cancer, diabetes and obesity  - but thankfully it is easier today than ever to actually take control over what we put into our bodies. Maybe this video will help you realize a little something.

    4 comments

    Vitamins and other supplements

    Like many of you and others have pointed out, it's more important than ever now with my new diet change to make sure to get all the right vitamins and minerals. Specifically Iron, B12 and Vitamin D. Vitamin D i get more than necessary of from the sun I guess but the rest will need to be sought up from a jar or bottle.

    I've eaten these Multivitamins from Nature Made now for some time and the label shows I should be on the right track with my supplement intake. But being GMO paranoid like the rest of the world at the moment (the timing of the current drama is a bit funny as the discussion apparently has been openly on the wall since 2006, at least in the US from where it originates), I recently googled around to see if natural and health foods, this brand in particular, uses genetically modified organisms. Among many interesting articles, I found this letter to a consumer where Nature Made themselves, points out that their soybean oil, cornstarch, Vitamin C and Omega 3 are non-organic and genetically "improved". Which is quite contradictory to their commercial name and trademark "Nature Made". Seems I need to replace the brand. 

    So if we overlook the brand in the image above, are the ingredients on this label enough as a daily intake or is there anything else I need to think of besides my daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, herbs, bread and nuts? Thankful for all tips and advices in regards to a healthier diet, feels good to know that so many of you are aware and are taking care of yourselves. 

    ✓ Milk substitutes, hemp seeds, cashews, almonds and new vitamin supplements on the shopping list. 

    5 comments

    About milk, dairy products and substitutes for them

    Let's talk about milk, which is something of a dilemma in our house(boat)hold. Personally I quit drinking milk a couple years ago, and have cut down drastically on the rest of the dairy products due to the fact that the levels of hormones and estrogen of cows milk makes my already sensitive skin getting negative reactions. Consumption of dairy products meaning cheese, milk, cream, sourcream, milk chocolate, ice-cream etc has always given me a tickling feeling under my skin, and very often led to pimples if digested in larger quantities at once, so obviously I've tried to limit consumption of dairy products as much as I could.

    Now that I have spent months reading and studying further pros and cons of eating and drinking products from the animal kingdom, I've got an even greater reason to quit dairy altogether.

    Not that the terms in themselves are that important and they are somewhat limiting to the ever changing and flexible human being, omnivores that I still believe that we are as long as we try to eat from small local farms rather than from the inhuman multi billion dollar factory farming. But I'd say that I currently live my life after a 70% vegan, 15% vegetarian and 15% pescatarian diet. Besides the physical side effects of ingesting milk and dairy products, I just can not stand the immense tragedy and sadness that the dairy industry stands for. 

    If you are still drinking lots of milk and eating dairy products on a daily basis, I would love to give you the advice of always opting for organic products from a local farm rather than from the big guys (though I am still a little hesitant to the commercial organic business as well due to the fact that I do not know exactly how their animals are treated and how the products actually are being produced, so small local farms are always better if anything). I know it might be a couple cents more expensive right now as small organic farmers usually don't get the same subsidies as the large corporations. But as much as we can become more aware of how we can work towards at least one step better a world, the better.

    So the dilemma we have in our home is more Alex's milk consumption. He's easily making use of half a liter/2,5 cups of milk per day in his coffee and occasional morning cereals, and can almost not imagine a life without it. After the horrifying videos I've shown and the books I've read out loud for him lately, he isn't happy about continuing spending money on a dairy cows milk but will probably do so till we find a more reasonable option. In search for substitutes, we've bought all the other sorts of milk we could get our hands on here in Panama, but the selection isn't fantastic, and we also haven't seen one farm since we got here. There is the regular soymilk of course, but since the commercial soybean is one of the most genetically modified (GMO) foods along with corn, and the soybeans are highly processed to that, it isn't a very good option.

    Almond milk is much better for you but we've only found this very sweetened version which probably is more suitable for milkshakes, cakes and sweets. Haven't tried the rice milk yet as we can't find it here, but I'm thinking the best option is to perhaps make my own almond milk to get rid of all potential health, animal and environmental risks. Only problem to that is the taste, Alex doesn't associate his coffee with the flavor of almonds, so how to overcome that? If any of you have a good method in producing almond milk or any other milk substitute, please let me know. The challenging thing with these kind of life changing improvements, is to un-learn the patterns, flavors and behaviors that have lived with us since we were small. 

    24 comments

    Seven days and counting

    I've been without meat and most dairy products for a little more than a week now which has been quite an interesting time. I wish I could say "I feel great", because that's what you are supposed to say but I think I need more time to see what effect it really has on my body, health and mind. Momentarily I get a flashback from that divine Argentinian steak that I so much adore, the ever so wonderful confit de canard or a simple cheeseburger - and I think to myself "what have I gotten into, will I really be strong enough to resist some of the most wonderful meals on the planet?". Still feeling convinced my choice is the right one though and I love the fact that I am in charge of my mind and my choices, it gives me strength, but it is also a challenge no doubt. Old routines and lifestyle patterns always takes time to adjust and clean up, but it is all for the better in the end.

    Thankful that it is easier than ever to be a vegetarian or a vegan and many restaurants encourage you to stay focused with the help of their well varied menus. Like the restaurant, cafe and bar in the very hotel we stay in this weekend. More than half of the dishes on the menu are suitable for a vegetarian like myself who complement meals with fish and seafood, but tries to limit the dairy intake. Yesterday's lunch consisted of a delicious lima bean soup for starters followed by a merete al panko (fried local fish) with yucca plant in garlic and herbs. Going to try out some of the other vegetarian dishes on the menu for tonights dinner. Finding it exciting discovering and experimenting with the new selection of food that has appeared before my consciousness. It isn't as hard to find good substitutes as some might wish you to believe, though certain countries and areas of the world haven't adopted the philosophy quite as much as others. I believe South East Asia and Asia will have a lot of wonderful choices whenever we get that far.

    6 comments

    Q&A

    Got some questions on the blog and Facebook that I thought I could answer for everyone to take part of.

    Hi, we look forward to watching you transit the canal on the webcams at the exit gates, please post when you are moving through. On a more sensitive note, some of us are happily reading more into to your later posts than what we perhaps should, but when we read things like " lazing in bed, radical diet changes, titles like Panama baby etc ", we get thinking and have to ask the question, are you pregnant ??, have great days

    Answer: Hi Different Drum, always happy to hear from you, but the answer to that is a big fat NO! At least I hope so? No babies planned and none wished for currently either so I do hope that you are wrong in your calculations. Babies are a wonderful thing but we are way to content having only ourselves (and a boat) to care for at the moment. Maybe in a few years when back on land. Comfort, tranquility and peace of mind is paramount and I have a feeling that bringing up babies on a boat (or anywhere else for that matter) might distract exactly those.

    As I read your posts, it occurs to me that Alex gets a great deal of fulfillment (periodic complaints aside) from the process of working on the boat - something I can personally relate to. I don't get the sense from reading your posts that these are activities you share an interest in, which is a bit worrisome. Are there activities you can both take part in while in port that you can share and do together? No doubt while at sea you both share the journey but these spells in port it almost feels as though you diverge greatly in your interests and almost to some degree your happiness. As a reader I can't help but wonder if you don't need to make a concerted effort to set aside time for activities you both enjoy doing together (though I may be way off base since you no doubt don't blog about everything you do!)

    Answer: You are right in that I don't exactly share a very deep interest in his boat project activities, more than of course with a lot of admiration and appreciation for his wide knowledge so we can stay safe and comfortable on the boat. But for me who find my own time to be extremely important and I prefer being left alone most of the hours of a day, I find it ideal that he is busy with his own things. 

    Although I am glad to help him out when he needs an extra set of hands for any given project, I have no intention to make his passion and job a hobby for myself. When Alex is working on the boat, I am most often doing my own things such as writing, reading books, doing housewife stuff as laundry and dishes, cooking meals or baking, as well as exercising and taking a walk - all of the things that I most often find are most pleasant and fulfilling doing without disturbance of someone else. I have always felt that being alone, gives you time and space to develop and nurture your inner self and because of that I am thankful that Alex is so busy. Despite the challenge it can sometimes be with living right in the mess of his projects on such confined space. Living so close to one another for so many years, it seems absolutely necessary that we are not constantly in each others face, boring each other to death, so the set up is pretty good all in all.

    Most of the days we try to spend a few hours doing things together. We hit the bus to town for an afternoon walk or a visit at a local coffee-shop or a bar, we go to the beach or hang by the pool (when there is a pool to hang in, like in this particular marina) and every evening we eat a meal together out in town or at home, free from computer, books and boat work. I do think we have a pretty good balance. Only our friends and family that is missing at times, and occasionally it can get a little lonely being only the two of us but thankfully we have had the pleasure of meeting new lovely people on the way.

    Wow, pretty radical change (the new diet). Is Alex going along for the ride? I find it interesting as many friends are being bombarded by vegan zealots on FB with horrid images. Good luck with your new endeavor. Will your veggie diet also abstain from consuming soy, coffee and other agricultural products which often abuse and enslave the humans picking it? How about the textiles that go into your clothes? Just trying to see how far this rabbit hole goes. When I think ethically, I think you are making the right decision... but for now, bacon is sooo tasty.

    Answer: It might seem a radical change as you haven't heard my complains over the past twelve months. We've tried to eat consciously for many years, bought locally produced and as raw food as possible and so forth, but it's time for me to take it to the next level. I think that changing a lifestyle towards a better direction shouldn't be mistaken with "aiming for perfection". I find it a little silly when people say "why stop wearing fur when you wear leather shoes" - almost saying that "I know I can't be perfect so why bother being a nice person at all?" It is not all that black and white. We can not give up on everything we believe in because we are too lazy to make a stand for each of our actions. Ignorant people will always have their excuses, I know, because I've been one myself and I still have much to learn in other areas I suppose. Everyone has to find their way of being comfortable in their own choices and take responsibility for their own deeds, one by one. In their own tempo.

    It's a good comfortable step for me to have decided to stop eating meat products and meat that comes from the factory farming industry, but it doesn't mean that I will automatically become a radical activist nor am I saying I will dedicate my life fighting for every human or animal on the planet. I am taking this change with baby steps, learning on the way to know what is important to me, and where to draw my personal lines.

    I think it's important that human beings, the most intelligent creatures of this planet, take their responsibility to learn, and to have understanding and awareness for how our choices affects our life and our surroundings. This sailing journey that has taken almost three years of our lives so far, has made me more in-tuned to natural changes towards a healthier and more balanced life, which also was the whole point of the trip itself.

    I quit smoking a year and a bit more ago (although I'm not a perfect human being and I still fall for the temptation every now and then when drunk). I drink much less alcohol than before and have found an interesting gain and fulfillment in doing so, although I'm more than happy to still get wasted the times when I have a good opportunity in the right company. I've also humbled, grown and developed as a human being from within - these are a few small steps closer to the more refined, more conscious person that I want to become. To quit meat from my daily diet is only one of those steps towards a better and healthier life and existence.

    Alex is probably not as enthusiastic in changing diet as I am but has told me he's willing to try it out as long as I don't quit using fish and seafood in my daily concoctions. Since I'm the one cooking 98% of our meals, I better learn some good vegan and vegetarian dishes now to keep him motivated, eh? All tips on good vegan/vegetarian websites are very welcome, thanks. 

    10 comments

    Ready for a change

    I have an announcement to make. It's a little embarrassing to realize it took so long, but nevertheless, I have decided to quit supporting the meat and dairy industries. It hasn't been an easy overnight decision obviously, the decision is something that's been contemplated, twisted and turned inside of my mind for a year or more, all the while making myself more conscious of the facts. While I always loved and I still love the flavor and taste of a well made meat dish, I have for a long time lived with feelings of guilt almost every time I've eaten a steak or a burger. And I feel that I've now run out of valid excuses to continue supporting an unethical lifestyle.

    Just like you, meat lover, I have in my Facebook feed and on other places on the world wide web been exposed to images of maltreated animals crammed onto trucks, without food nor water they're shipped long distances to a mass slaughter. Many die during transport, and others are too sick or weak to walk off the truck after they reach the slaughterhouse. The animals who survive this hellish ordeal are hung upside-down and their throats are slit, often while they're completely conscious. And many of these animals are still alive while they are skinned, hacked into pieces, or scalded in the de-feathering tanks. 

    Just like you, I have absorbed some of these images, I've processed them through my mind and quickly thrown them out from my membrane. My defense mechanism as a devoted meat eater made sure not to take these images too seriously, as, c'mon: these images are just propaganda and it can't be that way all the times, and: I never have to meet these animals, and: I will never be involved in the cruelty myself, and: All this vegan/vegetarian ramble seem to be just a silly trend. Seriously, why be so complicated with everything, and why not just leave me to eat my delicious meat if I want to, we're born to do just so!

    But then one day not so long ago I suddenly felt the change within me was too overwhelming. I felt, wait a minute: I know these poor defenseless animals are being maltreated, and that only for our egoistic tastes, yet I still continue to support the meat industry by buying into it? I had some sort of wake up call that told me this is so not me, being unable to take such an ethically easy stand. 

    Having always been the one who stands up for bullied kids in school when I was younger and made sure to bring justice to the ones who weren't able to speak for themselves. I've always been the one protecting people, not only my friends and family members, but also complete strangers if I knew they were being unfairly treated or hurt. I've also literally been raised on a farm, riding horses all my life, had dogs and cats and mice and rats as my close friends. And now in my adulthood I can look myself in the mirror knowing that for every second that I breathe, 1.680 animals are being viciously slaughtered because a humongous mass of people, including me, pretend to look the other way? It makes me sick only thinking of how brainwashed I have been, and I am thankful for the propaganda that is spread as it helped in awakening me from my ignorance much faster.

    Having said all this, I still do believe that human beings are omnivores, meaning we are made to eat a combined diet mixed of plants and meat. We have done it for millions of years and the human pancreas produces a full load of digestive enzymes to digest all sorts of food, including meat. But what is the big difference between a caveman who hunt his rabbit to feed his family some two million years ago, and a modern human being of today? 

    The difference is that the caveman went out to hunt his food himself and never took more of mother nature than what was needed to feed him and his peers. No terrible fourteen day delivery needed in inhuman conditions where animals are packed onto each other gasping for air. No force-feeding the rabbit to give the hunter a more enjoyable meal. 

    Today we live in a disgustingly greedy, selfish, capitalistic world where the only thing that matters for businesses - slaughterhouses, fur companies and dairy businesses included - is to make as much profit as humanly possible. We live in a fucked up world where people look to gain maximum pleasure and enjoyment without bothering to consider the potential pain and suffering others have to risk on the way.

    The meat and dairy industries doesn't give a god damn shit about our well being as they pump the hormones into the animals to give us larger steaks and more effectively be able to milk the cows for our morning cereal. They couldn't care less about how the animals feel when their newborn babies are being taken away from them as the milk of a female cow is supposed to go to said cereal, and not to the poor screaming calf desperate to get back to the comfort of its mother. The meat industry has no empathy whatsoever towards the small male pigs that gets their testicles pulled out by hand, castrated without any painkillers, as long as we get our crispy bacon served with our scrambled eggs each morning.  

    Farmed chickens and turkeys spend their brief lives in dark and crowded warehouses, many of them so cramped they can't even turn around or spread a single wing. They are left abandoned in their own waste, the stench of ammonia fills the air and their utter lives are a sad, inhuman proof of how egoistic and greedy the human being has turned into. A greed and suffering for which we ignorant consumers ultimately are to be blamed. Knowing all of this and having made my homework now for a few months (as I needed to go to the bottom of health and ethics before I made my absolute choice) I just know I can't go back to ignorantly eating food merchandised by the factory farming industry. No matter how much I love a delicious tenderloin steak medium rare with a creamy Pommes Dauphinoise and red wine sauce, I can not and will not continue to support the vicious circle that the greedy meat business stands for.

    Raising animals on factory farms is not only cruel and unethical, but also ecologically devastating as well as bad for our health. Imagine all those hormones that are being injected into your favorite meat, the daunting mixture of meats and chemicals packed into your hot dog, and nowadays they're even sweetening your milk with aspartame, all of which the blissfully unknowing consumer have no idea whatsoever.

    Just a few more numbers before I let it go this time: Every year in the U.S, more than 27 billion animals are slaughtered for food. Just take a second and think about that number. 27 billion animals that are born, raised and killed only to please your tastebuds. I am using the US as an example, as it is the largest meat eating country in the world, with 125 kilos/275 pounds of meat being consumed per person each year. 

    If I'd have my on farm or if I with assurance knew that the meat I was offered came from a happy, well fed and well treated animal who had to give up its life because of age or illness, then I'll still go for it. Until that happens, I'll stick to my new vegetarian diet with as little dairy as possible, sometimes mixing it with fish and seafood. I am taking slow steps to begin with, but it is a great relief having made the decision to completely stop supporting the greedy and disgusting factory farming industry.

    Please have a look at this one if you have the time. It made even the meat lover number one in our home more understanding to the unnecessary cruelty, and he has now agreed on me withdrawing meat completely from my home made meals as long as fish and seafood still is an option. 

    19 comments