Crispy Grilled Cheese & Tasty Tomato Soup

This combination of foods and flavors will change your life. I am just throwing that out there. We have created a  cosmic concoction of ingredients! Everything about this dinner is easy, quick, inexpensive, and delicious. We were blown away. Here is what you do. 

SOUP

Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes                                ($0.75)
• 2 cans diced tomatoes             ($1.25)
• ½ cup chopped fresh basil       ($1.50)
• 2 tbsp onion powder                     -
• 2 tbsp garlic powder                     -
• 2 tbsp dried parsley                      -
• 2 tbsp dried basil                          -
• 2 tbsp dried dill                             -
• salt and pepper to taste               -
• 2 tbsp red pepper flakes         (optional)

Preparation:

Steps are very simple. BLEND EVERYTHING TOGETHER; pour into a pan and heat on the stove until warm! The grilled cheese part is a little bit more intensive but not much.

SERVING SUGGESTION! If you use the red pepper flakes, top with
vegan sour cream and some extra parsley for surprisingly
spicy variation of this already delectable soup! (Tofutti)

GRILLED CHEESE

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of whole grain bread                  ($0.40)
• 2 tbsp vegan butter (EarthBalance)        ($0.27)
• 2 tbsp vegan mayonnaise (Vegenaise)     ($0.65)
• ¼ cup vegan cheddar (Daiya)                 ($0.52)

Preparation:

Lay the bread out and spread 1 tbsp of butter on one slice. (We made two but this recipe serves one) Spread the mayonnaise on the other slice. Lay the cheese on the slice with mayo. Put the slice with butter on top of the other slide with the buttered side facing up. Preheat a pan on medium. Once heated, place both slices buttered side down on the pan. Let sizzle and spread the remaining 1 tbsp of butter on the top of the bread. Use a spatula to check the underside of the sandwich every minute or so. Once browned and crispy, flip the sandwich over to the other side and let sizzle again. Keep checking the sandwich and once both sides are browned, the cheese should be melted and the grilled cheese is READY TO SERVE! 

Cut Out Dissection

Animal dissection in science classes continues to be a large issue for vegans, vegetarians, and people with any kind of moral compass at all.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that dissection is necessary for some people: doctors, veterinarians, etc. However, a Biology class required to graduate for art, English, or other unrelated majors should not include dissection at all, much less as a mandatory assignment.

Here is how I, a vegan, was punished for refusing to participate in dissection.

Two weeks ago, we were forced to do a dissection in lab. Crayfish, oysters, and a plethora if little animals were spread all over the shiny, black countertops for us to pick apart with an array of scalpels, forceps, needles, and tweezers. I have some serious moral issues with dissection, as many people do. My teacher informed us that the next week, we would be dissecting fetal pigs and rats. I finally drew the line there and told her that I would not be participating in that and would like an alternative assignment. Even a virtual dissection. At first, she seemed confused and told me that it would be alright if I brought in a dead deer or other animal to dissect. I said that it wasn't the specific animals I had a problem with, it was with the practice of dissection itself. She told me to get over it; that the pigs would die anyway, and we were just speeding along the process. In fact, we were saving them from their eventual demise…by killing them earlier. Because that makes total sense, you guys.  She also told me to think of it as bacon, which I explained that I didn't eat, much to her confusion.

I tried to reason with her. I asked if there was absolutely anything else I could do. She said the dissection was mandatory. I talked with my biology lecture instructor, and she said that she too was completely opposed to the practice. An MS in Biology, and this woman has never cut anything open or attended a dissection. She said that although she has pressured the school to offer alternative assignments, they have refused. Tennessee is one of the few states left where they are not required to provide an alternate assignment to students who object to dissections for moral or religious reasons. 

So, I didn't go. I know, it's my grade, blah, blah, blah. But y'know, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, I knew I'd get sick and probably emotional because, hello! baby pigs! I still did the actual grade for the lab by doing my own learning. I filled out all of the "lab questions," which required much more effort than what the students who attended the dissection had to put in, as I wasn't there to witness the answers to our questions.

The next week, returning to lab, I brought my lab questions, which were due that day, to my lab instructor. She said that I could not turn them in because I did not attend the lab. Therefore, how would I know the answers to the questions? I told her that I had done my own research online and in our textbook and had written down more-than-adequete answers. She said that it was her policy that students who did not attend lecture were not allowed to turn in assignments for said lecture. 

At this moment, a friend of mine, who has no opposition to dissection, actually yelled out, "He's a vegan! He's not going to come in here and cut up dead animals!" The teacher rolled her eyes at me at the mention of the word vegan. She then said that if I had merely let her know that I was opposed to this, she would offer me an alternative assignment. At this point she walked away to poke brains or disembowel kittens or whatever. 

So, I am left with having done the work but not receiving the credit. In the same lab which I attended, she "surprised" the class by bringing in sheep brains and hearts to dissect. Fortunately they were already sliced up as much as necessary, and I never actually had to look at or touch them.

The point of all of this is that I want to know why this is required. Why is it that in an attempt to further my education, I am required to attend a class that does not benefit me in any way but also requires that I violate my own morals. It is an archaic, barbaric practice which does not benefit 90% of the people in the class in any way. I also wonder why I am treated differently than my peers in that class, merely because I am morally opposed to dissection. 

If you'd like, I have the phone number for the school here:

Pellissippi State Community College: 

(865) 694-6400

Couscous Concoction

I have recently discovered and fell in love with couscous, especially Israeli couscous. This pasta-like wheat product is as delicious as it is fun to say! Here is a quick, easy, filling, and hearty dinner idea. 

Ingredients:

• 1 box Israeli couscous          ($1.99)
• 2 yellow squash                     ($1.52)
• 2 zucchini squash                  ($1.52)
• 1 large can of black beans    ($1.75)
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

Israeli Couscous with black beans, squash, and zucchini 

Preparation:

For the proportions on cooking the couscous, refer to the box. Brown the couscous in (vegan) butter for 5 minutes. Add the water and a dash of salt and bring to a boil. When rolling, turn the heat to medium low and cover for 10 minutes. While the couscous is cooking, heat the contents of of the can of black beans on medium low. Slice the squash and zucchini lengthwise to get thin circles. Sauté in oil or (vegan) butter until tender. When the squash and zucchini are done, drain the beans and sprinkle the garlic powder on top. Serves 4.  

What a colorful couscous concoction! 

Did you know?

WARNING! The following contains mildly graphic content. It is so important to me that I am including this in my recipe blog, but I do not wish to disturb anyone with blood and guts. The images have light blood and that is all. RESUME.

Growing up, the typical quick-and-easy go-to dinner dish was chicken of some sort with [insert frozen or canned vegetable here]. Fast food was another option that was inexpensive, quick, and effort free! I used to love eating chicken nuggets with ketchup, mustard, honey, and even hot sauce! My brother and I had a plan to go to every fast food "restaurant" and order 50 chicken nuggets and devour them ALL! This means 25 little nuggets of chicken "flesh" decomposing in our stomachs. When I think about how much meat I used to eat I cringe. If I had only known the harm I was doing to my body and to the poor animals, I would never have picked up my first "nugget". 

Speaking of nuggets, current standards on chicken nuggets are horrifying. This article from VegNews suggests that there is only 50% actual meat in chicken nuggets, leaving the other 50% for fat, connective tissue, bone shards, and blood vessels. These "nuggets" are consumed daily by young children and adults alike. 

This is just the finished product. The source of these "nuggets" is even worse. Most people like to think the chickens are free to graze about and wander as they please; they eat the best corn meal and have free, unlimited access to the chicken gym, bird pool, and entertainment room. 

"How big is the area where the chickens are able to roam free?"

As referenced in Portlandia, people want their chickens to have led happy, friend-filled, organic lives in a utopian farm setting; with a diet of local hazelnuts, the chickens seem to be enjoying life until it is time to be slaughtered. This is far from the truth. From birth to death, none of the humans in charge of the chickens care about its health or well-being; they even turn a blind eye to unsanitary conditions. If transport is needed, chickens face long, cramped hours on a truck exposed to extreme weather conditions. 

Some cages have 3 chickens, some have 13.

When the chickens get to the farm, if it can even be considered a farm, they are placed in even smaller cages, with chickens literally standing on top of other chickens; they defecate and urinate on each other. 

Factory farming of chickens

If a chicken gets scared it will claw and peck its cage mates, sometimes even to death. This chicken may be left in the cage for days upon weeks. Little attention is given to the horrid conditions; the chickens are just thought of as $$$$$$.

Sometimes, dead chickens are STILL used and processed as "meat"
The workers just throw the dead carcass into the grinder

The slaughtering process is very cruel. Every factory farm performs the murder differently, but common kill methods include submersion in boiling water, decapitation while hanging upside down, and a quick piston shot through the brain. Blood and guts are literally splattered everywhere in these farms and I reiterate that no care is paid to sanitation. 

Assembly line in a factory farm for chickens
Is this what you think of when you eat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets?
Remember that nuggets are only required to be 50% chicken meat

After educating myself with numerous documentaries like Vegucated, Forks over Knives, Food Inc., and Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, I realized that I must push for change; my body is degrading and chickens are being mistreated and contaminated in the "food" we consume. 

If you are interested in any of the topics discussed here or anything relating to veganism, recipes, health, or life in general, feel free to comment and I will gladly have a nice conversation with you! Thank you for reading.

*photo credits* - Chicken Farm Nugget Truck Factory Farm Chickens Dead Chicken Chickens on a Wire 

Be sure to like my Facebook Page: Impoverished Vegan 

Twitter: @ImpoverishedVeg 

Google +Impoverished Vegan 

Pasta Caprese

Leave it to the Italians for great food. They did it again with an amazing pairing of flavors known as Insalata Caprese. I took this classic recipe for a salad and made it into a delicious pasta dinner. 

Purple Basil with Cavatappi pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 box of whole grain pasta     ($0.99)
• 1 jar of pasta sauce                ($1.25)
• 1 bag of vegan mozzarella     ($2.56)
• 3 tbsp. minced basil leaves   ($0.30)

Preparation:

Add your favorite style pasta to boiling water until al dente. Mince the basil leaves into fine pieces and add them to a saucepan with the sauce on medium low. When the sauce starts to bubble, pour it over the pasta. Add the mozzarella on top and garnish with a basil leaf or two if desired. For only $5.01, feed 4 impoverished vegans a delightful dinner with an hint of Italy. Buon Appetito!

Melty vegan mozzarella over spaghetti and basil

This is my favorite cheese-like brand, daiya

Did you know?

Cheese. Glorious, delicious, melty, savory, incredible cheese. Humans love cheese. I am a vegan and I love cheese; however, cheese is the secret villain behind certain cancers and diseases. Cancer is just one of a plethora of reasons to slay your cheese addiction. The meat and dairy industries are very closely intertwined. In fact, they are actually the same industry. The animals-are-food industry. This industry is literally killing our planet, the people on it, and an obscene number of innocent animals that would otherwise serve a better purpose than decomposing in stomach acid. So, how bad is cheese for the human body?

Today's dairy milk is exceedingly rich in natural bovine estrogen compounds. This has resulted from the cows being milked 300 times per year, which causes the cow to produce more estrogen and thus more milk, more often. Pregnant cows are milked too, causing additional excess estrogen to end up in the milk. Leading nutritionists connect these estrogen compounds in the milk we consume to breast, prostate, and testicular cancer. There are opiate compounds in milk called casomorphins. Being an opiate, they are literally addictive. The purpose of them in dairy milk is to bind the baby calf to the mother with a special bond. How weird is it that humans are now addicted to dairy with the special bond of a mother cow? 

Dairy cows live their ENTIRE lives in the same cramped position

Over-milking and growth hormones cause utters to enlarge

Cows may be left dead for days, decomposing on the dirty floor

Cows farmed for consumption live in dairy farms. The males are sent directly to get pumped full of growth hormones and slaughtered for beef. Females are milked dry and forcefully inseminated, while their calves are taken from them to be pumped with growth hormones and milked just like their mothers. After the cows are useless for dairy, they are sent to the factory for their beef. The two industries are codependent and are taking up an increasingly vast amount of resources to feed, house, slaughter, and repeat. These resources could very well be used to end world hunger. The methane produced by cows is tearing our atmosphere apart, one hamburger at a time. There is so much more on this subject than can fit in a single blog post, but take the time to educate yourself before diving into a delicious bowl of mac and cheese. There are plenty of vegan alternatives to dairy. Check it:

Food is Power - for vegan alternatives to milk, butter, cheese, and eggs

Vegan Health - for information on negative health risks of animal products

Compassionate Cookbook - for encouragement, recipes, and information about veganism

Opiate Addiction - for more information about addiction