My Best Friend's Soup, Seitan Ribz and More!

I am happy to say that I finally got around to making the recipe for this soup my best friend sent me by mail one day. Careese if you're reading this I would like to let you know that this is the best soup I have ever made :) Thanks!

In case you're interested, it's called Pasta-Bean Soup with Fresh Herbs. The fresh herbs being basil and thyme. I just love basil and haven't been able to make this soup because the basil I've seen is so expensive, but just yesterday my mom decided to buy a couple sprigs of locally grown pesticide-free fresh basil.


Looking at other people's blogs, I've noticed that almost everyone has made some seitan "ribz" these last couple of weeks. So, feeling left out, I decided to make my first batch of seitan. I have to say, I am amazed at the very meaty texture and taste. Since this was my first time though, I didn't think it turned out that great. Next time I'll try using a different sauce other than Barbecue. Oh and I got this recipe from Susan's FatFree blog.

I also made some of this apple dip from HiaV. I really didn't like how it came out. It had a weird taste to it so I didn't eat it. But guess who did? My little sister. The one who hates anything vegan. When I asked her to try it she asked me what it had in it. Knowing her, I sorta lied and told her that all it had was maple syrup and cinnamon. She believed me! The other ingredient was silken tofu but she hates tofu so that's why I kept that all to myself. Just this morning, my mom told her what it had in it just so that she could prove that if you don't tell a child what in the food they're eating, they'll never know!

Growing up, my mom would make my sisters and I a dessert called Mexican Wedding "Cookies." I LOVED making the dough and eating it by the spoonful (you eat it raw because all it has is milk, cookies, and nuts). Now that I'm vegan, I can't eat it the same way she makes it because it containes sweetened and condensed milk. So because I love it so much, I decided to veganize the recipe. Here's how it turned out:

Paulina's Veganized Version of an Old Family Favorite

3-5 Graham Crackers (I used the kind with cinnamon and sugar)

a handful of pecans

1/4 cup (or less) of soymilk

Blend the crackers and pecans in a food processor or blender. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and add the milk. Mix and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Enjoy by the spoonful, or make the dough into shapes or balls.

*Note: Mine didn't turn out as firm as it is supposed to be, so use as little milk as possible

A couple of questions:

1. Has anyone ever seen sweetened and condensed soymilk? If so, where can you get it?

2. I'm interested in knowing how everybody became vegan and at what age.