To Tickle the Roof of Your Mouth With, My Dear

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." -Ernestine Ulmer

'Dirty Vegan's Mouth Tickling Chocolate Walnut Cookie Bars' Recipe

Dry ingredients:

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

Moist ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp Earth Balance buttery spread
1/4 cup vegan mayo (like Veganaise)
3 tsp almond milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. In a sauce pan, melt buttery spread and sugar, whisk. Then whisk in the rest of the moist ingredients. Once saucepan is cool, combine with dry ingredients. Pour batter into a greased brownie pan. Bake for 35 minutes (or until toothpick prick comes out clean). Let cool for a while then cut into bar squares. Enjoy with a nice cold glass of soy milk or with a hot coffee or tea!

Treats Not Tricks

"Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble."
-William Shakespeare

 (Above pictured: Go Max Go vegan candy bars which mimic Snickers, Milky Way, Almond Joy & 3 Musketeers!)

Halloween without candy? Why that is proposterous! Being vegan does not mean going without your sweet treats for Halloween. If you have kiddos, they can still enjoy Halloween candy and also you can still hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. Below you will find a list of some common Halloween candies that I have researched or know that are vegan. There are probably many more in addition to this list, so keep reading those labels. Lots of organic, natural, and vegan brands also make great vegan Halloween candy. You can find those in specialty and natural foods stores such as Whole Foods. Also, please note that Mars brand (makers of M&Ms and many other candies) DOES in fact test on animals. Until I see an official statement from them stating that they have ceased the horrible practice, I would not personally support anything from their brand, even if it were to be vegan, testing on animals is certainly not. Feel free to check out the Mars Candy Kills website to find out more information about that.

• Airheads Taffy
• Brachs Fruit Slices
• Charms Blow Pops
• Charms Pumpkin Flat Pops
• Chick-o-Sticks
• Cracker Jack
• Cry Baby Candy
• Dots
• Dum-Dums
• Endangered Species dark chocolate
• Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Halloween Bug Bites
• Ginger People Ginger Chews
• Go Max Go candy bars
• Jolly Ranchers hard candy
• Now and Later
• Panda Soft Licorice
• Peanut Chews, Original Dark
• Pez
• Sour Patch Kids, original
• Super Bubble
• Swedish Fish

Food That Tastes Like Home

"There is no spectacle on earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves." -Tom Wolfe

Home Sweet 'Meatless Loaf with Sweet Tangy Glaze' Recipe

Loaf:

2 14 oz packages of ground veggie meat (I used Lightlife Gimme Lean Sausage)
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
1 cup bread crumbs
2 slices wheat bread, crumbled
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon Ener-G egg replacer
salt and pepper to taste
buttery spread to grease pan with

Glaze:

2 heaping tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix all loaf ingredients with clean hands. Grease a baking loaf or meatloaf pan with buttery spread. Form the loaf mixture into greased pan. In separate bowl, combine ingredients for glaze. Pour all over the top of the meatless loaf. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve with side of roasted asparagus, Olive Oil Biscuits (I posted biscuit recipe on 10/23/10), corn, mashed potatoes, or any of your favorite comfort food sides.

Recipe Tips:

-For chopped onion, I finely chopped them in a food processor. That made it easier to mix into the loaf, as the onion was almost like a chunky pureed consistency.
-You can use any veggie meat you like. Gimme Lean grounds work best because of the consistency that tends to hold everything together very well. If you don't have Ener-G egg replacer, and use Gimme Lean, you can get away with eliminating the "egg" ingredient all together.

Friendly Fashionista

Being vegan does not mean you have to lack style, grace, or class. It is the exact opposite; vegans possess a great amount of those things with this compassionate lifestyle. Here are some fashion staples that every vegan style icon must own in their closet.

LBD (Little Black Dress)

The LBD is so versatile and so fashionable; it never goes out of style. You can dress it up with jewelry and a pair of heels, or dress it down with ballet flats and a cardigan. One LBD can even be used for all four seasons by using tights, cardigans, or jackets when it is cold. You can even layer under it which is another way to make the look more casual.

The LBD is an important piece in every girls wardrobe.

Guys, your equivalent of an LBD would be a nice suit. Something preferably in black or a very neutral color that can be worn in different settings or seasons. You can dress it down with the type of shirt worn with it. Even a t-shirt and sneakers can be worn to give you a casual and hip look. You must also possess a crisp white button shirt.

You never know when you will need an LBD or a suit. It is always good to be prepared. Please note that these items must not contain any wool, silk, or any other animal materials. This is an extremely easy task at any department store, mall stores, or at T.J. Maxx/ Marshall's.

Business/ Casual Pieces

Every fashionable vegan must have a few business pieces in their closet. A nice pair of pants, a few nice blouses or shirts, a suit jacket, and a cardigan. For ladies, a pencil skirt in a neutral color is always a must. That is such an easy piece that can take your from work to play. Just tuck a blouse into your pencil skirt and add heels or ballet flats and you have a very cute and flattering look.

Shoes and Accessories

Invest in a few nice pieces; belts, headbands, broaches, jewelry, etc. A nice pair of shoes is also a must. You can have a couture outfit on and if your shoes aren't right, it can throw the whole thing off and possibly ruin the entire look. You are probably wondering where a vegan would find non-leather and non-suede shoes. The easiest and most cost efficient store I can tell you is Payless. You will find a plethora of "All Man Made Materials" shoes there. This is great if you are short on cash or want a specific look without spending a lot of money. If you want comfort and quality with a couture look, you are going to have to get some designer shoes. Maybe, in a place in time, long ago, this was impossible, but now it is a fun and addicting possibility. Look around your department stores and read read read those labels. I scored four pairs of fantastic vegan shoes at T.J. Maxx recently. The quality and feel are great and the prices aren't bad at all either. You can find vegan shoes in brands such as Nine West, Ann Klein, Dollhouse, R2, among many other stylish brands. Not all of these designers' shoes may be vegan, but some are, so read the labels and hunt around for them. It takes a minute to read a label and it makes a world of difference for an animal that you are saving. If everyone thought this way, animals wouldn't be faced with the cruelty that they endure. We as consumers and compassionate people must make the right choices; kind choices. In my opinion, kind people are the hottest and best looking people!

In general, if you like a look, find a substitute. There are so many handbags, heels, jackets, etc. that are vegan. If you like pearls, get synthetic ones. Have you ever heard of the saying, "Fake for the animals sake."?

You Will Love My Biscuits

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." -Mae West

Love My Hot and Fluffy 'Olive Oil Biscuits' Recipe

You will need:

2 cups flour (I used multi-purpose unbleached from Whole Foods)

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup almond milk

What to do:

Preheat oven 450 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour in oil while mixing with a butter knife. Do the same with the almond milk. I used the knife in a glass bowl so I can scrape and mix the dough up. Make dough into a ball with your hands. Knead the dough for a few minutes on a lightly floured surface. Then flatten evenly. Use a biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or round glass to cut out biscuit rounds. Place them on an ungreased baking sheet about an inch or so apart from each other. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown, raised, and fluffy. This recipe will make about 10 biscuits, depending on how thick you like them.

You will notice in the photo that I served the biscuit with tofu scramble. There are many different ways you can make tofu scramble. I made the above as a basic and creamy style. I used tofu, Earth Balance, Tofutti Cream Cheese, Bragg's Nutritional Yeast, garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. I sauteed that in a pan as the biscuits were baking.

You Only Live Once...So Be Naughty About It!

"All animals except man know that the ultimate point of life is to enjoy it." -Samuel Butler

Drool Over My 'Creamy Veggie Macaroni Bake' Recipe



Ingredients you will need:

1 box of pasta (about 13.25 oz)

1 jar of tomato sauce (1 lb)

1 bag frozen steam in bag vegetables (I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots mix)

1/4 cup vegan cream cheese (like Tofutti)

2 cups vegan shredded mozzarella (like Daiya)

1 cup bread crumbs

2 tbsp buttery spread (like Earth Balance), melted

JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE STILL PAYING ATTENTION....

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Boil water and cook pasta until al dente. While that's happening, follow frozen steamer vegetables instructions and get that started in the microwave. When pasta is al dente, drain and place pasta back in sauce pan. Add the cream cheese, mix, and melt that in the warm pasta with a wooden spoon. Mix in vegetables, tomato sauce and vegan mozzarella. When thoroughly combined, transfer mixture into a casserole or baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Pour melted buttery spread on top to finish. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes. Let settle and cool off a bit. Enjoy!

This recipe reminds me of something that my late Aunt used to make when we were kids. My bake tastes similar to her dish. I absolutely loved it, and eating this reminded me of her. I hope you love this Dirty Vegan recipe as much as I do and I hope it brings a smile to your face as well.

Quick -n- Easy Hot Chick-none Maple Mustard Sandwich Idea

"Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy." -Lao Tzu

Things you will need:

Sandwich:

2 slices of bread
4 Gardein Seven Grain Crispy tenders
Generous sprinkle of Daiya (or other vegan) Mozzarella cheese

Sauce:

1/2 tbsp Dijon or spicy mustard
1/2 tbsp maple syrup

What to do:

Mix mustard and maple syrup together, set aside. Toast the bread slices if you want. Microwave the frozen tenders for 1 minute. Then turn over, sprinkle vegan cheese, microwave for another 1 minute. With a spatula, place tenders on one of the bread slices. Spread the maple mustard mixture all over melted cheese on tenders and on bread. Top with the other slice of bread. Enjoy!

This is a super quick and easy dinner, lunch, or snack idea. Let's face it, sometimes you don't feel like cooking a big elaborate meal or snack. Being vegan does not have to be difficult. You can still make convenient meals with food you have on hand. These convenient foods are better for you than non-vegan processed ones, because they contain real ingredients and little to no unnatural ingredients or preservatives. This sandwich packs a decent protein punch also. The Daiya cheese contains no soy and the tenders are mainly made from quinoa and grains, with very little soy, in case any of you are soy sensitive. And of coarse you can use any bread you like. I got the Gardein tenders at BJ's Wholesale Club, but if you have trouble finding this brand (it is so worth it, their tenders and other products are one of the best "chicken" substitutes out there, in my opinion) you can use a Boca patty or any vegan substitute you can find. This is merely a quick sandwich idea that tastes more than just quick, it is really hearty and the sauce is so tasty with the tenders and Daiya; what a great flavor! You must try this, all you Naughty People out there! For now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off.

Yummy Comfort Food on a Cool Autumn Evening

"Comfort is the only thing our civilization can give us." -Oscar Wilde

'Comforting and Cheezy Zucchini Shiitake Bake' Recipe

4 slices of bread, cubed
1/4 cup melted buttery spread (such as Earth Balance)
2 cups zucchini, cubed
1 cub shiitake mushrooms, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups vegan mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
7 oz. firm tofu
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Cube bread slices, place in large mixing bowl. Melt butter, poor over bread and mix. Cube zucchini, add to bow and mix. Do the same with mushrooms, onion, vegan cheese, and garlic salt.

Take tofu, Italian seasoning, and sea salt and blend in blender until smooth and creamy. Add that to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Once mixed thoroughly, spread mixture into a baking pan or dish. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Then bake uncovered for another 30 minutes. Let settle, serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips:

-For the vegan cheese, I used 1 cup shredded Daiya and 1 cup cubed Vegan Rella. I like the way the shredded Daiya melts throughout, and the Vegan Rella melts chunky in pieces.
-I used a high fiber bread to make it even healthier.

This is a superb, warm comfort food for a cool, autumn day. This dish packs in a lot of veggies, fiber, and protein while at the same time tasting very naughty! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! Please comment with your experience and/or tell me if you would like to make this dish!

The Simple Life!

"Live simply, so others may simply live." -Ghandi

After chatting with one of my good friends, I realized something. While most books on veganism are wonderful, they are not designed for the beginner vegan. Just like my last post, these are seasoned vegans who have been doing this for years. My last post talks a little about raw, macrobiotic, and alkaline foods, but it is not meant to jump start someone into veganism.

When I first became vegan, I was pretty much lost. I did what most people do in similar circumstance, cease eating common non-vegan foods until I find food I can "now have". Do tons of research. Then I simplified it for myself, and did exactly what this post is meant to do for you, took the guesswork out of this lifestyle. Pillsbury reduced fat crescent rolls are vegan (always check the back of that can, things can change). Some Betty Crocker cake mixes are vegan. Some canned frostings are vegan. Are they healthier than making it raw and from scratch? No, probably not. Will it transition you until you figure out what you want to do with all this new knowledge? Absolutely. After all these years of vegetarianism, I can choose from meal to meal whether I'm going to be gross and eat out of a box or can, or be all gourmet raw foodist, and anywhere in between. But how is someone who is new to becoming vegan supposed to take all this in? How the heck is someone going to go to the grocery store and ask for umeboshi plums and not get a look from the store clerk like, "Lady, have you stepped outside your mind?!"? While introducing oneself to a new lifestyle such a being vegan, I would suggest simplifying.

Firstly, lets start by scanning the ingredients list. Let's use a simple one and not even think about the *sneaky things food companies try to sneak into the food, lets use a simple one, like bread. You see words like yeast, water, salt, flour, whatever. Maybe you see some other things. So maybe you are unsure. Next scan to the end of the ingredients list. Usually there will be words in bold that say something like, "Contains Soy, Wheat, Milk Ingredients" Well the bread might just say, "Contains Wheat". So you're good, but maybe still a little unsure. Next check above the ingredients in the Nutrition box. Check the cholesterol content. If it says 0% most likely you are okay. Are you okay all of the time it says 0 % cholesterol? No, because it might contain gelatin or other *sneaky ingredients.

My point is to make it easier on yourself. If you love a certain kind of food that you normally mix in with meat, if that food is vegan, mix it with vegan fake meat instead. Don't try to get all gourmet macro raw vegan foodist just yet. Introduce these new foods into your diet slowly and eat a variety. Don't just eat raw if you don't want to. As long as you are eating vegan, you are still doing a world of difference for the animals, the environment, and for yourself.

As you may notice in my recipes, they are foods that your carnivorous neighbor might be eating. If you brought it over to your neighbor, they probably wouldn't even think it was vegan. There is a sort of simplicity to being able to say that you want cookies and just substitute for eggs and butter with ingredients that are easily available in the grocery store. You don't have to get all crazy with it right from the beginning. But by all means, experiment when/ if you are ready, that is awesome! Just don't starve! Eat your protein (Primal Strips are vegan jerky sticks and strips that can be as low as 80 calories and have 10 grams of protein!) and eat your grains (hello most pastas, rices, etc.) along with fruit and veggies, as long as you read the label and it is vegan, then don't worry about all the other stuff just yet. Make being vegan as easy as possible on yourself. Do you know how many friends and family members say to me, "I wish I could eat vegan. I just don't know how.". I didn't either. You learn. It is an adventure and a journey; just don't be so hard on yourself and you will do fine. As always, feel free to send along your questions and comments (below). I am happy to be help.


*sample sneaky ingredients: albumen (from eggs), casein (from dairy), L-cysteine (can be synthetic but sometimes can be made from bird feathers), whey (dairy), gelatin (boiled skin, bones, or other, from cows, pigs, horses, or sheep)

These sneaky ingredients do not come out and say that they are not vegan friendly and some look okay unless you know what they are. The above is just a sample and there are many more ingredients like this. Do your best but know that memorizing the list takes a while and I'm sure vegans out there slip up accidentally and when unaware. Just know that what you are doing is good. It is also about a boycott and by you not contributing to the meat and dairy industry, is huge and is a big help for a good cause. Simplify and do the best that you can.

Comprehensive sneaky ingredients lists links:

http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/animal-ingredient-guide.aspx?search=ingredients

http://www.veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm#NONVEGANLIST

One of My Theories...

Vegetables are a must on a diet.  I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.  -Jim Davis

I have a theory about raw vegan, alkalizing vegan, macrobiotic vegan foods, and most natural vegan foods. You can eat however much you want and not gain a single pound. Now this is just my theory and my own personal experience.

(Disclaimer: Now don't go gorging yourself and then write to me saying that its all my fault and that you want me to pay for your Jenny Craig.)

For example, I discovered these raw vegan macaroons from a nice company called Emmy's Organics. These little delights were the best coconut treasures I have tasted in a long time. I have not really had a macaroon for a long time, and these yummy treats were a pleasant surprise. I do find some vegan macaroons from time to time, however Emmy's really made an impression on me. The taste was great and the way I felt afterwards was good, healthy, and energized.

When I fit some raw, macrobiotic, or alkalizing foods into my diet, it really makes me feel amazing. And I eat tons of it, at least enough to fix my craving, and I do not find any weight gain trouble with this type of cuisine. I do notice that when I have eaten garbage food (highly processed, unnatural stuff), I feel yucky and I also end up eating way more than my body probably needs. Maybe that is my body's way of trying to get the intended nutrient it was looking for, out of the garbage food, however when you eat that stuff your body must need so much more food to even get nutrients from it. When you eat natural foods, your body really gets fulfilled easily, so you tend to eat less, but also are able to indulge without the guilt.

As a lover of food, I love being vegan. I can eat all my favorite "junk foods" and indulgences, and still be healthier than the average American, and I do feel great about what I'm doing, since no animals are harmed because of my way of life. Good times.

Breakfast for Dinner? Why That's absurd!

"I must have a drink of breakfast." -W.C. Fields

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Ingredients you will need:

1 small potato (shredded)
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 package Fak'n (vegetarian "bacon")
1 8oz package tofu (I like cubed for this recipe), drained and crumbled some
1 cup canned crushed tomato
1 cup vegan cheddar cheese
1 can reduced fat Pillsbury crescent rolls
2 1/2 tbsp. Earth Balance (or other vegan buttery spread)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ground sea salt
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
Dried parsley for garnish

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Chop fak'n strips and saute in fry pan with 1/2 tbsp. buttery spread then set aside.

Saute chopped onions in a fry pan on medium high heat with 2 tbsp. buttery spread until soft. Then add shredded potatoes and cook until slightly brown. Drain your cubed tofu then pat dry with paper towel. Place the tofu in a bowl and crumble with a fork.

Next add tofu into the fry pan and cook until the potatoes and mixture is a nice brown and potatoes are cooked. Your oven should be preheated by now. While the potato tofu mixture is cooking, take half the can of crescent rolls (four triangles of the perforated dough) and stretch and spread the best you can on the bottom of your casserole or baking dish.

Let the dough bake for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the fakn'n to the tofu mixture and mix in. Also mix in the crushed tomatoes, the cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix it all up then spread over the baked crescent crust in the casserole dish. Then take the other half of the crescent rolls and stretch them on top. Bake casserole for 20 minutes or until bubbly and top crust is golden brown. Let settle for a few moments then serve! Sprinkle a pinch of parsley for garnish/ presentation. Enjoy!

Maple, Wanuts, On Cookies? Oh My!

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one autumnal face."
-John Donne

Fall for My 'Maple Nut Cookie' Recipe

Cookies:
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground sea salt
1 1/2 tsp. all spice
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter/ margarine (like Earth Balance)
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 "egg's worth" of egg replacer (like Ener-G, banana, or applesauce)

Frosting:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 1/2 tbsp. soy milk (or rice milk, or almond milk, or coconut milk; whatever you like)
2 tsp. butter/ margarine (like Earth Balance)

Topping:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

To make cookies, mix all the cookie ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Then use electric mixer on low until everything batter is evenly mixed, slightly moist, and starting to look crumbly. Next, pack with hands so batter is in a big ball like dough. Get all those crumbles together and really mush them into the ball of dough. Then take a tablespoon and scoop dough into it. Pack it into the tablespoon until it is full and holds together nicely. Press lightly into one side of the dough in the tablespoon and it should slide right out. Place onto baking sheet covered in parchment paper (I got a great unbleached all natural roll from Whole Foods). Place mounds of cookie dough about 2 inches apart. This recipe should yield about 25 cookies. Cook in oven for about 15 minutes.

To make frosting, combine all frosting ingredients into a medium sized mixing bowl. Whisk then mix until smooth.

Let cookies cool in pan. When cool to touch, transfer to wire rack and let cool for about 10 more minutes. When cookies seem cool enough to frost, give frosting one more mix in bowl before you begin using it, then frost the cookies. Lastly, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top. Then enjoy!

These cookies were amazing on a cool crisp autumn afternoon, with a nice cup of coffee, amongst great company. They were a big hit too! This is a super quick and easy recipe to make that tastes amazing, and is perfect for fall.

One Smart Beatle

I read an interview with Paul McCartney where he was talking about how he became vegetarian...and it was brilliant! He hit the nail on the head. This is an excellent article to read and I encourage you to do so whether or not you are vegetarian or plan to become vegetarian, that doesn't matter, to hear a topic as such, eloquently discussed by the famous Beatle, is amazing. This is a must read for any Beatles fan!

Click here to read Paul's interview!

In the Mood...

"I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me, I'm in the mood for love."

'In the Mood for Cranberry Nut Bread' Recipe

2 cups brown rice flour
1 1/4 cup brown rice syrup
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sea salt
1 "egg's worth" of egg replacer (like Ener-G, banana, appalesauce, etc.)
1/2 cup fruit juice (like cranberry, pomegranite, etc.)
3 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups coarsely chopped cranberries
1/2 cip coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Mix in brown rice syrup, then the rest of the wet ingredients. Fold in cranberries and walnuts last. Bake for 1 hour (or until a tooth pick poke comes out semi clean).


Serving Suggestion: Smother with Earth Balance buttery spread (or other vegan butter/ margarine) and enjoy! For the next morning for breakfast, warm in toaster oven...then smear with Earth Balance!

Recipe Tips:

-Don't get alarmed when you add the wet ingredients and juice; it will look watery at first. Once you add the chopped cranberries and walnuts, it turns back into a nice dough.
-Use a bread pan. I used a Wilton bread loaf pan.
-I used whole, shelled, organic walnuts. They were Nature's Promise brand, and were nice and fresh when I chopped them myself.

I was definitley in the mood for this bread! And it will still love me in the morning since I used brown rice flour and syrup...and because it is vegan.

Crazy Kitty?

Q: Does your cat beat up your little dog?

Dirty Vegan: Mine does.

Q: Does your cat claw at the furniture?

Dirty Vegan: I could care less if my cat claws at the furniture as long as he doesn't claw at my Chihuahua's face.

Whatever the reason may be, people do consider de-clawing their cat. I have never considered this because cats need to flex their claws. It feels good to them. However, I was at a loss when I adopted a 4 year old cat with issues, that used my Chihuahua as a rag doll. Something had to be done...and fast! I started by keeping up with his nail clippings at the groomer's and at home. Still poor Chihuahua had some scrapes. I had to do something more; what if the cat catches the dog's eye, what if he blinds him!? I needed an alternative to de-clawing and fast. I stumbled upon SoftClaws. My cat loves them and so does the dog (heeheehee). They are soft and slightly squishy claw caps that are almost like fake nails for cats. They also come in colors. Here you will see my cat with his Halloween, orange and black, claws.

Moral of the story: there is a kinder and humane option for every inhumane one.

Which option do you choose?

Shooo-La-La!

Greetings my Little Naughties! Have you ever wondered how to rock shoes as glamorous as celebrities while still being vegan and not spending your entire life's savings? Look no further! You too can wear shoes that can be compared to designer Christian Louboutin's for a fraction of the price and you guessed it...cruelty free! I buy my red sole heels from a brand called Oh Deer. The silver ones below are all manmade materials. Not all their stuff may be vegan, so do your research and if you are unsure by the item listing online or in the stores, ask a representative for help or send an e-mail and ask them. The black ones are also vegan and have the nice red sole and designer couture style, however I bought them on e-Bay and they are a different brand. Today's lesson is: you can still be fabulous and be vegan. You don't have to support cruelty to be drop dead gorgeous and stylish, just be a savvy shopper and do your research. You will be very surprised in the designers who do make fashions with non-animal materials. So make it a point to buy those items and not to support items in which were made in an inhumane manner. Also, if you really like a designer but they do not offer vegan options, tell them to! Speak up and write to these companies; they want to hear from consumers to improve their products. Companies also would like to broaden their fan base, so let them know..and for now the Dirty Vegan is signing off.