Meal Prep, Sugar & Flour AKA How Will I Raise My Future Children?

Hi, my beloved chibi-tan! Usagi here with a little article on something that's been circling my mind lately, and growing as each day passes.

How will I raise my future children?

Of course, I'm no where near the age of having those future children yet, but it's something I find myself thinking about more and more.

How will I raise them?
What morals do I hope they will have?
How can I teach them about the world which will inspire them to be compassionate, involved and have a love for the planet and all beings on it?

These questions raises even more questions for me; where will I raise them, what kind of education should they have, how can I give them the best childhood I can possibly give them?

And these are just a very small sample of the questions that buzz in my mind day in and day out. Sometimes it feels like there is so much to think about, and it can be a little overwhelming (but in an excited way, most of the time).

There are of course, some easier questions (well, questions I find have simple answers), and these questions usually revolve around what I will teach my children about food, and a healthy lifestyle.

The answer to this kind of question is always an easy one, and it boils right down to this;

How do I represent a healthy, happy lifestyle?

 In fact, really, all the questions that swim in my mind can literally be answered like this;

What kind of morals do I want to have?

How can I be more compassionate, involved, have a greater love for my planet, and live a greener lifestyle?

Because what it comes down to is that I will be a role model for my future children. Of course they will have other adult role models in their lives that will influence them too, but I think it's important to think about yourself as an important role model.

Why?

Because your children will learn from your example. This does not only mean it's a great chance to teach your children how to have a happy, healthy life that benefits not only themselves but others and the planet,  but it also means that you now have the chance to create that happy healthy life that benefits not only you but others and the planet!

What a good opportunity and inspiration children can be. They, in a way, create an excuse to take better care of yourself, your community, your planet and to become more aligned with higher self (not that you need an excuse to do these things, but it's always a nice boost when you have one, am I right?)

My children are inspiring me, and they're not even anywhere being born yet.
That's pretty magical. ^^

Anyway, to the heart of this article.

All this thinking has made me want to make many changes in my life. Some I can't do right now, simply because I currently don't have the resources available to me to do them, but that doesn't mean I can't start taking small steps, right? And isn't that how you're supposed to reach a goal anyway? One small step at a time.

There are a lot of changes that I want to start making, and just a few of these are:

• wanting to eat more healthily 
• wanting to be more active
• wanting to nourish and care for my body the way it deserves to be cared for
• wanting to be more organised
• wanting to become more "green"
• wanting to become more self sufficient

There's are only the tip of the iceberg, but serve as a great example of the kind of life I want to represent to my children. There are, of course, a lot of other things too (but then the list would just go on and on...), but that would take too long to do into depth with (for only one article that is. Hmm, an article series might be in order).

But today I want to focus on two main things: organisation, healthy food.

I'm not a disorganised person. 

At least, not too badly disogranised...

But I always like to look at ways I can improve things. Innovation, man, that's where it's at! ;)

One of the things I really wish would run more smoothly for me is meal prep. It's not too bad now (although sometimes it can take hours from my day), but when I think about it in terms of "if I had children now" it would be disastrous. It doesn't make it any better that I'm the kind of person who leaves making food to the last minute (to the point where I'm starving and could almost tear down the house and then rebuild it twice as good...) and so I'm always disorganised in the kitchen; hastily chopping things, making more mess than necessary, and using almost every pot and pan in sight...

So, I've decided that I'm going to learn how to prep meals in advance. That is my first step to better organisation (and better sanity too :P). I don't know how, (well kinda I do) but I will do it! That is my first promise to myself.

My second promise is no more cane sugar, "processed" foods like white flour and white rice, and packaged snacks (with the exception of a few amazing, healthy, organic, and preferably local brands like Loving Earth - 725.3km away (~450 miles) is practically local... right... he, he, well it technically is where I live...  

We all know how bad sugar can be (often scientists and spiritual guides referring to it as heroin), and second to that comes the overly processed things like flour and the like... and don't even get me started on most packet snacks (Oh, god, never again will I have mi goreng! *rolls on the floor from trauma*). So, it only makes sense to cut these out.

The flour and rice are easier, for me at least, but the sugar is hard! There are tons of cane sugar alternatives like agave, stevia and coconut sugar (to name a few), but where I live they are hideously expensive, and when you're on a student budget it makes it very hard to buy. But not impossible, and that's a relief (I couldn't even imagine finding those sorts of things where I live ten years ago, when most places didn't even sell wholemeal bread or brown rice...) 

These are my first few goals. My promises to myself and my future children.

I will see how I go in the future with achieving these, and will hopefully post about my success (and maybe this will turn into an article series, who knows?)

But I leave you on this last note:

How would you live your life for your children/How do you live your life for your children? What good habits do you represent to them? How do you raise them (organically, teach them how to grow their own food, appreciate where their food comes from etc.)? What hopes do you have for them to have a happy, healthy life?   

Until next time.

<3

Usagi 

Recipe Tomorrow!

Hey everyone! Sorry about missing a post last week. A lot has been happening where I live and I've been busy with protests and the like. Woo! Children of the Revolution!

But besides that, I just wanted to tell all you special people that I will be updating with a recipe tomorrow, so please don't worry! :3 And it will be another Japanese recipe too!  ^^

So, get your otaku on! ;)

<3
Usagi.
 

Happy Mother's Day!

For all those mothers and people who love their mommies, have a very special day filled with lots of love and good company!

See you all tomorrow.

<3
Usagi

Welcome Back!

My blog has finally gotten the makeover it deserved, so that means I will start posting again as of Monday.
A few things have changed (for the better, of course :P), so if you wanna know what's it all about then go check out the "about" section.

See you real soon, my kittten kaboodles! ^^

<3
Usagi,
aka Moonlight.

One More To Go

Going to update tomorrow with the last recipe post before the site upgrade.

It's going to be a good one; vegan, chocolate, mousse cake. Kinda like a Bavarian, I guess. :)

And then, finally, the site update. Hopefully it will make this place look less like a shanty.

  xo.
Moonlight.

Vegan Pad Thai & Other News

Ah, I'm glad to be back, yknow. 

And to celebrate there's going to be two new special things.

Firstly, I'm going to improve the layout of this place sometime this upcoming week. I'll tidy it up, make it look a little nicer and even add a banner (gasp! that's crazy right?!).

and secondly,

I'll be getting a digital camera soon! :'D

Well technically, my housemate and I will be getting one for our little craft business, but I will be able to use it for taking pictures for this blog. No more crappy phone pictures! Woo! 

Anyway, to celebrate my return, I give to you a delicious vegan Pad Thai. The kind that will make you wonder why you never had this version to begin with. ;)

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but it's winter (well Autumn technically... but my frostbitten toes like to say otherwise) where I live, and in those cold, dark recluse months it is habitual for people all around the globe to start craving those cosy, warm and usually butter-smothered foods. Soups, stews, and casseroles become the staple of people's diets.

And it's true, while those dishes have their alluring, siren-song charm, there's something else, which is often overlooked, that comforts me and gets me through those long formidable months... and that something is spicy food.

No matter how cold it gets, as long as I have a big bowl of chili I know I'm going to be alright. So, today's recipe, Vegan Pad Thai, is one of my main chilly season dishes. It'll put some fire in your belly! ;) 

Vegan Pad Thai

Serves: 2 

Ingredients: 

• 100g Pad Thai noodles or rice noodles
• 1/2 broccoli bunch 
• 125g firm tofu
• 1/2 brown onion
• 2 cloves of garlic 
• 1 red or green chili (the medium sized ones not the really small ones)
• 1/2 red capsicum/bell pepper 
• 50g peanuts 
• 1 handful of beansprouts 
• 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil (you can also use peanut oil, or you choice of vegetable oil) 
• a small handful of chopped parsley (or coriander) 
• vegetable stock, to taste 

For sauce:

• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 tablespoon of kecap manis soy sauce (thick sweet soy sauce. you can use the regular kind too, but this one gives it a sweeter, thicker taste)
• 1 tablespoon of white miso paste
• 1 tablespoon of tamarind paste 
• 1 tablespoon of sriracha sauce
• 1 teaspoon of coconut sugar (you can also use regular cane sugar. If that's the case then brown sugar would work best, but any sugar will work fine)
• 1/4 cup of filtered water 

Optional:

• a few drops of sesame oil 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Before I do anything else, I first bring a medium sized saucepan filled with water to boil, then add the broccoli florets to it (I just break them off of the bunch and cut them if they're too big). I boil them for five minutes maximum so that they don't take so long to cook later. So, we're basically just blanching them. You can tell when they're ready to drain because they turn bright green. 

Next I cut the tofu into bite sized pieces. If you like you can marinate your tofu before hand (with some oil, garlic and lemon). I do this on days where I'm not lazy. ;P

Then, I fry it in a large pan with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. I sprinkle a bit of vegetable stock so they soak up some flavour (you don't want them to be bland, yuk! >_<). If you like you can also sprinkle a little turmeric powder to give them a more golden colour. 

Whilst I'm cooking the tofu, I prep the onions, garlic and chili. I cut the onions into half moons, cut the garlic into slices, and cut the chili also into half moons (although, it really doesn't matter how you cut it).

After the tofu have begun to crisp slightly on the outside, and have gained a bit of colour, I set them aside in a bowl for later.

I add more coconut oil to the pan if needed, then add the onion, garlic and chili and let it cook and soften for a few minutes. While this is cooking you can cut the capsicum/bell pepper into long, thin strips (although as you can see, I'm not all about cutting them that thin. That would actually require me to be patient :P) When the onion mix starts become fragrant that's when you know it's time to add the capsicum/bell pepper.

After cooking on a medium heat for about 3-5 minutes, I then add the partly cooked broccoli and tofu. Then I chop the peanuts roughly and throw them in too. The peanuts I get are already roasted, but fresh ones would be fine too.

While this is cooking I bring a saucepan of water to boil again, then add the noodles. I find that a lot of brands have different cooking instructions, so it's best to follow what they say on how to cook them, but none of them will take very long. 

While the noodles are cooking I make the sauce which will bring everything together. <3

I add all the ingredients for the sauce together in a small bowl and mix until combined.

Note: I find it best to dissolve the miso in 1/4 cup of the water used for the sauce before adding it in. Make sure it's boiling water so it dissolves properly. This is so the sauce isn't lumpy (let's face it, no one wants a large clump of miso in their mouth). It's okay if it doesn't dissolve 100%, as long as it's mostly dissolved. 

Once the noodles are cooked I drain them and add them into the pan along with the beansprouts. I mix until everything begins to combine, then I pour in the sauce and mix that through. If the sauce is too thick, you may want to add about a tablespoon more of water.

Let it heat through for a few minutes, and at this stage you can add 3/4 of the parsley and mix it through. Then simply serve and sprinkle the rest of the parsley on top. 

Hope you liked this recipe!

xo.

Moonlight

I'm Back, Baby!

So, after a few weeks of not being able to post due to my only source of a camera dying on me, I'm finally back!

I have a new phone, thus a new camera. So far the camera on it seems to take pictures, so hopefully it will work fine for posting on here, and even if it doesn't I will be getting a proper camera soon (for my small crafts business I have with my housemate), which I can use to take better pictures.

Woo!

Hopefully, I should be posting recipes again as of Friday-ish.

So, stay tuned for some more awesome vegan recipes! ^_^

xo.
Moonlight

Another Update

Hello starshines,

As you may have noticed, I haven't been on here for the past week or so, but that's not by choice! My phone decided to die, and since it was my only form of camera I had, I couldn't take any pictures to accompany the recipes. (which is a shame because I made vegan doughnuts, sushi, girl scout cookies and hambagu for my birthday!) :(

Hopefully I will be getting a new phone in the next couple of weeks and be able to start posting again.

Until then, you can check out my deviant art if you're bored.
Yeah, I know it's not food related.
But still. :P

xoxo.
Moonlight

Birthday Plans & Vegan Food

So, it's my birthday next week, and I'm making plans of what to do and eat.

It will be the first birthday I've had where I've been vegan, so it will be interesting. :P

I'm thinking of a picnic with some friends at the botanic gardens.
With something like vegan sushi.

Pretend we are vegan !:3

Maybe.
Hmmm.
And some sweets too! You can't have a birthday without sweets! ^_^

Anywho, I will be updating with more recipes today! And possibly a review on a vegan ice cream product.

If you have any suggestions of food I should make on my birthday, please let me know, I'm open to all ideas. :D

xo.
Moonlight

Just A Little Update

The lights in my kitchen blew the other night, so I couldn't take the pictures I wanted for the creamy, tomato pasta dish I had made.

Ah, shame. T_T

I do have pictures from other meals which I took that day, so I shall be updating with them instead (at some point today).

I will also go over the recipes I have posted and try to update them based on how long they took to make, the serving and type (e.g. Gluten Free).

Hope your day is filled with joy.

xo.

Moonlight