Vacation

The girls and I are flying to CA this morning, and we'll be there a week. We're going to celebrate Art & my 15th wedding anniversary. Time sure flys by!

The girls will be with G'ma & G'pa while Art and I spend some time in San Diego, where we met 17 years ago.





I'm really looking forward to getting away and being invigorated... inspired... connected... balanced... focused. Being near the ocean and with Art will do that for me. We'll eat at some great restaurants and visit family & friends (including Kleo!).

I always have my restaurant guide in my purse. It's a small address book alphabetized by city, with veg friendly restaurants listed. Before a trip, I go to Happy Cow and copy the restaurant's address, phone, & description in my book -- anytime I read a review of a restaurant I want to visit, I just jot it down. It's a handy resource on the road.






I'll leave you with some shots of our garden, and let the photos do the talking, as I still have 100 things to do before the plane takes off!

Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies

The comments on my last post prompted me to make Julie's 'Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies' for my babysitter who voiced an interest in going veg. This was my effort to "woo her with good food and especially baked treats" as our friend Amey suggested.

These cookies definately have the "woo" factor, and the recipe makes plenty to share.




Beside my list of instructions, I left some cookies to snack along with a link to the recipe. She borrowed "The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook" and plans to cook up a meal for her boyfriend that doesn't include Morningstar.

Amanda told me that she has not eaten meat all week! Furthermore, she convinced her boyfriend to stop eating meat with her. Evidently her parents are supportive, but his are not. We'll see how this unfolds.

Isn't this just peachy?

Peach season is finally here, and this year we visited Williamson Orchards in the Sunnyslope area west of Nampa. It's a family-run fruit and vegetable farm with lots of country charm.











Their outdoor produce market.












When there are twelve varieties of peaches available, it's not easy to decide. We settled on July Flame and Vista.











Buckets & buckets of peaches!















This is the only prepared vegan pie crust available at my Co-op. It's organic and there is a whole wheat variety as well. It's a great tasting crust, and when you're in a pinch it'll do just fine.








I was more than happy to test this 'Cinnamon Sugar Peach Pie' recipe for Julie Hasson's upcoming pie book. Here it is before the top crust was placed. For a cool step-by-step of this peachy pie, visit Boo's a veg-a-nut.

This peach pie is so delicious that I made it twice! It's an easy recipe with fabulous results -- just my kind. :)




We still had a plethora of peaches after making two peach pies! I was able to can 12 pint size jars, and freeze 2 quart size baggies.







and, I still had enough to make 'Kim's Peach-zza' from La Dolce Vegan! And don't let the title fool you, this does not count for dinner!
What could be more peachy than all this? One of our babysitters has been perusing my books, and told me she wants to go veg! She asked some questions, read this article, and borrowed my "Diet for a New America". It makes me hopeful to see people eliminating meat. How do you encourage propective veggies?