Bear Chows Down on Watermelon for Labor Day!
For Labor Day, Christopher, Bear, and I hung out with our friends Mark, Michael, and Lalanya. Mark is my dear friend, who just happened to win an Oscar and BAFTA for costumes he created for the film The Artist – you can read my post about him here.
I’ve known Mark since we worked on Blast From the Past together, 14 years ago. Mark’s brother Michael and his sister-in-law Lalanya have become close friends of ours as well. Lalanya had a vegan pregnancy with her daughter Geneva, and she was was with me during Bear’s birth. Geneva is a total cutie pie and Michael and Lalanya are now expecting their second child. I’m really sad I’ll be in New York and will miss the birth. It would have been amazing to be with her for that and experience such an incredible miracle.
Anywho, Michael and Mark made an amazing meal for Labor Day. We had the best hotdogs ever! I can now confirm, Field Roast makes the best hot dog I’ve ever had. We topped our hotdogs with sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard…so good! Mark also made this potato salad from the book How it All Vegan. It’s his specialty – he’s known for it among his family in Michigan and in LA. We also had a really good kale edamame salad from Trader Joe’s that was just fresh and good.
Michael put a ton of veggies on the grill: little potatoes, and big kebabs that were so fun and beautiful to look at. The kebabs were made with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. I don’t usually like bell peppers, but these kebabs were so good and had the most delicious sauce on them. They were colorful, big and fat – just looked like they meant business! Mark said he got them premade at Trader Joe’s and marinated them in TJ’s “Soyaki” marinade for twelve hours on one side, then eight hours on the other side. The grilled corn was simple and delicious: locally grown corn, grilled perfectly. Mark removed the husks and wrapped the corn in aluminum foil, then slowly roasted it on the grill. Everyone shared a big, fat watermelon. Geneva and Bear loved it!
Try this "kind" tuna sandwich!
Our family is staying in an apartment with an electric stove right now (not fun to cook on at all or as healthy as gas stoves), so we haven’t been doing as much cooking as we would at home. For our friends’ Labor Day BBQ, we opted to bring some slices of key lime pie and chocolate pie from Café Gratitude.
After dessert, we had a mini dance party. We played “Ring Around the Rosie,” and everyone danced while we sang “Rockin’ Robin” and “ABC 123” by the Jackson 5…some of our favorite tunes in our household right now. The whole thing was really, really sweet.
What did you do for Labor Day?
15 comments
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You know what would taste even better - good old fashioned hot dogs (made of cows) and cheese burgers ( also made of tasty cows - mooooooo). All these vegan recipes really seem pretty nasty. -
Hi Alicia and Kind Life friends! For your readers who love Field Roast frankfurters and outdoor grilling or tailgating - the vegan way - check out the awesome contest they are running in partnership with portable Fuego Grills. Field Roast is celebrating the end of summer and the kickoff of tailgate season with a Franks in the Field photo contest. You can win a cool Fuego Grill and a bunch of Field Roast products to grill. Check it out on the Field Roast Facebook page, they would love to see a few entries from the Kind Life community!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Field-Roast-Grain-Meat/75305983339?sk=app_254553244581393
Cheers!
~Tanya -
I believe that Soy Boy Not Dogs are gluten free, and taste good. Soy consumption is ok as long as it is not overdone. Asians have eaten soy products for a very long time. Bean products are important, but only need to make up about 5 to 10 percent of the meal. Fill up mostly on veggies and whole grains.
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I wish these products like the vegan hot dogs would have gluten free versions. I have yet to find flavored tofu like sausage style, etc that is gluten free. I can only content myself with the fact that I don't think soy consumption is all that good for you anyway.
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MAny consider gas or wood cooking much more natural and healthier than electric. As a cook, I find it more enjoyable to cook with real fire. Macrobiotics has always promoted wood and gas cooking over electric, and especially microwave cooking.Having said that, in my opinion, it is more about aesthetics, but I personally prefer fire over electric.
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One question: Why is gas stove "healthier" than an electric stove?
I haven't heard this before... -
Everything looks great. We do similar foods on holidays. Vegan food is always the best, every day of the year, whether it is special or just simple everyday meals. May all beings be happy and free from suffering.
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hi Alicia...I have to try to remember really hard what I did for Labour Day...lol...so you can imagine that nothing special happened...lol...your BBQ with friends sounds like fantastic family fun, with excellent vegan food...these days, all my cooking and food preparation is vegan...I am getting quite good at preparing tasty, organic vegan dishes...both cooked and uncooked...that all comes with practice...practice makes perfect...
I am sad that summer is coming to an end...we are getting Indian summer weather, which is enjoyable...I have been buying a lot of organic summer fruit...for me, organic fruit and vegetables are my focus but that dessert you brought for the BBQ sounds very tasty...what a treat! -
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I agree, the Field Roast Frankfurters are so yummy!! I just wish they had a little less sodium.
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