So yesterday I had said...."my new healthy diet". This is what I had intended this to be...a diet. This is exactly what it turned out NOT to be. Ive learned that becoming a vegan isn't a temporary thing. It isn't a temporary solution to a major problem. You can't say that you'll do this for a little while, just to get some weight off, or to "cleanse" your body.If you go back to eating crap....your body goes back to feeling like crap...No, Being vegan is a way of life. Its training your brain to think differently about food. People usually live to eat. Vegans eat to live! (at least I do). You find yourself analyzing everything your putting in your mouth, which I don't find to be a bad thing. If we go around throwing any piece of crap in our mouths, we'll live short, unhealthy, obese lives. Some people would argue that at least "they would die happy" if they had just gone eating anything and everything. But, I for one can say that I'll be happier dying after a long, healthy life! Anyone who says they disagree is a liar. Also, I ENJOY every piece of tofu that I put into my mouth. Every vegetable, fruit, soy protein....I love it all! It feels great to eat and know your doing something good for your body, and your health! So today I ask you to think before you eat. If you stop before you eat, and your brain is telling you that you shouldn't be eating it..you probably shouldn't be eating it! Put it down and grab a delicious piece of fruit, or a salad! If you think you can...you can!

Tofu Parm

1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs

5 tablespoons grated Vegan Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons dried oregano divided

salt

ground black pepper

1 package firm tofu

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 can tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 clove garlic minced

4 ounces shredded vegan mozzarella cheese

In a bowl, combine bread crumbs,Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon oregano salt and black pepper.
Slice tofu into 1/4 inch thick slices, and place in bowl of cold water. press tofu slices into crumb mixture, turning to coat all sides.
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook tofu slices until crisp on one side. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil, turn, and brown on the other side.
Combine tomato sauce, basil, garlic, and remaining oregano. Place a thin layer of sauce in an 8 inch square baking pan. Arrange tofu slices in the pan. Spoon remaining sauce over tofu. Top with shredded mozzarella and remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan.
Bake at 400 degrees F  for 20 minutes.
VIOLE! YOUR DONE!
* Serve over vegan pasta if you'd like!

Why Not?

WHY NOT?. That's what I said to myself the day I decided to change my life. I thought- Will I miss eating this crap, that I indeed know is crap? Will I miss stuffing my fat face with the meat from a rotting carcass? Will I miss not being able to poop for 3 days due to ingesting 4oz of rotting animal flesh? The answer was, and still is no. So it was that easy. I went into my refrigerator and cleared all the crap*out.(*you will hear me use this word a lot, as a generalized term for things a human should not eat) I started small, at stop and shop. I began experimenting with extra firm tofu, and lots of veggies. I made Tofu Scramble, Tofu Stir Fry,and Tofu Skewers. I was for sure hooked on my new healthy "diet". (Which I thought it was at first) There is so many different recipes and ideas for tofu, you never need to eat the same meal twice. I was excited for the next day to come, so I could try something new. I know that becoming vegan sounds "extreme", my dad even used the world "cult". But if its something you've dabbled in or even given a second thought about, its worth a try. Whats the worst that could happen? You could not like it and go back to eating crap? Now that I have a better understand as to why people are vegan I can pass it on to you. Here's just 10 reason, but the list goes on!

Numero Uno- Think of the animals. God didn't put these animals on our planet for us to kill and engorge our fat stomachs with. Why do they have to die for us to be happy?
2-Vegans on average live 6 years longer than non-vegans
3-The average vegan total cholesterol level is 128. The lowest level for a heart attack is 150
4-The US FDA recognizes vegetarian and vegan diets as the healthiest diets
5-Vegans don't consume any cholesterol
6-It takes 7 cows to furnish a leather interior Mercedes-Benz
7-Charred meats contain carcinogens that can cause cancers
8-Milk consumption has been linked to cholic, ear infections, asthma, and a whole slew of other diseases.
9-Dairy cows on average live for 5-7 years, where as they are able to live to 20 years or more
10-Tofu is a lot cheaper than steak

With all that said, this has been your introduction to a new healthier you. Below you will find the very simple, beginner basic recipes for dishes I had stated above. I don't exactly measure things out, because there is no need to. YOU CAN EAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT!

Tofu Breakfast Scramble

1/2 block firm tofu cut into 1/2 inch squares
Vegan Sausage Crumbled
Vegan Shredded Cheese
Fresh Whole Leaf Spinach
Button Mushrooms Sliced
Bean sprouts
Red Bell Pepper
Salsa
S&P
Garlic Powder

Saute your veggies in 1/4 cup of veggie broth until tender.Season with S&P and garlic powder. Add your Tofu and sausage, cook until heated through. Add about 1/4 of a cup of salsa and stir until hot. Add cheese last, just until melted.
VIOLE! Your done. Eat is just as is, or you can make a breakfast burrito. Delicious either way!

Tofu Stir Fry

1 block extra firm tofu, pressed to drain, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Teryaki Sauce
1/4 cup Bragg's Aminos (Soy protein)
1 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Sesame Seeds
1 tsp Onion Powder
3 cloves Garlic minced

1 package Baby Corn
1 Handful Sugarsnap peas
Red bell pepper sliced
Green bell pepper sliced
Sm Can water Cress, drained
1 bunch Broccoli, cut off stem
1 package Vegan noodles, cooked

Make Marinade and add tofu cubes. Let rest for 2 hours.
In a large Wok or skillet add all ingredients except noodles.
Saute until veggies are tender.
Add noodles and heat through.
VIOLE! YOUR DONE!

Tofu Veggie Skewers

Marinade

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

3 cloves garlic minced

1 tbsp fresh  basil

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 tsp fresh tarragon

1 tsp fresh rosemary

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 block extra firm tofu, pressed to drain, cut into 1inch squares

Baby Portobello Mushrooms

2 Red onion sliced into quarters

Red or Green Bell Pepper, cut into chunks

Add all marinade ingredients into a sealable container, and add tofu. Shake gently to combine. Let sit in refrigerator 2 hours

cut all veggies accordingly. Take out tofu and assemble skewers how you like. Grill as long or short as you'd like!

VIOLE! YOUR DONE!

**another option is to double marinade recipe and add veggies in with your tofu, letting them all absorb the juices!