Grapity Grape Grapes

After doing yard work for several hours today, I decided I'm not going to go crazy with an intricate meal for dinner tonight, and am instead going to throw together a big salad.

What was I doing out in the garden you ask?  I started off planting some new native plants we picked up over the weekend.  Then, looking up for the umpteenth time at the neighbors' horrific grape vines, and being annoyed for the umpteenth time that they do nothing to maintain the, in my opinion, noxious weed, I rolled up my sleeves, got out the ladder and loppers and started hacking away.  I wish I had taken a before photo so that you could be appropriately impressed with how dutifully I freed our fence and the other neighbor's holly tree.  This shot of our huge yard waste roll cart will have to do!

You can see the grape vine clump on the other side of the fence, which appears to take up their entire yard!

Okay, okay, so what does this have to do with VeganMoFo?  Grapes!  In the process of warring with the neighbors' grapevine, I collected a big box worth of grapes.  For now I leave you with a photo of the grapes.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll have the finished product.  Can you guess what I'll be making with all these grapes?

Why yes, very fresh.  Interestingly, both varieties taste the same!

It was a beautifully crisp and sunny fall day today, so I was happy to be outside, even when picking through the uneven ground and leaf litter below me to find every last scrap of grape.  Did you know grapes (and raisins!) are extremely toxic to dogs?  Our dogs don't.  I'm hoping I didn't miss any grapes out there!

A Trip to the Food Co-op

I'm a lucky duck to be living in Portland for many reasons, not least of which is being able to choose between four grocery co-ops in the city.  Naturally, Matt and I joined one closest to us, and close it is- just a 10 minute bike ride.  Since moving to Portland and finding myself with some time on my hands (I'm unemployed), I decided to become a working member at Alberta Co-op.  Every week you'll find me working in the bulk herb section, which allows me a greater discount at the register and when placing special orders.

Today was Member Appreciation Day, in which owners get 15% off everything, so Matt and I took the opportunity to stock up.  While I was there, I decided to snap a few photos to give you a tour of our local food supplier!

My favorite parts of co-ops are the bulk sections.  This one contains lots of things like cereals, beans, nuts, sugars, flours, chocolate chips (3 kinds!), dried fruit, grains, and flax seeds. 

Alberta Co-op sells fair trade products when available, which is really super in my opinion!

In this bulk section you'll find items like maple syrup, wheat-free tamari, vanilla extract, agave, and vinegars.  Just bring along your preferred vessel and fill 'er up.

And here you have things like arrowroot powder, baking soda, and dry soy milk powder.

Here's my section!  I couldn't get a good shot of it due to the large crowd in the store, but you can imagine how the herbs  extend around the other side of this compartment.  The neat part: this unit actually has these huge drawers that pull out to reveal storage space for the back stock.  Pretty sweet.

This is the tea section.  The different color labels coordinate with the different classifications of tea.  Green=green, etc.

I think the produce section at Alberta is also top-notch.  The employees do a really great job in keeping everything fresh and beautiful.  There's Matt perusing the selection, deciding on dinner.

Another bulk section.  Here you'll see such items as Daiya, Tofutti Cream Cheese, Earth Balance, Vegenaise, and seitan.

Sometimes the nice people at Alberta Co-op leave food samples for customers to try.  Here we have kiwi berries and apples.

Bulk kombucha- if that's your thing.  I tried the white rose flavor and really liked it.

I haven't included all the bulk sections (like shampoo,soap, lotion, nut butters, tofu/tempeh, miso, etc.), but here's a shot of the bulk dish/laundry detergent.   Pretty snazzy.

As I said, I'm pretty lucky to shop at such a great place.  Do you have a coop near you?

Mulled Apple Cider

For much of the Northern Hemisphere, this time of year cues the ubiquitousness of 'homey' spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, used in baked goods and even in home decorations.  I, for one, am prepared for fall.  I bought my fall-scented candles from my favorite vegan-owned candle company (currently I have warm cookies alight) and broke out the mulling spices.  I love mulled apple cider.  Simmering on the stove, the spicy sweet scent fills the house, and once ready, the steamy drink is like comfort in a mug.

Taking a break from my 'greens' them to enjoy a hot cup of mulled apple cider.

My friend, Tcat, bought me a tin of Williams-Sonoma mulling spices last year.  This dry mix contains cinnamon, orange rind, allspice, and cloves.  You simply add it to apple cider (or unfiltered apple juice) and simmer for 10-20 minutes.

Sauvie Island

Matt and I took advantage of a comp-day he earned by working really late hours the week before, and headed to Sauvie Island on Friday. It was our first trip to the 26,000 acre island, even though it's just north of Portland.

Before leaving the city, we stopped to pick up breakfast goodies at Sweetpea Bakery. Just look at the size of that chocolate chip scone! I was really digging the lemon danish- flaky and moist in all the right places. Mmmm....danish.
Then we picked up falafel wraps from Wolf and Bear's, deciding to eat them at a nice spot on our island walk. I really recommend their wraps, which are all vegetarian, and can be made vegan. Their falafel is great, and with accoutrements like grilled eggplant, kalamata olive tapenade, and full-of-fresh-herb-flavor hot sauce, you really can't be disappointed!
Upon reaching Sauvie Island, we visited Oak Island, a park with grassy fields and, as the name suggests, many oak trees in all stages of life, surrounded by water on three sides.
We did the 2.5 mile loop and then some, picking blackberries all the way. Want to know a secret? The berries in the shade are sweeter than those in the sun! Lucky for us, we had drink containers left over from our lunch to collect the berries in.
It was a lovely walk, but also quite hot...which is why we were thrilled to find a "gourmet" snow cone and Italian soda stand outside a produce market on our way off the island. I decided on a strawberry lemon Italian soda, while Matt went for the blackberry peach.

Voodoo Doughnuts

Fanny and Martin from Cooking Vegan Food Up North are visiting, so of course we took an obligatory trip to Voodoo Doughnut. We got the Vegan Dozen, a great assortment of raised and cake donuts.

Fanny's expression more accurately captures the excitement!

My birthday!

I celebrated my birthday today, ushered in with well wishes from lovely people, and even a visit from a few friends and my brother!

Brother, Nat, cuddling with the Emerson.

The birthday celebrations included dinner at Portobello Vegan Trattoria, game night back at our place, and TWO delicious cakes. Just look at 'em! DocDufresne made an amazing cheezecake with strawberry sauce, and my buddy Shivels from Seattle, made a decadent chocolate cake topped with rich chocolate icing, coconut, and almond slivers. Aahhhmazing!

Yuuummz.

I've been very excited about our soon-to-be epic garden (see Evidence A, below.) This will be a first for both DocDufresne and me, and we might be getting a little carried away, but it's hard not to with a blank slate of a lot. Today, Doc stayed home from work, and after we ate the yummy French toast he made for breakfast, we walked to the nursery down the street from us to pick up some more veggie and flower seeds.

Evidence A: The once empty lot (minus the 90 yr old house and garage)

Then we headed to Native Bowl to pick up lunch to go, and trekked to the highest location in Portland to witness a spectacular view. We were able to see many mountain ranges, including Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helen's, and Mt. Rainier.

I didn't bother using my polarized lens and it was a little hazy, so Mt. Hood isn't really clear in the photo.

After that, Doc and I rushed home so that, with the remaining daylight, we could play with the boys in the new backyard! We had a fence installed and it was finished today!!

Andy had quality time with a certain Mr. Frisbee.
So much so, he didn't want to come in when it was time to.

Emerson enjoyed his first time off leash outside grazing.

Finished up the day watching the Star Wars trilogy. A great birthday!

Bonus sweepy little doggleson shots.

Doggles in the Sun

I've been devoting a good portion of my would-be blogging time to revving up for Vegan MoFo lately. I'm super excited about my project- Veganizing Family Recipes. It may not be an apparently interesting theme, but there are some AWESOME recipes in store next month!

Portland has been glorious lately. Just absolutely gorgeous weather. While we're saving up for a backyard fence, Andy and Emerson have been rigged up to the deck, soaking up the sun. I snapped some photos today. Can you tell they love having a place to spend time outside?

A blue house!

I promised (or threatened) that I'd be posting house updates. Well, here's one.

We just had the house painted by an awesome company (Portland folks, if you're in the market, I can talk your ear off about Crew Painting.) It's impossible to tell from this particular "before" photo, but the paint was in major disrepair, peeling in large chunks off the house. The color was fine, but Doc and I had our hearts set on a blue house.

BEFORE

AFTER

Aided by the color expertise provided by Crew Painting, we found a perfect medium, slate-y blue ("Schooner") for the body, off white with a slight green tint ("Paper Mache") for the trim, and a darker slate color for the foundation. We love it! It's a bit hard to tell from this photo (and the overcast skies when it was taken), but it so beautifully brings out the honey in the front door. The front also looks so much better without the plastic shutters next to the windows (although I needed to be convinced to leave them off) and I love the accent of the neutral yellow curtains in the front.
Please ignore the majorly over grown shrub lining the driveway and the evidence of my "pruning" alongside it. Soon (let's hope!) this will be beautifully landscaped to match the beautiful paint job, as we say "goodbye" to the grass.