Breaking Vegan

Hellllooooo!

So you I wrote in my last blog that I had started living the Vegan lifestyle and was no longer eating cheese, eggs, gelatin...all that jazz. Well June brought A LOT of exciting stuff!! Mine and my boyfriend's birthday and a new job. The first week of June went great, I was eating vegan at work, not getting anything with cheese or egg or any animal stuff like that. My bf's birthday came and I knew that not eating cake or sweets was going to pose a challenge. I tried to resist but I felt awful that I was the ONLY one not partaking in the birthday dinner and desserts. I caved....I ate the brownies and the cupcakes. Next was MY birthday. I knew on my birthday I could have anything I wanted. Well the restaurants we went to were Italian, just like my family, which meant lots of cheese! I got a Veggie Pasta Cannoli so I definitely could've gotten everything without cheese but, it was my birthday!! Of course I'm going to splurge on my birthday :D We also had Tiramisu which was delicious by the way. That was just my mom and I celebrating, my dad's side wanted to celebrate as well. They have the tradition of getting Tres Leches cakes for birthdays. I LOVE Tres Leches (Three Milk) cake. But that is DEFINITELY not Vegan. 
I am still very much vegetarian but I have definitely broken my veganism as of now. I know that nothing can truly be 100% Vegan if you really think about it but it makes you feel like you're trying to see the world form a different view. I still don't drink milk or eat eggs but I can't promise that I won't eat something that has dairy or eggs bakes into it. 
I can always start my journey again but for now I am breaking vegan. 

Food Friday! Pasta Fagioli

Hello Everyone! Today is Food Friday and I have a delicious classic Italian dish for you all. It is easy, fast and feeds a lot of hungry tummies. Introducing.....Pasta Fagioli....or as some people call it, Pasta Fazool. This yummy Pasta soup is a classic!

 What you will need:
 2 Table Spoons of Olive Oil (or any type of cooking oil you have on hand)
1 large white onion
3 cloves of fresh garlic
1 14.5oz Can of diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
2 14.5oz Cans of Chicken or Vegetable broth
3 Cups of water
2 Cups of Pasta, can either be Ditalini or small shells
1 table spoon of Italian seasoning
1 Bunch of fresh Kale
1 Table spoon of Tomato Paste
Salt and Pepper to taste
Ground Parmesean Cheese, as much as you'd like
 2 15oz cans of white beans, drained
And a big cooking pot to make all of this in

 Directions:
In a really big soup pan, cook onion and garlic with the olive oil until slight browning occurs. Stir in the diced tomatoes, broth, water and noodles. Let boil for 5 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, grab you fresh Kale. You want to rinse them off to make sure there is no earthly substances on it (it did come from the ground you know). After rinsing you will want to cut the steams off and begin cutting the kale into 1 inch square pieces. After you've cut the kale you will then place it in the pot and cook 5 mins more. Reduce heat to a simmer and add beans, Tomato paste, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for another 5 minutes, serve, sprinkle with Parmesean Cheese and devour! 

This recipe is way too easy and inexpensive to not try! It will feed your whole family and it is perfect for the upcoming cold weather!
 Please enjoy :)

 Emm