Member Interview-Crafty Panties

Todays interview is with Paula of Crafty Panties

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of
Etsy?

I wanted something quirky for my shop name; something that would stand out and that people would remember. But I didn't want a name that would pin me down as a maker of something specific. Even though I opened my shop two years ago with just temari balls, I wanted to always to feel like I could put anything else in my shop, because I was interested in making many different things. My shop name grew out of the phrase "Little Miss Crafty Pants". Someone else already had that name, so I just sort of morphed it into Crafty Panties. I just think panties is a funny word.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start
creating them?

I sell balls - two types. Temari are embroidered thread balls that are used as home decorations. It is a Japanese folk art that dates back 500 years. They were made from the remnants of old kimonos. Silk threads were first pulled out of the kimonos, then the fabric was wound up in a ball. The silk threads were wound around that to secure it. They began as toys for kids, but over time, women began to embroider elaborate designs on them, and they were elevated to the status of art objects. In Japan today, temari carry significant meaning as symbols of loyalty and friendship and are often given as gifts. I first learned about temari three years ago just by seeing a book on it at the library. I was awe-struck at their beauty and I wanted to try it immediately. I also have made some tiny temari into keychains.

The other type of ball I make is fabric patchwork balls for little kids. Again, I happened to see a book on how to make them. I was already interested in patchwork, and my daughter was maybe two or three at the time, so I made a few for her at first. I love fabric and combing them in different ways to make an object. There must be something about geometric ball shapes that really intrigues me because I am definitely drawn to making them. Temari and patchwork balls actually have a lot of similarities in terms of the geometric shapes that emerge.

Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

I donate 10% of my sales to Peaceful Prairie. I also just participated in Farm Sanctuary's Walk for Farm Animals. My husband and I met up with some vegans we know from our Vegan Meetup Group here in Cincinnati to do the walk, and we met other vegans from nearby cities, too. I also volunteer at my daughter's school.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?

Outside of Etsy I've only sold to family and friends so far, but I am gearing up for my first craft show in November. Also, I just opened an Artfire shop.

Have you been featured anywhere?

One of my temari was included in Craftzine's Flickr Pool Weekly Roundup on their blog. Several other blogs have featured my temari and fabric balls as well. And I've been included in a couple treasuries on Etsy.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?

Yes, I have plans for more balls! There is another Japanese craft I'm interested in called kimekomi. I see it as a sort of combination of temari and fabric patchwork balls. Fabric pieces are used to cover a ball that is divided in similar ways as temari. They're for home decoration. I plan to make a bunch of Christmassy ones for hanging on Christmas trees. I also am making temari in traditional Christmas colors as well.

I am planning on making fabric balls modeled after sports balls, too. I already make soccer balls, but I am going to be developing patterns for footballs, basketballs, baseballs, and volleyballs as well.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?

I like to draw and paint. I love to read, mostly non-fiction. I just love to learn about stuff. I love to socialize with other vegans, so I go to monthly vegan meetups. I love to spend time with my husband and daughter, making art/crafts, baking, hanging out at the park, etc. I am interested in talking about the issues of animal rights, feminism, oppression, and religion with anyone that wants to, which is usually just my husband. I love taking care of animals.

Do you have any animal companions?

We have six rescued cats with silly names: Abraham Lincoln (girl), Pirate, Purgatory (Pergie for short), Cyndi Lauper, Kitten Betty, and Dooder Bobby.

How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

I have been vegan for a little over a year. Before that I was a vegetarian for six years. I went vegetarian after seeing Peta's "Meet Your Meat" video. I was so horrified and upset that I immediately stopped eating meat. I knew that I should go vegan but couldn't seem to do it at that time. I met my husband a year later and he went vegetarian pretty much right away because of things I exposed him to. Then we slowly transitioned into veganism together. Our daughter was vegetarian at first, but has finally made it to veganism within the past few months.

Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?

Tofurky sausages, Dandies marshmallows, Isa Chandra Moskowitz's cookbooks, Vegan Freak Radio, The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle

What are your favorite foods?

Spicy ethnic foods are my favorite - Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican, etc. I love it super-duper hot. And I am lucky enough to have a husband who is an awesome cook and who loves the same types of foods that I do. I make tofu scramble a lot.

I have a big sweet tooth also. I love dark chocolate. And red wine.

Is there anything else you would like to add or share?

I have a BA in art; my focus in school was drawing and painting. I started making crafts when my daughter was a baby because it wasn't as messy, and I could stop and start much more easily.

I have big dreams of being able to travel to many places around the world and to volunteer at animal sanctuaries. I suspect that I would get very emotional in the presence of rescued farm animals.

New members!

We have some new members to welcome! Please take the time to check out these great shops and give them some hearts!

Scrappyrat Designs

LadiesBlend

MissMuffcake's lost and found

Mmmmm donuts...

Donuts are made of yum and I wish I had one right now! I may not have the real thing within my reach, but I can drool over these donut themed goodies from the Vegan Etsy Team!


Yummy Chocolate Donut Keychain by sass and peril:





Donut Change Purse by Pinkkis:





Chocolate Donut Magnet by Sick On Sin:





And if you want the REAL thing, check out these awesome Halloween Donuts from Sweet Fritsy:






-Kala (Vegancraftastic)

Two vegans, two years, one wedding - The Saga, part 5.May I have the ring, please?

This is the fifth installment of an as of yet unknown quantity of posts about Melissa Bastian's wedding nonsense, to be posted on the first Monday of each month.

Engagement. The guy asks the girl, and there's only one way to do it. He gets down on one knee, opens up a box that holds a ridiculously huge diamond ring, and "pops the question."

Right? Wrong! And thank goodness. Maybe for some couples this is the ideal scene, and if it works for them, fabulous. But for many of us this might as well be straight out of science fiction. (Guy and girl? One knee? Diamond?!!) Where did this little piece of drama get whipped up from anyway?

Timeless tradition like your mama (and the television and all the magazine industry) says? 'Fraid not. While the exchange of rings may be multicultural as a symbol of friendship, love, and yes, engagement, the diamond engagement ring thing is actually the product of advertising. I know you'll be just shocked to hear it, but the campaign was trying to sell - *gasp!* - diamonds! Yes, that's right. The DeBeers "Diamonds are Forever" ad campaign, which started in 1938, is the only reason that we so staunchly believe that diamond = engagement.

Yup, 1938. Tradition? That's not even a hundred years! But it's long enough that pretty much anyone who actually got married before it started has probably passed on, and as a species we have awfully short memories. While I enjoy the idea and symbolism of exchanging rings with the one you love, I distinctly do *not* appreciate the whole diamond engagement ring shtick. First of all, in case you're not aware, the diamond industry is absolutely rife with human rights and ecological atrocities. I'm not going to go into depth here, but seriously, look it up. (To scratch the surface, I'm just going to give you two words: child soldiers.) It is possible to source "conflict-free" diamonds, but in general only independent artisans tend to do so. (Like some of the fine craftspeople on Etsy, for example.)

There are also some real socioeconomic implications here. For example: what, only people who can afford a diamond solitaire are worthy of the rite of marriage? Talk about your elitist nonsense. This concept is only heightened by yet another ad campaign, also started by good old DeBeers (don't you love these guys?), stating that an engagement ring should cost two months' worth of the asker's salary. To which I say, are you effing kidding me?! Artist Lee Gainer recently explored this absurdity in her eponymous series, which depicts what types of rings this might mean to hopefuls of various employments.

Besides these major shortcomings, there's just something very exclusionary about the whole diamond ring thing - even beyond monetary considerations. It assumes so many things. Such as that 1) the asker is always a man, 2) he is always asking a woman, and 3) she's always a woman who will just swoon at the thought of wearing a giant diamond. If that's what you want, this system works just fine for you. But what if it isn't?

I'd say that there are plenty of us who want something different. I'd say it's well past time to forge new ground. (And of course, many people already have.)

I have to say, if Jonathan had even suggested spending two months of his salary on a piece of freaking jewelry, I would have asked him if he had gone completely out of his mind. Of course, he never would have. He's too practical for that, and knows me better than to think I would want it. Yeah, I did want a nice sparkly engagement ring. I admit it, and I'm not ashamed. But we have some serious ethics when it comes to what we consume, so deciding how to go about choosing an engagement ring was no small task.

Our first thought was to go vintage. Great! No new materials used, nothing being wasted, no risk of purchasing a conflict diamond or other unethically obtained gemstones, right? I wish. Vintage rings are really, really popular these days, and unfortunately when a market becomes popular it often also becomes tainted. First off, you have to be terribly careful to make sure you're getting a ring that's actually old and not one that's just a remake of an old design. Second, sometimes it's an old setting with a new stone - and then you're into conflict diamond territory. Third, even among jewelers who sell genuine vintage and antique pieces, they generally also sell new things. So while you may not personally be buying a gem of dubious origin, you're still supporting a business that is working in that market. Basically, it's a mine field, and in short time our vintage plan was scrapped.

Fortunately, we came upon GreenKarat. Based out of Texas, this company deals only in lab-created stones and recycled precious metals. Purchasing from them, we knew that we wouldn't be supporting anything that we were ethically opposed to. Plus, their rings are gorgeous! My ring does have two diamonds in it, plus one sapphire. But since all the stones are lab-created, not only are they worry-free but they're also cool colors! The diamonds are light blue and the sapphire is only slightly darker. The stones are set in recycled white gold, so no mining there either. We're happy with our choice, and I love my ring.

Photo Credit: J. Matthew Turner

Somehow, though, through this whole process I never realized how many great engagement ring choices are right under my nose on Etsy! I guess when we first started talking about getting engaged I hadn't become a full-fledged Etsy addict yet. But poppets. I've been checking it out lately, and man are there some fantastic options! Let's explore, shall we?

{Note: for the sake of simplicity I have sometimes used male pronouns for the giver of a ring and female pronouns for the receiver in the following section. But let me make utterly clear that I wholeheartedly support the right of all couples regardless of orientation to celebrate their love with the bond of marriage (legally if they so choose, darnit!), and also have the utmost respect for the bolder-than-me ladies who propose to their men. Celebrate your love, peoples! And send pictures! Wedding pictures always make me cry, in a good way.}

So. OK, I get it. You're a classic kind of couple, and you like the look of a white diamond. But you also have ethical concerns about diamond mining, and don't want to break the bank before you even start planning the wedding! So how about this shining, elegant ring from Silverwoods? Featuring a sparkling white sapphire in a lightly hammered sterling silver setting, this solitaire is sure to please and will never become boring.

Did the two of you fall in love during your endless summer nights together, lying on the beach perhaps or strolling through fields of grass, and staring up at the moon? Let her know you'll never forget those precious times by proposing with The Jewelry Pitt's Rainbow Moonstone Ring. Moonstone is such an awesome stone, and one believed to impart protection. What better to give to the one you love best?

So maybe you like the idea of a solitaire, but want something a little bolder? Maybe you share a mutual love for the color blue. Either way, this giant "London Blue" topaz will probably do the trick. The seller, One Garnet Girl, makes sure to mention that the photos of the ring haven't been edited for color - that's all the rock. Which is probably why she has named this ring "Rock Love". Appropriate name? As a girl with a minor in geology, I vote yes. (Geology rocks!)

Want to tell mom you're getting hitched but don't know how to break the news? If you've got this on your finger, it's pretty likely that she's going to take notice. And so will everyone else! This stone is actually a lab-created sapphire in a little-seen orange-amber color called Padparadscaha. Thank you, Doug Peterson Jewelers, for showing up with such a showy number. So saturated! So saucy! This ring is definitely a showstopper, and is sparked off nicely by being set in gold. And anyway, why be shy? You're getting married honey! You're in love! Flaunt that thing, and be happy!

Well, maybe a huge flashy stone just isn't your thing at all. Maybe you want something subtle, but intricate and elaborate. Something that reflects all of the beautiful delicacies of the relationship you share with your partner. No problem, says I. Etsy and I have you covered too. How perfect is this Lilac Branch ring from Sarah Hood Jewelry? The word stunning comes to mind. Difficult to wear alongside a wedding band, maybe, but then who's to say that it can't be your wedding band? Nobody, that's who.

Looking for a ring with a central feature that isn't a stone? If you want something extraordinary and delicate and fascinating, you can't beat the metal crochet work of Hilary Koster. I don't know about you, but I've never seen anything like it! A piece from this shop could be a particularly good choice if your partner is one of the many who have recently realized that activities like knitting, crochet work, and needlepoint are actually pretty rad. She'll know you've been paying attention. (You'll know he's been paying attention!)

What about something that looks like a stone, but isn't one? There are a couple of Etsy shops making really amazing rock-like pieces that I simply can't get over. My two big favorites are Macha Jewelry out of London making sort of rough cut numbers in her "Rockwell" line, and the ultra-polished "Modern Rock" line coming out of Metalicious. These are very similar concepts with very, very different executions, and I personally think both takes are brilliant. An acquaintance of mine recently received one of the Macha Rocwells, actually - along with a proposal from the love of her life, awww - and believe me when I tell you that she is more than happy with her partner's choice of ring. (Naturally she would have been thrilled to be proposed to by him regardless of whether he'd offered her a piece of tin foil instead. But hey, who doesn't enjoy a pretty ring attached to a wonderful sentiment?)

Here is a truly interesting number for someone like me who is obsessed with symmetry and line. Unique in the truest sense of the word, the seller tells us that she has never made and will never make another one! As she puts it, "It's a little bit geeky and a little bit retro and is completely unisex." Fabulous! It's a tiny size 5 at the moment, but if you need it bigger (or smaller, for someone with very tiny hands?) she's willing to size it free of charge. And you can feel particularly good about purchasing from Apache Moon, as she donates 100% of every sale to animal rescue and sanctuary. Talk about good karma - the perfect way to start off the lifetime bond with the one you love.

Let's get beyond the idea that an engagement ring even needs to have a central stone or focus piece. Why not a solid band to represent your solid bond? (Sorry, these things just come to me. I can't help it.) How about this stunning and unique piece from Gretchen von Eberstein? If your lover is a creative artsy type or just has a inclination toward interesting shapes, how can she not love this ring - and you (even more) for giving her something so special?

I'm in love with a shop, and it's called singleB: beautiful. She makes what's beautiful! Her rings are just, I dunno, spiffy. Like, for instance, check out these Twin Stars Bands. How cool are these? (Bonus: if you're anywhere near of my generation, you're probably thinking about those goofy cartoon icons right now. Hee.) Propose to each other why don't ya? Then use the rings as your wedding bands. Who says you need two different rings anyway? His and hers? His and his? Hers and hers? Pretty much regardless of the setup, it just works. Star crossed lovers? Hardly. More like a match made in heaven.

The aptly named Union Ring by Naturaleza makes a bold statement. You love each other. You're dedicated to each other. And now you're getting married. Yes. Yes. Yes. Clean and sleek, this ring can be ordered in any ring size and is hand carved "from the rich black coyol seed" and then inlaid with silver. A seed from which a great tree can grow? Go ahead. Make the analogy. You know you want to. This seller is quite dedicated to sustainability and environmentalism - just like you and your partner, right?

Believe it or not, even with these dozen gorgeous choices I've only just begun to scratch the surface of all the great engagement ring alternatives that Etsy has to offer. Go have a look for yourself! Enjoy! Remember that this is about you and your partner - NOT about what DeBeers or your mom or your office mates or even your best friends think an engagement ring "should" be. Find something that you love, something that reflects the values you hold as a couple. Once you let go of the notions which were forced upon you without you even noticing, finding the right symbol of your love isn't actually as hard as you think.

Don't want to go it alone? Lots of couples pick out rings together these days. Why not use this adorable Pink Rose ring from Starrlight Jewelery to pop The Question, and then look for the ring together? I promise that when a proposal of a lifetime together is made with sincerity, no one will be disappointed.

Until next Monday,

hearts,
Melissa Bastian

Interview-Monkey & Squirrel

Todays interview is with Jenn of Monkey & Squirrel

how long have you been on etsy and how did you choose the name of your shop?

* i had another shop on etsy a while back and i was a shopper for a long time before i became a seller. i opened up Monkey & Squirrel this past april and decided to give selling a go. Monkey & Squirrel is named after two of my cats. my husband and i do have a third cat, but the name Monkey, Squirrel & Juan just didn't have the same ring to it.

what kind of items do you sell in your shop, and what inspired you to start selling them?

* i have a bit of variety going on in my shop. cast iron home decor, frames, hair accessories... i make what i like and that usually doesn't fall in one category. it may sound strange, but my biggest inspiration was moving out of NYC two years ago. i was so caught up in the day to day craziness that i never just let myself sit and make things. now don't get me wrong, there are definitely things i miss about living in NYC. being vegan, there is no place in the world with as many options when choosing a place to eat! this southern living works well for my though.

do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

* i give 5% of my monthly profits to North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue (www.northmecklenburganimalrescue.org). they are one of the few rescues here in NC that will take in abandoned or abused pitbulls who would otherwise be euthanized because of the laws regarding them here. they are a wonderful organization! my husband and i will also be taking part in the walk for farm animals this oct 3rd (http://www.firstgiving.com/vegan13). it's to help raise money and awareness for the farm santuary. yet another great organization!

what are some of your favorite things about etsy?

* favorite things about etsy... everything! i love how much it's helped spread the word about how fantastic buying handmade can be. it's done a lot to legitimize crafting as more then just a hobby, but as a profession. i love that amazing items, that i would otherwise never know about, are available to me with just a click of the "add to cart" button. i buy all my gifts on etsy now and i feel really good about it, supporting people who are just like me.

do you sell your items outside of etsy?

* etsy is the only place i sell online. i do have a couple of shops in the U.S. that are currently carrying Monkey & Squirrel items and i'm always looking to expand that. i do some craft shows here and there. actually, if you live in or around NC you can find me at Craft Attack this oct. 10th (www.craftattacknc.com). it's being put together by the hornests nest etsy team. it's the second year and we're hoping it will be as successful as the first.

have you been featured anywhere?

* i've been really lucky to be featured in a few different places. this week i actually scored a spot in a storque article! you can check it out... http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-jacket-required-5409/ that was really exciting! a number of different blogs have also been so kind as to give shout outs to Monkey & Squirrel. there are so many great blogs out there that do a wonderful job of highlighting different etsy sellers. i think much of my success is in large part due to them.

do you have any future plans for your shop?

* well i've recently just started doing Monkey & Squirrel full time. at any given moment i have at least 10 different things i would like to be adding to my shop. my mind is a very busy place to be. i would like to start doing more larger pieces, furniture and other home decor. yeah, you can say i've got future plans!

do you have any animal companions?

* my husband and i have three cats as i mentioned before. we also have a very new addition to our family. his name is barkley, and he's a 4 month old boxer shepherd mix. he's quite a handful! i get most of my work done while he naps and i think this must be what it's like to have a toddler. he keeps us on our toes!

how long have you been vegan and what made you decide to go vegan?

* i've been vegan for 4 and a half years now. i was vegetarian for 8 years before that and it just seemed like a very natural progression. how could i be against animal exploitation in one way, but condone it in another. it's a huge part of who i am, and i wouldn't have it any other way.

do you have any favorite vegan things? books, websites, stores...etc?

* oh, i have LOTS of favorite vegan things! vegan with a vengeance, and the garden of vegan, are my two favorite cookbooks. red bamboo in NYC for crispy soul chicken. mooshoes, also in NYC for cute shoes. vegan treats in bethlehem, PA has the greatest vegan donuts in the world. that little bakery was sent here from heaven i believe, to keep us vegans sane. and etsy is my definitely my favorite website for all things vegan. it's now so easy to get everything in one spot!

what are your favorite foods?

* falafel... falafel... falafel!!!

anything else?

* i want to thank everyone on the veganetsy team for just being all around awesome! there is such a sense of community that goes along with veganism and it's great that it's no different when it comes to the etsy team. everyone is really supportive and i'm so happy to be a part of it. thanks!

Bundle Up For Fall

Fall has finally arrived, and along with Fall comes the need for warm and cozy accessories! Staying warm the cruelty free way is easy with these cute picks from the Vegan Etsy Team:

Cowl of Splendor by Melt Brianna:

Orange Cables and Lace Scarf by Knits by Nat:

Bamboo Cowl by Holistically Heather:

Recycled Cotton Scarf by hellokiddo:

-Kala (Vegancraftastic)

The VET makes it vegan for you!

As a vegan, you sometimes hear people say the most ridiculous thing: "Oh, I guess you can't have that, since you're vegan." Well, first of all, it's not can't, it's won't. But second, are you kidding? Anything you can do we can do better, and recently we proved it. We had a little contest among the Vegan Etsy Team members to see who could come up with the best "veganized" version of a traditionally very un-vegan meal, and the results will blow your mind, for reals. The recipes and accompanying directions and advice come directly from these fabulous expert vegans - from their brilliant culinary imaginations straight to your kitchens! Are you excited yet? Behold...

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Holistically Heather's Radical Reuben!

This recipe is super duper easy and delicious! You can find this recipe and others in my vegan cooking zines!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. wheat gluten
1/4 c. nutritional yeast
2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 c. COLD water
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbsp. braggs
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 minced garlic cloves
dash of salt
Can of saurkraut

Knead it all together, add up to 3 Tbsp. more COLD water, if necessary. Roll in fresh ground black pepper, until lightly coated. Make into a loaf, place in tin foil, and wrap like you would a piece of candy, by twisting the ends. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove from oven, let cool to room temperature before slicing.

I like to pan fry my slices of loaf, no oil, just really low heat, so it gets a little crunchy on the outside. While you are doing this you can make your sauce and warm up your sauerkraut. To make the sauce mix 2:1 ratio of vegenaise and ketchup, then mix in some sweet relish, to taste. Makes the perfect vegan thousand island dressing for your sandwich. Now you can either toast your rye bread or not, up to you. Scoop some kraut on there, drizzle with 1000 island, top it with the loaf slices and viola! Delicious, and cruelty free! What did we have with ours tonight? None other than my Famous Potato Salad!



(Editor's Note: The team members who have tried out this recipe have given it VERY good reviews...)

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Sierra Pelona Crochet's Magical Mock Tuna!

1 tablespoon dried hijiki
boiling water
1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo or cannellini beans, drained [I use cannellinis]
3 tablespoons Vegannaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons minced onion
salt and pepper to taste

Place hijiki in small bowl and pour boiling water over it to cover. Cover the bowl with a plate and let the hijiki sit for about 15 minutes.

While that's sitting, mash the garbanzos or cannellinis in a large bowl with a potato masher until all the beans are smushed. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. When the hijiki is ready, drain and combine it with the mixture. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

(Editor's note: the fishes will thank you.)

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The Awesomest Possum's Victoriously Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo!

1. In a small-medium saucepan (mine is 1.5 quarts) over low-medium heat, saute 4 big cloves of garlic (or more or less to your taste) in 1 1/2 tbsp vegan margarine for about 2 min, or until garlic turns golden.
2. Whisk in one can of coconut milk (none of that light stuff!), 2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes, 1 tsp white miso (other miso varieties would probably work too), 1 tsp salt, a few shakes/grinds of black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
3. Let simmer 20-30 min, whisking regularly. As the sauce cooks, it will gradually thicken and begin to bubble. Keep whisking every couple minutes.
4. In the meantime, cook 1 lb fettuccine noodles. What I do is put a stockpot of water on for the noodles, start the sauce, and then by the time the water has boiled and the noodles are al dente (don't let them get too soft, it's nowhere near as good that way!), the sauce is ready to go. The sauce may not seem as thick as you'd expect it to be if you have a history of making dairy cream sauces, but that's ok--it kinda thickens as it coats the noodles.
5. After draining the noodles, put them back into their pot, pour in the sauce, and toss to combine.

This serves 4-6 people, depending on how many of them want seconds. :P You should feel free to play with it--change quantities of nutritional yeast, miso, etc to suit your taste. The sauce is pretty much delicious as soon as it's warm, so don't hesitate to sample and tweak as you cook. (If it seems a little too salty when you taste it, that actually means it's about right--the saltiness thins out a lot when the sauce is mixed with the noodles.) Also, you may need to experiment a little to find a variety of coconut milk you like for this--my fave so far is the Chaokoh brand that I get at the Asian grocery or in the international aisle at Meijer. The ingredients are a little less pure than some others, but the taste and the texture is better than any other I've tried. My second choice would probably be Native Forest, which is more expensive and doesn't have quite as good a texture but has the advantage of being organic. My least favorite so far is Thai Kitchen--works fine for other things like ice cream, but in this it's too watery and has too pronounced a coconut flavor.

Okay, enough of my foodie ramblings--let's have pictures! Here's the finished product, our most recent Alfredo meal...

(Editor's note: and you're coming over to cook this for me when?)

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Vegan Mama of Uber Duper Creations' Friend of the Sheep's Pie!

This is my version of the original, which is usually just a "meaty" saucy stew with root veggies like carrots, onion, and garlic topped with mashed spuds and baked.
I use a pie crust and add more than just "meat" to the pie filling. The recipe should make approximately 2 small pies, or one large pie.

1. Pie Dough:
My husband taught me how to make pie dough. He learned from his mom who learned from Julia Child (not personally, but you know what I mean). He has since veganized it! I love him! He advises that the trick to a good pie dough is to not touch it while mixing it & then touch it as little as possible at the end.

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal (or corn flour)
1 cup cold Earth Balance
1/4 tsp baking powder

Use two butter knives and "cut" these ingredients into each other until well mixed and the size of marbles.
Then add:

3/4 cup cold water
1 Tbsp vinegar

Use a fork to mix this together gently, until all ingredients are mostly combined. You will still have some marble sized chunks of Earth Balance, but you will resolve this in the next step. If you have a pastry/dough scraper, then use it for this step, otherwise a spatula (or metal spoon of some sort) will work. Scoop out 1/3 to 1/2 of the dough onto a floured surface (counter top) and press it down with the palm of your hand while kind of smearing it at the same time to press out any chunks of the Earth Balance, do this with the remaining dough in as many chunks is comfortable to work with. Scrape it up into a dough ball, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Will last for about a week in there if well wrapped.

2. Mashed Potatoes:
You can do it your way, but here is a general run down on how to make them.

6 medium (I like to use red) potatoes
1 Tbsp of earth balance
1/4 cup of unsweetened soy milk (or milk version of your choice)

Peel and dice the potatoes into large chunks. Boil them until they fall apart when you poke them. Drain the water from the pan.
I usually use a hand whisk to mash them but you can use an electronic mixer if you want. Add the Earth Balance & milk and mix & mash. Set aside.

3. Pie Filling:
The beauty of this version of sheep's friend pie is that you can do it your way. Use whatever veggies sound good, or whatever is in season or hanging around the house.
The ground (crumbles) is pretty standard, but you use what you like to substitute for that, like seitan crumbles or something like that. Here is what I used tonight:

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 small carrots, sliced
4 mushrooms, sliced
1 small zucchini, sliced
3/4 cup peas
1 12oz package light life "smart ground"
1 cups veggie broth
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp or to taste black pepper (or if you are like me, then use the grinder and give it a good few twists. I like mine coarse ground)

In a skillet (I prefer my large cast iron pan), add the olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots, mushrooms & zucchini and saute just a little on medium low. Ingredients will cook more in the baking part of the recipe, so don't worry too much about getting everything well done in this step. Add the ground, peas, broth and seasonings, bring to a simmer. Remove from burner. Let cool. The filling will be brothy. This is a good thing as the potatoes will soak up a good portion of the "juice" while cooking and you will not be left with a dry pie.

After the filling has cooled, roll the pie dough into a thin layer approx. 1/8-1/4" thick. Place into a pie dish, and trim the edges of the dough off the edge of the pan. If you know how to crimp the edges, go ahead and do this, otherwise, just leave the edges laying flat on the edge of the pan, just do not leave edges hanging down off the edge of the pan.

Scoop the filling into the pie crusts, and gently top the pies with the mashed potatoes. I found that the best way to do this is by adding thin scoops of potatoes a little bit at a time and sort of "piecing" the potatoes together on the top of the filling.


Place into a preheated 420 degree oven for approximately 35 minutes. Or until the pie dough crust is a golden brown and filling is bubbling. Can be frozen for later reheating, which is what I'm doing with my pies for a post birth meal! (that is why I slightly undercooked them) When I reheat them, I will wrap with foil and bake the thawed pie in a 400 degree oven for approx 30 minutes and then unwrap for approximately 10 more minutes.

(Editor's note: you can come over after Miss Possum. Well, maybe a couple of days after - I'm gonna be full for a minute.)

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So there you have it folks. Four fabulous recipes to help foster you through the fall. If you try them out, let us know! Send pictures! Remember, everyone wants to see pictures of your vegan dinner.

Until next Monday,

hearts,
Melissa Bastian

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