google searches and answered questions

Well. I finally got a couple of interesting Google searches that led people to my blog. I've probably had more, but I forget to check all the time. Most times it's just food stuff or people googling my blog name or something like 'awesome vegan chili'. Anytime anyone wants to google anything that is awesome and vegan, I'm like the number one link. Yay! Anyway, here's two that I feel are worth mentioning...

1. Little Chinese Friend
2. Bananas Lips Hurt

hrm. Ok then. Moving on...

My lovely friend from Tahinitoo (click for her interview!) offered to interview anyone who wanted it, and I'm terribly self-absorbed and like answering questions (sometimes...well, I do today anyway), so I volunteered. You know. In case you need to know something about me. This is where you learn it.

1. What is a food you disliked before going vegan, but now enjoy?
So many things. I used to hate avocados. I'm learning to love mushrooms, which I never thought would happen. Sauerkraut is a big one. I just got way more adventurous with my palate in general once I became vegan. It was like...none of the things that I'm eating now are truly gross to me because they are all plant-based. Or maybe I just got more open-minded. Who knows. Also, they say your taste buds change every seven years. So maybe it's all actually just a coincidence.

2. If you could convince one person to go vegan, who would it be, and why?
Just one person? Hm. I kind of wish one of the people I worked with (any of them, it doesn't matter) was vegan so that my bosses would lay off on picking on me so much. Or at least I'd have someone with whom to commiserate. Really though, I wish everyone was vegan. It just makes so much more sense...if you're willing to see it.

3. What is the kitchen appliance you can't live without?
Food processor all the way. I tried making hummus without it once and almost died from the inconvenience.

4. What is your favorite veg restaurant you have eaten at (or your fave restaurant in general)?
The only fully vegan restaurant I've eaten at was Blossom in NYC (the nice one in Chelsea, not the cafe). And it was spectacular. Granted, I have nothing to compare it to, really, but it was one of my first seitan experiences (Wild Ginger being my very first just a day or so earlier). I had no idea that vegan food could be so darned fancypants and wonderful. Well, I knew it could be wonderful, but that experience really inspired me to start branching out with my vegan cooking (less one-pot-indian meals) and see what I could do.

5. Do you face any dilemmas/struggles as a vegan?
Only that I live in a place that is not at all accommodating to veganism. It is impossible to go out and have a nice dinner, so I never really feel like I get a night off from cooking (and still get a decent meal). Also, the only other real life vegan I know is Michael and it's difficult to relate to the people here sometimes because they are incredibly close minded and would rather poke fun (defensively) at veganism than give it a fair chance. Honestly though, I've never been happier or more satisfied with my life since becoming vegan, so any struggle I have to deal with through ignorance and/or inconvenience is worth it to me.

There you go. Info about me. Excitement!

Anyone else wanna play? Leave me a comment that says you want to be interviewed and I'll leave you a comment with some questions. It could be fun, you never know. It could also kill 20 minutes on a Friday afternoon when you're at work and would much rather be napping.