It's Rowan's "Gotcha" Day!

One year ago, we drove to a shelter in Milwaukee and adopted our sweet little thick necked wiggle butt. I can't believe how quickly she grew up! Adopting another dog was something that we went back and forth with a lot. Well, I don't think I need to tell you how very happy I am that we decided to do it. Rowan, I love you so much that my heart feels like it's going to burst sometimes!

Vegan Dog Of The Week- Ezio

Name-

Ezio

Location-

Austin, Texas, United States

Family-

Humans: Chris and Bridget
Dog: Serpico

Age & Birthday-

3 years old

Sex & Breed(s)-

male, Your guess is as good as ours! We're pretty sure he has some pit in him, other than that we don't know!

Nicknames-

Easy

Personality-

Oh, this one is a riot! He started skipping a few weeks after we brought home from shelter (have no idea where he picked that up but was hilarious!; he used to do it when prodded but no longer, only when he's in the mood!), he liked to chew the sides of his dog brother's mouth (sort of a grooming thing we think) and Serpico sort of goes into this trance, likes to beg for anything fruit or veggie related, tilts his head from side to side when you baby talk him, jumps over puddles so as not to get his little feet wet!
Likes & Dislikes-

hates to walk in the rain or even when it's sprinkling, sticks his tongue out when resting or sleeping, and has a very pronounced and funny looking under bite, and his front paws stick out like a duck, thinks he's a cat and is normally really lazy except when at the park off leash he rips around like a little bunny being chased by a wolf (it's quite a site to see! :) Dislikes baths! Or getting wet (hence the cat delusion).

History-

Adopted at Carson shelter in CA.

How long vegan-

Since we brought him home from the shelter.

Meals & Treats-

Nature's Recipe dry kibble, Mashed beans (usually lentils mixed with rice/unsweetened soy milk/ or water, along with small amounts of a bunch of other stuff: flax meal/oil, nutritional yeast, wheat germ, steamed veggies. All of this is pre-made and frozen in huge batches and added to food everyday). Then here and there as treats they get fruit (cantaloupe, melon, apple, banana, pear, etc.) and they LOVE the stems from Kale, and pretty much any other veggie so long as it's a little steamed, and they go nuts for carrots and avocados!

How the switch to a vegan diet went-

Easy!

Help Save These Boys From Slaughter!

My Vegan Etsy teammate Jodi of This Is It! Creations is currently trying to raise enough money to save these three beautiful boys from being slaughtered. To help spread the word and raise money, I will be donating 100% of the sales of my book in my etsy shop to this through February 12. If you can, please chip in to help save these guys. Every little bit helps!



Jodi wrote up a great post about what's going on with this-

I just found out that the 3 bulls who graze on our land were scheduled to be
slaughtered. I asked the owner if he would consider selling them to us instead,
and thankfully he has agreed.

He is asking for $3600 for all 3 and needs
the money in full by 2/13.

I am reaching out to you all and asking for
help. I just can't imagine these sweet boys being killed. They are only 2 years
old and have so many years of life left.

We have named them Pooka Cow
(brown one), Spotty Friend, and Less Spotty Friend.

We have 11 acres of
land that includes a barn and a stream - it's a great place for a bull to live.
We know that if we can raise enough money to save them, we will be able to
provide a great home for them. Our long-term plan is to create a line of
products where all of the sales will go toward their care. For now, though, we
really just need to focus on raising enough money quickly to save their lives.

We have already raised hundreds of dollars in just one day! I know that
we have a ways to go, but I have faith that if we all come together and give
what we can - these beautiful boys can be saved. Please help. It would mean the
world to me - and even more to them.

If you would rather mail a check -
please send it to:
This Is It! Creations
P.O. Box 1252
Jacksonville,
OR 97530

Thank you so much for your kind hearts!
Jodi

LOL Friday

Hurray for Friday! Let's celebrate with some laughs from I Has A Hot Dog!

My New Necklace

I've had my eye on this necklace for quite some time & finally purchased it this weekend from this shop. Well, they ship super fast because today it arrived! It's absolutely gorgeous and I cannot wait to wear it. The peaceful combination of the dog gracefully running through nature along with the colors just stole my heart!

Hearts for Haiti

Seeing the way that so many people have pulled together to help the people of Haiti has really given me hope for humanity. Hearts for Haiti, an Etsy collective of donated handmade items from hundreds of etsy shops, is one of those amazing efforts of compassion. All profits from their sales are going to Doctors Without Borders, which is a wonderful charity. Shipping is free on all items and while there are some non-vegan items, most of them are vegan. There is a huge variety of really great goods, so please take a look at what they have and check back often because they list new items on a regular basis. While you're there, check out the amount of money they've raised since they opened on January 14. It's incredible!

I've been donating my book to them and am very excited that two copies have sold so far. If you've been wanting to buy it, please purchase it from them instead of my shop. Not only will you be helping to raise money by your purchase, but you'll save a few bucks with the free shipping, too. A great deal all around!

Cheezy Baco Spinach Muffins (with variations for biscuits, bagels & cookies)

Cheezy Baco Spinach Muffins

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ cup nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. ground flax
1 Tbsp. hulled hemp seeds (optional)
½ container vegan bacon bits
½ cup canola oil
2 cups water
1 cup shredded spinach

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin pans with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, combine flour, bacon bits, flax, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds and baking soda. Add oil, spinach and water, mixing well. The batter will be thick. Scoop batter into the muffin pans and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before serving. Store in the fridge.

Makes approximately thirty mini muffins.

Variations:

Biscuits- Reduce water by ½ cup and eliminate baking soda. Knead into a stiff dough, adding ¼ cup of flour at a time until it can be rolled out without sticking to the rolling pin. Roll out onto floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters or knife and bake on a greased cookie sheet until crispy.

Cookies- Add ¼ cup of flour at a time until dough is firm enough to form into balls. Place dough balls on a greased cookie sheet and press flat with your hand or a fork. Bake until crispy.

Bagels- Make the same as the cookies except do not press them flat. Dip your finger in water and poke a hole in the middle of the dough ball. Flatten slightly to form a bagel shape. Bake until crispy.