Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Do Squirrels Like Cupcakes?

First, before we get to the grey furries, some Asian food and an Asian-themed song that might hurt your teeth it's so sweet but I can't get it out of my head.

The Bird & The Bee - Love Letter To Japan


Before you become completely disgusted with my strange of late taste in music, I'm going to distract you with food pix and squirrel talk. ;) We've been eating lunch out a bit lately so not a lot cooking here (Why? Because it's that dreaded time of year..tax season..the nightmare of small business owners through the land..nooooo!!! okay, so I mean, I totally flaked out on matching up my receipts, reconciling statements, etc. since like July so I'm wallowing in self-pity right now..wah!! Okay..pity party is over..). I am finding some good vegan meals out though: here's a photo of Tofu Bi Bim Bob (or Bab or Bap or whatever variation you can find!) from today's lunch. It was super yum! We like this Thai restaurant in Inman Square in Cambridge..they are one of the few places that make this dish with a really savory sauce on the tofu and they never put egg on top so I don't have to remember to mention it. I love it. If you have a good recipe for this dish, please let me know..I'm looking!

Here's another recent lunch: Pho vegetable noodle soup from Le's in Harvard Square. Cheap, fast eats..H. gets what he calls soup belly from eating a big bowl of soup from this place but it's a good full feeling of warmness in the cold weather.


Finally, the one thing I did bake recently: chocolate raspberry fudgey brownies..dramatic display of my love for chocolate on Valentine's Day. Chocolate..my own true love...


Okay, that got old fast because H. isn't quite the chocolate fiend I am so the remaining four cupcakes I decided I just didn't want. So I thought: Do squirrels like cupcakes? Hum...

My first guess was yes. Rodents are actually just one family branch away from primates (that's us as you know) which is why labs use mice in drug testing experiments (sad..)..because they are so like us. So armed with this information and the following fact and by fact, I mean, my own observation that there are no humans alive who do not like cupcakes (well, at least I've never met one!), I concluded that yes, indeedy, squirrels do like cupcakes. Now to test my hypothesis, I went outside early in the morning (I was still in my jammies so dedicated I am to my squirrel research) , and hucked with those four chocolate cuppies into the backyard . I did two overhand pitches and two underhand..and I'm a lefty. Who throws with her right hand..go figure. Anyways, I cite these details only for the sake of science (ha!). What I didn't expect was the sound of little feet running from all directions. Yes, that's right..squirrels were literally coming from every direction! I counted four in a matter of seconds of those cuppies hitting the snow. Can you say cupcake feeding frenzy? And this time it wasn't even me eating the cupcakes (that was earlier in the week).

So my friend, I believe we can conclusively say, yes, squirrels DO like cupcakes. Note the cuppy on the right side below...this guy has already taken a bite:

I'm not sure how they manage to drag the cuppies up the tree since the treats are bigger than their heads but this little fluffernutter managed just fine!


Our squirrel research will continue and we will report back on the results of our scientifically based research methods coming to you live from the Squirrel Research Institute of Cambridge, MA (aka my apartment).

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Natural History of the Chicken


Have you seen this? I first saw it on PBS back in 2000 or so and LOVED it. Whoops..we have exposed another animal love of mine besides squirrels: Chickens. Please don't tell my squirrels! Bok bok!! Mouth-to-mouth chicken CPR, chickens watching TV, pet chickens and other funny stories (some true yet very unvegan stuff too but good for non-vegans to know)--this movie has it all.

Part 1 (sorry--can't figure out how to embed this particular video!)..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkxO91TLKVg

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84vXdEdSJI4&feature=related

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2C1E1_BN1Y&feature=related

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaO1hDMgJsw&feature=related

Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJFU8mjMEK0&feature=related

Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXXUPK-OvtQ&feature=related

Monday, February 16, 2009

Bookworming My Way Through February

Ack! It's been forever since I've posted. What's really keeping me busy is that I joined a local vegan study group..we're reading up on animal rights. We're covering all the big names in animal rights literature. Peter Singer..vegan or not? We're debating. Francione I can deal with..easier read. Regan..good lord, we were all complaining up a storm of how complicated his writing is. I never took any philosophy course in college and now I can say I know why. There is something maddening about debating the philosophy of animal rights when you well, could just be out there actually saving animals! However, don't get me wrong..there is most certainly goodness in discussing different philosophies and how to apply them.

So why exactly am I doing this to myself? Well, I've been vegetarian for 16 years now (1993)! It's hard to believe even as I type this. 16 years? Am I really that old? I've been vegan for three years now. It's flown by. Yet in all this time I never once read up on vegan/vegetarian theory I'm embarrassed to say! So when the Vegan Society of Boston advertised a vegan animal rights study group, I decided, let's do it. Besides, it's research for my pending squirrel book..of which I hope to include a subtle (or not so subtle!) vegan message.

Now for "fun" reading, I picked up a very sweet read today: The Emotional Lives of Animals. Wow, this is a very powerful book. I've only read a little and I'm sucked in. If you love animals, please check this book out..you will not regret it!

So what are the squirrels up to? Well, they haven't really had much time for us lately. They are still very very fat. Not my fault. The little buggers are ignoring me because it seems that someone (or some "ones") in the apartment building across the street has noticed Squirrelly's nest and undoubtedly with coy glances from my squirrels, this person has been seduced into leaving snacks out for Squirrelly and her kids. Even the postman is onto it. H. was standing by the tree the other day looking for Squirrelly or the kids and the postman remarked to H. that there is a family of three squirrels living in the tree. H. of course had to correct him that it's actually four squirrels (that's a lot of fat squirrel stuffed into that tree!). My squirrels are like those well-connected people who know everyone. Well, everyone with snacks specifically!

Other than that, not much a-happening besides lots of vegan baking and cooking. So where's the pictures? I just got a new mac and I'm sort of in that uncomfortable place of using both the new and old computer at the same time...so pictures soon, I promise!