Operation Cookie

Just dropped off my crispy vegan chocolate chip cookies at “Operation Cookie”. This is an event where the Woman’s Club of South Pasadena collect homebaked cookies for our veterans who are homeless or hospitalized.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_23287724/womans-club-south-pasadena-collects-cookies-veterans

Love That Dog Hollywood Radio Show

Love That Dog Hollywood Radio Show

I’m going to be on Love That Dog Hollywood Radio today to update them on Ripley’s post operational status. 

 

Pet Psychic Radio

I work on the Pet Psychic Show which is a video program and a radio show. We have a weekly show where you can call in and talk to your pets through Laura the Pet Psychic. We are on every Thursday at 12pm PST at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepetpsychic

Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Procrastination gives me a clean home and fresh baked cookies. I am procrastinating on writing a paper for school and began working on a new vegan cookie recipe. I am an avid vegan cupcake baker but have yet to venture into cookie baking. But I loved how these turned out so I’m going to share my recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegan chocolate or carob chips
1-tsp vanilla extract
1-cup earth balance or equivalent
1/4-cup of soy creamer
2 1/4-cup of flour
1-tsp baking soda
1-cup of vegan sugar
2-eggs worth of egg replacer
1-tsp salt

Preparations:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix vanilla extract, earth balance, soy creamer and egg replacer in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix sifted flour with sugar, baking soda, and salt. Combine the wet ingredients with dry ingredients. After they are mixed fold in the chocolate/carob chips. Roll into 1 inch balls and bake on cookie sheet until the edges are golden. I lightly sprayed my cookie sheet with coconut spray oil. Enjoy!!!

Happy Vegan St. Patrick’s Day!

Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the great Irish foods on St. Patrick’s Day. Using the traditional Irish food as inspiration, I created a few dishes today to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. I made vegan colcannon & vegan shepherd’s pie. I also tried to making the colcannon updated with healthier twist. It’s made with cauliflower instead of potatoes & the Shepherds Pie has beets in it instead of carrots.

First self-portrait

First self-portrait of my scar from living donor liver transplant (ldlt) 6 months post op

6 Month LDLT Post Op Report

It has now been exactly 6 months since I gave my mother 1/3 of my liver. I have never felt so blessed in my life as I have in the last month. I went to Japan mid December and picked up my mom and brought her home to Los Angeles for the holidays. I didn’t quite know what to expect when I got to Japan since the last time I saw her and she was unable to talk. She had just gotten out of the ICU and still had many tubes going in and out her. During the last 5 months, I had not really spoken with her. I guess I was afraid of so many things. There was fear that she would not be well physically, but I think I was most afraid of her being the same person she was before the surgery. Upon my arrival to Japan, I came out of the arrival gates, and there was my mom waiting for me with tears in her eyes. She hugged me with her little frail body but it felt like the biggest, warmest, genuine hug I have ever received. I have never seen this side of her. I truly felt like I had a mom. She was much smaller and her hair was all grey and short. My mother has always had long dark hair. This transformation has been the best thing to ever happen to me. Although my scar still hurts and the incision stings, I feel healed. My heart is healing, my family is healing. We have never loved each other as much as we do now. I never thought I would have serenity in this lifetime, around my relationship with my family but I am grateful to say I do.

As far as my physical condition is concerned, I am 100% with my liver function. All the weight I lost during what I call my “surgery diet” has come back unfortunately. I guess that means I have to eat healthy and exercise again. Booo! But, I guess I gotta be thankful that my body can get back to working out again. My scar still hurts on a daily basis. The doctor says I will have another 6 months till I am fully healed. I like my scar it looks like the “flux capacitor” from Back To The Future.