Healthy Spirits: The New Stuff

1. Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabaza
2. Jolly Pumpkin Oro De Calabaza
3. Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca



cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

A Tofurky Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving was about family, food and Tofurky!

I always say going vegan doesn't mean giving up great food. It does, however, mean giving up some traditions- like turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. I haven't had the traditional Thanksgiving meal in ten years and I've come to look at Thanksgiving dinner as a "whatever side dishes don't have animal products" meal. I was excited received a coupon to try out the Tofurky Vegetarian Feast and couldn't believe how much it meant to have a traditional meal to look forward to--- that was vegan!

The frozen box comes with the stuffed Tofurky, gravy, wishbones and an Amy's organic, vegan chocolate cake!

It was fun to pull apart wishbones that didn't come from a bird's intestines!

Everything in the box was already made and just required some defrosting, preparing and baking. It was pretty simple.

Maybe we should call this the blogger's Thanksgiving because I also tried Tasteful Selection's Purple Passion and Sunrise Medley Potatoes, which were sent to me to review.

First off, how cute are these potatoes!? I combined the bags and boiled for a few minutes. One plus: these babies cook FAST!

While the potatoes cooked I sauteed an onion in olive oil with Frontier Pepper Fusion. It is black peppercorns with chipotle. I immediately oooh-ed and ahhh-ed at the aroma of this spice!

The spice was incredible and really flavorful. The one thing I'd change is the little plastic lid. It is so thin that it almost got thrown out a few times!

Along with a little garlic I baked the potatoes (halved) and onions.

I enjoyed a salad, veggies, potatoes and the stuffed Tofurky. I only photographed plate #1 but I can guarantee I had more Tofurky!

The Tofurky was SO GOOD! I had family try bites of it and they couldn't believe how genuine it tasted. Comments of its yummy flavor and texture filled the kitchen. I usually stick with foods with less ingredients, but I will certainly buy a Tofurky again. It allowed me to fit in with the rest of the turkey-themed table and it was unbelievably tasty.

The potatoes were soft and flavorful. I loved the slightly nutty flavor and how easy they were to cook and eat.

I had Amy's cake, too, but forgot to photograph it. Yeah, it was tasty :)

***You still have time to enter to win $100 from V8 V-Fusion + Tea! Check out my review, see the other reviews and enter here!

What was your favorite Thanksgiving dish this year?

The Love Story

So I'm already four days late writing the X-Country Marathon recap. And I'm posting a mushy gushy love story. And this is a health and fitness blog.

I know.

But, besides the fact you demanded it on Twitter, I think this story provides a background to where my life is going. Soon enough I'll be in Asheville, blogging every day about loving a hot boy, making beautiful meals for us and exploring our city through yoga, run, bike and swim. My life, and my passions as an individual, have already changed and you, my dear readers, deserve to know why.

---The Love Story---

I've put off writing about this because I haven't been sure what words are appropriate when all your dreams come true. When the one you've always wanted but could never have holds you tight and says he loves you. Words may never do this justice, but it deserves to at least be put on paper.

My love story with Richard began when I was 15-years-old and just may never end. It is based on late nights driving over Highway 60 with the windows down and nothing but water around us and a love and compassion for each other.

I met Richard from behind the counter in my family's coffeehouse, talking about a yummy frozen drink. He was the tall boy with glasses and a big smile. I always perked up when he was there.

Two years later we sit in his car after a night of bowling with friends. He's the bad boy and I'm the good girl. I give him a hard time and we're instantly stuck together.

Richard was my prom date, my plans on Friday night, my first choice for anything I did at 17-years-old.

He was cool and tough and dated all the girls in the neighborhood, but to me he was the sweetest soul and my best friend.

We did everything that could be done in our small town, but my favorite was always sitting next to him in silence, enjoying our Starbucks' drinks.

One of my favorite quotes has always been, "True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable." Richard was the truest friend I ever had.

Of course Richard knew of my feelings for him. He never grabbed my hand or held me close, but I knew he felt the same way. Still, we were just friends.

So I went on a first date where we ran into Richard after dinner. That first date turned into four years with someone other than Richard. Richard found a girl of his own, moved out of the state and got engaged.

With internet and phone we never lost touch. We looked for excuses to talk, even if it meant dating advice for me after I ended my long-term relationship. We kept the conversations appropriate, although we could never completely hide our feelings for each other.

And then one day Richard ends things with his fiance, tells me he has always loved me and isn't going to lose me again. He says he'd be settling to be with anyone other than me. He shows me how he's saved all the little things I made him when we were younger. He overwhelms me with his enduring love.

In the back of my mind I always believed I would end up with Richard. He was the standard I compared every guy to. Being with him was exciting and natural and free. But he was Richard and things that good just don't happen in real life.

And now this man, this everything I always wanted but could never have, was telling me I was the only one he wanted.

I couldn't believe it. Fear- fear of true love and fear of what I could lose- filled my mind. What would I have left if I lost him?

Still, weeks after his confession I make my way through the airport, finally catching those familiar, warm brown eyes. I drop my bags and he embraces me with trembling hands. We hold each other close like everything we could ever want or need in the world is in each other.

He leads me to his truck and makes sure I'm settled in the passenger seat. We make our way to his house on a hill, mostly sitting in silence with smiles big enough to make our cheeks hurt. At this point words just won't do.

He shows me around his country life- the cool air, the mountains, his two black dogs. We regularly pause to gaze into each others eyes and smile.

We've talked about our first kiss for weeks, but with the way I tremble with just a hug, I'm not sure I can handle his kiss.

After a few hours of hand holding and Eskimo kisses, his lips press against mine. Seven years of passion built up, everything became right in the world with each love-filled, natural kiss.

Now I sit in his living room, with his dogs at my feet, typing the love story of all love stories. I search for words to capture this feeling of completeness, of true love found. Instead I am leaving these incomplete and imperfect words to serve as a glimpse to what we share. After all, I have a love story to get back to.

Prom 5/2006:

Asheville 11/2010:

Ooops! How did that get in there?!

Do you have a love story? Did a new relationship affect your diet/fitness habits?

Healthy Spirits: Beer of the Month Club December 2010

...now ready for pick-up!

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

Afternoon with Bria

So I like races.

Here's what's coming up for me:

11/21/10- X-Country Marathon (tomorrow!)

11/28/10- Space Coast Marathon

12/11/10- Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic

2/27/11- Disney Princess Half Marathon

5/14/11- Keys 100 Ultra Marathon

I have to add stickers to the back of my car! Coming up is a post on how I race so much and stay strong and injury-free.

Yesterday I had the awesome pleasure of meeting Bria all the way from Prince Edward Island, CANADA! She's a fellow blogger and emailed me when she knew she'd be vacationing in Orlando. Bria is a triathlete, (fast) runner, and super-smart lawyer/former RD student. It was great hanging out with her!

Infusion Tea is always featured on the blog, so we went there and both ordered my favorite: 1/2 Tempeh Chili, 1/2 Milton Special Salad and an iced tea of the day. It was Vanilla Rooibos! Yummy :)

There's always room for dessert so we stopped by Rhapsodic Vegan Bakery, which is dangerously close to my house.

I enjoyed a Cinnamon Sticky Bun cupcake... redone for easy eating on the go :)

Thanks for spending your afternoon with me, Bria!

Don't forget about the V-8 V-Fusion + Tea review and $100 gift card giveaway!

Where would you bring a visiting blogger?

Healthy Spirits: Telegraph Gypsy Ale/Firestone 14

1. We have a limited number of Firestone 14 bottles still available. Limit 2 per customer. BOTM members can reserve bottles.

2. Telegraph Gypsy Ale-Wild ale brewed with plums.

Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals

1. Ballast Point Sculpin

2. N'ice Chouffe

3. Stone Double Bastard

4. Stone Lukcy Basartd

5. Fantome Noel 2008 and 2010 vintages

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

V8 V-Fusion + Tea will rock your socks off

This is a sponsored review by BlogHer and V8 Fusion + Tea.

Holy yum I'm in love with new V8 V-Fusion + Tea.

This review came in perfect time when I was sick and traveling and in need of a good immune booster.

V8 V-Fusion + Tea has fruits and veggies- plus the antioxidants of green tea.

I was Asheville, NC, visiting Richard, so we took an afternoon break to see if the taste of the V8 V-Fusion + Tea was as good as its benefits.

First up: Pineapple Mango Green Tea. The tea flavor was the weakest in this one, with the mango being most pronounced. It tasted like a yummy juice. I went on to have two more cups of this flavor!

Second in line: Raspberry Green Tea. The green tea was stronger with this flavor. It tasted like traditional raspberry tea, but with a green tea aftertaste rather than black tea.

Last but not least: Pomegranate Green Tea. The pomegranate flavor was more sweet than tart and really complemented the mild green tea flavor.

All three flavors were sweet and smooth in texture. I'd pair it with a pancake breakfast, use it as an afternoon pick-me-up or take it with me on a long workout.

I'm definitely buying these again. We liked all three flavors, but here's our order of preference:

V-8 V-Fusion + Tea is giving you 1 of 10 chances to win $100! Here is all the info, including the other 9 bloggers' posts.

The program runs from 11/15-12/15/2010.

For a chance to win, leave a comment below.

For a second entry:
- Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below).
- Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below).
- Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Have you tried V8 V-Fusion + Tea? What is your favorite V8 juice product?

North Carolina in a Week

This has been quite the week of traveling. Tuesday through Thursday I spent near Asheville, NC, visiting a special boy, Richard. Friday through Sunday was a girls' road trip through North Carolina and South Carolina. I've certainly covered ground!

Maybe it's just me, but food just tastes better in crisp mountain air. I introduced Richard to PB-naner oats and taco salads with the amazing Daiya vegan cheese.

Runs are definitely better with hills, nature and that crisp mountain air.

Richard is a flexitarian who appreciates good vegan food, so we made it a point to try his favorite vegetarian restaurant in downtown Asheville, Rosetta's Kitchen.

Rosetta's has a funky, local feel with mis-matched chairs and fun wall art. The crowd was varied and definitely included plenty of dreadlocks!

We got the vegan Pad Thai Kitchen Style with tofu and a peanut-apricot sauce. It had a nice twist from typical pad thai, but amazing nonetheless!

We walked downtown after our amazing dinner. It was very hippie and fun for sure. I loved what I saw and can't wait to go back and really scope out the area!

Recommendations to try out Laughing Seed Cafe have poured in since I first mentioned my visit to Asheville. You all know your stuff so we stopped in for dessert.

We shared a raw vegan ice cream with cacao and candied pecans and a vegan organic peanut butter cookie.

The "ice cream" was incredible- refreshing, dynamic and just sweet enough. The cookie was moist and rich and full of peanut butter goodness.

How do you select restaurants to try out when visiting a new city?