SAVE THE KALES!: New Half Hour Vegan Cooking/Lifestyle/Travel Show airs in May

Hey. You like watching things, right? Watch this:

Maybe The Law of Attraction is real after all.

Starting in May, Save the Kales! will be airing as a half hour television show of the same name. We’ll be cooking in a beautiful “studio” kitchen. We’ll be traveling to different locations (most in or around the Lehigh Valley) to meet the people and tour the places bringing plant-based food, and  sustainable and healthy living ideas to the masses.

Add in a mix of vintage thrift stores, farmer’s markets, animal sanctuaries, and more… and you get Save the Kales! Show. It will essentially be this blog in television format. 

(Wow. Wow. I still can’t believe it.)

ADG Photography

A new episode will air every month, multiple times a month, on RCN Cable – and be stored in the “On Demand” files so you can tune in any time. We will also air commercials leading up to each new show… which means you could be watching HGTV and see a Save the Kales! commercial. Isn’t that crazy!?

Don’t have RCN cable? Fear not. After a week of airtime, all episodes will go online to live indefinitely. My mother would never allow me to make a show that she wouldn’t be able to view from home. 🙂

(I have spent a lot of time in these last two months worrying about what could go wrong: the inevitable anonymous mean passive aggressive comments, the “She’s not as good of a cook as so-and-so, why does she get this?” speculations, the general vulnerability that comes when you put yourself in a vulnerable place… I was going to write about all of these because I haven’t been able to think about this show without thinking about them.

But for now, I’ll leave them aside. This is too good to tarnish with worry and anxiety. Besides, there is a lesson in everything and even the “bad stuff” can be a great teacher. I continue to learn all the time.)

ADG Photography

And I also have more faith in it now (and in myself, and maybe that was the trickiest hurdle of all). My goal isn’t to pretend I’m the most inventive cook, or the most knowledgable about vegan living and issues…

My goal is: to make this lifestyle accessible to people. Especially those who don’t know anything about it and feel it’s too difficult, overwhelming, or expensive. It’s not any of those things, but I don’t just want to TELL people, I want to SHOW them.

And at the end of each episode, if I can provide some knowledge and ideas for eating delicious plant-based meals on a budget, and hopefully entertain and highlight the people and places doing positive things along the way, it will be a success.

And here’s the best part: In a year from now, we will have so much experience and so many episodes under our belt. Perhaps by then a major network will be willing to pick up a show like this in it’s roster of meat-centric programming. While that’s not my driving force, it would be a very Cinderella-magical outcome.

One thing I’ve learned about trying to imagine the future: you can’t. So work hard, smile, and see what happens.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been more nervous or excited for anything in my whole life. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

–               –               –                  –               –                –              –

It would be impossible to talk about this show without mentioning Matt and Sarah of Lehigh Valley Mirror, my co-producers, directors, camera crew and editors. Lehigh Valley Mirror will also be airing as a half hour show starting in April, featuring independent and creative people and businesses in the LV. 

Matt and Sarah, I could never possibly thank you enough for believing in me to invest your time, skills, and friendship. I’d lasso the moon for you both if I could. You are dreams-come-true to work with. Thank you.

SECRETS REVEALED

Okay, guys, the time has come… For two months I’ve had to keep the BIGGEST, BEST, MOST EXCITING, MOST INCREDIBLE SECRET ABOUT SAVE THE KALES! EVERRRRR under wraps…

But tomorrow, Friday March 30th 2012, all will be revealed. Check back! 

And I’m incredibly flattered and humbled to tell you that the blog awards just ended an hour ago, and Save the Kales! won Best Food Blog — AND, holy gosh, Best Overall Blog.

Save the Kales! Best of Blogs contest

Our community is full of people doing incredibly creative things with passion and drive and a desire to show that what we do and say DOES matter, our actions CAN make a difference in our communities, and if you’re lucky enough (I am; we are) you make great friends along the way.

I am incredibly thankful. My vocabulary isn’t advanced enough to tell you how much it means to me. With a full heart, thank you.

*Before anyone has a heart attack, that jacket is faux-leather.

Vegan Blogger Conference in Philly: DIY Style… and a Week of Wonderful

Hello! Hello hello hello. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so excited for a Monday. I stumbled around the house a few minutes before remembering: I don’t have to do anything but awesome things ALL WEEK.

Photo by Momota.M

Starting today! But for now, let me tell you the rest of the week Ryan and I will finally be taking that getaway trip  we tried to take a few weeks ago. Our goal is “no work” but there is so much to be done, SO MUCH TO TELL, I’m not sure we’ll comply. In any case, it’s supposed to rain and I’m perfectly content (happy, even) to take my book-pile and computer to a coffee shop for several hours and put a dent in what needs to be done. Or maybe I’ll just take a lot of baths. We’ll see.

On Friday, I’ll be speaking at Northampton Community College about the inspiration and forward progress of The Bethlehem Food Co-op. I love public speaking and I love the co-op! Win-win. There were be will a few other great people on the panel from other projects and initiatives, and a question and answer session. Yay, learning!

When secrets are no longer secrets

Saturday I’ll be at the Spring Home Show at Stabler Arena. I can’t tell you why just yet, but I can tell you it’ll be to officially announce The Big Secret. Which means by the end of this week, I’ll be able to tell everybody which feels both exciting and overwhelming. If you’re in town and want to learn about local companies that can help with home improvement projects, etc… come visit! I’ll be there between 2pm-4pm.

So today… ah, today. Just as I am working to squish the last of the anxieties I have about The Big Secret, I can finally talk to just the people who can offer the best advice and understanding.

They are none other than Christy Morgan from The Blissful Chef:

Christy Morgan aka The Blissful Chef

AND Allyson Kramer from Manifest Vegan:

Allyson Kramer and Manifest Vegan book

I cannot tell you the amount of respect and adoration I have for these two, not only for their hard working ethos and the fact that they are published authors (Allyson’s book comes out in a few months!), but because I have had the pleasure to know them as friends thanks to the internet, and they have been excellent role models and even at times, support systems.

I’ll blabber on about them after today, WITH PHOTOS, because Christy is in Philly this week for a book tour. Tonight she will be doing a book signing and cooking demo at the Whole Foods in Jenkintown, PA. Give them a call if you want to reserve a spot (it’s free!), and maybe I’ll see you there from 6-7:30pm.

But once I get myself dressed, I am off to Philly to Allyson’s house where I hear rumors that the three of us will make cooking videos together. And maybe shopping! And Allyson made lunch! And and and… ?

So if you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and check out their websites, Christy’s here and Allyson’s here.  They are masterful! Oh, and gluten-free folks – Allyson has been cooking only gluten-free (vegan) food for the past few years. Something for everyone, just as it should be. 

DIY LARABARS: Apricot Pumpkin Pie raw vegan snack bars

In an effort to find an easy on the go breakfast/snack bar, I noticed an awful lot of raw fruit + nut bars popping up, intended to be similar to the raw vegan Larabar brand bars. (Larabar brand bars are delicious and I’m so glad they exist when you are on long trips and can pick one up at a Wawa or other gas station!)

 I based the bars I made on this recipe, but there is another in Whole Living magazine this month (similar to the ones I made but drizzled in chocolate and topped with coconut, fancy!), and my pal Stacy just found this website that gives you a breakdown of how to combine ingredients to make a ton of flavors.

The Spring always makes me want to dive into more raw foods recipes, and the raw nuts and dehydrated fruit of these bars fit the bill. (Yes, dehydrated fruit is still “raw”.)  If you’re interested in one of the best raw foods dishes I ever made, check out this raw taco salad recipe.

These are so easy to make. Throw stuff in a food processor, stick it in a pan to mold the shape, and that’s pretty much it. You can, and should, do this. Get creative and share your own recipes!

APRICOT PUMPKIN PIE RAW “LARABAR”

INGREDIENTS

• 1 and 1/4 cups medjool dates (no pits)
• 1 and 1/4 cup dried apricots
• 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 and 1/2 cups raw almonds

Put all the dried fruit into the food processor and process until it is a gummy blob. Note, this made my food processor FREAK OUT and it was shaking so much it actually started moving across the counter! I had to nearly sit on top of it to hold it down. I don’t know why this happened, but don’t be alarmed.

Homemade Larabars

Put the dried fruit blob into a large bowl. Put the raw almonds into the food processor and process until broken down into small pieces – just be careful you don’t completely turn them to dust!

Raw vegan breakfast bar

Put the almonds in the bowl with the fruit, and start mixing with your hands until everything is one solid lump. Add the pumpkin pie spice and mix that through (if using).

Put parchment paper in a square or rectangle pan (nothing too big, an 8 x 8 baking ban would work), so that the mixture is about 1/2 inch thick, and flatten it even all around. You can also spray with cooking spray if you don’t have parchment paper.

Put this in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to harden it up. Take it out, turn it over on a cutting board. Cut bars into the sizes you want. This recipe/pan size made 8 bars for me. You can also use cookie cutters to make fun shapes, and roll the “leftover” bars into little snack balls.

DIY raw vegan Larabars

Homemade raw vegan Larabars with apricots and almonds

Wrap them individually in plastic or store in a container with a lid. Keep them in the fridge. I have to imagine they last at least a week, though we ate them well before that.

This recipe is so easily adapted to make so many flavor combinations. I have a few other ideas up my sleeve and I’ll be sure to share those if I try them and they work. Get un-cooking!

Sharing is Caring:

Coming up tomorrow…  DIY raw “Larabars”, you will pinch yourself when you see how easy and affordable these are. Also coming soon, piles of smokey baba ganoush and a review of a swanky farm to table pop-up restaurant (minus the pretentiousness).

Until then, here’s where I spent my morning. Isn’t it beautiful?

Prettiest thing I ever did see.

AND don’t forget: The next Bethlehem Food Co-op meeting is TOMORROW, Thursday March 22, at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley (424 Center Street  Bethlehem, PA 18018).

We’ll be deciding on a logo, talkin’ t-shirts and cookbooks, exploring ways to get involved with the new Bethlehem Farmer’s Market, and more. Get involved!

Bethlehem, PA Parade of ShamROCKS!

Oh my, that was fun!

Bethlehem Vegfest 2012! September 8th!

I was a little disappointed in myself for not having made my Veggie Princess costume a full-length ballgown as I intended, but it may have turned out for the best. It was a GORGEOUS warm day – and got rather hot standing on the trailer bed in the direct sun for a couple of hours, plus my hair weighs 8,000 pounds.  My apron-esque skirt did the job just fine and kept me from passing out!

We had a nice little turnout of vegetable-walkers, and let’s give thanks to the hard work of the DBA (Downtown Bethlehem Association) for ensuring we had the best stuff to hand out: Vegfest 2011 cookbooks (yes, cookbooks!); Bethlehem wall calendars with all the events of the year marked; and several varieties of apples from a local farm. YUM!

Downtown Bethlehem Association. Festival-thrower extraordinaires.

But really, what a lovely day, all around. I was so impressed with the DIY vegetable costumes. True artisan craft(wo)manship!  I wish these folks would consider holding sewing classes and we could all walk around dressed like food every Saturday. Why not?

What a beautiful salad! Bethlehem Vegfest parade walkers.

See that cute little cucumber? He said, “I’m a PICKLE.” Ha!

Me and tofu, getting an early start on our sunburns.

"Mr. Green Peas", miraculously he stayed cool as a cucumber.

The parade started at 1pm, but we were in the last group and didn’t get moving until probably closer to 2pm. But we got to watch the whole parade go right past us! Marching bands, elaborate floats, DOGS!!!!, so many irish dancers and their curly wigs… everyone was so happy and smiley and in great spirits!

Mr. Green Peas and Tina's truly impressive, gorgeous, stunning Broccoli costume, all made from leftover material scraps she had in her house. IT WAS AMAZING.

My friends Alex and Misi showed up before we took off, and Alex caught this candid photo as I was running to the end of the truck to hug them. Just pure happiness, pure elation. Friends, and community members coming together, and creativity, and sunshine… I was a happy, happy girl. This is as real as a smile gets.

Smiley-face!

Our float got moving in the long line of floats and wow, it was so fun to see the street and sidewalks flooded with people waving, smiling, enjoying being in the moment. I found a bunch of my friends in the crowd – some I hadn’t seen in YEARS (hello, Jessie!) – and some blog readers even yelled out “We love Save the Kales!” when the float went by. I also saw two women realize they were handed cookbooks and one slapped her friend and said, “WHOA, HEY LOOK, A VEGGIE COOKBOOK, THAT IS AWESOME!” So cute!

Ryan and some friends were perched three stories over Main Street in Ryan’s old apartment/Steve and Adam’s current apartment, giving them all a great bird’s eye view.

Bethlehem Vegfest Parade float.

Brent and Ryan - hi guys! Be careful!

Emily and Rachel.

THANK YOU, everyone involved, for making it such a fun day and event! Thank you Bethlehem Pennsylvania for being my home… you truly are where MY heart is.

After all, why do we choose our towns and communities if not to dig in with both hands and really become a part of them?

*Almost* everyone from the Vegfest float. What a delicious bunch.

…. and once the parade ended, I wandered back up Main Street (after stopping to hug a lot of friends along the way) to get to the apartment to meet my friends. We went to the library book sale, tiara and all, and then Ryan took me to Vegan Treats for ice cream. CHOCOLATE MINT TWIST! What a lucky lady I am!

Save the Kales! inside Vegan treats with a giant tofu. Typical day. No big deal.

By then it was 4pm and I had forgotten to eat anything all day (oopsies) and the sun gave me a headache. We gobbled up our ice cream cones in less than five minutes, then went home and promptly fell asleep together on the couch. I had no idea St. Patrick’s Day could be so much fun! Cheers!

Thanks to Miko, Christian, Adam and Alex… I snagged some of your photos. Thanks for capturing this fun day!

Mini-Update

I wouldn’t even consider this a real post, but being away from here for over  a week makes me feel like something is missing.

About that new project? Yes, yes, it’s coming along… I thought I’d have been able to spill the beans by now, but patience is a virtue I guess.

There are two more projects in the works, smaller in scale, but I’m excited about them all the same. I’ll announce those as soon as they are set up and put in place. (I already don’t feel I have enough time, I’m not sure where I think I’ll find more… Ah well! Onward!)

I also haven’t updated with new recipes because I think I’m currently cooking less than ever. Most days are 10-15 hours out of the house, and when I am home I try to clean or exercise, or gasp! relax. Which means going for a jog or watching a movie on the elliptical is traded in for grocery shopping. (Hey! My name is Jaime and I ate cereal for dinner three nights last week!)

The irony is, when I started cooking for other people I remember thinking “Who would hire a personal chef? Do people actually do this?”… and now I feel like I need to hire a personal chef. Hmm.

But the busyness, all of it is for good things. Recently a friend of mine said, “Wow, remember where you were in your life two years ago? So much is different now. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” And it is. It very much is. Sometimes when you’re caught up in the moment, when you have so much left you want to do, it can be difficult to see how far you’ve already come. It really helps to stop and think about that. Emotionally, professionally, creatively… we go through these stages, and when we can really focus on evaluating what we’ve learned (and remember, learning is also about ACTION and CHANGE) it can make us more secure in our abilities to accomplish our dreams.

Okay, okay. I’m done being a self-help book (for now). I promise this coming week I’ll have some goodies for you, and maybe even reveal a project or two. (Sheesh, I hope they live up to the hype!)

Have a great weekend — and while you’re dressing in green and drinking green beer and enjoying parades, eat some collards or kale too, okay?

Help STK! Win a Local Blog Contest

EDIT; March 30th: I won! Thank you!

Disclaimer: contests give me anxiety anyway, and it’s always strange when the winners are selected based on how many people use the internet (feels like a high school popularity contest in a way… I don’t know). But I guess that’s how we do things in the magical technological age, and I’m proud that Save the Kales! was nominated in the contest held by the local newspaper.

I cross my heart and swear this isn’t about an ego boost. I truly love the idea of a vegan blog winning the FOOD category, for many reasons which are obvious, but especially because it means the values I try to share here — living with compassion, community involvement, making vegan foods not “scary” and instead accessible, showing all the good food you can eat in restaurants in our area — those are the things that can reach a larger audience.

So! If you’d like to vote (especially if it’s for Save the Kales! in FOOD, and I thank you for that support!), you can click the link here: BLOG CONTEST VOTING

*Note that a blog can only win ONE category, and I’d like STK! win for FOOD so your votes for the Health & Wellness category can go to someone else.

(I recommend the blog Johnnysized — it’s an incredible documentation of a local man, totally the bravest and most admirable guy, who needed to get his health under control and he began a plant based vegan diet. He is the COOLEST PERSON, already lost over 50 pounds and is off several medications, and I’d love to see him win in Health and Wellness.)

You can sign in via Facebook instead of registering an account, place your votes, and it takes about five seconds.

ALSO: You can vote once every 24 hour period! The contest goes another 2-3 weeks, so go crazy.

THANK YOU X’S A MILLION! xoxo

Mental Vacation

Hello readers. This week I was going to write to tell you I had planned a short getaway with my fella’ and we made this lofty goal to get all of our work done so we could leave our computers at home (gasp).

But the health and concerns of family members have come up, so we’re taking the time to make sure we are there to love and support everyone.  Just when you get a tangible grasp, things start to move rather quickly, eh?

And as the unveiling of the new project looms closer, I’ve become so tied up in what will people think of this? that I have not even found the time or peace of mind to think about it clearly. I need to focus on my work, the truly amazing – it really is – opportunity I have in front of me, to see it as a beautiful gift and push the worrying away.

Leonard Cohen, you wise old fool.

Save the Kales! will be updated soon, and perhaps with a lot of news to share. I hope this post finds you well.

With love,

Jaime K

HOLY GOSH.

The biggest, most exciting announcement in the two-year history of Save the Kales! is coming very soon. Check back!

And if you don’t, that’s okay too because I may not shut up about it and you’ll find out eventually!