Vegan Mexican Food

Last night Tristan and I attempted to make Vegan Mexican food (well, mine was vegan, his had cheese in it). We got most of the ingredients we thought we needed, but when it came to picking out tortillas we had the hardest time finding any that didn't have 10 million ingredients in them. Honestly, does there really need to be dioxaicouldkillyouoride in something that should be 5 ingredients or less? We ended up getting Lawash bread, which I don't even know what that is, but it subbed pretty well. Alas, another reason why I need to make it down to Eastern Market sometime this century.

The Slacker's Guide to Mexican:

Some refried beans
Some veggies
Pam
Lawash Bread
Cumin
Chili Powder
Lime

Cook some canned refried beans NOT made from lard.

Saute whatever vegetables you feel like in Pam over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes. For us, it was mushrooms, onions, garlic and tomato. I diced mine pretty small, but whatever fits you. When it looks kindof done, throw in some Cumin and Chili Powder. For us, it was about three shakes of each. Then, take a lime that is cut in half and squeeze the juice over the veggies.

Put the beans, veggie mixture and salsa into the lawash bread, and wrap it up, but be careful not to overstuff, like Tristan did, or your whole meal will end up a gigantic mess of mush. Enjoy! We did...with lots of wine.

I'm about to head down to Eastern Market to meet with the fencing person for Ale Fest. I wish that the weather was a little nicer...I hope it doesn't rain on us!

Just a quick background...Ale Fest is an event I'm planning with MT for October 18th in Eastern Market. It is our first time planning it and we would like to make it an annual event.

I'm real excited already about the buzz I've been hearing for Ale Fest. Just this morning, we were contacted by a local brewery who wants to get involved. It helps that we are having a beer-centric event, but I'm still way excited for the way this is coming together. I feel like it is a good indicator of how things will change for the better this year with Blowout!

This weekend was tons of fun, although I can't say I miss college a whole lot, at least yet. Albion still feels like the same small school, but that is what makes Albion unique. It was so great to spend time with Elizabeth even though we were sweltering at the football game. I also went to a lingere shower...best.idea.ever! I had so much fun!! The only downside to events like Homecoming are the awkward run-ins you have from other alums...especially when they are drunk. Oh well, I guess that is part of life!

Life's a Cookie

The winners are in, but you won't find out until October in our Best of Detroit Issue! As part of the fun, we are getting custom cookies made to give out to all the winners. I'm going with one of my coworkers later to the bakery to meet the baker and do some scientific cookie sampling :) I think that about starts a great FRIDAY!

Last night, I went to the event planner's open house at the Detroit Historical Museum. Their lower level is so unique, and they are willing to let you work with your own vendors. I am seriously going to consider them for an MT event; everyone was so nice and informative.

Tomorrow I am going back to college...at least for the day. I originally didn't plan on going back to Homecoming, but something about that school in the middle of nowhere keeps callin' me back! That, and the fact that I still have a few really good friends to see that I can't wait to hang out with.

Lunch

I guess I could not resist the outside for lunch and went to Tom's Oyster Bar, where they have a nice roof patio. It was great being outside and catching up with my coworkers, but I think my veggie burger was made with cheese and now my stomach does not feel so great.

I'm off to an event planner's open house in about a half hour at the Detroit Historical Museum. I want to go to meet the planners there and take a tour to see if we could possibly use it for future MT events. Should be interesting; I can't remember the last time I was there, except briefly after the Festival of the Arts this year to get out of the rain.

...and I should mention that I love the LCD Soundsystem station on Pandora Radio...I must be late jumping on the Hot Chip bandwagon, but they are my new interest along with The Kills...I couldn't get their Sour Cherry song out of my head after hearing it repeatedly on all the Gossip Girl commercials!

TODAY in Detroit

Katerina Bocci, designer

My day just went from sleepy to sensational. I found out this morning that I received a press pass to attend the Detroit Fashion Week runway shows, and I'm so excited to learn more about the different designers. Katerina Bocci is the designer we just profiled in this week's paper and is the highlight of the whole weekend. She just got done showing her collection in NYC's fashion week and now I'll get to see the encore show next Saturday night. I can't wait to scope it out and see if it is something that we want to get more involved with. I'm also going with one of our editors and another manager, so it should be a fun night!

We felt it neccessary in the office this morning to take a little break and walk over to Campus Martius, where the Today show was filming. It was so nice out and even though they were mostly done for the morning, we still got to see Aretha Franklin and Anne Curry. I took some pictures on my cell phone, but they were pretty terrible.

What I do on Wednesdays

My job may be awesome, but it is not free from painfully mundane tasks. The task I'm currently procrastinating about is completing the editorial freelance paysheets. I'm assuming like most large publications, the freelance list is endless. I firmly believe that all freelancers should be paid, and paid more than they are, for the writing they do. I just wish I wasn't the one who had to compile it every week.

In the D this week we have seen an absolutely unprecedented few days straight of solid sunshine. Since Detroit is second to Seattle for most rain dumped on us in a year, I'd say this is quite a notable miracle. Distracting, but wonderful. It allows me to lunch outside and get lost in a book, the current pick being The Kite Runner. I first found out about The Kite Runner three years ago when I was a lifeguard and a counselor up at Interlochen Arts Camp (band camp, albeit more sophisticated and cutthroat). I just never felt like reading it until now, and now that I am, I can't put it down. Books and I have a tumultuous relationship; if I don't like it, I don't read it anymore. Sometimes even if I like it, I'm prone to losing it in public places never to see it again.

The Beginning

Let's begin. This blog took a long time in the making, so much so that I set aside this user name a year ago (September 2007 apparently, as confirmed by blogger). A lot can happen in a year, and a year moves by faster than I can control. Since setting aside this domain name, I got engaged, graduated from college, got a job, became vegan and to round things out, bought a house. My friends say 22 is simply the anniversary of 21st birthday; to me, 22 meant changes (I like to think of Tupac, but most people think Obama).

I also took a long time in deciding if I wanted to blog on a particular topic. I was a big fan of the website ed2010.com until I realized that they only support magazine jobs and not other forms of media. Hurray for the magazine jobs, where you work your ass off and get paid next to nothing. Should I blog about my job? Art? Fashion? Photography? Vegan cooking? The Detroit social scene? I quickly realized I would get bored easily by sticking to one topic and would probably give up, and I don't like giving up.