Friendly Veg Fridays: Vol 1
Saying no to non-vegan treats | Stewed Mushrooms | What I Ate in a Day
Sorry I’ve been gone for so long. I burnt out. But I’m back to providing vegan content for you!
Hi! Happy 2024. I’m trying out a new format for this newsletter. Every week I’ll share:
an 🙏 affirmation to improve your confidence,
a 💡tip to help you navigate social situations,
a 🍲 recipe to inspire you,
some 💸 discount codes to help you save money,
and 👀 bonus content for paying subscribers to thank you for your support.
I’ll send this every Friday. Hence Friendly Veg Fridays.
Affirmation 🙏
Try saying this affirmation to yourself before you go to a social event with non-vegans. As someone who struggles with social anxiety — that is exacerbated around non-vegans — affirmations actually help.
Tip💡
Situation: A colleague brings in non-vegan treats.
Valentine’s Day is coming up. Sometimes colleagues bring in treats. Maybe this gives you anxiety.
You’re at work, and a colleauge brings in non-vegan treats. They don’t know you’re vegan. They offer you some. Here’s what you can do.
Option 1: Avoidance — Say “Wow, that looks great, thank you for bringing them in.” Then never eat the treats. Then:
Hope to yourself that they don’t notice you not eating them.
Hope that they don’t ever offer you non-vegan treats again.
Option 2: Avoidance, but a bit better — Say “Wow, that looks great, thank you for these, but I’m ok right now.” Then:
Hope to yourself that they don’t ever offer you non-vegan treats again.
Option 3: Being direct. Even better — Ask if the treats are vegan. This is more uncomfortable, because it might start a conversation about you being vegan.
But it helps ensure your colleague knows for next time. (Of course, it doesn’t guarantee they will remember!).
Maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn the treats are vegan :)
It may seem incredibly obvious to you what to do in these situations.
But maybe you need permission to choose Option 1, 2, or 3.
Choose whichever makes you feel comfortable. I’m giving you permission! <3
Recipe 🍲
Food is the Asian love language. It’s how my Po Po (grandma in Cantonese) tells me she loves me. When I’m back home she’ll bring me stewed mushrooms. Umami, filling, and a bit chewy, they make a great side dish or even a main if you’re into that.
Stewed Mushrooms
Ingredients
20 dried Chinese muhrooms (shiitake mushrooms)
1/2 tsp sugar
1-2 tablespoon vegetable oil, for frying
2 slices of ginger or 1 big slice
2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce
Method
Soak the mushrooms in 1 1/2 cups of hot water for 20 minutes (or cold water for 3 hours).
Drain and squeeze the liquid out, making sure to reserve the liquid.
Heat a wok to high heat. Add the oil, ginger, mushrooms, and stir fry for a minute until the mushrooms start to brown.
Add the vegetarian oyster sauce and cook for another minute.
Add the reserved soaking liquid (all of it), turn down to low heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until just a few tablespoons of liquid remain (you can include more liquid if you want, it’s up to you).
Enjoy immediately. Keeps in the fridge for about 5 days.
Traditionally I believe that you add sugar into the soaking liquid, rather than upon stir frying, but I find that it doesn’t really matter :)
💸 Discounts & Products
Save 30% off your order of vegan protein powder at goodprotein.ca with the code SERENA30.
This brand is Montreal-based and is one of the only vegan protein powders I actually enjoy.
Goes great blended with some nut milk and a banana.
Their Gingerbread Cookie shake actually tastes like cookies!
Disclaimer: I get a small commission when you use my discount code. Thank you for your support <3
👀 For Paying Subscribers Only
What I ate in a day, on a busy Saturday!
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