Cooking with snow!

We've had some lovely spring weather here in northern Colorado these past few days! Temperatures soaring into the upper 40s, birds are returning, and...the snow is melting!!

And that snow melt got me thinking. As human animals we have the luxury of buying organic water from locally-owned co-ops, or, sometimes, turning on the tap. However, I think of the animals that rely solely on snow melt for their water needs. On one hand snow is Gaia's frozen tears of joy, but on the other hand--as Brent and I found out--it is also her polluted dandruff of wrath.

You see, if the neighbor cats and prairie dogs must rely on snow for water, then we must as well. It is the most greenatarian idea I've come up with yet!

However, I was met with adversity as I melted down out first Le Creuset 13 1/4 quart Round French Oven full of snow. Brown leaves, twigs, animal feces, and small rocks didn't particularly bother me--it was the cigarette butt and wad of chewed gum that caused concern. But, since the all of the animals have to drink Gaia's tears of pain, then Brent and I would too. No, we did not run the melted snow through any sort of sieve. Raccoons and elk do not have such luxuries.

Anyway! Here is my recipe for Icy Avocado Soup! Once you get past the chunks of nature and/or human filth it's pretty tasty! Brent, however, got a little sick and has been vomiting every day since I made this on Monday, however, when he complains I just point out that Hemp Knot IV vomits everyday too. We are, after all, animals too!

• 3 ripe organic locally-grown ethically-sound avocados
• 2 tablespoons organic locally-grown ethically-sound lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon raw brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon organic seasalt
• 1/8 teaspoon white organic freshly-ground pepper
• 1/2 organic locally-grown ethically-sound jalapeno pepper, minced
• 1 organic locally-grown ethically-sound shallot, minced
• 2 cups snow melt, unfiltered
  
• 1 cup organic locally-produced ethically-sound hormone-free cruelty-free heavy cream

Preparation:

Peel avocado, remove pit, and cut into chunks. Place in food processor or blender with lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper, jalapeno, and shallot; add 1 cup snow melt and puree until smooth.

Pour soup into medium bowl and add remaining snow melt and cream; stir with wire whisk until blended. Cover by placing plastic wrap directly on the soup's surface; chill for 2-3 hours before serving.

Garnish with avocado slices, some salted whipped cream, and a sprinkle of fresh mint. Serves 4

Animal Companion Food

Hello! Sorry I didn't get to this yesterday, I was busy going all over town gathering ingredients for greenatarian animal companion food for Hemp Knot.

But let me backtrack, and explain what happened at the vet. The "doctor" said that Hemp Knot seemed skinny and lethargic to her, and then tried to push samples (not unlike a meth dealer) of cruel dead-animal-consumption-industry product. When I told her that my animal companion was a greenatarian like me she began to parrot the same lies that ArcherDanielsMidland and ConAgra want you to believe: that cats are carnivores. While I was calmly explaining to her about the greenatarian movement and how it applied to all of G*d's creatures, she rudely impeded my right to free speech by threatening to call the Death Squad (Humane Society). So I scooped up Hemp Knot's frail body and marched out!

THEN Hemp Knot, in a fit of delirium--no doubt due to the doctor's bad attitude--lept from my arms and tried to have an argument with a ferret in the waiting room. Since I don't believe in leashes, collars and "pet carriers", it was difficult to convince her to come away from the ferret, but the ferret's little boy was able to quickly stuff the little guy into its cage. Hemp Knot, exhausted by the day's offensive events slept the whole way home, and sought refuge under the stairs. I still haven't seen her, even though it's been two days, but I know she's OK, because I can hear her gentle rattly snores.

See, when I look into Hemp Knot's weapy eyes I know that she is not a killer. When preparing animal companion food, first take into mind where the ingredients originated. While it's tempting to buy something like Vegepet, http://www.vegepet.com/, the company, Harbingers of a New Age, fools consumers into thinking that what they're feeding their animal companions ethically sound food. However they make it clear on their web site that the vitamin D in their food is naturally only found in animal products, and that they derive their vitamin D from yeast. Yeast aren't animals?! Are they not alive?! I don't subscribe to the idea that only cute animals deserve respect.

Anyway, here is my recipe for Greenatarian Animal Companion Food, which I've based on PETA's information here, http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=34 . However, I do not add supplements.

1 cup cooked organic-locally-grown-ethically-sound lentils
1 cup cooked organic-locally-grown-ethically-sound brown rice
2 cups raw organic-locally-grown-ethically-sound chopped tomatoes

Mix all ingredients together, and serve to your animal companion! That easy! Hemp Knot IV loves it so much that she often swipes at me when I bring it to her, and she eats it with so much gusto and relish that she usually upchucks a little bit later on. So, serve this to your animal companion and know that you are one step closer to a Greenatarian Shangri-La!

PS, I've gotten a lot of emails asking if I was using a headlamp on my bike that night of my accident, and NO I was NOT! Bike lights contain mercury which is toxic to the environment.

Colorado On The Move

Just wanted to bring everybody's attention to the amazing strides the police department in Colorado Springs are taking to make sure that Equality is granted to all.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/police-94895-transgender-springs.html

Introduction!

Hello! And welcome to the Unrepentant Greenatarian! My name is Leslie and I began cooking for my partner, Brent, and I last week after I suffered a broken leg from a bicycle accident. Since drivers can use their vehicles at night, I made the decision to bike after dark, and since I have a equal right to the road wearing anything I want, I wore Brent's camouflage Gore Tex anorak. My earth-raping assailant claims she "didn't see me", however my attorney thinks otherwise.

After considering how much healing power organic and locally-grown foods have, I made the decision to share my recipes and ideas with the rest of the world.

Brent, our shelter-saved cat Hemp Knot IV, and I live outside Fort Collins, Colorado. I have lived here my entire life, and in fact have only left the state once for a trip to Burning Man in 2006. So, when I talk about the fruits of mother Colorado, I think I know what I'm talking about!

You may be wondering what a Greenatarian is. Well, I don't think it's enough to be simply "vegan" or "vegetarian", because those terms give license to consume foods that have been produced unethically. By being Greenatarian one enjoys only those foods that have been created using ethical means, such as sustainable farming.

I'll be posting a few recipes later, as I have to bring Hemp Knot IV (also a greenatarian!) to the vet!

BYE!