Monday, November 30, 2009

My 5th Vegan-iversary

Black Friday isn't just some crazy excuse for mass consumurism. It's also my vegan-iversary! It all started in 1994. I ate turkey on Thanksgiving Day and something just didn't set right in my 14-year-old mind. I'd already gone "semi-vegetarian" by then (eating only poultry and an occasional piece of fried catfish ... never cared for seafood even when I ate meat), and seeing that giant turkey carcass on the kitchen counter really grossed me out that year. So I went vegetarian on Black Friday in 1994.

Fast forward to 2004. In celebration of having 10 years as a vegetarian, I decided to try veganism on the day after Thanksgiving. It was really just a month trial run ... to see if I could do it. Thirty days later in late December 2004, I realized how easy being vegan could be. So I made the decision to be vegan forever.

This year, Black Friday marked my 5th vegan and my 15th vegetarian anniversary! Since my mom and I have started a new tradition (as of last year) of doing our holiday shopping on Black Friday (because we're crazy enough to fight the crowds for a good deal!), I've also began a new tradition of dining with her at my favorite Memphis breakfast joint for a vegan-iversary brunch.

Here I am at Brother Juniper's, about to stuff my face with the most delicious tofu scramble:

And here's a shot of my vegan-iversary brunch plate — the "Fahim's Special" at Brother Juniper's:

Fahim's Special is a crazy-good tofu scramble made with a balsamic vinaigrette, kalamata olives, portabella mushrooms, and other veggies. It's served with tasty garlic home fries and whole wheat toast with all-natural strawberry fruit spread! I couldn't ask for a better post-Thanksgiving, vegan-iversary, Black Friday brunch!

30 comments:

Jamie said...

Congratulations!
My 2nd year veganniversary was actually a couple days ago!
All the food looks delicious.
Same thing happened with me. I decided to try out veganism for a week, and realized just how easy it was! And stuck with it, for a little over two years now. And I'm never stopping!

Theresa said...

Aw, happy veganniversary! How exciting!!

The Voracious Vegan said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I love hearing people's vegan stories, and yours is awesome! And that scramble....YUM!

ZippyZu said...

Congrats!!!

kilax said...

That plate looks delicious! Happy vegan-iversary! :)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

HAPPY VEGANNIVERSARY, DEAR BIANCA!!

Gina said...

Happy veganiversary Bianca!!

Wethingtons said...

That's awesome, you totally rock the house! I just had my 18 year vegetarian anniversary, and am working my way toward veganism!

Trinity (of haiku tofu) said...

Congrats! Mmm that scramble looks yum.

Anonymous said...

Happy veganniversary!

Jenny said...

Happy Veganiversary! 5 years is AWESOME! Very inspiring. I'm hoping to switch over to vegan soon.

Jessie (vegan-minded) said...

That brunch looks perfect! Congrats on 5 years of veganism, next month will mark my 4th year. :)

Devan said...

congrats my dear!! way to go :)

ive been vegan for 2 years.. but with slip ups.. mostly accidental :(

tofu scrambles look delicious!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy veganiversary!!! I'll have to do some research and see when my veganiversary is!!

Jenna said...

Fantastic! Thanks for all that you've done for the animals and us hungry readers :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Today is my two month veganniversary but it's becoming so second nature that it feels much longer already :)

T said...

Awesome story! Seeing my parents cook raw meat was also a big inspiration for going veg... although it took a long time to work up the nerve to actually proclaim vegetarianism on family holidays and get-togethers. As often happens though, after a while, your family members get into it too, and find a way to include your preferences.

I'm thankful that your blog is here to show people that families can find a way to work veganism into their own traditions!

Happy veganiversary!

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

Happy Anniversary, girl!

Cyn said...

Yay veganversary! That tofu scramble looks delicious, yum.

jessy said...

happy vegan-iversary, Bianca! that rocks so hard that you've been vegan for so long. it makes me most happyfaced!

hoooooray for some great 'n crazy black friday shopping & one helluva tasty brunch with your mom - and happy vegan-iversary again! superw00t!

Nicci said...

Happy Vegan-iversary to you!

Michal said...

Happy belated vegan anniversary to you :) Mine is coming up in a month or so!!

Sheridan said...

Awesome! Congrats Bianca!

Susan said...

Happy veganniversary. :D

aTxVegn said...

Happy Veganiversary!

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