A Very Vegan Cyber Monday

As the rest of the world wakes up, the other half has already started their shopping online on this Cyber Monday 2012. From deals to steals, retailers of all kinds have knocked down their prices for all their online available products from 15-75% off! I’ve seen a few deals that have been going on since Black Friday and found plenty of new “doorbusters” just for today’s shopping frenzy. I’ve already completed my “essential Christmas list,” you know, the godchildren, nieces, and nephews. To me, they’re the most important and the ones that you’ll probably get real slack not giving gifts to. So I made sure I took care of them first. Today will be for me and the specialty gifts!

 

Some may be looking for electronics, some clothing, and most others, toys online. I’m focusing my efforts on the “hard to find” items. Think about it, instead of driving around looking for those specialty gifts (the ones you know you probably won’t find in stores but try anyway and buy yourself something instead) out there in the cold, I just made a fresh cup of coffee, put on my warmest robe, and planted myself in my office in front of the computer to get my hunting on. Even my Pandora app is promoting Cyber Monday deals on its commercials. (No, I won’t get the No Ads App…unless there’s a sale) That’s what makes today the success it is, you don’t have to trudge around in that nasty cold weather with all those unpleasant fellow shoppers. I know some may say that’s what make holiday shopping…fun?!?! I say, “Not my cup of tea!”

Personally, I am on the search for Vegan-friendly products. I woke up this morning and got my daily Vegan Cuts email with all their online deals! LOVE IT! I think I found what I was looking for right away. They had this amazing Vegan Snack Gift Basket with all these different delectable treats to enjoy by yourself or share with your meat-eating friends. Hopefully, they won’t fall in love with them too much! Here’s the Holiday Gift Package that they have on sale for ONLY $39!

Well, plus a $5.95 shipping fee but come on, you didn’t leave your house to purchase this. Fork it over and call it a day.

My favorite item in this package is the Holy Kakow chocolate syrup. I can cook with it along with topping my desserts and making hot chocolate with it. I’m too excited!

So if anyone out there is looking for that one gift for their vegan friend or a fellow foodie, I suggest this amazing syrup. It’s the most versatile vegan syrup I’ve ever found and enjoyed. Made from organic and raw ingredients, this item is dairy, gluten, and soy free along without using refined sugars. If anything the best chocolate syrup for you out there. Trust me, this thing rocks! Once I get mine in, I’ll post some amazing recipes using this syrup along with other ingredients I’ve found on Vegan Cuts and online. Please do the same!

Happy Cyber Monday and Happy Holidays!

 

Black Friday, Cyber Monday…NOW Small Business Saturday

As someone working hard to get their own small business off the ground here in New Jersey, I know how good it feels when patrons knock on my door. Along with this year’s holiday sales and doorbusters, Black Friday for retailers and Cyber Monday for online shoppers, small businesses have their own special day for an economic boost. Launched by American Express through their social media outlets in 2011, Small Business Saturday falls directly between the two major money-saving holiday shopping days. Growing the economy starts somewhere and for the most part we do patronize small businesses more often than we think. I’m sure that we know of and support these “mom-and-pops” as well as everyday Americans that own and work for them.

Here are a few Small Business Facts: (as of 2011)

-There are 28 million small businesses in America

-70% of small businesses are operated by one person

-Immigrants make up 12.5% of small business owners nationwide

-Small businesses pay 44% of U.S. payroll

-60%-80% of all new jobs come from small businesses <– My favorite fact!

Check out this amazing article linked above to learn a little more about how much small businesses make up the America we know of today. They also have great resources for small business owners, current and future.

In my opinion, the foodservice industry makes up a good percentage, if not, the majority of the small businesses out there. This summer, I was able to meet a few up-and-coming small businesses in the food service industry at a weekly local food fair in Brooklyn, NY called Smorgasburg. I got to see what they were all about; their passion, their creativity, and more importantly, their delicious, love-filled food. These amazing entrepreneurs originated from immigrants and college drop outs to blue collar workers and “reformed corporate suits.”

They came from all walks of life, all with the hopes to pursue personal goals and achieve childhood dreams…to do what they’re really passionate about.

They are powered by such a simple, innate emotion that are most often, if not, always lost as age climbs and responsibilities pile up.

A few popular SMORGASBURGers and small businesses:

Alchemy Creamery @thealcreamist …Thee BEST vegan ice cream IN THE WORLD! I said it here, let it be known! Say “Hi!” to Giuseppe for me!

Anarchy In a Jar …They make my favorite Strawberry Balsamic Jam!

Asia Dog …Read about them here on their own blog!

Bombay Sandwich Co. @BombaySandwich …These folks create a vegan, mostly plant-strong (my fav) menu that tantalizes your taste buds!

Lumpia Shack @LumpiaShack …A group of fellow Filipino-Americans who took a staple from their cuisine and mainstreamed the heck out of them!

Mrs. Kim’s Kimchi @MrsKimsKimchi …their product is as homemade as it gets!

Saucy By Nature @saucybynature

Uttapam & Co. …a true local farmers’ friend!

Please tell them Chef Flo (King) sent you from Serve M.E. Now!

Now if you are like me and most of my friends and family, you probably already support these businesses on a daily basis.

What I’m trying to move on is that we need to spread this “PATRIOTnizing” to our fellow consumers in order to keep these job-making, economy boosting, and local-loving American entrepreneurs afloat.

Just like we read from the Business Insider this is exactly what grows America’s economy. In the wake of our current election centered around “job creation” and “economic slumps,” supporting our neighbors, friends, and families through this season of shopping makes for a true happy holiday. Go online, walk to the corner store, or line up at a local food truck for a bite to eat with your coworkers, today and everyday.  What’s even better is that they may offer some new and exciting product or services that you can’t get at your everyday retailer and/or chain. Let this holiday season be a time of unique and special gift giving to the ones you love. You’ll not only be named the “Gift-Giver of the Year” but I’m sure you’ll make it on the “Best Customer” list as well!

Now go out there and shop local…shop small!

-Chef Flo

 

Here are a few resources for you up-and-coming small businesses out there. I found them extremely informative and appreciatively helpful!

U.S. Small Business Administration

Free Small Business Advice from Score

Goldman Sachs Helps the Small Business

Black Friday Turkey Recipe-busters!

This is only for folks that actually have leftovers after their traditional, immense, and plentiful Thanksgiving feast.

My favorite turkey leftover recipes:

1. Turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, jellied (yes canned cranberry sauce) cranberries, spicy brown mustard, and two slices of rye.

2. If you’re lucky enough to have the turkey carcass (sorry for the gruesome terminology) like I always do, you can make some yummy full-flavored turkey broth. Take that turkey carcass, roughly chopped carrots, celery, and onions along with a few bay leaves, peppercorns, and dried thyme, plunge it in a stock pot with cold water. Bring it up to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer. Simmer for at least 1 1/2 hours, strain and store. You can refrigerate it for up to two weeks or freeze for a couple of months. It’s great medicine for that cold or flu I really hope you don’t catch!

3. Flo’s Turkey Waldorf Salad: Diced turkey breast, diced celery, diced onions, diced apples, chopped walnuts, dijon mustard, mayo, apple cider vinegar, and tobasco sauce.

Here are a few of what my friends from Whole Foods Market like to do with their turkey leftovers:

Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Enchiladas

Turkey Picadillo

Whole Foods Market Recipe

Turkey Pot Pie

Whole Foods Market Recipe

So now when you come back from all your Black Friday shopping adventures (like I just did) or when you wake up from that tryptophanic coma, you’ll be all set with how to feed the family some extravagant turkey dishes…makeover style.  Good luck, god speed, and Happy Holidays!!

-Chef Flo