2016. You Were Joyful.

I'm sitting in a Starbucks in Istanbul on this cold day, just a few days before Christmas and under 48 hours from when I get to hug my family tight.

I've been sipping on my Earl Grey tea in a quintessential Red Cup (I actually had to look quintessential up in a dictionary to make sure I was using it right. Score!). I've been reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, and trying to stay quiet while I laughed and tears streamed down my face. I've never read a tale about hog hunting that made me tickled quite that much before.

It's nice to have a relaxing day to read and think. And I've been thinking about 2016.

At the start of the year, I made a little 'brochure'-style leaflet for myself. I wrote in it many of the hopes and dreams that I had for this year, and things that I felt that I wanted to accomplish. I made places to record my favorite memories. And I chose my word for this year.

Joy. 

Although I hadn't experienced personally many hardships leading up to January 2016, I had a lot of friends who had. I had met a lot of people who had been forced to flee their homes in Syria, and I knew that life was more about surviving and healing for them than it was about being "happy." Because, sometimes "happy" just isn't possible.

And sometimes, that is okay,

I've found myself in the past always searching for ways to be happy, and trying to plan my life accordingly. Because, let's be honest, my life has been very privileged. I haven't lived among a world crisis, I haven't faced starvation and poverty, and the only thing that has really kept me up at night before has been studying for exams at a university that many people would love to be able to attend.

In all of this privilege, I put "happy" up on a pedestal in my life, something to strive for. "Do what makes you happy," so many people say.

But then I realized that many people in the world don't and will never have that option. They may have tiny moments of happiness, but most of life is going to be filled with grief and fighting to exist. Is that truly life? I can't say to them, "Do what makes you happy." That isn't possible. That isn't a choice for them. Then why is it something I am told to strive for in our privileged society? Why is that the epicenter of existence?

So, at the beginning of 2016, I chose instead to focus on having joy. Because in my reading of the Bible, I found that God didn't tell me that HE was going to give me happiness. Instead, God tells me that HE will give me joy. And that is much greater.

Joy is having a heart full of love, no matter what is going on around you. It isn't circumstantial. It is a state of existing in the Truth. In trusting that the God Who holds the world in HIS hands is also holding you in HIS hands, and HE's not about to let go. That the One Who matters the most loves you with a love that can never be quantified.

Joy is something that anyone can have. It doesn't matter if you don't have access to wealth, education, and extra things like Starbucks and going to Disneyland or traveling the world. Happiness can be bought. Joy can't.

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while."  1 Peter 1:6

I wrote this verse in my little leaflet, and stuck this reminder of my dreams for 2016 into my planner. I've been looking over it the past few days, checking off the boxes that I did accomplish, and writing down memories for how I did them.

2016 did contain a lot of happy moments. Like walking across the Tower Bridge in London with my family on a chilly June morning. And singing Robert Burns poems together with friends at a late-night party. And playing board games with my roommates after dinner.

But it also contained a lot of sad moments. Like when one of my very close friends, a woman who has been like a grandmother to my family, died this past August. Like when I stood by her hospital bed on the same day that I was flying back to Istanbul, watching her experience pain and knowing that I wasn't going to see her again in this world. And the moments when I experienced conflict with friends, and had to live in that sorrow until we experienced reconciliation through Jesus' grace. Or when I grieved with both my home nation and my resident nation as tragedy and horrors occurred to innocents in our land.

I was reminded that I won't always be happy. And in these moments of experiencing death and strife and tragedy, it wouldn't be right to be happy. Instead, I was reminded that in all of these moments, I do have joy. Joy in Christ. Joy that HE is working in all and through all. Joy that HE loves me more than I will ever know. Joy that HE walks with me through the happy moments and through the dark valleys.

May 2017 be filled with true joy for you. Here's to living in truth and love together.

- Your Faithful Nomad

"Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world usually do." - Steve Jobs

Not that I'm advocating that Steve Jobs is a role model or anything. But I sure do agree with this statement. A lot of times, we forget that our daily choices do matter. Either to one person, to many, or to the whole world.

I know that during this holiday season, you have been bombarded with organizations wanting you to make year-end donations. People who want you to take part in this "season of giving."

But it's not a season. A lot of us are in the situation where we have all that we need, all the time. And it reminds me how the Christians of the early church shared with each other, making sure that no one was in want.

Blessings are given to us so that we can share them.

As you watch the news and see the disasters happening around the world, there are groups of people who have decided that they do want to change the world. And, we can join them. Crazy, huh?

Here are a few. They are great. They are changing the world. And they want us to join them. I'm in, are you?



Refuge Coffee in Clarkston, GA -> Welcoming a diverse community and employing refugees with training and a living wage.

Liberty in North Korea -> Rescuing those who have escaped over the North Korean border and re-settling them into lives of freedom.

*Update on January 4th, 2017 - Liberty in North Korea reached their year-end goal of $100,000 and received a matching gift! That is 66 more refugee rescues funded! Thanks for your continued support and please continue to give in 2017 to help give more people freedom.

As Our Own -> Giving a family to young girls at risk in India.

Even a small donation means that you are choosing to make an impact. We can do it.

Let's be crazy enough to think that we can change the world. And we will. 

Vegan Drinks {Starbucks}

Oh no, can I go to Starbucks anymore?!

Soy milk latte in Turkey. @faithful_nomad

This was one of my first reactions after deciding that I was going to eat a vegan diet. Starbucks is one of those places that is always the same wherever I go - a comfort blanket, if you will. When I need a place to chill or meet friends, I usually pick Starbucks. I know the menu like the back of my hand, I have the rewards card for both the US and Turkey, and I can always rely on some decent internet if I need to do work there. The hum of pleasant music and conversations and that beepy sound the espresso machine makes gives me a sense of normal.

Plus, after visiting Starbucks, I smell like coffee for the rest of the day.
And that is quite perfect with me.

I <3 using my Starbucks mugs at home. This one brightens my morning! @faithful_nomad 

I quickly found with great joy that I can indeed still drink some of my favorites at Starbucks! Here's some of the scoop from my research:

~ One of my favorite coffee drinks is a Caffe Latte. This is a very easy drink to switch to vegan in both the US and Turkey. In the US, just ask your barista to use almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk instead of cow's milk. In Turkey, there is soy milk available. The soy milk is actually a bit vanilla-tasting, and I really like that in my latte.

Surviving Analytical Chemistry with a mocha in hand. @faithful_nomad

~ Now Caffe Mochas are another one of my favorites for days when I need that chocolate kick. To make these vegan, simply ask for a plant-based milk as with the caffe latte, and ask for no whipped cream (sorry honey, can't fix that one unless Starbucks starts offering vegan whipped cream  - see below. Just remember, you are doing it for the planet).


~If you want the Chile Mocha, unfortunately the Chili Mocha Powder contains natural flavors that have milk derivatives. If you ask for a normal caffe mocha with the spiced mocha topping, that's technically the Chile Mocha just without the Chili Mocha Powder.

~ As far as I can tell, subbing the soy milk for cow milk in the Gingerbread Latte will make it vegan. Yeeees!

~ All the teas at Starbucks are great. I especially love the mint, which is one of my go-tos after landing from a long flight in the morning.

~ Hot Chocolate & Peppermint Hot Chocolate can both be vegan if you ask for plant-milk and no whipped cream.

~ Starbucks Refreshers do not contain any obvious animal products, so those are vegan-friendly in my books! Can't wait to enjoy a Berry Hibiscus Refresher this summer. Yum!

Summer days with L.M. Montgomery and Berry Hibiscus Refresher. @faithful_nomad

~ Make sure to ask for no whipped cream. If you want Starbucks to start offering a vegan-friendly whipped cream, write them an email by clicking here or favorite/thumbs-up/comment on my request here. I sent an email to Starbucks about this, and also asked for them to add an indicator to the menu for vegan-friendly products. A wonderful customer service rep named Shannon B. emailed me back within 24 hours and said that her daughter is also vegan! She pointed me to the My Starbucks Idea site, where I posted my request for vegan whipped cream. Evidently, others agree. If Starbucks realizes that there are a lot of customers who would benefit from vegan whipped cream, they should add it to the menu.

What is your favorite vegan Starbucks drink? 

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Vegan Eats {Breakfast}

I love breakfast. You probably know this if you read "If You Give a Blog a Breakfast". Here in Turkey, I've learned to have a new appreciation for this meal, and how lingering over a table for hours with friends can really be an amazing way to build rich friendships.

Now with my vegan diet, I've been passionately trying to find ways to preserve my breakfast favorites, as well as add to my arsenal of easy recipes, all without using animal products. Recently I've been hosting a lot of breakfast gatherings for my friends at my house, and I've been putting these recipes to the test. They have come out on top! Here are the favorites so far, and I'll be adding more as I find them.

{Vegan Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips} (Click for printable file)

My first time making this recipe, and I was experimenting with the chocolate chip addition. It was devoured quite quickly after this photo was taken.

This recipe includes brewed coffee, chocolate chips, and chia seeds! So good and so healthy! I found this recipe on the Sugar and Cinnamon food blog. I did the vegan version of this and also used the ingredients most readily-available to me here in Turkey.

Ingredients:

2 smashed-up bananas (remember, banana bread is a great way to use brown bananas! The bananas in my house never last that long, though...)
1/3 cup brewed black coffee (as in, the liquid, not the coffee grounds!)
3 tablespoons chia seeds mixed with 6 tablespoons of water (this subs the eggs)
1/2 cup olive oil 
1/2 cup brown sugar (or maple syrup if you want)
1 cup of white flour
1 cup of wholewheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
vegan chocolate chips (check the packaging to make sure there are no milk products!) - optional

So, you pre-heat your oven to 350F (180C). Put a large piece of parchment paper in your loaf pan to line it (no messy clean-up or worrying that it stuck!). Beat together your olive oil and sugar, then slowly add in your chia seed-water mixture and mix. Mix in your mashed bananas and coffee really well. 

In a separate bowl, mix or sift your flours and the rest of the dry ingredients (except chocolate chips). Then fold into the liquids bowl and keep folding until well-combined. Pour into the loaf pan and sprinkle chocolate chips on top (if you wish). Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a knife stuck into it comes out clean. The original recipe says it serves 8-12...we had 4 of us at breakfast and we devoured it. As in, only a half-slice left behind. A win in my books.

{Vegan Pancakes}

I found this easy recipe for pancakes from the blog Cookie and Kate. I really like the recipe because it uses things that I already have around my house, and all the ingredients are available in Turkey. I haven't been able to find things like coconut oil and vegan butter here, so I can't use recipes that need those just yet. This recipe is easy and I've made it twice so far for friends. My skillet skills are not that great (every other pancake was quite toasty or a bit under-done), but they were a hit both times anyway! I topped them with {baked apples} - recipe also in this post. 

For vegan pancakes you need - 

1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plant milk (I have used soy milk, almond milk, and a blend of both)
2 tablespoons olive oil or melted coconut oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup or sugar of choice (I just use regular white sugar)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (make your own with some vodka, a vanilla bean, and a few weeks of waiting!)
A bit of oil if you need to grease your skillet, but I used a no-stick skillet so I just used a tiny touch of sunflower oil on the pan

#1 - Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, mix together the plant milk, olive oil, the sugar/maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
#2 - Pour the liquid mixture into the bowl with the dry mixture and stir until combined (leave only a few lumps, you don't want to over-mix as well). Let batter sit for 5 minutes.
#3 - Heat your pan up until a drop of water sizzles on contact with the surface. Drop on enough batter to make a pancake about the size of your palm. Wait until the 1/2-inch perimeter doesn't look glossy and there are a few small bubbles forming on the surface - this is when you flip. Don't worry if it takes a few times to get this right. My pancakes are always a mix of under-done and over-done. Just remind yourself that there are no eggs in this batter, so no worries about making your guests ill! You can even eat the batter out of the bowl if you want :)
#4 - Enjoy! Top with maple syrup, blueberries, peanut butter, or baked apples.

{Baked Apples} 

These are super easy to make and taste great on top of pancakes and waffles. 

Ingredients:
- Chopped apples
- A few dashes of water
- A good bit of sugar

Throw all ingredients into a small pot and put on the stove, stirring often. I think I usually end up adding 4 TBSP of sugar per 3-4 apples, but you can sweeten to your own taste. Once they are good and soft, serve warm. Delish!

{Warm Oats and Quinoa}

I literally eat this every day. Yes, every day. The boost of protein-rich quinoa and chia seeds, fiber-rich oats, and the warmth of plant milk and cinnamon are a great start to my morning. You might also remember this recipe from "If You Give a Blog a Breakfast." This recipe originally comes from the cookbook The 10 Things You Need to Eat: And More Than 100 Easy and Delicious Ways to Prepare Them. The only difference from the original recipe is that I always use plant milk, and I omit the honey (which doesn't change the flavor at all). 

For a single-serving (I whip it up each morning in a tiny saucepan), you will need:
- about 3/4 cup plant milk (if you want to make your plant milk stretch, use 1/2 cup plant milk + 1/4 cup water)
- a few dashes of ground cinnamon
- 2 large spoons of COOKED quinoa (I cook up a good bit each Sunday and use some each day)
- 1/2 cup of quick oats (Yulaf ezmesi in Turkey)
- a sprinkle of chia seeds
- optional: 1/4 cup of chopped apples (if adding apples, put a tiny bit more milk/water into the pot)

How-to:

- Put your pot on the stove with the plant milk and cinnamon. Let it heat up until it starts to bubble. If making this an apple cinnamon oatmeal, put your apples in and stir - let sit for a minute or so. Then, add the cooked quinoa, oats, and chia seeds. Stir and let it start to bubble. Turn heat onto low and let it sit for a few more minutes. I'm an impatient cook, so as soon as the oats appear soft I take it off the stove and eat it. The longer you let it sit, the thicker it will become. Enjoy this morning boost!

{Vegan Additions to the Breakfast Table} 

Maybe it's the Turk coming out in me, but I like to have the breakfast table covered in a variety of things. Here are some options that I like. 

~ Bowl of walnuts (feed those brains)
~ fruit platter of cut bananas, pears, apples, and berries
~ clementines/mandolinas/"cuties"/oranges and orange juice to boost that vitamin C


{Make sure that milky coffee is vegan too!} 

Almond milk and rice milk both taste delicious in coffee. I don't take my coffee black, and these both have been great to use instead of cow's milk.

Make sure to share this post with your fellow breakfast-lovers! 

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Here's a cookbook that I'm hoping to get my hands on soon! 

I did it.

I actually did it.

I've been saying for a long time, "Oh, I wish I could be vegan, but...cheese is so good...yogurt goes well with everything...but I love scrambled eggs..."

Sure, I've been vegetarian for over a year now, and that's something that I also said I never thought I could completely do. Pretty much because of bacon.

God seems to have a way of showing me that I can do what I say I can't. 

I read this book called Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism (Our Sustainable Future) in June 2015 that started my life as a vegetarian. I had never read before that animal agriculture (the raising of animals to eat and to use their products) produces MORE greenhouse gases than the ENTIRE transportation industry.

That's trains, buses, cars, segways, airplanes...combined. Globally.


Click image to check it out!

Green Illusions encouraged eating no or less meat to better the environment.

So I decided to put my mouth where my words were. I'm very passionate about being a good steward of God's beautiful creation. So, I stopped eating meat that day.

And yes, I've had some cheat days, and days where I went to people's houses and they cooked meat without knowing I was a vegetarian, so I ate it. I'm not that legalistic. And I know it tastes good, don't get me wrong.

But with my knowledge now of what it does to the environment, I'm choosing God's creation over my appetite. And...it tastes good.

Fast-forward to November 2016. I decided to watch a documentary instead of a film one Sunday, and turned on Cowspiracy (available on Netflix). That did it. No going back.

I hadn't realized that all dairy cows, and all dairy cow's babies, turn into hamburger. No exceptions.

And that the raising of cows accounts for 1 soccer field-worth of the rainforest being cut down. EVERY SECOND.

That blows my mind. That is 1 whole soccer field-worth of the most diverse organisms that God has created being killed every second. How can I stand by and say that that doesn't matter to me? As a believer in the Bible and what it says about our role as stewards of the Earth, I can't stand by.

"You can't be an environmentalist and eat animal products. Period."

That's what one guy said on Cowspiracy. And it hit me hard.

That did it. I started researching ways to eat vegan. I started sharing with my friends so they would understand my food choices. I started reading labels. Man, the dairy industry has tip-toed their way into absolutely every part of our lives. You don't realize it until you go vegan. So, I started buying plant-based milk (thank you, Alpro, for providing almond, rice, coconut, hazelnut, oat, and soy milk to Turkey!).

@faithful_nomad

I started looking up vegan recipes, and figuring out ways to change some of my favorites to vegan-friendly. And, I've learned that eating vegan is actually really tasty. It's also better for my body, according to another documentary, Forks over Knives (also available on Netflix).


Click image to watch on Amazon.

Yes, it can be hard sometimes. Living in a world that is so consumed by animal agriculture can feel very stifling. It makes me realize how little these companies care about our health, and how much they care about their wallet. But, it is do-able.

I'm going to be posting a series of blog posts with my favorite recipes that I have found.

Vegan Eats {Breakfast} 
Vegan Drinks {Starbucks}
Make Your Veggie Broth, and Eat it Too
The Best Vegan Cookies EVAH!

I'm a really simple cook, I don't like complicated at all. So these recipes I have found are bare-minimum, easy peasy. I hope that you will try them, vegan you or non-vegan you. And that you will realize that by choosing to eat without animal products, you are indeed caring for the Earth and everyone that lives on it.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies. @faithful_nomad

Cheers.

- K