Stuffed in a Caravan

You know how we do, you can find us rollin’ with the vegans. One such vegan is our homegirl yackattack, who we have to tip our caps to for blessing us with these morsels of meatless magic…

Teriyaki Tofu Quinoa Rolls

Serves 2 (or 4 as an appetizer) | Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients: 

1/3 C. Dry Quinoa, Rinsed

1 C. Water or Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth

2 Sheets Nori (Toasted or Raw)

½- 8 oz. Package of WestSoy Teriyaki Baked Tofu

½ of an Avocado, Sliced Thinly

½ of a Carrot, Julienned

¼ of a Red Bell Pepper, Sliced Thinly

Optional: Thin Slices of Cucumber

Instructions:

Place the rinsed quinoa and the water/veg broth in a rice cooker for 20 minutes, or until quinoa is fully cooked. When done cooking, fluff the quinoa lightly with a fork or wooden spoon.

Lay a bamboo mat or sushi mat flat with a nori sheet on top. Make sure you have a small glass of water handy.

Spread out half of the quinoa onto the top 1/3 of the nori, then cut the blocks of tofu into 3 slices.

Lay the tofu upon the quinoa, then top with the avocado, carrot and bell pepper. Carefully roll it all up, pressing firmly so that the roll doesn’t loosen.

Once it is almost completely rolled, dab some water onto the last remaining edge of nori to make it adhere to the roll and not come loose.

Using a very sharp knife, carefully slice the roll into 8 pieces.

Lustrous.

A man in the grocery store line today approached me and said, “Sir, when I first saw you I was extremely attracted to you, but then I noticed that you are a boy. How… I mean, why do you dress so provocatively?”

I responded, “Well, in today’s world the majority of the straight male race view women as objects, or something that belongs to them. I dress provocatively because it attracts the attention of men in a sexual and OBJECTIVE way. However, when realized that I am actually male, they often become confused, disgusted, upset or all of the above. By inflicting this minor emotional damaged upon the ego of a man raised by twisted societal gender norms, maybe, just maybe the individual will think twice before viewing another woman with an objective attitude and sense of belonging. No woman, belongs to ANYONE. Male or female, the equality of human beings needs to be a priority. It is something worth dressing up for.”

I AM NOT KIDDING. The woman behind me, the female cashier, the old lady bagging groceries and the woman in front of me who was talking on the phone STOPPED, …. and proceeded to gasp and clap. The man shook my hand, told me to have a blessed day and then said, “excuse me ladies, I need to visit my daughter.”

…. I was shaking by the time I walked out of the store.

Selections from ‘Rituals’, by Noorann Matties

Forced to examine ourselves in ways many normally avoid, Rituals as a project sought to capture the moment in which we our lives become devoid of distraction and we become intimately aware of ourselves. By photographing people’s personal beauty rituals I attempted to capture this awareness, this intimacy that occurs only when one is forced to examine their own body, the most basic thing that is theirs, and build upon it.