Chef and Author Dynise Balcavage knows a thing or two about chowing down on a plant-based diet on a budget.  Here’s a meal that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, that can feed the whole fam healthfully, deliciously, and easily!

In my opinion, shallots are one of the most neglected veggies in America. Often overshadowed by their bolder cousins, onion and garlic, classy shallot has a gentler, sweeter taste. In some ways, though, its subtlety is more powerful and enduring. Think of Audrey Hepburn in a bulb. In this easy dish, I’ve paired shallots with another spring classic, chard, with a bit of lemon juice for freshness.  [Low-fat, frugal]

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 T extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ tsp hot pepper flakes
• 5-6 shallots, peeled and slices (Enough to equal approximately 1 medium onion)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large bunch of chard, tough stems removed, leaves chopped fairly finely
• 1 pound of farfalle  (Good substitutes include orchiettte and gemelli)
• About 1 T fresh lemon juice
• Nutritional yeast for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
2. Heat oil over medium in a separate, large high-sided pan. Add hot pepper flakes, let cook for a few seconds to infuse the oil, then add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt, and sauté until the shallots are soft and translucent, about 5-10 minutes. Take care not to brown them.
3. Meanwhile, blanche the chard in the boiling water until it wilts. The idea is simply to precook the greens; careful not to overcook or you will have mush (and fewer vitamins). Depending on the variety of chard you use, it will color your water from beet red to dark green. This is normal and will add even more flavor to your pasta as it cooks.
4. Remove chard with a slotted spoon and drain in a colander. When it’s cool enough to handle, squeeze out excess water.
5. Add pasta to your colored water. Cook according to package directions.
6. Turn up the heat, and add a ladle of pasta water to the shallot-pepper-oil mixture, then stir in the chard and lemon juice. Add more water if it seems dry (or more oil, if you are prone to decadence).
7. When chard is cooked through (taste first!), toss with drained farfalle, top with nutritional yeast and more salt, if desired, and enjoy.

Philly vegan Dynise Balcavage is the author of “The Urban Vegan: 250 Simple, Sumptuous Recipes, from Street Cart Favorites to Haute Cuisine.” It’s fabulous and so totally worth owning. She is working on her second cookbook.

Princess Superstar is our homegirl.  She is a fierce, sexy vegan, rock star, and total friend to the animals.  So we got our panties all up in a happy bunch when she shared exclusively with GirlieGirl Army that she is partnering with Pledge Music, the international direct-to-fan platform, to raise the funds for her next album, “The New Evolution.”

They have just launched an innovative campaign that offers fans the chance to cut out the middleman, become her patrons and have some wild experiences with the Princess herself in the process!   Pledge also gives artists the chance to donate part of the money they raise to a charity of their choice.  Princess Superstar will be donating some of her proceeds to PETA. She offers the world a taste of her new material with the Crookers remix of her track “Lollipop” which premiered on RCRD LBL today. Listen to the track here.

Fans have the chance to purchase incentives ranging from a signed copy of the album to a yoga session to a private burlesque strip-tease from Princess Superstar! Aside form a world-renowned musician, DJ, and businesswoman, Princess has been a coach on MTV’s MADE and is offering packages of rap lessons, DJ lessons, and music business mentoring. She is also an accomplished cook and vegan, and some of the packages include her cooking a dinner for a pledging fan at either Princess Superstar’s house or the fan’s place-their choice! At the end of the day, it’s her music that makes jaws drop - and fans can get access to demos, a private show for them and their friends, and even the chance to go in the studio with her!

Princess Superstar has been a music business renegade for the past 15 years. She has successfully run her own label, was among the first artists to have their own video games, and was also among the first to start making their own bootlegs and mash ups. Her adventurous business ideas are only rivaled by her inimitable sound. Her tracks were recently featured in the films Bruno and Get Him to the Greek and she was on Grandmaster Flash’s album alongside Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg. She is hard at work on the forthcoming album, “The New Evolution”, which features production from The Rural (Gorillaz, Beyonce).

From Princess herself;

Want a 10,000 dollar burlesque strip show? I am beyond excited to have this opportunity to make my next record (the SIXTH ONE!) in partnership with the actual people who support me!  I think a new world is coming and this is a revolutionary, intimate way to make art happen. I am so grateful that your dollars actually get to make my dream materialize. Also I am very psyched to offer all sorts of experiences to you- such as glamorous “Be a Princess Superstar!” makeover; customized birthday songs; meditation lessons; or even private full on burlesque show with me and my dancers! Can you imagine if this were available in the 1960’s and 70’s? Man I think I would pay anything to hang out with the Beatles or Chaka Kahn! And, since I am an animal fanatic and am active in charity work, I am going to donate some of the money to PETA. This is a revolutionary process for an evolutionary album :-) Thanks for being a part of it! Love, Princess Superstar”

How Does Pledge Music Work?

Pledge Music tries to keep its offering very simple - an artist sets a target for an amount of financing they wish to raise to fund the recording and marketing of their new album or DVD.  The artist then approaches their fans to ask for ‘pledges’ towards the total in return for a digital download, CD or DVD of the resulting project. The pledges available are tiered so that the fan can pledge, for example, one amount for a simple digital download, a slightly higher amount for the digital download + physical CD, an even higher amount for a bundle that includes the digital download, the physical CD and t-shirt and so on. The artists can determine themselves exactly how they wish to inspire the pledge money. Unlike some other fan funded offerings no money is taken from pledger’s accounts until the pledge target has been met.

The key differences between Pledge Music and other fan funded investment models are -

• No money is taken from the fan until the entire pledge target is met
• The artist retains ALL their rights forever whether they be recording, publishing, merchandising or live. Pledge Music is not interested in owning any rights that belong to artists.
• Pledge Music charges the lowest, flat rate commission in the marketplace.

We like artists getting their dues, and we love our girl Princess Superstar.  Check out the revamped www.princesssuperstar.com for more deets on the Italian/ Jewish girl who can out-rap anyone.

Remember the days when you knew the best little thrift shop where you could go on half off day and score an amazing sundress for $2?  This was before the advent of etsy perhaps, when billions of hipsters world-wide scored at their local thrift stores and re-sold their wares online for triple the price.  Before the commercialization of vintage.  And trust us, we arne’t complaining.. we are overjoyed that the world has gone semi-green in their fashion preferences.  The more vintage we all buy, the less crap goes in landfills, the less energy is produced in factories, and the less un-fair labor is being used.  Still, we long for the days of truly cheap, cheap vintage.

So.. What’s the difference between a real thrift store and its overpriced sister - the vintage shop?

See below.  A true vintage store (aka thrift shop) has not been arranged by color or trend, and usually stinks of mothballs (see left). It’s a chore to go through the racks, but once you’ve found your score, you could sing from the rooftops! You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment you just won’t feel at any already merchandised vintage boutique.  The true thrift shop is often connected to a charity (Goodwill, et all) and doesn’t benefit from any sales of items.  A vintage boutique is well arranged, merchandise is laid out to showcase the great items (see right).  In the real vintage store, employees will be similar to the McDonald’s worker demographic/ little old ladies, you will see old teddy bears for sale and even old panties.  At a faux-vintage store, shopgirls n gays will probably be tattooed, beleaguered, and stinking of last nights big party - the merch will all be stuff you could totally see some 80’s ironic revival band wearing.  The prices will be double to triple the price of a thrift store.

So - we are reaching out to you, dear readers.  What are the last of the best vintage spots in your neck of the woods?? (Let us know in the comments section below - let’s compile a sisterly list for all States!)

We know Value Village still hold deals a-plenty for the vigorous vintage scout. Particularly in the Georgia locations.

And in NY (Brooklyn) you’ll be hard pressed to find better deals than at Green Village Junk Shop (gorgeous 1950’s armoire for $70, anyone?  Clothing by the pound!).

Here at GGA HQ  - we dream of a thrift store where all proceeds benefit vegan and animal organizations! But we wonder how that would work in terms of all the non-vegan items in thrift shops (wool, fur, leather, etc).  Would you be offended by a thrift shop selling old wool to benefit the animals?  Most of what we donate to thrift stores is our old non-vegan duds.  So we think the concept may be messy, but it’s an idea we’d love to see someone take on and adjust.

Here at GGA we love our girlfriends. One of our good friends is Certified Holistic Health Counselor and Vegan Chef/Cookbook Author Alexandra Jamieson. She’s been on Oprah and she has been giving us health tips on staying lean-and-mean for years now. We love her non-judgmental approach to food. It can taste good and help you look and feel great! (Even if you think you’re too busy to make real changes - she’s the expert at that!)

You’re invited to participate in an extraordinary 8-week detox program (via invite only!) where Alexandra share’s her best technology for permanently eliminating negative food forces that keep you from living your own authentic life. She’ll personally guide you along a clear-cut path toward total health and wellness (which translates to you feeling restored strength and courage so you can pursue your greatest goals!). Check her out here: www.nutritionforempoweredwomen.com

We are sure this detox will change your life if you let it.

Women’s Only 8 Week Reboot Detox Tele-Series with Alexandra Jamieson
Author of The Great American Detox Diet & Living Vegan For Dummies

Beginning Tuesday 9/14 at 2pm EST *Sign up by 9/2 for $257 in bonus gifts!

This program (for women only) isn’t about deprivation and fasting. It’s based on the power of whole foods and the system Alexandra created to heal her own body and the body of her then-boyfriend (now father to their 3.5 year old son) Morgan Spurlock in the Oscar-nominated movie “Super Size Me.”

“Diet” and “detox” are two of the most loaded words in our language. They literally bring dread into our hearts, conjuring up images of deprivation and hard, hard work. Alex doesn’t believe in diets. -At least, not in the way most people define them. She finds it depressing to have to follow stringent rules and guidelines just to feed your body. Detoxification - at least as Alexandra teaches it - is about removing the negative and adding positive steps that help you live a healthy life.

Here’s Alex (our nutrition guru) with GirlieGirl Army Founder Chloé Jo Davis (then pregnant!) and (our fitness diva) Barefoot Tiger’s Kendra Coppey;

How The 8 Week Reboot Detox Tele-Series Works;

Every Tuesday at 2pm EST you’ll dial into the conference call with Alexandra and 19 other women, all of whom want to feel and look better, naturally. You’ll discuss the week’s topics and come up with strategies based on what the individual women need for their lives. Every call is recorded, so you can download and listen to the calls again, or listen later if you need to miss a call. You’ll get recipes, plans, and tips for how to make it all work and become your new lifestyle.

What past clients have said:

“I’m down to the right weight for my height. I feel fitter and healthier than ever.”

“Within one week of working with Alex I began feeling dramatically better.”

“Alex guided me through an easy transition. I lost 15 pounds, I now sleep remarkably better
and my energy is soaring!”

Sign up here (hustle, cuz only 12 spots remain already.) You must mention hearing about this detox from GirlieGirl Army in your sign up form to get all the special goodies and the price below!

Special GGA Offer Worth over $257:

Alex is offering a special bonus for GGA members, too! Sign up by 9/2 and you’ll receive Alexandra’s famous Detox Box filled with a signed copy of her book, The Great American Detox Diet, tools, products, and awesome goodies to help you along your path. You’ll also get a private, 1-hour phone consultation with Alexandra during the 8 week program. That pays for the class itself! You’ll have access to the members-only online classroom and e-group where for support in between calls. This program always creates community for the women involved, and we love the way women can support each other through making life-altering changes.

If you are a longtime GGA reader, you know we support natural menstrual products and other sustainable alternatives to disposable products.

Organic Pad, $29.99 @lunapads.com

Lunapads has just launched a snappy new video that spells out the argument for switching from disposable to cloth menstrual pads. It’s an entertaining kick in the pants (pads?) for anyone who is still on the fence with respect to this important choice. Please take a look (it’s only 1:26 long) and consider ditching the plastic from your gine.

Plus - you can win an Organic Pads & Pantyliner Intro Kit by leaving a comment below. One comment will be chosen at random by the Lunapads crew on October 1st 2010.  Pass on the good word!