VeganMoFo: Ready. Steady. Go!

 Hi there! :)

This is Cris and When Poppies Spring Up aka Quando spuntano i papaveri is my blog.

Since I wrote my blog in Italian so far, I thought it could be helpful to write something about me in this post, so that we can get acquainted.

I started writing this blog last Spring to motivate myself and share my new experience. Actually, my new experiences. 

As a student, I'm about to get my MA and I'm writing my final thesis on French Canadian Studies - I like it so much! :) But at the same time, it's not that easy to find critical essays or articles about my special topic over here, so it takes time! :) Thus, I decided to start writing to motivate myself, to keep on reading and writing and get it done soon!

As a human being, I came into contact with veganism. I happened upon A Delicate Balance while watching  I-don't-know-what on YouTube, clicked on it and everything changed. I have to say I wasn't an omnivore - I haven't been eating meat for 10 years and chicken since '96 -, but I've never realized before that I didn't do it for compassion or respect towards animals and environment, nor for my health. I was astonished and started looking for further information. That day, I stopped drinking milk. I had already started to avoid eggs, but the point was "How can I replace them? What can I eat instead of dairy products?" And I was like, "Cakes! Cakes = eggs + milk, what can I do?" And "Pizza!!!" - I'm not going to write what I thought about eating pizza without mozzarella - just think that I'm Italian and, for us, pizza requires mozzarella! :) :) :)
I gave myself a 6-month time to decide about what to do and, in the meanwhile, I started looking for some information about food and I realized there were several vegan blogs. I could read them, but I wanted to be more active, share my experience and meet new friends, since I don't know a single vegan in my real life! :) That's why I decided to start this blog.
I'm not much of a cook, and my recipes are like really basic, that's why I didn't pick a theme. I'm going to write here my new food findings and some Italian recipes, why not?

And finally, why did I call my blog this weird way?
Because everything happened in Spring, the season of awakening, new life and new beginnings - my journey to get my thesis done and my new life as a vegan. And poppies are simple flowers springing up in Spring (sorry for this little spring-spring-pun!), they are red and vivid, and I realized all of that while looking at them!
When poppies sprang up my life changed, someway.

And finally-finally, I hope you enjoy this little place.
If you're curious to know what I write in Italian, just ask me and I'll translate it!
And if you find some mistakes with my English or if you want to give me some tips on my recipes, feel free to contact me, I'm here to learn! :)
Ciao ciao,
Cris