A Vegan Food Snob

Manna Organic Bread + Giveaway!

2011-11-30T19:52:00.003-05:00

The winner is Christina @calmond!
Check you email for details on how to get your bread!
Congratulations!

I was recently contacted by the kind folks at Manna Organics about trying out their bread. Do I ever say no to bread? No. No I don't. So they shipped me four different loafs of their bread to try out. I really enjoy trying new products and am thrilled to tell others about products when I have the opportunity. Do you even know how excited I was?
Haven't heard of Manna? Here's a little info...
(from their website)
"Manna Bread is a cake-like, sprouted bread, yeast free bread, organic bread, free of salt, no oils, no sweeteners, no leavening agents. Manna is a moist and delicious, high in protein and fiber. Available in 9 delicious flavors in your favorite health food store, and most Whole Foods markets, in the USA and Canada."
Learn more about Manna by visiting their website, Manna Organics.
(Disclaimer: though the company sent me free product, I did not receive monetary compensation for this review, nor am I under obligation to provide a review.)

I sampled 3 different sprouted breads and 1 sourdough. Carrot Raisin Sprouted Bread, Fig Fennel Flax Sprouted Bread, Sunseed Sprouted Bread, and M ultigrain Flax Sourdough Bread.

Carrot Raisin

Fig Fennel Flax

Sunseed

Multigrain Flax Sourdough

The sprouted breads were just as the website describes- super moist and cake like. My absolute favorite were the carrot raisin and fig fennel flax. Biting into the carrot raisin was like eating carrot cake- with big, sweet, chewy bites of raisins and shredded carrots spread throughout. Perfect for breakfast and much healthier than having cake in the morning. The fig fennel flax has delicious pieces of fig which are a really interesting compliment to the fennel seeds, which you can taste but are not overwhelming. I especially loved that the top of this loaf is covered with a crunchy crust of pumpkin, poppy, sesame and sunflower seeds. I can definitely see these 2 breads becoming the star at brunch tables everywhere.
The sunseed was good, but not my favorite. The taste of caraway seeds made me want to spread on some dijon mustard or have a side of garlic dill pickles, but maybe that's just me!

Sourdough lovers- run, don't walk, to pick up a loaf of this artisian sourdough bread! For me it was a little too "soury" but I think it would make a really awesome tempeh rueben sandwich with tons of sauerkraut.

The breads are pretty dense so I could only eat a little bit in one sitting, but I really enjoyed tasting them.

Would you like to taste some? Well guess what? Manna Organics wants to send you bread too!

Giveaway details:

1. Leave a comment here telling me which breads you want to try.

2. For additional entries: (leave a comment for each please)

-Follow A Vegan Food Snob on Facebook

-Follow Manna Organics on Facebook

-Follow @MannaOrganics on Twitter

3. One (1) winner will receive 4 loaves of bread!

4. Sorry, the giveaway is for U.S. residents only.

Winner will be announced on Friday, December 9th!

Vegan MoFo - Pumpkin Hot Toddy

2011-10-27T21:45:00.000-04:00

I've been under the weather for a few days and was thinking some hot lemon and ginger in "toddy" form would help sooth my poor sick self. Well, sick or not, MoFo is still on my mind.

Pumpkin Hot Toddy
Serves 1

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon sugar or agave
2 tablespoons pureed pumpkin
1 cup boiling water
Optional add ins: fresh grated ginger, 1 tea bag, 1 shot of whiskey or rum, cinnamon stick, cloves, lemon slices or wedges

Combine lemon juice, sugar or agave and pumpkin on the bottom of a large mug. If using an optional ingredient, add it now. Pour the boiling water over and stir well. Drink immediately.

Vegan MoFo - Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk

2011-10-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, you go crazy for the Silk Pumpkin Spice beverage that is available this time of year. I love it in my coffee even though I normally don't put anything in my morning caffeinated beverage.

Well, guess what? You can make it at home! The original is made with soy, but you can easily whip up a batch using nuts in your own kitchen. Watch and learn.

Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk

1 cup raw almonds (or other raw nut of your choice)
6 cups water, divided
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon Spice Blend or store bought pumpkin pie spice

Remember that time when I made nut milk? Same idea here. Start with the almonds and 2 cups of water in the blender. Blend for a good 5 minutes, until you have a pretty creamy consistency. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, reserving the milk. (A cheesecloth would probably come in handy here so you could squeeze it, but I never have one on hand.) Add the pulp to the blender and blend with 2 more cups of water. Repeat straining & blending once more with additional 2 cups water. You'll do this a total of 3 times. Reserve your pulp, covered, in the fridge (I have plans for that later). At this point you should have 4 cups of almond milk. Reserve 2 cups of it, and store it, covered, in the fridge. Rinse your blender and strainer well. Pour your remaining 2 cups of almond milk back into the blender and blend well, strain. Now to your blender add your milk, spices and pureed pumpkin. Blend & strain, again. I know it's a pain to keep blending and straining, but look at that! You're all finished! Store your pumpkin spice beverage in a covered container in the fridge.

Definitely try it out in your coffee, it make a standard cup of coffee rich and creamy. Add sweetener of your choice, if you prefer. I promise, this will be the new star of your coffee station at your weekend autumn brunch!

Vegan MoFo - Quick Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

2011-10-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I went to Lula's Sweet Apothecary and had the pumpkin ice cream. For dinner.
I knew within moments of the first spoonful that I would be recreating this in my kitchen.

Before we begin, you'll need to freeze some pumpkin puree. Interestingly enough, I had a dream about piping pumpkin puree into ice cube trays. As my dream predicted, it is very easy to fill the ice cube trays if you use a pastry bag. You could also use a ziplock bag with a tip cut off. Or, you could just use a damn spoon. You should be able to fill one and a half trays from one can of pumpkin. Freeze your pumpkin for a few hours until solid, I recommend overnight.

(Bonus: my dog happens to enjoy a cube of frozen pumpkin as a treat, and I'll bet your dog does too!)

Quick Pumpkin Ice Cream Serves 1

8 frozen pumpkin cubes
1/4 of a frozen banana (about a 2" piece)
6-7 tablespoons non dairy milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, cloves & allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Let your pumpkin cubes sit out for a few minutes, otherwise they will propel around your food processor like tiny little rockets and your neighbors will come running to see what that "machine gun" noise was. Add the pumpkin cubes and banana to your processor and begin to pulse. Add the non-dairy milk one tablespoon at a time until you have the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Scrape the sides with a rubber spatula and add the spices. Pulse a few times to fully incorporate the spices. Serve as is or pop it into the freezer for just a few minutes for a firmer ice cream.

Note: if you freeze it for too long and are having trouble scraping it out because it is solid as a rock, break the ice cream up into pieces and add it back to the food processor. Add about 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk and pulse until you have the consistency you want.

Top with chopped walnuts, if you dare.

VeganMoFo - Spiced Popcorn*

2011-10-19T17:44:00.002-04:00

Are you hungry? Me? Oh, I'm always hungry. It's just... I thought you could use a little snack after all the booze I served you...
*I'm calling this popcorn, but it's really more like kettle corn.

Spiced Popcorn
Serves 2

4 cups plain popcorn
1-2 tablespoons oil or melted vegan margarine
2 teaspoons spice blend (see below) or store bought pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons sugar

After popcorn is popped, pour oil or margarine on top and quickly toss. Sprinkle with sugar and spices, toss again to coat all popcorn.

Spice Blend

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon each nutmeg & cloves
1/4 teaspoon each ginger & allspice

Mix well. Sprinkle on everything. Popcorn, coffee, your cat, etc.

VeganMoFo HUMP DAY

2011-10-14T14:58:00.010-04:00

Today is VeganMoFo HUMP DAY!! That's right people, we're half way through! To celebrate here's a little something special from rad vegan performer Leslie Hall. She is sharing her unreleased song with all MoFo readers.

Before a few days ago, I actually hadn't heard of Leslie, but now I'm beginning to think that we went to college together (if you know where I went to college, well, you understand).

click above for the song

Here are the lyrics so you can follow along...

I eat the finest cuisines, in the finest of places.

Stuff my mouth full and always say thank you.

But if it's raised in a cage, and it can't even move, if it's hormone filled and in a bad mood.

I'm gonna pass on that.

Reach for something better.

The only milk I'll drink comes from the

nipple of a soy bean.

Veggies make you live forever, and they seem to taste much better when they're cooked and grown with love.

So give a chef who knows what's up a hug.

Momma just can't seem to get it, Papa he just rolls his eyes. When I tell them I'm much healthier, they just say that it's all lies.

But beans, nuts, fruits and veggies can really fill the belly.

Get you vitamins you need, shiny hair and extra speed.

Don't take that meat-wich any further, I want a marinated, deep fried, hand-tied mushroom burger.

I like it!

We gotta stand strong for our feathered furry sometimes scaly animal friends and their little babies.

'Cuz I wouldn't want to live in a cage in a dark warehouse killed at an early age.

Pumped full of hormones, sleeping in my feces.

Never met my mother, raised by machines.

Never get sunshine never get green, but that's just me.

[That girl loves fruit leather.]

So ask us what we're eating.

Delicious and repeating, fruits and veggies are so nice.

With a slice of tempeh, yes, I'll have that twice.

Don't forget the legumes!

Annnnd here's a bonus video for you...

Click here for the complete collection of Leslie Hall videos. Trust me, you want to.

VeganMoFo - New Found Blog Love

2011-10-10T19:44:00.001-04:00

I'm going to be honest with you. I have not been doing much reading of blogs lately. There are just too many blogs, too many posts per day and it just has my head spinning. However, last night I spent hours not being able to sleep and constantly hitting the refresh button over at randomofo. It's more fun and feels more productive than trying to scroll through what seems like thousands of blogs in my RSS Feed. Anyway, of all the blogs that caressed my screen, two in particular jumped out and grabbed me.

For the Love of Food

oh, ladycakes

The photos are gorgeous, the recipes make my mouth water and the writing just catches me. Not to mention both writers are just adorable. I implore you... run, do not walk, to both of these blogs.

That is all.

VeganMoFo - Apple Bellini

2011-10-09T13:19:00.002-04:00

I'm taking a break from pumpkins today to bring you yet another autumn inspired brunch beverage. There was some major teamwork in the kitchen this morning. We could have fed the entire building with the amount of food we cooked up. Nonetheless, it was delicious and required a nap immediately after. As you know, no brunch is complete without a bubbly drink. Have a try at this one. A bellini is traditionally made with pureed or muddled peach. Here an apple replaces the peach for a little fall flair.

Apple Bellini

1 medium size apple
Prosecco
cinnamon stick, for garnish

First you need to puree your apple. I just cut it into about 5 or 6 big pieces, put it in the food processor with a splash of water, and blend. I did not peel the skin, but you can choose to peel it if you want to. You'll need to really process it for a few minutes, it'll feel like too long, but don't worry. You want the apple as smooth as you can get it. (Alternatively, you can probably use applesauce.) You can strain your puree if you want to, but I did not. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of apple puree into a glass and fill with Prosecco. I like to keep a cinnamon stick in the glass as I drink because the scent reminds me of cider.

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin Ginger Mimosa

2011-10-08T13:00:00.003-04:00

Weekends for me, means brunch. All too often I find myself at Curly's, sipping a sangria, which I am perfectly happy with. However I'm itching to whip up a delicious fall brunch with pumpkin pancakes and waffles galore. Hellooo mimosa!

Pumpkin Ginger Mimosa

5, 1/4" slices fresh ginger
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups water, divided
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
champagne*, chilled

In a small sauce pan, heat ginger slices, sugar and 1 cup water. Simmer over medium-low heat to extract all ginger flavor, about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and set in the fridge to chill. Meanwhile, when your ginger is simmering, mix the canned pumpkin with the remaining 1 cup of water and strain. When the ginger mixture is chilled, pour into the pumpkin mixture. Again, strain through a fine mesh strainer. The pumpkin will continue to settle, so just make sure you aren't going to get pumpkin chunks in your mimosa. Mix equal parts pumpkin ginger mixture with chilled champagne, and cheers!

*Sparkling cider or even San Pellegrino would make a fine substitute for champagne.

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate

2011-10-07T20:03:00.005-04:00

Guess what? I found vegan white chocolate in Whole Foods. I did! I really did! It was pretty much a miracle. As far as I know, vegan white chocolate is hard to come by unless you order it online... which is fine, but if a white chocolate craving suddenly strikes who can wait around for delivery? This white chocolate is local to NY so I'm not sure what the availability is in other Whole Foods stores. Here's what it looks like...

The caramel color comes from the coconut sugar and even though the chocolate isn't exactly white in color, it sure does taste like white chocolate. And it is soo good.

The moment I found this I knew what I had to do with it... white hot chocolate. I've only had white hot chocolate once, ever. I remember it being sweet and delicious. Why not try to add some pumpkin to it?

Vegan Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate

2-3 oz. vegan white chocolate (I used 2 of these bars, which are 1.4 oz each)
1 cup soy milk
3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
pumpkin pie spice, for dusting

In a small sauce pan, melt the chocolate in the soy milk over medium-low heat. Add the pumpkin and whisk to incorporate. Heat through just enough so the mixture is hot, but try not to let it bubble or it will start to caramelize and burn onto your pan. The mixture is thick so if you want a thinner drink add a bit more soy milk. Pour into a mug and dust the top with pumpkin pie spice.

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin Chai

2011-10-06T18:41:00.006-04:00

I love me a good chai. Whether hot or iced, could there be a more perfect drink? I think not. Here's an autumnal version of the classic drink.

Pumpkin Chai

1-2 cups brewed black tea
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
2 cups water
1/12 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon each ground cloves, allspice, cardamom
1/4 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 star anise
non-dairy milk, optional

Begin by brewing your tea, then set it aside. In a small sauce pan combine pumpkin, water, sugar and spices. Cook this mixture over medium low heat for about 10 minutes, whisking occasionally. You want the spices to infuse the pumpkin. Taste it as you go and adjust the sugar and spices to your own tastes. I don't like it very sweet so I kept the sugar low, but I like it very spicy so I actually upped the spices. (I think I upped too much- I doubled the spices and lost the pumpkin taste. Keep that in mind if you want to add more spice.)

Once your spice mixture is ready add 2 tablespoons of it to your cup and then fill with your brewed tea. I topped mine off with some warmed coconut milk.

Feel free to chill your spice mixture and enjoy your tea on the rocks.

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin Spiced Hot Cocoa

2011-10-05T20:43:00.003-04:00

What's better than taking a walk on a chilly fall night with a steamy cup of hot cocoa to keep you warm? Make it even more comforting spiked with pumpkin flavor and the perfect blend of fall spices.

Pumpkin Spiced Hot Cocoa

1/4-1/2* cup Pumpkin Simple Syrup
1 cup soy milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Dandies marshmallows & cinnamon to garnish

In a small sauce pan, warm the pumpkin syrup and soy milk over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder making sure there are no lumps. Bring to a simmer but continue to whisk so that it does not scorch. Pour into a mug and sprinkle with cinnamon. I topped mine with Dandies marshmallows but I think Sweet & Sara's pumpkin spice mallows would make this drink extra special.

*I used only 1/4 cup of pumpkin and the flavor was subtle while the texture was very smooth and creamy. Use the bigger amount if you want more pumpkin taste.

VeganMoFo - Hot Pumpkin Cider

2011-10-04T15:19:00.003-04:00

Well here I am racking my brain to come up with pumpkin drinks for y'all. On this cool, blustery fall day cider is the first thing that comes to mind. Doesn't get more fall-ish than cider.

Hot Pumpkin Cider

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 cups apple juice (I juiced about 4 apples. If you don't have a juicer, feel free to use your favorite apple juice or cider. Just make sure the only ingredient is... apples.)
1/4 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Whisk over medium heat, bringing it up to a simmer. Let simmer for about 5 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer and drink immediately. (Note that if this drinks sits, the pumpkin will begin to separate.)

My 12 year old brother tasted it and said, "Oh, that's really good. It tastes like pie. I like it." But then added, "I think it would taste better cold, though."

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin White Russian

2011-10-03T21:49:00.003-04:00

Ask, and you shall receive!
Time to get your drink on with pumpkin beverage number three...

Vegan Pumpkin White Russian

1/8 cup vodka
1/8 cup coffee liqueur
1/8 cup Pumpkin Spice Syrup
1/2 cup almond milk (I used Silk Almond)

Mix all ingredients together in a glass measuring cup. Pour over ice. Drink up, dude.

(Be sure to check out Barnivore for your responsible vegan boozing needs.)

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin Spice Latte

2011-10-02T15:04:00.034-04:00

Hmm, do I see a theme emerging here..? Only time will tell....
I promise this will not become a month of pumpkin beverages (unless you want that...) but this one was just begging to be made.

I'll admit that at this time of year I am one of the crazies that shell out too much moola at S'bucks (vegans- please see the link in the comments about the Starbucks version of this beverage) for a pumpkin spice latte. I guess it goes without saying that a little leftover pumpkin butter really got the wheels turning here. Who would've thought?
This homemade latte requires a few steps but is not complicated at all. You'll need to start with a simple syrup.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

1/4 cup pumpkin butter
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon sugar

In small sauce pan heat all ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly. When small bubbles form around the edges you're all set! Remove from heat and store any unused portions in a tightly covered container in the fridge.
Now for the main event...

Pumpkin Spice Latte

2 tablespoons Pumpkin Spice Syrup
2 shots of espresso
1/4 cup steamed soy milk

Start with the pumpkin syrup in your mug. Pour the espresso over the syrup and stir. Slowly add the steamed soy milk and top with foam. Sip slowly and savor!

Note: I thought 2 tablespoons of syrup would be a lot, but the flavor was very subtle. If you like a strong taste of pumpkin (like moi) then you'll want to add more. Perhaps double it.

Fret not friends! You do not need to own fancy coffee equipment to create a homemade latte. Instead brew 1 cup of strong coffee and warm your soy milk on the stove top.

VeganMoFo - Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

2011-10-01T18:21:00.007-04:00

Happy Vegan MoFo!!

To celebrate, I made you a delicious beverage!

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

1 frozen banana
2 tablespoons pumpkin butter
1/2 cup soy milk

Blend! Drink!

I swear this smoothie is my genius brain child. I had this jar of pumpkin butter sitting around foreverrrrrr. Finally I used a tiny bit of it, but soon realized that I just wasn't going to finish it up in time and was afraid it would go bad. So I stuck it in the freezer. I forgot about it in there for a long time. A few days ago I was craving a different kind of smoothie, and with fall looming about, pumpkins must have been on my mind. I peered into the freezer and there was my answer. After defrosting in the fridge I knew this pumpkin butter was the key to my smoothie woes. Damn was I right!

Pumpkin butter is so perfect for a smoothie because it is spiced up nicely with all the right fall flavors and as an added bonus, mine did not contain any sugar. If you want your smoothie sans added sugar be sure to check the label (if using pre-made).

Try it out guys! What do you think? How about apple or pear butter?? Homemade peach jam? The possibilities are endless!

VeganMoFo 2011...

2011-09-30T14:05:00.001-04:00

Hey ya'll, just a quick update here.

As you may have guessed by now, I am participating in VeganMoFo this year. VeganMoFo (Month of Food) is when vegan bloggers all over the world join forces and blog about delicious *vegan* food every single day of the month. Well... at least 5 days out of the week. You can read more about VeganMoFo and check out which of your favorite bloggers are participating by visiting VeganMoFo.

I've been thinking about VeganMoFo for a lonnnng time now, and I've been trying to figure out if I want to follow a theme or if I want to just wing it. Frankly, I still don't know what I want to do, sooo stay tuned and see what I manage to squeeze into the blog on a daily basis. If you're interested, some theme ideas I've been toying with are...

Apples and/or Pumpkins
"Vegan Food" Around the Neighborhood

Apples and pumpkins are pretty self explanatory (I hope) being, uh well, October. My idea for finding "vegan food" around the 'hood was to kind of showcase the fact that vegan food is just food and that you can find it anywhere you go! This would be posted Tumblr style using mostly just photos and perhaps a word or two (i.e what it is and where I saw it.)

If you have any ideas for me, or if there is anything that you are just dying to see on the blog, please do let me know! You can share your thoughts and ideas with me by commenting orr you can email me at...

aveganfoodsnob {AT} gmail {DOT} com

Earth Balance Coconut Spread

2011-09-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

At Vida Vegan Con I had the absolute pleasure of sampling Earth Balance's brand new margarine type spread, Organic Coconut Spread. As soon as I got home I knew this was going to be the first product I'd purchase. Not to mention the fabulous people at Earth Balance gave us a coupon for a free tub of the stuff in our swag bag. (Free coupon aside, I would pay mucho dinero for this product.)

Seriously, Earth Balance, could I love you anymore? It's no secret that I want to run away and have a secret Las Vegas wedding with this company. Their soy milk is my go to beverage, I devour both their peanut butter and almond butter right from the tub and my fridge is always stocked with not only a margarine tub, but also margarine sticks. A peek in my fridge and you'd swear I work there or something. (Disclaimer: aside from the coupon I did not receive any monetary compensation from the company for this review, nor am I under any obligation to do this review. I just genuinely enjoy the products put out by this company and do use them in my everyday life.)

Also no secret that I'm coo-coo for coconuts.

I've tried this spread in several ways. The first being simply on a piece of bread. For me this is the ultimate "bread and butter" snack (also my most favorite guilty pleasure). The spread melts as it hits your tongue with the creamy taste of butter and just a hint of coconut. So good. I could eat this stuff with a spoon. (Which I realize is not healthy, both nutritionally and for my mental health.) Clearly, I am not afraid of any fats in my diet!

Secondly, I was eager to use this spread in my baking. I made a batch of mini apple pies and used the Coconut Spread in place of the margarine and shortening in a basic pie crust. The result? A perfectly flakey, creamy, smooth texture with a slightly sweet and salty coconut flavor. I can see this spread baking up beautiful cookies, perfect pie crusts, and to die for cakes & cupcakes.

I want to be clear that the taste of coconut is not overwhelming, but you do gets notes of it in the background. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that even people who do not like strong coconut flavor will actually enjoy this product.

I have yet to saute or stir fry with it, but that is surely to come.

Now for a few details. Earth Balance Coconut Spread is organic, non-GMO and (get ready, food sensitive friends) gluten and soy-free.

In conclusion, this is the closest tasting thing to "real" butter that I have found. Even in a side by side taste test of the Coconut Spread vs. the Organic Whipped EB margarine, I still think the coconut tastes more like the buttery flavor that I remember.

Taco Salad

2011-09-20T18:27:00.008-04:00

This is a simple and speedy way to use up those nagging kitchen staples and create a yummy meal all at the same time!

What you are looking at here is 2 small bunches of shredded romaine, 1 package (1 1/2 lbs. prepared) of soy curls, 1 can of black olives, 3 ears worth of corn (roasted), 1/2 of a red onion, blue corn chips and Queso.

Not only is this super quick and super easy but it's also customizable. Don't like black black olives? No problem! Want to add avocado? Go ahead! Soy curls not your thing? This is the perfect time to use any veg. protein of your choice.

My soy curls were prepared very simply. First soaked for 10 minutes in warm water. Then cooked in a skillet with a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, coriander and the juice of 1 lime. About 10 minutes in the pan and they were done.

The fun part is getting to arrange your salad...

I roasted up some fresh corn for this bodacious buffet and even that was super quick! Here's how you roast up corn at home in a flash.

Roasted Corn

3-5 ear of corn

Preheat your oven to 475º F.

Cut the kernals off of the cobs and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook for 5 minutes, remove from oven and scrape up the corn. You basically want to just move the corn around so that it cooks evenly. I run a metal spatula down the sheet in rows, turn the corn and flatten it again. There's no real scientific method to moving corn so just do whatever works for you at that moment. Into the oven for another 5 minutes, and you are done! Serve warm. I highly recommend you do roast up some corn at home, if for nothing but the incredible sweet smell that will fill your kitchen. You can even freeze the roasted corn and save it for a later use.

Quick and Easy Fall Vegan Picnic

2011-09-19T12:13:00.002-04:00

If summer and I were soul mates, then fall would be my secret affair. Anyone who knows me knows I love the sweltering temperatures of a hot summer day, but when the cool fall air begins to creep in I can't help but secretly get all giddy on the inside.

For me, fall is the perfect time for picnicking. Yesterday we enjoyed our first picnic of the season, complete with a bike ride around Manhattan.

Tired bikes, resting up.

On the menu was a brown, wild rice salad with slivered almonds, sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries and a sprinkle of arame. This came together in a snap. I had a ziplock bag's worth of the rice already cooked and in the freezer. All I had to do was quickly warm up the rice (I popped it in the microwave for about 5 minutes). Toss in the cranberries, sun-dried tomatoes and almonds (all pantry staples around here) and there's a complete meal. All of the ingredients really complement each other well. You get the creamy earthiness from the rice, a burst of sweetness from the cranberries, a salty bite from the tomatoes and a little crunch with the almonds. This is especially perfect picnic food since you can enjoy the rice warm or cold.

Blue corn chips and Queso were perfect for snacking along with 2 macoun apples to round it all out. The last of the coffee cakes for dessert and 2 sample size Larabars as an extra treat/boost of energy. Have a look...

All packed up!

Queso... yummm!

So good, and soo filling!

It's not a picnic without a red blanket...

good company...

and a nice view makes it complete!

Kitchen Blunders & Mishaps

2011-09-16T17:32:00.000-04:00

In the last two days I have managed make many small(ish) mistakes in the kitchen. It all started yesterday when I left the oil out of my little coffee cakes...

Today I was extra vigilant to make sure I didn't make any silly mistakes. Hah! (At least I can laugh at myself, right?)

My day started off with a pie crust. I first added the flour and salt and then proceeded to add 1 1/2 cups of sugar. What?! With 1 cup of sugar already in the processor I thought, "Gee, that seems like too much." So I went back to check and realized in my hurry to scribble amounts on my paper I wrote "c" instead of "t". Welllllll damn it.
I did manage to save some of the sugar and some of the flour. I dumped the rest and started over.

Ok, the pies were saved, but not before I dropped the dough on the floor. Luckily most of it was covered in plastic wrap. Then finally (and after I forgot to sugar the tops, oops!) they were safe and sound in the oven. Leave it to me at the end to set the timer for 5 hours instead of the 5 extra minutes they needed. Sheesh.

All while the pies were being tortured I managed to not only squirt lemon juice in my eye, but also Dr. Bronner's lemon citrus soap, in the same eye!

Later in the day I forgot to turn off the slow cooker and over cooked my chickpeas to oblivion, at the same time I was pouring tofu water all over the stove while (attempting to) make a tofu scramble.

Ok, clearly I'm just ranting... and venting... and run-on sentencing. But after all these kitchen shenanigans I got to wondering, and I want to know: What are your kitchen blunders, mistakes and mishaps? Really, I'm curious. Have you had one day where everything just went wrong? Or do you have just one knock down, drag out kitchen blunder of all time? Lay 'em on me people!

As for me... perhaps keep me away from breakable things and sharp objects. I think it'll be take-out this weekend until I get my sea legs back.

Coffee Cake Nostalgia

2011-09-15T18:15:00.001-04:00

Do you remember Drake's Coffee Cakes?
I've been thinking about... dreaming about them, for at least the last week or so. I can imagine opening that package and out slide 2 perfectly round cakes, just for me! Cinnamon wafting in my nose, and taking that first soft and crumbly bite. Crumbs would roll everywhere of course, but I barely even notice, stuffing my face with the second cake before I knew it.

If I don't get some coffee cake now, heads will roll.

My first thought was to thumb through my cookbooks. Surely I had seen a coffee cake in one of them before, hadn't I? There in Vegan Brunch (one of my most used books) was a coffee cake staring back at me. But no. This wasn't it. I needed more crumbs, more cinnamon, more something. Then it hit me! I rushed to VeganYumYum where I knew the perfect crumb cake recipe was waiting for me.

As much as I loved the little individual coffee cakes, eating a slice of coffee (or crumb) cake was never quite as enjoyable for me. Here is what I did to fulfill my coffee cake nostalgia craving.

Prepare this recipe for Crumb Cake. Scoop 1/4 cup of the cake batter into a greased jumbo muffin tin. Top with the crumb topping. Bake approximately 40 minutes at 350º F.

As soon as I placed the muffin tin in the oven and closed the door, I realized that I forgot the oil! I don't know how, it was literally sitting right in front of me. It was too late to do anything about it, so I just set the oven timer and hoped for the best.

Results?

The look and flavor were spot on. However, the lack of oil left my cakes dense and slightly rubbery. If it were not for my mistake they would have been perfect.

Tips: I would suggest to make your crumb mixture more sand-like rather than big clumps. The post for the recipe shows big huge crumbs, but I found the bigger crumbs were a little too crunchy for my end product. Also, I baked the cakes for a total of 50 minutes which I think was a little too long. Next time I'll take them out at 40 minutes. Just be sure to test and see what amount of time works best for your oven.

ELT: Eggplant, Lettuce, Tomato

2011-09-09T15:58:00.002-04:00

Okay, technically I'm using spinach, not lettuce. But EST just doesn't do it for me.

Eggplant right is super in season and really cheap right now. I picked up a really pretty one the other day for about a buck. This pretty baby is destined to become bacon. Yes, that's right. Bacon. I have been dying to make the eggplant bacon from Appetite for Reduction, and today is the day. (Edit 10/11: Isa posted the recipe for the eggplant over at the ThePPK, so if you still don't have the book {why?} you can grab the recipe there.)

This is super easy, especially if you don't screw up and let the eggplant stick to the pan like I did.

Eggplant Lettuce Tomato Sandwich

1 batch eggplant bacon
1 batch Cesar Chavez dressing
1 large slice of tomato
small handful of baby spinach (or a few leaves of romaine)
sandwich bread of your choice (I used a large piece of leftover baguette)

Carefully spoon the dressing onto both pieces of bread. Really let it soak in, pour on tons of it. Lay the tomato slices on the bottom piece of bread. Layer on the spinach or other greens using and top with your eggplant bacon. Close it up with your remaining piece of bread and take a huge bite!

Quick & Easy Veggie Rice Pilaf

2011-09-08T21:06:00.000-04:00

Another quick and easy one tonight folks! Can you tell how lazy I've been lately? But hey, a delicious meal doesn't need to be complicated. This is actually the 2nd night this week I've made a rice pilaf dish. The first one though had a longer cooking time. You can also use this as a kind of "clean out the fridge" type meal. I had some broccolini that was starting to wilt so in the pot they went! Definitely feel free to sub any veggies you have at the moment.

Vegetable Rice Pilaf

~1/4 cup vegetable stock, broth or bouillon cube (just enough to cover the pan)
1 large carrot, grated
1 garlic clove, grated
1/2 bunch broccolini, finely chopped
generous dash of tumeric
1/2 cup orzo
1 cup brown rice
3 cups water (or more veg. broth)

Gently simmer the carrot, garlic and broccolini in the veg. stock for about 2 minutes. Add the tumeric and stir. Add the orzo, rice and water, stir and briefly bring to a gentle boil. Simmer, covered on low for 25-30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked. Taste for seasonings and fluff it up!

Easy Tomato Coconut Curry Soup

2011-09-07T20:24:00.000-04:00

How is the weather where you live? Today is day # 2 of crappy, rainy weather in NY. Here's a quick soup that feels like a big warm hug on a cold day.

Tomato Coconut Curry Soup

1-2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced or grated
1 carrot, minced or grated
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon tumeric
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch kosher salt
1 pinch sugar
1/2 cup coconut milk (I used So Delicious, unsweetened)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1-2 handfuls baby spinach, roughly chopped

Heat oil over medium heat, cook onion 1 minute. Lower heat to medium low, cook onion 3 more minutes. Add garlic and carrot, I grated these both right into the pot. Add all of the spices, salt and sugar, cook about 2 minutes. It will look a little like a paste at this point. Turn the heat down all the way to low and add the coconut milk. Mix it all together, the color will be a beautiful golden yellow. Turn the heat up to medium again and add the can of tomatoes, plus 1/2 a can's worth of water. Bring it up to a gentle boil and toss in the spinach. Simmer just until the spinach is wilted and enjoy, perhaps with some crusty bread.

onion, garlic, carrot & spices

add coconut milk...

add tomatoes, then spinach...

Yum.