Charlene’s  White Pizza… if your “Meatless Monday” slipped thru the cracks, then here’s a full proof way to cover your tracks!

Ingredients

Your favorite pizza dough for a 12” pizza (deli or homemade – only you know your limits

EV Olive Oil (about 1/4 Cup)

2 TB Basil Pesto or Gourmet Gardens Basil herb blend

1 TB fresh garlic, minced

¾ Cup Baby Bell mushrooms, sliced (your favorite mushroom will certainly do the trick)

4 – 6 Artichoke Hearts in brine, cut into quarters

¼ of a sweet onion, sliced thin

Large handful fresh spinach, chopped

2 – 3 TB Annie’s Green Goddess Dressing

½ Cup Daiya Pepper Jack Chesse, shredded

1 Cup Daiya Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Prepare the dough according to directions. Drizzle the dough with the olive oil… a light drizzle is fine. Mix the garlic and basil together and spread on the dough. Place into a preheated 400’ oven for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.

In a hot skillet add some olive oil – just enough to coat the pan. Add the onions, mushrooms and artichokes: saute just enough to soften the onion and mushrooms, about 5-8 minutes. Add the spinach and cook a few more minutes to heat and wilt the greens.

To assemble spread the dressing over the crust then spread the toppings evenly. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, then with the Cheddar. Place back into the oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Big Yum… Enjoy!

“We are so excited to present our family of artisan baked goods via online sites such as ifood.com, eatingwell.com, foodnetowrk.com and Cooking Channel TV”, stated Charlene Venette, CEO of Everyday Gourmet Bakery. The exposure to the these sites puts us in touch with a powerful group of consumers… consumers that appreciate the finest ingredients and the best quality.

When you visit these sites, look for special deals on cookies, muffins, cakes and brownies from Everyday Gourmet.

Enjoy!

Friends, Family and devoted Everyday Gourmet cookie lovers on the West Coast, we have great news…

A series of new distribution agreements will take the Value Pack line of EDG cookies into 7 Western States, with access to 5,000+ stores. With the Diabetic Friendly family of cookies leading the charge, consumers will soon have access to the artisan, small batch work of Charlene Venette and her team of bakers. What was once a “sweet secret” of the East Coast has officially made it’s arrival on the West… Enjoy!

The Vegan YUM factor… coming to a store near you in the Western States

 Ahhh… the sound of Eco-Friendly Rice Paper Bags tearing open, across the state of Oregon. The news is official, Everyday Gourmet’s line of Vegan and Diabetic Friendly cookies are now available in all  8 locations at Market of Choice. CEO of Everyday Gourmet Charlene Venette had a hunch this well respected chain of grocery stores would be a great fit for her line of Diabetic Friendly, Vegan cookies… “Consumers at Market of Choice will love our selection of ingredients and artisan flavors” she stated. Likewise, Charlene was impressed with the core values of Market of Choice:

Our mission is in our name. Choice.

Market of Choice will offer an extensive selection of the finest and freshest conventional, natural, organic, and health conscious products at affordable prices. We will strive for a relaxing and enjoyable shopping experience with truly friendly people who care about the communities where they live and work.

Friends and Family in the Oregon area – be sure to look (and listen) for the rice paper bag with a smiling sun! For a list of locations, go to http://www.marketofchoice.com/about-market-of-choice/locations

Isn’t that an oxymoron?  Not for us at EDG.  We love food, especially

the sinful varieties.  As you know, we take pride in the ingredients we use at the bakery but we are also conscious at our own homes.  When we are making something that may lack some of the vital nutrition, that’s when Diet Enhance comes in handy!  Try this delicious recipe (vegan or not) for eggplant parm with Diet Enhance!

You will need:

1 Medium eggplant Peeled and sliced

½ tsp sea salt

Egg wash or soymilk for vegan version

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 14oz. block of firm tofu drain but do not press

3 TB nutritional yeast

1 tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp sea salt or liquid aminos

1 med sweet onion thinly sliced into circles

1 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (or vegan cheese)

¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar (or Daiya vegan cheese)

1 quart sauce (your favorite or homemade)

1 tsp Diet Enhance (stir it into the sauce.  add as much as you want based on appearance and taste)

Method:

1^st you need to soak the eggplant in salted water use enough to cover it,  in order to remove the bitterness. This takes about 30 minutes to soak. When done, drain the eggplant and pat dry.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl crumble the tofu up fine and add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder and sea salt. Mix well and set aside.

To assemble:  pour enough sauce into the bottom of a casserole dish to cover the bottom. Dip the eggplant slices into the egg wash or soymilk and then into the bread crumbs lay the slices in the bottom of the dish on top of the sauce, cover with some of the tofu, then place slices of the sweet onion over that, now sprinkle some of the shredded parmesan cheese. Continue layering in this way until everything is used. The last layer should be covered with sauce and topped with any left over parmesan and the shredded cheddar.

Bake at 350’ for 45 min to an hour or until hot and bubbly

Imagine This: The Blue-Green algae is the only organism that can live independently without the support of other organisms (it was the first organism). And it has been evolving for over 3.6 Billion years – compared to the animal kingdom’s evolution of about 100 million years. Powerful stuff, would you agree?

From the continuous R & D in EverYoung’s kitchens, we have found a way to add our patent pending algae compositions to our already healthy vegan cookies. Our bakery has found a way to create a powerhouse of nutrition disguised as a tasty cookie. The benefits of the DietEnhance algal formulations are now available online from Everyday Gourmet.

Looking for a wholesome and delicious ways to include the power of Algae in your daily diet? Contact Us today at info@everydaygourmetbakery.com

You know you’ve hit it big when customers eat the bag, after all the cookies are gone… Introducing MEMPHIS, the now famous Pot Belly Pig:

Everyday Gourmet just received a “Two Hooves Up” for their Value Pack Cookie offerings. The Michael Rager Family had enjoyed a “Baker’s Dozen” bag of cookies, leaving the bag on the living room table. Later that day, upon their return home, they could not find the bag. A mystery of sorts was on hand – until they noticed their Pot Bellied Pig, Memphis Rager, had a very satisfied smile on his face. Yes, Memphis had thoroughly enjoyed the rice paper bag that contained the cookies.

Not recommended for pets, but it does show that our Value Pack bags are compostible and eco-friendly!

Our thanks to the Michael Rager family of Greece, NY for sharing their unforgettable experience!

Times are tough and holiday gifting makes it a little tougher.  This year I have been more conscious about the gifts I have chosen for my family by not only making them thoughtful for them but also striving to purchase from responsible sellers.  Below are some really cool vegan designers and products I particularly think are hot right now.  Now that the “friendly” lifestyle has become so main stream in the past couple years, this list could go on for ever, but I condensed it
High end vegan fashion?!  I was thrilled when I discovered Matt and Nat at Bloomingdale’s 59th St.  a few years back.  I love the line and love that they have sales too!  I like this belt for just $20!

If  grey is considered a color, then this is one of my favorites.  Since I live on the East coast, scarves and shawls are a staple.  Why I love this scarf?  It’s hand crafted by a group of Mayan women artisans and the earnings help support 140 people and their families.  The yarns for this shawl are also naturally tinted and have no chemical dyes. $27.99 and free shipping..Perfect eco-friendly gift!

This is a classic riding boot made by Novacas which means “no cow” and should please most fashion tastes.  This boot is also ethically manufactured in Portugal and is 100 % PVC free.  I don’t have this boot yet, but am hoping that someone will see this list and feel generous  $199

I love this handbag because of it’s vintage feel with a small dose of bad girl from the studs.  It also helps that it’s named Ms. Betty as my Chihuahua “Betty” would approve.  Susan Nichole makes finding cool Vegan fashion easier with her cute line of 100% vegan purses ethically made from recyclable material.  $125

 

 

 

Since I am a makeup artist as well, I am addicted to beauty products.  As I have worked with Josie Maran in the past, I’m partial to her line of animal friendly products.  I choose to showcase her makeup not just because she’s sweet, but because she really has achieved a luxurious texture with the makeup line which is sometimes hard to find when there aren’t chemicals and animal fats used.  This travel set supports the Polar Bear SOS Initiative, and donates to the City of Hope Cancer Foundation.  Feel good and look good with this purchase!  $26

 Not too many people put much thought into how their makeup brushes were manufactured.  But, I can tell you that it’s not friendly.  When I worked at Arrojo Studio and helped put together the makeup line, I wanted to stay away from purchasing animal hair brushes.  On my quest to find the perfect set, I  tested several synthetic brands to make sure that they were going to do the job and be affordable.  This is a great travel set from the “Syntho” line from Crown Brush.  They are the closest thing to  animal hair brushes that I tried, and I highly recommend for a really low cost of $17.99!

I recently found this lotion at Target and purchased it with out any prior knowledge about the company.  The info on the bottle was enough to sell me.  No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, or animal ingredients.   I was really surprised to be able to find this type of product at a mass retailer!  Later, I read that the company purchases ingredients directly from women cooperatives and indigenous farmers in Africa, paying above market prices to help improve the standard of living for those suppliers.  Bonus!  The Frankincense and Myrrh create a rich and warm scent that I love.  $9.99 at Target and Walgreens!

Jump start the new year with “Crazy Sexy Diet” and you’ll find out how a low-glycemic, vegetarian program with an emphasis on balancing the pH of the body with whole and raw foods, nourishing organic green drinks, and scrumptious smoothies will make you look and feel your best!  This s an easy and enjoyable read and it has the steps to her 21 day cleanse (that I definitely would like to do after Christmas).  I know when I’ve been with out my green drink!  $15.93 on Amazon

Of course your Christmas wouldn’t be complete with out Everyday Gourmet!  There’s still time to order.  We can put just about anything together for a stocking stuffer or gift.  Just email us if you don’t see it on the website!

 

 

 

Hi!
Melody from the University of Rochester here, very excited to be a guest-blogger for Everyday Gourmet.

I’m in the Student Association of Vegan and Vegetarian Youth (SAVVY) at the University of Rochester. SAVVY has been around for 9 years now, with a dynamic that has changed from semester to semester through its many leaders.

As a newly turned vegetarian, I was super excited when I first heard about SAVVY. Unfortunately, the club was small and struggling to survive. Events didn’t feel directed and attendance was poor. I felt torn. I saw so much potential for the club to grow and really make an impact, but I was only a freshman, one who was already overwhelmed with academic and social commitments. I wasn’t ready to plunge into more responsibility.
However, after serving for a semester as Dining Representative for SAVVY, I was presented with an unexpected opportunity. The club, unable to expand its base, was struggling to find a president for the fall semester. Full of ideas and energy, I knew that this was my chance to take action and to make all the changes I wished to see. I decided to reorganize my academic load, and offered to become president.

I wanted to revamp SAVVY from the ground up, which involved analyzing its underlying purpose and overall tone. I knew that SAVVY had to be open and welcoming, and after some reflection, I established four basic goals for the club:
Community: to become involved with the community, not only on-campus but also in the greater area of Rochester city
Activism: to raise awareness about the many aspects of veganism (e.g. health, the environment, animal rights) in an effective and educated manner
Dining: to share the joy of vegetarian and vegan cuisine through increased accessibility, quality and variety
Social: to create a society where vegetarians and vegans can feel comfortable with living by their values

SAVVY has built its message and its activities along these pillars and through a ton of teamwork it has grown. I’m so proud of SAVVY’s progress. It just goes to show how much change can be made in such a short period of time.

Look for future blogs from SAVVY at U of R, with the four basic goals in the spotlight.

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