Name: Tara Keramaty
Yahoo NYC
Description: Carrie “Cryface” Mathison and Saul Berenson from HBO’s Homeland(with neglected baby Franny)

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@veegaco
Name: Tara Keramaty
Yahoo NYC
Description: Carrie “Cryface” Mathison and Saul Berenson from HBO’s Homeland(with neglected baby Franny)
Name: Tara Keramaty
Yahoo NYC
Description: Carrie “Cryface” Mathison and Saul Berenson from HBO’s Homeland(with neglected baby Franny)
Celebrating My Three-Year Vegan-niversary!
Happy Veganniversary to me!
It's now been THREE years since I decided to switch to a vegan diet. I just read my post about my one year "veganniversary" and what I said then holds true today. I hadn't set an end date for myself on when I might switch back from being vegan, but I've had no health issues (only health improvements) and although the lifestyle creates challenges (just ask my boyfriend), I've become an expert on how to read a menu at a non-vegan restaurant and an ingredients label on packaged food. I'm still enjoying new foods and vegan-friendly restaurants across the country and the world, most recently Thailand and Vietnam. In fact, my move to New York City refueled my love of dining out and I've discovered some incredible vegan meals in my new home (my favorite place is still Candle 79, but check out all of these NYC spots I've tried too!). This blog has really helped me to stay adventurous and I believe because of it, I'm not getting stuck in a vegan rut. It's also been incredible to see the shift in nutrition and health to support a plant-based diet over the past three years. I've lost track of the articles I've read from national magazines and news sources that share the value of vegetables! There are so many new vegan products on the market. For those who are just starting out, I will say for me it's been worth the extra effort because of the way I feel. Others may not understand why you can't just have one cookie with milk and butter in it or why you won't try that cheesy meat-filled appetizer because it's "soooo good," but do what feels right for you. There are ways to be vegan and be more flexible, but it's also okay choosing a stricter diet. I'm excited to see what the next year brings. Thank you for your support in reading my blog! I'd love to hear about your experiences with trying out vegan meals or transitioning to the diet.
Dining In - Pecan Bars
Pecan Bars - Chloe's Vegan Desserts
Ohmigod were these good! Sticky, messy, and dense sure, but what a treat. There is something about the buttery taste of toasted pecans that brings upon happy feelings! It's easy to get addicted to these and when I shared a batch with my boyfriend's family it was only a matter of time before they were all gone. You start with a nibble, then another, then cut yourself a square, then half the pan is gone! Watch out for that. I traveled on a plane with these and word to the wise - don't put them in your checked luggage. By the time I unpacked them, all of the pecan topping had melted and slid off the shortbread so they needed to be reconstructed. Luckily this did not impact the taste! You can find this recipe and others in Chloe Coscarelli's dessert cookbook, Chloe's Vegan Desserts (buy your copy here).
Packed up and ready to go!
Makes 16 Bars (or more if cutting into smaller squares) Shortbread Crust 1/2 cup vegan margarine (Earth Balance) 1 1/2 cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt Pecan Topping 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup sugar 4 tablespoons vegan margarine 1/4 cup agave 2 tablespoons almond milk 2 cups pecans, toasted and chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
To Prepare Shortbread Crust: Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper. You could also attempt to coat with oil, but warning I have not tried this. Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until combined and crumbly. Pour into pan and press down firmly to flatten evenly. I noticed this layer was a little too thick and because it cools and hardens it was a challenge to bite into. I may use a 9x9 inch pan or reduce the crust batter next time. Bake for 25 minutes and let cool. To Prepare Pecan Topping: In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, stir together and boil brown sugar, sugar, margarine, agave and almond milk. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and stir in pecans and vanilla extract. Spread the topping over the shortbread with a spatula and press down. Let cool completely. It's also recommended to allow them to chill in the refrigerator overnight so the topping hardens. Remove from pan if you can by pulling up sides of parchment paper, or cut while in the pan into 2-inch squares.
Dining Out in Charlotte - Fern, Flavors from the Garden
Laughing Buddha Bowl - Fern, Flavors from the Garden
Inside Fern
I visited Charlotte, NC for the first time recently for a business trip. Per usual, I didn't have much free time to explore the local vegan dining scene, but I did quick research to see what was close to my hotel for a vegan lunch. Under 2 miles away was Fern (or Fern, Flavors from the Garden, its longer name), a vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options. I cabbed it over with two of my colleagues for what turned out to be a truly delicious, comforting meal. The interior of the restaurant was so pretty - a sophisticated, rustic look with mason jars, reclaimed wood, and live plants throughout. It was the middle of a weekday so we had the benefit of being only one of two parties dining in. Before starting our meal we were offered cucumber water and it was so refreshing! We then began our meal with two appetizers, the vegan Spicy Glazed Cauliflower (image below on left) and the non-vegan Fern Bruschetta (image below on right). My dining buddies were amazed at how great these first dishes were. Given my vegan history I had tried dishes very similar to the Spicy Glazed Cauliflower. It closely resembled the Gobi Manchurian at Red Lentil in Watertown, MA and the Frito Misto at Sublime in Fort Lauderdale, FL with its General Tso's look and taste. The dish is fried cauliflower florets coated in a sesame balsamic glaze and it's just fantastic. The Fern Bruschetta contained parmesan cheese (so I couldn't try it), and seasonal vegetable ragu on charred garlic bread, the verdict on this was "sooo good!."
For entrees, I was really craving a salad, but to make sure I got a taste of the most popular dishes I went for the Om Burger, topped with smoked tomato, pickled cucumbers, pepper aioli served on a sesame bun and I added avocado to it. I also ordered Kale Chips for my side. Besides an extra bready bun that I trimmed down, the burger was full of flavor, not too mushy and filling. The Kale Chips were mildly seasoned, but could have been a bit more crispy. Both of my colleagues got the Laughing Buddha Bowl, described as a unique daily balance of the essentials: legumes, rice, greens and vegetables. This one wasn't labeled vegan on the menu, but I'm sure you could request it.
Om Burger with Kale Chips - Fern, Flavors from the Garden
Matching Laughing Buddha Bowls!
At the end of the meal all of us said we would return! The restaurant was the OpenTable Diner's Choice winner in 2014 and I can see why.
Fern, Flavors from the Garden
1323 Central Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28205
Fern Website
Dining Out in Boca Raton - Darbster
Meatloaf - Darbster
The last time I visited Boca Raton on vacation, this vegan restaurant didn't exist, and that was only 2 years ago! Needless to say, I was excited when my boyfriend's mother told me she made reservations for us to try it out for dinner on our recent trip. We went on a rainy night, but sat outside on the covered patio area. We were accompanied by a handful of other families, so it looks like a popular place, despite the not so desirable location in a small shopping plaza. As the "vegan queen" I requested that my boyfriend's family try as much of the menu as possible so I could get a good sense of the food and taste test it all ;). With drinks in hand, we started with appetizers. We ordered one special which was the Nacho Flatbread Pizza and the popular Palm Cakes. I preferred the Flatbread over the Palm Cakes, but both were delicious. The Palm Cakes were similar to a crab cake, but made with hearts of palm, caper remoulade, tahini served over baby greens. The special Nacho Flatbread Pizza had all the fixings of (vegan) nachos served on a flatbread split into four servings, vegan queso, black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream. I would definitely get this again; it was creamy, crunchy, and filling.
Palm Cakes - Darbster
Nacho Flatbread (Special) - Darbster
Cordon Bleu - Darbster
For entrees, my boyfriend ordered the dish highly rated by Yelpers (and non-vegans) the Cordon Bleu. From his cleared plate and the one and only bite I was allowed, I think it was a winner, with lots of yummy things going on: soy ham with crispy Gardein roulade, spinach, Daiya mozzarella, roasted tomato béchamel, mashed Yukon potatoes, and tarragon broccoli. His father, also a meat lover, ordered the Meatloaf. He also cleared his plate and from my bite of this, it's something I would order next time. It was a bacon and cheese meatloaf as the core, served with smashed potatoes, garlic haricot vert, crispy leeks, with a vegetable demi glaze. My boyfriend's mother ordered the Avocado Curry Stew, one I had been eyeing. It's served cold because it's raw, and was made up of avocado, almond milk, ginger, garlic, lime, raisins, crunchy sprouts, carrots, onion, cayenne, and spiced cashews. She enjoyed it. I also went with a gluten-free, raw dish because I was on a health kick that week (up until dessert... when I spiraled out of control), although the name of my dish doesn't really suggest it's healthy, Bacon Cheeze Burger. This was an herb burger, topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, cashew cheese, dill cashew mayo, eggplant bacon, on sprouted buckwheat bread, with a mixed green salad on the side. It was flavorful, hearty, and easier to eat than some other veggie burgers I've tried that are mushy and fall apart. I loved the creamy dressings on it and was immediately full.
Avocado Curry Stew - Darbster
Strawberry Layer Cake - Darbster Heavenly!
Now onto dessert, the Strawberry Layer Cake is to die for! The serving was enormous, like shockingly enormous, and even more so when I shockingly almost finished it, leaving only a crumb on the plate! I admit I had a little help from my boyfriend and his dad, but let's face it I was hoarding it. What I loved was the dense, moist cake that wasn't overly sweet with layers of subtle strawberry-flavored frosting. My boyfriend's mother ordered the special, it was Mexican Horchata Chia Pudding, a chia seed pudding, with burnt cinnamon, raisins, black figs, coconut flakes topped with coconut whipped cream. I took a few bites of this beautiful looking, gluten-free dish and loved it. She did as well, and noted the next morning that the chia seeds really do give you energy, unfortunately it kept her up all night!
Horchata Chia Pudding - Darbster
We almost went back just a couple days later, but instead dined in. With so much variety and a satisfying experience that left my taste buds happy, I will be back for sure!
Darbster
6299 N Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Darbster Website
Dining In - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - The Kind Life, The Kind Diet
Thank you, Alicia Silverstone for giving me Reese's Peanut Butter Cups back! These were easy and fun to make, especially because I was so eager to try the end result. Alicia's recipe and photos show a full-size muffin pan for a larger serving, but I opted to use a mini cupcake pan (despite what's in the photo to the left!) for a bite size cup, knowing I could very easily overindulge. When I say these were like Reese's they were, but definitely more natural tasting and the peanut butter layer had more texture to it from both crunchy peanut butter and crushed graham crackers. Mine came out a little softer, than I would have liked. I think the peanut butter had too much oil, making it a little more liquid than your typical Jif brand. The chocolate layer still hardened nicely. Check out the original recipe on The Kind Life website, at this link.
Makes about 28 mini-peanut butter cups
1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine
3/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy, natural, unsalted
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips, non-dairy
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
Line two mini-cupcake pans with mini cupcake liners.
Over medium heat, melt the margarine in a small saucepan. Add peanut butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs and stir well. Remove from heat.
Divide evenly among cupcake liners, about 1 tablespoon per cup (or just about halfway). Put in refrigerator or freezer to cool and harden.
Over medium heat, melt chocolate chips with almond milk. Stir and watch carefully until chocolate has melted. Remove from heat. Spoon enough chocolate to cover peanut butter filling in each cupcake cup. While still melted top with chopped peanuts.
Chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
Dining Out in Brooklyn - Champs Diner
Red Velvet Pancakes - Champs Diner
This place is like a glutton's heaven; it's like waking up in a vegan food dream. So be warned, it's not for the "light" eater and you better bring your appetite... and your patience, because you will need both. Champs (or Champs Family Bakery or Champs Diner, whichever you prefer) recently moved to a new location and spruced up their decor, but kept with their retro 50's diner vibe. Even on a rainy, cold Saturday morning there was a crowd outside waiting for a table and unfortunately due to the small size, the hostess wouldn't allow people to wait inside. I came here for a birthday brunch with my best friend and was willing to wait. Instead of standing in the rain, we actually made the smart choice (thinking only with our stomachs here) to swing by Dunwell Doughnuts a couple blocks away for a pre-meal vegan doughnut (yup, talk about healthy). I had studied the menu a few times before coming and even ordered takeout from Champs months ago. I was second guessing the fact that everything here is vegan, because it sure doesn't sound or look like it, which makes it that much more exciting! I first tried the Buffalo Chik'n Sandwich but wasn't impressed. It was a hero sandwich made with spicy buffalo chik'n, greens, tomatoes, sauteed onions, and ranch dressing. I couldn't enjoy it because it was too spicy for my taste. I was very eager to go back for a real brunch though because they are known for their breakfast foods. Some stand-outs include the Red Velvet Pancakes (photographed above), Drunken Cowgirl Tofu Scramble, French Fries with Cheese & Bacon (yes, you read that right). My friend was in the mood for more of an "egg" savory dish and went for the Get Scrambled tofu scramble with onions, peppers and ham. I made my decision based on reading the description of Country-Fried Seitan Sandwich...or maybe it was just seeing "fried" in the name. My sandwich was incredible, not something I could eat everyday or even every week, but a scrumptious unhealthy treat nonetheless. The crispy seitan cutlet was crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, smothered in creamy ranch dressing, topped with bacon and melted cheese and a few fresh veggies - lettuce and tomato - all served on Texas toast, because why not?! Man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I had to save room for our breakfast dessert so I brought half home and ate it only a couple hours later. For dessert, with hardly any room left in our stomachs (those doughnuts before our meal might have been a bad idea), we sunk our forks into a stack of Red Velvet Pancakes. I've never had the pleasure of enjoying red velvet in this way before! They were chewy, fluffy and moist, a well-made pancake indeed and served with a generous heap of heavy whipped cream with melting chocolate chips decorating the plate.
Country-Fried Seitan Sandwich - Champs Diner
This whole meal left me saying "nom nom nom" and wanting to find a cozy warm corner to go lie down in for a while. There are just so many more things I need to try here. I will be back and I will wait in that line, because dammit it's worth it.
Get Scrambled - Champs Diner
Another shot of those beautiful red velvet pancakes
Champs Diner
197 Meserole Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206 Champs Diner Website
Dining In - Pesto Mac 'N' Cheese
Pesto Mac 'N' Cheese - Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen
Eating this dish felt like being a kid again. It's mac 'n' cheese for one thing, but it's also colorful with a bright orange pasta sauce and bright green pesto topping. It'd be a great dish to make in the summer, but we loved it just as much in the winter. :) I made this to enjoy as dinner with my non-vegan boyfriend. I was worried it, served with the Creamed Spinach wouldn't be enough of a meal, but I'm happy to report it was a winner for both of us and we were very full! The sauce was creamy and cheesy from the blended roux made with nutritional yeast. The basil pine nut pesto was spot on, adding more salt to the dish. This makes a huge batch, which for us often results in overeating, but you could save lots for leftovers or serve to a bigger group (like for a summer BBQ... that unfortunately is months away). Mac 'N' Cheese 1 pound elbow pasta (I used gluten-free brand Tinkyada) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/3 cup flour (or gluten-free flour to make it a fully GF dish) 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 cups almond milk 1/2 cup nutritional yeast 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 tablespoon lemon juice Pesto Sauce 2 cups basil leaves, packed 1/4 cup pine nuts (I used raw) 2 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (I found the pesto to be too salty, so next time I'll reduce this) 1/4 cup olive oil To Prepare Mac 'N' Cheese:
Gluten-Free Elbow Pasta
Begin by preparing the pasta according to the package, and adding a pinch of salt to the water. Drain and rinse the pasta. I do this more often when using gluten-free pasta to wash away the milky-looking cooking water. Set aside. Make the cheese sauce by blending flour and olive oil in a medium saucepan. This looks like a pale green paste and I was worried about cooking it too long for fear of burning it, but Chloe suggests cooking for 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for just a minute. Next add almond milk, nutritional yeast, tomato paste, and salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat to allow to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
Roux in the Making - Flour, Oil, Garlic
Vegan Cheese Sauce
Toss cooked pasta with the sauce in a large bowl. When I first did this I thought there was way too much sauce, but I let it sit for a while to thicken and even put it in the oven to keep warm. This helped quite a bit and the sauce to pasta ratio was just fine.
To Prepare Pesto Sauce:
Vegan Pesto in Under 5 Minutes!
Use a food processor to chop up basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts and blend with lemon juice and salt. Once blended add in olive oil and pulse until incorporated and it resembles traditional pesto sauce. Top each serving of mac 'n' cheese with pesto sauce and savor every bite!
Dining In - Creamed Spinach
Creamed Spinach - Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen
I'm actually swooning over spinach after tasting this. It's unbelievably delicious! I'm definitely making this again and will add to the holiday menu next year. This simple, gluten-free dish was certainly creamy, like its name suggests, and with a pinch of salt it had the perfect flavor. It only took about 15 minutes to prepare and as soon as I was done I caught myself eating almost half of it before I could serve it for dinner! Oops. Luckily my non-vegan boyfriend shared my sentiments, but sadly we devoured it all within minutes. I blame myself for serving up significantly less than the original batch, but this just means it will be bookmarked for future meals. With a bit of olive oil and raw cashews it serves up some healthy fats that go so well with sweetened cooked onion, fragrant garlic, and wilted spinach. This recipe is from Chloe Coscarelli's latest cookbook Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen (buy yourself a copy here to fully enjoy!). 1/2 cup raw cashews 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 10 oz. fresh spinach Ground black pepper Sea salt Pinch of ground nutmeg (I left this out and didn't think the dish was missing anything) Start by blending the raw cashews and water together on high speed in a blender for about 1 minute. It will resemble a white milky liquid when done. Tip: boil cashews with the water for 10 minutes first or use hot water to get a creamier consistency. I still ended up with some larger pieces of cashews because my blender is not the best, but I actually really liked that texture in the dish.
Heat olive oil in large skillet on medium heat and add in onions. Cook until onions are softened and then add in spinach. Watch as the spinach shrinks down and turns a dark green color, stir occasionally. It will take about 5 minutes to cook the spinach. Once done add the garlic and cook for another minute, while stirring. Next add in the cashew cream and continue cooking for a minute or 2 more so it's heated throughout.
Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper (and nutmeg if you so choose) and do a taste test, but don't get carried away like I did :) Add more seasoning, as needed.
Dining Out in New York City - Seasoned Vegan
Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets - Seasoned Vegan
First off, sorry for the lame iPhone photos on this post. Sadly I didn't come prepared with my camera for this meal and the dim restaurant lighting didn't help. I'd been wanting to try this vegan restaurant for a while, although it's still fairy new. It required a subway trip to upper Manhattan and a dining buddy that would be up for the adventure. It's conveniently located next to Central Park North (110 St.) stop off the 2 or 3 subway line in Harlem. Though it was a frigid evening, upon walking in I felt a warm, welcoming vibe in this family-oriented restaurant. Bring your appetite and forget the diet when you come to dine here! The cuisine ranges from New Orleans inspired and Southern comfort food to raw dishes. If you were a fan of fish before going vegan this menu has a number of vegan seafood options for you.
Stuffed Avocado - Seasoned Vegan
I read on Yelp reviews that they sometimes run out of menu items throughout the day, which is a bummer. Hopefully they'll get more organized with time. On this occasion they were all out of the Po' Boy Wrap which was a dish I was hoping to try. Instead we ordered a nice variety of things to split: Chicken Parmesan Wrap, Baked Mac & Cheese, Stuffed Avocado, and Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets. The Chicken Parmesan Wrap had a bread-crust coated soy chicken patty with lots of gooey, melted vegan mozzarella and a nice tangy marinara sauce rolled up into a grilled tortilla. This was delish! I haven't had too many vegan chicken parms, but I could indulge in this one again and again. The Baked Mac & Cheese was so smooth and creamy. It was well seasoned, but didn't have a very cheesy taste. I enjoyed it a lot, but be warned it's a tad on the greasy, buttery side. The Stuffed Avocado was so incredibly filling that it could have been my whole meal. It's a whole avocado split open and filled with a seasoned almond "meat" topped with pico de gallo and a cashew cheese, all served over a bed of mixed greens. This gluten-free dish was the most natural and "green" of the bunch, but still loaded with fat (the good kinds) so I was appreciative that I was splitting it. Lastly we tried the Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets, one of their most popular dishes, and it did not disappoint. The nuggets were coated in loads of bread crumbs for a super crispy outside and served with two sauces, one was more like a BBQ sauce called Uptown Tangy and the other, a creamy one I could drink it was so divine, called Jiggy's Harlem Renaissauce. The soy nugget itself was chewy and resembled chicken.
Baked Mac & Cheese - Seasoned Vegan
Chicken Parmesan Wrap - Seasoned Vegan
My full plate of delicious, filling vegan food!
Overall this meal rocked! We walked out stuffed and happy with every taste bud dancing and without much of dent in our wallets. My non-vegan friend thoroughly enjoyed her meal, which is important in my book and a great sign of how well prepared the food was! Worth the trip for sure.
Seasoned Vegan
55 Saint Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY 10026
Seasoned Vegan Website
Dining In - Almond Florentine Bar Cookies
Florentine Bar Cookies - Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen
I made these as a Christmas gift for my grandmothers. When flipping through dessert recipes I thought they looked so elegant and would work well for packaging in a decorative tin. The process was multi-step, but fairly easy. Almost all ingredients are kitchen basics and may only require a quick trip to the store. The bottom layer was similar to a buttery shortbread cookie that was then topped with a gooey sweet almond-filled sauce, which hardened after baking and cooling. Once cut into squares, they were drizzled with melted chocolate to take them to the next yummy level and add an aesthetically-pleasing garnish. This recipe is from Chloe Coscarelli's latest cookbook Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen (buy yourself a copy here to fully enjoy!). I cracked it open for the first time this Christmas and am quickly progressing through recipe by recipe. Crust 1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Almond Sauce Topping 1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup almond milk 3 tablespoons agave syrup 1/4 cup flour 2 cups sliced almonds Chocolate Drizzle 1 cup non-dairy semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 tablespoon canola or coconut oil
Cookie Crust Ingredients in Food Processor
To Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan (deeper than a cookie pan). Place all ingredients for the cookie crust in a food processor and pulse many times until you see the margarine has been incorporated and it resembles a fine meal. Pour into the baking pan and spread evenly to cover the bottom. Press down to pack it in. Bake for about 10 minutes until it looks golden brown and is dry and hardened (I don't think I baked long enough as the cookie part was a little softer when it all cooled).
To Prepare Almond Sauce Topping: Use a medium saucepan and heat on medium-high the margarine, sugar, almond milk, and agave so that it boils. Continue cooking at a boil for 10 minutes, but don't abandon the pot (it may boil over). Remove from heat and add in flour and almonds. Stir well. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
Assemble cookie bars by spreading the almond sauce topping over the cooked bottom shortbread layer. Cook for another 20 minutes, but check on it towards the end to make sure the topping doesn't begin to burn.
Let cool completely before slicing into small squares. I found that using a pizza cutter works well for this step, but it won't reach all the way to the edge, so use a knife and/or metal spatula to finish the job. Remove squares from pan and place on a large flat baking sheet covered with parchment paper for the final step!
To Prepare Chocolate Dip:
Burnt Chocolate :(
I had a baking fail on this step. I've melted chocolate a hundred times for the now FAMOUS vegan chocolate chip cookie dough balls. This time I burned the chocolate and had to repeat. Be careful to microwave on medium to low power for only a minute or less at a time and stir before continuing to melt. Once the chocolate hardens you can't successfully reheat it without it burning and drying up. You can also heat a small pot of water on the stove covered by a bowl with the chocolate chips in it (a homemade double boiler). You'll still need to stir frequently to distribute heat. Adding the oil will create a more fluid chocolate for decorating with, similar to a ganache. Use a fork or a squeeze bottle (like ketchup and mustard bottles - they sell these at kitchen supply stores) to drizzle melted chocolate on the bar cookies. Allow them to cool at room temperature or chill them in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Dining In - Sweet-and-Sour Party Meatballs
Sweet-and-Sour Party Meatballs - Chloe's Kitchen
I've now made this recipe twice, but for two occasions that were a couple years apart. The first time I made them for a holiday party I was hosting and the second time was this year for a Thanksgiving appetizer. Both times they were a crowd pleaser for vegans and non-vegans. I caught my uncle going in for thirds at Thanksgiving and my friend kept asking for the recipe after my holiday party. We have Chloe Coscarelli to thank for this one. You can find this recipe and others in Chloe's Kitchen (buy your copy here). The ingredients are so filling that it can be good and bad as an appetizer - good because you may be too full to overindulge on the main course, but bad because you may be too full to fully enjoy the main course! Either way these are made with lots of healthy, hearty goodness. They have a creamy, nutty taste and the sweet and sour sauce goes perfectly with them to give little punch of tangy flavor. The sauce when cool starts to resemble a jelly from the cornstarch thickener and can be difficult to dip into, so it's best to serve both the "meatballs" and sauce warm.
Party Meatballs1 8 oz. package of tempeh 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 15 oz. can lentils, rinsed and drained 1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons canola oil Sweet and Sour Sauce 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons cornstarch
To Prepare Meatballs: Start by steaming the tempeh to remove the bitterness. Break up the tempeh block into about 4 pieces to fit into a steamer basket over a small pot of water. Heat water on low to medium and steam tempeh for about 20 minutes. Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet and cook onions until softened. Add garlic and cook for a few more minutes, until fragrant. Using a food processor, add steamed tempeh, lentils, walnuts, flour, basil, salt and pepper and pulse until everything is blended and forms a thick paste. Though difficult to do, I like to leave some texture to the meatballs by not over-processing, but make sure all ingredients are incorporated together. Using your hands scoop out mixture and form into 1-inch balls and place on a plate.
Heat canola oil on medium heat and fry the meatballs using a wooden spoon to turn them to cook on all sides. It's hard to keep these perfectly round shaped, but moving them around often with the spoon helps. Transfer cooked meatballs to a paper towel covered plate to soak up excess oil.
Soak up excess oil with paper towels
Sweet-and-Sour Sauce
To Prepare Sweet and Sour Sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk all sauce ingredients together and heat on medium-high heat until mixture begins to boil. Reduce heat down to medium-low and continue cooking until the sauce thickens and big bubbles form, keep stirring throughout. Stick a toothpick or fancier hors d'oeuvre pick into each ball for easy serving. Serve warm with sauce on the side or poured over meatballs so they are already covered.
Dining In - Pasta Carbonara with Shiitake Bacon
Pasta Carbonara with Shiitake Bacon - Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen
This recipe came from Chloe Coscarelli's newest cookbook Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen (buy a copy here). I don't own this yet, but she was kind enough to share this recipe with her fans and followers on her website, link here. I made it with my mom for a family dinner. Though my dad modified his by adding ham and making it not vegan, it was enjoyed by all. I was happy to eat it again for leftovers the next day. The sauce was creamy and light, similar to an alfredo sauce. I'm not a fan of mushrooms, but of all of the varieties I do prefer shiitake the most. The method of baking these until they crisp up for that"bacon" crunch for a topping was a great idea. They were coated in olive oil and it added nice texture to an otherwise simple bowl of pasta. I had many helpings of this, as is the usual struggle when eating Italian food. The tofu in the sauce brought in some needed protein along with the brown rice pasta I used. I would make this again without a doubt! I served it with a few slices of toasted Italian bread to soak up any sauce, but the sauce was fairly thick and stuck to the pasta instead. Shiitake Bacon Topping 1 pound shiitake mushrooms, trimmed and cut into thin slices, about 1/4 inch 1/4 cup olive oil 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Pasta Carbonara 1 pound gluten-free pasta (recommended: linguine, spaghetti, fettuccine) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 14 oz. of soft tofu (I used silken tofu and didn't have any issues) 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt Ground black pepper Fresh parsley, for garnish Vegan Parmesan or nutritional yeast, for topping To Prepare Shiitake Bacon: Start by making the shiitake bacon first. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss mushrooms with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake on large cooking sheet for about 30 minutes, turning frequently with a spatula, until lightly browned and crisp. To Prepare the Pasta Carbonara: Using a large pot, boil water with a pinch of salt. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain (rinse if using gluten-free pasta) and return to the pot. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and let cook until soft. Add garlic and let cook a few more minutes, until fragrant. Remove from heat. In a blender, add in onion, garlic, tofu, water, lemon juice, and salt. Blend on high for about two minutes until very smooth.
....After Blending
Add sauce to pasta and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Let pasta sit for about 5 minutes to allow sauce to thicken slightly. Top with shiitake bacon, parsley, vegan Parmesan topping, if using, and serve.
Allow Pasta to Sit to Soak in Sauce!
Dining Out in Minneapolis - Ecopolitan
Raw Taco Pizza (Half Order) - Ecopolitan
After trying out the raw vegan cuisine in Chicago (at Chicago Raw) the week before, I thought why not give it a try in Minneapolis where I was for my next business trip? I found the Ecopolitan, a 100% organic raw vegan restaurant not far from my hotel so I hopped in a cab and went for lunch.
Dining Area - Ecopolitan
It was peaceful and quiet for a weekday lunch hour, which didn't surprise me as it's not very centrally located to many offices and didn't have the quick service, fast food vibe. The dining area is basic with a handful of wooden tables and chairs and it has a small area with pre-made desserts in a cooler case along with various supplements and powders for purchase. You can also just walk in for a quick juice or smoothie from this area versus sitting and waiting for service. I asked the waiter what the popular items were which included mainly full size entrees like Rawvioli, Mac and Cheese, and the Nachos Supreme, but knew I was going for a smaller meal and didn't want to break the bank.
Greenway - Coconut Smoothie - Ecopolitan
I ordered the Raw Taco Pizza in the half size and started with a coconut smoothie called Greenway, made with coconut water, banana, pear, spinach, seasonal berries, and vanilla. It was thick and creamy. The flavor was refreshing and not too sweet or too "green" tasting. I would order this again and again. The Raw Taco Pizza was marked as spicy, but I first confirmed that it wasn't too hot, as I can only stand a little. It was made with macadamia-cashew cheese, lentil taco meat, tomato, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, cashew sour cream, and hot sauce. It packed a lot of bold flavors. The veggies were fresh and helped keep the saltiness down; I often taste a lot of oversalted raw foods. I liked the creaminess of the nut cheese to offset the sharp tang and kick of the lentil meat. The full size would have been too much because this was much heartier than it looked and kept me full for a while. It was a little odd that it was served with a side of raspberries, but it was a nice sweet bite to end on, and I am one who always needs a little dessert to finish a meal, out of habit sadly. I would dine here again to give at least one of the full entrees a try. There were many other juices and smoothies I would have liked, as well so it's worth a return visit. I probably wouldn't bring a non-vegan here unless they are very open-minded and prepared for raw food!
Ecopolitan
2409 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Ecopolitan Restaurant Website
Dining In - Oreo Cookie Balls
Oreo Cookie Balls Made Vegan!
As some may know, Oreos are vegan! The food company Mondelez actually supplies us with quite a few surprisingly vegan food products like Swedish Fish, Wheat Thins, and BelVita. This popular holiday recipe is simple - only 3 ingredients and no baking! I made my first batch of these for work and they were a hit! I had my boyfriend taste test and his reaction said it all, "Whoaaaa." I love the smell of Oreos, a sweet vanilla, chocolately scent that translates into its taste. When combined with cream cheese (vegan or not) it's a creamier version of an Oreo that's been coated in chocolate for a rich, velvety bite. I especially love when the cookie crumbles are big enough to leave a little crisp and texture in the truffle. For how quick and easy this process was, I'll be making them again for sure. Here is original recipe from the brand's site. 1 package Oreo cookies, regular variety 1 8 oz. tub of vegan cream cheese, softened (I used Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese) 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, dairy-free Leave the cream cheese out to reach room temperature or microwave for 30 seconds or less on low power. Start by using a food processor to pulse and crumble the full package of Oreos.
Pour into a large bowl and add in cream cheese. Blend together until incorporated and you have a dark, wet batter. Roll dough into about 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet. I found it was easier to freeze these before coating in melted chocolate to avoid them falling apart. Melt chocolate chips in a double-boiler or the microwave on medium-power for about a minute, stir, heat for another minute. Using a fork coat each ball in chocolate and place back on baking sheet. Freeze the coated balls until hardened. Then serve or package up as holiday gift baggies!
Coated and Uncoated Oreo Cookie Balls
Dining Out in Minneapolis - Pizza Lucé
Athena Pizza, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé
I visited Minneapolis for the first time earlier this year on a business trip. I knew my options would be limited for vegan dining, but I was happy to find a vegan-friendly menu at a local pizza chain, Pizza Lucé. The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I was fed and enjoyed seeing a menu well labeled, meeting the needs of dietary restricted diners. I first dined in with a friend. Our waiter was friendly and was able to speak to the vegan options. We started with an app, the Veggie Meatball Appetizer, with veggie balls smothered in thick red sauce seasoned with herbs and served with garlic toast. These were hearty and good, probably the highlight of the meal.
Mock Muffeletta - Pizza Lucé
For my entrée I had the Mock Muffeletta Sandwich. It was okay, but the bread to filling ratio wasn't quite right, as you can see in the photo. It came with BBQ sauce and seasoned mock duck, similar to seitan texture, with Muffeletta olive mixture, red onions, and Rinotta, their homemade vegan cheese made with tofu and cashews. I would and did skip this the next time. We finished out the meal with two desserts, because the prices were so cheap and I wanted to try as much of the menu as possible! We ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and the Molly Bar. The Molly Bar (both gluten-free and vegan) was supposed to be a brownie, but it so dry and chalky we actually told the waiter we didn't want it. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars on the other hand were very good. It reminded me of a Rice Krispie treat, but made with peanut butter. It was topped with a layer of chocolate and powdered sugar garnish. These were very crumbly and flaky, but not dry in a bad way like the Molly Bar.
Molly Bar, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar - Pizza Lucé
The second time I ordered delivery to my hotel room. Unlike Galatic Pizza, Pizza Lucé offers free delivery! I treated myself because there was no way I was stepping outdoors again in the -15 degree temperature. Nothing quite like pizza delivery to your hotel room, lounging in PJs, and watching reality TV after a day's work! I ordered the Athena pizza with a few modifications to make it gluten-free and vegan. Typically it includes fresh spinach, tomato, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, red onions, Greek oregano and toasted garlic with light mozzarella on Bianca sauce. My order was: 1) gluten-free crust 2) no feta 3) swap out mozzarella for vegan cheese and 4) no olives (I'm just not a fan). Again, it wasn't anything outstanding, but it satisfied my craving and was more than enough to fill me up. I much prefer the vegan cheese (it might be Daiya) over their Rinotta homemade vegan cheese, which does have a grainy texture like ricotta.
All in all I would and have gone back to Pizza Lucé when in town because my options are so limited, but it's been hit-or-miss so far. I think I'll stick with the vegan cheese pizzas or appetizers.
Pizza Lucé
119 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Pizza Lucé Website