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Friday, November 9, 2012

Holiday Sampling from Vegan Comfort

Chef Sabali, 
local catering and cooking veganista, of
VEGAN COMFORT,
hosted her 
HOLIDAY TASTING REVIEW
last night at
Pat Greer's Kitchen.
Awesomely good food, some of which will feed us at 
VSOP's 
upcoming
GENTLE THANKSLIVING FEAST
Nov. 17 at the Havens Center.
Chocolate Torte

Eggplant rolls

Butternut squash salad

Butternut squash soup

Almond green beans

Stuffed "Gobble Roast"





Stuffed Gobble Roast with white wine gravy, almond green beans and butternut squash salad - delish!

Banyan's Chipotle Tofu Vegan Egg Rolls

During last month's MoFo 2012, 
one of my local vegan business posts featured 
Tofu Fried Rice.
Banyan makes other very tasty totally vegan products as well, including these rolls I had for lunch and a snack.
Good and spicy.
More medium than hot to me, regardless of what the package says.
5 to a package for between $6. - 7. depending on where you shop,
Whole Foods or Central Market, 
and some of the larger HEB grocers.
Last week, WF had issues with their shelf pricing tabs,
store honored the misprints,
so I got a few packages for 1/2 price.
And, yes, they freeze well!
Better heated in the oven or on the stove to bring out the crispiness in the rolls.
Okay in microwave oven; just not crispy.
Loving local!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 30 - Rumble In the Jungle

Welcome to MoFo Thirty!
Travel with me...
October 30, 1974
(yeah, I know, a lot of you reading this had yet to draw breath; patience, my Vegan lovelies, patience, please)
Kinshasa, Zaire 
(aka Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The Greatest
Muhammad Ali
This poster actually hangs in my game room.
(on whom I have had a serious heart throbbing 
sweat-your-bangs-out crush since 
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
(aka Muhammad Ali)
appeared on my TV screen after having won the 
1960 Olympic light heavyweight gold medal in Rome.
Did not know much about boxing back then, 
but I knew I liked that guy, and still do.)
challenged
World heavyweight champion 
George Foreman,
known affectionately around his adopted hometown of 
Houston, TX as "Big George
to defend his title.
(Yes, he of George Foreman grill fame. 
No, I do not own one; though it would probably do a good job grilling eggplant, portabella mushrooms, 
polenta, peppers, pineapples...  
Hmmm... do I hear the makings of a
"Veganize the Foreman grill challenge"?
And, no, this is not a 'hint' 
for those wanting to gift me something.
If you know me well enough to be thinking along those lines, 
the gift of you in my life is precious enough, 
thank you,thank you very much!)

In honor of the anniversary of that historic match,
in which The Greatest prevailed,
(tune in George Benson,
singing the theme from 
THE GREATEST
the original movie, starring the greatest himself,
Muhammad Ali
You Go Brother!)
TV stations have been playing both the original movie,
listed above, and the later version, listed below.
My entree for dinner 
served to these two gentlemen would be my favorite 
fall/winter recipe,
when collard greens are in season locally and oh so good, from
VEGANOMICON
- the ultimate vegan cookbook,
Mole Skillet Pie with Greens
Sauteing greens with vegetables and red beans
Added chili chocolate mole sauce. I try to keep a batch of this very versatile sauce in the freezer for  ready use.
Out of the oven, with the moist cornbread crust
A truly delicious one dish meal!
More familiar with the 
Whitney Houston 
(gone much too soon, RIP dear) 
version of the song, and the 
Will Smith 
version of the 
ALI 
movie story?
Now you know their origins.
You are welcome!
-

Monday, October 29, 2012

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 29 - Favorite things

Welcome to MOFO TWENTY NINE!
I spoke last month at 
Vegan Society of PEACE's
2nd Saturday's potluck
http://vegansocietyofpeace.org/ 
about thirteen (Baker's dozen) of my favorite vegan cookbooks.
(Al Jarreau crooning
In alphabetical order:
The ALMOST NO FAT HOLIDAY COOKBOOK
- Bryanna Clark Grogan
(since the winter holidays are upon us)
The COMPLETE GUIDE TO VEGAN FOOD SUBSTITUTIONS
- Celine Steen and Joni Marie Newman
(especially useful for those new to vegan cooking)
The COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PLANT-BASED NUTRITION - Julieanna Hever
(useful for explaining eating vegan to the vegan-haters, and protein obsessed)
COOKIN' SOUTHERN Vegetarian Style
- Ann Jackson
(cause I'm a Southern Belle vegan)
GOOD TIME EATIN' IN CAJUN COUNTRY Cajun Vegetarian Cooking - Donna Simon
(cause I adore Cajun/Creole food)
HOW IT ALL VEGAN
- Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer
(good for the newbies)
The NEW SOUL VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK
- from the kitchens of Soul Vegetarian Restaurants
(traditional soul food translates well back into its vegan roots)
The NUTRITIONAL YEAST COOKBOOK
- Joanne Stepaniak
(for those wondering what it is and what to do with it)
RAW FOOD MADE EASY for 1 or 2 People
- Jennifer Cornbleet
(good intro to raw vegan uncooking)
The ULTIMATE UNCHEESE COOKBOOK
- Jo Stepaniak
(proof that "I could never give up cheese" is a no-brainer)
VEGAN WITH A VENGEANCE
- Isa Chandra Moskowitz
(great vegan intro)
VEGANOMICON, The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook
- Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero
(vegan versatility at its best)
WORLD VEGETARIAN
- Madhur Jaffrey
(cause I adore Indian food, and ethnic cuisine in general)

Anything by Jo Stepaniak would be a welcomed addition to any kitchen.
The two listed helped me transition family members having
"cheese withdrawal" issues.
Like this
"Cheezy Rice and Broccoli Casserole" from
THE ULTIMATE UNCHEESE COOKBOOK.
Everything is mixed right in the casserole dish, which I oil lightly for easier clean up.
Since I used brown basmati rice, I added 1/2 cup water to the 2 cups non-dairy milk called for in the recipe, and the suggested 1/4 tsp tumeric for added yellow color, plus a couple of chopped  carrots to make a one-dish meal.
Good for everyday, holidays and potlucks.

(The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook, is an updated version of Jo Stepaniak's The Uncheese Cookbook.)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 28 - Green Seed Vegan

Welcome to MOFO TWENTY EIGHT!
Last night, some members of 
Vegan Society of PEACE
gathered to wish a fond
Bon Voyage
to our dear friend and close brother, 
Kedar,
relocating to upstate NY.
We dined at
on
Illy cheesesteak with regular fries
Cauliflower nuggets
Portabella panini with sweet potato dill  fries
Cauli burger with regular fries
Salad
Zen panini with sweet potato dill  fries
 and a store-bought vegan apple cake for dessert

Fair winds and following seas Kedar!
Miss you already, man.

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 27 - Health Summit

Welcome to MOFO TWENTY SEVEN!
Attended
Montgomery Heart and Wellness'
4th Annual Houston Health Summit
featuring lectures, food demos and samples, 
exercise demos, and vendors
promoting a plant based lifestyle for optimum health and wellness.
Featured speakers included
Dr. T. Colin Campbell,
co-author of 
The China Study
and
Dr. Baxter Montgomery,
conference organizer and author of
The Food Prescription for Better Health
This book includes recipes for the delicious food prepared and served at yesterday's summit by 
The Garden Kitchen.
Raw tomato bread sandwich, stuffed with sliced zucchini, sundried tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, red onion, raw mayo & fresh avocado;  small salad with dressing and corn salad


Red bean and vegetable soup

Fresh zucchini noodles and mushrooms with ginger dressing; small salad, and fattoush
"Raw" key lime pie

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 26 Munchies

Welcome to MOFO TWENTY-SIX!

Happy Birthday Bootsy Collins.
 My favorite Bootsy tune?
click above.
yes, I'm a foodie
and any song about
having the munchies
works for me,
especially with a soulful guitar track.
Some of my favorite munchies:

Homemade spicy kale chips

Homemade coconut milk ice cream
Gobi Manchurian
Grapes from my garden

PB&J on homemade whole wheat bread
Sinfull Bakery's vegan cinnamon rolls

Sinfull Bakery's blueberry corn muffins

Raw Key Lime Pie
and my try-to-have-daily munchie indulgence
"Hugh Jazz" Salad

Friday, October 26, 2012

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 25 - Flakey's Pizza


Welcome to MOFO TWENTY FIVE!

Good vegan pizza from a non-vegan pizzeria,
Flakey's Pizza
Flakey's vegan pizza - vegan cheese, kalamata olives, spinach, garlic, mushrooms, onions, peppers

Melt in your mouth goodness
Though not strictly vegan, or vegetarian, they do a good job.
Another example of mainstreaming vegan.
Flakey's 
donated pizzas last night for
KPFT's
(Houston's Pacifica public radio affiliate)
2012 Fall Pledge Drive
during 
our weekly show
VEGAN WORLD RADIO
Shows are archived at the website, or listen live
Wednesdays, 10-11pm central time.
"...telling the story of the vegan revolution
that's saving animals, the planet and our health..."

Like Diana Ross' 
26th solo single that made it's way onto
the Pop charts in 1980,
Vegan pizzas, with good gooey melting vegan cheeses,
are saying
"It's My Turn"

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Welcome to 2012 VEGAN MOFO Day 24 - free food

Welcome to MOFO TWENTY FOUR!
Cool way to get free food by 
using what you have to get what you want.
Being an ardent fan of celery,
for my smoothies, salads and some cooked dishes,
this site's advice on growing your own organic celery 
brought great joy to my palate and purse.

Meet my new babies:
Cut about 2 inches off the bottoms of your stalks of organic celery.  Newbie on left, week-old on right.
Root in glass jar in about an inch of water, placed in a sunny window. Check water level to prevent drying out. Should be transplanted into compost-rich soil when first leaves sprout.
2 weeks old and beyond ready for transplanting. Lazy me wanted to try growing it in just water.

One of those one-armed paper hanger busy days,
so nourishment is usual morning green smoothie
apple, blueberries, celery, dates, ginger, kale, pineapple smoothie
My main man, Hugh Jazz Salad, for lunch
Romaine lettuce, apple, beets, carrots, celery, grape tomatoes, nutritional yeast, olives, orange slices,  pomegranate seeds, homemade walnut parma, E2 basics dressing
and yesterday's gumbo for dinner.


Native American Proverb
"May your life be like a wildflower, 
growing freely and joyfully in the beauty of each day."


O'Jays long version of New Birth's 
"Wildflower"