Vegan MoFo VII: Thankful for Buffy Wednesdays

Yo.  So this isn't an official official Buffy post, but I felt the need to bring the pain because I was too much of a wimp to "Make It Work" with red cabbage yesterday.  Brr.

Check it: my absolute best nerd friend, Michele, and I loooove Whedon.  Like, for realsies.  Last semester, we were doing this thing where we'd meet once a week and watch Buffy or Angel or whatever and just nerd out all night.  My sister, Ebony, was the first person I ever shared my Buffy love with.  We would be glued to the TV every single week.  Today, I am thankful for a back log of photos..and Buffy...and Whedon...and Ebony...and Michele...and nerdery.

I usually pick a few episodes and plan food around that.  We watched "Ted" and "Bad Eggs" while noshing on mini pizzas.

Bobby Flay's buffalo crunch burger

We also watched "Doublemeat Palace" and "Beer Bad" one time, so we had burgers and beer...naturally.  And I always like going with anything ice cream related...because of that one time Xander was an ice cream man.  Mr. ice cream maaaan.

this never actually made it to a Buffy night, but BANANA SPLIT CAKE!

Of course, sometimes I go really deep with it.  We ended up watching "Go Fish" and "Superstar" one day so I went with vegan surf and turf.  Tofu "stakes" and a world without grilled shrimp.  This is funny if you are a Whedonite.  Haha.

tofu stakes, grilled shrimp, garlicky couscous

So many delicious shout outs to the one show that has completely transformed me into who I am today.  This was the first show I witnessed in real time, and I cried like a damn baby at the end.  Buffy por vida!  In fact, I am coincidentally wearing my Sunnydale shirt as I type this.  Haha.

So, here's to Tuesday nights with my sister back in the day and Wednesdays with Michele!

Vegan MoFo VII: Brrr. It's Cold in Here.

TV Tuesday!  Dudes.  If I could do dinner and a movie themes for the rest of my life, I totally would.  This blog is filled with them.  Some of my favorites include: 200 Cigarettes, Serenity, How to Deal and my recent Supernatural post.  The point is that I have a serious love for television and film...and I feel like food turns it into an experience.

So, I just knew I had to do something Bring It On related in order to highlight my absolute obsession with 90s teen movies.  The plan: Bring It On and a slumber party to remember!

Totchos: nacho cheeze sauce, black beans, taco tvp, guac, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, cilantro

Beat These Buffys Down Menu

Cheertater Totchos

Big Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ice Ice Cold Chocolate Stout (or root beer) Floats

Bring It On is a lovely cheerleading movie that has all the makings of a classic 90s teen film.  Dark comedy.  Inexplicable acting by R&B or rap artists.  Ties to the Buffyverse.  A horrible string of straight to DVD sequels.  Plus...spirit fingers!

I thought what better way to rule a cheerocracy than with these slammin' cheertater totchos.  I had a completely life altering moment the second I tasted the totchos for the first time.  Like, I'm pretty sure I'm tot pregnant right now.

delicious organic chocolate stout float.  mmm...

Had I not been hanging out in the afterglow of totcho lovin', I would have made the cupcakes.  Instead, I opted to feed my face boozy floats.  The chocolate stout float was legit!  I cannot think of a better combo at a grown up slumber party than totchos and stout floats!  And don't forget to get the routine down!

That's all right.  That's okay.  You're gonna pump our gas someday!

Vegan MoFo: I Wish that I Had Jessie's Song

Here's the thing people.  Jessie Spano is an institution.  She was my first feminist idol.  The way she just ripped Slater apart.  That one time she did the swimsuit competition in a trench coat.  But, nothing, and I mean NOTHING exemplifies Saved by the Bell like the episode where she gets hooked on caffeine pills.

It's got everything.  Addiction!  The chance for a record deal!  GEOMETRY!  Girls in spandex singing about aerobics!  AEROBICS!  Aaaaah!  So, I figured the perfect SBTB menu had to be breakfast.  Not just because I love me some breakfast food.  Saved by the Bell was a Saturday morning staple as a kid.

Hot Sundae Pancakes: banana choc chip pancakes, vanilla ice cream, crushed pineapple, nuts, sprinkles, cherry

I GOTTA DANCE MENU

Hot Sundae Pancakes

Screech's Sizzling Breakfast Sausage (hehe)

The Max' Diner Hashbrowns

Sure, the pancakes are more like dessert, but who cares?!  Also, if you don't get the Screech sausage reference, please research Dustin Diamond's life after the show.

Why, yes, I own the entire series with the original cast AND the college years

Here's a little known fact: Jessie, Kelly, and Lisa had a girl group for this episode that was supposed to be the lady version of New Kids on the Block.  The name?  Hot Sundae!  Here's where I tell you to watch the video.

I am so obsessed with this episode that I once "wrote" a poem made entirely of dialogue from the episode.  I am so obsessed with this episode that I own this shirt.  I am so obsessed with this episode that I often refer to myself as Jessie Spano when I'm overly caffeinated.

So, grab your comfy spot on the couch and power through a good SBTB marathon.  And skip the mimosas.  Drank that sparkly straight out the bottle like you were at a Bayside High toga party!  Just don't go crashing Lisa's Mom's Mercedes!

I'm so scared...

Vegan MoFo VII: The Road So Far...

This post was supposed to go up yesterday.  The contents of this post made me go full on "itis."  This post is like honey badger...it don't care.

If you've never heard of Supernatural, you need to go to Netflix...right-the-fork-now...and get on it.  It's a simple story of two delectable brothers, traveling the country, and working through some serious daddy issues.  It's filled with humor, fun, badassery, and the rugged sex appeal of Dean Mothatrucking Winchester!

Seriously.  Dean tops my list of fictional characters I'd lay the mack on.  Mmm...Dean.  Ahem.  Because Supernatural deals in demons and monsters, I decided to get all crazy and veganize the omni monstrosity known as a fatty melt, but with a Native Foods Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger twist!  See, Dean loves road food.  He loves burgers, beers, pizza...anything brown really.  And this, my friends, is the ultimate in brown food.

No veggies, ya idjit!

The Winchester Oklahoma Bacon Fatty Melt Layering System

1 grilled mac n cheese sandwich

bbq sauce

burger patty of choice

tofu bacn strips, tofu bacn strips, tofu bacn strips

sauteed mushrooms and onions

deep fried pickles

ranch

1 grilled mac n cheese sandwich

Number of people it takes to eat this: 4 normal people or 1 Dean Winchester

Yes.  The buns on this thing are grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with mac n cheese.  It's seriously delicious stuff!  My word is as sacred as a Crossroads Demon when I say: this is no joke.  I don't recommend eating more than half.  Haha.

Should you decide to make this, turn on the oven to keep all elements warm until you can build the ultimate in sandwich monstrosities!

Oh, and because we all know Dean gets a little crankypants without his pie...

Dean, don't you cry no more...

VeganMoFo V: Happy Shaun-o-ween!

We have reached the end!  I have to say that I am super ridiculous glad because I have been exhausted this semester.  Next year's MoFo will own.  I am already beyond organized.  This year was fun, but I have tons of blogs to read.  Even if I'm commenting in March, I will read your blog.  Phew.

Today, is a movie Monday of a different persuasion.  I decided to go with a horror marathon, seeing as how it's Halloween!  Today's movies are Lost Boys, The Craft, and Shaun of the Dead.

Halloween Menu

Red Beans and Maggots, Michael

Witches Brew

Girl in the Garden Cake

red beans and maggots, michael

The Lost Boys is this awesome vampire flick that stars the two Coreys.  That's pretty much all you need to know.  It's awesome.  Do not watch the sequel, as the only good part happens in the last 30 seconds.  Anyway...  Creepy ass Keifer Sutherland delivers the infamous line about maggots.  I figured that was easy enough.  Especially, since I was fiending for Kittee's red beans.

witches brew

The Craft is pretty much what Secret Circle ripped off.  It's about these three witches who ask a fourth, more powerful witch into their circle.  Plus, it takes place in high school so it's all angsty and whatnot.  Oh, and Fairuza Balk delivers the single best line in a witch movie (besides the whole Top That segment of Teen Witch).  "I'm flying!  I'm flyiiiiing!"  The drink was easy.  Lime skittles vodka and gingerale.  Yowza!

there's a girl in the garden.  what?  in the garden, there's a girl.

Okay.  I'm not too thrilled about this cake.  Not the flavor, but the decoration.  I keep reminding myself that I made everything from start to finish in only 3 hours between classes.  That takes the pressure off.  So, I know how to better navigate this the next time...and there will be a next time.

Mary, the shed, some tree things

You can't see that there is a hole in her right now.  That black thing is supposed to be the pole she gets skewered on.

you can see Mary's hole now

For those not in the know, Shaun of the Dead is one of the best zombie movies ever.  It's a zombie comedy and the reason I even started watching zombie movies.  I did it backwards...I knew very few of the references when I saw this.  I had to go back and learn about this stuff.  But it was worth it. Simon Pegg.  Swoon.

Well, that is all!  Happy Halloween!  See you next MoFo!

VeganMoFo V: MMMS-Saved

It's here!  My favorite Mandy Moore movie is here!  If you've never seen Saved, stop what you're doing and rent it today!  It's seriously amazing.  Dark comedy.  Religious fanaticism.  Heavenly ordained premarital sex.  I loves it!  Mandy plays a total jerkface named Hillary Faye.  She's this super hypocritical religious person, head of the Christian Jewels.  There's a lot going on in this: teenage pregnancy, Love Won Out type anti-gay camps, and the most effed up underwater Jesus vision ever.

Naturally, I wanted to make food that looks innocent, but is really not.  The only things innocent about this menu are the peas and carrots.

this meal ain't free.  read this pamphlet while you wait.

Collection Plate Special

Berbere Coconut Crusted Tofu

Smashed Potatoes and Beer Gravy

Peas 'n' Carrots

Fish Tank Jello Shot

mmm.  coconut tofu.

There are no recipes here, as I just threw things together.  The tofu had three dipping thingies: cornstarch, berbere, garlic pepper, poultry seasoning, thyme AND milk, whole grain mustard, berbere, hot sauce AND shredded coconut and nooch.  It was pretty damn good.  The potatoes are covered in beer gravy, but I accidentally grabbed a dark beer that I hate.  So...blech.  The peas and carrots are tossed with some dill and parsley.

there's a fish in there!

A character in the movie says that Jesus appeared to her in her fish tank.  You'll be seeing visions, too, if you down this lethal shot.  I really wish the jello shot wasn't so opaque.  Next time, I'm adding the smallest drop of food coloring.  I will definitely tweak this because 1 to 1 ratio of juice to alcohol is way too strong for me.  However, I'll share it because every recipe I saw online used too much damn agar powder.  These came out gel like.

Fish Tank Jello Shot
1 cup pineapple juice
2 Tbsp sugar
¾ tsp agar powder (not flakes)
1 cup flavored vodka or rum (coconut, passion fruit, or mango are great)
blue food coloring
Swedish fish

Combine the pineapple juice, sugar, and agar in a medium saucepan.  Heat over medium until the agar has been activated, no longer than 5 minutes.  You'll know this has happened when the mixture starts boiling and thickens slightly.  Remove from heat, and stir in the alcohol.  Add a couple of drops food coloring.  Fill each cup with a Swedish fish, and pour the mixture over them.  Let cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

Be sure to use right away because the Swedish fish turns to goo after about a day.  Next time, I'm totally just putting the fish on top, maybe with whipped cream!

VeganMoFo V: MMMM-How to Deal

YES!  This is, in fact, my favorite Mandy Moore movie besides Saved.  I just adore her short brunette hair.  Plus, her love interest is pretty much the kinda boy I longed for in high school: slightly bad, totally misunderstood, with a quiet sensitivity.  Ha.

This movie has it all: teenage pregnancy, divorce, underage drinking, death, blended families, break ups, make ups, a pot smoking grandma, and a car crash!  Oh, and angst all around!  Basically, How to Deal is a movie about Halley Martin (Mandy Moore) and how she copes with a pregnant best friend, divorced parents, and her new boyfriend Macon Forrester (Trent Ford).

this smoothie was amazing!

This was one of the harder dinner and a movie themes.  So, I basically had to go with how I like to deal.  Brinner!  Plus, "brinner" was coined on Scrubs, a show Mandy guest starred in while she was dating Zach Braff.  2-fer!  Haha.

the pizza of my dreams

Granny's Smokin' Green Menu

Macon's Tempeh Bacon and Eggz Breakfast Pizza

Halley Berrrry Smoothie

The menu is simple because I literally made everything in less than an hour during a break in classes.  The pizza is the deep dish crust (my favorite crust EVER!) from 500 Vegan Recipes.  I didn't follow a recipe for the scramble.  Just tofu, turmeric, garlic pepper, parsley, bell pepper, and onion.  I made a super quick tomato sauce and topped the scramble with tempeh bacon and Daiya.

The smoothie is one of those clean out the fridge types.  I threw in some yogurt, the remainder of a can of coconut milk, almond milk, a couple of dates, and some frozen berries.  Holy wow!  That ish was amazing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm gonna make me another one of those smoothies.

VeganMoFo V: MMMS-American Dreamz

So a funny thing happened on the way to this blog.  Train derailment.  I have a Vegan Essentials order, with crucial ingredients, that was supposed to arrive on Friday.  However, the tracking had "trail derailment" listed for Friday!  I can't get mad at that at all.  It just means, Mandy Moore Movie Sunday has arrived!

kentucky fried tofu, baby!

Today's movie is American Dreamz.  How should I describe this thing?  It's a spoof of American Idol, the Bush-Cheney presidency, reality tv, the war(s), and a lot more.  The cast is pretty random: Mandy Moore, Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Coolidge, Marcia Gay Harden, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein, and Sam Golzari.  Somebody on Rotten Tomatoes put it best: they try to satirize so many things, that it becomes completely ineffective.  This is a train wreck, y'all.  A sweet, deliciously painful train wreck.

Mandy plays Sally Kendoo, an AD contestant with dreams of stardom at any costs.  Grant pretty much plays Simon Cowell.  Golzari plays a jihadist with a love for Broadway plays.  I told you this thing was weird.

When making the menu, I had to think of what the American dream is.  Decidedly, I think it's combo meals.  And since this is the land of cultural fusion, I opted to grab something from the culture of the three main leads (Moore, Grant, and Golzari).  Oh, but it's wrapped up in a very American package.

beer battered tofu, southern green beans, hummus potatoes

Bomb Explosive Menu

Bucket of Fun (Vegan Brunch Beer Battered Tofu)

Hummus Mashed Potatoes

Southerners Kendoo Green Beans

The beer battered 'fu is, obvi, for Grant's character.  I dredged it in flour to make sure the batter stuck to it.  I also sprinkled on some malt vinegar.  Golzari's character is from the Middle East, though I don't think they ever say where.  Things that remind me of that cuisine: kebabs, hummus, parsley, lemon, mint.  When I saw the Sabra recipe, I knew I had to make it.  Sabra is the only store bought hummus I can eat with a spoon.  SO good.  Finally, Mandy's character is this small town, Southern girl.  I decided to make Southern green beans (onion, garlic, tempeh bacon, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper) because it was easy.  I even used...GASP...canned!

This was a fun one!  I especially love the graphic I begged Era to make for me!  Tomorrow, I'll be making something from The Gambia!

VeganMoFo V: MMMM-Because I Said So

It has arrived!  My very first Mandy Moore Movie Monday.  If you don't know, I own a lot of Mandy Moore movies.  I find her to be absolutely darling, and it's kinda refreshing not having the Candy video seared into my brain for eternity.

The movie I watched is called Because I Said So.  The cast: Mandy, Diane Keaton, Gabriel Macht, Tom Everett Scott, Piper Perabo, Lauren Graham, and Stephen Collins.  If you watch this, you should skip the first 10 minutes and get to the good stuff.

Diane Keaton plays a meddling mother who is always interfering with her daughter's life.  Mandy plays this spastic girl who always falls for the wrong guy, so Crazy Mama puts a singles ad out for her daughter.  Mandy's character ends up being with two guys, one of 'em is Gabriel Macht.  Macht is the charm behind this thing.  Dude is hot, and I love how he interacts with Mandy.  Oh, did I mention they're all wedding caterers...with a specialty in cakes?

this bad boy was thoroughly covered in goddess dressing after the photo

You Have a 'Gina Menu

Rom Com Cheeze Crisps

Playin' the Field of Greens Salad

Meddlin' Mama Mia's Spaghetti Cake

Lots of Cheap Red Wine

This is seriously one of those cheesy romantic comedies, but it's not overly trite.  That's mostly due to Keaton's insane character and Gabriel Hot Macht's storyline.

instead of using pureed berries, i used jam

The cake was easy to put together.  It was a mini cake from 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes with store bought frosting.  I made a mug brownie for the meatballs, and jam was used for the sauce.  I didn't even have a piping bag, so I used a sandwich bag for the sketti.  So fun!

Tomorrow is something international, though technically the island I'm inspired by is a part of the US.  Well, I'm off to class!

VeganMoFo IV: Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads

Today I decided to go with dinner and a movie.  Technically, it was lunch and a movie.  I'm a huge fan of Back to the Future.  This year is the 25th anniversary so I've heard a lot about it recently.  I decided to bust out my trilogy and watch the first two.  The third is my least favorite.  Just not interested when a franchise decides to go to the old west.

The menu today was based on diner food.  I went with burgers and fries, but tried to do the "futuristic" twist. And because I'm trying to eat better after Thanksgiving, I decided against a milkshake like I originally wanted.  Onto the good stuff.  Welcome to Doc Brown's DeLorean Cafe!

Flux Capacitor Menu

Biff's Beefy Bacon Burgers

Sweet-On-Your-Son Sweet Potato Fries

Sugar Free Cup of Faux Joe

The burger patty is the Beefy Bacon Burger from 500 Vegan Recipes.  I also made hamburger buns, but they looked so horrible I actually made another burger on sourdough just to photograph.  Haha.  I still have not mastered making homemade buns.  The fixins on the burger: cheddar Daiya, mustard, pickles, tomato, and red leaf lettuce.  Served on sourdough.

The fries are sweet potato oven fries.  I seasoned them with Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning and baked at 375 for 20ish minutes.

The "cup of joe" is black English breakfast.  I'm not the hugest fan of coffee, and tea takes way less time to make.

This was a perfect meal to laugh at how the 80s perceived the 2000s.  They did get the whole 80s nostalgia thing right, though.  But I'm still waiting on a flying car.  Or at least a damn hoverboard.  I mean, c'mon!  McFly had sneaks that laced themselves and that movie came out over 20 years ago!

VeganMoFo IV: Reaver's Blue Plate Special

I think it's only fitting that I have a Joss Whedon tribute for MoFo.  So this entry is brought to you by the film Serenity, the best space western of ALL TIME!  I wasn't into sci-fi type stuff until maybe three years ago.  I was always into fantasy/supernatural stuff like Buffy, Angel, and Roswell.  However, I had no interest in anything involving space...until Firefly.  I only ever saw the show after it was cancelled and didn't even know it was a Whedon show for the longest time.  Firefly is absolutely amazing, though!  Funny, full of heart, and completely original.  I basically spent all day yesterday and today watching Firefly and Serenity.  Good times.

MENU

Hickory BBQ Space Traveler Ribz

The Hero of Canton's Half Baked Tater Salad

Gorram Greens

Kaylee's Strawberry Colada

shiny!

So the ribz are the ones from Fat Free Vegan.  I didn't put them on the grill because I was feeling lazy.  I just cranked up the oven and took them out when they looked good.  The kale salad was super easy.  Kale, carrots, umeboshi vinegar, pepper, and a small bit of oil.  Here's a recipe of the tater salad:

The Hero of Canton's Half Baked Tater Salad
1 1/2 pounds of russet potatoes, baked and cooled until you can handle them
1/3-1/2 cup vegan mayo (or sour cream)*
1/2 Tbsp white vinegar
1/3 cup imitation bacn bits
1/4 cup shredded vegan cheddar
3 green onions, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Mix mayo and vinegar in medium bowl.  Stir in the bacn bits, cheddar, and green onions.  Dice the potatoes and slowly stir them into the mayo mixture.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for a strawberry colada recipe that didn't contain pineapple juice, so I just made one up based on this recipe.  To make a virgin version of this, I'd replace the rum and agave with mango or pineapple juice.

Kaylee's Strawberry Colada
2 oz mango rum or your favorite light rum
3 oz coconut cream (refrigerate a can of full fat coconut milk and skim the cream off the top)
scant 1 oz agave or simple syrup
1 cup frozen strawberries (not the syrupy kind)

Place everything in a blender and blend away until smooth.

kaylee would totes drink her liquor from an old jar

So, the problem I had with my first attempt at this meal is that I was too, too ambitious.  I wanted to marry Western and Chinese cuisine, but the flavor seemed to be lacking.  Plus, I wasn't too fond of the rib or potato salad recipes I used.  But tonight's meal was bomb!  I could do a dance of joy!

But for now, I'll settle for a nekkid Mal (yes, I'm watching Trash as I type this).  I'm off for now, but I do promise at least one other Whedon inspired nerd session this MoFo.  Muahahahaha.

*I used mayo because I didn't have sour cream.  In fact, it was reduced fat Vegenaise.  I don't like my potato salad too creamy, so I opted for 1/3 cup but use as much as you'd like.

I Wish It Was a Little Bit Faller

Besides Skee-lo on the brain, I can't help but think of how much I want to get out of these triple digits.  Now, we're only in the low 100s.  Perhaps soon I will know what it's like to wear a hoodie again!

I'm hoping everybody had a great summer.  We spent ours vegging out and watching reality television.  I know somebody who made it on Big Brother, so Era and I kinda became a bit obsessed with the competition.  It ends on Thursday, so we can finally get our lives back!  Haha.  I also spent a lot of time compiling recipes and hope to do something with it all.

Right now, I'm really playing catch up with food blogging.  I have some stuff from last month that was cute and nerdy at the time, so I thought I'd share.  August happened to have a Friday the 13th, and I decided to have a horror movie marathon...but only horror movies that took place in space.  It was awesome!  The plan was to watch Jason X, Alien, Event Horizon, Critters 4, and Leprechaun 4.  I only made it through the first three, though.  Which is fine because I'm totally gonna watch Critters after I finish this blog.

I went with themed food.  For Jason X, I made Campers in a Sleeping Bag (breakfast pigs in a blanket).  I used a pancake recipe I've been tweaking all summer and a really easy maple simple syrup.  It was super frickin great!

campers in a sleeping bag w/ maple simple syrup (plus my favorite piggy mug!)

Everyday Pancakes
(makes 10-12 small or 6 large pancakes)
soy free

1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups non dairy milk
3 Tbsp canola oil
3 Tbsp Maple Simple Syrup, agave, or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
nonstick cooking spray

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt until well mixed. Pour the milk, margarine, syrup, and vanilla over the dry ingredients. Whisk until completely smooth (some lumps are okay).

Heat a pan or griddle over medium high heat. Once hot, spray with nonstick spray. Using a ladle, pour batter onto the hot pan or griddle using a circular motion. Flip the pancakes over when they begin to bubble in the center and the edges look dry.  Make sure not to press down on them once flipped because the baking powder will cause them to rise and become fluffy. Serve with more margarine, Maple Simple Syrup, and/or fresh fruit.

Variations

• Hint of Sumthin’: Add 1 tsp of cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
• Blueberry Cardamom: Add 1 tsp ground cardamom to the dry ingredients, and fold 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter.
• Chocolate Chip-Banana: Fold 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 roughly chopped medium banana into the batter.

the sausages are Kittee testers and oh-so-good

Maple Simple Syrup
(makes about 16 oz)
soy free
gluten free

1 1/2 cups evaporated cane juice or granulated sugar
1/2 cup tightly packed light brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp natural (not imitation) maple extract

Place evaporated cane juice, brown sugar, and water in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Heat until the sugars have completely dissolved and the syrup has thickened a bit, about 10 minutes. Be sure to stir regularly and watch so the syrup doesn’t bubble over. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the maple extract. Let cool for at least 15 minutes, as the syrup will thicken even more as it cools.  Store in a condiment bottle in the fridge

leprechaun hummus w/ pita chips and snap peas

I also made Leprechaun Hummus and a gnarly Android Blood Date Shake (not pictured).  It was a pretty tasty day and I thoroughly enjoyed the movies.  The hummus was just some green veggies thrown into regular hummus and blended until smooth.  Super good, though.

bonus taco salad pic! (baked ww tortilla shell, brown rice, kidney beans, broccoli slaw, tequila lime tofu, avocado, salsa, reduced fat cilantro lime dressing)

Two quick things before I go...  I changed the layout of my blog so it's brighter and looks less like my other blogs.  Hope it's easier to read now.  Also, I added a recipe section.  It's kind of bare right now and mostly recipes I only ever made once, but I plan to be expanding it with the quickness.  More to come soon and Happy Labor Day!

Vegan MoFo III: Paul Rudd Lovin'

Today is Movie Monday.  I was so very stoked about this one because I got to revamp my old deviled tofu recipe.  I think it's so much better now.  Super creamy and delicious.  But I'm jumping ahead.  Today's movie is 200 Cigarettes.  It's about a group of people who are meeting up at a New Year's party.   It takes place in NYC in 1981.  I love this movie because I always forget that I love it.  Once I start watching it, I can't help but laugh uncontrollably.  It's got a huge cast of really good actors/actresses.  Christina Ricci and Gaby Hoffmann doing their Jersey accents is so freaking funny.  It reminds me of my friend, Tara, because she used to quote Christina Ricci's character all the time.

This movie is when I realized how absolutely fantastic Paul Rudd is.  He is master of the awkward funny.  I seriously did not recognize him at first in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Gah!  I've loved this man since Clueless (which is tied with Fight Club for my favorite movie of all time).  I talk too much.

Party Like It's 1981 Menu

Don't Go Past Avenue A Deviled Tofu (vegan deviled eggs)

Better Than Crab Dip (Kmouse's spinach-artichoke dip)

The Virgin Hates It Hot Wingz (in theory, at least)

Uh oh!  Whose glasses are in my spinach-artichoke dip?

By the way, you should seriously make that dip.  It is so freaking delicious!  This will be at every party I throw from now until the end of time.  I was also going to make the DEOTS tempeh wingz (scroll down),  but I ran out of light and time.  I'm making them tomorrow and I'll be sure to take a picture.

Now onto the deviled tofu.  I originally had this brilliant (ha ha)  idea about making the egg yolk part out of beans.  The texture is very similar.  I even did a mofo entry about it last year and ever'thing.  I even did that google thing to make sure I wasn't jacking anybody's idea.  I only ever saw a handful of deviled tofu recipes and they all called for shaping tofu and using tofu as the yolk base.  That just wigs me out.  Tofu on tofu is just unnatural.  So here's my recipe (I used the vegsource boiling method for the tofu...sorta):

New and Improved Deviled Tofu
UPDATE: an updated recipe can be found here.
1 lb tofu, drained and cut into 24 squares

4 cups water
1/4 cup white vinegar
pinch of salt

15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup Vegenaise (or any vegan mayo)
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
pinch of turmeric (enough to make it yellow)

1/2 Tbsp dill relish
black salt (also known as kala namak) to taste
paprika (for garnish)

Bring water, vinegar, and salt to a boil.  Add tofu and boil for a couple of minutes.  You might need to do this in batches.  Carefully remove the tofu slices and drain.  Once they are drained and cool enough to handle, transfer to a platter and refrigerate.

Blend beans, Vegenaise, mustard, and turmeric in a food processor until smooth.  Combine bean mixture and dill relish in a mixing bowl.  Add black salt to taste.  Refrigerate until it thickens up, about 35 minutes.  Make sure you cover the bowl with something or your fridge will smell like eggs.  Blech.

Pipe bean mixture onto the tofu squares and sprinkle with paprika right before serving.

This stuff doesn't just have to go on tofu.  Pipe it into cherry tomatoes or even on bell pepper strips.  It's really good.  This is my idea of some good party food!

What's your favorite thing to serve at a party?

Vegan MoFo III: Beatrix Are For Kids

Well, it's Monday.  Not just any Monday, but Movie Monday!  Since it's budget week, I really wanted to take it even further.  With the exception of three ingredients, this was a pantry raid!  Cue the flashing lights and pounding bass...and let's get this party started!  We don't need no water let the mothatrucka burn...

Today I watched a big movie and made a meal big on taste.  Just because this week is all about budgeting doesn't mean I can't have a fantastic experience.  The movie of the evening is a little known film called Kill Bill Vol 1.  I love this movie so hard!  One of my top ten favorite movies.  It's hilarious, has that Tarantino charm, and is so visually stimulating that you'll totally forget about the money crunch.

Kill Bill Vol 1 "PartyWagon" Menu

Black Mamba Lasagna Roll Ups

Vernita's Green Salad w/ Agave Mustard Dressing

Deadly Viper Assassination Punch

The lasagna roll ups were filled with cashew ricotta and a mushroom-onion layer flavored with fennel seed, sage, thyme, red paper flakes, and garlic.  Then they were covered in a creamy pumpkin sauce and topped with black olive tapenade.  The only things I had to buy were 4 lasagna noodles (bulk section, like what?) and 1 portobello mushroom.  Seriously, there is no shame in purchasing exactly what you need.

I didn't have to buy anything for the salad.  It was just green leaf lettuce, granny smith apple, pecans, and agave mustard dressing.

The punch is an adapted version of a Dark N Extra Stormy.  All I had to do was buy the gingerale and drink the thing!

Price Breakdown*

Black Mamba Lasagna Rollups-$2.08

• lasagna noodles-$0.30
• mushroom-$1.78

Vernita's Green Salad w/ Agave Mustard Dressing-FREE!!!

Deadly Viper Assassination Punch-$0.89

• gingerale-$0.89

Total spent on dinner and a movie-$2.97 or $1.49 per person (if it's 2, but this could totally feed 4).

Deadly Viper Assassination Punch

(makes 1 drink)

5 slices fresh ginger

½ a lime, quartered

1 oz. simple syrup (I just do agave to taste)

El Yucateco green chili habanero sauce (use a small amount for heat or leave it out)

1.5 oz. vodka

Gingerale

In a pint glass, muddle the ginger, lime, simple syrup or agave, and a dash of the chili sauce. Add vodka. Fill glass with ice, top with gingerale, and stir. Garnish with lime.

*All price breakdowns are assuming you have basic things like flour, oil, non dairy milk, common spices, etc. Everything else will be factored in. Also, the price listed is based on the amount used in the recipe.