VeganMoFo IX: Holler at that Sangwich

I figure it was time to finally, I dunno, post for my favorite time of year: MoFo!  It has been far too long since I have been able to geek out and read blogs until my eyes bleed.  I'm in the process of packing to move across country, so this will be a very interesting month.

So, playing catch up...the next few blogs will feature double days because I was having some technical and memory difficulties.  Haha.  Day 3 was all about that easy steezy.  One of my favorite things about living in California is that I can find vegan food all over the place.  In fact, many places feature what I like to call "mixed company" menus.  This is perfect because I happen to be dating a carnivore.  The other day we were in the mood for some food when we realized a local pizza joint was open again after a long renovation!

I, naturally, went with the supreme vegan for my quick, easy, and delicious meal.  What is easier and more delicious than vegan pizza...made by somebody who isn't me?!  Featured on that pizza...vegan sausage, vegan cheese, onion, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms!  Yes.  Supreme.  Yes.  Delicious.

so many veggies

Now, when I think of the most perfect foods...it goes: breakfast, pizza, and sandwiches!  There is no such thing as bad in those categories.  Only great and slightly less great.  I really could not think of my favorite sandwich, so I'll list my top 5 (no order).

1. Native Foods' Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger- It's got that bbq sauce, ranch, seitan, tofu bacon...all that chedda', sucka.  I love it.  In fact, I based one of my favorite tv themed mofo entries off of it!

2. Tortas- Now these babies can include almost anything.  Main thing you're looking for is fresh ingredients and bolillos!  One of my favorite ways is my Eggplant Milanesa version, but I also love grilled portobello mushrooms.  The possibilities are endless.

3. Breakfast Sammich- Bro.  You don't even know.  This combines, like, ALL of my favorite things.  I remember being a kid and eating these.  Now I fry some tofu, sizzle up that Upton's Natural's bacon seitan and slather on the goodness.  My breakfast sandwiches always have cheddar and some sorta jam.  I like to play around with whether it goes on an English muffin, bagel, or plain ol' toast.

4. Grilled Cheese- This is the fundamental sandwich.  I feel like most people know how to make this and pb&j before any other sandwich.  It's quick, comforting, and always delicious!

5. Cookie Sandwich- Finally, we have that sweetness.  I love cookie sandwiches!  Especially...oatmeal cream pie!  No joke, I was eating this beast from Native Foods earlier and had to suppress the urge to run around singing.

hollaaaaaaa...ain't no stoppin' me

That's all for now!  Tomorrow, I'm gonna have to let my soul gloooooow...  Stay tuned.

Vegan MoFo VII: Heroes in a Half Shell

I feel like I couldn't properly do a nerd week without paying homage to these guys.  4 mutant turtles. 1 fatherly rat.  And a bucket load of delicious 'za!  My brother used to have the action figures and my Barbies would sometimes make out with them.  Especially Donatello.  Holla at your boy!

Today, I'm keeping it real.  I'm feeling that mutant badassery like whoa.  So here's what you need to have the best TMNT watching party ever: a build your own pizza bar.

Clockwise from left: pepperoni, mushroom, coconut bacon and cheddar, Hawaiian styles

Start with a really good crust.  I am in love with my celebrity chef crush's crust.  Alliteration, son!  Bobby Flay's recipe calls for grilling (the ultimate in pizza making), but I just stuffed them into a really hot oven.  I think it's best to divide the dough up into mini pizza sizes.

I might shock some of you, but I'm kinda lazy right now.  I'm holed up in my house with a back injury, so I did not feel like making the sauce.  Fresh and Easy to the rescue!  I just spooned some on and instant pizza!

Coconut bacon and cheddar...YES!

By far, my favorite was the coconut bacon one.  It was just a last minute thought, but made my mouth explode with awesome.

Ideas for Toppings:

various cheeses, mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, onion, coconut bacon, pepperoni, sausage, fennel, potatoes, pineapple, bell peppers, chorizo, corn, smoked tofu, artichokes, capers, garlic, spinach, etc.

Ideas for Sauces:

hummus, pesto, classic sauce, alfredo, arrabbiata, puttanesca, chimichurri, barbecue, etc.

For dessert I made some quick and easy "ooze."  The secret?  Matcha and chia!

With so much matcha in this chia sea, it's kind hard being Snoop D-O-Double G

And for the love of Ray J, don't forget to treat yo'self with a TMNT inspired mani!  Turtle Power!

Cowabunga!!!

The Ultimate Hummus Application: Pizza!

Happy 4th of July, y'all!  I remember growing up on air force bases and heading to the flight line as a kid to see the fireworks every year.  Those were some great memories.  Now, I just think of the fireworks scene in The Sandlot and giggle.  Love that movie.  Today, we ate glorious foodstuffs and watched the Criminal Minds marathon on A&E.  Oh, and there were beer margaritas (made with vodka because tequila makes me sad).

Today's Menu:

grilled pizza (margherita and a modified version of this Bobby Flay recipe)

Isa salad nicoise tester

watermelon

mocha cupcakes

beer margaritas

So much yumminess!

Hummus on pizza is the best thing of all time.  Forget everything else.  Put hummus on your pizza and know what euphoria feels like.  So, I used Bobby's recipe but used Sabra's roasted garlic hummus instead of a spicy one.  I also added a portobello to the mix.  I made my own cashew goat cheese, which was a variation of this recipe (used 3/4 cups soaked cashews and umeboshi paste instead of preserved tofu).  It really was one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten.  Creamy, smoky, crunchy, salty, and herb-a-licious.  Mmm!

Check out this bangin' salad!  I can't wait for Isa's weight loss book to come out.  There are so many good recipes.

So, a friend of a friend is known for her margaritas.  Her secret is beer.  I couldn't remember her recipe so I used this one.  They were a little sweet for me and I had to add more water, but they really hit the spot.  Beer adds a bit of salty and carbonation to it.  Soooo good.  And ridiculously strong.

Mocha cupcakes with light and fluffy vanilla frosting.  They really hit the spot.  I was fiending for a cupcake yesterday.

I know my blog entries and blog reading have been lacking lately.  We've been enjoying summer, had some family down, and we're getting ready to move.  So I probably won't be around until late July at the earliest.  However, I really stoked because the new house has a bigger kitchen, better lighting, and a glorious backyard fit for patio dining.  Hope everybody is enjoying the summer!

Breakfast Pizza

Guess what's back, y'all?!  Candy Cane Joe-Joe's!  Guess what I still haven't seen?  Silk Nog.  What the fizzle?  I am starting to jones for my favorite holiday drink which I kindly stole and adapted from Pamela last year.  It currently doesn't have a name.  I'd love to hear any ideas.  I was thinking a spiced white russian, but that's not hilarious or clever.

It's basically a white russian made with espresso vodka, nog, and kahlua.  Last year, I got my family and my sister's coworker hooked on the stuff.  It's like liquid crack.  Hopefully, I can find some nog before Thanksgiving.

Anyway.  Today, I woke up with a burning desire for breakfast pizza!  I remember eating this stuff as a kid every once in a while.  It was my favorite.  I only knew two things this morning: there was no way in hell tomato sauce would touch the thing, and I wanted a biscuit crust.

What I basically did was take this biscuit recipe and press it into the bottom of my dish.  I baked it initially for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Then I layered one thinly sliced russet potato (boiled slightly after slicing and seasoned with salt and pepper), 1/4 cup bacn bits, tofu scramble (with shallots, kale and red bell pepper), and spicy tempeh sausage queso (a recipe I'm working on).  Then I heated it for about 20 minutes.  It was super good.  When I was taking the photo, a bee was trying to attack me.  Good times.  The pizza was greeeeeeat, though.

Tomorrow I'm going to see if I can make some eggnog ice cream, dammit!  I'll try to post the results soonish.  Have a good Saturday.

VeganMoFo: It's Amore, Fool

Two things you need to know about me is: 1) I'm crazy and 2) I'm poet. Three things poets love: sex, booze, and late night foodstuffs. While in Madison, WI this year for the National Poetry Slam, I spent many a night outside of Ian's. It was the spot for all the poets. I saw the slices people were getting. Three pizzas I had to veganize: macaroni and cheese, kalamata tapenade and roasted red pepper, and pesto portobello. Now the crazy...

Setting: my kitchen. Soundtrack: Dashboard Confessional's The Swiss Army Romance. Mission: pizza three different ways. Oh, and my fridge is already filled to the max with leftovers.

First up kalamata tapenade and roasted red pepper stromboli. I spread the tapenade over the dough, topped with Teese, and added strips of roasted pepper. Very delicious.




Next I made the mac and cheeze pizza. Word booty. It looks better if you don't walk away. This pie is what I like to call "well done." I halved my mac and cheeze recipe and topped with FYH cheddar, Teese, and cracked black pepper. This picture is darker because the lighting in my kitchen is horrible at night.




I'm saving the best for last, yo! This was amazing. I made pesto portobello calzones. For the marinara I combined 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, lemon juice, pepper, sugar, and Italian seasoning. I spread some marinara, topped with Teese, portabellos and pesto. So friggin good!




Well, the next few days will have nothing to do with cooking. I have some leftovers to work through.