tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44760088353794303532024-03-13T08:07:09.441-07:00Bite me, I'm veganLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-41145019259916624182013-11-15T21:01:00.000-08:002013-11-16T07:49:11.441-08:00Virtual Vegan Potluck: Beet Black BreadI've barely posted since the last Virtual Vegan Potluck, but having let Vegan Mofo come and go with nary a blog entry, I wasn't about to let the potluck pass me by as well. (Especially when I learned that beets would be the featured ingredient. As the random red stains around my kitchen will attest, I adore beets.) My life has been busy in the most delightful way, and the last few Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-29421936274635407252013-07-22T20:59:00.000-07:002013-07-22T21:02:53.838-07:00Grilled cookies
In case you've been living in the dark as I was until recently, allow me to inform you change your life with the stunning revelation that you can make cookies on the grill. Now what are you waiting for?
You can use this method with pretty much any cookie recipe. Choose a recipe and heat your grill, covered, to whatever temperature your recipe calls for. (I find that most Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-31246844643283734392013-06-29T19:31:00.000-07:002013-06-29T19:36:10.523-07:00Grilled Romaine, Couscous, and Garlic Salad
I've been eyeing grilled romaine recipes for a couple years, but kept holding off on trying it. I'm glad I finally took the plunge. I paired it with couscous because couscous has a short cooking time and I didn't want to add any more heat than necessary to my already sweltering house. And I added gobs of roasted garlic, because there's not much I'd rather have in my mouth than Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-1112507014876915722013-06-13T10:26:00.000-07:002013-06-16T19:59:23.743-07:00Goodbye, Jasper
A few days ago, my dog died.
It was fast and unexpected, and I’ll never know what caused it. I was stroking his ears and telling him I
loved him as he took his last breaths.
He was not quite 6 years old.
Mostly, people are kind. They
say, “How sad.” They say, “I ’m sorry
for your loss.” This terminology has
been bothering me, loss. Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-73498109426202842632013-05-10T21:01:00.000-07:002013-05-11T07:46:57.701-07:00Focaccia Two Ways: Orange-Lavender and Lemon-Asparagus Focaccia
Lemon Asparagus Focaccia
I've pulled this blog out of hibernation just in time to join the Virtual Vegan Potluck. Welcome potluck attendees! I made two types of seasonal citrus focaccia to showcase some of my backyard produce.
Above is lemon and asparagus focaccia with black pepper. Below is sweet orange and lavender focaccia (which I overcooked a bit--oops, but still tasty).Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-51557093414803676912013-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:002013-02-17T08:38:02.295-08:00Taking a Blogging BreakI just wanted to let my readers know that I'll be taking a break for blogging for a little while. The reason for the break:
the little girl I've been cooking up finally arrived on February 12. "Little" being a bit of a misnomer, since her birth weight was 9 pounds 8 ounces. The only food I plan on making for the next few weeks is milk for this cutie...but I'll be back to bloggingLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-61253197871311614052013-02-05T11:13:00.001-08:002013-02-05T11:13:18.469-08:00Peach Oat Nut Muffins
I expect I'll be writing a post about something besides muffins sometime in the foreseeable future. But not just yet, thanks, since muffins are all I want to eat these days (well, and steamed broccoli, but THAT recipe wouldn't make much of a post). And so I bring you peach-oat-walnut muffins. Makes 12 muffins, or a couple more if you're shy about filling your muffin tins Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-35437378586549601512013-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:002013-01-28T13:45:35.899-08:00Chocolate Cherry Bran Muffins
I love my blueberry bran muffins, but to mix it up a little bit, and because I'm rather muffin-obsessed of late, I came up with this variation. Makes 12 muffins.
The Ingredients:
1 c wheat bran
3/4 c unbleached white flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
2/3 c sugar
1/2 c cocoa powder
1/4 c ground flax
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
1 1/2 c almond milk
1/3 c olive oil
1 T apple cider Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-13518466126702298192013-01-21T14:44:00.001-08:002013-01-21T14:44:45.078-08:00Blueberry Bran Muffins
I think of these as my pregnancy power muffins, with flax for Omega-3s, blackstrap molasses for iron, blueberries for antioxidants, and bran to keep things moving. If it makes a difference, my (non-pregnant and presumably rather biased) husband will vouch for them, too, though. Makes a dozen muffins.
The Ingredients:
1 c unbleached white flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c wheat bran
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-62146801897098476212013-01-14T07:30:00.000-08:002013-01-14T07:30:03.441-08:00Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
These were the real standouts in my Christmas cookie tin this year. More coconut than flour makes for a seriously rich and delicious cookie.
The Ingredients:
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c margarine
1/4 c coconut milk or almond milk
1 t vanilla
3/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 1/3 c flour
2 1/2 c shredded, unsweetened coconut
3/4 c chocolate chips
The Process:
Preheat oven to 350°.
With an electric Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-9813366258397140062013-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-07T07:46:19.058-08:00Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Hazelnuts
Brussels sprouts have been cheap and plentiful in my local market, so I've been roasting up huge batches of them. With plenty of maple syrup and about as much nuts and fruit as brussels sprouts, this is the most indulgent way I've prepared them.
The Ingredients:
2 lbs brussels sprouts, trimmed, large ones halved
8 oz dried cranberries
1 1/4 c roughly-chopped hazelnuts
1/4 c maple syrup
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-21805140023942162192013-01-01T11:52:00.000-08:002013-01-01T11:52:45.972-08:00Crispy Tempura
My husband and I stayed in for New Year's Eve last night and were in bed by 10pm, but I still wanted to make our dinner a little bit special. Tempura is one of my favorite foods, yet I make it only a few times a year. I think I finally hit on the perfect batter this time around; it stayed nice and crisp yet wasn't too greasy. I'll eat pretty much any vegetable tempura-style, Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-38721663048917858272012-12-25T16:03:00.000-08:002012-12-25T16:03:22.039-08:00Christmas GoodiesHappy Christmas, everyone! No recipes today, but here are some pictures of the food I've been enjoying for the holidays.
Tamales are the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in my household. This year I filled them with a mixture of sweet potatoes, black beans, kale, and peppers. They were a hit for sure.
We ate them while sitting on the floor by fireplace enjoying a cozy Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-19792900642005166192012-12-23T13:52:00.002-08:002012-12-23T13:55:33.002-08:00Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas
I'm starting to cook big batches of food to stock the freezer for after my baby arrives. My frozen meals were looking pretty pasta-heavy, though, so today I decided to add some enchiladas to the mix. I froze them unbaked, but I couldn't resist making an extra batch to eat right away.
The Ingredients:
12 corn tortillas
1 c enchilada sauce (I used canned tomatillo-based sauce)
3 oz Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-61389010850907713652012-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:002012-12-10T07:30:00.321-08:00Funfetti Cake Waffles
I expect I'll always have a soft spot for funfetti cake, because one of the first evenings I ever spent with my husband, before we were even dating, involved baking funfetti cupcakes from a box mix with my husband and one of his best friends. I haven't had a funfetti cupcake since becoming vegan, but when the idea of cake batter waffles crossed my mind, funfetti seemed like the obvious flavor Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-55439854394932524132012-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:002012-12-03T07:30:02.527-08:00Product Review: Tofu Xpress, Plus: Simple Golden Tofu
Simple Golden Tofu
Ever since I first saw reviews of the Tofu Xpress popping up in my blog reader a year or so ago, I've been wondering whether this little contraption could possibly be worth it's price tag or the hype it gets. A few weeks ago, I contacted the company to see if they would be willing to send me a press to review, and they were kind enough to oblige. I got my tofu Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-40797707604270919472012-11-25T11:01:00.001-08:002012-11-25T11:01:10.416-08:00Las Vegas Trip
I had a fun weekend in Las Vegas, and ate some good food, too, though as per usual, I didn't manage to take any pictures of my meals during my travel.
In addition to gobs of delicious vegan donuts from Ronald's Donuts, and plenty of salad stuff from the Whole Foods salad bar, I was happy to find two restaurants in Mandalay Place that currently offer vegan menus as part of "World Vegan Month.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-90513429969207677272012-11-20T07:30:00.000-08:002012-11-20T07:44:40.795-08:00Peanut Butter Coffee Custard Pie
Instead of doing something Thanksgivingy this year, my husband and I will be travelling to Las Vegas, one last little getaway as a couple before our baby arrives. I usually get really into cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but since I won't be cooking for the holiday, I figured I'd spare you all yet another pumpkin or pecan pie post. Instead, I present you with peanut butter and coffee Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-45067254153960015052012-11-13T07:30:00.000-08:002012-11-13T07:30:00.145-08:00Buckwheat Waffles with Tofu Mousse and Strawberry Sauce
The buckwheat makes these waffles pretty hearty on their own, but adding a big dollop of silky tofu mousse adds a nice protein punch. The mousse is similar in flavor and consistency to a thick vanilla yogurt, so that would make a good substitute if the strain of pulling out your blender is too much for you. Both the tofu mousse and the strawberry sauce can be made a day ahead of Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-10510650960457836562012-11-06T18:46:00.001-08:002012-11-06T18:46:16.947-08:00Blueberry Velvet Cupcakes
I decided to spend election night making (and eating!) cupcakes while listening to the election coverage on NPR. Since the night promises to be a nail-biter, I figured blue velvet cupcakes would be appropriate as they can serve as either celebration (can you guess who I voted for?) or consolation cakes (boo-hoo berry). These didn't turn out as blue as I was hoping they would,Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-46389525303910048572012-11-02T07:30:00.000-07:002012-11-02T07:30:02.929-07:00Coconut Cream Pie with Pineapple Topping
I didn't think pineapple-coconut week would be complete without a coconut cream pie. So I guess now pineapple-coconut week IS complete. Happy weekend to all!
The Ingredients:
1 pie crust, pre-baked
1 batch pineapple topping (recipe below)
1 1/2 c shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 can coconut milk (full fat, not "light")
1 1/4 c almond milk
3/4 c firm silken tofu
2/3 c sugar
1/2 c Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-87479536966891877492012-10-31T21:01:00.000-07:002012-10-31T21:21:43.366-07:00Coconut Cake & Tropical Fruit Parfaits
I'm happy to be participating the Virtual Vegan Potluck for the first time. Please use the "go forward" and "go back" links at the bottom of this post to continue on to more vegan deliciousness. I had a hard time deciding what to bring to the potluck, because I like fruity desserts, but I also really like cake. These parfaits offer both, with chunks of dense coconut cake and Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-59485568429197643422012-10-31T07:30:00.000-07:002012-10-31T07:37:18.315-07:00Pineapple & Tofu Red Curry
Happy Halloween! Because we can't live on candy alone (although I may sometimes seem like I'm trying to), I decided today would be a good day for a nourishing savory dish. Although I rarely make curries, when I do I usually want them to include two things: lots of sauce for the rice to sop up, and big chunks of fresh pineapple.
The Ingredients:
1 package extra-firm tofu
2 1/2 c Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-53553310621170341242012-10-30T07:30:00.000-07:002012-10-30T07:30:00.299-07:00Pineapple-Coconut Candies
If in doubt, just add chocolate. These dense little balls of pineapple and coconut are pretty good on their own, but wrapping them in a chocolate shell takes them to a whole other level. Sometimes I think we should all just be wrapped in chocolate shells. Perhaps that will be my goal for Halloween.
The Ingredients:
3/4 c dried, unsweetened pineapple
1/2 c shredded, Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476008835379430353.post-18950980295094000052012-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:002012-10-29T07:30:01.231-07:00Piña Colada Waffles
How about a little touch of the tropical for a cool fall morning? This made 10 waffles on my iron; your mileage may vary.
The Ingredients:
3 c flour
2 T baking powder
1 t salt
1/4 t nutmeg
2 3/4 c coconut milk (I used the refrigerated beverage for this, not the canned kind)
1/2 c pineapple juice
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 t coconut extract
1 t rum extract
1 t vanilla extract
1 c packed Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08748935296395656507noreply@blogger.com1