Friday, August 20, 2010

Recipes: Southern Comfort

Last night's dinner: My baked Mac Un-Cheese (click for recipe under link), and some super yummy garlic and onion green beans. There really is nothing like some vegan comfort food in the heart of Texas!



EASY PEASY GREEN BEANS:
Saute onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a couple tablespoons of EVOO (give or take), until onions are soft, salt and pepper to taste.
Add washed, trimmed (cut off the stems/tips), greenbeans and cook in same skillet for 3-5 minutes on HIGH heat. Serve. and eat!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Articles: Bolivia Bans All Circus Animals

Another victory for animals! Thank you South America, let's hope your fight for animal rights are cross-continentally contagious.


And on the local front, last night, here in Austin, TX... the animal rights' and vegan community stood up against Ringling Bros (click link for KXAN article). A peaceful protest commenced outside of the Erwin Center where the Circus is held. 120 people were there to protest the animal abuse circus animals are subjected to, for ticket sales and "entertainment". I love my Austin cohorts, and though I wasn't able to join the ranks, I am a lifelong circus-boycott-er, and hope for a future when people realize that tormenting animals isn't entertainment. 


all images from KXAN Austin, TX news article linked above, and again HERE.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Documentary: I'm Vegan Series P. I

Eric Prescott is a film maker from Boston, who took a tour of the United States, interviewing and filming vegans coast-to-coast. Last year he came through Austin and spent a couple days following me around and trying to get a glimpse into my life, not just as a vegan, but as a person like anyone else, who has hobbies,  interests, friends, goals, and dreams (hey world, all vegans aren't the same!).

These are the first 5 profiles that he's finished editing, to start his web-documentary series called, "I'm Vegan." Eventually he might turn these profiles in a full-length documentary film, but for now we can enjoy all the different personalities, insights, and philosophies of vegans across America. (links lead to youtubes).











Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Recipes: Best Baked Mac Un-Cheese EVER

Sometimes a couple of vegans need to get a hearty serving of comfort food, and the boxes of Vegan Mac aren't always as satisfying as our imaginations remember "The Real (evil) Thing" to be.

For vegans, veggies, and omni's... This recipe rules. Thank you Daiya, you are making us vegans incredibly happy!

I started with THIS RECIPE and changed a few things to make it my own (grilled onions, jalapenos, and tomatoes).

I started by boiling water, and adding my organic, whole-wheat elbow noodles to cook until tender. I let the noodles cook while I started the sauce.


INGREDIENTS :
pasta-(elbow noodles, or shells I like best)
1/4 cup EVOO oil or Earth Balance
1/2 cup unbleached or whole wheat flour
2 cups plain soy milk
1 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 package of Daiya shreads "cheese"
1 medium sized onion
4 jalapenos (if you like spice)
2 medium-large tomatoes
OPTIONAL any other veggies you want
OPTIONAL bread crumbs (for topping)
OPTIONAL nutritional yeast, and/or herbs for added flavor, garnish
Glass of beer or wine to drink while you cook :) I had some from Pyramid Brewery.

    While my noodles boiled away, I set my oven to 375 to preheat, 
    then diced my onions and jalapenos (or whatever other veggies) to begin sauteing 


    I set heat to low and let the onions start to cook and sweeten, but not long enough to caramelize- stirring occasionally. In another pan I started my cheese sauce (following the recipe linked above).

    -heated the oil and slowly added my flour (through a sieve to prevent lumps), after that I slowly stirred in my soymilk and salt. I like using a whisk to be sure to get a really creamy consistency and break up all the flour until really thick (you can also add Nutritional yeast at this point for flavor/thicker sauce).

    -After the cheese sauce started to boil I set to low and sliced my tomatoes in big rounds to bake on top later. My noodles were done by then so I put in a strainer and set in the sink.

    -I went back to my sauce and added about 2/3 of my Daiya "cheese" until melted. I poured my strained noodles into a large casserole pan, and sprinkled the rest of the Daiya on top, and combined my onions and peppers into my cheese sauce.


    Then the fun part! Pouring the cheese sauce onto all the noodles, and distributing evenly either just on top, or stirring all together (I've tried both and even if you don't mix first the cheese melts down into the bottom noodles). To it make it extra pretty I placed my tomatoes on top and then sprinkled with bread crumbs. You can also sprinkle fresh or dried herbs on top depending on your tastes (basil, parsley, or oregano are my recs).

    Bake for 13 minutes +/- depending on your stove. And its done! I like to serve with Ketchup (my husband thinks I'm nuts, but you have to try it. SO good). YUM!

    Articles: Cinnaholic, Vegan Gourmet in Berkeley, CA

    Next time I go to California, I hope I can make a trip to Berkeley
    to try ANY one of the AMAZING, gourmet, vegan cinnamon rolls at Cinnaholic.



    Choose from these (all vegan) Icings:
    almond, apple, banana, blackberry, blueberry, butter pecan, butterscotch, caramel, cherry, coffee, cream soda, hazelnut, Irish cream, key lime, lemon, macadamia nut, maple, mint, orange, peach, pina colada, pomegranate, pumpkin spice, raspberry, root beer, and strawberry.




    Choose from these (all vegan) Toppings:
    almonds, apples, blackberries, blueberries, brownie chuncks, candy cane, cherries, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, cookie dough chunks, gingerbread cookies, graham crackers, hazelnuts, holiday spices, jam, lemons, limes, marshmallows, oranges, oreo cookies, peaches, peanut butter, pomegranate seeds, raspberries, shredded coconut, strawberries, and walnuts. That is just plain ridiculous. Not to mention their specialty rolls, like Rocky Road and Mocha Almond.


    ARTICLE HERE., photos copied from article

    Read and Follow The Cinnaholic BLOG HERE