Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Veggie Dog with all the Fixin's and Bacon Eggplant Chips

After chatting with my good friend Sarah S.,I was inspired to make home made saurkraut. Turns out, it is easy and delicious.  What's better with sauerkraut than a veggie dog? Nothing, I thought. So, here is a recipe for  this afternoon's lunch.

Veggie Dog:
(for 2)
1/2 cup Home Made Sauerkraut (see recipe below)
1 stalk celery, diced
1/4 medium white onion, diced
1/2 avocado peeled, then diced
the leaves of half of a fennel, diced (optional)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive tapenade (optional)
bun (optional)
veggie dogs (I'm liking these, these days)
organic ketchup (no or low sugar) and mustard

1/8 cup hummus for dipping eggplant chips

Eggplant Bacon

1 medium eggplant or 2 skinny eggplants
1 tablespoon soy sauce or alternative
1/8 tsp liquid smoke (ask your grocer)
olive oil for coating pan

Lightly grease a baking pan. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise if it's over 3 inches in diameter, Then, into 1/8"-1/4 " slices. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes each side. Then, raise the temperature to 425. Mix the soy sauce and liquid smoke in shallow plate,  dip both sides of the eggplant pieces into sauce.  Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side or until desired crispness.

Sauerkraut

1 head green cabbage
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp caraway seeds

Slice the cabbage as thinly as you can. Use a pestle and mortar or whatever method you have to grind the seeds smaller. Toss the cabbage with the seeds. Pack full a mason jar (i used a jar that holds 10 cups of liquid, you could use a smaller one)with the cabbage. Add 1-2 2 cups or so of purified water (I used too much and the cabbage overflowed for the first 4 days . Fill a smaller jar that fits through the mouth of the cabbage jar with water and set it on the cabbage as a tamper. Leave on your counter for 10 days or until it tastes like sauerkraut.
Enjoy
-L

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

YUMMY VEGAN SIDE DISHES

My fiance and I are having a vegan potluck for our wedding; our guests are truly rad to give this a whirl.

Dear Wedding Attendees:

Thanks so much for coming to our party!

Jesse and I started eating mostly vegan a few years ago. We have all sorts of reasons; the one we most share in common is our love for animals.

A few thoughts about preparing a vegan dish. First, as with everything in life, don't take it too seriously and have fun. Vegan just means containing no animal products. Think of your favorite dish and then,"veganize it!" There are many alternatives to meat, cheese, milk and butter.  Because many of you are traveling, plan ahead and bring spices from your kitchen.  And, please feel free to ask for help.

Here are a list of recipes that look delicious and easy.  Some of them even have less than five ingredients.  Let your creativity flow. Bring whatever you want. Use a recipe that you know or try a new one. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Love,
Lindsay and Jesse

P.S. Many dishes that are intended to be "hot" still taste friggin' delicious when "warm/ not even warm"
P.P.S New Moon is the best natural food store in town. OR Save-Mart has some vegetarian options.


CREAMY AVOCADO POTATO SALAD
http://www.theppk.com/2011/05/creamy-avocado-potato-salad/

TRATTORIA PASTA SALAD
http://www.theppk.com/2010/06/trattoria-pasta-salad/

BLACK BEAN AND QUINOA SALAD
http://www.theppk.com/2010/04/quinoa-salad-with-black-beans-mango/

EGGPLANT AND BLACK EYED PEA CURRY
http://www.theppk.com/2012/01/eggplant-black-eyed-pea-curry/

MEDITERRANEAN SALAD
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/mediterarean-raw-crunch-salad

BEAN SALAD
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/bean-salad

TACO SALAD
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/best-taco-salad-ever

FRIED RICE
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/sweet-fried-rice

WHITE BEAN DIP
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/white-bean-dip-with-pita-chips

CUCUMBER MELON SALAD
http://www.thekindlife.com/user/recipe/cucumber-melon-salad

THAI NOODLE SALAD
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=819450

ARABIAN VEGETABLES
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=49981

ASPARAGUS RICE PILAF
http://www.vegancoach.com/vegan-side-dish.html#anchor-asparagus-pilaf

ROSEMARY SCALLOPED POTATOES
http://thedomesticvegan.com/2011/09/14/rosemary-scalloped-potatoes/

GUACAMOLE
avocado, lime, tomato, jalepeno, onion, garlic, cilantro, raw corn, black beans... the list can go on

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO
http://vegan.sheknows.com/2011/08/09/wild-mushroom-risotto/

JERK-STYLE SWEET POTATOES
http://vegan.sheknows.com/2011/07/16/jerk-style-sweet-potatoes/

FRIED ZUCCHINI
http://vegan.sheknows.com/2011/07/09/fried-zucchini/

QUARTER POUNDER BEET BURGER  *note-NOT an easy one.
http://www.theppk.com/2012/02/quarter-pounder-beet-burger/

SCALLION MASHED POTATOES
http://www.theppk.com/2012/01/scallion_mashed_potatoes/