Makin' Bakin! (New and Improved Easy Vegan Bacon Bits!)

Makin' Bakin! (New and Improved Easy Vegan Bacon Bits!)

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Quick & Easy

Many moons ago I was challenged to make imitation bacon bits that don't have so many weird ingredients (you can read about it HERE) and that popular recipe ended up in my Veggie Burger book! Now, I have a new and improved version that I want to share with you here!

Summer Grilling with Lightlife Smart Dogs!

It's very rare that I agree to do a sponsored post here on Just the Food. So rare, in fact, that this is the first one I have done in ten-plus years of blogging! Sure, I have received sample products and cookbooks to review over the years, but I have never done a completely sponsored post. Why? Because, for me, I have to REALLY be in love with a product for me to partner with them. When I was contacted by Lightlife Foods to participate in their summer grilling series featuring Smart Dogs, how could I say no?

I absolutely love summertime in the LBC. In sunny Southern California, and especially in Long Beach, summer means barbecue, hanging out with friends outdoors, and parties in the park. I barely cook inside, at all, from the minute the time change gives us longer days, in our house, we are all about the grill. So when Lightlife offered to send me a mini grill, tools, a cooler, condiments and enough moolah to grab all the Smart Dogs we would need to get through the entire summer...we were STOKED!

An Open Letter to Arby's from the @UnhealthyVegan

My vegan version of Arby's Roast Beef and Cheddar as part of @UnhealthyVegan's Open Picture Book to Arby's

Maybe you've seen the Open Letter to Vegetarians that Arby's wrote last month. Then maybe you, like me, were like, "That's pretty f'd up!" Not to mention just plain stupid. (I mean, I'm up for a good joke, but this was just a dumb marketing idea.) A couple of vegan folks have written responses on their Facebook pages, blogs, and took over the comments...but the @UnhealthyVegan took it next level and started an entire book. A picture book, to be exact. Instagrammers united to post a vegan version of an Arby's menu item, but BETTER. Better for the animals. Better for the planet. Better for our health. Andre's there to make sure Arby's knows that #WeMadeArbysBetter and #WeMadeBaconBetter.

Sesame Sriracha Cream Cheese Bacon Scallion Puffs

Because sometimes you just want something that tastes good and takes very little effort. I mean they are called "convenience foods" for a reason, right?

These tasty little bites taste great warm, cold, or at room temperature, which makes them the perfect food to make as an appetizer, bring to a party, or just make up a batch like me and my sister, June, did on my recent visit to Portland.  And since today is her birthday, I thought I would post this in her honor.

Monday Mash-Up: Coconut and Liquid Smoke

Tonight's mash-up was inspired by the DDD (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.)  I am sure it was a repeat, but the other night it was on in the background and I overheard "Vegan BLTs" so I quickly turned to listen.  I didn't catch the name of the restaraunt, but I did catch that this place used coconut bacon!  Well apparently I have been living on another planet, because this was all over the vegan blogosphere going back at least to 2009!  Anyhoooo...had I done a simple Google search, before I started this adventure, well, then I would have seen that other talented vegans had already done the R&D and I could have used one of their recipes.  Instead I started from scratch. 

Coconut Bacon (on top of a green salad)

Green Salad topped with Coconut Bacon

I don't have exact measurements, but my marinade was very simple...liquid smoke, olive oil, salt, and pepper.  I thought about maple syrup, but opted against it because of the natural sweetness of the coconut.  However, after this first experiment, I would say the added sweetness would have been nice.  I would probably also opt to use soy sauce or tamari instead of salt next time.  I think the flavor would be great, as well as the color would be more bacon like.  

After I soaked my coconut flakes in the marinade for a bit, I preheated my oven to 400 F.  I lined a baking sheet with parchment and laid out my coconut in a single layer.  I baked it for 5 minutes, removed it from the oven, tossed it about, and put it back in the oven for 5 moore minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.  

I removed it from the oven and let it cool and crisp up and then tasted it.  Pretty good!  I found the ones that were toasted a little darker were definitely the color of bacon, and crispier.  But, I prefer the ones that are still a little bit soft.  They seem to have a better flavor and texture.  

All in all, these are a fun new addition to my condiment crew and I know I will continue to play around with different marinades and applications.

The Double-Take

Inspired by the ultra artery clogging new sandwich from the ultra disgusting KFC, the Double Down. Made with my own blend of seven herbs and spices, I served these up to the folks over at the Jason Ellis show and even the producer, Stretch, who is a really big meat eating man's man, said it tasted like real chicken...so, there. Thanks to Gardein, the realistic chicken part was easy.

New and Improved! Imitation Bacon Bits

The old recipe was good…but this one is better!

2 tablespoons (30 ml) liquid smoke
1 scant cup (205 ml) water
1 cup (96 g) TVP granules
1/4 teaspoon salt
A few drops red food coloring, optional
3 tablespoons (45 ml) canola or other vegetable oil

To a measuring cup add the liquid smoke, then fill to get one cup water.In a microwave safe dish, mix together Liquid smoke mixture, TVP and salt. Cover tightly with plastice wrap and microwave on high for five minutes. Carefully remove the wrap. Preheat a frying pan with the oil. Add reconstituted TVP to the pan and toss to make sure it all gets coated with oil. Pan fry until desired crispness. Stir them often. You don’t necessarily want to “brown” them, rather dry them out. Right around ten minutes. Allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator. Should last at least a week.

Yield: About a cup

Bac'uns

I know that some of you had been asking about non-hydrogenated imitation bacon bits...from there I invented my own, but they weren't exactly the same as the store bought stuff...My gift to you, Bac'uns, by Fronteir Natural Products. Organic and nonhydrogenated vegan bacon bits. Hickory flavored. They'll get the job done.