Orecchiette Rigate in a Quick Garlic Cream Sauce

Pasta. Me and pasta have been good friends for a very, very long time. Be it an elbow, linguine, lasagne, soba, cous cous, or even plain ol' spaghetti. A bowl of pasta can be as simple as tossed in a little olive oil, or complicated with a slow cooked home made marinara. However it's served up, pasta gives me comfort. Let's me know that whatever the day has challenged me with...well...it's all gonna be okay.



Orecchiette Rigate in a Quick Garlic Cream Sauce

1 pound pasta of choice (in this case Orecchiette Rigate)
1 stick nondairy butter (like Earth Balance)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1-2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk
1 tablespoon dried basil (optional)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
sea salt and frersh cracked pepper to taste

Prepare pasta according to package directions. In a pot, melt butter over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent browning. Add in flour and stir vigorously to form a roux. Continue to stir until mixture is a thick paste and turns a lovely golden color. Add in 1 cup of the milk. Reduce heat to low and stir until thickened. If you like a very thick sauce, that's it. Add in the basil, pine nuts (if using), salt and pepper and you're done. If you prefer a thinner sauce add in additional milk until the desired consistncy is reached. Immediately pour over pasta and enjoy.

Eatin' Out with Vegan Friends

One might think that living in Southern California would mean that there are hundreds of thousands of vegans just knocking down my door to eat with me. Sadly this just isn't the case.

I have a couple of close friends who are vegetarian (Hi Jill, Karem and Brent!) and my cousin Leah and her husband, Tim, are vegan, but they live all the way in LA. My friend Danna moved way up to the mountains and Jenn is also in LA. What's a lonely OC vegan supposed to do?

Well, mostly, I cook. Not a bad thing, really, as it saves a ton of money, and I pretty much can guarantee I'm going to enjoy what I make.

But, sometimes it's nice to be served. To walk into a 100% vegan restaurant and be able to order anything off the menu without having to ask 100 questions. Sure, I can bring any of my (non-vegan) friends or family to a vegan restaraunt. But, that's just not as enjoyable as going to one with someone who will really appreciate the experience as much as I do.

So imagine how excited I was to find out that Jess (of Get Sconed!) was going to be in town for a few days on business!

One might also think that Southern California is swimming with vegan restaurants. Sadly, this is also not the case. We have a few absolutely fantastic joints here and there, but there is a good amount of driving to get from one to another.

So, I picked up Jess, and we headed out for a good forty minute drive to Native Foods in Costa Mesa. Sure, there was a closer location, but the Costa Mesa location is tops. It's in a tent. It's simply rad. Lucky us. Chef Tanya served up our meals personally on that day. Once again, rad. I didn't take any pictures, but I know that Jess did, and she promised to post about it sometime during 'mofo, so check in on her to see for yourself. We were both very happy with our meals, and with bellies full we headed back to the beach.

Picture Stolen from the Native Foods website, note the cool chalkboards, usually filled up with AR slogans:



The following day, I met up with Jess again, and this time, we headed for the monolithic Irvine Spectrum to check out the Veggie Grill. Once again, there is a closer location, but this one was next to the ferris wheel!

Picture stolen from an article in the paper, and those Sweetheart Fries ARE as good as they look:


After lunch, we headed to the Native Foods in Aliso Viejo for dessert.

Thanks, Jess, for letting me drag you all around the OC, just to eat!

Hello 'Mofo!

I seriously cannot believe it's already October. Well, those of us in the know, know what that means. It's 'mofo time!

(For those not in the know, Veganmofo is the Vegan Month of Food. Vegan bloggers around the universe post nearly every day in the month of October about vegan food! It was originally inspired by Nanowrimo, where writers attempt to write a novel in a month.)

The wonderful and amazing Kittee has taken on the mindblowing task of gettin' every participating 'mofo-er onto one HUGE bloglines feed to help you keep up with everyone.

I haven't quite decided on a theme for this year, so I'll probably just post random recipes, pictures, product and restaurant reviews.

Bring it on 'mofos!

Cake for Baby!

My bestest friend ever, Jennifer, is having a baby girl! I volunteered to make the cake and cupcakes for her shower yesterday!



The cake and half of the cupcakes are lemon with raspberry cream cheese frosting. The other half of the cupcakes are VCTOTW basic chocolate, with raspberry cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut with marzipan eggs.

Each tier was 3 layers of lemon cake (this recipe without the poppyseeds) with raspberry preserves and raspberry cream cheese frosting between the layers. The whole thing was coated with a crumb coat of the raspberry cream cheese frosting (Equal parts Tofutti cream cheese and Earth Balance, with a bit of vanilla extract and Flavorganics Raspberry Syrup, mixed with enough powdered sugar to get the right texture) then decorated with tinted vanilla fondant.

I was going to make my fondant from scratch, and did make a small batch, but it was a lot of work, and I needed a lot of fondant, so I bought Satin Ice brand fondant, which, as far as I could tell from the label and my internet research, is vegan.

My first time working with fondant. I am no Duff, but I think I did pretty good for my first go 'round. One thing I learned is that it is key to have ample flat working space to effectively pull this off. I was working on a folding card table, that wasn't level, so I had a bit of trouble rolling it out evenly. I know I could have done a much better job, if I just had a proper kitchen counter.

Orange Chipotle Barbecue Sauce (from 500 Vegan Recipes)

Orange Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Soy Free & Gluten Free

Oh, so sweet! But wait, what's that kick? Ohhh, the smoky chipotle has emerged from the sweetness to leave your tongue warm...not burning. This recipe calls for a strange ingredient…grape jelly! Please, don't use jam, but jelly. This is my Gramma Jo's secret ingredient. She uses it in all of her barbecue sauces, even store-bought ones.

2 tablespoons (30 g) extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion (about 6 ounces, 170 g), roughly chopped

1 tablespoon (15 g) minced garlic

24 ounces (680 g) tomato sauce

6 ounces (170 g) tomato paste

1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice

1/2 cup (110 g) packed brown sugar

1/4 cup (80 g) grape jelly

2 tablespoons (12 g) ground chipotle powder

In a stock pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil on medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until translucent and fragrant, and just beginning to brown. Add in remaining ingredients and stir. Bring to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and serve as you would any barbecue sauce. If not using right away, place in an airtight container and store in the fridge. Will last about a week in the fridge, or freeze for later use.

Yield: About 4 cups (940 ml)

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Daiya Vegan Shredded Cheese!

Okay, Okay. I took all of your advice and decided to give Tofurkey Deli Style Slices a try. This grilled sammy features the "Hickory Smoked" flavor (pretty good!), some Vegenaise, and...

...DAIYA Shredded Cheese!

Maybe you've heard of the stuff? Southern California Whole Foods Markets have rolled this out as an ingredient on their vegan pizzas. The product was so successful that the Specialty department (cheese and wine) decided to start selling it by the pound. My little Whole Foods in Laguna Beach doesn't have a pizza kitchen, so I was excited to get to buy it to try out on my own. It retails for $9.99 per pound around here, and I got a pretty decent amount for about $5. I bought both the white (Italian Style) and the yellow (Cheddar Style) and honestly, I couldn't really tell the difference between the two taste wise, but, guess what? IT MELTS AND STRETCHES!!! And it tastes pretty good to boot.

If you are wondering, on the side there, is a pasta salad, thrown together with some Vegenaise, Sri Racha hot sauce, green onions, pimiento, some of the white Daiya, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.

These fake meats might just be okay

Admittedly, I have never bought a package of Yves, Tofurkey (or any other brand for that matter) deli style fake meat slices. After my trip to Portland, having seen them on many menus, and still never giving them a try, I thought to myself, "Why not?" Afterall, it's been in the triple digits here, and cooking just didn't seem like a chore I wanted to deal with. So, I bought a package of Yves "Salami" style slices, as well as a package of Yves "Roasted Turkey" style slices. With a trusty jar of Vegenaise, a few leaves of cold, crispy iceberg lettuce, some Bubbies garlic pickles, an avocado, and some molasses sweetened wheat bread, I created a sammy that was quite delicious. I can't say that these fakies tasted like the real thing, and that's certainly okay with me, but the fact that there was something other than veggies on my sandwich made me a happy girl!

Road Trip (Part 2)

I don't even know where to begin...Sitting here in Southern California, my mind keeps wandering. "Why can't I go get a Hemp Milk Latte and Bagel with Bacun Scallion Schmear from Sweetpea this morning?"

I do apologize for the lack of photos I took on this trip. I was so overwhelmed with deliciousness, that grabbing my camera was the last thing on my mind! I have provided links, when available, to the places I visited, and most of their websites have photos or descriptions of the food.

The Lowdown on My Vegan Eats in Portland:

Sweetpea Baking Company
Other than a couple of detours to Junior's and Wild Abandon for breakfast, I spent most of my mornings, and some afternoons at Sweetpea. The Everything Bagels were some of the best bagels I've ever had, so soft and chewy and fresh, just as a perfect bagel should be. The Lattes were also perfect, and being a barista myself, that is a huge compliment to Aaron, who made the majority of my coffee drinks. Perfect foam, perfect creaminess factor, and his suggestion that I do half rice milk and half hemp milk, was a winning one. I also had a Raspberry Linzer which was fantastic. Saturday mornings are reserved for fresh raised yeast doughnuts. We got there just as they were placing fresh glazed, chocolate and chico-stick, and custard filled doughnuts into the bakery case. Mmmm. Doughnuts. Warm and fresh, and light and sweet. John and Katie (and the others that I am sure helped to make the doughnuts) knocked these ones right out of the ballpark. They really hit the spot, as it was our last taste of Portland before we hit the road to head home. Celine and I picked up 4 premade sandwiches and 2 pizza rolls for our drive home as well. Unfortunately, they got really soggy in the cooler, so I don't feel as though I can give them a fair review. Although I can say that $4.50 for a vegan deli sandwich is a great price. I'll try again next time. Aside from the food, Sweetpea also offers a friendly atmosphere where you can sit and enjoy a coffee, all the while, the bakers and baristas will come and take their breaks alongside you and chat about whatever is on their minds. Like a vegan Cheers, where everyone knows your name.

Junior's Cafe
Junior's is a greasy spoon diner that I have to visit each time I visit Portland. Not a vegan joint, per se, it does have a decent selection of vegan options for breakfast. I really appreciate the decor in this place as it reminds me of a lot of the dive cafes here in Southern California that I so adore. This time around I ordered a big ol' plate of breakfast potatoes (the exact name of the dish escapes me at the moment), with added vegan sausage, topped with spicy tofu sauce. Killer. I added extra hot sauce and I was in breakfast potato heaven. My coffee cup was always full, and the waitress was friendly and courteous. The prices are very fair, and as I said before, the atmosphere is very laid back.

Wild Abandon
This dark cavernous joint boasted velvet-esque wallpaper and arms sticking out of the wall to hold up the curtains. LOVE IT! There is a large outside dining patio for those who prefer dining al fresco, but I am the kind of person who really likes to sit inside when I am eating hot food. A sandwich and salad is nice outside, but hot breakfast? Inside for me, thanks. This place really has the vibe of a bar, more than a restaraunt, but alas, no bar in sight. It was really comfortable, and the vegan selection was big enough so that our entire table could order something different. I ordered "The Ox" A burrito with vegetables, garlic, baked tofu, black beans, and potatoes. Topped with salsa, guacamole, and cilantro. $8 Add vegan sausage $11. I added the sausage. Very good. Very big. Very, very, big!

Vita Cafe
On my first trip to Portland I visited this restaurant, and was eager to come back. Since my last visit, the cafe has relocated accross the street, but they brought along their plywood booths, which I find adorable. The new locale is much fancier than the old one, but the menu seemed the same. I opted for a green side salad with vegan ranch, a big bowl of Mac'n'Cheese with broccoli, and a large basket of seasoned fries for the table to share. The food was good, and the atmosphere nice. The waitress was very patient and friendly, seeing as we stayed way past closing time without even realizing it, and she didn't say a word.

Proper Eats
Probably one of my favorite meals on our entire trip. Proper Eats is a natural foods market and cafe in the St. Johns district of Portland. There were 6 of us, Celine, myself, June, Kurt, Amy and Tim, and we were seated at a very large table in the dark and comfortable dining room.



I ordered a Tempeh Reuben, $8, Marinated tempeh, baked and served on Dave’s Rye bread with caramelized onions, local kraut and a vegan reuben sauce. Served with a small salad. It was so good. The kraut was my favorite part. It was crunchy, not soggy, and tart without being too vinegar-y. So good that I actually took a picture!



Hungry Tiger Too
I cannot say enough about this place. Is it a bar? Is it a restaraunt? It's both. It's dark and grungy like a bar should be. It has outside dining in the front for those who want to sit in a quieter area, or even bring along the kids (before 7pm.) There is a huge patio in the back, and the inside is quite large as well. On Wednesday nights they have $1 Corndogs and PBRs. What? $1 vegan corndogs? I was so on it. I love loud bars and crazy crowds, but if that type of scene isn't up your alley, I suggest you don't come here on Wednesday nights. The poor waitress was a bit overwhelmed by our table of 10 crammed into a table for 4! Bless her heart, she got all of our orders right. Because, not only do they serve corndogs, but they have an entire vegan menu. I noshed my little heart out on a veggie burger known as the "BellyRocker" alongside some coleslaw and, of course, a corndog. Everything was great, but what stood out especially was the focaccia bread used instead of buns on the burger. Very gourmet for bar food. One other thing...I feared I had lost my wallet in this place, and it was turned in by some lovely girl. It had over $200 in cash, my ID and CC's in it. Thank you whoever you are. You are proof that good people still exist in this world, or at least in Portland! Click HERE for a post containing another review and lots of pictures of the food!

Bye and Bye
A completely vegan bar? No wonder this place is always packed. There was a PPK meet up on Thursday night. Such fun. We opted to sit in the back patio, as the weather was hot, and the patio was shaded. Joanna suggested I have a Bye and Bye, the bar's signature drink. It was served up in a huge mason Jar. It's ingredients are unbeknownst to me, but I hear there's whiskey and peach vodka in there. Along with possibly some cranberry and lemon, it tasted like a pink lemonade. Very tasty and refreshing on a hot summer evening!



One Bye and Bye became two, and two became three. Uh oh, better order something to eat! I had heard great things about the brussel sprout bowl, but alas they had run out of brussel sprouts! If that doesn't say something about Portlanders, when a BAR runs out of brussel sprouts! So, I opted for a grilled cheese with avocado and tomato. Totally hit the spot. This place is the quintessential vegan hang out. If I lived up here, I would definitely make sure I lived in NE, within walking distance of this place.

Dove Vivi
The first place we hit up when we got into town. There are 2 vegan pizza options, and they both are served up on an amazing cornmeal crust. (It is now the mission of Celine and I to recreate this crust!) We ordered up the Della Salute AND the Corn Cashew and added the optional Herbed Tofu Ricotta. EXCELLENT! Between the 4 of us, there were only 2 pieces left. Good Pizza with a nice atmosphere to boot.

People and Places I visited (other than Restaurants):

June and Kurt
Our wonderful hosts for the week.



Am I lucky or what? Although I can honestly say, I would never move to Portland, (I like living in the country too much, and Portland is just a tad too busy for my tastes) having a vegan sister, who happens to be engaged to a vegan, makes my visiting Portland so easy. They already know the coolest places to eat, and are able to make suggestions on what to order. I really love my sister, and Kurt, I love you too!

Food Fight Grocery
Located in the Vegan Mini Mall, this little market offers up what many refer to as vegan junk food. I think of this place like a vegan 7-11. A lot of stuff in a tiny store. I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I can get my hands on most of the stuff available here, so I stuck to buying locally made products that I can't get at home, along with some vegan propaganda.

Herbivore
Any self respecting vegan owns at least one Herbivore t-shirt. Also located in the vegan mini mall, this awesome store sports clothing, accessories, books, and yes, more vegan propaganda. I picked up the most adorable Cowhugger wallet (and I am convinced that it was the fact that it was an Herbivore wallet, that someone returned it to me at the Tiger) some postcards, and some buttons. I already have a few shirts and patches and hats that I've purchased from the online store. Go buy yourself something.

The Meadow
This little store on Mississippi Street is a culinary dream. Hundreds of types of high quality finishing salts! I picked up 7 different varieties, but I am sure I will be visiting their website for more soon.

The Parlour
If you know me, you know I hate to do anything with my hair. I hate to brush it, I hate to wash it, I hate to style it. My last haircut was almost a year ago, and I only did that because I didn't feel like washing it myself. So I wandered into a small salon and asked for a cheap shampoo and trim. Celine and I were scheduled to do a filming for Everyday Dish TV on Thursday, so we figured we may as well schedule a hair appointment so we'd look fab for the taping. June recommended Jamie, at the Parlour. She was super accommodating and gave us both the best haircuts we had ever had. It is a vegan salon, and sits on a cute corner, which apears to have been an automotive center converted into a pizza parlor, the salon, and a massage therapy studio. The ambience is fantastic, and with the garage door opened up, the fresh air breeze is a nice change from the traditional chemical smell of a salon. Upstairs is a tattoo parlor, below is the hair salon.

Other Vegans
Julie, Jay, Amy (Thanks so much for the Cherry Jam, I can't wait to eat it all up!) , Tim, John, Jamie, Jess, Kris (Thanks a million for the adorable buttons!), Joanna, Aaron, Katie, Ollie and the rest of you that I met and can't remember right this minute, thanks for making us feel welcome. I can't wait to find you all on facebook and twitter so we can keep in touch!

And a special thanks to miss Celine Steen for being an amazing travel partner, and, of course, good friend!

Road Trip (Part 1)

Woo-Hoo! Celine and I have made it to Portland! I can't wait to meet all of you people in real life!


I forgot my camera cord, so you will have to wait until I get home to post the pictures, SORRY!


We were in San Francisco, Saturday night, where we had an early dinner (Celine had a hefty sandwich, while I treated myself to a Shawarma Wrap) at Herbivore, where we had the opportunity to briefly meet up with Melisser of Urban Housewife, and then hopped on the bus to get ice cream at Maggie Mudd (Um, can you say over 10 vegan varieties to choose from?) Sunday Morning we had breakfast at Herbivore (it was right next to our hotel!) and headed over to Jordan's to pick up our freshly made dozen of glazed raised Donuts!!!


Then it was on the road again. We drove up the coast, and made it to Eureka by sundown. We walked to the Lost Coast Brewery, where we noshed on tofu burgers, fries, and tangerine beer, before conking out for the night. We headed off early in the morning, and stopped in Arcata for breakfast at the Wildflower Cafe. A very pretty and friendly hippie chick was more than happy to serve us our french toast and blueberry pancakes with a smile.


We finally arrived in Portland to our gracious hosts, Kurt and June, who whisked us away to Dove Vivi for some much needed and very delicious vegan pizza. We ordered both kinds, and between the 4 of us, finished all but 2 pieces!


I have a feeling our bellies will be very happy over the next four days! I can't wait to meet up with you guys on Thursday night, at after we finish filming with Julie Hasson for Everyday Dish.


More to come...hopefully with Pictures