Guacamole

I had some awful guacamole the other day and it put me in the mood to make some that was edible. I absolutely HATE when avocado is pureed. That is the nastiest texture in the world.

So, here is my guacamole:




Recipe is posted here.

Scrambled tofu and Cinnamon rolls!

Two things!
Scrambled tofu, kinda, and cinnamon rolls.



I've made scrambled tofu enough times that I don't really need to consult the book anymore, and I can just make up crap as I go. Halfway, it took a veggie+tofu fajitas turn rather than a breakfast scramble.

Included:
1 tbsp oil
1 onion
1/2 HUGE carrot
Cumin, to taste
Garlic powder (I ran out of fresh garlic!)
Sea salt (feel free to leave this out, since soy sauce is already being added)
Paprika, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Chili powder, to taste
1 tub of extra firm tofu
1 green pepper
Soy sauce, to taste
1 zucchini
1 yellow squash
1 tomato

Aaaaaaaand....!



This was my first time making cinnamon rolls. I used this recipe:
Cinnamon Rolls!

I ran into a few problems with the recipe. I had to add more water because the dough got waaaay too dry and wouldn't pick up any more flour. Other than that, it was delicious!
For the frosting, I used the recipe in The Joy Of Vegan Baking.

YUM!

Neglected blog!

I have a chocolate cake to post, but I don't have my camera with me! So for now, because I feel like this blog is too neglected, I will say this:

Zunzi's has been added to the list of delicious vegan friendly-ness in Savannah.

www.zunzis.com

Any vegans in Savannah (all one of me), check that place ouuuuuut. Most delicious vegetable wrap ever. Not the typical abomination passed off as a grilled veggie sandwich and/or wrap that we usually get at regular restaurants! It was actually EDIBLE. This was due to the fact that it was actually treated like real food by its creators. I'm really looking forward to trying more of the many options they had, and I can't believe I had never been there before!

Taco night

This was really an excuse to make guacamole, the food of the gods.
While at the store I saw this meat analogue taco filling by Fantastic Foods. Now I know this is heresy but I really like their falafel mix. So I decided to try the taco filler.
I'm not too too crazy about fake meats unless they're not trying to taste like meat, so I wasn't insanely in love with it, but it was pretty good. Of course guacamole made it better. It was simple to make really, just add water and heat the stuff in a pot. The tortilla in this picture is kinda crunchy cause it was the first one. The first one is always crappy! Anyway, the tortilla recipe is in my previous post.

Use whatever filing you want. I just put in lettuce, tomato guacamole and light onion.

As for the guacamole, I like it simple.

2 avocados
Juice of 1/2 lime (though honestly I put in more, I love lime)
tomato (I eyeball it)
onion (I only put in light onion, I don't like too many onion chunks. I also slice them very thinly)
Sea salt to taste
Pepper to taste



I say again, stay away from store bought tortillas and make your own! It will transform your tacos from highly mediocre at best all the way to heaven on your plate.

Tortillas

Something you don't get in the more northern regions. And yes, I consider Georgia the North. :P

Real flour tortillas.
Where I am from, they are the freaking lifeblood.

I refuse to buy store brands. They all taste so unbelievably gross to me. No matter how many of them say "authentic" I know it's a lie! If you don't believe me, look at the ingredients. What is up with all that weird crap in there!?!?

I can't help it, the standard was set when I was a baby.
It's one of the things I remember most about my grandmother Mama Go. I remember sitting in my highchair (I have a good memory!) watching her make fresh tortillas and empanadas filled with jelly or pumpkin. I also remember her spreading butter, sugar and brown sugar on a warm flour tortilla, rolling it up and feeding in to me. Yikes, not the greatest thing to feed a kid I guess. Seriously though, ya'll should try that sometime, it's really good. >_>

Ok so here's the deal, people. Don't buy into that store bought crap anymore! Real, delicious tortillas are easy to make. You already have all the ingredients!
Traditional recipes use lard, but seriously, that is gross. Nobody should eat that. Vegetable shortening or canola oil does just fine. Most people are moving away from lard anyway because is more expensive... and gross.

You need:

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup shortening or canola oil
2-3 tablespoons vegan margarine, melted
3/4 cups hot water
Clean hands!

Mix the flour and salt.
Add the oil/shortening and butter and mix. It should be a crumbly mix if you're using shortening.
Next, add the water.

Knead it until mixed, but don't over work it!
Once it's a nice, smooth ball of dough, cover it and let it rest for about an hour. If you are extremely impatient, you can cut this time, but it is better to let it rest!
When the hour of intense waiting is over, roll the dough into 14 or so balls.
Cover them with a moist towel and set them for 10 minutes. You can take this time to prepare your surface and lightly flour it!
Get out your rolling pin, or whatever you plan on using to roll out your dough. Roll them very thin. Maybe like 7-8 inches wide?

Heat your skillet to medium heat.
Heating time will vary, but more or less, heat on each side for 1 min. When you see it bubble, it is time to flip!

Now, I recommend a tortilla warmer. Really. It keeps the tortillas warm and prevents them from hardening up. If you don't have one, use a towel.

There!

There is no excuse for shitty tortillas, people! It's a crime!

Mac and "cheese" and ice cream!

I maintain that mac and cheese looks gross in photos. Or maybe just the way I photograph it. Here is one anyway.

I used this recipe:
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=21718.0

However, my favorite is still this one.

Also, It's soooo hot here! We had one day of spring before it was just pummeled by an over enthusiastic summer.
Naturally, ice cream is in order.




This recipe I know by heart!
1 can coconut milk
1 cup soy or almond (or hazelnut, or hemp or......!) milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup of whatever fresh fruit you want.

In this case, strawberries!
Put it in the blender, then pour it in your ice cream maker.

I blend it really well because I am a picky eater and don't like mushy chunks, no matter how small, and I also don't like seeds. As long as there aren't any chunks though, I can deal with the seeds.
The best strawberry ice cream I have ever had. Fresh tasting and no gross chunks! Yaaay.

It takes a lot to get ‘em right...

I neglect blogs! It's a fact of life!

I've been posting on my art blog alot more. The truth is, I sometimes take pictures of the stuff I make with the intentions of posting them, but I never do! Aaaugh! I'll be better.