Roasted Red Pepper Mac & Cheese

20 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

Tags

cashew cream, cheese, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, mac and cheese, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan mac and cheese, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Mmm*Mac & Cheese! Everybody loves it. It seems everyone I talk to says, “Yeah, I could not be a vegan because I would miss cheese too much!” Let me be the first to say I thought the same thing! I loved eating cheese. I had cheese with every meal. Cheese was a meal. Mac & Cheese was my favorite meal to eat when it was cold outside. My mother would always make me homemade cheese sauce over spaghetti noodles. I would request it every morning and it was my absolute favorite breakfast. Vegan cheese recipes can be super simple simulations of ooey-gooey cheese.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup raw cashews (soaked) ($0.95)
2 tsp. olive oil ($0.01)
1 onion, diced ($0.18)
2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.38)
2 cups vegetable broth ($0.65)
1 1/2 tbsp. corn starch ($0.05)
1 1/2 tbsp. nutritional yeast ($0.18)
1 roasted red pepper ($0.45)
1 tbsp. tomato paste ($0.12)
1 tsp. salt ($0.01)
1 tsp. ground mustard ($0.03)
1/2 tsp. turmeric ($0.03)
1 box of pasta ($0.99)

Preparation:

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Sauté the onions in olive oil until they become translucent. It should not take more than 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté 30 seconds. You do not want to overcook the garlic and lose the flavor. Add this mixture to a blender or food processor. Add the drained cashews, vegetable broth, corn starch, nutritional yeast, red pepper, tomato paste, salt, ground mustard, and turmeric. Blend until smooth. Smoothness is important. If you have read my previous blogs involving cashews, you will understand that it is very important to have a smooth sauce. The texture is gritty, rough, and crunchy. Transfer the sauce to the pan used to sauté the onions. Heat on medium-low for 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Once thick, add the pasta until the whole mixture is warmed through. SERVE and MUNCH!

Sautéing the garlic for only 30 seconds will keep the flavor
of the garlic at the optimal level

At first it was weird to add hot onions and garlic to a blender
but the flavors of these are key to creating a cheesy flavor!

The sauce will slowly thicken. KEEP STIRRING!
The first time I made this, I slightly burned the bottom
of the cheese sauce; it burns very easily so keep stirring

I used Lumaconi pasta instead of shell pasta or macaroni
because they look way cooler and they were
significantly less expensive at Aldi

There you have it. Delicious mac and cheese!

Since it has been so long since I have had actual dairy cheese, the vegan mind will almost forget what actual cheese tastes like and this faux cheese will totally satisfy all of your cheese cravings! I will challenge any cheese-eater to try this cheese sauce and tell me that it does not imitate mac and cheese extremely closely. I am still working on a few more cheese blogs so get hype! I hope to publish them very soon! For now, enjoy this delightful take on the American staple using cashews instead of dairy!

This is a modification of Isa Chandra’s Pizza Mac & Cheese recipe from Post Punk Kitchen. I love her work and she is the most exceptional vegan chef! Check out her blog at the Post Punk Kitchen!

Drink More Wassail

04 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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apple cider, England, happy new year, holidays, New Year, vegan, veganism, Wassail

Even though holidays are officially over, the holiday spirit does not have to be! Celebrate the New Year with Wassail, a traditional hot mulled cider drank during the holidays to ensure a good harvest and promote happiness. Read more about it later. Here is a great Wassail recipe:

Ingredients:

8 cinnamon sticks
14 whole cloves
2 quarts apple cider
2 cups orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
dash of cinnamon powder
dash of nutmeg powder

Preparation:

In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and continue to simmer for at least one hour, depending on how flavorful you want it. Keeping the wassail simmering will intensify the cinnamon and clove in the drink.

Enjoy this wonderfully wintery, warm wassail!

Happy Holidays!

Did you know?

Ever heard the holiday song, “Here we come a-wassailing”? If not, familiarize yourself with the culture of olde England and click here. Traditionally, there were two types of wassailing. The first, House-Visiting wassail, was a group of carolers traveling door to door singing songs of joy and prosperity. The second, Orchard-Visiting wassail, was a group of people visiting orchards to recite incantations and sing to the trees for a good harvest season. Wassail was consumed during both events. Some examples of songs they would sing are:

“Wassaile the trees, that they may beare / You many a Plum and many a Peare: / For more or lesse fruits they will bring, / As you do give them Wassailing.”

“Here’s to thee, old apple tree, That blooms well, bears well. Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, An’ all under one tree. Hurrah! Hurrah!”

“Apple tree, apple tree, we all come to wassail thee, Bear this year and next year to bloom and to blow, Hat fulls, cap fulls, three cornered sack fills, Hip, Hip, Hip, hurrah, Holler biys, holler hurrah.”

May this New Year bring success and happiness!

Black Eyed Pea Hummus, Happy New Year!

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Black-eyed pea, black-eyed pea hummus, Garlic, happy new year, hummus, New Year Day, new year's, Tahini, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Happy New Year! As is tradition, black-eyed peas are served to bring good fortune, prosperity, and all those nice things we like say we are going to resolve to do but never make it through the whole year. Pork products are usually used to garnish or marinate, but seeing as this is a vegan blog, I thought it best to refrain from the meat and meat substitutes. Try this awesome hummus made from black eyed peas instead of chick peas!

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked black-eyed peas ($0.46)
4 tsp. minced garlic ($0.32)
6 tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice ($0.12)
2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
4 tbsp. tahini ($0.95)

Preparation:

Soak the black-eyed peas for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Drain and place them in a large sauce pot filled with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 90 minutes. Drain them thoroughly. Add them to a blender or food processor. Add the garlic, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and tahini and blend until very smooth. Once it is smooth, blend it again until it is very, very smooth. The hummus should be very smooth. Place in a serving bowl and garnish paprika and a drizzle of olive oil. You can use canned black-eyed peas for quicker preparation. I made a salad to go with the hummus. Baby spinach leaves, diced yellow peppers, and chunks of Daiya havarti cheese with an aged balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Save the water from draining the beans
It can be used as a broth or a base for a soup or stew!
It contains some leftover nutrition from boiling the beans

I got new adjustable measuring spoons for christmas!
They are a great, space saving tool for my tiny 500 sq-ft apartment

An easy way to prevent lemon seeds from getting into your food
is to slice a lemon and hold it up to the light
You can use a knife to poke the seeds out

Tahini is the heart behind hummus
It gives it the creamy texture and smooth flavor
It also combines nicely with other flavors like garlic

Blend all ingredients until very smooth
THE HUMMUS SHOULD BE SMOOTH

The olive oil will keep the top from getting too dry and crusty

The sweetness of the yellow peppers contrasts nicely
with the tartness of the vinaigrette and sharpness of the havarti cheese

I hope the New Year is filled with joy and success and plenty of great vegan meals!

New England "Clam" Chowder

29 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Atlantic Ocean, Clam, Clam chowder, cooking, New England, new england clam chowder, post punk kitchen, vegan, vegan clam chowder, vegan cooking, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarian clam chowder, vegetarianism

This blog post has been a long time coming. I made this for the first time back in October and am just now posting it. Why? Procrastination. It’s a bitch. Anyway, I am here to present to you…Vegan Clam Chowder! Another incredible recipe from the Post Punk Kitchen, Isa nails it! She calls hers the New England Glam Chowder, which is super fitting for her post punk theme. The first time I made it, I let it simmer for too long and it turned out super thick but still delicious. The second time, it was the proper consistency and tasted EXACTLY like clam chowder. Like, for real. The salt and brine of the Atlantic Ocean was in every spoonful. YET NO ANIMAL CRUELTY!!

Ingredients:

1 cup cashews (soaked min. 2 hours) $2.12
2 cups vegetable broth $0.24
4 tsp. corn starch $0.05
1 tbsp. olive oil –
1 large yellow onion, diced $0.19
3 carrots, peeled and chopped $0.12
3 stalks of celery, chopped $.012
4 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced $0.99
8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced $0.99
2 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped $0.32
1 tsp. salt –
2 nori sheets, finely chopped $0.75
3 cups vegetable broth $0.36
2 tbsp. tomato paste $0.24
2 tbsp. lemon juice $0.12

Preparation:

Saute the carrots and onions in a large soup pot in olive oil until tender. Add the mushrooms and celery. Cook until tender, but do not overcook; the mushrooms take the place of the clam parts so it is best if they are still a bit chewy. Add the potatoes, nori, salt, and 3 cups vegetable broth and cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Drain the cashews and add to a blender. Add 2 cups of vegetable broth and corn starch. Blend until smooth. This may take a little time; the sauce must be very smooth or the soup will have tiny little cashew pieces and taste gritty. Slowly add the cashew cream sauce and gently simmer for about 7 minutes; it should start to thicken. When it has reached desired consistency, add the tomato paste and lemon juice. It is now ready to swerve! I mean, serve. Garnish with crumbled saltine crackers for a nice little crunch!

There is a lot of chopping going on in this recipe
A food processor will ease your wrist and the prep time

Soaked cashews are the secret ingredient
When soaked and blended, they add a creaminess to any recipe

You can use this base recipe for cashew cream
in the place of dairy for soups, sauces, and more!

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS. I only took the lid off
and took a picture because I wanted to reiterate
how important it is for the cream to be SMOOTH
The extra time in the blender will yield a nice, creamy sauce

Using a large soup pot to sauté things will save you extra dishes to wash

The celery adds a nice, earthy flavor to the chowder and the
mushrooms imitate the clamminess of actual clams

This blend of sautéed veggies will make your kitchen smell great
I like to add extra salt at this point so it soaks into the veggies

Chop the potatoes into ¼” cubes so they soften
easily without turning into mush
Too large and they will be crunchy; too small and mush

The nori will add the taste of the sea!
If you are prone to a more mild flavor, leave the nori out or
only add half of a sheet

This is also a great vegetable soup recipe. Stop here and leave out
the cashew cream and this soup still tastes incredible!

The tomato paste will bind all of the flavors together and
adds a deep, richness to the broth

This time I simmered for too long and everything got overcooked
It still turned out great; it was more like a thick stew
The potatoes were mush and the mushrooms lost their chewiness

This time was perfect! An incredible recipe for all occasions!

I like to make big batches and store them for through out the week
If your blender is big enough, you can make both batches of
the cashew cream at once; if not, make two separate batches
I learned the hard way and had an overflowing stream of
cashew cream mess to clean up

There you have it. Vegan Clam Chowder. I have a sneaking suspicion that if this were to be served to an omnivore, they would not be able to tell it was vegan! It is that convincing. Make it for your friends and try to deceive them!!

Popcorn

19 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Chili powder, food, Garlic powder, healthy living, nutritional yeast, Onion powder, Popcorn, Sea salt, vegan, vegan snack, Yummly

“Popcorn?”, you may say. Yes. I am indeed writing a blog post about how to make stovetop popcorn! Why? Because most people do not know how! Thanks to my dad and our movie nights growing up, I have always known how to use a pan, some oil, and the stove to pop up some of the most delicious corn you have ever tasted in your life. “But I can just go to the store and get a microwavable bag! It is much easier!”, you may say. No. Surprisingly, it is literally the same amount of time and effort to pop your own popcorn than it is to buy the overpriced, mostly non-vegan, store-bought bags.

Ingredients:

⅓ cup popcorn kernels
2 tbsp. oil of your choice

Here’s what you do:

Heat the oil on medium heat with 3 kernels, covered. Why 3? I have zero idea. Just do it. When the first kernel pops, pour the rest of the kernels in and place the lid on again. Swirl the pan around the stove to keep the kernels and oil moving to prevent them sticking to the bottom of the pot. The popcorn will pop. And pop. And pop. Wait one minute and remove from heat. Trust me. You want all of the popping to be stopped. If a single kernel pops when you have the lid off most of the fluffy, light, airy popcorn will be strewn across your kitchen floor. Now you can take the lid off of the pot and serve with your favorite topping! Just plain old salt is amazing on it. Nutritional yeast also makes a great, savory, cheesy flavor. Why does this work? Huh. All I know is the concept behind this method is that when a random 3 kernels are heated and one of the kernels pops, the oil is at the perfect temperature and the popcorn will not turn out overcooked or burnt.

Ever get tired of plain, salted, or buttery popcorn? The nutritional yeast from earlier is a miracle worker. Not only does it contain essential minerals and protein, it tastes like cheesy popcorn! I would place the flavor very close to cheddar.

Here are a few interesting toppings for your popcorn to keep things from getting boring.

Ranch Style

¼ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. dried dill weed
⅛ tsp. garlic powder
⅛ tsp. sea salt
⅛ tsp. black pepper
⅛ tsp. vegetable oil

Mix this all together for a garden fresh, salty snack!

Sweet Chili

3 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar
½ cinnamon powder
1 tbsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. cayenne powder
1½ tbsp. paprika

Mix this all together for a kick-in-the-mouth sweet and savory flavor!

Here is a link to so many great vegan popcorn toppings from Yummly.

This is my favorite combination for a topping
Buttery, salty goodness!

Three. Juuuuuuust three

Be sure to cover it, obviously, or there will be a poppy mess

Srsly tho. Make your own popcorn! Save all the money!

Pop! POP! pOp! PoP! pOP! POp!

Potato Latkes with Cranberry Applesauce

09 Monday Dec 2013

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applesauce, Chanukkah, Christmas, cranberries, Hanukkah, healthy living, latke, Potato, Potato pancake, Thanksgiving, Thanksgivukkah, vegan, vegan cooking, vegetarian

Just in time to miss Thanksgivukkah, these latkes are still crunchily delicious! I had intended to get this recipe out before Thanksgiving, but the holiday season is like the riptide currents in the Pacific Ocean; I was being torn every which way and had zero time to post any blogs. Now that life is seeming to calm before the storm of Christmas, I hope to regularly post to the blog again.

This cranberry applesauce is actually useful all fall! It combines traditional fall spices with the tartness of cranberries and green apples that can be served warm or chilled!

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh cranberries ($0.89)
½ tsp. ground cinnamon –
½ tsp. ground nutmeg –
¼ cup brown sugar ($0.23)
½ cup sweet red wine ($1.25)
4 green apples ($2.76)

Combine the cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and wine in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Core, peel, and slice the apples into bite sized chunks. Add the apples, cover, and simmer an additional 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool and SERVE!

Red wine brings out the subtle sweetness of the cranberries

I left the skins on the apples the first time but the final
consistency was a bit too chewy

Cook away! The lid is important to keep the steam
inside the pan so it does not dry out

Deliciously sweet and tart cranberry applesauce!

Fried potatoes are basically all you ever crave in life. These potato latkes take a small amount of extra preparation, but are ever so worth it!

Ingredients:

2 large onions, diced ($0.24)
1 unit egg replacer –
2 tbsp. whole wheat flour –
1¼ tsp. sea salt –
1 tsp. baking powder –
2 lbs. potatoes ($1.27)
Vegetable oil for frying ($0.98)

Grate the potatoes. Place them in the center of a thin cloth like a cheesecloth and wring out the liquid over a bowl. Dice the onions and add the potatoes and onions to a mixing bowl. Pour out the liquid from the potatoes until only the starch remains. Scrape the starch into the mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg replacement, flour, sea salt, and baking powder. Stir until fully incorporated. Add this mixture to the potatoes and onions. Stir well. Heat about 4 inches of oil to 375°F, or slightly above medium heat. Take a handfuls of the mixture and flatten them into 2 inch wide circles. Drop them in the oil with a slotted spatula 3 at a time. If you place too many in the oil, the temperature will drop and the latkes will not cook correctly. Fry until they are golden brown. Place aside to cool on a paper towel. Top with the cranberry applesauce and a dollop of vegan sour cream and you have an instant Thanksgivukkah feast!

A food processor with a grater attachment is
a much quicker way to grate them
I live in the stone age and hand grated all the potatoes

I also hand diced all the onions
If one of my lovely readers is ever so kind enough
to buy me a food processor I will dedicate a week of my time to
cook for them

This may be the hardest step in the recipe
Keep moving the potatoes around to get the most liquid out

Red skin potatoes will turn your cloth pink
JUST A FAIR WARINING: it does not come out

Eww…delicious starch!

The Batter
My proportions were wrong because I used EnerG egg replacer
If the mixture is too liquidy, add more flour and baking powder
LIQUIDY: (adj.) – the state of being more liquidy than desirable

I have said this before and I will say it again:
DO NOT LET THE CRISPIES THAT FLOAT AROUND
STAY IN THE PAN OR THEY WILL BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE!

What a nice hipster pic taken with ôggl by Hipstamatic
Jimmy lens with Blanko Noir film for those that care

Seriously though. Make these latkes even if Thanksgiving was last week and you still have 3 half-eaten casseroles in the fridge! It is definitely still fall until December 21st and definitely still the season for fall foods!

Happy Diwali! Eat some Sweets!

10 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Cashew, Dessert, Diwali, happy diwali, Hindu, Indian cuisine, Kaju Katli, lakshmi, vegan, vegan desserts

For those unfamiliar, Diwali is a five day Hindu celebration that occurs in late October or early November. This year, it fell on November 3rd, but I was incredibly busy and did not have time to write a post. I did, however, make a traditional Indian candy, usually eaten for Diwali. It is called Kaju Katli and it is one of the most delicious desserts have ever put in my mouth. I cannot compare it to any American sweets. It. Is. AMAZING! And only 5 ingredients. Here is what you do:

Crush 1 cup raw cashews into a fine powder. I used the flat blade of my Magic Bullet and it worked well. Add 1 tsp. corn starch after the cashews have been powderized and mix again.

Cashews are a delicious choice for this dessert
because they are soft and have a unique sweetness

The cashew powder should be pretty fine but some chunks
are acceptable and will add a nice crunch

The flat blade ensures the cashews will be thoroughly ground

Heat this dry mixture in a skillet on medium-low until it is warm.

Stir occasionally to heat evenly

Bring ¼ cup water to a boil and add ½ cup brown sugar and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon powder. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes. This should create a thick syrup. It is the most difficult step of this very simple recipe because if cooked for too long, it will be too thick and dry; if cooked for too little, it will not thicken and the end candy will be runny and wet.

Keep stirring during this step or the sugar will meld to the pan

Add the cashew powder and stir, stir, stir! It will almost instantly create a dough-like substance. Make sure all ingredients are fully incorporated. Scoop the mixture onto aluminum foil and allow to cool. I have found this is best served chilled in the refrigerator for an hour or so. Cut the candies into diamond shapes and serve!

I had to rush this picture because the cashew powder
immediately stats soaking up the syrup and it must
be stirred quickly

This candy is almost like a sweet nut butter with a hint of cinnamon

This recipe only makes one batch and only a few pieces, so double
or triple the quantities for a party sized batch

Kaju Katli is traditionally served in triangles and has roots
back in Indian culture

Did you know?

Diwali is known as the “festival of lights” and is a time of joy, giving, fellowship, and food. Marking the end of the harvest season, farmers celebrate the good fortune of their crops by making meals and feasting. Bringing in the new year, the goddess Lakshmi is worshiped for her symbolization of wealth, prosperity, and the fortune of another good year ahead. It is believed that on this day, the Lakshmi-panchayatan, or group of five deities, enters the universe. Each member is responsible for a different attribute.

Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities
Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
Kubera: Wealth (generosity; one who shares wealth)
Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
Gajendra: Carries the wealth
Saraswati: Knowledge

Another main focus of Diwali is spiritual enlightenment. Hindus strive for the “awareness of the inner light” and celebrate the victory of good over evil during this time of year. With higher knowledge, one may dispel ignorance, as ignorance masks the mind, body, and soul. Only with the realization of the infinite one may be enlightened.

Happy Diwali, Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Holidays!

Quick Baked Tempura

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Tags

Baking, Deep frying, tempura, vegan, vegan snack, vegan tempura, Whole-wheat flour

Fried food is just SOooOooO good! Right? Right. While fried food may taste divine, the oil and fat will not feel good after a few clogged arteries. This quick recipe will let you enjoy the amazingly crunch goodness of tempura without frying! Here is what you do:

Preheat the oven to 450°F
Slice some vegetables into bite sized pieces
Mix 1 tsp. corn starch, ¼ cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup unflavored, unsweetened almond milk
Mix 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. olive oil, ½ cup breadcrumbs in a separate bowl
Dip the veggies into the first bowl, then the second bowl and place on a baking sheet
Bake for 8 minutes, then flip them over and bake for an additional 8 minutes

These proportions are for a single serving, so try multiplying the measurements if you are serving food for 2 or more impoverished vegans. I love this recipe because the veggies still taste fried and crunchy and delicious without that heavy oil feeling burdening your stomach.

Try adding some garlic powder to the wet mixture
Any vegetable can use a little extra garlic kick!

Add 4 tbsp. beer to the wet mixture and 1 extra tsp. corn starch
if you are making mushrooms for Beer Battered ‘Shrooms!

Different sizes of rings will coat differently in the batter
Try to make sure the batter is fully covering the veggies

Pre-baked deliciousness

Post-baked DELECTABLENESS

Cut the oil and fat and bake your tempura! (I still deep fry occasionally…I just cannot resist it)

Green Bean Casserole

27 Sunday Oct 2013

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Casserole, french fried onions, Garlic, Green bean, Green bean casserole, peas, vegan, vegan casserole, vegan dinners, vegan gravy, veganism

Fall means chilly mornings with steaming hot coffee. Fall means blankets and pajamas and cuddling up watching scary movies. Fall also means warm, home cooked meals that warm the body and the soul. It is most definitely casserole season. I love casseroles; in fact, I could probably manage and run a blog solely dedicated to casserole recipes. For now, here is just a plain-old green bean casserole that is anything but plain-old tasting. Let’s go.

Ingredients:

2 cans of green beans ($0.98)
3 cloves of garlic, minced ($0.05)
5 large mushrooms ($0.16)
2 tbsp. (vegan) butter ($0.12)
4 tbsp. soy sauce ($0.02)
2 cup unsweet almond milk ($0.20)
6 tbsp. whole wheat flour ($0.02)
¼ cup french fried onions ($0.10)
2 tbsp. garlic powder ($0.08)

Seriously, this casserole costs $1.73 for two generous servings. During these cold nights, I dare you to resist making this casserole and curling up by the fire.

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mince the garlic and slice the mushrooms. Melt the butter in a saucepan with the soy sauce on medium. Sauté the mushrooms for a few minutes. Add the almond milk, garlic powder, and whole wheat flour. Stir until it thickens. This is basically vegan gravy. It is deliciously salty without the animal products! Open the green beans and add to the gravy mix, along with the minced garlic. Cook for 5 minutes. Add this mixture to an oven safe baking dish and add the fried onions on top. I am very generous with this step. The crispy fried onions will only meld with the casserole filling to create a savory crunch sensation when baked. Bake for 20 minutes or until crispy. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

I used button mushrooms but for a more chewy texture
use shiitake mushrooms

Earth Balance Buttery Spread in action again!
It is exactly like dairy butter, only VEGAN!

The soy sauce stands in for the chicken broth and
by adding the whole wheat flour, this mixture
thickens for a nice gravy

I have learned many things since starting this blog but my favorite
tip is probably: invest in stainless steel! It will endure the rough
and tough of everyday cooking while still looking fabulous!

Incorporating all of the ingredients, the sauce should thicken nicely
and the mixture should be warmed through

This recipe serves two impoverished vegans or
four portion-controlled adults

These are the secret ingredient in ANY casserole
Once baked, these french fried onions crete a tasty layer of
crunchy goodness that compliments the thick and creamy
casserole filling

Next time I am going to pour these crispy french fried onions into
the sautéing skillet right before I add it to the oven-safe
baking dish. This will double the amount of crispy goodness!

I added one can of peas to the mix for an earthy flavor

This basic recipe is very versatile. I have some asparagus I am dying to try in a casserole. Feel free to submit your own suggestions for casseroles or how you liked or hated this one!

BLT Mac & Cheeze

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by whatahipster in Uncategorized

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Tags

bacon, blt, cheese, eggplant bacon, isa chandra, mac and cheese, post punk kitchen, vegan, vegan bacon, vegan mac and cheese, veganism, vegetarian

While blog surfing for vegan mac and cheese recipes to satisfy my constant cheese cravings, I discovered the Post Punk Kitchen! Run by Isa Chandra, author or some of the most popular vegan cookbooks, PPK has amazing recipes, notes, and tips for a rookie chef like me. I decided to try some of her recipes out and MAN OH MAN! So… I do not really miss bacon; I never really enjoyed it as an omnivore. BUT EGGPLANT BACON! This is a must-try, not only because it is crazy delicious, but it is crazy inexpensive too!

Ingredients:

1 eggplant ($1.20)
¼ cup soy sauce ($0.07)
1 teaspoon liquid smoke ($0.03)
a drizzle of olive oil

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Slice the eggplant into ⅛ inch slices. Drizzle a baking sheet with olive oil so the eggplant does not stick. I have found this also makes the “bacon” a little crispier. Bake for 8 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Remove the pan and flip the slices. Remove the slices if they are starting to become dark brown. Cook for about 3 more minutes. Remove and let cool. Dip the eggplant in a mixture of the soy sauce and liquid smoke. Make sure they are evenly coated. Lower the oven down to 350°F. Bake the bacon again for about 4 more minutes, just to reheat and let the smokiness of the sauce absorb into the eggplant. Time to MUNCH!

Wrap your baking tray with aluminum foil for a quick clean up!

I bought a big eggplant so I chopped the head off and cut it
in half before I sliced it
Smaller eggplants just need to be sliced

Try to slice it super thin so it will become crispy when baked

I used varying sizes for variety

Arrange neatly with no overlap so they bake evenly

The secret ingredient is liquid smoke! What an
amazing flavor!
HINT: for gluten-free, use tamari sauce

Make sure the pieces are crispy before dipping into the sauce
or they will fall apart

VEGAN BACON DELICIOUSNESS

So that is the B part of the BLT. Isa suggests using arugula for the L because lettuce is just SO BORING! I agree. T for tomatoes and now it is time to make the cheeze sauce! I altered her recipe slightly, using less lemon juice because it was a little too citrusy for my liking.

Ingredients:

1 cup cashews (soaked) ($1.66)
1 cup vegetable broth ($0.70)
3 tbsp. nutritional yeast ($0.85)
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice ($0.15)
2 tsp. dijon mustard ($0.08)
1 medium clove of garlic ($0.26)
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Soak the cashews for at least 2 hours; I usually soak them overnight. Be sure to plan for the cashews expanding slightly; use plenty of water and completely submerge them. Drain the cashews and place all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Cook some pasta al dente and drain it. Add the cheeze mixture and pasta back into the same pot the pasta cooked in. Cook for an additional 3 minutes on medium heat until warmed through. Top with the eggplant bacon, arugula, and tomatoes for the tastiest mac and cheese recipe since Kraft EasyMac!

Cashews work well because they are a naturally soft nut
They give the cheeze a slight sweetness

I use a Magic Bullet Blender, so it took a little bit longer to blend
the ingredients until smooth

Make sure to use raw cashew pieces
Roasted cashews will not soak correctly

Due to the locking feature, I was able to take the lid off
while blending and take this picture
No mess was made but I do not endorse this behavior

While the water was boiling for the pasta
I sliced the tomatoes in half

Grape tomatoes work well for this recipe
They are already bite-sized and slightly sweeter
They also make the final product look pretty

I used brown rice penne pasta to avoid gluten

OH MY GAWD
This seriously has turned into one of my most favorite meals
Huge shoutout to Isa Chandra at the Post Punk Kitchen

So there you have it. If you are ever missing cheese and think you may not be able to make it another day without the delightful dairy product, make this recipe and all shall be well with the world.