A Busy Bear

This bear admits it...sometimes life gets busy and messy.   The one constant is, thankfully, the food.  This year kind of got out of control, but in a good way!  Here are a few food adventures that took place over the year.

 Sweet potato salad.

 Vegan pizza on a tortilla.

 Chili, which happens to be a fan favorite.

 Stuffed green peppers with pearl couscous.

 The Hungry Vegan Bear favorite-waffles and maple syrup.

 Taco salad.

 Kohlrabi salad.

Spicy pasta with vegan cheese.

Stuffed portobello's-made on the grill.

Broccoli & pasta with fresh herbs.

Mile High Pesto Veggie/Tofu Sandwich on Pizza Bread

A sandwich that fills the average bear!
 

Ingredients
The Hungry Vegan Bear's Pesto
Trader Joe's basil and herb pizza dough
3 slices of Trader Joe's baked tofu
olive oil
2 cloves of fresh garlic
2 slices of tomato
3 Crimean mushrooms
3 slices of red pepper
1 slice of yellow squash
handful of fresh spinach
sea salt
pepper

This recipe makes a half a sandwich, but after a very long day at work I found that this sandwich more than filled me up during dinner time.  And the best part is that it is quick, very quick, to make.

First make the pesto in a blender or food processor.

Pesto Ingredients 9 Trader Joe's basil stems (pluck off leaves)
1/2 c ground raw almonds
1 c olive oil
3 garlic cloves
1/2 c vegan Parmesan cheese

Next, take some of the dough, about a size of a racquetball, and flatten it a little bit.  Make sure your fry pan is heating for a bit at a higher temperature, but don't put it on high unless you want to burn the pizza dough on the outside and have it raw on the inside.  Place the dough in the heated pan and then flip when it becomes golden brown.  I cut the bread once it was out of the pan, but be very careful if you do this as the oil could burn you.  Then spread about a tablespoon of the pesto on each side of the bread. 

Cut and slice all of the veggies.  I heated all of the veggies in the fry pan with a bit of salt, pepper, and the two cloves of garlic.   The veggies cook very fast, so be on your feet!  The three slices of tofu I did not heat on the stove, but since everything else was hot it really didn't matter all that much. 

Serving size: 1 hungry vegan bear

Put A Ring On It-A Beer Battered Onion Ring

The Hungry Vegan Bear has finally crawled out of hibernation.  And the best way to wake up is by cooking for a whole slew of friends, which is exactly what she did for the 4th of July!

Batter Ingredients:
1/2 gallon canola oil
2 c unbleached flour
1 1/2 bottles of Corona
1/2 lg lemon
1/2 tsp baking powder
Lawry's seasoning
black pepper
cayenne pepper
sea salt
3 large yellow or white onions

Cut the onions about a centimeter wide.  I like a relatively thick onion ring, but if you prefer to slice the onion a bit thinner that is fine, too.  Next, begin the batter preparation by adding the flour, beer lemon, and other ingredients.  If you can find a lemon tree I highly suggest using a fresh from the tree lemon.  I was lucky enough to have a bag of California lemons given to me by a friend this past week whose grandmother has a tree, which provided a nice zesty taste to the breading.  I use about five to six shakes of the Lawry's seasoning.  Also, I find that adding spice to the breading is a nice contrast to the onion and shakes things up a bit, which is why I use both the black and cayenne pepper. 

Heat the oil on high until several small bubbles begin to form inside the stock pot (a cast iron pot would be best unless you have a deep fryer). 

Dust the raw onions with a bit of flour prior to dipping them into the batter.  Once the onion is coated drop gently into the heated oil.  The ring will begin to fry and float to the surface.  When the ring begins to turn a nice golden brown flip it over.  Make sure both sides of the ring are nice and gold and then place on a plate covered with a napkin (absorbs excess oil).   

Also, if you're not fond of canola oil there are plenty of other oils to chose from, but I like the light flavor of canola and it does not seem to make the rings too greasy. 

Once the rings have cooled, sprinkle a bit of sea salt over the rings and enjoy! And if you can't get enough lemon...add a bit more over the rings or to make it a bit more spicy sprinkle hot sauce on top.  Personally, I like to break out a bit of my bbq sauce as a nice dipping sauce on the side.

A Hungry Vegan Bear Thanksgiving!

There are a few spices and herbs that I find are an absolute must during Thanksgiving, such as, thyme, rosemary, and sage.  And I cannot live without cinnamon and nutmeg in a pumpkin pie, oh my!  The best part of Thanksgiving is not only the food on the table, but the enticing aroma’s, so don’t hold back when it comes to herbs and spices and, most importantly, have fun!

I like to do some preparation work the evening before, because our kitchen is modest in size.  Prepping the evening before also eliminates being overwhelmed on the holiday.  I plan to enjoy the day with friends instead of making myself crazy bouncing between the kitchen and grill.  I began the pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and the stuffing together the night before the big day.  Also, I’m a huge fan of marinating, so I threw the Portobello’s together and set them in the refrigerator overnight.

And, just in case one of my veggie dishes did not turn out, I had an alternative veggie dish waiting in the wings.  My advice during Thanksgiving, any holiday really, is don’t sweat it and ask for help, if you need it, after all this is what family and friends are there for and, in my opinion, Thanksgiving is not a spectator sport.

Portabella Mushrooms

3 cloves garlic

½ bottle Cabernet Sauvignon

Black pepper

Fresh rosemary

Fresh thyme

Dash of salt

Begin by cleaning up the mushrooms a bit with a dry paper towel and cut a little off the stems, if desired.  Set the mushrooms in a Tupperware container and pour the wine directly over the mushrooms, add the crushed garlic, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and salt to the mix.  Cover the container and refrigerate.  

Place the mushrooms on the grill and cook for about 10-15 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie

1 container firm silken tofu

25 oz pumpkin

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Dash of salt

3 Tbsp Flax seed (as egg replacement)

1 c brown sugar

2 Tbsp molasses

Begin by preparing the crust by crushing the crackers into tiny pieces.  I used a hammer to crush the crackers, but you can use a rolling pin or, if you're bored, your car.  Add the melted margarine to the crackers and if you think the mix is still a bit dry, add a smidgen more margarine.  Bake the crusts on 325 for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Once the crusts are done baking, set them on a cooling rack, and begin prepping the wet mixture for the pie.

I used a blender for this mix, because it makes the process go very quickly, which I absolutely adore.  Begin with the tofu and then proceed to add the rest of the ingredients.  I like a spicy pie and I have a tendency to add more cinnamon and nutmeg, because I can't quite help myself.

Makes 2 pies

Bake 30-40 minutes at 350

Graham Cracker Crust

Little less than 2 packages of graham crackers

¼ c margarine (until crackers are moist)

Stuffing

1 bag bread cubes
1 1/2 Tbsp margarine

Fresh sage

Fresh rosemary

Fresh Thyme

Black pepper

1 box of veggie broth

½ pack of soy sausage

2 c celery

½ medium red onion

Begin by emptying the bag of bread cubes into a large plastic bowl and set that to the side for a moment.  Next, take a large frying pan and drop in the margarine.  I use a higher setting on my stove top, not quite on high, but enough to make a nice sizzle when I begin to add in the celery, soy sausage, and onion.  Add in the fresh and dry spices.  Once the soy sausage, onion, and celery is golden brown, add in half the box of the veggie broth.  Then dump the heated mixture on top of the bread cubes.  The next step is entirely up to you, if you would like to heat the rest of the veggie broth, you may do so on the stove top, but I did not heat the rest of the broth and opted to dump the rest of the broth into the bowl. 

Finally, dump the contents into a deep cake pan and cover with foil.  Place the stuffing into the oven and cook at 375 for about 30-45 minutes.  Every so often stir the stuffing to ensure that it does not stick to the pan.

Cranberry Sauce with Apples

2 Gala apples

1 bag of cranberries

¾ c brown sugar

Bit of water to cover the base of the saucepan

I love cranberries, I love cranberries, because I can cook 100 other things in my kitchen while the sauce is cooking.  Begin by peeling the apples and cutting out the core.  Next, add a bit of water to the base of your saucepan and then slice and dice the apples into the pan.  Take the bag of cranberries and empty them into a strainer-wash the berries and look for any stems that might have made their way into the bag.  Then dump the clean cranberries into the sauce pan.  Stir the apples and berries together in the saucepan and then set the mix on the stove.  Cover the saucepan and set the temperature to high.  Then as the boiling process begins, drop the temperature down to low and add in the brown sugar.  A wonderful thing will occur as you are attending to a half dozen other things...the sauce will begin to go from a thin liquid to a nice thick sauce.  This year I decided to experiment a bit and use apples in the sauce instead of oranges.  The consensus at the end of our dinner was, "it's great, but the oranges are better."  Needless to say, if you're like me, and looking to branch out with your Thanksgiving menu then give this recipe a shot.

Saucy Apple Sauce

Trader Joe's Gala apples made great sauce!

I love the fall season.  The smell of apples cooking on the stove top or pumpkin pie sitting and cooling on a rack brings a smile to my face.  These simple pleasures not only warm the heart on a brisk November day, but it also warms the spirit...OH and it makes the house or apartment, in my case, smell delicious!

This evening I had a bag of apples sitting in my refrigerator that have been staring at me for the past week begging for me to use them.  I know, I should have just eaten them raw if it bothered me so much, but these were not the best apples to eat raw.  They were a bit flavorless and blah, so I decided my only option for these apples were to mash them into submission and make sauce.

When I visit my parent's home in the fall, I mentally cross my fingers that my mom will make apple sauce.  I don't know why or how, but she makes the best apple sauce I've ever had.  Every year I try to recreate her sauce, but it never quite comes out like her recipe.  I think this has something to do with the simple fact that it is made by my mother.  What I find most entertaining about her apple sauce is that it is not just a sauce, but a dessert. 

Below is my own creation that was tangy and delicious on a cool Culver City evening.
The Hungry Vegan Bear's Saucy Apple Sauce
2 lb. bag of Gala apples
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp Bourbon vanilla
2 tsp nutmeg
splash of water

Begin by peeling the apples and cutting out the core.  Next, slice and cut the apple into cubes.  I like the cubes because this allows for a thicker version while mashing.  I usually have a few larger lumps in my sauce, which I like because it feels more filling later on when I'm consuming a bowlful.  Add the cubed apples to a pan with a splash of water and set the heat on the stove top to about a medium heat.  At this point, I add in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.  Then cover the apples and let it simmer on the stove top until it comes to a boil.  Then uncover and begin to mash a few of the softer apples on the bottom of the pan.

I'm a firm believer in heat fluctuation, which means that I usually dip down the heat from the medium and then back up, if the apples or stove top is not cooperating.  Once I've done this a couple of times, I set the sauce on low, mashing and stirring, and allow the sauce to simmer. 

The preparation and cooking time is around 30 minutes.  Once the sauce is done, allow it to cool, and then serve with soy milk, whipped cream, or soy dessert.  Or, for you traditionalists out there, simply dish out a scoop or two into a bowl and serve.

It's Booberry Crumble!

This is part three in The Hungry Vegan Bear's Baking Series.

Sometimes The Hungry Vegan Bear needs a vacation, which is exactly what I did a few weeks ago.  I took a road trip up north with a pal from grad school.  We went to Portland, which, by the way, is an amazing city for vegans.  Every restaurant, cafe, and stand we visited accommodated my vegan needs, which is why I highly suggest this city for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores from all over the world.  (Well, this and their amazing art scene, biking, and hiking trails!)  And we managed to hit Twin Falls outside of Seattle, for a half day hike and West Seattle for an evening of tapas, Celtic music, and fun.

And what better way to relax after returning home from a vacation?  Cooking!  Below is my recipe for a blueberry crumble, which I have aptly renamed Booberry in honor of Halloween.

Tools
11x7 glass Pyrex dish
plastic spoon
strainer
mixing bowl

A close up of the crumble and berries prior to baking.

Booberry Crumble Ingredients
24 oz blueberries
3/4 flour
1 c. oats
1 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
couple dashes of cinnamon
1 Tbsp vegan margarine
2 Tbsp coconut milk
1 lime
1/2 c. sugar

Empty the blueberries into the strainer and wash them with cool water and set to the side.  Take the Pyrex dish and use a bit of vegan margarine on the pan to keep the berries and crumble from sticking to the pan.  Then dump the berries into the dish.  In a small mixing bowl, add the flour, oats, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, melted margarine, coconut milk, lime and sugar.  Mix the dry and wet contents together until a nice crumble occurs.  Take the crumble and dump on top of the blueberries.  I like to combine the mix with the berries instead of leaving it on top, but it's up to you if you like a crust on top of the berries or if you would rather integrate the crumble and berries.

Preheat oven to 350 and then bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

This crumble is great over vanilla soy or rice dessert.  But if you prefer, I highly recommend with a non-dairy whip after the crumble comes right out of the oven!

Gone Banana's...Bread, that is

This is part two in the series, Baking with The Hungry Vegan Bear.

What goes better with banana bread than a cup of coffee?

As the heat climbed up and up this morning, I found myself craving a cup and since my former flatmate, Linda, has left for the Santa Barbara region, and I now find myself as the sole coffee drinker in our flat, I was left to my own devices, which meant hiking over to Target to get a bag of Pete's.  As the coffee was brewing, I pulled out the maple syrup and coconut milk in preparation.  In my humble opinion, coffee is best with maple syrup especially when the other option is just boring sugar.  I mean, come on!  Pure 100% maple syrup is beyond addictive.  During the fall season I find myself adding it to my cup out of comfort and nostalgic for the days when I could see the changing colors of the trees at my grandparents cottage in the Midwest.  This yearning also lead me to the kitchen and my affection for my mom's banana bread, so this weekend I took a stab at making vegan banana bread.

Tools
bowl
fork
plastic spoon
bread pan

Ingredients for Goin' Banana's Banana Bread
2 bananas
2 c. flour (dealers choice of wheat, unbleached, etc.)
2 Tbsp ground flax seed (mix with 3 1/2 Tbsp of warm water to create an egg replacement)
1/2 c. canola oil
3/4 brown sugar
1/2 c. water
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. chopped almonds
dash of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

First, create the egg replacement and set to the side.  Next, mash the two brown banana's in a bowl with a fork.  Once the banana's are mashed properly, add in the dry ingredients and follow with the ground flax.  I do not own a hand mixer, so I folded all of the ingredients by hand.  Lastly, add in the chopped almonds and fold into the mix.

Make sure you use either margarine or a cooking spray on the bread pan prior to adding in the completed mixture.

This recipe makes one loaf of bread.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 or until golden brown.