So here was my plan. Tall fluffy biscuits. This recipe made the fluffy awesomeness you see in the photo. For the “egg”, I started with Susan’s crustless tofu quiche recipe. I omitted the bell pepper, mushrooms, chives and rosemary and replaced the fresh garlic with a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder since I wasn’t going to fry it up. Then, instead of baking them in a muffin pan, I spread it out in a rectangular baking pan then cut into squares to go on the muffin. The Match was just formed into patties, fried in a pan with only salt and pepper as seasoning. To assemble, the biscuit was split, a couple of thin slices of the Teese creamy cheddar was put on the top half and then I slid it under to broiler to melt. Sausage and tofu egg was placed on the bottom half then everything was put together once the Teese was melty.

These were amazing! I do have a couple of changes I’d make though. I made 3 oz. sausage patties which were a little too much. 2 oz. might be thin enough. I’d try to make the tofu egg a little dryer. Maybe half the soy milk and cook it a little longer. And I’d probably switch to regular cheddar Teese so it would contain a little less moisture.

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: biscuit, breakfast, cheddar, chicago soy dairy, match vegan meats, sausage, teese, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

The folks at POM Wonderful offered to send me some more pomegranate juice. Thinking of my morning smoothies I said “hell yeah, gimme!” Or something similar. I may have tried one smoothie when they sent a past batch of juice, but now I have that whole thing down and can get into it more.

POM Smoothie

1 banana
1/4 cup frozen blueberries or strawberries
1/2 tsp chia seeds
1 scoop Sun Warrior rice protein powder, natural
1 tsp agave nectar
1/2 cup POM 100% pomegranate juice
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla rice milk

Throw into a blender. Blend. Drink.

The blueberry variation was the first I tried. Mainly because I’m lazy. This is my normal go to smoothie with some pomegranate juice subbed for some of the rice milk. The chia seeds are a fairly recent addition. They seem to give it that little extra needed to carry me through to lunch without wanting to attack snacks. Too much. While this version was perfectly tasty, trading the blueberries for strawberries was even better. The pomegranate and strawberries seem to boost the flavor of each. Gives you an extra fruity punch.

Since I haven’t been cooking much lately, the rest of the juice will probably end up in smoothies. I’m considering substituting pineapple for the berries. Hopefully that won’t be gross.

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beverage, blueberry, breakfast, chia seeds, pom wonderful, pomegranate, smoothie, strawberry, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Okay, we know. These things are hard to watch. But the more information you have, the easier it is to explain your position when you get those people that ask “why don’t you eat eggs?” Do you have a vegetarian friend that needs a little more convincing to give up eggs? Bring ‘em! You aren’t vegan but wonder why we are? Come on down!

Fowl Play is a documentary from Mercy For Animals that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey behind the closed doors of some of the country’s largest egg production facilities and graphically illustrates the heartbreaking plight of laying hens condemned to lives crowded inside file-drawer sized cages.

Connecting the dots between consumer demand for meat, dairy and eggs and the perpetuation of animal abuse, Fowl Play leaves viewers with a groundbreaking message of personal responsibility and the potential each of us holds to change the world- one meal at a time.

Wonderroot address & directions
982 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30316 [map]

Driving:
Merge onto I-20 East from the 75/85 Connector.
Take exit 59B towards Memorial Drive/Glenwood Ave.
Take a left on Bill Kennedy Way.
Take a right on Memorial Drive.
Our building is on the left.

MARTA: WonderRoot is located on Bus Route 21.
The stop is located at Memorial Dr. and Stovall St.
WonderRoot is just 0.1 miles west of the bus stop.
Bus Route 21 is fed by the Five Points Station and Kensington Station.

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: animal rights, animal welfare, chickens, eggs, event, fowl play, mercy for animals, movie, vegan

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Kristin has a great round-up of participants here. I’d like to also add thanks to Alicia Simpson, author of Vegan Comfort Food, Alison Brown, Lisa Bennett and a guy named David, I think, for bringing out goodies to sell. The hard work of everyone involved enabled us to turn a bit of labor and ingredients into a much larger donation for Haiti.

And now, for some of my crappy pictures!

Setting up in the back of Criminal Records

Becky & Kristin load up Table 1

Front of Table 2

side of table 2

Some of my contributions:

hearts and flowers sandwich cookies, mini marble bundt cakes, brownies, beard-friendly mini cupcakes on a stick

hearts and flowers cookies close-up

nekkid bundt cakes before they got their glaze

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: atlanta, bake sale, baking, cake, charity, cookies, criminal records, dessert, doctors without borders, haiti, little 5 points, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Remember how awesome the World Vegan Bake Sale was this summer? What? You missed it??? Well, guess what, there’s going to be a bonus one this year to help Haiti.

When: Saturday, January 30, 2010

Time: noon – 4pm

Where: in front of Criminal Records in Little 5 Points [map]

Benefitting: Doctors Without Borders USA

Facebook: spread it around and find out how to participate as a baker if you’d like

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bake sale, doctors without borders, haiti, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

This past week I did a little experimentation for a new sort-of-secret-but-not-really venture. The Australians seem to have down the idea of a meal wrapped up in easy to carry around pastry. The centerpiece seems to be the meat pie. So that’s the first thing I tackled. And I’m so happy with the result that I don’t think I’ll change a thing.

Sorry, I won’t be giving up a recipe on this one. But there are plenty of recipes out there to veganize. Have at it!

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: australian, crust, hand pie, match meat, pie, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I usually get the Tofu Rancheros. Beans, tortillas, tofu, a bit if spicy. Yum!

Kevin got the blueberry cornmeal pancakes. I think he likes Soul Vegetarian pancakes better, but I like the cornmeal. They do have Earth Balance and soy milk for coffee, just ask.

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blueberries, breakfast, brunch, pancakes, stone soup kitchen, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

My company doesn’t give a crap about the vegans that work here (no, I’m not the only one), so I don’t even bother going to work food events. Kevin’s company usually makes a pretty good effort. This year was really nice. The party was at The Mansion in Buckhead. Our entree was ravioli but the pasta part was celery root. The innards were tasty mushrooms. It came with various root veggies scattered around. Of course, I can’t remember what the sauce was, but it was good. See people, it’s not that freakin’ difficult!

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: atlanta, buckhead, celery root, holiday, mushrooms, pasta, the mansion, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Ian McCulloch – “The Killing Moon (acoustic)” from THE CULTURE OF ME on Vimeo.

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: echo & the bunnymen, ian mcculloch, music, video

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

For my contribution, I baked because it’s what I do. I figured everyone would like ciabatta rolls, so I made some of those. There was also a maple walnut oat loaf made with white whole wheat. Kind of healthy but didn’t taste like it.

Somehow I didn’t get any pictures of the snickerdoodles I made. They were definitely a hit though. Who knew such a simple cookie could be so popular? The main dessert was this pumpkin cinnamon swirl cheesecake. Tasty, but I think I would have liked it a little denser. Others liked the fact that it was a little softer. It was perfectly set up though and cut and stayed together nicely. I forgot to swirl it though so it kind of looks like rock strata.

Here’s my plate of belt-loosening goodness, clockwise starting at 12: sweet potatoes with Dandies marshmallows, mac & cheese,  Stuffed Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute By Field Roast, dressing and mashed potatoes under the gravy, Match Vegan Meats holiday roast (this time the pre-made version), the maple walnut oat bread and green bean casserole in the center. There were also two cranberry sauces: the regular jelled canned kind and a home made cranberry pineapple sauce. I had to clear some space before I could get them on my plate though.

Both the roasts were great but different. A more traditional person might like the Match roast better. I really enjoyed the cranberries, apples and crystallized ginger in the Field Roast. But I know ginger is a strong flavor and can turn some people off.

I’ve been cruising the vegan blogs today checking out everyone’s holiday meals in between working and mopping up drool. As with vegan cheeses, how much does it rock that we have an actual assortment of holiday roasts to choose from now?

© laura for abracapocus.org, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, bread, field roast, holiday, marshmallows, match vegan meats, thanksgiving, vegan, vegetarian

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh