Sunday, March 17, 2013

Happy Lucky Shamrock Day! ;)

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
~ Irish Blessing


Today we're baking up batches of cookies and giving them to friends wrapped up in gold cupcake liners...little Pots O' Sugary Gold.  :)

from Hannah at Bittersweet

from Amy at Fragrant Vanilla Cake

What's your favorite Irish food? I love big warm chunks of Vegan Irish Soda Bread loaded up with vegan butter or homemade jam.  :)
Cheers!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Inspired by the Isle


This Ireland-inspired menu highlights the two key ingredients in the traditional Irish Colcannon...potatoes and kale.

First a quick rundown of the many flavors and colors of kale for anyone new to the current kale craze...
Kale: Description from The World's Healthiest Foods
"The beautiful leaves of the kale plant provide an earthy flavor and more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food around. Although it can be found in markets throughout the year, it is in season from the middle of winter through the beginning of spring when it has a sweeter taste and is more widely available.
Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards, and Brussels sprouts that have gained recent widespread attention due to their health-promoting, sulfur-containing phytonutrients. It is easy to grow and can grow in colder temperatures where a light frost will produce especially sweet kale leaves. There are several varieties of kale; these include curly kale, ornamental kale, and dinosaur (or Lacinato or Tuscan) kale, all of which differ in taste, texture, and appearance. The scientific name for kale is Brassica oleracea.
Curly kale has ruffled leaves and a fibrous stalk and is usually deep green in color. It has a lively pungent flavor with delicious bitter peppery qualities.
Ornamental kale is a more recently cultivated species that is oftentimes referred to as salad savoy. Its leaves may either be green, white, or purple and its stalks coalesce to form a loosely knit head. Ornamental kale has a more mellow flavor and tender texture.
Dinosaur kale is the common name for the kale variety known as Lacinato or Tuscan kale. It features dark blue-green leaves that have an embossed texture. It has a slightly sweeter and more delicate taste than curly kale."

Cultivars of Kale from Johnny's Selected Seeds

And an answer to the question

Now let's see how some creative cooks have interpreted that Irish combo the vegan way!

from Vegan Richa

Food Love: How to Cook Kale
from Outpost Natural Foods
Emerald Sesame Kale
from Outpost Natural Foods
Potato Kale Cakes
from Sharon at The Vegan Tummy
Potato Kale Cakes aka Aloo Kale Tikkis
from Mythreyi at Yum! Yum! Yum!
Calming Kale, Carrot, Sweet Potato and Bean Soup
from Dawn at Florida Coastal Cooking
Colcannon Puffs
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Black Quinoa, Sweet Potato Kale Cakes
from Heather at YumUniverse
Sweet Potato-Lentil Burgers and Kale Pesto
from Alanna at The Model House Wife
Healthy Hash Brown Casserole
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Chocolate Almond Kale Crunchers
from Heather at YumUniverse
Chocolate Kale Chips
from Sonnet at For the Love of Food

And finally, a round-up of recipe round-ups for a vegan-tastic St. Patrick's Day!
Crave-able Recipe Round-Up – Vegan St. Patrick’s Day
from Gretchen of Chic Vegan
St. Patrick's Day Round Up
from Jo and Sue
Celebrate St.Patrick’s Day with The Shannons & Dewey McNiff
from Meet The Shannons
St. Patrick's Day Menu Ideas
from PETA
Green Meal Ideas for St. Patrick's Day
from PETA
5 Necessary St. Patrick's Day Recipes
from PETA
St Patrick's Day
from The Guardian
How to Throw a Festive Vegan St. Patty’s Party
from VegNews
The Ultimate Vegan St. Patricks Day Guide
from Your Daily Vegan

Cheers!

This One's for the Artichoke Folks :)

Happy National Artichoke Hearts Day!
My big Italian family loves cooking with artichoke hearts...absolutely always on deep dish pizza, sometimes with pasta or in Italian bean salad or as a dip. I clearly remember eating the marinated kind straight from the jar as a kid...yumza!
You can find them canned, jarred and frozen, packed in water, marinated or pickled. Organic artichoke hearts are the best choice...Edward & Sons sells them and they have recipes too.  :)
I love them for breakfast, in a quick scramble or chunky frittata...

from Rhea at The "V" Word

Artichoke alternatives...

from Chow Vegan
from Joanne at Foods For Long Life

Artichoke Frittata (Crustless Quiche)
from Siava at VegWeb
Warm Farro with Roasted Artichoke Hearts, Tomatoes and Leeks
from Sarah's Cucina Bella

from Robin Robertson via VegNews
from Jamie at Joy of Kosher

Roasted Artichoke Hearts
from Ann at Cook For Your Life
Walnut-Crusted Artichoke Hearts
from Robin Robertson via One Green Planet

from Sammi at Vegan Pandamonium
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Roasted Artichokes, Chickpeas & Garlic Salad with Lemon & Sesame
from Soma at eCurry
Farfalle Bake with Squash, Artichoke Hearts, and Edamame
from Debra Daniels-Zeller at Vegetarian Journal

from Meet The Shannons
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen

The Best Stuffed Artichoke Hearts
from Laura at VegWeb
Warm Artichoke Sandwich
from Laura at VegWeb

What's your favorite way to eat artichoke hearts?

Friday, March 15, 2013

National Pears Hélène Day Deliciousness!

Simple, sophisticated and superdelish!
According to The Nibble:
"The dessert owes its origin to the opera La belle Hélène by composer Jacques Offenbach. It’s a comedic take on the elopement of Queen Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, with Prince Paris of Troy. This act of l’amour started the Trojan War, as the Greeks sailed to Troy to retrieve their queen. The opera debuted on December 17, 1864, was a big success, and the dessert was developed by Auguste Escoffier as a tribute.
The dessert is composed of pears poached in sugar syrup, topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and crystallized violets (today sliced almonds are more commonly used)."

Don't be scared now...it's easy!  :)

from The Nibble
Pictured above: Red Bartlett Pears, Pears Hélène, Bosc Pears 
(Red Bartlett and Bosc images courtesy of Pear Bureau Northwest www.usapears.org)

Even simpler, fewer ingredients...
Pears Hélène
from Attila Hildmann (translated from German)

The Chocolate Sauce...
Vegan Hot Fudge and Chocolate Sauce
from Dana at My Little Celebration
Double Chocolate Sauce
from Mattie at VeganBaking
Chocolate Ganache
from Isa Chandra at Post Punk Kitchen

The (Non-Dairy) Ice Cream...
So Delicious makes 5 varieties of vanilla and so many other screamingly amazing flavors!

On Sale...Red Bartlett Pears!
At Outpost through 3/19/13

I'm a Vanilla Bean fiend. Name your favorite non-dairy ice cream!  :)

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Happy Happy Joy Joy...It's Happy Happy Pi Day!

The mathematical value of Pi is 3.14...Today is 3/14...Got that figured out?  ;)
Actually it's just a slightly geeky excuse to eat pie all day which is fine by me. I found this fabulous recipe by superkitchenwhiz Hannah that is oh so sweet and sophisticated, in slices or on a stick!
A frozen pie treat while there's still snow on the ground? Well heckyeah! Because it's easy and elegant and also happens to be perfect for a certain green-themed holiday on the horizon.  ;)
Cheers!

from Hannah at Bittersweet

*Dandies marshmallows are vegan masterpieces! They taste authentically marshmallowy right out of the bag, and they do get all melty just like a fine upstanding marshmallow should, even on a stick over a campfire. :)
You can buy them online at VeganEssentials or Pangea, and locally at Outpost!
(Capitol Dr. has them for sure...call the other locations to check availability.)

Pie Infinitum...

from Angela at Oh She Glows
from Jenn and Jac at Sketch-Free Eating

from Hannah at Bittersweet
from Maggie at The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado

from Lauren at The Jolly Fox
from Amy at Fragrant Vanilla Cake

from Vegan Richa
from Paula & Chlo

Incredible crusts...
from Mattie at VeganBaking
from Arielle at Your Vegan Girlfriend

And one more green one...
from Debbie at Maple ♥ Spice

I'm definitely a fruity pie lover...Blueberry, banana cream, spicy apple, peach and strawberry are my top 5.  :)
What are your top 5 pies?

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

S'mores and Stuffables

Goodgolly not only is it Girl Scouts Day, but it's also Chocolate Chip Cookie Week!
Every Girl Scout worth her merit badges can make deliciously squishiously marshmallow S'mores...now combine those with classic Chocolate Chip Cookies and you have THE perfect dunkable!
These will be double batchers...one for my friends and one to fill my giant cookie jar.  :)

from Shannon at leaves and flours

from The Chubby Vegan

Chocolatey S'mores Galore...

from Allyson at Manifest Vegan

from Kathy at Healthy. Happy. Life.

Side-by-side Chips and S'mores...

from Kristina at spabettie

from Dreena via Novel Eats

Are all dark chocolate chips vegan? Nope.
Find Vegan Chocolate Chips at VeganEssentials...yay!

Given a choice, would you rather have a jar full of S'mores or Chocolate Chip Cookies?  ;)

Monday, March 11, 2013

Oats, Nuts and Hot Waffle Irons :)

Happy Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day!
Love the smell of fresh hot waffles! Topped with fruit or syrup, nut butter or vegan cream cheese and jam, a giant scoop of ice cream and sprinklz...or just steaming straight off the iron. Yumza!

from Kathy at Healthy. Happy. Life.

Filbert Oat Waffles
from La Tea Dah at My Cozy Kitchen
Oatmeal Waffles with Cashews
from Cathy at StraightUpFood
Vegan Walnut Waffles "That Really Rock!"
from paola78 via Nigella.com
GF Crispy Corny Toasted Almond and Cherry Delight Waffles
from Bryanna at Vegan Feast Kitchen

No iron? Add a little extra liquid (almond milk, soy milk, etc) and use the batter for pancakes.  :)

Are you a waffle fan? How do you like them?

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Spring Spears of Green

Asparagus has always been one of my favorite veggies. Somehow Mom always knew how to pick the most flavorful and tender bunches and whip them into a superyumful frittata...squealingly delicious! 

from Lindy Loo at Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit

from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen
from Dara at Cookin’ Canuck

from Erin at Naturally Ella

from Kim at C'est La Vegan

from Kim at C'est La Vegan
from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen

from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen

from Rhea at The "V" Word

from Susan at FatFree Vegan Kitchen

On Sale around town!
At Sendik's Food Market through 3/12/13

Did you like veggies as a kid? What was your favorite?

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Diggin' a Bowl of Crunchy Goodness for National Cereal Day!

Grab your favorite bowl and spoon and start your day the vegan way!
PETA has kindly created a list of vegan cereals (Yay!)
or you can make your own...

from Irvin at Eat The Love

Vegan Granola
from Chef Marcus Samuelsson
Gluten-Free Quinoa and Chia Granola
from Racine at Flavor and Freedom
Super Crunchy High Protein & High Fibre Cereal
from Angela at Oh She Glows
Magically Gluten-free and Veganly Delicious Lucky Charms
from Cara at Fork and Beans
Kitchen Sink Granola Bars. Or Baked Granola Cereal.
from Kathy at Healthy. Happy. Life.

On Sale around town!
At Outpost...Nature's Path Organic Cereal, through 3/19/13!

What was your favorite cereal growing up? What is it now?

Monday, March 4, 2013

Cake Love!

Do the Happy Dance...it's National Pound Cake Day!
Probably the most loved cake I've ever made, served, shared and treated myself to with a mug of steamy hot Frangelico-laced chocolate. 
If you don't love pound cake, I just can't help you.  :)

from Betsy at The Blooming Platter

Personally I like purely plain and plump pound cakes but feel free to fancy your cake up...
Vanilla Pound Cake with Lime Glaze
from Vegetarian Times
Vegan Pound Cake with Lime Glaze
from Betsy at The Blooming Platter via Vegan Cooking With Love

Vegan Lemon Coconut Pound Cake
from Lara via Nibbledish
Vegan Lemon (or Lemon-Coconut) Pound Cake
 from Bryanna at Vegan Feast Kitchen

Easy Vegan Chocolate Marbled Pound Cake
from Anna at Cookie Madness
Vegan Marble Pound Cake
from sbchou at Mon Petit Chou
Chocolate Covered Vegan Tofu Pound Cake
from Laura at Katy Confidential
Double Chocolate Blueberry Pound Cake
from Shannon at Killer Bunnies, Inc

Vegan Soy Milk Carrot Pound Cake
from Robert-Gilles Martineau via Cook Eat Share
Libby’s Vegan Pudding Pound Cake
from Libby of The Allergic Kid via Go Dairy Free

Are you a pound cake lover? If yes, how do you like it? With chocolate chips? With frosting? With fruity toppings?

On Sale around town!
At Outpost...Earth Balance vegan butter, through 3/19/13

Sunday, March 3, 2013

A Spice of Wine and Cinnamon

Cheers to National Mulled Wine Day!
An excellent end to a brisk sunny day...

from Jennifer-June at Sweet Vegan

A few other feisty brews...
My Warm, Spicy Wine
from Alicia Silverstone at The Kind Life
Mulled Wine
from Mattie at VeganBaking
Perfect Mulled Wine
from Felicity Cloake via The Guardian

Okay, officially it's National Mulled Wine Day, but how about an option for those who don't take a shine to wine? Well since mulled wine is made with cinnamon and cinnamon is my favorite spice and it's incredibly healthy for you, and since there is no holiday commemorating it (can you believe it?!) I dare to declare today National Cinnamon Day!

Plus it gives me an excuse to use Penzeys' wonderful Cinnamon!  :)

from Gabby's Gluten-Free

I will always have a dreamy weakness for Cinnamon Candied Apples...
from Alma Dinsmore at Taste of Home

Variations (mostly differing by the ratio of water/sugar/candies):
Cinnamon Candy Apples
from Paula at A Simple Home Cook
Cinnamon Candied Apples
from Angie Marquart at Taste of Home
Cinnamon Apples
from CaliforniaJan at Food.com
Cinnamon Candied Apples
from Heidi at Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom
from Darla at Bakingdom

Variation: Candied Apples from PETA
from karl4205 at VegWeb.com

Variation: Candy Apple Pie from Dottie Adams at Allrecipes.com

More Cinnamon Grins!
Blueberry Peach Cinnamon Smoothie
from wendylouise
Banana, Peanut Butter, Cinnamon, Ginger and Oatmeal Smoothie
from Vegan Epicurean
Cinnamon Bun Granola
from Lisa at Vegan Culinary Crusade
Sweet Tofu, Cinnamon, Walnut and Apricot Spread
from Vegan Epicurean
Cinnamon Stewed Apples
from R Starr at The Vegan Chronicle
Spicy Cinnamon Three Bean Chili
from Kristina at spabettie
Individual Cinnamon Pear Crisp
from Amanda at Pickles & Honey
Cinnamon Brownie Cookies
from Allyson at Manifest Vegan

Can you tell I reeeeally like cinnamon?  ;)
What's your favorite spice?