but did they EAT it?

Goodbye and Hello.

2008-04-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Remember how I introduced you to The Year of the Vegan back at the beginning of the year? Well, I've decided to make that my primary blog and do away with this one. Mainly because the premise I based this one on - that is if my children would eat what I made them - isn't really relevant, because they don't and never have, however, I remain forever hopeful!!

I really enjoy being creative with food, love eating new things and get such a buzz when something I have created from scratch works the way I had envisaged so I'm giving nothing up. H also really likes to try all the things I make, (even the not so successful ones that need more work) so I'm not stopping blogging, and to be honest not really changing the content of the blog posts that much, just changing where I do them. Confusing?

So all you, dear readers, need to do is click on the link to The Year of the Vegan, until such time as you remember to update your blogroll on your own blogs. Tell all your friends and family! and if you haven't got me on your blogroll yet - then take this a a chance to get me on it!!

Works in Progress...

2008-04-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

A whole bunch of them. I said I'd been creative!

Strawberry Scones -

Buckwheat Mini Loaves -

Seeded Monkey Bread -

South American Sushi -

Scotch "Eggs" -

Custard Kisses -

Dipping Sauces - Pomegranate Balsamic / Hot and Sour

All mine. I'm happy with some and not with others. I plan to remake the scones for Breakfast this weekend and will post the recipe then if I am satisfied.

Ethiopian Fusion Cusine!

2008-04-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Rice never had it so tasty!!

Served with baked asparagus and red pepper, and a warm Broccoli Salad. Both super yum.

Following on from the Ethiopian theme I made this for dinner last night, a bunch of sides for dinner - happens fairly often for me. I must say I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

Ethiopian Spiced Rice Fusion

recipe removed

See Pakupaku for the Niter Kebbeh recipe I used as the base for this.

Please excuse the spacing. I don't know what blogger is doing but I can't fix it! I've been super busy today being creative and will post pictures tomorrow.

A trip to Ethiopia

2008-04-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Non traditional, Ethiopian flavour inspired bread, Kale sauteed in Niter Kebbeh and Yemiser We't from PakuPaku. The bread was awesome, if I do say so myself, and even with making a milder version of the Berbere mix, and using less of it than instructed, the We't was far too spicy! H had to order himself a pizza. Must say I love the Niter Kebbeh, and am using it as inspiration for part of dinner tonight! (see tomorrow for details!) Recipe time!

Ethiopian Spiced Onion Bread

recipe removed

A duo of Breakfasts from this weekend

2008-04-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

I like to bake on the weekends for breakfast. I have time, and we can have leftovers for lunch (or afternoon tea) too. Both these recipes are very much amended from recipe books from NZ.
Saturday -
Lemongrass Sweetcorn Scones
recipe removed

Sunday -
'Time to wake-up' Muffins
recipe removed
Now you know what to make for breakfast next weekend!!

A Guest for Dinner - part 2, Dessert

2008-03-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

This one is entirely out of my head, and I'm pleased to say its really good!! I was thinking, as one does, about pineapple upside down cake, and how super tacky it looks what with the rings and cherries and all, but how good it tastes. Then I got to thinking maybe you could make a something else upside down cake, and the mango / mint combo hit me. Then as I was writing stuff down I thought about putting some ground almonds in the cake batter, and then made a left turn into coconut too. Oh, boy, the thought patterns that brought you this one....

I served it with Vanilla Soy ice cream, and it was really good. I did store leftovers in the fridge as I was worried about the mango going icky, but I shouldn't have worried as it didn't last very long!

Coconut and Mint Mango Upside Down Cake

recipe removed * I used a square pan as all my circular pans are springform and I wasn't sure if the marg / sugar / mango combo would leak or not so I went with the square.

** I used 2 and could have done with more, and would use 3 next time if they weren't too expensive, but that's just me.

*** Found this in a wee Indian Spice Store, so try something like that first.

Guest for dinner - a 3 courser (part 1!)

2008-03-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

Course 1 - White Bean Hummus with baked Tortilla Bread
The recipe -
White Bean Hummus

recipe removed

Course 2 - Pad Thai from VwaV

No pictures sorry, you'll have to take my word for it that it was delicious as always.

and dessert to follow. Its only fair you wait. We took a break between mains and dessert too!! (It's worth waiting for!!)

"Loaffin" around.

2008-03-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Isa of the PPK coined the term "loaffin" when she made some muffin "meatloaf" thingies quite a while back. She lost the recipe and I can't find her blog post, or I would link to it. I emailed her and asked if she'd mind if I used the term to describe what I made for dinner last night, as it sounds so much better than muffin "meatloaf" thingies. I've had no response so am just doing it anyhow. (please don't revoke my tester status!!)
Another one of those, use what you have in the cupboards to make dinner type inventions, in handy portion sized bits. H liked them, I liked them, we have leftovers for tonight. What more do you need! I served them with some spice roasted potatoes / asparagus / broccoli and gravy loosely based on the Marvellous Miso Gravy in La Dolce Vegan.

Quinoa "Loaffins"
recipe removed

Corn Muffins, too corny.

2008-03-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Another completely revamped recipe from a cookbook from NZ. These were nicely moist and savoury, though H thought they were a little oily, he then preceded to eat all of his so I don't think they were that bad! We had them with dinner (leftover Chickpea Burgers, roasted Asparagus, salad and Tahini sauced Kale) and they were yum.
Chili and Cilantro Corn Muffins
recipe removed

R wanted t bake some cookies while M was at school - so we made a variation on the "pinkalicious" ones from the other day - Strawberry Pinkalicious Cookies with Chocolate Chunks. She did most of the mixing herself (with help of course) and had lots of fun.

Tofu and Rice Cakes

2008-03-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Of sorts. The marinade / crust for the tofu was originally for fish, but I changed it up quite a bit and used it on my tofu for dinner last night. It was really nice, and not too spicy - though you could spice it up a bit if you like a little extra.

I also had some baby Chinese cabbage to serve it with so decided to extend the Asian theme by making crispy sushi rice cakes, and these were really good. Nice how an idea works every now and then isn't it.

Thai-ish crusted Tofu.

recipe removed

How easy was that? The veggies were just stirfried with a little soy sauce and white wine so they were easy too. The most involved part of the whole dinner was the rice, and that wasn't too bad.

Poppyseed Sushi Fritters

recipe removed

A little bit sour, a little bit sweet, this was really nice, sushi but not.

End of Spring Break.

2008-03-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

M goes back to school today. Its been a while, what with the month n New Zealand, Spring Break, Easter and all. To celebrate her return, and truth be told to use up a bunch of the Easter Eggs, I made cookies. Chocolate Chunk Cookies to be exact. If you don't have loads of Easter chocolate hanging about to use up, chop up a bar into chunky bits, or buy chunks, or just use chips - they'll be good anyway. Very loosely based on the Little Vegan Monsters recipe these are super good -
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
recipe removed

** Use Vanilla Extract if you don't have caramel. I just wanted to use the caramel one I got in NZ.

Chickpeas, anyone?

2008-03-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

This is another changed recipe from a book I found at my sister's in NZ. Its really good! If you are a chickpea fan (like me - Santa bought me some one year) I think you'll like it.

It makes enough for at least 4, but keeps in patty form in the fridge for a few days if you don't have 4 people to feed. They can also be baked (I think), I'd bake them at 400F for 30 minutes, turning half way through, and they seem to be quite sturdy so imagine they'd barbecue too - I'll have to try once the weather improves.
Chickpea Burgers.
recipe removed

H liked these alot! We had them on burgers until we were stuffed, and there are leftovers. We'll have the rest later in the week with some savoury muffins I have devised but have yet to make.

Other food from the weekend.

2008-03-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

So in no particular order - other stuff from over the Easter weekend that has not been blogged about to date -

Fronch Toast - VwaV

Tamarind Lentils - V'con - served with rice and broccoli

Raspberry Jam Scones - my variation on the VwaV recipe

Blue Ribbon Bread Rolls - Vegan Lunchbox

Steamed Sausages - a variation (Sun Dried Tomato and Basil) on Isa's variation of Julie Hasson's recipe.

All for today!

Happy Easter Egg Day

2008-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Pretty much all my children are caring about right now is stuffing themselves full of chocolate. They didn't get lots, but we did hide it all over the house and they had loads of fun finding it all. Last year we gave stickers instead in the hunt, and chocolate at the end, and that wasn't as well received, so we've gone back to chocolate, just less of it. The Easter bunny also left then each a sticker book, a jigsaw puzzle and a picture book, isn't he generous!

I made a vegan Simnel Cake. Wow. Never made one before. Mine is by no means traditional as I have continued the "New World" theme as in the Hot Cross Buns I made the other day. My local store doesn't carry marzipan except at Chrismastime so I thought I was going to have to do without, but no, I am nothing if not resourceful and I made some. This recipe is enough for your layers and your decoration if you roll it thinly enough. If you are a marzipan wolf then make double and do your layers thicker, and make 11 really big balls as is traditional.

Marzipan.

recipe removed

and then for the cake itself...... Its time consuming in that it takes a long time to cook, but the actual making of it comes together quite quickly. Its deceptive this cake, it eats light, not too heavy on the fruit, but afterward you're stuffed. I think its partly the fruit and partly the almond meal hidden in the batter. Delicious either way.

New World Simnel Cake

recipe removed

Its officially Spring.

2008-03-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

and we're starting to get yummy spring produce in the stores. The weather has yet to oblige us with spring like days but they'll come. In the meantime I'm using some of that delicious spring produce (3 bunches of asparagus for $5) to make soup to keep us warmed inside. Yesterday for dinner I made a Roasted Asparagus beauty of a soup...

Again this uses the Roasted Asparagus stock (like in the Risotto the other day) which is really simple to make. Take the ends of the asparagus you'd normally discard, roast at 425F or so for about 45 minutes, deglaze the roasting pan with water then place the asparagus ends, the water, a chopped onion and enough extra water to cover in a big pot, simmer for an hour or so. Strain out the bits and you have your stock. TaDa. (or use plain veggie stock, whatever)

H and I both really liked this, but we do love Asparagus. Not so much love for the asparagus pee, but you can't get the one without getting the other later.

Roasted Asparagus Soup

recipe removed

Happy Hot Cross Bun Day

2008-03-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

While we were in New Zealand, one morning M asked me about Good Friday and what it was all about. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that it was the day we ate Hot Cross Buns, but I thought the better of it, she is 6 after all. I made it into a bit of a parable, how really bad things can happen, (and no you won't really die and come back to life 'cause that can't really happen in real life - she did wonder) but if you are a good person and do good things then you can get past them and be happy. She seemed to accept this quite well and I haven't been asked about Good Friday again.

Part of my doing good things is making Hot Cross Buns to share with friends and family. Its the recipe I used last year, though I added some Pecans to the mix as well, to make it extra "new world-y". Here is the recipe again, in case you didn't save it. Due to the length of the rising times its a make the day before recipe, or get up at 5.30 with your non sleeping children!

New World Hot Cross Buns
recipe removedWhat can I say, these are delicious!

I want to make a (veganised) Simnel Cake for Sunday, but apparently the stores here don't sell marzipan if its not Christmas-time, so I'm going to have to try and make some. I have a recipe I found online (which I think I will adjust a little), but I need to get the ingredients. Wish me luck. You'll know from my Sunday post how I did!!

Dinner and another dinner... with no recipes

2008-03-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Inspired in part by the Sesame Crusted Tofu in Vegan Planet which I've made before, Isa's Sesame Miso Sauce from the other day (tester recipe) and what I had in the cupboard opened and needing used up. Last night I made this - Coconut and Sesame Tofu. It didn't work as well as I had hoped, I think I will revisit before posting a recipe (the coating fell off more than I liked, I'm thinking maybe a cornstarch coating before the wet stuff), but it tasted fabulous, though a little rich from the Coconut. Really nice combination, H liked it a lot. Here's a closer up shot -

Night before last I made a Mexican Lasagna. Chili made with Yves Mexican Ground Round, alternated on layers made from Tortilla bread with a Spinach / Tofu Ricotta layer (made up and I didn't write it down.) Again very nice. H ate sop much he gave himself a sore stomach!

Tonight H is out so I'm having whatever I can throw together, pineapple / salad / veggies in sauce or something.....not blog worthy anyhow. See you tomorrow for Hot Cross Buns.

Pinkalicious!

2008-03-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the book! Though technically they should be cupcakes.

M loves this cute book, and when we decided we should make cookies to take to her playdate tomorrow, she immediately asked for them to be "pinkalicious ones". Pink is her favourite colour ever at the moment, so even without the book I think she would have asked for them to be pink!!

I also jumped on this as an opportunity to use some of my new essences. In NZ I found some ones at the supermarket which I don't see often here, (Raspberry, Strawberry, Banana and Caramel) so bought them all up and brought them home. Then I was in a dinky wee Indian spice shop the other day and saw some more, (Rose and Mango) good thing they don't cost much. So the cookies are L-R Strawberry (circle icing), Raspberry (zig zag icing) and Rose (splodge icing) with sugar sprinkles. I've included making them all different in my instructions below, but feel free to just use 1 1/2 t of one type of flavouring and add it with the colouring.

Pinkalicious Cookies

recipe removed

and, oh yes, M helped make them. The verdict from the girls after a taste test? "They're all good Mum".

Tester Omelet.

2008-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

The first time I tried to make this it failed miserably, and as such I took no photos - no-one likes their failures documented. But, I have a job to do so I am soldiering on and reattempting it. I found the missing (non essential but recommended) ingredient today and have read all the other comments on how to make it in the test kitchen and with trepidation am going to have another bash. More later.....

Later.So, I made a half batch for lunch, and this time it worked!! I'm not going to say perfectly as there are parts of the cooking process I'm not 100% sure about (spreading the omelet in the pan for one), but it worked! I had edible, indeed delicious, vegan omelet for lunch! I can see why that non essential but recommended ingredient is recommended too! Yay for Isa's Omelet.

btw, I filled the omelets with sauteed kale mixed with the Tahini sauce from the Asparagus the other night, mmmmm.

Happy St Patricks Day

2008-03-17T11:31:00.001-07:00

This year I haven't made Irish food. I did a lovely Seitan Irish Stew last year, but what with getting back from holiday and jet lag I haven't planned anything for today. I did however make something with things that are green!! This was a lovely, delicately flavoured risotto which meant the asparagus-ness really shined through.

I first made the stock by roasting the inedible end stalks of 4 bunches of asparagus (I had saved some in the freezer) then deglazing the pan and cooking it all up with 1/2 an onion and a heap more water (enough to cover - didn't measure sorry) for about 3/4 hour. Really asparagus-y flavour. It made lots so I'm planning to make a soup using it and some more roasted asparagus later this week. mmmm

Anyhow, here's the recipe for the risotto.

Asparagus and Pinenut Risotto

receipe removed

Yummy Asparagus and Potato Cakes.

2008-03-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

Last nights dinner on show - The asparagus is a tester recipe - and doesn't it look good! Marinated , grilled and then served with a Sesame Miso Dressing. Oh boy.

The potato cakes I made up to use up some leftover mashed potato, leftover cooked grains and cannellini beans - here they are, and coming up is the recipe. These were really good. Simple flavours which worked well as a backdrop to the more flavoursome asparagus and dressings.

Potato and Bean Cakes

recipe removed

**Depending on the shape and size you want really. Could be more or less.

Not too crabby.

2008-03-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

Bad pun I know, but these PPK Test Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes, aren't too bad at all!

This was last nights dinner, thanks to Isa and they were fantastic! I've never had a Crab Cake, but H said they were very realistic taste wise. I enjoyed them, none of that funny aftertaste you sometimes get with Tempeh, and a nice, slightly spiced, sauce to go with them.
.

I served them with another recipe I "borrowed" from the Seasons cookbook at my sisters, Potato Bread. Not a traditional Rewana Bread* type thing, but pretty good all the same. I changed it up quite a bit so its a little bit more like the Potato Scones you get in Scotland as a breakfast thing. Not exactly the same as that either, something in between and tasty, so here's the recipe for that -

Potato Scones

recipe removedYou have to cook for so long to get the grated potato cooked properly, but I guess you would have guessed that. Nice hot straight out of the oven, and good cold.

*I went to Wikipedia to get a link for Rewana Bread to explain what it is and there is nothing there! In my own words then, Rewana is a traditional Maori bread made from potatoes with a fermented sourdough-ish like starter.

Mmmmm. Avocado.

2008-03-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

I made these lovely Muffins for lunch today. They were really good. I've made stuff with Avocado before and been disappointed, but these were great. The recipe was amended (veganised that is) from one in a book I found at my sister's house, called "Seasons of New Zealand" or some such. Beware, if I'm in your house, I'll be reading your cookbooks for ideas and recipes to steal.....

Avocado and Macadamia Muffins recipe removed

Lovely hot out of the oven with some Margarine, or smothered in more avocado. We had ours with salad to make a lunch.

A new favourite for Potatoes.

2008-03-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

I made a PPK tester recipe tonight, as a quick and easy way to have potatoes, and it's something different I'd never seen before. Don't know why as it is so very easy, ingenious really. Well done Isa for thinking it up. H loved the potatoes this way! I will have to make them again!!

I served the potatoes with a big salad and some roasted Asparagus which I tossed in a little Olive Oil and the Tofu Scramble seasoning mix from Yellow Rose Recipes. The cumin-y goodness of the spice mix went great with the asparagus, you should try this one.

I have another tester recipe to make tomorrow and a few non tester things I've got planned to make too!

and while I'm here, I made these tester cookies in New Zealand and never got to post a picture, so allow me to present - Sesame Sweet Wine Cookies, a very sophisticated, grown up cookie...

OK, So We're home.

2008-03-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

So, we made it through the second wedding, the 12 hour flight and the first night at home. I think I got some sleep somewhere over the last 48 hours but I'm not entirely sure how much. The girls have been ever so good, all things considered.

I will be cooking, and testing more recipes again soon. Watch this space. However, my camera is out of batteries - note to self: Get some more.

Desiree - I haven't forgotten you. I'm just too sleep deprived at the moment! Big apologies.