Vegan Queso!

As you will see from upcoming recipe posts, about 1/3rd of what I eat is Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. And while it's pretty easy to use vegan substitutes in most popular Tex-Mex dishes, queso is one area often best left to the professionals.

Enter Food for Lovers Vegan Queso, made in Austin, where they know their Tex-Mex (I speak from experience). All of the reviews I read have been glowing. And it's only 4.99 for a 12oz jar! I can't wait to try this stuff with my favorite tortilla chips and drizzled onto tacos. It's a relatively new-ish product, but chances are you can find it at your local Whole Foods or vegan-friendly market. Yum!

Spinach Artichoke Hummus.

I love hummus. I mean I really love hummus. I'll put it on nearly anything, and I could probably eat it every day. So when I saw Sabra's Spinach and Artichoke flavor on sale yesterday, I had to pick some up, and I think I may have a new favorite.

The flavors of the sauteed spinach and roasted artichokes really stand out in this hummus, as opposed to a couple of other brands I have tried where any artichoke flavor takes a back seat to the chickpeas. Last night I ate it with a few tortilla chips, but this would be great paired with just about anything.
Appearance: A
Convenience: A
Flavor: A+!
Cost: A

I love my 1970's yellow Schwinn Breeze, I really do. But when Spring rolls around I find myself wanting a lighter, sleeker, Electra Amsterdam. And someday, I will own one. Isn't it cute?

Raw Chocolate Mousse

This recipe comes from the March 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, and it is a winner. What makes it so, you wonder? Two words. Chocolate. Avocado.

Live Chocolate Mousse
3 Haas avocados
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs raw agave nectar
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp raw cocoa powder
3 tbsp raw almond butter
1 tsp lemon juice
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
1/2 tsp of almond or vanilla extract, optional
Puree ingredients in food processor until smooth and creamy. Transfer to bowls, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Spring Brews.

Spring is officially here, and for many the warmer days bring to mind images of enjoying a couple of cold beers al fresco. Unfortunately, not all beer is vegan-friendly. Many breweries sneak in animal derived ingredients such as isinglass, which is made from the swim bladders of fish. But! Fortunately, Barnivore has vegan drinkers and others who prefer their alchohol fish-free, covered.
Barnivore.com is an extensive site that lists hundreds of breweries, distilleries, and wineries, and lists which products are and are not vegan products from each. Cheers to barnivore!

In keeping with the welcoming of spring, here are 4 of my favorite warm weather drinks.

-Fat Tire: A delicious classic
-Blue Moon: Add a slice of orange for an even better flavor
-Ace Pear Cider: Slightly sweet, always refreshing.
- Abita Strawberry: Seasonal strawberry lager.

Brats!

During a recent search for vegan breakfast links I stumbled across these Tofurky Vegan Beer Brats and was immediately smitten. Can you believe it? And they are actually made with Full Sail Amber Ale and not just puny malt flavoring. I haven't purchased and tried them yet, but they look promising. I'll write a review as soon as I do. If I don't eat too many and go into a bratwurst coma, that is.

Cookies and Cupcakes and Quickbreads, Oh My!

April 24th-May 1st marks the 3rd annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale Week. Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is an international event where vegans and vegan-friendly folks make tasty treats and sell them to raise funds for the charity of their choice. After doing research on the event, I have decided to organize, with the help of fellow vegans, Tulsa's first Vegan Bake Sale! Right now planning is still in the early stages as we recruit bakers and secure a location, but I am confident that everything will come together. Tulsa is known as a charitable city, even during recessions, and who doesn't enjoy tasty baked goods?

I'll post more info as it becomes available. If you are interested in volunteering as a baker or in any other way, please comment. Thanks!

Tofurky Vegan Pepperoni Pizza. B+

Tofurky Vegan Pepperoni Pizza.

Despite being vegan for 9 months, my exposure to vegan convenience foods beyond a veggie burger or vegan hot dog has been self limited. That all changed when I saw this pepperoni pizza in an Atkin's ad for under $7.

The pizza looks like a typical frozen pizza. Out of the box there is a delicious garlic smell. The pepperoni bakes up crisp but not too crunchy, and the taste and the spice echoes that of real pepperoni. The daiya cheese was a light layer with a surprisingly cheese-like texture and no aftertaste. The thin layer of sauce is slightly gooey and a little garlicky, complimenting the daiya & pepperoni well. The crust is thin and crisps up after 14 minutes. Overall I would recommend this to any vegan. Even my 2 omni taste testers approved of this pie.

Appearance: B

Ease: A

Taste: B+

Cost: B-