Monday, May 31, 2010

Garlic Edamame

Just made this quick, healthy, delicious (and vegan!) snack.

What you will need:

1/2 bag thawed edamame
1 lemon (or lime)
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoon crushed garlic (or fresh minced!)
4 tablespoon soy sauce

note: I eyeball how much butter, garlic and soy sauce I use because I really like all three.



1. Cut lemon in half, use whole half to squeeze juice into pan and cut the other half into slices.

2. Add butter, squeezed lemon juice, edamame, and garlic in a frying pan, on high heat.



3. Add soy sauce and turn to medium-high heat.



4. After stirring/flipping for a few minutes, add slices of the half lemon.



5. Continue stirring/flipping.



Voila!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sprinkles

If you have been to LA, you have probably been to (or should definitely try) Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills.

I have a very deep love for all things red velvet. I am IN LOVE with their red velvet cupcake. For Valentines Day they had a special Red Hots red velvet cupcake... spicy cinnamon in a cream cheese frosting?! Yes please!

They also have a vegan AND a gluten free red velvet cupcake! Now you have no reason not to try!






Location: 9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(Also: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Newport Beach, Phoenix, Palo Alto, Washington DC)

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Naked Cafe

Jon and I went to breakfast at The Naked Cafe this morning.
Very cute cafe with a lot of awesome vegetarian options...



Jon got coconut french toast and a side of roasted herb potatoes:



I got the green & red pagoda, soy sausage, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes,
roasted herb potatoes (in place of eggs), pesto and avocado on a slice of rosemary bread:



They give you little take home menu's:






Location: 3555 Rosecrans St. San Diego CA 92110
Hours: 7:30-2:30 (7 days a week)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

tajin tomatoes

We went to the Farmer's Market this morning and I bought Tajin seasoning that
is SO GOOD on vegetables and a few tomatoes. One of my favorite snacks!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

vegan hot wings

My best friend is in town from Salt Lake and we share a deep love for all things spicy!
I decided to make her hot wings and macaroni and cheese!

You will need:

1 package of seitan (this box of seitan is from Whole Foods)
1 bottle of Frank's Red Hot Original hot sauce
4-6 mushrooms
small casserole dish



Cut mushrooms into fourths and toss into casserole dish.



Cut seitan into smaller cubes and toss into casserole dish.





Pour entire bottle of hot sauce over mushrooms and seitan.





Stir around to make sure everything is drenched and covered.

Bake in oven on 350degrees for 30 minutes (time will vary, depending on how soft you like your mushrooms).



I also made a side of macaroni and cheese.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

couples din din

Jon makes me grilled artichokes, I make him kalamata olive heart shaped pizza and we drink Jarritos orange sodas together. The life of being in love...





Friday, May 14, 2010

Soyrizo Tacos

Mexican food is almost a daily occurrence in our household. We're very lucky to have some of the best mexican food around us, seeing as we are twenty minutes from the border.

Jon and I have recently been hooked on Trader Joe's soyrizo. It's so good to use as the meat for tacos, mixed in macaroni or making vegan hamburger helper!







vegan hamburger helper

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Flore

What's a day in LA without Flore?

Flore is an organic, all vegan, deli/restaurant in Silver Lake.

I always get the same thing... the Eastsider Tacos, made with seitan and the best cashew cheese ever!





Jon had the Tempeh Ruben and potato salad




We also got The Donut Man strawberry filled donuts (mentioned in a previous entry)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Vegas eats!

Jon and I went to Las Vegas this weekend for my birthday and Jon's bowling tournament. I thought it would be easiest to upload all the food we took pictures of at once! So enjoy!

Friday:


essential road trip snacks


stopped for a blue slush


Capriotti's Veggie Turkey Sub for lunch

Saturday:


Dunkin Donuts iced coffee for breakfast (my first time)


Cafe Rio veggie salad for lunch


Long Life Vege House general tso chick'n for dinner


and fried wontons!


Ichiza honey toast for dessert


Sunday:


Ronalds Donuts for breakfast (photos of donuts 8 entries below)


Capriotti's veggie philly steak sub for lunch


and a virgin raspberry margarita for the ride home!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Raspberry Mocha Freddos

I made miniature samples of these bad boys at work today. I have never EVER been a fan of Starbucks and I honestly will never understand the hype. I'm currently a barista at Peet's Coffee and Tea, so naturally I have heard about a vegan frappuccino that Starbucks now serves? How hard is it to make a blended drink with soy? I will never know.

Anyway, these are also vegan friendly if made with soy (minus whipped cream).

Orange Knots

Growing up, my mom always made Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls for breakfast on the weekends. To this day I love baking these little guys as a quick breakfast and they are just as good reheated later.





Later, she passed on an Orange Roll with Citrus Glaze recipe that is delicious and uses real orange zest in the glaze! Thanks mom!



Knots:

12 thawed, cold rolls (I used Rhodes Rolls from the freezer section at the grocery store)
1 medium orange rind
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp. melted butter
3 tbsp. orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Mix orange rind with sugar
2. Roll each roll into a 9" rope
3. Tie rope in a loose knot
4. Roll each knot in melted butter, then in sugar/rind mix
5. Place on large sprayed baking sheet
6. Cover with plastic wrap, let them set until they double in size (1-2 hours)
7. Remove wrap, bake 15-20 minutes
8. Remove from baking sheet and place on cooling rack
9. Brush with citrus glaze while still warm

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

The Big Squeeze

The Big Squeeze!

The big squeeze specializes in acai bowls, fresh fruit and vegetable squeezed juices and smoothies. The size is just right and the fruits they are add are a perfect combination! They blend their acai berries with apple juice (you can also opt for soy milk), and top with strawberries, bananas, granola, peaches, mangoes and drizzled with honey.

Monday, May 3, 2010

The Mission

The Mission!

Known for their amazing fresh baked and grilled rosemary bread and crispy rosemary potatoes, their portions are large and they decorate sweeter dishes with a fancy fruit puree.






[photo via tobo]

Locations: Mission Beach, North Park and East Village in San Diego, California