The Veggie-Full Kitchen

This week, I have a very full plate.  I am working on a few blog designs, teaching a cupcake decorating class (which I am sooooo not qualified to do), babysitting for my sis, taking my kids to pick pumpkins and then decorating them...  and then all the usual stuff I do.  Needless to say, it's bean burritos, oatmeal and take out here at The Veggie-Full Kitchen this week.  So, instead of sharing one of my recipe's I thought I would refer everyone who lives in Southern Cali to Native Foods , to try Tanya's new Reuben.  It is AMAZING!  Just look at my little Sous-Chef.... he can recognize a good sandwich when he sees one... he just can't eat them yet. For those of you not in Southern California, here is a link to Chef Tanya's Blog where she shares some awesome recipes and more.  Also, if you are in the market for a dynamite vegan cookbook , she's got one of those too.  

Morgan, from Little House of Veggies , and I went to Animal Acres ' Compassionate Cuisine event last Friday.  We left Dr. J and Mr. D with the rest of our kidlets and just took our babies.  As you can see, they thoroughly enjoyed it.  Too bad my little sous chef is on a mother's milk only diet.  Anyway, Morgan and I definitely enjoyed it!  It was a Vegan Smorgasbord!  There were Vegan restaurants and products galore to sample and enjoy.  I thought I would share with you my top 3 tastes of the evening...  The Seabirds Truck A Vegan food truck!  I wish they were in my city.... but I still might drive out to the O.C. to hunt them down.  They sampled a beer battered avocado taco.  It was divine! Native Foods If you didn't know already... this is my favorite restaurant.  Tanya, the chef, sampled one of her new menu items, the Chimichurri Fajita Platter.  It was the best thing I ate all night! Margo's Bark Dr. J and I don't ...

Popcorn is one of my favorite foods.  It's in my DNA to like popcorn.  As a kid, every Sunday night my mom would pop some homemade popcorn on the stove and my whole family would gather around the TV to watch the latest episode of Star Trek.  There is nothing better than a warm, salty bowl of this fluffy white stuff...  I could do without the Star Trek, though. It's so easy to make, and you can switch it up for a little variation.  Here are just two ways that I like to make it: Homemade Olive Oil & Sea Salt Popcorn Ingredients 1/2 cup popcorn kernels 1/4 cup olive oil Sea Salt Directions 1.  Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. 2.  Once hot, add in the popcorn and cover. 3.  Occasionally shake the pot to keep the kernels at the bottom. 4.  Once the popping slows to about once every few seconds, remove from heat. 5.  Pour into a large bowl, salt to taste and mix. Homemade Kettle Corn Ingredients 1/2 cup popcorn kern...

Earlier this week I made these yummy cupcakes for my 3 year old's birthday.  I used a recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.  Every recipe I have made from their book I love.  These two have vegan cupcakes down to an art!  They have everything from your basic Chocolate Cupcake to your more unusual cupcake, like the Pistachio Rosewater Cupcake.  I haven't tried one of their recipes that I don't like... these are  DEFINITELY some of my favorites!   

According to Wikipedia, Fry Sauce is a regional condiment served with French Fries.  According to me, it's one of the best things ever!  Now, you may have never heard of this saucy side, as it is mainly found in Utah.  I was born and raised in California, but as a kid, my family drove to Idaho every summer, and as soon as we crossed from Nevada into Utah, we were on the look out for the first drive through that would offer this delightful dip.  It's one of my favorite condiments, and I make it whenever I make fries. So here my version... vegan of course! Ingredients 1/4 cup ketchup 1/2 cup Follow Your Heart Vegenaise 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (I like to use a BBQ sauce with a little heat) Directions Just combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth.

I think that we all have a handful of recipes that are our time tested favorites.  This is one of mine.  My mom made Beef Stroganoff for us when we were kids, so this is one of those recipes that emotes home and comfort and warmth and love.  I craved it when I was pregnant with all three of my kiddies... even when I was sick!  The truth is, it always sounds good to me.  So here is a culinary hug from my kitchen to yours.  ENJOY! Ingredients 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, washed and sliced 1 yellow onion, halved and sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cube Edwards & Sons Not Beef Bouillon + 1 cup boiling water 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons cold water, mixed 1/3 cup tofu 'sour cream' Directions 1.  Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat and saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms for 10  minutes. 2.  Ad...

My best bud, Morgan and her sweet mom, Debbie , introduced me to this amazing bread!  It is the perfect artisan bread... the best, in my opinion.  You bake it in a clay oven called a La Cloche , that fits inside your conventional oven.  It turns out crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside... just like the bread at all those fancy bakeries.  The smell of freshly baked bread wafting through your house will just add to the experience.  I used the recipe from Breadtopia  with tips from Debbie.  She recently posted a variation of this bread on her blog, The Health Seeker's Kitchen ,  that I am definitely going to try.  It looks delicious!    

I'm always on the look out for things that will make my life easier and thought I would share some of my favorite finds with you. These Mini LARABARS are my favorite on-the-go snack!  They are about 100 calories each, and 100% real food.  Just as an example, the Cherry Pie Bar is made with dates, almonds and unsweetened cherries... and that's it... and they are yummy!  I always keep a couple in my bag just in case one of my kids or I get hungry when we are out.  I can't tell you how many times these have saved me!