Super Bowl 50!

Do I care about American football? Not in the slightest - even though the half time show can be mildly entertaining but I do love ANY excuse to make a whole lot of delicious vegan yums and share them with my friends and family! I also enjoy having lots of yummy leftovers to feed me during the week so I make more than I'll need.

Here's what our Super Bowl Sunday looked like...vegan food wise of course ;)

Spicy Vegan Queso Dip

Easy Jalapeno Poppers
Served with vegan ranch (some times I make my own, sometimes I use Follow Your Heart brand)

Buffalo Tofu Bites

Served with vegan ranch or blue cheese dressing (make your own or I use Follow Your Heart Brand)

Avocado Fries with Chipotle Mayo
You can make your own Chipotle Mayo or use Follow Your Heart or Hampton Creek brand.

Easy Jalapeno Poppers

Original recipe from Very Vegan Recipes. If you like you can add spices or vegan cheese shreds to the cream cheese before filling the peppers.

Easy Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients

1 flax egg (1 Tbls flax + 3 Tbls water mixed and left for 15 mins)
1/4 cup gf flour
1/4-1/2 cup water
1/2 cup gf breadcrumbs
1/2 cup gf corn flake crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup vegan cream cheese
12 jalapenos


Method

Prepare the jalapenos by cutting the end with the stem off of each pepper. (I use latex gloves for this)
Then with a sharp knife  slice each pepper down the center of one side.
This should allow you to open the peppers enough to scrape out the seeds and membrane.
Fill each jalapeno with a little over a tablespoon of cashew cheese, adjusting for the size of the peppers.
In a small mixing bowl combine the flax egg, flour, and water, and mix well.
In a second bowl mix together the bread crumbs, corn flake crumbs, and salt. ou could use just bread crumbs, panko, or even corn meal, however I find I prefer the texture of this mixture best for jalapeno poppers.
For each pepper dip first in the flour mixture, and then place in the bowl with the bread crumb mixture.
Spoon the mixture over the peppers until coated evenly.
In a medium frying pan heat ¼ inch of oil to 350°.
Place each of the coated peppers in the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, turning to make sure each side is cooked evenly.
Serve with your fresh vegan jalapeno poppers with your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy.

Spicy Vegan Queso Dip

Recipe found on Follow Your Heart. This was delicious! Cheesy and spicy! Leftovers make a great filling for quesadillas, tacos or nachos!

Spicy Vegan Queso Dip

Ingredients

Avocado oil (I just used olive oil)
12 oz vegan soy chorizo
1/2 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Adobo sauce from a can of Chipotle peppers***
1 tsp each spice: cumin, cayenne, smoked paprika
2 tablespoons white rice flour (or all purpose flour)
8 oz beer of your choice or vegetable broth
10 oz Vegan Cheese Alternative (I used Daiya Chedder Shreds)
1/4 cup Vegan Sour Cream (I used Tofutti)
Tortilla chips, for serving


Method

First, drizzle a tablespoon or so of avocado oil in a medium saucepan. Add the soyrizo and brown over medium-high heat. Remove soyrizo with a slotted spoon, set aside to drain on paper towels or in mesh sieve.
Leave about 1 Tbsp of grease in the pan, then add the onion and garlic and cook about five minutes, stirring often, until the onion is translucent.
Add in the adobo sauce and spices and stir until effectively combined with the vegetables. Sprinkle in the flour and stir, another 3 minutes or so, until it sticks to the onions and garlic.
Pour in the beer and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low and add the cheese, one handful at a time, until it melts. Stir frequently and use a rubber spatula to prevent it from sticking to the side.
After all the cheese is incorporated and melted, stir in the sour cream.
Serve (if possible in a fondue pot or a small slow cooker set to Warm) immediately with tortilla chips!


*** Please note that  Adobo sauce is usually not gluten free so you can substitute with this recipe;

Mix together;
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or smoked paprika/cayenne powder mix)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
A pinch of oregano
A pinch of garlic powder
A pinch of salt.

Avocado Fries with Chipotle Mayo

Recipe found on Follow Your Heart. So delicious, especially if you are like me and LOVE hot avocado! Also great with a sprinkling of vegan chicken salt!

 Avocado Fries with Chipotle Mayo

Ingredients

2 cups vegetable oil
4 avocados, halved, seeded, peeled and sliced lengthwise
1/4 tsp salt, or more to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 prepared egg substitutes
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs (I used a combination of rice & corn flake crumbs)

For serving;
1 1/2 cup Chipotle vegan mayo (you can buy ready made or make your own - recipe below)
Juice from 1/2 a lime
Cilantro

Method

Heat vegetable oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium high heat
Create three bowls: 1 for flour, 1 for crumbs, and 1 for egg substitute.
Prepare VeganEgg by combining powder with ice cold water.
Whisk until consistency is thick.
Mix flour, chili powder, and cumin together.
Set up last bowl with Panko
Season avocados with salt, to taste

Working one at a time, dredge avocado slices in flour, dip into egg substitute, then dredge in Panko, pressing to coat
Working in batches, add the avocado slices to oil, 5 or 6 at a time, and fry until evenly golden brown and crispy (about 1-2 minutes on each side).
Transfer to paper-towel lined plate.
Serve immediately, top with a squeeze of lime, cilantro and serve with Chipotle Vegenaise

Chipotle Mayo
Whisk together;
1 cup vegan mayo
1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon dried chipotle powder, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste, around 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon

Vegan Items - February 2016

Very excited to see that Ikea's Vegetable Balls are now available in the frozen section near the checkout! I love them so much!!!! I wish I could buy online!

I saw this Two Faced: Better Than Sex vegan mascara being recommended online. I do really like it although it is slightly clumpy and even though it's not a waterproof mascara I have the same problem with getting it off as I did with Tarte Amazonian Clay Mascara. You do get good volume though! I bought mine at Sephora.

I am in love with Image Skincare! A totally vegan spa range. I love their Vital C which is amazing for facial products, smells like oranges and is fine for pregnancy woman. I particularly love this Prevention+ 32 SPF Moisturizer, it's so silky and not at all greasy...plus it smells amazing! I'm hooked! 

I know Butter London vegan nail polish isn't anything new but since I got my incredible bargain I thought I'd mention them again!

Saw this Vegan Egg Nog over Christmas by Califia Farms and it was delicious!

Bought these Hail Merry raw vegan chocolate mint tarts over Xmas but honestly didn't really enjoy them. Too bitter and raw for me!

My amazing brother and sister-in-law got me this amazing gift from Healthy Surprise. It's a vegan box of snacks that comes not just once but for THREE months in a row! So awesome!! My second delivery didn't come and I emailed their customer service and although they were quick to respond they still haven't sent the second one - it's two weeks late now :(

 I found some Amy's meals at Wholefoods that I hadn't seen before and although they didn't say all they were gluten or dairy free when I checked the ingredients list they definitely were vegan and gluten free! They were all pretty good, I mean they are frozen meals so that's the standard you have to expect but pretty good considering they are gluten free and vegan!

 

This may not be new but I got a we bit nostalgic when I saw vegan Neapolitan ice-cream by So Delicious - reminded of my childhood. Did anyone else's household end up with just the strip of vanilla in the tub? LOL

I have had Follow Your Heart vegan ranch but never tried the Honey Mustard. OMG so good!! t reminded me of a thicker version of Agave Mustard Salad Dressing.

I had never heard of this brand but I saw these Engine 2 vegetable based patties at Wholefoods. They were pretty delicious, they taste like vegetables, not meat but were very hearty.

I saw this Jackfruit Company at Wholefoods and got really excited but I was a little disappointed. The jack fruit was still in chunks and the sauce wasn't very tasty. Think I'll stick to making it myself! Recipe here!