Jackfruit joy

You know that moment, when you try a new recipe or order somethingat a restaurant that you've never had before, and you realize, "Oh my god, I am going to eat this everyday for the rest of my life." Jackfruit carnitas are one of those foods. It's like the perfect combination of flavour, simplicity and sandwich. It's like tacos and PB&J got together and had a more delicious baby. It's like the sandwich I wish I had for lunch as a kid, except I didn't eat an avocado until well into university.
I got the recipe from Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day, which is one of those cookbooks I just like to flip through and daydream about. The amazingness of this particular sandwich makes up for the weird texture and look of jackfruit, which to me, kinda looks like canned brains. Disregard this, and make it anyway. Or make it for Halloween and pretend you're a zombie: braaaaiiiinsssss...

Reuben Sandwich with a capital S

I bought Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day a couple months ago. It's awesome, and the pictures make my mouth water, but I hadn't made anything from it yet. Until today, of course. On an impulse last week, I bought sauerkraut and pumpernickel bread from the grocery store thinking of the One World Reubens from the cookbook. Something about toothy seitan and sour-crunchy sauerkraut got my tastebuds in a tizzy. But today when I started making them I realized I didn't have all the ingredients. So I made the seitan with a couple cheats, substitutions and flavour tricks. The sauce too--it was supposed to include a half or dozen or things I didn't have, so I fudged it with mayo and hot sauce, giving my version an almost neon pink hue. Then of course I forgot to add the sauce before I grilled the sandwich, so the slice next to the sauerkraut got soggy. However, I managed to hold off eating this gorgeous veGANwich until I took a picture and then was able to dig in. It was everything I dreamed it would be. The reuben is one of those sandwiches that definitely lets you know you're eating an entire meal. It's not a sandwich, it's a Sandwich. Even if you make a mockery of the original recipe ingredients, respect the reuben--and then eat the hell out of it. 

Magic pb & j

I do like my gadgets, especially my panini press. It makes things delicious, and for some reason I feel less guilty about grilling in the press than in a frying pan. Maybe because I grill veggies in there a lot too? Whatever, I shouldn't feel guilty about delicious things. Especially because sometimes I get amazing ideas like grilling a peanut butter and jam sandwich. It's like magic! It made the nut nuttier and I think the jam oozed out a little bit and caramelized in the press. You can use whole grain bread, like I do, to add some nutrition to a childhood favourite. If you don't have a panini press, do it in a frying pan, and don't feel guilty about it.