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. 

Caeser, you creamy vegan minx

I had another inspiration today: vegan Caesar salad. I know it's not really original--that vegan cookbook default, Veganomicon, has a recipe, if I do recall--but I haven't tried it yet. Last night when I sprinkled store-bought vegan parm on my lettuce I thought, sweet Isa, why haven't I made vegan Caesar yet?
So tonight I did. I didn't even go to the grocery store first, or plan it out, which is so unlike me it makes me wonder if I'm coming down with something.
I just came home tonight and started cutting tofu into teeny tiny pieces for smokey-bacon-style tofu bits. This was also when I discovered that there are a billion vegan Caesar dressing online. Which is good, because I had no idea what to put in mine. In the end I used garlic, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and vegan mayo. It was yummy, but a wee bit too garlicky--I recommend something less than a full grated clove of raw garlic for one portion, FYI. I should also have skipped the balsamic since it made the dressing brown and not that lovely creamy colour that photographs well. However the salad did give me a chance to use up some old bread for croutons--just toss bread cubes (smaller than you think they should be) in a little oil and toast in the oven. Then toss together with your fake'n bits and parm, and if you really want to replicate the full deal, slice some faux chicken and lay photogenically on top. Caesar, you must have been a delicious man.

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.

Dumplings redux

I made edamame dumplings a few weeks ago, and was overjoyed to discover that it didn't have to be the three-hour affair that I remembered. So I when I was at the grocery store last week, I picked up more dumpling wrappers and mushrooms for another easy-peasy version. While the edamame dumplings were delightful, I think the mushroom dumplings were even better. ...Mostly because mushrooms are one of my favouritest foods. Just saute the mushrooms and whir in a food processor or with a stick blender until small enough to stuff in a wrapper. If you love mushrooms and dumplings as I do, it'll be doubly delicious for you. I recommend going to the store right now. You can have delicious dumplings made and cooked before you're even hungry.

#fuckyeahveganpizza

Don't put this pizza on a folding table--it's so full of toppings the table may collapse. #youvebeenwarned