Our Veggie Kitchen

Our Veggie Kitchen is here.

My site has been badly in need of an update for over a year. And I've been working on this update since summer. This month, I made a final push to finish before Veganmofo. . . I made it. Phew!

I've also changed my name. Our Veggie Kitchen, I think, reflects the my family's experience in the kitchen, and also the family of bloggers that have influenced me. So please update your bookmarks and links. Thanks.

I've added a lot of new content and made it easier to review older content, I hope to do a couple new things with the update. First, want to give props to the vegan blogging community. Each month, I'll feature some of the blogs that I love and, give some up-start blogs exposure. If you've got such a blog, post a comment or send me a message.

Second, I hope to reach a larger non-vegan audience. I get good feedback from omnivores I know, but I don't know how many get exposed to the blog (probably not many). I love hearing a vegan rave about one of my recipes, but I love it even more when someone makes my recipe instead of something with meat. Every little bit helps. I'm hoping I can turn a little ad revenue into a little site promotion.

Finally, I've done a lot of work the last couple of weeks. If you notice any busted links, typos, or even elements that you like or dislike, please let me know by posting a comment or sending me an e-mail. I'm really interested in what everyone thinks.

Thank you all for being patient. I haven't posted while I was working on this. I'm all set for veganmofo in November. I've got lots of pics, new recipes and holiday ideas.

After a whirlwind March & April, I think I can start dedicating some time to my blog again.  Through the ordeal, I have found some time for cooking, but I will have to dust off my camera.  I've made a Biryani and some Mango Chutney ... and my wife's birthday is coming up, so I see some Indian food in my future.  I've done a lot of quickie food:  tempeh sloppy joes, stupid-easy microwave gravy, bulgur & beans taco filling and a couple of salad dressings and a poblano nacho sauce.  So I'll be rolling these and other posts out soon enough.  Thanks to everyone for sticking with me.

And, for a visual reference of my year-to-date, here's the tree that tried to fall on my house:



Here's some other personal highlights of last couple of months:

Family - My teenage son decided that, after a three year hiatus, he could still skateboard.  He's diligent (or stubborn), if nothing else, and kept skating, even after he fell and broke his elbow in two places.  He's on the mend now, but I have to remind him daily not to fall.
Trees - A tree fell on my house.  Well, almost.  Actually a tree fell, and a giant bough caught on one of my garden beds and suspended the tree, diagonally, over the top of my house.  We were lucky, or the fates are teasing us.
Yard - We've also put tons of work into the yard, building 3 brick and 3 wood garden beds, hauled in 10 yards of dirt for garden and grass and a few other projects.  And, now, the grass is beginning to grow.  Exciting!
Work - At work, I've been swamped.  I've implemented a new database, integrated it with the accounting software, prepared for our annual audit and submitted a huge grant for a housing project.  Whe Fed-Ex'ed three copies of the grant, and it weighted 13 pounds.  Does anyone still remember the Paperwork Reduction Act?

And a copy of last year's grant application:

I've been buried at work lately and its beginning to show.  For the last two weeks, I've been coming home late or dead tired and I just haven't had the energy to post updates.  The good news is that I see an end to the late nights, but I'm typing now at midnight, just after getting home, so I'm not done yet.  Hopefully, I'll get some Super Bowl food before the weekend.

In the mean time, Erik Marcus of Vegan.com put together a great article entitled The Year in Meat: 2009 The article recants the 2009 events related to the Meat industry's toils, mainstream attention to environmental and health benefits of a vegan/vegetarian diet, exposure over animal cruelty, Swine Flu and much more.  It seemed to me that 2009 saw a break-through in positive media coverage of vegan and related issues.  This article proves it.  Its got tons of information, its loaded with links and its well written.  If you're so inclined, be sure to check it out.

The Year in Meat: 2009

Ever since I gave up eating turkeys, Thanksgiving has been a planning challenge.  I've tried to put together a menu that was inspiring and original.  Each year, I've had something that made my omni friends, at least, a bit envious.  I truly hate the forlorner look on people's faces when you tell them that you won't be eating a turkey.  This year, I've put together another holiday stuffing and, this week, I'll post a squash casserole and another delicious gravy.

This year, I stumbled upon a great resource.  Robin Robertson, author of 1000 Vegan Recipes has a number of her recipes posted over at Vegan.com. The full recipes and instructions are posted.  So, if you don't have 1000 Vegan Recipes, follow the link for some delicious looking ideas.

Robin's 2009 Thanksgiving Menu:

Seitan en Croute
Madeira Sauce
Rum-Spiked Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate Pecans
Triple Cranberry Relish
Roasted Asparagus
Garlic Smashers
Stuffed Winter Squash (optional main dish)
Ginger-Dusted Pumpkin Cheezecake

Yesterday, I posted a plate of nachos that I made with Daiya Cheddar cheese. Today, I made pizza using the Daiya Italian Style (Mozzarella) Cheese. LIke the cheddar, it looks and feels much much more like a block of cheese than other analogs. It's not soft and mushy nor hard and plastic-y. I also thought it had better flavor, maybe sweeter but still with a mild, mozzy taste.

On pizza, it is amazing. I had a container of green olives brined with hot peppers. I added some chopped onions and the Yves pepperoni leftover from the girls' pizza. I put cheese beneath the toppings and sprinkled some on top. At first I was disappointed because the cheese on top didn't appear to melt. I was so wrong. It appears to have a thin, hard film, but beneath that is melty cheesy goodness. It behaved a lot like real cheese. In fact, at one point, I was watching an olive, clinging to a strand of cheese as the cheese stretched to hold the olive. It was brilliant. Seriously, I wept.

So, if you can find some Daiya cheese. I would definitely give it a try. For pizza, keep it beneath the toppings and, whatever you do, expect a thin crust and a gooey cheezy center. For the first time in years, it's got me wanting a pan of 'chicken' parmesan and, ohh, the pizza.

Review Part I: Nachos & Cheddar

And speaking of seitan, I've got one package of Chicken Seitan left. I think I'll make some nuggets.

Last night, I left with my boy to meet up with his grandpa. We live 8 hours apart so, when the kids visit, we try to meet half way. We were to meet in The Dalles (just east of West The Dalles), in the Columbia River Gorge. I had been reading a lot about Daiya cheese and was excited to try some. I intended to stop in Portland, but wasn't excited about being downtown during rush hour. I did, however stumble upon a small vegan market in Hood River, a tiny town east of Portland and just west of The Dalles. This was perfect.

I got a little lost getting there. Google Maps completely failed me. I had to call for directions. I finally arrived shortly before closing. It was a wonderful experience. I has a delightful conversation with the owner (I presume), a long time vegan. She caught wind of Daiya through her friendship with Turtle Island Foods, the makers of Tofurkey, also in Hood River. She uses it on their pizza and nachos. Her review included the statement "all I eat is nachos now." She broke away to print up some cheese recipes for me, including a feta that I'm excited about. With cheese and recipes in hand, we talked a little more and I left. . . without paying. I stole the cheese. So, I've got to call this morning and 'fess up.

I wandered the store a bit, and it's a perfect stop off spot. They were closing up, but she did mention pizza and internet reviews suggested the best smoothies and banana ice cream. They also had salads and lots of dressing, an intriguing hazelnut spread, some organic produce, etc. And most of what I saw looked home made. I will be marking this spot for future trips through the gorge.

So, if you're driving down I-84, this is a great place to stop for road munchies. It's just off exit 64. Call for directions, though. Google doesn't know where it is. And bring your walled. She doesn't need anyone else ripping her off.

Mother's Market
106 Highway 35, Hood River Oregon 97031
541-387-2202

And on to the cheese . . .



I bought some cheddar and some italian blend. The first thing I noticed was that it feels and grates like real cheese. It's not soft and mushy like FYH and it doesn't grate into a near liquid pulp, but into a pile of grated cheese. I microwaved it on some nacho chips and it melted. Fast! In about 20 seconds it was done and it looked like more time would have scorched it. Then I tasted it. It's chewy and stringy, like cheese. It felt a little processed, but definitely better than Teese or Follow Your Heart. The taste wasn't bad either, not the best, but good.

Overall, I'm glad I bought it and wish I'd bought more. OK, 'bought' may be a bit strong, but you get the picutre. I'm looking forward to pizza tonight.

Review Part II: Pizza

This survey has been going around, so I thought I'd join the fun.

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?

Unsweetened Soymilk. I didn't drink milk and I don't drink soy. But I use the unsweetened stuff a lot. The regular stuff just adds too much sweetness.

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?

Thai Tempeh Burgers & Green Curry - I'm making tempeh burgers tomorrow along with a batch of green curry paste. I love green curry paste in way too many things. I even mix it with vegenaise as a dip with tater tots.

Stuffed Pumpkins - Twice, every year, when the chantrelle mushrooms come down in price, I make a batch of wild mushroom stuffing and bake it inside several small pie pumpkins. I'll make the fist batch in a couple weeks. The second batch is my replacement for Thanksgiving turkey.

Spring Rolls - I'm not sure when we get to it, but my girls and I have been wanting to make a giant batch of spring rolls. We keep putting it off because weekends have been crazy, but I'm really looking forward to the time with my girls.

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?

Curry Infused Oil - This is a no brainer. I made the infused oil a while back and, on a whim, drizzled it on popcorn. OMG, it's unbelievably good. Seriously, delicious.

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?

I had spent a lot of time researching Kefetedes, which are Greek meatballs made with lamb. I started off really underequipped because I don't know much about Greek cuisine. Further, I'd eaten lamb only once in my life and that was long ago. I had little idea what flavor I was going for and it showed. It tasted horrible and the seitan was even doughy.

I made fresh flat bread and a batch of tzaziki and no filling. And I was planning to take a batch to a staff meeting the next day. I ended up chopping up frozen chickpea patties and the meal and meeting were both good. But I had sunk tremendous effort into something that I may never approach again. It was that bad.

5. Favorite pickled item?

Either jalapeno peppers or plain ole pickles

6. How do you organize your recipes?

I use software called Diet Pro.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?

My mom finally talked me into composting this summer. There's a strange sense of satisfaction you get in watching your garbage rot.

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods...what would they be (don't worry about how you'll cook them)?

chickpeas, tomatoes and mushrooms.

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?

I'm drawing a blank. Sorry.

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?

I ate a sample at a grocery store once. That's it.

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?

Blender. No contest.

12. Spice/herb you would die without?

This is unfairly hard. I have three spice racks and grow a dozen or so fresh herbs. I love cumin, but I'd probably go with a fresh herb, maybe thyme. I'm on a mini rosemary kick right now.

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?

My very first cookbook was a Sunset Italian cookbook. I bought it in high school and used it to death. I bought another one and trashed it again, still keeping most of the lose pages. I found a copy recently at a thrift store and bought it again, for old time sake.

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?

There's a guy that makes Jalapeno jelly that's pretty good. Aside from that I don't like jam.

I've got this thing with sticky. Anything sticky like syrup or jelly lets off an aerosol mist that coats everything, in roughly a one room radius, to become permanently sticky. My boy was 5 years before I would allow syrup into my home.

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?

About once a month, I bring in snacks for our staff meeting. I usually try to make something that either showcases a vegan staple or I make something that would not normally be associated with veganism. On the other hand, I will jump at any opportunity to make anyone Indian food.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?

Yes! Right now I'm in a tempeh phase, but it goes in cycles.

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?

Dinner. I don't do breakfast, ever.

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?

playing cards, a container of dice, an oven temperature gauge and dust.

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.

Burgers, frozen corn and peas, kaffir lime leaves.

20. What's on your grocery list?

I plan the week's meals on Thursday, keeping notes on future ideas as I go. I keep a spreadsheet organized by store and aisle. I shop on Friday night, usually hitting an ethnic or supplemental store on my lunch hour. That's probably more telling than what's actually on my list.

21. Favorite grocery store?

Market of Choice

22. Name a recipe you'd love to veganize, but haven't yet.

Corned Beef - I've made several attempts at making something reminiscent of corned beef. I've tried brining tofu, using a spice mop and a couple shots at seitan. Eventually, I'll get something that lives up my, admittedly, high standards.

23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa's because I know you check it everyday). Or maybe the top 3?

TofuMom - I found this blog a couple of years ago and I still read it. I love her food and her stories.
Yeah That Vegan Shit - She's really slowed down her posts, but her blog is the only one that's made me spew coffee at work. Very funny.
The Vegan Mouse - I just started following this regularly. She's got great ideas and beautiful pictures.

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?

I don't really eat candy.

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?

On a whim, I bought saffron. Still haven't used it.

26. Make up your own question to put here (and answer it). How long did it take to write up these answers?

With interruptions? Over an hour. I'm beat.

My wife has been making these dolls for gifts to friends and family. They cute little guys with screwy smiles and stick figure arms and legs. She's got such a positive response, that she decided to sell them on her etsy account.

Now, she just needs some traffic and a little networking. So, please, click the link to her account and browse around. If you see something you like, favorite the item, spread the work, or make a purchase. They're all adorable creatures and they all need homes.

kfad.etsy.com


Thank you.

We found a new place to live and started moving this weekend. We were asked to leave our old home, to make room for our landlord's in-laws. It kinda sucked, but we were determined to make something good come of it.

And it appears that things are working out. Our new home is bigger. We have a living room, a family room, a formal dining room and a sun room. We don't have enough furniture for all the rooms we now have. My wife will get her very own studio in the sun room and the kids can still be in separate rooms. I'm hoping I hear a lot less of "MOM! HE'S TOUCHING ME!!!"

The yard has not been kept up. It's bone dry and everything is dead or dying. But it will be fun to start afresh. The back yard has lots of ivy and overgrown trees, a pond that has been removed, some rock and brick work and a couple raised beds for gardening. It's desperate for some creative work and we'll both enjoy that challenge.



Finally, I will still have a good sized kitchen. Obviously, the kitchen is an important room in my home. This kitchen is nice and roomy, has almost as much storage as my old one and has an attached pantry, so, hopefully I'll be back with the food shortly. I made enchiladas last night, so hopefully, I'll get that posted soon.

I got notice this week that my landlords want their house back. This really sucks. Now I have to find a new place to live by July 31. And, at work, I have a major grant application due on July 31. And, at home, our whole, extended family vacation is scheduled for August 5. And, we have been planning our Anniversary without kids with a weekend trip to Seattle. Now that's all on hold.

And, We've spent tons of time and money on the yard this year, oblivious of the fact that we would be kicked out. Our front yard had a barren mass of clay that was completely resistant to cultivation and the moss that it spread had taken over the grass. I added loads of soil and compost and transplanted all my previously potted herbs (see below). We even added two new garden beds and planted cabbage and zucchini and tomatoes and cauliflower and cucumbers . . . that I will never harvest.





Needless to say, I'm bummed. They told us that we were great tenants and thanked us for taking care of the home like it was our own. But, right now, that doesn't help much. And, since something has to give, I will probably not be posting much for the next few weeks. I'll just have to see how things go.

Last week my wife (K's Mumbo Jumbo) posted 25 random things about her. I thought it was a neat idea and it would be appropriate if I did the same at about the same time. So here's a laundry list of 25 thinks you probably didn't know (and probably didn't want to know) about me.
And, if you happen to visit my wife's site, make sure and offer her a carrot. She makes a funny face.

1. I talk to my cats. A lot.
   
2. I hand chop everything, always. It's therapeutic for me.
3. My best friend got in trouble with Homeland Security for allegedly importing 300 lbs of German cigarettes. (It was a mix up and he was eventually cleared).
4. The same friend ate peanut butter that had expired a year prior. Yeah, he got sick.
5. My first computer was a TRS-80.
6. I like apples, but not apple pie, sauce, juice or anything with cooked or processed apples.
7. I've had nothing but black cats. All but one adopted us. The only exception to the 'black cat rule' was a siamese stray that would wander into the kitchen. I would say "hi, meow" and it stuck. Her name became Hei Mao, which I later learned was Chinese for Black Cat.
8. My oldest son is a year younger than my youngest brother.
9. In my three years in Eugene, Oregon, I've experienced more precipitation than the previous 15 years in Eastern Washington.
10. I convinced my wife to name our son after her brother and father, until she found out I intended to call him Billy-Bob
11. Gravy is a vegetable!
12. I'm pretty loose with the five second rule. Shhhhh! My wife doesn't know.
13. I hate snow!
14. I punished my eldest by making him drink grapefruit seed extract, aka 'Butt Juice,' instead of soaping his mouth.
15. I sometimes quote Monty Python, just to see if anyone will chime in.
16. I wore a green, cordorroy leisure suit several times a week in Kindergarden.
17. In Kindergarden, I did the entire year's homework in the week I was home with the Chicken Pox.
18. My favorite places in the world are along the banks of the Columbia River.
    
19. We named my daughter after my brother.
20. I started puberty late. In 11th grade, I grew from 90 lbs to 190 lbs.
21. I stood in line for a picture with Magic Johnson, just so I could have him autograph a ball for a friend's birthday.
22. I've been fired from McDonalds . . . Twice!
23. When someone else does the dishes, I rearrange the dishwasher before I run it.
24. Once, while hung over, I recited the first twenty minutes of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" in the shower.
25. I was hung over a lot back then.

1. Living within earshot of a 15 year old boy might be the most disgusting thing I've ever experienced. I'm certain I was never 15.
   

My birthday is this Sunday.

Growing up, my mommy would would make me a lasagna. Later in life, it was a day that I could make whatever I want . . . whether my picky poops like it or not. This year, it's on a weekend, which means I have no time constraints. I truly can make whatever I want. I've got some ideas and I've created a poll to see what you all think. So, please, vote in my poll and I'll make it on Sunday.

• Lasagna - I had one every year growing up, why fight tradition.
• Indian Feast - I've got all the time in the world and the kids can have mac & cheese =)
• Calzones - Everyone makes their own. Everyone's happy.
• Tamales - I've never made them. I'm a chicken - bwak bwak.
• Other - Please comment.

I set out yesterday to make a masala sauce that was healthy and vegan. The tasty approach would be to substitute cream with coconut milk. The healthy approach would be to use silken tofu. I took the healthy path. I cut down on the margarine, add some ground cashews for creaminess and, of coarse, blended tofu I simmered some zucchini wedges in the sauce, which was a addition. It tasted OK, but lacking. I took a few pics, in case I decided to post an in-progress recipe. When I looked at the pics, my decision was quick. The Zucchini Masala looked more like a swampy red sludge with drifting logs of zucchini.

Instead, I present a pic that I rather like: Corny Cornbread Muffins.



These are a work in progress too. I took my favorite cornbread muffins and replaced the eggs with flax. They taste even better, but I need to play a bit more with the flax quantity. My notes also say add some nutritional yeast, but I've no idea why I'd do that.

I will post both of these one day soon . . . but not this day.

I thought I'd take this time to do some overdue housekeeping. My trip down Veg*n boulevard started a couple years ago when I decided to 'cut down' on meat. I went vegetarian last year around Thanksgiving. My kids followed suit a few months later, a source of beaming pride by the way. I stopped eating cheese about 2 months ago and have been playing with eggless cooking about the same time.

My cooking has been vegan for almost the entire life of this blog. My language has not. I still think in terms of 'butter,' 'milk' and even 'sausage.' I've gotten some questions lately about whether I mean butter or Earth Balance, etc. Further, this could become confusing to someone wishing to become vegan. So I've decided to fix the lingo. From here on out my blog will read just as vegan as my cooking.

I'll be going back and editing past entries in the near future. My goal is to finish this month so I can blow two veganmofo entries on the subject. OK, two down and 18 to go.

I spent all last week on the shores of Lake Chelan, in Eastern Washington. We were out of cell range with no internet, and no distractions. I spent the week playing on the boat and jet skis (next year I'm going to try to ski behind the big jet ski), kicked back by the fire, enjoying the kids, or just roasting in the sun. And yes, once you cross the mountains and leave Seattle behind, Washington summers are hot and sunny =).

I made lots of food too. Before we left, I made three batches of seitan; Italian Sausage, Andouille and regular hot dogs. We had chili dogs with lots of nacho sauce, andouille ka-bobs, black beans & rice with cilantro pesto and lots of tacos. My sister made corn salsa, which I will post in the near future. There's nothing like good food and good company.