EAT

EAT

Friday, January 7, 2011

I Aint Missing You... Vegan McRib.

There are so many TV commercials for fast food on these days it could drive you crazy seeing all that meat and fried food. It's always a good idea to stay away from those places, a lesson I'm glad that I've learned, but their is no reason you can't make healthier vegan versions for you or your friends at home. I love making vegan versions of popular food just to show people that being vegan doesn't limit what you can have. Do it better without the death. Here is a quick and easy recipe for the McRib that takes no time at all. 
 
 




Vegan McRib

pickle, sliced for topping
raw onion, Sliced for topping
1/3 of French Baguette, cut in half
1 Morning Star BBQ riblet
2 Tablespoon vegan BBQ sauce*
1 Tablespoon olive oil
sesame seeds

Pre heat oven to 325 F. Take riblet and coat with BBQ sauce. Place riblets on sheet pan and place in oven for 10 minutes. Take baguette and brush with olive oil, dust with sesame seeds. Place baguette on racks in oven and toast for 3 minutes. Assemble riblet, bread and toppings.


*Vegan BBQ Sauce


1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoons yellow or Dijon mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch garlic salt
2 teaspoons liquid smoke

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Back At The Stove... Crazy Good Pizza.

Hello Everyone, I'm back and couldn't be more excited about it. I hope the New Year is treating all of you well. The last few months have been so crazy busy and I've been sick off and on. Im sorry I just left you thinking I was dead or something. I haven't stopped my cooking though and I'm going to be starting again right where I left off. I have a new plan for what I'm doing. I don't just want to share vegan recipes, I want you to understand how important the choices we make and the things we do really are. Cooking is about enjoying yourself not just feeding yourself. Make what you love and it will show in your food. The world needs more love in it, so live, cook, and pass it around. That being said, pizza is one of my all time favorite foods and is super easy to get right. This is a great recipe to make if your having a little get together at your house or if your just getting off work and need a quick meal. I used the pepperoni recipe from my last post like I promised.






Crazy Good Pizza 

1 Whole wheat crust*
2 ounces pizza sauce**
enough sliced pepperoni to top
1/2 Cup Daiya shredded cheese
5 sliced button mushrooms, sauteed 


Place clean ceramic tile onto the bottom of a cold oven and turn the oven to its highest temperature, about 500 F. If the oven has coils on the oven floor, place the tile onto the lowest rack of the oven. Split the pizza dough into 2 equal parts using a knife. Flatten into a disk onto the countertop and then fold the dough into a ball. Sprinkle flour onto pizza peel and place the dough onto the peel. Using your hands, form a lip around the edges of the pizza. Stretch the dough into a round disc, rotating after each stretch. Shake the pizza on the peel to be sure that it will slide off. Brush the rim of the pizza with olive oil. Spread the pizza sauce evenly onto the pizza. Sprinkle the cheese and top with toppings. Slide the pizza onto the tile and bake for 7 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. I know your going to want to dive right in but let rest for a few minutes before slicing.


*Whole Wheat Dough

  1 teaspoon white cane sugar
  1 1/2 cups warm water
  1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
  1 Tablespoon olive oil
  1 teaspoon salt
  2 Cups whole wheat flour
  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size.  


** Pizza Sauce

  1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  1/2 small onion, diced
  1 cloves garlic, minced
  5 large tomatoes, cubed
  1 small green bell pepper, diced
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 

In a pan, saute onion and garlic in the vegetable oil. Place tomatoes into onion and garlic mixture. Stir in diced bell pepper, salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.