Almost Vegan

A very old family recipe – veganized. Every year, when the blueberries come off the bushes, we take out this pan (9×13) and make a blueberry coffee cake. This is the most simple, but the best thing to eat in the world. It’s also blue food, so no matter how sweet and decadent, it’s good for you.

You’ll need 2 pints of blueberries, a (flour) sifter (very important), 1 cup vegan margarine, Egg Replacer, soy milk, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, for the most amazing vegan taste treat!

The ultimate blueberry coffee cake and it is completely vegan.

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Look at this, Wal-Mart is marketing its own brand of soy milk!

I take this as a huge sign that soy milk is really catching on. That is great. Now all we have to do is work on the soy ice cream, soy cream cheese, and soy sour cream. All of which are so good that if people knew, Wal-Mart would be marketing its own brand of those things too.

Taste test: It’s actually pretty good.

(Again, please don’t hate me for shopping at Wal-Mart. I really have to do it or I’ll starve!)

I go out, I drive past fast food joints, and I am not so strong or so militant that I do not weaken. I actually like to grab something at a drive thru (I’ll admit it) and eat it on the run.

I can do this and stay vegan if I go to Taco Bell, and I really like their Raspberry Iced Tea.

I get a bean burrito, NO CHEESE — “No cheese?” — Yes, that’s right, no cheese, and I want rice, lettuce, onions and tomatoes on it, Okay? — “Sure, that’s okay.” — Thank you very much.

You really don’t need a grill to eat one (or more) of these chick’n patties. Even if you fry them in a pan they taste like you grilled them over an open flame.

Gardenburger Chick’n Patties are an amazing feat of technology. I still marvel at the thought that people can create something out of soy that tastes so close to the real thing. Actually, I have had chicken burgers at fast food restaurants that taste less like chicken than these vegan patties.

Enjoy… and they are good cooked on the grill too.

Wanna kick, vegan style?

If you like the spicy green relish that comes with sushi called wasabi, you will absolutely love this snack. I used to buy these in bulk in my local health food store, great place called Sawall Health Foods, but the quality of their wasabi peas was spotty. Nice and green one time I’d be there and then too yellow to buy another. So no wasabi peas for me in a while, but then I happened upon these Hapi Snacks brand wasabi peas (sorry, no website) in my local grocery store and grabbed them. They are really tasty and consistently good every time, and I also like getting them in a can with a seal up lid. Completely vegan.

Oh Betty…

When I was going to college I had a roommate/best friend that was a genius at keeping us alive. We would have absolutely nothing in the house, food-wise – not even milk, and she would get up in the morning and make us the best coffee cake in the whole wide world.
 

Bisquick was her secret and if you are vegan and have armed yourself with Ener-G Egg Replacer [or any vegan egg re-placer], you don’t even need an egg.

Just add water, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and vegan margarine, all stuff you can keep on hand.

Streusel Coffee Cake
Cinnamon Streusel (below)
2 cups Original Bisquick mix
2/3 cup water or *milk – (you can use soy milk, but to my taste it makes it a bit gummier – cut it with 1/2 water if you do)
2 tablespoons sugar
*1 egg – Vegan Egg Replacer

1.) Heat oven to 375? F. Grease 9-inch round or square pan. Make Cinnamon Streusel; reserve.
2.) Stir together remaining ingredients until blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with Cinnamon Streusel.
3.) Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.

Cinnamon Streusel
1/3 cup Original Bisquick mix
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons vegan margarine (firm)
Mix all ingredients in small bowl until crumbly.

*non-vegan ingredients suggested in Betty’s recipe.

I have never made falafel before this week, but I am always on the look out for high protein foods these vegan days. I happened upon this box of telma Falafel Mix in my supermarket’s Jewish food section.

I appreciate Jewish food, I love how they have the food marked – PARVE – so I know it’s vegan without having to read the box. I don’t know if this is necessarily the best falafel mix, but it is made in Israel under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate of Haifa.

I also bought the telma tehina sauce to go with my falafel. (Unfortunately they don’t have a website) I didn’t make the serving suggestion on the front of the box, I made a nice salad with them instead.

It is a pain to have to fry them in a 1/4 inch of corn oil, but other than that, I really loved them and the tehina sauce.

UPDATE [2023] – I had this for dinner last night, purchased at Wal-Mart. 10 miles from me. Thank you, Amy.

——- original post ——-

I am so busy lately. Between work, summer fun and family events I have not had any time to cook.

So if I can get to the health food store, which unfortunately is like 50 miles away, I stock up on these Veggie Loafs, amongst other things. I usually get the regular frozen dinner, which includes mashed potatoes, peas and a slice of loaf with gravy. Totally vegan meal in 5 minutes in the microwave, no muss, no fuss at all.

Amy’s Veggie Loaf also comes in a family size which includes 4 slices. Perfect for the small vegan family, except you don’t get the mashed potatoes and peas, and I hate that because I appreciate having vegan mashed potatoes that I don’t have to make myself. Oh well.

Either way, this veggie loaf is great and the gravy is the best. Try it when you’re busy, lazy, in a hurry, whatever.

One of my favorite quick “almost vegan” meals is quesadillas, especially when I have an avocado on hand. My favorite quesadillas are spinach-mushroom. Of course I use Veggie Shreds [not available anymore, any vegan cheese] and I also use these Tumaro’s Gourmet Tortillas.

These are great, truly vegan, and organic. They come in a number of different flavors: Jalapeno & Cilantro, Chipotle Chili & Peppers, Pesto & Garlic, Garden Spinach & Vegetables, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil, Honey Wheat, Premium White.

I realize most everyone must know how to make a quesadillas, but just in case you don’t, recipe below.

Almost Vegan Quesadillas
Mushrooms
Bag of Spinach
Cheddar Flavor Veggie Shreds
Tortillas
Oil
1.) Saute enough Mushrooms and Spinach that you need (for 2 I use 6 mushrooms and 2 big handfuls of spinach) in oil in a large skillet. When cooked take out and put on a plate.
2.) In the same skillet, use the same oil or add a little more and place a tortilla in there. Cook till it puffs up or is golden on the bottom and turn over. Remove the skillet from the heat for a moment, place a good amount of mushrooms and spinach on half the tortilla, and sprinkle with Veggie Shreds. Fold over and return to heat. Cook on both sides until tortilla is golden and cheese is melted.

This is the best chai tea there is and it just happens to be vegan.

It comes pre-mixed with the “milk” – Westsoy soy milk that is – already in it. I usually still cut it with soy milk, about 50/50, but that is just my personal taste.

I love this stuff and I would probably drink it even if I was not vegan. It is smooth and sort of chocolaty tasting instead of being really sharp and super sweet like most chais.

UPDATE [2023] – No longer available. Try it. Available at most mid to upscale supermarkets or check the Westsoy [now Westlife] website.