Browsed by
Month: October 2012

Eat Pastry Giveaway

Eat Pastry Giveaway

Comments 133 comments

Our winner is moonsword, who appreciates a good Buffy quote:

Giles: Well, we listened to aggressively cheerful music sung by people chosen for their ability to dance, and we ate cookie dough and talked about boys.
Buffy: [laughs] Oh, I’m sorry. I’m very, very sorry, but if it makes you feel any better, my fun-time Buffy party night involved watching a robot throw Spike through a window. So if you wanna trade… No wait, I wouldn’t give that memory up for anything.
Neither would I…I’d share with my sis and we’d talk about our current crushes. 🙂

When I was a wee vegan, the first thing I truly wanted to master was the art of making good cookies.  Don’t get me wrong.  Whole wheat, health food store, carob chip things are all good and well, but how I longed for a really good cookie.

Well, the world of vegan cookies has changed a lot since I first went vegan in 2001.  Now there are really good packaged cookies, an internet full of recipes, and Eat Pastry Cookie Dough.  Get right the heck outta town!  Vegan cookie dough!  Yessir/ma’am!

When I found out this was vegan, I was shocked!  I had walked by the cookie dough everyday at my job and had no idea.  Let me tell you…this stuff is great!  I would eat this from a spoon.  I would eat this on the moon.  This is so good straight out of the oven.  The perfect combination of crispy and chewy.

Now for the fun.  1 lucky winner will receive a t-shirt, Five $1 coupons, and cash monies for 2 tubs of Eat Pastry Cookie Dough.  All you have to do is comment below with how you plan to use the dough.  Any and all Buffy references will be appreciated!  Contest open to US residents only! A winner will be picked randomly tomorrow, October 30th, at 11 am CST.

Iron Chef Roundup #3: Hot Peppers, Sunflower Seeds, and Grapes

Iron Chef Roundup #3: Hot Peppers, Sunflower Seeds, and Grapes

Comments 9 comments

This week I posed the challenge of using three key ingredients in a unique dish for Vegan MoFo Iron Chef.  I am really impressed by all the entries this week using hot peppers, sunflower seeds, and grapes. They all sound like dishes that I would like to make and, more importantly, eat!

A visit to The Spade & Spoon produced a guide on how to make Sunflower Seed Tarts with Red Wine and Chili Jam. Can you believe it? I didn’t even think of wine when I thought up this week’s ingredient list. Grapes are versatile I tell you! (Left photo in image above.)

Kelly from Grassroots created a Waldorf Salad containing this week’s key ingredients (including jalapeno-roasted sunflower seeds!) and is called “Jalapeno-Face” Spicy Waldorf Salad.  (Center photo in image above.)

How do grilled tofu, taquitos, and Pico de Gallo fit in with this weeks Iron Chef challenge? You’ll have to visit Kim Cooks Veg 4U to see this inspired menu for yourself. (Right photo in image above.)

Vegan Fazool’s entry is unique for many reasons. Using the Candied Cowboys (candied jalapenos) made early during MoFo, The Sheriff, put together “The Shiny Saddle” and “The Candied Sunflower Raisin Saddlebag“. Hope the homestead makes it through the storm alright! (Photo above.)

Two contestants went the stuffed pepper approach.

Another Iron Chef newbie, The Unintentional Vegan used the ingredients beautifully in her Sunflower Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers with Balsamic Grape Dipping Sauce. (Left photo in image above.)

Opting for poblanos in lieu of jalapenos, Laura created a substantial dish from Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Sweet & Spicy Rasin Chutney. Talk about fusion! (Right photo in image above.)

When I thought up this set of ingredients, sunflower seeds in a bread seemed like a natural choice. Apparently, a couple of participants thought so too!

Take a look at Cara’s Raisin Scones with Sweet & Spicy Sunflower Seed Spread. Perhaps this is the perfect thing to eat while reading Wuthering Heights? (Left photo in image above.)

Somer went all-out with her first Iron Chef submission. This Monte Cristo is pretty epic. (Center photo in image above.)

Rubber Cowgirl’s Sunflower Biscuits with Grape-Chili Jam look like a great snack. I can just imagine the spicy sweetness of the jam on a crumbly biscuit. Mmmm mmmm. Kudos to you for eliminating palm oil from your cooking. I’m right there with you! (Right photo in image above.)

Well, that wraps up this season of Vegan MoFo Iron Chef.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  It was a lot of fun to see the key ingredients used so creatively in unique dishes.

Sunday Round Up – What’s Your Flava?!

Sunday Round Up – What’s Your Flava?!

Comments 4 comments

Yeah, that title was inspired by a gross Craig David song. It’s Sunday night, I’ve eaten a lot of sweets, my brain has clearly turned to mush! I’m still here with your Sunday night round up though and I have some delicious lookin’ stuff lined up!

Firstly I need a slice of Tiffany’s Apple Pie. Stat. Just look at that perfect crust and those beautiful apples.

If nobody’s willing to bring me pie I’d happily take one of these yummy looking Raw Caramel-Fudge Brownies from Vegan Gourmet Caravan instead!

As you can probably tell I really don’t need any more sugar right now but if one of the Vegan Twix bars The Laziest Vegans blogged about appeared in front of me I wouldn’t turn it down!

If you’d like your sweet treat on the fancy side these Peanut Butter & Sambal Wontons with Chocolate Sauce from Olives For Dinner would be right up your street. Just look at them! Perfection.

Not really in the mood for making your own dessert today? Well, I can’t blame ya, it is Sunday after all! If, like Jess Sconé, you’re stuck in NYC because of the impending storm you can head out (maybe…are you allowed to go out if there’s a storm coming?) and get a delicious doughnut from DunWell. If not, well, whip up a mug brownie and get settled in for the night!

That concludes my Sunday round-up, I hope you’ve all had a great weekend and I hope to see ya’ll in the blogosphere tomorrow!

Giveaway – LUSH

Giveaway – LUSH

Comments 75 comments

We have our five winners! Congratulation, e–mails are on the way! I loved reading everyones answers, they made me feel all warm and cosy and excited about snow, mince pies, Christmas & hot chocolate!

Caroline Cotterall: I love cold crisp but dry days when the ground is all frosty and the leaves are orange. Snuggling up in front of the fire and drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate.

Alexandra Turner: Getting the tree and decorations out, the clocks going back (an extra hour in bed!), lots of nice food and family / friend get togethers. Father Christmas is beginning to make a reappearance in my house as I have two year old twins. Looking forward to leaving out mince pieces and carrots for reindeers. Also my birthday is in winter (just after New Year) and I’m now planning my winter wedding that’s happening in January 2014.

Rachel: I know it’s silly to have a “season” for eating things, because really you can eat whatever whenever, but I feel like winter-time has the best food and drink – pumpkin stuff, nog, gingery things. So I guess my favourite thing about winter is food!

J Applebee: My favourite thing about winter: Spending the extra-long nights with people I love. I adore waking up to hot crumpets and jam, warm smiles and hotter kisses. Makes slugging to work through the wind and rain worth it just to have that first.

Sal: My favourite thing about winter is easy – CHRISTMAS!! I love everything about it. And of course – Winter is Snow Fairy season!

Are you feeling a little tired after spending October cooking, eating, blogging & commenting up a storm for Vegan MoFo? Are you as in love with everything LUSH as I am? Do you live in the UK or Ireland? If the answer to all of these questions is Yes, Yes, YES then boy do we have an awesome competition for you!

LUSH have generously offered to give away five, yes, FIVE, Winter Wishes giftboxes to you, our lovely MoFo blog readers. As I said before I’m a little bit in love with LUSH. I currently have three different LUSH shower gels on the go (Twilight, Happy Hippy & Snow Fairy) and my favourite way to wind down after a stressful day is a relaxing glitter-filled bubble bath using one of my favourite bubble bars. LUSH are one of my favourite companies ever. They’re super animal friendly – most of their products are vegan, including their entire new make up range. Nothing is ever tested on animals by them or their suppliers and they’re involved in loads of wonderful campaigns, from human rights to animal rights and beyond.

This great giftbox includes a little bit of everything; two lovely soaps, including the one I have in my bathroom right now, Snow Globe, the all-new and super exciting orange juice, plum & cinnamon infused Ponche shower gel which is sure to perk you up on a cold winter morning, and an Each Peach massage bar which will definitely help you relax & wind down after all of this strenuous MoFoing.

To enter just leave a comment below before 3pm GMT tomorrow telling us what your favourite thing about Winter is. Please be sure to leave a valid e-mail address so that we can contact you if you win. The winner will be randomly selected and announced after the giveaway has ended. This competition is only open to anyone living in the UK & Ireland.

It’s My Special Day Round-up

It’s My Special Day Round-up

Comments 7 comments

Just like last year, I signed up to do my one round-up on my birthday. My favorite thing to do on my birthday is just punctuate all of my normal activities by screaming ‘IT’S MY SPECIAL DAY’. Well, IT’S MY SPECIAL DAY so here are all the things I want to post about.

I’ve seen plenty of dirt cakes, but I like the easy Halloween twist!

I thought the fact that her son wanted her to make cupcakes for a friend’s birthday was cute enough, but the idea of kitchen utensils plotting together to break made me laugh. Because i’ve had that happen. THEY’RE SENTIENT, LOOK OUT.

Even though I don’t watch Dr. Who (bad nerd!), I know a lot of people who do so I thought Cadry’s Dr. themed dinner party was really cute.

I have been on a pumpkin-food kick lately (we made pumpkin pie for my birthday in lieu of a cake), and I think that Silas is one of the cutest little vegans EVER, so win/win for him holding a muffin dressed like Spiderman!

But speaking of cakes, this Mint Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is a CILNO (cake i’d like to nom on).

But look, it’s the best of both worlds! Pumpkin Chocolate Walnut Coffee Cake! Actually, I think that’s the best of all of the worlds.

There have been some really cool themes this year, a few of my favorites are 50 Shades of Kale, 30 Days of Christmas Cookies, Eat to the Beat, Geeky Treats (star Wars edition), and The Walking Fed.

And before I go, a happy birthday month to my fellow MoFoers: Lindsay, Erin, Muriel, Jeremy, Kylie, Colorado Vegan, Justin, Andrea, Veronica, Kim, Katya, Nicole, and Carrie!

Iron Chef Challenge: #3

Iron Chef Challenge: #3

Comments 13 comments

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for me to post this week’s secret ingredients for the Iron Chef Challenge. Participants will then use these ingredients in a unique dish, blog about the dish, and post a link to the recipe in the comments below. On Sunday I will do a roundup of the participating blogs’ dishes.

Our first Iron Chef Challenge this MoFo season brought you one ingredient. Then we raised the bar with two key ingredients. Have a seat; this is a shocker. This week, our final week of Vegan MoFo Iron Chef 2012, we will have THREE key ingredients! This pure Vegan MoFo craziness is brought to you by our key ingredients…

Hot peppers, sunflower seeds, & grapes

Hot pepper varieties abound, so choose any (or several) that you’d like. If you’re sensitive to heat, remember to discard the seeds and ribs. If you’re really sensitive to heat, go ahead and use a sweet pepper. We’ll be none the wiser.

Key ingredients can be used in  any form.
Psssstttt. Updated to add this hint: Raisins.

A quick review of our few simple rules/guidelines:

1. Whatever you come up with has to be new, nothing from a cookbook or a blog, not something you posted last week that happens to involve the secret ingredient(s). It’s fine to use a recipe for a jump-off point, but make it your own!
2. Entries are due at 3 pm PST on Sunday.
3. Have fun and be creative!

Allez Végétalien Cuisine!

Giveaway – Vega One All-In-One Nutritional Shake

Giveaway – Vega One All-In-One Nutritional Shake

Comments 301 comments

I’m a total Vega head. Five years ago I came across Vega and it has become one of my favorite and most used products. Vega One is a fabulous all-in-one shake that is nutritionally dense, easy to make and delicious. It’s my breakfast/workout recovery/I-don’t-want-to-cook drink. Everyone should try it at least once.

This giveaway is for a half jug of any Vega One flavor of your choice! That’s ten servings. You can choose between French Vanilla (my favorite right now), Chocolate, Berry, Vanilla Chai or Natural.

 

All you have to do is leave a comment telling us your favorite way to workout. Make sure to leave a valid email so we can contact you. Five winners will be chosen and your life will be changed forever more. This offer is for US and Canada addresses only. Giveaway ends Thursday 10/25/12 at 8pm CST, good luck!

The winners have been picked, thanks everyone!

Tuesday Round Up

Tuesday Round Up

Comments 9 comments

I couldn’t really narrow down a theme for today so I’m gonna go renegade with my roundup!

The first and most epic post to catch my eye today was from Kittee over at Cake Maker To The Stars. I don’t even know what to say about these sugar skulls other than OMG! Wow! What the hell? Kittee I think you’re a genius and I’d like to come and live with you please?!

I wish that I had even a quarter of the patience it must’ve taken to make these!

This super cute star covered pear galette made by mama et de bébé hawk looks more like something I could make. I love the use of pears rather than apples in this traditional dessert and I bet that they were super delicious.

I love vegan cheese. Whether it’s Cheezly, Daiya, Follow Your Heart, Vegusto, Teese, Sheese or homemade I’ll eat it. I’d never heard of Ste Martaen before though but now, after reading Star City Vegan’s post, I’m sure I’d love their cheeses too.

I’ll admit that I can’t really understand most of this next post but a picture speaks a thousand words and all that! This picture’s clearly saying “Eat me, I’m delicious”! This Avocado Chimichurri Bruschetta  from twoodledrum really does look like the perfect lunch.

Mandee from Cupcake Kitteh made Buckwheat Flour Pancakes today and I think that these would also make an amazing lunch. Or brunch. Or breakfast, dinner or dessert! Hell, I’d definitely eat these at any time of day. Perfection.

Giveaway – Goody Good Stuff

Giveaway – Goody Good Stuff

Comments 79 comments

We have our winners! Congratulations Jo and Brooke, e-mails are on the way!

Halloween is slowly creeping up on us and this is the time of year that I most want candy. Trick or Treating isn’t as much of a tradition in Europe as it is in America but the idea of going door to door filling up a bag with sweets and chocolate still excites me. Honestly, if I thought anyone would answer their door to me on the 31st & hand over vegan treats I’d definitely give it a go!

Today’s giveaway comes from Goody Good Stuff, this UK based vegetarian company make tasty traditional style gummy sweets minus the gelatine and you’ll be pleased to hear that this one’s open to anyone living in the UK & Ireland, Europe & the US.

The Cola Breeze are my favourites closely followed by Sour Fruit Salads, yum!

Goody Good Stuff are offering two people the chance to win a Halloween Goody Bag filled with four bags of vegan sweets and a cuddly version of their mascot Kobi Koala, cute!

To enter just leave a comment below before 4pm BST tomorrow telling us what your favourite treat is. Please make sure to include a valid e-mail address so that we can get in contact with you. The winner will be randomly selected and announced after the giveaway has ended. The competition is open to anyone living in the UK & Ireland, Europe or the USA.

 

Monday Roundup: Warm n’ Hearty Autumn

Monday Roundup: Warm n’ Hearty Autumn

Comments 6 comments

Okay.  So, I have always loved this time of year.  The air is crisp.  The sweaters appear.  Plus, everything is apples and pumpkins.  But my absolute favorite thing is eating hot food on a cold autumn day while snuggling with my dog.  Bring on the goodness!

Confident Cook, Hesistant Baker made me do a double take with these absolutely dreamy looking mashed parsnips.  I don’t even know if I’ve had or like parsnips, but I definitely need this in my mouth hole STAT!

If that wasn’t lovely enough, take a peek at the roasted tomato, artichoke, and chickpea sauce that Vegan Fazool made!  Totally droolworthy!

Ultimately, nothing says autumn like apples.  I could probably write an entire separate blog dedicated to the organic honeycrisps that I’ve been eating lately.  Jes adapted a recipe and created some killer looking spiced cider!

Amber made some delicious looking broccoli polenta cakes.  Broccoli. Polenta. Cakes.  With sauce!

 For true seasonal inspiration, you just have to see the crazy sauce that is Cadry’s Thanksgiving kebabs.  Greatness!

That’s all for now, folks. So, what are some of your favorite warming dishes?  Don’t forget to comment with the links!  Happy mofoing!