Luciana – VeganMoFo

Friday Fall Fruit Roundup

October 20, 2012 Luciana Comments 3 comments

One of the things that makes the hot, humid summers of the DC area much more tolerable is the bounty of summer produce. I easily eat my weight in cherries, peaches, nectarines, berries, peppers, and everything else summer has to offer, and all too quickly, it comes to an end (at least the sort I can get locally and inexpensively), along with summer’s long days.

Still, autumn is my favorite season–the changing leaves, sweaters, sleeping with the windows open, and lots of reasons for fun and celebration. I’ve also realized that many of my favorite fruits are also harvested during the fall.

Apples are available year-round, but there are so many varieties available at the farmer’s markets in the fall. I’d happily eat one of Bite Me I’m Vegan’s Apple Sticky Buns for breakfast any morning.

These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Almonds from Lindsay at The Kitchen Operas would be welcome on my Thanksgiving table, or dinner any night of the week.

No fall feast would be complete without cranberries, and I wouldn’t have thought of using pearl couscous as Christine does in a hearty bowl of Whole Wheat Couscous with Pistachios and Dried Cranberries.

We also often have stuffed squash at fall dinners, and this Carnival Squash stuffed with Maple Dijon Quinoa and Beans by Janet at the Taste Space includes fresh cranberries and sounds delicious.

Figs make a second appearance in early fall, and this Roasted Garlic, Caramelized Onion, and Fig Pizza by Patrick at the Vegan Road would be really comforting at the end of a cool day.

I’d love a bowl of Hot Vegan Chickpea’s Acorn squash, pear, and adzuki soup with sauteed shiitakes, followed by a slice of Opinions on Onions Pear Cake with Spice Cookies (hello, speculoos cookies!).

Over at K’s Veg Recipes, we find tasty Persimmon Pumpkin Cookies. I still can’t believe I spent 20+ years of my life not eating persimmons!

Finally, this Autumn Cobbler made by Jesse at The Happy Go Lucky Vegan features three fall fruits–apples, pomegranates, and persimmons, along with a lovely streusel topping.

I hope you’re enjoying plenty of your favorite fruits, in whichever climate you’re living. See you next time!

Vegan MoFo 2012 – The Complete RSS List

October 3, 2012 Luciana Comments 0 Comment

We had to keep the bundles in categories this year because Google seems to be limiting the number of subscriptions it will allow in a bundle. However, there are two ways you can create a folder containing all the feeds.

Option 1 is a lot easier, should work with any RSS reader, and as an added bonus, you’ll get the latecomers included in your feed list. Honestly, I’m only including Option 2 because I wrote those instructions out first, before I found a way to share the OPML file. Also, I can have a hard time letting go of something once I’ve started.

Option 1

Download the OPML file containing all the feeds here.

Follow the directions to import the file into your reader here. In Google, you can import the feeds by clicking on the gear icon to go to Reader Settings and following the instructions under the Import/Export tab.

Option 2

In Google Reader, click the gear icon on the right side of your screen and go to Reader Settings.
Click the Subscriptions tab.
Select the “Change Folders” drop down next to any of your 2012 MoFo Feeds.
Click Add New Folder.
Enter your desired name (e.g. 2012 Vegan MoFo).
Then, you’ll need type the name of the MoFo Folder you’d like to add to your complete list into the “Filter by name, folder, or URL” box on the right (e.g. 2012 MoFo Healthy and Whole Foods). You will need to do this for each MoFo folder. The reader just does not seem to like adding a large number of feeds at once.
From here, click on the “select all XXX subscriptions” in the top left of your screen.
In the “More actions…” drop down, select the folder you created in step 5.
Repeat steps 6-8 until all of your feeds are collected in one folder.

…and there you go, all of your 2012 MoFo feeds in one handy folder

Giveaway: Spencer’s Market

December 8, 2011 Luciana Comments 6 comments

Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Spencer’s Market, a new website based out of San Francisco. Spencer’s is offering personalized daily vegan offers direct from artisanal food producers for up up to 70% off retail.

According to Todd at Spencer’s:

The main premise and focus at Spencer’s is to create a hub for personalized food discovery. Our passion is working with the smaller, artisanal producer and giving them a platform to grow their business. That said, we will also work with some more recognizable brands if they fit our “natural” food policy. We don’t mind introducing people to a little bit of an indulgence, but it has to be made from clean and natural ingredients.

The folks at Spencer’s were nice enough to send me a variety pack, and they’re offering one of our readers the same bundle of goodies. These are from brands most of us recognize, but Spencer’s will also be offering goods from smaller producers.

The lucky winner will receive:

One box of 12 Larabar mini’s
One bag of Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips
Six Primal Strips (one of each flavor)
One bag of Uncle Eddies Vegan Cookies

This giveaway is a little different. You’ll need to click here and sign up for their mailing list to enter. Please, do not enter through the comments. We’ll pick a random winner Monday, around noon EST.

We’ll announce a winner shortly!

Sorry, but this one is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

World Vegan Day Post-MoFo Random Round-up

November 2, 2011 Luciana Comments 3 comments

Yes, MoFo ended yesterday, but I’m glad to be back doing another round-up today. If you haven’t already, check out Katie’s post and do something nice and vegan for yourself or someone else in your life.

Even though MoFo was officially over yesterday, lots of folks are still going strong, cooking and posting.

Check out these amazing Tempeh Seekh Kebabs at Hobby and More. They look delicious and judging by the ingredients, they must be really flavorful.

Tempeh Seekh Kebabs

After the early first snowfall, I don’t want many cold salads, but I could go for this Warm Spinach and Fig Salad on West Philly Vegan. This looks like it would keep me feeling full and warm for hours.

If you’re in Texas, check out one of the food carts mollyjade features on Lone Star Plate. Check out this Jerk Tempeh Sandwich with Plantains! I’d definitely leave my office at lunch way more often if that was waiting for me.

I’d love to finish off my meal with this Thin Mint Andes Chocolate Cake over at The Vegan Version. I still haven’t spotted the So Delicious Coconut Holiday flavors in my area, but I’m all over this recipe as soon as I see the mint chocolate!

I’ve been trying to stay away from too many pumpkin recipes because I know we still have many months of official pumpkin season, but I just couldn’t resist this Pumpkin Spicy Praline Cheesecake from Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe. Pumpkin cheesecake with sweet and spicy pecans in the crust? Um, yes!

That’s it for now. See you soon!

Sjaak’s Eli’s Earth Bar Giveaway

October 23, 2011 Luciana Comments 125 comments

The winners are:
79 Valerie
55 Sachiko Armour
95 Laura
45 Jenny

We’ll be in touch to get your info! Congratulations!

Sjaak’s was one of the first companies from which I purchased vegan chocolate, back when I was just dabbling in veganism. They continue to offer a variety of chocolates for special occasions and every day.

I’m usually all about the dark chocolate, but I have come to appreciate the smooth, sweet flavor of rice milk chocolate. It’s wonderful that even those vegans who prefer milk chocolate now have so many choices.

Eli’s Earth Bars are delicious candy bars in three varieties–all coated in rice milk chocolate.

The Dream Big Bar is caramel, peanuts and peanut butter, and is sweet, with just enough peanuts to provide some balance and crunch.

The Treasure Bar is crunchy peanut butter and caramel. It tastes like a big, delicious peanut butter cup with little chewy pieces of caramel floating inside.

The Celebrate Bar contains caramel and almonds, but is so much more. It’s coconuty caramel with a crunchy almond bonus.

Sjaak’s donates 5% of every sale to childrens’ charities, and the chocolate is fair-trade and organic.

~~Today 4 lucky winners will each receive 6 Eli’s Earth Bars. Sorry, but this one is only open to those with U.S. mailing addresses.~~

~~Leave a comment telling us about your favorite vegan candy and we’ll pick a winner around 10:00 PM EST.~~

Wednesday Round-Up

October 19, 2011 Luciana Comments 6 comments

There’s no special theme today, I just picked food that I really want in my belly, right now.

I stumbled across this stunning Grilled Tofu with Lemongrass and Cilantro Stuffing at Olives for Dinner which sounds as gorgeous as it looks. I can tell just by reading the ingredients that I’d love this dish.

I also wouldn’t turn down a big plate of Jerk Tempeh with Caramelized Plantains and Butternut Mash Up over at Whole Food Vegan. Spicy Jerk seasoning over earthy tempeh with sweet plantains and butternut. Hell yeah!

Now, these Balsamic Caramelized Cipollini Onions at The Raw Cooked Vegan aren’t a complete meal, but they sure would make just about anything better! I would love these on top of some hearty bread with arugula and maybe a little Cheddar Cheezly. Or maybe I’d just snack on them out of the skillet.

Another dish I wish would magically appear on my dinner table tonight are these Hijiki Tofu Burgers with Carrot Ginger Dressing at vegangela. This dish sounds so flavorful and satisfying, but would probably still leave me a little room for dessert.
Actually, there’s always room for dessert, especially if these award winning pumpkin doughnuts that Passing Daisies writes of are on the table.

I love banana soft-serve, and the Banana Split Ice Cream at Veg-am takes it to another level with the addition of banana split toppings – chocolate, peanuts, strawberry, and pineapple.

I’d eat Oh, Ladycakes Pumpkin Spice Stick Bread for breakfast, then I’d have it again for dessert.

Sometimes, a meal just doesn’t seem complete without a mint. I would love to nibble on these homemade Junior Mints at Fork and Beans. I wish the cats would leave mints on my pillow, but I don’t think they can be bothered. I guess I’ll just have to make them for myself!

That’s it for this Wednesday! See you next time!

Wednesday Round-up: Let Them Eat Cake!

October 13, 2011 Luciana Comments 4 comments

After swearing I heard two engineers at work discussing installing doughnuts in a wall, I realized that I have dessert on the brain. I’d just watched last week’s Top Chef Desserts, where they made doughnuts, so I must have still had them on the brain. So, I decided to see what sweet treats folks were baking up for Mofo.

I love pineapple in my carrot cake, and over at Alien’s Day Out, there is a lovely carrot pineapple cake with tofu cream.

Anchors and feathers cooks up a different, but still just as delicious looking carrot cake.

I’d also love to cozy up with a nice cup of tea and the Coffee Cake with Prunes over at Emmakant.

This Triple Apple Cider Bundt Cake at OMG Veg! looks absolutely heavenly.

These cake pops aren’t baked, but I love raw desserts, especially when they’re coated in chocolate. I certainly wouldn’t turn down a few of the cake pops at barefoot and frolicking!

With so many choices for great desserts, I’ll be distracted for a while before I start thinking about doughnuts again!

Vegan MoFo Wednesday Roundup – Great Beginnings

October 6, 2011 Luciana Comments 10 comments

I’m one of those people who can’t just roll out of bread and eat something. My stomach wakes up about two hours after the rest of my body. Still, I have to have breakfast. I usually eat something pretty light, which in the summer means a green smoothie, and maybe a piece of toast. When the weather starts cooling down, the last thing I want is to chug a glass of frozen fruit.

MoFoers have been cooking up some wonderful cool weather breakfast food. If you’re looking for something savory, check out the Tofu Rancheros that Kristen cooked up over at DC Vegan. She uses Tami’s recipe from American Vegan Kitchen. This would make a great weekend brunch!

If I’m still hungry, I’d have one of Joyfulgirl’s Pumpkin Bagels, or maybe one of the beautiful Tomato Rosemary scone that green light vegan baked up from Vegan Brunch.

I love making a big batch of oatmeal and then just reheating them and adding different toppings. Healthy Slow Cooking shares recipe for Pumpkin Coffeecake and Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Oatmeal with So Delicious Greek Yogurt. Either of these will keep me full until I hide under my desk with my lunch.

Sometimes I’m in the mood for a big stack of carbs in the morning. I don’t know if I want to eat V.K. Rees’ pumpkin pancakes, or hang one of the lovely photos of them on my wall. I think both. Everything tastes better on a stick, and these adorable heart-shaped waffles from Meet the Wikos are no exception.

The Happy Go Lucky Vegan’s Pumpkin waffles also sound perfect for a crisp fall morning.

Sometimes I just want a doughnut. Unfortunately, I’m not lucky enough to live near Voodoo or Mighty O, but I could certainly whip up these Choconut Doughnuts from tahinitoo.

Sometimes I can’t make up my mind and want a little savory and sweet on my plate. For those days, I’d love this French Toast Sandwich with “Cheezly” Hashbrowns and Spinach Chips from Growing up Veg.

I could also go for the Smoky Soy Curls that Tasty Planet serves up next to a nice stack of fluffy pancakes.

Whatever you decide to start your day with, make it something delicious!

Food for Lovers Queso and Chips Giveaway!

October 1, 2011 Luciana Comments 91 comments

The queso goes to adriennefriend who said:

I would definitely use this queso to smother some kind of casserole – instead of making my own cheeze, which is usually what happens! 🙂

Please send your mailing address to veganmofoblog@gmail.com!

The first time I bought Food For Lovers queso, I deeply regretted only buying two jars. This originally started as an amazing recipe on the internet, and Chris and Crystal eventually started selling to restaurants in Austin, then to Austin Whole Foods. Now you can mail-order jars, and I’ve even purchased their queso from my local health food store in Maryland.

This dip is everything queso should be. It’s spicy, creamy, and full of chunks of tomatoes and peppers. It’s great straight out of the jar, or poured over nachos, tacos, pasta, tofu scramble, and anything else you can think of.

~~One lucky winner will get four jars of queso and chips. Just leave a comment telling us how you’d like to use the queso. Don’t forget to include your email!~~

~~A winner will be chosen at random around 10pm EST. This is open to U.S. residents only.~~

We’re planning other giveaways that will include our international readers, so stay tuned! The giveaway crew has worked really hard to make this month amazing!

It's Time for Another Book Giveaway!

November 28, 2010 Luciana Comments 29 comments

The winners have been chosen!

Becoming Vegan goes to:
Megan from Down Home Vegan who said:
Agreenerlife’s simple Whatever Soup reminded me how easy it is to whip up a quick pot of veggie soup.
http://www.agreenerlife.org/2010/11/whatever-soup/

Speed Vegan goes to machopineapple from Macho Pineapple who said:
It’s hard to go wrong with curry: http://orangeandginger.blogspot.com/2010/11/unconventional-curry.html

Congratulations!! Please email VeganMoFoBlog@gmail.com with your names and addresses!

_______________________________________________________________

Thanks again to the amazing generosity of the folks at the Book Publishing Company, we are hosting one more book giveaway. Even if you don’t win, you might want to consider buying or gifting any of their awesome selection of vegan books.

Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis, R.D. and Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.

Written by two experienced dietitians, this book will help new vegans on their path, or those who might be struggling find their way. It covers a wide variety of topics, including tips for athletes and people in all stages of life–from infants to more mature adults. I think it would be a great reference for anyone on or considering a vegan diet!

Speed Vegan by Alan Roettinger

Speed Vegan Cookbook

This book shows us that quick food doesn’t have to mean fast food. Alan Roettinger helps us create delicious, quick, and satisfying meals in less time than it takes to pick up carryout. Dishes include Leek and Cauliflower Soup, Hot Eggplant and Seitan Open-face Sandwich, and Minted Chocolate Dream. Yes, please!!

One copy of each book is up for grabs. Please leave a comment linking to one of your favorite quick and easy MoFo recipes!

We’ll pick two winners at random, around 10:00 PM EST. Sorry folks, but this contest is limited to those with U.S. addresses only.

VeganMoFo

The Vegan Month of Food: 2017

Browsed by
Author: Luciana