Monday, January 21, 2013

Martin Luther King, Jr. Veganized Eats!

     Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!  I'm sure as people reflect back to where we were as a country and now- it is wonderful to know how much progress we have made.  We're also reminded that we still have places to go.  I am not going to tell you that this empowering voice from the South was a Vegan, but I thought I would try and do a veganized version of whatever his favorite food was. Check out Huffington Post "10 Things You Didn't Know About MLK".  It has a great slide show with little tid-bits of things that you may not have known about MLK.  Such as, his father changed his own name to Sr. and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s name in honor of the protestant that started the Lutheran church.  Growing up as a Lutheran I always wondered if there was a relation because as a Lutheran child I thought we were celebrating Martin Luther until my dad corrected me.
     On a more related note, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s favorite foods were fried chicken and pecan pie.  Well... it's hard to get any farther away from veganism than that, thankfully we have come a long way for veganism as well!  Below is a video from the "Sweetest Vegan" and a link to her Sweetest Vegan Blog.  Below that you will find a recipe for Vegan Pecan Pie from the "Hell Yeah It's Vegan!" a vegan recipe blog.

Vegan Fried Chicken
Yields: 2 Vegan Fried Chicken Breast
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups canola oil, for frying
2 teaspoons salt free seasoning blend
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast (You will likely find this in the vitamin section of a health or whole food market)
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoon baking powder
2 vegan chicken breast (CHECK THE LABEL!!  Not all meatless patties are vegan! She is using Gardein.  I personally don't care too much for meat substitutes so I use firm tofu that I have squeezed the water out, sliced and then marinaded.  If you want to know more about that- let me know in the comments section!)
Instructions:
-Heat canola oil over medium - high heat in a large pot or deep fryer.
-Whisk the salt free seasoning, all purpose flour, and nutritional yeast to a shallow bowl.
-Mix together mustard and water in a separate bowl. Stir 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard.
-Whisk baking powder into the remaining flour mixture.
-Dredge, dip and coat, the chicken breast into the mustard and then the flour, one at a time.
-Fry the chicken until crispy and golden brown.


Best Vegan Pecan Pie
Recipe type: Dessert Cuisine: American
Prep time:  30 mins Cook time:  55 mins Total time:  1 hour 25 mins
Serves: 8

Ingredients
1¼ c flour
½ tsp salt
6 Tbsp shortening, chilled
1.5 Tbsp vegan butter, chilled
3-5 Tbsp ice water
1.5 c pecan halves
½ Tbsp vegan butter
pinch of salt
10 saltines, crumbled
½ c water
2½ Tbsp vegan butter
1¼ c sugar
¼ c light corn syrup
2 tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp applesauce or pumpkin puree
3 Tbsp corn or tapioca starch

Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt.
Using a pastry cutter, cut in shortening and butter until pea-sized.
Sprinkle with 3 Tbsp ice water and stir until dough comes together in a ball, adding more ice water as needed. (Use as little water as possible and handle the dough as little as possible, so as not to end up with a tough crust!)
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.
Transfer to 9″ pie plate; trim and shape edges as desired.
Prick crust with a fork and fill with pie weights; bake for 5 minutes.
Remove pie plate from oven and set aside.
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
In a heavy skillet on medium heat, melt butter.
Add pecan halves and salt and toss, stirring occasionally until pecans are toasted. Take care not to burn them!
Turn off heat and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together crackers and water.
Let water absorb, then put mixture in a food processor with vegan butter, sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, applesauce or pumpkin puree, and starch.
Process until mixture is relatively smooth.
Pour mixture into saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
When mixture boils, lower heat slightly and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring to make sure nothing burns to the bottom of the pan.
Fold in pecans.
Remove pie weights from crust, then pour filling into crust.
Bake for 50 minutes.
Cool fully, a couple of hours, before slicing and serving.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Secret of eating out: Red Robin

Check out my bonus, "Veggieburger Praise" by Jae and Mommy Bland at the end of this post!

     So, it's not a secret any more that I am the only vegan in my circle of family and friends. So how does a vegan survive the dreaded restaurant scene in a city (Greeley, CO) that still thinks veganism is a deadly disease? It can be hard sometimes, but if you stick with bigger chain restaurants usually they do a better job with providing at least a couple of menu options that do not require a lot of alterations.
  
     Today, we went to lunch at Red Robin. They have done a really nice job of remodelling the restaurant here in Greeley, and they've overhauled the Red Robin Menu to. They also have an allergen menu that educates you on an extensive list of allergens (Egg, Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Fish, Shellfish) so, a carrot to Red Robin for that.  The only stick- the allergen menu on-line is only for wheat and gluten allergens and the allergen "menu" wasn't really a menu more of a book of allergen disclaimers.

Vegan Options at Red Robin:

Appetizers:
Garden Fresh Hummus Plate: Exchange the focaccia bread with a toasted wheat bun or the baguette and exchange the grilled zucchini sticks (both have eggs) for more of the other veggies.

FYI: Chips and anything fried are fried with everything else, so you'll have to stay away from that (fries, chips, tortilla strips, onion rings (has egg anyway), etc.). So that's it for the appetizers.

Seasoning:
FYI: The Red Robin Seasoning at the table doesn't have any egg or dairy, but it does have autolyzed yeast. However, apparently whatever Red Robin Seasoning they use in the kitchen has egg in it according to the allergen menu, so let them know to leave it off then put it on at the table if you want it.

Shakes and Malts:
Obviously, vegans cannot have anything in this section.  Which is good because it would do me about as much good as vegan fudge.  Although... if they were to make their Irish Malt Shake... I think that was what it was called (shake with Guiness and Jameson) Vegan- I may visit them more just for that.

Bottomless Beverages: (If you're looking to maximize the nutrition of your diet I would suggest just water with a lemon, but these are the Vegan-Friendly options)

Freckled Lemonade
Very Berry Raspberry Limeade
Fresh Brewed Gold-Peak Tea (they offer syrups: Peach, Raspberry, or Pomegranate)
Soft Drinks

Entrées:
I didn't find anything in this section that a Vegan could have, and I couldn't find anything that could be "veganized".

Burgers:
Keep It Simple: Order on a whole-wheat bun, Boca patty without the RR seasoning, freckled fruit salad on the side (If you're looking to complete your protein)  This is what I ordered.  It's tried and true and really delicious.  The Freckled Fruit was very good.

The Garden Burger: Exchange the Garden Patty for a Boca Patty and the Country Dijon Mustard for Spicy or Regular Mustard and you have... a more expensive version of the Keep It Simple Burger.  So... Keep It Simple. :)

Banzai Burger: Ask for a Boca Patty, no cheese or mayo, and it is a Banzai Vegan!  (which... last I checked banzai meant "inevitable, or necessary death".  It is actually something shouted by Japanese suicide soldiers.. hmm..)

Burnin' Love:  It's been a while since I've ordered this.  Order with a Boca Patty, no cheese, aioli, or the jalapeño rings (you might be able to ask for just pickled jalapeños?  I've not tried.  I also have failed you on the bun.  I'm not sure if the Kaiser bun is Vegan.  I will find out!  Order on a whole wheat bun for health.. and to be on the safe side until I find out.

Buns:
Original
Artesian Demi Baguette
Bunless (I like my buns so I rarely do this)

Sides:
Side Salad
Steamed Broccoli (ask to hold the margarine/butter)
Freckled Fruit Salad
Southwest Black Beans (I'm pretty sure, but I need to double check)
*The side salad and the Broccoli are bottomless- That's awesome.

Chicken Sandwiches,Wraps, and Soups:
I did not find anything that could really be veganized here.

Salads:
Apple Harvest Chicken: Order with a sliced up Boca Patty instead of chicken, no Bleu Cheese, and exchange the dressing for a vinaigrette.

Simply Grilled Chicken: Order with a sliced up Boca Patty instead of chicken, no Cheddar Cheese or croutons. (You might be able to ask for a toasted wheat bun instead... I haven't tried)

House Salad: Order without cheese.

Dressings/Sauces:
Frank's Red Hot
Ketchup
Mustard
Red's Pickle Relish
Heinz 57 Sauce

Desserts:
Sadly, nothing here for a vegan.  It's probably better that they don't.  I still have fudge at home.

Okay, so I just contacted Red Robin and will hopefully have all of my information updated within the week (according to the website General questions will be responded to within 3-5 business days) on the stuff I did not find out about. :)  ... I should have suggested that they provide a vegan option for the Irish Shake.

That was a lot.  However, I do have a bonus for this post.  It just so happens that I just did a Literature lesson with my son about imagery, and it just so happens that we decided to exercise our imagery muscles on the subject "Hamburgers".

Veggieburger Praise (A Veganized version of "Hamburger Praise)
by Jae and Mommy Bland


Veggieburger on my palette;
To build such a tower- what a talent!
Delicious rainbow between golden buns,
Layers of purple, green, red, and brown so fun.
A sight to behold I must take hold!

Veggieburger on my palette;
To hold this creation- I might need a towlette.
Soft bun pebbled with seeds and crunchy firm veggies;
Creamy condiments and a juicy, spongy patty.
The closer it gets my nose starts to test!

Veggieburger on my palette;
A whiff of it makes my mouth salivate.
Salty, savory, sweet and sharp at first sniff;
Then earthy and dilly like a spring garden gift.
The smell overtaking I must start tasting!

Veggieburger on my palette;
So much to taste- like a flavor roulette.
All nutty and smoky fresh off the grill
Fresh, bright, sour and sunny from the vegetables chilled.
So good, so good I just had to have it
This delicious Veggieburger I had on my palette.






Saturday, January 19, 2013

Secret of Protein


     I have been a dietary vegan for well over a decade now, and the most common question I am asked is, “How do you get your protein?”   On top of that, whenever I am accompanied by loving family and friends at any sort of food-based gathering I am usually asked to bring something “with protein, for the vegans”… of which, I am generally the only one unless I am seeing my Aunt and Uncle in Utah.  I can also guarantee that I will hear someone tell me that they think I should worry about protein.

     I am not proclaiming to be an expert on nutrition by any means, but what I have to offer is my experience.  My experience as a Vegan that is surrounded, loved by, and loves people who accept me for who I am even though they don’t understand it and personally reject the idea of a completely plant based diet.

     Give it a shot?  Why not?  That’s what I said, and I’m glad I did.  It’s not for everyone, but it is amazing the difference a positive change in food consumption can make if you’re willing to give it a shot.  Does it help to have a network of people doing it to?  Sure, but it’s not impossible to do it by yourself.  In fact, it can be more empowering if you do.  Perhaps that is why I’ve done it for so long.  So, here is the first piece of knowledge I offer to anyone who wants to understand veganism or a vegan, or maybe looking into it.

     Protein… That’s on everyone’s mind when it comes to “Diets”.  Well, protein is very simple to get even in a vegan diet.  The only difference is, that you have to be a little more cerebral about it.  Yes, that’s right.  We have to think about it.  One reason why it is so easy to be an omnivore is that omnivores and carnivores simply “steal” protein sources that have been produced by other animals.  These other animals are usually vegan.  So… where did they get their protein?  That’s a different story, but what I’m saying is that if those animals can do it then so can we!  There are two pieces to being cerebral about it.  Number one is a diagram of what a person must do to complete a protein (yes, sorry for not making it any fancier, but this is EXACTLY what it looks like in my head:

     Cerebral bit letter B: Every meal should count.  I say should, but do I sometimes eat something that doesn’t actually accomplish anything… yes.  I’ve made vegan fudge and the only thing it accomplishes is rounding me out.  If you’re looking to lose weight with this change, then I would recommend making most if not all of your meals count.  You’ll lose weight regardless, but you’ll feel better and have fewer cravings for meat, dairy, etc. if you make it count.  Always hit two corners every time you eat! (I usually do all three)

     There you have it!  That’s the secret to my success for protein.  So, next time I show up to a food-based gathering with a really sexy looking salad you can check my triangle and believe me when I tell you that it is enough.

Recipes for completing your protein:
1, Peanut butter and Jelly on Whole Grain Anything
2. Fruit Smoothie with Silken Tofu and Flax seed or almonds or cashews or peanut butter
3. Whole Grain Rice or Quinoa with beans, tomatoes, corn and some lime juice

Easiest chains to find and be vegan:
Chipolte,  Qdoba, Subway (choose wholegrain bread or wraps), most Asian Restaurants.