Experimental Steam Buns

I wanted to make steam buns. I'd made them many times before, so I kind of knew what I was doing. I loosely followed this recipe. The dough was looking pretty good.

Then I started thinking about that time I lived in China and I'd go to a street vender and get bean buns for breakfast every morning.

Hmmm...

What if I made chili, and stuffed it in the steam buns....

Lets sees what happens.

So I made chili.

And I stuffed it  inside the steam buns.

Too Much

Total failure

Just Right

Steaming.

They turned out Great!

A magazine suggestion

In case you need something to read in the bathroom. :)

The Essential Vegan Cookbooks

No vegan kitchen is complete without an arsenal of good cook books. You need a set of recipies that both you and the omnivores in your life will enjoy, and here are four suggestions. They are all by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

Vegannomicon: If you only ever buy one vegan cook book in your life, this is the one you need. This book includes great recipes for every meal, and for snacks in between.

Vegan Cookies: Invade Your Cookie Jar: This is one of my favorites. Vegan Cookies also includes some brownie recipes to die for. 

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: There is no such thing as too many cupcakes. This book will blow your mind with the creative 100% vegan cupcake recipes.

Appetite For Reduction: Just in case you did eat too many of those cupcakes... This book includes awesome recipies that proves that the words "low fat vegan" do not have to mean "bland steamed veggies."

For more vegan advice, I suggest visiting the The Post Punk Kitchen and the Forums. I practically live on there.

Potluck Stew!

When someone throws various ingredients into a pot and hopes for the best, thats REAL potluck. At least, that's what my mom says. A dictionary will define it as something entirely different.

Anyways...

I wanted to make a veggie stew, but I didn't have a recipe in arms reach. I suppose I could have looked one up, but where's the fun in that?

Heres what I used:

• 32 oz of veggie stock (No MSG)
• 12 fingerling potatoes cut in half (the small colorful potatoes that come in yellow purple and reddish... google it.)
• 1 can of chick peas
• 2 bags of baby carrots, sliced (you can use one bag, if you wish... it depends on how much you love carrots)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
• Sea salt
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Curry powder.

Here's what I did:

• Boil potatoes for 15 minutes and drain.
• Add veggie stock.
• Add bay leaf
• Add all the other veggies and season to taste.
• Boil for 10 minutes (watch it so it doesn't burn)
• Simmer until all veggies are tender
• ENJOY!!!

Where to Eat in Dallas

Spiral Diner

You can't be a vegan in Dallas without visiting this place at least once. Spiral Diner is one of my favorite places to eat. This restaurant is 100% vegan. That's right. No animal products are sold on the premises. It has a varied menu, and a quirky atmosphere.  

Fadis

This Mediterranean restaurant is one of my favorites.They are not 100% vegan, but they are vegan friendly. They have a wide range of vegan options, and a cool Mediterranean atmosphere. I suggest the Fadi's Vegetarian Sampler. They call it a sampler, but three people can eat off of it, because it is so much food!

More suggestions to come!

Lunch!!! Grilled Tofu sandwich.

So, I was craving a grilled tofu sandwich.

Here is what I used

• extra firm tofu
• market pantry french bread (I checked the label, and it is vegan.)
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Soy Sauce
• cooking oil (any kind, as long as it's vegan)
• Onions (optional)

Here's what I did

• Squeeze all the water out of the tofu.
• Slice it int to 1/4 inch wide pieces.
• Coat your skillet with cooking oil
• Place tofu slices in your skillet
• Sprinkle soy sauce over the tofu pieces (do not use too much. Just enough to slightly change the color.
• Sprinkle Oregano and paprika over the tofu.
• Brown on one side, and turn.
• Sprinkle more Oregano and Paprika on the other side.
• Warm up your bread.
• It you want to sauté the onions,  you can. I was too hungry to wait on the onions, so I just sliced them and put them on the sandwich.
• Nom! I mean, enjoy.

Pizza, Pizza!!!

I love pizza. You know why? Because I can dump the contents of my refrigerator on a crust, bake it in the oven and call it a pizza. Nine times out of ten, it'll taste great.

Here is one pizza experiment that went very well for me.

• Preheat the oven at about 450 degrees.
• Use Trader Joe's Pizza Dough, because it's vegan.
• Make sure the dough is room temperature.
• Spread your pizza sauce on the dough. If you are a chef, you'll make your own pizza sauce, if you are like me, you'll buy Prego Traditional. Don't worry, it's vegan.
• On this particular pizza I used artichoke hearts, chopped up asparagus, mushroom, and yellow and green bell peppers. By all means be creative! I usually don't add cheese alternatives to my pizza, but feel free to do just that! It'll be yummy either way.
• If you have a pizza stone, you'll use that, but if you're like me, you'll put the whole thing in a cookie sheet (oiled of corse) and put it in the oven.
• Let it cook for about 15 minutes. (To be safe, I'd check on it after 10 minutes, to make sure it doesn't overcook.)
• Slice and NOM!

Tofu Breakfast Fajitas

Welcome to very my first vegan blog, and I am excited to share my journey with you. Before we start with the photos, I'd like to share a bit about myself. I am a freelance writer and a novelist by night, and I work part time as a preschool teacher by day.
I am currently working on a novel titled Autumn Again. For more about that, see the website: http://autumnagainnovel.com/ and the blog, http://jialing27.livejournal.com/.

Here is one of my favorite breakfast recipes.

Here is what you need:

• Tortillas
• Paprika (optional)
• Extra firm tofu (do NOT use silken tofu)
• Bell peppers (I like to use red, yellow, and green)
• 1/4 cup of olive oil (or any oil)

Here's what you do!

• Be sure that you squeeze all the water out of the tofu. It needs to be as dry as possible before you sauté it.
• Slice or dice the bell peppers any what you want them, and sautee them in oil.
• While peppers are cooking, Slice the tofu in to small one inch rectangles.
• Add tofu to the skillet, sprinkle paprika over tofu and peppers, and cook until tofu is browned.
• Heat up tortillas
• Enjoy!

This is a quick and easy breakfast! Serve with soy milk, juice, or coffee, then take on the day!