Tofu Bacon

This is a really tasty recipe for Tofu Bacon.  William loves it when we get to make BLTs so I tried this new recipe for him.  I have done Tempeh bacon before which is delicious, but I think I like this one better...

Tofu Bacon

Ingredients:
1 package Extra Firm Tofu
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Tamari or Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Ketchup
1 Tbsp Liquid Smoke

Oil for Frying

Directions:
*Pat the Tofu dry and shave it into long thin slices with a cheese slicer
*Mix All ingredients except oil in a shallow container.
*Carefully add tofu slices to marinade making sure all pieces are covered.
*Marinade for 8 hours--up to 2 days

*Heat a large non-stick skillet over high heat.
*Add about 1/2 tablespoon of oil to the skilled and swirl to cover bottom of pan
*Add slices, do not overlap.  May take a few batches to finish.
*Cook until golden brown and a little crispy.

*Place on a plate covered by a paper towel to cool and drain oil.  


Thrive Magazine

Recently I was interviewed about becoming a Vegan in Southwest Louisiana.  This month I am featured in Thrive Magazine pages 50-51 in a 2 page spread.  So excited.  This is my first recognition for the website.  The magazine just came out so right now online they only have the cover available to view, but later in the month they will put the whole thing online so you can view the article.  Keep checking back often to see it.  Until then, here is a picture of the article.

*Update:  It is available online now at
                  http://issuu.com/thrive/docs/thrive_oct2010_web

A great big Thank You to Erin Cormier for taking an interest and writing a great article.  

Vegan in Louisiana on Facebook

Today I started a Facebook site for the blog.  Go there and "like" me for even more updates, pictures, and recipes.

Protein in the Vegan Diet

This is a great article I just read about protein.  That is always my not vegan friend's concern for my diet.  How do you get your protein?  I think they just don't understand that meat and eggs are not the only foods that contains protein.  This article gives a good breakdown for calculating how much protein a person needs for their weight.

Lazy Samoas

9:11 AM by Missy Coppage 0 comments
These were always my family's favorite Girl Scout cookies.  We had to buy like 4 boxes of them and they were gone in a matter of days.  I got this recipe from the cookbook Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.  I made a couple of changes to accommodate what I had on hand. The recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but I used Whole Wheat Instead and I did not have coconut oil so I used Safflower Oil. They turned out so delicious and so similar to the real thing.

Lazy Samoas


Ingredients:
2 Cups Grated Unsweetened Coconut
1/3 Cup Unrefined Coconut Oil (or any neutral tasting oil; safflower,vegetable, etc.)
3/4 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Nondairy Milk
1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds
1 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Chocolate Coating:
1 Cup Vegan Chocolate Chips 
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil (or neutral oil again)

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

*Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

*Toast coconut on stove in a large skillet over med-low heat.  Stir occasionally and toast until light golden brown.  (8-10 minutes)  Remove from heat and stir occasionally as it cools.

*In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, milk, flax, and vanilla until smooth.  Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix to form thick bater.  Fold in Coconut.

*Scoop onto baking sheet about 1 Tbsp at a time, 2 inches apart.  (They will rise a little) 

*Flatten each cookie with the back of a measuring cup or your fingers.  Use your fingertip to make a small hole in the center of each cookie.

*Bake for 8 minutes until edges are golden

*Let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cooled, transfer onto a cutting board or cookie sheet covered in wax paper.

*While they are cooling, melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler. (I use a pot with a couple of inches of boiling water and a metal mixing bowl on top)


*Stir continuously until all chips are melted.  Next add oil and stir.

*Let cool for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.  Dip cookie bottoms in chocolate then place on wax paper.  Once all bottoms are covered use a fork to drizzle remaining chocolate over cookies.  Place in refrigerator and let cool for about 30 minutes to firm the chocolate.

*Store cookies in a loosely covered container in a very cool place. 


No More Plastic Bags

The following article helps to explain what happens to plastic bags after they are disposed of and the effects on our environment.  Everyone should do their part and use some form of reusable shopping bag.  There are also reusable produce bags that everyone should consider purchasing.  Many stores such as Target and Kroger carry them in the store for purchase, or you can order some at Ecobags.com

Drop Biscuits and Gravy

Who isn't in the mood for a big plate of homemade biscuits and vegan sausage gravy on a Saturday morning?  We had a few glasses of wine last night and mild hangovers this morning.  This dish definitely hit the spot.  

Southern-Style Drop Biscuits and Gravy


Biscuit Ingredients:
2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
5 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
6 Tbsp Tofutti Cream Cheese
1 Cup Soy Milk

Gravy Ingredients:
2 Cups Soy Milk
1/4 Cup Unbleached All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Vegan Sausage, crumbled
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Tony Chachere's 
1/2 tsp Bragg's Organic Sprinkle Seasoning (optional)
1 Pinch White Pepper (optional)



*Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
*Add in Tofutti cream cheese.  Blend together with hands until all is mixed and little balls have formed.
*Add Soy Milk and mix together gently.
*Cover and place in refrigerator (Cold ingredients = Fluffy Biscuits)
*Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
*Once preheated remove dough from refrigerator and drop about 1/4 Cup per biscuit onto a greased cookie sheet.
*Place on bottom rack and bake for about 15 minutes.  Biscuits should be slightly brown.
*While the biscuits are baking, whisk soy milk and flour together over medium heat.
*Add sausage to mixture and increase to high heat.
*Bring to a boil, whisking continuously, then reduce to medium heat.
*Allow to thicken to your desired consistency.
*Add black pepper, white pepper, and Tony's.  Mix together.
*Serve gravy over biscuits.  

"It's ok to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings"

Being that we live in SouthWest Louisiana where fishing is a huge industry I just wanted to take a minute and share an article I discovered. It deals with the subject of whether fish have feelings, as well as what impact fishing, caught as well as farmed, has on the environment.  

by Richard H. Schwartz

"There are standard questions that vegetarians are often asked. Perhaps the most frequent one is, “HOW DO YOU GET ENOUGH PROTEIN?” Another common question is, “DO YOU EAT FISH?”"


Oyster Mushroom Rockefeller

 This recipe was recently featured in Vegetarian Times magazine.  I have never had real oyster rockefeller so I can not say how close to an original it is, but I can say it was delicious.

I had trouble finding oyster mushrooms in Lake Charles, finally I found dried ones at Albertson's.  For anyone who tries this recipe 1 oz. dried oyster mushrooms = 4 oz fresh oyster mushrooms.  Soak them in lukewarm water for 30 mins.-1 hour before cooking.

I also reduced the recipe a little since it would just be William and I eating.  It was still a large serving.  Here is my version of
Oyster Mushroom Rockefeller
Serves 4


Ingredients
8-12 oz Oyster Mushrooms (I recommend cutting it to 8 oz.)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided
1 lb. Baby Spinach
1/2 Cup Veganaise
1/2 Cup Chopped Fresh Fennel
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp chopped Shallotts
1 Clove or 1 tsp minced garlic

*Preheat oven to 400 degrees
*Spread mushrooms in bottom of baking dish
*Heat 1 Tbsp oil in large skillet over med-high heat.  Saute' Spinach until wilted.  1-2 minutes. Toss occasionally. May be better to split into a couple of batches depending on the size of your skillet.
*Spread spinach over mushrooms in baking dish
*Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Spread over spinach in baking dish.  
*Bake 15 minutes or until sauce begins to brown.
*Set oven to broil.  Bake under broiler for 2-3 minutes until brown and bubbly.  

General Tao's Tempeh

This is one of William's favorite asian dishes.  Since he is the amazing husband that he is and he "gave up bacon for a girl" I try very hard to re-create all of the things he likes to eat Vegan style.  This was my version of this recipe after studying several other recipes and seeing what ingredients we had on hand at home.

General Tao's Tempeh
Serves 3-4
Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 Package Tempeh, sliced
2 Cups Water
1 No-Chicken Bullion Cube
1 Clove Garlic, minced
1 Crown Broccoli
1/2 Tbsp powdered Ginger
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
4 Tbsp Raw Sugar
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 tsp Chili Paste
1 Tbsp White Vinegar
1/2 Tbsp Sherry (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 1/2 Tbsp Cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp Warm Water
Brown Rice

*Marinate sliced tempeh in 2 cups water with bullion dissolved for at least an hour up to overnight
*Remove tempeh from stock and cook in pan until golden (5-10 minutes).  Save stock as you will be adding 1 Cup of it to sauce later.  
*Add broccoli and cook until bright green (3-5 minutes)
*In a separate pan fry the garlic, ginger, and chili paste with a drizzle of oil (2 minutes)
*Add remaining ingredients including 1 Cup stock to seasonings in pan and cook over med-high heat for about 3 minutes whisking continuously.  (To make this easier, I combined all ingredients except cornstarch mixture in a bowl prior to adding to pan)
*Remove from heat and add Tempeh and Broccoli to sauce pan, toss or stir to coat.  
*Serve over brown rice




Sunday Funday Quiche

Every now and again we like to get together with our friends and let loose on Sunday.  This week we decided to have a brunch picnic in the park.  We had coffee, mimosas, fruit, hummus, fresh pitas, and vegan quiche.  Then we ran around in our clothes in the water park!!!  For my quiche I used a store bought vegan friendly crust and filled it with kale, baby portobellos, red onion, and tomatoes.  The crust is not necessary if you do not have access to one and you can use whatever veggies you like or have on hand to fill.
Sunday Funday Quiche
Serves 6-8
Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 Package Extra-Firm Tofu, drained and pressed
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast
1/4 Cup Cornstarch
1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
4 Cups Veggies of your choice to fill

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*Combine all ingredients except for veggie filling in a blender.
*Blend until smooth and creamy.
*Put blended mixture in medium size bowl and add veggies.  Mix all together.
*Pour into pie crust or 9 inch pie dish.  Spread mixture around with spatula until smooth and flat on top.
*Bake 40-45 minutes. (till golden and center is not mushy)
*Cool for about 10 minutes then serve.  



Whole Wheat Pita Pocket Bread

1:20 PM by Missy Coppage 1 comments
This recipe is a little time consuming as it requires yeast and the bread needs time to rise.  So these are better to start in the morning if you want them for dinner time or just to stock pile for the week. These bubble up and form perfect pockets for sandwiches.  I use whole wheat pastry flour, but you can use regular whole wheat flour or unbleached white if you prefer.  
Tips:
*Do NOT peek in the oven as they cook.  Steam is required to make them puff up and if you open the door and look in you will release the steam and they will not puff up.
* Make sure you let the oven reheat between each round of baking.  It is important that the oven be as hot as possible for each round of pita baking.
*Do not roll pitas too thin.  They should be around 6-7 inches in diameter once rolled out

Whole Wheat Pita Pockets
Makes 8 Pocket
Time: 3-4 hours

Ingredients:
3 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 Tbsp  and 1 tsp Raw Sugar
1 Pack Active Dry Yeast (2 1/2 tsp if from Bulk)
1 1/4  Cups and 1/4 Cup Water
2 Tbsp Olive Oil and more to coat bowl

*Combine yeast with 1/4 warm water and 1 tsp Sugar.  Stir then let sit 10 minutes to activate.  Should double in volume.  If it does not rise, throw away and try again.

*Mix Flour, Salt, and Sugar.  Add Yeast mixture

*Add Olive Oil and 1 1/4 Cups water.  Stir all together.

*Should be able to form into a ball.  If some flour will not join, add more water 1 Tbsp at a time until combined well.

*Next place the ball on a flour dusted surface like a cutting board and knead for about 10 minutes.  

*Lightly coat a large bowl with oil.  Place ball into ball and roll to coat lightly with oil.  Cover with a damp towel and let sit 90 minutes till doubles in size.  

*Next punch down ball to release trapped gases and divide into 8 little balls.  Cover the separated balls and let them rest for 15 minutes.  

*While the dough rests.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  Turn a cookie sheet upside down and place in oven to preheat.  This will be your cooking surface.  

* Flour your work surface and with a rolling pin or your hands stretch and flatten the dough.  

*Cover the rolled out dough with damp towel and let rest 5 minutes more.  

*Place dough two pitas at a time on the back of the pre-heated cookie sheet.  

*Bake 3-5 minutes depending on your oven.  (mine is gas and I did 5, but some were overcooked)

*After every round of baking allow oven and cookie sheet to heat back up to temperature before placing new pitas in oven.  

*Cool completely on a cooling rack then store in an airtight container.  





Pita Bread

William and I always buy pitas at the grocery store for sandwiches so I was excited to try this at home.  Imagine how much money you can save.  Plus I always like to know what every ingredient is that I am eating.  Have you ever read the ingredients for store bought pitas?  These easy pitas are great for dipping but they don't really form the pockets needed for sandwiches.  I will post my recipe for those also, but they take longer.  If you need them in a pinch these are perfect.

Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Makes 8 Pitas
Total Time about 1 hour


Ingredients:
2 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
3/4 Cup Water
3/4 tsp Sea Salt

*Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees
*Combine all ingredients and knead gently for a few minutes
*Let rest 15 minutes
*Divide dough into 8 balls
*Roll thin on floured surface
*Place 2 at a time directly onto oven rack
*Bake 5 minutes.  Should be bubbly and dry looking.

Kale Chips

I had never tried these before and now that I have I am addicted.  These crunchy little treats melt in your mouth.  This is the best guilt-free treat I can think of. Kale is full of vitamins A, C, and K.  It also has calcium, Iron, and protein. So make yourself a big bowl of these instead of popcorn and sit down for a movie.
Kale Chips


I seasoned mine with a little Sea Salt, Onion Powder, and Garlic Powder, but you can use anything you like.  Keep in mind that Kale is a little salty on it's own, so go easy on the salt.  

Ingredients
1 Bunch Kale, cleaned, torn into medium size pieces
Seasoning (salt, garlic.onion, nutritional yeast, tony's, whatever you like)

*Preheat oven to about 260 degrees or toaster over to 225 degrees
*Place kale on a non-stick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper 
*Sprinkle generously with chosen seaonings
* Bake for 7-10 minutes until dark green and crispy--careful not to burn!

Country Fried Tempeh Steak with Gravy

I definitely think this dinner was one for the record books.  William had been saying he wanted something filling and hearty for dinner so I decided to try doing a couple recipes from happyherbivore.com, as well as a couple of my own.  This time I cut the tempeh into just 2 pieces, which was delicious, but next time will do 4 to get extra breading on each one

Country Fried Tempeh Steak with Gravy, Mashed Cauliflower, and 
Garlic Asparagus
(Serves 2 or 4)

County Fried Tempeh Steak
1 Package Tempeh (8oz)
2 Cups Water
1 Cube Bullion (I like "not-beef bullion" by Edward and Sons)
1 Cup Unbleached Flour
Various Seasonings for flour (Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Tony Chachere's, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder)
2 Cups SoyMilk
Oil for frying

*Cut Tempeh into 2 or 4 steaks. 
*Soak Tempeh in Bullion dissolved in water for at least and hour and up to overnight
*Season Flour in a bowl with your choice of seasonings.  
*Pat steaks dry. Dip in flour, then in soymilk, then back to flour again. 
*Fry in a pan until golden brown on each side 

Asparagus with Butter and Garlic
1 Bunch Asparagus
Water
1 Tbsp Earth Balance Butter
2 tsp. Chopped Garlic

*Put enough water in a pan to cover asparagus
*Bring water to a boil
*Add Asparagus to water and cook 2-3 minutes
*Drain Asparagus
*Put back in empty pan and add butter and garlic
*Cover with lid and toss to coat
*Serve Immediately

Vegan Brown Gravy
I used this great recipe from happyherbivore.com

Mashed Cauliflower
This one also comes from happyherbivore.com
I had never tried this before and I absolutely love it now!!


Grandma's Orange Cookies

I dont' know how Grandma Myers would feel about this, but I have adapted her Orange cookie recipe to make it Vegan and Gluten Free.  Orange cookies were always one of our favorite things about a trip to Grandma's house.  She always made so many we got to eat them there and she sent some home with us.  I have also cut her recipe in half because the original made 4 dozen.  Wow!!!

Grandma's Orange Cookies
(Makes about 2 dozen)

For Cookies:
3/4 Cup Agave Syrup
1/2 Cup Earth Balance Vegan Butter
1/4 Cup Soymilk
1/2 Orange (Rind and Juice)
1/4 Cup Applesauce
2 Cups Gluten Free Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder

For Icing
1/2 Box Confectioners Sugar (1/2 lb)
1/2 tsp butter
1/2 Orange (Rind and Juice)
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*In a large bowl, mix butter and agave. 
*Add applesauce
*In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients.  Then add to rest alternating with soymilk.
*Next add rind and juice. (If batter is too runny add more flour 1 Tbsp at a time.  Should be the consistency of pancake batter)
*Spoon onto cookie sheet, about 1 Tbsp in size.  Space out well as these will spread.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes
*Place on cooling rack or wax paper until cool.
*Mix all icing ingredients together
*Spread onto cooled cookies.  

Tofu Fish Sticks and Willie's Coleslaw

9:28 AM by Missy Coppage 0 comments
This is one of my favorite things to make.  I have done it several times and changed the recipe until I have achieved perfection.  Bread crumbs can be used instead of cracker crumbs.  I just have a hard time finding any that are Vegan.  William made his famous coleslaw to go with it, served up with some vegetarian baked beans.  This dinner was amazing!

Tofu "Fish" Sticks



1 (12 oz) package Extra Firm Tofu
1 Cup Crushed Cracker Crumbs
2 tsp Kelp Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Sea Salt
Olive Oil, as needed to coat




*Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
*Drain Tofu, pat dry, and cut into 10 finger sized slices
*In a medium bowl combine cracker crumbs, kelp, garlic, paprika, onion, salt
*Put olive oil in a separate bowl
*Dip tofu in olive oil then into dry mixture.  Pat lightly to coat.
*Bake on a cookie sheet in preheated oven for 20 minutes then flip, cook 15 more minutes.  Should be golden brown on both sides when done

Willie's Coleslaw

1/3 Cup Veganaise
3 Tbsp Oil
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
1/4 Cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
3 Carrots, shredded
1 Cabbage Head, shredded

*After shredding carrots and cabbage, combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  

She Crab Soup

Vegan She Crab Soup






Last night we made Vegan "She Crab" soup.  I used to work in a restaurant that served real she crab soup and it always smelled so good to me.  I was excited to try this one.  The soup itself was really easy to make, the problem we had was finding Oyster Mushrooms.  We went to three different stores and could not find any.  So we settled for Shitake Mushrooms thinking they might be similar since they have a woodsy taste.  I don't know how different the oyster mushrooms would have made it taste, but it was so good this way.

This recipe can be found at my new favorite site for recipes HappyHerbivore.com

Soy: Blessing or a Curse

This is an article my husband shared with me.  Dr. Mark Hyman dissects the recent data about the myths and truths surrounding soy.

Soy: A Blessing or a Curse

Vegan on Vacation in Wilmington, NC

My husband and I just got back from our last trip home for the summer.  It was a quick 5 day adventure to where we met in Wilmington, NC.  We spent time with our friends and went to the beach to frolic in the sand and surf.  We also spent lots of time eating.  Here in Lake Charles, LA there is not really any restaurants where I can go eat as a Vegan, but back home in Wilmington, they are everywhere.  We didn't even have time to get to them all, but we did visit a few of our favorites.


Top of my list is 
Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn 
at 4002 Oleander Drive.  













I have to say I am a little biased having worked there for 5 years, but even after all of that time, this is always my first stop in Wilmington.  The rice and beans are vegan at Flaming Amy's and they have grilled Tofu, grilled Jerk Tofu, and Portabello Mushrooms offered for your "grilled fillins".  There is a wide variety of Burritos that can be Vegan simply by removing cheese and/or sour cream.  They also have hummus which can be substituted inside a quesadilla.  Their guacamole is also vegan.  Visit their website to view more pics and the menu FlamingAmysBurritoBarn.com


Next on my list is 
Nikki's Fresh Gourmet and Sushi Bar.  


Nikki's has grown over the years and has several locations.  My two favorites are the original downtown location at 16 S. Front Street, or the Independence mall location.  If you are a vegetarian or vegan, they have a fabulous menu with tofu burgers, grilled tofu sandwiches, tempeh rubens, tempeh phillys, and great veggie sushi.  They do not at this point offer up a vegan mayo or vegan dressing for the ruben, so since I became vegan, unless I bring my own, I usually opt for the sushi or one of the Mediterranean options.  Here is a link to  Nikki's Downtown Menu





Another of our favorites is also a part of the Flaming Amy's family
Flaming Amy's Bowl
4418 Shipyard Blvd.
Long Leaf Mall
Wilmington, NC

This place is very vegan friendly.  They are a mongolian style grill where you take a bowl up and choose exactly what you want in your bowl.  You then choose from white or brown noodles, or white or brown rice.  You then choose your sauce.  I am a fan of the thai peanut sauce with brown rice.  If you tell the cook you are a vegetarian or vegan they will clean the grill extra well and get clean new spatulas from the kitchen to make sure there is no cross contamination. 


Another place we found ourselves enjoying is 
Trolley Stop Hot Dogs

Right now you are thinking hot dogs, what???  But Trolley Stop carries LightLife brand Smart Dogs which are vegan.  I have to admit I cheated a little and did not ask if the bread was vegan, I kind of assume it is not, but I wanted one so bad I did not inquire.  Ignorance is bliss!!!!
Trolley Stop offers a variety of toppings.  If you are simply a vegetarian, there a many options for you.  William went with the nuclear dog topped with cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and mustard.  I opted for mustard and onions.  At least I knew my toppings were vegan.  Trolley stop has several locations.  We went to the on at Carolina Beach.  More info and locations for Trolley Stop Hot Dogs.


This is just a small list of places Wilmington has to offer.  It is a very progressive town swarming with art and culture.  If you don't see a vegan option on a menu (which is unlikely for most places), I guarantee they can work one out for you.  


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