Raw Zucchini with a Raw Tomato Sauce.

Now that I have found that zucchini pasta is better the real thing I have been making it at least twice a week. Watching a video of Mimi Kirk using here triple blade slicer than I knew I had to get one, this is such a useful tool to have I love mine.  Now that I have so many tomatoes I love growing my own stuff out at my mother-in law's house.

Now for the sauce you can put all the ingredients in too a food processor but I think that it makes it to foamey so I do all the chopping with my knife.

Raw Sauce

6 large ripe tomatoes chopped

1 large onion chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

2 tbsp italian seasoning

1 tbsp black pepper

1 tsp sea salt

Put all the chopped veggies and the seasonings into a large bowl and using a potatoe masher mash it up. Set a side to let all the flavors marry up. This makes a water sauce if you want you can deseed the tomatoes but it still will be watery.

The zucchini pasta is so simple

1 large zucchini spiral sliced

All you got to do is plate it up and there you go raw and full of flavor.

Franks And Beans Vegan Style

After a long week I am always looking  forward to the weekend and its finally here. Franks and Beans has always been a fave of mine ever since I can remember and thanks to the people over at Field Roast I can still enjoy this classic in a vegan version. Now I am no paid spoke person but I will say I know my hot-dogs before I was vegan I planned a whole west coast family vacation around going to Portland Oregon just for me to eat some hot dogs, these Field Roast Frankfurters are with out a doubt the best vegan dog you can buy. The taste and texture is comparable to a high quality all beef frank it is that good and you don't get a belly ache after eating them. Now this dish is a staple at any family function its very simple cheap and real quick to throw together. I found that the cannellini bean is the best bean to use for this recipe it has the a perfect taste and it holds up during the baking.

For the recipe this is what you need

1 batch of my BBQ sauce found here

1 batch of hot-dog buns found here (They are just like my hamburger buns only shaped different)

3 cans of cannellini beans

3  Field Roast Frankfurters sliced into 1/4 inch slices (I go with one frank pre can of beans)

1 large onion diced

For the beans just open can and drain and rinse very well I love the 365 organic brand from Whole Foods cause they are not packed with any of the bad stuff. In a pot that has an oven safe rating mix together the BBQ sauce, beans and half the chopped onion. Cover and bake for 15 min at 350 degrees pull out and stir bake for 15 more min then you are ready for some franks and beans. But wait what goes great with frank and beans well a hot-dog does silly.

Make sure you remove the plastic casting.

To pan fry these dogs to perfection is and art form (not really) to get the perfect amount of char on the outside. Heat up 1 tbsp of oil on a med to high heat unwrap the the franks and place them in the skillet, once the brown up pour a bit of water to steam them up and turn over to repeat till is perfectly cooked. Now the best topping combo for these franks for the meal is straight yellow mustard and chopped onion in a fresh made bun wow.

Have fun and Enjoy.

Vegan Homemade Mac-N-Cheese

After eating the best Mac-n-cheese while on vacation at the Pomegranate Cafe out in Phoenix Az. I have been trying to remake this recipe I I think I got it. My whole life I have loved mac-n-cheese even back in the day we my grandma would make it with government cheese it was always awesome. Now that I have gone the vegan route I was missing the creamy goodness I have made some raw versions but nothing was hitting home.

The Macaroni 

1- 16 oz box of whatever brand elbow pasta cooked al-denti drained and set aside. 

The Cheese Sauce 

1/4 cup vegan butter (earth balance)

3 tbsp all purpose flour

3 cups almond milk or vegan milk of choice

2 cups vegan cheese ( Daiya is the only brand I use)

1 tbsp black pepper 

1 1/2 tsp chiplote pepper powder

And pinch of turmeric 

Start by melting the butter add the flour and mix till it makes a brownish colored paste this is a roux. Add the milk and stir constantly once the roux and milk are well combined turn down to a low heat add the cheese keep stirring so it don't clump up add your spices and once all the cheese has melted you should have a nice thick cheesey sauce add your pasta and mix well. 

Now hot dogs and mac-n-cheese are great together so fry up some Field Roast Frankfurters and now you got a supper anyone would love to have.  

The Quiet Storm-Pittsburgh Pa.-Review

This a very unique place the a great vibe to it full of colorful tile floor and many many owl figures all over the place. Now this place would be easy to pass if you not watching for it. There are so few vegetarian places in the "Burgh" have vegan options and the only 100% vegan one is closed on Sundays.

We started with some ice tea which was awesome but the service was grumpy to say the least. We placed our order and then we find out that they were out of the hash the wife ordered so she ordered a Country Burrito same as me if you are gonna have a small limited menu then make sure you have enough for all day, every item on the menu is 13 dollars.  I ordered a side of Baken ( TVP Bacon). Now this burrito was made with a tofu scramble smashed potato and veggies with and onion gravy. Now I am not pro chef but these two flavors didn't mesh together to well, the wife really didn't like it. The burrito was nice size but the tofu lacked flavor and was a little dry, the onion gravy was really good but didn't taste good on a burrito. I ordered a side of the baken and got 1 and a half pieces for 2 bucks when a package at the store is 4 bucks.  And the price was pretty steep, we had 2 burritos, 2 ice teas, 2 milkshakes ( non-vegan for the boys) and and the bill was over 40 dollars the was really way to high. For the money they are asking then the product needs to be brought up another notch. But all and all the place was clean and the ice tea was really good I wish the food and service would of been as good as the decor.  I guess after being on vacation and coming back to Pa. to realize what a horrible place I live in and can not wait to move out west.