“tablespoon of flax seeds” – CC-licensed image via Flickr user sean dreilinger.
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I’ve been using flax seed oil in dog food recipes – peanut butter balls, mostly – for several years now. The stink of the stuff has never appealed to; it’s always made me gag, in fact.

Which is why, when I read that flax seeds are helpful for those who suffer from IBS, I cringed a little. As some of you may know, I’ve been struggling with (what I suspect is) IBS for about five years. Mostly it’s under control, but when I eat the wrong foods or stray from my routine, I’m basically thumbing my nose at the digestive gods.

So it was with more than a little trepidation that I decided to add a few tablespoons of flax seeds to my nightly routine. Or try, anyhow; based on my aversion to the oil, I remained doubtful that I’d be able to choke the actual seeds down. I started with the ground stuff, purchased relatively inexpensively at a certain evil box store, and…they were okay. No, not just okay; good. Kind of yummy, actually! Cue: pleasant surprise.

They made a noticeable difference with my IBS symptoms, too: no more bloating! (Well, assuming I stay away from problem foods; I’m not brave/foolhardy enough to test flax seeds’ efficacy under such risky conditions.) And girl, does that shit keep you regular! Way more effective in that arena than anything I’ve tried, fiber supplements included.

When visiting my parents, I switched to whole, roasted flax seeds because – luck of luck – they just happened to have a bag on hand. (Two, actually; I brought the other home with me in my second suitcase – i.e., the one I use to collect and carry “my haul.”) Super, super yummy.

And great in recipes, too!:

Even though I wrote this post several weeks ago, I’m eating yet another Smart BLT right this very moment. Crazy addictive, I’m telling you!

After reviewing The Owl House at veganmofo’s opening – or, more to the point, kvetching about the chef’s choice of vegan meats with which to fill out the vegan BLT – I found myself craving a BLT made with Lightlife’s Smart Bacon. In my 14+ years as a vegetarian/vegan, I’d never made a BLT sandwich. Crazy, right? Bacon – whether vegan or not – has always struck me as more of a breakfast food, certainly not the main filling in a lunch- or dinner-time sandwich. Too thin and wimpy!

(Cue: that annoying “Where’s the beef?” lady from the ’80s. Speaking of, I wonder whether my parents still have that “Where’s the beef?” dinnerware set I remember them trying to unload at a family garage sale waaaay back in the day? Note to self: must ask mom about it the next time you phone home.
/ inexplicable digression)

Or that was my convoluted thinking, anyhow. Well, no more. Enter: the Smart BLT!

My precious.
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We’re looking at:

Another week, another veganmofo wrap-up! Entering the home stretch, I cannot adequately express the sense of relief that comes from having started my mofo blogging a month in advance. Because, lemme tell you something – I’m 26.5 posts down with 3.5 left to go (the .5 being a book review that’s 99% finished, but just needs a quick spit & shine before publication), and I am forking exhausted. As in, ready for an 18-hour nap followed by a week-long vacation. And I haven’t even done that much cooking!

“mashed cauliflower: This Mashed Cauliflower recipe (which I make in place of mashed potatoes) is perfect for a gluten free, Paleo Thanksgiving.”
CC image via Flickr user elena’s pantry.
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Food, delicious food!

Mashed Cauliflower, Carrot French Fries and Vegan Pumpkin Ice Cream from Elena’s Pantry (pictured above and below)

Vegan Butterflake Rolls from Inspired Eats

Best Vegan Pecan Pie from My Vegan Cookbook

Twice-Baked Colcannon from Miso for Breakfast

Thanksgiving “Pie” with Variations and Spiced Two-Apple Tart with Cider Crème from Vegan Planet

Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Vegan Etsy

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes With Chocolate Ganache from Isa @ the PPK

Tasty cream horns from vegalicious

Graham Crackers from VeganYumYum

VEGAN Battleship Chocolate Bundt Cake with Sour Cherry Compote! from Terry Hope Romero @ vegansaurus!

Quick(er) Pierogies from Vegan Nom Noms

Vegan Peppermint Stick Ice Cream from I Eat Trees

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread from Musings From The Fishbowl

Buckeye Candy (with a Hint of Cardamom) from Manifest Vegan

Beer Breaded Garlic Mushrooms from Lustrous Musings

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Families gather in the Oneida Square Community Garden –
complete with a popcorn machine! Story here.
CC image via Flickr user The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Cos.
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The seeds of this week’s frugal vegan tip were planted several years ago, when I read a piece written by Lauren of the (seemingly) now-defunct blog Faux Real Tho. If memory serves correctly, Lauren described a sort of “work party,” wherein a group of friends and family members descended upon her backyard in order to help her and her husband create a garden space in their new home. In return for food and alcohol – naturally. The ultimate garden party, if you will.

Work + wine = a work party
Work + wine + dirt + produce = a garden party

Of course, bribing and plying your friends with alcohol and shiny happy vegan cupcakes is a great way to procure a little extra help when needed. But let’s take this concept a step further, shall we? Why split only the work when you can share it all: monetary expenses, land, labor, knowledge, materials and yield?

Let’s say, for example, that you want to start growing some of your own (VEGAN!) food in order to save money and become more self-sufficient (the apocalypse, it’s coming!). You have the space to establish a good-sized garden and the funds to cover any start-up costs – but are lacking the know-how and expertise to make it a rousing success. Or perhaps you’re an experienced gardener but are currently living in an apartment space which only affords room for a small window garden. Maybe you have the time to devote to weeding, watering, harvesting and preserving, but no money with which to buy the supplies. By pooling your resources with friends, family members and/or acquaintances, all of these potential pitfalls can be overcome.

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Book cover, The 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes: Amazing Cookies, Cakes, Muffins, Pies, Brownies and Breads by Kris Holechek (2009)
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Earlier in the year, I happened upon a giveaway of The 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes; publisher Ulysses Press was offering up a few copies of the recently-released book for review. Since I was already a fan of author Kris Holechek through her NOM! NOM! NOM! BLOG (and, perhaps more to the point, am unable to pass up a vegan freebie!), I jumped at the chance. Six+ months later, and I think I’ve finally tried enough of the recipes to offer up a review.

The 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes features recipes for a variety of baked goods, grouped into the following categories: cookies; bars; muffins; quick breads; cakes; pies and tarts; pastries; yeasted treats; frostings, icings and toppings; and children’s recipes (“Kids in the Kitchen”). The recipes include some standards (Shorbread; Best Banana Bread; Basic Pie Crust; Rosemary Focacia; Going, Going, Gone! Gingerbread) as well as a number of more creative concoctions (Strawberry Lemonade Cheespie; Gas Station Pie; Garden Muffins; Mocha-damia Bars; Blackest Forest Cake). Each recipe is rated for difficulty and prep time, with one “whisk” being the simplest and five “whisks,” the most challenging.

In addition to ten sections listed above, Holechek begins the book with a handy introductory chapter. Particularly useful for novices such as myself, this “vegan baking 101″ guide covers the fundamentals, such as the ups and downs and when-to’s of various egg replacers, sugars and sweeteners, and leaveners; the best way to melt chocolate; essential ingredients; and must-have kitchen utensils and gadgets. (Whereas I’d been resistant to buying cooling racks for quite some time, Holecheck – with no small help from Shane! – finally convinced me of the need.)

Over time, I tried a number of recipes, including….

The Lemon Almond Bling Muffins (page 66), which are flavored with almond extract and topped off with a delicious mix of lemon, sugar and raw almonds:

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For veganmofo iv, I’d like to try my hand at veganizing a few non-veg recipes…but, seeing as I’m no domestic diva, my ambitions are somewhat, shall we say, modest. Instead of going all Project Just Desserts on your asses, I’m sticking to recipes that require only a few modifications and substitutions.

Such as these S’more Brownies I found on NabiscoWorld.com ages ago. To say that I veganized this recipe is a little generous, actually, since I mostly just swapped out non-vegan products for cruelty-free ones: Dandies for Jet-Puffed minis, Honey Maid Grahams for vegan crackers, eggs for NRG, etc. But still, yum!

As good as these s’mores are warm and freshly baked, they’re even tastier (if harder to slice) the next day. The “brownie” portion of this dessert is more fudge-like than crumbly, and leaving it out overnight gives it a chance to firm up a bit.

Happy noming!

(Vegan) S’mores Brownies

Ingredients

10-15 vegan graham crackers
3/4 cup margarine
4 1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
A vegan egg substitute, equivalent to 3 chicken eggs (I used NRG Egg Replacer)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
2 1/2 cups Dandies (or the vegan marshmallows of your choice)
1 cup vegan chocolate chips or chunks

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The first summer after moving into our new home, the husband and I found ourselves buried under a deluge of fresh produce. Some of it, such as the watermelons, cantaloupes, green and yellow zucchini, jalapenos, green and yellow peppers, and tomatoes (oh, the tomatoes!: Roma, Beefsteak, cherry and grape) came as no surprise, since they were planned, planted and grown in our very own garden. Most of the fruit, on the other hand, was wholly unexpected; when we purchased the house the previous spring, we had no idea that many of the trees in our front yard were of the fruit-bearing variety. The apricots, pears and apples (120 grocery bags full, for reals!), then, came as a shock. A happy shock, but a shock nonetheless.

With the threat of an overabundance of fruit and veggies looming, I hurriedly began researching methods of preserving the extras for winter. Canning struck me as intriguing, if a bit risky for a newbie like myself. Freezing, while quick and easy, brings with it the obvious space and energy limitations. Eventually, I decided that dehydrating the excess food was my best option: safe, uncomplicated and requiring the minimal upfront investment.

My (then-) newly-purchased Nesco American Harvest Gardenmaster FD-1020 Digital Pro Food Dehydrator, still in the box.
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Enter: the Nesco American Harvest Gardenmaster FD-1020 Digital Pro Food Dehydrator. After quite a bit of online window-shopping, I finally opted for this make and model. A mid-range dehydrator, the Gardenmaster FD-1020 is one of the pricier models offered by Nesco, and yet it’s still less expensive than those made by Excalibur (which, if the Amazon listings are any indication, is the Lexus of food dehydrators). Currently, the Gardenmaster FD-1020 retails for $154.99 on Amazon, but is on sale for $116.95.

All things considered – e.g., price, customer reviews, expandability, accessories – the Gardenmaster FD-1020 struck me as the wisest choice: suitable for my needs, without going over the top. Plus, it only cost me $30 after I applied my existing gift certificate balance. Score!

This is my third autumnal season with the Gardenmaster; in this time, I’ve used it to dry a variety of fruits and veggies, including tomatoes:

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A freshly baked (quarter-) batch of Molly’s Decadent Delight Muffins sits on a small plate, behind which lurks two identical, plush reddish-brown wiener dogs. Only, the dog on the right is missing one eye (his right one, even!), along with the tip of his nose. One of the first three adopted dog-kids – Ralphie, Peedee or O-Ren – chewed them off years ago. Do we have a psychic in the pack, perchance?
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Friday night, I made a batch of Decadent Delight Muffins (recipe via Molly @ It’s a Vegan Dog’s Life – the meeter of at least 75% of my dog treat recipe needs!) for the dog-kids. I wanted to pamper them a little bit, since we had an especially rough week. But first treats, then kvetching!

Perched on the back of the couch, Rennie stares into the kitchen, entranced by the unbaked muffins sitting on the countertop.
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Packed with flax seeds, shredded carrots, natural peanut butter and freshly made (somewhat fortuitously, as I just so happened to be brewing the final batch of the season) applesauce, these muffins are both healthy and delicious. (And vegan!) I much prefer baking my own dog treats over buying commercial brands because I know exactly what goes into each batch. Plus, they’re really very easy to make and store well in the freezer, if need be. (With five dogs, treats are eaten up pretty quickly round these parts!) Of course, the dogs also enjoy licking the spoons and bowls. And what better way to a dog’s heart than through her stomach? Five paws up!

Okay, so enough of the muffins. Let’s move on to the one-eyed wiener dog, shall we?

Ralphie mosaic!
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Ralphie.

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About this time last year, I was singing the praises of Etsy – EtsyVeg and Vegan Etsy in particular – as part of the October VeganMoFo’ing madness. A few months prior, I’d purchased some yummy vegan cookies and cinnamon rolls from The Cupcake Mint and sent them to my mom for Mother’s Day; since they were a big hit, I decided to go the vegan baked goods route for Christmas, as well.

After some searching, I stumbled upon Sweet V Confections, an all-vegan bakery (baker, singular?) located in North Carolina. Sweet V makes a variety of, um, vegan confections, ranging from candies and cupcakes to brownies and cookies. Can I get a nomnom?

Sitting at the kitchen table, a cordless phone in one hand, my grandmother Arnie shows off a basket of vegan goodies from Sweet V Confections. In keeping with the Christmas season, the basket is striped red and green, and the wrapped cookies all sport festive white, green and red ribbons. The lights of a Christmas tree glow faintly in the background.
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While all the vegan bakers on Etsy make my mouth drool, I chose Sweet V because the seller offers customizable gift baskets – and with holiday decor, to boot! Score! I decided to purchase a basket each for my grandmothers Arnie and Vita, as well as my great-uncle Ken (who’s still alive and kickin’ it at 101 years young; my grandmothers clock in at an unimpressive-by-comparison 94 and 84, respectively).

In each basket comes three dozen cookies (nom-er’s choice!), along with six peanut butter cups, six peanut butter and jelly cups, and nine peppermint patties. For Arnie, I chose chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and butterscotch chocolate chip cookies; for Vita, chocolate chip, peanut butter, and gingerbread cookies; and for Ken, chocolate chip, butterscotch chocolate chip, and gingerbread cookies. Yummy, festive and cruelty-free!

A screenshot of Etsy seller Sweet V Confections’s storefront. Taken on October 7, 2010.
(Yes, I planned my mofo’ing well in advance this year!)
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Of course, like many Etsy sellers, Sweet V will also consider custom requests. At the time of this writing, the shop features 33 creations, all of which sound heavenly: Fudge Filled Sandwich Cookies. Cherry Walnut Fudge. Cookies n’ Cream Cupcakes, Jumbo size. Orange Cream Chocolates. Pecan Bourbon Balls. S’more Fudge. Let me repeat: S’more. Fudge. (Oh yes she did!) Conceivably, one could create a custom basket containing any variety of these chocolaty, sugary miracles. (If you do, please send it my way, mkay?)

Naturally, I can’t really offer a review of Sweet V Confection’s products, since I wasn’t lucky enough to sample any. But. I can say that the recipients had nothing but good things to say about the cookies and chocolates. This won’t really come as a shock to the vegans in the audience, but no one even suspected that the items were egg- and dairy-free, and were (pleasantly?) surprised and more than a little impressed when I broke the news. (Pffft, who says vegan foods are gross and boring? As if!)

On my end, Kristen was very nice and easy to work with. She responded to all my questions and updates quickly and with nary a hint of Christmas frazzle. I placed the order on December 16th – a little later than I would have liked – and she had the baskets assembled and shipped within a few days. Extremely pleasant, hassle-free and reasonably priced, too.

Come to think of it…I might gift myself a basket of goodies from Sweet V Confections this holiday season!

What about you, mofo’ers? Which vegan Etsy shops get you all hot and bothered?

Miss Hash Brown – my parents’ beagle/terrier mix-breed dog-kid – tries to sweet-talk me into sharing a piece of my sun-dried tomato bagel with her. And by “talk” I mean “kiss.”
Needless to say, she had me at *sad eyes*.
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It took me a good six hours, but I finally finished working through this year’s veganmofo blogroll earlier this week. Everything looks so nice and neat and sorted now! Of course, this means that I have even more Friday Food to share with y’all! Enjoy the links, and try not to drool on your keyboard or, worse yet, lick your monitor (it’s not real, it’s just an illusion!).

Before we get started, though, I have got to direct you to the following blogs – or, more to the point, blog titles, which tickled me every shade of pink whilst browsing through them. Most are rooted in pop culture, which is totally my thing.

bite me, I’m vegan | bitemevegan.blogspot.com
Duchess Of Kircaldy | duchessofkircaldy.wordpress.com
It Ain’t Meat, Babe | www.itaintmeatbabe.com
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Cooking…) | imonlycooking.blogspot.com
meansoybean | meansoybean.com
Meatless in Seattle | meatlessinseattle85.blogspot.com
No Murders in the Rue Morgue | nomurders.wordpress.com
Thyme Bombe | thymebombe.com
Vegan Dance if you want to. | vegandance.blogspot.com

Also be sure to visit Seitan Said Dance, who’s cooking up comic book themed dishes all week. Totally awesome. Bonus smiles: Mozilla recommends that I change “Seitan” to “Satan.”

“Oat Pumpkin Pancakes” (recipe here). CC image via digiyesica on Flickr.
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Food, delicious food!

Tempeh Roulade en Croute from VegSpinz

Sweet Potato and Apple Bake from megatarian

Mint Chocolate Shots from Lustrous Musings

The (vegan) Soup Post! and Molasses Ginger Cookies! from Healthy. Happy. Life.

Cappuccino Muffins and Vegan Apple Hand Pies from Vegan Nom Noms

Rooibos Chai from Vegan Junk Food

Dad’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons from In My Vegan Life

The Vegan Nacho from Unhealthy Vegan

Vegan Pizza Bites from Toast and Tofu

Braised Maple Tarragon Carrots from The Elizavegan Page

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