Monday, September 1, 2014

Vegan MoFo Day 1


If you've come across my page via the Vegan MoFo blogroll, welcome! I'm Sara, stay-at-home mama of Jackson (6) and Olivia (4), wife of Tony, and human companion of Monster.



I cook vegan food at home, but I will eat vegetarian items at restaurants or if we're dining at someone else's house, so that is why I don't classify myself as vegan. Tony and the kids are omnivores, so I make eggs and grilled sandwiches for them from time to time. But I don't cook meat for them, because I don't know how, and I think it's gross. Anyway, this month everything I post will be totes vegan.


I typically write about our daily activities as a busy, adventure-loving family, as well as the food we make. I noticed that a lot of bloggers adopt a theme for MoFo, so this month I've decided I will try to make as many recipes as possible from my Pinterest boards. I have a habit of pinning stuff and never getting around to actually making it, so this will give me a little push, and hopefully be somewhat interesting for you as well.

But there will also be randomness. I have the attention span of a goldfish and can't stick to a theme for thirty days. I have tried before. So before I get to my Pinterest recipe of the day, allow me to share my first-ever attempt at steaming an artichoke.


I saw beautiful whole artichokes at Trader Joe's and decided to bring one home. The anatomy of the artichoke had always been intimidating to me. There's something called a "choke?" And it's sharp and spiky?


Artichokes are actually super simple. I followed this recipe. I didn't injure myself on the spiky choke. Victory! Olivia and I first tried dipping the leaves in melted Earth Balance with black pepper. We didn't like it, so we ended up making a dipping sauce of Veganaise and a little sriracha. I can report it was delicious, and Olivia approved of the new vegetable thanks to its tactile, finger-food aspect.


And here is the Pinterest find for today. Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread. I veganized it no problem by using Earth Balance and subbing flax eggs (1 Tbsp. ground flax + 3 Tbsp. water = 1 egg). If you are new to using flax eggs, be sure to mix the ground flax and water in a small bowl before you do anything else. Then they will have achieved a suitably goopy and "eggy" consistency when it's time to add them to your batter.


A moist, uber-chocolatey bread, a great way to use summer zucchini.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope to see you again this month and to check out your blog as well, if I'm not already following it.








12 comments:

  1. Hi Sara!
    Artichokes are such beautiful flowers. Eating them is always special to me.

    Have a nice MoFo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, I didn't even think about them being flowers. Cool! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. I need to experiment with artichokes more often, thanks for the reminder! Happy MoFo!

    Nicole
    Vegan Nom Noms
    http://www.vegannomnoms.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy MoFo! :) I love artichokes. I usually make them with a vinaigrette, but sriracha mayo sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vinaigrette sounds good, I'll have to try it that way!

      Delete
  4. I've never eaten or prepared an artichoke from fresh-- I always find them a bit intimidating! I've only started eating it this year and that is only on my pizza when we go to our family pizza restaurant. I'll give it a go now, thanks! Happy MoFo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love artichokes on pizza, yum! Happy MoFo!

      Delete
  5. your artichoke in the saucepan looks so beautiful - I think you are brave to try cooking one - never managed it myself because I find them intimidating. love your theme for vegan mofo - I have too many recipes pinned that I haven't tried

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt the same, but steaming the artichoke was super easy and didn't take too long. Happy MoFo!

      Delete
  6. I've tried growing artichokes, but never succeeded. I've bought them, prepared and cooked them, but not found them worth the effort - although I enjoy them prepared in jars of oil -strange! Must try them again. Now Jerusalem artichokes - those I grow like weeds!!!! lovely nutty flavour:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That artichoke is beautiful before and after cooking (which isn't always the case)!
    Have you ever tried roasting them? They're delicious in nearly every form (I'll admit, I'm a little obsessed with artichokes - roasting, pizza, hummus, dips, etc)

    Anyway! Happy Vegan Mofo! :D

    ReplyDelete