Food Network Monthly Cookalong: Emeril's Kicked-Up BLT

I started off this sandwich-y month with a BAM! Emeril's Kicked-Up BLT definitely had a little kick to it but it was so easy to veganize that I whipped it up for lunch on a whim one day. I, of course, went to my go to Smoky Curls from Vegan Diner which I have made so many times now I just wing it. I used Vegenaise for mayo and used white sandwich bread for the brioche. I know I could make my own, thanks to Celine, but I was going for quick and it stood in nicely. The Chipotle Mayo was definitely kicked up and what I would expect from Emeril. It worked nicely with the soy curl bacon and the avocado slices helped cool it down a bit. Mine was a little greener than Emeril's since I used slice green zebra tomatoes I picked up at the Kanata Farmer's Market on the weekend. I had never had them and thought they might be sour/bitter like the green tomatoes I had tried in the past but they are so tasty and sweet! Fresh local tomatoes always taste the best too! I really enjoyed this sandwich and even commented to Ryan that it was in my top 10 favourite sandwiches so it will definitely be made again and again. He, unfortunately for him, was at work while I was chowing down on it but I was nice enough to save him enough of everything to make one the next day and he  enjoyed it just as much as me. Kicked up sandwich heaven!

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! Just leave a comment on that post (click the link below) to be entered and if you would like to earn bonus entries, veganize a sandwich from Food Network and let me know at the end of the month. I will include you in our monthly round up and it will up the odds of you winning a copy of a spectacular cookbook! http://threeandahalfvegans.blogspot.ca/2012/08/food-network-monthly-cookalong-theme.html

My First Deep Fried Avocado Tacos

I would have honestly never even thought to try battering and frying a wedge of avocado if it weren't for Seabirds vegan food truck but once I heard about it, I couldn't stop thinking about it (maybe even a few dreams about it). I desperately wanted to know what it would taste like but I am about as far away from California as I could get (slight exaggeration but it feels like it in December, trust me!) so I knew my only hopes of getting one of these bad boys in my belly was to do it myself. Then along came a test recipe for Carla Kelly's newest project (more details on this one when I can) that just seemed to call out for me to do it! Carla's recipe was a battered tofu (pictures and post about those another day!) that was amazing and will definitely get made again. I broke out my deep fryer for the tofu and figured while I had it out I would make some chips to go with it. I don't take it out often so I thought I would try the avocado out as well if there was leftover batter. Well there was leftover batter but at suppertime I was in too much of a hurry to eat hot tofu and chips so I kinda bailed on the idea. About an hour later after our company had left and the kid was in bed sleeping, I heard the deep fryer calling my name...it was taunting me for not even trying and I couldn't let it talk smack like that so I headed back down there, fired up the deep fryer and sliced up a firm yet ripe avocado. I dipped it in the batter and fried until golden and when they came out I placed them on a paper towel to get some of the oil off, then sprinkled with a bit of salt. I busted out some tortillas, browned them a bit in a pan, added some salad I had made in the fridge, a few slices of tomato and a little drizzle of tomatillo salsa and a squeeze of lime juice. They are seriously heavenly! There is an initial crunch of the batter followed by a creamy bite of avocado. They didn't go to mush or anything. I had always wondered what it would taste like and now I know...delicious! There isn't really a comparison that I could draw, it just tastes amazing and unique (in the best possible way). I made one for me and one for Ryan and we had a little taco party in the kitchen. I convinced my mom to come up and take a bite, though she was pretty skeptical, but she did like it! I will definitely try these again some time and can see why Seabirds has such a following!