Pizza Testing for Julie Hasson

Just in the past two weeks I have been eating a lot and I mean A LOT of pizza and happily so! Julie Hasson has a new book project that she is working on and I harassed begged her into letting me help test! I have been busy making lots of different types and have enjoyed every single one of them so far! The book even has a secret and delicious new kind of topping that will make anyone freak out! She also has a few soy curl recipes for toppings that have become instant favourites too. If you are a fan of the Smoky Curls from Vegan Diner, get ready to love some new curls. I have been testing them out on the whole family and everyone has been raving, even the omni in-laws! The crust is such an easy task too, just mix it, let it rise and refrigerate for later. It makes it so easy to make pizza that you really can't not make one. Here's a few pictures from the testing so far!! Get ready to drool!

Cheeseburger Pizza

Cowboy Pizza

Broccoli and Cheddar Pizza

Eggplant Parmesan Pizza

Taco Pizza and yes it has crushed up corn chips on it!

Tomato, Cucumber and Caper Pizza

Pub Pizza

Pineapple and Jalapeño Pizza...I was eating it up so quick
I almost didn't get a picture!

 

Mushroom, Broccoli and Sun Dried Tomato Pizza

Plain Jane Pizza

Onion, Sausage and Garlic Pizza...so far my very favourite

BBQ Pizza

Baked Potato Pizza

Muffaletta Pizza

And dessert pizzas too....this one is Raspberry Crumble Pizza

Whole Grain Surprises

I remember when I was little my mom went through a phase where she baked out of a heart healthy cookbook for awhile. There were bran muffins and whole wheat breads. They were good but all seemed a little heavy. I always thought whole grain was akin to cardboard. Then recently I was (luckily) invited to help test out recipes for the newest project from Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes. As far as I know the title is yet to be decided but it is an all whole grains baking book and everything and I mean EVERYTHING is amazing! These two super duper people are busy developing some of the most delicious sweet and savory baked goods, quick breads, tarts, granolas and breads I have ever eaten. I have been stuffing my face with them for the past few weeks and realizing I can make much better baked goods at home with these recipes than I can buy. They are full of whole grains (amaranth, barley, corn, quinoa, rye, spelt, wheat, etc) and are using no refined white sugar either! I have been taking pictures along the way and wanted to share some with you here. I will keep you updated on it as it comes along about the title and when it will be out. Trust me, you will want a copy of this book when it does!

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: English Muffin Loaf, Cran-Apple Crumble Pie, Speculoos Donuts (recipe is posted on Celine's blog), Pretty and Wheat Pretzels, Pita Bread, Tortillas, Tapenade and Bean Buns, Chocolate Raspberry Tart, Hazelnut Shortbread Fingers, To Each Their Own Kale Quiches and Cracked Wheat Pan Rolls.

 

Leftover Revamp

I am kinda the Queen of leftovers. Notorious for cooking more than enough and then some. Lunch around here is usually just warmed up whatever we had the night before and sometimes it's even better the next day. Sometimes just sitting overnight lets all the flavours mingle a bit more and come together even better when it is warmed up the next day. Some things are even better cold the next day (like my Kentucky Fried Tofu, don't judge until you try it) or even pizza. But every now and then I do a little revamp on the leftovers, turn them into something even better than they were the night before. This week that's happened twice and I had to share them!

The first one was a product of some excellent stuffed shells I made. I kind of threw a bunch of stuff (firm tofu, cashews, umi plum vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic, nooch and miso paste) into the food processor to make some ricotta. Stuffed that into some large shell pasta and smothered with some tomato sauce I picked up at Costco (just to note the sauce is awesome and all it has in it is tomatoes, basil and salt) and baked in the oven for 30 minutes. It was tasty that night with a side of miso garlic bread but one bite with both was mind blowing. Right then and there I knew I had to make a sandwich the next day with the leftovers. The next day I waited patiently for lunch to finally come and toasted a hamburger bun, slathered it with miso garlic butter (equal parts yellow miso paste, vegan margarine and a pinch of two of garlic powder) and sat two stuffed shells down on the bun. It was freaking magical. The picture I took does not do it justice but it was seriously delicious and needs to be made again...soon and with bigger buns!

Just a day or two later, I was testing out a recipe from Joni Marie Newman's upcoming book for Buffalo Hot Sauce on her delicious Toffulo Wings. The wings and sauce were incredibly good. I don't usually go for hot stuff since it gives me some serious indigestion but I decided to go for it just for Joni. I was definitely glad I did and didn't suffer too badly at all. The next day I was looking forward to lunch yet again and then I remembered something I pinned awhile back on Pinterest. A recipe that was not at all vegan but I was intrigued by the idea. They were Buffalo Chicken Nachos so I quickly spread out some corn chips in a pan, chopped up the left over Toffulo Wings, drizzled both homemade ranch dressing and leftover Buffalo hot sauce all over and baked for 12-15 minutes at 425F. Holy hot damn these were tasty! Poor Ryan was on the phone from work as I was digging in and was super jealous of what I had made. Guess I'll have to make these again sometime soon for him to try! Any other leftover lovers out there?

Testing Sweet and Savoury Jackfruit Carnitas

I'm still testing for Terry Hope Romero's newest project and I'm telling you...I'm really enjoying these tastes from around the world. This book is going to be epic! Just this weekend I made her Sweet and Savoury Jackfruit Carnitas and oh boy were they delicious. I love carnitas and have made them a few times now since being vegan, always with jackfruit because it really does mimic the texture you would expect. And once you caramelize it a little in a cast iron pan, it really does look exactly like what I made pre-vegan (almost eerily so). These were definitely a favourite of ours from this testing and will get made again for sure!

A carnita feast served up with shredded cabbage, tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, warm corn tortillas, pickled onions, and rice

The star of the show

I love pickled onions (also a test for Terry)

You even need two tortillas to hold it all in!

Crafty Projects

I have been seriously enjoying testing all the crafty projects that Joni has been coming up with for her upcoming book. I love crafting and have a serious amount of scrapbooking supplies up in my spare bedroom so most of the time I have what I need on hand. These projects may look a little complicated but trust me they are easy to make (with Joni's instructions at least) and so beautiful! People will be fighting over who gets to keep them and you won't want to let them go. Around here Mac has been trying to lay claim on them but so far I've managed to keep them for myself. I also have been loving Joni's "in a jar recipes" because while they are great for gifting, they are also great for my pantry! I mixed up a bunch of them and then when I want something most of the work is already done which makes meals so much easier!

Double Sided Accordion Cookbook
I couldn't figure out how to get a picture of it all
opened up and all but you can put some recipes
in it to give as a gift and can use both sides

Recipe Treasure Box
The kind where you stash those index
cards with all the recipes you use all the time

Same box different angle

L-R Chipotle Ranch Dressing, Hearty Pasta Soup with Chickn',
Curried Rice Pilaf and Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Strawberry Pineapple Orange Cake Mix

This is the Hearty Pasta Soup with Chickn' once it was all cooked
and it was soooo delicious!

Cranberry Muffin in homemade parchment baking cups

Late Night Post after a Long Day!

I'll be brief since it's been a very long day!!! I took the time this afternoon to finally help my mom declutter her storage space. What I thought might take weeks ended up only taking three solid hours which was a bonus. I'm glad to be done for sure!

For supper tonight we had Curry Seitan Jamaican Patties which is another test recipe for Terry Hope Romero. They were soooo tasty! I have been strangely craving tourtiere and these, although differently spiced, hit the spot. The pastry is flaky, tender and flavourful. The filling was a bit hot but in the tasty way and it was perfectly spiced with the home made Jamaican Curry Powder (another test recipe). The recipe is great because you can do parts of it ahead of time and then assemble them when you are ready to eat. My pictures are less than stellar but I'm still sharing them anyways. I have yet to manage to capture the filling of a patty like this in a picture, they always seem to come out blurry! Ah well, they tasted fantastic and are definitely something I will make again!

More Crafty Treats from Testing for Joni

Here are a few more projects I have made for Joni Marie Newman's upcoming crafty vegan book.

A fold your own Truffle Box

Opened up but no treats yet!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls have found their home!

(These were a big hit and super easy to make!)

Reusable Felt (100% Recycled Plastic bottle felt) Gift Bag 

hanging out with my Candied Citrus Peels

(which are now my making supper snacks)

How do you spell yummy?

After trying these....

I spell it Okonomiyaki! Damn! This is another test recipe from Terry Hope Romero and I will flat out say I am in love with these! I had never heard of it before (I need to get out apparently!) or seen an okonomiyaki but this will definitely not be my last. It is a delicious, almost pancake made out of cabbage that has these toppings that are pressed into it and then fried in a cast iron skillet on both sides to make it all browned and scrumptious! I went for baked tofu that is slightly "ham" like, edamame and some shredded carrot to press in. The real yummy part is the Tonkatsu sauce (another test recipe from Terry) that you slather on top of the baked okonomiyaki and the mayo drizzled on top mixes with it and makes magic. Like the kind of magic that makes you crave them again later that night. Like the kind of magic that makes you want to make them once a week and you would never get sick of them. Like the kind of magic that now that I have written about them and looked drooled over these pictures, I want to make them again!

Goldilocks and the Three Phos

           Once upon a time there was a thirtysomething girl with hair of gold (actually it's more silver than gold these days) and a taste for pho. She had made some life changes and became a vegan and didn't know where to go for pho anymore. Since Goldilocks was a girl who knew what she wanted and couldn't find it, she decided to make it herself. There was only one problem, she had no idea how. 

       Then one day, a wonderful thing happened...a test recipe site came along with promises of flavours from around the world, things Goldilocks had never had before and things Goldilocks was waiting to have again. Things like Pho Noodle Soup with Bok Choy. As soon as Goldilocks spotted it she knew she wanted had to make it! She set out at once to the market and brought back all the ingredients she would need and set to work making a flavourful broth full of aromatic spices. She carefully sliced bok choy into thin shreds, picked the perfect basil and cilantro leaves and prepared rice noodles. She decided it would be even nicer to share her pho so she ladled up a bowl for her mother and husband. 

        Now there were three phos...the biggest one for Daddy, the medium sized one for Goldilocks and the smallest one was just right for Nana (who was afraid of a few of the ingredients). They sat and slurped and enjoyed the complex flavours of the broth mixed with tasty bites of baked tofu and a little oomph from a squeeze of fresh lime juice. They even attempted to eat it using chopsticks, only occasionally opting for a spoon. Goldilocks definitely enjoyed her bowl of pho and so did the others and they lived happily ever after from that day on knowing they could have pho now whenever they wanted thanks to Terry Hope Romero!

The End

P.S. I know that was crazy cheezy but how could I resist looking at those bowls, right?!

Supper Tonight - Test Recipes for Terry Hope Romero

Tonight I made three different recipes from Terry Hope Romero's test recipes for her upcoming book full of International recipes. I made a batch of preserved lemons (another test recipe) which required waiting two weeks and today was the day so I couldn't wait to break into them to make Braised Tempeh with Preserved Lemons and Green Olives. I saw that SaraJane over at Vegan Chicks Rock had tested this one already and served it with another of Terry's recipes, Fluffy Spiced Couscous. Her pictures and description convinced me this was the way to go so I made that as well. And apparently I was feeling fancy because I made Kale Salad with Preserved Lemon and Pomegranate as a starter (on a weekday no less!).

All three were so delicious and it was all tied together by the preserved lemons which are my new favourite thing! The salad was tart and crisp and I loved the pomegranate in it with their little bursts of tart juice that paired really well with everything else in the salad. The tempeh and couscous made for a delicious supper. I actually don't usually like green olives but in this dish they really worked and I actually found myself trying to find one for each bite. The tempeh was juicy and the sauce was citrusy and spiced. Again the preserved lemon was in this dish and it really made it something different than anything I've had before. It was all so healthy too but didn't taste like it, if you know what I mean. I am really loving this testing experience because it is definitely taking my palate places it's never been before, places it wants to go again!

Up next for tomorrow is Pho Noodle Soup with Bok Choy! I made the broth this afternoon and it smells out of this world good so I am really looking forward to it! Pre-vegan, I loved a good bowl of Pho and haven't had one since I went vegan so tomorrow we will be reunited!