Shiitake on a Stick, I’m Done

Headline of the week: Operation Emily-Freaks-Out-In-The-Kitchen Is Resounding Success Despite Devil Oven.

I’m happy to say the Huston Thanksgiving shebang has never  been so vegan-friendly, even if there’s only one veg*n among the bunch (moi). I cooked up all my favorites: chickpea cutlets, mashed taters (mine had less left over than the buttery ones, just sayin’), roasted broccoli, roasted garlic brussels sprouts (<3 <3 <3), and post-rock chickpea gravy. In addition to the two poor turkeys that died for the omnis, my Oma created a slow-cooked Indian-spiced cauliflower main, stir-fried sweet potatoes (not yams), fresh cranberry sauce (confession: I much prefer canned. Yes, I know!) and broccoli bell pepper dish: all delish. My Aunt Annabelle made a tomato caprese salad and was sweet enough to make me my own portion sans mozz. And my Aunt Nora made an amazing fruit salad complete with fresh persimmons and rasberries. Not to mention the snacklets: blue corn tortilla chips dipped in a bomb hummus, a dark chocolate/dried cranberry/almond mix (must recreate soon), and assorted veggies.

To end the night, I noshed on VWAV gingerbread apple pie with a big mug of coffee splashed with Pumpkin Pie soymilk. I think the pie’s success was best represented by my picky sister licking her plate clean: another victory for vegan baking.

Sadly this is the only picture of the night. Sorry folks: use that thing called your imagination.

Other than a can of Soyatoo which refused to dispense (I  later got a refund), all went relatively smoothly. I basically killed myself in the kitchen most of the day and later compensated by eating at least three plates of food and downing as many glasses of wine possible to distract from the stomach pains. Board games were played, Punkin Chunkin was watched, and it was an all-around spectacular night of food coma. Thanksgiving, you were good to me.

And another milestone: I survived Vegan MoFo IV and tallied a total of 21 posts in the process; that’s a forking miracle for this lazy blogger that usually cranks out–at most–5 posts a month. It’s been difficult posting when the schoolwork is calling, but I say just don’t pick up. Har har har I made a funny. Now, for a well-deserved MuffinTopped break as I devote my full attention to a never-ending to-do list. Die, pointless cover letters, die!

Vegan MoFie out.

Product Review: Silk Pumpkin Spice Soymilk

Praise seitan, I’m officially home for Thanksgiving and I’m officially freezing my patootie off. Whilst I will always be a complainer a heart, I can’t help but admit it’s simply magical this time of year. A rainbow of burgundy and mustard on tree leaves a’changin’, plush cotton scarves to nuzzle into, snuggle time with my furry ragamuffin, the sweet crisp NorCal air in my lungs. Yah, it ain’t bad.

So first thing’s first, I went grocery shopping. Yes, fulfilling my vegan priori-teees! Whilst dodging throngs of last-minute shoppers playing bumper carts at the co-op (and in my mind’s eye wondering what the fuks I would post for MoFo), I happened upon Pumpkin Spice soymilk and you can guess the rest. Without even a momentary twinge of monetary regret into the cart it went. A chocolate chip cookie might have somehow mangled its way in there too.

I don’t think this flavor deserves a whole lot of wordage because my taste buds were screaming “NOG NOG NOG! This tastes like Nog!” I do have a sneaky suspicion the crazy Silk soymilk scientists are pulling a fast one on the vegan community in an effort to  duke us out of our holiday soymilks. The bastards.

With undertones of nutmeg and strong kick of pumpkin pie spice, this isn’t your garden variety soymilk. Scrumpdidilumptious to say the least and probably even butter in something baking-related. Not that it’s going to last long enough to get in some muffins, let’s be real. Oooh this would taste good as a muffin accompaniment though, my oh my yes.

It’s Silk-y too, if the pictures don’t speak to ya. Maybe not 1000 words, but at least 999?  Beware: lame joke territory entered with reckless abandon.

It may taste like Nog, but cha know what? I like me some Nog. My next mission: side-by-side taste comparasion all up in yo’ soymilk biznaz. Oh yah the shit’s gonna go down.