Crostini (toasted bread slices)

I was trying to modify my recipe for vegan crab dip to make it better. Which I did. But I didn't have any crackers. So I just made some quick-and-dirty crostini... Traditionally you would use like an Italian baguette or french bread. But I didn't have any. So, I used some sandwich bread.


Ingredients:

• Bread (cut into 20 strips)
• olive oil

• STEP one!
  Pre-Heat Oven to 350° F
  
  Place strips of bread on baking sheet.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • STEP two!
  Brush each slice with olive oil.
  
  Bake about 10 minutes until golden brown.
  
  
  
  
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    • STEP three!
  Remove from oven and use in dips or cut into croutons for salads.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  -Jordan Halliday
  

Vegan Short Bread Cookies

I really like Short Bread Cookies. I used to donate my Blood just because I could get a free pack of Lorna Doone Cookies out of it. Well, that's not the only reason I did it. So, I decided to try my hand in making them. This is what I have come up with so far. Traditionally Short Bread Cookies aren't really sweet. So you could add a bit more sugar to this recipe, if you think you want that extra sweetness. Myself, I prefer to dip them in melted chocolate or put some jam on top.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup - vegan margarine*
• 1/2 cup - sugar
• 2 cups - all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon - baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon - salt
• 1/2 teaspoon - vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons - soymilk
  *make sure it is at room temperature

Step 1:
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar with a mixer until fluffy.


 




Step 2:
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until well mixed. 

Step 3:
Slowly add the flour mixture to the "butter fluff" margarine mixture.

Step 4:
Finally add the vanilla and soymilk, and slowly mix in.

Step 5:
Refrigerate dough overnight or until it is the consistency of butter.

Step 6:
Preheat the oven to 350 F & line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Lightly flour a flat surface and roll dough with rolling pin until it is about 1/4" thick.

Step 7 :
Cut into fun shapes or use a cookie cutter and place on baking sheet.

Step 8:
Bake for about 5 mins, then rotate pan 180 degrees and bake for another 5.

Step 9:
Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 mins on pan before transferring them to a wire rack.

Step 10:
EAT THEM! or Make them pretty like I did for my mom on mothers day. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Vegan Soy Chai Latte

I am sick of all the boxes of chai tea having honey in them.
VEGAN!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tea bag -- Chai Spice Black Tea
• 1 cup -- soymilk
• 1 teaspoon -- sugar
• 1 teaspoon -- brown sugar
• Splash -- vanilla
• Dash -- cinnamon
• Dash -- nutmeg
• Dash -- ground cloves
• *optional* (to taste) agave nectar

STEP ONE!
Mix Soymilk and all the other ingredients (minus the tea bag) in a pan. Heat over medium heat until mild boil.

STEP TWO!
Immediately pour into mug, steep the bag of tea for a couple of minutes. Add Agave to taste. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

I guess you really wouldn't call what I made "cups", maybe peanut butter blossoms, and peanut butter hearts. But semantics, its the same concept.

I bought these Ice Cube Trays at Ikea and they work great for chocolates. Alternatively, you could buy little peanut butter cup wrappers.

The kosher salt was a last minute idea. We ate those ones really quick and I didn't get a picture. The salt goes amazingly well with the chocolate and peanut butter.

Next Challenge Snickers.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound -- vegan chocolate (I used bittersweet, ran out and mixed in some dark)
• 1 Cup -- Peanut Butter
• 1/2 Cup -- Powdered Sugar
• 2 splashes -- Vanilla Extract
• Kosher Salt (optional)

 

STEP ONE:
In double broiler Melt Chocolate.

STEP TWO:
Place a couple granules of the kosher salt at the bottom of paper cups or ice cube trays if you are using them. Spoon in some chocolate. Using a little paint brush, brush the sides of the cups/trays making sure chocolate is covering them fully. Make sure there is enough room for the peanut butter and more chocolate on top. Place in Freezer.

STEP THREE:
While Chocolate is solidifying. Mix Peanut Butter, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla in a bowl. You should get something the consistency of cookie dough.

STEP FOUR:
Press Peanut Butter Dough into trays of chocolate, leaving enough room to be brushed with chocolate on top.

STEP FIVE:
Coat the tops of the peanut butter, allowing the chocolate to fill in all the holes. Brush with a paint brush to make sure its coated well. Put in freezer.

STEP SIX:
Pop the chocolates out of the mold once chocolate has solidified. Enjoy.

-Jordan Halliday

Peanut Butter Cups

Thai Massaman Curry with Tofu

 This is my favorite curry, I realize I make mine probably differently than most. I like mine a little sweeter, So I use a little sugar and my secret ingredient... Peanut Butter. But, it is my style so, whatev's. It tastes good the way I do it. You'll also want to use a large wok for this.

 INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups -- coconut milk
• 1 can -- massaman paste (can be found at asian market, make sure it is vegan)
• 2 large -- potatoes
• 1 block -- firm tofu
• 2 large -- carrots
• 2 tbsp -- chunky peanut butter (optional)
• 2 tbsp -- sugar (optional)
• 2 tbsp -- roasted peanuts (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Step One!
Mix Massaman Paste and 2 cups of Coconut Milk over medium heat until well mixed (about 5 mins).

Step Two!
Chop & Add Potatoes and Carrots, Then Add remaining coconut milk.

  

Step Three!

Cube and Add Tofu and let sit over medium heat until potatoes and carrots are well cooked.

 

Step Four!

Add Peanut Butter, Sugar, Salt, Pepper and Peanuts and Stir Well.
Serve over White Rice. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Vegan "Jello"

 

So my friend/co-worker Meagan was bummed when she found out she couldn't eat jello the other day.

So I decided to make a recipe to show you all how easy it actually is to make "jello" vegan. 

The hardest thing you will need to find is "agar agar" which is available at most asian markets and some grocery stores.

You can also throw in chopped fruits into this, But I was never a fan of that.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Cups -- Juice
  (I used Limeade, which is kinda like a juice, you can use koolaid or whatever you want really)
• 4 Tablespoons -- Agar Agar Flakes
• Food Coloring (optional)

Step One!

Add agar to juice and bring to boil in pot.
Step Two!

Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until agar is dissolved.
Mix in food coloring and chopped fruit if you want at this point.

Step Three!

Pour into tray, chill overnight or until firm in fridge. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Split Pea Soup

This recipe is really not one of exact measurments.
I started with all these dry ingredients, mixed them together in a large quantity, then I used a cup of the mix.

So... for an exact measurement, I guess you could use 2 tablespoons & roughly 1/2 teaspoon of all the ingredients to make one cup.


SOUP MIX:

• 1/2 cup -- white rice
• 1/2 cup -- pearled barley
• 1/2 cup -- green split peas
• 1/2 cup -- yellow split peas
• 1/2 cup -- whole green peas
• 1/2 cup -- lentils
• 1/2 cup -- red lentils

 Mix well together, store for later.
 Recipe can be doubled.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup -- Soup Mix (see above)
• 3 cups -- Vegetable Broth
• 1 -- large carrot
• Salt and Pepper to taste.
  *Other produce is optional

Step One!

Take a cup of your soup mix, and 3 cups of vegetable broth and bring to boil over medium heat.

Step Two!
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Stirring occasionally. About 30 minutes into the cooking, Cut carrot into small slices and throw into pot.

Step Three!
Salt and Pepper, Serve with bread and enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Instant Chickpea Rice Curry

This is another instant rice curry recipe, this time using the golden curry sauce mix that I used in my quick and easy potato & tofu curry recipe.
This is installment 3 of curry recipes I am guest blogging on my friend Meagan's blog.
This is also a simple recipe with not many ingredients. If you feel you need more spice you can always add more of the golden curry sauce mix.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Cups -- Water
• 2 Cups -- Instant Rice
• 1 Can -- Chickpeas
• 1/4 Chunk -- Golden Curry Sauce Mix Block

Step One!
Boil Water in pan, Add Golden Curry Sauce Mix Chunk (I like to shave it in with a knife).
Stir until curry block is well melted.

Step Two!
Stir in instant rice and chickpeas.


Step Three!
Remove from heat & cover for 5 mins.

Step Four!
Salt and Pepper to taste, Serve, Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Instant Coconut Curry Rice

Here is another easy curry recipe. I promised my friend Meagan I'd guest blog on her blog about curry. I plan on writing a blog with a bunch of different curry recipes. So here is the second recipe in that little deal. It is yummy and quick to make. You can double the recipe if you need more.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Coconut Milk
• 1 cup Instant Rice
• 1 TBSP Curry Powder
• 1 TBSP Vegan Margarine
• 1/2 TBSP Unbleached Flour
• 1/2 TBSP Water (cold) or Coconut Milk
• 1 TBSP Peanut Butter

Step One!
Bring coconut milk to a boil in a pan.
Add Margarine


Step Two!
Mix Water and Flour until fully dissolved.
Add flour mixture and curry powder to coconut milk.
Stir well.


Step Three!
Add rice, remove from heat, cover for 5 mins.


Step Four!
Add Peanut Butter, Stir in well, Serve, Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Easy Vegan French Toast

Craving some vegan french toast for one? This recipe makes about 5 pieces maybe. If you need more double the recipe. You can also add a dash of cinnamon, nut meg, or your other favorite french toast spices. This is just a really basic recipe. Expand off of it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• 2 1/2 teaspoons flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• bread

STEP ONE!
Mix all the ingredients together in a food processor (except bread, obviously).


STEP TWO!
Lightly coat griddle/pan/skillet with oil or vegan margarine.
Heat pan over medium heat.


STEP THREE!
Dip each slice of bread into batter. Making sure each side is well coated.

STEP FOUR!
Throw onto griddle and fry until each side is a golden brown.


STEP FIVE!
Serve with powdered sugar, syrup, jam, or your other favorite toppings. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Captain Chaos Smoothie

I have a plan to make a bunch of unorthodox recipes off of random forms of media I have. This is my first submission in that regard.

There is this song called "How to make a smoothie" by an individual known as "Captain Chaos". I couldn't find it online. Nor could I find the lyrics. But, I remembered them all because they are so catchy. I have been meaning to try this recipe for years. But, just haven't gotten around to it. It makes a ton. So bring friends. I don't know what to do with all the smoothie I have left over right now. *sips*

But the lyrics are as follows. I will try posting an mp3 on here as well when I pull it off my computer.

RECIPE/LYRICS:
"You're gonna need to large bananas, 3 cups of soy milk too, 1 cup of orange juice, 2 cups of frozen fruit. Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries and Cherries. Any fruit will do. Just use what you like, Pineapples and mangoes, taste good too. Please. Oh Please. Please don't freeze the bananas. You're gonna need a spoonful of peanut butter as well & a little splash of vanilla. Peel the bananas & break them up. Put them in the blender with the liquid stuff. Blend it until it's smooth. Slowly add the fruit. Put in the peanut butter and the vanilla and that's all that you have to do."

-Jordan Halliday

Vegan Cake Pops

So everyone has been talking about these amazing cake pops that they started serving at starbucks. Obviously they needed to be made vegan.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 -- Vegan Cake (I used a strawberry boxed cake mix)
• 16 oz -- Vegan Frosting (I used plain white vegan frosting)
• 1 lb -- Vegan Chocolate (I used bittersweet)*
  *It is better to have too much than not enough. 
  
  
  
  STEP ONE!

Make Your Cake and Allow to fully cool.

STEP TWO!
Soften frosting by nuking for a few seconds. Add to bowl and crumble cake into it. Mix with hand (or a spoon... I suppose).

STEP THREE!
Roll into balls and place onto a baking sheet. Chill for several hours. Insert sucker sticks after about an hour. or leave them out for Vegan Cake Balls. Then continue to chill.

STEP FOUR!
Once chilled, melt your chocolate, and roll cake pops into it making sure they are fully coated. Use a spoon if necessary to drizzle chocolate on. Place finished pops on a aluminum or wax paper covered baking sheet. Chill for another hour or until chocolate is hardened.

 

STEP FIVE!
Effing Profit! Enjoy!


-Jordan Halliday