Libre Nachos!

Free your nachos from the enslavement of meat.
Revolutionize your snackage with toppings of the thoughtful man.
Eat like you mean it. 

Nachos, you can do it.

 Okay, I don't think I really need to post a recipe for this one. It's more of a reminder that it is actually possible to eat good old fashion "bad for you" food without killing anything (except yourself I suppose) in the process.

In case you need a recipe...well.. I'm a nice guy here you go:

Yves Veggie Ground Round, OR T.V.P
Taco Seasoning (available in the "Mexican" aisle of your grocer)
Tomatos, Lettuce, Green or Red (or both) Peppers
Salsa (choose your demon)
Daiya Cheddar "Cheese"
Tortilla Chips. (find vegan ones, you know you can)

Prepare the "meat" per the package.
Line your OVEN SAFE plate with tortilla chips.
Place meat on chips, top with fake cheese.
Throw in your oven on BROIL. Keep an eye on it. Till the cheese melts.
Top with salsa, vegetables, and whatever else you can imagine.
Watch the election.
If you're in the U.S.A. do all this AFTER you go vote.
If you're American and you didn't vote...no nachos for you.

I have eaten this for 2 meals in a row. I'm sure my co-workers are wishing I didn't.

LIBRE NACHO!

VVP - Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes!

It's Virtual Vegan Potluck time!
This time around I have connected with the fine folks at Virtual Vegan Potluck who are putting on a fantastic recipe share. There's everything imaginable, from all over the world.

Finished product.

I decided to try a completely new-to-me recipe. Now to warn you, it's Hallowe'en when I'm writing this (to meet my cross-world time zone deadline) so since I usually try to help you "set the mood", well this time it's a little weird.

1. Grab a smoke machine.
2. Dim the lights.
3. Here's your music link, Bauhaus (of course, it's Hallowe'en) Bela Lugosi's Dead
4. Your drink of choice is a CC & G. (in canada) otherwise, whiskey & gingerale. The ginger helps set the tone of this fall recipe.

Enough rambling, get your stuff out of the cupboards, here we go.
1 1/2 Cup All-purpose Flour (no, ALL!)
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp All-spice (or 1/8tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/4tsp cinnamon)
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Vegan Margarine (I use becel)
1/2 Cup Soy Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Ripe Banana, mashed very well
1 Can Pumpkin Puree

Organize your stuff. Yes that's a smoke detector.

Preheat your oven to 425º
Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
Add wet ingredients, combine until thoroughly mixed and there's no chunks of banana! Honestly, I screwed that up on my first batch, not so awesome.
Once everything is thoroughly mixed, line your cupcake pan with liners. You can also use margarine & flour, but I have no luck with that. If you do...you're awesome.
Fill pan and toss in oven. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

In the meantime that drink won't drink itself and your song ended. Here's another song, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQSpJfpVHmg&feature=related

While the cupcakes cool, like make a glaze. I wish I could make icing, my wife can make icing, me, I'm lucky to make a glaze, here we go:
2 Cups Icing Sugar
1/4 Cup Soy milk
1/4 Cup Vegan Margarine
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Vanilla
In a small mixing bowl, mix dry, then carefully add wet ingredients. Cool in the fridge to achieve some firmness.

Once the cupcakes have fully cooled, dip them in the glaze, or drizzle some on top.

Garnish (optional) with some shredded dark chocolate...just because you can and frankly you want to.

My wife isn't a huge pumpkin fan, and she liked these, they are pretty awesome, I hope you like!

***As soon as I can get my phone to connect to my computer, I will upload pics!***

Now, feel free to click "Go Forward" or "Go Back" to see the other awesome offerings on the potluck table!