Homemade ham and cheese McMuffin (vegan style)
get some english muffins, soy roll (ham flavor), daiya pepper jack cheese, and a saute pan. heat ham (available at asian markets in the freezer) and cheese in a non stick pan at the same time (as seen in the pix) in a lil oil. the cheese doesn’t stick and it gets nice and brown, almost crispy on the outside. that’s how you know when to flip it! toast the muffin and assemble. as easy as it sounds. DO IT!!!! you won’t be sorry.
helpful hint—make 2, cos the minute you are done with it, you’ll want another..
**click on pix to see ‘em BIG!
tofu sashimi. make this!
so, i made my new favorite lunch last week. it is both simple and delicious, both beautiful and intimidating, and you need to make it…thinly slice cold, firm tofu into slices and layer on plate. drizzle with a touch of soy sauce. heat a non stick saute pan and grill sliced shallots til soft in oil and they have color. toss over plate. use the same pan to saute asparagus and add beside tofu. add salt. slice avocado and place each piece on each slice of tofu. sprinkle with togarashi and sesame seeds. drizzle sesame oil on top (just a bit). done. you won’t need anything else. it’s perfect, i promise…
Secret Spot is not a secret in HB.
2 vegan-rizo burritos please…so fucking delicious. This place is always on my mind when i’m near the beach. Billy (the owner) is rad, the food is rad, and it’s across the street from the beach. It’s one of my fave places for breakfast, besides Herbivore in SF and Sage and Flore in LA.
Horchata Cinnamon Rolls? …uh, yes please!
i have been hearing about the vegan horchata cinnamon rolls at the Long Beach/Seal Beach Whole Foods for a long time from my friend Allison, but i’m just never down that way. She was nice enough to bring me one a few weeks ago and it was ooey-gooey and cinnamon-sugary, just the way i expected. It gives me ideas too, to make these myself instead of paying 3 bucks for 1. All in all, it was good and inspirational, so you can’t beat that!
M cafe, i love you..
especially having lunch on your patio with friends..
this post features jen sandoval, yours truly, a big macro burger, and the M chopped salad.
A lesson in Gnocchi (in pictures)…
Not too long ago, my friend and fabulous chef, Brandon Eldridge gave me a lesson in Gnocchi. He showed me how to make a butternut squash gnocchi in sage “butter” and it was damn good! I have not tried this at home but it doesn’t seem too intimidating anymore. Have a look and be inspired..
Sunday Brunch @ Sage..
If you live in LA (or within and hour of it) and you haven’t been over to Sage Bistro in Echo Park yet for brunch, what is your problem? You are blowing it..ESPECIALLY if you are veggie or vegan. WOW, this place sets the bar high for vegan brunch..
I went with my favorite brunch buddy, miss allison dill, and we split 2 things-chia coconut french toast (on special) that was encrusted with granola and served with fresh strawberries and bananas on top, and the spinach avocado walnut-sausage florentine. daaang. that is all i have to say, dang! Both were amazing, a little sweet, a little savory. Perfect. the french toast was mind-blowing and i wanted another order the minute i took my last bite, and the walnut sausage on the florentine was incredible and so hearty and inventive. i loved that it wasn’t just tempeh or some soy product. allison also got some massive caramel latte that looks like it was served out of a planter from IKEA.
i’m already planning when we can go again..
**click on pix to make BIG!
A banana bread and milky tea kinda morning…
I had my friend Ashley Thayer over a few weeks ago for tea and i used it as an excuse to make banana bread. It was so good and warm on a chilly morning. Ashley owns Maricolous , a hand-dyed and woven textiles company and she is an overall rad human. Check out her stuff after you scope these pix of yummy treats and my cute mug!
red juice. tasty juice. healthy juice.
The Donuttery in Huntington Beach, Ca. vegan cake donuts….MMMM
I never thought i’d see the day where i could grab a vegan cake donut from a local donut shop just a few blocks away from my mom’s house..but it happened! I heard rumors that they started making vegan donuts and tried to get them before, but they never had them. It’s a regular old donut shop that’s been in HB since i was a kid. it’s open 24hrs (except on sundays they close at 3) and they are always busy. whenever i stopped by or called when i was back in HB they said they didn’t have flour or the stuff to make em. i started to think maybe they made a batch of vegan donuts once and then stopped cos it was too hard or expensive. then friends began posting pix of their late night donut runs and donut boxes. So, when i was back in HB last weekend i actually got them 2 days in a row! My friend meliss grabbed an assorted box sunday before we all met up, which 5 of us cut up & sampled. then i went the next day and got a few different flavors. i’ve been slowly savouring them and loving them. they taste like the cake donuts of my childhood. i haven’t had a normal cake donut in 13 years, so i’m a lil’ warped, BUT, i am in love with them. i narrowed down their selection and now know my faves for whenever i’m back in the old hood.. what i’ll be getting from now on is as follows : maple (the best by far), vanilla sprinkle (runner up), strawberry (tangy and sweet), and plain chocolate (classic). i didn’t see any nut options when i was there, but i know they have them sometimes. the best part is, you don’t have to pay the “vegan penalty” or “vegan tax” and pay $3.50 a donut, just .90 cents each. hopefully that doesn’t go up…it is a real treat to have fantastic, cakey, sweet, rich donuts at the ready..
*CLICK PIX to see ‘em BIG!
Long Live Food Porn Friday!
