stacy michelson..no caffeine needed.

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!

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!

So, today is Food Porn Friday and i told myself to “GET YO GREENS!”, so here they are, my way.. The salad (simply called the salad on the menu) from Hugo’s Tacos is amazing. it’s their version of a mexi caesar and it is SO delicious..romaine letttuce, mixed grilled veggies, vegan or regular cheese, pico de gallo, and spicy (it ain’t that spicy, cos i’m a wussy) caesar dressing. you can add a filling of homemade soyrizo or chicken, fish, etc.. and FUN FACT-if you eat it with chips and salsa, you can make 2 meals out of it! Then i had my fave drink lately, instant iced green tea from yama moto yama company (available at Japanese Markets). Hugo’s has good agua frescas, but this is just from my house. green on green, yo!

HAPPY FOOD PORN FRIDAY! 

I’d like to dedicate this post to the breakfast I wish to have every day, but usually just limit to the weekends or holidays or having friends over, drumroll please….the fantastically delicious cinnamon roll!!! i can’t tell you how much i love these little rounds of dough and sugar and cinnamon and icing..so lemme just show you.

OK, so Trader Joe’s has vegan cinnamon rolls everyone! they weren’t always vegan, they changed some ingredients a few months ago, but it’s for reals! So, if you don’t wanna make ‘em yourself, just buy a tube and pop ‘em out when you feel like it. they are quick, easy, airy, and sweet! Personally, I can make cinnamon rolls better, but “ain’t nobody got time for that!”..and i can buy a better vegan cinnamon roll at Cinnaholic, but I don’t live in Berkeley. so, this is a good option for having over guests and making Saturday and Sunday breakfast a snap!

For your Food Porn Friday fix today i chose a “turkey” sandwich and split pea soup. 

It’s finally starting to warm up in Los Angeles but the last two weeks i’ve been doing a lot of warm, comforting dinners and lunches, when i’m home..this one was spectacular and simple and hit the spot..you know the spot i’m talking about..where you take a bite, say “mmm” and then you can’t help but to keep saying it after every bite to follow..

Trader Joe’s split pea soup, Tofurkey slices, shallots, rosemary mayo, and spinach on a rustic bread. YUM.

Chocolate Sodas are something i remember from my childhood—So why don’t i always drink these now??

my gramma and aunt would make ‘em for me, they were a special treat when i wasn’t at home. But recently i made one for myself and it was spectacular! now i just use vegan ice cream, but everything else is the same as back then. 3 ingredients, pretty simple : vanilla ice cream, Hershey’s syrup, Schweppes club soda.. no recipe, just add more chocolate if you want it more chocolately. and i always add more soda to make it everlasting..or until i’m full.

TRY IT! :)

HALVA ..HALWA..CHALVA..HALEWEH whatever you call it, it’s melt-in-your-mouth goodness, as far as i’m concerned..

Sesame tahini is good on pita, falafels, and salad..but, you add a little sugar and then you have this marvelous candy- HALVA. I first tried this Middle Eastern dessert years ago, forgot about it, and then recently saw some and picked up a package of chocolate-vanilla marble flavor at my local ethnic super-store Super King. It’s really sweet and really delicate, melts in your mouth, and gets stuck in your teeth..and i love it! 

Some brands contain egg and not good ingredients, like high fructose corn syrup. i tried to get a decent brand with alright ingredients (it is dessert after all, so i know it’s full of sugar) and not the cheapest one on the shelf. cheap usually indicates cheap ingredients, if you’ve never noticed. and don’t be scared of the word saponariae root, it’s just a flower. one of those desserts that is just accidentally vegan by default is always a good thing in my book. 

ps. i’ve seen it at Gelson’s in LA too, but it’s gonna be way cheaper at an ethnic market. 

here is the behind-the-scenes look at making and perfecting my pumpkin pancakes recipe. I took a basic one off the internet and changed it to my liking and buds (tastebuds). add a lil field roast apple-sage sausage to the mix and that’s a great brunch!

PUMPKIN PANCAKES

2 1/2 Cups AP flour

2 1/2 Cups water

1/2 Cup soy milk

2 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

3/4 Cup canned pumpkin

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp maple syrup

combine soymilk and vinegar in a small bowl. it kinda curdles like buttermilk, or that’s the point..set aside. stir together pumpkin, spices,water, and soy milk in a mixing bowl. add the rest of the ingredients and stir lightly til mixed. heat a non-stick skillet on medium and spray pan with canola oil spray. pour batter in (i did 5inch pancakes 2 at a time) and turn once the bubbles form. this recipe makes a lot. definitely could feed four adults. or freeze your scraps like i do!

happy eating! happy food porn friday! 

PUMPKIN PANCAKES

FPF heck yeah!