Veganmofo III - Songs and Poetry - The Enchilada

Veganerrific Point #5: There are some AMAZING vegan cookbooks out there*

The Enchilada

Exciting. Making them is exciting. Wrapping them up is exciting. Eating them is exciting. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Notable. Great enchiladas really do stand out. Serve them with margaritas and your dinner guests will be talking about how awesome you are for days.

Charming. They’re like a gorgeous little parcel. Awww.

Hot. Is it the temperature? Is it the chilli? Or is it me?

Irresistible. Just try saying no to one of these delectable little items.

Lip-smackingly awesome. You’ll be licking your lips like there’s no tomorrow.

Amusing. There’s just something so special about the “hands-on” approach to rolling these babies up.

Delicious. Need I even mention it?

Adventurous. Show off your wild side and add some more chilli. Throw in some mushrooms, kumara, beans...if you can roll it, you can eat it.

Sexy. There’s something about eating Mexican food that just makes you look so good.

* This recipe was based on the Potato and Kale Enchiladas from Veganomicon

Veganmofo III - Songs and Poetry - Sushi Time

Veganerrific Point #4: Being vegan encourages you to explore and make new foods

Sushi Time

Aww yeah
That’s right baby.
Boy, tonight we’re gonna eat sushi. You know how I know, baby? ‘Cause I’m on holiday. And holiday time is the time when I make sushi. Work nights are the nights that we are both just so busy, but holiday time is the time when we eat sushi. ‘Cause everything is just right conditions are perfect. There’s nothing better to eat. Conditions are perfect. You come home early and say something Japanese like, “Can I eat it with a fork I suck at using chopsticks.” I know what you’re trying to say baby. You’re trying to say, “Oh, yeah. It’s sushi time. It’s sushi time.”

It’s sushi.
It’s sushi time.
That’s what you’re trying to say you’re trying to say let’s eat some sushi it’s sushi time.
It’s sushi.
It’s sushi time.

Veganmofo III - Songs and Poetry - Ode to a Cupcake

Veganerrific Point #3: A treat really is a treat when you're vegan.

Ode to a Cupcake

Look at you, so perfectly round and small,
On top: swirls of icing and a red cherry
Makes you somewhat resemble a nipple –
In a good way – you make me feel merry!

I bought you from the SAFE shop on K Road
You were made by the NZ Cupcake Queen
I saw you and was burdened with this load:
Is choosing you for your beauty too mean?

But cupcake, oh cupcake, how I was wrong
For you, beauty is more than just skin deep
I gazed at your loveliness for so long
But your taste on my tongue made my heart weep.

Yes, cupcake – thank-you for being cruelty free
Biting into you makes my taste buds dance
If only you knew what you mean to me
Your beauty and taste put me in a trance.

World Vegetarian Day

Veganerrific Point #2: Being vegan sends positive karma out into the world


It's just past lunchtime and I'm already having such a fabulous day. The weather is being typical spring Auckland weather (rain sun rain rain sun rain sun sun sun rain) but it's still a beautiful day outside, the trees are looking luscious thanks to all this rain. My cat is going crazy with the wind as always, she spent most of the morning chasing a twisty tie across the ground and then attacking my feet in a bid to get me to feed her more.
Well my fantastic news is that I finally found a place to live. It's the place I really wanted, a cute little cottage with great views of the sea, it should be gorgeous in summer. That's a huge relief, I can now start to really attack my "to do" list.
My Kenwood Chef also arrived today, I'm looking forward to unpacking that! When I've got the time I'm going to give making my own pasta a go with the pasta machine and I'm looking forward to the healthy coleslaws and things I'll be making with the slicer and shredder. Best of all, though, is the delicious cupcakes and brownies and cookies I'll be making! Yum!
To celebrate World Vegetarian Day I bought myself a delicious vegan pie and a coconut Lara Bar for lunch - was an awesome treat. The pie was lentil curry and it was divine, probably the best pie pastry I've ever tasted.
My life is really sorting itself out lately and I'm feeling so much happier and positive about everything. I truly put that down to my decision to adopt a vegan lifestyle - it's just about sending out positive karma.
Well on another note, I'm looking forward to beginning VeganMofo later on... Watch this space!

Tempeh Shepherdess Pie + My First Post

Veganerrific point #1: Being vegan makes you appreciate and love food (and cooking!) so much more.

I've always loved food, animals and reading. Lately these interests have merged together in the form of me devouring amazing vegan cookbooks and the utterly delectable treats that they produce. So many people think that being vegan means you're completely limited to what you eat but I've found the complete opposite to be true.... being vegan expands your horizons.

Today's post features my version of the Tempeh Shepherdess Pie from Veganomicon. I'm a bit of an anarchist when it comes to cooking - I don't like to follow rules - so recipes always tend to be altered somewhat. I've used kumara since I just think it's by far superior to average potatoes. The biggest change here, however, is simply in the presentation. I like to serve my pie in individual serving dishes in a bit of a pub-style twist. Plus, it's the perfect meal to be heated up if not everybody is home at the same time: you can prepare it in the individual serving dishes and then put it in the oven for 20 mins rather than having to re-heat it in a microwave. I'm thinking that it would be a pretty awesome meal to prepare the night before...

Admittedly, it doesn't look the best presentation-wise here, but it could be easily jazzed up if you're out to impress... I'd suggest serving it in the bowl on top of a big white place, with peas, gravy and a pint of beer.