Friday, June 11, 2010

yummy up dates ;)

Well first I know I have been slacking with posting I have been over at Sparkpeople.com!
But I have still been cooking!!
So First up is this kick A** chocolate cake!

I found the Recipe off of Vegweb.com My new go too vegan recipe site:)


I made it as a Bunt cake just because I didn't have any other pan. It turned out very Yummy and really no one could tell I didn't add eggs!
So here is the link Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake But I will also put it here :)
Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake*


3 C Flour
2 C Sugar
2 TSP Baking Soda
6 TBS Cocoa
1 TSP Salt
2 C Water
3/4 C Vegetable oil (your choice)
2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
2 TSP Vanilla


Directions:
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees. Whisk dry ingredients first. Once mixed evenly mix in the wet ingredients. Mix till there are no lumps. Pour into a prepared cake pan(s) and bake for approximately 40 min.


I frosted it with "Grandson approved" Chocolate Frosting By Sarah also on VegWeb.com


Sarah's Chocolate Frosting
1 C Sugar
6 TBS Corn Starch
4 TBS Cocoa
1/2 TSP Salt
2 TBS Oil
1 C Water
1/2 TSP Vanilla


Directions: 
Mix Sugar, corn starch, salt, and cocoa in a medium sauce pan. Whisk in the
water. Heat over Medium heat until it gets thick and starts to boil.*

Boil for 1-2 Minutes. ( Don't boil for too long or it will become Taffy)
Remove from heat and cool. Spread on a cooled cake.


*Jeannette's Notes
About the cake. I didn't have cake flour and used plain old all purpose flour. It came out great. You will not  Taste the Vinegar.. but it is what will make the cake rise along with the baking soda. ( Think third grade science)
Frosting .. this will thicken up super quick. Mine  didn't even boil before it became think, so I didn't let it boil for long. Also, it was kind of lumpy so... I used my handheld  beater/mixer and whipped it. No lumps!




Friday, June 4, 2010

Cheeze.. please!

One of the hardest things I have been having a time with is cheese. I miss it.. I crave it and I want it now!
I have tried a brand of Vegan Cheeze ( who will remain nameless) and  even when I closed my eyes really- really tight, it still tasted like throw up.. there I said it.. out loud. And at the ridiculous price of nearly $6.00 a pound, unless I hit another sale on fake cheese, I doubt I will try another.
Soo.. I played with nutritional yeast instead. It tastes more "cheese like" then the other stuff, even if it does look like mustard.


I used the "standard base recipe" and I say this because really there is not much more between everyone recipe's then perhaps a spice here or there, mine is no exception and I'm sure its been done way before I ever dreamed of trying to become Vegan!
1 cup Nutritional Yeast (large or small flakes)
1/2 cup of flour (of your choice)
a bit of salt
a plop of mustard and/or spices ( again your choice and as to the amount.. I tend to not measure so I would suggest to start small and add more after you give it a taste)
1 1/2 cup water ( Or Broth or Soy, rice, oat beverage of your choice)
 Pretty much standard right?
Okay but I can never get the lumps out of any Gravy/sauce if I just  add wet to dry and stir. So... I like to make a roux out of a fat and flour. For Some reason I never have any lumps if I make it this way.
I think it kind of changes the taste of any sauce.. makes it deeper and more of a nutty flavor.
So that is how I make my base but out of desperation one evening I added a bit of liquid smoke and dash of smoked paprika... um YUM! Try it! It took it to a whole other level!

Okay so like next time I will have some pics.... but I have been pretty busy with family...