Grilled Cheese W/ Daiya and Peppered Tofurky

Who doesn't like a good grilled cheese? I don't think I know anyone, well maybe one person but she is crazy! :P Doesn't count. The cheesy, melty, gooey goodness really takes me back. I made this one a more "adult" version, including peppered Tofurky and caramelized onions, on Dave's Killer Bread, Oh yeah! Delicious. 

I used Daiya's new Jack Style Wedge, it melts so good! And a little goes a long way. I think I used to much, when I picked it up to eat it melted everywhere, but I didn't care, by the end of the sandwich I was able to dip the bread in the cheese that dripped on the plate, score!

Daiya's shreds and wedges are cholesterol free, dairy free (animal product free), kosher, free of common allergens including dairy (casein and lactose), soy, gluten, eggs, peanuts and treenuts (excluding coconut), so almost anyone can enjoy this wonderful product. Gluten Free? Just swap in your favorite GF bread, like Udi's. 

I can't wait to try the Cheddar Style and Jalapeno Garlic Havarti Style! Both sound great!

  Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Earth Balance

2 Slices bread your choice

2 thin slices Daiya wedge your choice

2 slices peppered Tofurky

handful of onion slices

Method:

Heat EB in pan on medium.

Place one piece bread in pan with daiya. Let heat for a minute, until bread is browned on bottom, add onions to pan to caramelize in pan, add Tofurky and top bread.

Flip.

Add perfectly caramelized onions to sammich.

Enjoy!!

PDX VegFest

This past weekend was the NW Veg Fest at the Portland Convention Center. It was super fun and very informative as someone trying to get started as a vegan. Tons of products to try out and demos to watch. I've got to say that my husband and I (and two of our close friends) are completely sold on the VITAMIX!!  Some of the products that I will be purchasing in the near future to experiment with are:
Earth Balance Soy milk (probably the best tasting soy milk I've tasted) -- WWW.earthbalancenaturals.com (will send you coupons if you contact them)
So Delicious Ice cream bars,
Tempt protein powder (made with hemp seeds, rich in omegas 3 and 6, with 10 essential amino acids) -- WWW.livingharvest.com
Upton's Naturals faux meats, made with Seitan, (wheat gluten) great flavor, we bought some at Whole Foods already -- WWW.Uptonsnaturals.com
Genesis Organics Juice, Amazing flavor, never heated/pasteurized, they use a high pressure method which gives you a fresh squeezed taste that you just can't get from other juices. We tried the strawberry lemonade, ginger lemonade and a cranberry lemonade. Get a coupon sent to you from their website WWW.genesisorganicjuice.com
Also tried gardein's meatless mandarin orange crispy chick'n YUM, Equal Exchange very dark chocolate and Orange dark chocolate, and Chia Seeds!
Got a list of some vegan restaurants in and around Portland, can't wait to check them out!
Leave a comment with your favorite veg products for me to try!
Thanks for reading :)

Comfort Food (minus the guilt)

My go to comfort food would have to be a nice big bowl of garlic and cheese mashed potatoes. But who needs all those calories? Not very comforting. My recipe for today is Guilt Free Mashed Cauliflower.

Ingredients: 

About 6 cups of boiled cauliflower

Water

Salt

1 med head cauliflower, washed, trimmed and chopped roughly

1/4 salt

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp almond or rice milk (original or unsweetened)

2 tbsp Earth Balance

Dash black pepper

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp garlic salt (optional)

After blending, about 4 cups cauliflower

1/4 cup daiya soy cheese cheddar style (optional)

Bring pot of water to boil and add salt

Either steam or boil cauliflower until soft (should take abot 20 minutes)

Strain cauliflower and transfer to food processor or blender.

Pulse a few times

Add in garlic, salt, and earth balance,

with blender on add your 2 tbsp of almond milk

If it isn't blending try scraping the bowl and starting a few times, 

if still not blending, add a touch more almond milk.

MMM

Add a dash of pepper and the thyme, (garlic salt, if using)

and pulse until incorporated.

Top with Soy Cheddar cheese (if using)

Serve hot, and enjoy:)