Crystal Paul's Vegan Meatloaf Recipe

I understand that many people don't understand why a vegan would eat a dish that is as similar to meat as meatloaf. It's a vegan entree that is modeled after a loaf of MEAT. Plus, the ingredients are super processed and it's pretty much like eating meat. EXCEPT IT'S NOT. No animals were slaughtered. That is the point.

I grew up on meat. It has not been an easy thing to give up. I miss the food of family suppers. We all search for comfort somewhere and for me it is food. Dinner is sacred, whether by myself or shared with my friends and family. I advocate vegan meals that have nothing to do with copying meat dishes, that are creative and stand by themselves alone, but I also crave dishes that remind me of sitting down with my family and having a meat, vegetable and salad dinner.

This is where Crystal Paul's meatloaf comes into play. It's amazing and will bring people over to your house in one second, flat.

This grrl knows what she is doing.

You will need:
     *1 12 oz package of vegan ground burger
     *1/4 cup old fashioned oats
     *1/2 cup onion
     *1/2 cup celery
     *3/4 cup bread crumbs (make sure they are vegan!)
     *1/2 - 1 Tbsp garlic
     *1 1/2 tsp ener-g egg replacer mixed with 2 TBSP water (equivalent to one egg)
     *1 tsp salt
     *black pepper to taste
     *1/4 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a loaf pan with tin foil and make sure to leave enough on the sides to allow you to lift your finished loaf out of the pan.

Saute onions and celery until just tender.

Saute ground burger slightly.

Cook the 1/4 cup oatmeal with 1/2 cup water.

Mix all ingredients, except ketchup, into mixing bowl.

Press mixture into tinfoil lined loaf pan and over top with ketchup

Bake for approximately 45 minutes

(Crystal's hint, at the bottom of her handwritten recipe, includes making the topping out of 1/8 cup ketchup and 1/8 cup BBQ sauce). 

I say forget the tin foil and PAM the shiz outta your baking pan.

It's Vegan Roommate Dinner Night in the Upper Haight.

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and salad.  Crystal Paul and I want to open up a catering business - any takers?

Crystal's vegan meatloaf making skillz.

The Spread.  All American, Vegan dinner. 

We wear cute aprons when we cook.

Man, I gotta learn how to plate. 

There is No Getting Around This, I'm Obsessed.

I found out if you google 'Jenny Lewis vegan', my blog shows up!  Second website from the bottom. The 'Cooking With Rockstars' website also pops up, showcasing a vegan Worcestershire recipe submitted by Jenny Lewis. Think of it as a gift for both of us.

Jenny Lewis Worcestershire Sauce Recipe 

Acid Tongue Promo featuring Jenny Lewis, Ben Gibbard and Jonathon Rice.  It's hilarious!

Can A Former Hot Dog Addict Ever Really Be Vegan?

I think yes!  But my friend Tawny says no.  She says that on the inside I am still a hot dog lover and I will never really be vegan, I'm only fooling myself.  Harsh!

 My first Chicago Style Dog, March 2011.  I went vegan before I had the chance to try a meat version, but lucky for me, the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park serves veg ones!  Being from California, I like ketchup or BBQ sauce and mustard on my dog and that's it!  However, I learned real fast in Chicago that 'only children' order ketchup on their hot dogs.  Haters.  I have to admit, all this garbage on my hot dog was pretty tasty.  Hot peppers, mustard, tomato, onions and dill pickle spears.

 The Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, Chicago, is the biggest one I have ever been in (flagship store of the Midwest).  It makes the new one by my apt in the Upper Haight look like a convenience store. 

 Here is the food court in the middle of it.  Seriously.  And there is a bar.  You can shop and drink.  One of my friends exclaimed, in my presence, "Who would want to do that?!".  Umm...I would.  Something tells me it's a horrible idea, though.  I already make impulse purchases like a crazy, drunk person in natural food stores as it is. 

Vegan hot dog at SXSW 2010.  Ketchup, bbq sauce and mustard!  Just the way I want it, even if it's unsophisticated according to Chicago standards.  This pic was taken right before the condiments ended up all over my face and shoes. 

 

Same hot dog stand, next night.  I was quite disappointed this year to see they weren't serving the vegan dogs.  I mean, I hit up this stand so many times last year the guy running it recognized me.

It's true, I am a hot dog addict.  I don't think I could be vegan if there wasn't a substitute for the meat version.  Nuts, I know, but I'm trying to keep it real and be honest with you.

I did admit to Tawny a little part of me dies every year the Arcata Oyster Fest happens and I am not in attendance.  That festival used to be my Christmas.  Maybe I can patent a soy oyster!  Soy oyster shooters with cocktail sauce!  Fried soy oysters!  Smoked soy oysters!  Or....not.  The world might be a better place without that substitution.

Moby Hosted a Vegan BBQ at SXSW

And this is what was served...

BBQ Seitan sandwich, mac'n'cheese, and potato salad.  $10 a plate.  I never would have thought of  peas and carrots in potato salad, but it worked and added color!  Part of the proceeds went to Compassion Over Killing.

And Lone Star of course. 

"I've Seen Your Face In Every Goddamn State"

Dntel (the half of Postal Service that isn't emo) featuring Jenny Lewis

Arkansas is so much prettier than I expected. Surprisingly, being vegan on the road has been smooth sailing. I have Vegan Crunk to thank for finding breakfast in Memphis, TN.

Tofu Scramble with side of fruit in at Brother's Juniper in Memphis. I've been sick as a dog and I couldn't taste a thing. So I poured a bunch of the house seasoned salt and hot sauce on it, which helped my sinuses a little. Mostly I'm stoked vegan food is offered in places it would stereotypically be thought  as not. I always appreciate a yellow tofu scramble.

Some pictures of Arkansas.



California shoe



Oreos are vegan and if I am going to go down that road, you know it's gotta be Double Stuf. I don't know why people bother with the single dose filling. Midnight snack once I got to Lancaster, TX.

Old Style Has Never Tasted So Good!

I know all of you are dying to know how Chicago is going, so I will fill you in!  It's been fantastic.  Old Style has never tasted so good.  It snowed lightly in my face the first night, which I thought was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced in my life.  The four Old Styles and two shots of tequila probably had something to do with that. You know, if I had to guess.


The next morning was breakfast at the HANDLEBAR!  My favorite restaurant ever!  Of course our hipster waitress had the cutest hair I had ever seen.  At least for the day.

I got my usual, the buffalo 'chicken' wrap, complete with vegan ranch dressing.  Okay, the side was new for me - garlicky collard greens!  So delicious.  I couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was there.  I only took this one crap picture because Handlebar is soooo hip, I was totally embarrassed to be taking pictures of my food.

Next on the agenda was...seeing my old friends and coworkers at Sweet Mandy B's!  What happens when work is over for my friends and I'm in town?  The bars!  So what if it's four in the afternoon?  That's when bar service is the best!

Flounders in Lincoln Park is where the night (early evening?) took us.  Let me explain why there are no pictures up from last night - it's impossible to look cute and photogenic when drinking all afternoon.  I did however, wake up with some souvenirs.  Two incredibly large bruises.  I know I didn't fall!  What happened??  Erin chalks it up to lots of hugging without letting go.  Nora says "Flounders happened.  It's not for the faint of heart.  Congratulations!".   I think both of those answers are 100% accurate.  (I would also like to point out that I'm the one that introduced everyone to Flounders.  I had to pee really bad on my walk home from work one day, so I went to this bar.  Sometimes ordering a PBR is cheaper than buying food somewhere, just to use a bathroom.  Of course, I had to pee again 15 minutes after leaving. But then knew of a cool dive bar to bring people to!)

The weather is cold, but not brutal.  The food still tastes amazing but sits in my stomach like a brick.  Most everything looks the same and I feel like I never left.  I have missed my friends terribly and it has been the absolute best to see their cute faces again. Pick Me Up Cafe has new vegan options on their menu and I have to say their bbq seitan pizza with soy mozz is super delicious.  That pizza, coupled with Jalapeno poppers - filled with whipped tofu- and you have one happy vegan.

 Pick Me Up Cafe leftovers.  Does it look appetizing?  It sure does to me! 

I was also reminded tonight that I don't like Midwestern beers.  Old Style yes, but when you spend your early drinking years in Northern California (Humboldt County), you get spoiled and you get snotty about it.  Sorry Midwest breweries.

 Outside of Pick Me Up with some of the cutest grrls I know.

Pick Me Up Cafe has a tofu scramble called the 'Humboldt County".  Love it.  First thing I ever ordered there.

Tomorrow's agenda includes brunch at Lula Cafe (YES!!) and a party at Happy Village. Happy Village IS Chicago's Ping Pong bar and workplace of one of my oldest and best friends, Stephanie.  She's known around these parts, Humboldt County and Seattle for her ping pong skillz.  It's true.  You are nothing til you've played against her, which I haven't because I'm terrified.

 Stephanie playing ping pong about 6 years ago in a garage in Arcata, CA.  She's been honing her skillz for awhile now.

August 2010 at The Shanty in Eureka, CA. 

"Your Chicago Manuel of Style"

 I love finding things that are about both SF and Chicago! (This vid is Sufjan playing in SF)  Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is also on that list.

I'm not listening to this song tonight.  I'm too freaked out thinking about Chicago.  I haven't been back since I moved, a year and a  half ago.

I can't believe tomorrow night I'm going to be in my old neighborhood.  I wonder if it will feel like anything has changed?  If it will look the same?  If I will feel the same?

Those streets are haunted.   

And I'm about to face my ghosts, my demons, whatever I've been running from since moving away.  The guilt I have felt for not making it work out there.

But, sometimes things come to a close, and that's what happened with me out there.  Gawd, I gotta get over it.  I tried for 3 years and in the end it was time to move on and come back to my beautiful West Coast.  One can only pine for so long.    .

I can't wait for breakfast at The Handlebar!  And then to post about it. Not to mention seeing all the faces of my dear friends out there!  I'm coming guys! I can't wait to see you!

The 30 degree weather I'm not looking forward to so much.  Although, there is nothing quite like a brisk Chicago morning...and the feeling of nose hairs freezing together. 

Song that inspired my blog post.  I directly stole the lyric.

This Is What I Ate For Dinner

I'm sure you totally care.  Least read blog post ever!  I am going to use this opportunity to promote Trader Joe's Veggie Masala burgers, which are my new favorite food.  Additionally, they are made with vegetables, not soy!  

I'm trying to use up all the food in my fridge because I will be leaving for Chicago in 2 days!  This will probably be the last cooking post in a few weeks.  Cause I'm going to be transmitting from the road!  So exciting!  The Great Vegan Chicago to Austin Adventure!  Old friends, vegan eats and soooo much music. Chicago, SXSW, here I come!

Alright, back to my garbage burger.

First I caramelized my onions.

Then I added chopped up 2 Masala Burgers (because I am gluttonous).  When they were mostly cooked through, I added spinach, let it cook down and topped it off with Daiya cheese, because, well, I've been adding it to EVERYTHING lately.

Considering that I am trying to use up everything in my fridge, next I heated up a couple corn tortillas, sliced up some avocado and also spread tofutti cream cheese on the tortillas.

It was so good!  I mean, I knew it would be.  I really didn't need to add the cream cheese.  Usually when I make this 'dish', I saute mushrooms right after the onions are done and before I add chopped up burger.  I always forget to add the avocado.  The Daiya cheese just puts it over the top, in the best way possible, I love it!  Instead of corn tortillas, I use Mission low carb flour tortillas.  The corn were good, but I like the flour ones better with this.  Probably because I am white.

Masala burgers + Daiya cheese = a no soy vegan dinner!

Cashew Cream

I am a big fan of not using soy to replicate everything. And as herbivores, or whatever you eat, we gotta find alternatives to tofu, soy protein, you name it.  That's why I like 'cashew cream'. Cashews, when soaked (or if you are short on time, boiled) blend quite easily. You don't need a 'nut milk bag' to make a delicious, smooth cream - a sharp blade on high with some water should do the trick - the cashews will pulverize. 

That being said, 1/3 heaping cup raw, unsalted cashews, soaked, should equal 1/2 cup soaked cashews.
3/4 cup water, blended, pulverized, processed - 1 cup cashew cream.

Soak cashew 6 hours at room temperature or overnight, covered, in the fridge. Rinse before you use! If you are going to boil them, do so at medium high for about 20 mins.

I hope your blender/food processor does the job. I have a Vita Mix, bitches!

With a little salt and vanilla extract it makes a great coffee creamer!

Vegan Hawaiian Pasta Salad

I love BBQs.  You get to invite all your friends over, light a grill, cook food on it, and drink beer during the day.  What's not to love?  I especially love hosting them at my house because my apartment is awesome and I don't have to go anywhere.  I'll spend 3 days in the kitchen, I'll clean up, just pllllleeease come to me!

At one of the BBQs held last summer, for my roommate Vanessa's birthday, we both made Hawaiian Pasta Salad.  I had never heard of such a thing, but I was interested and in the mood to veganize something.  Here is a link to the recipe we went off of - Vanessa's traditional and mine vegan. 

You will need:

     * Macaroni!  The recipe calls for 1 lb.  I used 1 1/2 boxes Dreamfields (low carb) penne pasta.  It's a
      13.5 oz box.
     * 2 cups cashew cream (I assume you can substitute soy creamer - it's just as rich and creamy.  I try
      to cut out soy whenever possible)
     * 2 cups Vegan Mayo ( Homemade! or store bought)
     * 1 Tbs Agave Nectar
     * 1/2 cup white rice vinegar  (I like the taste more than cider vinegar)
     * 4 green onions, thinly sliced
     * 1 large carrot, either grated or chopped.  I chopped mine.
     * 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced.
     * salt and pepper to taste

First, you want to start boiling your pasta.  I love overcooked pasta, though everyone I know turns their nose up to it.  Finally, I found a recipe that recommends you do so!  Take that, haters.  Supposedly, the pasta is better able to absorb the dressing when softer.  Boil your pasta with a pinch of salt (or a palm full, whatevs) until super puffy and fat.  

Overcooked Pasta.  AKA the way I always make it.

While your pasta is boiling, you'll want to make your dressing.  Whisk 1 1/2 cups cashew cream (or soy creamer),   1 cup mayo, 1 Tbs agave nectar, 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp pepper in a bowl.

When yo' pasta is ready, drain it and return it to the pot.  Make sure the heat is off!  Add vinegar and toss until absorbed.  Let it cool 10 minutes, in the pot and add the dressing.  Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.  I am impatient so I waited about a half hour before I went to the next step...

Why does it take so long? Sooo impatient.

 All the cruelty free' creams' mixed together.





Add the rest of your mayo, cream, celery, green onions,  carrots.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate covered, for at least 1 hour and up to two days.  This is the kinda thing that tastes best if left in the fridge overnight. You know, so the flavors can meld.

I heard, once again (it never gets old) "if all vegan food tasted like this, I'd be vegan".

Is anyone hiring for a personal, vegan chef?  Cause it'd be great to do this and get paid.  Just sayin'.  xoxo.

UPDATE 5/1:
My new manager is Hawaiian, so I got the inside scoop on this type of pasta salad from her.  She adds onion, which I tried.  PERFECT!  I knew this salad was missing something.  Add about a quarter of a red onion, finely chopped.

More color, more flavor!

Vegan Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe. Definitely 'Jersey Shore' Inspired.

I love Jersey Shore.  I hope it stays on the air forever.  It fills the void in my heart left by 'The Simple Life' and 'The Hills'.  Can you imagine if they actually film a season in Italy?!  Hey, stop rolling your eyes! 

In case you haven't caught an episode or just can't stand that show (two things I will never understand) the cast is a big fan of family style Sunday night dinners.  I've noticed they make a lot of vodka cream sauce for their pasta.  If Snooks can do it, I imagine I can too - vegan style!  Maybe even without almost burning down the kitchen!  Although, I should save drinking the leftover vodka until after the cooking, for safety measures.

You will need:
     *2lb of fresh tomatoes (or 2 cans of diced tomatoes.)
     *Olive oil
     *1 red onion
     *5 cloves of garlic (I'm just assuming what a normal person would use. I used 11)
     *1/4 cup red wine (jungle juice of pasta sauces! Soooo Jersey Shore)
     *1/2 soaked cashews + 3/4 cup water (or one cup soy creamer)**
     *1/2 cup vodka
     *2 tsp agave nectar
     *Salt and pepper
     *1 Tbs Italian seasoning

**I like making cashew cream - it's rich and it helps limit my soy intake.  To make the cashew cream for this recipe, soak a heaping 1/3 cup of raw, unsalted cashews for 6 hours at room temperature, or overnight in the fridge.  You can boil them if you are short on time, at medium high for about 20 minutes.  Soaked/boiled they will measure out to about half a cup.  In a blender, add cashews and 3/4 water for 1 cup of cashew cream!

First, chop your onion.  The sauce will be blended, so dice it, roughly chop it, whatever you want. Add about 2 Tbs of olive oil to a pan and turn it onto medium heat, bringing down heat to medium/low once your onions start sizzling.  Saute until soft and transparent (7-10 minutes) or caramelized (20 or longer). When your onions are close to done, add your Italian herbs, so they can cook into the onions.

Dice your tomatoes, trying your best to de-seed them as you go.  Add to the onions, turn up to medium/ medium high, and cook for about 20 minutes. About 15 minutes in, add your chopped garlic.  Don't let it burn! When tomatoes are cooked down, add agave nectar, 1/4 cup red wine, 1/2 Tbs of salt and a dash of pepper.  Let go for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Melody of colors!  Why I like using fresh tomatoes as opposed to canned.

             

                    Cooked down

Wine





Everything goes in the blender!  Blend til smooth and put back into your pot/pan.  At this point decide if you need more Italian seasoning, salt and/or pepper.  Add 1/2 cup vodka and cook on medium high until the strong vodka flavor cooks away, about 10 - 15 minutes.  Whisk in your cashew or soy cream, bring to a light boil for a couple of minutes and you are done!

Whisk in cream

                And cook til incorporated

I have no good after photos.  I blame the wine I was drinking.

What?! It's Friday Night!

I'm drinking this for the environment.

Bota Box is 100% recyclable, printed on unbleached recycled paper with soy-based inks, bonded with cornstarch instead of glue and THE EQUIVALENT OF 4 BOTTLES OF WINE!!  Seriously, wine in a box is the way to go.  Not that cheap space bag shiz, the premium stuff - there are a few out there.  It's cheaper than buying 4 bottles of wine (unless you buy Charles Shaw, but I have way, way overdone that) and there is less waste!  It's economical and better for the environment.  Recycling is great, and I'm going to recycle this box - this box that takes up so much less space than 4 BOTTLES.  Less materials, less energy used to produce cardboard than glass, and these boxes take up less room in the trucks that transport them than bottles do.  There is a downside though.  The bag the wine is in and the the spout - they are both plastic.  Pros and cons, guys, pros and cons.

If you go the box route, try not to drink it all in one night.  I'll do the same!

UPDATE 6/16/2011- I have since found out Bota Box wines are NOT VEGAN. BUMMER. So the idea of box wine is fab, I just gotta find one that is actually vegan. CHARLES SHAW/TRADER JOE'S DO YOU HEAR MY CRIES? (The Charles Shaw reds are vegan. Not the whites. Thanks Barnivore!)