Vegan Pumpkin Latte: Regular & Chocolate

Nothing says Fall to me like a pumpkin spice latte. Even though it's still in the 90s here in L.A., I am determined to wear sweaters and boots and drink as many pumpkiny coffee drinks as possible. The Starbucks version of this drink is not vegan (BOOO to you Sbux!), but Whole Foods and Peet's both make a pretty decent version. These options are great when you're out and about or in a hurry but I wanted to figure out how to make my own version at home for those lazy Saturday mornings when I'd rather stay in my pajamas.

I looked through recipes online and decided to go with this one from Averie Cooks. It looked good and simple enough for me to tackle. I tweeked her process a bit, and I made one regular cup and one chocolate cup.

Ingredients:
Coffee - brewed strong, about 2 cups
1 c almond milk
1/4 heaping cup pumpkin puree
2 tbsp organic sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend, or to taste
1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder (for the chocolate version)
Vegan whipped cream, cinnamon & chocolate chips for garnish

1. Brew your coffee. We don't own a regular coffee maker, so I use a French Press. I think it tastes better that way anyway.

2. While your coffee is brewing, combine all other ingredients in a sauce pan. Over low heat, whisk until mixture is smooth. Spices will not disolve completely, so you just have to live with that :)

3. Take out two large mugs and add the cocoa powder to one (or both if you don't want a regular latte). Fill each cup 1/2 - 3/4 with coffee and then top off each with the pumpkin/milk mixture. Stir, stir, stir! *This is the kind of latte that you'll have to stir often, even while drinking, just the way it is!

4. Top with whipped cream. I sprinkled cinnamon on the regular cup and chocolate chips on the chocolate cup.

I really liked how this turned out, even though you do have to keep stirring it otherwise the pumpkin mixture tends to float to the bottom. I look forward to making these more often on the weekends if the weather ever actually cools down!

Vegan Interrogated: Cari

Name: Cari Newton
Location: Marion, Ohio
Website/blog:
www.GrandManner.Etsy.Com
www.BrooklynBobbie.Etsy.com
www.facebook.com/VeganDinnerEvent

A little about yourself:
I live in a small town in Ohio with my boyfriend of 8 years, Jay, and our little dog, Trixie. We love traveling and eating good (vegan) food! I'm really into cooking and eating 'whole' foods. We try not to eat very much of processed foods/GMO's (will be easier to do if GMO labeling vote passes). When Jay and I can’t escape our small town, we work together in our jobs, find fun in all things nerdy, and watch shows straight through on Netflix. I am heavily involved with a lot of craft projects and vintage collecting. We have the most fun having elaborate dinners with friends.

What made you decide to go vegan?
I was vegetarian for 10 years and always wanted to go vegan, but I thought it would be too hard. After moving to the mid-west from Los Angeles, I got caught up in eating way too much dairy. I gained a lot of weight too. Shortly after I decided to go vegan, I lost weight and started to feel better than I ever have. I wish I hadn't waited so long to make the switch. When I cut dairy out of my diet, it made as much of a difference in my health as when I cut out the meat.

Favorite meal to make is a huge dinner event. I have been hosting vegan dinner events at a classy local bar, Circa, in downtown Marion, OH. The meals consist of soup, appetizers, salad, main course, side dishes, and dessert. I love coming up with a different menu for each event. Even though I only know of a few vegans in town, the dinner events have become quite popular with mostly meat eaters in attendance! I’m impressed that so many people are willing to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. I love to show that a vegan meal is more than salad and tofu.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
I get so many... People ask me if I eat peanut butter a lot. Just shows that a lot of people have no idea what they are really eating... And, no, I am not going to try your pot roast after 13 years of not eating meat, even though you say it's so good that one bite will convert me back into being a meat eater.

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
I tried to be vegetarian when I was 12 years old and was not allowed. So when I was 21, I did it on my own. My friends and family love to make fun of me, but they are supportive and they are becoming more open minded to try my vegan dinner creations.

Do you find going out/social situations difficult?
Going out to eat at regular restaurants can be a little difficult. I ask a lot of questions about ingredients that servers usually do not know. I love it when I go somewhere and the server is helpful with my vegan questions (I always tip extra!)

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Go at your own pace. Don't worry too much about ingredients at first. You will learn as you go. Find a vegan buddy or two to help you with questions or tips. It will be easier if you have someone that you can call, text, or email as you are learning the best & easiest ways to be vegan. Also, you can search on the internet for recipes for almost any regular meat or dairy dish and just add the word 'vegan' in front of your search and lots of recipes will come up, often with reviews.

Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?
Absolutely! Not only does my veganism have an amazing impact my health and well-being, it also greatly benefits the environment, animals, and others that can use an example of a vegan lifestyle.

Bodhi Kosher Thai

I love, love, love Thai food so I was extremely excited to discover Bodhi Thai a few months ago. It is vegetarian (with lots of vegan options) and kosher. The restaurant sits in a tiny little strip mall and parking can can a challenge, but they deliver as well! Vegan items on their menu are clearly marked so it makes ordering easy.

I always get a starter here, usually either the spring rolls or the samosas (can't go wrong with fried food!). The spring rolls are awesome, crispy and filled with veggie goodness. The last time we went, I opted for the samosas. They're good, but a little too small in my opinion. I like my samosas large and packed full of potatoes! But these are tasty for sure.

 

 

My husband is a creature of habit and will always get pad thai. Bodhi's version is good (I stole a bite), but a little on the sweeter side than other pad thai's I've had. The husband seems to like it.

 

I tried something new this time around and went for the Spicy Noodles (pan fried thin rice noodles sauteed in spicy sauce with basil leaves, carrots, onions and bell peppers). I was SO glad I did, this dish was amazing. Perfect amount of spice and large chunk of tofu! So good.

 

Avocado Bruschetta

I found this recipe from The Curvy Carrot on Pinterest a few weeks ago and knew I had to try it given that it combines two of my favorite foods: avocado and bread :)

It was fairly easy to make and turned out pretty delicious, but I think next time I will make two major adjustments:
1. Cut the vinegar in half, it was a bit too much for my liking.
2. Add fresh chopped tomatoes to the mixture.

I sliced up some ciabatta and drizzled it with olive oil and stuck the slices under the broiler for a couple minutes to get the bread nice and toasty before spooning on the avo mixture. I served this with a heaping portion of quinoa cooked with onions, tomatoes and cumin. Yum!

Chik'n Parm Sandwich

I came home for my lunch break the other day and there wasn't much food to eat so I threw some frozen vegan chicken nuggets in the oven. While I was waiting for them to cook, I had a stroke of genius: chicken parm!

I sliced up some ciabatta, spooned on a little marinara sauce and sprinkled a little daiya mozzarella and threw that in the oven for the last few minutes that the nuggets were cooking.

When everything was done I layered on the nuggets and smooshed it all together in one ooey gooey nom worthy sandwich.

After I devoured half of it I thought it would be a great MoFo post, but I didn't take any pics, so I made the same thing for lunch the next day :)

Potato & Vegan Kielbasa

My dad use to make this dish when we were kids and I LOVED it. I haven't had it in years, but was craving it the other day so I decided to make a vegan version.

What you will need:
1 package Tofurky kielbasa, sliced
8 small yellow potatoes (or 2-3 large potatoes)
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
3-4 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper and hot sauce to taste

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Slice potatoes into thin discs. Place in a large bowl with 2 tbsp olive oil and garlic. Toss until potatoes are well coated.

2. Add sliced kielbasa, salt & pepper and continue to toss.

3. Thinly coat the bottom of a glass dish with olive oil and spread potato & kielbasa into it. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

4. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes to add a bit of crispiness to the dish.

5. If you like spice, add some hot sauce to the top (I have to do this separately since the husband doesn't like spice). Serve with green, steamed broccoli or a nice salad.

Shojin

Shojin is an amazing vegan & macrobiotic Japanese restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. I've been hearing about it for the past year and a half and finally went for my birthday date with my husband the other night. The restaurant is adorable inside, it feels upscale and romantic with small tables and low lighting.

 

I also love the handpainted art they have hanging up on the walls, gives the place a warm and fuzzy feel.

 

On to the food! I have one word: A-FRICKIN-MAZING! I kind of wanted to just stay there all day and eat everything on the menu, but we had to narrow it down to a few things. We started with the stuffed shiitake mushrooms filled with tofu, miso & shiso and served with a sweet soy sauce. This dish was so pretty and the flavors were perfect. So good.

 

We also ordered the pumpkin croquettes as a second starter. Sweet pumpkin and tofu inside a crispy shell topped with tangy tomato sauce...perfect combination of flavors.

 

We ordered two rolls for the main course: The Dragon Roll (shiitake & avocado on the inside with BBQ seitan & more avo on the outside with sweet soy sauce) and the Mother's Soul Roll (green veggies on the inside, shiitake & fried tofu on top with a miso mayo sauce). Both were so so good. I liked the crunch of the veggies in the Mother's Soul, but I think I liked the flavors on the Dragon Roll a little better, the BBQ was a perfect touch.

Dragon Roll

Mother's Soul

About 2 minutes after these plates arrived.....

My husband told the waiter it was my birthday so they brought out a Nutty Chocolate Cake for me with a candle, gave me a Happy Birthday tiara and took a picture for their Facebook page (they love when people choose their restaurant to celebrate - so sweet).

When they came back with the bill they gave me a little handmade card with our picture in it and a CD of the music they play in the restaurant (loungy covers of top 40 songs - AWESOME!) I was even commenting when we first got there how rad the cover songs were!

This is hands down my new favorite restaurant. The staff seems to really care about their patrons and the food is by far the best I've had in a long time. I can't wait to go back!

Vegan Interrogated: Nikole

Name: Nikole ~ Vegan Sudz Shop
Location: Michigan
Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VeganSudzShop

A little about yourself:
Just a happily married mother of none, living in my own little bubble in the woods of Michigan with hubby and my 2 beautiful pups, Bela & Otis. When I'm not busy posting NO HUNTING/TRESPASSING signs around my property to keep out the butthole hunters that wander around, I love kayaking, bicycling, motorcycling, walking/playing with the pups, and on occasion, binge drinking. Ok ok, that's not entirely true, I kid... I kid... its definitely not just occasional.
I love making my soaps and lotions, the creepy bloody ones are always my faves, but I do have a day job that sucks up most of my happy time, I take care of the pensions for the retired police & firefighters of a big city here. And then yet another job helping my ultra-hard-working husband with his business working in the office. So in other words, I sit in front of an F'n computer a lot!

What made you decide to go vegan?
Finally my actions caught up with what my brain had known for years, and knew what I was contributing to by eating animal products. I love them and don't want to see them hurt in any way, shape or form, but here I am eating my favorite ice cream, which *bla bla bla... insert horrible story of the dairy industry*. I realized that I was an a**hole hypocrite and it was time to cut it out already.

Favorite restaurant & why
Seeing as I don't really have any veggie ones close around - I'd have to say any one of them that don't completely jack up my order by still leaving cheese sprinkled all over it or melted inside of it after I specifically said WITHOUT CHEESE. I love a waitress that understands that by the time I say "no cheese and you keep your sour cream to yourself (please)" that I'm not into dairy, and lets the cook know without me having to be that bitchy vegan who reports my vegany status out loud for the entire restaurant to not give a crap about and just roll their eyes.
Oh wait update - middle eastern food, totally forgot about them, yeah, I can get a lot of good sh*t there!

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
I  know there have been TONS over the past 14 years of veginess, but this one stands out, it was more of a dumb statement - someone once asked me about being vegan and he stated that he too was vegetarian, and only ate ham and chicken...what do you even respond to that with? It was not worth my effort, breath and sanity to school this person on the fact that not eating red meat does not equal a vegetarian and the fact that he eerily reminds me of Jeffrey Dahmer helped me to just let it go. Enjoy your ham dude. Idiot.

Favorite organization/cause & why
I love love love the Detroit Dog Rescue!!! They have helped so many of the homeless, neglected and abused dogs in this area and are focused on having a no-kill facility in Detroit, as opposed to the 90% of them that are euthanized now. Between the declining city and the amount of people still believing that dog fighting is cool, we need these guys more than ever!

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Can't hurt to try it, right?
I know I could probably give a more involved answer here, but if they're already thinking about it, what are you waiting for? You obviously are interested in it because its better for your health and the well being of countless numbers of animals. At this point, why would you NOT at least try it?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I don't normally like to make a huge deal of it, but for some reason this year a lot of little celebrations are happening. I guess that is the result of my widening social circle :)

On Sunday I invited my family and some close friends to spend the day with me at The Gentle Barn, an amazing farm animal sanctuary in Santa Clarita, CA. We spent a couple hours hanging out with cows, horses, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, etc. And finished the afternoon with some delicious vegan cupcakes that my cousin Jana made, check out her awesome cakes at Jana's Fun Cakes!

My cousin & I with Buttercup, the sweetest cow ever!

 

Me and the llama...he's got his eye on me!

 

This is Portia, she was genetically engineering to be a fat Thanksgiving turkey,
and now she can't even hold her own weight :(
 

 

This poor pot belly is blind because his previous owner did not know how to properly
feed him, he had zero protein in his diet.

Husband, cousins, friends and me!

AWESOME vegan cupcakes, I think the best vegan frosting I have ever had!

It was so much fun spending time with my family, friends and all the animals! I couldn't ask for a better way to spend the day!

On Monday the husband and I drove out to Temecula where my mom and dad live and had an awesome Mexican fiesta with family complete with vegan tacos, homemade Mexican brown rice and margaritas! It was nice to have the immediate family all together, doesn't happen often.

I could eat Mexican food everyday.

 

Vegan chocolate cake with spider & pumpkin sprinkles!

SO good.

Mom, dad and brothers.

Husband and brothers

 

Tonight I think the husband and I are going out for a nice vegan meal (post on that later in the week) and then Friday will be another dinner with friends and karaoke! Super busy week, but it's worth it!