Vegan Sushi Cheap and Delicious!

Happy hour at Seafresh in Channel Islands Harbor is delicious and cheap! 

I had this scrumptious meal of a cucumber salad, veggie roll and a glass of wine for under $12.  Fresh and fabulous!

Other vegan options include:

Garlic Edamame

Tofu Teriyaki Bowl

The tofu is offered steamed, grilled or fried.

This Seafresh Restaurant is located in Channel Islands Harbor at 3550 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, California.  There is also a location in Ojai.

 

Here is a link to their webpage:  http://seafreshci.weebly.com/. 

Spicy Yellow Curry Rice

This recipe was adapted from a video done in 2007 by Kerry Weber called "Vegan Cooking for Animal Lovers with the Hardcore Chef."  This young man, who is into punk and uses some spicy language, provides some terrific recipes.  I was unable to find any more cooking videos or websites for his recipes.  However, Netflix has this video available for rent. 

I  served this rice with some roasted veggies for dinner.  Weber called his rice "Tamil Tiger Rice."  I did not have all the ingredients in his recipe, so I improvised.  This is a good curry paste but I'm sure any paste will do.  If you don't like spicy food, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper or don't use it at all.

Spicy Yellow Curry Rice

3 T. Earth Balance
1 medium onion
3 cups Jasmine or Basmati rice
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dried basil
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1 T. minced garlic
3 cans of coconut milk (regular)
3/4 cup water
3 T. yellow curry paste
1 can garbanzo beans, drained

Rough chop the onion and saute in large pan with Earth Balance and rice for a couple minutes.  Stir often so rice doesn't burn.  Stir in salt, basil, cayenne, and garlic.  Cook another 2 minutes.  Add coconut milk, water and curry paste.  Whisk to incorporate the curry paste.  Add garbanzo beans and bring mixture to bubbling.  Lower heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.  Stir now and then so that the rice doesn't burn or stick to bottom of pan.  Turn off the heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Esau's Cafe in Carpenteria

On a recent visit to Carpenteria, California, I had lunch at Esau's Cafe. They are located at 507 Linden Ave.

I had a great salad.  This is the Roasted Veggie Salad without the feta cheese.  It was $11 and could feed two people.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but this salad was huge!  It contained grilled tofu, roasted eggplant and red peppers in addition to the avocado, greens, tomatoes and onions.

As you can see from the specials board (lower right corner), they really have great options for vegans and vegetarians.

Here is a link to their website:  http://www.esauscafe.com/.  They have a humongous menu!  Esau's is an old-school diner style cafe.  I really enjoyed it.

Mushroom Udon Noodle Soup

This delicious soup is quick and easy.  By using less broth, this could be a noodle bowl instead of a soup.  You can use any greens you have in the fridge.  Many times, I have used my leftover salad greens in this recipe.  Add any vegetables you desire or have sitting around your kitchen.  It just depends on how much effort you feel like putting into cooking.

I bought these already cooked udon noodles at Costco.  The package contains six individual packages ready for reheating.

These vegetarian bouillon bases are available at my local Vons store.  They are much cheaper than buying the canned or box vegetable broths.  Just adding a teaspoon or less to water creates a lot of great flavor.

 

Mushrooms and Greens Udon Noodle Soup

3 cups water
1/2 t. vegetable bouillon
2 cups crimini mushrooms (or button style)
6 oz. package all ready cooked udon noodles
2 cups spinach or other greens
1 T. soy sauce
1/4 t. Sriracha hot sauce
ground pepper to taste

In medium saucepan, heat water and bouillon.  Thinly slice mushrooms and add to pan.  Let simmer for 10 minutes.  Add spinach and noodles.  The "clump" of noodles will separate on it's own. Cook another 5 minutes.  Noodles should have separated.  Add soy sauce, Sriracha and pepper.  Stir soup and serve.

Makes two servings.

Uplifting Video on Why We Should Choose Vegan

This fantastic video by http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/  "shows the power of making vegan choices."  It is meaningful without using graphic images of animals being mistreated.  This is a wonderful teaching tool for all ages.  This video explains to environmentalists, animal lovers and those wishing to improve their health what a crucial role eating a plant based diet plays in pursuit of these goals.

If you have any trouble seeing this video, please try this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzOJnIEjeGk#t=15 

This is the description provided with the video:

A 12-minute uplifting, positive video about the power of making Vegan choices.
People everywhere are making choices more connected with their values. We are simplifying our lives, buying less and living more because we know that the Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone's need, but not everyone's greed.
But there is one connected choice that sometimes gets overlooked. It's one of the most far-reaching personal, practical and ethical choices you can make. With this choice we can help...
- feed ourselves and every hungry person on the planet.
- end deforestation
- replenish the deep woods of the North and save our disappearing rainforests.
- revitalize our rural landscapes and save family farms.
- stop the number one polluter of water and the number one waster of water.
- return our oceans to thriving underwater worlds teeming with life and wonder.
- make cancer and heart disease a rarity instead of a common occurrence.
- stop the unnecessary suffering of billions and billions of animals.
- and return wild lands to their rightful owners.
This powerful choice can be done by everyone every day... by you... right now.
Vegan.
Every day you are invited to make choices. Live your values. Change the world.
It's that simple.

Vegan Brownies from a Box

Yes!  You can make vegan brownies from a box.  Looks like a "normal" brownie.  Tastes like a "normal" brownie.  It is a normal brownie!

I was feeling lazy and needed to take something to a party.  The very first box I took off the grocery shelf contained only vegan ingredients!  I know I got lucky.  Some will contain milk products so read the ingredients carefully.

I used this Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate mix.  When making the brownies, I followed the directions on the box but substituted 1/2 cup applesauce for the 2 eggs. The general rule is 1/4 cup applesauce per egg.

After baking and cooling the brownies, I found it neccesary to refrigerate them for an hour in order to cut them without too much crumbling.  They did still fall apart a little but not badly.  Refrigerating them longer would probably be helpful.

These brownies were delicious fudginess!

Dad's Chili Recipe - Veganized

I always loved my dad's chili recipe and have missed it since becoming vegan.  I have tried different ground beef substitutes and have been disappointed by the aftertaste.  Gardein's Beefless Ground is the best I have tried.  I found it at Target.

There is some chopping involved but it is a really easy recipe.  When I made this batch, all the memories of yesteryear came back.  Loved it!  I hope you do too.  Here is dad's recipe veganized.

Dad's East Coast Chili

2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups water
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
6 oz. can tomato paste
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 t. celery seed
1/4 t. cayenne
1 t. ground cumin
1 small bay leaf
2 T. chili powder (yes, tablespoons!)
1 t. dried basil
1  1/2 t. salt
---
13.7 oz. bag of Gardein Beefless Ground, defrosted
1  1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 - 15 oz. cans kidney beans (including their juice)


Add the first 13 ingredients to a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Stir and lower heat to low-medium and simmer for 45 minutes.  Add the last 3 ingredients and simmer for another 1/2 hour.

Bravo Costco!

 

 

These Gardein sliders are delicious!  I'm so happy Costco is adding more and more vegan products to their shelves.

I took these sliders to a birthday party and they were a huge hit.  I topped them with lettuce, tomato and a mixture of Vegenaise and Siracha.  Definately serve these to your non-vegetarian friends.  They won't know they are not really chicken.  Seriously!