Yummy treats I've been making

Oh how I have missed all of you!!!  Besides life / work getting in the way I'd also been having some camera issues.  I think I mentioned this in another post.... well it got worse when I lost the cable to my camera.  Ok maybe lost is the wrong word,  ummmm hid in such a great place I couldn't find it.  A wonderful talent.  Anyone else have this talent?

Here's what I've been up to...

I had a holiday cocktail party, a dinner party for some non-vegans (Big hit by the way) and an Academy Award party.  I was trying to come up with a great "I'm back" post for all of you.  Then it dawned on me, I didn't take photos of most of the food I had made.  Gulp.  Not even with my little wee iPhone.  Epic fail.

Cinnamon Rolls with Cranberry and Pumpkin  before slicing

As I do have some random photos of food and fun I think that's the best way to get back into the blog groove.  Enjoy!

Cinnamon Rolls with Cranberry and Pumpkin from Chef Chloe's Blog

Chocolaty Crinkle Cookies from VCIYCJ

Chai Spice Snickerdoodles

Cherry Almond Cookies from VCIYCJ

January Vegan Food Swap

Oh Happy New Year!  And what a fantastic way to start it out.  The vegan food swap is BACK!  There was a break during the holidays.... and who couldn't use a bit of a break with of the holiday fun going on.  Cat over at  The Verdant Life puts together this wonderful swap.  It's wonderful you get a name and send them a box of vegan goodies costing no more than $20 and someone else sends you a box.

Candice from Moved to Fargo from Seattle  sent me my box of goodies.  I couldn't have put a better one together.   I had just been thinking I needed to get some vegan white chocolate and it arrived in her box.  I swear she is a mind reader!

I'm sad to say my camera isn't working properly which is part of the reason you haven't heard from me in awhile.  The few photos I'm posting were taken from with my cell photo.  

I don't seem to be able to rotate it but you get the idea!

If you haven't tried the vegan swap before I highly recommend it.  And a HUGE thanks to Cat for taking all of the time to put it together!  Lots of new vegan items for me to start my New Year out with.

Amazing Lunch

I have the greatest sister.  On Tuesday I decided to spend the night at her place so we could watch the election results together.  She had been stress cooking all day. She made an amazing feast of vegan goodies for me.  I just had to post a picture of what she packed me for lunch.

Roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, lentil salad, chipotle sweet potato mash and what you can't see is a coleslaw with apples and walnuts.  It was great at dinner time too,  Delicious.  I was so spoiled!


What did you eat on election night?

Virtual Vegan Potluck: Jackfruit Carnitas

Welcome!  Please come in, pull up a chair and stay for awhile.  I promise I won't bite.... well ok I don't bite most people.  I am participating in the second virtual vegan potluck and boy have I made a treat for us tonight.   I'm a little nervous about serving so many people, but this sounded like a CAN'T BE MISSED event.

Tonight I'm serving Jackfruit Carnitas.  What is Jackfruit you ask? Well ask no longer, because you are about to experience them.  Not to long ago I was in the same boat.  Truth be told I never heard of Jackfruit until I became vegan.  Here is the wikipedia description of Jackfruit.  It seems like there are many uses for them.  I've never seen a fresh one as I use the young canned jackfruit but doesn't this picture look insane.

Insane Jackfruit

The first time I had Jackfruit was at the now closed restaurant Pure Luck.  Out of this world fantastic. I couldn't believe how good their Jackfruit Torta was.  You can only imagine my delight when I found their recipe online.  I knew I'd be making it for a special occasion to share with friends.


Jackfruit Carnitas


Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced
2 clove garlic, crushed
5ml (1 teaspoon) Better Than Bouillon. (This is enough to make ~1.5 liters of vegetable broth, so if you use a different brand, use their directions to determine the equivalent amount.)
1 20 oz can of Jackfruit in brine, drained (make sure you get the Jackfruit in brine or water.  You don't want the ripe one in syrup whole different ballgame that one.)
2 Tablespoons Mexican Coke or 2 teaspoons sugar  (I used sugar)

Directions:

Place a pan on medium heat. Add oil, onion, garlic, and bouillon. Stir until onions are clear and bouillon is dissolved. Add jackfruit and sugar and stir occasionally to break up the jackfruit. I know it's hard not to stir a lot but remember you want the jackfruit to carmalize.  It will be ready when the liquid is dissolved and the jackfruit darkens and starts to look like shredded meat. 

I want to thank Jessica of Clean Green Simple for posting up the Jackfruit recipe along with her Clean Green version.

Cooking down

YUM

These carnitas would be great in many dishes.  A torta, with beans, over rice but for tonight we are having tacos.

Sadly my camera stopped working so I didn't get a photo of the finished plate.  I hope you enjoy your carnitas.  I sure did.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Now scoot, it's time to go taste your next amazing dish over at Canned Time.  If you missed the dish before mine Vegan 404 (filet not found) is where to go.

If you'd like to start at the beginning of the potluck please visit Vegan Bloggers Unite.  And of course a special thanks to Annie at An Unrefined Vegan whose passion, hard work and sweat have made this wonderful evening possible.

Vegan 404 (filet not found)

Canned Time

                                                 

Vegan Bloggers Unite