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The Teese Challenge: Dang Quesadilla with Nacho Sauce March 18, 2010

Posted by jess sconed in Tea & Spice Exchange, Teese Challenge, Tina Marjorino, fake cheese, mexican, teese, vegan quesadilla.
3 comments

Oh, it’s way past hip to quote from Napoleon Dynamite?

It’s not even far gone enough to be hip again?

Well, let’s continue enjoying vegan quesadillas, forget that reference, and commence talking about  how much we love Tina Marjorino as Mac.

This is my first entry into the grand Teese Challenge.  It had to be a soft, simple one because I’ve recently been attacked by new allergies and the worst sore throat of my life.  My ultimate goal is for individual chick’n style seitan parm sticks with teese mozzarella - modeled after this post on my old site.

Whole Wheat Quesdilla with Teese Nacho Sauce, Black Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Spread, and Avocado.

nacho teese quesdadilla

I was pretty fascinated by the  mildly spiced, calmly orange, Nacho Sauce. It was my first time using it. It comes out of its tube like squishy cheese curds and did that crazy teese-liquid-melt-congealing into the quesadilla.  That is so cool! I know that may sound gross, but I’m a fan.  Dang.

The Black Bean spread is based on this hummus recipe from Cooking Light.  I swapped a whole roasted red pepper, dash of hot smoked paprika, and a couple tablespoons of water for the mere tablespoon for tahini, because I could.  I bought the paprika from the new Spice & Tea Exchange location in downtown Portland – I’m mesmerized by this type of shopping on my lunch hour!

Teese ranks high with my favorite vegan cheeses.  I was stoked to participate (and receive complimentary teese!) for this project! Can I make Nacho Libre nachos next?

Three Days in Seattle, Vegan Style March 14, 2010

Posted by jess sconed in Flowers in Seattle, Full Tilt, GLC, Herkimer, In the Bowl, Wayward Cafe, buffet, coconut, coffee, coffeeshops, farmer's market, ice cream, kale, seattle, soylatte, travel.
12 comments

I had a string of poor luck with meal choices on my East Coast vacation, and I must say that 3 days of vegan meals in Seattle kinda kicked the butt of my week of vegan consumption in Boston and NYC.  With some exceptions, of course.  I really do believe that food tastes better in the Pacific Northwest.

For one thing, the coffee is fantastic.

Soy Latte from Herkimer, University District

Herkimer, Seattle

I spent a lot of time working in a couple coffeeshops.  Unlike Portland, I was stunned to easily find a seat at shops.  This simply means Portland needs more coffeeshops, gosh.

Herkimer

Soy Latte from Trabant, University District (49th Parallel beans).  Just….right.

Trabant

Vanilla Vegan Chai from Trabant

Trabant Chai

Trabant

If I had more time…I would have hit the Korean Tofu House for dinner.  One day!  They open at 7pm, and I simply didn’t have enough um, dinner openings.

Sorry Mike, Sorry Vijjy! I just peered, like a tofu stalker, during the day…

will I ever make it here?

Oh, and look, another Tofu House!  This one was pretty much beef with tofu, beef with tofu, beef with tofu on the menu, though.  Tofu stalker will investigate further…

another 'fu house

Angel Curry with Soft Tofu from In the Bowl Vegetarian Noodle Bistro. My first time there, my first meal of the trip, my favorite meal of the trip! Review coming to Stumptown Vegans.

In The Bowl, Seattle

Wayward Vegan Cafe.  This popular cafe recently moved to a new location on University Street in Seattle’s slowly expanding V-District, and overall, bestowed the second of the top two meals of my visit.  Thank you, vegan omelet!

Sham and Cheddar Vegan Omelet with roasted potatoes – hello, vegan diner food.

Wayward Cafe Vegan Sham & Cheddar Cheese Omelette

Giant side of Garlic Steamed Greens with a little visit from the nutritional yeast shaker and hot sauce.

Wayward Garlic Steamed Kale

The line to order.  It was almost out the door at times!

Wayward Cafe

More to come.

Wayward

Flowers Restaurant for the Vegan Lunch Buffet

to michelle, love jess

My dear friend Michelle has been recommended Flowers several times over the past three years, and I note it on my sporadic northern trips.  I finally put aside the call of vegan chinese (I had my full on the East Coast) and hit up Flowers last week. Finally!

Flowers

My plate from the Flowers buffet.

Flowers Vegan Buffet in Seattle

My favorite parts were the chilled roasted broccoli and creamy, tahini-like pasta salad.  Personal preference – I wish some of the cold items were hot.  I really dug the large variety and wish I had more room to try more!  There were numerous stewed dishes, roasted vegetables, baba ganouj, fries, and more, that I would like to try another time.  With my friend Michelle, ideally!

The large buffet lays beyond these windows. Every now and then I’m too shy to take all the photos I’d like.

Flowers

Stumbling upon the University Farmers Market = heck, yeah!

University Farmar, Seattle

Intriguing fruit vinegars and sauces and whatnot.

U-District FarMar

Just builds the anticipation for the Portland Farmers Market opening next weekend!

U-District

It wasn’t me.

Seattle

Spotted downtown: kale

kale kale kale

New experience: Vegan coconut based ice cream at Full Tilt Ice Cream Parlor, below the popular Cedars Restaurant.

Seattle

Okay, there was a large piece of hair on top of the flavor I was leaning towards, Toasted Coconut, so I went with the enjoyably rich Almond Joy with bits of chocolate and almond.  It happens.

Vegan ice cream

My only disappointment was on a second visit to Georgetown Liquor Co. My first experience was superb.  This time, I still enjoyed my microbrew and Nintendo, but apparently if you don’t state vegan!!!!!!!! at this vegetarian restaurant, even when your sandwich isn’t listed with cheese, it comes with cheese, as does your side salad.  As the Vegan Shiz would say, sad face.  It’s been so long since this has happened to me!  There is a note on the menu stating vegan cheese can be subbed for any vegetarian cheese, and a few items are marked NV, but this wasn’t one, nor did this list cheese.  Now I know.

Georgetown Liquor Co.

Where to next?

Sawyer’s Southern Spaghetti and Smokey Greens March 10, 2010

Posted by jess sconed in LOST, Sawyer, Southern, Trader Joe's, dinner, fake meat, pasta, seitan.
6 comments

Southern Spaghetti with Seitan and Smokey Greens

paired with an Australian merlot

We’ve yet to see this side of James Ford, but I know it’s there.  There is one dish in this LOST character’s romancing-and-swindling-the-ladies repertoire, and this is it.

Smokey greens for three reasons: the name, of course, the Southern tradition, and because Sawyer knows greens help you look that good.

There’s really not much traditionally Southern about the spaghetti sauce itself – I simply discovered after a quick google search that a lot of ‘Southern spaghetti’ recipes called for ground beef or chicken and extra heat.  Let’s just pretend that Sawyer’s parents used to eat this in Alabama, before you know who came along.

I browned diced, homemade seitan in a bit of olive oil, added minced garlic, crushed red pepper, dashes of sea salt and pepper, and tomato basil marinara I had made previously.  I let it simmer for a bit, and served it over whole wheat spaghetti.

The greens were the ‘greens mix’ from Trader Joe’s (collards, mustard greens, kale, etc.); sauteed with garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, agave, pepper and liquid smoke.

Also a wonderful accompaniment to a good book.

Image Property of ABC!

Last night’s episode touched my heart, for the record! If you’ve seen my previous LOST related posts, you may know that I adore that you know who.

No spoilers, please.

back to portlandia, once again March 9, 2010

Posted by jess sconed in Brooklyn, dim sum, falafel, isa's new book, jenny, nyc, soup, test kitchen, travel.
6 comments

Flowers Restaurant, Seattle

to michelle, love jess

once again, I’m back after a bit out of town.  this time, it was for a few days in Seattle.  while I was there, I decided my next realistic dream job involves frequent travel and keeping Portland as my home base.  I certainly can’t afford to travel recreationally as much as I’d like, and I’m fortunate that my current job lets me travel a bit. I’m getting the teeniest bit restless living here for 5+ years, but it’s Portland! It’s amazing! Quality of Life! etc. etc. etc.

that being said, I have three travels’ worth of photos and thoughts to unload soon via flickr, this site and stumptown vegans!  I’m hoping to get back to normal life and do this sooner than later.  rationally speaking, naming my flickr photos should not overwhelm me!

heading into overwhelmingly awesome plans, Portland’s Inaugural Vegan Iron Chef is officially happening on Sunday, June 6th, 2010 in the early evening.

It’s being presented by Try Vegan PDX, and I am beyond ecstatic about it.  The official contestant invites went out yesterday! So many wonderful local vegans are already involved!

Stay tuned for more by becoming a fan on facebook and watching the ‘lil twitter.

a few recent photos to get back into the swing of things…

Smokey Split Pea Soup, from Isa’s Test Kitchen

Isa Test Kitchen: Smokey Split Pea

Soy Latte from K&F Coffeehouse in Portland

K&F

Dr. Cow Nut Cheese with Hemp Seeds from Lifethyme in NYC - my first time trying this, call me a fan! It’s sitting on top of a raw apple cranberry treat from Lifethyme, too.

Dr. Cow Nut Cheese

My sister, Jen, agreeing to visit Vegetarian Dim Sum House in NYC, yet again.  She’s a hip little flexitarian, and enjoys the Roasted Pork Buns and main dishes here.

Veg Dim Sum

Of course, something like this, which Millie and I really enjoyed, horrifies her.

dim sum

Oasis Falafel, Brooklyn, NY. This was GREAT at midnight after a long night, but made me incredibly sick.  fun times!

Oasis Falafel

so much more to come.

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