February 2016 – VeggHead BeerCyclist

Leonardo Meatlessburger

Posted on February 29, 2016March 1, 2016 by jeffreylatty

I do not intend to be extremely repetitive, but I love sandwiches. And finding fun ways to include sandwiches into my (Ⓥegan) lifestyle, is one of my keys to happiness.

Dude’s gotta eat…

And while any dude (or lady) has to eat, they might as well eat happily. While eating happily, they (you) might as well be healthily happily eating. And if you can healthily happily eat, you might as well step it up a notch or two and eat Vegetarian or Vegan to ultimately do an enormous part in saving the planet.

Fight Climate Change

Even scientists say, “eat less meat” when asked how to better the planet.

I am not one to follow much of what takes place in the movie industry these days, but it’s impossible nowadays to ignore it. When news involves Leonardo DiCaprio, I’ll listen as Leo and I go way back to when I saw Titanic in theater at age 12, I believe. Since then, he’s truly been a favorite actor of mine. Being a true environmental activist is greater than (>) his amazing acting career and is how people with power/fame should go above themselves to try and make a true difference.

12 Celebrities

I’m gonna have to share links to my favorite Leo movies. I have to.

The Basketball Diaries

The Beach

Catch Me If You Can

The Departed

I made a good amount of (ben) Meatlessburger happiness. (The QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers is Ben Roethlisberger:). A brewery that I’ve come across with a few different beers is Half Acre out of Chicago, IL. I did not visit the Brewery (yet), just picked up a few 4-packs. I enjoyed their Pale Ale, their IPA and their Black/Dark Ale. They were all in 16 oz. cans with great decorative properties and the stuff inside is good, as well.

As far as the Meatlessburger goes, I made a gyro-style sandwich, a USA-style sandwich and an experimental chinese-style bunless Meatlessburger. And a LBⓋ (Low Budget Vegan) side… 🙂

Ⓥzatziki Sauce ingredients:

Non-dairy yogurt, plain
Lemon, freshly juiced
Cucumber, deseeded and diced
Cumin powder
Garlic, freshly minced
SeaSalt/Pepper/BrownSugar
Sriracha
Onion, diced

Mix. And Enjoy.

Meatlessburger ingredients:

Tofu, extra firmly crumbled (?:)
Lightlife ‘sausage’ and ‘beef’, crumbled
Daiya Cheddar, block diced cubes
Garlic, freshly minced
SeaSalt/Pepper/BrownSugar/GarlicP/OnionP
Liquid Smoke
Parsley, freshly chopped
Soy Sauce

Prep. Mix. And enjoy. Add Corn Starch if needed.

Gyro Meatlessburger ingredients:

Ⓥzatziki Sauce
Meatlessburger, pan-fried/cast-ironed/baked/grilled
Cucumber, slices
Tomato, slices (Bushel Boy)
Lettuce & Spinach, freshly sliced
Bun, gourmet (bigger) and grilled on inside

USA Meatlessburger ingredients:

Meatlessburger, pan-fried/cast-ironed/baked/grilled
Daiya, melted/broiled onto Meatlessburger
Lettuce
Cucumber, slices
Tomato, slices (Bushel Boy)
Onion, slices
Vegenaise, mmmmmm
Mustard
Mushrooms, sliced and sauteéd

I will go over the LBV and Chinese-style bunless Meatlessburger at a later time.

Happy Leap Year Day. Is that a thing?

Spaghetti Carbonara

Posted on February 22, 2016February 22, 2016 by jeffreylatty

Most of the time, something truly artery clogging usually murderous involving animals is excuse and motivation for my blog clogging Vegan food ideas. Meat is murder. Cheese and dairy is animal torture. I recently made Vegan Spaghetti Carbonara.

Yesterday, I enjoyed something called Jesus Toast. I rode through wet and super soft mud/gravel to get to this toast. Only to later realize this Jesus Toast was created by a SIUC Saluki alum. And this Jesus Toast is not your traditional food. Food to me, but a craft beer from Hailstorm Brewing Company out of Tinley Park, IL. The beer is a black rye IPA and very decent. The name is unique and entertaining alone. Made from a Saluki alum is a cherry on top. I also enjoyed an Alabama Hot Tub by Hailstorm.

Saturday, I rode my heart out along a multi-surfaced Gran Fondo of 100+ KMs. I set a most ascent record with my Garmin Edge 1000 with an ascent of 592 meters aka just short of 2,000 feet. It was an asskicker.

Spaghetti Carbonara ingredients:

Spaghetti, whole wheat & cooked not rinsed
Onion, diced
Garlic, freshly minced
Mushroom, sliced
‘Milk’, rice, soy or cashew non-dairy
Egg replacer
Pepper, coarse
Tempeh, grilled
Daiya
Nutritional Yeast
Parsley, freshly chopped
‘Bacon’, Seitan chopped
Bread, everything is truly optional
GarlicP/OnionP/SeaSalt/Sugar/Cayenne

Progressive Karate:

Saute Onion and Garlic. Boil and season ‘cream’.
Cook noodles, leave starch and cool.
Add egg replacer, Daiya and Mushrooms.
Cook down adding noodles. Serve.

The grilled Tempeh gives that deadly animal flesh look that so many love. To me, it’s nutritious and delicious.

There was a Spring tease this weekend in Illinois. It was wonderful and hope is evident. Lube those bike chains. Mentally prepare for Spring cleaning. Baseball is in the air and soon here grilled veggies will be the aroma in your neighborhood.

Save animals, kill plants.

My Sunday Funday was a Sudday Mudday 🙂

Ⓥaco Salad

Posted on February 19, 2016 by jeffreylatty

I’ve blogged it before and I’ll blog it again. Improv cooking sometimes allows truly great ideas to flourish. And having fun with your food is unreal, interesting and extremely entertaining. Perhaps, not always a success, but worth it most of the time.

From time to time, I do not wanna go to the grocery store. And that alone (maybe a beer or two, also) is my spontaneous/improvisational motivation. Cook and create with what you have on hand. I have strong belief that in a prior life, I was a Mexican chef. Furthermore, I always non-subconsciously almost hoard Mexican cuisine ingredients. A past life is the only way that I can explain it.

Hopslam:)

I’ve had some good beers in the last weeks. I had enjoyed my first ever Hopslam on draft. I’ve had it in bottle before, which is great. The preservation and balance in keg is unbelievable. Hopslam is made out of Bell’s Brewing in Galesburg, MI. It is a DIPA (double india pale ale) made with honey. FIND IT. ENJOY IT.

Seitan ingredients:

Vital Wheat Gluten
Corn Meal
Rosemary/Cayenne/FennelSeed, crushed together
Tomato Sauce
Veggie Broth
Turmeric/Thyme/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP
Bay Leaves/Celery/Peppercorn/Fennel/Rosemary, for baking
Vegan ‘Cheese’ cloth

Domino Effect:

Mix wet ingredients together and dry ingredients separately before mixing together.
Form into a loaf and put into wet ‘cheese’ cloth.
Put Seitan loaf into Lasagna pan and put Herbs/Veggies with Broth filling halfway.
Bake for two hours, flipping loaf in between.
Remove from cloth immediately and put in foil or use.
I broiled slightly after out of ‘cheese’ cloth.

Relish ingredients:

Tomato, deseeded and diced
Cucumber, deseeded and diced
Onion, diced
Seitan, diced and slightly charred
Radish, diced
Garlic, minced
Lime, juice
Cilantro, chopped
SeaSalt/Pepper
Oil/BalsamicVinegar/RedWineVinegar/Sriracha

Mix.

Rice ingredients:

Rice, Basmati – browned and cooked
Broth
Leftovers (mostly beans)
SeaSalt/Pepper

Veggies ingredients:

Potato, chopped
Celery, sliced
Carrot, sliced
Onion, diced
Seitan, mmmm
Corn, browned
Cilantro, chopped
Daiya, slices for garnish
Rice

Ⓥaco Salad ingredients:

Tortilla, baked as taco bowl
Lettuce, iceberg – sliced
Spinach, sliced
Jalapeno, roasted and deseeded/skinned
Vegenaise, mmmmm
Seitan, chopped
Relish, mmmm
Mushroom, sliced
Cilantro

Build.

Happy Friday! Spring is approaching!

Be safe.

Just Photos

Posted on February 15, 2016 by jeffreylatty

Super Bowl Ⓥunday

Posted on February 13, 2016 by jeffreylatty

Early explorers not following maps is how people need to follow recipes

-VeggHead BeerCyclist

In West Philadelphia born and raised, On the playground is where I spent most of my days. I am kidding. I was born in Denver, CO. However the playground situation is true as long as riding a bike and swimming counts, also. I did also grow up watching and idolizing John Elway, the amazing QB for the Denver Broncos between 1983-1999. The reason why number seven is my favorite and why my signature puposely contains a “7” is because of that man. And this Super Bowl, John gave Denver their third SB victory being the Denver Broncos GM and true Sheriff. I was happy to see Peyton Manning win. I was, however, more excited to feast on all kinds of VEGAN FOOD.

In the first quarter I had Nachos basically as an appetizer. And in the second quarter I enjoyed Potatoes. The third quarter I turned it up just a notch with baked beans. And nothing makes sports more enjoyable (other than beverages) than the ultimate comfort-food, the hot dog. I did pair all of these Vegan courses with different IPAs. I am not sure it could’ve been any better.

The commercials were mostly bad and at times, extremely mad. There was one about how much water you could save while brushing your teeth, although nothing about the amounts of water it takes to produce this worlds disgusting carnivorous habits. There was one for Heinz ketchup and mustard. And it involved “weiner” dogs running with hot dog buns as floaties. These dogs were supposed to be eaten by someone, I’m assuming. Also, Veggie or meat, no dawgs should be eaten with ketchup. Peyton Manning plugged for Budweiser. I later learned that he owns a brewery somewhere.

GOOD PEOPLE DRINK GOOD BEER

-Hunter S. Thompson

Seitan ingredients:

Vital Wheat Gluten
Corn Meal
Rosemary/Cayenne/FennelSeed, crushed together
Tomato Sauce
Veggie Broth
Turmeric/Thyme/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP
Bay Leaves/Celery/Peppercorn/Fennel/Rosemary, for baking
Vegan ‘Cheese’ cloth

Domino Effect:

Mix wet ingredients together and dry ingredients separately before mixing together.
Form into a loaf and put into wet ‘cheese’ cloth.
Put Seitan loaf into Lasagna pan and put Herbs/Veggies with Broth filling halfway.
Bake for two hours, flipping loaf in between.
Remove from cloth immediately and put in foil or use.
I broiled slightly after out of ‘cheese’ cloth.

Relish ingredients:

Tomato, deseeded and diced
Cucumber, deseeded and diced
Onion, diced
Seitan, diced and slightly charred
Radish, diced
Garlic, minced
Lime, juice
Cilantro, chopped
SeaSalt/Pepper
Oil/BalsamicVinegar/RedWineVinegar/Sriracha

Mix.

Ⓥombie Anacholypso ingredients:

Cashews, raw or not
Walnuts, raw or not
Broth, Veggie
Cilantro, freshly chopped
SeaSalt/Pepper/Paprika
ChipotleP/OnionP/GarlicP/TurmericP
Peppers (green, red & yellow), roasted and skinned

Mixed in a blender. Served smothering the life out of Tortilla Chips garnished with Cilantro. I also threw some store-bought Salsa Verde on them as well. Went extremely well together.

Nachos ingredients:

Tortilla Chips, I used normal and blue
Daiya, mmmmmm
Relish, mmmmmm that smell 🙂
Ⓥombie Anacholyso ‘Cheese’, mmmmm
Salsa Verde
Chipotle Pepper

Construct, melt and enjoy.

Sweet Potatoes ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes, skin on and diced
Celery, diced
Onion, diced
Carrot, diced
Seitan, chopped large
Oil
Earth Balance, add later & garnish
Broth, Veggie
Lentils, dry
Guts, non-animal, but utilize Tomato and Cucumber
Dill, freshly chopped & add later
Tofu, extra firm-extra crumbled
Mushroom, sliced & add later
SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP/ Paprika/ChiliP/BrownSugar

Saute Celery, Onion, Carrot in Oil before adding Seitan, Sweet Potatoes & Tofu to saute & steam by stirring occasionally and covering inbetween on medium-high heat. Add Broth, Lentils and seasonings except the “add later” and simmer, covered. Add “add later”s and serve soon after and garnish with Earth Balance.

Ⓥaked Ⓥeans ingredients:

Beans, dry & Northern
Garlic, fresh & minced
Corn, I used canned
Celery, diced
Onion, diced
Carrot, diced
Tofu, crumbles
Tomato, puree
Tomatoes, canned chopped w/ juice
Cilantro, freshly chopped
Seitan, sliced & charred
Broth, Veggie
LiquidSmoke/BalsamicVinegar/Sriracha
SeaSalt/Pepper/BrownSugar

Mix together and BAKE. I baked @ 305° for 3+ hours while covered and rode a bicyclt outside.

Dawgs ingredients:

Smart Dog, simmered in Veggie Broth
Buns, slightly toasted
Celery Salt
Relish, NO KETCHUP
Mustard

Have fun with your food!

Beers enjoyed:

Dark Horse Brewing Double Crooked Tree IPA
Excel Brewing Hop Heist
Excel Brewing Plague Bringer
Radium City Brewing Passing Time
Green Flash Brewing Tangerine Soul Style IPA

Vegan Zombie Apocolypse

Posted on February 6, 2016 by jeffreylatty

I’ve been a big fan of Jon and his videos from Vegan Zombie since before my even Vegetarian days. I saw their post today of Nacho Cheese and took a watch, yo!

Nacho Cheese

I live in an area where eating out Vegan is almost nonexistent. One, because most (family) restaurants cannot be trusted to be true Vegan. Two, for the buck, it isn’t worth it. Three, I am a damn good cook and love knowing every single ingredient AND quality of every ingredient.

I watched The Vegan Zombie Nacho Cheese video and it’s been the first in awhile that I’ve seen of theirs. I must be moving up a notch in the Vegan world, because I had almost every single ingredient needed to make their Nacho Cheese and to give it my own flair. I just needed some seasonings. That’s all. I did not make yo cheese, but I made me some of that there Nacho Cheese. It was so good! I took the “Z” and gave a “Ⓥ” basically for super Veganism and then turned Apocolypse into more “Nacho” sounding with cheese as cheese. A-nacho-lipso

I’m removing “Cheese”.

Ⓥombie Anacholypso ingredients:

Cashews, raw or not
Walnuts, raw or not
Broth, Veggie
Cilantro, freshly chopped
SeaSalt/Pepper/Paprika
ChipotleP/OnionP/GarlicP/TurmericP
Peppers (green, red & yellow), roasted and skinned

Mixed in a blender. Served smothering the life out of Tortilla Chips garnished with Cilantro. I also threw some store-bought Salsa Verde on them as well. Went extremely well together.

Props to the Vegan Zombie for being cool, funny and always having great ideas. Recipes are guidelines. Never follow to a “T”.

In other news, I will be obtaining some Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg as soon as Monday. And I am ecstatic! Work hard, play harder! CHEERS

I almost forgot….

Last Friday was my Ⓥirthday! I am three. Three years Vegetarian and now bettered by Veganism. I made some Vegan desserts! Please drink good beers and eat Vegan food responsibly:) Bike ride tomorrow!

Month: February 2016