Vegan Ⓥuesadilla

Posted on by jeffreylatty


Spontaneous cheffing is often extremely successful for me. Spontaneity isn’t for everyone and often kicks my ass, but not all the time. I had a long day at work and got off around 2000 (8:00pm) and commuted home and broke my THIRD damn spoke in two months and had an urge to buy beers and good food.


And out of know where, I had the idea of making Ⓥegan Quesadillas. Here is my shopping list (not premeditated):

  • 6-pack 16oz. PBR
  • 12oz. Funky Pumpkin
  • Bomber Thunderstruck IPA
  • Daiya ‘Mozzarella’
  • Daiya ‘Cheddar’
  • Hummus
  • Guacamole
  • Fiesta Pico de Gallo
  • Buns
  • Whole Wheat Tortilla
  • Lightlife Smart Dogs
  • Chipotle Seitan
  • Gardein Fishless Filets
  • Woodstock frozen Grilled Eggplant
  • (2) Vegan Nugo Dark Chocolate Pretzal



Ⓥuesadilla ingredients:

  • BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/dicedNonGMOfrozenGrilledEggplant:)
  • Sugar/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicAmpersandOnionP/ONEBayLeaf/ChiliP
  • Whole Wheat Tortillas, pre grilled
  • Daiya, yellow and white-mmmmm
  • Pico De Gallo, strained
  • Hummus, spreadily readily
  • Guacamole, readily spreadily
  • Chipotle Seitan or Fishless filets (sliced) or party hard and do both!


40 ounces to freedom:

  • Quesadilla makers are for cowards and T-Rex armed godzillas (not that they would have weapons shooting T-Rexs, just their ARMS BEING SHORT)
  • Cook Legumes and Brown Rice with the seasonings below where I mentioned above? Throw diced Eggplant in, also.
  • Grill Tortillas before hand, the tops on both sides and the bottoms just on the inside. Cast Iron with a Grill?
  • On the inside (grilled side tortilla), smear hummus, Legumes/Rice/Eggplant then add Daiya, Seitan or Fishlessness, Daiya, Pico De Gallo
  • Place completed Quesadilla on non stick surface and cook readily. you could even build the Ⓥuesadilla on your non stick pan. I did cover with a lid to help melt the Daiya. I cut with my sharp ass chef knife into four.


DO NOT CUT YOURSELF ON ACCIDENT


Also, hopefully not in person, planned. (I became a little tipsy last night and again couldn’t finish a blog)


Last year I bought a low end FatBike. It was a Corsa Mammoth. I bought it for like $650. I basically rode it into the ground. It’s existence made it almost 1,000 km. And now I plan on either eventually fixing that FatBike up and buying a new one or selling it for cheap, but still buying a new one. And I think I’m gonna go with a Charge Cooker (pronounced Koker). I just need to get some cash together. A FatBike brings permit-smiles and winter cycling easier.


Happy weekend! Be safe! Have fun!

Ⓥegan Fall

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
As most of you should know, Fall is upon us, being almost September. This is when I am in my cycling prime and the weather is usually outstanding. That is, in Illinois, anyways. Sometimes it’s literally freezing in November. The month September is always great.

  
(I also, as most should know, I suck at finishing my blogs as it is now September third:)

  

(Also, this week has been in the 90’s F or 30’s C, but that’ll be in the next blog)

  

Along with the amazing cycling weather brings Fall-style beers. Whether it be Oktoberfest or Pumpkin/Yam beers, I am a big fan.

  
I am not a fan of short days and “Daylight Savings”. “Daylight Savings” does nothing other than waste electricity. People do not wake up like they used to. Farmers are just about extinct. I can’t even get myself started on factory farming-I will go on forever. The majority of people are awake and about in the evening. Let’s cut our electricity costs?

   
 In later September, I will partake in my very first organized ride. It is basically a metric century (110 km) of gravel and rough/tough terrain. I’m super excited! I’ve been kind of on the fence about Veganism… Not, on the fence, maybe it’s just not been as easy as I thought it would be. Consciously, it’s easy, but it’s when you’re not checking ingredients when ya (me) fuck up.

  • Chipotle BBQ Sauce containing anchovies
  • Chewable Vitamin C tablets containing Lactose/Milk

I’m not a beer prude who reviews beers like I can distinctively taste and smell the different notes. I’m not a poser and I only bullshit about things I do know.

  
Go listen to the album High Country by The Sword. It’s basically New Age Classic Rock? 

Mammoth Ⓥurger

  

Mammoth Ⓥurger ingredients:

  • Mexican Concoction
  • Morning Star Roasted Garlic & Quinoa, Vegan & NONGMO baked and diced
  • Hash brown patty, baked and diced
  • SeaSalt/GarlicP/OnionP/Pepper
  • Corn Starch, starchy
  • Sriracha/BalsamicVinegar/PeanutOil/Honey/Broth
  • Go Veggie! “cheese”, non-dairy
  • Daiya, mmmmm
  • Tempeh, grilled
  • Zucchini, grilled

IMG_8937-1

Mexican Concoction ingredients:

IMG_8957-1

To the best of my knowledge Mexican Concoction ingredients:

  • Brown Rice
  • Lentils
  • Split Peas
  • Potato
  • Carrot
  • Scallions
  • Cilantro
  • Eggplant, iThink
  • Onion
  • Japonica Rice
  • SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP/Cayenne
  • Parsley
  • Pinto Beans

Slightly overcook everything.

  

Colossal Mammoth footprints:

  • Mix everything together to a nice consistency.
  • Save Daiya, Tempeh & Zucchini for later usage.

  

I decided to take a different approach to a sandwich. I basically wanted to make a cake and turn it into a sandwich.

  • I sprayed a pan with some oil. Which when it claims to be fat free, it’s complete bullshit. It’s fat free with the serving size being basically nothing.
  • Cake formed the tasty mass and baked, flipping with a inverted pizza pan over top after a good 12 minutes.
  • If the 12 minutes were not good drink a beer in three minutes and then flip with the pan science.
  • Bake another 10.

  

I do not not keep times, timers and measurements in mind. I’m basically bullshitting these times 🙂

  • Sprinkled with “cheese” and broiled.
  • Add grilled Tempeh and Zucchini
  • Cut like a pizza and stack on bottom bun
  • Broil Daiya over top and enjoy

  
These are the recent Fall beers that I’ve enjoyed. They were all tasty. The best being the Pumpkin Smasher from Big Muddy. Go for a ride, enjoy a beer and take a few pics! Be healthy 🙂

Ⓥloggings

Posted on by jeffreylatty


I had some horrible news last night. After deciding to ride my only day off this week, I wanted to attempt another live blog. I’m not too sure if I’m totally feeling it today. I’m gonna go about this as a draft. And then let my blog explode on everyones face at once, if it works out alright.


 It’s 10:00 am central time and I’ve missed my original departure time of 10:00. I’m ready to go, though. Apologies for that unconscious rhyme breeze from me’s. It’s 10:15 and I’ll be on the bike by 10:30.


It’s 10:52 and I’m in a great small town of Utica, Illinois and it’s getting hot, my feet are going numb again, and my back is sore. Ever since I switched to clipless peddles, my feet get numb and hurt. To counter those effects, breaks are needed with walking and stretching. It could very well be the cleat position.


Due to a poor state and incorrect priorities, a washout has been ruining the I & M Canal for years. And because of that washout, I just had to basically almost commit suicide taking a busy Dee Bennett speedway to surpass the stupid washout. I’m talking cars going 60-70 mph in a 55. There’s sometimes a small shoulder, but usually not.


After murderous Dee Bennett Rd, I decided to not ride as big as I had dreamed. I also swallowed a bug while on Dee Bennett Rd. It is never fun riding 30 ish km/h and confusing yourself with regurgitating or swallowing this damn bug in your throat while pedaling and trying not to swerve and get hit by a speeding vehicle. I washed it down with water and rode on. #RideOn


In 2011, I was traveling home via Amtrak and read that my last grandfather had passed two days before christmas…. In 2015, i found out my paralyzed uncle who is a doctor of psychology passed by reading also on Facebook. I hate Facebook. I hate most of my asshole Facebook friends and they probably hate me. I was convinced to delete Facebook until my cousin added me today, throwing my plans completely. My new plan is eventually unfollow everyone. I’d like Facebook more if I could decide more what I have to view. I do not wanna see 100 kids before their first day of school. I do not wanna see lame jokes that people find super hilarious. I want Facebook to go back to my early twenties. Be funny, be crazy, be sexy.


  
 I rode to Ottawa, Illinois. I decided to pickup a couple of beers and attempt to go through the washout. The Dee Bennett Rd completely destroyed my ride as it almost does my life every time that I am on it. I picked up a Fresh HopWired IPA by 8 Wired Brewing Co. out of New Zealand. I’ve had a few of their beers in the past and all have been better than good. And same deal with this one. Unfortunately, other countries cannot top most of the USA’s IPAs. We have it figured out. I also picked up a Trade Winds Tripel by The Bruery. Trying to get back onto the I&M Canal, I was going to make a left turn, so I was awaiting my turn in the middle of the road (my lane) and a truck behind me started honking at me.. A bicycle trying to go left on the left hand side of the lane?


 I flipped that asshole off. When riding on the right side of the road especially turning left with traffic behind you, is an accident waiting to happen. Cars try and hurry by cyclists instead of slowing down. It is our duty as cyclists to put ourselves in danger in trying to get vehicles to notice us and slow down. THEY DO NOT LIKE IT, usually.


 Passing Buffalo Rock, basically the last point of upkeep and civilization moreover, was a feat on its own without even talking of the washout. One, it was muddy. Two, the bushes and grass were overgrown. And three, there were numerous trees down. Trying to ride through those conditions are almost impossible, confusing and tedious. I say confusing because I’d rather ride than walk my bike. Having clipless peddles and shoes on are not very convenient in that situation. I had my left unclipped basically the entire time to be ready to stop because of all of the debris. I found a stretch of clear path and itching to peddle hard, I fully clipped in and rode for a good minute. It was 12:44 and I ran into another downed tree and I slowed almost completely, went to put my left foot down and climb over probably the 20th downed tree and BOOM, I was still clipped in.


 I walked through the washout and continued on. I was all muddy, bloody and thirsty. I cracked open the IPA and continued walking, tree hurdling and drinking. A jogger passed me and said, “maybe they’ll fix it one day”, I replied “I doubt it….” That was most of my riding experience. I did BYOL!


Bring Yo Own Lunch = #BYOL

  
I chose to bring Nuts and Ⓥurritos.


Last week I made a Mexican concoction and have been slacking to consume the massive pot. I’m going to try my best to remember what exactly is in it. It is very good, just haven’t been exactly in the mood for it lately. Tomorrow, I plan to make Vegan Burgers out of the remaining concoction. I have been totally listening to this band, Native, lately. They are so good.

Native (live)

I actually took this video on 10.19.12 in Dekalb, Illinois via iPhone 4S.

Yesterday I learned that “&” had a freaking name.


Mexican concoction ingredients:

  • Brown Rice
  • Lentils
  • Split Peas
  • Potato
  • Carrot
  • Scallions
  • Cilantro
  • Eggplant, iThink
  • Onion
  • Japonica Rice
  • SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP/Cayenne
  • Parsley
  • Pinto Beans


Things that PISS ME OFF:

  • Police patrolling a park via car/SUV
  • Vitamins that contain LACTOSE?? WTFFF? (What The Fucking Flying Fuck)
  • Dogs that uncontrollably bark, should not be allowed outside without owner presence.


I basically overcooked everything a bit because I knew I was gonna make Veggie Burgers. If police are going to enter a park where vehicles are not allowed, THEY NEED TO GET OFF OF THEIR FAT ASSES AND HOP ON A BICYCLE. And I would’ve never thought that I would have to check ingredients in Vitamin C in being Vegan.


Ⓥeggie Burger ingredients:

  • Mexican Concoction
  • SeaSalt/GarlicP/OnionP/Pepper
  • Sriracha/BalsamicVinegar/PeanutOil/Honey/Broth
  • Go Veggie! “Cheese”, non-dairy
  • Corn Starch


This time around I cooked these patties at 250 degrees F for 12-15 minutes before upping the temperature to 325 degrees F for another 10. I usually love the burnt flavor, but for these the texture is not good when overcooked.


As for these Ⓥurritos I made for BYOL Friday, here we go.


Ⓥurrito ingredients:

  • Mexican Concoction, heated with Seitan, Broth and Corn
  • Iceberg Lettuce, chopped
  • Cilantro, finely chopped
  • Scallions, finely chopped
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled obviously
  • Guacamole
  • Sriracha
  • Tortilla Shells, Large

Easiness:

Mix everything up and wrap burrito-like. Grill both sides and wrap in foil and enjoy. Unfortunately, I did not capture any photos of the finished product. Not sure what I was thinking. (I actually just found a pic of a similar Ⓥurrito that I made)


 This was the start of my Facebook status, letting people know that I was gonna be deleting. Not sure what I’m gonna do.

-Unfortunately, my love and respect for animals does not carry onto most humans. Most of you are fucking horrible people and complete assholes. Not to say that I am not in that same group. As a species overall, we fucking suck. I do not care for most of you and most of you do not care for me. I’ve finally got big enough balls to peace out of this Facebook world that is basically a disease anyway. Social media is great and I still love it, but Facebook is no longer for me. I am in no way suicidal, but Jesus fucking Christ, this feels like social media suicide.-


It’s almost September. Have a good Week! Enjoy life as best as possible while taking good pictures! And seriously, go for a bike ride:)

Nutty Ⓥutter

Posted on by jeffreylatty


Last weekend, I made a purchase of a NutriNinja at the local walmart for $79. I despise walmart, but was there and made the purchase. It sat on my kitchen table for a good 4-5 days contemplating if I were going to keep it. I then saw one at Menards for the same price. I bought the Menard’s NutraNinja and returned walmart’s NutriNinja. A friend, who at the time worked for a walmart DC, said “never buy from walmart, it’s all broken.”


I’ve only used the NutriNinja once so far, but was the ultimate test, making my new creation of peanut butter. I named it Nutty Ⓥutter. The NutriNinja passed the test. A coworker asked me today why I chose peanut butter to be the first thing to make in the Ninja. He owns one also and loves it. I never got around to telling him why as we were interrupted by our job, CIA-type things.


My reasoning behind his, “well, why didn’t you go buy peanut butter?”, response is that I am a celery addict and that I love dipping celery into peanut butter. And I ultimately wish that they made peanut butter dipperies. Basically a large container that is easily sealed and opened that isn’t hard to dip one bit. Peanut butter jars are all tall and very difficult (to say the least) to dip into once half empty and the ongoing obsolete process is stressful, awkward and frustrating.


I also wanted to make it better and more to my tastebuds’ needs.


Nutty Ⓥutter ingredients:

  • Old Mill Deluxe Mixed Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Pecans, Brazil Nuts, Hazle Nuts, Pistachios & Peanuts), shelled and salted or unsalted-boats float when ya want
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled and salted or unsalted
  • Peanut Oil, good quality
  • Honey, organically and local greatness 🙂
  • Nutmeg
  • Sea Salt

Step:

  • Combine and mixing to smooth.

I decided to make an appetizer dish using CELERY mmmmm.

Tomorrow is Friday and my only day off this week. I may ride 161 km aka 100 miles. Making a day of cycling and packing my lunch and possibly live blogging…… #RidehFriday

Hello

Posted on by jeffreylatty

I am not a professional cyclist. I’m a vegetarian with vegan qualities. I ride hard and far when I need to and want to. I noticed that some of the food available within this eating lifestyle is absurdly high in preservatives and poor on quality. The healthier vegan/vegetarian food out there ready is even more expensive. Which is nice when I have the funds, but that is not always the case. Especially after you put the necessity of good beers in there. I have been out to find a better way to eat with quality by cooking my own food cheaper. And want to share what I’ve come up with and tried. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY 

Eventually I want to start writing about the thousands of recipes I’ve created/modified to answer my tastebuds and eating lifestyle and thousands of awesome beers I’ve enjoyed and some adventurous bike rides I’ve ventured and will trek. I am not a culinary arts degree holder. I am not an English major. I do like to consider myself a professional beer drinker, although I am not paid to enjoy beers. I do love to think I know how to write after a few beers and the tipsiness occurs. Hence, future writings that are awful.