VeganMoFo #7: Recipe Round-Up - Getting toasty warm with The New Vegan (and BSG rave)

Just squeezing in a post for today. The reason being that I have just spent my evening watching the finale for Battlestar Galactica - finally! OK, this is going be a food post but first let me geek out a little bit. I am a science fiction and genre TB geek. I was introduced to BSG by my television mentor Brendan (seriously, the man has the most outrageously spot on taste in TV shows) sometime during my last year in Sydney. I had seen a few episodes late night on normal TV, but if you haven't started watching from the beginning it is way too confusing. It is, however, one of the best and most incredible shows ever. The arc of the story is phenomenal, and absolutely everything pays off. A couple of months ago I bought my limited edition shiny black box of the complete series, but I hadn't seen the final three episodes yet. I then introduced it to my mother and my brother, both now firm BSG fans (yay), and we have been doing a BSG marathon ever since. The moral of this story is: Go and by the complete series of BSG. Now. Don't accidentally get the old one though, because that is lame. The new one - one of the best things you'll ever see!

Now, where was I... oh yes! Food! So, today I am going to be talking about some recipes from The New Vegan. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this book. Or a like-hate relationship. I have made some food stuff from it, but pretty much every second recipe reads like an omni recipe but with the word 'veggie' written in front of the pork/lamb/shrimp/cheese whatever. Super heavy on the processed stuff! Also, one of the recipes called for bonito flakes, which last time I checked was fish. So, hmmmm....

But as I said, I have made some nice stuff from it. Some of that nice stuff has been in the form of some damn tasty toasted/grilled sandwiches, a few of which I present to you today!'


Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches are delicious. Rather than being a whole fried portobello, there is a mixture of mushroom, basil, balsamic vinegar and (if you want to) red capsicum. On bread with mayo, parsley, mozzarella, lettuce and tomato. Nom-tastic!


The Monte Cristo 2000 is a fairly simple combination of cheese, vegetable seasoning and faux turkey slices (though I used Redwoods Cheatin' Chicken) sandwiched between bread. The entire sandwich is then fried in parsley butter until golden on both sides. With a classy cherry tomato skewered through the middle. And some fries on the side (there was some salad too).


Ahh, the classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich, a classic. It really doesn't need a recipe, but I must make as many recipes as I can! This one sprinkles vegetable seasoning into the sandwich, which makes it quite salty. This sandwich is also fried in Nuttelex. I enjoy my grilled cheese sandwiches on the side of some delicious soup - often tomato!


This delectable concoction is a Rancho Scripps Patty Melt - yum, yum, yum! A burger patty (mine is a Fry's one) with 2 cheese slices, scallions and mayo that is then placed under the grill (or broiler for the Americans) until it is delicious and melty and wonderful. And then skewered with some olives and a dill pickle. Again - all class. ;) But it is fantastic!!

For all the cheese, I used Tofutti slices - either mozzarella or American style. The book calls for all fancy types of cheese - almond Jack (I don't even know what that is), provolone and so on. I can't get that variety so I just use what I have, and it works out fine!

Cute Cat Photo of the Post

This is the lovely Possum, or more accurately a pretty awesome close-up I was able to get of his beautiful hind paw. Lovely!

Now I am off to bed. I am exhausted because yesterday I helped out at a Twilight/New Moon convention that my friend was organising. It was interesting to be on the helping side of things, normally I am attending conventions like the great big geeky fan girl that I am. But Twilight exists for me to mock it, so I had no problems forgoing the fan experience to help out. Still, I ended up doing numerous food and drink runs (including a memorable 18kg work of drink bottles I carried for far too long) and now even now I am still exhausted and quite sore. I think the gym tomorrow will call for some gentle exercise, some stretching and perhaps some sauna. ;)

Who else here is a total geek? Don't be shy! Geek girls are totally hot. Hee!