VeganMOFO: Sweet Potato Fries for the win

I think it is an art (or luck?) in achieving perfectly crispy homemade sweet potato fries. Too often they turn out kinda soggy (but still delicious,) or dried out, but occasionally I can manage that perfect crisp. I shook these around in some olive oil, salt, pepper, and some tapioca starch (was out of cornstarch) until everything was evenly coated. You have to get that perfect balance of just enough oil and just enough starch, but not too much of either or the results won't be ideal. But yeah, sweet potato fries for the win this time!

VeganMoFo Day 02: Ollie

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Meet Ollie!  Ollie loves sitting in high places, sprawling in the afternoon sun, and just generally being a rascal.  He's a young kitty, but struts like a full-grown tiger and knows how to play the cute card to get attention.  Nachos and a good veggie burger (with actual veggies in it) are his fave.  If there are sweet potato fries around, he will come a'running.  Ollie wants to find a happy home with a super-great person who can also tell great jokes.

Adopt Ollie here!

***Details***
Medium: Watercolor on heavy Arches paper
Size: Approximately 8"x8" (image size is 7"x7")
Will fit in 8"x8" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale.  All proceeds will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated.  Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations.  Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!

I just got back from an extended weekend away in Washington D.C. and I'm still in vacation recovery mode, but I thought I would show one of my favorite meals I had there.  Nik and I went to Busboys and Poets our first night there, and we shared an epic vegan nacho platter, followed by a pretty gigunda veggie burger with sweet potato fries.  No, I couldn't finish it!  Darn if I tried though...

Both were delicious! The burger really reminded me of Campbells veggie soup (like, from the can), which was odd, but completely delicious.  The nacho platter was masterfully made, with alternating layers, so we weren't left with a pile of soggy chips at the end (win!)  I automatically order sweet potato fries whenever they are on a menu because they are my fave!  These didn't disappoint and were super crispy and sweet.   We had Thai food and pizza (they had Daiya mozzarella there!) the other two nights, but it was dark in both places, so no photos.   Super-yummy all around!

Vegan burger and SWEET POTATO FRIES from Busboys and Poets, in Washington D.C.

Epic vegan nachos from Busboys and Poets, in Washington D.C.

Some tempeh lovin'

I made the Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes, from Vegan Brunch, the other night and oh my goodness I think I have a new fave to add into my regular recipes. Hell yes.

Tonight I had a rockin' summer-type dinner with sweet potato fries, steamed zucchini, and a tempeh salad sammich on some homemade rosemary foccacia (recipe from Veganomicon). For the tempeh salad, I steamed it with some water and a dash of shoyu and then mixed it with a couple spoonfuls of veganaise, some garlic scapes, a small red onion, and some salt/pepper when it was cooled. Yummers!




I went to Boneshakers tonight for some tea and quality doodling time and they had vegan ROCKY ROAD COOKIES. I was still full from dinner, but I HAD to have one. So gooooood. I now know what I am making with that Angel Food marshmallow kit I have in my cupboard.

Blog-cation is over!

Okay, so I took a little blog-cation after VeganMoFo finished, but I'm back now! I got wrapped up in pre-election stress and worry and paranoia and excitement, and then have been floating on cloud-nine the last couple of days. Seriously! I don't get sick of reading/hearing about the election either. I'm just eating it up. I hung up the newspaper in my office at work and drew hearts and stars all over Obama's face, so I am constantly smiling all day. The republicans in my office just don't talk about the election at all, but the rest of us are all happy/huggy/smiley. I kind of feel like a huge weight of fear for the future has lifted off of me. Pure relief and pride of living in this country. I called my senators and reps and requested tickets for the Inauguration!! I've been stalking Megabus' site, waiting for tickets to go onsale for Jan. 20 (and hopefully they will be the minimum $2.50 roundtrip price that they do!!) Don't know where I'm staying yet, but I don't even care!

Even though I have been blog-cationing, I have been eating some yummy food in the last week:


So I agree with Herbivore Creations, and this is THE BEST mac 'n cheeze ever. Like, no joke, serious. I made it last week and have occasionally daydreamed about it this past week.

I made some YUM pumpkin-chocolate-chip ice cream in my ice cream maker the other night. Super creamy, even though it doesn't look like it. I love the combo of pumpkin and chocolate. Super-Fall time. I actually ate a fair amount of the mix before it was put in the ice cream maker, as it tasted like pure pumpkin pie. I have to make a pie soon! I'll pick up some pumpkins at the market on saturday.


I made Kale Chips for the first time and they are surprisingly DELICIOUS. The BF devoured them, which was even more surprising. Super-easy too, in fact, I'll prolly make some more tonight for the weekend. Just mix some cut-up kale with some apple-cider vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper and then bake at 400 until crispy.

I love Sweet Potato Fries so so so much. Anytime I'm in a restaurant, I always default HAVE to order them. I made the VWAV version (that added cumin is ACE), and ate it with some garlic bread and a salad of pea shoots with raw veggies and sauteed tofu. mmmm