the problem with pasta salad......

Raglands' pasta salad is total shit, seriously, it's sweet like that awful canned 3 bean salad that they serve at camp (or in prison). and it's $4! wtf.

The fox pasta salad isn't the worst, but it's incredibly bland.

San marco grilles is pretty good, big shells, crunchy raw veggies, and best of all, it's salsa based, and super cheap ($1.50). But there has GOT to be something better.

I'm going to explore this more. who else serves pasta salad? is it vegan?

oh my face is red....heeheee

but it was nice to catch up with jenny. for those who didn't know, i got the party date wrong and showed up on the farm with 3 trays of brownies. which we washed down with cans of busch. infront of the bonfire. hahaha. good times well, i wasn't really satisfied with those 3 so i'm trying a new recipe to bring to the party tonight!!!!

the kahlua & pb- too sweet too gooey. flat.
the tofutti cream cheese brownies- yummy but more cakey than brownie-y
the blondies-great texture! but blond sooo they don't really count.

the ones that are in the oven now are vegan caramel walnut! i suppose that you could call them "turtle" brownies.

here's the vegan caramel recipe (i swirled it into the batter before baking):
1 cup whipped earth balance
2 cups sugar
2 cups soy milk
1 cup light corn syrup
1 t vanilla


Directions
Grease and line with parchment a 8 inch x 8 inch baking pan.
Place all ingredients (except vanilla) in a large saucepan (4qt minimum capacity.)
Bring ingredients to a boil stirring often.
Cook over medium heat while stirring until candy reaches 245 degrees F.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into lined baking pan.
Allow to cool completely. Snip into pieces using clean kitchen shears (or slice with a knife). Wrap individually with waxed or parchment paper. Makes ~100 pieces
Variation: Cook to 230 degrees F and add vanilla. Pour into a glass jar. Warm jar in a pan of hot water before pouring over ice cream or cake.

make sure that you have a candy thermometer! I burnt this twice before getting it right!

wish me luck!

<3

Brownie business!

This is very important. I've been tapped to create the most delicious brownies on earth. I'll post the recipe details and results after tonight! ack!

here's the scoop (an email challenge/ invite from my pal Jenny):
Dear Anna, Amy, Dylan/Andrea, Joe/Sarah, Steve, Victoria, Mommy, Evelyne, and Lowrie,

YOU are the ones I have chosen. Join me in my last activist act in Actionville, the noble quest to unseat the Ghirardelli Brownie as best ever. Hey, it may not be Carbon Crusading, but it's going to be a heck of a lot tastier.

Mom, that recipe on the faded notecard in the kitchen, that's a winner for sure. Amy, I know you've got some vegan magical powers in the chocolate realm. You too, Lowrie. And Evelyne...if you can't beat a boxed brownie mix I honestly think I'll have to stop believing in food.

Attached is an image of the enemy. Do not fear. We shall win this fight against the insidious tastiness of foods that come from boxes...I believe in you!

:)

Jenny

Hey Jenny! I'm up to the challenge! I've once again create 3 different versions....this time of delicious vegan brownies:

1. Vegan gooey fudgy peanut butter and Kahlua brownies (say what?!)

2. Vegan cream cheese swirl brownies (better than your moms! maybe)

3. Vegan chocolate chip blondies (daaaaang!)

Can't wait to try everyone else's at the bonfire tonight. I hope you brought your A game!

<3 Amy

restaurant reviews coming soon!

I've been eating out quite a bit lately, and whilst most restaurants worth reviewing are out of town- there's a small handful of under appreciated vegetarian friendly options right here in Jacksontucky.
Today I'm at panera(not delicious)....stealing their interweb connection. black bean soup, an apple, and a cup of joe. So, yeah......the apple is ok. I guess.

expect more sincere reviews later on this week, I gotta go!

My Dad is rad

Pops donated his dehydrator to the cause so Raw FLAX crackers are back on!
It's so much nicer than my previous one, anyone want to come over and create some new recipes with me?

Sidewalk Cafe!

Things are coming along great, Thanks for all of the support guys! Planning a grand opening in a few weeks- Stay Tuned!



In other news, wow! the flax crackers are popular- so much so that my dehydrator has gone caput from over use! I'm in the market for a new heavy duty (and much larger) one. So for now these are off the market- sorry! I'll post as soon as I have it!

experiment update/ exciting news!

welp, all 3 were loved, it was a draw. so I'm going the economic route and using the least expensive for the menu item, but fret not Jacksonvillians! I'll now be offering delicious vegan treats to order- in bulk!

Per Joey's request!

I will now be offering made to order takeaway foods!

quarts of :
tempeh salad
faux egg salad
faux chicken salad
black bean salad
hummus
and ofcourse, guacamole

AND my homemade raw flax crackers (they're so good the Folio gave me a 'bouquet' for them) go great with all of the above.

also, I've made cakes to order for some of you already, I'll still be doing that with the 3 layer chocolate ganache cake (most popular) and the carrotcake w/ pumpkin cream cheeze frosting, I'm going to add chocolate chip(the best ever!) and oatmeal cookies to that list as well.

ofcourse it's ALL vegan, and I'll be using local organic produce as much as possible- because of this prices may fluctuate somewhat but Its always going to be a FAIR price $$$ less than the markets around town *ahem native sun*

call or email me to place an order!

AmyGuacamole@gmail.com
(904) 887-7757