Vegan Mofo Day 5 - Waffles

Vegan Mofo Day 5 - Waffles

Does anyone talk about food as much as vegans? Does anyone anticipate food as much as vegans? I know there are a lot of foodies out there, but vegans are the only ones I know that constantly drool over future meals, tell others about meals or new food products like they are a hot new band, and talk about past and future meals while eating current meals. We get so excited! With good reason I think, because vegan food is amazing. 

Recently my friend Martha was in town for a few days. We headed up to Portland for brunch one morning at Off the Griddle. This is one of my favorite brunch places - I haven't eaten there for dinner yet. They have these awesome blue corn waffles. Their menu is mostly vegan and all vegetarian. 

Martha and I arrive about an hour after opening and to our horror there is a wait! Of course it's brunch and we should have expected that. I knew it would be worth the wait. So we found a shady spot to wait outside for about 30-40 minutes and finally get seated. I want to order everything on the menu!

Yep, just like that Ernie.

Then the most torturous part - waiting for your food. Every time waitstaff walks by you are looking at the plates wondering if it's your food! We joked about it being like insects with their feelers out. MMM, what are they eating over there? MMM, is that mine? I feel like Dan Pirarro needs to do a comic about this feeling. I cannot do it justice in text. But picture me wiggling my fingers below my chin like feelers or tentacles. Like Zoidberg from Futurama!

Finally when we are about to lose it and start eating other people's food or flipping tables over (just kidding!), our food arrives! Crisis averted! It wasn't that long of a wait, but we were just so excited. nomnom!

Martha's waffle - can't remember which one she got. 

Tempeh bacon

Pumpkin cheesecake waffle with hazelnuts

Housemade sausage

Tofu scramble

It was all amazing and as expected worth the wait! I always get the pumpkin cheesecake waffle. It's not overly sweet like you might expect. And the abundant hazelnuts really take it next level!

After brunch we rushed to Newberg to go to Wildwood Farm Sanctuary's Barnyard Bingo Fundraiser. I didn't take many pictures, but this was my second time at this fun event. The animals wander around while we play bingo and pretty much everyone wins! Especially the animals since it's a fundraiser for their upkeep!

V-Dog vegan dog food was there and I picked up a treat sampler and some snazzy bandanas for the girls! Don't they look stylish? 

Hazel says, 'where are my waffles?'

Plant powered Ellie!

Do you talk about food constantly? Do you describe other meals while eating a current meal? Or is it just me and my vegan friends? Do we have a problem? Is there a support group? If so, what are they serving at the meetings? :)

Vegan Mofo Day 4 - Watermelon

Vegan Mofo Day 4 - Watermelon

I love watermelon. No, really. I don't care if you think you love it or if you know someone you think loves it, no one can compete with my deep and abiding love for watermelon. My parents have this pic of me about age 2 sitting on top of a picnic table in Panama with my face full in a wedge of watermelon larger than my head. I have never looked back.

Even when I was 5 and I believed if you swallowed a watermelon seed that a watermelon would grow in your belly and take over,  I continued to eat as much of it as I could. I relished becoming an adult and buying as many as I wanted and...not always having to share! When I find a good one I will go back to that store and buy 2 or 3 more. I consider a full size seedless watermelon 2 servings. Pro tip - cut it in half and eat it with a grapefruit spoon. Trader Joe's often has the best price and they are usually good. 

This delicious fruit may even help you prevent muscle soreness from working out and could help one spice things up in the bedroom. Watermelon is a good source of Vitamin C and pre-Vitamin A. At a minimum it will get you hydrated - don't eat a lot of it too close to bedtime!

But even without any health benefits, it's delicious and I'm hanging onto the last vestiges of summer by indulging! I say indulging, but the following recipe is super healthy. 

Watermelon Gazpacho - the elixir of life!

This simple and tasty cold soup recipe was shared (I think) in Dr Fuhrman's newsletter several years ago. They served it at one of his retreats which I haven't been able to attend yet. The recipe suggests blending your watermelon and cucumber and then straining it. I hate straining, so I just use my juicer. The watermelon makes a bit of a mess, but I still think it's faster and easier. 

Watermelon Gazpacho

1 seedless watermelon, 1/2 cubed and 1/2 diced

5 cucumbers, 3 chopped, 2 diced

3 limes, juiced and zested

1/2 bunch mint, finely chopped

Instructions:

Puree cubed watermelon and chopped cucumbers in a blender. You will need to work in batches. Strain juice and allow it to chill at least one hour. Add diced watermelon and cucumber to the juice along with lime juice, zest and mint.

I have regular and chocolate mint growing right now. Hmmm, would chocolate mint work or destroy this? 

And now I'm really going to blow your mind. Take a bunch of watermelon and cut it into large chunks. Put it in freezer safe containers in 2 cup amounts and put it in the back of your freezer. Do your best to forget it is there. 

Then when you are in the midst of winter despair, come upon said watermelon and make a watermelon frosty! It may just help you survive until Spring! I got this recipe from a now defunct blog so I can't credit it. Note - I use just a dash of maple syrup or none. The fruit is already so sweet!

Lime Watermelon Frosty

2 cups frozen watermelon

1 large ripe banana

2 Tbsp agave syrup (or maple syrup)

4 Tbsp lime juice (about 2 limes)

1/2 tsp lime zest

1/2 cup+ water as needed to get blender moving

optional: a few dashes of cayenne for a spicy sip

optional: a few ice cubes for an extra frosty sip – perhaps even coconut water ice cubes

Blend. Serve!

Diesel, resident of Wildwood Farm Sanctuary, says he doesn't trust people who don't like watermelon. 

I know it's after Labor Day, but how are you holding onto summer? Any foods that keep summer's spirit alive a little longer?