Vegan MoFo: A peak in my CSA box

Yup.  It's Monday, so it's time for a peak into my CSA box this week.

That's: six zucchini, three yellow squash, four green bell peppers, eight jalapenos, 14 plums (give or take), two delicata squash, one yellow onion, two apples, five tomatoes, two peaches, one head of cabbage, two green pears, eight bartlett pears, a few bunches of grapes, and a whole mess of fingerling potatoes.

So far, I'm thinking some sort of jalapeno poppers are in store for us this week (especially since we still have some peppers left over from last week), possibly a creamy pear/squash soup like this, sauerkraut (after Julian's successful attempt several weeks ago), and probably some pickled jalapenos, too.

Does anyone have a fantabulous zucchini bread recipe?  It's kinda the only way I like zucchini and I'm looking for the best recipe out there.

Oy.  We still have veggies to use up from last week, too!  So many veggies!

Vegan MoFo: Vietnamese fast food

Sometimes, as you're passing through a part of town you don't normally frequent, you serendipitous remember there's a great place to stop just around the corner.  Yesterday this was the case for me.  It had been a while since I visited Bui Natural Tofu, a great, authentic (if the Vietnamese customers are an indication) Vietnamese spot to pick up a whole bunch of good things.

On this particular occasion I decided to pick up:

A. Four freshly-prepared summer rolls with the lemongrass tofu that Bui makes from scratch and a sweet and spicy peanut sauce  (you can buy these at New Seasons, locally, but they're more expensive).  These rolls are so good.  I should have bought more.  I brought them home, ate two of them, and let the other three humans in the house share the remaining two rolls (after having a couple of bites from one).

B. One container of Bi Chay, which according to the internets can contain several ingredients.  I *think* this one had slivered tofu and potatoes, coated in a rice flour mixture, and fried.  I had the intention of rolling this up in some summer rolls, but ended up eating some of it out of the box with chopsticks.

C. And one container of coconut tapioca pudding with peanuts, mung beans, agar jelly things, and fungus.  I didn't care for the texture of the fungus with the other components, but otherwise this was tasty.

Now I'm thinking of errands I need to run in the general direction of Bui Natural Tofu.  My only concern is this: I need to research to find out if the soybeans are GMO-free.  Real bummer if not :(

Vegan MoFo: Mac n Cheesie

Well, I did it!   After a prompting from Amy's post, I made Kittee's Mac n Cheesie Southern Style from Papa Tofu Loves Ethiopian.  And it was good.  The only way I could keep us from gobbling it up immediately (and thereby not have any leftovers- a sin in my book), was to make a bunch of other accompanying dishes.  It worked!

We might not have a lot left, but two of us will get to enjoy leftovers!

This recipe was smokey and creamy and everything a mac and cheeze dish ought to be.  A winner!

I recommend buying a copy of Papa Tofu Loves Ethiopian.  Every dish I've made from the booklet has been super tasty and wonderful.

Vegan MoFo: Some good looking stuff!

Today's post is a little pictorial summary of a few of the Vegan MoFo posts that have caught my eye so far.  I've filed these recipes away to make, probably post-MoFo, but perhaps during!

Mama et de bebe hawk  made some beautiful pumpkin tamales.  I've never made tamales, but I sure do  love them, so I'm going to give this recipe a try!

Featured in an official Vegan MoFo Roundup, My Zoetrope's Sweet Potato Gnocchi dish looks yum yum yum.

Amy made a batch of Kittee's Mac and Cheezie over at TahiniToo.  How is it that I haven't made this dish yet?  This one is on my "to make this week" list.

Crispy Shitake Mushroom Bacon was sizzling over at Inspired Vegan Eats and hopefully will be sizzling in my house soon, too!

A creamy, thick mushroom soup in a bread bowl?  Oh yeah!  I saw this Vegan "Clam" Chowder over at Healthy Happy Life and I was kinda in love.

I'll end on a sweet note with another post from TahiniToo.  Just look at these Double Chocolate Crispy Treats!  I wish I could sink my teeth into one right now!

Is there another dish that I need to add to this list this MoFo season?  Tell me, tell me!

Vegan MoFo: The Heart Cart

There's a new food cart pod in town (and near my house!) and it's now home to the gluten-free and vegan Heart Cart.  And guess what?  Tommasina has hooked up PDX MoFoers!

During Vegan MoFo, bloggers can get 1/2 off on an entree.  See the details here.

Onto the food.  Matt, Julian, Tommasina, and I had dinner at the cart last week.  

Tommasina ordered the Autumn Spice Curry.

Julian got the Valenzuelan Scramble.

Matt ordered the Chimichuri Fury.

And saving the best for last, I got the Country Gravy Waffle with Kale.  This one was seriously good.  I think everyone voted it as their favorite.  The waffle was crispy with a fantastic flavor (I opted for the rosemary & garlic waffle base instead of plain) and the gravy was both a little zingy and earthy.  This was perhaps my first savory waffle and what's not to love about mushrooms and kale on a waffle?

Now go get some xgfx (as Kittee would say) waffles and save some mulah!

*Heads up- The pod is super sweet with lovely sofas and a great ambiance.  However, there's a bonfire going at night, so if your sensitive to smoke, be warned!

Vegan MoFo: Lunchin' it up

Tommasina and I tried a new-to-us restaurant today.  VegeThai in southeast Portland is a cute spot with very friendly staff.  Our lunches came with complimentary vegetable soup.  We ordered Thai iced teas, Tom Yum soup, green papaya salad, pad Thai, and a spicy tofu and basil dish.  VegeThai is, as the name suggests, an all-vegetarian restaurant, and they were knowledgeable about ingredients.  Virtues in a restaurant, me thinks.

Pad Thai is my favorite dish, and while this one was decent, I haven't given up my search for the best in Portland.  Overall, the dishes could have used more flavor, especially the papaya salad and the tofu basil.

The verdict: I'd go here again, especially for lunch since they have a punch card.  The dishes were affordable and, gosh darn it, I really like friendly staff!

Vegan MoFo: CSA box Monday

Today in my CSA box:

A bunch of jalapenos, six apples, two onions, six purple fingerling potatoes, two yellow squash, seven tomatoes, six peaches, one large cabbage, one acorn squash, one teeny white squash, two zucchinis, and two ears of corn.

I think the corn is going with tonight's chili.  Cabbage tomorrow, perhaps.