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Orange Grapefruit Sorbet

April 3, 2013 by erinnichole13

So, what has happened since I left you at St. Patrick’s Day? Um…

I didn’t die, yeah! But I was insanely sick for about a week. Hence the lack of posts.

Girls had its season finale. Thoughts? I love/hated it. Half of me is like, ‘Aww, Adam!’ because what girl doesn’t want some guy to come and rescue her? Like even just a tiny bit? Come on…you so do! Even if he’s as creepy as Adam. Because nothing says ‘I Love You’ like your ex dumping that prissy new girlfriend of his and sweeping you off your feet…even though it looks like you haven’t showered in a month…and you have a crusty raptured ear drum…and you’ve been wearing that oversized t-sirt and no pants forever…yeah, that storyline was clearly written by a girl. BUT, the other half of me is like, “really, Hannah? Get off your butt and get your crap together. You don’t need a guy!” So yeah, I’m clearly bi-polar on the whole thing. Share your thoughts.

Speaking of season finales, Taylor Swift is set to guest star on New Girl during the season finale. I’m about to explode from excitement! It’s my two biggest girl crushes on one show. Yes. Please!

I got instagram from my phone. I am now addicted. It’s like facebook but better cause you get pictures! I know I’m like 2 years behind on this trend…

I also got Spotify Premium. Best $10 a month purchase ever. I had to get rid of Netflix but being able to listen to any album, ever, anytime I want on my phone is way better then getting a random DVD, forgetting I got a random DVD and then paying $9 a month for 3 months for one DVD that you end up watching and hating. Truth.

What else? Easter happened. I didn’t give you one single Easter recipe. Why you ask? Because Easter usually ain’t my thing. I dont love pastel colors, and jelly beans and scary giant bunny suits. Also, mom cut me off from getting an Easter basket this year. I mean, I’m only 27! Whatevs. I did end up making the worlds cutest baskets though for some friends with homemade goodies. I will share that with you later this week…mostly so I have another chance to lament on how I didn’t get an easter basket this year! Whatevs.

Here is something that has nothing to do with Girls or Spotify or Easter, though. Its Orange Grapefruit Orange Sorbet and it’s so good you’ll want to cry.

Orange Grapefruit Sorbet
modified slightly from How Sweet Eats

4 1/2 cups of fresh squeezed grapefruit (if you can find 100% all natural grapefruit juice, no sugar-added, that is an option)
1 cup of fresh squeeze orange juice (again, all-natural juice can be used)
1 1/2 cup vegan cane sugar

Combine 1 cup of grapefruit juice and all of the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until sugar dissolves, cooking for about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and pour in a large bowl, mixing it with the remaining grapefruit and orange juice. Refrigerate for 25 minutes, or until chilled.

Once chilled, pour the mixture in your ice cream maker and churn according to the directions. I used my mom’s KitchenAid attachment and churned it for 25 minutes. After churning, pour in a container and freeze for 6-8 hours until frozen.

It’s no secret Jessica is one of my favorite bloggers. It’s also no secret that my most favoritest non-vegan treat ever, which I always end up cheating on my vegan diet with, is ice cream. So when I saw that Jessica posted a vegan-friendly frozen treat that could help me break my scandalous affair with ice cream, I died of excitement…and then I waited two months to make it. Fail. Don’t wait two months to make this! This is the best sorbet I’ve had. It’s refreshing and a perfect balance of tart and sweet. And Delicious! I’m telling you, don’t wait to make this!

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Thin Mint Donuts

March 15, 2013 by erinnichole13

I lied my face of when I said I wasn’t doing another Friday Favorites. As I sit here, contemplating how I could possibly top the brilliance of my Veronica Mar’s post, I realized, Oh wait, I don’t have to! I’ll just throw together all my favorites from the week and have that entertain you! Because really, the only thing that is more awesome then me rambling on about the pope, V-Mars and (more) St. Patty’s Day recipes, is Justin Timberlake…dressed as tofu!

Justin Timberlake’s SNL performance, which every vegan blog has posted this week. I don’t care. It’s brilliant!

Chocolove Chocolate bars- namely dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt or dark chocolate coffee. I’ve pretty much given up all desserts since Rachel and I entered this Team Lean Challenge…except this chocolate. It gets me through man…it gets me through…

The Top 16 White People Song Lyrics Statuses and Tweets of All Time by Matt, aka Goose. I went to high school with this kid and have seen him exactly zero times since we graduated but I’m wishing that that wasn’t the case after reading this. It’s hysterical in a ‘oh-crap-I’m-totally-F*ing-guilty-of-this’ sort of way. If you are 20-something-ish or younger and have ever posted lyrics in your AIM away message/Myspace Profile/Facebook status, and your white, you’ve probably posted one of these lyrics. Or if you’re me, 6.5 of them (not that Zac Brown song but definitely two others…crap). I’m apparently super white. Just read it.

from Matt’s blog, The Goosefiles

I can’t NOT post my favorite Dropkick Murphy’s song, Wicked Sensitive Crew, 2 days before St. Patrick’s Day,. “…And we sure ain’t vegan!” It’s ok guys. I still love you.

and last but not least, Sunday brunch with friends! These donuts were made for the ‘donuts and carbs’ brunch we had a few weekends ago. That theme wasn’t intentional but no one cared. The food was excellent.

Are you even seeing all the donuts on that table?! This was my contribution to the brunch:

Thin Mint Donuts

from Cheeky Kitchen;

For the Donuts:

1 cup garbanzo beans
1/2 cup almond milk
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon Earth Balance ‘butter’, melted
1 cup vegan chocolate chips, melted
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

For the Glaze:

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, melted
2 tablespoons Earth Balanc, melted
1 tablespoon almond milk
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
1/8 tsp of peppermint extract (or more to taste)

In a blender, combine garbanzo beans, almond milk, baking powder, vanilla, white vinegar, salt, sugar, and melted butter. Blend until pureed. Transfer to a large bowl and blend with the melted chocolate chips and flour. Transfer to a large zip-top bag and allow the dough to sit for about 5-10 minutes before snipping the corner of the bag, and piping into donut pans that have been generously sprayed with nonstick baking spray. Be gentle. This is a thick, sticky dough and I definitely popped my the ziploc bag I was using. Trust me, you do not want to have to spoon this dough in. I made such a mess!

Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes, or just until the donuts set. Remove and cool for 3-5 minutes before turning your donuts onto a cooling rack.

For the Glaze:

Melt everything in a double boiler and frost the donuts!

Two weekends ago, before donut baking, I would have bet you a million dollars I had two, large, regular donut bans. I would have lost. Apparently, I only own heart shape pans. Nothing screams St. Patty’s day like heart donuts? Just roll with it…

Ok, I think this may be my last St. Patty’s Day post. I was hoping to post one more dessert recipe tomorrow (guinness truffles? Carbomb cupcakes?) but I’m not sure if I will get the chance. Double check on Saturday just in case. If you are celebrating all things irish this weekend, be safe! Don’t drink and drive! That’s illegal. Don’t wander around completely drunk! That’s dangerous. Don’t urinate in public. That’s also illegal, I hear. Don’t drunk text exes! That’s also dangerous…and dumb. Be smart. And may the luck of the irish be with you!

Posted in Life, Recipes | Tagged chocolate, donuts, Friday Favorites, mint, St. Patrick's Day | Leave a Comment »

I’m not done yet…

March 15, 2013 by erinnichole13

…but I may have spent my evening hunkered down in JP Lick’s sipping mocha lattes, eating ice cream, and watching The Vow. Then, I spent a solid 2 hours chatting it up with a friend instead of editing photos (I use the term loosely) and writing up a post.

Check back in at 5 and I will send you into the weekend with a donut recipe! YUM!

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Thin Mint Protein Smoothie

March 14, 2013 by erinnichole13

Serious news is going down, people. This has nothing to do with Veganism, St. Patrick’s Day or food BUT it does have to do with some serious awesomeness, which is pretty much the corner stone of Wicked Vegan. Awesomeness with a side of food.

It has nothing to do with a new Pope because let’s be serious. Yeah, smoke signals are cool and all but the whole electing the Pope thing was way more interesting when Dan Brown told it. Where’s the exploding helicopters, the murder, the car chases? The art history lessons about Bernini which I totally nerded out about? No? None of it? Bah! Definitely not awesome.

It also has nothing to do with the fact that those backstabbing traitors known as The Patriots let my beloved Welker walk away. That is not awesome at all! In fact, where just not going to talk about it…

Nope, this is bigger. Ok. Deep breath. After YEARS of speculation…

…there is going to be a Veronica Mars movie.

I KNOW! I’m so excited!!

What? Were you expecting something else? I mean, weren’t you texting your equally excited friend for like, 2 hours counting down the Kick Starter bids to $2 million (seriously, watch the video on that site. It’s frickin’ hysterical!), stalking Kristen Bell and Rob Thomas’s twitters for the latest updates and rewatching your favorite Kristen Bell and Veronica Mars videos?

No? Oh, ok. Um, neither was I. I was totally working on this super yummy protein shake for you… Clearly.

Chocolate Mint Protein Smoothie aka Thin Mint Smoothie
from Rabbit Food for My Bunny Teeth

1 cup frozen spinach (or 2 cups fresh)
1 cup almond milk
2 scoops vegan chocolate protein powder (I used vega protein powder which I talked about here. You can buy individual serving sizes. I found mine at Whole Foods)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/8 tsp peppermint extract

Toppings:
1 Tbsp walnuts
1 Tbsp 70% dark chocolate chips

Combine the almond milk, spinach, protein powder, rolled oats, and peppermint extract in a high powered blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a glass and top with walnuts and chocolate chips.

It’s not exactly Irish but it is green. And it will taste great when you go to hot yoga at 9am on St. Patty’s day after lord-only-knows what sort of debauchery went down the night before. (yeap, that’s my plan!)

I’m really sorry this post was long and rambly. I average 1-2 post a week and this is my third with another one coming tomorrow. My life is clearly not interesting enough to fill 4 posts a week!

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Beer Bread- 2 ways

March 13, 2013 by erinnichole13

Guinness bread

So…This daylight savings thing is kicking my butt in the worst way! Let’s just say that according to my stove clock, I was TOTALLY on time for work today. I think Arizona was right to boycott this non-sense.

Pumpkinhead Beer Bread

With that said, let’s keep this short and sweet, shall we?

I whipped up this beer bread to go along with the Guinness stew I gave you yesterday. It’s SUPER easy and a thousand times better then Soda Bread, which usually comes with raisins. And you know I don’t do raisin. Plus it has booze!

Bread -raisins+booze=St. Patrick’s Day Awesomeness!

(this math problem is brought to you by an English/Art major.)

So the first recipe I’m giving you I made with Shipyard Pumpkinhead. ummmm, yeah. I still have some leftover from Halloween. I’m hoarding it and drinking like, 1 a month to hold me over until October when it’s released again. Or, let’s be real, August, since halloween/fall crap is pulled out in the summer now.

Pumpkinhead Beer Bread

Beer Bread:
via Rachel Robin’s Nest

3 cups flour
1tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
12 oz (1.5 cups) beer

Combine all ingredients and put into a well-greased bread pan. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

That’s it! Crazy, right? No rising, no kneading, no nothin’!

ok, now the second one is for Guinness. You can definitely use Guinness in the recipe above. Rachel said it comes out delicious but I was thinking brown sugar might be tastier with the Guinness. So I gave this recipe a try:

Guinness Beer Bread

via The Black Peppercorn

3 cups flour
½ tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
⅓ cup oats
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
12 oz Guinness (Guinness Extra Stout is supposedly vegan according to Barnivore)
1 tbsp oats
1 tbsp butter (Earth Balance)

Preheat oven at 350F
Grease a loaf pan with the 1 tbsp butter.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, ⅓ cup oats and brown sugar.
Slowly beat in the Guinness into the dry ingredients using a wooden spoon or an electric mixer on the low setting. Do not over mix the batter, but make sure that it is not too lumpy.
Pour the batter in the greased loaf pan and sprinkle the 1 tbsp of oats on top ( I totally forgot this step because I was all, COOK FAST SO I CAN EAT YOU!)
Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted, comes out clean. Check at 45 minutes just in case the bread is done early.
Place on a cooling rack until at room temperature.

Mine took longer to cook, about 60 minutes.

Guinness Beer Bread

Both of these are delicious, though I think my favorite is the first recipe. This could just be because I adore Pumpkinhead beer above all others, including Guinness. The Pumpkinhead is sweeter so it just makes a super yummy bread. BUT, experiment with your own breads and let me know what beers work.

Guinness Beer Bread

Would you believe I have TWO more, maybe even three, St. Patrick’s Day-themed recipes for you guys?? I’m am all over this holiday!

PS. I’ve had a few requests for an easier search engine for recipes. I’m looking into adding a Recipage tab, which would help organize things a bit. Stay tuned and if you see some weird, pseudo-complete changes going on, hold tight. It means better things are coming =)

Posted in Recipage | Tagged beer, booze, bread, Guinness, St. Patrick's Day | Leave a Comment »

Vegan Guinness Stew

March 12, 2013 by erinnichole13

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. Tis the season to eat all the irish food we avoid the rest of the year (cause seriously? the irish just dont have the best food), celebrate our 1/64th bit of irish blood and drink copious amounts of beer until we pass out. Oh, St. Patty’s really brings out the best in people!

With that said, I’m totally jumping on that bandwagon and partaking in all the above. Except maybe the drinking copious amounts of beer. Because holding my liquor is not a trait I inherited from my irish ancestors. Lightweights Representin’!

Anyway, here are a few St. Patty’s day recipes from last year: Irish Cream, Corned Beef and guinness-glazed potatoes. I think I am most looking forward to sauteing up those guinness-glazed potatoes. SO yummy. And here are some recipes that may not be typical St. Patty’s day grub but they fit the theme: green monster smoothy, for a nutritional, green, kick to your morning; spinach artichoke dip, a green appetizer for a more casual get together; vegan irish stew, which I totally forgot I had on the blog!; and how about one more? Beer fries.

Annnd, here is a new one!

Vegan Guinness Stew
from The Curvy Carrot
6ish large servings

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 large onions, peeled and chopped
6 small celery stalks, chopped into bite-sized pieces
16 ounces (1 lb) button mushrooms, cleaned, de-stemmed, and sliced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
One 11.2-ounce bottle of Guinness Stout*
4-5 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
3 lb (about 3-4 large) Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 cups of Vegetable Stock
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt

*according to Barnivore, Guinness extra stout from North America is vegan.

1. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat until shimmering.

2. Add the onion, celery, and about 1/4 of the mushrooms, stirring frequently until softened, about 10 minutes.

3. Add the flour to the mixture and stir to coat and cook for another 2 minutes.

4. Carefully pour the bottle of Guinness over the mixture, and stir to scrape up any browned bits.

5. Add the remaining vegetables and ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil.

6. Decrease the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 45 minutes.

This is super hearty and is perfect served with a thick, warm slice of beer bread. Beer bread you say? Well…you’ll just have to come back tomorrow and get that recipe!

Posted in Recipes | Tagged booze, Guinness, soup, St. Patrick's Day, St. Patty's Day, stew | Leave a Comment »

Friday Favorites and Lemon-Lime Margarita

March 8, 2013 by erinnichole13

Let me preface this by saying, I know ALL the best blogs are doing Friday Favorites and Product reviews. I didn’t mean to jump on that bandwagon but I started to post my love for Ed Sheeran and it just kept going! So, here are some things I’m loving on right now. I probably won’t do this again:

1. This video. Seriously, can Ed Sheeran do anything wrong? I’m in love.

2. Lush products. Some of their stuff can be pricey but a ton of it is vegan-friendly and most of their stuff is all-natural or close to it. I have far, far too much stuff from this store but my two favorites are : aqua marina face wash and the buffy bar. You can see the aqua marina below. It’s literally clay wrapped in seaweed. It works SO well, though. I actually ditched Proactive and started using that cleanser with the Tea Tree Toner and Grease lightening (both from Lush) and I like the results much better. As for the Buffy Bar- It exfoliates and moisturizes like nothing else and you can use it in the shower. I’m obsessed.

image from Lush.com. Links to products are listed above

3. Vega chocolate protein powder. I’ve been working out like a fiend lately and this stuff is great for a post-gym protein boost! It’s a protein powder that is plant-based and vegan-friendly. I have a recipe coming next week that includes this stuff and you’re going to love it! (hint hint go buy some hint hint)

I bought these little sample packs at whole foods

4. Candy crush. I’m so addicted. I’m not really a video/smart phone/computer game person. I peaked at Zelda back during the n64 days but i cant stop playing this! Currently, i’m totally stuck on level 33. Send help!

5. Veronica Mars. Sometimes, you just need some spunk and bad-ass attitude in your life and V. Mars delivers! “You under-counted the Sassy!”

6. Ugh, I’m sorry- One more song! She and Him’s new single “I never wanted your love”. I almost posted Carly Rae Jepson’s new single, Tonight I’m Getting Over You, buuuut I decided to spare you.

7. And last but not least, these margaritas. I call them ‘When Life Gives You Lemons’ margaritas. I feel like the past two months, life has been handing me lemons by the cart full. Make lemonade, you say? Please! I’ll add those lemons to tequila instead, thankyouverymuch.

“When Life Gives You Lemons” Margaritas
based off of the How Sweet Eats recipe for margaritas

2 ounces Grand Marnier
1 1/2 ounces tequila
2 ounces lime juice
2 1/2 ounces lemon simple syrup (recipe below)
sugar for the rim (optional)
lemon or lime slices (optional)

Add Grand Marnier, tequila, lime juice and lemon simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake until cold. Serve with sugar rim and lemon or lime slices

Lemon Simple Syrup
based off of Martha Stewart recipe

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
zest from 1 lemon* ( I used fresh meyers lemons. Regular lemons will work, too)
3/4 c. fresh lemon juice

Heat your sugar, water and lemon zest in a small sauce pan until sugar has dissolved. Let simmer for a minute or so to give the sugar water more time to become lemon-y. Remove from heat. Strain the sugar water through a fine sieve to get the lemon zest out. Set aside to cool. Once completely cool, stir in the lemon juice.

*If you don’t have a fine sieve for straining out the zest, you can simply peel the rinds into long strips. This will allow you to pull the rind out with just a fork or slotted spoon. I did this and it worked out fine.

This margarita is delicious. It’s super refreshing and putting the lemon in the simple syrup prevents the whole drink from getting too sour. I think it’s the perfect citrus margarita. If you want more lemon juice, replace the 2 oz of lime juice with 1 oz of lime and 1 oz of lemon. I liked the sweet rim with the sour lemon and lime but salt would work just as well if that’s your thing.

Hit me up with what your obsessed with right now and I’ll check it out. I hope everyone has a great weekend! I’ll be escaping the city life and city drama for a little road trip and mini-getaway

Posted in Life, Recipes | Tagged booze, Candy Crush, drinks, Ed Sheeran, Friday Favorite, Lemon, Lush, margarita, She and Him, Vega protein powder, Veronica Mars | 1 Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Orange Grapefruit Sorbet

Thin Mint Donuts

I’m not done yet…

Thin Mint Protein Smoothie

Beer Bread- 2 ways

Vegan Guinness Stew

Friday Favorites and Lemon-Lime Margarita

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