Happy Pi Day! Super easy vegan Key Lime Pie

So today is Pi day! Lets make a pie.
I choose a simple key lime recipe, you could make it today or you can wait and have some green pie on St Patty's day with your green beer!

You will need :
* 1 pkg Nasoya Silken Creations
     Vanilla
  #####Or####
* 2 packages Tofutti cream cheese#
* A graham cracker pie crust
* 2 tbsp cornstarch
* 2 tbsp hot water
* about 10 key limes ( the tiny ones)
* if you desire non dairy whip      
   topping for garnish
* green food color if desired

Ok lets preheat the oven to 375°

For the limes, I like to microwave them about 20 seconds each so they are easy to juice. Then I cut each of the limes in half and juice with a fork into a bowl.
## special note ..if you are using the cream cheese, add about two tbsp of sugar to the bowl your juicing into and mix it up before adding to your cream cheese.##
Take a small grater or zester and get some zest from a lime peel (about a teaspoon) and add to the juice.

In a separate bowl or cup, mix the cornstarch.
Now add the nasoya or tofutti into a large bowl, mix in key lime juice and cornstarch mixture. If you wish add a few drops of green food color! Stir until well blended.
Set your pie crust on a cookie sheet.
Pour mixture into the pie crust evenly. Bake for about 35 minutes.
Let pie cool then refrigerate a few hours  until cool and firm. Enjoy!

Shameless! The New Way to Hummus...Caprese Style

My new favorite show on tv is Shameless. Check it out on Showtime.you'll be addicted like me!  Here's a shameless snack I'm addicted to:
          Shameless Hummus
Looking for a good for you snack? One that's super fast, super delicious, and super easy? Tired of the same old hummus?

Ingredients:
One ripe tomato
A medium sized cucumber
Red wine vinager dressing
Fresh black pepper
Spinach and artichoke hummus

Peel..then slice cucumber into medium thick pieces and arrange on a plate.
Cut up your tomato into pieces or slice thin. Place tomato pieces into a bowl.
Add red wine vinager and oil  dressing into the bowl. Top with fresh ground black pepper to taste.
Mix and let sit for about 5 minutes..
Meanwhile spoon the hummus onto the cucumber slices (as little our as much as you like)
After 5 minutes top your cucumber hummus pieces with the chopped  tomato.
Enjoy shamelessly while watching Shameless on Showtime!
(damn they should pay me for my advertisement!)

Hot damn! It's veggie hot dog day!

Chicago: Home of the yours truly,die hard sports fans, amazing music, wind, the lake (michigan to all you non illinois dwellers) weather you love and love to hate, delicious pizza, and amazing hot dogs! Chicago style of course.... 
This is why I've set out to find the most amazing veggie dog.
Not just any veggie dog will do. It has to be perfect.

So off to the store I went,Dunkin coffee in hand..poppy seed buns- check! Mustard-check! Sweet Relish-check! Sport peppers-check! *Ketchup-check! (*so not chicago style :p)

The plan: cook up some dogs cut each in half and taste test :)

The results so far:

Yves good dog: 4.5 stars
It was quite good as far as taste and texture. My favorite so far! I boiled in water as directed then gave it a quick burn in the broiler. There is however something lacking in the taste department, it has a strange hint of nutmeg or other unnatural hotdog spice to it. All in all yum!

Tofu Pups: 4 stars

Gotta love the name! These "pups" were actually really ugly when I cooked them..ala school lunch hot dogs. The taste was very spot on and resembled an all beef oscar meyer type hotdog. Again I boiled as directed,  these hotdogs are chubbie puppies. They are a bit thicker then the yves brand.

Veggiepatch: 3 stars
There was one MAJOR turn off to these dogs. In the package (they come frozen) they look greenish. When you cook them (boiled in water) loads of green and yellow grease come off of them. They taste petty good but really don't have as good of a taste as the others.

Smart Dogs: 2 stars
If you like those gas station 2/99¢ dogs ...these are your dogs. (Flavor and texture cheapo all the way  )These are really not my favorite. They are mushy and have a smell to them. Id be willing to possibly try them again(perhaps I got a bad batch?)

That's all so far. It isn't bbq season yet and I don't think I can eat any more dogs today! More to come.

From PETA..with love....chocolate chili truffles

So I am default one for chocolate and I love spicy. PETA recently posted this recipe on twitter and I decided to share with you all . Hope you enjoy- I know I did!
1/2 lb. semisweet vegan chocolate finely chopped(i used dark)
1/3 cup soy creamer
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1 1/4 tsp. ancho chili powder, divided
2 Tbsp. vegan margarine, at room temperature(i used best life)
2 Tbsp. turbinado sugar (i like sugar in the raw)
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. sea salt
****quick note from me before you begin...butter and chocolate can burn and rate really bad and get chunky and nasty so please cook at medium and follow directions :)

Place the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute.
Stir and continue to heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more.
Meanwhile, bring the soy creamer, corn syrup, and 1/4 tsp. of the chili powder to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Gradually whisk the "cream" into the chocolate until smooth and shiny, then whisk in the margarine until very smooth. Cover the surface of the chocolate with plastic wrap.
Set aside in a cool spot until slightly firm, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, mix the turbinado sugar, the remaining 1 tsp. chili powder, the cinnamon, and the sea salt together and set aside.
Line a baking sheet very tightly with plastic wrap.
Pipe or spoon the truffle mixture onto the plastic wrap and sprinkle the tops with the sugar-chili mixture.
Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.

Enjoy:) and thanks for the recipe!

Summer BBQ Leah style!


That's right kids it summertime! And the grilling is easy! Follow these recipes for your next cook out!

Drunk Mushrooms

We all can get a little tired of boca burgers or the like, spice it up!

You will need

A good sized bowl, A GRILL, basting brush, knife, spoon and a pair of tongs

1cup tequila
1/3 cup melted margarine
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
6 cloves garlic sliced really thin,mashed,mushed,crushed,however you like!
5-6 portobella mushrooms

Here comes the fun!
prep your grill! Heat it up and oil it up ( spray before your flame!)

1)Mix the tequila,olive oil, lime juice, margarine,and garlic in a large dish. Let it stew for at least 15-20 minutes. Enjoy a margarita in the meantime!

2)Dip the mushrooms into the tequila mixture for about a minute, then throw them on grill.

3)Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, then turn and baste with more of the drunken marinade and cook for another 3 to 5.

Place on the bun of your choice, and top that baby!

From Jimmy Buffett himself:

How do I make the perfect margarita?

The Perfect Margarita
1) Fill shaker with broken cubed ice
2) Squeeze 2 fresh lime wedges into shaker
3) Add 2 oz. of Margaritaville Tequila Oro
4) Add 1/2 oz. Margaritaville Tequila Blanco
(for bite if you wish)
5) Add 1 1/4 oz. of Roses Lime Juice
6) Add 1/2 oz. of Bols Triple Sec
7) Add a splash of Bols Orange Curacao
8) Cover shaker & shake vigorously
9) Rim glass with lime peel and salt, add fresh ice
10) Strain mixture over ice
11) Squeeze in 1 lime wedge
12) Enjoy


I could not have said it better myself!

Grilled Super Corn

Now some of you prefer the time tested flavor of corn on the cob with butter and salt, go right on ahead....Not me. I love buying those yummy Mexican style corns from the push cart guys with everything cheese, mayo,chili pepper. SO GOOD! But that got me to thinking....I know it could b better!!!

You will need:

6-10 ears of sweet corn-silk removed but husk still intact ( if you live in the burbs of Chicago I HIGHLY suggest checking out the corn at Sunny Acres! mmmm)

Margarine or butter

Sea salt

Mayo, Veganaise, sour cream, flavored mayo, yogurt whatever!( miracle whip is nasty on this skip it)

Ground chipotle pepper or chili pepper is fine

Garlic powder

Chives chopped fine

Parmesan cheese (freshly grated please!)

lime wedges for that authentic street corn feel and flavor!

And anything else you think would taste amazing!


1)Butter each piece of corn and sprinkle with chipotle pepper and sea salt
fold back up those little husks (this locks in the juices and makes for perfect lightly charred never dry corn)

2) Cook on the grill on 15-20 minutes or until done.

3) Roll the corn in your choice of mayo or alternative and top with spices and cheese.

What did you add?


More to come later today! For now I'm off to work!
feel free to checkout the website I made for afrouz: www.thelatestlook.com not finished but its still awesome!

Garlicky (teehee) mashed potaters

Ok I've held you in suspense long enough! The perfect pairing for my veggie loaf. Real never dehydrated and instant (ie full of chemicals) yummy:
Garlicky (teehee) Mashed Potaters

You will need:
2 lbs potato of your choice
Organic if possible :)
6 cloves of peeled garlic
1 cup soy milk or regular
(For extra creamy you can take powdered non dairy creamer that isn't flavored and follow the directions to make liquid creamer)
2 tbs butter alternative (I like to use smart balance vegan)
1/4 cup chopped chives or green onion
Sea Salt and fresh pepper to taste

Fill a large pot with enough water to cover potatoes.

Peel (if desired) and cut potatoes into chunks and add potatoes and garlic cloves into the water to cook

When water begins to boil reduce heat and cover, cook about 25-35 minutes until potatoes are tender.

Drain potatoes and place in a large bowl (hot potato!! Be careful!)
Add the remaining ingredients and with and electric mixer or potato masher, mash em up until they reach your desired consistency...I hate lumpy potatoes but some people like that.
You may want to add in more milk or butter alternative if too potato-y for you liking!

Enjoy :)
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

"And I would do anything for love...." Veggie-Meatloaf

It's Veggie Meatloaf time!

As a meat eater for many years, I really had my fair share of meat-bricks topped with gravy or ketchup like sauce. I would like to share a story!

Growing up without air conditioning because your parents don't want to add to the collapse of the environment or their pocketbooks and "air conditioning is full of chemicals open a window and sit by the fan" rang true for many years, the long cooking stove made meals were reserved for winter. Meatloaf was a meal meant for winter time and would fill the house with a fragrance of herbs and spices and bell peppers, enough to make any one's mouth water.

When I became a vegetarian I soon found during the cold months that I longed for that fragrance of a brick shaped loaf of meat and the mashed potatoes and greens we ate with it! Enough was enough and I decided to make my own! To my surprise it was amazing! Even better than real meatloaf! You try!

Veggie Meatloaf

You will need:

*One Package of Veggie Crumbles (Boca or MorningStar) thawed
*2 cups italian style breadcrumbs
*1 package Meatloaf seasoning (one without dead animal flavor) read the label!!
or onion powder, garlic powder, sage, pepper, etc to taste
*1/2 cup egg substitute like flax or 1 cup instant potatoes and 1 cup water or if you must two eggs
* Chopped bell pepper (green pepper)
* Chopped onion (red or white)
* One tbs soy sauce
* One tbs hot pepper sauce (don't worry it wont be spicy)
* Salt and pepper to taste



Now the easy part! Throw all of those ingredients in a large bowl, and mix by hand! Its the only way to get it done right! It should feel wet but mold-able. Like real meatloaf! Only your hands wont be covered in fat haha!
Spray your loaf with nonstick spray and gently or violently depending in mood, squih that mix into the pan.

Cook for about 45-60 mins in the oven at 375 degrees until cooked through.

I like to serve it with mushrooms gravy and mashed potatoes with a side of spicy spinach!

Want those recipes? Read on!