Cultured cakes in a cup

Okay, it is more of a mug cake, but I'm a sucker for alliteration.  I stumbled upon a site, instructables.com, whilst looking for tips on making sourdough starter. It's crammed with DIY info on anything you could imagine and has heaps of vegan recipes. I found an interesting recipe for 5-minute chocolate cake which was later veganised in the comments section of the post. It didn't turn out exactly to plan, as I strayed slightly from the recipe, but it was edible nevertheless.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 squares of lindt 85% chocolate chopped up (original vegan version called for 2 tbs cocoa)
• 3 tablespoons soy milk
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
• dash of cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients together in a mug then add wet ingredients and mix into a cake batter consistency. Microwave for 3-4 minutes.

As you can see, my mug was a bit too big and I could have doubled the quantities. Also probably nuked it for too long and burnt the chocolate a bit.

Now to the eating. This was a little dry in parts but was cakey enough to rise above the standards I've randomly set for 5 minute cakes.  I didn't let it cool long enough so could have burnt my mouth if I didn't have a glass of soymilk on standby. Overall, this is an ideal item for anyone craving empty calories but is unwilling to go to the trouble of baking a proper cake.

Also, for those who were paying attention earlier, I've started growing a sourdough starter using the instructions from here. I'm using whole grain Atta flour that should hopefully have enough bacteria in it to get the job done and lead to loaf after loaf of deliciousness.

I'll update the progress whenever there is a significant change.

F'n'B 30th and LOTF

I checked out Edinburgh Gardens on Saturday for the  Food not Bombs' 30th birthday celebration and to enjoy some tasty vegan food. I didn't take any photos but there were some nice pumpkin pasties and a variety of rice and pumpkin based dishes and the obligatory green salad. I met up with Toby and Kristy of In the Mood for noodles fame and also briefly met Shawna of words@random.

Later in the day I met up with Toby and Kristy again at Northland LOTF and ordered the chicken burger and onion rings with vegan mayo.

The onion rings are a new menu item and GF. I'm not much of an onion ring connoisseur but these were good enough for me to quickly devour them with no thoughts for the consequences.

We also scored some free nuggets with Filipino banana tomato sauce. The only logical thing to do was put one in my burger.

A meal fit for a king

Wise men say, "Only fools rush in," but I couldn't help falling in love with the fool's gold loaf.

Legend has it that Elvis, while entertaining some Colorado police types at Graceland, had a craving for the famous sandwich and decided to take his private jet to Denver, where he was met at the hangar by the  restaurant owner and 22 loaves of the tasty sandwich. Three hours later the loaves were gone!

The most authentic recipe I could find required: 1 stick of butter, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 pound of bacon, 1 jar of grape jelly and 1 loaf of bread. This could all be easily veganised and the ingredients were readily availble, except for the grape jelly, which was a bit of a challenge. Regular supermarkets don't sell grape jam so I had to find a source for the most American of all fruit based spreads. My source was USA foods in Moorabbin, where I found a 2lb jar of Smucker's Concord grape jelly. I was now ready to begin.

Ingredients:

1 unsliced loaf of bread (La Panella)
Organic Mountain margarine (enough to cover loaf)
460gms of Redwoods fakin' bacon
450gms of Grape Jelly
1 jar of smooth peanut butter

Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Spread margarine over the loaf of bread and then put it in the oven for 15 minutes. While loaf is in the oven fry up the bacon.

Once loaf is done, and all the margarine has melted through, cut it in half lengthwise and hollow it out on both sides. Put the jar of peanut butter in one side and the jelly in the other. Pile the bacon onto the bottom half of the loaf and close it up.

Slice up and enjoy.

I overestimated the ability of the jelly to stay together and it just went everywhere. Wasn't thinking when I spread it on the top half.

Now to the eating. This is actually quite tasty. However, it is so sweet that you can only handle a little bit at a time. I only managed a slice and a half before I had to take a break for half an hour before having another go and only getting a few mouthfuls.

Estimated macronutrient breakdown: Protein >220gms, Carbohydrate >500gms, Fat >270gms
Total calories = >5040

High street, Preston & other adventures

I had a craving for oregano and vegetable Lebanese pizza today, so I hit the road and made my way to Tabet's bakery on High street for a pizza and a spinach pie, but I ate it before I thought to take a photo.

As I walked up high street, eating my pizza and pie, I spotted the India Xpress grocery store and made a mental note to check it out once I'd completed my first mini mission of the day: to obtain some awesome chocolates.

Bajadera are a hazelnut and almond chocolate made by Kraš, a Croatian company that also makes a few other vegan, but palm oil tainted, treats that are available in many supermarkets. However, I have only found Bajadera chocolates at the Zagreb Croatian Bookshop. If someone has seen them elsewhere, please let me know. These chocolates would be a sure winner with any omni, lacto-ovo vegetarian, or other violence based eaters, if only I were willing to share it with them.

First mission completed, I headed back to the Indian grocer and scanned the ingredients of various items to see if the almost ubiquitous dairy products were absent. Found some products, made by Haldiram's, that were vegan and looked tasty.

These spiced peanuts are protein packed, with over 35gm in a packet and will make a suitable snack at work tomorrow. They had a special going, 3 for $4.99, so I grabbed a few more tasty nuts while I was there.

It was time to head home, but I made a brief stopover at UCG wholesale foods on Bell Street. This is a great place for olive oil, tinned tomatoes, olives and the like. I even found almond cordial!, but I'm not sure of it's veganness. Was excited to find some palm oil free lemon wafers. These are made by the Austrian company, Manner, who also make an awesome marzipan chocolate bar which I can't find anymore.

Tabet's Bakery
355 High Street,
Preston

Zagreb Croatian Bookshop
309 High Street
Preston

India Xpress
343 High Street
Preston

UCG Wholesale foods
70 Bell Street
Preston