Crack of Noon Test Kitchen & Eggplant No- Noodle Lasagna

Peanut Butter Waffles, a Crack of Noon test recipe, with tempeh bacon.

The whole gang. Ready to be toasted for meals in the future.

You see this sad looking eggplant below, that was 1/2 off at the coop? It became dinner.

I was inspired to make this eggplant-as-noodles lasagna. It has tofu almond ricotta, basil marinara, kale, fresh basil and some teese on top, what the hell. I’d never done a noode-less lasagna before and the experiment was exciting.

I made a small one, in a loaf pan, with circular cuts of eggplant for easy slicing.
Here it is pre-baked.

Cooling for consumption.

Sliced! Not the prettiest thing, but it was sure delicious. Even the anti-eggplant person in the apartment enjoyed it.

Tempt-ing

The folks at Try Vegan Week gave us Portlanders our first taste of Temptation Vegan Ice Cream this weekend at Vegfest. It was sold as a fundraiser for the informational week.

Ridiculously, on my way to the opening events, I crashed my bike and scraped up my right knee pretty badly. I now have some tough wounds and a story.

When I finally got Vegfest, I sat down with this waffle cone and felt better! Sure I was breaking out of the ‘healthier’ eating I’ve been doing lately, but for new vegan ice cream being sold for non-profit reasons? Yes, yes, yes.

My waffle cone was filled with cookie dough and mint chocolate chip. I also had some cookie dough and tried new flavors at the actual Vegfest. I only had a bite, but the Fair Trade Coffee was by far my favorite.
I would flat out call Temptation more gelato-like than ice cream, honestly, but it’s still delectable and sweet. I really like gelato! It’s creamy and icy.
I read on Food Fight!’s blog this morning that the leftover ice cream will be sold at Papa G’s soon! Nice.

Vegfest this weekend & Grocery Outlet in town

My office is closing early today, and I’m looking forward to a very-vegan weekend.
The Portland Vegfest starts tonight, with a talk from Howard Lyman, the actual festival is tomorrow at Benson High School, and on Sunday Webly and I are recording another podcast with the Veganshizzle about the festivities. Here is a $1 off coupon on admission!

If you’re coming to Vegfest, be sure to check out the Try Vegan Week table, where they’re selling Temptation Ice Cream, in it’s Portland debut, as a fundraiser.

Hopefully I’ll have a bit of time left for relaxing like Zelda here..

And as to what I’ve been creating and will be creating, the newest vegetable addition in my kitchen is this January cabbage I picked up from the People’s Coop farmer’s market.

I used some of the cabbage in a recent almost no oil fried rice concoction - with leftover baked
Pomegranate Teriyaki tofu, cashews and more veggies. I already baked the tofu as slices, and cut into strips, baked again 10 minutes or so, and threw it into my concoction -
I loved how it looked!

Just some tempeh taco crumbles. I missed tempeh lately.

Pre-bake shot of the Sundried tomato and roasted garlic (gluten free) stuffed mushrooms I took to the farm sanctuary work party picnic last weekend.

Hey Portland, if you haven’t heard - Grocery Outlet is now open in Hollywood, where the
Value Village used to be.

I was surprised by the lack of fun vegan items, but have hope for the future.

I picked up these random items: Reese’s Puffs (for Tommy, as funny gift, and he had a bowl for dinner), Sicilian red wine, Horse Shampoo (I used to use this stuff when I was little, and it’s animal free), organic deodorant, Queen Helene Apricot facial scrub (I like this alot), soap and Jason toothpaste.

Potato Champion!

Portland is now home to yet another piece of awesomeness - Potato Champion, a Belgian Frites late night food cart.

I’m saving most of my thoughts for the upcoming Stumptown Vegans review, but suffice to say, their fries are really good! I’ve only been once so far, and I thought I was going to be disappointed, and I absolutely was not. And this is coming from a girl who not only loves fries, but ate a hell of a lot of fantastic frites while studying in the Netherlands near the border of Belgium back in college. Kasteel Well, represent!

Thomas and I shared a cone with Rosemary Truffle Ketchup and regular ketchup.

Vegan poutine and mayo dips are apparently in the works!

And some recent meals with little to no oil! The fries are quite an indulgence, people!

Lunch at work - Pomegrante Teriyaki baked tofu, barely steamed asparagus and shredded carrots and salad greens with seasoned rice vinegar.

Dinner last night -

Stir fry toss with portabella, kale raab, sundried tomatoes, roasted garlic, garlic and asparagus. Sprinkled with sea salt and pepper. My breath was wonderful.

Happy Farm Animals!

I went to a work party at the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary this past weekend. I helped clean out chicken coops and met a ton of happy farm animals! I recommend this experience to anyone willing to get a little dirty, because it was worth it and I daresay I would have spent all day there.

To meet a pig and cow who will never become someone’s dinner is a beautiful thing. I’m relieved and proud that I discovered the disconnect of animals as food as a young vegetarian, and know people will continue to do so.

Here are some photos from the day..

I think this was Summer, the goat. There was also a Spring..

This chicky had a similar coat to many local cats, colorwise, that I’ve seen in SE Portland.

I think this is Spring, the goat. Spring and Summer were rescued from a property with a meth lab. What the hell.

Michelle and her goat friend.

Giant cow and pig!

Resting.

Another awesome bird.

Showdown.

No pressure for these guys.

No one tells you that peaceful doves have a terrifying laugh. Until now.

Hanging out.

Afterwards we had a potluck lunch. Delicious!

They didn’t bring any food so they had to eat grass…

Bye goaty!

Lastly, Luke the pig. Soooooo cute.