Gordon Ramsay - Baked alaska

I will need to make this one of these days. It looks purely magical.

Veggie Yakibuta Ramen

Veggie Yakibuta Ramen (Roasted Pork and Noodles)

Veggie Naruto Maki

I have always wanted to try Ramen but I never got the chance to. And as my vegetarianism progressed, that chance seemed even thinner than ever since the broth of Japanese Ramen is made from fish or pork bones. Lately, I've been watching a Youtube channel called 'Cooking with Dog' where you can learn how to make Japanese dishes in a light, simple and delicious manner. So on this channel I see a recipe for ramen which got me really excited. So I made a 'huge' decision- I was going to make vegetarian ramen. I got even more stoked when I was at my Vegetarian Warehouse and I found the vegetarian version of  'naruto maki' which is a processed fish roll that you slice and add to ramen (except the veggie ones were already sliced). I also came across vegetarian pork fillet at the supermarket. So my experience began.

Ball of Noodle Dough

 Since fresh ramen noodles are hard for me to find, I decided to make my own. I searched up a recipe for ramen noodles that seemed decent and decided to try it.
I would cut the the dough smaller next time though, since the dough expanded a bit when boiled. Recipe found here.





Ramen Soup

1 pot water

1 tbsp salt

1 yellow onion, roasted

1 cabbage cut in half
1 piece of kelp

¼ cup Kikkoman soy sauce

3 tbsp mirin

1 tbsp soybean paste

2 tsp vegetable granules or more to taste

2 tsp grounded black pepper

In a large pot, bring water and salt to a boil. Add in onion, cabbage and kelp and simmer for 30 minutes or until onion and cabbage are tender when pierced with a chopstick.

Add in remaining ingredients and stir, simmering on medium heat until serving.

Toppings

Blanched spinach

Fermented radish: sliced thinly

Sliced pickled ginger

Sliced green onion

Nori square

Naruto Maki

*Pork Slices: Rub some ginger onto half the protein and pan fry half of veggie pork fillet in a sauce pan. Slice into ¼ thin slices.

Vegetarian pork fillet

Soft boiled Eggs: boil eggs for 4 minutes and peel. Marinate in 1 cup cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin, 1 tsp whiskey or sake for 4 hours or overnight.  Slice in half with a string or thread.

Assembley

In a bowl, ladle with soup, add in cooked noodles and top with whatever toppings you want. Dash with some pepper and enjoy!!

*if you don't have or can't find pork slices, you can slice up firm tofu, brush with soy sauce and sugar, then pan fry the slices until golden brown. 

Wall of Vegetarians

The 14th Dalai Lama (1935-present)

 I was just browsing around the internet, researching up Sir Ian McKellen when I stumbled upon the fact that he is a vegetarian. So I decided to make a small tribute to all the self-proclaimed vegetarians from our past and present, no matter who they identified themselves as; gay, smart, evil or just plain talented. I know being a vegetarian may not seem like a big deal to some people but believe it or not, it becomes quite exhausting and life changing- especially when you are surrounded with family or friends who consume meat and/or have a hard time understanding vegetarianism. The following figures have their own personal reasons for being a vegetarian and I believe we must respect their choice and vegetarian lifestyle, no matter what their reputation was or is. (Note: Some of these figures may be very controversial and as much as I respect your opinion/views, I must ask that you do not comment with hate or 'bash' any of these figures. Thank-you)

Voltaire, philospoher (1694-1778)

Leonardo da Vinci  (1452-1519)(1452-04-15)

Albert Einstein, genius(1879-1955) (1879-03-14)

                         

Gandhi,spiritual leader (1869-1948) (1869-10-02)

Lord Byron, poet (1788-1824)(1788-01-22)

Adolf Hitler, dictator (1889-1945)

Shania Twain, singer(1965-present)(1965-08-2

Jim Carrey, actor (1962-present) (1962-01-17)

Sir Ian McKellen, actor (1939-present) (1939-05-25)

Portia de Rossi, actress(1973-present) (1973-01-31-presn-

Ellen DeGeneres (1958-present) (1958-01-26)

     

Tobey Maguire, actor (1975-present)(1975-06-27-present

Anne Hathaway (1982-present) (1982-11-12)

Mr. Fred Rogers, TV host (1928-2003)

k.d lang,singer(1961-present)(1961-11-02)

Paul McCartney, musician (1942-present) (1942-06-18)

Rob Zombie (1965-present)(1965-01-12-

k-os, singer (1972-present) (1972-02-20

Michael Jackson, King of Pop (1958-2009) (1958-08-29)

Vegetarian Dim Sum

From top left, clock wise: Shrimp Dumplings, Sticky Rice and Pork Dumplings

When I was still an omnivore, I LOVED Dim Sum. I was a Dim Sum psycho. For those who don't know what "Dim Sum" is, it is a way of eating originated in China, where small portions of dishes are pushed on trolleys to your table and you choose what you want to eat, while drinking tea and conversing with family or friends. The usual time for Dim Sum starts from early morning till a little pass noon, so basically brunch. In simpler terms, it's basically a Chinese buffet brunch that comes to your table. Dishes include steamed buns and dumplings as well as deep fried goodness. For more information visit Wikipedia for all your inquiries.

Shrimp Dumpling

So a couple days ago I went to my local Vegetarian Warehouse (where they sell pre-made veggie goodness and are frozen for your convenience) and found out that they had vegetarian dim sum. I was soooo stoked! They had veggie shrimp dumplings and pork dumplings as well as BBQ pork buns and sticky rice. Since being a vegetarian, it has been difficult to go and enjoy dim sum with my family because the choices for vegetarians are limited. I usually settle for onions cakes and desserts because most or all of the options include meat or seafood. So, after this discovery, I bought a package each of the dumplings and the sticky rice as a trial since I wasn't sure I'd like it. So, last night, for dinner, I steamed up these delectables and indulged myself.

Sticky Rice

Though the appearance of the food was satisfying, I wasn't completely satisfied with the way it tasted. The sticky rice filling was a tad bland. The shrimp dumpling did not have veggie shrimp and the pork dumplings only had turnips, carrots and mushrooms, lacking the protein. My over all disappointment was the fact that the aroma and taste of roasted sesame oil was no where to be found or hinted since it is the vital flavor enhancement in all dim sum dishes. I would probs rate this a 3/5 because of the good shrimp dumpling shell and the presentation, but other than that, they can improve on taste. I might have to make my own again....

Pork Dumplings

Apple Pies and Apple Muffins

Left to right, counter clock-wise: Apple Pie, Apple Streusel Pie and Apple Muffins

Happy September!!!
I have been in a baking mood lately, and since I still had sooo many apples on my apple trees, only one answer echoed in my mind: apple pie.  This famous, and irresistible pastry filled with warm, cinnamony sliced apples is love and comfort. The flaky crust is perfect and oh-so-easy to make; justifying the saying, "as easy as making pie." The filling was the same recipe that I used in my Pleasurably Blissful Cheescake recipe. I had left over filling and enough dough for one crust so I also made an Apple Streusel Pie.
Also, I still had many apples left, so I diced them up, candied them, and made muffins. I am such an apple freak lol.

Apple Pie

Oh-So-Easy Flaky Crust
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup butter
5 tbsp or more of cold water

In a food processor, pulse together flour and salt. Add in shortening and butter and pulse until flour and fat resemble course crumbs. Slowly add in water and pulse until mixture is moist enough to form a firm ball.
On a floured surface, remove dough, and knead once and divide into two balls, one being slightly smaller than the other.
With a floured rolling pin, roll the bigger circle onto the pin and lay onto a 9 inch pie pan.
Add in filling. Brush edges of pie crust with water or milk and drape other dough onto the pie, remember to add slits or cut out a small whole to let steam out. Or, you can also cut the top circle into strips and weave them onto the pie. Crimp edges and brush top with a mixture of milk and sugar or a beaten egg to form a nice wash (I sprinkled some brown sugar on mine).
Bake in an oven at 300 degrees Celsius for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes.
Serve with ice cream for extra indulgence!!

Process of Apple Pie