v-mo ’09: may quiche be with you

The title is a little much, I know, but this caramelized vidalia onion quiche from Vegan Brunch is so good I want the world to know; even if it takes a cheesy title to make people notice.

I’ll admit now though, I made the crust from Vegan Brunch without doing any research about it first.

The bad: there was a misprint in the crust recipe, which left me using A WHOLE LOT of earth balance. I’ve never made my own crust before however, so I assumed once I let the uncooked dough refrigerate for a while the gooey-ness would be taken care of.  I was wrong!

The bad/good: Again because I’d never made crust, I decided to use my hands instead of a pastry knife to mix, which inevitably lead me to add more flour, and again add more flour when I was rolling it out, so it baked up just fine.

The absolute good: the crust was so buttery and rich and flaky (and a bit crumbly) it couldn’t NOT have been delicious.

The picture below shows some fresh steamed broccoli alongside the quiche, perfect for cutting the richness. The cashews processed in with the tofu and onion made the perfect texture, and the cinnamon I substituted for the nutmeg (never been a nutmeg fan, really) complimented the sweetness of the onions beautifully. Next time I’ll add less cinnamon though, I kinda dumped a full teaspoon in by accident. Oops.

Just goes to show though, if you’re making something with ingredients you love, it’s hard to screw up.

a bit about me

This vegan questionnaire going around caught my eye today, so I’ve decided to hold off the next food porn until tomorrow. Check it, yo!

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
I know I’ve said this before, but Trader Joe’s refrigerated Vanilla Soymilk is the best EVER. Also Silk Chocolate is great when I’m craving dessert, but don’t want to bake.

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?
Definitely planning on chickpea quinoa pilaf from Veganomicon, some sort of Moroccan lentil stew (yay for fall weather!), and a fruit crumble.

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Kettle corn would have to be my favorite, but I guess that’s not a topping per say. Olive oil and garlic salt is pretty amazing if I’m feeling like a more savory snack.

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
I’ve messed up quite a lot, but never to completely disastrous results…except perhaps the other day when I made cornmeal-chili crusted baked tofu (again from Veganomicon) and forgot to spray oil on before baking. It was like I’d found triangles of tofu on the beach and decided it would be a good idea to eat them for dinner.

5. Favorite pickled item?
Clausson’s dill pickles cannot be beat, as much as I’ve searched for cheaper pickled cucumbers.

6. How do you organize your recipes?
Huh, organization? What’s that? I have a drawer full of paper and a shelf with cookbooks…

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
Garbage disposal for the most part. I wish I had a place to compost nearby!

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods…what would they be (don’t worry about how you’ll cook them)?
Lentils for sure, perfectly ripe nectarines…some sort of veggie like kale, collards or rapini, probably. Ask me tomorrow and I’m sure I’ll have a different answer.

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
There are so many! My mom is a great cook. I used to be a ballet dancer (until I was 14) and man could I EAT. I remember one night eating four baked potatoes without being full or gaining weight. Boy were those the good ol’ days.

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
I helped make the most amazing chocolate peanut butter soy ice cream once. I could LIVE on the stuff. If Double Rainbow made their chocolate peanut butter vegan, I would be in heaven.

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
I think the Kitchen Aid food processor wins over the mixer…it simplifies so many things!

12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Tarragon or cumin or curry powder or cinnamon…

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
Hmm…The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas, probably. The Semicircular Vegan got it for me before I became vegan, but it’s got ways to veganize everything in it!

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
There is a local jam company that makes AMAZING tart plum jam.

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
Hmm, possibly Tofu Marsala. It’s so elegant and delicious.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
Depends on how they’re prepared!

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
Brunch is a lot of fun on the weekends, but otherwise I’ll stick with dinner.

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
A super large roll of aluminum foil that won’t fit in the drawer and boxes of cereal. Used to keep wine up there, too, but since I moved recently and bought extra counter space (with shelves!) there is more room for that now.

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.
Trader Joe’s meatless meatballs, frozen artichokes, frozen mango.

20. What’s on your grocery list?
fFor now…soymilk, tofurkey, and whatever fruit and veggies are on sale.

21. Favorite grocery store?
Henry’s Market and Trader Joe’s probably…though I also love Whole Foods and Jimbo’s if I’m flush with CASH.

22. Name a recipe you’d love to veganize, but haven’t yet.
Fettuccine Alfredo. One of these days I’ll get the courage…

23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa’s because I know you check it everyday). Or maybe the top 3?

What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway – Amazing photography and really tasty recipes

Get Sconed – YUM

Vegan Dad – Fun and easy recipes, for the most part

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?
Trader Joe’s dark chocolate bars, plain and simple. Cheap and sooo good.

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?
Hmmm…I have really been cutting back on buying expensive things from the store, but I guess that big bag of raw cashews wasn’t exactly easy on the wallet.

26. Ingredients you are scared to work with?
I still haven’t made my own seitan, even though people keep telling me it’s easy. I crave setain cutlets though, so it will happen soon!