ponycakes - do not read. i need help from the vegans.
she knows what this thread is about but i need help because i am stupid.
i tried making this thread before but i had to delete it before she saw it so i didn't really get any responses.
i wanted to make her dinner since she's made me a lot of food. even though i am content with my ketchup+ramen meals.
so if any vegans can give me fancy recipes and very detailed instructions i would greatly appreciate it.
i am not vegan and i do not know anything about food. at all. i don't know if she's told you but i am food-illiterate.
so very detailed please.
thanks yous :)
also. ponycakes, you promised you would not read this. so stop reading this now if you are reading this.
p.s. - i heard that monte cristo is really good. if anything tops that let me know. spanks.
that's super nice of you to do! i don't know how advanced your cooking skills are so i'd keep things simple.. a nice pasta, or even lasagna is easy just time consuming. you know what she likes to eat probably more than we do since you guys eat together so much so i'd just peruse the recipe section and find something that seems do-able and tasty. start off with a nice spinach salad with some nuts, fruits, veggies and definitely make dessert! something simple like making chocolate chip cookies and having them with some of her favorite soy ice cream would be really thoughtfull.
(if i were you id check out the nondairy ice cream review thread and see what her reviews say she liked)
good luck and if you have any specific questions once you pick a recipe - ask!
*cue cali to now list off the most amazing menu ever.........................................................................now!*
Oh gosh, yes, very good suggestions from propinecone. I like the idea of having the dessert planned, even it's as simple as cookies and/or ice cream. That will show that you thought about the details. And now cue Cali to tie it all together with the most genius menu you could ever imagine. ;)b
I pretty much love you and ponycakes. heart heart heart. That's all I wanted to say.
:)>>>
That is all.
I think the consideration is that 1) you're on a student budget (right?), 2) you likely don't have a lot of vegan or other ingredients like nutritional yeast around your kitchen, and 3) you don't cook a lot.
So, I think you should go with something safe. Thoughtful, but safe. Like penne pasta. Penne is a little thicker, so it's more forgiving to over cooking. You could make a Greek Pasta Salad. The only thing you have to cook is the pasta. Everything else is chopped and mixed, so you're pretty much guaranteed success.
Yeah, think of her favorite foods...and we can go from there. I mean, Cali can take the menu from there. In the mean time, you can look at the recipes (they are conveniently organized into categories!), and come back here with questions.
I know that her favorite non-dairy ice cream brand is rice divine, and she loves Tofutti Cuties. She also really likes cupcakes..but those are a tad bit more difficult. That would be really sweet, though. I mean, I think she REALLY likes cupcakes. Or, you could make her a card shaped like a cupcake..
hm. i am not really sure what she really likes. she seems to like almost anything vegan. i really am food illiterate. i simply cannot explain how food-challenged i am. i like to eat everything but ii don't know anything about food. is there something safe that almost everyone loves? i know she likes lasagna cause she made it for me but i feel it's kinda boring making something for her she's already made for me.
also. no ingredients really except for what's hers. but i don't really know what any of it is for.
also also. student budget... kinda. i can splurge a little bit
also also also. i do not cook. i cook ramen occasionally and i make sammiches. sorry for the 9 edits.
I know that she likes this: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7472.0 (peanut butter noodles), because she mentioned it to someone else. She likes to add cilantro. It's not difficult. You could use any noodles. You just need to think of something to go along with it..
Or, you could make my peanut butter noodle recipe, which uses cilantro as an ingredient: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=22105.0
That would be similar to something that we know she likes..but a little different.
i can splurge a little bit
omg. heart again. :)>>>
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/tomato-and-olive-penne?autonomy_kw=tomato%20olive%20penne&rsc=header_2
i LOVE this.
minus cheese of course
with a few extra cloves of garlic and mabye some more olives and tomatos if you wish.
Its pretty simple and yummy!
k. the ingredients for your peanut noodle thing, are there certain brands i need to buy for any of the recipes. i am afraid i will buy something non-vegan.
I know that she likes this: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7472.0 (peanut butter noodles), because she mentioned it to someone else. She likes to add cilantro. It's not difficult. You could use any noodles. You just need to think of something to go along with it..
Or, you could make my peanut butter noodle recipe, which uses cilantro as an ingredient: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=22105.0
That would be similar to something that we know she likes..but a little different.
Good idea! Peanut butter noodles = yummy and easy.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/tomato-and-olive-penne?autonomy_kw=tomato%20olive%20penne&rsc=header_2
i LOVE this.
minus cheese of course
with a few extra cloves of garlic and mabye some more olives and tomatos if you wish.
Its pretty simple and yummy!
for that recipe. would i replace the cheese with something or just leave it out all together?
i'll probably make this recipe for valentines day cause i think she wants to do something special/fun/new.
and thanks for all the replies. wasn't expecting any so quick :)
Just not cheese or replacement at all, i've never had it with any cheese subsitiute and everyone always loves it!
k. the ingredients for your peanut noodle thing, are there certain brands i need to buy for any of the recipes. i am afraid i will buy something non-vegan.
Ummmm, I don't think you should have any problems. For the sweetener, use agave (hopefully she has some of that?). It's really not that necessary though. I mean, if you know the kind of sugar she uses, use that. She should have peanut butter on hand..if not, go for a natural one. I use sriracha for the chili sauce, but any hot sauce will do. These are recommendations for my recipe..I'll have to check the other one that she makes to look at it's ingredients. Ok, the other recipe is very similar..you shouldn't have any problems. Just be careful about cooking the pasta! You want plenty of water, and don't overcook it. Just keep testing it, and drain it as soon as it's done. I like to rinse my pasta for the peanut noodle recipe.
Make sure the pot of water is boiling first, then add the noodles. The box of noodles, whatever kind you have, will have directions on it with a time range like 8-10 minutes. Make sure & test them at the lower range of time, they will probably be done by then. When you boil the water for the noodles, add a little oil, that will help prevent them from sticking too much.
Good points, Lisa! Keep us vegans updated, jbb. ;) I'm excited for you and cakes.
NO PEEKING Ponycakes!!!
Ok JBB, I am here with my menu ideas. Since I know that making ramen is nothing like cooking pasta I am going to ignore that idea all together.
My advice is this: Either pick a simple casserole that you can mix together easily and bake or pick something that is wicked simple.
Tortilla Casserole can be made totally out of cans. Plus you can skip the vegan cheeze addition. Recipe and directions linked.
You could make enchiladas pretty much the same way but from a variety of VegWeb recipes. So search on here for those. Veganomicon has a delish Potato and Kale enchilada that you could try, but it may be a bit over you skill wise.
There are always other casseroles that simply require you to buy ingredients, clean veggies, open cans, layer and bake. Check out the casserole section and find something that appeals to you.
My next suggestion is couscous. Buy a box of plain Near East brand Couscous. Buy Boca Chik Patties in the red box at your local grocery store or buy some White Wave marinated Tofu from the refrigerated section of your local health food store, preferably the lemon pepper flavor, though Italian is fine too. Pick up one bunch of broccoli or a bag of precut florets of broccoli. Pick up one pretty looking lemon.
Mix up the couscous according to directions but add in the juice of half the lemon. To do that cut the lemon in half and using a for smush all the insides over a bowl to catch the juice. Pour that in the boiling couscous water making sure to keep out any seeds!
Steam the broccoli in another pan: Add in 2cups of water and the broc. Bring to a boil. Cover and let bubble on medium heat for 3 minutes. Stab one stem with a fork, if it goes in easy, take it off the heat, if not, give it another minute or two and repeat the stab test! Once done take the pan off the heat and using the lid make a tiny crack between the pan and lid and pour the water off into the sink.
Put the steamed broccoli in the done couscous.
Heat up the tofu / chik pattie in the microwave on a plate for 30 seconds. Touch it with your finger to test heat. Flip it, repeat. Do that until you want to eat it, possibly 1-2 minutes total!
On a plate put the couscous broccoli mix in the center, layer the tofu / chik slices artistically around the outside. Sprinkle the whole thing with a bit more of the lemon juice from the other half. You can just squeeze it in your hand over the plate but be sure to not get seeds in the dish!
Serve.
Simple, quick and yummy. There are more advanced things you could do with this, like saute the tofu in a pan to warm but you dont have to try that your first meal.
If you have a preferred flavor, like tomato or basil, let me know and I can change the recipe to incorporate that.
Be sure you serve your meal with a yummy bread from the grocery store bakery and some salad mix (spring green blend) with italian dressing. Plan on having Rice Divine or Purely Decadent vegan ice cream on hand for dessert!
haha!
Just don't do the potato and kale enchiladas....they are great, but waaayyy too time consuming, and slightly difficult.