Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Bar Stocking, Potlucking, and Ice Cream Making

Before I head out of town for a long weekend, I though I would share what I've been up to in the kitchen....

Here are the tiramisu cupcakes I made for an "stock the bar" engagement party. The engagement actually happened in Italy, so I thought these were appropriate. They might be my favorite from VCTOTW, although it's so hard to choose just one!

On Saturday night we hosted a small potluck to show appreciation for everyone involved in our Go Vegan art car. For an appetizer I cut up some of Julie's sausages and simply sauteed them and served them with a mustard sauce. These were a big hit.

My main course contribution was Isa's broccoli quiche from her upcoming brunch book. Oh I love her so much for sharing this recipe before the book is available. I added some tempeh bacon and a healthy dose of nutritional yeast. I was so sad to see it go so fast at the potluck, so I made another one last night.

Here's my plate from the potluck.... homemade bread with avocado butter, pasta salad, pineapple slaw, fruit, quiche, and mac and cheese (with peace sign pasta!). I had another plate with lasagna and tamales as well!

For dessert, I tried to recreate something I saw at one of our favorite cafes here in Houston (Brasil), a mini cake with chocolate base layer, fresh fruit (strawberries and blueberries), and topped with chocolate mousse (from VCTOTW). The presentation needs some work, but the taste was right on.

I finally broke down and bought an ice cream maker, an attachment for my Kitchen Aid standmixer (anyone use that one?). The last time I made ice cream was in high school chemistry class!! This try turned out well except I learned a valuable lesson, big chunks of strawberries in your strawberry chocolate chip ice cream cause major brain freeze and tooth pain! I also need to figure out a storage system since my ice cream developed ice crystals; I'm assuming because I didn't have an airtight seal. But, nonetheless, with temperatures soaring here, this is just what I needed when I walked in the door after work.

Tomorrow we leave for a San Francisco to attend the soldout VegNews launch party and then onto Las Vegas for the remainder of the weekend. Who knows, maybe I'll come back a millionaire. At least I'll come back with a tummy full of Ronald's vegan donuts....

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tiramisu cupcake?! WOW!!!!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Those cupcakes!! The quiche!! That ice cream!! Perfection!!

Have a FABULOUS time in SF!!

Little Miss Sunshine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Little Miss Sunshine said...

Oh my goodness, the tiramisu cupcakes looks scrumptious - I would've devour the WHOLE batch myself :0P

Yum yum quiche, I've now bookmarked it and I'm gonna make it asap ... nothing beats warm quiche in this weather!! p.s: are these better than susan v's quiche??

And excuse me?!! "The presentation needs some work ..." THAT IS SOOO NOT TRUE ... i LOVE the presentation - it's BEAUTIFULLLL!! don't be so harsh on yourself :0)

Finally ice cream!!! Yes I have a kitchenaid mixer myself - sadly it suffer from SEVERE neglect :0( Hrmm sounds like I need to buy a vegan cake book and start baking cakes from it!!

Haha, sorry for my whiny comment - enjoy your time in SF VegNews launch party ... Oh, do come back as a MILLIONAIRE!! oooOOO vegan donuts?!! YES PLEASE!!

Anonymous said...

Your cupcakes just look divine! You do such a beautiful job, and you lucky duck Isa recipe tester!

Animal-Friendly said...

Your tiramisu cupcakes look beautiful- I can't believe that I haven't tried that recipe yet!

I have to get around to making that quiche now, too! Tempeh bacon sounds like a great addition.

Your ice cream sounds so refreshing and perfect for the hot weather right now. I think you just gave me the inspiration to bring my ice cream maker out again and whip up some more ice cream!

A.M. said...

The presentation needs work?! They look gorgeous! The tiramisu cupcakes too, by the way.

Theresa said...

Have a great weekend away, Vegan Noodle! Those cupcakes look absolutely gorgeous. I'll be using you as inspiration when I bake my county fair entries tonight!

aTxVegn said...

I'm so glad you got an ice cream maker! (We need it!) Your dessert needs no improvement as far as I can tell. All the food looks super.

Have a fabulous time, Amanda!

The Vegan Snorkeler said...

OMG...RONALD'S VEGAN DONUTS!!! When I was in Vegas last year, we got a dozen and ate and ate and ate! I felt sick from too much sugar, but they were amazing! You're going to have so much fun, I can't wait to read all about your travels!

Tamara said...

Have a great trip! One of these days we will find ourselves in SF at the same time and we will have to go devour some Maggie Mudd's ice cream together. :-)

vko said...

Hi there!

First off- big giant congrats to you on your award in VegNews, I was pleasantly surprised as I flipped thru the issue.

Lots of catching up to do , but I aam back.

Love love love the new design which is probably months old now.

Love love love that chocolate mini cake. Have a wonderful weekend!!

xxVKO

Cody said...

The mousse thingie looks absolutely delicious.

Bianca said...

I still haven't tried those tiramasu cupcakes! They're on my list though.

What was the avocado butter like? Did you ask the person at the potluck how they made it? That sounds wonderful.

Have a safe trip and have a blast in SF! That's my favorite city in the whole world!

Sheree' said...

I am so jealous! Your food, your travels, your blog, all perfection and fun. You are an inspiration to me, now if I can just get back on the bandwagon. Been a really rough few months! Have a blast on your trip and win a million!

Anonymous said...

Ahh You got an ice cream maker!! I am super jealous.

Your chocolate creation looks beautiful and dlish :)

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Ooh, so much yumminess! I love those little cakes in the wrappers. The sausages are always a hit with my friend as well, I made them small & used them like breakfast sausages. I've also made that quiche!
Mmm, ice cream! I need to start using my maker again, once the temps are past 65 here!
Also, I am jealous of your Vegas trip! Eat a donut for me!

Lauren said...

Tiramisu cupcakes! I am drooling!! All of the food looks so delicious! Have fun at the party! I wish I was going!!

The Voracious Vegan said...

Mmmmm drool! When I move back to the states you have to *promise* to invite me to one of your potlucks!

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a fabulous time at the party!

And really, when are you going to open that cafe already?? ;)

Anonymous said...

Those cupcakes look awesome....and those little chocolate desserts in those cute little gold papers are so freakin CUTE (I said cute twice in a row, I know - but I think it was warranted!)...and the ice cream looks cool and divinely delicious (I have an ice cream maker with months now that I haven't tried yet - I'm so LAZY)...and I've been meaning to try Isa's quiche recipe, and now I must try it immediately (stomach growling very loudly)...and have an awesome trip, that sounds like so much fun...and good luck in Vegas, don't forget about our bakery :)

LK Sisters said...

Homemade bread with avocado butter, and tamales? Those two instantly caught my eye. What's in the avocado butter, just mashed avocado? My favorite tamales are White Mountain's Vegetarian Tamales. Spicy and flavorful, and even better than any meat tamales out there!

Your ice cream is making me jealous....I've been seeing so many people post about ice cream with unique flavors, and have been thinking about buying an ice cream maker. What kind did you get?
Thanks for a great post!

Alicia said...

Now I need a chocolate cake... Everything looks so amazing!

jessy said...

oh man, i really need to try julie's sausages! the quiche looks perfect, and avocado butter? ohhhhhh - that sounds divine! and while we're on divine - how about the icecream. daaaaaaaayyyyum! it looks super stellar!

have fun at the VegNews launch party! that rocks so hard! yay!

Unknown said...

Everything looks perfect and incredibly delicious!! I've got that quiche on my list of recipes to make ASAP!

I just bought a kitchen aid stand mixer and am contemplating buying the ice cream maker attachment (since temperatures are soaring here, as well). Looks like I'll have to, just judging by the delicious looking ice cream you made!

Have fun in SF (I'll be there hopefully in October!) and in Vegas!! Enjoy lots of donuts for all of us!!

Cakespy said...

Now, you know I'm an intense lovah of the cupcake...but DAMN that quiche looks fine! Wow.

Cakespy said...

PS--love the new type treatment--giddyup, right?

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Have fun in San Fran! Eat some doughnuts for me, 'kay?

The tiramisu are my favorites that I've had from VCTOTW too.

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

Have fun at the launch party! And peace-sign pasta? Gotta find me some of that!

the little one said...

Oh, I definitely have to try those Tiramasu cupcakes now. I can't believe I haven't made them yet. Have a great time at the VegNews party. Again, you definitely deserve the recognition!

Sam said...

YUM! That ice cream looks heavenly! I used to get ice crystals in my ice cream too, but I found that if you chill the mixture for at least a few hours before you churn it, it keeps it very smooth. Also, put plastic wrap on top before you put it in the freezer. That's helped mine!

Kumudha said...

Wow! so many delicious vegan items!

Have fun!

Veronica said...

Have fun in Vegas as well as at the launch party!

I don't know what your standards are for presentation, but your mousse cake looks divine!

I got an ice cream maker as a Christmas gift and use it constantly - much cheaper than buying ice cream, but even with air tight seals it's difficult to get a creamy consistency after storing. But veerry satisfying fresh from the maker.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your Bloggy Award. I am in Austin, Texas. It is great to meet other Texas vegans. The cupcakes look terrific.


Krys

Anonymous said...

that's awesome - congrats! i hope you enjoy vegas :)

Anonymous said...

Have a great trip, and enjoy the donuts! :)

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

that presentation doesnt need any work!!! i seriosuly sat there for a good two minutes staring at the mousse! YUMMMMMMMMMMM

Anonymous said...

Everything looks so wonderful - I don't know where to start. I have been dreaming of those cupcakes since I got that book. I think I'm going to finally make them for my birthday.

Great idea to cut up those sausages and serve them with a mustard sauce.

I can't get enough ice cream these days. Although my waist line keeps telling me to stop! Can't wait to see what creations come of your new ice cream maker.

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

I echo Romina,
Tiramisu cupcake?! WOW!!!!

Erin said...

Everything in this post looks awesome. The cupcakes and mini cakes look great, no need to work on presentation at all! And the potluck, that's how a potluck should be. Great idea to add nutritional yeast and tempeh bacon to the quiche.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Great blog...I just have discovered it. Those dishes look delicious and inspiring! Thanks