Happy World Vegetarian Day!

Vegan Mofo day one. Last year I missed the boat for Vegan Mofo and promised myself that this year, I would give it a go. For those that don't know. Vegan Month of Food was started by the Post Punk Kitchen where the month of October, vegan bloggers take to their keyboards and blog as much as they can about all that is vegan. I doubt it is a coincidence that vegan mofo begins on world vegetarian day. For info, check out http://www.veganmofo.com/ they have an rss feed you can subscribe to and they just recently got the blog roll up http://www.veganmofo.com/blogroll/ check out all the blogs participating! There are so many!

This could not have come at a better time for me. For anyone that reads the Angry Vegan, you would have noticed that my blogging has decreased over the last few months. To be honest, I let life get in the way. Things were not good for a while, things were hectic for a while and the next thing I knew, weeks had gone by without a post! A lot of work goes into maintaining a blog (even a super simple on like this one) and you really need to keep committed.

So, as I said, Vegan Mofo is perfect timing for me to get back on track! I have a lot planned and I am going to try and blog every day this month. Help keep me motivated and comment when you're reading. Send me some blog ideas.

I hope to post something else today, but fighting a small hangover and a busy day planned, I thought I would start simple and share today's hangover breakfast.

It is not often that I get a hangover, but this morning I woke up a little out of it and a little headache-y. After getting some water and an ibuprofen.. It became clear that breakfast was needed ASAP! After a late night, I am not into making a big breakfast. I want something quick, easy, with not a lot of mess and with some extra carbs. On the menu today? Pan fried mochi and a green monster.

What is mochi you say? Well, I had no idea what this Japanese treat was either until I saw it in The Kind Diet. Mochi is a glutenous rice that is cooked and then pounded into a paste and then shaped and hardened. I get mine a Planet Organic usually, but I bet you would find it in Asian markets too. There are a few flavours out there, but I like the regular one best. You can do lots with mochi. One of my favourite ones is mochi waffles (Click here for recipe)

Sometimes, I want to keep it simple. Like today. Here is a quick and easy way to enjoy mochi:

Pan Fried Mochi
Adapted from The Kind Diet

Serves 1, about 20 min

• 1/3 package of Mochi, cut into 2" squares
• 1 tbsp oil (I used grape seed, but what ever you got should work)
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown rice syrup (Or agave)

Heat your pan to medium low and add the oil. While it is heating up, cut the mochi. This requires a sharp knife and a bit of strength. Once the oil is hot, add the mochi to the pan and cook for about five minutes. Keep an eye on it and if it looks like the mochi is browning quickly, lower the heat a bit. Flip the mochi and drizzle the soy sauce on top. Cover and cook for another four to five minutes. The mochi will start to melt and get puffy and turn into weird shapes.. that's how you know it is ready. 

Remove from the heat and drizzle the brown rice syrup. Serve with a green monster (click here for the recipe) and a cup of coffee/tea.

So simple. Sorry for the so-so pics. Hangovers and photography do not go well together!

Have a good Saturday!

Mochi Waffles - Vegan, Gluten Free...and Delicious!

This afternoon I was going through some photos on my camera, and came my first try at mochi waffles. I cannot believe I forgot to post about this. It is so, so good! I had read about this in Alicia Silverstone's, the Kind Diet, but was a bit skeptical. Mochi is really good, but I didn't see how it would make a good waffle.

What is mochi you ask? Well, it is a yummy Japanese creation that involves soaking and cooking rice and then pounding it into a block. When you cook it, it melts and puffs up, making odd shapes. I have been eating it for about a year now and tend to pan fry it with a bit of soy sauce and brown rice syrup. It is really easy.. the steps for the basic pan-fried mochi:

First, cut up a block of mochi into 1-2" square blocks while heating a frying pan to medium low heat with a bit of olive oil (about 1 Tbsp). Add the mochi and cover and let it cook for about 4 minutes. Flip the mochi and take a spoonful of soy sauce and pour over top (note, this is going to splatter, so beware nice clothing!). Cover again and cook another 4 minutes.

Check the mochi and it should be all puffed up and melty. If it isn't, then put it back on the heat for another minute or two. Once it is done, transfer to a plate and drizzle brown rice syrup. That's it! Breakfast, or a snack... this is yummy.

OK, back to the real recipe at hand.. Mochi Waffles. I have seen this in the Kind Diet. It is also on the back of the mochi package. Finally, I took my mochi and a few other ingredients for a sauce over to my sister's (I don't own a waffle iron... yet...) and convinced her to give this a try.

Mochi Waffles
*Adapted from the Kind Diet

•  One package of mochi
•  1/2 cup of Maple Syrup or Brown rice syrup
•  1 cup walnuts
•  Juice of 1/2 a lemon
•  1 Tbsp of lemon zest (optional)
•  Strawberries, chopped
•  Mint, chopped and/or for garnish

First, toast the walnuts in a dry skillet on medium heat and pre-heat the waffle iron. Once toasted, remove from the pan and chop. Next, slice the mochi into strips about 1/4" wide. I found that each waffle requires about 5-6 strips of mochi.Put the mochi on the waffle iron and cook until it puffs up and is a little crispy. The book said about 3 minutes, but I found it needed closer to five. Keep an eye on it.

While the waffles are cooking combine in a small pot the syrup, 3 Tbsp of water, lemon juice and the walnuts. stir over medium heat until warmed.

Put the waffles on a plate and top with the syrup, berries and mint and serve.

Now the book says to use the brown rice syrup, but I found that the sauce was too mild this way and ended up put maple syrup on top the first time. So, judge accordingly based on your sweet tooth.