Vegan Creamy Scalloped Potatoes from "The Vegan Slow Cooker" Book of Kathy Hester

The Vegan Slow Cooker: Simply Set It and Go with 150 Recipes for Intensely Flavorful, Fuss-Free Fare Everyone (Vegan or Not!) Will Devour  by Kathy Hester.

My love affair with Slow Cookers started with 'The Indian Slow Cooker" book by Anupy Singla.  After cooking through her entire book, I thought I should probably look at some other slow cooker materials, in the event that I might actually have company that does not like Indian Food.  Okay, actually, the people that are actually allowed into our animal sanctuary must love Indian Food-so I don't see that as a future issue.  But I still wanted Kathy's book!  I held out for as long as possible, as my shelves are actually rupturing from the sheer volume of recipe books I have accumulated.

So many of the recipes in Kathy's book looked great. While it would be a great buy for nearly anyone, it seems like it is screaming "vegan comfort food" to me!  While lots of the recipes don't require any extra tempeh, soy, gluten ingredients-there are a fair share of "home cookin'" eats.  I settled on the scalloped potato recipe because my man loves his taters & I tend to have the basics on hand. 

The Nutritional Yeast.  This is "old school" vegan cheese.  I used to go through this stuff like there was no tomorrow, making spicy, tomato based mac & cheeze sauces.  Now brands like Daiya & Follow your Heart have the corner on the "Vegan Cheese" market.  However, Nutritional Yeast (which does not have true yeast in it), is packed with B12 and a myriad of other nutrients.  Great on popcorn, salad toppings, old school cheeze dishes, and even as a raw cracker or raw kale chip ingredient.

So this is the cashew, yeast based cheeze.

Always buy organic Potatoes.  They soak up everything from the earth, and you don't want that to be pesticides.

Yes, I have a "salad shooter".  It is great for soft stuff, however, it blows sometimes when dealing with harder root veggies.  Potatoes do well.  You could also use food processor or mandoline (pay attention so you retain your fingers through process).

Layering the potatoes & cheeze sauce. And press "Go".

Final Product.  Hubby liked a lot.  And I liked that there wasn't any s--t in it.

Sprinkled some Daiya on top to further entice hubby...........and raw broccoli.

This book is full of soups, casseroles, pasta & grain dishes, meatless mains, sandwich & taco fillings, breads, snacks, breakfasts, & desserts.  If you are feeding a mainstream audience, I have a feeling this may appeal to you.  Lots of comfort foods & a fair amount of "meat" subs.  Some recipes include Sweet & Sour Smoked Tofu (Gluten Free), Cheezy Broccoli Rice (GF), Hearty Faux Steak & Gravy, Wholesome Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Cheesy Chorizo Dip, Be My Valentine Chocolate Oatmeal, and Pimento Cheese Fondue.  Thinking some of those appetizers would be great to bring to real "mainstream" events, where even brown bread or kale would freak people out! While there are lots of recipes that call for packaged cheeses or meat substitutes, there are also just as many that are made from old school vegan eats.  She does not use dry beans in most of the recipes (that call for legumes).  So you would make the beans first, or just buy them canned.  The only problem with canned, is that Eden is the only brand I know of that does not use BPAs & is organic, and it's pricey to do that a lot.  I am very partial to at the very least, using soaked beans in the slow cooker.  But I believe that nearly every slow cooker book has you make the beans and then use them in a different recipe.  I think it would be worth soaking them & adapting some of the recipes to make it a truly 1 step recipe.  

And the dogs.....

www.gatewaypets.com

Pj petting Horton (brindle) and Fallon (blonde dog).  Fallon is  the mother of Shiloh (on the right)

East St. Louis

Mr. Tux (black & white) and Friend.  Their friends have been rescued.

East St. Louis, Illinois.

Shy Rebel standing in the middle of the street.  There is a sewer hole with no barricade around it.  So many streets are plagued with major potholes or have sewer holes that are open & not truly protected.  People steal the lids to them and sell for the metal.  This is a particularly deep one.  Pj has rescued several dogs that have fallen in similar holes.

East St. Louis

Raw & Cooked Vegan Thanksgiving Feast. Shrooms vs. Breast Cancer. MRSA in the Meat? Teriffically Terrible Toxic MegaColon. Touch A Vegan for A Safe Holiday! John Salley On Rachel Ray! Ellen's Chef with a Vegan Thanksgiving.

 Raw Dehydrated  Sweet Wood Almonds. From "Living Cuisine" of Renee UnderKoffler.
Sweet & Savory.  With Garlic, Ginger, Chili powder, and sweetener.

 

Living Cuisine: The Art and Spirit of Raw Foods (Avery Health Guides)

One Thanksgiving I was browsing online at the Pure Food and Wine's "Raw Vegan Thanksgiving", and the price was pretty high.  Not that I wouldn't have considered it, if we lived in the same time zone.  So I looked through Sarma Melngailis's  latest book, "Living Raw Food"  and found most of the Thanksgiving recipes there!!! So I went all out and actually made the whole meal.  Not all of these photos are from those recipes, but I did make the Raw Vegan Stuffing, the Raw Vegan Mashed Potatoes, the Raw Vegan Gravy.  Before I knew it, my husband was starting getting into the holiday vibe, and decided to to make cooked versions of all the "traditional" stuff!  We had only a few people over and a major feast!

 A raw dish that everyone already eats!  Guacamole!

 Raw Vegan Cashew Cheese.

 Vegan Stuffing.

Raw Vegan Cashew Cheese.  Cashews with Chives, spice, and Vegan Probiotics (to help ferment).  Just a Food Processor needed.  Easy.

 Raw Vegan Sweet Spiced Sprouted Walnuts. From Renee Underkoffler's "Living Cuisine"
Walnuts, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Sweetener (Coconut Syrup would be my current choice, or stevia).

Hubby's take on "Sausage Cheese" balls with MatchMeat and Daiya Cheese.  He wasn't happy with the outcome-they were a thing from his childhood.  A bit dry.  Meat & Cheese has SO much fat in it that to get the same effect, you really have to add a lot of oil to the recipe, and we are both so "over" extra oil.  There was already some oil in the MatchMeat and Daiya, so he didn't want to add a ton more.  They were fine though.  I never had these growing up.  I don't think I have ever even had sausage in my life. 

Hubby also always makes a healthier, veganized  Chex Mix.  Flax Crackers with Raw Vegan Taco dip from "Cafe Gratitude" in background.  My aunt brought some delicious Spicy Jelly from her Herb Club.  The band-aids are for my lack of cutting skills.  Oh, and can't forget the splurge on olives from Whole Foods.  

 A Feast!

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake from the "Cafe Gratitude" sweet collection.
Amazing what Raw Butternut Squash and Coconut oil will create in the Vita-Mix.  I actually prefer Raw Pumpkin pies to cooked!!  Sometimes I just throw some yams or winter squash in the Vita-Mix with some dates, water, and spices and make a "Pumpkin Pudding" in minutes.


 
Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts

 

I Am Grateful: Recipes and Lifestyle of Cafe Gratitude

Raw Vegan Cheesecake from Cafe Gratitude Book.

 Raw Vegan  Marinated Portabellas in Ginger Vinaigrette from Alissa Cohen's "Living On Live Food" Book.  Just pop them in the dehydrator!  I used to make these all the time, so easy, and yummy.  If I made them now, I would skip the olive oil and hope they would still pack in the flavor.



 
  Living on Live Food

Shrooms Vs. Breast Cancer?

Never thought the Mushroom would be the best defense!  

Raw Vegan Brussel Sprouts from the "Living Raw" book.  These were better than expected but I kind of prefer the ease of frozen brussel sprouts......

 

Living Raw Food: Get the Glow with More Recipes from Pure Food and Wine 

 

Raw Vegan Mashed Root Vegetables from the "Living Raw Food" book.  With Nuts, Celeriac, Jicama, Parsnips, Olive Oil, Nutritional Yeast, Truffle oil and more.  Other people liked this one but I wasn't 100% sold on it.   It was good though, maybe just the texture and the denseness.

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Juliano's "Raw" book.  Super easy, but a lot of sweetener.  These days I would choose the Coconut Syrup in hopes that it is better than the agave or maple syrup as far as glycemic level and health.

 

Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life

 Miss Hamlin's Cranberry Sauce  from "Living on Live Food" of Alissa Cohen.. This was hands down the best cranberry sauce dish I have ever had.  It was the only raw one I have ever had, so that could very well be part of it.  And incredibly simple & cheap to make.

 The Raw Vegan (Lemon) Cheesecakes are an all time favorite of mine.  Okay, this particular recipe is heavy on the raw nuts and coconut oil.  So it isn't on the Engine 2 or Esselstyn plan.  But then again, I wasn't either.  I am still not, but I am favoring less fats and try to avoid oil now.  I would never turn down a piece of raw cheesecake though.  From the  "I am Grateful" book of Cafe Gratitude.

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Raw Vegan Cheesecake.

 And here is the Raw Vegan Stuffing from the "Living on Raw Food" book.  Surprisingly, it went over really well.  Full of Cauliflower, Pecans, Celery, Carrots, Onion, Truffle oil and herbs.  I liked this better than the "Mashed Root Vegetables".

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Kelp Noodles from Ani Phyo's.  More coconut oil......bad girl.  Super easy recipe though.  All you need is a blender and you don't have to use Kelp Noodles.  I use Zucchini a lot.

 Raw Vegan Pad Thai Kelp Noodles.  Okay, this didn't go with the whole Thanksgiving theme at all.  But no one had tried Kelp Noodles yet, so I had to make them!!

 

Ani's Raw Food Kitchen: Easy, Delectable Living Foods Recipes

 

Ani's Raw Food Essentials: Recipes and Techniques for Mastering the Art of Live Food


Gold Mine Kelp Noodles, 16-Ounce (Pack of 6)
I used "Sea Tangle" brand.  But it looks like GoldMine makes them too, and you can buy 6 packs from Amazon.

 Cooked Vegan Sweet Potatoes.

 Cooked Vegan Traditional Green Bean Casserole made with organic green beans and then some super earthy crunchy type of fried onion topping. (I think my hubby knew I wasn't very likely to eat the Durkee or whatever the regular brand is)

Vegan Stuffing.

Sweet Potatoes.

 Cooked Vegan Mashed Potatoes. My hubby makes the BEST comfort food.  With Earth Balance (before we gave up oil!)

 This is where he went crazy.  He got THREE types of thanksgiving roasts from the store.  I think his excuse was "to compare" them.  I only had small bites as I was eating gluten free.  He likes that kind of stuff more than me.  MatchMeat Roast, Field Roast & Tofurkey.  I totally rolled my eyes but he loved trying all of them.

Just one of a zillion reasons to skip the meat.....especially Turkey!  42% of Turkeys were infected with C-diff...something that doesn't "cook" out in everyday living.  Think of it as the .5% that Anti-Bacterial Gels/Soaps don't destroy.  Not a pretty picture!  MRSA in the Meat Supply??  50% of Farm Workers carried MRSA.  And it's in the Meat Supply too!  In the hospital you have to "gown up" and get "gloved" to be in the same ROOM as people with MRSA in their system.  Dr. G. suggests "gloving" up before touching anything "meaty".  And maybe even "Meat Eaters".  Have a safe Thanksgiving.  Stick to Touching Vegans.

I love this little girl!!!!

And Ellen's Chef making some Vegan Thanksgiving Eats.

And no arguments that Big Strong Men can't be Vegan!!  Here is John Salley on the Rachel Ray show.

Recent Posts:

*Smaller Shorter Schlongs Caused By Eating Cock.

* Weiner Warts.  STD's from Meat? HPV in the Kitchen.  "No Honey, it wasn't another man.  Just a slab of bacon".  "Cock Cancer".  It's not Just For the Chickens.

*Tempeh, Tofu, Teats, & Tamoxifen. Soy and Cancer. You need to know. Anupy's Masala Tofu Scramble Recipe. Get Skinny on Soy? Eggs & Celery.

*Bladder Blues. Did chicken cause your bladder infection? Anupy's Arsenic & UTI Free, Tradtional Vegan Zero Chicken Curry. Bill Maher & Jane Lynch for "Weinerlogues" and Belly Laughs.* Toxic Cock Syndrome. 92% are Poopy Cocks.

*Meat eating Tea Partiers and Republicans accepting Welfare? Why Meat Eaters have to PAY for sex.

*Jay Nixon has been Neutered. Bend over & ditch the KY, this is a Rough One. (Just in case you thought it was just Republicans & Tea Partiers that I vented about!)

Aloo Gobi from Anupy Singla's "The Indian Slow Cooker" Book.
(Curried Cauliflower and Potatoes)

Fiery Eggplant from "The Indian Slow Cooker Book" by Anupy Singla.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?  How is everyone dealing with the Turkey Eaters this Holiday?  What are you favorite Vegan Holiday Dishes?