Hawaiian Chick'n

Have you ever noticed looking in older cookbooks how a recipe will be called Mexican, or Chinese, or any ethnic or exotic cuisine, but the recipe falls really short of authentic? This is probably one of those as far as names go, but Betty Crocker would be proud. Despite the name, it's really quite tasty. I think you'll like it.

Hawaiian Chick'n

Vegan chick'n (I like gardein for this), cut in chunks
1/2 c. orange juice
1/4 c. barbecue sauce
1 can pineapple chunks, drained

Add everything to a skillet, mix well, and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover. Watch the sauce. Mine evaporated, so double the sauce, or add a little of the pineapple juice if you need to. Let simmer about 5 minutes or until chick'n is cooked thru, and serve over rice. It's really good, but I would make sure about sufficient sauce next time.

Homestyle Barbecue Sandwiches

I live in Texas, and here, barbecue is just a thing. A big thing. There's probably something wrong with you if you don't eat it or cook it or, well, yeah. Not vegan friendly, to be sure.

Before I was vegan, my husband and I used to go out for barbecue sandwiches. Now he goes for the barbecue and I get fried okra. I needed to remedy this.

So I did.

Homestyle Barbecue Sandwiches

One can tomato puree
1 c. water
1 c. barbecue sauce

Heat everything in a frying pan. Add either vegan beef strips or vegan ground beef and heat through. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings. We like sliced onion.

I made this two different times, using either the beef strips or the ground beef. The beef strips were from Trader Joe's, and the ground beef was Gardein. I gotta say I much preferred the ground beef to the strips. It seemed to absorb the sauce better and stretch further.

Serve with chips, or French fries, or fried okra!

Warning - they are messy! Keep lots of napkins close by!

Needless to say, I am happy to resume my place amongst the barbecue lovers, vegan and cruelty free style!

National Hot Dog Month

I guess it figures that National Hot Dog Month would coincide with National Picnic Month. I'm not one for using a public grill (ew!) but I know many who will. I bought myself an adorable little hot dog cooker a few years ago. Granted I don't use it very often, but it's still cute!

It's actually kind of rare that I get a craving for a hot dog. Jokes abound (and are probably true) about the mysteries of what is IN a hot dog. It's also why I'm glad my hot dogs are cruelty free! Nevertheless, I don't make a habit out of eating them. They might be cruelty free, but it is still a hot dog!

After shuffling through and organizing my monumental piles of recipes into something inherently more usable, I found I did need to create a section for hot dogs. Not that many recipes, but enough to warrant a separate section. At least now for those times I desire a hot dog, it will be something other than the usual.

Barbecue Hot Dogs

One package vegan hot dogs
1/2 c. green onions, chopped
1/2 c. pineapple juice
3/4 c. barbecue sauce
1/4 t. chili powder

Score the hot dogs 4-5 times. Combine everything in a skillet and bring to an easy boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer about 15 minutes. Spoon some of the sauce over the hot dog in your bun.

Enjoy!