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Sunday 1 March 2009

Back in the kitchen rattlin' pots n pans!

So I have some good news - I'm NOT being made redundant! I'm so relieved, but the news is bittersweet because it means 2 of my workmates were let go! So work is all a bit sad and a lot busier now!

I still don't know what's going on with my stomach, my blood test was negative for infection so I have to see the doc again next week!

More good news though - I've put a holding deposit down on a gorgeous flat and am moving on 28th March! It's awesome and has an amazin balcony around the top of it. I can't wait!!

But now.... on with the food.

Right after my last post I felt the need to make banana bread. I was just an off the cuff one cuz I didn't have a recipe. I know there's a million banana bread recipes out there but this one's not right yet so I haven't posted it here.


Inside shot - I added some hazelnuts and left the 'nanas chunky!


This was a really quick dinner I made one night. It was veganyumyum's recipe for creamy tomato pasta and I threw in some green beens and did some pan fried tofu.

I made some banana pancakes for brekkie yesterday. They were good but they stuck to my mum's stupid pan like crap to a blanket - hence they look a bit of a train wreck.


Yesterday I made some pesto because after seeing guava's post about pizza, I remembered how awesome the pizza I made last week was but this time I wanted one with pesto on.


Instead of putting tomato sauce on as well, I just did a layer of pesto and then some fresh tomato, mushrooms, pepper and some marinated tofu pieces. I left off the Sheese (or Sleese as my dad calls it) cuz it blows. It was a rockin pizza.


I did the same dough as last time and this time, used the leftovers for garlic knots. I just sprinkled on some oregano, garlic granules and salt and kneeded it well, then tied in knots and brushed with olive oil. When they came out the oven, I brushed them with some melted margarine mixed with some more salt and garlic powder. They were so. freakin. good!


My plate.... I also put a few bits of pepper on the plate too as Luke was begging for some food and he loves raw veggies!


Today's dinner was awesome!! I mixed some pesto in a pan with some mayola and some vegan margarine and heated it up then mixed in some wholewheat coniglie. I had some steamed broccoli and some black pepper tofu. For the tofu, I just drained and pressed some firm tofu, marinated it for only about 5 mins in some soy sauce, vegan worcestershire sauce, a bit of water and a pinc of mustard powder. Then I pressed lots of black pepper into it and baked it for 30 minutes @ 180/350, flipping half way. It was soooo spicy and awesome.


Then I made a chocolate pudding cake as my dad was in the mood for cake. I couldn't find my copy of La Dolce Vegan so I used this recipe from Vegweb. It was DAMN good.


We put some coconut cream on it. RADTASTIC!


It's my workmate's birthday on Tuesday. He's not in Tuesday so I'm taking this in tomorrow. It's carrot cake, with cream cheese frosting and I made some silly little carrots from fondant to go on top. They're a bit retarded but I think it looks cute!


Lastly, my dad loves flapjacks but it was my mum that requested I make some. So I made these last night when they were out.
They were a bit crispier than regular flapjacks but they rocked, the texture reminds me more of granola bars. They obviously went down well beause there was only one left when I got up this morning!!


Flapjack bars
2 cups (200g) Oats
1/3 cup (5 tbsp + 1 tsp) Margarine
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup (80ml) Golden syrup
Pinch salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
Melt the sugar, salt, margarine and syrup together until the sugar dissolves. Pour over the oats and mix to combine.
Pack into a swiss roll tin (it was a bit too big so I just smushed it up and left a gap at the end) and pack down.

Bake for 20 minutes or until just golden.
Take out the oven and score into bars, it will still be really soft! Leave to cool completely and then cut into bars and leave to cool on a wire rack.

I'm hoping to have special baked goods for my next post!!

18 comments:

  1. Now this is an encouraging post! So glad to hear your job is secure (though it's unfortunate for your workmates), and WOOT! for a new place -how exciting!
    I swear you made more knots just to make me all weak in the knees! And more pizza...At least I just had dinner so I'm not freaking crazy hungry!

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  2. Wow, that's a lot of food! Congrats on keeping your job and on the new flat, and I hope you start feeling better soon!

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  3. totally going to have to make your flap jack bars, Sal! they look awesome & i bet they're super deeeelicious for breakfast! mmmmmm! i love that you left the naners chunky and added hazelnuts. two tasty ideas, fo 'sho. you're not the only one have'n pancakes stick to the pan like a mofo - mine stick a lot, too. i puffy heart pancakes, but sometimes making them gets me all frustratedfaced! argh!

    your creamy pesto looks divine - on both the loaded pizza and the super scrumptious pasta! hooray for vegan yumyum's pasta sauce, too - i loooove that recipe. easy + fast = mmmmmmmm! the garlic knots look perfect, and that chocolate pudding cake - sweet jeebus, Sal - that's most glorious, indeed!

    you're too sweet to make your coworker such a great 'n yummy cake - i think your carrots look awesome, and hooray for you keep'n your job. stinks that two other people lost theirs though. :(

    you should take lots of pics of your new place when you move in! i'd love to see it! superw00t!

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  4. Hey Sal
    I'm glad you weren't made redundant but sorry to hear about your work mates. It's always shitty when someone's got to lose their job. Good news on the flat - we must be in sync cos we're looking to move at the end of March too.
    *high fives*

    Your Banana Bread looks soo yummy - I like the fact you left chunky narna's in there, I'll have to try that next time. That Pasta Sauce from veganyumyum is one of my favourites - so simple and so delicious.
    I've not made flapjacks for ages but looking at yours makes me want to. Thanks for the recipe.
    And I LOVE your retarded Carrots - they look amazing. Mmmmmm Carrot Cake - say no more.
    xx

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  5. banana bread, pizza, chocolate cake, carrot cake?? YUMMMMMMMM!

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  6. Congrats on your good news.

    All of the food looks so delicious...especially that pizza and cake.

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  7. in this economy, i'm happy when anyone, anywhere can keep a job. and you are a pizza genius. the pizzas from the last two posts look amazing.

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  8. so much awesomeness! the cakes...the tofus...the pizza and garlic knots! my head is spinning with your radness, sal. you rule.

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  9. Glad you still have your job!!! And my, my that pizza looks good. I love pesto pizzas!

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  10. carrot cake? you are after my own heart

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  11. I'm relieved to hear you still have your job, but it is very sad about your co-workers. These are very odd times indeed.

    It is also good to hear you are feeling better, and about the upcoming new place! I'm living at home with my parents as well, but I often dream of the time I spent living on my own with the kitties in Sydney. I can't wait to hear more about it.

    Fabulous food, as always. You make my tummy hungry!

    Alien On Toast has officially been part of 'Project Procrastinatio 2009' - I have read your entire blog and archived all the recipes. See, in addition to working, being on call and starting a masters, I can still find time to do these things. Some amazing looking recipes, I can't wait to get into the kitchen with some of them! :D

    Two and a half weeks until Brighton Vegan Fayre!

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  12. you're kidding me?! Sal those carrots are stinkin' adorable! :) And I'm glad you appreciated my pesto on crack... hmm.. coat with butter eh... that's what my garlic knots were missing... sneaky vegans! :)

    I'm so glad you still have a job and your living situation is getting better! **high fives**

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  13. Hooray for tasty pizza, pudding cake, tofu, and pesto (so pretty and green!)!

    Sorry to hear about the situation at your work. My office recently let two people go also. As a result, I am much busier, more than humanly possible really... Urg.

    Lucky you, finding a place with a balcony!!!

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  14. Pizza dough garlic bread knots? Amazing! I love carbs.

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  15. God, your Dad's gonna be gutted when you move out - the stuff you've been knocking out looks AMAZING! Gotta love pesto on pizza though!!

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  16. um, you can't have that many awesome foods in one post. you obviously have your kitchen mojo back. :)

    i'm totally diggin' that pesto pizza...

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  17. hooray for not being let go!

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  18. Glad to hear your job is safe! And congrats on the flat. Good luck with the move.

    Hey, that's a cute carrot on the cake.
    I just trew some dough into the bread machine to make rolls later. I'll definitely make some garlic knots, too. Thanks for the inspiration.

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