Nov 2, 2012

green chili + contest winner

We are all familiar with the red version of chili, laden with hearty beans, red chili powder and, typically, a beef alternative such as ground TVP or ground soy. This version is heavy and satisfying, especially come the cold winter days.

My Chipotle Chili below is a great example:

Chipotle Chili


Little known, at least by me, is the lighter, fresher adaptation of the red chili: the White Chili, or sometimes referred to Green Chili or Chili Verde, for all those Spanish speakers out there.

In this chili, instead of beef, chicken is used, instead of red chili powder or chilies, green, fresh chilies are utilized. And, instead of kidney beans, white beans are included.

I decided to green this up something good and used poblanos, Anaheim and jalapeno peppers. I also made use of other essential chili components: green onions, cilantro and lime juice. 

This was so good! And so easy to make with the help of your food processor. The veggies are first sweated (covered and cooked) to allow them to soften, but not get any color, and then the chili, including the rest of the ingredients, are cooked for about 20 minutes.

Serve and devour anytime of the year. In fact, right about now is a good time. 

Do you have a favorite style of chili or, like me, have only been privy to the red one?

Cost Breakdown

peppers: $5
onion, garlic, broth mix: $1
beans: $8
seasoning, lime, cilantro: $1
Total to make 8 servings:
$15.00


Green Chili



Let's not forget about the drawing for Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! from the Blog Tour Post. There were 58 entries. According to Random.org, comment number...7...who is: Cabby! is the winner! Please contact me by tomorrow (Nov. 3) midnight-or-so at veganaide(at)yahoo(dot)com. 
Thanks and congratulations.

For those who didn't win this time, check out the other great bloggers participating in the Blog Tour and have more chances to win. And, well, if you can't wait, go grab your own copy! I promise you won't regret it!

Oct 30, 2012

burger make over



A burger is a must make over for MoFo. I searched for the best burger to Make Over, which led me to the top 10 chain burger places in the U.S. There is the obvious McD's (link is to VegMac), Red Robin (link is to vegan Bruschetta Burger), Burger King and Wendy's. But then the new front runners are In-N-Out Burgers, Five Guys, Culver's and Smashburgers

At the heart of any burger is the burger itself. Therefore, instead of trying to just make a vegan version of a popular burger from a popular burger joint, I decided to make the burger patty itself as the Make Over. 

In past make overs, I have done the VegMac, using Boca burgers sliced in half horizontally... 

VegMac 
... and I have made Red Robin's Bruschetta Burger, with pesto-aioli, balsamic cream and basil salsa and featuring Tami's Incrediburger


Bruschetta Burger

Thanks to Tami and her Food Network Friday challenges, I gave making burger patties myself a try and have come up with my own great version. 

Mesa Grill Burger


I have been perfecting this for the past year and am now proud to launch it! 

First, I am using the thicker version of the patty in an upscale restaurant burger: Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill's signature cheeseburger, loaded with Daiya, grilled vidalia onion and horseradish-dijon sauce.

In-n-Out Burger


Above it is made into thinner patties and is gracing the better version of In-N-Out's Double Double, in which the stacking order is paramount.

That's it for today's "Burgers In and Out of Dives" episode! 

Be sure to enter to win Tami Noyes' and Celine Steen's new cookbook,
Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! contest. Good luck!


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Get all the burgers featured in this episode below: