Kittee's Schnitzel with Noodles

Pretty bunting outside of Vintage by the Pound.

Vida Vegan Con is in Portland next week (I'm a speaker come give me a hug!), and with it comes the pitter patter of little vegan feet.  Crazily, I still feel like I'm planting my own in this here dirt, but I do have my favorites.  I wrote them up to share with you.

This list is by no means comprehensive, and since it's no secret I like to eat and make stuff, it reflects this fair nature of mine.  That said, nature is my home-girl, so if you visit here and aren't rushed to experience our vegan jewels, by all means walk the neighborhoods to see our amazing flower gardens and front yard veggie patches, visit the coast, hike Forest Park, bring your dog to Ross Dog Park, stroll the Far Mars, and burn off some of the calorie damage by taking a walking vegan (eating) tour.

Below are a few must-grabs,  then I've clustered favorites together by neighborhood.

★No matter what, get yourself some Soy Curls!★

Soy Curls are made in Oregon and are readily available all over our sweet town--in bulk, packaged and prepared.  They're made from GMO and pesticide free soybeans, and are minimally processed and so MMMmmmmM.  They're also xgfx, but not always cooked that way, so be sure to check on their preparation if that's important.

Buy them in bulk to take home from Food Fight and Alberta Co-Op (and probably other places so keep your eyes on the prize).  They also make great neck pillows on International flights, if you mold your purchase just so.

Lots of restaurants and carts also sell them prepared and ready to eat, so feel free to try them on for size before you commit:  the infamous Mississippi Bowl at Native Bowl, Macnocheeto Burrito or in a special at Homegrown Smoker, in a salad at Blossoming Lotus, in a burrito, taco or bowl (my favorite) at Los Gorditos, jerkied and ready to chaw at Food Fight, Southern Bowl at Canteen, buffaloed at The Sweet Hereafter, in Caesar salad at Back to Eden and glorified to the max in nachos at Nutri Taco.  I know there's even more, see if you can find them all.

★You also need to get yourself a Peanut Butter Pit Bull chocolate bar by Rescue Chocolate.  They sell them at Food Fight, and since you're going there anyway, no problem!!

★Brunch is one of the most important food groups of all, so of course you need to know where to go.  Most of these restaurants have active Facebook pages with updates if their websites don't reveal enough.

• Blossoming Lotus:  Brunch on Sunday only.  Any of the scramble plates, which also come with steamed kale and ovenroasted potatoes.  The ketchup and hot sauce are made in house, and they also have great Bloody Marys.  My favorite of late is the Tofu Migas, but the menu changes regularly.
• AND Cafe:  Brunch everyday they're open. Their menu changes all the time and it's filled with tons of xgfx including waffles and potato nests.
• Vita Cafe:  Brunch everyday they're open.  We usually hit this with the omnies.
• Junior's Cafe:  Brunch everyday they're open.  I don't go to Junior's too often, 'cuz the xgfx is limited, although their potatoes with tofu sauce are really good.  They have vegan French toast.

So many loves for this. SoOOOoo many.

I also love★love★love Pixie Retreat Raw'r Laboratorie & Makery's Mock BLT. That's quite a name isn't it? These folks so-do-not mess around. If you spot one, don't be a cheap wad--the $6.99 you throw down will change your life. These L'il Grubbers are a xgfx delight: microplaned, spicy dehydrated eggplant shreds are planted between homemade onion-sunflower seed-flax crackers with smooth and tangy cashew cream cheese, a single tomato slice and fresh chard. You can find these in the cooler at Food Fight, the co-ops and New Seasons or directly from the Pixies on Thursdays.

Just wait and seee what 6g of fiber and protein do to you.

If you're doing the xgfx tour, you'd better pick up a loaf of Happy Camper bread.  It's wee, but it's organic and we all know small loaves travel better.  Plus it comes in dynamic flavors.  I like Party Hearty, 'cuz I'm WILD.  Also, they make buns (check the freezer at Food Fight), but if you don't have room for a bag Portobello serves their eponymous mushroom burger on them.

Here we go!
NE Alberta Arts:

• El Nutri Taco--This place used to be a cart, but they've recently expanded.  Get their Soy Curl Nachos (best nachos in the 'Land).
• The Bye and Bye--Yea, yea, but I'm reminding you to get something you might not be able to order at home.  Like a Bloody Mary, White Russian or their signature fruity Bye and Bye (which always gets me drunk).
• Back to Eden Bakery--XGFX Bakery!  Soft serve, sundaes and shakes!!!  I love their chili with spoonfuls of nooch on top.
• Vita Cafe--We've found Vita to be a great spot to bring our omnivorous visitors, so if you're in town with folks like that, they will be happy here (or they're just not happy people).  I always get the green salad with vegan ranch and a side of battered tempeh on top.  Amen, and I've heard their carrot cake is really good.
• Bolt Fabric Boutique-Not just a store but a boutique!  Conveniently located across the street from Back to Eden for all your cute vegan sewing needs.  They have a great collection of Japanese imports from Kokka and Echino and an awesome selection of indie patterns.  Don't leave without buying something from Colette Patterns (locally designed and locally awesome).
• Don Pancho Taqueria--Good tacos and a right on salsa bar, but the beauty is in their grocery store.  I visit for their insane assortment of dried chiles.  They let you open bags and mix 'n' match.
• Alberta Cooperative Grocery--For when you need a kombucha after all the nachos, or as a digestive beforehand, or in between.  Stock up!  They have a great bulk department.
• Kennedy School--Bathing suits are so not my thing, but this place has a heated saltwater soaking pool for $5.
• Bollywood Theater PDX--Dazee will read this and think I'm a complete yutz for including it, but between us, I have the best taste.  I've only been here once, but I loved it so much I wanted to be an instant regular.  Kim will go with me.

Historic N. Mississippi or Thereabouts:

• The Rebuilding Center--A huge warehouse filled with old toilets, doors and cabinets.  I love it.
• Native Bowl--Julie and Jay Hasson's yummy cart!  Everything is named after streets in Portland--my favorite is the Mississippi Bowl.  Layers of jasmine rice, ranch dressing, bbq soy curls and cabbage slaw.  Also, make sure you get a coconut macaroon! Everything is X to the GFX.
• Homegrown Smoker--Tell whoever's working you're gluten-free and you'll get set up with all the sides and a protein of your choice.  Smoky adventures await.
• North Portland Wellness Center--If you're into fire cups, book an appointment with Colleen in advance.  She's so good, and she will make you look as though you've been attacked by a giant octopus.  Plus there was a Portlandia skit filmed here, so TOTES LEGIT.
• Window Shopping--Cute shops, falafel, waffle sammies and coffee abound.

Seriously, do not block this garage door or you are getting in the way of treasure.

NE MLK-ish/Williams (My Hood-ish):

• SCRAP--This place is a gold mine of used craft supplies:  vintage patterns, fabric, picture frames, broken crayons and so much other stuff.  You never knew you needed it until you came here.  Plus they're dog friendly, Vee knows his way around this joint.
• Vintage by the Pound--Across from SCRAP.  Sometimes they have great stuff, sometimes not so much, but almost always worth the chance.
• Merkato Ethiopian Food Store (corner of NE Russell and MLK)--My go-to-shop for supplies like berbere and miten shiro.  They also make and distribute their own injera.
• Twisted--A really well stocked yarn shop.  They don't have the best vegan yarn, but they make up for it in well-priced circulars.
• Lodekka--An old double decker bus converted into a vintage clothing shop.  Plus they love Vee, and I love watching Vee go up and down the steeeeeep double decker stairs.
• Akemi--Want a cute haircut on your cute vegan head at a cute vegan owned and operated salon?  Check, check and check.  They give a tiny vegan discount too, book with Ted or Suzette!

Blissin' at the Kitten

NE 82nd-ish:

• Knittn' Kitten--THIS IS A YARN AND FABRIC THRIFT STORE!!!  They have vintage fabric, trim, patterns and Czech buttons and other amazing stuff. Yell it from the rooftop. 
• Bui Natural Tofu--Across the street from Knittn' Kitten.  Fuel up here.  They make tofu in-house. They even have some with noodles and green onions mixed into the milk before it's curded.  Get their fried lemongrass tofu and an order of tofu salad rolls.
• Hanoi Kitchen--Their vegan menu is limited, but I would marry their Pho and Bun Dau Hu.
• Fu Bonn--Everyone needs a big ol' grocery store specializing in East Asian goodies. Here's one!
• Value Village--If you've seen one Value Village, you've seen 'em all, but this one treats me right.  You never know when a small wicker basket will come in handy.
• Van Hanh--I don't get out to not-for-profit Van Hahn often (it's just a little bit further than I usually venture, but I do enjoy it's volunteer run quirky nature). However, I keep a copy of their menu in my car just in case, so that tells you something. Get the Vietnamese crepes (Banh Xeo).

As if Merkato Ethiopian Food Store wasn't cute enough.

SE Close-In:

• Vegan Mini Mall (SE Stark and SE 12th)--Just go.
• Canteen--Yummy kombucha on tap, juice and home of the Portland Bowl.  MmmMM.
• Cool Cottons--Another small fabric shop with a great Japanese import collection.  I usually go when I'm on errands and leave Vee in the car.  He barks the entire time I browse.
• Bete-Lukas--My favorite Ethiopian restaurant.  The vegan combo is dynamite (get it with shiro) and the injera is said to be xgfx.  
• Microcosm Publishing--Independent DIY reading material.  Zines 'n stuff.
• Yarnia--A vegan knitter's sticky happy place.  They have tons of plant fibers and synthetic yarns and have a machine that will wind it all up together.  Plus you get to work off a cone, no more tangly skeins for you.
• Portobello--If you have your heart set on eating at Portobello (and who doesn't?) make sure you go online and get a reservation at least two weeks before you visit. Otherwise, it takes about three hours to get a table, no exaggeration. But if you do end up waiting, their awesome mixologist Lauren will help you forget your woes. I ♥ Lauren.

SW/NW Downtown/Pearl:  
There's kinda too much to go over here, cuz you know it's DOWNTOWN and everything.

• Petunias--If you want a ridiculously cute hangout where you can drink fancy cocktails and stuff xgfx pastries into your cake-hole, it's here.  We like this for the girls' night out. 
• Emame's Ethiopian Food Cart--Emame's is conventiently located across the street from Dazee's office, so we eat here a lot.  Homestyle Ethiopian deliciousness with xgfx injera upon request.  
• Prasad--Bowls!  Raw collard Wraps!  Juice!  You have to take off your shoes to use the bathroom.
• Los Gorditos--I am way into Los Gorditos.  My jam is the Soy Curl bowl, but they have tons of great stuff and a separate vegan menu .  There's a cart and restaurant in SE and this newest location downtown even has a bit more stuff on the menu.
• Blush Beauty Bar--A dog friendly vegan nail polish supply shop which stocks Zoya's ever elusive nail polish remover!!
• Window shopping and sushi eating in Alphabet City.
• Mai Pho--The little Vietnamese food cart that could.  It is good.  Maybe even better than Hanoi Kitchen.  Maybe.
• Luc Lac--Sorta hipsterish Vietnamese food.  Muy yummy.

Ta Da!

xo

kittee

Homemade Brown Sugar is Nature's Kitchen Rumba.

Baking has been frequent recently.  With so many April birthdays (mine included), bake-sales and a package of sweets off to help fatten up a mending friend, it's been messy up in my kitchen.

I've also been making a lot of Mocha Almond Joy Brownies.  I'm gonna play the mean-card and show you yummy pictures without a recipe (it'll come shortly).

Pretty yummy looking, huh?
Mocha brownies, sweet mushy coconut, almonds, chocolate chips with a chocolate drizzle hug.

Besides torturing you with sticky brownie pictures devoid of recipes, I wanted to tell you about brown sugar and how I make my own.  These brownies contain it, but it's not an ingredient I usually keep in my pantry.  I don't use it enough, and then when I want it it's too hard, or too old.  Or something like that.

Really, the big-big reason I make my own is to control what sort of sugar is being used.  I'm not so much a stickler about what sort of sugar I eat when I'm out of the house, but for stuff I make, I only purchase organic unbleached sugar.  I also try to procure Fair Trade as much as possible.

Toe Weather.

Anyway, I'm sure you've heard that brown sugar is just granulated sugar with added molasses. It's true. The darker the brown sugar, the more molasses it contains.

My preference is 1 tablespoon of black strap molasses to 1 cup of granulated sugar, but this is loose.  Blend the two together with a fork, and in about 3 minutes you'll have the loveliest medium dark brown sugar you've ever done seen.  Not only is this brown sugar soft enough to rest your head on, but it tastes better than anything you could ever buy in a store.  It's also really fun to make and will whoa the kids.

xo
kittee

I Went to a Potluck, and All I Got Was this Sugar-Buzz.

This picture presents a lot of what is right in this world.  A fat tub of buttercream, peanut butter chocolate chip rice crispy wheels, sticky Chick-O-Stick marshmallow rice crispy wheels, onigiri molds, high-voltage kombucha, Chick-O-Sticks,  an iphone (best new toy ever), a ginormous offset spatula and my best friend (who has awesome frosting skills).  

I really am going to a potluck tomorrow, or at least a birthday beach party--which is pretty much the same thing in my book.  I generally don't go to b-day parties without bringin' something, 'cuz what's the fun in that?

Seriously, allow the size of this offset spatula to set in.  It was sunny while we worked, and it cast bright reflections all over the kitchen.  They nearly blinded us and made Tilda, the Boston Terrier coo-coo. Serious kitchen tool, do not mess with giant metal spatulas.

The birthday girl is Kim's sister, so today we joined our creative forces together and produced the birthday cake. (You better not be reading this Karla!) Or, the birthday candy cake, or the birthday wheel of fortune, or whatever you want to call this beautiful orb we crafted held together by nothing but our steel reserve and mounds of fluffy Chick-O-Stick buttercream.

 

This top view does not do the cake justice, since the blonde colored rice crispy stars get lost into the mounds of buttercream.  Just look hard and the magick will reveal itself to you.

We alternated two layers:  marshmallow Chick-O-Stick rice crispy wheels, Chick-O-Stick buttercream, peanut butter chocolate chip rice crispy wheels, more buttercream and repeat.  We formed candle-holding stars using Kim's onigiri molds, which was a stroke of pure Kim brain brilliance.

Making bake-less cakes on warm days is a lovely adventure, plus rice crispy cakes are helpful when you're not up for baking something xgfx, which can be tricky.  For the marshmallow layers, we used  a standard rice crispy recipe subbing in Earth Balance and Dandies, then adding crushed Chick-O-Sticks to the mix.  The peanut butter layers were from Pakupaku--we added in some chocolate chips.  We used our friend Julie's vanilla buttercream recipe and mixed in lots, lots and lots of crushed Chick-O-Sticks.

In case you don't know, Chick-O-Sticks make the world go round, and damn, that is one short dress.

This blog post is part of the Virtual Vegan Potluck and is connected to over 150 participating blogs.  Click on the forward and back links below to scroll through all the potluck goodies, including more desserts, appetizers, beverages, salad, bread, soup, main dishes and sides, or click here to see a giant list of all the participants.

Good thing this party is virtual, 'cuz soup at potlucks gets tricky. I never remember to bring a bowl.

             

xo
kittee

Oink oink go the cupcakes.

Our Portland Worldwide Vegan Bakesale was last weekend, and we did excellent for the animals. Almost $2400 was earned to be split between Cat Adoption Team and Green Acres Farm Sanctuary!  

My friend Katie is an an amazing xgfx baker.  You can see her caramel apple bars and toffee pictured above hangin' with a plate of goji berry cookie wonders and some MmmM-y peppermint patty bars.

There were SO MANY gorgeous edible donations, I went a wee tad off the handle with the camera.  I'm glad I did, because I didn't get a chance to take a good look at everything, what with the excitement and commotion of it all.  Plus, now I can gawk to my heart's content in the privacy of my own living room.

Back to Eden's creme filled cookie pies, cookies and donuts.  So much xgfx!

A small sampling of Scones! We asked for lots of savory donations, since these always seem to be the most popular.

I don't even know what all of this is, 'cuz it flew!  So much pretty.  I think we nailed presentation this year too, everything looks so well merchandised, if I do say so myself.  And I do, and I am.

Caramelized onion, mushroom & herbed cream cheese rolls hanging out with Louisiana style banana bread pudding.  

Macaroons, Almond Joy Brownies, Socca bites, truffles and chocolate chip cookies all hanging out with some donuts from Cinnamon.

Cupcake thingies of beauty.

Challah twists, more sandwich cookies and chocolate bottomed macaroons.

Treats from Petunias, super delicious tamales (I know 'cuz I ate the one that fell on the floor) and beautiful raspberry mini galettes.

Pear orange galettes, too!  I believe these were xgfx and made by my friend Angelika.  How did I not get one of these??

Amanda's dinosaur cookies and savory yummy twists.  I wish I had the details on these.  It's pretty obvious I am no  Veronica Mars Bakesale Detective.

I made these wheaty pretzel dogs in two flavors.  The standard topped with smoked salt and sesame seeds plus a chipotle cheese version with Follow Your Heart Cheddar.  I can post details if anyone's interested in the hows.

I also made these xgfx Coconut Almond Joy Mocha Brownies. 

Chocolate brownies made with coffee and topped with a condensed milk coconut combo, an almond and more chocolate. They were good, but they stuck to those durn papers.  I had to saw them out before the sale.  No bueno.

These peanut butter pretzel cupcakes tormented me until they sold out.  So much yum.

Oh yes, even Nutter Butter Hippo cupcakes made an appearance.

With the cutest moose and pig cuppers in tow.  These made me squee.

Thanks to everyone who helped--from the table donors, to the price it and set-uppers and everyone in-between.  Let's do another one soon!

xo kittee

Come One, Come All--PDX WWVBS

  WWVBS ≠ What would virgin bears sip. 

If you're reading this and you're in Portland, near Portland, or planning to come to Portland this is happening on Sunday.  Please come, you're cordially invited.  If you're somewhere else, there might be a sale near you!

Friends will be made.  Friends will also yell for posting pictures of them on the Internet.

If the photos from last year's archive aren't enough to lure you in, we're anticipating deliveries from over 50 volunteer bakers, plus the city's big yummies:  Voo Doo Donuts, Dovetail, Sweet Pea, Petunias, Back to Eden and Cinnamon.

Nails will get did and drinking from a Mason Jar will happen.

Word on the street is a plethora of savories will be waiting (collect them all!) -- tamales, pretzel dogs, tempeh sausage drop biscuits to name a few, the obvious gluten-freebies, plus loads of the sweet stuff including bread pudding, apple pie, peanut butter pretzel cupcakes, raw fudge, poppy seed cakey rolls! and mini galettes to name drop just a bit.

Please come say hi, and support these great causes with your cash.
xo
kittee

P.S.  The House of Dreams Cat Shelter is also hosting a WWVBS on Saturday the 20th!

This is Still Happening.

Rice paper wraps brimming with dressed Spring greens, fresh cilantro, a home-grown sprout mixture, thin apple slices, baked lemony tofu and garlic potatoes.

Yes, while you've been busy with your X and Y, I've been continuously stuffing things into rice paper wrappers, and then stuffing those into my mouth.   These were a favorite, and the most awesome and enjoyable way to eat greens.  If I might say, which I'm obviously giving myself permission to do.  Seriously, these two rolls contained an ENTIRE Pyrex bowl crammed with greens, fresh cilantro and home-grown sprouts.  You'd just never know, because they get condensed super tightly in the wrap.

While I made these with leftovers, I would gladly whip all of these components together to get to eat these again, they were that satisfying.  And also, SO EASY, with lefties I made them in five minutes.  I'm not even complaining about the freakin' cold potatoes.  In case you were wondering, rice paper wraps are perfect for that Spring potluck social you've just been invited to.  I'd recommend you get on this horse (not really, 'cuz duh).  But yea.

I'm not quite decided on this whole orange and purple combo.

For the potatoes, I modified the "recipe" over here.  I just tossed a few thin skinned potato wedges in EVOO, smoked salt, lots of minced fresh garlic, a bit of nutritional yeast and some ground coriander.  Then tossed them in potato starch and placed them on a lightly oiled baking sheet.  They took about 40 minutes to brown at 425F.

The tofu, I  made on the fly.  I mixed lemon juice and zest, wheat-free tamari, a squirt of cock sauce and a wee bit of water then layered in the pressed tofu slices.  I like to bake tofu in a little bit of liquid.  I think it's more flavorful to do so, but it does take extra time.  I also baked the tofu at 425F, but I'd say it took an hour to cook out the liquid, and then brown and firm up.

The greens were tossed in my favorite Caeser dressing of the moment from The Bold Vegetarian Chef, which I modified with a sub of raw cashews for the almonds, and an omission of the nori.  The Internet, god bless her, has gifted you with the recipe.

And then sliced apples, fresh cilantro and sprouts, which you know how to do.  I did put the apple on my mandoline, so mine were really, really thin.  No fingers were injured in the making of these wraps, either.  In case you were interested.

xo
kittee

Knitting & Sewing Madness.

Sweet rewards.

I realize I've posted nada on my crafting activities since January when I upchucked all over this blog with the Levenwick and Stripes! sweaters I knat. In case you can't recall, I became quite needle and yarn manic at the beginning of the year and managed to complete four sweaters in the span of the first two months of this year.  Yes, four!

As quickly as the frenzy began, it poofed away, and now you couldn't pay me in floral scented cinnamon bons-bons to take up the needles.  Don't fret, as I'm sure I'll be back to more yarn making craziness in the fall.  In the meantime, I'm seriously enjoying my new sweater bounty.  I haven't had this many sweaters lounging in my wardrobe in decades, and I'm completely enjoying the luxury of so many choices.

This Clashy Lassy Lefty User's my favorite out of the four.  I love the fit and the long wide sleeves.  

The last two sweaters I finished were patterns I improvised, and if you knit, you can see their details over on my Ravelry projects page.  They're similar in that they're both raglan cardigans made with vintage acrylic yarn from my stash and have slanted button bands.

If the weather cools down, as it's bound to do, I'll try to catch some shots modeling these so you can see what these look like in action.

Presenting the Project Warmth / Clusterfuck Revival.  You can't see them, but the sleeves have THUMB-HOLES!

This brown sweater was languishing on needles for a couple of years, since a good chunk of it needed to be ripped back to fix up some botched waist shaping I'd done.  I'm glad I finally found the strength to frog it and bring it back to life, because I love it bunches.  Too bad the bright sun blew out the color in these pictures, because the brown is much richer and deeper in real life.

My knitting energies transitioned into a sewing thing, although not with anywhere near the same frenzy or intensity.  Lately, Kim and I have been working on finding the perfect late 60's shift, so there have been quite a few trials making appearances.

The printed fabric is thrifted curtains!

Here's a snap of my first finished dress of '13, which Kim and I tag teamed to complete.  I sewed most of it, and she did the sleeves, because WHOA SET IN SLEEVES.  She did a great job (she has a little perfectionist who lives inside of her heart).  I'm more of a slug with the details, but am hard at work trying to perfect this whole sleeve business.

In case you want to know, the bumped toes are made by Demonia.  My shoe wardrobe is and probably will always be alt 80's.

You can see a few of the patterns we've acquired, along with this insanely adorable cotton print my friend Hannah recently sent me.  It's seriously the best fabric of all time.  I squealed when I opened the package, and then I ran to the bathroom to pee.  So happy.

Oh!  I also gave this blog a little makeover!  If you're viewing this from a reader, click on over some time to check it out.  I added some fun page links on the sides and tried to make it a little less busy and a whole lot more reader friendly.  I also post a bit more regularly over on the FB page, so if you want to keep in touch with me more, that's a fine place to do it.

xo
kittee