Recipe: Vegan Apple Crisp

If you read my blog regularly, you know that my knowledge of kitchen utensils is sub par, and up until I made this recipe, I had no idea that there's a difference between an apple brown betty (contains breadcrumbs) and an apple crisp (uses oats and/or flour).  (I do like the term "betty" better than crisp, though, because it reminds me of Ram Jam's "Black Betty.")

I made a vegan apple crisp recipe I found on The Post Punk Kitchen's site (new and improved!  check it out!).  I don't like raisins all that much and was fresh out of arrowroot powder so I used cornstarch, but otherwise, I followed the instructions and ingredients to the letter. 

And it looked a little something like this: 

 

Admittedly, I'm my own worst critic, so I thought this recipe was just ok.  Growing up, my mom never ever EVER used sugar in recipes.  She used honey instead, and I think I'm more accustomed to what apples taste like when they're mixed with honey - not gobs of white sugar.  BUT...I made this for some dinner guests and they gobbled it up, so I have to believe that if you're a fan of cooking apples with sugar, you'd like this recipe.  I think I'd make this vegan apple crisp again, but maybe I'd try to use agave instead.

Vegetarian Happening this Friday at University Heights Whole Foods

If you're a vegetarian, are vegetarian friendly/curious, or are just looking for something to do this Friday (November 6, from 5-7 pm), you should check out this week's 5X7 at the University Heights Whole Foods.  It will feature 5 different food and wine pairings - vegetarian food and wine pairings - for only $5!  (If you've attended a 5X7 in the past and already have a Whole Foods wine glass, it's only $4 - such a deal!)  This event is always vegetarian friendly (typically one of the 5 food stations has meatless grub), but this is the first all vegetarian 5X7 event I've seen. 

If for some crazy reason you can't make it to this 5X7, be sure to check out the line-up of upcoming events.  There are going to be quite a few holiday themed events including wine tastings.  (great for non-beer drinkers like me!  not so great for beer drinkers :/)  Click here to view the entire store event calendar.

Another great pumpkin discovery - Stonyfield Farm Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

Through the power of social media, I frequently get alerts tweeted to me or sent to me via Facebook about new healthy, organic, or vegetarian friendly products. About a month ago, Stonyfield Farm Yogurt sent out an update (and a much less exciting press release) announcing the release of a new fall limited edition yogurt flavor - pumpkin pie. Loving all things pumpkin, I was SO excited and ran to the grocery store to look for this new item. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to find the pumpkin pie variety until yesterday. (I know, the agony!)

I'll be the first person to admit that I'm a yogurt snob. For so many years I couldn't eat yogurt since it was infused with gelatin to make it "creamier," so if a yogurt doesn't meet my taste and texture preferences, I don't even feel bad about throwing it away. I'm sad to report that the texture of this pumpkin pie yogurt was a little bit thicker than I'd generally care for, but the authentic pumpkin pie taste really made up for that. (And at only 130 calories, I'm guessing it's a bit "better for me" than real pie) It's pretty incredible how spot on the flavor is. If you blind-folded me, and real pie and this yogurt had the same texture (impossible, I know...but work with me here), it might be hard to tell the difference, except for the slightly sour aftertaste of the yogurt.

I'm hoping this is one of the the first of many pumpkin flavored product discoveries this fall. Too bad I didn't discover this cool treat last week when it was still hot and pumpkin pie coffee today, since it's so cold...oh well. Are there any new fall inspired products that you're a fan of?