Tofu Burgers from "Peaceful Palate"

Mmm!  Forget those store-bought veggie burgers that look like frozen cow patties; instead, try a delicious homemade tofu-based burger from the Peaceful Palate cookbook.  Peaceful Palate was one of the first vegan cookbooks I bought and it remains an outstanding source for tasty and easy-to-make vegan meals, side dishes, and baked goods.  

They are sooo delicious!  I could eat them plain--the seasonings are just so savory.  It's very hearty, with bread crumbs and quick-cook oats mixed with crumbled firm tofu.  But the patties go really well with all the usual burger condiments.  The patties are a bit delicate so you may find a few pieces fall off when you eat your burger, but you'll just be glad to nab them up and eat them with your fingers :->

Vegan Brownies

If you are looking for a healthy vegan recipe, stop reading now!

If you want a delicious vegan brownie recipe that has zero redeeming nutritional value but tastes really good, this is the recipe for you.  

I needed something that would taste very similar to "real" brownies to have on hand when my in-laws arrived last week since my father-in-law is used to really decadent desserts (his father was a German baker!) but I didn't have time after work to make a really elaborate cake before their arrival.  The brownies really did the trick.  I was surprised that I didn't find any vegan brownie recipes in the cookbooks I had on hand, so I did a Google search and came up with the well-reviewed recipe on Allrecipes.com.  The result was tasty and very easy to make.  I cringed at the amount of sugar and oil in there, but for a splurge it was worth it.

The result is a bit more crumbly than regular brownies (I wouldn't recommend it as finger food) but tastes delicious.  I even melted some vegan marshmallows over mine.  Yum!

Pumpkin Pasties

 Presenting, courtesy of Dumbledore's Army, and our kitchen, Pumpkin Pasties:

Mmmm!  Sweet, pumpkin goodness.  I loved this treat!  Definitely the best "Harry Potter" recipe we've made so far.  My sister and I found the pumpkin pasties so delightful, we plan to make them for the rest of the Harry Potter movie evenings left in our marathon.  The crust is just wonderful, perfectly flaky and with a delicate, slightly sweet texture that is hugely satisfying.  The filling is also sumptuous, not quite like pumpkin pie, with a bit of a nuttier flavor (given the cashews).  If anything I would have liked more filling ratio to the crust, so we may experiment and make the pasties bigger next time.  Highly recommended, not just for Harry Potter fans, but anyone looking for a sweet treat perfect for Thanksgiving month.