Family Potato Dumplings...VEGAN STYLE!

I have recently decided something...I was absolutely meant to be vegan because the only signature family dish on my mother's side of my family was so easily veganized that our entire family couldn't tell the difference between the vegan and non-vegan version. You see, every year (sometimes twice a year) my maternal grandmother makes a dish labelled 'potato dumplings' for our family to stuff our faces with. Even though it is called potato dumplings it is actually potato dumplings mixed with fried cabbage. Doesn't that sound delicious? I haven't been around for potato dumpling fest for a long time now since I am usually away at university when it occurs, but having graduated I was there this time. The only thing standing in the way of this dish being vegan is one pesky egg in the dumplings. My grandmother, being the thoughtful lady that she is, decided to just try making the dumplings without the egg. Considering that it is only one egg in a batter to make about a zillion dumplings, how much could it really do. It turns out that the dumplings turned out exactly the same!!! And they are absolutely delicious. I couldn't give you the recipe right now...I don't know it. Once I learn how to do it, I will try to share it with you all.

Delicious potato dumplings with salt, pepper, and melty Earth Balance covering the top. This is the 'traditional' way to serve them!

Since this post can't be all about potato dumplings, here is a bit more. I got so excited about the presence of pumpkins at the farmer's market that I cooked up three of them. One of the products of all that cooked pumpkin was pumpkin bran muffins from Vegan Brunch.

Pumpkin Bran Muffin made with whole wheat pastry flour. Bran + whole wheat flour = fibre joy!

Last weekend I went to a haunted house with my brothers and some of their friends. It was supposed to be super scary, but I just can't get over the fact that it isn't real. The fact that they couldn't touch us didn't help the case either. Here's a photo of my brother with one of the characters:

Nate told this guy that his breath smells. 

Well, that's all for now. As soon as I get something else cooking I will be sure to post about it. Just thinking about the possibilities is making me hungry!

Making Applesauce...from scratch!I

So, what have I been doing? Since it's been so long since I last updated my blog I'll give you the short version. Considering my current state of unemployment (I actually start a job at Kohl's tomorrow!), I haven't been doing too much. I really have no good reason for not updating...just the fact that I've been too lazy. The main culinary event has been applesauce made from scratch. I went apple-picking with my aunt and got quite a lot of apples for only $5! I had been wanting to try canning foods for quite some time now, and fresh apples were perfect for trying it. It was quite an expedition to learn how to can. It's not so hard, but there are several steps involved and accurate timing and sanitation are key. 

Fresh apples, just washed and ready to be peeled...my not so favourite part!

The lovely ingredients to be made into applesauce. The original recipe called for honey, but everyone knows how vegans feel about honey...agave nectar to the rescue!

Here are the apples all chopped, peeled, and mixed with lemon and apple juice to simmer until soft.

I used a food mill to puree the soft apples into a smooth, but still textured applesauce.

Here's my applesauce, ready to be simmered on the stove. I don't know why that step was necessary, but it probably had to do with bacteria content.

Here's the applesauce after I added the agave nectar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The applesauce tasted fine without any of the additions, but since it was the first time I was trying the recipe I wanted to keep as true to it as possible.

Here are the pretty jars all washed and ready to be boiled before filling them with tasty applesauce!

The finished product! The applesauce was put into 1/2 pint jars and then boiled for twenty minutes to seal the lids. Now I will have applesauce all winter and probably into the summer. I got nine 1/2 pint jars.

Now, since this is a vegan blog we have to end on some cuteness. Here are a few shots of some of the pets at my house.

Gus, enjoying himself at the dog park.

Baily, in one of his favourite spots: a dining room chair!

Well, that's all for this post, but I have a question for you all: has anyone tried canning and if you have what is your favourite thing to can?