Vegan Frittata For Everyone!

A simple frittata recipe that just tastes complicated! And without the use of vegan cheese (making our own creaminess with tofu), this is a dish that anyone can make using ingredients from any grocery store. Easy recipe with spectacular flavor, now that's Naughty!

Veggie Tofu Frittata


2 cups fresh spinach
1 tbsp garlic, minced 1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
1/4 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 yellow zucchini, chopped
1 green zucchini, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 container tofu, grilled & cubed
1 container tofu, drained
1/4 cup vegetable broth
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp dried thyme
sea salt & pepper to taste


Preheat oven 350 degrees. Place first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. In a food processor, blend one container of tofu with about half of the vegetable broth, reserve the rest of broth. Add blended tofu to the large bowl. Mix everything well then add in the rest of the broth, oil, and the seasonings. Mix again until everything is well combined, then transfer to a greased casserole dish. Bake covered for 30 minutes, uncovered for an additional 25 minutes, or longer (until firm). Let frittata settle. Use a spatula to cut/ scoop out to serve. Enjoy!

Yum! This tastes amazing as-is...but I eat mine with ketchup because that's what Dirty Vegans do!

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Family Pleasing Creamy & Cheezy Bake

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." -James Beard

Don't we all just love easy and cheezy? Bakes are super simple, come together nicely, and can be popped right into the oven until they are ready to serve. They also provide great leftovers for the next day's lunch! Another thing about casseroles is that you can easily make them a balanced meal. This recipe has protein in your tofu and beans, lycopene in your tomatoes and paste, healthy carbohydrates in your rice (I used brown rice to be extra healthy), and lots of other healthful ingredients. You can add more or different veggies depending on what you have on hand. At any rate, this is a great meal that tastes absolutely sinful!

Savor My Family Friendly 'Cheezy Rice & Beans Bake' Recipe

1 cup cooked rice

1/2 large onion, chopped

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

8oz tofu, drained & cubed

15oz can pinto beans, drained & rinsed

1 package (2 cups) Daiya Pepper Jack Shreds "cheese"

1 6oz can tomato paste

1/4 cup Veganaise

2 tbsp Silk Original Creamer

1/ 2tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp chili powder

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Add all ingredients to a casserole dish. Combine very well and level with a spoon. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then an additional 15 minutes uncovered. You may want to serve this with a dollop of your favorite complimentary condiments, like guacamole, Tofutti Sour Cream, or pico di gallo. Enjoy!

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Fun Fall Soup: An Illustrated How To

This soup encompasses various autumn flavors like squashes and apple, and is a cinch to make. It is also perfect to eat on a cool autumn night, with some crusty bread, and your family close by. I bet you're wondering about this lovely soup and how to make it. So, let's get started!

Ingredients you'll need:
1 acorn squash
1 large sweet onion
3 carrots
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 green apple
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/4 lb bag frozen cubed butternut squash, thawed
6 cups vegan broth
1 bay leaf
pinch of dried thyme
sea salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven 400 degrees.

Cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Place halves face down on a baking pan and roast for 45 minutes.

Now you're going to chop some produce to add to a medium sized sauce pan.

Chop your sweet onion.

Chop your carrots.

Chop your apples and add them in the pan with some minced garlic too.

So now you've got your sauce pan filled with onion, carrot, garlic, and apple. Now add your seasoning; the curry powder, ground ginger, and olive oil. 

Mix well and saute on medium heat until soft.

When the mixture is soft, it should look something like this. Remove from heat and set aside.

The acorn squash should be ready to take out of the oven! Let it cool so that you can scoop it out.

Scoop out the acorn squash and add it to a big bowl with your sauteed mixture, thawed butternut squash, and vegan broth. Now you will have to puree this. You can either do this in batches in a processor or you can keep it in the large bowl and carefully blend with a handheld pulsing blender. Either way, its probably going to get a little messy, so prepare.

Once everything is is pureed, transfer to a large sauce pan. Season with a bay leaf, dried thyme, sea salt, and pepper.

Simmer on low for 20 minutes.

Enjoy this delicious soup with some crusty bread, topped with generous amounts of crisp breadcrumbs, or even in a delicious sourdough bread bowl!

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Love Me a Naughty Samich!

ChickNone Salad Sandwich with Maple Mustard

Makes 2 sandwiches 

1 package vegan "chicken" strips

1/4 cup vegan mayo (I used Veganaise)

1 tbsp capers

sea salt & pepper to taste

2 tbsp yellow mustard

2 tbsp pure maple syrup

4 slices thick bread

Prepare "chicken" strips as according to package directions (I used microwave for a minute). In bowl, mix together strips, mayo, capers, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together mustard and maple syrup. Spread slices of bread with maple mustard mixture then top with "chicken" strips. Serve with a pickle, if you're feeling crazy. Enjoy!

Simple never tasted this good!

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Clipping Dog's Nails...Oh the Horror

You would think little Rocky the chihuahua would be just the little darling during grooming. Well when it comes to nail clipping, you thought wrong. He despises it. We've tried different methods, tools, clipping devices, and the only way that seems to work is when I take him to the groomers and hold him while she walks around us and clips
away. It takes like less than a minute and he's fine with it. But for some reason, when he's home, the nail clipping takes a long time. Rocky likes to squirm, and move his little arms all around, and with frequent breaks and treats, its like a full day, sometimes over the course of multiple days, adventure. Mind you, I've never cut the quick of any animal's nails and I frequently trim the claws of two dogs, a cat, and an iguana successfully. However, to save little Rocky the stress of nail clipping at home, I opt to take him to the groomers most of the time. On the flip side, Rocky loves baths, eye and ear grooming, messages, and doesn't mind teeth cleaning, but only to be done by me at home. He does not particularly enjoy these spa services to be preformed by anyone else but moi.

Here is a look at Rocky's latest mani/ pedi. We did this at home in the sun where he enjoys to bask and relax, and I did as much as I could until he got squirmy, then did the rest the next day. All I can say is to have patience, and if you cannot, take your fur baby to the groomer...its quick and painless. You should never ignore your animal companion's grooming needs, so if they are fussy with you, take it from me and leave it to the professionals. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off.

A Dog Poem...

When I read this poem I laughed so hard that I cried! Thought you might like this and it may remind you of your canine companion...

"I lie belly up...

In the sunshine, happier than
You ever will be.


Today I sniffed
Many dog butts — I celebrate
By kissing your face.


I sound the alarm!
Paperboy — come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!


I sound the alarm!
Garbage man — come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!


I lift my leg and
Whiz on each bush. Hello, Spot —
Sniff this and weep.


I Hate my choke chain —
Look, world, they strangle me! Ack
Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack!


Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot — no greater bliss — well,
Maybe catching cats.


Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much I do."

-Anonymous

Love this, especially the part about the service workers being out "to kill us all". It just reminded me so much of Rocky and Shirley. The only part I don't like about the poem, is about the choke collar. I am against them and do not use choke collars, obviously. If you are kind and patient, you can teach your dog anything with positive reinforcement, not by abusive methods. When all else fails...use treats! Works every time. Works on people too. How do you think my parents taught me things like potty training? There is a reason I was reading at age three! Age three and high blood pressure from all the "treats". All kidding aside, I really was reading at age three. Fun fact about the Dirty Vegan. Why am I not working as a mad scientist you ask? I was born to be an animal rights activist and be the voice for my animal pals. And for now, the Reading-At-Age-Three-Animal-Loving-Fat-Kid is signing off.

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Holy Mock Meats, Batman!

No animals were harmed in this realistic looking soy food!

I've had veggie jerky before. I've had Primal Strips, Tofurky Jerky, and other brands with a similar product. Never had I experienced this type of sweet and spiciness before. It is called, "Veggie Jerky"; please don't ask me what else this package says, because I admit, I will not be able to tell you this. On the back of the package reads the vegan ingredients in English, which are simple, basic, and natural: "Non-GMO soy, etc.". I'm guessing on the front of this package, the symbols read 100% vegetarian/ vegan and two out of three stars for spiciness; definitely spicy tasting. This Veggie Jerky comes from Taiwan where it is produced and I happen to know that the culture there takes great pride in their mock meats and getting tofu or soy items to be as realistic as possibly. Imitation food is an art-form, utilizing craft and skill. I respect this art and think it is rather interesting. And as long as its 100% vegan-friendly, I'm always game to try it!

So what do you think? Is this vegan jerky too realistic for you, or would you give it a try?

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