Margarita Cupcakes

Oh hello blog… It’s me, Chubby. Sorry, I have been away.

Here is a recap…

1. My elderly dog, Nana Bear, has been really sick. She has cancer and we thought we were going to lose her. Luckily she pulled through and is now acting like she has never heard the word cancer. YAY!
2. I had a quick (and unexpected) trip to NYC- my happy place.
3. Upon my return, one of my other dogs (Buddy) decided he felt left out. He hurt his back and was screaming more than I ever heard a dog scream in my life. Emergency trip to the ER Vet, lots of drugs and money later; now my house is a dog hospital.

Sigh...

All of this makes me want to drink. Yep, drink. Since it is summer, I feel it is only fitting to drink my favorite summer beverage- a frozen margarita.

Alas, my blender is in the shop. So, we will have the next best thing: a margarita cupcake!

Oh man these are good. You know how some “drink desserts” are just a little off. Not these babies… They are just the perfect mix of summer and fun to make you want to eat every last one. The recipe is from my go-to vegan goddess, Isa Chandra Moskowitz.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. They are L-O-V-E-L-Y.

Info after the jump…

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For the Love of (Stuffed Crust) Pizza

 Who doesn't love Pizza?

That greasy mess is as American as credit card debt and shopping at Wal-Mart. But, alas, I am a pizza fan. Ever since discovering that Papa John’s original crust pizza (sans cheese) is vegan I have been spending a bit too much time on the pizza train.

Then I saw this lovely from one of my all time favorite food bloggers, Meet the Shannons.

Mexican + Pizza = quite possibly the best food combo since Peanut Butter and Jelly.

I made a few minor adjustments from the original recipe, but nothing major. The result is nothing short of a pizza miracle. I officially bow down to this Shannon family masterpiece.

¡Ole!

Recipe after the jump…

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Cute. Dog. Overload

I talk about my dogs a fair bit because, well, they are awesome.

Clearly I think my dogs are the best thing since tofu tacos. However, sometimes I have to step aside and let other canine friends get some attention for their pure awesomeness.

Enter Mamma Biscuit. Here is the lowdown:

Lives in the best city in the world (check)

Has two daddies (check)

Eats a vegan diet (check)

Shares an undying love for Madonna (check)

Has an exquisite sense of fashion (check)

Rescued from a terrible life (check)

When vegan superstar Isa Moskowitz tweeted Mamma's blog I was in cute overload. Clearly, I have to share it with all of you…

Please share some love for Mamma Biscuit and her lovely daddies. She made a new Chubby Vegan fan and I hope you will join me in sharing her some love.

Desperately Seeking Mamma Biscuit

XOXO

Chubby Vegan

A couple more of my favorite pics, just because...

Pose... werk... *snaps*

Pearls make everything better...

Move over Anna Wintour!

I feel the same way girl...

¿Quien es?

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Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Curry

I like recipes. For so long I have clung to recipes as if they were life or death. I am slowly getting over that however because some of my favorite meals are those that you just throw together.

You know the kind; figure out what you have in your house, mix it in a pot, add some spices, and hope for the best. I have a friend that is a pro at that- although 9.9 times out of 10 it ends up being something Mexican. The moral of the story is that salsa, chili powder, and black beans make everything better.

Which we all know is true.

This is my throw it together for Sweet Potato & Cauliflower curry. It is the shell of a great recipe so you can add to it what you would like. It really came out of me having sweet potatoes and cauliflower that I needed to use, throwing them together in a skillet, adding some spices, and here you go.

Do you have a favorite throw it together recipe? What is it? 

Recipe after the jump…

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Everyone Needs Some Pride

In case you didn't know, June is Pride month. I have a really fun Pride food post to share soon but I just couldn't resist sharing this video with all of you today. For two reasons:

1. It is unbelievably awesome.
2. This kid is the exact same as me at 9 years old, except he isn't chubby.

What better way to celebrate Pride than a video of boy who can work it out to “Vogue” at 9 years old?

Pride is a time to celebrate everything that makes us special. Since I have no videos of myself as a 9 year old busting it out to Madonna; this is the next best thing. This kid (Robert Jeffrey) is the exact same age as me. His parents took him on a trip to NH as a 9 year old and there was a vendor offering people the chance to lip-sync in front of a blue screen. What we are left with is magical...

I plan to celebrate Pride by recreating this video at every chance I get. How about you?

Happy Pride Everyone!

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Walnut Lentil Manicotti

If you have ever read my bio on the right side of the page, you can see I very clearly say, “I don’t write recipes.”

I lied.

I finally wrote my first Chubby Vegan original and I must say I am pretty happy about it. Now, I read lots of recipes- lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of recipes. So, if by some chance I got the inspiration on this recipe from something else than I apologize if I am ripping it off.

For now though I will take the credit and check this off my bucket list. Move over Martha, Chubby Vegan is moving in.

Okay, maybe not...

I was so excited about this recipe that I made my neighbor and her family come over and try it. Her 12 year old stepdaughter, who is unreal picky, loved it. I think my work here is done.

**drumroll**

Presenting my first Chubby Vegan original, Walnut Lentil Manicotti!

Recipe after the jump…

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Vegan Los Angeles (Day Two)

Another Gratuitous LA Beach Scene

When I look back at my posts, I think I say things are “the best ever” or “the most delicious meal I have ever had” way too much.

Maybe I am just colorful?

Perhaps I over emphasize a bit?

Could I just like food that much?

I don’t know really. But what I do know is that these places in Los Angeles carry my highest recommendation. Both places were just awesome. Really, Bess pointed me in the right direction and I owe her a debt of gratitude. By gratitude I mean Madeleine Bistro donuts the next time I am in LA.

M Café

Anyplace that serves a good vegan breakfast is okay in my book. Add on some Babycakes cupcake tops and you just scored an A++ for me. I enjoyed my first ever Benedict (vegan or not) at M café, which was served with a grilled whole-grain baguette, steamed kale, tomato, tempeh bacon and topped with soy hollandaise. It was perfection on a plate. Plus, it was one of the best presentations I have seen in a long time. Yes, please!

Because I couldn’t resist, I also had some Babycakes cupcake tops too. Dessert for breakfast is okay, right? It is when you are chubby.

Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill is a vegan chain serving up “fast-food esque” vegan fare in the greater Los Angeles area. Really, I think this place alone is enough to make me want to live in LA. I had the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ sandwich which I haven't been able to stop thinking about. I think I may have dreamed about it a few times. This came with a side of perfect vegan macaroni and cheeze and we ordered sweet potato fries as an appetizer. To save you from my gushing, I will just say you need to add this place to your vegan bucket list, ASAP.

A little more after the jump...

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Vegan Los Angeles (Day One)

Gratuitous LA Scenery Shot

I am really lucky.

I get to travel to some very cool places for work. While I am there, I believe it is my duty to check out as many cool places as humanly possible. Naturally, for a chubby guy, this means eat at as many places as I can.

During my last trip to Los Angeles I made sure to visit some of LA’s finest vegan eateries. Much like New York City, Los Angeles is a vegan wonderland. LA is one of the only places I have been where you can drive around and see vegan eateries literally anywhere. Most cities you have to go to the “special” part of town to find an all vegan restaurant; you know the part of town that is just a little bit run down and everyone rides a bike.

Since I ate at a fair amount of places in LA, I am splitting it and all of its vegan loveliness into two posts:

Real Food Daily (RFD)

I was joined by the lovely, incredible, sweet, amazing, and just all around awesome Bess from I Dream of Greenie for my first trip to Real Food Daily. Bess gave me lots of wonderful recommendations for my vegan tour of LA and this was definitely one of them. RFD had a solid menu with plenty of really fun and eclectic choices. We started off with the “Not-chos” that were covered in melted cashew cheese and guacamole. Really doesn't get much better than that.

I had the “Burger with the works,” which included avocado, tempeh bacon, melted cashew cheese. This burger was about as big as my head and I almost had a hard time finishing it. Alas, that burger was no match for me. It was, by far, one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had. It came with a lovely vegan Caesar salad too; a perfect accessory to a great burger.  

Finished it off with some mint chip ice cream and a heaping topping of “I can’t wait to go back.”

Madeleine Bistro

Well not really. But, Bess brought me a donut from Madeleine Bistro and it was incredible. It was one of those pastries that just gets better with each bite. It just melted in your mouth. I want more. Now…

One more after the jump...

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The Results Are In...

Thanks to your votes, I will be celebrating my one year “vegan-versary” by setting a challenge for my Chubby Vegan readers.

$500 for Farm Sanctuary in 5 Months 

If you don’t know about Farm Sanctuary, here is a little bit of information on who they are what they do:

Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of factory farming and to encourage a new awareness and understanding about “farm animals.” At Farm Sanctuary, these animals are our friends, not our food.

This place is so much more than a farm. It is life changing. Farm Sanctuary puts life into perspective. Look into the eyes of a chicken and tell me you can eat it. Sit on the ground with a lamb and explain how you can condone the horrible treatment he would receive in a factory farm.

I love this place. I went for the first time in May and I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around how much of an emotional experience it was. It was moving. It was magical. I walked around almost speechless by the beauty of the farm and the emotions it stirred up.

It is only right that I help raise money for them.

I am pledging $100 of my own money over the next 5 months, which only leaves $400 to raise.

Please visit the Farm Sanctuary website directly to donate… Any gift, big or small, would help them. Even if you can only give $5, do it. A gift of $20 gives you a one year membership.

So I can keep track, please shoot me an email or leave a comment and let me know if you donated.

Every gift counts... Will you join me?

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

Help save more lives & celebrate my "vegan-versary"… Donate today!

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