Don't Fret, Honey Coffee Beans Are Vegan

I have been a huge lover of the local Cuvée coffee, but every time I go to the store, I read on the package of the different ways its beans are processed: Pulped (the traditional way), water (the high-tech modern way), and honey. I have avoided the honey processed varieties because I was unsure whether they were vegan. The only time I ever thought about it until now was when I was in the store. According to SeattleCoffeeWorks.com, "Remember that the mucilage of the coffee cherry is sticky and slimy, so it is sometimes called 'honey.' During the Honey Process, coffee is dried with some or all of the mucilage remaining on the parchment encasing the seed. Coffee cherries are picked, sorted, depulped, and then moved to drying patios or beds for various periods of time. Because there is a little bit of fermentation happening in the short amount of time it takes for the mucilage to dry, coffees processed in this way feature a little more acidity than Pulped Naturals (Pressure-Washed) coffees, but significantly less acidity than Washed or Natural/Dried-in-the-Fruit coffees." The website goes on to say that producers leave varying amount of honey on the beans and state that percentage. So, honey on coffee beans has to do with flavor, and it is fully vegan. Awesome. I'm looking forward to trying some now.

Veganizing Korean Army Stew

Since I have been thinking about Korean food, I'll let you in on what I'm veganizing tonight: budae-jjigae. It is an interesting mix between American and Korean cultures. I'm going to use Field Roast Celebration Roast instead of Spam and Field Roast Frankfurters instead of hotdogs. I'm using Marmite instead of anchovies. Pork, I have no answer for that, but most of the flavorings can be got in vegan forms. Here is the non-vegan recipe via Anthony Bourdain of all people: http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/24/travel/bourdain-parts-unknown-korea-recipe/.

P.S. Here's the results: The flavor is amazing but a bit too rich and a little too salty.

The Perfect Earth Balance Delivery System

My sweet mother brought me a pile of no-oil (vegan, of course), cranberry and almond muffins that she baked, and I have been basically subsisting on them for the last couple of days as I am finishing up school work. Of course, no-oil muffins really are the perfect Earth Balance delivery system. I don't have to feel guilty for that huge pat of microwave-melted margarine in each muffin.

New Vegan Bacon May Be Benevolent, But It's Just Too Much

I don't know how many of you have tried the Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon, but I am not a fan. It is way too strongly flavored. Maybe this will be attractive to people. I had it on a pizza I just made with cremini mushrooms, and I could not taste anything else but the bacon. I guess that is just like what real bacon would do.

You Can Never Go Wrong with Arlo's Vegan Burgers

Believe it or not, despite being a loyal customer for years, I have not had Arlo's fakin bakon, no-chessen burger before tonight. It was fantastic, but, in my opinion, it does not quite reach the level of greatness as their barbecue burgers. I'm glad I finally tried the famous Americana burger, but my heart and wallet still vote for the barbecue burger, which is the most creative and tasty vegan burger around. Either way, though, Arlo's has the best burgers anywhere, and you can't go wrong if you prefer the Americana or the wild and slightly spicy barbecue sensation.