VEGAN PIEROGIES W/ COCONUT BACON BITS

Happy end of Veganuary! I hope lots of people gave it a shot  and hopefully some of them decided to stay that way. It's so important for your body to eat healthy and you really make less of an impact on our beautiful world by doing so. Being vegan is good for the mind, body and soul. If you're eating healthier then your body is working better. Who wouldn't want that?!  I know for a lot of people they can't behind the whole "animals have feelings too" so why not look at it as a better way to treat your precious body. You only live once so take care of yourself! Anyways, I made pierogies!!! They were way too good. Tastes so traditional and boy, did I ever crave pierogi after my veganism. They are so nostalgic for me.  A weekly meal in our house as a child. I've never had homemade ones before and WOW. Whole different ball game. Ever since I started making this recipe I can't stop. The bacon bits seem so real! I was a little hesitant trying just shreds of coconut to make bacon but I swear by it now. So much cheaper and healthier than store bought bacon bits or some faux meats as well. This recipe is a little bit time-consuming but so worth it! So grab a tub of Tofutti sour cream (there's a link attached) and dig in! Enjoy.

VEGAN PIEROGIES WITH COCONUT BACON BITS

Recipe

For filling
6 potatoes, yellow preferably, boiled and mashed
4 stalks of green onion chopped
2 tablespoons earth balance buttery spread (link attached)
4 tablespoons silk cashew milk (link attached)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon paprika
dash of pepper
Daiya cheese of your choice (link attached)

For bacon bits
1/2 cup lets do it organic unsweetened coconut flakes (link attached)
1 1/2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce (link attached)
2 teaspoon soy sauce
6 drops liquid smoke
1 tablespoon canola oil

For dough
3 cups flour, unbleached
1 cup warm water
3 tablespoons canola oil + some for frying the pierogi
1 teaspoon salt

Steps

To make your coconut bacon, which is what I usually bang out first because it's so quick and easy. You will need a small bowl to mix all your ingredients in and a small frying pan on medium heat with 1 tablespoon of canola oil. Put your coconut flakes into a small bowl. I usually crush them up in my hand first to make them more like bacon bits. It works great! Add your Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and liquid smoke. Stir everything together well with a fork. Once your pan is hot, add your coconut bacon. Allow to fry for 4-5 minutes or until desired texture. They can burn! So make sure you keep an eye on it. 

Fill a big pot up with water and a dash of salt. This is for boiling your potato make sure it's over half full. Add a dash of salt. Turn onto to medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Place the lid on top. Peel and wash your potatoes. Cut them up into quarters and soak in water for 5 minutes. This helps get the starch out. Add to the boiling water and let boil until soft. once they are soft enough to poke through with a fork drain the water. Add your ingredients then mash the potatoes.  Add your coconut bacon. Let them cool.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to make the dough. In a large bowl add the water and canola oil.  Add 2 cups flour and begin to mix in with a fork. It should be nice and soft and have an elastic kinda texture. Once your ball of dough has formed begin to knead it with your hands. Your dough shouldn't be sticky so slowly add your one cup of remaining flour. Transfer to a clean, lightly floured counter space. Begin to knead the rest of your flour into your dough and continue kneading for 5 minutes. Roll your dough out into a large rectangular shape. It should be about a 1/4 of an inch thick. I usually use my measurement cup or a mug to cut out the pierogies. They should be about 2-2 1/2 inches across. Repeat this step until all your dough is gone. It should make 15. 

Bring a large pot to a boil with 6 cups of water. Add a dash of salt and oil. This is to boil your pierogies in. Make sure your potato filling is cool before beginning to fill your pierogies. Take one small piece of your choice of Daiya cheese (I used cheddar) and 1 1/2 tablespoons of your filling. Place it into the center of your pierogi dough. Fold one side over and begin to pinch the sides together with your fingers. I usually use two fingers to curl the top of the dough around to make them look authentic and seal them together well.

You can use a fork if you're more comfortable with that. Add your pierogi to the boiling water. Repeat this to the rest of your dough. You should be boiling 4 pierogies at a time. Boil them for around 3-4 minutes or until they float.

Now some people love their pierogies boiled or baked but this recipe is fried! It really makes them taste restaurant quality and the texture is great. So if you're into it, prepare a small frying pan with some canola oil on medium-high heat to fry your pierogies. Remove them from the water once they are ready and let the water drip from them until all excess water is gone. Add to your prepared frying pan. Fry for 4 minutes on both sides. Repeat until all pierogies are finished. Cut up some fresh green onions and serve it up with some Tofutti sour cream and voila :) I can guarantee anyone will love these pierogies.

Enjoy. 

TWO VEGANS GO TO VANCOUVER

Last weekend my boyfriend and I hopped on a ferry to go to Vancouver. We went to go see Sebadoh and Norm Macdonald. IT WAS AMAZING. I will say, I got an autographed ep by two out of the three members of Sebadoh.  It made my life a little more complete. ANYWAYS one of the things I LOVEEE about going to Vancouver is how vegan friendly it is. Its almost impossible not to walk by a veg friendly restaurant there. Which is totally refreshing for me since I live on an Island. I wanted to take the chance to check out some new spots I hadn't yet as well as take pictures of the awesome vegan food to show all of you! The population of veg restaurants in Vancouver is just growing as we speak too. I hope we can get a Whole foods in Victoria, they are my favourite!! LETS START A PETITION. 

 First stop was Whole foods. Right as we walked off the skytrain we saw it so we thought why not! We were starving from our travels so we got the grilled veggie sandwich from the deli. It had amazing pesto sauce on it.

VEGAN CROISSANT!! Thats right. It had been so long. My boyfriend and I could not believe how buttery and light they were.  The burrito on the bottom is from BUDGIE BURRITOS. By far the best burritos I have ever had in Vancouver. So cheap and a really funky place inside. Had a total retro feel. Not to mention burrito flag shirts! I loved them. If you're a fan of hardcore punk you will probably know what I'm talking about ;)

Next stop THE BLACK LODGE. We decided we would go there for our pre show dinner. I was SO IMPRESSED. What a cool restaurant. Although very small, we didn't have to wait at all and when we got inside it was well worth it. The whole atmosphere was really cool. The design of the restaurant is simple yet awesome. They really were smart going with a TWIN PEAKS theme restaurant. Punk music was blaring through the speakers. All the servers were super friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu could be "veganized" and I just loveee punk owned businesses. The food although simple, was awesome! Ive been waiting for someone to open a comfort food kinda vegan place. 100% backed restaurant. I will be returning and telling friends about it. 

My boyfriend got the Philly Cheese Steak which I didn't even get a picture of before he started to gobble it up. Haha but it was OFF THE CHAIN. I got the B.A.L.T sandwich. Coconut bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. I'm pretty sure they made the coconut bacon in house and it was the best part of that sandwich. I can still taste it. mmm. Oh yeah and thats a PULLED PORK POUTINE. So unique! So delicious. Bravo Black Lodge. 

Heres a picture of us seeing SEBADOH. Right up at the front. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday <3

The next night we went to go see Norm Macdonald. He was extremely intoxicated and extremely funny. One of my favorite comedians. The opener Sean O Connor was so hilarous too. You should check both out if you haven't already!

A little hard to see but you get the idea! 

After the show I was STARVING so we stopped at the Falafel Place just beside our hotel. It was in the 800 block of West Broadway st. Unfortunately I totally cannot remember the name and I feel silly for it because it was actually really good! For late night food i was really impressed. Only 6 bucks too. Well worth it.

Anyways that my Vancouver trip. I was hoping to go to EDIBLE FLOURS but I am going on the 16th for NAS so I will go to more places then and take more pictures and share vegan happiness. I hope this encourages you to go try different things and be open minded! Vancouver, you will always have a place in my heart <3