Yummies we heart: We heart vegan yum-yum

So we are gonna be super straight up... We are NOT vegans... We love cheese! We love milk in our coffee and in our tea, we die for whipped cream, we go gaga for cakes and cookies and don't even get us started on ice cream.

But since we also love animals, we got really excited about trying to lessen our intake of animal products.

Hey it is worth a try right? And guess what? In this day and age it is actually sort of easy.

Thank goodness for meat substitutes, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and even some pretty tasty faux cheese!

And thank the heavens above for Vegan Yum Yum, whos recipes we love, even when we are going full force with our dairy loving ways.

Written by the always cute Lolo, Vegan Yum Yum gives clear and easy ways to make delicious non expensive vegan meals that will make you forget you ever even wanted meat. Plus every step is shown in pictures... We love to look at this site for hours.

Here are a few of the recipes we have been drooling over.

BLT salad!

Oh heavens this looks so perfect for a summer evening!

With a nice glass of white wine and some crusty bread.

Yum Yum.

Oh, Veggie Tempura!

We love you so.

when ever Miss Me goes out for sushi with the family, she orders this for her kids... and then eats it all herself while they insist on only eating white rice with soy sauce! Crazy kids!

But, I bet they would eat if they got to help make it!

How fun would that be?

Try and make some tonight!

Hello Smashed Up Potatoes...

It is so nice to meet you! Thank you for coming to my house.... I am sorry that it has to end this way Smashed Potatoes... But I am going to have to eat you.

Nothing personal, it is just the olive oil and the rosemary are making you irresistible.

What are those pants you have on right now? Are those? Yes they are... Those are fancy pants!

Good for you! A fancy pants is exactly what you are gonna be when you serve this.

Asparagus and White Bean Tart...

All that goodness and not a lick of cheese.

Speaking of not a lick of cheese. Check out this quick

Alfredo Sauce Pasta.

Oh, here is something to encourage all of us to keep the cheese to a minimum..

Cheese will make you fat!

Please believe it!

Every time I stop eating cheese for a few weeks the pounds drop.

True.

These Vegan Cinnamon Roles will, on the other hand... Only make you pleasantly plump!

Because yes, that is what we are gonna call it after we down a batch of these babies right out of the oven!

You can add the Vegan Yum Yum Application to your iPhone for FREE!

Get your recipes fast and even check off the handy shopping list included with every one.

You can buy the Vegan Yum Yum cook book and do it the old fashioned way.

Eat your veggies!

XOXO- Things-We-Heart

Yummies: Fried Green Tomatoes- Two for One

Alright, pay very close attention.

What do you get when you mix beautiful not-quite ripe green tomatoes with a little cornmeal and flour?

Well, surprisingly enough it is exactly the same thing you get when you mix four super talented and amazing actresses with a heart-breaking but inspiring story line...

And that, is 100% Fried Green Tomatoes deliciousness.

We heart the movie so much, it goes down in the movie hall of fame in the category we call, "Southern Belle classics that make us cry every-damn-time."

This includes;

Steel Magnolias

Terms of Endearment

Shag

Anyway, back to the subject, we have loved this movie for so many years... That when we saw the delicious VEGAN recipe on one of our favorite food sites Vegan Yum Yum, we instantly thought about Idgie & Ruth and the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Here is the recipe for these beautiful green tomatoes.

Why not make up a batch and have your best friend over to share them with you? You guys can watch this old movie and appreciate each-other even more.

Fried Green Tomatoes
Makes about 20 slices

4 Large, Under Ripe Green Tomatoes
Oil, for frying (peanut or canola)
Baby Greens, for serving
Cherry Tomatoes, for decoration
Balsamic Reduction (see recipe)

Breading Dry Mix
2 Cups Corn Flour/Meal
1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp Salt
1 Tbs Dried Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Breading Wet Mix
1 Tbs Ener-G Egg Replacer Powder
3 Tbs Boiling Water
1/2 Cup Non-Dairy Milk

Core the green tomatoes and slice in to 1/2″ slices. If desired, season each side lightly with salt and pepper.

Lay tomato slices on paper towels and pat dry.

Mix together the dry seasoning mix and set aside.

Combine the boiling water and egg replacer powder and whisk until thick and foamy. Add to a separate large bowl. Whisk in the non-dairy milk until thick and frothy. Set aside. You should now have two bowls, one with the dry breading mix and one with the wet.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet until hot but not smoking with 1/4 to 1/2″ of oil in the bottom.

Dredge the tomato slices, four at a time, in the wet batter mix. Then place them into the bowl with the dry batter mix, pressing to make sure it sticks. Fry four at a time for 3 minutes a side, or until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Stack the fried green tomatoes on baby greens with sliced cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with balsamic reduction. Serve warm, while breading is still crispy.

Oh Vegan Yum Yum, we are so happy we found you... Thank you for inspiring us to remember a movie that touched our hearts all those years ago.

You never know where you will find your inspiration, so keep your eyes peeled and never stop looking.

XOXO- Things-We-Heart

Yummies: We heart Makin' Whoopie! (Pies that is)

We heart Whoopie!!!

Nope we are not talking about this Whoopie...

Or even this Whoopie

Or this Whoopie

THIS WHOOPIE!!!!

Oh dear sweet sugary dessert fairy in the sky...how we uber heart thee for your delish and delicate and oh so decadent whoopie pies.

Sooo sweet...sooo fluffy...soooooooo yummy!

A marshmallow-y vanilla-y frosting smooshed between 2 smooshie chocolate cakes...sounds too good to be true? Portable heaven?

Yup...read on....

As the legend goes, Whoopie Pies started on the East Coast by the Amish. The ladies would make these super cute "pies" with left over cake mix for the farmers and when they would reach into their lunch boxes and pull these treats from heaven...they would scream..."Whoopie!"

We have searched high and low for the best Whoopie Pies around and we found out the best are the ones you make at home!

And PS...they are really easy and super fun to eat!

Choo Choo....all aboard the Whoopie Train!!! (oooh sounds kinky!!!!)

First stop...Martha Ville....queen of all that is good...

Here is her recipe for the Classic WP straight from the East Coast baby!

Lookin for more of a cakey frosting (yummmmmm!!!!) version?

Then click here for Miss MS updated classic...

Ohhh you know what sounds good and will for sure get me on Miss Me's good side?? (not that I'm not but maybe it will butter her up to help me with more decor stuffs)

RED VELVET WHOOPIE PIES!!!

Sorry to yell...just got super excited...

ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)
• 1 recipe Whoopie Pie Filling, recipe below

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Makes 60 one-inch or 42 two-inch cookies.

6. Whoopie Pie Filling: In medium mixing bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter and half an 8-ounce package softened cream cheese until smooth. Fold in one 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme.

7. To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

Don't have time to bake anytime soon? Then save this lil slice o' goodness for the holidays...

Vegan Pumpkin Whoopies...

Hello hostess with the mostest! Or best guest in the world...and everyone can enjoy cuz they are vegan!

Oh geez louise!! Hello Vanilla Cardamom WPs...how are you today?

Music to our Indian food lovin bellies!!!

Don't feel like DIYing it???

William Sonoma has a Red Velvet mix just for you!

They also have a WP Pan (say that 5 times fast) for the perfect pie tops and bottoms...

Want a chocolate version?

Stonewall Kitchen has a great one...yup we were the lucky recipients of this mix and it is pretty delish...

Or you can order some straight from the source...they have OGs and even have vanilla raspberry with coconut!!! YES PLEASE...and ASAP...PMS is coming!!

P.S. Whoopie Pies are sooo yummy they have a website dedicated to them!

P.P.S. They also have their own festival!!!

Go make some whoopie!!

xoxo things we heart

Yummies: Homemade soups for your soul!

(art: Bozena) 
 I know we are really into this whole fall thing these days. 

We can't seem to talk about it enough. 

But these chilly and crisp days (finally) Call for one specific thing... 

Homemade soup! 

Don't get scared... It is as easy to do as say, build a fire, make a pot of hot cocoa or load up your Netflix queue with all the great movies you missed this summer. 

Here are some of our favorite yummy autumn soup recipes, these are great for a romantic cozy dinner, or 

make a big pot of soup and stack your bowls or mugs next to it load up on spoons and have a casual fall dinner party! 

We are gonna keep it real by starting off with the soup of the Chosen people... 

Yes sir, you got it... We swear up and down that a nice bowl of Matzo Ball soup can cure all your woes. Got a cold? Matzo Ball, Got a fever? Matzo Ball. Got a broken heart? How about  nice bowl of Matzo ball soup? 

SWEAR BY IT!! 

And there is nothing wrong with making your Matzo Balls from a nice box of Manischewitz mix... Said the girl who's Mother is a Shiksa. 

But seriously, get a nice vegetable broth and slice in a few stalks of celery and some carrots... Who knows? A nice little Beastie Boy may fall head over heels in love with you! 

Another favorite of the ladies at T-W-H is Butternut Squash soup. 

Yummmm. 

If memory serves me correctly, I do believe Miss T-W-H and Miss Me fell in heartsville with each other years ago over Butternut Squash soup at the Mercer Kitchen in NYC... If you are nearby we suggest you go get a bowl! Delicious! 

But if you are not anywhere near NYC and you want some yummy Butternut Squash soup... NOW... Try this recipe from the Food Networks Michael Chiarello. 

Are you craving comfort food in a big way? Yes it happens when the weather cools down... That is why the fashion Gods invented chunky knit sweaters and baby-doll dresses.  To hide the extra pounds we tend to pack on around this time of year. 

 
What's that you say? You are craving Chicken and Dumplings in a crazy way.. But you don't eat chicken so what's a vegetarian to do??? 

Well, first of all don't worry... Because MOST of the time the recipes you get from T-W-H are gonna be pretty animal friendly. 

And lucky for you that includes this VEGAN chicken' and dumpling recipe from 

Tofu and Sprouts... Don't let the name fool you.. The photo above is actually what your food will look like! And Miss me can vouch for the taste, last year she had to make 2 pots of it to satisfy the family at Holiday time! 

What about crusty croutons on a puree of roasted winter vegetable soup? 

What about it?! Sounds like a winner to us. That is if the vegetables can get past the roasting part and on to the pureeing for soup part without being devoured first. 

Ahhhh Barefoot Contessa, why do you torture us like this? 

And now dear readers... We are going to let you in on a little secret. If you love to cook at home, you will LOVE this beautiful site. 

VeganYumYum

We seriously alomost DIED when we found this amazing source for delicious meat free goodies. 

Do you know how long we have been craving Won Ton soup? 

For ages... But the answer is always the same... 

No Won Ton soup for you! 

But low and behold... a recipe for delicious Won Ton soup that we can dive into! 

Speaking of which VeganYumYum also brings us this Tuscan white bean stew. 

The perfect thing to offer your guests on a cold night. 

Yeah, did we mention we were sort of obsessed? Who can blame us? 

Ladies and Gentlemen... Moroccan sweet potato soup. 

Impress your loved ones tonight. 

Enough said. 

Spoon up every yummy delicious drop of this beautiful Fall season. 
XOXO- Things-We-Heart