Month: April 2017

Favorite Meal Breakdown: Bánh Mì Sliders

Lauren1 Comment

I’ve mentioned this before, but I usually reach recipe/meal exhaustion after the 5th time I make something.  IF a recipe makes it past that point, then it’s because I REALLY REALLY love it.  And considering I’m always finding new things to cook and am not a huge meal repeater, IF a recipe makes it past that point WITHIN A YEAR, then it’s definitely worth blogging about in detail.  These bánh mì sliders are that meal.  Let’s break it down!

Part I: Slider Buns

I use this recipe for Vegan “Brioche” Slider Buns and follow it (almost) to a T, except that I use ALL all-purpose flour and I don’t brush them with coconut oil or sesame seeds at the end.  Though now that I think about it, that sounds kind of worth it.  Anyway!  This gives me 16 slider buns, half of which I wrap individually in plastic, pop in a Ziploc bag and place in the freezer for the next time I make this meal.  They freeze/defrost like a dream, so just remember to put them in the fridge 1-2 nights before you’re going to eat them.

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So cute, so fluffy, so perfect.  Joey raves every time I make em!

Part II: Pickled Veggies

I go with a combo of carrots, jalapeños and red onion and use this quick and simple pickling method, except I half the recipe (which still ends up being more than enough!).  Do it a day or two before so the veggies have a chance to really soak up some flavor and soften a little.

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Part III: Tempeh, Mayo, Sliders

The recipe that inspired it all!  This one from Faring Well, which I use for both the tempeh and the vegan mayo.  If you’ve never emulsified your own vegan mayo, you’ve never lived!  You’ll be amazed at how much it looks like real mayo.  If I’m really on top of things, I’ll start marinating the tempeh in the morning just for some extra soaking up time, but you can do it just before too.  Either way, it’s super flavorful.*  Then all that’s left to do is slicing the buns in half, toasting them, loading them up with vegan mayo, tempeh, pickled veggies and a sprinkle of cilantro and devouring them!

I just typed “flavorable,” so I think bánh mì slider obsession is starting to scramble my brain…

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Pro Tip: Make the buns over the weekend, pickle the veggies the day before, marinate the tempeh before you leave for work and come dinner time, all you have to do is bake the tempeh, emulsify the mayo (because you might as well do something while the tempeh is in the oven!) and assemble the sliders.  Aka 30 minutes till these are on your dinner table.  Not only do they taste amazing but when you realize you made (almost) everything from scratch, it tastes just that much better!

Wishing you a day as good as these sliders 🙂

Since We Last Spoke

Lauren4 Comments

Joey turned 30!  

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What can I say?  We did a bike bar tour through RiNo the Saturday before and OMG it was fun.  We made a playlist of songs that came out in 1987 (the year Joey was born) and who would’ve known “La Bamba” would be such a hit!  Both of our mothers were in attendance, I took a shot with my sister, smashed into a photo booth with Jenn, hugged my bestie lots and forgot it wasn’t MY birthday.

We also had a killer dinner at Acorn, — that 24 oz. prime ribeye though! — I gave Joey a mini fridge specifically for bombers — he’s been wanting one since we visited my aunt and uncle in Ohio last year and saw their bomber collection — and capped it all off with the traditional birthday dinner (and sombrero) at Los Arcos.

Baseball started!

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I live for Opening Day traditions — aka Biker Jim’s and a beer for lunch — getting to the game early, watching them set those balloons free into the sky, taking that Opening Day portrait with Joey, getting that accidental sunburn.  Okay, I could probably do without that last part but I’m starting to think I’ll never learn.  In other news, we beat the Dodgers and the weather could not have been more perfect.  Feeling good about this season already 🙂

I pampered myself.

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Ugh, sorry for that awkward selfie.  I don’t normally take them but when you get  your nails done — Joey made the appointment for me and I’d like to publicly announce that I’d be more than okay with more of those surprises in the future! — and your hair cut (and curled) you definitely go back to work, take a picture of yourself and hope none of your co-workers were walking by while you did it.

And because feeding myself delicious things also feels like pampering to me, there’s also been cookies, peanut butter oatmeal bars, breakfast sammies, quesadillas + sweet potato fries, honey-Dijon salmon, linguine in a creamy herb sauce, a weird but delicious bowl of fridge odds and ends and fish tacos because it’s already warm in Denver and my tastebuds are ready for taco season.

Spent a weekend alone.

Joey basically went straight from the Rockies game to the airport for a bachelor party in New Orleans so I had the weekend to myself.  I did all the productive things, aka cooked dinner for myself, went to the grocery, made pizza dough, did laundry, ran 5 miles (hi, Bolder Boulder, I see you coming up next month!) and did some filing for work.  But I also did all the fun things, aka read in the back yard, watched the Rockies take down Kershaw, had breakfast with my dad and sister and managed to feel relaxed.

Side Note: my mom also happens to be in NOLA so Joey met up with she and my uncle on Sunday after all the other guys of the bachelor party had headed home and I think that’s the sweetest and cutest and could only be better if I was also there with them.

Tell me what’s happening in your life! 🙂