When Natala at Vegan Hope offered to give away a copy of the newly minted Vegan Brunch, I knew I had to jump on the chance to get my hands on what will undoubtedly be my favourite cookbook ever. To say that I’m a big fan of brunch is a colossal understatement. Breakfast is my favourite meal and brunch is like an extended, multi-course breakfast.
The condition for the giveaway was that we must cook a brunch worthy vegan recipe for someone who is not vegan. Now, in my badly-in-need-of-a-second-coffee haze I misread the instructions. I thought that we were meant to make a vegan brunch with said recipes for that someone today and then post about it on our own blogs, today, before tomorrow’s deadline. So I looked up three of my favourite online vegan brunch recipes, whipped them up and carted them off to share with my grandmother, whom I was planning to visit. She gave me that pretty tablecloth in the photos – my sweet mama.
Silly me. Upon revisiting the original post at Vegan Hope and after rereading said instructions (3 coffees later), I now see that I was meant to promise to make one of the recipes from the book – as in make in the future - not cook today.
So what did I make for our impromptu vegan brunch? The deliciously satisfying Vegan Omelette from FatFree Vegan Kitchen, the scrumptiously perfect 5 Minute Vegan Pancakes from Recipezaar, and the sweetly toothsome Buckwheat and Banana Pancakes from GOOP. You can’t have too many pancakes.
I’ve made each of these recipes countless times and will unreservedly attest to their awesomeness.
For the Vegan Omelette, I doubled the amounts to make two omelettes. Easily done. I also like to increase the nutritional yeast by about 50% (so an extra tablespoon for two people), double the onion powder, add a pinch of garlic powder per person, definitely use the paprika and reduce the turmeric by half (sometimes I leave it out). Whatever I do to this recipe it never lets me down, ever. You can use whatever filling you like. I’ve even made this omelette naked, and liked it. The omelette was naked – just thought I’d clarify that. I blanched some veggies for today’s omelette – asparagus, spinach, snow peas, broccoli, red and yellow pepper.
Don’t let the pictures fool you – there are no eggs here. This omelette is egg and dairy free, low fat, chock full of protein and so, so tasty.
I have made the 5 Minute Vegan Pancakes a zillion times. The recipe says to use whichever flour you prefer and I’ve tried quite a few. For me, the best result comes from unbleached all-purpose flour or that mixed half and half with unbleached whole wheat pastry flour. So delicious. They puff up high just the way I like it. Maple syrup seals the deal.
Nothing is lacking in these babies.
For the Buckwheat and Banana Pancakes I usually follow the recipe to the letter. I once substituted apple cider vinegar for the lemon juice and it worked fine. I haven’t tried this recipe with rice flour but they offer it as a gluten-free option – good to know. The only thing I like to add to this recipe is extra bananas. They say one banana, I say three. I like to cover the top of each pancake completely with slices of banana before flipping them. The bananas caramelize and become incredibly sweet. It’s entirely delicious.
Slathered with copious amounts of organic maple syrup, the deliciousness is hard to beat.
I may have jumped the gun a bit, but that’s okay. My mama and I had a lovely meal together and I got to indulge in some of my favourite treats – plus I got to share my faves with you. Trust me, I could live on pancakes. If I could only bring one food to a deserted island, it would be pancakes. As for the vegan omelette: let’s just say that I wanted to kiss the ground that Susan from FatFree Vegan Kitchen walks on after coming across that one.
Clearly, I need to eat a good vegan brunch before reading instructions.
Your food always looks good, but those quick vegan pancakes really speak to me. They are telling me that I haven’t had pancakes in too long, and that I must make them. And even though you misread the directions you sure did get a beautiful post out of it! And I really hope you get the book (I need to get a copy too!).
Wow! What a great brunch! Sometimes, it’s good to misread the directions… it leads to create something that is unlike what every one else has done. And in this case, I’m sure it made for a lovely time with your grandma!
Ha ha, I also misread those instructions! Your omelette turned out really pretty and those pancakes look perfect, too. You need to promise to cook for me, too :)
I love breakfast…all day long =)
Well I think you should definitely win now for going above and beyond!! Brunch looks fabulous! I am loving those buckwheat and banana pancakes….
I just stumbled on your blog and I am in love so far! You take amazing pictures of seriously yummy looking food! I am bookmaking the page for the banana pancakes and will definitely have to try them out asap! I LOVE pancakes
Pingback: And the winner is… « Vegan Hope
Thanks guys – and congrats to Barbara who won the contest!
The omelette looks delicious! I really have to give a try. Pancakes yum, great brunch foods.
When you make brunch, you really make brunch! What an awesome assorment of meals, I am going to check out both the pancake recipes, thanks for the links!
What a beautiful spread – I’m sure your grandmother loved it!
Can you believe I’ve never tired that omlette recipe…and I feel like I should be spanked or something. I’m off to go check out the recipe right now.
And you totally should have won just for all your effort!
Pingback: Vegan Bites: Snacks, Politics, and Rescue
Your grandmother got lucky! I wish I would have been the recipient of this feast!
Wowee wow! I’ve never seen such a gorgeous v. omelette. I had no idea one could look so delightful. Big thanks to you & Susan for opening my omelette eyes. Time for brunch indeed!
Thank you kind friends ♥
Guess what? Someone really amazing bought me my very own copy of Vegan Brunch!! – it is in the mail as I type this. I cannot wait to cook up a tasty storm of vegan brunch awesomeness!
Oh Marika, great post! So fun and entertaining to read. Your pics look fabulous and the feed looks amazing. I may need a late night brunch party for my upcoming birthday. If you didn’t win Vegan Brunch, you should definitely still pick up a copy. It’s great!
My copy is on it’s way!!
Buckwheat banana pancakes! Thanks Gwyneth Paltrow!
Absolutely!! – there’s some great content on the GOOP site!
Brunch is something I have more of now since I wake up later and later almost everyother day b/c I sleep so incredibly late. Ugh. I feel like I’ve wasted so much of my time not doing anything. But alls well, ends well and I get to have some kick ass food when I wake up. I LOVE the vegan omlet from Fat Free Vegan and so does the rest of my omni family.
That’s it, I’m flying to Canada just so I can have that brunch with you! That stack of pancakes and the omelet is calling my bame! Everything looks marvelous!
Everything looks scruptiously delicious! I haven’t made pancakes for a while! And my first attempt at Susan’s omelette was not so good. But I will give it another go; it should work, yours look great!
i love that shot of the pancakes with syrup drizzling down them.
hehe! at least you got to cook some fantastic food and have quality brunch time with your grandma. i need to make a vegan omelette!!!
oh, nice! I’ve made those omelette’s before and I really liked them! They’re more custard-y than the VBrunch ones, but entirely delicious in they’re own way (I like them with tomatoes soooo much). And you are totally right about those extra caramelized bananas in pancakes. I have trouble getting them to not stick, but it doesn’t prevent me from trying whenever I get the chance. :p
Is it wrong that I am ogling the photo(s) of the pancakes? I think I’m having lusty wrong feelings about wanting to devour them…(if one could have lusty feelings towards the consumption of a food item).
Sara – we are of a like mind on this topic :)
that omelet looks like it could give the vegan brunch one a run for its money!!