So my experiment with the vegan slim jims was very successful….except I’m not a huge fan of the filling, which (as I mentioned) tastes a bit meaty.

I do, however, LOVE the idea of this portable little snack that isn’t just a bag of nuts or a Vega bar. The thing is that with plant-based eating, you never feel gross after a meal, and you never get indigestion, buuuuut you are always a bit peckish within about two or three hours of eating, so you always have to have something on hand in order to avoid the temptation of that big hunk of boursin cheese on a fresh baguette (or whatever your particular food bete noir happens to be). I usually have a bag of almonds in my satchel, but variety is good, so I really want to like these portable little slim jims.

My new experiment involves the spicy chili wrap filling in the slim jim.

So I adjusted the preparation a bit (because you need it smooth, not chunky) and used the same recipe:

Process:

• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup pecans

Then add:

• 1 TBS sesame oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• pinch of salt and pinch of cayenne
• ¼ cup almond butter
• 1 TBS soy sauce
• 2 TBS ginger
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 TBS Sambal Oelek

And blend until smooth.

Then follow the same process that I used here.

And then place them in the dehydrator for, like, a week.

Okay, not really a week, but the delayed gratification thing with the dehydrator is a bit tricky for my ADD-ish personality. By the time whatever it is I’m making is done, I’ve become distracted by some other pressing business!

Anyway, the actual time/heat ratio is 125 for one hour and 115 for 22 hours.

So I had a quick peek after the first half hour, and…..oh shit:

The filling is definitely not supposed to ooze out like that. As it turns out, however, the filling didn’t continue to ooze out–in fact, once they were finished drying in the dehydrator, the little over-flow bits just snapped off (and tasted delicious!).

The result was really good: the portability and convenience of the slim jim and the tastiness of the spicy chili wraps! I definitely recommend this recipe for snack food for school lunches, picnics, or just to have in your bag for a snack. The recipe makes about eighteen sticks.

And I had one nori sheet left over, which I decided to fill with hummus, just to see what happened. Note to self: don’t try this again with hummus (yuck).

And the song of the day is “Blues Run the Game” sung here by the sweet-voiced (and sweet-faced) Colin Meloy of The Decemberists because I keep telling James that this is the first song I’m going to learn to play (one of my retirement projects is to finally learn how to play the guitar):

“Me and room service, baby, me and room service…well, we’re living a life of sin…”