So today’s post is a bit different in that it’s a collection of vegan recipes that Tiktok and Instagram taught me and that just happen to be both simple and delicious.

Plus, I have a vegan product shout out!

The TikTok Veggie Sammie

The first is this amazing vegetable sandwich. Em sent me a Tiktok post of a woman making and eating the sammie, and it looked so fresh and delicious, I knew I had to make it right away. A couple of tips: don’t try to use fancy bread like sourdough or ciabatta. I made the mistake of using focaccia, and it was okay, but not the same as a nice soft sandwich bread like Country Harvest Ancient Grains:

If you don’t feel like watching the video, the assembly is simple:

Spread both sides of bread generously with vegan mayo. On one side place a thinly sliced layer each of…

• Cucumber
• Tomato
• Onion

Next, sprinkle generously with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and dried dill.

Then add a layer each of thinly sliced…

• Red Pepper
• Yellow Pepper

Add another generous sprinkle of Lawry’s and dill, close ‘er up, slice ‘er, and EAT the freshest sandwich you’ll ever taste!

The first time I made the sandwich, I didn’t have any Lawry’s, so I made this copycat version that is quite good, but not quite the same. I picked up some of the real stuff shortly after that, and I swear the design of the jar hasn’t changed since my mum sprinkled that stuff on everything from pork chops to potatoes back in the 1970s.

The Instagram Kimchi Pancake

I first saw this kimchi pancake on Erin Ireland’s Instagram and it looked so simple and so good that I had to try it for myself. Liz Miu is the creator and her Instagram and TikTok are definitely worth a follow for amazing vegan recipes. A quick word of warning: some brands of kimchi contain fish, so do be sure to look at the list of ingredients! Both brands carried by Costco contain fish, but Superstore has a couple of brands that are vegan (including Rooster brand).

For the pancake, pulse in a food processor until the chunks are small:

• 1 cup kimchi

Add to food processor and pulse a few more times until blended into a batter:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup kimchi juice
• 1-2 TBS of water to thin out batter (as needed)

Heat a bit of oil in a skillet, pour batter in and smooth out into a large circle. When the edges start to dry out, flip and fry for another few minutes.

For the dipping sauce, mix together in a small bowl:

• 1 TBS soy sauce
• 2 TBS rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 TBS syrup
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 2 tsp sesame seeds

This pancake is SO succulent! I served it for dinner with some peanut noodles.

The FoK Tamale-Waffle

This recipe for waffles made of masa harina, corn meal, and almond flour is from Forks Over Knives, and while I didn’t adapt the waffle itself, I did take liberties with the “hash.”

To make the waffle, you blend the following in a four-cup measuring cup:

• 1½ cups masa harina
• ½ cup cornmeal
• ⅓ cup almond flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 TBS lemon juice
• 2.25 cups water

Spray a waffle maker with a bit of oil and pour 1/2 cup of the batter into centre. Close and wait five minutes. If the waffle isn’t quite done, close for another minute or so.

For the hash, I just sauteed the following in a pan lightly sprayed with oil…

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 orange pepper, finely chopped
• 2 tsp garlic, finely chopped

I then added…

• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 TBS Taco Seasoning #19
• 1/3 cup water

Stir until mixture thickens up and is thoroughly heated.

Place hash on top of waffle and top with a dollop of salsa and a few slices of avocado and a generous sprinkling of cilantro!

And, finally…Costco Kimchi Dumplings!

I’m not usually much for processed vegan food–not because I’m a purist, but because I’m CHEAP and these products are usually crazy expensive (don’t get me going on commercial hummus again!). I am constantly amazed at the prices of vegan products promoted by the various vegan Instagrammers I follow–products that would cost pennies to make. The one I was recently appalled by is Save Da Sea’s Carrot Lox, which is an outrageous $9 for 100 grams–that’s only 3.5 ounces!! Less than a quarter of a pound!! The ingredients are shaved carrots with a few seasonings, so the cost of making something similar at home would likely cost about 30 cents!

ANYWAY, Bid gave us great rec on a new vegan Costco product: Siwan Kimchi Dumplings. The dumplings are delicous drizzled with a little soy sauce (I do a half-and-half mix of regular and sweet). and, at about $16 for 2kg, they’re a pretty good deal as well. I usually serve them with a side of noodles and vegetables. We get at least six meals out of this big bag.

And I also have some exciting news from Sideways Cottage: we have a new family member!! Meet the sweet little Mr. Shelby Underfoote!

Shelby will be fourteen weeks tomorrow and has called Sideways Cottage home for about a month now. And, yes, we’ve already had a trainer in to manage Poppy’s…ahem…issues (she can be a little proprietorial). Things appear to be going well now though!

Shelby is named for the writer, Shelby Foote, on whom James wrote a book of literary criticism. However, our Shelby has a tendency to get under everyone’s feet, thus, the “Underfoote” (har har).

And the song of the day is Calexico’s “Fortune Teller” because it’s what I’m listening to on this lazy, rainy Sunday morning.