Jerk Tempeh, Slaw, and a Library Book

I observed a blogging trend in the first week of 2013. Quite a number of vegan bloggers listed their favorite posts of 2012. Since I am a mover and a shaker, (worth my salt, baha ha shaker- salt ?!), and like to get the leg up on the competition, like being number one in the universe, am incredibly brilliant, am humble enough to respect what other writers in the vegan community do, and like to be on the cutting edge, I bring you Veganville's Best of...

which would be the post before this one, my only 2013 post and this one if I finish it. I had a really great New Year's Day she-bang but none of my friends took any food pics. Only vegans do that. Apparently my friends are more than happy to take pics of back room Bingo Parlors, but none of my spectacular Hoppin' John. I am beginning to think my friends suck. I mean none of them go to the library either. They have kindles and nookies and unlimited credit for Amazon. My friend Noreen reasons that she doesn't like the gook she's found stuck to library pages. I say she doesn't know what she's missing. I scored a lime green lollipop once. Page 72 of the Shirley Temple Black autobiography. 

Last week I was super stoked to take out a new Raw dessert cookbook from my local library . Yep, as you know I dig those raw date nut crusts and and all things nut. I am not mentioning the book because I don't like giving any body a bad rap or rep except maybe well hmm, Ann Coulter but she did not write this book. All these stupid recipes said was, put this cookie in your dehydrator for 36 hours, put this fruit in your 535 dollar Vita-Mix. Put this in that and that in this. If I had 36 hours I would make ten batches of cookies, and if I didn't spend all my money in a tattoo parlor, don't you think I would have a Vita-Mix by now? I did find a dried fig on page 32 though. I love the library.

I just took out Bryant Terry's newest book out of the library, and now I am the library patron who gunks up the book, (not true, not true). I am totally going to buy this book, but a new one without green sauce smeared on page 65. I like this book so much I decided to make it overdue.

Look inside to see if you got something.

I made Jerk Tempeh, which took about 1/36th of the time to cook as those stupid dehydrator  cookies and whipped up my own kale-tahini sauce. I riffed on Bryant's cabbage beet slaw, and instead made a pineapple broccoli slaw. The sweet slaw definitely complimented the spicy tempeh. We even had leftovers. Because I am mighty generous I left a little tempeh chunk for the lucky patron who takes this book after I return it to the library. Nicer than a lolly, don't ya think?

GiGi's Kale-Tahini Sauce-(that's the green stuff on top of Terry's tempeh)

1 clove garlic minced
1/2 C water
2 T Rotel (Kendy over@ Miss Muffcake turned me onto this, it's chopped tomato with diced chili)
2.5 T tahini
1 C packed kale torn from it's ribs-(this is not violent!)
2 T lemon juice
sea salt

Spray a pan with canola oil and saute garlic and sea salt for about two minutes. Transfer to blender and puree with remainder of ingredients.

Broccoli Slaw with Pineapple-(riffin' on Terry)

1/2 Bag of TJ's broccoli slaw mix
1 C pineapple chunks (juice reserved)
3 T pineapple juice
2.5 T apple cider vinegar
1 tsp non-alcoholic dijon mustard
1/4 C kale torn into pieces
2 tsp agave
1/4 C silken tofu 
1/2 C chopped pecans
1.5 Granny Smith apples cored and julienned

Place broccoli slaw and pineapple chunks in bowl. Set aside. In upright blender combine and puree all ingredients except pecans and apples. Salt to taste. Pour enough dressing over slaw and massage, (wash your hands please), as if you would kale. Layer onto plate. Slaw, apple, slaw, apple,top with pecans and drizzle with dressing. 

You can find Bryant Terry's recipe for Jerk Tempeh on page 132, along with the surprise I left you.

Thank you for stopping by.