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Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

As a vegan, everyone thinks you cannot eat super delicious foods.  It is a common stereotype that I shoot down constantly.  When invited to a party, everyone thinks you’ll bring hummus, or just vegetables, or maybe a fruit salad.  Little does the typical omnivore know, vegans are capable of SO much more.  They are even capable of the cream of the crop party dip. The one that is finished first. The one that is anticipated most.  The great Buffalo Chicken Dip.  Below you will find my adaptation of the dip… a recipe so good, even your non-vegan friends will enjoy.

Buffallo Chicken Dip

Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
Serves party of 8

Ingredients
1 package Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips – Lightly Seasoned
1 package (8 ounces) Vegan Cream Cheese (any variety works)
½ cup Hot Sauce (I use Texas Pete because of its lower, but still high, sodium content)
½ cup Ranch Dressing (see recipe below)
½ cup Daiya Shreds (either cheddar or pepper jack)

Vegan Ranch Dressing
Yields 1/2 cup

Ingredients
1/4 cup Vegan Mayo (I prefer Hampton Creek Just Mayo)
1/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (I use Whole Foods 365 brand – carrageenan-free)
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
½ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine all ingredients until smooth in medium baking dish.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes or until everything is melty and hot.
  4. Serve with your favorite vegetables, crackers or my personal favorite, a sliced multi-grain french baguette.  Hell! You can serve this dip with anything, it could make cardboard taste good.
  5. Enjoy… while it lasts!

Photo

Vegan Mini Taco Bowls

Like many others, I often troll Pinterest for new recipes.  In that search, I often stumble upon a delicious looking picture with no link to a recipe.  ANNOYING RIGHT?!  I saw a similar taco bowl, clicked it, no real recipe link. WHY?!  I decided, these cannot be too hard to improvise, something I would have to do anyway since the originals appeared to have beef, and went for it.  ( Below is the serving size for us PhillyVegans.  As a side note, Vinny eats way more than me, I ate 5 while he ate 11, so the serving size may vary.)

Mini Taco Bowls

Mini Taco Bowls 
Serves 2; 16 mini bowls

Ingredients
4 Whole Wheat Tortilla Shells cut
16 ounce Refried Beans (I used Trader Joe’s Refried Beans – Fat-free Traditional Style)
1/2 package Beyond Meat Lightly Seasoned Strips shredded
2 slices Daiya Cheddar Slice cut into 1 inch strips

Topping Ingredients
1/2 Avocado
Salsa
Toffuti Better than Sour Cream
Spinach or Lettuce chopped

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cut tortilla shells into small 3-inch circles.  I used the top of a mason jar and knife for reference.  A cup can also be used.
  3. In small sauce pan cook Beyond Meat chicken strips.
  4. Place tortilla circles in cupcake pans.
  5. Add about a tablespoon of refried beans (no need to heat up) and a bit of shredded chicken. (Use personal preference)
  6. Bake for 10 minutes.
  7. Add Daiya cheese.
  8. Bake for 5 additional minutes or until cheese melts.
  9. Add toppings
  10. Enjoy!

Map of the Philadelphian Vegan World

With the launch of Pinterest place pins today, we have compiled a map of all the vegan restaurants, markets, and cafes, etc. in the Philadelphia area that we personally tasted and favor.  This map is not complete.  It will continue to grow as restaurants open their menus to vegan friendly items. In the coming weeks, we will be spot lighting some of our these spots but in the meantime, take a look at the big picture.  

It might not make the top 10 but Philadelphia is quite the vegan friendly city.