Summer empanadas plus kale with tangy miso dressing

In searching for things to make with kohlrabi, I came across this recipe.  By the time I got around to making it, I had of course long used up the kohlrabi.  However I had everything else, and turnips, so I decided to give it a shot subbing them in.  Worked quite well.  :)  If you want to do the same, I just recommend sauteing the veggies for quite a bit longer, as I wanted the turnips way softer than they would end up after just a couple minutes.

In order to make it vegan I simply sauteed only in oil (instead of oil and butter), and left off the egg wash for the crust.  However if you want that finish, you can easily achieve the same effect by brushing the crust with soy milk.

I know I wouldn't be satisfied with just the empanadas without some sort of dipping sauce, so I ended up making up a quick dressing, which I then decided would go really well over kale - another great accompaniment to the empanadas, so I ended up with quite the delicious dish.  Fun to take something that would have been great on its own, and turn it into something really special.

Tangy Miso Dressing
2 T miso
2 T agave nectar
1 T ginger
1 t soy sauce
1 t water (or as much as needed to desired consistency)

Mix all the ingredients and serve over roughly chopped kale.  Serve empanadas over top.  Enjoy!

Beanfields chips - comes in nacho flavor! Bonus giveaway included.

Edited, 12/11/12: Find this post and me blogging and working now at A,B,C,Vegan - the current version.  :)

So I had the wonderful fortune to be contacted by Beanfields chips to see if I would be willing to review their chips for my blog.  Upon hearing they had a nacho flavor - the healthy vegan Dorito?! - I happily agreed.  They also sent me extras so that I could host my first giveaway!  So read down for the details on that.

Beanfields chips were just named "Best of Show" by VegNews at the 2012 Natural Products Expo West, so I was of course excited to give them a try.  They are tortilla chips made from beans and rice instead of from corn, and they live up to their award.  I can't think of a great way to describe them other than ... like tortilla chips ... but better.  Really, just based on flavor I would choose the regular sea salt variety over tortilla chips any day.  And they avoid using the corn that we get all day every day in so many products, are gluten free, and have 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per one ounce serving - according to their website, twice as much as regular tortilla chips, potato chips, etc.

So how did the nacho flavor stack up?

They were GOOD.  Really good.  I would happily eat them ... well, all day.  However I can't in good conscious call them the vegan Dorito.  There are similarities, for sure, and for someone who is missing Doritos they might be a nice substitute.  But you have to know they are different.  Not as over-the-top cheesy as Doritos, but a more subtle cheesy flavor.  However, I taste tasted them amongst all my non-vegan co-workers, and while agreeing with my conclusions, everyone absolutely enjoyed them.  I think that speaks volumes for the quality of the product.  Everyone said they would happily snack on them all day.  Team vegan FTW!  :)

So about that giveaway.  I'll be sending off 2 of the 6 ounce size bags (including one nacho flavor).  Ways to win:
1. Comment here, telling me *your* favorite vegan snack.
2. Follow me on Twitter (@abcvegan) for another chance to win, and post a separate comment here telling me you did so.
3. Share the link to the post on Twitter or facebook for 1 more chance to win each.
U.S. addresses only please sadly.  I'll use a randomizer to pick a winner on Tuesday morning (June 26th) at 9 AM.  Good luck!!