Stu, Stu, Studio! Woah-Oh.

The Menu! Imagine my surprise seeing vegan pancakes on the menu. Next time, that Texas Tank will be mine.

 Here's the testimony from my visit to the Studio Grill in Kalamazoo. I was expecting to arrive to a place where I would once again order my custom hash browns-(home fries with veggies and a side of salsa) and some dry white toast. I do it all the time, but it does get boring. I was flabbergasted to see the words vegan pancakes. Who is Daphney and where can I get my mitts on that recipe? They tasted like snickerdoodles. Yum!

Next time I plan on wrapping my big ol' yapper around a Texas Tank. For those of you who can't read the menu because the photo is so shitty, here's what it is: a black bean burger, vegan chili, and hummus. Dude.

So whether you live in the Kalamazoo area or are just passin' through, I encourage you to stop by and give this place a try. Let 'em know how much you appreciate a breakfast joint offering vegan options. 

The Pancakes. Note I capitalized. They were that good.

A blurry photo:  The Adorable Chef/Owner Craig. He can cook for me anytime. I'll even pay real money.

Sorry, I've Been Abducted by Aliens

Here's a shot of the Magic Bar Cookie Pancakes from the long long ago!  NOTE: the Kroger Valu Brand Chocolate Chips are not vegan. Boooooo! They changed their formula a year or so ago and I'm pissed. Have no fear: Private Selection Organic Semi-Sweet Chips as well as 60% Cocoa Baking Chunks are vegan and have the obligatory blurb about being produced on shared equipment.

Dearest Readers,

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted. I've seemed to have a ton of things going on in the past year that has thrown a monkey wrench in doing what I love...blogging! Well, I say no more to being overworked. I'm back, that's that, and I'll be doing my thing more often. Where was I?

I'd rather not talk about it. To squelch any blogging rumors, I am still very much vegan. I have not had a fall from vegan grace. Human grace perhaps, but I've dusted my butt off and am moving on. I appreciate any fan letters and thoughts of encouragement during my difficult time. My life needs a magic cookie bar pancake right about now, but I need to watch my sugar intake. I've had some medical issues arise where I now take a medication that automatically raises my blood sugar, so I'm actually having to rethink how I eat. Yay?

Included with my real life difficulties are technical ones. I just returned from an awesome trip up north to my old stompin' grounds of Kalamazoo. Guess what? Vegan pancakes and burgers to be found at the Studio Grill. Took pics and everything. Met the chef and he is gnawdorable and oh-so-kind. The staff are amazingballs.  It is my luck that the damned photos will not load, so I'm working with tech support on the problem. Fun, right?

So I'll save the high holy praises for that place once I can post the pics. Just know that if you live in the Kzoo area or are from D-Twat and looking for a great day trip, get to The Studio Grill on W. Michigan (near the corner of Michigan and Church St. downtown) and get yo'self some of that pancakey goodness. They are life changers. They have plenty of soymilk on hand for your coffee.

MOFO Day #22 True Grub: Lettie Mae's Hoe Cakes

It's Saturday morning and Lettie Mae feels guilty about shaming me for being Jewish, so she made me up a nice batch of hoe cakes. Vegan, even! Just like Tara says, it's all about the bacon grease. No problem, that can be made vegan too.
I scored some of this at the food pantry. There's an oil for everything. This stuff is super boss and I've used it for a cookie recipe and for the bacon grease for the hoe cakes. Satan himself approves.
As you can see, the trick is just cooking some no-bacon bitz-(tvp with seasonings or store bought) in the oil with a little liquid smoke an sesame oil.
You want the oil to cook for a bit, to bring out the bacon flavor--watch it foam. Cool the oil and drain with a fine mesh sieve.

Look, it's hoe cakes! Pay no attention to The Devil. Lettie Mae will get him on out of your house with a little sage and some singin'.

These soak up the syrup, so make sure you have plenty on hand.


Lettie Mae's Hoe Cakes

Bacon Grease

• 2 t. sesame oil
• 1/8 c. macadamia nut oil or some other rich oil suitable for frying-(NOT OLIVE!)
• couple drops of liquid smoke
• 2T bacon bitz-(look at the ingredients to make sure it is vegan)

Heat oil in skillet, and add bitz. Cook on medium for several minutes, stirring. You want to see the oil foam. Turn heat off and cool oil, setting aside to apply to the griddle.


Hoe Cake Batter

• 1 c. corn meal
• 1 c. sorghum flour
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1.5 t of baking soda
• 2 flax seed eggs-(2 T ground flax seeds mixed with 6T hot water and set aside)
• 1 c. Amande cultured almond milk, or plain coconut or soy yogurt
• 1 c. soy, almond, rice, --you get the idea. Non dairy milk.

Get your old Staples Singers records out to set the mood. Heat your griddle or cast iron skillet and apply the bacon grease. Mix wet ingredients together with wire wisk. Add wet to dry ingredients and scoop out the thick batter in 1/3 cup increments on your griddle/skillet. Cook on med heat for 3-4 minutes on one side, then another 4-5 on the other. They'll be nice and golden brown. Serve with your favorite syrup. Mr. J. said these reminded him of sweet tamales with subtle tones of bacony goodness. I thought they tasted like fried mush.

welcome to VHOP

welcome to the vegan house of pancakes-(VHOP). what are the specials, you ask? pictured above are the chocolate chocolate chip pancakes from VWAV, topped with fresh peach slices and maple syrup. i do admit, the concoction sounds a bit odd, but fruit+chocolate=happy, just trust me, okay? they were made with whole wheat pastry flour to be on the healthy side.
these gems are coconut pancakes with pineapple sauce, also from the book VWAV. i felt as if i had been transported to a fancy schmancy hawaiian resort sitting on the balcony in my grass skirt and coconut bra, looking at the ocean, and nomming these faboo flapjacks. i used fresh pineapple to make the sauce and added some shredded coconut on top for presentation.


the best part was knowing that i made these all by myself and no animals were harmed in making or eating these magnificent pancakes. well maybe the dog was jealous, but can you blame her?