November Food Observances 2015

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 30, 2015 | Food Observances & Holidays |

It’s almost November and time to look at all the food holidays that vegans can celebrate. Up first, it’s World Vegan Month! This is the time to learn all you can about eating vegan, why factory farming is inhumane, and what we can do to build urban gardens and make city food deserts places where food plants flourish and feed families.

The sole weekly observance this month celebrates figs. This makes me very happy, because I do love figs.

The daily food observances include everything from pecans to peppers to pomegranate. And the daily celebrations have fun foods like nachos, sundaes, and pizza with everything (do you put kale on pizza?).

Black Bean and Tempeh Chili

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 28, 2015 | Recipes, Soups & Stocks |

October is National Chili Month (the dish not the pepper) and in celebration, I thought I would bring this tried and true recipe to your attention. Having grown up in the Southwestern United States, making a good chili carries with it a sense of pride.

From "A Texas Scrapbook: San Antonio's Military PlazaA few fun facts about chili: •It is the state food of Texas. •There is dispute about its creation. Cowpokes get the credit, but long before the cattle trail the Chili Queens of the military plazas in San Antonio and other towns were selling this hearty concoction to road weary travelers. •The Incas and Aztec also had versions of a combination of beans and chili. •While the chili trail is well documented and guilty of very tall Texas tales, chili con carne simply means "peppers with meat" in Spanish.

How To Make Roasted Salsa

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 21, 2015 | How to |

One of the staples I have cooked over the years, both professionally and at home, is roasted salsa. This is an easy and fun condiment to make for all sorts of parties, picnics, and dinners. Since I'm from the Southwest, salsa is one of the first things I learned to make well in kitchens. It really is hard to screw up. I've made gallons of salsa, and small batches. The video below shows you how to make enough salsa to last a week, using grilling techniques, and tips on how to process chilis for the salsa.

Kitchen Shaman Cooks Party!

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 17, 2015 | Events, News |

By now you've heard about our campaign to produce a cooking show in 2016. If you haven't, check it out here: igg.me/at/kitchenshamancooks. To celebrate the project, we're having a party in Phoenix -- and you're invited!

Join us Saturday, October 24th (6 - 8 pm) at Urban Beans Cafe in Phoenix for an evening of fun, food, and a preview of what you can expect from our cooking show.

Roosevelt Row Chile Festival

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 13, 2015 | Festivals |

I recently attended the 4th Ave Roosevelt Row Chile Festival here in Phoenix, AZ. While there was no program that listed time of events, including the chef demos, there were many food vendors with unexpected vegan options.

UB pulled jackfruit tacoHere in the Southwest we celebrate the blend of chilies and chocolate, a combination that was the pride of the Aztecs and was in abundance at the Festival. My favorite coffee shop, Urban Beans, dished up a chili dipped in chocolate.

P is for Pie: Pumpkin Pie

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 7, 2015 | Desserts, Recipes |

It’s the fall season which means all things pumpkin, from pies to lattes, ravioli to smoothies. Grocery stores are stocked to the rafters with orange covered boxes and cans. This is also the time of year I purchase sugar pie pumpkins, cut them open, gut them, and roast them to make a pumpkin puree to last throughout the year.

The Great Pumpkin

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 5, 2015 | Fruits, Ingredients |

Pumpkins are a symbol of the fall harvest. They invoke in us the feeling that summer is over and winter approaches. As the leaves on trees turn, pumpkins are harvested and piled up in attractive displays in the grocery stores, ready for us to pick, choose, and buy.

Support Kitchen Shaman Cooks

Posted by Kitchen Shaman | Oct 1, 2015 | News |

After months of planning, we're pleased to announce that we are launching a crowdfunding campaign today, October 1st. We want to turn the things you love about this blog into a web series and we need your help.

We have created a number of videos showing you recipes, cooking tips, and me eating things and you can see them on the Kitchen Shaman YouTube Channel. We want to take this to the next level, renting equipment and hiring a professional crew to bring you a higher quality program. We're asking you to help make that happen.

Month: October 2015