Vegan Father's Day Menu

Father's Day is fast approaching... Veg Web has great suggestions for a Father's Day Vegan Menu.

Appetizers: Grilled Stuffed Mushrooms
Main course: Super sweet potato salad, corn on the cob and Dr. Pepper BBQ Seitan (recipe below)
Dessert: Sweet Cornbread Cake

Check out recipes for these ideas and much more at Veg Web here: http://www.VegWeb.com

Recipe & photo submitted by www.veggiegirl.org, 03/09/09

Dr. Pepper BBQ Seitan

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 cup vital wheat gluten
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, divided
2 teaspoon hot sauce (I like Tabasco)
3/4 cup vegetarian chicken broth (I like Imagine brand)
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 cups Dr. Pepper soda
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
sprinkle sesame seeds, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a cookie sheet, or line with parchment. Combine gluten, 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, hot sauce, broth, and peanut butter in a bowl.

2. Knead mixture for about 3 minutes to form a soft dough. It should be very slightly sticky and quite elastic. Press dough evenly on prepared cookie sheet. Shape however you like (I like free form nuggets, but you can cut strips, or fillets, whatever).

3. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the ingredients (except sesame seeds, don't forget the remaining 1 teaspoon garlic and onion powder) in a blender and process until smooth.

4. After 20 minutes, remove seitan from oven, and lightly spread with the sauce. Flip over and lightly spread the other side, too.

5. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired. Put back in oven and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Serve with plenty of sauce drizzled over it!

Source of recipe: Texas is famous for a lot of things. Dr. Pepper is one of them. This sauce is a favorite of mine, and every self respecting Texan should know how to make it. I wish I knew who to credit for it, but I think it's just one of those things you know how to make if you're Texan. Like queso or green sauce or frito pie. The seitan part of the recipe was adapted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Cooking.

Makes: 4 small servings + extra sauce, Preparation time: about 15 minutes, Cooking time: about 35 minutes
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