junk food

I love to cook, really I do. I prefer to make most things from scratch and from fresh ingredients, but I admit that sometimes I rely on pre-packaged stuff for time/laziness reasons. Tonight was such a night. I usually like to make something kick-ass on Saturdays, and this meal was kick-ass, despite all of the pre-packaged crap.
Here's how a lazy vegan makes calzones and battered artichoke hearts:
Open a can of artichoke hearts. Drain 'em. in a small bowl, mix up a few spoonfuls of Vegenaise with a few spoonfuls of dijon mustard. Dip the artichoke hearts in the mixture, covering them evenly. In another bowl, mix about a cup of all purpose flour, a scoop of cornmeal, some garlic powder, and salt. Coat the artichoke hearts with the flour mixture. Now fry up those bad boys in some canola oil over med high heat.



Fatty oil goodness.

Now for the lazy calzone. Thaw out a pre-made doughball (we get them from Whole Foods). Divide it in half, then roll out each half into a rectangle of sorts. Fill it up with whatever you like- tonight I did jarred pasta sauce, frozen "meat"balls, Vegan Gourmet Mozzarella, diced onions, and black olives. Fold over the dough, pinch it shut around the edges, and bake it up.



It was a good time, even if the pictures seem lackluster. Now here's another confession. I never make my own pasta sauce. I respect those who do, but there are so many good organic sauces out there, I just don't see the point. But then I'm only Italian by marriage.