HOWTO Bake a gorgeous vegan herb bread

This vegan bread loaf has a beautiful herb baked onto its crust, glued in place with an "egg wash" made with soymilk powder and water. Full recipe and HOWTO at the link. Link (via Craft)

[#1 posted by Kyle Armbruster, January 22, 2008 11:51 PM]

Mmmm... Chock fulla eating disorder goodness! And by that I mean "sawdust."

[#2 posted by Jeff, January 23, 2008 3:35 AM]

Very pretty. BUT, you will not want to eat a big ol' leaf of sage--it would be quite bitter. The flat leaf parsly would taste okay.

[#3 posted by scaught, January 23, 2008 5:42 AM]

Now vegans have eating disorders?

[#4 posted by realyst, January 23, 2008 5:53 AM]

What do you mean "Now"?

[#5 posted by sonny p fontaine, January 23, 2008 5:54 AM]

@ #3 "Now vegans have eating disorders?"

no, they always have, among other things.

[#6 posted by farmfoodie, January 23, 2008 7:10 AM]

@Jeff: Fresh sage is not bitter. You may not like the taste of the herb, but it has plenty of fans. It's definitely my personal favorite. I eat whole leaves of sage quite frequently.

I'm a little non-plussed by the whole "vegan" bread idea here. Most breads are vegan. Or have the vegans decided that yeast is an animal?

Focaccia's an herb bread with no egg wash needed. Unless you're in Italy, where it's occasionally made with lard or prosciutto fat, focaccia's always vegan. A dimpled surface strewn with fresh herbs and a sheen of olive oil is much more attractive than the shellacked pressed-flower arrangement look that loaf has.

Here's what I'm talking about:

http://flickr.com/photos/86318801@N00/2020251468/

[#7 posted by anardana, January 23, 2008 7:21 AM]

Thank you for posting from a vegan blog! Veganism is the healthiest way to eat when done right, and is great for the environment and for animals. People who are interested in what vegans eat should check out more of the eatnvegn blog, as well as all of the blogs that she links to. We are a group who love to eat and love to cook! We eat a large variety of food. There is a much larger variation of vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs, and spices that of kinds of meat.

[#8 posted by Crunchbird, January 23, 2008 8:16 AM]

FYI, there's no actual recipe for the bread at the linked blog, either in that entry or in the entries from the last four months, just instructions on how to stick the herbs to the bread. The blogger says she's still working on the tomato bread recipe . . .

[#9 posted by js7a, January 23, 2008 8:16 AM]

LOL at how people with increased risk of ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer have to call out "eating disorder" at people who, unlike them, are able to control their craving for meat.

[#10 posted by dculberson, January 23, 2008 8:27 AM]

Yeah, I was a vegan for two years and would hardly call it an eating disorder. I couldn't maintain my weight (because I don't spend enough time on my diet) so switched back to ovo-lacto vegetarianism. That's one difference between a disorder and veganism: being vegan is a choice. That, and it's actually, y'know, healthy.

I would argue that being hooked on junk food and meats should be classified as a disorder before veganism.

You guys (Sonny and Kyle) amuse me though, so go right ahead and lash out at what you don't enjoy/understand.

[#11 posted by foofoodoodoo, January 23, 2008 8:41 AM]

I am really tired of dealing with Vegan and Vegetarian bashing. Vegans and Vegetarians are people who are trying to make healthy and responsible choices in their diets. Why does this offend carnivores so? Do you feel threatened that someone is going to take away your hamburger and make you feel less manly? I would like to see a serious and well thought out statement about why meat eaters are so offended by vegetarians and vegans.

[#12 posted by markfrei, January 23, 2008 9:15 AM]

Why are so few vegetarian jokes actually funny? I mean it's like "ha ha you're a vegetarian - why don't you marry a carrot." I mean, really now...

[#13 posted by farmfoodie, January 23, 2008 9:17 AM]

I've more frequently encountered vegans who were offended by meat and meat-eaters than the other way around. I'll take your word for it that vegans and vegetarians get bashed. If so, you might consider that some of that could be a reaction to the strident tone coming from *some* vegans.

Many vegans I've met seem to take the same attitude towards meat-eaters that they'd like for themselves: live and let live. But a small and disproportionately vocal number have been shrill, judgmental evangelicals for their "cause." I don't know too many people who appreciate being lectured on their dietary choices, no matter what they eat.

[#14 posted by bach, January 23, 2008 9:26 AM]

Regarding calling this a 'vegan' bread: it's true that many breads, like focaccia, are vegan. But (do I really have to say this?) many are not since they contain milk or eggs, so it's useful for some people to have this label.

As for 'bashing' vegans and vegetarians, people only make fun of them for the same reason they make fun of a lot of other things: they think it's silly. And I kind of agree. Yes, I appreciate that vegans and vegetarians are making healthy and responsible eating choices, but the rules they insist upon seem arbitrary. You can be very healthy and environmentally conscious while still eating animal products. Veganism and Vegetarianism just seems to be another example to me of the very American culture of having to impose weird rules on our food.

Other than health or eco-consciousness, the only case I can think of for vegan/vegetarianism is that some feel it is morally wrong to kill animals to eat them. As it's a moral question, I respect that people are going to think differently on this, but frankly I find this absurd, and think this is the source of much of the ridicule.

Of course, I think there are many other things far stupider and sillier that deserve to be mocked. Like calling a healthy and responsible lifestyle an eating disorder.

[#15 posted by vespabelle, January 23, 2008 9:32 AM]

mmmm, bread! It is very pretty as is Farmfoodie's focaccia.

[#16 posted by schmod, January 23, 2008 9:35 AM]

Agreed, #13.

More than a few vegans/vegetarians take a "holier than thou" stance that tends to annoy the rest of us, and gives them a bad name in general.

I have quite a lot of respect for vegetarians who *don't make a big deal about it*

The issue is *FAR* from being black-and-white. Like so many other things, easing meat in moderation isn't so bad. The fact that a vegetarian diet must be carefully monitored to ensure that you don't malnourish yourself would seem to indicate that one lifestyle choice isn't necessarily better than the other.

Going around and decrying the meat-eating population of the world (ie. the vast majority of people), and cursing them with an "increased risk of cancer" isn't going to win you any favors.

[#17 posted by mic_dee, January 23, 2008 9:48 AM]

This is a silly post, completely useless. Bread, save for a small handful of variations (brioche, Wonder Bread, etc.) is always "vegan". Water, yeast, salt, flour. Maybe some oil, maybe some herbs. Also, there is no recipe here. A bread worthy of the name, even cooked at home, is cooked at a much higher temperature than this crustless, cake-like bread. On a proper loaf, these herbs would shrivel up and burn. Even the source of of this monstrosity doesn't label it as "vegan bread". You can do better than this, Cory.

[#18 posted by Al, January 23, 2008 10:11 AM]

I've gotta agree with Mic Dee. I make "vegan" bread all the time and it comes out looking much more attractive with a lovely crust.

[#19 posted by dculberson, January 23, 2008 10:25 AM]

Claim what you will about "holier than thou" vegans, but the bashing here came from a carnivore aimed at veganism. I am definitely a "live-and-let-live" vegetarian.

Schmod, all diets need careful monitoring to avoid adverse effects. Millions of obese, diabetic, and otherwise unhealthy omnivores are clear testament to that. There is no set-and-forget eating habit, and treating it that way is a surefire route to health problems.

I definitely agree that meat isn't "bad," it's just easy to become overly dependent upon it as your sole source of nutrients. Ask your average person: when was the last time you had fresh vegetables? And fruit? Most people couldn't tell you. They eat meat to the exclusion of most other foods.

[#20 posted by MarkHeck, January 23, 2008 10:57 AM]

reeses... for breakfast?!!??!!

[#21 posted by Georgia Tills, January 23, 2008 11:37 AM]

Hmmm, I need my butter for my bakings, but this herb tabloid is a great idea. I could use borage flowers in the summer too.

[#22 posted by Georgia Tills, January 23, 2008 11:46 AM]

re: bitter herbs

Hmmm, that is a problem, some herbs can be snacked on raw, though it's an acquired taste, but some would be simply too strong.

What can be done is, acquire fresh herbs, and 'rinse' or soak them in hot water, which would be used for the bread. This gives the bread itself more flavouring of the herbs, while retaining the herbs as mostly decorative with a less strong taste.

[#23 posted by Georgia Tills, January 23, 2008 11:58 AM]

re: #19 posted by dculberson

Most people don't so much eat meat, as /frankenmeat/, look at the ingredients of a hotdog and there's your problem. Then they get a lot of plant material through various corn and soy additives, and of course, potatoes.

In marketing, veg*n eating and healthy eating intersect, but it's definitely very different things, especially between what's mass-marketed and what's actually a better alternative. Soy mess with your hormones, and if you want an alternative grain base than wheat, rice or chickpeas are much better. Most mushrooms make a better 'fake meat' than soy, in texture and the taste itself.

In spite of cultural assumptions that red meat is manly, it's actually women of menstruating years who should be eating more red meat than men, but still, not too much (and washing it down with a glass of red wine has less benefits for women than it does for men). A /little/ bit of meat is a crucial part of a healthy diet. Or a little more milk products. We need animal protein for the B-12, because we are omnivores, but we are just not supposed to get too much. Those who are concerned with animal welfare should try purchasing unfertilized eggs and milk products from humane farms. It's more expensive, but it doesn't have to be a lot after all, and homo milk makes excellent yogurt which can be kept and use for months.

[#24 posted by Bottlekid, January 23, 2008 12:51 PM]

Ah, vegan/carnivore flame war. I wondered why such an innocent looking post had 23 responses (so far).

#19, "There is no set-and-forget eating habit".

I disagree. Three sentences, three words:
Buy less food.
Eat less food.
Everything in moderation.

[#25 posted by foofoodoodoo, January 23, 2008 12:56 PM]

Bach:

Ok, so you think veganism/vegetarianism is absurd. You say this even after conceding "the only case I can think of for vegan/vegetarianism is that some feel it is morally wrong to kill animals to eat them." By that same logic, being morally opposed to killing people is absurd and deserving of mockery too. You may think a non-human life is not a valuable as a human life, but a vegan does. It's a belief, just as Christianity is a belief and people make moral decisions based upon being Christians.

I get it that Vegans and Vegetarians are a minority. Why does that make it ok to bash and mock them? Can we do the same for anyone who modifies their actions because of their beliefs?

[#26 posted by dculberson, January 23, 2008 1:08 PM]

Bottlekid: if you reduce it to that level of simplicity, then sure. But that's no more helpful than saying "chew and swallow" is a healthy eating habit.

Oh, and if I was to buy and eat less food, I would get less healthy. So your suggestion is not universally applicable anyway. Not everyone is fat and/or struggling with their weight.

[#27 posted by jcsuperstar, January 23, 2008 1:13 PM]

awesome, I'm going to try it on this:
http://breadnet.net/rosemary_flat_bread.html

[#28 posted by Jeff, January 23, 2008 1:27 PM]

On second thought, a small amount of fresh, fried sage leaves (cut fine) can taste great. But they really should be fried in BACON fat. Mmmmm. Brown butter is very nice too.

[#29 posted by bach, January 23, 2008 1:54 PM]

#25:

I do not think vegan/vegetarianism is absurd, merely a bit silly. As I said, I think there are three possible motivations for living a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle: for better health, for better environmental stewardship, and to avoid a moral problem with killing animals to eat them.

The first two I feel are just as easily accomplished without the arbitrary rule prohibiting animal products. So for these issues, I think vegan/vegetarianism is a bit silly in that it imposes this unneeded rule. That leaves the moral problem.

As I said before, I respect that other people will think differently on the moral issue. However I personally do think the notion that killing animals to eat them is somehow morally wrong is an absurd one. It is a fact of life that all animals consume other living beings to live. You know, "circle of life" and all that.

And fwiw, I do not think human life is necessarily more valuable than that of other animals, just different. I respect the meat I do consume, and the animal whose life was taken so that I could consume it. But yes, I treat other animals differently than I treat humans, because they are different. And by the way, the analogy of meat-eaters to people-killers is the most absurd thing said here yet.

I would encourage any meat eaters here to go personally witness a slaughtering if possible. Everyone should know where their food comes from. And if this is something you can't stomach, then perhaps you should question your decision to eat meat.

[#30 posted by JanScholl, January 23, 2008 2:56 PM]

I will not get into the aurgument pitting vegetarians verses meat eaters. I dont force my lifestyle on anyone and do not expect the same back. I have to put up with enough negativity in life as it is. I live in a household with several dietary choices and we get along fine. So lets all try that here, okay?

I want to say that this looks wonderful and I will be making it soon. I am already imagining the wonderful aroma of the herbs filling my kitchen. Anyon up for a stew I made this week? Click here for the recipe.http://eatsnothingwitheyeballs.blogspot.com/2008/01/african-sweet-potato-stew.html

[#31 posted by sonny p fontaine, January 23, 2008 4:54 PM]

wind them up and watch them walk. by saying "among other things" i wanted to demonstrate the vegans need to constantly defend their life choices. maybe there is a direct link between digesting animal proteins and being able to discern sarcasm. eat what you want, who cares. thanks for playing.

[#32 posted by Trix, January 27, 2008 8:33 PM]

Yet another person to comment on the ridiculousness of saying "vegan bread". Sure, some bread can have dairy or even meat (eg. lard) additives - these additives are not what define bread. You might just as well say "dairy ice-cream". Sure, there is non-dairy ice-cream, but it is explicitly qualified as such.

[#33 posted by Anonymous, December 31, 2008 8:42 AM]

I find these conversations stimulatingly outrageous as it has absolutely nothing to do with this bread recipe. However, I am surprised yet applaud your effort to share your opinions about veganism, vegetarianism and eating meat that is filled with parasites and hormones. Perhaps the views here should be contained to the bread recipe and alternative recipe ideas rather than alternative lifestyle eating habits! Just a suggestion.

[#34 posted by Anonymous, June 26, 2009 10:00 PM]

Hey kids,

I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian myself....and can only feel tickled with all the is bashing-talk.

I personally have a live and let live attitude. If you wish to eat meat ot not eat meat, that is a persons decision....a person does not neccessrily become good because he/she is a vegan or vegetarian and the reverse is also true...eating meat does not make you bad.

I tried being a vegan (under the influence of my ex to whom I was married then) and give it up as it did not suit me. Did I care about what my ex thinks or for that matter anyone else thinks....I couldn't care less.

So my dears...I say do what your heart wants to and let everyone else go to Jericho.