Vegan Meal for Lovers

Aaah, Paris! The French know how to love and they know how to eat. Sadly, most of the food is full of animal products. Enter Shellyfish, a lovely ex-pat living in France and veganizing a fair number of French specialties at Musings from the Fishbowl. On Monday we celebrated Candlemas by embellishing her crepes, but I think this menu would be lovely for a special Valentine's Day meal. In fact, we may just have it again then!

While the dishes here are easy to make, it takes some planning to pull it all together. The coffee needs to steep in soy cream for at least 3 hours before using it to finish off the sauce. And the crepe batter needs to sit in the frig for at least 2 hours before cooking. While the mushroom sauce would be fine to make the night before, the crepe batter will need to be used the same day it is made.

Be My Vegan Valentine: French Menu
(serves 2)

Entree

• SALAD of mixed greens with your favorite dressing

Main Course

• SALEE (salty) CREPES a la Shellyfish
  

• TOP with Coffee Mushrooms from this "Cream" Sauce recipe (use Silk original soy creamer and leave most of the liquid and some mushrooms & onions for pouring over noodles for lunch tomorrow)

• SERVE with a side of Chickpea Bacon (using just 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten) and a glass of your favorite red wine
  

Dessert

• SWEETEN the remaining crêpe batter with 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon agave nectar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon cointreau.

• MELT 1/3 cup of high-quality chocolate in microwave in 30-second increments. Mix with 3 tablespoons of hot soy milk and 1/8 teaspoon orange extract until well combined and spreadable.

• SPREAD over crêpe, roll and drizzle with more chocolate.

• FEEL the love!