The July Brunch and Bike Ride is already out of control.

And it's still more than a week away.

The Details:

When: Sunday, July 20th; Ride at 12:30, Brunch at 1:30

Where: Ride meets at Northshore Park (picnic table near 15th Ave NE); Brunch is at 140 Ricardo Way NE

Theme: Batman: The Dark Knight / Christmas in July

Menu: Pancakes. And other good stuff. I haven't decided yet.

Donation: $5, proceeds to The Skirts

Why you should go: This may be the last one for a bit. Also, did you see the theme? Also, did see the part about pancakes?

Questions and concerns: Email me at hoorayvegan@gmail.com.

When Britt suggested a Christmas in July theme, I had concerns about reconciling it with our already-decided-upon Batman theme. Pam responded with this:



And then I went on a Google image search journey and found these:





Evil Stay Puft Santa?!


The moral of the story is that you shouldn't miss this particular event.

June Brunch in Photos

First, the food. Brunch shells, Mushroom Spinach Strata from Veganomicon, fresh tomatoes and basil, mashed potatoes, peanut butter cinnamon rolls from bjorkedoff, spinach salad (recipe below), fresh fruit, juice, and coffee.










Bicycles, food, and flying dogs are fun and all, but the epic didn't happen until someone noticed that the coconut trees on the golf course were ready for harvest.

There were skeptics.


But Luke and Mike, clearly farmers at heart, rose to the occasion.



Brunch heroes.


Obtaining fresh coconuts is one thing. Fashioning them into beverage vessels is quite another. But we persisted,







And prevailed.




Thanks to Steph for her kitchen help, Pam for leading a bike ride and taking pictures in spite of an injury, Lily for taking pictures, and to everyone else for attending. We raised a healthy sum for Milton Animal League! Next brunch is in July. Stay tuned for details.

<3 Abbie

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Strawberries, and Toasted Almonds

My Aunt Beth brought this or something very much like it to a 4th of July party one year. Anyway, it's easy, pretty, and delicious.

Salad:
10 oz fresh spinach (about one large bunch)
1 C quartered strawberries
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained and rinsed
1/2 C blanched, slivered almonds, toasted and cooled (spread onto dry cookie sheet and toast at 350 for 5-10 minutes)

Dressing:
1/4 C rice vinegar
1/4 C canola oil (any oil with a very mild flavor will do)
1-3 T sugar, to taste
Fresh pepper to taste

Gently toss salad ingredients together. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with salad immediately before serving.

Brunches and Bike Rides Strike Back!

We have been scattered across the country for the last month or so, but are back with a vengeance for a brunch in June. The date is Sunday, June 22nd at 1:30 pm. The theme this month is Easy to Cook, as this brunch follows Patrick and Stephanie's birthday party on Saturday, and I am guessing that it will be so radical that no one will want to be up before noon.

The (tentative) menu:

Birthday Quiche with Spinach and Sundried Tomatoes
Brunch Shells
Herb Roasted Potatoes
Strawberry and Mandarin Orange Salad with Toasted Almonds
Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Fresh Fruit, Juice, and Coffee

The donation is $5, and proceeds this month will go to Milton Animal League. The bike ride begins at 12:30 at Northshore Park. Brunch starts at 1:30 at 140 Ricardo Way NE in St. Pete. Email me at hoorayvegan@gmail.com for directions or if you have any questions. 

Some of the adoptable adorables at Milton Animal League:

Erica

Blue

Howie

See you at brunch!

Oh! And PS! All this traveling I've been doing means I have some great food porn that I will post very soon. Vegan soul food, country fried tofu, and gigantic breakfast burritos are on the way. 

Updates, delivered right to your inbox. For free!

Apparently, there are people that don't check this blog obsessively. I know, I am shocked too.

For the convenience and at the request of those people with too little time on their hands, there is now a Brunches and Bike Rides email list. If you sign up, you'll get two emails a month- one with the date and menu, and one reminder a couple of days before. I will BCC everyone on the list so that I am the only one to see your address, and will be happy to remove anyone from the list at any time.

So, if you want brunch updates, email me at aharris@marine.usf.edu.

The next one is April 20; read about it here.

In other news, here is what came up when I googled puppy and vegan:









I'm a big fan of the internet.

The third week of April is Bike Safety Week.

It's also Snell Isle Bike Ride and Brunch week. I made a menu, Patrick made a flyer. Here it is ya'll:



As you can see, the next brunch is April 20th at 1:30. $5, great food, proceeds to The Skirts. Email me for directions, please.

The pre-brunch bike ride starts at 12:30 at Northshore Park. Talk to Pam for details. Also, you can talk to her about the BBQ and Bike Ride she is hosting on April 12th at 4:00, in honor of her birthday.

Oh, and don't forget about the photo pool. Upload stuff if you have it.

<3 Abbie Rae

B to the R to the U to the N to the C to the H

Spells brunch.

The next Brunch and Bike Ride is April 20th. $5, bike ride at 12:30, brunch at 1:30, proceeds to the The Skirts (you don't know what that is yet, but I'm pretty sure you want to contribute). Menu up soon. The next BBQ and Bike Ride is April 12th at Pam's house, in honor of Pam's birthday. Email me for details, please.

March's bike ride and brunch was lovely, and we raised some bucks for V-Day. RRF's Cinnamon Rolls were so charming that we killed my camera battery taking pictures. Most of these are from Pam. Thanks Pam!

What we eated: Soft and hard tacos with fu scramble, Breakfast Veggie Chorizo (VWAV), fajita veggies, guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro rice, black beans with mango sauce (thanks Katie!), salsa, and vegan sour cream. Also plantains, chili-lime mashed potatoes (recipe at the end of the post), strawberries, and those excellent cinnamon rolls from Bjorked Off.






The line moves fast, I swear. This is no Splash Mountain.



Steph and Pam, my lovely and sophisticated co-hosts.


Brunchers.





Pam always takes pretty bike pictures, and I never post them because I get too preoccupied with food pictures. But I remembered this time.


That keg has been there since we moved in. I think.









This is March, did you know? And look at this gorgeous weather.
<3 Florida <3


The worthy cause for April 20th.


And finally, the recipe for Chili Lime Mashed Potatoes.

3 lbs red potatoes, scrubbed, eyes removed, cut into 1-2 inch chunks (I leave the skins on, but you don't have to)
1/4 C vegan margarine (I use Earth Balance)
1/4 C unsweetened soymilk
1/2 - 1 C vegan cream cheese (I use Tofutti; adjust amount according to how decadent you like your potatoes)
1 t chili powder (or to taste)
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and fresh pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until tender. Drain, add remaining ingredients, and mix until no large chunks remain.