Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a treat to make for your own little sweethearts this Wednesday: Peanut Butter & Jelly "Pop Hearts". Start with a batch of Easy Pie Crust from Vegan Lunch Box, either the white or half-whole wheat version. Roll the pie crust out on a floured surface and cut into hearts using a 4-inch cookie cutter. Place one heart on a baking sheet lined with sprayed parchment paper. Dab a spoonful of nut butter into the center of the heart and top with a spoonful of your favorite fruit spread or jam. Spread out the butter and jam using the back of a spoon, leaving a half inch of space all around the edges. Brush the edges with cold water and top with another heart. Press the edges together and crimp all around with a fork. Bake at 400ºF for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.When the Pop Hearts are cool, decorate with any favorite icing or frosting (powdered sugar mixed with lemon juice or nondairy milk makes an easy, quick icing). These can be warmed up in a toaster oven or oven, but I fear the frosting would make a mess in a regular toaster. Makes about 10 4-inch Pop Hearts.
I also showed lunchy love today with radish rosettes, a yellow heart filled with Vegenaise and dill for dipping, strawberries dipped in melted vegan white chocolate and rolled in coconut, and a bottle of vanilla soymilk.
Verdict: I love Valentine's Day; it's a great excuse to pull out the hearts and get all cutesy. Shmoo liked this version of the pb&j and ate up everything quick as a wink. I am now madly in love with the radish rosette and have been garnishing everything with them. The combination of strawberries, coconut, and vegan white chocolate is luscious. 5 stars.
That lunch looks so amazing! I had never even thought about trying to make vegan Pop-Tarts! (okay, I'll admit. I hate them. In my pregan days, I thought they were the most disgusting thing ever.) Vegan pop-tarts, however, are infinitely appealing. The radish rosettes are so lovely, and those chocolate covered strawberries are making me drool. Where did you get that heart-shaped container for the Veganaise? I don't know if I'd ever use it, but it's just so adorable.
ReplyDeleteWishing this were my lunch for today! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's only 9 am and he's already eaten his lunch? I'm confused.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Awwwwwwww!
Sooo cute, and so fun :)
Wow! I have seen so many incredible lunches on your blog, but this takes the cake. I'm nearly drooling over those coconut-chocolate strawberries.
ReplyDelete>>It's only 9 am and he's already eaten his lunch?
ReplyDeleteI post a lunch each Monday because that's when I have the most time to work on the computer, but I usually make the lunches in advance. It's easier for me that way now that we're homeschooling most of the week.
>>Where did you get that heart-shaped container for the Veganaise?
ReplyDeleteIt came in a cute little set from BentoTV:
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Bright-Color-Food-Dish-Divider-Cups_W0QQitemZ260084235079QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4003QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
For the food-play-challenged among us, how do you make the radish rosettes? CUTE!
ReplyDeleteI found directions in a book on garnishing from the library. Let's see if I can describe it...
ReplyDeleteFirst cut a long V shape wedge out of the top of the radish, then cut out two more V shaped wedges at cross angles across the first cut. This makes the design on the top.
On the sides, you cut narrow slices out into "petals", making sure not to cut so thin that they break off. Soak them in cold water and the petals open a bit. Beautiful!
i really wish you were my mom, my son probably does too ...
ReplyDeleteThose PopHearts look delicious! I do have a question about reheating them. You mentioned the toaster oven and the oven, but if you don't have access to one of those, will a Wretched Radiation Device work? I do know that the Exxon down the street has a sign about reheating Krispy Kreme (no more than eight seconds otherwise the doughnut explodes), but I don't know if that'd work for this. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteOh, microwave? Gosh, we don't have one so I didn't really think about it. I would say it would probably be fine if only nuked for a few seconds. But I would worry first about exploding the Pop Heart, because the center is sealed. Second, I would worry that the jam in the middle would be burning hot. So go easy.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they taste good cold, too.
Not sure if you found the website for True Lemon/Lime yet, but here she:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.truelemon.com/cooking.html
There's a link on the side bar to have a free sample sent to you!
I meant to say, 'but here she is:'
ReplyDeleteOh, microwave? Gosh, we don't have one so I didn't really think about it.
ReplyDeleteI don't use the thing so I might as well not have one! But at work, that's all I've got.
I'll try it cold, too!
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing. Up to your standards! I love that you have alternatives to eggs and dairy etc. My parents don't eat eggs and a lot of cheeses, so these are cool treats my sister and I can make for them!
Thanks...
Adorable <3
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Pittsburgh Midwife -- I changed the link below to go directly to the True Lemon website, so folks can request a free sample if they're interested.
ReplyDeletewow the heart shape!! and I love the red colour everywhere....
ReplyDeleteI should try to make soemthing like that tomorrow too.
That is so adorable! When I saw the radishes, I tried to guess what they were before scrolling down and reading what you wrote, and I guessed radishes, so, yay I was right!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day!
These are too cute! I simply must do that for the kiddies tonight. I love surprising them with cute treats on holidays. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteLove that! it looks wonderful, cute and festive!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer!! LOVE the pop heart idea. I'm going to make them for breakfast tomorrow! Question-- I am planning a "dinner for two" for my boyfriend and I tomorrow night. He is a carnivore so I am planning to try making your mini wellingtons so that he gets something sort of meat-ish. However, 12 is a ot for us even for leftovers so I'm wondering if the recipe will halve easily or what the proportions for a full-sized wellington would be. Or do you have a btter suggestion for a "meaty" entree we could share?
ReplyDeleteI made the "pop hearts" for breakfast this morning (just jam no p.b.) and my kids loved them. They have never had pop tarts so they have nothing to compare them with but they were a hit.
ReplyDeleteI've made several of the recipes from your cookbook now and we've enjoyed them all. One day I may even try the brussel sprouts. If my kids will eat those I'll send you a medal!!
>>Do you think I could make a bunch of them and then freeze them for later use?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think they would freeze well in individual baggies, so you can pull them out and eat them later. I haven't frozen them myself, so let me know how it goes.
>>Question-- I am planning a "dinner for two" for my boyfriend and I tomorrow night. He is a carnivore so I am planning to try making your mini wellingtons so that he gets something sort of meat-ish. However, 12 is a ot for us even for leftovers so I'm wondering if the recipe will halve easily or what the proportions for a full-sized wellington would be.
Yes, the recipe can easily be halved. Wellingtons also freeze well, so you could always freeze some for later. Enjoy your Valentine's!
I love the Pop Hearts! The radish rosettes are fantastic as radishes are one of my favorite veggies.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog last night (by way of a post about Make a Magical Loaf, referencing your blog, on http://bakingsheet.blogspot.com -- in case you like to know how people find your blog!) and have enjoyed reading your current and archived posts . . . so much so that I ordered myself a copy of your cookbook =).
ReplyDeleteMy son and I are both looking forward to using some of the ideas we saw here on your blog (he peered over my shoulder when I was ooh'ing and aah'ing over the lunchbox photos and he decided that he'd like to try some of the food ideas too -- to say that's a big decision on his part is an understatement!).
Continued success with your cookbook sales, and thanks for continuing to share your ideas with the rest of us out here in blogdomland.
Stopped by Cost Plus today and they had a (melamime) tiffin box!! When I brought it home my 16 year old told me that his history teacher brings his lunch to school everyday in an antique Turkish one that is held together with it's utensils! (This plastic one is neat, but one of these days I'll order a pretty shiny one like yours)
ReplyDeletethe radishes are adorable! I wish I had your talent!
ReplyDeleteSimply adorable!
ReplyDelete