Ghost Pepper

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Don't cry, Ghost Pepper.  We're also sad that today is the last day of Vegan MoFo. But look on the bright-side: today is Halloween and you managed to score a pretty rad costume.  Oh wait, what is that?  You're only tearing up because you accidentally got some of your own hot pepper juice in your eye?

In honor of today, the Kale Crusaders would like to host a last supper of sorts that is bound to make you tear up just a little bit (if not from nostalgia, at least due to spice).  Here's the menu:

Appetizer:  Hot Sriracha Roasted Chickpeas
Main:  Barbecued Garbanzo Sliders
Side:  Cajun Corn Salad
Dessert:  Apple and Poblano Pepper Pie
Beverage:  Orange Watermelon & Jalapeño Mimosa

Thanks for tuning in to our month of food cartoons!  It was a fun challenge and hopefully we will have some more cartoon ideas for Vegan MoFo 2013!

Seitan

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Our next contestant is a polarizing figure among those who are polarized by food matters.  Love him or hate him, Seitan Satan and his gluttonous brethren are ubiquitous in the world of meat-substitutes.

Whether you're a seitan newbie or a member of the seitan lecture circuit, sink your teeth into some basic seitan, seitan mushroom roast, candied vegan ham, and delicatessen vegan corned beef on rye.  Let us know what you think!

Pear

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Things just took a turn for the spooky here at the Costume Parade.  Our next contestant is the rotund Vampire Pear or Vam-pear for short.  Rather than focus on the dark and icky details of vampire lore, let's admire Vam-pear's fabulous vampire ensemble, including a vest and a cummerbund.

Finally, let's not overlook some other fabulous pear ensemble pieces in pear apple ginger juice, tangy tahini pear dressing, roasted pear, roasted pepper, chedda' & sauerkraut quesadillas, pear galette, and pear gelato.

Swiss Chard II

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Up next is the one and only Julia Chard.  With a permanent but always sincere smile on her face and a you-can-do-anything attitude, we are kind of speechless in the presence of this legend.  Cheers to you, Julia, and bon appétit!

In your honor we have prepared some snacks, including roasted cauliflower, garlic and swiss chard soup, Indian spiced lentils with quinoa, kale and swiss chard,  swiss chard and mushroom enchiladas, and garlicky swiss chard with white beans.

P.S. So concludes the fourth week of the costume parade, featuring celebrity costumes. Next week we'll present our final three spooky costumes as the month of October closes out. Stay tuned!

Cucumber

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

In addition to being a famous rapper in the 90's, did you know that Coolio is an accomplished cookbook author?  Honestly, we didn't know either.

Coolio, for your next cookbook, may we suggest recipes for chilled cucumber tahini soup with basil, vegan tzatziki sauce, cucumber hummus, and marinated cucumber banchan?

P.S. Check out this accidentally vegan and over-the-top Cookin' with Coolio video.

Daikon

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Today's contestant, Dick Van Daikon, decided to reprise his role as the beloved Bert from Mary Poppins.  Looking so swank in pinstripes, Mr. Van Daikon also carries the show in pickled daikon and avocado salad, vegan kimchee, daikon and mustard pickle, and Japanese Cajun gumbo.

Monstera Fruit

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

It is hard to see our little Dora the Explorer / Monstera the Explorer grow up and enter the tween rebellion stage. This year, in an effort to shed her image of a sweet goodie two shoes, Dora opted out of  a traditional monster costume in favor of a delicious monster costume.

Keep in mind that monstera fruit is potentially poisonous and requires proper ripening and preparation before eating so you don't get sick.  More details on preparation and taste on the food blog.

Currant

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to our next contestant, Clark Currant (a super man indeed!).  Sweet, mysterious, and always ready to lend a helping hand, Mr. Currant swoops in to save the day in pumpkin spice oatmeal, toasted quinoa and carrot salad, acorn squash stuffed with buckwheat and currants, and even fruit digestive biscuits.

Cowpea

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

So, um, Contestant #15, we don't quite get it: where did you get your name?  [The parade pauses as Cowpea responds politely to the host.]  Apparently cowpea is another name for the black-eyed pea: the bean with the cool birthmark.

Fortunately there's no mistaking the awesomeness of the cowpea / black-eyed pea in black eyed pea fritters, black-eyed pea and collard green chili, black-eyed pea burgers, and even black-eyed pea pizza crust.

P.S. So concludes the third week of the costume parade, featuring animal costumes. Next week we'll present our favorite celebrity costumes. Stay tuned!

Lobster Mushroom

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Coming in from what appears to be another planet is our next contestant, Lobster Mushroom.  Lobster Mushroom says, "Though I am neither a lobster nor a mushroom, I am delicious and come in peace."

Speaking of out of this world, check out Lobster Mushroom in previous expeditions, including lobster mushroom bisque, lobster mushroom crispy spring rolls, lobster mushroom tostada tower, and lobster mushroom corn risotto.

Elephant Garlic

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Our next contestant is the Elephant Garlic in the room.  Mr. Garlic is an enormous garlic bulb that opted for heft over strong taste (translation: elephant garlic tastes quite a bit milder than your standard garlic).

Not typically one to take all the credit, you can find Elephant Garlic taking front stage elsewhere in elephant garlic cream and elephant garlic grilled vegetable skewers.

Dandelion Greens

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Our next contestant, Dandelion Greens, bears an uncanny resemblance to The Cowardly Lion.  What he lacks in the courage department, however, he more than makes up for in the nutritious-but-acquired-bitter-taste department.

Show some courage and give Dandelion Greens a chance in a dandelion green smoothie, dandelion guacamole, or an edamame carrot salad with dandelion greens and cashews.

Rambutan

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo. Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Our next contestant bouncing across the stage is not a Koosh ball.  Please don't let the name Rambutan, or the costume horns, or the tens of spikes intimidate you.

This tropical fruit contains a sweet and slightly sour grape-like flesh that is delicious as is, chopped up into a rambutan chutney, or blended into a rambutan and coconut sauce.  Just be mindful not to confuse Rambutan with his cousin, Lychee, because he just might use one of his horns.

Cauliflower

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

This breath of fresh air, peace, and serenity is none other than Cauliflower Child.

With outrageous colorful outfits that include tofu benedict with “caullandaise” sauce, tandoori cauliflower and cucumber raita wraps, and cauliflower croquettes, why would anyone accuse Cauliflower of being a dull, bland, or boring white vegetable?

P.S.  So concludes the second week of the costume parade, featuring random / awesome / theme-less costumes.  Next week we will present our favorite animal costumes.  Stay tuned!

Rainbow Carrots

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

["Macho Man" blasts on the speakers.]  Coming out next is our second team entry in the parade, donned in the Halloween group costume favorite:  The Village Peop...er...The Village Carrots!

Don't forget to Celebrate National Coming Out Day today with your favorite rainbow-friendly treats, including roasted rainbow carrots with maple-mustard glaze and rainbow carrot salad with mint.

Broccoli II

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Brocco-saurus is our first contestant to march out on four legs along with a humungous tail.  Broccoli, we salute your efforts.  This isn't the first time Broccoli has appeared in a show of course, and has had guest appearances in braised broccoli hot wings, broccoli & cheeze socca, or wandering the aisles at Ikea.

Lime

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Contestant #7 does not have much to say.  Lime may seem a bit too pedestrian for an underrepresented food blog, but we have a question for members of the audience: Have you seen a lime dressed as a mime before?

We didn't think so.  We also have a feeling that you have not seem lime in tahini lime rice with kale and cashews, lime chipotle mayo, avocado coconut lime tartlets, or pomegranate vanilla limeade.

Maple Syrup

In October, we're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Let's give a warm welcome to our sixth contestant, Maple Syrup, as he waddles across the stage.  Mr. Syrup would like to wish his friends a happy Canadian Thanksgiving, full of maple marinated stuffed tofu cubes, maple pecan roasted sweet potatoes, maple-roasted brussels sprouts with toasted hazelnuts, and maple pecan ice cream.

Buttercup Squash

We're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Halloween costumes are a mixed bag–there's the cute, the clever, and the creepy nightmare material.  It is difficult to choose which category Peanut Buttercup Squash falls into, but we guarantee that he is delicious inside and out!

Fortunately these homemade peanut butter cups look particularly cute, clever and non-creepy.

P.S.  So concludes the first week of the costume parade, featuring sweet treats.  Next week we will be mixing things up with some simply random / awesome / theme-less costumes.

Apple

We're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Contestant #4 shows that sometimes, true art leads to pain.  Beneath her candy-coating veneer, she is nursing a severe popsicle-stick induced headache.  Candy Apple, please feel better.  We applaud your commitment to your part!

Candy Apple can commiserate with caramel apples, chocolate apples, and fellow candy apples who share a similar occupational hazard.

Beans

We're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

This is our first team entry in the parade.  These guys were originally arrested for breaking into the Jelly Belly Candy Company's stash of beans with the aim of adding savory flavors to the mix. After bail, they found their true calling was spreading the word in public protest.

Despite all the sweets we've seen so far this week in the Costume Parade, all these beans are making us think warm, chili-filled thoughts.  Consider some three-bean chili, a serving of five-bean chili, or a big-kid mound of chili mac 'n' cheese!

Butternut Squash

We're posting one Costume Parade cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Want to go to the beginning of the Costume Parade? Start with some candy corn!

Our second contestant, Butternut Squash, chose not to squeeze into her tight candy bar costume; rather, she let the vacuum sealer do all the hard work.  Yo go, girl!

Here's a vegan Butterfinger Bar recipe for those of you jonesing for some stick-to-your-molars-fun.

For the slightly less hedonistic in the crowd, you can get your Butternut Squash fix with butternut squash gratin with shallots and cashew cream, butternut squash jambalaya, or butternut squash and mushroom lasagna rolls.

Corn II

This month, we're posting one cartoon per weekday as part of Vegan MoFo.  Be on the lookout for four more treats during the first week of the costume parade!  See you tomorrow!

Our first contestant in the Halloween Costume Parade is Candy Corn.  Her costume shows you that you don't have to choose between your two favorite snacks to deliver an awesome Halloween costume!

[Commotion from the audience.]  Wait, what's that?  Most commercial candy corn is not vegan?  No worries, here is the most popular vegan candy corn recipe on the internet!  And here are some old corn favorites from our Say Anything-themed Corn post.