We all have one of these in our neighborhood, don't we? Well, maybe not everyone, but then I didn't exactly research the number of these fine establishments that are dotting the planet. I guess I chose Applebee's, not for their super fabulous menu, but because I worked at one. In fact, I thought I was just hired to work at a place that was going to put a bunch of $$$ in my pocket and drove 90 minutes each way to go to work.
I quit within a month. It wasn't the gold-mine I was expecting.
I never really understood Applebee's phenomena; every time we ate there (pre-veg), they never managed to get the order right and we got some pretty awful food because of it. That is a good enough reason to make it at home.
We made two of Applebee's signature dishes... the Asian Chicken Salad - cleverly omitting the 'fried' part from the name and...the more-famous-than-Houdini Applebee's Ribs. No need to have Babe on a plate, we have seitan all ready to transform a plate of something my daughter called "eww, gross,'' as she gazed upon Applebee's website, to "this is really good, Mom," as she was chowing down on her Seitan Rib.
Finger-licking good.
The Oriental Salad has fried Tender Seitan on it and a mustard-maple sesame dressing. It never ceases to amaze me that someone can transform a perfectly healthy plate of greens into a heart-attack on a plate fare. And, yet, that is what seems to be happening across the board in restaurants - veg or not, fried tastes right. This was no exception; it was really good.
So, while you dear reader, can pick and choose wisely when or if to indulge in these fried delicacies, my family will need a good detox in December.
The sacrifices we make for the blog.
Cost Breakdown
Salad:
lettuce, cabbage, carrots, onions: $4
chow mein, almonds, cashews: $1.50
maple, vinegar, mustard, veganaise: $1.50
seitan, corrnflakes, flour: $4
Total for 4 servings:
$11.00
Ribs:
seitan: $5
ketchup, spices, herbs, vinegar, sugar: $2
potatoes: $3
Total for 5 servings:
$10.00
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| Asian Chick'n Salad |
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| Applebee's Style Ribs |
