November 12, 2012

Homemade Vegan "Parmesan"


I've had this cookbook, Vegan Food Gifts, on my Amazon Wish List ever since I got wind of it, and I tried unsuccessfully to win it from two or three different blogs during MoFo. When I finally figured out I wasn't going to win it, I just sucked it up and bought the damn thing. Because (spoiler alert to my friends, family, and neighbors) this year I'm planning to give "food gifts" as presents. My first course of action is to start making and sampling the recipes so I can figure out what's good to give.

So far, I've made the Fudgy Brownie Mix (photo at the bottom of this post) and the Italian-Spiced Parm-y Sprinkles. There are about 50 remaining recipes I'm dying to try. They all look soooooo good! And since nobody else I know is vegan, besides my husband, and my health guru, Katherine, I have to choose wisely when considering what to give as gifts. So far, I've only tried the two recipes, but they were both fantastic. And I wanted to share the "parmesan" recipe with you because, not only does it taste amazing, but it's easy to make, not too pricey, looks and smells gorgeous, makes a fabulous topper for garlic bread, spaghetti, popcorn, and salads. And I think even non-vegans can appreciate the yummy flavors it presents. Plus, it's got walnuts in it! Hello, protein! My daughter hates the taste and texture of nuts, but she loves this stuff. So, now I can sprinkle the health benefits of nuts onto her salads and she's none the wiser.

1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 panko-style bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed (*I subbed cumin)
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
  • Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until the walnut pieces have been ground into a powder. 
  • Yield: About 1 1/2 cups.
And, since I want to make you really, really crave chocolate right now, here's a picture of the brownie mix prepared...


The mix would be so cute in a jar, and all your recipient has to add is milk, oil, and applesauce. I will definitely be handing this one out for Christmas!

2 comments:

Candy Beans said...

I'm flirting heavily with getting this book. Food gifts are the best kinds. Cute pictures! I love the idea of giving parm in the little shaker jars.

Jennifer M. said...

I highly recommend it! There are so many cute ideas in it. And it already has the gift tags, with cooking/baking instructions to your recipient, printed on the page so you can either just scan it onto card stock and cut it out, or just jot down a copy yourself. There is a whiskey-infused barbecue sauce I am itching to try. I don't think even my non-vegan friends would turn that down!