I Can Finally Eat Basil. Life is Good.

Look at those lovely, waxy leaves. They smell and taste as good as they look!

I have been waiting patiently for weeks and weeks to eat the fresh basil I planted in my garden. The crazy-deliciousness of fresh basil is just beyond compare. I've been regularly sniffing the leaves (I admit, I am a chronic leaf sniffer), my mouth watering, just hankerin' for the time I could snip off a few and put them on something - anything - edible, to throw it's flavor profile right out of the ballpark. Normally, my thoughts might hint toward spaghetti or whatever is saucy and of the Italian variety. But it's already blistering hot here in North Texas, so I'm trying to use the oven as little as possible.

Instead, I found some gorgeous tomatoes at Aldi, for super cheap. Big flavorful fatties in a four-pack, for a buck and some change. So, I sliced them up, spritzed them with a generous helping of balsamic vinegar, put a fresh basil leaf on each one, then topped them with a slice of cucumber and some black pepper. They were AMAZING! Light and full of the fresh flavors of summer. I am planning to serve these at every dinner party I throw from now until the end of time. Give it a try!

P.S. If you're not already growing your own basil, it's not too late!
Here's a great website with all the info you need to get growing.
http://www.growing-basil.org/

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Cranberry-Almond Kale Salad

I am always searching for more ways to cram kale into my diet. I love the stuff! And I always feel so great after I eat it - energized and... uh.. well, you know... "rollin' in the colon" and stuff. Hey, I just made up a new phrase! Rollin' in the colon. I like that.

1 bunch fresh kale, stalks removed and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup, agave nectar, or sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce or liquid aminos
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, very finely grated (I use the little frozen squares)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup dried cranberries

• First, whisk together the following items in a large bowl: orange juice, apple cider vinegar, sweetener of your choice, soy sauce, and sesame oil. 
• Add the ginger and whisk again, until very well incorporated.
• Add the kale and use salad tongs or hands, or whatever you've got, to gently toss the kale in the dressing until every leaf if covered and dripping with good stuff.
• Now add your almonds and cranberries. Toss again.
• Enjoy!

And now I have a strange request for my readers...

PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS FRUIT FOR ME!!

I have a mystery tree growing my backyard. We've only lived here for a year, and all year long I've watched these weird little pink balls growing on the tree behind my bedroom window. Now they are falling off and I'm like, "Should I be roasting these or what?" I have no clue what they are. The little black thing on top reminds me of a persimmon, but I saw some persimmons at the grocery story recently and they were way bigger than what I have. So, I am flummoxed. Can anybody shed some light on this??

And, if you know what it is, can you also throw a recipe or two my way? The Bankrupt Vegan title is not just a clever moniker. If I have food growing in my backyard, I need to eat it!

Quinoa with Roasted Corn and Cilantro

My husband, believe it or not, does the majority of grocery shopping for our family. My daughter goes with him and they make it a fun outing, which gives me a nice little break every week. But it also means that I sometimes wind up with weird stuff, and missing some key items too. No offense to my shoppers, they are great! There's just a gap in the way I shop and the way my husband shops. He has to have a definitive list, with every detail on it, or he will not pick up what might be missing in a future recipe. Like, I might see quinoa on the grocery list, and I will immediately know that I want to make quinoa-tabouleh salad and, even if the remaining ingredients aren't on the list, I still know what else to grab. He doesn't shop like that. But that's okay because, really, the wonderful thing about it all this shopping business is that it often forces me to be creative, and it is this exact thing that most often helps me to create new recipes. Like this southwestern version of my quinoa-tabouleh salad. I wasn't sure that cilantro was going to taste good with quinoa, but when I found three full bunches of cilantro, which is easily my favorite summer herb, in my fridge, I knew I had to find more ways to use it than just slapping it into my homemade pico de gallo. That's where this new quinoa salad comes in. It was really light and delicious, oil free, and perfect for any end-of-summer shindigs you might attend.

2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup quinoa
1 large ear corn, roasted (I roast mine right on the gas burner)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Big handful of cilantro leaves (about half a bunch), coarsely chopped
Juice from one large lime
Salt and pepper, to taste

• Bring vegetable stock to a boil. Add quinoa. Stir, reduce heat and allow to simmer (stirring occasionally) until quinoa is soft. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Use a sharp knife to saw the kernels off of your corn. Don't cut yourself!
• Add all ingredients to quinoa. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate.
• Enjoy! 

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Gingered Cranberry Waldorf Salad

This is a tangier, sweeter version of the traditional Waldorf salad. It's a perfect addition to summer barbecues, and it will get gobbled up fast at potlucks. Give it a try!

2 Granny Smith apples, cut into small cubes
2 large carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup vegan mayonnaise
3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger powder
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

• Place apples, carrots, cranberries, walnuts, and mayonnaise into a large bowl and gently stir. 
• Add mayonnaise and ginger. Stir to coat. 
• Drizzle rice vinegar all over salad. Add pepper. Stir again .
• Makes about 8 servings. 
• Enjoy!

NUTRITION INFO (per serving):

Calories: 117.9 / Total Fat: 6.1g (Saturated Fat: 0.7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g) / Cholesterol: 3.5mg / Sodium: 181.4mg / Potassium: 79.3mg / Total Carbohydrates: 16.7g (Dietary Fiber: 2.3g, Sugar: 13.0g) / Protein: 0.8g / Iron: 1.0%

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Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

This is my newest addiction. It is so good! I have always loved tabbouleh salad, even long before my health journey began. A plate full of falafel, tabbouleh, and dolmas was, and still is, one of my very favorite meals. So, when my husband and I decided to try gluten-free for a while, I assumed that I would have no choice but to give up my good friend, tabbouleh. But, now I don't have to! I found a delicious substitute for the bulgur wheat - quinoa! It tastes wonderful, and adds a lot of extra nutritional value toward your daily protein goal.
And, hey, remember all that fresh mint I told you about in my garden? Well, I have fresh Italian parsley growing out there too. So, badda bing. Scrumptious tabbouleh is mine once again! Give it a try.

1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups water
4 green onions, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1/2 large cucumber, diced
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint, finely minced
1/8 cup fresh parsley, finely minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice, or less (to taste - I like a lot!)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

• Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa and stir. Cover and reduce heat. Allow quinoa to simmer on medium-low heat until all water is cooked off, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Be careful not to burn your quinoa. Allow to cool.
• Place cooled quinoa into a large bowl (preferably something with an airtight lid).
• Add all remaining ingredients and gently stir until very well-mixed. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Stir again before serving.
• Can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for two or three days. But it's best on the first day, when the veggies are still fresh and crisp!
• Makes about 6 servings.
• Enjoy! 

NUTRITION INFO (per serving):

Calories: 192.6 / Total Fat: 8.8g (Saturated Fat: 0.9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5.0g) / Cholesterol: 0g / Sodium: 6.8mg / Potassium: 97.1mg / Total Carbohydrates: 24.6g (Dietary Fiber: 3.7g, Sugars: 2.1g) / Protein: 4.7g / Iron: 18.3%

 

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Awesome Vegan "See Food" Feast

Being a Southerner, I pretty much grew up on my Mee Maw's fried catfish. And I have a particular fondness for the flavor of seafood because I met my husband in the seaside town where I attended college, and we were always surrounded by the stuff. It smelled great, tasted better. Since becoming vegan, I've never found anything quite akin to great seafood or my granny's fried catfish... until now!!

Here's what you see on the plate:

• Pan-Fried Tofu Wedges with Easiest-Ever Tartar Sauce.
• Cauliflower Hummus and Tortilla Chips
• Asian-Inspired Veggie Slaw
• and some olives too

And here are the recipes:

PAN-FRIED TOFU WEDGES
1 pound extra-firm tofu, lightly pressed and sliced into 16 equal wedges
1 cup unsweetened soy milk
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Dash of cayenne
1 cup canola or vegetable oil

• In a small pan or wide, shallow bowl, whisk together soy milk, arrowroot, and lime juice until no lumps remain. The lime juice may curdle the milk slightly, but that's okay. I usually don't marinate the tofu, but I suppose you could marinate it up to an hour before cooking. 
• Mix all dry ingredients together in another small pan or wide, shallow bowl. 
• Heat oil over medium heat in a cast iron skillet.
• Gently dredge your tofu slices, one at a time, through the milk mixture and then through the cornmeal mixture, making sure each piece is completely and evenly coated. 
• Place gently into the frying pan. Cook for about 2 1/2 minutes on each side, turning with both a small spatula and a pair of coated tongs. Only cook a few at a time. I like to place them onto a rack in my lightly heated toaster oven after they're done frying, so I can keep them nice and warm while I finish cooking them all. It also allows some of the oil to drip off. 

EASIEST-EVER TARTAR SAUCE
1 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/4 cup dill pickle relish
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Throw it all in a bowl and stir it up. Easiest ever.

CAULIFLOWER HUMMUS
1/2 head's worth cauliflower florets, gently boiled until softened
3 cloves garlic
2 cups garbanzo beans
1/4 cup garbanzo bean cooking liquid, or more to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1/8 cup lemon juice
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Dash of cayenne

• Chuck everything into a food processor and blend until creamy.

ASIAN-INSPIRED VEGGIE SLAW
I saved the best for last! I have been fiddling with this slaw (or "salad," depending on your mood) for a while now. And I think I have finally perfected it! Give it a try.
1 medium zucchini, finely diced
1 medium yellow squash, finely diced
2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
1 Granny Smith apple, diced
1/2 head green cabbage, diced

• Throw everything into a bowl and coat liberally with the following dressing. Add the dressing a little bit at a time, to taste. You probably won't use it all, but it keeps great in the fridge!

ASIAN GINGER DRESSING
2 teaspoons minced ginger root (I used the little frozen cubes)
3/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
1/4 cup water
1/8 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
1 teaspoon garlic powder
A few shakes of sesame oil
2 tablespoons lime juice

• Put all ingredients into a bottle, or something that you can vigorously shake, and shake it until it's well-mixed. I actually prepare and store this dressing in an old soy sauce bottle. It keeps very well in the fridge for several days. Just be sure to shake it up again before using it.

Simple Mung Bean Sprouts

Can't you just sense the "healthy" in this bowl? My mom bought me a 3-tray seed sprouter for Christmas, and I've been sprouting mung beans and alfalfa seeds ever since! It's so nice to have fresh sprouts for salads and wraps, and now I'm branching out and experimenting with cooking the sprouts to add lots of crunchy nutrition to my foods.
This is a simple water-saute sprout recipe, perfect as a side to an Asian-inspired meal. Or pile it on top of rice and veggies for a complete entree! Either way, it's delicious and very healthy. Your body will thank you.
(A couple of friends hipped me to the water-saute, and it is saving me from so much fat in my meals! Thanks Molly and Katherine!) 
Give it a try...

1/4 cup water
2 cups mung bean sprouts, rinsed
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon agave nectar (or preferred sweetener)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of salt
Splash of sesame oil (optional)

•  In a large skillet or saute pan, place the water and mung bean sprouts. Saute over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until sprouts begin to soften slightly.
• Add remaining ingredients, saving sesame oil for last.
• Continue to cook over medium heat until more than half of the liquid at the bottom of the pan has cooked off. There will be a small amount of liquid left. Do not overcook. It only takes a few minutes. You don't want soggy sprouts!
• Cook until sprouts have softened, and soaked up some of your seasonings, but still retain their crunchy middles. Best to keep tasting them throughout the process.
• Makes one serving.
• Enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS:
Calories: 142.3 / Total Fat: 1.0g / Cholesterol: 0.0mg / Sodium: 1315.2mg / Potassium: 7.7mg / Total Carbohydrate: 26.5g (Dietary Fiber: 2.1g, Sugar: 15.2g) / Protein: 2.1g
VITAMINS:
(For fun, and to prove the nutritive value of this dish, I listed vitamins too!)
Vitamin A: 4.0%, Vitamin B-6: 1.0%, Vitamin C: 20.2%, Calcium: 4.1%, Copper: 0.1%, Iron: 8.1%, Magnesium: 0.1%, Manganese: 0.2%, Phosphorous: 0.3%, Riboflavin: 0.1%, Selenium: 0.4%, Thiamin: 0.2%. Zinc: 0.1%
Look at all that Vitamin C!

And, while I have you here, check out my little alfalfa garden. Isn't it cute? Yum!

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CASHEW-TEMPEH CHICKENLESS SALAD

This delicious salad doesn't really mimic chicken salad, because it's so much tastier, and much better for you! But I didn't know what else to call it. I've been experimenting with recipes that include cashews because I snagged four huge bags of them at only $2.99 a pound at my local salvage grocery (they run $8.99 per pound at the grocery store)! I've also been enjoying a lot of cashew no-milkshakes. But you can leave the cashews out of this recipe if you can't afford them. It will still be super nummy. If you don't want to go the standard sandwich route, try it on crackers. My daughter loves it! (See photo below for proof.)

Here's the recipe...


1 8 ounce package tempeh (I used organic 3-grain)
1/2 cup raw or dry-roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, minced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 carrot, grated
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash of cayenne
Salt and pepper to taste

• Toss ingredients into a bowl, stir, and enjoy!

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EASY THREE BEAN SALAD

This recipe was born straight out of an "I need fiber!" fit (we all know what sparks one of those), and was based solely upon what I had on hand in the kitchen. Lucky for me, it turned out great! It's nice and light for summer, and packed with protein and fiber. Yum. Give it a try...

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can sweet corn, drained and rinsed
A handful of white mushrooms (about 5 or 6), thinly sliced
1 small white onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 green onion, sliced
1/2 to 1 cup of your favorite Italian dressing, to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste

• Chuck everything into a big bowl and stir. You're done.
• Enjoy!

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