April 28, 2010

Puddin' Please!


My little one absolutely LOVES this pudding. For her, I leave the almonds off, but for me I drizzle with some cashew cream (pictured - recipe coming soon!) and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or sliced almonds. This has been our favorite go-to dessert for years because it's so easy to throw together in minutes. An older child could have a lot of fun helping to measure out the ingredients for you.

Warning: It's messy!

Here's how to do it...
Throw all of the following into a blender or food processor and mix on high until smooth and creamy. Easy!

2 boxes of firm silken tofu
1/2 C sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup
1/4 C powdered cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract

This recipe is very versatile and easily accommodates additions such as peanut butter or coconut. Feel free to experiment!

This makes about four large servings. It stores well, covered in the fridge, for several days. But if you don't want quite this much, feel free to cut the recipe in half. It turns out just fine either way!

Braised Kale over Brown Rice with Peanut Sauce


Technically, this recipe is still in progress. I've been toying with it for a while, and I think it tastes really nice, but it seems to be missing just a little something. Soy sauce? Curry powder?? I can't put my finger on it. So, feel free to experiment with it. And if you find that special "punch" please let me know what it is!

P.S. I love a rich, hearty peanut butter flavor, so this sauce is thick with it. If you prefer a more subtle peanut  "whang," try reducing the peanut butter by half. 

1 cup long grain brown rice
2 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bunch green kale, chopped (stems removed)
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Dash of cayenne
  • Bring two cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add brown rice. Stir, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until soft (30 - 45 minutes). 
  • While rice is cooking, prepare your peanut sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together peanut butter, water and spices until well-blended. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saute pan. Add onions and garlic, saute until translucent and soft. Add kale and cook only until dark green and slightly wilted (5-10 minutes). Do not overcook or kale will turn into a slimy mess.
  • Add peanut sauce to kale and stir until well-coated.
  • Place desired amount of rice into a bowl and top with kale and sauce mixture.
  • Garnish with chopped peanuts.
  • Enjoy!

April 21, 2010

Hearty Vegetable Stew


This is actually more of a fall/winter dish, but I happened to have some potatoes about to buy the farm, so I got busy makin' stew! This is a really hearty, filling bowl of stew. It's great if you throw some homemade dumplings in (which is usually how we eat it), but some toasted bread with butter throws it right over the top too. Use the toast to soak up the "gravy" left behind in your bowl. It's so yummy!

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced (or more, to taste)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
3 celery stalks, diced
4 cups no-chicken broth or vegetable broth, divided
1/4 cup + 1/8 cup organic all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
Leaves from a sprig of fresh rosemary (optional)
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Heat oil in a large pot.
  • Saute onion and garlic over medium heat until soft. 
  • Add potatoes. Add water in 1/8 cup increments (up to 1 cup), if needed, to keep potatoes from sticking.
  • While potatoes are softening, chop and add remaining vegetables.
  • Add 3 cups of broth to pot and stir. 
  • Add soy sauce and spices.
  • In a separate bowl whisk together remaining 1 cup broth and flour. Add mixture to stew and stir.
  • Cover pot. Allow to simmer over medium heat until all vegetables are soft. Generally only takes about fifteen minutes.
  • Enjoy! 

April 16, 2010

Easy "Eggless" Salad


This is such an easy fix when you're drained from running around all day and you don't want to be tempted by junk (which is exactly why I made it today). It whips up super-fast, and is extremely versatile. Sometimes I'll just throw in random stuff that I have on hand, like grated carrot or diced red bell pepper. Just about anything works. Try it on toasted bread with lettuce and tomatoes for a great sandwich. Throw some vegan cheese on there too and grill it for a yummy melt!

1 lb. firm tofu, drained
2 stalks celery, minced
3 green onions, chopped
2/3 C vegan mayonnaise
2 Tbsp yellow or dijon mustard
1/4 C dill pickle relish (or sweet relish, if you prefer)
2 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
  • Throw everything into a medium bowl and stir it up until it's mush. Yum!
  • This recipe makes quite a bit, easily enough for seven or eight average sandwiches. Keeps well if covered in the fridge - it'll stay fresh for a few days, at least.
  • Enjoy!

April 7, 2010

"Cheesy" Potato and Leek Soup


I had a couple of leeks about to buy the farm a few days ago, so I made up this soup completely on the fly and it turned out great! It's thick and creamy, with a "cheezy" and onion-y tasting base. My husband loved it. Give it a try!

1/8 cup olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 leeks, white parts only (save the greens for stir fry), chopped
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1/4 cup vegan beer (optional)
2/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup soy milk
3 cups water
2 tablespoons all-purpose seasoning (I used Simply Organic)
1 tablespoons fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash of rubbed sage powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
4 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
  • Heat olive oil in a large pot. 
  • Saute yellow onion and leeks until soft.
  • Add remaining ingredients (except green onions) and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer for half an hour.
  • When potatoes are soft, use a hand-held blender to smooth into a creamy soup. 
  • Pour into bowls and top each with one chopped green onion. Makes about 4 large bowls.
  • Enjoy!

April 6, 2010

Behold the Mighty Kale Chip!


This recipe idea came from the Plant-Based Health newsletter I received via email today. If you've never visited the Plant-Based Health website, please go give it a look. Katherine, who runs the site, is a sweet vegan gal from right here in Texas. Sign up for her newsletter too! It's totally free and she always sends out great recipes. I met her when I took a Cancer Project class at Spiral Diner a year or so ago. That was the impetus that turned me veg! If you ever have the chance to take a Cancer Project class, do it. You'll learn a lot, and you'll sample a ton of great food. It's so much fun!

Give these a chips a try. They take mere minutes to make and are super-healthy for you. Can't beat that! Not even with a kale chip.

1 bunch kale, rinsed and dried, then torn into chip-sized pieces. Leave out stalks.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Toss all ingredients into a large bowl and stir until leaves are evenly coated. I used a big spatula to stir.
  • Spread leaves apart on a large ungreased cookie sheet and place in oven.
  • Bake for 5-7 minutes, until desired crispness is acquired, watching closely not to burn.
  • Enjoy!

March 23, 2010

Creamy Peanut Soup


I seriously can't get enough of this soup.  Everyone in my house (including the wee one) goes nuts for the stuff. Try it, you'll love it!

1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped and seeded
2 medium russet potatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 quart (4 Cups) no-chicken or veggie broth
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
Dash of cayenne (optional)
roasted peanuts, chopped, to taste (optional garnish)
  •  Place onions, potatoes, garlic and bell pepper in a large pot with broth. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
  • Add the peanut butter.
  • Either stick a hand-blender right into the pot and blend until creamy, or transfer in small batches to a blender.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as nutritional yeast and cayenne (if using).
  • Makes about 4 large servings. Top each bowl with chopped peanuts. Delicious!

March 18, 2010

Easy 3-Bean Chili

 
This takes only a few minutes to get it going, it's jam-packed full of fiber, and it's delicious! What more can you ask for?
If you're really daring, pile in some corn chips for an old-fashioned Southern Frito Pie.

1/8 C olive oil
1 medium white or yellow onion, diced
2-4 cloves of garlic, minced, to taste
1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
1 15oz can black beans, drained
1 15oz can kidney beans, drained
1 15oz can pinto beans, drained
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp all-purpose seasoning (I used Simply Organic)
1/2 tsp powdered cocoa (just trust me on this)
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
dash of ground black pepper
vegan cheddar cheese, shredded (optional) 
  • Heat olive oil in a large saute pan or skillet. Add onions and garlic, cook until soft.
  • Add remaining ingredients.
  • Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. 
  • Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until desired consistency is reached. I usually let it simmer for about half an hour, but you probably don't have to wait that long if you're really starving!
  • Ladle into bowls and top with shredded vegan cheddar, to taste.

March 13, 2010

Pretty Little Peanut Butter Cookies


This peanut butter cookie is great because it's gluten-free, and free of refined white sugar as well (though they're not "sugar free" per se, just sans the yucky, over-processed stuff). Now, if you don't have any sucanat on hand, and you aren't worried about using processed sugar, you can substitute half a cup of white sugar and half a cup of brown sugar for the one cup of sucanat I put in the recipe. You could also try substituting 3/4 cup of agave or maple syrup, but I haven't tried it yet, so you're on your own with that one.

If you've never tried sucanat before, here's a bit of info I found on Wikipedia:
"Sucanat (a contraction of "Sugar Cane Natural") is non-refined cane sugar. Unlike refined and processed white sugar, Sucanat retains its molasses content; it is essentially pure dried sugar cane juice... Of all major sugars derived from sugar cane, Sucanat ranks the highest in nutritional value."

1 cup sucanat (or sub white and light brown sugar)
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1/4 cup Earth Balance vegan butter, softened
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons soy or nut milk (I used almond milk)
1 1/2 cup rice flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Throw everything into a large bowl and mix it with a beater until well-blended.
  • Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop out the dough, leveling the dough on the side of the bowl as you scoop. This ensures that every cookie is the same size. You want them to be "pretty" after all!
  • Place dough balls 2 inches apart on an un-greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown.
  • Allow to cool for 1 or 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
  • Gobble 'em up!

March 10, 2010

Easy Peasy Granola Squares


Forget store-bought granola bars. They're overpriced and junky. These granola squares are healthy, super-easy to concoct, and make your whole house smell amazing while they bake!

2 C old-fashioned oats
3/4 C toasted wheat germ
3/4 C chopped walnuts
3/4 C raisins
1/2 C maple syrup or agave nectar
1/2 C canola or vegetable oil
2 Tbsp sucanat (packed light brown sugar will work too)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1 Tbsp flax meal
4 Tbsp warm water
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9 x 13" baking pan with non-stick baking spray, or lightly oil and flour the pan. 
  • In a small bowl, combine flax meal and water. Stir until no lumps are present. Allow to sit for a few minutes until the mixture forms a soft gel. 
  • Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well-mixed.
  • Add flax meal mixture to large bowl and combine all ingredients.
  • Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan and bake, uncovered, for 30 - 35 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
  • Cool in pan on a wire rack. 
  • Do not cut until mixture has cooled.
  • Enjoy!

March 1, 2010

Country-Style Mac and "Nooch" Casserole


This delicious dish came about completely by accident when I was trying to make my classic Creamy Mac N "Nooch" Casserole and discovered that I had run out of soy sauce. Instead of dashing to store to buy some, I made a few adjustments and turned out what tastes like something you'd eat at a country barbecue picnic. It was really yummy! Give it a try.

1 lb macaroni noodles (quinoa elbows work great!)
1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
1 cup veggie or no-chicken broth
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or whichever oil you prefer)
1 1/2 cups nutritional yeast ("nooch")
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1/8 cup fresh or dried parsley (optional)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 box silken firm or extra-firm tofu
1/2 cup Japanese bread crumbs
5 slices of cooked vegan bacon, chopped
Dash of cayenne pepper
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees
  • Prepare noodles according to package directions.
  • In blender combine all ingredients (except noodles, bacon and bread crumbs)
  • Pour liquid mixture over cooked noodles and stir together. 
  • Put the whole mess into a casserole dish and top with bread crumbs and chopped bacon
  • Stick in the oven for 20 minutes.
  • Remove and enjoy.