It's amazing how many people are trying to go meatless at least one day a week, even if one eats meat the rest of the week. Of course, many of us are vegetarians all week long, so we're used to eating meatless. But whether you're a full-time Vegetarian or simply trying it out on meatless Mondays, you're sure to enjoy today's offerings. Enjoy!
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SMOOTHIE
This recipe is from One Green Planet. The recipe can be found online here.
Dairy Free; Kid-Friendly; Soy Free; Vegan
Ingredients
1 cup fresh rhubarb, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tbsp date syrup Organics Are For Everyone (you can substitute pure maple syrup here)
1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 fresh banana
12 oz unsweetened vanilla non-dairy milk of choice
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
Preparation
Combine chopped rhubarb, orange juice, date syrup, vanilla and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for five minutes.
Set aside to cool slightly and place in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes (this can be done ahead of time and you can make more so you can enjoy this all week long).
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth and serve.
CHOCOLATE CHERRY PIE - Vegan tofu cherry "cream" pie recipe
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian blog guide, writes, "Chocolate cherry pie - Vegan tofu cherry "cream" pie recipe - delicious! I'd love to try this same method with strawberries or perhaps even Elvis-style, with bananas."
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz.) box firm silken tofu
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 prepared vegan graham cracker pie crust
1 (12 oz.) package frozen dark sweet cherries, thawed and drained
1 cup non-dairy whipped topping
Preparation:
First, prepare the cherries. Slice them in half and remove the pics, if needed. Set a handful of cherries aside to use as a garnish on top of the pie.
Next, prepare the chocolate "cream" filling. Process the tofu in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. Add the cocoa powder, sugar, melted chocolate chips, and almond extract. Process again until mixture is smooth.
To prepare the pie, place about 1/3 of the chocolate tofu mix in a single layer in the prepared pie crust. Next, place the cherries in a single layer on top of the chocolate tofu mixture and spread the remaining chocolate tofu on top.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Garnish each slice with whipped topping and reserved cherries.
This recipe makes one pie of 8 servings.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 270, Total Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 100mg, Carbohydrates: 36g, Dietary Fiber: 2g. Sugar: 24g, Protein: 6g
HONEY-MUSTARD BROCCOLI SALAD
From the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55. The recipe starts with the statement, "Protein- and fiber-rich black beluga lentils make this salad totally satisfying. The lentils are soaked overnight to shorten cooking time and enhance digestibility." Makes 4 servings. To view the recipe at the V.T. website, click here.
Salad
1/2 cup black beluga lentils, rinsed and soaked 8 hours or overnight
1 head broccoli, cut into florets (4 cups)
1 small red onion or shallot, sliced into rings (2/3 cup)
1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted
Honey-Mustard Dressing
4 Tbs. cold-pressed olive oil
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. raw honey or agave nectar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
To make Salad: Drain and rinse lentils, then place in a medium stockpot with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 18 minutes. Add broccoli, cover pan, and steam 2 to 3 minutes, or until broccoli and lentils are al dente.
Meanwhile, to make Honey-Mustard Dressing: whisk together all ingredients in bowl until smooth.
Drain off any remaining liquid from broccoli and lentils, and transfer to large bowl. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve garnished with onion and almonds.
LOW-CALORIE, ALMOST FAT-FREE VEGETABLE CHILI
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's vegetarian blog's guide, wrote, "Using extra vegetables, tomato juice and tomatoes with fewer beans keeps this vegetarian chili lower in calories. Though meatless chili is already a healthy and low-fat choice, this version is extra low-cal. It's really more like a chili-spiced tomato soup than a hearty chili. This was one of those recipes that came about purely because of what I had on hand in my kitchen, which happened to be lots of veggies, and not so many beans. But I really wanted chili."
Ingredients:
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp water
1 large carrot, sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, chopped small
1 red bell pepper, chopped small
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 15-ounce can kidney beans
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 12-ounce can tomato juice or V8
water
1 jalapeno or other small spicy pepper, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
green onions for garnish, optional
Preparation:
In a large non-stick pot, heat the garlic and onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the water and carrots and heat, stirring, for another 3-4 minutes. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper and soy sauce, stirring to combine well. Heat for just another minute or two. Reduce heat to medium low and add all the remaining ingredients, except for the green onions. Cover and allow to slowly simmer for at least 25 minutes and up to 40 minutes.
Adjust the seasonings to taste, garnish with some green onions or even a bit of cheese or sour cream if you're not eating vegan.
Nutritional information, via CalorieCount: Calories: 195; Calories from Fat: 10; Total Fat: 1.1g, 2% daily value; Trans Fat: 0.0g; Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%; Sodium: 614mg, 26%; Total Carbohydrates: 38.0g, 13%; Dietary Fiber: 9.6g, 38%; Sugars: 9.5g; Protein: 11.2g; Vitamin A 80%, Vitamin C 159% Calcium 5%, Iron 32
PASTA FAGIOLI WITH ORZO
Another one of Jolinda Hackett's offerings. She writes, "A full vegetarian meal of orzo pasta, beans and tomatoes, pasta fagiole with orzo is nutritious, healthy, filling, and yet familiar enough that kids will love it. Omit the cheese to make it vegan."
Ingredients:
3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno, minced
1 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes
2 15.5 ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
6 cups vegetable broth
1 8 ounce box orzo
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Preparation:
Heat large sautee pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, garlic and jalapeno to pan. Cook until onion is soft but not browned, 4-5 minutes.
Coarsely puree tomatoes in food processor or with potato masher. Stir tomatoes, cannellini beans and broth into onion mixture.
Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring periodically. Add pasta and return to a boil over high heat. Reduce to simmer, stirring periodically, 8-10 minutes or until pasta is tender but still firm. Add parsley and salt and pepper, to taste.
DECADENT DAIRY-FREE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This is from the May 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. The recipe, which serves 10 (about 30 truffles), starts, "Truffles are usually made with heavy cream, but you'll never miss the dairy in these luscious vegan chocolates."
6 oz. high-quality dark chocolate (60% cocoa), finely chopped
1/4 cup walnut, almond or canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Place chocolate, oil and 1/3 cup water in microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high in microwave 1 minute. Stir; heat 1 minute more, or until chocolate has melted. Whisk until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 6 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa and nuts on separate plates. Shape truffle mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into small, 3/4-inch balls. Roll in cocoa or chopped nuts. Chill until ready to serve.
nutritional information Per TRUFFLE: Calories: 66; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
Monday, October 5, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Friday Recipes
Here are six recipes to help get you through the weekend. Enjoy!
EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked couscous
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
dash pepper to taste
Preparation:
Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.
ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
About.com's Jolinda Hackett writes, “A classic Italian pasta salad recipe with plenty of vegetables. This vegetarian pasta salad recipe is quick and easy to prepare as it uses a pre-made Italian salad dressing.”
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups shell, bow-tie or corkscrew pasta
2 cups broccoli, chopped
1 cup cauliflower, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 6 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup Italian salad dressing
3/4 cup sliced black olives
1 tomato, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
Preparation:
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.
In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onion. Toss with the dressing, then cover and chill for 4 hours.
Before serving, toss the salad with the olives, tomato and avocado.
VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO
I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”
Ingredients:
1 onion. diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups arborio (risotto) rice
1 cup white wine
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp margarine
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. Start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup. Stir frequently. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.
EASY BAKED BEANS
This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.
1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans
2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)
1 8-oz. jar medium salsa
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
3 Tbs. yellow mustard
Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.
Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.
Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.
nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
TEX-MEX PIZZA
This comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. The recipe starts off, “Serve this pizza with taco fixings such as sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and salsa. Choose a jarred prepared salsa on the pizza itself; fresh salsa from the refrigerated case can lead to a soggy crust.” Serves 6.
1 Tbs. canola or grapeseed oil, plus more for brushing grill grate
2 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed
1 ear fresh corn, shucked
1 cup canned refried beans
1 Par-Baked Pizza Crust (follows)
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup shredded Jack cheese
1 cup prepared salsa
1 avocado, halved and sliced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Cilantro for garnish, optional
Brush grill grate well with oil, and preheat grill to medium.
Brush mushrooms and corn with 1 Tbs. oil. Grill 4 to 5 minutes, or until pronounced grill marks form, turning occasionally. Cool until easy to handle. Thinly slice mushrooms, and cut kernels off corncob.
Spread beans over crust. Top with cheeses, salsa, mushrooms, corn, avocado, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Place pizza on grill, close lid, and cook 7 minutes, or until bottom of crust is crisp and has pronounced grill marks. Garnish with cilantro, if using.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 338; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 43 g; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Sodium: 713 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g
PAR-BAKED PIZZA CRUST
Recipe comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 64 and makes 2 pizza crusts. It starts out, “Our favorite strategy for goof-proof grilled pizza is to partially bake the crust in the oven. Add your favorite toppings, then finish your creation on the grill for flame-kissed flavor minus the angst that comes from transferring raw dough to the grill or having it sag between the grates. After rising, the dough can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; bring it to room temperature before rolling. Par-baked crusts can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Bring back to room temperature before grilling.”
1 tsp. sugar
1 0.25-oz. pkg. active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3 Tbs. fine yellow cornmeal
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing bowl and baking sheets
3/4 tsp. salt
Stir together sugar, yeast, and 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water (105°–115°F) in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes, or until mixture looks foamy.
Whisk together flours, cornmeal, oil, and salt in bowl. Stir in yeast mixture, adding more warm water if necessary to make moist dough.
Transfer dough to floured work surface, and knead 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Transfer dough to large bowl rubbed with oil, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with kitchen towel, and let rise in warm place 1 hour.
Punch down dough, and knead 2 minutes. Return to bowl, and let rise 1 hour more.
Preheat oven to 500°F. Rub 2 baking sheets with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll out each piece into 12- x 9-inch rectangle or 12-inch round. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, prick crusts all over with fork, and bake 5 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool on wire rack before adding toppings.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 159; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 147 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan
EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked couscous
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
dash pepper to taste
Preparation:
Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.
ITALIAN PASTA SALAD
About.com's Jolinda Hackett writes, “A classic Italian pasta salad recipe with plenty of vegetables. This vegetarian pasta salad recipe is quick and easy to prepare as it uses a pre-made Italian salad dressing.”
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups shell, bow-tie or corkscrew pasta
2 cups broccoli, chopped
1 cup cauliflower, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 6 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup Italian salad dressing
3/4 cup sliced black olives
1 tomato, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
Preparation:
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.
In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onion. Toss with the dressing, then cover and chill for 4 hours.
Before serving, toss the salad with the olives, tomato and avocado.
VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO
I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”
Ingredients:
1 onion. diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups arborio (risotto) rice
1 cup white wine
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp margarine
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. Start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup. Stir frequently. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.
EASY BAKED BEANS
This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.
1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans
2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)
1 8-oz. jar medium salsa
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
3 Tbs. yellow mustard
Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.
Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.
Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.
nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
TEX-MEX PIZZA
This comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. The recipe starts off, “Serve this pizza with taco fixings such as sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and salsa. Choose a jarred prepared salsa on the pizza itself; fresh salsa from the refrigerated case can lead to a soggy crust.” Serves 6.
1 Tbs. canola or grapeseed oil, plus more for brushing grill grate
2 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed
1 ear fresh corn, shucked
1 cup canned refried beans
1 Par-Baked Pizza Crust (follows)
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup shredded Jack cheese
1 cup prepared salsa
1 avocado, halved and sliced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Cilantro for garnish, optional
Brush grill grate well with oil, and preheat grill to medium.
Brush mushrooms and corn with 1 Tbs. oil. Grill 4 to 5 minutes, or until pronounced grill marks form, turning occasionally. Cool until easy to handle. Thinly slice mushrooms, and cut kernels off corncob.
Spread beans over crust. Top with cheeses, salsa, mushrooms, corn, avocado, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Place pizza on grill, close lid, and cook 7 minutes, or until bottom of crust is crisp and has pronounced grill marks. Garnish with cilantro, if using.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 338; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 43 g; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Sodium: 713 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g
PAR-BAKED PIZZA CRUST
Recipe comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 64 and makes 2 pizza crusts. It starts out, “Our favorite strategy for goof-proof grilled pizza is to partially bake the crust in the oven. Add your favorite toppings, then finish your creation on the grill for flame-kissed flavor minus the angst that comes from transferring raw dough to the grill or having it sag between the grates. After rising, the dough can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; bring it to room temperature before rolling. Par-baked crusts can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Bring back to room temperature before grilling.”
1 tsp. sugar
1 0.25-oz. pkg. active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3 Tbs. fine yellow cornmeal
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing bowl and baking sheets
3/4 tsp. salt
Stir together sugar, yeast, and 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water (105°–115°F) in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes, or until mixture looks foamy.
Whisk together flours, cornmeal, oil, and salt in bowl. Stir in yeast mixture, adding more warm water if necessary to make moist dough.
Transfer dough to floured work surface, and knead 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Transfer dough to large bowl rubbed with oil, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with kitchen towel, and let rise in warm place 1 hour.
Punch down dough, and knead 2 minutes. Return to bowl, and let rise 1 hour more.
Preheat oven to 500°F. Rub 2 baking sheets with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll out each piece into 12- x 9-inch rectangle or 12-inch round. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, prick crusts all over with fork, and bake 5 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool on wire rack before adding toppings.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 159; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 147 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Thursday Recipes - Desserts
Here are six yummy vegetarian dessert recipes. Enjoy!
PAVLOVA WITH MANGO, RASPBERRIES, AND WHIPPED YOGURT CREAM
From the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 73; Serves 10
The recipe starts with, "Crackly-dry on the outside and moist on the inside, a Pavlova is a virtually foolproof “cake.” Even if something does go wrong, the lavish cream and fruit topping will hide any flaw."
Toppings
2/3 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
2 Tbs. sugar
1 large, ripe mango, peeled and diced (2 cups)
1 6-oz. container raspberries
Pavlova
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup large egg whites (about 4 eggs)
1 tsp. fresh lime juice or lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
To make Toppings: Beat cream, yogurt, and 1 Tbs. sugar in medium bowl until stiff. Combine mango, raspberries, and remaining 1 Tbs. sugar in separate bowl. Cover, and chill until ready to serve.
Position oven rack just below center, and preheat oven to 250°F. Trace 9-inch-diameter circle onto sheet of parchment paper. Turn parchment over onto large rimmed baking sheet; circle should show through.
To make Pavlova: Combine 1 Tbs. sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. Beat egg whites, lime juice, and vanilla with handheld electric mixer in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 15 Tbs. sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; beat 4 minutes, or until meringue is thick and satiny, and path remains when spoon is drawn through. Beat in cornstarch mixture.
Scrape meringue into center of circle on parchment. Spread meringue to fill circle, building edges slightly higher than center. Bake Pavlova 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until outside is dry but center is still soft (crust will give when poked). Turn off oven, leave door closed, and cool 1 hour in oven. Slide metal spatula under Pavlova to loosen, and transfer to cake plate using a tart pan’s removable bottom for support.
Spread yogurt cream thickly over Pavlova, leaving 1-inch border uncovered. Top with fruit mixture.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 186; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g; Cholesterol: 22 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 28 g; Gluten-Free
BLACKBERRY CRISP WITH MAPLE-PECAN TOPPING
From the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 60. Serves 8 The recipe starts with, "Tangy blackberries have a great affinity for pecans and maple, but you could certainly make this crisp with blueberries or a combination of berries. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast!"
5 Tbs. maple syrup, divided
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
6 cups fresh blackberries (1 3/4 lb.)
3 Tbs. sugar
16 Tbs. all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt, divided
2/3 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tbs. canola oil
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat deep baking dish with cooking spray.
Whisk together 2 Tbs. maple syrup and vinegar in bowl. Place blackberries in large bowl, and drizzle maple mixture over them. Add sugar, 3 Tbs. flour, and 1/8 tsp. salt to berries; toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
Combine remaining 13 Tbs. flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in separate bowl. Drizzle oil and remaining 3 Tbs. maple syrup over dry ingredients. Use fingers to combine thoroughly until small clumps form. Arrange topping clumps over berries.
Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and berry juices are bubbling just around edges of crisp.
MINI COCONUT CREAM PIES
from the June 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. Makes 6 pies. Recipe reads, "These little coconut pies are strudy enough to travel in a lunch box or picnic basket. Check the baking section at your grocery store for vegan-friendly, ready-made graham cracker pie crusts."
1/3 cup sweet flake coconut
6 oz. soft silken tofu, drained
1/3 cup sugar
5 Tbs. cornstarch
1 14-oz. can light coconut milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. coconut extract
6 mini graham cracker pie crusts
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread coconut on baking sheet, and toast 5 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, or until golden.
Blend tofu in blender or food processor 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth. Set aside.
Whisk together sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Whisk in coconut milk, and cook over medium-high heat 8 minutes, or until thickened, whisking constantly.
Remove pan from heat. Fold in tofu, vanilla and coconut extracts, and coconut. Divide among mini pie crusts, and chill.
nutritional information Per Pie: Calories: 283; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 134 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 18 g; Vegan
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
From the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. Makes 40 1-inch truffles Recipe starts, "Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa."
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg;Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan and Gluten-Free
VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE CUSTARD
I'm not sure where this recipe came from; possibly from some old email list that I was on? Serves 8
1 1/2 cups of soymilk
4 Tbls cornstarch
1 1/2 cups of solid-pack canned pumpkin or cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar (preferably raw or Turbinado) or other sweetener
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together the soymilk and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in pumpkin, sweetener, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Pour into either 8 large ramekins for individual servings, or a 9" Pyrex baking dish.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until firm. Start checking custard at 45 minutes to prevent over baking. Filling should be set, but the center still a bit jiggly.
Cool before cutting.
FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING
From the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. This recipe serves 8, and starts off, “I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,” says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. “I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.”
1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour
1 2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided
1 1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided
1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.
Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 525; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 315 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 43 g; Vegan
PAVLOVA WITH MANGO, RASPBERRIES, AND WHIPPED YOGURT CREAM
From the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 73; Serves 10
The recipe starts with, "Crackly-dry on the outside and moist on the inside, a Pavlova is a virtually foolproof “cake.” Even if something does go wrong, the lavish cream and fruit topping will hide any flaw."
Toppings
2/3 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
2 Tbs. sugar
1 large, ripe mango, peeled and diced (2 cups)
1 6-oz. container raspberries
Pavlova
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup large egg whites (about 4 eggs)
1 tsp. fresh lime juice or lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
To make Toppings: Beat cream, yogurt, and 1 Tbs. sugar in medium bowl until stiff. Combine mango, raspberries, and remaining 1 Tbs. sugar in separate bowl. Cover, and chill until ready to serve.
Position oven rack just below center, and preheat oven to 250°F. Trace 9-inch-diameter circle onto sheet of parchment paper. Turn parchment over onto large rimmed baking sheet; circle should show through.
To make Pavlova: Combine 1 Tbs. sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. Beat egg whites, lime juice, and vanilla with handheld electric mixer in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 15 Tbs. sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; beat 4 minutes, or until meringue is thick and satiny, and path remains when spoon is drawn through. Beat in cornstarch mixture.
Scrape meringue into center of circle on parchment. Spread meringue to fill circle, building edges slightly higher than center. Bake Pavlova 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until outside is dry but center is still soft (crust will give when poked). Turn off oven, leave door closed, and cool 1 hour in oven. Slide metal spatula under Pavlova to loosen, and transfer to cake plate using a tart pan’s removable bottom for support.
Spread yogurt cream thickly over Pavlova, leaving 1-inch border uncovered. Top with fruit mixture.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 186; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g; Cholesterol: 22 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 28 g; Gluten-Free
BLACKBERRY CRISP WITH MAPLE-PECAN TOPPING
From the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 60. Serves 8 The recipe starts with, "Tangy blackberries have a great affinity for pecans and maple, but you could certainly make this crisp with blueberries or a combination of berries. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast!"
5 Tbs. maple syrup, divided
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
6 cups fresh blackberries (1 3/4 lb.)
3 Tbs. sugar
16 Tbs. all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt, divided
2/3 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tbs. canola oil
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat deep baking dish with cooking spray.
Whisk together 2 Tbs. maple syrup and vinegar in bowl. Place blackberries in large bowl, and drizzle maple mixture over them. Add sugar, 3 Tbs. flour, and 1/8 tsp. salt to berries; toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
Combine remaining 13 Tbs. flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in separate bowl. Drizzle oil and remaining 3 Tbs. maple syrup over dry ingredients. Use fingers to combine thoroughly until small clumps form. Arrange topping clumps over berries.
Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and berry juices are bubbling just around edges of crisp.
MINI COCONUT CREAM PIES
from the June 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. Makes 6 pies. Recipe reads, "These little coconut pies are strudy enough to travel in a lunch box or picnic basket. Check the baking section at your grocery store for vegan-friendly, ready-made graham cracker pie crusts."
1/3 cup sweet flake coconut
6 oz. soft silken tofu, drained
1/3 cup sugar
5 Tbs. cornstarch
1 14-oz. can light coconut milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. coconut extract
6 mini graham cracker pie crusts
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread coconut on baking sheet, and toast 5 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, or until golden.
Blend tofu in blender or food processor 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth. Set aside.
Whisk together sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Whisk in coconut milk, and cook over medium-high heat 8 minutes, or until thickened, whisking constantly.
Remove pan from heat. Fold in tofu, vanilla and coconut extracts, and coconut. Divide among mini pie crusts, and chill.
nutritional information Per Pie: Calories: 283; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 134 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 18 g; Vegan
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
From the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. Makes 40 1-inch truffles Recipe starts, "Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa."
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg;Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan and Gluten-Free
VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE CUSTARD
I'm not sure where this recipe came from; possibly from some old email list that I was on? Serves 8
1 1/2 cups of soymilk
4 Tbls cornstarch
1 1/2 cups of solid-pack canned pumpkin or cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar (preferably raw or Turbinado) or other sweetener
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together the soymilk and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in pumpkin, sweetener, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Pour into either 8 large ramekins for individual servings, or a 9" Pyrex baking dish.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until firm. Start checking custard at 45 minutes to prevent over baking. Filling should be set, but the center still a bit jiggly.
Cool before cutting.
FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING
From the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. This recipe serves 8, and starts off, “I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,” says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. “I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.”
1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour
1 2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided
1 1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided
1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.
Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 525; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 315 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 43 g; Vegan
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Cookies
Cookies...COOKIES...COOKIES! We all love 'em (well, most of us do). But what happens if a cookie-loving person decides to go vegan? Have no fear. While cleaning out my email inbox, I happened to run across an old email from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/ with some of the best looking vegan cookies. The first three cookie recipes are holiday cookies, but there's no need to wait for a holiday to whip up a batch of them. And if you want to see all ten of the recipes on One Green Planet's email list, go to http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/our-top-10-holiday-vegan-cookie-recipes/. Even if you're not a vegan, I have a feeling that you'll find something on here to make your cookie-lover happy. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY COOKIES
Recipe by Nikki Haney: Blogger, The Tolerant Vegan
(makes about 24 cookies)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread
1 cup refined sugar
1/2 ripe banana, mashed
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
24 dark morello cherries in syrup
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup non-dairy vanilla milk
3 teaspoons morello cherry juice, from jar
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Place the Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread and refined sugar in a large bowl. Mix on low-medium speed until fluffy. Add in the mashed banana and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on medium speed until fully combined. The cookie batter will be pretty thick.
Scoop the batter onto a baking pan and make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Scoop the cherries out of their jar and place one cherry in each thumbprint.
In a small pot over low heat, melt the chocolate chips and non-dairy milk, stirring constantly. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the melted chocolate over top of each cookie.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven, spoon another teaspoon of chocolate over each cookie and allow them to cool to room temperature.
GLUTEN-FREE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WITH DARK CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup organic sugar
1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Sticks, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine almond flour, salt, sugar, Earth Balance, vanilla and peanut butter in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Form into 1″ balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes until set and lightly browned. Cool.
Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave (for 45 seconds at a time, stirring in between until melted) or a double boiler, and drizzle on top of cookies.
SANDWICH COOKIES
Ingredients
Cookies
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup organic cane sugar
3/4 cup Earth Balance, room temperature
Ener-G Egg Replacer for one egg (1 1/2 teaspoons egg replacer mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
Filling
1/2 cup Earth Balance, room temperature
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or vanilla extract)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the butter and Ener-G egg replacer. Mix until well blended dough.
For mini sandwiches, drop by teaspoons onto lined baking sheet. For bigger sandwiches, drop by tablespoons onto lined baking sheet. Use hand to flatten cookies. Bake cookies for 8-9 minutes. Cool on a rack.
While cookies are cooling, beat together softened Earth Balance and confectioner’s sugar at low speed. Add vanilla and mix at higher speed for about 2 minutes. Use a pastry bag and a small star or drop flower tip and pipe icing onto one cookie, and top with another cookie. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO OATMEAL COOKIES
From the recipe: "Take chocolate chip cookies to the next level with this espresso-spiked dough that's laced with chewy oats." Makes 48 cookies.
To view this online, click here.
3/4 cup all-purpose flour or oat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 oz. (1 stick) margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cooled espresso or strong coffee
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in bowl.
2. Cream margarine and sugar together with electric mixer in bowl. Beat in espresso and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, adding up to 1/2 cup more if necessary to make thick dough. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
3. Divide dough in half. Transfer each dough half to large sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Use plastic wrap to shape dough into 2 2-inch-diameter logs with plastic wrap or wax paper. Wrap tightly, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice dough logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices to greased or parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until cookies look dry on top. Cool cookies 3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.
from the December 2011 issue, p.75
nutritional information
Per Cookie:
Calories: 56; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
SOFT APPLE GINGER SPICE COOKIES
This is from the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 65. The recipe starts off, “In addition to being some of the best spice cookies you’ll ever eat, these may also be the easiest since you don’t need an electric mixer to prepare the dough. You can also make them without diced apples, or substitute dried cranberries.” Makes 20 4-inch cookies.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup Rosy Applesauce (recipe follows) or unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling cookies
1 large apple, peeled and finely diced (1 cup)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl.
Whisk together oil, applesauce, and molasses in separate large bowl. Whisk in 3/4 cup sugar. Stir in flour mixture with spatula. Fold in diced apple.
Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in bowl. Roll 1/4 cup dough into ball, then roll ball in sugar. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls on prepared baking sheets.
Put baking sheets in oven, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops of cookies are dry and bottoms are golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Per cookie: 176 cal; 2 g protein; 6 g total fat (less than 1 g sat. fat); 30 g carb; 0 mg chol; 127 mg sodium; less than 1 g fiber; 16 g sugars
ANISE CUTOUTS
This was in an email list that I was on, years ago. Not sure whose recipe it is, but definitely yummy!
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp aniseed
In a bowl, cream the shortening and the sugar. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, and the salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the aniseed. Chill for 2 hours or until the dough is easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 F for 7-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY COOKIES
Recipe by Nikki Haney: Blogger, The Tolerant Vegan
(makes about 24 cookies)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread
1 cup refined sugar
1/2 ripe banana, mashed
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
24 dark morello cherries in syrup
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup non-dairy vanilla milk
3 teaspoons morello cherry juice, from jar
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Place the Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread and refined sugar in a large bowl. Mix on low-medium speed until fluffy. Add in the mashed banana and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on medium speed until fully combined. The cookie batter will be pretty thick.
Scoop the batter onto a baking pan and make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Scoop the cherries out of their jar and place one cherry in each thumbprint.
In a small pot over low heat, melt the chocolate chips and non-dairy milk, stirring constantly. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the melted chocolate over top of each cookie.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven, spoon another teaspoon of chocolate over each cookie and allow them to cool to room temperature.
GLUTEN-FREE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WITH DARK CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup organic sugar
1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Sticks, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine almond flour, salt, sugar, Earth Balance, vanilla and peanut butter in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Form into 1″ balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes until set and lightly browned. Cool.
Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave (for 45 seconds at a time, stirring in between until melted) or a double boiler, and drizzle on top of cookies.
SANDWICH COOKIES
Ingredients
Cookies
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup organic cane sugar
3/4 cup Earth Balance, room temperature
Ener-G Egg Replacer for one egg (1 1/2 teaspoons egg replacer mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
Filling
1/2 cup Earth Balance, room temperature
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or vanilla extract)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the butter and Ener-G egg replacer. Mix until well blended dough.
For mini sandwiches, drop by teaspoons onto lined baking sheet. For bigger sandwiches, drop by tablespoons onto lined baking sheet. Use hand to flatten cookies. Bake cookies for 8-9 minutes. Cool on a rack.
While cookies are cooling, beat together softened Earth Balance and confectioner’s sugar at low speed. Add vanilla and mix at higher speed for about 2 minutes. Use a pastry bag and a small star or drop flower tip and pipe icing onto one cookie, and top with another cookie. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO OATMEAL COOKIES
From the recipe: "Take chocolate chip cookies to the next level with this espresso-spiked dough that's laced with chewy oats." Makes 48 cookies.
To view this online, click here.
3/4 cup all-purpose flour or oat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 oz. (1 stick) margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cooled espresso or strong coffee
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in bowl.
2. Cream margarine and sugar together with electric mixer in bowl. Beat in espresso and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, adding up to 1/2 cup more if necessary to make thick dough. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
3. Divide dough in half. Transfer each dough half to large sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Use plastic wrap to shape dough into 2 2-inch-diameter logs with plastic wrap or wax paper. Wrap tightly, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice dough logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices to greased or parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until cookies look dry on top. Cool cookies 3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.
from the December 2011 issue, p.75
nutritional information
Per Cookie:
Calories: 56; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
SOFT APPLE GINGER SPICE COOKIES
This is from the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 65. The recipe starts off, “In addition to being some of the best spice cookies you’ll ever eat, these may also be the easiest since you don’t need an electric mixer to prepare the dough. You can also make them without diced apples, or substitute dried cranberries.” Makes 20 4-inch cookies.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup Rosy Applesauce (recipe follows) or unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling cookies
1 large apple, peeled and finely diced (1 cup)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl.
Whisk together oil, applesauce, and molasses in separate large bowl. Whisk in 3/4 cup sugar. Stir in flour mixture with spatula. Fold in diced apple.
Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in bowl. Roll 1/4 cup dough into ball, then roll ball in sugar. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls on prepared baking sheets.
Put baking sheets in oven, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops of cookies are dry and bottoms are golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Per cookie: 176 cal; 2 g protein; 6 g total fat (less than 1 g sat. fat); 30 g carb; 0 mg chol; 127 mg sodium; less than 1 g fiber; 16 g sugars
ANISE CUTOUTS
This was in an email list that I was on, years ago. Not sure whose recipe it is, but definitely yummy!
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp aniseed
In a bowl, cream the shortening and the sugar. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, and the salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the aniseed. Chill for 2 hours or until the dough is easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 F for 7-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
I'm Thirsty!
While most of the recipes on this blog are for food, we do occasionally need something to drink. Sure, there's water, soda, coffee, tea, bottled juices and a large assortment of other drinks, but sometimes we want something a little different, something that makes the taste buds dance. Enjoy!
PINK LADY PUNCH
Not sure where this one came from, though I'm thinking maybe from one of my mother's cookbooks that she bought to raise funds for some group or other...
4 C cranberry juice
1 1/2 C sugar
4 C pineapple juice
2 qts. chilled ginger ale
Add sugar to cranberry juice. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add pineapple juice. Chill. Pour into punch bowl & add ginger ale.
WATERMELON PUNCH
Years ago, I was a bride’s maid at a friend’s wedding. A friend of the couple held the reception dinner; this punch was served with the hors d’oeuvres. I’ve added ginger ale to the recipe; it’s good either way.
1 watermelon
1 T honey
6 oz. can orange juice, undiluted
2 liter bottle ginger ale
Put watermelon (excluding rind and seeds) in a blender—and blend. Pour juice through a strainer into a large bowl. Add orange juice and honey, stir, and add ice. Add ginger ale just before serving.
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
SPICE TEA
I used to make this every year for Christmas presents; it was quite popular. Unfortunately, life got a little hectic...As simple as this is, though, I may be reigniting this as a present!
8 oz loose tea
3 orange rinds/peels
1 1/2-2 sticks cinnamon
2 T chopped cloves
Cut orange peels into small pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring occaionally. Let cool, add to loose tea, along with broken cinnamon sticks & cloves. Store in tight containers.
I'll post some single-serving drinks in a later post. In the meantime, enjoy!
EASTERN SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
It seems that bottled smoothies have hit it big in stores over the past few years. And while many of them are, no doubt, good, and even healthy, there's nothing that quite compares with fresh-made smoothies. The only thing holding one back are one's imagination and the fruits available.
The fruits used in in this smoothie are from the eastern U.S.: orange juice and strawberries from Florida, cranberries from Massachusetts. Top that off with a beautiful pink color. It’s a yummy way to start the morning.
1 C orange juice
1/2 C yogurt
4-6 frozen strawberries
1 T wheat germ
1/2 C frozen cranberries
Blend juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ & blend about 15 seconds more.
PURPLE HAZE SMOOTHIE
Variation on a theme. You can make smoothies out of almost any fruit and/or juice (or milk). Experiment; use any juice to your liking: apple, cranberry, orange (my favorite), whatever, then add whatever fruits you have around. If none of the fruits are conducive to freezing (berries work best), add a few ice cubes, or better still, frozen juice cubes.
This one is similar to the above smoothie. The blueberries give it a pleasant taste and a beautiful color.
1-1 1/2 orange juice (see note)
1/2 C frozen blueberries
4 frozen strawberries (optional)
1/2 C yogurt
1/2 C frozen cranberries
1 T wheat germ
Blend orange juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ, blend for 5-15 more seconds.
NOTE: If adding strawberries, add the extra 1/2 C orange juice. Or use 1 C juice and 1/2 C soymilk.
PINK LADY PUNCH
Not sure where this one came from, though I'm thinking maybe from one of my mother's cookbooks that she bought to raise funds for some group or other...
4 C cranberry juice
1 1/2 C sugar
4 C pineapple juice
2 qts. chilled ginger ale
Add sugar to cranberry juice. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add pineapple juice. Chill. Pour into punch bowl & add ginger ale.
WATERMELON PUNCH
Years ago, I was a bride’s maid at a friend’s wedding. A friend of the couple held the reception dinner; this punch was served with the hors d’oeuvres. I’ve added ginger ale to the recipe; it’s good either way.
1 watermelon
1 T honey
6 oz. can orange juice, undiluted
2 liter bottle ginger ale
Put watermelon (excluding rind and seeds) in a blender—and blend. Pour juice through a strainer into a large bowl. Add orange juice and honey, stir, and add ice. Add ginger ale just before serving.
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
SPICE TEA
I used to make this every year for Christmas presents; it was quite popular. Unfortunately, life got a little hectic...As simple as this is, though, I may be reigniting this as a present!
8 oz loose tea
3 orange rinds/peels
1 1/2-2 sticks cinnamon
2 T chopped cloves
Cut orange peels into small pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring occaionally. Let cool, add to loose tea, along with broken cinnamon sticks & cloves. Store in tight containers.
I'll post some single-serving drinks in a later post. In the meantime, enjoy!
EASTERN SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
It seems that bottled smoothies have hit it big in stores over the past few years. And while many of them are, no doubt, good, and even healthy, there's nothing that quite compares with fresh-made smoothies. The only thing holding one back are one's imagination and the fruits available.
The fruits used in in this smoothie are from the eastern U.S.: orange juice and strawberries from Florida, cranberries from Massachusetts. Top that off with a beautiful pink color. It’s a yummy way to start the morning.
1 C orange juice
1/2 C yogurt
4-6 frozen strawberries
1 T wheat germ
1/2 C frozen cranberries
Blend juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ & blend about 15 seconds more.
PURPLE HAZE SMOOTHIE
Variation on a theme. You can make smoothies out of almost any fruit and/or juice (or milk). Experiment; use any juice to your liking: apple, cranberry, orange (my favorite), whatever, then add whatever fruits you have around. If none of the fruits are conducive to freezing (berries work best), add a few ice cubes, or better still, frozen juice cubes.
This one is similar to the above smoothie. The blueberries give it a pleasant taste and a beautiful color.
1-1 1/2 orange juice (see note)
1/2 C frozen blueberries
4 frozen strawberries (optional)
1/2 C yogurt
1/2 C frozen cranberries
1 T wheat germ
Blend orange juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ, blend for 5-15 more seconds.
NOTE: If adding strawberries, add the extra 1/2 C orange juice. Or use 1 C juice and 1/2 C soymilk.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Monday Recipes
Here are six recipes to help jump-start your week. Enjoy!
PASTA WITH GREENS, CHICKPEAS, AND OLIVES
This recipe is listed as their recipe of the month. According to the site, "This quick and nourishing year-round pasta recipe calls for chard, kale, or spinach, but you can use a combination or even substitute broccoli rabe or mustard greens. My personal favorite in this dish is chard, as it’s so good in the Italian-style trio of pasta with greens and legumes. Just add a colorful salad and you’ve got a meal. Recipe from Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas."
Serves: 4 to 6
10 to 12 ounces rotini, rotelle, or cavatappi (spiral pasta, see note)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
10 to 12 ounces chard, kale, or spinach, any variety
3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
15- to 16-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup sliced pitted oil-cured olives (such as Kalamata)
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, optional
Cook the pasta in plenty of rapidly simmering water until al dente, then drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
If using any variety of chard, cut the leaves away from the stems and chop coarsely or cut into ribbons. If you plan on using the stems from chard, trim an inch or so away from the bottom, then slice thinly. If using kale, strip the leaves from the stems, and cut into narrow ribbons or small bite-size pieces. Thinly slice the stems if you plan to use them, otherwise, discard. Stem larger spinach leaves and chop coarsely; if using baby spinach, use the leaves whole.
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and bell pepper and sauté over medium heat until the garlic is lightly golden and the bell pepper softens, about 3 minutes.
Add the greens and stir in quickly to coat with the oil. If using spinach, cover and let it wilt for 30 seconds or so. If using kale or chard, add a couple tablespoons of water, cover, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until wilted and bright green.
Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, olives, and oregano. Stir together and cook, stirring frequently for 3 to 4 minutes, or until everything is heated through.
Combine the mixture from the skillet with the pasta in the serving bowl and toss together. Toss with the skillet mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Sprinkle optional pine nuts over the pasta, and serve.
Note: In this dish, I used a spelt rotini, but you can use any kind of short twisty pasta, and of course go for a gluten-free variety if that’s your preference.
Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/front-page/pasta-with-greens-chickpeas-and-olives/#Zmm5GfhgzlAAE8dT.99
BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH SPINACH AND HERBS
"Here’s an easy and unusual recipe that highlights fresh spinach. If you use baby spinach, you can skip stemming, making the recipe even quicker than it already is. This Persian recipe is a Sabzi—referring to a recipe using greens and herbs, ingredients so typical to this cuisine. Serve with a fresh flatbread and a salad of chickpeas and tomatoes," according to the recipe.
Serves: 6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chopped leek (white part only), well rinsed
Two 16-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes, diced
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach, stemmed and well rinsed (or baby spinach, well rinsed)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, or more, to taste
4 scallions, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice or other grain, optional
Heat the oil in an extra-large skillet or a steep-sided stir-fry pan. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent.
Add the leek and sauté another 5 minutes or so, until both it and the onion are golden.
Stir in the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, lemon juice, and spices. Cook until everything is hot and the tomatoes have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add half of the spinach, cover and cook until wilted down, then add the rest. Once it’s all wilted down, stir it in along with the parsley, and scallion. Cook for just a minute or two longer, just until then season with salt and pepper.
Serve at once over hot cooked rice or other grain, if desired.
Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/bountiful-beans/bean-main-dishes/black-eyed-peas-with-spinach-and-herbs/#sDx8kzIPtIHIW3To.99.
SIMPLE QUINOA, BROCCOLI, AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
"This easy casserole offers maximum nourishment. Serve with microwaved or baked sweet potatoes (start the sweet potatoes in the oven about 45 minutes before starting to bake the casserole) and a salad of dark greens and ripe tomatoes," according to the website's description. My description? "Yum!"
Serves: 6
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed in a fine sieve
1 vegetable bouillon cube
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
2 large broccoli crowns, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes or sliced black olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups grated vegan cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 400º F.
Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Stir in the quinoa and bouillon cube, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté until golden. Add the broccoli and enough water to keep the skillet moist. Cover and steam until the broccoli is tender-crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the broccoli mixture, dried tomatoes or olives, and half of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, shallow two-quart casserole. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining cheese. Bake until the top is golden and crisp, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes, and serve.
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Jolinda writes, "Vegan peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips - no eggs, no dairy, just delicious cookies! It's been said that whomever was the first person to mix together chocolate and peanut butter deserves an award for their contribution to humanity, and I couldn't agree more. Yum. Period. Nuff said."
Ingredients:
1 cup vegan margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soft (silken) tofu
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
Preparation:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, sugar and brown sugar. Add the tofu and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the margarine mixture and combine well.
Add the peanut butter and mix well, then fold in the chocolate chips.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until cookies are golden brown.
PASTA WITH GREENS, CHICKPEAS, AND OLIVES
This recipe is listed as their recipe of the month. According to the site, "This quick and nourishing year-round pasta recipe calls for chard, kale, or spinach, but you can use a combination or even substitute broccoli rabe or mustard greens. My personal favorite in this dish is chard, as it’s so good in the Italian-style trio of pasta with greens and legumes. Just add a colorful salad and you’ve got a meal. Recipe from Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas."
Serves: 4 to 6
10 to 12 ounces rotini, rotelle, or cavatappi (spiral pasta, see note)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
10 to 12 ounces chard, kale, or spinach, any variety
3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
15- to 16-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup sliced pitted oil-cured olives (such as Kalamata)
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, optional
Cook the pasta in plenty of rapidly simmering water until al dente, then drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
If using any variety of chard, cut the leaves away from the stems and chop coarsely or cut into ribbons. If you plan on using the stems from chard, trim an inch or so away from the bottom, then slice thinly. If using kale, strip the leaves from the stems, and cut into narrow ribbons or small bite-size pieces. Thinly slice the stems if you plan to use them, otherwise, discard. Stem larger spinach leaves and chop coarsely; if using baby spinach, use the leaves whole.
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and bell pepper and sauté over medium heat until the garlic is lightly golden and the bell pepper softens, about 3 minutes.
Add the greens and stir in quickly to coat with the oil. If using spinach, cover and let it wilt for 30 seconds or so. If using kale or chard, add a couple tablespoons of water, cover, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until wilted and bright green.
Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, olives, and oregano. Stir together and cook, stirring frequently for 3 to 4 minutes, or until everything is heated through.
Combine the mixture from the skillet with the pasta in the serving bowl and toss together. Toss with the skillet mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Sprinkle optional pine nuts over the pasta, and serve.
Note: In this dish, I used a spelt rotini, but you can use any kind of short twisty pasta, and of course go for a gluten-free variety if that’s your preference.
Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/front-page/pasta-with-greens-chickpeas-and-olives/#Zmm5GfhgzlAAE8dT.99
BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH SPINACH AND HERBS
"Here’s an easy and unusual recipe that highlights fresh spinach. If you use baby spinach, you can skip stemming, making the recipe even quicker than it already is. This Persian recipe is a Sabzi—referring to a recipe using greens and herbs, ingredients so typical to this cuisine. Serve with a fresh flatbread and a salad of chickpeas and tomatoes," according to the recipe.
Serves: 6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chopped leek (white part only), well rinsed
Two 16-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes, diced
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach, stemmed and well rinsed (or baby spinach, well rinsed)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, or more, to taste
4 scallions, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice or other grain, optional
Heat the oil in an extra-large skillet or a steep-sided stir-fry pan. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent.
Add the leek and sauté another 5 minutes or so, until both it and the onion are golden.
Stir in the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, lemon juice, and spices. Cook until everything is hot and the tomatoes have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add half of the spinach, cover and cook until wilted down, then add the rest. Once it’s all wilted down, stir it in along with the parsley, and scallion. Cook for just a minute or two longer, just until then season with salt and pepper.
Serve at once over hot cooked rice or other grain, if desired.
Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/bountiful-beans/bean-main-dishes/black-eyed-peas-with-spinach-and-herbs/#sDx8kzIPtIHIW3To.99.
SIMPLE QUINOA, BROCCOLI, AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
"This easy casserole offers maximum nourishment. Serve with microwaved or baked sweet potatoes (start the sweet potatoes in the oven about 45 minutes before starting to bake the casserole) and a salad of dark greens and ripe tomatoes," according to the website's description. My description? "Yum!"
Serves: 6
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed in a fine sieve
1 vegetable bouillon cube
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
2 large broccoli crowns, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes or sliced black olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups grated vegan cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 400º F.
Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Stir in the quinoa and bouillon cube, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté until golden. Add the broccoli and enough water to keep the skillet moist. Cover and steam until the broccoli is tender-crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the broccoli mixture, dried tomatoes or olives, and half of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, shallow two-quart casserole. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining cheese. Bake until the top is golden and crisp, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes, and serve.
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Jolinda writes, "Vegan peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips - no eggs, no dairy, just delicious cookies! It's been said that whomever was the first person to mix together chocolate and peanut butter deserves an award for their contribution to humanity, and I couldn't agree more. Yum. Period. Nuff said."
Ingredients:
1 cup vegan margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soft (silken) tofu
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
Preparation:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, sugar and brown sugar. Add the tofu and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the margarine mixture and combine well.
Add the peanut butter and mix well, then fold in the chocolate chips.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until cookies are golden brown.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Friday Recipes
I know that some people find it strange, but I actually have an easier time figuring out to eat when meat is not involved. Somehow, it seems to open up more options. At least that's how I feel about food. That said, for those who are vegetarian, or simply trying to go meatless one day a week, here are more meatless recipes to try. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN-QUINOA BURGERS
This comes from the July/August 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 60. By the way, Vegetarian Times has an emailing list you can subscribe to for fantastic vegetarian recipes. I highly recommend it.
This recipe serves 8, and begins, “Here's a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor. Stash a few in the freezer for busy weeknight meals. For super-easy cookouts, bake the patties ahead, then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.”
1/2 cup quinoa
1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. dried steak seasoning
8 whole-grain hamburger buns
Stir together quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa.)
Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.
nutritional information Per Burger: Calories: 215; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 438 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan
SUMMER VEGGIE KEBABS WITH FRESH CORN RELISH
This is from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 32. The recipe serves 4, and can be made in 30 minutes or less. It starts out, “Easy-to-assemble vegetable kebabs are paired with a lightly sautéed corn relish for a dish that can be served either as an appetizer or as an entrée when placed atop couscous or another quick-cooking grain. To ensure even cooking, make sure all the vegetables are about the same size.”
Corn Relish
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium yellow tomato, diced (2/3 cup)
1 large ear corn, kernels removed (1 1/3 cups kernels)
1 1/2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh basil
Kebabs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
3/4 tsp. dry mustard powder, divided
1 small yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded, and cut into 12 square pieces
1 medium zucchini, halved and cut into 12 slices
1/2 small red onion, cut into 12 chunks
12 whole cremini mushrooms
12 grape or cherry tomatoes
Coat grill grate or grill pan with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
To make Corn Relish: Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add tomato, cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until tomato is breaking down. Add corn kernels, and cook 2 minutes, or until corn is tender. Stir in vinegar and mustard powder, and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To make Kebabs: whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard powder in small bowl.
Thread each of 12 skewers with 1 bell pepper square, 1 zucchini slice, 1 red onion chunk, 1 mushroom, and 1 tomato. Place skewers on large platter, and brush with vinaigrette mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Grill skewers 6 to 8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and browned on all sides. Serve with Corn Relish.
nutritional information Per Serving (3 kebabs and 1/2 cup relish): Calories: 247; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 9 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
BAKED TOFU WITH ASIAN GLAZE
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “A simple vegetarian and vegan baked tofu recipe suitable for an appetizer, or to add to cooked noodles or vegetable stir-fry. Tofu is marinated and then baked in a sweet and sour miso-based Asian barbecue sauce with maple syrup, sesame oil, black pepper and sherry. Makes 4 servings.
Recipe courtesy of the Soy Foods council.
Ingredients:
1 (14-ounce) package extra–firm tofu, drained and well-pressed
1 tablespoon miso
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
3 green onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoon sherry
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the tofu into chunks and place in a wide shallow dish or bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the miso and remaining ingredients and whisk well until combined. Pour over tofu and gently mix to ensure that the tofu is coated well. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least two hours and up to 8 hours.
When you're ready to bake the tofu, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Drain the tofu, reserving the extra marinade. Place the tofu on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the extra sauce, until tofu is lightly browned and lightly crisped.
Serve your Asian-glazed tofu over noodles for an entree, with toothpicks as an appetizer, or add it to your favorite vegetable stir-fry.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 26; Total fat: 1 g; Protein: 39g; Carbs: 24.7g; Iron: 1.4mg; Calcium: 20mg
VEGAN PUMPKIN GRATIN
Ashley Adams is the Dairy Free Cooking guide for About.com. She writes, “Perfect for the autumn months when pumpkin is in season, this veganized pumpkin gratin is a healthier, yet delicious, take on the fall-time classic. (And if you happen to crave pumpkin during the rest of the year, you can just use canned pumpkin instead of fresh!) If you've never prepared your own homemade pumpkin puree before, read the Cook's Note at the bottom of the recipe to learn how! As always, feel free to add more tasty things to your gratin; pecans, pine nuts, coconut, dried cranberries, dried figs, and fresh apple pieces are all welcome additions to this dish.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4
Ingredients:
For the bread crumb topping:
3 slices white dairy-free bread (French bread, sourdough, or another white sandwich bread will do)
1/4 cup shredded dairy-free cheese, such as Daiya
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
For the Filling:
3 cups pumpkin puree (from either steamed or canned pumpkin)
1/4 cup dairy-free sour cream, such as Tofutti
2 T. white granulated sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sage
1/2 t. marjoram
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (also known as green onions)
2 medium Bosc pears, cored and chopped
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 T. softened dairy-free soy margarine, cut into small pieces
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a 1-quart gratin dish or casserole dish. Set aside.
Make the topping. In a food processor, process the bread crumbs, dairy-free cheese, salt and pepper, pulsing until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Make the filling. Combine the pumpkin puree, dairy-free sour cream, sugar, salt, sage, and marjoram in a food processor, pulsing until well combined. Using a spoon, fold in the chopped scallions and pears. Transfer the pumpkin filling to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle evenly with the bread crumb topping, then dot with the dairy-free soy margarine. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown. Serve hot.
Cook's Notes:
For this recipe, I vastly prefer using Daiya Mozza Shreds over other varieties, but use whatever dairy-free cheese you're comfortable with.
For gratins and other pumpkin casseroles, making your own puree from fresh pumpkin is always better than using canned. (Again, canned will work, so if you don't have fresh pumpkins available or the time to make your own puree, it is fine to use the canned.
To prepare steamed pumpkin (for the pumpkin puree): Peel, seed, and cut a small to medium-sized pumpkin into 2-inch pieces. Place in a steamer basket set over a saucepan with 1-2 inches of boiling water. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Puree the pumpkin and use in your pumpkin gratin or other pumpkin recipes!
EGG AND VEGGIE SALAD WITH DILL GREEN GODDESS DRESSING
This is from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. Serves 4, in 30 minutes or less. Recipe starts out, “Look for French breakfast or watermelon radishes to add color and interest to this salad. Don’t be tempted to make the dressing in just one step; only part of the yogurt is puréed with seasonings, then stirred into the remaining yogurt to achieve the right consistency.
5 large eggs
10 small purple potatoes, halved lengthwise (14 oz.)
16 medium orange cauliflower florets
4 Persian cucumbers
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh dill
3/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
1 bunch large radishes, sliced or quartered, radish leaves reserved, optional
Set large vegetable steamer rack in pot over boiling water. Place eggs on rack; surround with potatoes. Cover pan, and steam 10 minutes. Scatter cauliflower over potatoes. Cover, and steam 3 to 4 minutes more, or until vegetables are just tender and eggs are hard-boiled.
Meanwhile, cut 1-inch piece from 1 cucumber. Peel, and place piece in blender. Add 1/3 cup dill, 1/4 cup yogurt, oil, and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Purée in blender until smooth. Place remaining 1/2 cup yogurt in medium bowl. Stir purée from blender into yogurt until smooth.
Slice remaining cucumbers thickly on diagonal.
Peel eggs under cold running water. Quarter eggs.
Divide radish leaves (if using) among plates. Top with eggs, potatoes, cauliflower, cucumbers, and radishes. Drizzle each salad with dressing. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbs. chopped dill.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 288; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 233 mg; Sodium: 123 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g; Gluten-Free
COOL WHIP PIE
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “You can 'whip' together this easy Cool Whip pie in five minutes and it lasts for several days in the freezer. If you're looking for an easy no-bake dessert or no-bake pie recipe, this quick and easy Cool Whip pie is the one to try! This is one of my favorite dessert recipes ever, since it's so unbelievably quick, easy, delicious, and not too fattening.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
8 oz (one small container) Cool Whip
18 oz (three individual servings) yogurt, any flavor
1 ready made pie crust
Preparation:
Thoroughly combine the Cool Whip and yogurt until smooth. Pour into pie crust and freeze until firm. Remove from freezer approximately 20 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh fruit if desired and enjoy!
BLACK BEAN-QUINOA BURGERS
This comes from the July/August 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 60. By the way, Vegetarian Times has an emailing list you can subscribe to for fantastic vegetarian recipes. I highly recommend it.
This recipe serves 8, and begins, “Here's a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor. Stash a few in the freezer for busy weeknight meals. For super-easy cookouts, bake the patties ahead, then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.”
1/2 cup quinoa
1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. dried steak seasoning
8 whole-grain hamburger buns
Stir together quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa.)
Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.
nutritional information Per Burger: Calories: 215; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 438 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan
SUMMER VEGGIE KEBABS WITH FRESH CORN RELISH
This is from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 32. The recipe serves 4, and can be made in 30 minutes or less. It starts out, “Easy-to-assemble vegetable kebabs are paired with a lightly sautéed corn relish for a dish that can be served either as an appetizer or as an entrée when placed atop couscous or another quick-cooking grain. To ensure even cooking, make sure all the vegetables are about the same size.”
Corn Relish
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium yellow tomato, diced (2/3 cup)
1 large ear corn, kernels removed (1 1/3 cups kernels)
1 1/2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh basil
Kebabs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
3/4 tsp. dry mustard powder, divided
1 small yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded, and cut into 12 square pieces
1 medium zucchini, halved and cut into 12 slices
1/2 small red onion, cut into 12 chunks
12 whole cremini mushrooms
12 grape or cherry tomatoes
Coat grill grate or grill pan with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
To make Corn Relish: Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add tomato, cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until tomato is breaking down. Add corn kernels, and cook 2 minutes, or until corn is tender. Stir in vinegar and mustard powder, and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To make Kebabs: whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard powder in small bowl.
Thread each of 12 skewers with 1 bell pepper square, 1 zucchini slice, 1 red onion chunk, 1 mushroom, and 1 tomato. Place skewers on large platter, and brush with vinaigrette mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Grill skewers 6 to 8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and browned on all sides. Serve with Corn Relish.
nutritional information Per Serving (3 kebabs and 1/2 cup relish): Calories: 247; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 9 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
BAKED TOFU WITH ASIAN GLAZE
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “A simple vegetarian and vegan baked tofu recipe suitable for an appetizer, or to add to cooked noodles or vegetable stir-fry. Tofu is marinated and then baked in a sweet and sour miso-based Asian barbecue sauce with maple syrup, sesame oil, black pepper and sherry. Makes 4 servings.
Recipe courtesy of the Soy Foods council.
Ingredients:
1 (14-ounce) package extra–firm tofu, drained and well-pressed
1 tablespoon miso
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
3 green onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoon sherry
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the tofu into chunks and place in a wide shallow dish or bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the miso and remaining ingredients and whisk well until combined. Pour over tofu and gently mix to ensure that the tofu is coated well. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least two hours and up to 8 hours.
When you're ready to bake the tofu, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Drain the tofu, reserving the extra marinade. Place the tofu on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the extra sauce, until tofu is lightly browned and lightly crisped.
Serve your Asian-glazed tofu over noodles for an entree, with toothpicks as an appetizer, or add it to your favorite vegetable stir-fry.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 26; Total fat: 1 g; Protein: 39g; Carbs: 24.7g; Iron: 1.4mg; Calcium: 20mg
VEGAN PUMPKIN GRATIN
Ashley Adams is the Dairy Free Cooking guide for About.com. She writes, “Perfect for the autumn months when pumpkin is in season, this veganized pumpkin gratin is a healthier, yet delicious, take on the fall-time classic. (And if you happen to crave pumpkin during the rest of the year, you can just use canned pumpkin instead of fresh!) If you've never prepared your own homemade pumpkin puree before, read the Cook's Note at the bottom of the recipe to learn how! As always, feel free to add more tasty things to your gratin; pecans, pine nuts, coconut, dried cranberries, dried figs, and fresh apple pieces are all welcome additions to this dish.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4
Ingredients:
For the bread crumb topping:
3 slices white dairy-free bread (French bread, sourdough, or another white sandwich bread will do)
1/4 cup shredded dairy-free cheese, such as Daiya
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
For the Filling:
3 cups pumpkin puree (from either steamed or canned pumpkin)
1/4 cup dairy-free sour cream, such as Tofutti
2 T. white granulated sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sage
1/2 t. marjoram
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (also known as green onions)
2 medium Bosc pears, cored and chopped
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 T. softened dairy-free soy margarine, cut into small pieces
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a 1-quart gratin dish or casserole dish. Set aside.
Make the topping. In a food processor, process the bread crumbs, dairy-free cheese, salt and pepper, pulsing until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Make the filling. Combine the pumpkin puree, dairy-free sour cream, sugar, salt, sage, and marjoram in a food processor, pulsing until well combined. Using a spoon, fold in the chopped scallions and pears. Transfer the pumpkin filling to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle evenly with the bread crumb topping, then dot with the dairy-free soy margarine. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown. Serve hot.
Cook's Notes:
For this recipe, I vastly prefer using Daiya Mozza Shreds over other varieties, but use whatever dairy-free cheese you're comfortable with.
For gratins and other pumpkin casseroles, making your own puree from fresh pumpkin is always better than using canned. (Again, canned will work, so if you don't have fresh pumpkins available or the time to make your own puree, it is fine to use the canned.
To prepare steamed pumpkin (for the pumpkin puree): Peel, seed, and cut a small to medium-sized pumpkin into 2-inch pieces. Place in a steamer basket set over a saucepan with 1-2 inches of boiling water. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Puree the pumpkin and use in your pumpkin gratin or other pumpkin recipes!
EGG AND VEGGIE SALAD WITH DILL GREEN GODDESS DRESSING
This is from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. Serves 4, in 30 minutes or less. Recipe starts out, “Look for French breakfast or watermelon radishes to add color and interest to this salad. Don’t be tempted to make the dressing in just one step; only part of the yogurt is puréed with seasonings, then stirred into the remaining yogurt to achieve the right consistency.
5 large eggs
10 small purple potatoes, halved lengthwise (14 oz.)
16 medium orange cauliflower florets
4 Persian cucumbers
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh dill
3/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
1 bunch large radishes, sliced or quartered, radish leaves reserved, optional
Set large vegetable steamer rack in pot over boiling water. Place eggs on rack; surround with potatoes. Cover pan, and steam 10 minutes. Scatter cauliflower over potatoes. Cover, and steam 3 to 4 minutes more, or until vegetables are just tender and eggs are hard-boiled.
Meanwhile, cut 1-inch piece from 1 cucumber. Peel, and place piece in blender. Add 1/3 cup dill, 1/4 cup yogurt, oil, and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Purée in blender until smooth. Place remaining 1/2 cup yogurt in medium bowl. Stir purée from blender into yogurt until smooth.
Slice remaining cucumbers thickly on diagonal.
Peel eggs under cold running water. Quarter eggs.
Divide radish leaves (if using) among plates. Top with eggs, potatoes, cauliflower, cucumbers, and radishes. Drizzle each salad with dressing. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbs. chopped dill.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 288; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 233 mg; Sodium: 123 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g; Gluten-Free
COOL WHIP PIE
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “You can 'whip' together this easy Cool Whip pie in five minutes and it lasts for several days in the freezer. If you're looking for an easy no-bake dessert or no-bake pie recipe, this quick and easy Cool Whip pie is the one to try! This is one of my favorite dessert recipes ever, since it's so unbelievably quick, easy, delicious, and not too fattening.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
8 oz (one small container) Cool Whip
18 oz (three individual servings) yogurt, any flavor
1 ready made pie crust
Preparation:
Thoroughly combine the Cool Whip and yogurt until smooth. Pour into pie crust and freeze until firm. Remove from freezer approximately 20 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh fruit if desired and enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)