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:: 1st Quarter, 2012 ::

VEGAN CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP
w/GLUTEN FREE CROUTONS

Ingredients:

1 TBLSP extra virgin olive oil
1 Leek thinly sliced
1 1/2 tsp fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 bunches baby broccoli, sliced into 1/2" pieces and tops of 1 bunch reserved
3 Cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup uncooked rolled oats
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For Croutons:

3 Cups medium diced millet bread or other gluten-free bread
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp minced fresh thyme
1 tsp minced fresh oregano
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER:

Heat a medium saucepan over a medium flame. Add the olive oil, and when warm, add the leek and a generous pinch of sea salt to draw the moisture. Saute' until tender and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes.

Add the oregano, baby broccoli, vegetable stock and oats. Season with more sea salt to taste, and bring to a boil. Next, reduce and simmer until the broccoli is tender and the oats are cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly.

Transfer soup to a blender and puree until smooth, starting on a low speed and increasing slowly so as to not burn yourself with hot liquid. When smooth, return to saucepan and season with nutmeg and freshly ground black pepper.

For Croutons:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, toss together the diced millet bread with the olive oil, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Distribute the cubed bread evenly in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.

Top each bowl of soup with a small handful of croutons, about a 1/4 cup. Store the remaining croutons in an airtight container to add to other soups, salads, etc.

 

:: 4th Quarter, 2011 ::

 

Vegan Split Pea Soup
(Serves 4 to 6)

Recipe by the amazing Chef Sitarani Brian (from the Yoga and Art of Vegetarian Cooking Workshop)

Ingredients:

1 Tblsp extra virgin Olive Oil
1 small yellow onion
1 small carrot
2 large celery sticks, large diced

3 large garlic cloves Bouquet Garni (tie herbs up in cheese cloth with twine)
1/2 bunch fresh thyme
2 medium sage leaves
1 bay leaf

1/2 cup green split peas
1/4 cup yellow split peas
1/4 cup toor dal
4 cups vegetable stock
Smoked Paprika to taste
Smoked Sea Salt to taste
Sea Salt & Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Procedure: heat the oil in a small saucepan. When warm, add the onion and garlick and saute' until tender and translucent. Next add the split peas, toor dal, and bouquet garni and satue' for an additional minute. Add 2 cups of the stock and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the contents to a boil. then reduce to a simmer, and, stirring occasionally, simmer for 45 minutes, or until the peas are tender.

In the meantime, combine the onion, carrot, and celery with the remaining 2 cups of stock in another small saucepan. Simmer until the vegetable are completely tender, then remove from heat and cool slightly. Transfer the vegetables and liquid to a blender. Puree until very smooth. Set aside for later.

When the split peas are tender, remove from the head and cool slightly. Discard the bouquet garni. Pour in the pureed onion/carrot/celery mixture and stir well to continue.

Garnish with smoked paprika and smoked sea salt just before serving. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

:: 3rd Quarter, 2011 ::

 

I love a good pasta dish any time of the year, but this one has a summer time feel to it. Give it a whirl. Substitute with Brown Rice Pasta if you have gluten issues. Tinkyada is my favorite brown rice pasta brand.

Avocado Pesto Pasta

Serves 6

What You Need:

1 pound dried linguini
1 bunch basil leaves (about 2½ ounces)
½ cup pine nuts
2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about ½ a lemon)
3 cloves garlic
½ cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (optional)

What You Do:

1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook to package directions. While pasta cooks, in a food processor, blend basil, pine nuts, avocados, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Drain pasta. In a large serving bowl, toss pesto with hot, freshly cooked pasta and garnish each serving with a basil leaf. For an extra touch of color and flavor, top pasta with sun-dried tomatoes.

Recipe courtesy of VegNews

 

Pear & Fig Tart

Makes 1 tart

What You Need:

1 9-inch tart shell, pre-baked
1 pound small ripe figs, stemmed and halved
1/2 pound ripe Bosc pears, stemmed and cut into
1/3-inch thick slices
1 teaspoon maple sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange juice

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Around the outer edge of the tart shell, arrange figs in a circle, being careful not to break them. Arrange pears, overlapping them slightly, inside the circle of figs. Sprinkle with maple sugar and bake until the fruit is cooked, about 35 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, heat maple syrup, lemon juice, and orange juice. Brush the warm syrup over the fruit and serve. If desired, top the tart with vegan pastry cream or vanilla ice cream.

Recipe courtesy of VegNews

 

 

:: 2nd Quarter, 2011 ::

 

Completely inspired by my most recent event Yoga & Cooking at the Draegers' Cooking School, I wanted to share this delicious little dish!

QUINOA SALAD WITH TOASTED PINE NUTS, BASIL PESTO & CHERRY TOMATOES

1 Cup white Quinoa (keen-wah), rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tblsp extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch fresh basil, about 2 Cups, rinsed and drained
1cup pine nuts
1-2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste ___________________________________

In a small non-stick saute' pan, dry roast quinoa until it gives off a nutty aroma.

Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil with the olive oil and a generous pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Add the quinoa, bring up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, and then turn off the heat and steam for an additional 5 minutes. Fluff with two forks.

While the quinoa is cooking, place the basil leaves, 1/3 cup of pine nuts, garlic and sea salt and black pepper in the bowl of your food processor. Process coarsely. With the processor on, stream in 1/2 cup of olive oil and process until desired consistency is reached. Add more olive oil if desired. Place in a bowl and reserve for later.

Halve the cherry tomatoes lengthwise and set aside.

Toast the remaining 2/3 cup of pine nuts in a small non-stick pan over low heat.(I use an enamel based Le Creuset pan for my non-stick) Gently toast until they're slightly golden, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place in a bowl. Set aside.

To serve, place a scoop of quinoa in the center of each plate. Drizzle with pesto and top with sliced cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts. Enjoy hot or cold.

Recipe from Sitarani Brian www.chefsita.com

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POACHED PEACHES WITH LAVENDER CUSTARD

4 peaches, halved
3/4 cup (175 mL) apple juice
1/2 cup (125 mL) white wine

Lavender Custard
1/2 cup (125 mL) soy milk or rice milk
1 piece (3 inches/7.5 cm) vanilla bean
1 piece (2 inches/5 cm) licorice root, optional
1 tablespoon (15 mL) dried lavender buds
12 ounces (375 g) silken tofu

In a saucepan, combine peach halves, apple juice and wine. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until the tip of a knife meets with some resistance when inserted. Remove from heat and let peaches stand in the poaching liquid until ready to serve or overnight.

Lavender Custard: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine soy milk, vanilla bean, licorice, if using, and lavender. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until bubbles form around outside edge of pan. Let cool with cover on. Strain and discard vanilla, licorice and lavender. In a blender or food processor, process tofu until smooth. With the motor running, add cooled soy milk through opening in lid. Blend until smooth.

Using a slotted spoon, lift peaches into bowls and top with custard. Custard will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Tip Use only organic lavender, which has not been chemically treated.

Recipe from THE VEGAN COOK’S BIBLE by Pat Crocker

 

 

 

:: 1st Quarter, 2011 ::

 

Now that we've taken full advantage of the wonderful food and drink of the season, how about a nice 'curl up by the fire' soup and some drop biscuits with or without the soup? I make this every year for Christmas and its always a popular!

VEGAN SWEET POTATO AND CORN BISQUE

Serves 10-12

Ingredients: 4 large Sweet Potatoes, finely chopped
2 cobs of Corn, trimmed (or two cans of organic corn)
1 Onion, sliced
1 Whole Leek, sliced
1 Clove of Garlic, crushed
1/2 cup of White Wine
1 1/2 gallons of Vegetable or No-Chicken Broth
1 Spring of Fresh Thyme
1/2 lb of Natural Balance Butter Sticks (or butter for the non-vegan version)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions: Saute the onions, garlic and leeks in butter for 5-10 minutes, until clear. De-glaze with white wine and add the Thyme. Add the sweet potatoes and corn to vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and let simmer until potatoes and corn are soft. Puree the soup. Adjust the thickness of the soup with stock. Pass soup through a strainer and season to taste.

DROP BISCUITS

1 2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Tblsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2/3 cup non-dairy milk (rice milk is a good mild option)
1/3 cup canola oil or melted non dairy/hydrogenated butter

PREHEAT the oven to 475 degrees. Lightly grease a baking/cookie sheet. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Add the milk and oil and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. It will be very sticky and thick, not smooth like cake batter. Use one teaspoon to form walnut-sized scoops of batter and another spoon to scrape the batter onto a cookie sheet, spacing the bisquits about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until the bottoms are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Serve Hot.

Fun flavors to add:
5-6 Tablespoons of Sun Dried Tomatoes
1 teaspoon Rosemary
1/4 cup of currants or raisins
1/2 cup of sunflower or pumpkin seeds

Thank you to The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

 

 

 

:: 4th Quarter, 2010 ::

I have had some requests for non-vegan, but vegetarian recipes so here you go!! I'm just a fiend for all things pumpkin so you got a double whammy of pumpkin desserts. One is a Vegan Pumpkin bread and the other is a divine vegetarian Pumpkin Custard that is out of this world. To start, this awesome Penne with creamy walnut sauce is a nice departure from the traditional pesto and just as good. A dear friend made this for me many years ago and I never forgot about it. Enjoy!

PENNE WITH CREAMY WALNUT SAUCE (non-vegan)

10 ounces of fresh organice spinach
1/2 cup toasted organic walnuts, coarsely chopped*
2 cups low-fat organic cottage cheese
1 organic garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 cup grated organic parmesan cheese-optional (or vegan alternative)
1/4 cup loosely packed chopped fresh organic basil
1/2 teaspoon salt ground black pepper to taste
1 to 1 1/2 pounds penne
1 head of organic broccoli

*Toasted walnuts in a single layer on an unoiled baking tray in a conventional or toaster over at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and golden brown

Bring a large covered pot of water to a rapid boil.

While the water heats, wash the spinach and transfer it to a separate large pot. The water clinging to the leaves should provide enough moisture to steam it. Cover and cook the spinach on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, until wilted but still bright green. Drain.

In a food processor or blender, combine the spinach, walnuts, cottage cheese, garlic, parmesan, basil and salt and puree until smooth, working in batches if necessary. Add pepper to taste and set aside.

When the water boils, stir in the pasta, cover, and return to a boil. Then uncover the pot and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes. While the pasta cooks, cut the broccoli into spears, blanch it in boiling water tocover until just tender, about 5 minutes and set aside.

Drain the pasta and serve immediately in individual warmed bowls, topped with spinach-walnut sauce and several steamed broccoli spears. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese if you wish.

Serves 6

Courtesy of Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Recipes Cookbook

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PUMPKIN CUSTARD (non-vegan)

2 cups cooked pumpkin (16 ounce can)
1 1/2 cups evaporated skim milk (12 ounce can)
2 organic cage free eggs
3 egg whites
3/4 cup pure maple syrup or brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Fresh Apple Slices As Garnish (Optional)

Preheat over to 350 degrees

Prepare eight 6 ounce baking cups, such as custard cups or ramekins, with light coating of cooking spray. Arrange the cups ina shallow, flat-bottomed baking pan.

Whirl all of the ingredients except the apple slices in a blender until smooth. Pour the custard into the baking cups. Pour boiling water into the baking pan to about a 2-inch depth. Bake for about 45 - 60 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove the cups from the hot water and cool at room temperature, then refrigerate.

Serve Chilled, garnished with fresh apple slices, if desired

SERVES 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 45 - 60 minutes

Courtesy of Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Recipes Cookbook

 

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PUMPKIN BREAD (vegan)

Makes 1 loaf

What You Need:

1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
1-1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
2/3 cup Sucanat
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup canned pumpkin purée
Juice and zest of 1/2 orange
1/4 cup filtered water
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for oiling pan
1/3 cup dried cranberries
3 tablespoons crystallized ginger, finely chopped

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a loaf pan and toast for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer seeds to a small bowl. When loaf pan is cool, lightly oil with olive oil.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, Sucanat, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add pumpkin purée, orange juice and zest, water, and olive oil, and stir gently to combine all ingredients.

3. Stir in cranberries, ginger, and 2/3 of the toasted seeds. Pour batter into prepared pan, sprinkle with remaining seeds and press into top of loaf. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Courtesy of VegNews

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:: 3rd Quarter, 2010 ::

Here are two of my favorite side dishes that I prepare for my family on a regular basis. These are always a crowd pleaser and great for your Summer veggie or meat BBQ. Oh and don't forget dessert!!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Serves 6

What You Need:

2 pounds Brussels sprouts
1 tablespoon olive oil
Parmesan cheese (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Chop off rough stems and slice each Brussels sprout in half length-wise.

3. Toss well with olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of the sprouts during the last 2-4 minutes of roasting until cheese is melted and crispy.

5. Roast for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the Brussels sprouts. Some leaves will be crispy and some browned.

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Macaroni Salad

4 cups of uncooked Macaroni noodles or Ditalini
1 cup veganaise mayo (or to your taste)
2-3 chopped up hard boiled eggs (for the non-vegan version) I go without the yolks
2 teaspoons salt or to your taste
2 teaspoons pepper or to your taste
2 stalks of celery
1 small-medium sized yellow onion (purple onion for color and sweetness)
Sprinkle of paprika for color and a dash of fun

Directions: Bring the pasta water to a boil and cook the macaroni for about 8 minutes or until al dente. Rinse, drain, and set aside and let cool.

Finely dice the celery and onion and add it to the bowl.

Chop eggs into bit sized pieces

Toss noodles with all ingredients vegan mayo, eggs, celery, carrot, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Cover and chill before serving.

Serves: a large group

Preparation time: 20 minutes ______________________________________

 

Excellent Apple Pie

3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons pastry flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
6 cups peeled, cored, and THINLY sliced cooking apples (about 2 lbs)
1 tablespoon margarine (earth balance)
2 pie crusts (make your own, or purchase pre-prepared crusts)
A little soymilk for glazing

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) Place 1 crust in bottom of 9" pie plate. Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl.

3) Place half of thinly sliced apples into the pie crust and sprinkle with half of the sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining apples and sugar mixture. Dot with margarine.

4) Cut out an awesome design in remaining crust and place over pie. Trim edges and pinch to form a high edge. Decorate that edge any way you desire.

5) For a golden glaze, brush the top crust (but not the edge!) lightly with soymilk.

Bake pie for 40-50 minutes, until crust is golden.

Source of recipe: I put together this recipe-- healthy, vegan, quick and easy to make. It's also very satisfying and yummy.Be sure to make a cool design on the top pie crust before placing on the pie to bake. Use a knife or cookie cutters. And, if you don't already have one, get an apple slicer to save time.

Makes: 1 pie, Preparation time: 30 minutes, Cooking time: 40 to 50 minutes

 

 

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:: 2nd Quarter, 2010 ::

INDIAN LENTIL STEW
Serves 4
What You Need:

2-1/2 cups cooked yellow lentils
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup cauliflower, cut into half-inch pieces
1/4 cup carrots, sliced 
1/4 cup green beans, cut into half-inch lengths
1/2 teaspoon tamarind concentrate, dissolved in 1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sambar powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped 
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
15 fresh kari leaves
2 dried red chiles, stemmed and broken

 

What You Do:

1. In a large saucepan over high heat, combine lentils, water, tomato, cauliflower, carrots, and green beans, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, covered, about ten minutes. Add tamarind liquid, sambar powder, cayenne, salt, sugar, and cilantro. Cover and simmer for ten minutes. Transfer to a large serving dish, cover, and set aside.

2. In a small frying pan over medium-high, heat oil. Add mustard and cumin seeds. When the seeds sizzle and splatter, immediately add the turmeric, kari leaves, and chiles. Stir for 30 seconds, remove, and pour over the sambar. 
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KEY LIME PIE
Serves 8
What You Need:

1 package silken tofu 
8 ounces non-dairy cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 teaspoons lime zest, divided
Juice of 3 limes
2 teaspoons agar agar flakes
1 prepared pie crust
1-1/2 cups non-dairy whipped cream

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine tofu, cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla, 3 teaspoons lime zest, and lime juice until smooth. Add agar agar and blend for about 1 minute. 

2. Add tofu mixture to pie crust and bake about 30 minutes. Turn off the oven, and allow to sit in the oven for another 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool, then top with non-dairy whipped cream. Sprinkle remaining lime zest and serve.

 

 

:: 1st Quarter, 2010 ::

Savory Thai Stew

Serves 6

What You Need:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, quartered and thinly sliced

4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

3 cups water

1 medium green or red bell pepper, cut into narrow strips

1-1/2 cups frozen green beans

1/2 teaspoon red or green curry paste

1 tablespoon natural granulated sugar

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

2 stalks lemongrass

One 13.5-ounce can light coconut milk

2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Salt to taste

What You Do:
1. In a soup pot over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and continue to sauté until both are golden. Add sweet potatoes and water. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are about half done.

2. Add bell pepper, green beans, curry paste, sugar, and ginger. Cut each lemongrass stalk into 3 or 4 pieces, and bruise by making long cuts throughout with a sharp knife. Stir into the soup pot. Simmer stew for 10 minutes longer.

3. Stir in the coconut milk, peanut butter, and salt. Return to a simmer, then cook over very low heat for another 10 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender and the flavors are well integrated. Remove lemongrass pieces. Taste to adjust seasonings, and serve at once.

From: Vegnews

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Brandi's Famous Caramel Apple Pie!

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

...your favorite Vegan pie crust recipe

3-4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced very thinly

"Caramel" topping:

1/2 cup vegan butter

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup water

Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Pile apple slices in pie crust, and lattice crust over top of pie. In a saucepan, bring "Caramel" topping ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Pour "Caramel" over top of pie so that it seeps into the apples and covers the lattice. Bake for 15 minutes uncovered, then cover with foil and continue to back at 350 degrees F. for another 35-45 minutes. Enjoy!
Serves: 12
Preparation time: 1 hr

from Vegweb.com

 

 

:: 4th Quarter, 2009 ::

Who doesn’t like a great soup and sandwich for dinner every once in a while? Here’s your chance to break out and have lunch for dinner. Jazz it up with some specialty bread and a small side salad. Don’t forget seconds on the dessert. Enjoy!!

Tomato - Fennel Soup

Serves 6

What You Need:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and chopped,

3 tablespoons of the feathery leaves reserved

6 medium shallots, finely chopped

1-1/2 small carrots, finely chopped

1 28-ounce can and 1 14-ounce can whole plum tomatoes

3/4 cup vegetable broth

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

What You Do:

1. In a medium stockpot, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add fennel, shallots, and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very soft but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes with juice, the broth, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil over high heat.

2. Reduce heat and simmer gently, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer the mixture, in batches if necessary, to a blender, and process until smooth. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with reserved fennel leaves.

 

Tuna Free Sandwiches

Serves 6

What You Need:

30 ounces (2 cans) garbanzo beans, drained

1/4 cup red onion, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 cup celery, finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced

1/4 cup dill pickle, finely chopped

2 tablespoons nori seaweed flakes

1 cup vegan mayonnaise

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground

12 slices bread, lightly toasted

6 large, crisp lettuce leaves

12 fresh tomato slices

What You Do:

1. In a large bowl, mash the garbanzo beans with a potato masher or the back of a fork. Fold the onion, celery, garlic, pickle, nori, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper into the garbanzo beans. Combine thoroughly.

2. Lightly toast the bread. Spread the salad on one slice and stack with a lettuce leaf, two tomato slices, and another slice of bread. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.

 

Raspberry Lime Cake

Serves 12

What You Need:

For the cake:

3/4 cup plain soymilk

Zest of 2 limes

1 tablespoon lime luice

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup vegan sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-3/4 cups flour

1-1/2 cups sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups fresh raspberries

For the icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 3 tablespoons lime juice

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease and flour a 9 x 13 baking pan. In a medium bowl, combine soymilk, lime zest, and juice, and set aside for about 5 minutes. Once mixture is slightly curdled, add in oil, sour cream, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add raspberries, and toss briefly to coat with dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the dry, and combine until just mixed. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 28 to 36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before icing.

3. For the icing, in a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and lime juice together, adding in juice 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency. Drizzle over cake and serve.

 

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:: JULY 2009 ::

GREEK POTATO SALAD
Serves 4

What You Need:

For the salad

  • 1-1/2 pounds new, fingerling, or red potatoes
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2-1/2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, julienned
  • 3/4 cup marinated artichokes, chopped
  • 2/3 cup red peppers, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
  • 1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

For the vinaigrette

  • 2-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons agave nectar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

What You Do:

  • In a large pot of water, add potatoes and salt. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced. Drain potatoes.
  • Using an immersion blender in a small bowl, blend vinaigrette ingredients.

While potatoes are still warm, cut in halves or quarters. In a large bowl, toss gently with vinaigrette. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Serve warm or chilled.

 

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PINA COLADA POPS

Makes 8 pops

What You Need:

1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
1 cup pineapple chunks
3 tablespoons agave
1-1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla
1⁄2 teaspoon almond or rum extract

What You Do:

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into 8 molds and insert sticks. Freeze until solid, at least 8 hours or overnight.

 

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:: JUNE 2009 ::

JERK-SPICED PORTOBELLO STEAKS

2 teaspoons light brown sugar or natural sweetner
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 large Portobello mushrooms, stems removed
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

 

  1. In a shallow bowl, combine the brown sugar, cumin, allspice, oregano, paprika, salt, cayenne, and nutmeg, Set aside.
  2. Coat the mushroom caps with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, then coat them evenly with the spice mixture. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender, about 5 minutes per side. Serve hot.

Serves 4
You can also grill or place in the broiler

From Vegan Planet cookbook

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STRAWBERRY SORBET

1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups water
4 cups whole strawberries, rinsed and hulled
2 Tbsp. orange juice

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and the water and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly.

2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, or until reduced by one-fourth. Remove from the heat and cool.

3. In a blender, combine the strawberries and the orange juice until smooth. Press through a fine sieve.

4. In a large bowl, combine with the sugar mixture. Cover and freeze until set.

5. Whisk until smooth, freeze for an additional hour, and whisk again. Repeat twice.

Serve when creamy.

Makes 1 quart

From vegcooking.com

 

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:: MAY 2009 ::

SAVORY FENNEL PASTA

Don't forget to enjoy with a slice of rustic bread, spinach salad and a glass of your favorite Chianti.

Serves 2

What You Need:

5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

4 cups roma tomatoes, cut into thick slices

1 large bulb fennel, stalks and core removed, quartered, and thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

8 ounces spaghetti

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

1/8 cup black olives, sliced

2 tablespoons capers

3/4 cup fresh basil, sliced into ribbons

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss together 2 tablespoons olive oil, tomatoes, fennel, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, tossing once or twice during cooking, until tomatoes are soft and fennel has slightly caramelized. Remove from oven.

2. While veggies are roasting, prepare pasta according to package directions. When pasta is almost done, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta water and reserve. Drain cooked pasta.

3. Toss pasta with roasted vegetables, adding a few tablespoons of the reserved cooking water if necessary. Add pine nuts, olives, capers, basil, and remaining extra olive oil. Serve immediately.

 

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CHUNKY MONKEY BROWNIES

 

Everyone loves a good brownie and these are no exception even without the eggs. Give these a whirl! And because I'm a girl who loves options, I've indicated that the bananas, chocolate chips, nuts, coconut are optional based on your tastes. Have fun and don't forget to try it with a non-dairy beverage just to be a bit wild.

Makes 9 brownies

What You Need:

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup safflower oil

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon arrowroot

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup dried banana chips, coarsely chopped (optional)

1/3 cup chocolate chips, coarsely chopped (optional)

1/4 cup cashews, coarsely chopped (optional)

2 tablespoons dried coconut, shredded (optional)

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9-inch square pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, oil, water, and vanilla. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, arrowroot, baking powder, and salt. Stir well to combine.

2. Pour batter into prepared pan. Evenly scatter banana chips, chocolate chips, cashews, and coconut over top and press gently with hands.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set in the center. Allow brownies to cool completely before cutting with a sharp knife into nine squares.

*Both Recipes Are From Vegnews Magazine.

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:: April 2009 ::

 

LENTIL SOUP WITH CHARD AND ORZO

 

2 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Small yellow onion, minced

1 medium size carrot, grated

1/3 cup minced celery

2 garlic cloves, minced

7 cups Basic Vegetable Stock or water

1 cup dried brown lentils, picked over and rinsed

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

½ cup dry red wine

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried

1 bay leaf

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Cups coarsely chopped Swiss chard (tough stems removed)

½ cup orzo

 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the stock, lentils, tomato paste, wine parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
  2. About 10 minutes before the end of cooking time, remove the bay leaf and stir in the chard.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in a pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 5 minutes. When ready to serve, stir the cooked orzo into the hot soup, then ladle immediately into bowls.

Serves 4 to 6

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:: March 2009 ::

 

KITCHEREE

 

1 ¼ cups mung beans

1 ¼ cups basmati rice

1 Tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

2 sticks of celery, finely chopped

1 teaspoon ground coriander

Salt

2 Tablespoons ghee (optional)

 

  1. Place the mung beans in a pan with three to four time their volume of water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, until tender. Meanwhile, cook the rice separately. Set both aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or pan. Add the mustard and cumin seeds and cook over high heat until they “pop”.
  3. Add the celery and saute’ over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in the ground coriander, cooked rice, and mung beans. Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring. Season to taste with salt. Add the ghee, if using, and serve at once.

 

Brown rice or barley may be substituted for the basmati rice. They both make the dish even heartier.

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BASIC CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE- VEGAN

 

1 Cup Soy Milk

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

¾ cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract

1 Cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder, dutch-processed or regular

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
  2. Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large blow, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar , oil, and vanilla extract, and other extract, if using, to the soy milk mixture and beat till foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat till no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are okay).
  3. Pour into liners, filling three quarters of the way. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean Transfer to cooking rack and let cool completely.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

¼ cup soy milk

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup

Bring the soy milk to a gentle boil in a small sauce pan. Immediately remove from heat and add the chocolate and maple syrup. Use a rubber heatproof spatula to mix the chocolate until it is fully melted and smooth. Set aside at room temperature till ready to use.