Tastes of Summer: Smoky Fiesta Black Bean Tamales

Tamale 1

I’m guest posting over at my friend Jody’s at The Vegan’s Husband today (he’s male, sometimes he has hair that looks like Scott Jurek’s and he’s taken ladies). Did I mention he’s also an amazing cook? Jody was one of my first followers, when he asked me to do a guest post for him while he was away on a service trip for youth in his community, I couldn’t turn him down. I love anything to do with service and I’ve got heaps of admiration for people who take time out of their busy lives to serve others. Plus, Jody’s Catholic, I’m Mormon and sometimes he schools me about higher matters. That’s what friends are for, it’s awesome.

portrait

Oh, and making tamales is simpler than you might think (really). Head on over to Jody’s to get the luscious recipe here.

The recipe is also featured on Sunwarrior News and The Linky Virtual Vegan Potluck!

Whole Grain Vegan Baking! Review, Giveaway and a Super Soft Whole Grain Burger Bun Recipe

Whole Grain Artisan Bread2


One of the most well loved and well thumbed books on my kitchen bookshelf is The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions, co-authored by Celine Steen. It’s a book every vegan ought to have as a no-fail resource. So, of course I was thrilled at the chance to review Whole Grain Vegan Baking, written by both Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes. It’s any bread fiend’s dream. These women are miracle workers. Even though I consider myself an ardent bread-maker, I’d yet to master bread that’s soft and fluffy AND completely whole grain. I’ll be sharing that recipe with you below, (with permission of course), but first feast your eyes on some of the recipes I’ve tested since receiving my copy of Whole Grain Vegan Baking.

Jam Crumble Bars

Two ingredients I haven’t worked with before in my kitchen have become near and dear to my heart after making some of these creations. Whole Grain Spelt Flour and Sucanat.

The spelt flour adds lightness and eliminates the need to cut whole wheat or other whole grain blends with all purpose white flour to make them less hefty. It’s an ancient form of wheat that is high in protein. It lends a subtle nutty flavor to foods.

Sucanat is a contraction of “Sugar CanNatural”, It is a whole cane sugar. It’s made by crushing freshly cut sugar cane, extracting the juice and heating it in a large vat. It’s less refined than raw sugar and tastes much like brown sugar because of it’s high molasses content. It adds a lovely caramel flavor to the foods you bake it with. It is an excellent source of iron, calcium, vitamin B6, potassium and chromium, which helps balance blood sugar.

Bread CollageSavory Spinach Loaf made with Roasted Spanish Onions. I hadn’t made a savory quick bread before this one and now I wonder why! It made my socks go up and down. I swear it was much prettier than I could capture with the photos.

Noochy CrackersDid you used to be a “Cheese” Cracker fan too? These should help with the withdrawals…

Sun-Dried Tomato FocacciaThis focaccia was every bit as tasty as one made from white flour. I’ll be making it again and again.

Carrot Cashew LoafA less sweet treat than you might expect. This would go perfectly paired with a green smoothie for your breakfast (perhaps minus the icing in that case) 😉

Whole Grain Burger BunsNow the moment you’ve been waiting for… Super soft and tasty, I didn’t believe this kind of tenderness was possible with all whole grains.

Whole Grain Burger Buns (and Sandwich Bread!) 

Hats off to our friend Kelly Cavalier for thinking of using whole spelt flour instead of all-purpose flour in Celine’s recipe making this bread 100% whole grain, super soft, and even better than the original version.

  •  1 cup (235 ml) lukewarm water
  • 21⁄4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 22 to 44 g (1 to 2 tablespoons) molasses or barley malt syrup, to taste
  • 210 g (11⁄2 cups) whole spelt flour
  • 180 g (11⁄2 cups) whole wheat flour, more if needed
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) neutral-flavored oil

Combine the water, yeast, and molasses in a medium-size bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes for the yeast to activate. Place the flours and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the oil and yeast mixture on top.

Mix until a smooth and pliable dough forms, about 6 minutes. Add extra whole wheat flour, 1 tablespoon (8 g) at a time, if needed.

Alternatively, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes, adding extra whole wheat flour, 1 tablespoon (8 g) at a time if needed, until the dough is smooth and pliable. Shape the dough into a ball, place back in the bowl, cover tightly with plastic, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 11⁄2 hours. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Gently deflate the dough. Divide it into 6 equal portions; shape into round burger buns. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30 minutes, until puffed.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C, or gas mark 6). Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the buns.

Bake for 14 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown on top and sound hollow when the bottoms are lightly tapped. Let cool on a wire rack.

Yield: 6 burger buns

Serving Suggestions & Variations

Make a sandwich bread out of the dough by dividing it into 3 equal portions after the first rise, placing them in an 8 x 4-inch (20 x 10 cm) loaf pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C, or gas mark 5). Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.

Whole Grain Vegan Baking

Buy ”Whole Grain Vegan Baking” in paperback book on Amazon here or the Kindle version here

Visit Celine Steen at her site Have Cake Will Travel here

Visit Tamasin Noyes at her site Vegan Appetite here

For a chance to win a copy of this amazing cookbook, Click on the link below to enter the Giveaway! This contest is open to entrants in the USA and Canada onlyYou must also follow this blog by email or RSS feed to qualify. You have until Thursday the 18th of July to enter!  I will notify the winner by email on Monday the 22nd. GO!!

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Thin Crust Sriracha BBQ Tofu and Moxarella Pizza

National Pizza DayBringing this baby out of the archives in honor of Vegan Pizza Day Tomorrow. Enjoy Peeps!

Thin Crust Sriracha BBQ Tofu and Moxarella Pizza

Recipes follow:

1/2 recipe of the Solid Moxarella Cashew Cheese, grated

1 recipe No Rise Whole Wheat Thin Crispy Crust

1 recipe Sriracha BBQ Sauce

1 recipe Sriracha BBQ Tofu

1 recipe Caramelized Onions

2 T. Chopped Cilantro 

First do these things the day before: 1- Make the cheese 2- Drain and press a block of extra firm tofu, stick it in a ziploc bag and chuck it in the freezer. Freeze tofu overnight, then defrost on the counter-top the next morning.

It’s Business Time

Solid Moxarella Cashew Cheese

(grate-able, plus it melts and browns baby)

This cheese comes together quickly, but you need to work SUPER fast while making it as it starts to set almost instantly. So try to work without interruptions while putting it together if possible.

  • 1/2 Package Pomona’s Pectin, about 4.5 teaspoons (you can find it at Whole Foods and other Health Food Stores or purchase it online here)
  • 1 C. Ground Raw Cashews (soak for 4-6 hours if you don’t have a power blender or food processor)
  • 1 C. Water, plus an additional 1/2 cup for the calcium packet in the Pomona’s Pectin
  • 1 T. Lemon Juice
  • 2 T. Nutritional Yeast
  • 2 T. Melted Coconut Oil
  • 1 t. sea salt
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes

Method: Lightly oil small glass dish (square or round glass tupperware). Next, in a small lidded jar, mix 1/2 C. of water with the small calcium packet from the pectin package, set aside. Add cashews, nutritional yeast, sea salt, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to your power blender or food processor. Pulse until the cashews are finely ground, but don’t make nut butter! Add lemon juice and the melted coconut oil, pulse again til just combined.  Heat the cup of water til boiling in a small saucepan on the stove-top or in a heat safe container in your microwave. Immediately Pour water into power blender. Add half of the large pectin packet (about 4.5 teaspoons). Blend or process until smooth (power blenders give the smoothest, creamiest results). QUICKLY add 1/4 cup (HALF) of the calcium water and pulse til incorporated. Immediately pour cheese into the prepared dish and put in the refrigerator. Let set uncovered for a minimum of an hour. Remove cheese from the mold and place upside down on a plate. Return to fridge uncovered for a minimum of 4 more hours until firm enough to grate.

Next, make Sriracha BBQ Sauce

Sriracha BBQ Sauce

  • 1/2 C. organic ketchup
  • 2 T. agave nectar
  • 2 T. Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • 1 T. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 t. molasses
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 t. liquid smoke
  • 2 t. Sriracha Hot Sauce (or to taste)
  • few grinds of black pepper

Method: combine all ingredients in a small bowl or glass measuring cup

Next make Sriracha BBQ Tofu

Sriracha BBQ Tofu

Half of this recipe never made it to the pizza. It is so good!

Method: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Press any additional water from defrosted block of tofu as possible with a clean kitchen towel. Slice into pieces and then  press again with the clean kitchen towel. Put tofu in a bowl and drizzle with 1/4 C. above sauce. Put some parchment paper on a baking sheet and arrange tofu on it. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until it starts to get lovely little crispy bits.

Next make Caramelized Onions

Caramelized Onions

  • 1 jumbo sweet or red onion thinly sliced (or 2-3 regular sized onions)
  • 2 t. molasses
  • 1 t. salt and a few grinds of pepper

Method: Heat a skillet over high heat,add a cup of water and all of the above ingredients, occasionally stir and replenish water if skillet gets dry before the onions are completely translucent. Total cooking time can take 15-20 minutes. This recipe makes about 2.5 to 3 C. caramelized onions.

Next make the No Rise Whole Wheat Thin Crispy Crust while the onions are caramelizing.

No Rise Whole Wheat Thin Crispy Crust

  • 1.5 C. white whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 C. warm water
  • 1 t. active dry yeast
  • 1 T. vital wheat gluten
  • 1 t. sea salt

Method: in your favorite kneading apparatus (perhaps a bowl, and then your hands) combine all the above ingredients. Knead until elastic. Let rest 10 minutes. Roll with a rolling pin into the shape of a baking sheet, crust should be VERY thin. You can Press the whole crust recipe onto one large lightly oiled baking sheet, or make multiple thin crust pizzas. Set aside.

Assemble: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush remaining sriracha BBQ sauce over the thin crispy crust, layer caramelized onions over the sauce, next arrange pieces of the BBQ tofu over the onions,  sprinkle the moxerella cashew cheese over the whole pizza, sprinkle with the chopped cilantro. Bake on middle rack for 15 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.

Still following me? Phew, I thought I was getting a little long winded.

Oh, you’re still here and you want that salad dressing recipe too?

Chia Miso Cashew Ranch Dressing

  • 1/2 C. Raw Cashews (soaked for 4-6 hours if you don’t have a power blender)
  • 1 1/4 C. unsweetened soy milk
  • 1 t. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 heaped T. white or yellow miso
  • 1 T. chia seeds
  • 1/2 t. sea salt
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1/2 t. onion powder
  • 1 T. dried chives or 2 T. fresh
  • 1 T.  dried parsley or 2 T. fresh
  • 1/2 t. ground black pepper
  • dash cayenne

Method: Blend all ingredients except chives and parsley until completely smooth. Add chives and parsley and pulse until just mixed in.

Summer Grilling/Camping: Vegan Hot Dog/Sausages Review

Buying fake packaged processed vegan meat is not something I want to do often, but I do buy these kind of products occasionally (mostly when we’re going camping, and because I have young children who still adore the idea of roasting things over the fire. Be sure to bring vegan marshmallows, vegan chocolate and vegan graham crackers for s’mores). We bought Lightlife’s Smart Dogs and Tofurky Italian Sausages on this particular trip. Both products are certified vegan (many veggie meats aren’t: MORNINGSTAR FARMS, even the Lightlife Sausages are vegetarian, not vegan. Always read labels). Note: I adore Field Roast’s vegan Frankfurters and Sausages far more than either of these products, but they’re harder to find in my neck of the woods.

The Smart Dogs are low calorie and low fat. From the ingredient list, it looks like they’re gluten free, but I can’t find a certification on their site. Ingredients and Nutrition Stats here. These had the texture of cheap traditional hot dogs (as far as I can remember, it’s been a long time AND I used to buy the 100% kosher variety), but the flavor wasn’t as smoky, even after being cooked over a fire.  Probably because they don’t contain nitrates, which is a good thing. However, once in a bun and dressed up with organic ketchup and dijon mustard it was pretty tasty. They charred nicely over the fire.

Now for the Tofurky Italian Sausages

Not super impressed with the nutrition stats on these babies, they had nearly as much fat and calories as the real deal: 270 Calories and 13 Grams of fat Per link. Ew. They were however, somewhat tastier than the Smart Dogs, but likely this is because I adore sun-dried tomatoes and basil. They also browned more evenly. They are not however, gluten free.

Blame my husband for buying the white hot dog buns, I don’t know how he succeeded in buying ones that were vegan, they were from the store’s bakery. So he gets extra brownie points there ;)

What’s your go to camping food?

 

Vegan White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies + Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Giveaway

Macadamia Nut

I’ve got a soft spot for coconut oil. I’ve been using it instead of vegan butter in most things lately. I recently received a giant jar of some of the most lovely virgin coconut oil from Tropical Traditions for review. The smell when I opened the jar was incredible, like cracking open a fresh coconut. The coconut oil itself is super high quality and extremely delicious. You’ll have a chance to enter a giveaway for your own jar at the end of this post.

FYI Bloggers: you can also get your own (giant) 32 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to review here.

Cookie Dough

I had to think up a recipe worthy of its use to share with you. I think you’ll agree with me that these cookies highlight the coconut oil beautifully. In turn the coconut oil gives the cookies a buttery smooth taste that’s unbeatable. I think I found my new favorite cookie.

Final

Vegan White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookies

  • 1 1/4 C. whole wheat pastry flour (for gluten free cookies use an equal amount of this gluten free flour blend + 1/2 t. xanthan gum)
  • 1/2 C. raw or organic sugar
  • 1/4 t. sea salt
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1 heaped tablespoon ground golden flax seeds
  • 1/2 C. melted coconut oil (I used Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil)
  • 1/4 C. soymilk
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 1/2 C. vegan white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 C. roughly chopped macadamia nuts

Method: Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine the melted coconut oil, soymilk, ground golden flax seeds and vanilla in a small bowl, set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, raw sugar, baking powder and sea salt. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture, stir til just combined and then stir in the white chocolate chips and the macadamia nuts. Choose your cookie size: I made one batch of 6 giant (gluten free) cookies, and a separate batch of 12 (whole wheat pastry flour) regular sized cookies in the photos. Press cookies down with the palm of your hand to flatten a bit before baking (vegan cookies don’t spread quite like non-vegan ones do sometimes). Bake 10-12 minutes for regular sized cookies and 15-17 minutes for giant sized cookies or until cookies are golden brown. Let set on baking sheet until mostly cooled, otherwise they’ll be crumbly.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 32 oz.Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

For a chance to win a your own jar of  Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, Click on the link below to enter the Giveaway! This contest is open to entrants in the USA only. Mandatory: you must subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter and follow this blog by email or RSS feed to qualify. You have until Thursday the the 27th of June to enter!  I will notify the winner by email on Monday July 1st. GO!!

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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Smoothies, Cinnamon Rolls and That’s a Wrap.

So, my new friend Katie over at Well Vegan is on a Smoothie Train, check out this Super Green Smoothie, her Blackberry Cashew Smoothie and her Peanut Butter Smoothie. Y’all know how I feel about smoothies, so of course I hopped right on board. The Super Green Smoothie is featured in the photo below. Pure love.

Super Green Smoothie

For many of you Vegan Richa needs no introduction. The girl is a baking, Indian food making vegan fool (in such a good way). I’d been drooling over her cinnamon roll recipe from the get go. I just can’t believe it took me so long to make it. It’s one of the “best I’ve ever had” moments… and that’s not one I say too often. Just. Do. It. It’s healthier than it looks.

Cinnamon Rolls

Shira at In Pursuit of More really got to me in her Food Bloggers Against Hunger Post. She knows how to speak from right from her heart and it makes her whole blog glow with love.

Chapatis

I don’t think I’ll ever buy flour tortillas again after making the Indian Chapatis, and the Spiced Lentils are simply gorgeous. Yeah, she never steers me wrong. 

What food bloggers are you loving at the moment? What’s the best recipe you’ve tried off a favorite site recently?

Reinventing Somer. Healing Series I

goodbye runningGoodbye for now, running. I miss you like crazy.

I’m here to clear up some myths, as well as find a way to ease some of my angst. If you don’t feel like getting personal, come back and visit in a couple days, I have some great food coming on the blog again on Friday.

“Every night you cry yourself to sleep. Thinking: “Why does this happen to me? Why does every moment have to be so hard?” Hard to believe.” -Maroon 5

I am not the perfect picture of health right now. In January of this year, I had an accident. I fell on black ice. I hit my head, my elbow and my lower hip/(hamstring) area. At the time, I just thought I had very (very) painful watermelon sized bruising. It hurt like hell, but I’m stubborn and didn’t go to the doctor. I just thought it would heal and that I would be fine. It wasn’t until 3 months later, while I was still in pain all the time and couldn’t make it up my stairs without cringing that I decided it was time to go in. My sports medicine doctor gave me a cortisone shot, a frown and a referral for emotional therapy (I didn’t go).

“You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, Scream without raising your voice” -U2

The other solution? Physical Therapy, and lots of it. I’ve been going now for over a month and a half. My sessions consist of some sweet torture with these archaic looking Graston Therapy Technique Tools followed by soft tissue massage.

graston technique

The physical therapists work me with the various tools from my hip to my knee, trying to break down the muscle tissue fibers that have healed wrong. The treatment is supposed to realign the scar tissue and get it to heal properly. The therapy causes ripe bruises to bloom nearly each time I visit. The result is that my dent in my leg where my hamstring muscle perforated is somewhat smoother, but the truth is, I probably waited too long before seeking treatment. My scar tissue is like a crazy big lump and it isn’t really going anywhere. I can’t sit or stand comfortably for more than 20 minutes at a time. I’m always feeling some level of pain, even on my good days it’s nice and dull and present. Stairs are getting easier, but if I have to bolt up them, I’m quickly reminded to slow the heck down so I don’t hurt myself. Any repetitive motion exercises are out. Walking two blocks is a chore. Don’t even ask me about pushing a grocery cart or rolling over in bed to sleep on my left side.

Pain is Weakness

Even harder though is that I’ve felt like the injury crushed my soul just as much as it crushed my leg. I’ve had a hard time coming to terms with how something that happened in a flash could alter me so completely. Running not only provided a fitness outlet for me, it was also my stress relief, my internal therapy and something that I felt like was a huge part of my identity. Sure, I’ve taken a running break now and again, but now that I’m unable to run, I feel like I’ve lost a huge piece of myself. I’ve been in mourning. Tears come too easily most days. But I’m learning that running doesn’t define me, just like the number on the scale (a bit higher) doesn’t make me any less awesome. I’ve found strength in turning to my spiritual side. I’m also trying to re-direct my focus onto what I can do. 

“What else should I be? All apologies.” -Kurt Cobain

I’m doing pilates like exercises with stretchy bands to strengthen my legs, which have pretty much atrophied from disuse. Sometimes I get crazy and do the recumbent bike or elliptical for a few minutes. (Ow and ow). Last week I tried running on the treadmill at physical therapy with an anti-gravity harness on for 10 minutes. It was way too soon, and I’m paying for it big time.

“Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target” -Gordon B. Hinckley

The waffle makerGoodbye Ragnar Relay and the Beautiful well earned Waffle Breakfast. This would have been our sixth year together. I think I miss you the most of all the races.

No more breakfastGoodbye fit legs. I hope we can be friends again someday.

So, I’m not exactly sure what comes next. I’ve bought a fancy prancy gym membership with a Restorative Yoga Class and a pool for me to get my pool running on with this awesome pool belt.

the hand offI’m passing the baton and teaching some running skills vicariously to someone new who asked for my help. I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I did in time.

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing, ‘Cause I built my life around you” -Stevie Nicks

somer luckyFor now, I’m happy to spend a good portion of my day cuddling with my dog and snoozing on the couch (he’s been glued to my side ever since I got hurt). I’ll let you know how things are going. Hopefully, someday soon, I’ll be up and running again.

“Every step I take, every move I make. Every single day, every time I pray. Ill be missing you” -Sean Combs, riffing on The Police

Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Sauce from The Great Vegan Bean Book + Review and Giveaway!

zucchiniTopped with Easy Almond Parm, pg. 27


Kathy Hester is one of my very favorite cookbook authors. She’s saved my vegan bacon on many rushed days with her book: The Vegan Slow Cooker.  Every. Single. Recipe. I’ve tried out of that book has turned out fabulously, so you can imagine I jumped at the chance when she asked me to review her newest cookbook: The Great Vegan Bean Book. I’ll be sharing (with her permission) the recipe for the Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Sauce later in this post, but first feast your eyes on some of the other creations I made from her book.

Artichoke DipLets just say that the dip disappeared before the bag of pita chips was gone. I thought for sure I was going to need to doctor this recipe with some vegan sour cream to fatten it up. Nope. It’s perfectly skinny and delicious just the way it is.

Chickpea SeitanA certain someone in my house likes to occasionally nosh on the Boca Vegan Chik’n patties. Not ever buying those again after making these. I’ve been looking for a “chick’n” patty replacement I could make at home for some time now. I once made another way inferior chickpea patty recipe from a certain plant based author. Those sucked. These ruled.

SandwichThen I combined the above two recipes and made a Crispy Grilled Sandwich Delight on Marbled Rye Bread with the Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip White Bean Dip, the Baked Crispy Chickpea Seitan Patty and Kimchi. SO good I could have cried.

Coconut Pecan BlondiesOf course I had to try a dessert. These babies were absolutely calling my name.

Bite Sized BlissCoconut Pecan Blondies, pg. 181. I heart you.

Campanelle

Now back to the Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Sauce. Did I mention your kids will eat it, and ask for seconds? Here’s the conversation surrounding that dinner:

Silence while everyone is nomming on the sauce over noodles…

Somer: Did you guys know I put a whole head of kale in this?

Kid #1: I can’t even taste the kale

Husband: My head turned into kale today

Kid #1: All I can taste is vegetable deliciousness

Kid #2 who doesn’t like vegetables: Silence whilst gobbling down all his dinner.

Polenta

Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Sauce

This hearty, protein-rich sauce serves a crowd, or it can be a staple you make every month or so, freezing any leftovers so they will be there for you during those crazy weeks (we ate it all weekend, hence photos of all the ways we used this delicious and nutritious pasta sauce)

  • 1 cup (192 g) lentils (green, brown, or beluga)
  • 3 medium carrots (peeled if not organic), each cut into 4 large pieces
  • 1-2 cups (235 to 475 ml) water
  • 2 tablespoons (28 ml) olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 can (20 ounces, or 560 g) crushed tomatoes, or 3 cups (750 g) homemade puree plus 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 1/2 t. dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon (2 g) dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or crushed dried chilies (optional)
  • 1 small bunch kale, stems removed and torn into small pieces (about 3 cups [201 g]) (optional)
  • 1/2 cup (87 g) quinoa, rinsed well
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) red wine or 2 tablespoons (28 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cooked pasta, for serving, use GF pasta for a GF meal

Add the lentils, carrots, and water to a large soup pot. Turn the heat to high, cook until the mixture is simmering, and then decrease to low and cover. Cook until the lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

While the lentils cook, heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the bell pepper and garlic and saute for 1 minute more.

Once the carrots and lentils are cooked remove the carrots from the pot of lentils and add them to a food processor or blender along with the tomatoes, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, kale, and sauteed veggies, and puree until smooth.

At the same time, add the quinoa and red wine to the pot of lentils. Turn the heat to medium, cook until it starts to simmer again, and then cover and decrease the heat to low. Cook until the quinoa start to show their white tails.

Add the puree to the lentil-quinoa mixture and cook, covered, over low heat until the sauce melds and heats thoroughly, about 20 minutes.

Eggplant LasagnaKathy’s going to have to forgive me, since her book is so popular, her publisher didn’t have review copies available, so I got the book in a PDF format until a hard copy is available to send out. The PDF copy is stamped with the publisher’s logo on each page and was difficult for me to read cover to cover (the way I always read cookbooks). So, I invented a Grilled Eggplant Lasagna, using the leftovers of Kathy’s amazing Lentil Quinoa Bolognese Sauce, then later read through the PDF to find that Kathy has her own Eggplant Lasagna recipe in the book. Well, the more the merrier I say! I’ll be sharing my version with you later in the week.

hi-res image

Buy “The Great Vegan Bean Book” in paperback book on Amazon here or the Kindle version here

Visit Kathy Hester at her site Healthy Slow Cooking here

Visit “The Great Vegan Bean Book” Blog Tour page here

Visit the photographer’s site for the book, Renee Comet, here

For a chance to win a copy of this amazing cookbook, Click on the link below to enter the Giveaway! This contest is open to entrants in the USA onlyYou must also follow this blog by email or RSS feed to qualify. You have until Monday the 10th of June to enter!  I will notify the winner by email on Wednesday the 12th. GO!!

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Mini Chocolate Cashew Cheesecakes

Chocolate Cheesecake

 

I’m guest posting over at In Vegetables We Trust today in a fun little collaboration where I’ve created a recipe, Annie at An Unrefined Vegan photographed it and now it’s been cyber-transported across the ocean landing  on the table at Alexander’s place in the UK.

If you haven’t met Alexander, you need to get going and follow this favorite blogger of mine, I swear he’s like a young Jamie Oliver gone vegan. I seriously drool and fawn over every recipe he makes. Epic stuff. Plus you need to send him some birthday love! (He’ll be 21 tomorrow) I’m positive you’ll adore him and his recipes just as much as Annie and I do (we kinda want to adopt him).

Get the all the glorious deets and recipe

here.

Cheesecake CollageAll photos in this post Courtesy of Annie at An Unrefined Vegan

Country White Bread

Country White Bread

I know, I know! Many of you will probably be horrified by the whiteness of this bread, or as my friend Sarah would say, the bread of no virtues. I beg to differ, this bread saved me, in the form of dry toast after a particularly nasty bout of peanut butter salmonella poisoning over the weekend. There are times when too much fiber from whole grains IS NOT a good thing. Plus this one beats the pants off store bought white bread with all it’s additives and preservatives, yet it’s every bit as soft, squishy and comforting.

Country White Bread

  • 3 C. Organic Unbleached White Flour
  • 1 C. warm water
  • 2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (or 1 packet)
  • 2 T. agave or pure maple syrup
  • 2 T. unrefined coconut oil or vegan butter
  • 1 1/2 t. sea salt

Method: In a bread maker or other kneading apparatus (possibly your hands) knead all of the above ingredients for 10 minutes. If dough seems too dry during the kneading process, add water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency. Cover and Let rise for 45-60 minutes, until doubled. Punch dough down, press dough into oiled loaf pan, cover and let rise for another 30-45 minutes, until doubled in size again. Preheat your oven to 350°. Quickly make a slash down the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. Let cool on a cooling rack for a bit before serving.

Country White Bread2

Blogger Apology: I’ve got over 150 posts in my feedly to catch up on, I’ll get there, I’m not ignoring you, I just haven’t been able to look at photos of food in my current state, no matter how beautiful they are. Sorry! xx