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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Raw Cranberry Apple Pie



Raw Cranberry Apple Pie
http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-cranberry-apple-pie

2               apples (chopped into small pieces)
3/4            cup walnuts
3/4            cup dates
1/2            cup dried, shredded coconut
1/4            teaspoon sea salt
1/4            cup fresh cranberries

Place walnuts in food processor.  Process into a fine meal.

Add dates to the walnuts in food processor.  Process again until well combined.  You should only see tiny bits of dates.

Add all remaining ingredients into food processor.  Pulse briefly until recipe is well combined – do not over-process.  You are looking for chunky texture.

Press firmly down into pie dish using your hands.


Freeze for at least 5 hours (or overnight).  Store in the freezer at all times.  **Before eating, we would set the slices out for a short bit  – but keep a watch out, it softens pretty quickly.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Cauliflower, Kale and Potato Pie


It seems like this time of year is all about potatoes for me - I just can't get enough of them!

Cauliflower,  Kale and Potato Pie

Cauliflower kale and potato pie

Ingredients
                For the crust:
                2/3 cups your choice of wholemeal flour (I used spelt)
                2/3 cups almond meal
                1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground
                pinch of sea salt
                1/8 cup good olive oil
                1/8 cup water
                For the filling:
                4 regular potatoes, boiled
                1 green onion (or a shallot onion), finely minced
                1/4 cauliflower
                3 big kale leaves (or any other winter greens you have), finely chopped
                1 TBSP dry dill
                1.5 TBSP veggie stock powder (link to recipe below)
                2/3 tsp nutmeg
                sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
                chili flakes, optional, to taste
Instructions
1               Begin by boiling the potatoes and them allowing them to cool before peeling and mashing them.
2              While potatoes are boiling, preheat the oven to 180C.
3              To make the crust, mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
4              Separately, mix the wet ingredients. Add these to the dry ingredients and mix by hand until you have your dough. Continue to knead for 2-3 minutes.
5              Press the dough in a baking pan lined with baking paper and poke with a fork several times on the bottom. This ensures your dough will not puff up when baking.
6              Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until the sides turn golden brown.
7              Take it out of the oven and allow to slightly cool for few minutes.
8              While the dough is baking, add the cauliflower cut into florets to a food processor and blitz it until it looks like rice.
9              Add the cauliflower, chopped kale, green onion and all the spices (dill, salt, pepper, chili, veggie stock powder) to the mashed potatoes and mix everything very well. A big spoon or spatula does the job. Or you can even do it by hand.
10           Add the filling to the crust and press it firmly.
11           Brush the pie with olive oil and bake it at 180C for 15 minutes.
12           After 15 minutes, cover it with baking paper (make sure the edges of the paper don’t go outside of the baking pan) or aluminum foil and continue to bake it another 15-20 minutes, until the top gets golden brown.

Serve warm with simple side salad.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Chocolate Candy Cookies


Eat em' up or wrap them up in pretty cellophane and give as party takeaway gifts.

Chocolate Candy Cookies  
Adapted from Ree Drummond recipe "Cow Patties"

20          ounces vegan melting chocolate, I just used vegan semi-sweet
1            cup  dried cranberries 
1/2         cup slivered almonds
1/2         cup whole peanuts

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Melt the chocolate in a microwave or in a bowl set over a pan of boiling water.  Pour  in the raisins, almonds and peanuts and stir to combine.

Using a spoon or small cookie scoop, place mounds of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets.  Leave to sit at room temperature or in the fridge for 5 minutes to set.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Blackened Tofu Caesar Salad


Blackened Tofu Caesar Salad
Vegan Cooking for Carnivores

*** I made a small salad so I had left over tofu that we dipped in the dressing as a snack.

Salad
1          14 oz. block firm organic tofu
            Blackening spice
            Flour for coating  *** can just use spice like in original recipe
1          red or yellow pepper
1/4       red onion, sliced
2          teaspoons olive oil
            romaine lettuce

Cut the tofu block in to preferred size pieces.  Add generous amount of Blackening spice to flour and coat all pieces.  Add oil to pan and fry both side of tempeh until browned.  Set aside.

Cut up Romaine, pepper and onion.    Add dressing and top with Tofu.

Caesar Dressing
1 -1/4 cups

2            garlic cloves, crushed
2            tablespoons capers
2            tablespoons Dijon mustard
1            teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
1            tablespoon red wine vinegar
1            tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
3/4         cup vegan mayonnaise
1/4         tablespoon ground black pepper
              olive oil – good drizzle

Place all the ingredients in the jar of a blender and puree until smooth.  Use immediately, or store the dressing in a squeeze bottle or glass container with an airtight lid and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Tempeh and Deviled Gravy


Tempeh and Deviled Gravy
Adapted from Magazine Recipe

1            pkg. Tempeh, sliced in half lengthwise the in triangles, approx. 8 pieces
2            tablespoons olive oil
3            tablespoons vegan butter
2            shallots, finely chopped
3            large garlic cloves, minced
              red pepper flakes – to your liking
              salt and pepper to taste
2            tablespoons flour (add a bit more if you use more broth)
2            teaspoons paprika
1/2         cup vegetable stock (I used probably a cup of stock and added a bit more flour)
1/4         cup dry vermouth or white wine
2            tablespoons hot sauce
2            tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 & 1/2     teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
           
Tempeh can be put on buttered toast, or eaten with just the gravy and a side salad.

In an oiled skillet, fry tempeh until browned, flipping once.  Take out and set aside.

Add vegan butter to skillet, stir in shallots, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Add salt and pepper.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Whisk in the flour, paprika and mustard.  Whisk in the veggie stock and vermouth (or white wine); bring to a bubble.  Whisk in the hot sauce, parsley and Worcestershire. 


Add the tempeh to the sauce and heat through.  Serve with salad or on buttered toast.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Coconut Butternut Squash Soup


This is the perfect soup to have in your fridge this winter, it's rich, creamy and very filling.

Coconut Butternut Squash Soup
Vegan Holiday Kitchen CB by Nava Atlas
8 servings

1            large butternut squash
2            tablespoons olive oil
1            large yellow or sweet white onion, chopped
1            medium apple, any variety, peeled and diced
2            cups vegetable broth
2            teaspoons curry powder
2            teaspoons ginger
              pinch of ground nutmeg or allspice
1            14-oz. can light coconut milk
              salt and pepper to taste

***I didn’t pre cook the squash in the oven, just in the pot with the apple and onion. 

Heat half the oil in a soup pot.  Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until golden, about 8-10 minutes.  Add the apple, squash, broth and spices until the squash is tender.  Approximately 30 minutes – you can put lid on to steam faster.

Add coconut milk to pot and stir to incorporate.  In batches, add solid pieces with some liquid to blender and blend until smooth.  Continue to blend until soup is completely smooth.  Add salt and pepper and gently cook for 10 more minutes.


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Cheesy Quinoa with Vegan Kielbasa


Cheesy Quinoa with Vegan Kielbasa
Adapted from magazine recipe

2            tablespoons olive oil
2            cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1            cup quinoa, rinsed
1            cup vegetable broth
1            cup grape tomatoes, halved
              salt and pepper to taste
3/4         cup shredded vegan cheese
1/4         cup chopped fresh parsley
1            small head broccoli, cut into florets
3            vegan kielbasas, medium slices (Tofurky or Field Roast)

Dice vegan Kielbasa and brown in lightly oiled skillet.  Set aside.

In medium saucepan, add oil, garlic and cook, stirring until softened, about 1 minutes.  Add 1 cup water, the quinoa, vegetable broth, tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; bring to a simmer, stirring.

Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, 12-15 minutes.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vegan cheese and parsley.  Add cooked vegan kielbasas and enjoy!