No Yeast Dinner Rolls

I had a need for last minute dinner rolls that didn't require yeast and found this recipe on the web.
Many people in the comment section thought it was too salty, but we liked it but also added some garlic salt, dill and vegan parmesan to the mix.  I also topped it with a little melted vegan butter and home made vegan parmesan and brushed it on about 2 minutes before the end of cooking.

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/mommas-easy-no-yeast-dinner-rolls.html

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

This is my favorite recipe for vegan parmesan cheese and only requires 4 ingredients.  This stuff is so good and can be added to soups, pastas and my favorite, POPCORN!  Visit her blog and look around, she has many great recipes as well as a cookbook worth ordering.


Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Minimalist Baker
makes one cup

3/4       cup raw cashews
3          tablespoons nutritional yeast (can be found at health food store or Whole Foods)
3/4       teaspoon sea salt
1/4       teaspoon garlic powder

Add all ingredients to a food processor and mix/pulse until a fine meal is achieved.  Store in refrigerator to keep fresh.  Lasts for several weeks - but good luck keeping it that long.

http://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-vegan-parmesan-cheese/

Asian Tofu and Squash Salad

Asian Tofu and Squash Salad

Adapted Food Network Recipe

1            14-oz  pkg. extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into 3/4” cubes

3            tablespoons rice vinegar

2            tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1            tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1/4         cup olive or vegetable oil plus 2 tablespoons for cooking squash

8            ounces mushroom, sliced (I used raw – recipe says to bake w/squash)

4            cups peeled and cubed butternut squash

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1            5-ounce package mixed Asian Greens(I used Romaine/spinach)

2            cups snow peas, trimmed and halved (I used radishes instead)

1/2         cup coarsely chopped salted roasted cashews

Put a baking sheet in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.  Put the tofu cubes on a clean kitchen towels in a single layer; let drain and pat dry.  Make the dressing:  Whisk the rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger and 1/4 cup oil in a large bowl.  Set aside. 

Toss the mushrooms (unless using raw) and squash with the remaining 2 tablespoons  oil, a pinch of slat and few grinds of pepper in a separate large bowl; spread the vegetables on the top hot baking sheet.  Pat the tofu dry and add to the same bowl along with 3 tablespoons of the dressing; toss, then spread on the bottom hot baking sheet.  Roast, switching the baking sheets and tossing the vegetables and tofu halfway through,  until the squash is tender and the tofu is golden, 18-20 minutes.  ****Next time I will spray tofu baking sheet with non-stick because tofu stuck a bit to pan.

Add the greens, snow peas/radishes, and cashews to the bowl with the remaining dressing; toss.  Divide among  bowls, top with the roasted vegetables and tofu.

Barbecue Jackfruit and Pineapple Quesadillas

The original recipe listed BBQ chicken and I thought BBDQ Jackfruit would be a great replacement and super healthy.  Since it takes a little bit of time to prepare the Jackfruit, I made it a day before making the Quesadillas.  If you have extra Jackfruit, just put it in a bun with some pickles and lunch is served.

Barbecue Jackfruit and Pineapple Quesadillas

Adapted Ree Drummond recipe

1/2       pineapple (I would not recommend defrosted frozen pineapple)

            salt and pepper to taste

            prepared Jackfruit (Recommend preparing day before)

            (I make with canned Jackfruit in Brine – Not Syrup)

                     http://www.moreveganblog.com/2014/06/28/bbq-pulled-jackfruit/

            extra BBQ if desired but should have enough on the premade Jackfruit

            vegan butter for frying

8          small flour or corn tortillas

1          jalapeno, sliced

            shredded vegan cheese

            Cilantro for topping

            Vegan sour cream for topping

            Salsa for topping

Cut the pineapple into 8 wedges and cut off the hard core and the outer skin.

If grilling:  Thread the pieces of pineapple onto wooden skewers and grill over medium-high heat, turning once or twice during the grilling process.

Heat the pre-made Jackfruit in a skillet.

Now assemble the quesadillas.  On top of 1 tortilla, place some BBQ Jackfruit, some pineapple chunks and some sliced jalapeno. 

Drizzle additional BBQ sauce, if needed.  Sprinkle with vegan cheddar cheese.

Heat 1 tablespoon vegan butter in a large skillet.  Top the quesadilla with the second tortilla.  Brown on one side, then carefully flip the quesadilla and brown the other side.  Make sure all the vegan cheese is melted.  Repeat to make the rest of the quesadillas.  Then serve with vegan sour, salsa and cilantro.

Broccoli Almond Sweet-and-Sour Tofu

We love ordering Asian take-out food but sometimes it's nice to just stay inside, enjoy our kitchen and make our own. Here's a pretty simple recipe -- make sure your tofu is nice and crispy!

Broccoli Almond Sweet-and-Sour Tofu

Vegan Yum Yum cookbook by Lauren Ulm

1            tub extra firm tofu, pressed

2            teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer plus 4 teaspoons water, mixed

1/4         cup cornstarch or arrowroot

1/4         cup peanut or canola oil

1/2         cup sliced almonds  (I used more)

1-2         cups steamed broccoli

            sesame seeds for garnish

Sweet-and-Sour Sauce

3 & 1/2  tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar

1/4         cup plus 1 tablespoon water

2            tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar

2            tablespoons tamari or soy sauce

2            teaspoons ketchup

1            teaspoon molasses

1/4         teaspoon ginger powder

1/2         teaspoon salt

            pinch Cayenne pepper (not in recipe)

1 & 1/2     tablespoons cornstarch plus 2 tablespoons water, mixed.

Slice the tofu into triangles or small cubes. Smaller is better for this recipe, since smaller pieces won’t have a tendency to break up when you toss them, and they have a bigger surface-area-to volume ratio.

Toss the tofu with the egg replacer/water mixture until coated.  Then toss in cornstarch until each piece is coated and dry, adding more cornstarch if needed.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok.

While the oil is heating, make the sweet-and-sour sauce.  In a small saucepan, mix rice vinegar, water, sugar, tamari, ketchup, molasses, ginger powder, and salt and whisk over medium heat until the sugar and salt is dissolved.  Add the cornstarch/water mixture and whisk until the sauce thickens.  If you leave the sauce unattended now, it will thicken and burn, so keep an eye on it.  When thick, turn off the heat and set aside.

Place the tofu in the hot oil, being careful not to burn yourself.  You don’t want the tofu to be crowded or the pieces will stock to each other, so fry it in batches if needed.   Fry for 3-5 minutes until golden on the bottom, then gently turn and brown the other side.  Right before you’re going to take the tofu out, add the almonds.  Let them fry in the oil for 30 second – no longer.  They should barely change color.

Drain the oil from the tofu and almonds and place in a large bowl.  Pour the sauce on top and gently toss to completely coat.  The sauce should be thick and sticky; it shouldn’t pool at the bottom of the bowl.

Serve immediately with fresh steamed broccoli, adding sesame seeds on top.  (Alternatively, add the broccoli in with the tofu before tossing with the sweet-and-sour sauce – this is what I did).

German Apple Cake

German Apple Cake

The Joy of Vegan Baking CB by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

3            apples, peeled and cut into slices

1/2         cup nondairy butter

1/2         cup granulated sugar

1/2         cup unsweetened applesauce

2            tablespoons nondairy milk

1 & 1/2   unbleached all-purpose flour

1 & 1/2   teaspoons baking powder

Topping

1/4            cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1/2            teaspoon cinnamon

1/2            teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9” spring form pan.

To make the cake, cook the apples in a little bit of water on the stove or in microwave until they’re just a little soft but not mushy.  If using micro, no longer than 1 & 1/2 minutes.)  Set aside

With an electric hand mixer or by hand using a wooden spoon, cream together the butter, and sugar.  Add the applesauce and non dairy milk.  Finally, add the flour and baking powder, and stir until just combined.

Add the batter to the prepared pan, and arrange the apple slices in a circle on top of the cake.

To make the topping, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger, and sprinkle over the apples, covering the top of the cake.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes before unmolding from the cake pan.

****To make this cake completely fat-free, use 1 cup applesauce and eliminate the non dairy butter.

Garlic Pineapple Stir-Fried Quinoa

Garlic Pineapple Stir-Fried Quinoa

Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking CB by Dana Shultz

1 & 1/4            cups uncooked quinoa, rinsed  (I used 1 cup and saved the 1/4 cup)

1 & 1/2            cups water

3                      tablespoons toasted sesame oil or coconut oil

1                      cup diced green onion ***I used regular onion

1                      cup green pepper (not in her original recipe)

3                      cloves garlic, minced

1/2                   cup peas, fresh or frozen

2/3                   cup roasted, salted cashews (I used 1/2 cup)

2/3                   cup diced pineapple  (I used more)

                        Sprinkling of red pepper flakes (not in her recipe)

Sauce

1                        tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1/4                     cup soy sauce or tamari

4-5                     tablespoon maple syrup (or substitute organic brown sugar)

3-4                     tablespoons salted natural peanut butter, or almond butter

Add the quinoa and water to a large saucepan.  Cook over high heat until boiling, then reduce the heat to low.  Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.  Set aside.

Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Once hot, add the sesame oil, green onions, green pepper (if using) garlic, and 1 tablespoon sauce.  Saute for 1-2 minutes, then add the peas, cook for another 2 minutes.  Raise the heat to medium.  Add the cooked quinoa and two thirds of the sauce  (reserving the rest for serving).  Stir to thoroughly coat.  Cook for 1-2 minutes.

Add the cashews and pineapple.  Stir to coat.  Cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. 

Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.  Chopped green onion or cilantro for garnish.