Cornbread Muffins

There are so many cornbread muffin recipes out there but I like this one because it has a hint of sweetness and the ingredients are simple.  Goes so well with a spicy chili.

Cornbread Muffins

Chloe Coscarelli

1            cup all-purpose flour

1            cup cornmeal

2/3         cup sugar

2            teaspoons baking powder

1/2         teaspoon sea salt

1            cup almond milk

1/2         cup vegetable oil

1            tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/2         cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

Makes 12

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and lightly grease the liners with cooking spray – or just spray the tin.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking  powder, and salt.  In a small bowl, whisk together the almond milk, oil, and vinegar.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir to combine.  Do not over mix.  Fold in the corn.

Fill the prepared muffin pan with the batter, filling each muffin cup about two-thirds of the way full.  Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden,  Remove from the oven and serve warm.

French Crushed Chickpea and Artichoke Heart Salad

This is a light and refreshing salad that can also be served as a side or a  sandwich spread.  I used it as a side with Eggplant Parm. but am going to toast a piece of

Sourdough bread and make a Crostini for my next meal.

French Crushed Chickpea and Artichoke Heart Salad

Thug Kitchen

1            14 oz. can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1            14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and cut into strips

1            red bell pepper, chopped

1/2         cup chopped Kalamata olives

1/2         small red onion

1/2         cucumber, peeled and chopped

1/4         cup chopped parsley

2            tablespoons lemon juice

2            tablespoons olive oil

1            tablespoon balsamic vinegar

              salt and black pepper to taste

Put chickpeas in a medium bowl and smash with a potato masher.  You’re not trying to make a paste but you don’t want a lot of whole chickpeas, somewhere in between those. 

Fold in the artichoke hearts, bell pepper, olives, onion, cucumber, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar.  Mix together then add salt and pepper to taste.

Cheezy Potato Soup

Another cold, spring day found me craving some serious carbs and this soup was the perfect choice.  Thick, creamy and oh so perfect to warm the soul.  Vegan Bowl Attack is such a fun little cookbook and this is just one of the many recipes I have earmarked to make.

Cheezy Potato Soup

Vegan Bowl Attack Cookbook by Jackie Sobon

3                  lbs. yellow potatoes, peeled and chopped

1                  tablespoon coconut oil

1                  cup diced white onion

2                  cups gluten-free vegetable broth  (if making gluten free)

1                  cup unsweetened nut-free non-dairy milk

1/2               cup plain non-dairy yogurt

1/2               cup nutritional yeast  (gives the cheesy flavor)

1                  tablespoon tomato paste

1                  tablespoon Dijon mustard

1                  teaspoon salt

1/4               teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

1/4               teaspoon cayenne pepper  (optional)

For the assembly:

Vegan sour cream

Green Onions

Tempeh Bacon (if you have)

Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with water.  Bring to a boil over high-medium heat and then adjust the heat to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes until fork tender.  Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.  (I kept about 1 cup aside then added back in after I pureed the soup to keep some chunks)

In a small pan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat and then sauté the onion until translucent.  Add the onion, vegetable broth, nondairy milk, yogurt, nutritional yeast, tomato paste, and mustard to the potatoes; stir together.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and then adjust the heat to medium-low.  Carefully use an immersion blender to puree about half the mixture so that it remains pretty chunky.  (I had set a cup aside then added back in after the puree).

Simmer for an additional 10 minutes and stir in the salt, pepper and cayenne.

Yield 6 servings

Walnut Chorizo

My new favorite “filling” that can be spiced up for Mexican dishes as well as

Italian.  I like the fact that it is made with nuts vs. soy and the seasoning will take it where you want it to go.  We used this batch in burritos and hard shell tacos.  If you are going for an Italian dish, just adjust your spices accordingly – maybe oregano and basil.

My new favorite “filling” that can be spiced up for Mexican dishes as well as

Italian.  I like the fact that it is made with nuts vs. soy and the seasoning will take it where you want it to go.  We used this batch in burritos and hard shell tacos.  If you are going for an Italian dish, just adjust your spices accordingly – maybe oregano and basil.

Walnut Chorizo

Vegan Bowl Attack cookbook by Jackie Sobon

1            pound walnuts  (approximately 2 cups)

3            tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2            tablespoons ground ancho chili powder

1            tablespoon garlic powder

1            teaspoon ground cumin

1            teaspoon ground coriander

1            teaspoon salt

1/2            teaspoon dried oregano

1/2            teaspoon dried thyme

1/2            teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8            teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4            teaspoon ground cloves  (I did not use)

2            bay leaves

****              since I was making a Mexican dish, I added 1/2 diced onion, 1 garlic clove minced,  and 14 oz. can black beans, drained.  I sautéed these first, then set aside and added to the finished Walnut Chorizo and cooked a few minutes to incorporate all the flavors.

In a food processor, pulse the walnuts until they turn into small grains, like a coarse sand.  Add the apple cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, salt, oregano, thyme, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves to the processor and pulse until combined.

Transfer the walnut mixture to a large skillet over medium heat.  Brown the chorizo for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then adjust the heat to low and cover with a lid to keep warm.  ****If using onion, garlic and black beans, add to the mixture and stir around in incorporate the beans.

Spicy Tofu Quinoa Bowl

I love Bowls because you can mix and match the ingredients and spices,  allowing you to enjoy different flavors all in one big bowl.  Another nice veggie to add to this bowl would be sugar snap peas.

Spicy Tofu Quinoa Bowl

For the Tofu

1/4         low-sodium soy sauce or tamari

3            tablespoons Asian chile garlic paste

1            tablespoon maple syrup or agave syrup

1            pkg. firm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1” cubes

              canola oil

To prepare the tofu, stir the soy sauce, chile paste, and agave together in a large bowl.  Add the tofu cubes and set aside to marinate while you prepare the rest of the components, or for at least 20 minutes.  Remove the tofu cubes from the marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving the marinade, and put them on paper towels to dry.  Set the bowl with the marinade aside.

Pour enough canola oil into a large skillet to coat it and heat it over medium high heat until the oil slides like water in the pan and is searing hot but not smoking, 2-3 minutes.  Add the tofu cubes and fry until they are golden brown, turning with tons to brown all sides, 6-8 minutes.  Remove the tofu from the pan and place it in the bowl with the marinade.  Give the tofu a quick toss with rubber spatula or spoon to coat the cubes.

Veggies

Any of your favorite veggies will do.  I used:

            Asparagus

            Radishes

            Cruciferous mix

            Red pepper

            Salt and sesame oil

Pour enough oil in large skillet to coat it and heat over medium high heat.  Add the veggies with 1 teaspoon salt and sear them, tossing the pan or otherwise turning the veggies, for about 1 minute, until they are beginning to blister on the outside.  Slide the veggies into a big bowl and toss with sesame oil and a pinch of sea salt.

Bowl

            1     cup quinoa, cooked  (I used 3/4 cup) – prepared according to pkg.

                   scallions, white and green parts only, thinly sliced on an angle

Assemble items in a big bowl, topping with the scallions and a pinch of sesame seeds.