Lentil Veggie Chili
Posted: May 29, 2012 Filed under: Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: avocado, brown rice, carrots, corn, green lentils, kale, lentil chili, lentil veggie chili, lentils, soup, vegan, vegan chili 4 Comments
Lentil & Veggie Chili over brown rice, a delicious, healthy, economical twist on an American favorite.
I think any of our regular readers know my affections for kale at this point. I do love that cruciferous veggie (in fact, this recipe sneaks in two cups of it), but I’ve been keeping quiet about another favorite food of mine. Possibly the the humblest legume out there, the lentil.
I don’t have a funny or inspiring story to tie into this recipe, so I’m just going to indulge in one of my favorite guilty pleasures, talking geeky about health food.
“What’s a lentil?” You ask. Well, I didn’t know either until about two years ago when I started eating a plant-based diet. I wish I had known about them when I was a college student trying to eat healthy on a tight budget. A pound of lentils costs less than $1.00 and will yield 5 cups of cooked lentils. Each cup boasts a whopping 17 grams of protein, 16 grams of fiber, folate (90% RDV), iron (35% RDV), magnesium, and much more, yet only has 1 gram of fat and 230 calories. All that, and they cook in 30 minutes (versus 4+ hours for most dry beans) with no soaking required.
Like most legumes, lentils aren’t a powerhouse of flavor on their own, but they pick up the flavors of whatever they are cooked in nicely. I use them in soups and spaghetti sauce all the time. This week, I discovered a new use for them. Instead of using canned beans or slow cooking kidney and black beans for my usual veggie chili recipe, I used lentils.
I know it’s warming up and, for some, chili is a winter dish, but I love any quick one-pot meal in the summer that doesn’t require turning on the oven or hovering over the stove for long. You can make a lot at once, and then take the next night off or easily pack up the leftovers for lunch at the office. And if you top it with a hit of diced avocado, some cilantro, and a squeeze of lime , it really brightens up the flavors and brings a bit of summer color to this warm dish.
What’s your favorite under-the-radar ingredient or food that you love to tell your friends about?
Lentil Chili served over brown rice and topped with avocado, cilantro, and lime.
Rachel’s Lentil Veggie Chili
Ingredients
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. grated ginger
1 T. cumin
1 t. cayenne
1 t. salt
2 serrano chilies, whole
1 sweet potato, chopped
14 oz can of diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup (1/2 lb) dry green lentils, sorted for dirt & rocks* & rinsed
6 cups water
2 cups of frozen corn, thawed
2 cups kale, removed from stem
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes (optional for an extra spicy kick)
Other: Brown Rice and/or crackers, avocado, cilantro, & lime
Directions
In a large pot, heat a little bit of olive oil and saute onions and carrots with a pinch of salt on medium heat until soft. Add garlic and ginger and saute for 2 more minutes. Stir in cumin, cayenne, and salt. Add serrano chilies, sweet potato, tomatoes, lentil, and water. Cover and bring to a boil, lower to a simmer for 30 minutes with the lid tilted, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid. Add corn and kale & optional red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 more minutes. If you want a thicker soup, continue to simmer uncovered until you reach the desired consistency.
Serve over brown rice or with crackers. Garnish with avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
*Before cooking any dried legumes, pour them onto a solid surface, like a paper towel and sort through them looking for sticks, little rocks, or clumps of dirt. Please don’t skip this step. I find something in probably 50% of my dried beans. You don’t want you or your guests to bite into a rock!
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Salted Caramel Banana Nut Shake (Healthy)
Posted: May 28, 2012 Filed under: Beverages and Smoothies, Breakfast Foods, Cocktails, Desserts, Gluten Free, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tags: almond milk, almonds, banana, banana nut, banana nut smoothie, caramel, healthy shake, milkshake, salted caramel, salted caramel banana nut, salted caramel smoothie, smoothies 1 Comment
Salted Caramel Banana Nut Shake
I’ve always loved a perfectly ripe banana for a quick snack. On hectic mornings, I’d often grab a banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, a swig of milk and call it breakfast. Once, when my four kids were young, we all headed in a crazed mass exit toward the car where I would drive them to school. Realizing I’d forgotten to eat, I instructed my then-thirteen year old son, Zach, to “run back in the house and grab me a banana.”
I watched, perplexed. as he ran to the front door of the house then took an odd pose, his head slightly to the right, his arms to his side, and then ran back to the car in this weird position. “What are you doing?” I asked. He answered in all seriousness, “I thought you told me to go to the house and then run like a banana.”
I swear, when puberty hits our children their hormones start eating their brain cells. But I digress.
Back to bananas for breakfast. As some of you know, I’m determined to eat my way to lower blood pressure. One of the ways to do this is to eat more potassium rich foods. And a banana is loaded with potassium. In fact, I read that a bite of a banana has more potassium than most potassium tablets. Almonds, too, are praised for all sorts of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure.
Another new food craze I love is salted caramel anything. So I combined a simple banana smoothie with almonds and unsweetened almond milk (only 35 calories a cup!) then added a touch of caramel and sea salt. (Sea salt does not raise blood pressure the way iodized chemically produced salt does, and you need less of it to flavor your food since it so rich in minerals.) There is only 2 teaspoons of caramel syrup (about 40 calories) in each shake, but because you use one of the teaspoons to rim the glass and as a decoration on top, you get the feeling that it is much sweeter as you get a tiny taste of the pure caramel with each sip.
This new smoothie/shake is the breakfast of my dreams. I’m hooked. It also makes a wonderful mid-afternoon snack or a bedtime treat, since the ingredients also relax you for a good night sleep. It could be a fluke, but I have noticed my blood pressure has lowered since having one of these banana and almond treats per day.
Served in a martini or margarita glass not only adds more elegance but allows you to rim the glass in a bit more caramel and sea salt, and gives you more surface area to garnish the top with the same.
Salted Caramel Banana Nut Shake
Becky’s Salted Caramel Banana Nut Shake (Healthy)
Serves Two
Ingredients
1 rounded T. roasted almonds (salted or unsalted both work)
1 banana, peeled and chopped into 2 inch slices (preferably frozen)
1 ½ c. unsweetened almond milk
4 t. caramel syrup, divided (There are several non-dairy alternatives for vegans, including caramel agave nectar, or google recipes for vegan caramel. )
½ c. ice
Sea salt – couple of tiny pinches
almond milk, roasted almonds, a frozen banana, caramel syrup and sea salt makes an amazing and potassium rich treat
Directions:
Into a blender put almonds, banana, and almond milk, 2 t. caramel syrup, ice and small pinch sea salt. Blend until smooth and almonds are just specks.
Pour about a teaspoon of caramel syrup around a plate, approximately the size of the rim of a martini glass. Sprinkle this circle with a tiny pinch of sea salt, lightly. Dip the rim of the glass into the syrup and salt, twisting and turning to coat evenly. Do this twice to prepare two martini glasses.
Create a circle of caramel syrup, lightly sprinkled with sea salt, on a plate, to rim the glasses
Pour half the smoothie/shake into each glass. Squiggle a bit more of the syrup (about 1/2 t.) to garnish the top of the drink, and sprinkle with one more tiny pinch of sea salt. Prepare to fall in love.
Variations: Add protein powder to buff up the protein and drink the whole recipe to make a complete breakfast smoothie.
Add liquor (rum, coconut or vanilla vodka) to turn this into a yummy frozen cocktail.
Try it with coconut milk instead of almond milk.
In a hurry? Skip rimming the glass.
Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Posted: May 21, 2012 Filed under: Chicken, Mexican Dishes, Uncategorized, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: enchiladas, Mexican Food, sour cream chicken enchiladas, vegan enchiladas, vegetarian enchiladas, veggie enchiladas 1 Comment
Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
(Becky)
My sweet grandmother Nonny raised seven children during the Depression in the dust bowl of West Texas. She somehow managed this through prayer and love, hard work and creative frugality. Leftover biscuit crumbs would be saved and turned into bread pudding. Precious scraps of meat were collected and added to the ever-simmering pot of red beans. (A staple my mother ate so often that it took her decades to make friends with beans again.) Even in her old age when finances eased and groceries were more abundant than people under her roof, Nonny horded every little leftover to be “re-purposed” into the next day’s meal.
We all laugh about the Thanksgiving when someone spotted a little dab of food on Nonny’s kitchen floor. A bit of stray stuffing, perhaps? “What is that?” my Aunt Etta asked, peering at the blob. To which Nonny quipped, “I don’t know. But wrap it in Saran and save it.”
Our generation has just survived its own recession (some surviving better than others), and recent stats show that Americans gained a new appreciation for cooking at home. And for not being wasteful with the food we buy. To make good use of all those leftovers, everyone needs a good Clean Out the Fridge recipe. Pastas and stews are wonderful for this. But my absolute favorite way to use leftovers is the following recipe for veggie sour cream chicken enchiladas.
If I have a dozen corn tortillas, I can usually cobble together the ingredients for this meal from the bits and pieces of leftovers in my fridge. The key is to think creatively and use what you have. No sour cream? Try a little Ranch Dressing and Greek Yogurt instead. If you don’t have the veggies I use in this recipe, use what you have! Any kind of squash, mushrooms, shredded carrots, greens, in almost any combo will be wonderful. Any combination of cheeses taste great in this recipe, so use up those little bits of leftovers. All beans will work well, too. Heck, you can even use ground beef in this dish and call it “chicken.” I’m easy. Just have fun, use this recipe as a basic guide, and get rid of those leftovers in a tasty way!
*Note to Vegetarians: Omit chicken and sub more beans or other non-meat protein.
**Vegans: In addition to omitting chicken, use Rachel’s recipe for cashew queso, instead of the cheese sauce. Make it on the thin side as it will thicken up during cooking. Omit cheese in filling and for topping. It will still be wonderful!
Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Becky’s Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Makes a dozen enchiladas, serves six
Note: You’ll need 2 1/3 cups grated cheese, total in this recipe — some for cheese sauce, some for filling, and some for sprinkling on top.
Cheese Sauce:
¼ cup olive oil (or butter, or Earth Balance)
¼ cup flour
½ onion, small dice
3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
2 ½ c. veggie broth (or chicken broth)
2/3 cup sour cream (I had Mexican crema and Greek yogurt leftover and used a combo of this instead. It was delish in the dish. I’ve subbed a mixture of ranch dressing and cream before. Just look for something white and creamy in your fridge and call it “sour cream”!)
1 1/3 c. shredded white cheddar or Monterrey Jack (Any white cheese will do – I emptied the fridge with a mixture of provolone, Swiss and white cheddar and tossed in a little feta for good measure.)
1 small can of green chilis, diced (you can sub 2 T. chopped pickled jalapeños or even chopped olives or pepperoncinis)
Filling
2/3 c. shredded white cheddar cheese (or any mixture of cheeses you have on hand)
1 to 1 1/2 c. shredded or diced cooked chicken (Love left-over rotisserie chicken for this, uses up all those little pieces after the family attacks the breasts and thighs and it looks like the buzzards got to it.)
1 16 oz can black beans, drained (I didn’t rinse, feel free to if you prefer. Use another kind of beans if you’d rather.)
1 ½ cups chopped fresh spinach
½ cup corn (frozen, canned and drained…. tonight, I cut the kernels off a leftover piece of corn-on-cob)
1 tomato, diced (red pepper would also work instead)
1/2 t. Mexican or Cajun seasoning (Or chili powder, salt and pepper)
12 corn tortillas
1/3 c. grated cheese for final topping
Dash smoked paprika
Directions:
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
Sauce:
Saute onions and garlic in oil in skillet on medium high until transparent. Sprinkle ¼ cup flour over all, and stir to make a roux. Pour in veggie broth slowly, and stir over heat as it thickens. Turn down heat, then toss in cheese (1 1/3 c.) and stir until it is melted, stirring so as not to burn. Add drained green chilis. Simmer on low for a couple of more minutes to let flavors mingle, then turn off heat.
Cheese sauce, ready to pour over stuffed tortillas
Filling:
Mix 2/3 cup white cheddar, chicken, black beans, spinach, corn, tomato and seasonings in a large bowl. Check seasonings and adjust to your taste.
Veggie, chicken, cheese filling
Tortillas:
Wrap tortillas, six at a time in a large damp paper towel. Microwave about 30 seconds to one minute until tortillas are moist, soft and pliable.
Tortillas, wrapped in wet paper towel, six at a time, nuked until pliable
Assemble:
Fill each corn tortilla with about ¼ c of filling. Roll and place seam side down in an 11 by 13 ovenproof pan that has been sprayed lightly with oil. Continue this until the pan is filled. Carefully pour entire pan of cheese sauce over top, evenly. (It is okay if sauce is a little thin, as it will bake and thicken.) Sprinkle top with 1/3 cup more of white cheese, and about a tablespoon of chopped jalapenos if you like. I like a sprinkle of smoked paprika for color.
Enchiladas going into oven
Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted, and top turns golden around the edges. (Sometimes I broil the top for a minute to get it a bit more golden.)
Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas, just out of the oven
Garnish with diced avocados and tomatoes. Serve with side of rice. (I love a good brown and wild rice mix, with a bit of lime and chopped cilantro with this dish.)
Veggie Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
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White Tea Fruit Slushies: My New Summer “Coffee”
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Beverages and Smoothies, Fruit Dishes, Gluten Free, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tags: berries, blackberries, blueberries, fruit, fruit slushies, fruit tea, fruit tea slushies, fruit tea slushy, green tea, strawberries, tea, tea slushies, tea slushy, white tea 2 Comments
Becky’s White Tea Fruit Slushy
Nobody loves the first sip of morning coffee like I do! In fact, I used to use this moment as an inspirational speech illustration on how to capture “Eden moments” in our lives.
Obviously we aren’t living in Eden anymore, but that does not mean we don’t get glimpses of Eden. “The way we catch ‘Eden moments’,” I would say, “is the same way we acknowledge that first sip of good coffee in the morning. Many of us audibly say, ‘Ahh, that’s good.’ The same way God paused and said, ‘It is good’ after every phase of creation. We live more meaningful lives by noticing small blessings and pausing, even a second, to say, ‘Ah, that’s good.’ String enough of these small moments of gratitude together and you will find yourself happier.”
I still believe this is true. But this week, I had my favorite illustration taken from me! Due to a spike in blood pressure, I’m cutting out foods that may raise BP, and adding in foods that may lower it. One of the toughest things to give up was that sacred, holy, blessed… Cup o’ Morning Joe.
Since I, like most people, am more motivated by pleasure than I want to admit, I had to find a substitute morning beverage that would be worth getting out of bed for. I’ve experimented with several alternatives. There was a canned non-caffeinated health/energy drink. It tastes like chilled, diluted cough syrup. No go.
I tried various mugs of green and white teas, hot, with honey. They were nice, but hardly exciting enough to compel me to crawl from under the sheets.
Not a fan of de-caf coffee.
Then it hit me. Our cute local tea shop offers “tea slushies” during the summer months. I love them but they are a bit too sweet, full of sugar. I also need to add more berries and fruit in my diet, so I wondered about making a white tea berry slushy. A little of this, and a pinch of that went into the blender and in no time, out came The Winner. (Insert angel voices singing here.) Meet my new morning beverage of choice. So perfect for back porch sitting and sipping, that I often enjoy an afternoon tea slushy, too.
You’ll find me under the shade tree with my new icey-brew tomorrow, savoring a first sip and saying, “Ahh.. that is good.”
P.S. I like both green and white teas, but have found white tea has a milder flavor and even more nutritional benefits. White tea has been shown to fight cancer, help with weight loss, improve and protect the skin and the heart in a myriad of ways among many other benefits. I often mix it with decaf black tea and sip on this all day. Here’s an informative link: White Tea Information.
Becky’s White Tea Fruit Slushy
Serves 2 large glasses, or 4 “wine” glasses
Ingredients
2 cups brewed white or green tea, cooled (made from 2 to 4 tea bags, depending on how strong you like it)
10 ounces (or a little over 1 cup) frozen berries, any kind
1/4 cup agave nectar or a tad of stevia or other sweetener of your choice
1/2 cup ice
Optional: citrus slices for garnish/flavor
Directions
Put all ingredients into a blender and whirl until slushy. Serve immediately, garnishing with a slice of lime, lemon or orange if desired.
Variations: Try other teas. (A visit to a nice tea shop is like a visit to a cool wine bar these days!) Substitute other frozen fruits such as peaches, cherries, mangos or kiwis. Even veggies like celery and cucumber would be refreshing.
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Baked Collard Green Potato Cakes (Vegan)
Posted: May 17, 2012 Filed under: Gluten Free, Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: baked potato cakes, collard green potato cakes, collard greens, easy, potato cakes, potatoes, side dish, vegan 3 Comments
Garlicky greens and buttery potatoes with a dash of heat, baked up into patties for an easy to serve side dish.
I had a bad night last night. One dose of terribly sad news mixed with a dose of mean-spirited, unsolicited criticism from some jerk on Facebook left me living out the whole “We Cry” part of our blog title.
After a restless, tear-filled night, I decided to spend the day doing things that are joyful and comforting.
I swung Jackson on the swing at the park, tickling his chunky little thighs as he swung toward me and making swishing noises as he swung away. He smiled. I smiled. He giggled. I giggled.
Later, we left the hose in his water table running with total disregard for being “green” (sorry planet), creating a waterfall with the overflow. Jackson curiously poked his hand through the cascading water, then got down into a crouching position with his tush in the air and his face almost to the ground and watched the water come down, the droplets splashing against the concrete patio.
We snuggled and read silly books about farm animals. Snorting like a pig gets big laughs around here these days.
We shared a snack from last night’s southern comfort food leftovers, topping collard green potato cakes with a little bit of avocado and a dash of hot sauce (for me). Collard greens, potatoes, and hot sauce…now that’s southern comfort and southern delish!
Today was a much better day, a “We Laugh” kind of day.
Rachel’s
Collard Green Potato Cakes
Makes 12 potato cakes
Ingredients
4 potatoes, diced into large chunks
1 T. vegan butter (i.e. Earth Balance)
1/4 white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch of collard greens (or kale), chopped into small pieces
2 t. Vegan Wing Sauce* or Hot Sauce (vinegar would work too, if you don’t like spicy food)
Salt & Pepper
Olive Oil
Avocado (optional)
Directions
Heat oven to 400.
Put the chopped potatoes in a large sauce pan, cover with water, cover and bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and return to the pan. Add vegan butter and mash the potatoes, leaving them just a little bit chunky.
Coat a large skillet with olive oil and heat to medium, add onions, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook until onions are translucent. Add the collard greens. (You may have to add a little at a time. The greens will shrink in size after a few minutes, making room in the pan to add more.) Drizzle on the wing or hot sauce. Add a little more olive oil, salt & pepper. Cook until the greens are wilted. Pour onion and greens mixture into the potatoes and combine well.
Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Form potato cakes (about the size of a small burger) with your hands and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Top with avocado if you’d like and a splash of hot sauce. Alternatively, you can pan fry them in a little bit of oil on medium heat. I tried it both ways and both were great, but baking is healthier and easier in my opinion.
*Frank’s Wing Sauce is vegan, despite the “natural butter flavoring” listed in the ingredients. If you are vegan, make sure to read the ingredients on wing sauce, some do contain dairy.
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Bloody Mary Veggie Soup (Vegan)
Posted: May 14, 2012 Filed under: Soups, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary soup, celery, celery seed, garlic, lemon, onions, spinach, tomato soup, tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce 5 Comments
Becky’s Bloody Mary Soup — Creamy, loaded with vegies and tastes AWESOME!
My husband had surgery on Thursday for a deviated septum and to keep him company while he rested in the living room, breathing like Darth Vader, I went on a nonstop experimental cooking spree.
I suddenly morphed into one of those chefs on America’s Test Kitchens, except that I cook without cleaning as I go, so it looked like unsupervised Kindergarteners were allowed to play with food on my counter tops.
I made this mess in less than 20 minutes. I do this sort of thing with amazing regularity.
At one point I was happily and furiously cooking when I lost my grip on a slippery lemon just before it became airborne and hit me in the head. My mother warned me about hot stoves, boiling water, and sharp knifes when explaining kitchen safety, but nobody told me to beware of flying citrus.
I am most interested lately in cooking with foods that are known to help lower blood pressure. My BP was up last week and all medications I’ve tried thus far make me feel like a sloth with a migraine. I’m determined to try to let “food be my medicine” as best I can, and see if I can wrestle those numbers down without pharmaceuticals.
So when Greg said he’d like some tomato soup, I got inspired and created a super-healthy vegie-tomato soup, chocked full of foods known to help lower blood pressure. When I took a sip, it was truly delicious. Something about it reminded me of Bloody Mary mix, so I added some typical Bloody Mary ingredients (Worcestershire, celery seed, lemon, hot sauce) to jazz it up even more, then used chopped celery as a garnish and a celery stick as a “stirrer.” Cute, eh? And the taste? Amazing! It was so good that after Greg and I enjoyed hot soup for lunch, I sipped a nutritious, warm mug full at mid-afternoon for a snack. Today I enjoyed it cold, adding tiny diced cucumbers and a little parsley as a gazpacho-like treat.
The basic recipe can be played with dozens of ways, adding bits of veggies that are on hand in your crisper. Hot or cold, I’m proud to share this soup that is as tasty as it is healthy.
Creamy Bloody Mary Soup
Becky’s Bloody Mary Veggie Soup
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes with basil
2 cloves garlic
½ red onion
1 red bell pepper
1 carrot, rough chopped
1 stalk celery, rough chopped
1 handful fresh spinach (about a cup, loosely packed) (You may also use fresh basil if you have it on hand, instead)
1 ½ c. veggie broth (or chicken broth)
1 ½ c. almond milk (don’t substitute dairy milk as it may curdle)
2 t. organic sugar (or brown sugar)
½ t. salt
1 t. pepper
1 t. Worcestershire sauce (Look for vegan Worcestershire sauce, if you are a vegan purest, as many contain anchovies,)
1 t. celery seed
Juice from ½ fresh lemon
Dash hot sauce (Tabasco or Buffalo Sauce)
2 stalks celery diced small, for garnish (about 1 T. in each bowl)
Celery stalks with leaves attached for garnish, one in each bowl
Directions:
In large blender or food processor put ½ the can tomatoes, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, carrot, celery and spinach and 1 c. veggie broth. Blend on high until as creamy as you your machine will get it.
Pour mixture into large pan, add rest of can of tomatoes (the crushed tomatoes will add some texture to soup, but if you prefer it smooth, whirl in the blender as well) and rest of veggie broth, almond milk, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, stirring often. Turn heat down to medium and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Worcestershire, celery seed, dash hot sauce and juice of ½ fresh lemon. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. Garnish with a tablespoon of chopped celery and stick of leafy celery and serve. Delicious with grilled cheese or grilled roasted veggie sandwich.
Variations: Try other veggies in this basic recipe. Add chopped cucumber, chopped green onion and/or diced tomato and serve it cold, like a refreshing gazpacho.
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Chocolate Coconut Almond Cake (Vegan-Friendly)
Posted: May 11, 2012 Filed under: Desserts, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian | Tags: almond, cake, chocolate, coconut, Depression Cake, German Chocolate Vegan Cake, vegan cakes, Wacky Cake 3 Comments
Moist and rich Chocolate Coconut Almond Cake
When my little sister (also named Rachel — my daughter is her namesake) was about eight years old, she went along with my mother to visit a little girl from church who was in the hospital. (The child had been very ill, but was on the mend and would have a full recovery.) Apparently the child looked painfully thin to my sister, because Rachel took one look at her then announced to my mother and all standing around the sick bed, “They just need to give that girl some CAKE!”
From that day forward, whenever anyone announced they were feeling poorly, someone in my family would inevitably advise, “All you need is some CAKE!”
I can see why my little sister thought cake would cure anything that ailed a body. My mother was a champion cake-baker back in the 70’s before she had to get serious about cutting out sugar for her health. Most Saturdays would find her frosting a homemade coconut or Italian Creme or carrot cake. We kids would salivate around the kitchen counter in anticipation. We would eat the cake in small slivers, because our theory was that three thin slices had less calories than one thick slice.
One of the cakes Mother made frequently was called Wacky Cake (some call it Depression Cake) because the ingredients were always on hand (it does not have any milk, butter or eggs) and you simply stir it up in a bowl (no mixer). You don’t even have to grease the pan. My brother always requested this cake for his birthday with a simple vanilla icing.
My husband had out-patient surgery this morning, and after I made him a healthy vegetable stew, I remembered my sister’s advice and decided give him some cake! In searching for vegan-friendly desserts for Mother’s Day this weekend, I remembered Mom’s old stand-by, Wacky Cake. My favorite cake is German Chocolate so I created a vegan-friendly coconut-“butter”-almond frosting for this cake, but used chopped almonds instead, to give it a bit more crunch. Success!! Though I cannot claim that this cake is healthy, it is delicious, and it is vegan. I couldn’t resist eating a piece of it while still warm, moist and falling apart. Heavenly. If you have vegans in your family, or anyone who cannot eat dairy or eggs, this is a wonderful recipe for a special occasion, and both the cake and the frosting are super easy.
Warm Chocolate Coconut Almond Cake (Vegan)
Vegan Chocolate Coconut Almond Cake
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 c. chopped almonds (I used food processor)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix flour, sugar, and cocoa powder and baking soda with a wire whisk. All the rest of the ingredients and whisk again. Pour in an ungreased 9 by 11 inch pan. Spread evenly. Sprinkle with chopped almonds. (The almonds on top will naturally “toast” and give the cake a delightful extra layer of crunch under the frosting.)
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until wooden pick comes out clean. While cake is baking, make frosting below. While cake is warm prick all over with a fork and pour frosting over all.
Coconut Almond Icing
1/2 cup organic coconut milk (If the coconut milk has separated in the can, use mostly the cream that rises to the top of the can.)
1/3 c. Earth Balance butter
1/2 cup organic sugar
3/4 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
1/2 c. chopped almonds
Mix all of the above, except coconut and almonds, together in a saucepan. Bring to boil and while stirring, boil for a full minute. Take off heat. Add coconut and almonds. Pour over cake and spread evenly. Serve warm, room temp or cold! It is delicious anyway you slice and serve it.
This was printed from: We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook
The site URL: http://welaughwecrywecook.com
The Title: Chocolate Coconut Almond Cake (Vegan Friendly)
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Spicy Hominy, Kale & Butter Bean Veggie Bowl
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Main Dishes, Sides, Soups, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: butter beans, hominy, kale, tomatoes, veggie bowl 1 Comment
Spicy Hominy, Kale and Butter Bean Veggie Bowl
Jackson has it made in the shade
Hominy, Kale and Butter Bean Veggie Bowl Simmering in the Skillet
Spicy Hominy, Kale & Butter Bean Veggie Bowl
Veggie Bowl with crushed tortilla chips. Mmmm… mmmm…
Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
Posted: May 7, 2012 Filed under: Sides, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: mushrooms, stuffed zucchini, tomatoes, veggies, zucchini 1 Comment
Becky’s Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
My daughter Rachel, the gorgeous vegan who co-writes this blog with me, just flew home to Texas today after four fabulous and fun-filled days visiting us here in Colorado. Because I only get to see my newest grandson every two to three months, I’m always shocked by how big he is. But in my wildest imagination, I did not expect 9 month old Jackson to hit the floor and immediately start moving my furniture around. Seriously, Rachel says he spends a portion of every day pushing and rearranging her furniture. Either he is a miniature Popeye-in-the-Making (he does love his spinach!), or a budding interior decorator.
Jackson at Work
“Hi Nonny. I think this chair just works better here, in the middle of the floor, don’t you?”
Whatever the case, Rachel and Jackson could be the poster mom & baby for an ad campaign for Eating Your Vegies.
Rach & Jackson relaxing in our backyard this weekend
She is not only beautiful, but I marveled at her strength as well. I was stunned with admiration as I watched her toss a diaper bag weighing as much as a baby elephant over one shoulder, while she balanced Jackson (no lightweight!) on the other hip, as if they were bags of popcorn.
For their farewell vegan lunch today, I made one of my favorite vegie dishes, Mushroom-Pecan Stuffed Zucchini. I invented this recipe a couple of months ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite staple vegetable dishes. I’m really enjoying being an EOD (Every Other Day) vegetarian, feel my tummy is lighter and flatter and clothes a bit looser. This may be my favorite meatless meal. It’s a good comfort food while I’m missing the pitter-pat of my daughter’s feet and the scoot-scoot-scoot sound of my grandson moving the furniture across the wood floor.
Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
Serves 4 -6
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup butter (or Earth Balance for vegans)
4 zucchini squashes, cut in half lengthwise, then the middle cut out like a canoe, then diced (see pic below, I just cut a “v” shape to hollow it out quickly.)
8 ounces of mushrooms, any kind, diced (to yield 1 1/2 to 2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pieces soft whole wheat bread made into crumbs (I use food processor)
1/2 cup pecans, broken or chopped (walnuts are also great)
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, divided (vegans sub with vegan cheese or omit)
3/4 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
8 cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced for garnish
fresh basil or oregano (enough for garnish)
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Put hollowed out zucchini “boats” in a heat-proof rectangle pan, lightly salt & pepper, and microwave for 6 minutes. In the meantime, heat oil and butter together in a skillet, and add the chopped zucchini and mushrooms and garlic.
I scooped out zucchini by simply cutting a “v” shaped piece out of the center.
Chopped zucchini (the scooped out middle portions) and mushrooms, ready for skillet
Stir and cover, cooking over medium heat for about 5 minutes, so that juices accumulate and don’t evaporate. When vegies are soft and translucent and “juicy,” toss in bread crumbs, 1/4 c. Parm cheese, pecans, 3/4 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper. Stir. Turn off heat. Stuffing should be moist. (If dry, add a little more butter, oil and/or water.) Fill the “nuked” zucchini with stuffing, decorate with sliced tomatoes, cover pan with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 c. Parm, and put back in under broiler, watching carefully until Parmesan starts to melt and tomatoes start to brown just a little. Garnish with fresh basil or oregano leaves.
Delicious served alone as a vegetarian meal or as a side dish for any occasion.
Variation: Try adding cooked crumbled sausage for omnivores in your family to make a complete meal-in-one.
Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
This was printed from: We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook
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The Title: Pecan Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini
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Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
Posted: May 1, 2012 Filed under: Soups, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: cream, sweet potato, yellow pepper, yellow pepper soup 7 Comments
Becky's Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
Last week I spent the waning hours of sunshine lingering at the condo pool where we spent our vacation in Orlando. As I read my book, luxuriating in the peaceful surroundings, I suddenly heard a child’s terrified scream from the shallow end of the pool. En masse, all the adults stood to see what happened, ready to spring into action.
What we saw was a pink swimsuit, a flurry of dark braids, and what appeared to be a flock of feathers, going at each other. A pair of ducks had apparently chosen this pool for their evening dip, nearly landing on the little girl’s head. Before long, the wide-eyed child went from screams of fright to peals of laughter as the two ducks (I’m assuming Donald and Daffy?) quacked and paddled around their new friend.
Life is like that, full of surprises.
This recipe for yellow pepper soup was one of life’s small surprises for me. My friend of many years, Maxine Bland, served it for lunch on her pretty back porch on a beautiful day in Merritt Island, Florida. I can’t say I was thrilled when she announced we were having Yellow Pepper Soup, as this was years ago, and I’d never tasted or seen a yellow pepper! However, I took one sip, and was transported. The delightful, soothing combination of subtle flavors left me craving more, and Maxine was gracious enough to share her recipe. I modified it just slightly.
(As an aside, I wrote a chapter about Maxine and her mother-in-law, Bernie Bland, who is co-founder of Teen Missions, in my book, Real Magnolias. Two women whose faith and perseverance I deeply admire.)
It is fun to serve this soup and watch the expressions from guests. They always ask for seconds, and then, for the recipe. Even people who don’t like peppers (like my husband) love it. It is smooth and slightly sweet (thanks to the addition of a sweet potato and bit of maple syrup), mingled with the crisp fresh taste of yellow peppers. When you swirl in a tablespoon of rich heavy cream, it adds a buttery richness and makes a beautiful presentation.
Becky's Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
Becky’s Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
4 Yellow Peppers, medium sized, seeded, rough chopped and sautéed until just tender. (You can also roast them for a bit more flavor, peeling off the charred skin before seeding and chopping.)
1 cooked (baked, boiled or nuked) sweet potato, peeled and rough-chopped
3 c. organic vegetable broth (you can use chicken broth as well, but in this recipe, I really prefer vegie broth)
1/2 onion, rough chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 T. maple syrup (or brown sugar)
1/4 t. fresh grated nutmeg
3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
Cream, 6 Tablespoons (1 T for each of 6 bowls) (Non-dairy, unsweetened creamer for vegans)
Directions
Into a blender, toss all the ingredients except salt & pepper, nutmeg and cream. Blend until as smooth as you can get it and cook over medium heat, stirring often, about 10 to 15 minutes until any raw onion and garlic taste is gone, and it is heated through. Add salt and pepper and nutmeg checking for seasonings, adjusting to your liking. Serve in bowls, swirling 1 T. heavy cream into each bowl, gently, using the tip of a spoon just before serving.
Becky's Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
This was printed from: We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook
The site URL: http://welaughwecrywecook.com
The Title: Creamy Yellow Pepper Soup
The URL: https://welaughwecrywecook.com/2012/05/01/947/
Becky Johnson
Rachel Randolph
We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook 