beans quisadia

mashed beans with a little bit of vegan cheese and salsa on a bed of lettuce. the chopping is guacamole salsa and organic farm fresh heirloom tomatoes.

posted from Bloggeroid

Spanish Lentils (lentajas)

I was looking for a new recipe for lentils.  I found a few recipes that looked Delicious.  The best recipe was Spanish Lentils Stew (lentajas)


I used Spanish Lentil Soup, I did have to change it to make it vegetarian.

1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
garlic, chopped
3 handful cherry tomato, chopped
1/2 bag frozen peppers
3 small potatoes, chopped
1 soy chorizo, chopped
1 cup shredded kale
2 cups lentils
4 cups veggie broth
1 t cumin powder
1 t sweet paprika
1 pinch saffron

Cook onion and garlic in water until starts to turn color

Then add all other ingredients in a pot and cook for 30 to 45 minutes until veggies and lentils are cooked

Lentil Shepard's Pie

With all of the hard work with the construction of the new home, I was craving some comfort foods!

What type of dish can make one feel good?

hummmm

Mashed potatoes layered on a pile of veg and lentils!

This cottage (Shepard pie) was delish!!

I must make it again!!

Chocolate Cake

Last day of School Celebration Chocolate Cake

I wanted to make a special dessert today to celebrate the return of Summer Mom! I just LOVE Summer Mom!! She does require some school work...but, mostly thinks of fun things to do!
I do not have plans this summer. BUT, the boys and I will do some fun stuff!
In addition to all of the work that must be done for the new home.

Chocolate bunt cake with butter cream frosting and chocolate shavings. Can you say YUMMY!

I do have a request in for my carrot cake. So in a few days....

I hope your summer is filled with delish food, family, friends and fun!!!

Napa Cabbage with Chickpeas and Peanuts

This salad is from my Maryland's Pick produce. 

Napa Cabbage with Chickpeas and Peanuts

1/2 a head Napa Cabbage, shredded

2 lg carrots, shredded

1 red pepper, chopped

1/2 c parsley

1 c chives, chopped

3 cups chickpeas

combine and mix

dressing: 

lime juice

soy sauce

onion

agave

hot sauce

water

ginger

apple cider vinegar

combine in blender and mix

Add dressing to the salad mix.

Toss

Serve cold

Black Beans and Rice Salad

Black Bean and Rice Salad

6 cups cooked brown rice

6 cups cooked black beans

4 carrots chopped 

2 green onions chopped

1 bag frozen corn

8 T rice wine vinegar

1 T chili powder

1/4 t cumin

1/2 t oregano

few shakes of garlic powder

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 jar salsa (I used 1 jar chunky salsa)

1/4 head of kale, torn into small pieces

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Adjust seasonings for your taste.

We ate this salad with corn chips! Yummy!!

Raw: Kale Sushi Bowl

Raw Kale Sushi Bowl

1 head kale, torn into bite size, and massaged to break down the leaves

1/2 cucumber, diced

2 carrots, diced

5 nori sheets, diced

1/2 avacado, diced

rice wine vinegar and soy sauce to taste

Mix all ingredients in a big bowl.

Enjoy with a cup of green tea

Pumpernickel bread

Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

By request from the boys...oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  YUMMY!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 c earth balance butter
4 t ener g egg replacer
6 T water
1/2 c brown sugar
2/3 c sugar
2 t vanilla
1 t baking soda

mix ingredients until fluffy

add
1 c whole wheat flour
2 c white whole wheat flour
1 c oat meal

slowly add to the wet ingredients

once the dough looks clumpy (but holds shape when balled in hand

add a 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

form into balls (I used ice cream scoop)

put on a cookie sheet (lined with silpad)

bake in 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on your oven)

I rotated the 2 pans every 3 minute to insure proper baking.

Raw: Pad Thai Massaged Kale

Pad Thai Massaged Kale

1 whole head of kale, washed, de-stemmed and torn into bite size pieces

Massage for 4 minutes until kale is broken down.

in a bowl combine:

1 heaping T of peanut butter

1 T chili garlic sacue

1 lime squeezed (not in photo--used in dish)

2 T soy sauce

1 t ginger finely grated

then toss in:

1/2 bag of bean sprouts

Enjoy!!

Tempeh Sausage

Tempeh Sausage
1 tempeh crumbled, steamed
1 t fennel seeds
1 t rosemary
1 t basil
1 t oregano
1 t thyme
1 t garlic
1/4 cup olive oil

Steam the tempeh.  Combine seasonings and the tempeh. Fry the tempeh until brown.
Enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

We are in the process of selling our home. I was requested by Ed to bake some cookies. We had a 2nd visit from a family that might just put a bid on the home!
So, I decided to make Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies!! They are so yummy! I actually ate way to many.
The house really smelled fantastic!!
I will update you with the offer...

Side note:
The homey smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven worked! We got a contract on the home!!

Veggie Lasagna with Lentil Sausage

Vegan Pasta Bolognese

I have been craving some good Italian food. Ever want the Old World taste but, not sacrifice your health? So, I made myself a challenge....To make a remake Pasta Bolognese from the Food Network but, in a healthy vegan way.

Here is how I revamped this recipe.


Vegan Pasta Bolognese
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, grated
4 cloves garlic
2 pack of tempeh (Trader Joe's brand)
1 zucchini, grated
1 cup coffee, brewed this morning
1 cup red wine
1 T basil, oregano, fennel seeds, garlic powder and tyme (dried)
3/4 cup tomato paste
1 t marmite
1 t vegan worcestershire
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I used the 365 brand at Whole Foods)
3 T onion soup mix, vegan
3 cups water

I cooked the onion, garlic and carrot in 1 cup water for 15 minutes. Then I crumbled the temphe and cooked for another 10 minutes. Adding water if it was to brown. Then I added the remaining ingredients. Brought the pot to a boil. And then simmered the dish for 3 hours. Keep an eye on the sauce, if it gets to thick just add some water.

I will serve the sauce on a bed of Whole Wheat pasta and a huge Italian salad.

My home really smells Italian! Yippie! Ed's Nana would be happy to see him eat such healthy food.  The family gives this dish 2 thumbs up!!

Noteworthy: When I was showing the home (for sale) the Bolognese was cooking...they said it smelled fantastic. The kid said he wanted to eat here!  Little did they know it was vegan!

I  came across this blog via facebook....felt like the information needed to be shared. You can find the blog: How to ID Genetically Modified foods at the supermarket at Friends Eat

Vegan Sweet Potato Curry Pie

My family just loves Curries and we love Shepard's Pie. So, I wanted to combine two of our favorite dishes to make a curry pie.

First I baked 5 sweet potatoes in the oven for 1 hour. Then I took them out of the oven to let them cool. 

While they are cooling combine the following ingredients in a pan:

1 large onion, chopped

5 carrots, diced

Cook the onions and carrots in 1 cup water until soft. Then add...

1 bag frozen peas

2 cups spinach

1 cup cauliflower

2 cups red pepper

1 can light coconut milk

2 cups chickpeas

1 cup chopped beef seitan (leftover from dinner)

2 T mild curry powder
1 T tomato paste

Then simmer for 15 minutes.

Once the potatoes are warn peel . Add 1 cup of coconut milk. Mash the potatoes. 

I did the cooking and baking in one pan. So, I layered the mashed sweet potatoes over the curry mix. 

Bake for 25 minutes in a 350-degree oven until bubbly and crisp on top.

Caramelized onion with seitan pepperoni and daiya cheese pizza

Hand tossed pizza dough

topped with home-made seitan pepperoni

fat free caramelized onions

tomato sauce

daiya cheese

Home-made seitan

recipe from Vegan on the cheap

Caramelized fat free onions:

I cut 1 onion in slices, placed in a pan of water (about 1 cup) 

cook down 4 or 5 times on Medium heat

 Letting the onions turn lightly brown

(this process can take 10 to 15 minutes)

Beefy Seitan

 Beefy Seitan
Well, I have made pork and chicken seitan. So today, my mission was to make a beefy seitan. Success once again! Once again I used the slow cooking oven method of making Seitan. I must say that the meat was moist and juicy.

I cooked the seitan with carrots, onions, celery and baby potatoes.
If you would like to make this type of seitan you can visit Notes from the vegan feast kitchen

Raw corn chips

I have been intrigued with the Raw food diet.

So, I decided to make a chip.

This chip is great for Mexican dips.

Raw Corn Chip

1 bag frozen corn, defrosted

1/2 onion

a few slices of red pepper

 a sprinkle of garlic powder and lime juice

Blend all ingredients.

Pour on lined baking sheets.

Bake in oven at lowest setting for a few hours.

I turned the oven off a few times during this process. (for several hours at a time)

The baking pans were always warm not hot.

I do not have a food dehydrator. So, I had to use the oven method. 

To make sure the food is raw, you can leave the oven door open. I will consider doing that during the winter!

The chips were crispy! Tasted good. But, not what we are used too.

So, I will try this chip again with modification in the seasonings.

Live foods...means less processed foods!

Vegan Breakfast Sandwich

Vegan Sausage Breakfast Sandwich

The boys have been craving a real breakfast. Begging me for something other than a smoothie, cereal, or baked good. So I thought how about a S.L.T.? Sausage Lettuce Tomato breakfast sandwich?
Well, it was a huge hit! I started with some Black Russian Bread, then fried up some Gimme Lean Sausage, lettuce, tomato, and vegan cream cheese.

The boys have already requested to repeat this breakfast again. It's a win/win! They get to eat veggies for breakfast and have a fantastic breakfast!

Black Beans and Rice Salad

Black Beans and Rice Salad
The yummiest salad ever! I cooked the black beans with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, salsa, onions, seasonings, and I hid a few ingredients zucchini and carrots finely grated. I put the black beans on a bed of lettuce and brown rice. Then I topped it off with mango, tomatoes, salsa and toffutti sour cream.