Penne with Caramelized Cauliflower...Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries

I always love finding new delicious Brussels Sprouts recipes! This one was a winner for sure. The carmelized cauliflower pasta was also really yummy and super simple. Two definite make-agains! Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries (adapted from Everything Vegan) 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted 1 1/2 T walnut oil (or other mild oil) 1 1/2 lbs Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and cut in half 1 cloved minced garlic Salt to taste 1/4 cup craisins Heat oil. Add garlic and Brussels. Cook for 5 minutes or until lightly browned but still crisp. Sprinkle with salt and cook just until crisp tender. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with nuts and craisins and toss. Penne with Caramelized Cauliflower (adapted from Everything Vegan) 4 T oil 1 small head cauliflower, cut into large florets 1 cup fresh parsley leaves 1 T freshly grated lemon zest 1 T capers, drained 1 lb penne pasta 1/2 t red pepper flakes sea salt Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and lay cauliflower over surface. Drizzle oil over cauliflower and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Roast at 440 degrees for about 15 min or until nicely browned. Remove from oven and set aside. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Set aside. In food processor, combine parsley, lemon zest and capers and pulse until chunky sauce forms. Toss cauliflower, pasta and sauce together. Sprinkle with pepper flakes. Serve.

Vegan Waldorf Salad

This simple salad was fabulous! Perfect as a spring or summer side dish! Classic Waldorf Salad (adapted from Vegetarian Times 4/12) 3/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted 4 celery stalks, sliced (I didn't use these because my hubby doesn't like celery) 2 red-skinned apples, cored and diced 1 cup red grapes Dressing: 1/2 cup vegan mayo 1 T lemon juice 1 T chopped fresh parsley 1/2 t honey (not vegan - use agave if you would rather or omit) Stir dressing ingredients together. Mix salad ingredients. Toss with dressing. Serve

Vegan Camping!

Our family went camping on Friday night for a trial run with all four of us - we had a fun time but got no sleep at all. Cows mooing, loud and obnoxious other campers, and not enough blankets to keep us warm, the night was very rough but it was still a fun family time. I had a blast coming up with a vegan menu, though a few of my creations need work before we venture on a camping trip again!






We roasted our corn on the grill and it got a bit too done on one side but was still very delicious. We put our sweet potatoes in the coals and cooked them that way which turned out super tasty. The "hot dogs" I made were more like burgers in consistency - yummy flavor but really tasted nothing like hot dogs. I started out with a recipe but ended up improvising a lot because I didn't have the exact ingredients I needed. Unfortunately, it would be hard for me to duplicate the recipe. The marshmallows were nothing like marshmallows - again I had to improvise a bit with ingredients and equipment (I didn't have a candy thermometer) - there are so many recipe for them that I will just need to play with them and find a winner. These marshmallows ended up being like cream filling in a cookie (like oreo filling) and though they made good graham cracker cookie sandwiches, they tasted nothing like smores. I made graham crackers and they were yummy - I have made that recipe before. Breakfast was a winner. I browned potatoes and Gimme Lean Sausage balls before leaving home and then heated them in foil over the fire for breakfast along with bread to the side and fresh fruit. Super delish and loved by the whole fam. So, I have a challenge to create the perfect vegan camping food by the next time we go camping!

Vegan BLTA...Corn Fritters...Hot Rice with Cold Lemon and Tomatoes...

I ate a bunch of leftovers today, including Hot Rice with Cold Lemon and Tomatoes and Corn Fritters. Both of these dishes were tasty, although I would probably tweak both recipes next time. My usual corn fritter recipe has a bit more flavor and it moister. I did enjoy the fun flavor that the Old Bay Seasoning added to the fritters (this recipe can be found in Vegan Yum Yum). The Hot Rice was super creamy but the blend of flavors was just a bit different. I love the creaminess of the Arborio rice and this recipe is not a risotto requiring time consuming stirring and adding of liquids.

Hot Rice with Cold Lemon, Tomato, and Basil (I didn't use basil because I didn't have any fresh)

From "The Kind Life" by Alicia Silverstone
Number of Servings: 2

Ingredients

*1 cup Arborio rice
*2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
*3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
*3 pinches of fine sea salt
*2 pinches of freshly ground black pepper
*1/2 cup (or as much as you want) fresh tomato, large dice
*2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions
Serves 2

Place the unrinsed rice in a saucepan with 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes (until mostly tender but still a little firm in center of the grain). Drain any of the water that wasn't absorbed and transfer rice to a mixing bowl.
Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and and salt and pepper to taste (add a little bit at first and then add more if you need it). Mix well, add tomatoes, sprinkle with basil, toss to combine, and serve.


I made Urban Vegan's Spaghetti Carbonara a couple nights ago and the recipe calls for vegan bacon. The last time I made it, I used the pricey Fakin Bakin made by Lightlife. Though the Fakin Bakin has a strangely delicious flavor, it is pricey and I have always wanted to try making my own. I decided to courageously attempt my own homemade tempeh bacon, using a Vegetarian Times recipe (recipe can be found here http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/10560). I am happy to announce that the result was delicious and my boys kept coming into the kitchen asking for more "bacon" while I was cooking dinner. I was so thrilled at their enthusiasm and enjoyment of it. I will never buy store-bought Fakin Bakin again because mine turned out just as yummy as store-bought for a fraction of the cost. All of that to say, I made myself a Bakin, Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado Sandwich tonight using some of this bakin. It turned out very yummy!!

My baby is 3!

My youngest turned 3 last week - so hard to believe! Braedon loves tractors so I made a cake with such decor...used the following recipe. Yum!



Chocolate Cake (Source: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World)
1 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and other extract, if using, to the soy milk mixture and beat until foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are OK).
Pour into 8x11 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Chocolate Frosting (adapted version of Hershey's Cocoa Chocolate Frosting Recipe)
1/2 cup vegan margarine
2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/8-1/4 cup almond milk (add gradually until desired consistency reached)
1 t vanilla

Combine all ingredients in mixer and cream until smooth.

Biscuit Topped Beefless Pot Pie

It has been dreary and rainy in Kansas City for the past 3 days and last night I wanted to make some warming comfort food. This Beefless Pot Pie fit the bill . You can use any veggies you like...mushrooms would have been a great addition but I didn't have any. You can also top this with pie crust instead of biscuits.

Biscuit Topped Beefless Pot Pie
2 T canola oil
3/4 cup cleaned leeks, chopped
5 carrots, peeled and diced
4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups washed, chopped green beans
1/2 cup canned or frozen corn
2 cups mushroom broth (or veg broth)
1/4 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/2 cup flour
3 t faux beef boullion
2 t dried thyme
1 t cracked black pepper

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add leeks, potatoes, and carrots. Cook until beginning to brown. Add green beans and cook until veggies are tender. Add 1 cup broth and stir to continue cooking. Slowly add remaining cup of broth to flour in a small bowl to create a slurry, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add milk and boullion to flour mixture. Slowly pour flour mixture into veggies. Stir until thick sauce forms. Add more broth if needed to thin sauce if too thick. If sauce is too thin, combine small amount of flour and more broth to create more slurry. I didn't measure so might need to be adjusted a bit. Pour mixture into a large pie plate or casserole dish. Set aside while biscuit dough is made.

Biscuits (adapted from Kind Diet recipe)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup bran
1/2 t salt
1 T baking powder
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup soy milk

Combine all dry ingredients. Combine milk and oil in separate bowl. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry until dough forms. Pat dough out on a cutting board to about 1/2 in thickness. Use biscuit cutter to cut about 7-8 biscuits. Top pot pie with biscuits.

Bake at 425 until pie is hot and bubbly and biscuits are browned lightly.

Birthday boy...Chick-un Salad

I officially have a 6 year old! I had to include this adorable picture...even though the carrot cake I made him this year was only mediocre. It was too dry in my opinion. Keith asks for a carrot cake every year and this year I tried a new recipe - won't make this one again! It was ok, just not great.

I tried the chicken-style seitan recipe from Vegan Yum Yum recently and was quite impressed. Great blend of flavors. I used it to make a chick-un salad which turned out yummy. I made a new dressing recipe too but wasn't fond of it so won't include!! I made Country-Fried Seitan for the salad, also from Vegan Yum Yum. Both recipes adapted a bit.

Chicken-Style Seitan

1 1/2 cups gluten
2 T nutritional yeast
1 t Old Bay seasoning
3/4 cup cold water
1 T soy sauce
3 T soy milk
1 T oil

Combine dry ingredients. Mix well. Combine wet ingredients and slowly add to dry. Stir. Knead several times until elastic. Add more liquid if needed to form smooth, elastic dough. Divide into cutlets.

Braising Broth:
2 cups water
1 veg bouillon cube

Heat broth to boiling and drop cutlets in broth. Simmer for 20-30 min, flipping halfway through. Store in broth in refrigerator.

Country-Fried Seitan
Dry mix:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
3 t Old Bay seasoning
4 t baking powder

Wet Mix:
1/3 cup dry mix
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy milk
3 T mustard

Combine flour, yeast, Old Bay; stir. In separate bowl, mix 1/3 cup dry mix, water, soy milk, and mustard; stir. Add baking powder to remaining dry mix. Dip Seitan cutlets in wet mix and then dry mix. Heat oil in skillet to just cover bottom of pan. Cook on both sides until golden brown. Slice and serve on salad (or any other way you want!)

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts With Gremolata...Tempura Zucchini With Sriracha Aioli

It is so sad how infrequently I am able to post anymore! My sweet hubby sent me off on a date by myself today and told me to relax and have fun with my blog - so nice! I have tried several really yummy recipes lately...

I have been doing a lot of experimenting with Brussels Sprouts recently - I kinda got tire of my usual recipe. I made a new recipe last night and it was fabulous! So fresh and delicious. I actually just made a totally veggie dinner - White and Sweet Potato Fries, Roasted Asparagus With Walnut Oil and Walnuts...Brussels Sprouts and Zucchini. Yum! It was the perfect dinner.

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts With Gremolata (Vegetarian Times Nov. 2011)- find recipe here:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11786?section=178

The recipe for the zucchini was actually intended for use with green beans but I used zucchini and it was delicious! I left out the egg yolk of course and I used all purpose flour for all of the flour as that's all I had. I didn't use mushroom powder. I also didn't have ponzu sauce so I just used vegan mayo and sriracha for the sauce. So yummy - my hubby said it was the best zucchini he had ever had. I also just pan fried it in some oil instead of deep fat frying it. I would imagine this recipe would be fabulous with any vegetable. My 2 yr old couldn't get enough of it! Find the recipe here: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11763?section=179.

My asparagus recipe is super easy and delish! Can hardly be called a recipe!!

Place washed, trimmed asparagus in a glass baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Drizzle with walnut oil, sprinkle with sea salt and top with chopped walnuts. Bake for about 10 minutes in a 425 degree oven.

Vegan Patty Melt

This is a super easy recipe I made up and it is so delicious! I made my own pastrami but I think you can buy vegan pastrami if you want to pay for it. You could also use another type of baked seitan. I am going to give the recipe for 1 sandwich so you can easily make it for one serving or several.

Vegan Patty Melt
2 slices French bread or sourdough
2 t vegan butter
5 slices vegan pastrami (silver dollar size)
1 t oil
2 T sliced sauteed onions
2 T sliced sauteed mushrooms
1 1/2 T vegan mayo
1 T ketchup
1 t spicy brown mustard

In a skillet, heat oil and brown pastrami slices. Meanwhile, mix together the mayo, mustard and ketchup and set aside. Spread vegan butter on one side of each bread slice and place in a skillet coated with cooking spray. Cook until lightly browned. Place bread slices, toasted side down, on plate and top with browned pastrami, sauteed mushrooms and onions and spread sauce over the top. Top with second slice of bread. Enjoy!

Sweet Sesame Tofu

I made a super yummy Valentines dinner last night - unfortunately, hubby got stuck at work and got home late so we didn't get to eat as a family. This dish was one of 3 that I made - I also made a veggie lo mein that was thrown together with leftovers of noodles, veg and sauce. It wasn't anything super special so didn't take a pic. Also made Peanut Tofu (recipe can be found under my review of Tofu Xpress to the right on my blog). This was a new recipe and was very yummy. Enjoy


Sweet Sesame Tofu (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

Step 1:
Cut 1/2 block of drained, pressed tofu into cubes
Combine 3 T soy sauce, 1 t sesame oil, and 2 t agave. Add tofu to this mixture to marinate. Set aside.

Step 2:
Combine 1 1/2 cups veg broth, 2 T soy sauce, 3 t agave, 4 t cornstarch, 1 T rice vinegar and 1 t chili paste. Set aside.

Step 3:
Cut 1 head of broccoli into small florets. Set aside.


Step 4:
Heat 2 t canola oil in large skillet. Remove tofu with slotted spoon from marinade. Add to skillet along with 1 T fresh grated ginger and 3 cloves minced garlic. Cook until tofu is browned. Add broccoli and sauce from step 2. Cook until sauce thickens and broccoli is crisp tender.

Serve over rice.