Spaghetti & Wheatballs

Spaghetti & Wheatballs

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Serve this dish with homemade parmesan cheese and sprinkled with pine nuts for a yummy, yummy Itanlian feast. Use ciabatta bread spread with a homemade blend of Earth Balance butter and fresh minced elephant garlic and toasted golden brown. Wow! The scent of success!

Source: JazzyVegetarian.com

Ingredients

  • 1⅓ cups lightly packed, fresh, soft whole-grain bread crumbs (about 3 to 4 large slices – must be fresh!) (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 cups chopped mushrooms
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • ¾ pound organic spaghetti (see note)
  • 3 cups prepared vegan marinara sauce or your own homemade sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a medium baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
  3. Put the bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  4. Put the walnuts in a blender, and pulse to process into coarse crumbs.
  5. Add the walnuts to the bread crumbs and stir gently to incorporate.
  6. Put the mushrooms and onion in a blender, and process to a chunky purée.
  7. Add the mushroom mixture to the walnut–bread crumb mixture and stir to incorporate.
  8. Spoon out about 1½ tablespoons of the mushroom mixture and roll it into a ball. Gently squeeze it together, to make sure it is compact and will hold together while baking. Continue in this way with the remaining mushroom mixture. Arrange the wheatballs on the lined baking pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Gently rotate each wheatball and bake for 12 to 20 minutes more, or until they are firm, crisp and golden.
  9. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but firm. Drain the spaghetti well.
  10. Meanwhile, pour the marinara sauce in a medium sauce pan. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Gently add the wheatballs to the sauce, one at a time, cover, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.
  11. To serve, put one-quarter of the spaghetti into each of four pasta bowls, and top with three or four wheatballs. Ladle marinara sauce over the top and serve immediately.
  12. Chef’s Note: To make fresh bread crumbs, put 3 to 4 slices of wholegrain bread in a blender and process into coarse crumbs.

Roasted Red Peppers Stuffed with Pearled Couscous

Roasted Red Peppers Stuffed with Pearled Coucous

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A few years ago my friend E.j. and I celebrated my birthday at Latitudes in Key West. I asked our waiter if there was a Chef's Choice on a vegan meal. What he brought was beyond expectation. This is a copy-cat version of a lunch never forgotten. I came about as close to perfecting his dish as humanly possible. This is OMGod insanely delicious!


Ingredients

  • Split 2 red peppers in half and scoop out the seeds and trim the white flesh. Lightly coat with olive oil. Roast in a toaster over/oven at 400 degrees for approx. 30 minutes… checking about 20 minutes in to make certain you are not overcooking.
  • In the meantime prepare the stuffing below and then fill the cooked peppers with the coucous blend and serve with wedges of fresh lemon, and sprigs of fresh basil on the side.
  • To make the Stuffing
  • 1 box Garlic & Olive Oil Pearled Coucous…cooked in the rice cooker with
  • 1-3/4 cup veggie broth
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • and the seasoning package that comes with the coucous.
  • While the coucous cooks dry cook 1 small container baby bella mushrooms (chopped) in a sautee pan with no oil.
  • In a separate pan sautee the following veggies in olive oil.
  • 1/2 onion (diced)
  • 1 clove elephant garlic (minced )
  • 1/2 zucchini (diced)
  • Add the dry cooked baby bellas to the onion/zucchini mix along with salt, pepper, and about 1 tsp cumin powder. Blend and keep warm.
  • Microwave 1 handful broccoli florets in a glass lid with a tad of water for 35 seconds to retain the dark green color and partially cook the broccoli.
  • Add the broccoli to the onion/zucchini mix, along with 2 campari tomatoes (diced) and keep heated.
  • De-stem 1 cup fresh spinach and add to the onion/zucchini mix and cook until wilted.
  • Add the cooked coucous to this blend.

My Spicy Black Beans & Rice

My High Protein Beans & Rice

My Spicy Black Beans & Rice

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Another rainy day! Lots of them, lately! And nothing conjures up the desire for a bowl of spicy black beans and rice, with a side of garlic bread and a bottle of Miller Lite, like a nasty, chilly, rainy day and the desire to watch old black-and-white movies. Maybe I'll move the fire pit inside, since the embeded one in the family room is on the fritz. Then again I have the coutertop fire pits for a back-up plan, and after a steaming hot bowl of this dish, a good book, an easy chair, and a chenille throw might be a better option anyway. Cozy naps are good too, right?


Spicy Black Bean & Tomato Sauce

  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 yellow pepper, diced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp black Nigella seeds
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 splash fresh organic orange juice
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt, fine ground
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, fine ground
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 Tbsp My Plant-Based Protein Powder, or use any flour for thickening
  • 1 can regular diced tomatoes
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, with green chilies
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4 ounces vegan pepperjack cheese
  • White Rice, cooked as directed

    Optional – top plated dish with:

  • 1 handful fresh parsley
  • 1 handful fresh basil
  • 1 whole lime, divided slices

Directions

  1. Saute cumin, NIgella, and mustard seeds in coconut oil just until they start to pop open, then add peppers, onions and garlic and cook until tender.
  2. Stir in vegetable broth, orange juice and maple syrup and stir to blend.
  3. Add the spices and protein powder and blend well.
  4. Add the tomatoes and black beans and heat until hot.
  5. Add the vegan cheese and cook until cheese is melted.
  6. Serve over steaming hot rice.
  7. Top with additional cheese and fresh herbs, if desired.
  8.  

    Note: Add additional vegetable broth if you prefer soup instead.


My Favorite Lasagna

My Favorite Lasagna

My Favorite Lasagna

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

We had an urge for vegan lasagna but never expected it would turn out to be our favorite lasagna of all time. This recipe is so good I would honestly prefer it over the animal fat version hands down. Oh my goodness, it is just so yummy! Then again, maybe that's a Vegan Thing!


Yummy Pasta Sauce

  • 1 medium to large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 3 to 4 Tbsp raw coconut oil
  • 8 ounces fresh portebella mushrooms, pulse or dice to crumbles
  • 2 14 ounce jars pizza sauce (Whole Foods 365)
  • 1/2 to 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes with medium green chilies
  • 1 can regular diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 fine ground Himalayan pink salt
  • 1-1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1-1/2 tsp sweet parika, ground
  • 1-1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1-1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1-1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 to 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 2 packages Chao cheese slices, black pepper herb
  • 1/5 package Daiya cheese, Harvarti Jalepeno, shredded
  • 1 handful fresh spinach, or basil, chopped
  • 1 package lasagna noodles, cooked as directed on package

Directions

  1. Saute onion and garlic in coconut oil.
  2. Add portebella mushrooms and cook to blend 2 to 3 minutes
  3. Sprinkle herbs on top of mixture and stir to incorporate.
  4. Add pizza sauce and tomatoes and cook to blend.
  5. Add harvarti jalepeno cheese to sauce and stir to blend and melt cheese.
  6. Layer half cooked noodles in a 9×13 glass baking dish and top with one half the sauce
  7. Sprinkle with chopped spinach or basil pieces across the top of the dish.
  8. Layer slices of one package Chao cheese on top.
  9. Repeat with remaining noodles, sauce and second package of cheese overtop.
  10. Use a microplane to shred additonal Daiya Harvarti Jalepeno cheese on top, if desired.
  11. Bake at 375 degrees until bubbly and hot.
  12. Cool, slice into desired pieces and serve hot or freeze for future servings.

My Sassy Saucy Pinwheels

Sassy Saucy Pinwheels

My Sassy Saucy Pinwheels

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

The fridge was stuffed with appetizers from our recent happy-hour with neighbors, and not wanting to toss the leftovers decided to throw together my version of Sassy Saucy Pinwheels. I watched John pace and prep the outside table in anticipation of what was to come... and it did not dissapoint!


Veggie Filling for Both Tortillas

  • 1 large sun-dried tomato tortilla, vegan
  • 1 large flour tortilla, vegan
  • 1/4 whole yellow pepper, sliced into super thin strips
  • 1/4 whole red pepper, sliced into super thin strips
  • 1/4 whole orange pepper, sliced into super thin strips
  • 1/4 raw onion, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 cups spinach, ends trimmed and ribbone cut
  • 1/2 cup spinach/artichoke hummus
  • 1/2 cup roasted red pepper hummus
  • 1/2 cup jalapeno/cilantro hummus
  • 1/4 cup raw walnuts, diced very small
  • 8 to 10 cherry tomatoes, cut into thin slices
  • 1/4 cup carrots, shredded thin
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup Daiya onion/chive cream cheese style spread
  • 1/4 cup My Favorite Sandwich Spread
  • 1/4 cup My Favorite Avocado Aioli Sauce
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Prep Sundried Tomato Torilla

  1. Spread Daiya jalapeno/cilantro cream cheese spread in a semi-thick layer up to about 1/2 inch from the rim.
  2. Spread 1/2 the veggie mix of peppers, onion and tomatoes over the top.
  3. Sprinkle ribboned spinach over the veggies.
  4. Spread My Favorite Sandwich Spread over the entire layer.
  5. Add salt & pepper, to taste.

Prep Flour Tortilla

  1. Flour Tortilla – spread all 3 hummus in a semi-thick layer up to about 1/2 inch from the rim.
  2. Spread remaining half of peppers, onion and tomato over the top.
  3. Spread shredded carrots over veggies.
  4. Spread remaining half of ribboned spinach on top.
  5. Pour & Spread My Favorite Avocado Aioli Sauce over the whole dang thing.
  6. Sprinkle with diced walnuts over the top.
  7. Add salt & pepper, to taste.

Plating the Pinwheels

  1. Roll-up each tortilla and cut it into serving size pieces (rinse and dry your serated knife between cuts to keep from smearing the sauce between pieces).
  2. Plate and serve both varieties on individual plates, along with additional sauces on the side, if desired.

Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles

Favorite Recipes... coming soon!

Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients
  • 12 oz spaghetti
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
  • 1/2 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, sliced into thin strips
  • 1/4 small zucchini, sliced into thin strips
  • 1/2 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts, crushed or roughly chopped
Peanut Sauce
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 3 Tbsp Nama Shoyu  Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp raw honey
  • 2 Tbsp Sriracha (or to taste)
  • 1 – 2 Tbsp fresh Lime Juice, or 1 to 2 drops YL Lime Essential Oil
  • 1 Tbsp fresh minced ginger, or 1 – toothpick dipped in YL Ginger Oil and then swirled into recipe to release oil
  • 1 Tbsp garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
Toppings:
  • Chopped green onions
  • Sesame Seeds
Directions
  • Cook spaghetti according to directions listed on package.
  • Meanwhile prepare peanut sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in nutri-bullet container and blend until smooth. Thin with hot water, if necessary
  • Drain pasta and pour into large serving bowl. Toss with sauce then add vegetables and peanuts.
  • Top with fresh basil, chopped green onions and sesame seeds

Vegetable Pasta with Peri-Peri Sauce

Favorite Recipes... coming soon!

Vegetable Pasta with Peri-Peri Sauce

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

John found a recipe for Per-Peri Tofu on Pinterest. I had to put my own twist on it and tossed the tofu. I served it on linguine noodles after doubling the sauce, added julienned veggies, white wine, and Daiya Cheese to it and never looked back!

Peri-Peri Sauce

Adapted from: Vegan Fire & Spice – Robin Robertson (Sauce only)

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. cumin, ground
  • 1 tsp. thyme, dried
  • 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (watch the heat)
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 2 drops Lemon essential oil, or 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh squeezed
  • 6 Tbsp.coconut oil

Combine all ingredients and blend smooth.

Veggie Mix to Sauté
  • 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/2 red pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1/2 yellow pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1/3 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
  • 1/3 zucchini, cut into thin strips
  • 1 whole yellow onion, cut into thin strips
  • 1 cup green cabbage, cut into thin strips
  • 1/2 cup snow peas, cut into thin strips
  • Salt & Pepper (1 drop Black Pepper essential oil may be used)
Add
  • 1/2 cup white wine (we used Kendal Jackson Chardonnay)
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (cut down the middle, cut down the middle, again)
  • 1/8 cup Daiya Cheese (Jalapeno Havarti Dill – cube it)
Topping
  • Sprigs of fresh basil
  • lemon wedges
  • toasted pine nuts
  • Additional Black Pepper
Directions
  • Cook 1/2 box  pasta according to package directions.
    (try De Boles Organic Linguine – made with Jerusalem Artichoke Inulin)
  • Blend all ingredients in a medium bowl to make sauce.
  • Saute veggies in coconut oil in a large fry pan for approximately 5 minutes.
  • Add wine and tomatoes and heat until hot.
  • Add cubed cheese and stir to melt.
  • Combine with drained hot pasta.
  • Plate it up and top with fresh basil, lemon slices and toasted pine nuts, and additional ground black pepper.

Artichoke Crab Cakes with Sriracha Tartar Sauce

Favorite Recipes... coming soon!

Artichoke Crab Cakes with Sriracha Tartar Sauce

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Crab Cakes Recipe

(Source: But I Could Never Go Vegan!)

  • 1 cup oyster crackers or crushed saltine crackers
  • 2 15-oz cans artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained well
  • 3 to 4 scallions, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red pepper
  • 1/4 cup corn (we used organic canned corn)
  • 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. kelp granules, optional
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (or 1 clove fresh minced)
  • 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • Oil for frying (recommend coconut – we baked them instead)
Directions
  • Process oyster crackers to consistency of coarse flour. Set aside.
  • Place artichoke hearts in food processor and pulse 6 to 7 times, until broken up but still chunky.
  • Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add the scallions, red bell pepper, corn, Old Bay, kelp granules, garlic, dried parsley, mayonnaise, and salt & pepper.
  • Stir in oyster cracker flour from above.
  • 3. Use 1/4 measuring cup to scoop out and form patties.
  • 4. Fry in oil until golden brown, or bake at 400-degree for 25 minutes.
Top with Sriracha Tartar Sauce
  • 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon juice from a jar of capers
  • 1 to 2 drops Lemon essential oil, or 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice.

 

Zesty Onion and Sweet Pepper Pasta

Zesty_Onion_Red_Pepper_Pasta_3

Zesty Onion and Sweet Pepper Pasta

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

This dish is so versatile. Any veggies can be used and any can be omitted without altering the flavor. This is a must try recipe!


Veggie Mix

  • 3 tbsp. raw coconut oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 small peppers, various colors, diced
  • 1/4 cup zucchini, diced
  • 1/4 cup broccoli, diced
  • 1/4 cup cauliflower, diced
  • 1 cup green cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup snap peas, chopped
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
  • 1/4 cup roasted red pepper, drained, diced
  • 1/2 cup crushed walnuts, or seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 green onion, sliced
  • 1/2 cup Daiya Jalapeno Harvarti cheese, shred with a microplane

Pasta Sauce

  • 1 large jar Organic Pasta Sauce
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 pinches of cayenne powder
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Heat coconut oil in large skillet.
  2. Add garlic, onion and peppers and saute on medium high heat for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and snap peas and heat three to four minutes more, blending into other veggies.
  4. Add mushrooms and roasted red pepper and toss until well coated and heated through.
  5. Add pasta sauce, vegetable broth, maple syrup, salt, pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper, dried parsley, and nutmeg. Lower heat and cook 5 to 10 minutes.
  6. Add torn pieces of baby spinach or kale and blend into sauce.
  7. Add cooked macaroni pasta and mix well.
  8. Plate to serve and then sprinkle with crushed walnuts, or seasoned breadcrumbs, if desired, and top with green onions.
  9. Shred the Daiya cheese overtop (or add the cheese to the pot beforehand and let melt slightly then blend into pasta sauce, creating a creamy texture).

Veggie Stuffed Puff Pastry

Favorite Recipes... coming soon!

Veggie Stuffed Puff Pastry

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

This is insanely delicious! What started out as an idea to throw together a pot pie ended up with this classy over the top puff pastry. OMGod is it good!


Spicy Cheese Sauce

  • 1/4 block extra firm tofu
  • 1/2 cup cashews, soaked at least 4 hours or more
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  •  2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp stone ground mustard
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Sriracha, to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/2 tsp parsley flakes
  • 1/2 tsp dill weed

Directions

    1. Blend tofu and cashews with almond milk until smooth.
  1. Add nutritional yeast, and next 7 ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.
  2. Stir in parsley and dill.
  3. Reduce heat and keep warm.

Veggie Blend

  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tbsp raw coconut oil
  • 1 handful broccoli florets, broken into bite-size pieces
  • 1 handful cauliflower florets, broken into bit-size pieces
  • 2 red, yellow & orange mini peppers, julienne
  • 1/2 small zucchini, julienne
  • 1/2 celery stalk, sliced or diced
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 small handful of fresh spinach leaves, stalks trimmed, ribbon cut
  • 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered length-wise
  • 1 large handful Daiya vegan cheddar cheese shreds
  • 6 Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells or Sheets, thawed and separated
  • 1 cup lightly toasted sliced almonds

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, sauté all veggies (except green onions, spinach leaves and cherry tomatoes) in coconut oil until tender.
  2. Pour the sauce from step 1 over the veggies and mix well.
  3. Add the green onions, spinach leaves and cherry tomatoes and continue to blend.
  4. Add vegan cheddar cheese into hot mixture and stir until melted.
  5. Meanwhile, cook pastry shells according to directions on the package.
  6. Split pastry shells in half. Fill the bottom portion with hot veggie mix.
  7. Top with sliced almonds and cap with other half of puff pastry, and you’re ready to serve.

Balsamic Tofu with Roasted Broccolini & Mushrooms in Balsamic Sauce

2015-08-16 19.42.40

Balsamic Tofu with Roasted Broccolini & Mushrooms in Balsamic Sauce

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Balsamic tofu paired with roasted broccolini and mushrooms and served over Jasmine rice


Tofu Marinade

  • 1 block extra firm tofu, pressed and cubed
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1-2 tbsp additional balsamic vinegar

Directions

  1. Cut tofu into long match sticks then into small cubes.
  2. Add 3 tbs. balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning and ½ tsp. salt to a bowl with a cover.
  3. Add tofu cubes. Cover and shake. Marinade 30 minutes – 2 hours.
  4. Minutes before you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Take tofu out of refrigerator to come to room temperature, Shake container again.
  5. Once oven is preheated, place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spray with nonstick spray.
  6. Add tofu to the parchment paper. Bake 30-35 minutes.
  7. Once crispy, take out of oven and add 1-2 additional tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt. Stir.

Roasted Broccolini with Mushrooms in Balsamic Sauce

  • 1 lb broccolini (2 bunches) – ends trimmed
  • Olive oil
  • 1 shallot – finely sliced
  • 1/2 lb thinly sliced baby portobello mushrooms
  • dab of unsalted vegan butter
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tbsp vegetable broth

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the broccolini on a baking sheet. Drizzle on some olive oil, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and toss to coat evenly. Then spread the broccolini in a single layer.
  3. Roast broccolini for about 12 – 15 minutes, or until tender-crisp (turning over once). Transfer to a platter.
  4. While the broccolini is roasting, heat about 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add in the sliced shallot and saute until they begin to soften.
  5. Turn heat to medium-high, add in the mushrooms and a pinch of sea salt. Saute the mushrooms for about 8 to 10 minutes. The mushrooms will start to release some moisture and once it begins to evaporate, add in a dab of butter. Stir, then add in the balsamic vinegar and broth. Continue to cook for a minute. Swirl in dry white wine or marsala wine (if using), and saute for another 2-3 minutes – until the liquid cooks down. Sprinkle in a bit more sea salt.
  6. Serve the mushrooms over the roasted broccolini, then sprinkle the Aleppo Chili Flakes on top.

 

Grand Funk Quinoa

IMG_20160614_114741448

Grand Funk Quinoa

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Print

I had a refrigerator full of vegetable that needed to be used and no idea what to do with them. It was time to put the thinking cap on and do something unique.

Ingredients

  • 1 box Ancient Harvest Quinoa (white grains)
  • 1 cup Coconut Milk (high fat in a can)
  • 1 cup Imagine vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup fresh Orange Juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup baby bella mushrooms, diced

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients for quinoa into pot over high heat.
  2. Once it begins to boil turn heat to simmer and cover.
  3. Let cook approximately 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and quinoa has popped opened (it will look like little tails sprouted).
  4. Fluff with a fork and keep warm.

Prep Your Veggies

  • 1 medium onion, halved, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets, bite-size
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets, bit-size
  • 1 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
  • 1/2 cup carrots, julienne
  • 1/2 bag snap peas, shredded
  • 6 miniature red, orange and/or yellow peppers, julienne

Directions

Steam broccoli and cauliflower in the microwave (ha, you won’t see that word mentioned often in my posts) for 1 minute and set them aside while you prep the other veggies.

Curry Seasoning

  • Coconut Oil (enough to coat the pan)
  • 1 tbsp cumin seed
  • 1 tbsp mustard seed
  • 1 tbsp Nigella seed (black seed)
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 small red chili peppers, or dried red pepper flakes
  • 1-1/2 tsp ginger powder
  • 1-1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 to 2 tsp salt
  • 2 cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes

– maple syrup, to taste

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, sauté garlic in coconut oil to give yourself a little mixture to blend with all the spices used and let the pan get hot.
  2. Sprinkle cumin seed, mustard seed, Nigella seed (black seed), turmeric, black pepper, and enough red pepper flakes to equal about what you would get from 2 small red chili peppers, then ginger and coriander powder to the mix. By this time the heat will have caused the seeds to pop open and flavor the base.
  3. Pour in the shredded veggies and stir everything up to coat the veggies with the spices.
  4. Add just enough vegetable broth to keep it from burning. Cook for approx. 2 minutes then pour about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of vegetable broth and 2 cans diced tomatoes into the mix along with the broccoli, cauliflower and any leftover coconut milk, if you like a creamier sauce. Add maple syrup, if desired and not using sweetened coconut milk. Stir until hot.
  5. Add onion and garlic powder plus additional vegetable broth at the end to get a spicy liquid that can be used to top after plating. Salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve over Cooked Quinoa

Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy & Jellied Cranberry Sauce

IMG_20160710_181753598

Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy & Jellied Cranberry Sauce

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Print

A vegan variation of a Texas favorite that to us vegans is as close to the real deal as you can possibly get. This is a favorite request in our household!

Dry Ingredients for Chicken Fried Steak

  • 1 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 2 T garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp poultry seasoning (I made my own version)
  • 1/4 tsp ground white pepper

Wet Ingredients for Chicken Fried Steak

  • 3/4 cup plus 2 T water
  • 2 T nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 tsp ground sea salt
  • 1 T extra virgin olive oil

Simmering Broth

  • 6 cups Imagine vegetable broth

Coat Prior to Frying

  • 1 bowl of garbanzo bean flour
  • 1 bowl almond milk/veganaise blended to consistency of heavy cream.
  • 1 bowl seasoned breadcrumbs – I used Edward & Sons Italian Herbs Organic Breadcrumbs and add dried parsley & cayenne pepper for additional seasoning.

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, set your broth over high heat while you prepare your seitan dough. You will want to bring it to a rapid boil. Add a bay leaf, or a few slices of ginger root, for extra flavor. I did not add any flavorings to my broth!
  2. Mix dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls.
  3. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir to blend. Divide mixed dough into 6 even pieces.
  4. Shape each piece into a flattened pancake-like round. Set aside in same bowl until all pieces are shaped. Repeat the process to give each piece one final flattening, then immediately drop into boiling broth.
  5. Reduce heat and cook for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
  6. Store cooked pieces in the same broth in refrigerator until ready to fry.

Directions

  1. dip each patty into garbanzo bean flour
  2. then into almond/milk/veganaise mixed well
  3. finally into spiced breadcrumbs and coat well
  4. Fry in coconut oil
  5. Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy.