Blueberry Persimmon Parfaits

Blueberry Persimmon Parfaits
Vegan; Raw; Gluten Free; Soy Free

I made these for a Christmas Day potluck. My usual farmers market trip always sparks inspiration! I found blueberries and persimmons and found a recipe from The Global Girl. Problem, the recipe gives you no yields and how many... So, I had just enough for 8 shot glass size parfaits....

4 persimmons, peeled (if extra ripe-slice in half and scoop out)
1 pint of blueberries (save some of the pretty ones for garnish)

1. In a food processor, blend persimmons until smooth. Remove half of the mixture in a bowl and set aside.

2. In the food processor with half of the persimmon mixture add the blueberries and blend until smooth.

3. Layer first using blueberry persimmon mixture, next the persimmon and the top layer blueberry persimmon mixture. I topped each parfaits with coconut whipped cream and 3 whole blueberries for garnish.

Carrot Apple Oatmeal Flax Cookies

Carrot Apple Oatmeal Flax Cookies
Vegan; Makes 1 lb Dog cookies

For those who know me, I can't stand Made In China (See prior postings for reasons). Currently, most big dog food companies (and if you read the label) you'll find the Made In China printed on the package. These are perfect since the carrots can be found at the farmers markets and if the season is right, so can the apples. I use organic, let's face it... Why are you going to feed your family members something that you're not willing to eat yourself.

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
2 Tablespoons flax seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped and cored apple
2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses
2 Tablespoons canola oil
egg replacer equal to 1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, flax seeds and cinnamon. In a food processor, combine water, carrot, apple, molasses, oil, egg replacer, and vanilla. Puree until smooth. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

3. In the bowl and using hands, knead until dough holds together. Transfer to a floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. With a fork poke holes in the dough (this keeps it from becoming a puffy soft cookie and keeps it crunchy). I use cookie cutters (puppy shapes), but you can use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter and cut into bite size squares. Place about 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets.

4. Bake, in batches if necessary, for 20 minutes or until firm. Place cookies on cooling racks and lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes more (again, this helps make a crunchy cookie to help prevent tarter build-up). Transfer cookies to a rack and cool completely. Store in a air tight container for up to 30 days. If you live in a humid climate, store in the fridge.

Found and adapted: Better Food for Dogs

Blueberry Frozen Puppy Pops

Blueberry Frozen Puppy Pops

There are certain things that I love about San Antonio. The fact that it's almost Thanksgiving and yesterday it 86 degrees and today will be 74 degrees is one of them. This allows me to go to a farmers market year round. I missed this while living in Colorado. However, Fortune and Choxie are not enjoying the heat so much. That being said, I made these yesterday for them. SO tasty, one can turn these into a smoothie for a quick morning breakfast ;)

Ingredients
1 cup of blueberries (I used frozen organic)
1 extra ripe banana
3/4 cup plain coconut yogurt
1 tsp of ground flax seeds

1. Mix all the ingredients in a blender, until smooth. (I had to add a little water to not over heat my blender.)

2. Pour into an ice cube tray or mold. Freeze it for about 2 hours

Money Saving Biscuits

Money Saving Biscuits
Vegan; Soy Free; 25 minutes

In my quest to omit Earth Balance (see prior postings) from as many of my recipes, here is a biscuit recipe that I made last night. Since I used coconut yogurt, these come out super light. Here I used Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening. They have it printed right on the package "... Even better are the dozen of small family farmers in Colombia who cultivate and press our palm oil in an environmentally sustainable manner...." Not that I believe everything right off the package. But going to their website and clicking the link to their parent company; they have their corporate 2012 standards for transparency.

2 cups organic all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea-salt
1 teaspoon vegetable shortening
1 Tablespoon coconut yogurt
1 cup unsweetened hemp milk

1. Preheat oven to 425 F degrees.

2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add vegetable shortening and coconut yogurt. Taking either 2 butter knives or a pastry blender and cut shortening and yogurt into the flour. Slowly add milk and continue to combine till all the liquid is gone and a soft dough forms.

3. Drop dough, 1 1/2 inches apart, evenly onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and cool. Serve with jam for breakfast!

Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies

Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies
Vegan; Soy Free (Gluten Free)

These are great for a quick breakfast or a healthy snack. I love these due to the fact that it's an easy clean up and one bowl for all of the ingredients!

3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats (Use gluten free oatmeal or groats)
1 cup combination of dates (pitted and chopped) and goji berries
1/3 cup coconut oil, liquidfied
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in oats, dates, goji berries, oil, and vanilla. Mix well, adding the spices, and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown.

Pomegranate Persimmon Paste

Pomegranate Persimmon Paste
Vegan; 10 minutes; Gluten Free; Raw

Now that my kitchen has been busted out of storage, I've welcomed my missed "Gourmet Sundays". Here is the first of many more to come. Super easy, the messiest part is making sure you don't stain everything squeezing the pomegranate. I used this as a spread for french toast, so delicious!

2 persimmons, chopped
2 Tablespoons of freshly squeezed pomegranate

1. In a food processor combine ingredients and blend until smooth. Add 1/8 teaspoon of maple syrup if needed to cut tartness. Enjoy, will last 2 weeks in an airtight container.

Earth Balance & Palm Oil

Dear Jacqueline,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at Earth Balance. We always appreciate hearing from consumers who care enough to reach out to us with their comments or questions.

As palm oil is one of the critical elements to our proprietary blend of oils, we’re dedicated to being proactive in growing awareness around the issue.

While Earth Balance is only a small palm oil user (we use less than 0.05% of all palm oil), we’re taking a big stand against unsustainable palm oil. Here’s how…

First, we are firmly committed to sustainable sourcing, and we believe in the power of informed consumers to change the world for the better. We are educating our suppliers about ways to safeguard the rainforest through sustainable palm oil sourcing, and we’re educating our customers about how they can have a direct positive impact by exclusively purchasing responsibly sourced palm oil products.

Thirty percent of our palm oil comes from sustainable palm oil plantations in Brazil. Our Brazil-sourced palm oil is 100% organic and is used in all of our organic products (and because orangutans are not native to South America, the Brazilian palm industry does not adversely impact their wellbeing). The remaining 70% of our palm oil comes from responsible sources in peninsular Malaysia, which are all members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the leading global organization developing and implementing global standards for sustainable palm oil production. We insist on continuing assurances from our suppliers that all palm fruit oil purchased for Earth Balance complies with the RSPO policies, and we are committed to terminating any suppliers that violate these policies.

In addition, we purchase GreenPalm Certificates, which work a lot like carbon credits. The money used to purchase these certificates helps improve the infrastructure and practices behind sustainable palm oil. Moreover, we are supporting the action-oriented, on-the ground conservation work of Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) in Indonesian Borneo. OFI is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, led by world-renown primatologist and conservationist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas. OFI is committed to rescuing and rehabilitating orangutans that are adversely affected by the palm oil industry, and has been working for more than 40 years to conserve rainforest habitat and educate people throughout the world about the orangutans’ plight. Earth Balance is especially proud to be a financial supporter of OFI’s ongoing initiative to return 330 wild-born, ex-captive rehabilitated orangutans back to the wild, into biologically-rich, protected forest, where they rightfully belong.

For more information, please see our White Paper: Addressing the Social & Environmental Challenges with Palm Fruit Oil, posted on our website.

We recognize this effort takes time, and we are committed to working with the industry and with organizations to develop long-term sustainable solutions. You can visit our website www.EarthBalanceNatural.com/responsibility/palm-oil/ for more information.


Sincerely,

Your Friends at Earth Balance

Palm Oil & Making the Connection

Palm Oil & Making the Connection

What is Palm Oil? Well, if going to Wikipedia you'll find: Palm oil (also known as dendê oil, from Portuguese) is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil palms, primarily the African oil palm Elaeis guineensis,[1] and to a lesser extent from the American oil palm Elaeis oleifera and the maripa palm Attalea maripa.

Palm oil is naturally reddish in color because of a high beta-carotene content. It is not to be confused with palm kernel oil derived from the kernel of the same fruit,[2] or coconut oil derived from the kernel of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). The differences are in color (raw palm kernel oil lacks carotenoids and is not red), and in saturated fat content: Palm mesocarp oil is 41% saturated, while Palm Kernel oil and Coconut oil are 81% and 86% saturated respectively[3]

Along with coconut oil, palm oil is one of the few highly saturated vegetable fats. It is semi-solid at room temperature and contains several saturated and unsaturated fats in the forms of glyceryl laurate (0.1%, saturated), myristate (1%, saturated), palmitate (44%, saturated), stearate (5%, saturated), oleate (39%, monounsaturated), linoleate (10%, polyunsaturated), and alpha-linolenate (0.3%, polyunsaturated).[4] Like all vegetable oils, palm oil does not contain cholesterol,[5][6] although saturated fat intake increases a person's LDL[7] and HDL[8] cholesterol. Palm oil is GMO-free,[9] i.e., it is not derived from genetically modified organisms.

NPR reports that according to USDA data, U.S. imports of palm oil more than doubled between 2005 and 2012. Last year we imported about 2.7 billion pounds. Much of the palm oil ends up in snack foods such as cookies, crackers and microwave popcorn. And a number of manufacturers are using a mix of oils in many of their products. For instance, it's typical now for crackers to contain a little palm oil as well as soybean, canola or cottonseed oil.

According to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (founded in 2003). First started by WWF for Nature and Unilever was created to work to ensure that sustainable practices are in use for the protection of the environment, human rights and the protection of Sumatran orangutans and tigers. Now incorporates more than 700 members made to promote sustainable agriculture on palm oil plantations. These groups are made up of various stakeholders in the entire palm oil supply chain from planters, processors, traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, bankers, investors as well as environmental and social non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Their vision is:
-RSPO will transform markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm
And their mission statement is:
-To advance the production, procurement, finance and use of sustainable palm oil products;
-To develop, implement, verify, assure and periodically review credible global standards for the entire supply chain of sustainable palm oil;
-To monitor and evaluate the economic, environmental and social impacts of the uptake of sustainable palm oil in the market;
-To engage and commit all stakeholders throughout the supply chain, including governments and consumers.

Here are my thoughts on this. Going to RSPOs website, and you click on Executive Board Members and Alternate Board Members; you find some that work for Oxfam and WWF. You also find ones that work for Kraft Foods (Head of Sustainable Source Chains); Unilever (Global Director of Sustainable Sourcing Developer); and formally worked for Procter & Gamble and now works for Kraft Foods, he is the (Director of Sustainability Global Issues Management). How many of these board members have a conflict of interest? Since palm oil is found in most of the U.S. processed snack foods. If looking at the rest of the world, there is a Wilmar Group associate that sits on the board. The Wilmar Group is Asia's leading agriculture business. They have been reported to use unsustainable 3rd parties to harvest palm oil leading to the destruction and habitat loss of Sumatran Tigers. They sell to Colgate-Palmolive; Nestle; and Procter & Gamble. Educate yourself, call companies or send them e-mails to inquire where they source palm oil.

30 NAMES PALM OIL CAN BE LABELLED UNDER

Foods, Body Products, Cosmetics & Cleaning Agents:
Vegetable Oil; Vegetable Fat; ^Sodium Laureth Sulfate (in almost everything that foams); ^Sodium Lauryl Sulfate; ^Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS); #Palm Kernel; #Palm Oil Kernel; #Palm Fruit Oil; #Palmate; #Palmitate; #Palmolein; #Glyceryl Stearate; #Stearic Acid; #Elaeis Guineensis; #Palmitic Acid; #Palm Stearine; #Palmitoyl oxostearamide; #Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3; *Steareth -2; *Steareth -20; #Sodium Kernelate; #Sodium Palm Kernelate; *Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate; ^Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate; #Hyrated Palm Glycerides; ^Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye; #Cetyl Palmitate; #Octyl Palmitate; ^Cetyl Alcohol; #Palmityl Alchohol

# These ingredients are definitely palm oil or derived from palm oil.
* These ingredients are often derived from palm oil, but could be derived from other vegetable oils.
^ These ingredients are either derived from palm oil or coconut oil.

Found: http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/palm-oil.php

Crispy Kale Pasta Bake

Crispy Kale Pasta Bake
Vegan; Soy Free; Serves 4

This is adapted from Fig and Cherry. The first time I made this it came out really bland for my taste. Here I added poblano peppers and vegan Parmesan cheese. I omitted the cornflour and vegetable spread to make it lighter. Hope you all enjoy! My mom and I did.... Happy Eating!

1 1/2 cups shell pasta (or other small-shaped pasta)
1 bunch kale (or other leafy vegetable such as spinach or silverbeet)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups unsweetened hemp milk or non-dairy milk
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 small to medium poblano peppers, diced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1-2 teaspoons of chipotle cayenne vegan Parmesan cheese

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes or as per packet instructions until almost al dente. You want it a little underdone because it will be heated again in the oven later on. Drain well and then place into a 1 1/2 quart ovenproof baking dish. Set aside. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Destem the leaves of the kale. In a large skillet over medium heat kale, peppers, onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes or until just wilted (adding a Tablespoon of water at a time if needed). Transfer half the kale mixture to a mini food processor and add 1/3 cup hemp milk, mustard, pepper and chipotle cayenne vegan Parmesan cheese. Blitz for 30 seconds until finely chopped and smooth. Pour over the pasta in the baking dish and gently fold in the rest of the wilted kale mixture from the skillet. Slowly pour in the remaining hemp milk.

3. Sprinkle breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta and place in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and crunchy. Serve immediately.

Asian Greens Stir Fry

Asian Greens Stir Fry
Vegan; Gluten Free; No Oil; 30 minutes or less

Finding fresh Asian greens at the farmers market, here is the recipe that I came up with. Hope you enjoy! With no oil, and gluten free; this is a dish that you can serve to almost everyone!

Ingredients:

2 medium-size bunches (about 13 ounces) tender Asian greens, such as bok choi, baby bok choi, baby Shanghai choi, choi sum, baby kai lan, or water spinach
1/4 cup low sodium vegetable broth
1 tablespoon Aji-Mirin (Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning)
2 cloves garlic, peeled, minced
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2-3 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 to 2 banana peppers, stemmed and sliced on the diagonal into thin pieces
1 to 2 jalapeno, stemmed and sliced on the diagonal into thin pieces
Choice of tofu, tempeh, or "chickn" mock meat
garnish with sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds
Bragg liquid aminos

preparation

1. Carefully inspect the greens, discarding or trimming off any spoiled stems or leaves. Trim the bottom ends off and discard. Wash the greens in several changes of the coldest possible water. (Note: Because bok choi and baby bok choi tend to have pockets full of sand in the nooks where the leaves meet the center stem, be certain to pull the leaves back slightly away from the stem when you're cleaning them. There are few things worse than a mouthful of sand when you want a mouthful of greens.)

2. In a skillet over medium heat, saute the garlic, onion, and peppers in the vegetable broth for about 5 minutes. Stir in the Aji-Mirin, ginger and cumin. Add your choice of tofu, tempeh or "chickn" and cook till the vegetable broth is almost gone, about 10 minutes. Wilt in the Asian greens by adding a Tablespoon of water at a time to the pan, increasing the heat to medium-high. Stirring, and adding water until the greens are completely wilted.

3. Serve warm, spray with Bragg liquid aminos and sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds.

No Oil Spicy Coconut Curry

No Oil Spicy Coconut Curry
Vegan; Gluten Free; 30 minutes

I made this last night for my mom (since I'm staying with her) and she loved it. I served this with brown rice, but use what you have... I plan on making this again and adding some mustard greens, so if you have that or spinach wilt it in...

1 block of extra firm sprouted tofu, rinsed and cut into 1" slices
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of onion, minced
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 small yellow squash, sliced
1 cup of cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 cups mustard greens or spinach, coarsely chopped
2 large tablespoons of plain coconut yogurt
1/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 tablespoon of red curry paste (check the label to make sure it's vegan)
1-1 1/2 cups unsweetened hemp milk
1 teaspoon ginger powder or fresh
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons cumin
garnish with lime and fresh cilantro

1. In a large pan saute in the vegetable broth garlic, and onion over medium heat till the onion is translucent. Add the tofu and gently toss until coated with the broth. Cook until the tofu has become golden, about 8-10 minutes. Combine the ginger, curry powder, and cumin; sprinkle over the tofu.

2. Add the squash and zucchini, cook for about 5 minutes and add the mushrooms. If using spinach or mustard greens; add it now with 2 tablespoons of water to wilt in. Stir in the coconut yogurt, hemp milk, curry paste, and simmer till the sauce becomes slightly thick. I added some crushed Thai peppers to give an extra kick, fresh cilantro and lime...

Today Is~Earth Overshoot Day

Today Is~Earth Overshoot Day

In less than nine months, we have now used more natural resources than what it takes the planet 12 months to produce. For the remainder of 2013, we will be living on resources borrowed from future generations.

This year—Earth Overshoot Day—the approximate date human resource demands exceed nature's budget—fell on August 20. Two days earlier than last year. In fact, since 2001, Overshoot Day has moved ahead by an average of 3 days per year.

And by 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9 billion—only increasing pressure on Earth's natural resources. On this finite planet, we need to change the way we think about everything, but especially about where and how we live, work and travel, along with what and how much we consume.

Overshoot Day is a bold indication that now is the time to make a change. Small actions can make a big difference. We each play an important role in creating a world where we all live within our ecological limits.

Found WorldWildlife.org

So here is my take on all of this... While we feel like we're doing our part on recycling, and reducing; we have forgotten that recycling still uses energy. That's not our society's get out jail free card. We have to get out of the me, me, me throw away society and make some real changes. For those who follow me (or know me), know that once I have fit a new step into my lifestyle; I add a new step... So, here is my question for you, what steps are you going to fit into your lifestyle?
1. Maybe instead of going to the gym, exercise outside;
2. Or look for upcycled products;
3. Instead of buying a gift for that special someone, make them something like a tasty treat or write them a poem or draw them a picture...
4. Instead of paying for the packaging, purchase from the bulk bins...

Tooth Care~Earth and Animal Friendly

Tooth Care~Earth and Animal Friendly

I haven't posted one of these in a while, so here are some natural tips on keeping your pearly whites sparkling....

Teeth Whitening

1 ripe strawberry
1/2 tsp. baking soda

1. In a cup or glass, mash the strawberry and add the baking soda. Mix.

2. Apply the mixture to your teeth with a toothbrush. Leave on for about 5 minutes.
Brush your teeth with your favorite cruelty-free toothpaste or for a smaller carbon footprint, use the recipe below and rinse.

3. Enjoy your newly white teeth. Now that's something worth smiling about!

Tooth Paste

Starting Over~ Staying True

Starting Over ~ Staying True

So, here is the post that I've been trying to figure out how to write.... This is to keep you (my followers posted) and for me to. I've left Bruce and I've moved back to San Antonio, TX. I know that I would give blips into the life that I was sharing with him.

The truth of it, he wasn't the right person for me. I did learn a lot from him and the group that I was working with in Colorado Springs. However, in the wrong that some of the members of the group did (like asking someone else to be the president of The Compassionate Vegan) not their place, or cutting chocolate cake in my face causing me to have a systemic reaction (I'm highly allergic). I've come out of this knowing that I love to create, share, and help. I've learned that I want to always have an open door for my friends to just drop by and share with great company.

So, in this transition and being compassionate to myself, I've allowed to grieve and now I'm looking into a great culinary school where the program focuses on plant-based nutrition, spring of 2014. I'm meeting like-minded new friends and reconnecting with those that I've lost touched with.

While there are so many of us in this world that have found ourselves in this position, the key is to always remain true to who you are. I'm fortunate to have always known I have a strong core value. These are the moments, where being truthful and taking the step back and looking at the big picture is truly important. Talking to my friends have helped SO much. Some of them helped me pack and move cross-country and some have just been there to answer the phone.

Raw Blackberry Crumble

Raw Blackberry Crumble
Raw; Vegan; Gluten Free; Soy Free

This recipe is adapted from Getting Raw. I had blackberries on hand, so use what berries you like. This lasted not even a 24 hours in my household, with unexpected house guests (friends are always welcome) and the boys being home all day since summer holiday.... These should last about 5 days tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge! Happy Summer...

For crust and topping:
2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup agave or brown rice syrup

1. Process coconut, cashews and salt in a food processor until fine and crummy, then add in the agave or brown rice syrup until well mixed.

2. Press the 2/3 mixture into a pan that has been lined with cling wrap. Make it thick enough that it will hold up as a cookie base when done.

3. Refrigerate while making the jam. (I stuck mine in the freezer.)

Blackberry Jam

1 10 oz package of frozen blackberries thawed and drained or 1 carton fresh berries
3 TBSP date paste (see recipe in blog)
1/4 cup agave syrup or brown rice syrup to sweeten to taste.

1. Using a blender or food processor, blend berries until nicely chopped and mixed. Taste for sweetness and add more agave or brown rice syrup if necessary.

2. Once the bottom crust is set, pour the jam over and spread. Best to let this set up in the fridge before adding top layer. I didn't wait and pressed out little balls and layered over the top to keep it floating on top of the jam (because it wasn't set yet) but you could just sprinkle the crumb topping over as well.

3. Best to let the whole thing sit a couple of hours in the fridge covered to set up. Then cut and use plastic wrap to help you get it out of the pan in one piece.

Oven Roasted Mashed Potatoes

Oven Roasted Mashed Potatoes
Vegan; Gluten Free

Here I give you the ingredients and use the amounts that suit your tastes. Remember though, when these get baked the taste will become subtle and bake off....

1 pound of a combination of red and golden potatoes, cubed (I leave the skin on since it seems to keep them more together)
low sodium vegetable broth
hemp milk
earth balance
garlic
freshly chopped chives
crushed dried rosemary
crushed red pepper

1. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the potatoes and cook until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and using a potato masher mix with ingredients until desired texture and taste.

3. Scoop the mashed potatoes into the lined muffin pan and scrape fork across the top. Drizzle with olive oil or earth balance, the potatoes will dry out-so don't skip this step. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden and crispy, serve warm...

Kale Chips

Kale Chips
Vegan; Raw; Gluten Free

These have become a tasty household staple, since a bag of kale chips will set you back $8.00 or so. There is a process and done right, these take about a day (at a dry high altitude) to make. It's taken awhile for me to get this just right, use what flavors you like. My food dehydrator was given to me, check freecycle.com if you're in the market....

1 bunch of kale, cleaned and de-stemmed (they will turn into tree branches if you keep the stems)
Braggs liquid amino
Vegan Parmesan cheese (I used cayenne chipotle)

1. In a large bowl spray the liquid amino onto the clean kale, gently massage into the kale. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese and massage into the kale and repeat if needed....

2. Lay the kale leaves on the trays of the dehydrator until all the trays are full or you've run out of kale. After about 6 hours, rotate the trays. Taking the inner trays to the outer.

3. Store in an air tight container.

March Against Monsanto~ The Fight for Our Food

March Against Monsanto~ The Fight for Our Food

Monsanto claims that it's a sustainable company, if this is true then why do so many speak about the evils of Monsanto and why was there a world wide event on Saturday, May 25, 2013, all over the world in every different city a protest took place. Spanning in different communities, people came out to march against the evil company, that has been on a killing spree. You may ask what company or even how are they getting away with this or what are they doing?

Here it is, how Monsanto is killing the environment from the disappearance of bees. To farmers in India killing themselves due to over priced, self destructing seeds and poor yields. To using humans as test subjects by selling food that has been stripped of nutrients and is killing us as a species.

The Impact We Have in the World....

The Impact We Have in the World....

Our actions have an impact throughout the web of life. "The toilet paper on your grocery store shelves may have a direct impact on the 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. Not all tissue and paper towels are made from responsible sources."

So, I had found the picture and the 3 sentences on Pinterest months ago. Recently, I posted it on The Compassionate Vegan facebook page and someone asked about what companies are socially responsible. It got me thinking about some may not know about the companies or even realize that we have an impact with the items we purchase every day. The link below will help you find great info to help make a more compassionate choice.
http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp

Lau Lau~ With a Twist

Lau Lau~ With a Twist
Vegan; 30 minutes; Gluten Free

The majority of time these rolls are filled with pork and fish, here I used a filling with split peas and sweet potato. A filling and tasty way to get more collard greens in your diet (which are a super green), hope you enjoy these rolls...


8 large whole collard leaves
1 medium sweet potato, unpeeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup of green and yellow split peas, soaked for 8 hours **Note: Soak the split peas before going to work or early in the day
1/2 cup of pearl barley or quinoa
1/2 cup of coconut milk
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or a few drops of liquid smoke

1. I used a rice maker filled with 2 cups water to cook the split peas, pearl barely and steam the sweet potatoes. If not using a rice maker fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the soaked split peas, pearl barley and cook till tender. Steam the sweet potatoes for 8 minutes.

2. Fill a large pot with 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil. Drop collard leaves in water one leaf at a time, and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until slightly soft.

3. In a medium skillet over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic till fragrant. Add sweet potatoes, cooked split peas and pearl barley or quinoa, coconut milk, crushed red pepper, and paprika or liquid smoke. Simmer, letting all of the flavors come together for 5 minutes or until liquid is gone.

4. Lay 1 collard leaf on work surface, with steam pointing away from you. Spoon 1/4 cup of filling 2 inches from bottom of collard leaf. Fold bottom edge of collard leaf over filling, fold in sides, and roll away from you; rolling as tight as you can. Serve with Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce for an extra kick....

Hominy Quesadillas with Grilled Tomatillo Salsa

Hominy Quesadillas with Grilled Tomatillo Salsa
Vegan; Serves 8; 30 minutes or fewer

Welcome summer with this light tasty meal. Letting the grill and the food processor do a lot of the work, makes this a super easy meal to prepare on a weeknight. I soaked cashews in the morning, before going to work and was able to make a cashew cream to take place of the goat cheese that the original recipe from Vegetarian Times called for.

3 large or a combination of small and medium equal to 1/2 cup, husked and halved
1 large poblano chile, halved lengthwise, stemmed and seeded (I used 1 1/2 smaller poblano chiles)
1/2 onion cut into chunks
1 Tbs. lime juice, plus extra to cut into lime wedges for serving (about 3 limes total)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup cooked hominy or canned hominy, rinsed and drained
1 cup cooked pinto beans or canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
8 flour tortillas (I used green chile flour tortillas)
1/2 cup cashew cream
1/2 cup pepper jack daiya cheese
hot sauce

1. Preheat over medium heat, you may have to coat the grill grate or the grill pan with cooking spray. We didn't and didn't lose any veggies...

2 Coat tomatillos, poblano, and onion chunks with cooking spray. Grill for 10 minutes or until charred.

3. Pulse grilled onion chunks and tomatillos to coarse puree in a mini food processor. Add poblano and lime juice; blend until poblano is chopped. Transfer to bowl, and stir in cilantro.

4. Pulse hominy, pinto beans, and 2 Tbs. of tomatillo mixture in food processor until just beginning to stick together.

5. Press one-quarter hominy mixture over half of each tortilla. Add cashew cream and sprinkle pepper jack daiya cheese and fold tortillas in half. Grill quesadillas for 6 minutes or until filling is heat through, turning once. Let stand for about 2 minutes and serve with hot sauce.

Creamy Avocado Pasta "Sauce"

Creamy Avocado Pasta "Sauce"
Vegan; Gluten Free; Prep 10 minutes; Serves 4

Well, the first time I made this it was a tad too chunky... I made it again, last night, with a MUCH creamier texture. Here is the adapted version of the sauce recipe from Oh She Glows....

2 medium sized ripe avocado, pitted
1 lemon, juiced + lemon zest to garnish
2-3 garlic cloves, to taste
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup of fresh mint
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste

1. Place all of the ingredients in food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

2. Serve with your favorite pasta.

Happy Mothers Day~ To ALL Moms

Happy Mothers Day



So here it is mothers day again. Yesterday friends of mine (I am still feeling under the weather) got together to raise awareness of mother cows and how they have to give birth to make milk, and milk products. They gave free non-dairy ice cream bars, and literature explaining the industry horrors.

I always thought it was odd when my aunt would wish me a happy mothers day, when I'm a pet parent to two beautiful rescued four legged furry pups. Now, I understand and I'm proud of it and look at word choices between owner and pet parent. When we change the word from owner to pet parent, we change the outlook of responsibility. That our companion animals are our responsibility for the lifetime that we are together. My boyfriend has two sons, and I'm a part time caregiver. They have a mom and I'm not trying to replace. So, yes I'm a pet mom.

On this Mothers Day, lets remember all moms from our own to the ones forgotten. Dairy Cows (that are raped, then have their babies stolen from them), Moms that have out lived their children and survive by Meals on Wheels, Elephants that have lost their families to the ivory trade or the circus, and Dolphins that have lost their loved ones to the slaughter in Japan.... Please support a cause and thank a mom this mothers day!

Quinoa Loaf with Mushrooms and Peas

Quinoa Loaf with Mushrooms and Peas
Vegan; Soy Free; Gluten Free

Last night was my cooking demo (which I got sick-sad face).... So, while I was trying to hold down water; my friends made this recipe. Hope you all enjoy this healthy, easy, tasty recipe! Hopefully next months cooking demo will be better!

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup rolled oats (use gluten free)
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and/or 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
10 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
1 cup chopped red onion

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8-inch loaf pan with oil; set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, put beans, oats and 1/2 cup water into a food processor and pulse until almost smooth. In a large bowl, combine mushrooms, bean mixture, quinoa, peas, parsley, tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to prepared loaf pan, gently pressing down and mounding it in the middle. Bake until firm and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Set aside to let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Found: Whole Foods

Sharp Cheddar

Sharp Cheddar
Vegan

Here is the last recipe to the wine and cheese tasting. This recipe makes about 1 1/2 pounds, so the note here, is freeze half for up to 3 months. This recipe is not soy free.... Found in VegNews

2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for at least 3 hours and drained
3/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 1/3 cups rejuvelac, divided
1/3 cup canola (I used olive oil, since I ran out of canola)
3 Tablespoons medium brown miso
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
8 teaspoons agar agar powder

1. In a high speed food processor or blender, combine cashews, nutritional yeast, 1/3 cup rejuvelac, canola or olive oil, miso and salt. Process until smooth and mixture will be thick.

2. Transfer mixture into a large glass bowl, cover with a towel and let rest for 24 to 72 hours at room temperature. Taste occasionally until desired level of sharpness.

3. In a medium saucepan, whisk together remaining 1 cup rejuvelac and agar. Bring to a boil continuing to whisk over medium heat for about 3 minutes until agar is dissolved and mixture is thick and bubbling. Reduce heat to low and add cheese mixture, whisking until smooth, remove from heat.

4. Pour cheese into a 9" round cake pan, lined with parchment paper. Let cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. Place in fridge for 3 to 4 hours until hard. Remove from pan, store in fridge wrapped in parchment paper for up to 4 weeks. For longer storage, seal in freezer safe plastic bag.

The Fairness of Trade

The Fairness of Trade

Today is World Fair Trade Day, and it gets me to thinking (since my mom mentions going to Walmart and the building collapse in Bangladesh), how many really know and understand fair trade.

According to fairtradeusa.org: Fair Trade began modestly in the 1940s when a few small North American and European organizations reached out to poverty stricken communities to help them sell their handicrafts to well-off markets. Later, a fictional Dutch character, Max Havelaar, was developed as an advocate for exploited coffee pickers. Today, Fair Trade is a global effort. Consumers can enliven developing countries, relieve exploitation and promote environmental sustainability by purchasing Fair Trade-labeled tea, cocoa, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, sugar, honey, wine, flowers, grains and rubber products.



How does this tie into everyday purchases? When we as consumers read the labels "made in ____" fill in the blank, we are making the purchase power of a lifetime. We can say through that purchase that I will make sure this will not go towards the exploiting of the environment, of people and countries. So here are some steps, look for labels that say fair trade. Look for clothing that is made in the USA or call up the companies and ask how their products are made and how they treat their employees.

Stuffed Artichokes

Stuffed Artichokes
Vegan; 1 hour 30 minutes

Finding artichokes on sale at the grocery store the other day, I picked some up. I love this, since it's one bowl and one pan it makes cleaning SO easy! Prep time is a little longer, since you do have to snip the pointed tips off each artichoke leaf.

4 artichokes
1/2 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (use gluten free)
1 Tablespoon melted earth balance
4 Tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese
1 clove of garlic minced
2 teaspoons basil, parsley, crushed rosemary

1. Rinse artichokes. Cut about 1.5 inches from top (point). Cut off stem and reserve. Artichokes should sit flat by removing stem. With kitchen shears, clip the end from each leaf to remove thorn. Rinse. With point down on a hard surface (counter top) press down to spread leaves. Place artichokes in bowl of lemon water to keep from turning brown.

2. In a medium bowl combine ingredients, mixing till well combined.

3. Press about 1/2 cup of stuffing into each artichoke. Tightly pack stuffed artichokes together in a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven. Add enough water to reach half way up artichokes. Steam for 45 minutes. During the steaming process, sprinkle artichokes with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. As artichokes cooks, baste often and don’t let liquid evaporate. As liquid steams away, add more water. This liquid turns into a delicious sauce. Artichokes are done when you can pull a leaf off easily.

Lemon Lavender Scones

Lemon Glazed Lavender Scones
Vegan

Since The Compassionate Vegan had a tabling event at Herb Fest in Colorado Springs, I made these to pass out as samples. Quite tasty and SUPER easy to make, these are perfect for a brunch or a Mother's Day get together.... Depending on the size you shape the scones will change the amount the recipe yields. Adapted from food.com

1/2 cup organic sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried lavender buds
1/2 cup earth balance, at room temperature
egg replacer equal to 2 eggs
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/4 cup hemp milk

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F; line a 12 count muffin pan with paper liners or shape into triangle scone shapes.

2. Put the sugar and lavender buds in a food processor. Process briefly to combine. Sift flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.

3. Tip the lavender sugar into a bowl with the earth balance and beat together until pale and fluffy. Beat the egg replacer into the earth balance mixture, a little at a time, then fold gently into the sifted flour. Stir in the hemp milk, then spoon the mixture into the muffin cups.

4. Bake for about 18 minutes until risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Lemon Glaze

2/4 cups sifted organic powder sugar
the zest and juice from one lemon

1. Sift the powder sugar in a bowl. Zest the lemon and set aside. Squeeze lemon juice into the sifted powder sugar a little at a time and stirring, till you get a glaze consistency. Drizzle over the scones and sprinkle with lemon zest, store in the fridge till ready to serve.... Enjoy!

Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Cheese

Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Cheese
Vegan; Makes about 12 oz

This was by far the favorite of the party! I also have to admit, this is my favorite too! I only got a small sliver, so you know this will be a repeat recipe. I shaped this one as a log, but can be made in the shape of a ball or in a mold. I had the cheese cultured for 2 days.

1 1/2 cups Basic Cashew Cheese, cultured for 1 to 2 days
1/2 cup finely chopped sun dried tomatoes (I used the ones packed in oil)
1/2 cup slivered fresh basil, firmly packed
3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt

1. Put the Basic Cashew Cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, nutritional yeast, garlic and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.

2. Shape the cheese into a log, or form of choice by hand. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Cashew Chevre with Lemon Zest and Peppercorns

Cashew Chevre with Lemon Zest and Peppercorns
Vegan; Makes 12 oz

This recipe was the first one I made, I let the basic cashew cheese culture for about 24 hours. The note for this recipe is not to let the basic cashew cheese get too tangy. I made this recipe into a cheese ball, but you can use a mold or even a cake pan.

1 1/2 cups Basic Cashew Cheese, cultured for 1 to 2 days
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 Tablespoons fresh cracked black or multicolored peppercorns

1. Put the Basic Cashew Cheese, lemon zest and juice, nutritional yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.

2. Using plastic wrap: Sprinkle the cracked peppercorns and (I added this part) lemon zest evenly over the plastic wrap. Pack and wrap the cheese. Smooth and shape into a ball, refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Basic Cashew Cheese

Basic Cashew Cheese
Vegan; Makes 1 pound

This is the base for the sun-dried tomato basil and cashew chevre with lemon zest and peppercorns. The longer you soak the cashews, the softer they are and the easier they break down. This means you can get a creamier texture.

2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for 3-8 hours and drained
pinch of salt
1/4 to 1/2 cup of rejuvelac

1. Put the cashews and salt in a food processor and process. Pour in just enough of the rejuvelac to process the cashews. Process until smooth and creamy, occasionally stopping to scrape the sides of the food processor. Repeating the blending process if needed.

2. To culture the cheese, transfer to a clean glass bowl, cover, and let rest at room temperature for 8 to 36 hours depending on how sharp a flavor you want. The cheese will thicken as it cultures.

3. If you will be using the cheese as a base for another recipe, simply cover and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Otherwise, transfer to a glass mold and smooth the top. Cover and let firm for at least 6 hours.

Rejuvelac

Rejuvelac
Makes about 5 cups

This is what you will use as the culturing agent for the recipes that follow. Keeps for about 4 weeks covered and stored in the fridge. The process took me about 3 days in total but can take as up to 6 days.

1 cup whole grains (I used quinoa. Brown rice, Kamut berries, millet, oat groats, rye berries, wheat berries or a combination will also work.)

6 cups filtered water

1. Soak and sprout the grains. Put the grains in a 1 quart and add water to cover. Place a double layer of cheesecloth over the mouth and secure with a rubber band. Let the grains soak for 8-12 hours. Drain, then add just enough water to moisten the grains but not so much that they immersed in water. Put the jar in a warm place out of direct sunlight for 1 to 3 days and rinse the grains once or twice a, each time draining well and then adding just enough fresh water to moisten them. Continue the process until the grains begin to sprout.

2. Culture the rejuvelac. Divide sprouted grains equally between two 1 quart glass jars. Pour 3 cups of the filtered water into each jar. Cover each jar with fresh cheesecloth and secure with rubber bands. Put the jars in a warm place out of direct sunlight for 1 to 3 days. The water turn cloudy and white, and the liquid will have a slightly tart flavor, somewhat like lemon juice. Strain the liquid into clean glass jars and discard the grains.

Vegan Cheese and A Wine Tasting

Vegan Cheese and A Wine Tasting

Yesterday, Bruce and I hosted a wine tasting with homemade nut cheeses. I will have to admit that the cheese was really easy to make, and I know this is the hardest to give up when you make that transition to vegan. One thinks, "Wow, I have to give things like this up..."

Let me tell you right now, you don't have to. The next series of recipes posted, will be how to make 4 different kinds. These are tried, tasty, and asked for recipes from the event yesterday.

Recipes Found: Artisan Vegan Cheese and VegNews

Potato and Cauliflower Burritos

Potato and Cauliflower Burritos
30 minutes or fewer; Vegan; Soy Free

Somehow I missed posting this recipe from the other blog. That happens, when you have SO many recipes posted in various places. Switch out the potatoes with yucca for a different texture. Depending on your heat tolerance, use 1/2 a chipotle pepper or remove the seeds before pulsing. This hits the yum factor!

1 15-oz. can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
2 tsp. canola oil
1 small onion, halved and sliced (1 cup)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
3 cups small cauliflower florets
1 medium Yukon gold or russet potato (I used 2-3 small red potatoes since I can find them local), cut into 1/4 inch cubes
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 8-inch flour or whole-wheat tortillas, warmed
1 cup cooked brown rice, warmed
1 cup pepper jack Daiya cheese

1. Pulse tomatoes, chipotle chile, and garlic in food processor until coarse puree forms.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and oregano; saute 2 minutes. Stir in cauliflower, potato, and tomato mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Uncover, and simmer 5 minutes more, or until cauliflower and potatoes are tender. Stir in cilantro.

3. Divide cauliflower mixture among tortillas, top with rice, and sprinkle with cheese. Roll up tortillas, leaving one end open.

Per burrito: 366 cal.; 10 grams prot.; 12 grams fat (<1 gram sat. fat); 55 grams carbs.; 0 mg chol.; 491 mg sod.; 7 gram fiber; 7 grams sugar

Found: Adapted from Vegetarian Times June 2011

Poblano White Chili

Poblano White Chili
Vegan; Gluten Free

This is a thinner chili, then the usual stick to your ribs chili. Instead of the goat cheese that the original recipe (adapted from Vegetarian Times) called for, to keep the tangy flavor that this needs, I used cashew cream. Hope you all like this. Serve over rice and blue corn organic chips!

3 cups cooked white beans, black beans, or kidney beans (I used a combination)
1 recipe Rajas (see recipe in blog)
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
2 Tbs. lime juice, divided
3/4 cup hemp milk
2/4 cashew cream (see recipe in blog)
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
white pepper to taste

1. Bring beans, Rajas, broth, oregano, and cumin to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 2 minutes more.

2. Warm milk in separate saucepan. Add cashew cream, 1 Tbs. lime juice, season with white pepper and stir until smooth. Serve chili garnished with cashew cream sauce, pumpkin seeds, and cilantro.

Rajas

Rajas
Vegan

I had three poblano peppers and it would have been better to have the six, since I sliced them SO thin. The original recipe calls for heating the onions and garlic in a skillet, here I've made it easier for clean up and everything gets cooked together.

6 poblano chilies (1 lb.)
2 tsp. safflower oil
1/2 large onion, thinly sliced (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Slice peppers and onion into 1/4-inch strips; place on cookie sheet and set aside. Add garlic, oregano and drizzle with oil, oven roast for 15-20 minutes.

Non-Dairy Cream Cheese Frosting

Non-Dairy Cream Cheese Frosting

2 8 oz pkgs non-dairy cream cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp agave nectar
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
a pinch of sea salt

To make frosting, whip cream cheese until smooth, then add agave nectar, vanilla, and sea salt and beat until smooth. Frost cupcakes or cake with cream cheese frosting and top with favorite toppings.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Vegan; Makes 24 cupcakes

Bruce and I went to a potluck last night, and I brought these. Since it was a friends birthday, and I said I'd make the birthday cake. These little gems were such a hit, so I was told I needed to share the recipe. I adapted this recipe in San Antonio from 2 different recipes. Living in Colorado I got 2 dozen vs. the 3 dozen I got in SA. Also, in SA I could use baking powder and baking soda. Here I have to omit the baking powder and use the same amount of baking soda, without adding more.... So, one never knows until you make a mistake through trial and error....

To make the cake:

2 cups plus 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
3/4 cup coconut oil, liquidfied
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 oz. carrot baby food (I use carrot, apple and parsnips from a squeeze out tube)
1 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp. vanilla extract
egg replacer equavilent to 3 eggs
3 cups coarsely grated carrots (can be shredded in food processor), from about 2 carrots
1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple, well drained
1 1/2 cups ground walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.

2. To make Carrot Cake: Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, allspice and cardamom. Beat oil, both sugars, baby food, ginger, and vanilla extract until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add egg replacer, beating after. Add flour mixture in two additions. Add carrots, pineapple, raisins and nuts; beat just until blended. Divide batter in cupcake liners and bake 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool on baking racks and cool completely.

See Recipe in Blog for Frosting and top with toasted coconut or walnuts....

The Amazing Race & Wild Places Horse Rescue

With one of the groups that I'm apart of up here, I was able to find a good friend Kelly. She is vegan, animal lover, gentle, and a great person to be around. Her dream has come true about having a horse rescue. The part that's really hard about starting a horse rescue (like every dream) from the ground up, is that it's hard to find the time to work, keep your passion and dream nurtured, and not get discouraged when you hit a brick wall. Well, I actually am sponsoring Maggie the Mule from her rescue for Violet's Christmas present, and we're planning (through) the group an Amazing Race Style fundraiser. That's where this post comes in, The Compassionate Vegan is sponsoring a team and I'd like to help get my team votes.



"The Amazing Race" for animals, benefiting Kelly's horse rescue "Wild Places Horse Rescue" in Guffey Colorado is now posted! There are 9 teams so far so if you'd like to sign up head over to her site OR if you'd like to vote for a team head here! http://www.wildplacesrescue.org/vote.htm
Every vote is $1 and every bit of it goes to the horse rescue! So head on over and pick your favorite team! Look for The Compassionate Vegan logo and vote for our team.... Thank You All SO Very Much!

Not What You Remembered Ratatouille

Not What You Remembered Ratatouille
Vegan; 30 minutes; Serves 2-4

I just made these, and even the boys liked the dish. Bruce told me, that his ex used to make this totally different. Getting the idea for this from Everything Vegan Baking Cookbook that one of my beautiful friends gave me for a birthday present. All of that being said, this is loosely from the Everything Vegan Baking cookbooks. I had the vegan puff pastry on hand, so please check the blog for the recipe. I, also, used a lot of left over veggies. So, like I've said~use what you have on hand and make the dish your own!

1 zucchini, sliced in 1/4" rounds
1/2 yellow bell pepper sliced into 1/4" strips
1/4 onion, sliced into 1/4" strips
2 organic tomatoes, sliced into 1/4" rounds
3 mushrooms, sliced 1/4" strips
4 radishes, sliced in 1/4" rounds
1 large garlic clove, minced
4 radishes, sliced in 1/4" rounds
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked white pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley
1 sheet of vegan puff pastry (see recipe in blog)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. To make the Ratatouille, combine veggies and spices in a bowl. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and toss to coat. Place the veggie combination on a shallow glass casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes. This will allow the puff pastry to remain flaky and crisp.

3. Roll out puff pastry and arrange ratatouille on puff pastry, making almost a nest, keeping a 1" border. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve with a salad for a more complete meal.

Vegan Zucchini Lemon Cupcakes

Vegan Zucchini Lemon Cupcakes
Makes 16 cupcakes

I made these for Bruce's birthday (which had passed). It's been a busy month, again, not an excuse! However, what Bruce does like, is how it turns into a celebration through the month, and not just one day. I had to adapt this recipe (original came from Fragrant Vanilla Cake) since it called for ingredients that I don't have and one that I had never heard of. I'm including the frosting recipe, but Bruce liked having the lemon curd on and in the cupcake.

Cake:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup pastry flour
2/3 cup brown rice syrup
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup grated green zucchini skin
1 cup pureed zucchini
1/4 cup coconut oil, liquidfied
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp lemon zest
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp lite coconut milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans

Curd Filling:

1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp organic lemon zest
1/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp agave nectar
1/4 cup cornstarch
pinch of sea salt
2 Tbsp plain coconut yogurt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp coconut oil, liquidfied

Frosting:

3 8 oz pkgs non-dairy cream cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp agave nectar
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
a pinch of sea salt


1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and position rack in center of oven. Line cupcake or muffin pan with parchment cupcake liners. Whisk flour, baking soda, and sea salt together in a large bowl to blend well. Whisk oil, syrup, juice and zest, coconut milk, vanilla extract, zucchini, and pecans together in small bowl to blend well, then whisk into the flour mixture until well blended. Transfer cake batter to prepared pan and bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool cupcakes completely in pan on rack for about an hour.

2. To make the filling, combine agave nectar, cornstarch, and sea salt in a medium pot, and whisk until combined. Add the juice, zest, coconut oil, coconut yogurt, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium high heat whisking constantly until thickened to a curd or pudding like consistency, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Let chill in the fridge until very cold, at least an hour.

3. To make frosting, whip cream cheese until smooth, then add agave nectar, vanilla, and sea salt and beat until smooth.
To assemble cupcakes, take an apple corer and remove the middle of each cupcake. Fill cupcake hole with lemon curd, and allow to set for about an hour before frosting. Frost with cream cheese frosting and top with either toasted coconut shreds or toasted pecans.

Oven Roasted Red Cabbage

Oven Roasted Red Cabbage
Vegan, Gluten Free

So humor me, Bruce did and he found this to be quite a satisfying meal. This was made with all of the left overs from the spring rolls, since I hate food going to waste.

1/2 a small head of red cabbage, sliced (they look like patties)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1-2 apple(s), skinned and chopped
2 teaspoons of minced fresh ginger (I zested)
2 teaspoons of cardamom
crushed red pepper to taste
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, divided

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a shallow glass baking dish, place the cabbage, garlic and half of the balsamic vinegar. Add a pinch of salt to bring the flavors together. In a small bowl combine the apple, ginger, cardamom and crushed red pepper. Combine apple mixture to the tops of the cabbage and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cabbage is tender.

Spring Rolls

Spring Rolls
Vegan; Raw (Almost); Gluten Free

I made these last week and the boys LOVED them. These are really easy to make, I will tell you right now that the rice paper doesn't keep too nicely. Mine have really become brittle, I guess the dry air in Colorado. Anyways, there are ideas listed below, so the sky is the limit!

1/3 head of red cabbage, finely chopped
1 cup Udon noodles (to make gluten free use a rice or gf noodles)
1/4 cup fresh herbs (use cilantro, basil or mint, your choice)
1 zucchini, julienned
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated (optional)
juice from 1/2 lime
soy sauce or dipping sauce of choice
I added slices of pan fried tofu to each roll (omit to make raw)
slices of seaweed

Other Ideas:
1/2 cup bean sprouts
5 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup carrots, grated or julienned

Preparation:

1. To make this easy, if you have a food processor use it. I used mine with the red cabbage, ginger and zucchini to shred evenly. Squirt with lime juice and set aside.

2. Pan fry tofu slices, or skip to make raw.

3. Submerge spring roll wrappers in hot water until pliable, about 15 seconds. Layer with noodles or rice, about 2 tablespoons of cabbage mixture, tofu, seaweed and I used mint on wrapper and wrap your spring rolls. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!

Myth Behind Dairy

Myth Behind Dairy

Here it goes. I've been trying to figure out the best approach to write this, and haven’t really been that successful. The myth about dairy and the truth of how I feel are really very distorted.

I used to be like everyone else out in the world, addicted to cheese and thought that there wasn't harm being caused to the cows or the goats. Well, that thinking is SO far from truth and here’s why….

When you see a mother breast feeding her baby, what do you think? Do you think that they are developing a bond? Do you think about the science behind it? A mother feeding all of the nutrients that she has to her newborn? To understand a mothers bond to her newborn; is to understand and see that ALL animals have a bond when fed their mothers milk. What one may fail to see and understand is that a female has to be pregnant and give birth to produce milk for her young. This is across the board, cows, tigers, women and goats. Well, when you drink cow or goat milk, you rob their children, their young to drink and grow to obtain the milk for human consumption. Man is the only species that has continued to drink milk after weaned from our mothers. Most of us have heard about being lactose intolerant, or are ourselves. Well, the reason is due to us ALL losing the bacteria in our guts that helps break down the lactose in milk (regardless of what species).

http://girliegirlarmy.com/lifestyle/20130109/if-you-watch-any-video-today-let-it-be-this-one/#.UO8PhwqxadE.pinterest

The moral issue at hand is: if a mother has to give birth to produce milk and this is true for all mammals, then what happens to the babies that are born to these mothers. If you’re a cow or a goat, you get one day. If you’re a female cow or goat, you live in a pen or stall and are abused until you’re old enough to be raped and suffer the process all over again. If you’re a male, then you’re sold for your flesh.
The environmental issue at hand: if I call myself an environmentalist, then I am contributing to the greenhouse gasses. I allow companies to poison my body and the planet. One can buy organic, one can make sure that the cows are not pumped with antibiotics and rBGH. You still purchase milk that is not local and still highly processed. Is that healthy for you or the environment?



The health and some may call the yuck issue: Somatic Cell Count – Google it! Turning dairy cows into milk machines has led to epidemics such as mastitis (udder infections). According to the USDA, 1 in 6 dairy cows in the United States suffers from clinical mastitis, which is responsible for 1 in 6 dairy cow deaths on U.S. dairy farms. This level of disease is reflected in the concentration of somatic cells in the American milk supply. When a cow is infected, greater than 90% of the somatic cells in her milk are neutrophils, the inflammatory immune cells that form pus. The average somatic cell count in U.S. milk per spoonful is 1,120,000. [But as the dairy industry points out, the accumulation of pus is a natural part of an animal’s defense system. So pus itself isn’t a bad thing, we just may not want to have it in our mouth.]

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/cows-milk-casomorphin-and-autism

The Compassionate Vegan

The Compassionate Vegan

I feel like I need to let everyone in on why the blog hasn't been updated frequently. Drum roll, Please..... The excitement is that Bruce, some friends and I are building an online community that will be a social network for vegans, vegetarians and the veg curious. There will be a social network, all of my recipes, a what's in your fridge tool, vegan living, activism and vegan health. We will be including a mentor program, so if you need a sponsor or would like to be a sponsor let me know.

We're turning the organization (since we now have our EIN) into a non-profit that will educate those who want to learn about vegan living, including animal rights and sustainability.

All of that being said, now all of the back paper work is moving forward. While we do this all of our outreach has continued on. I've started doing cooking workshops (like a home ec. class), our tabling events are going to start in May and we still have the plant strong classes. All Free, and that's the way we will continue to survive. With donations and some funding through VegFund.

Hope you are all excited to be apart of this and I'm happy to announce: Coming Soon www.thecompassionatevegan.com

Organic Blue Corn Nachos

Organic Blue Corn Nachos

Making the cheese sauce for this is what took the longest. But, if you make it ahead of time, you will have a quick snack or light meal made. There are no measurements in this recipe, so make as little or as much as you want.

Black beans
Chipotle powder to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
Chili powder to taste
Garlic powder to taste
Onion powder to taste
Organic blue corn chips
Tomatoes, diced or quartered

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium skillet, heat black beans and spices with 1/4 cup water over medium heat. Stirring occasionally until fragrant. Allow to thicken.

3. In a casserole dish layer chips, tomatoes, beans and cheese sauce. Bake until heated through, about 5 minutes and serve warm.

Enjoy!

Nacho Cheese Sauce~Vegan Style

Nacho Cheese Sauce~Vegan Style

I made this last night, for Bruce and one of his long time friends that came in from out of town. So here it is, his friend pretty much told Bruce "No, you can't like that vegan stuff." Maybe phrased differently, but yes. Anyways, last night even his friend went back for more tasty bites.... I put this over black beans, tomatoes and organic blue corn chips.

1 cup cooked and mashed butternut squash (mine was small, so it came out to be half of the squash)
3/4 cup plain coconut yogurt
3/4 cup water
1/4 onion finely chopped
5 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/4 cup raw cashews
3 Tablespoons tapioca flour
1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a food processor or blender, combine all of the ingredients and process until smooth and creamy. Occasionally scraping the sides to push closer to the blades.

2. Transfer to a heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until thick and creamy. About 2 to 5 minutes, it took me 3 minutes.

Store in a covered container for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Adapted from: Artisan Vegan Cheese

Buffalo Chickpea Dip

Buffalo Chickpea Dip
Vegan; Gluten Free

Make at least a few hours ahead to allow all the flavors time to meld together; cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate, and bake off just before serving.

1 15-oz can kidney, drained and rinsed
1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight
3/4 cup Saso Roasted Red Pepper Chipotle Sauce
1/2 cup hemp milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Ground black pepper
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh, finely-chopped parsley
1 teaspoon fresh chopped chives
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup Daiya pepper jack-style or cheddar cheese, divided

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Add the beans and cashews to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times to break them up a bit. Add the hot sauce, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of black pepper. Process until the mixture is entirely smooth (this will take several minutes), stopping to scrape down the bowl as necessary. Adjust salt to taste.

3. Scrape the bean mixture into a bowl and stir in the parsley and chives to evenly distribute. Stir in the chickpeas and 3/4 cup of the Daiya. Transfer the dip to a 9×9-inch square baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Daiya on top. (Note: Dip can be made up to this point a day or two ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to heat and serve.) Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until warmed through. Serve with tortilla chips or veggies for dipping.

Found and slightly adapted from Gluten Free in the City

Saffron-Vanilla Snickerdoodles

Saffron-Vanilla Snickerdoodles

These are more spicy and earthy than sweet, as far a a cookie goes. I made these to with the Christmas arrangement of sweets that I sent out to family and friends for presents. I loved the exotic flavors that come together in this cookie, and even Grant liked this one. A few extra steps in this recipe, but SO worth it.

about 30 threads of saffron (to yield 1/8 teaspoon ground saffron)
1/2 vanilla bean
2 tablespoons hemp milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup earth balance, at room temperature
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 cup packed organic light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
egg replacer equvilant to 1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Crush the saffron threads with a mortar and pestle until powdery or grind them in a clean spice grinder; alternatively, you can finely mince the saffron. The finer the powder, the more intense the saffron color and flavor in the cookies.

2. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the pulp into a small saucepan. Add the vanilla pod, milk, and saffron and cook over very low heat, just until bubbles begin to form at the edges, between 180°F and 190°F (82°C and 88°C). Alternatively, combine the vanilla pulp, pod, milk, and saffron in a small microwavable bowl, and microwave just until the milk is hot, 20 to 30 seconds. Cover and let steep for about 10 minutes; the milk should have a sunny yellow color.

3. Sift the flour and baking soda into a medium bowl.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on low speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Remove the vanilla pod from the milk, squeezing off any liquid or pulp clinging to it back into the milk. In a medium bowl, combine the milk mixture, egg, and vanilla extract and whisk vigorously until well blended. With the mixer on medium speed, add the egg mixture very slowly, in a steady stream, and mix until well-incorporated and very smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then mix on medium speed for 30 more seconds.Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour mixture. Mix on low speed just until uniform in texture. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the dough out into an airtight container or onto a piece of plastic wrap. Cover the container, or, if using plastic wrap, shape the dough into a rough disk, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 5 days.

6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Roll 1/4-cup (60 ml) portions of the dough into balls, and place them on the baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Bake for about 16 minutes, until golden but not too dark, rotating the pan midway through the baking time. Ideally, the baked cookies will be tall and slightly under-cooked in the center, and will buckle shortly after coming out of the oven. If the cookies don't buckle, don't worry; they'll still be delicious. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 10 minutes before removing. These cookies are best when eaten warm, shortly after they come out of the oven. However, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Alternatively, the dough can stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as needed and saving the rest of the dough to bake another day.

Makes 9 large cookies.

Macadamia Ricotta

Macadamia Ricotta
Vegan; Gluten Free

2 cups raw macadamia nuts, soaked for 8 to 12 hrs and drained
1 cup water
large pinch of salt

1. Combine ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, occasionally stopping to scrap. Process until creamy.

2 Transfer to a clean glass bowl, cover and let rest at room temp for 12 to 24 hrs. (I skipped this part and just put the ricotta in the fridge and let it sit for a few days.)

Makes 4 cups and found: Artisan Vegan Cheese

Pasta with Ricotta and Brussels Sprouts

Pasta with Ricotta and Brussels Sprouts
Vegan; 30 minutes

Bruce loved the balance between the earthy taste of the Brussels sprouts and the pasta. I loved the way this dish came together, putting leftovers and ingredients that needed to be used, while not tasting like that. The boys liked the pasta, but weren't fans of the Brussels sprouts.

1 pound pasta of your choice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved
1/2 cup vegan parmesan
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup mix of rosemary, basil, and oregano
1 cup macadamia ricotta (recipe to follow)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground salt and pepper
1/2 cup of hemp milk

1. Marinade the Brussels Sprouts with garlic, salt and black pepper for 10 minutes.

2. Cook the pasta in a large pot of rapidly boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook over high heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes and add the pine nuts until toasted.

3. Over medium heat, add the vegan parmesan, macadamia ricotta and rosemary mix. Toss to thoroughly combine, adding hemp milk. Season with crushed red pepper, and serve with additional parmesan.