Seitan ~ in the Slow Cooker

Seitan ~ in the Slow Cooker
Makes 1.5 pounds
Vegan

This recipe is my "go to" recipe for making homemade seitan. It's SO easy to make and tastes like the roast that your mom used to make. If you love to use a crock-pot or slow cooker, this is the book to buy! Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker

I have used this book for several recipes, and there are other recipes that use this as a base!

Here I've made gyros

Here I've made 3 bean pumpkin soup

1 3/4 cups of vital wheat gluten
1/4 cup chickpea flour
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon onion powder (I use 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (I use 1 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon salt (I use a pinch)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6 Tablespoons soy sauce (divided)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 3/4 cups water or vegetable broth (I use all the water with a whole no-chicken bouillon cube)
1 medium-size onion, quartered (I use less)

1. In a large bowl, combine the vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, onion/garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in 3 Tablespoons of soy sauce, olive oil, and water or broth. Stir well until mixed. Knead for 3 minutes. (All in one bowl making for easy clean-up!)

2. Pour about 2 quarts of water into the slow cooker. Depending on your preference, leave the seitan dough whole or divide into 4-6 pieces and add the remaining soy sauce and onion. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

3. Transfer the cooked seitan to a baking sheet to cool. If you are not using the seitan right away, it can be stored submerged in its cooking liquid in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or for up to 3 weeks in the freezer.

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.

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.

Chickpea Flatbread

Chickpea Flatbread
Vegan; Gluten Free

When I made this, I think my cookie sheet was too large. So, if you happen to be like me and have several cookie sheets in different sizes, use a medium one. Mine came out thinner then I would have liked, super tasty. I'll measure the one that I'll use next time, so that way there should be no confusion as to what "large" or "medium" mean. This recipe goes great with any pesto recipe....

2 1/2 cups chick-pea flour (also called gram or garbanzo flour)
3 1/2 cups fresh cold water
2 teaspoons black pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
A pinch of salt
Vegan Parmesan Cheese

1. In a large mixing bowl, pour in the flour. Add the water gradually as you whisk the flour to keep any lumps from forming. Once all the water has been added, mix until completely smooth and add salt and pepper as desired (just not too much salt and this recipe doesn't need much).

2. Let the mixture stand on the counter for 3 hours or so. When ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Gently skim off any froth that forms on the surface of the mixture with a slotted spoon. Prepare a large rimmed cookie sheet by pouring the olive oil onto the bottom (if you can, do not be shy or skimpy here with the olive oil, it is wonderful in this recipe).

3. Once the oven is hot, pour in the batter, making a layer about (1/4) inch deep. Careful, this is going to move a lot when you pick it up! Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, until golden. 5 minutes before pulling out of the oven, sprinkle with vegan Parmesan cheese. Remove from the oven when done and let cool a little before cutting & serving.

Found: In Pursuite of More

Tofu Steaks

Tofu Steaks
Vegan; 30 minutes; Serves 3

1 14 oz. package of tofu, drained and pressed
1 clove of garlic, minced
flour for dusting (if making gluten free, use brown rice flour), about 1/4 cup
3 Tablespoons cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, white pepper and salt (to taste)
2 Thai dried peppers, crushed
Olive oil, to coat the pan (about 2 Tablespoons)
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, to coat pan (about 2 Tablespoons, omit to make gluten free)

1. Drain the tofu and place in a sieve with a weighted plate on top to remove as much liquid as possible, leave for 30 minutes. Slice into 3 pieces.

2. In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper, minced garlic and crushed Thai pepper. Dust tofu in mixture .

3. Heat the oil and vegan Worcestershire sauce in a pan to a high temperature. Add the tofu and turn when crispy. Serve with Mushroom, Radish, Persimmon Chutney and some garlic bread....


Adapted from: http://www.food.com/recipe/tofu-steak-178472?oc=linkback

Butternut Squash Alfredo Sauce

Butternut Squash Alfredo Sauce
Vegan; Serves 4

In honor of fall and it being cold outside, this is one of those perfect comfort foods! I paired this with a white wine and added crushed red pepper....

2 1/2 cups hemp milk
2 cups butternut squash puree (I made mine the same night, so oven roasted for 30-45 minutes)
1 cup shredded style cheddar Daiya cheese
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon Earth Balance Soy Free Spread

1. Set a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add oil and Earth Balance, add onion, saute until soft and opaque, about 1-2 minutes. Add hemp milk, butternut squash, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.

2. Whisk vigorously or use a hand held immersion blender to blend until smooth, cook for 4-5 minutes. Then add maple syrup and Daiya cheese, stir until smooth. Take off the heat.

3. Add to pasta and enjoy! (A spinach or a garlic parsley pasta would be wonderful with this). I served it with some crusty garlic bread.....

Buffalo Tofu Bites

Buffalo Tofu Bites
Vegan; 1 hour

With an hour being the time, I promise-this is the type of recipe that is not as hands on. Step number 3 is what may take the most hands on, however I promise this is worth it! Grant and Max liked it, and this is perfect for any tale gate parties that are coming up!!

1 cup of hemp milk
2 tbsp corn starch
1 15 ounce block of firm tofu (organic), pressed to remove excess water
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Earth Balance butter, melted
1/4 cup Saso Roasted Red Pepper Chipotle Sauce
1/2 tbsp of garlic powder
a dash of black pepper

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium sized bowl mix the hemp milk with the corn starch and set aside.

3. In another medium sized bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and salt. Next, cut the tofu in triangles; to do this first slice the tofu in half so that there are now 2 slabs of tofu, then cut each slab into thirds on the short side, then cut in half on the long side. Now you should have 12 small squares of tofu, slice each one of those on an angle to get triangles. See images below.

4. Now place the tofu triangles into the milk mixture and coat them, then dredge them into the flour mixture and get each side covered completely. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for an hour.

5. In a large bowl whisk together the melted butter, hot sauce, garlic powder and black pepper. Dip each piece of tofu in the mixture and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for about 30-35 minutes turning halfway through. If you want them crispier just bake them a little longer. I served these with a vegan ranch dressing.

Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing
Vegan; Makes about 1 cup

There are some things with going Vegan that I miss, and this is one of them. I made this to go with the tofu buffalo bites and bacony stuffed dates. Even Grant and Max liked it...

1/4 cup hemp milk
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon granulated onion powder
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon parsley (fresh or dry)
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Chill until ready to use.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Dates

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Dates
Vegan; 30 minutes or fewer


Alright, I found this recipe off of foodgawker (my new addiction) and it sends me to This Can't Be Vegan. Well, you know I had to try it, and it was REALLY good! Me being the person that I am, had to modify the recipe to fit my budget and shopping.... Originally (adapted from Better Homes & Gardens)

6 tablespoons non-dairy cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
6 stalks of chives, thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons imitation bacon bits (WayFare bacony bits)
Black pepper, to taste
12 Medjool dates

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic, and bacon bits. Fold in green onions. Season to taste with pepper.

3. Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise slit in each date. Spread open slightly and remove pits. Fill each date with about a tablespoon of cheese mixture. Place dates filling side up on a baking sheet. Bake, uncovered in the preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until heated through. Serve warm. Makes 12 pieces.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vegan; Gluten Free;Serves 8

Along with everything else, that I made the other night, this was one the dishes.... I used my food processor to coarsely chop the spinach, artichokes and garlic. I didn't have fresh lemons on hand, so I used dried lemon peel from my spice rack. (I have quite a collection!) Since football season is here, this is a great dish to take to any of the tale gate parties!

1 recipe of cashew cream (I actually used less, since I made cashew cream filled strawberries)
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of packed chopped spinach leaves
1 can of large artichoke hearts, chopped
1 small leek, sliced into rings
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

2. Stir together cashew cream, vegan mayonnaise, nutritional yeast, garlic, chopped spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, leeks, lemon zest, and black pepper and combine well. (**Note: I placed the spinach, artichoke hearts and leeks in my food processor and pulsed a few times until coarsely chopped.)

3. Bake for 25 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top becomes golden brown and crispy. Serve hot with your favorite dipping chips or crackers.

Found: Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats by Allyson Kramer

I'm So Blue Mashed Potatoes

I'm So Blue Mashed Potatoes
Vegan; Serves 4

While shopping at the farmers market on Saturday, I was able to find more of my favorite blue potatoes. Since it's Grants birthday, and needing a kid friendly side to go with the portabella mushroom steaks, I made these. Several years ago, I made these for a holiday dinner-the color is a beautiful blueish purple.... Loosely use the measurements below, every taste is different.

1 pound blue potatoes, scrubbed and semi skinned-cut into large-medium chunks
(I like to leave some of the skin on, so they don't fall apart-more rustic)
1-1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1-1 1/2 cups hemp milk
1 Tablespoon Earth Balance
1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
1-2 teaspoons rosemary
sea salt and black pepper to taste (I used 2 pinches of sea salt)

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain.

2. In a large bowl, combine vegetable broth, hemp milk (a little at a time, about 1/2 a cup) with the potatoes. (I used my hand mixer, since my potato masher is in storage.) Using a hand mixer, on the lowest speed mix until liquid is gone. Add earth balance, rosemary and garlic. (Here is where you taste it to see if you need to add more, to get the flavor and texture you want.)

Serve warm and enjoy!

No Orinary Hash-browns

No Ordinary Hash-browns
Vegan; Serves 2

Hash-browns tend to be a very southern dish. I'd never even heard of it till I had been living in San Antonio, TX for a while. Instead of potatoes, jicama takes the place. This dish has the same texture with a tiny bit of an extra crunch and less calories.....

Ingredients

2 cups of jicama, peeled and grated
1/2 onion, chopped
1 Tbs. oil or earth balance
1/4 teaspoon nutritional yeast
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon vegan Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the jicama, nutritional yeast, vegan Parmesan cheese, and pepper and cook until brown. Add as a side to mixed fruit and soy vanilla yogurt or some tofu scramble....

Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

Italian Stuffed Mushrooms
Vegan; Serves 2; 45 minutes

So, I made these 2 nights ago, and they came out fabulous. However, the one complaint from Bruce is "You don't make enough food!" I only had 8 mushrooms, so a girl works with what shes got.... To turn this into a main dish, use more little mushrooms or the large portabella mushroom caps.

8 open-cap mushrooms (I used button)
4 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/3 cup dry white wine, divided
1/3 cup onion, diced
1 large clove of garlic, minced-divided (or 2 small cloves)
1 zucchini, chopped (I used 1/2 a yellow and 1/2 a green)
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 Tablespoons pine nuts
1/4 cup Daiya Mozzarella cheese
parsley and crushed red pepper to taste
black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and chop finely. Reserve the caps.

2. Heat 1 Tablespoon oil and 1/2 white wine in a cast iron skillet. Add the onion and half the garlic and onion, sauté till the onion becomes translucent (about 2-3 minutes). Add mushroom stalks and zucchini, cook for about 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in bread crumbs, basil, tomato paste, and pine nuts. Spoon mixture into mushroom caps. Sprinkle parsley, crushed red pepper, black pepper and cheese.

4. Place mushrooms in oven-proof dish and pour the rest of the oil and wine around them. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until stuffing is cooked trough and cheese is melted (if you have extra stuffing, sprinkle around the mushrooms in the baking dish). **NOTE: IF the mushrooms are drying out drizzle some olive oil half way through the baking time.**

Tofu Vegetable Hash

Tofu Vegetable Hash
Makes 8 1-cup servings

Make this once and eat it for several days! This makes a lot of food, I cut the recipe in half and still had SO much food!

2 russet potatoes, scrubbed and diced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 pound firm reduced-fat tofu, rinsed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 bunch fresh basil, stemmed and chopped
1/2 cup water, divided
2 tomatoes, diced
2 cups broccoli florets
2 heads baby bok choy, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Steam potatoes until they are just tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet, then add onion and mushrooms. Cook over high heat, stirring often, until onion is golden and mushrooms are brown, about 5 minutes. Add tofu, basil, and 1/4 cup water. Cook 3 minutes over high heat, stirring often and adding small amounts of water if needed to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes, broccoli, bok choy, soy sauce, black pepper, and remaining 1/4 cup water. Stir gently to mix, then cover and cook until broccoli is just tender, about 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Per 1-cup serving
Cal: 141; Fat: 4.6 g; Sat. Fat: 0.7 g; Cal from Fat: 29.7%; Chol: 0 mg; Prot: 8.7 g; Carbs: 19.1 g; Sugar: 3.4 g; Fiber: 5.5 g; Sod: 249 mg; Calcium: 159 mg; Iron: 4.3 mg; Vit C: 53.3 mg; Beta Carotene: 3038 mcg; Vitamin E: 1 mg
From Turn Off the Fat Genes by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Jennifer Raymond M.S., R.D.

Broccoli and Lavender Pasta

Broccoli and Lavender Pasta
Vegan, Serves 8

This is a great sauce for lavender pasta. I made this for my mom on mother's day a few years ago, and she ended up loving it! I was talking to a local vendor out at the farmers market today, and they have lavender pasta.... So, for those in SA, Shayne Sauce sells it and for those in COS Pappardelle's sells it...

1 lb. dry lavender pasta
2 cups broccoli florets
3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil, then add the dry pasta. Cook according to package directions, drain, and set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

3. Place a small sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the oil and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice, zest, salt, and pepper.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, broccoli, lemon-olive oil sauce, and toasted pine nuts. Toss until well coated and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

Tomato Basil Bisque

Tomato Basil Bisque
Vegan; 2 hrs.

1 small beet, trimmed and peeled
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped celery
6 cups vegetable broth
12 small tomatoes, coarsely chopped, or 1 15-oz. can whole tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 cup cubed tofu
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Basil leaves, for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Put the beet on a baking sheet and bake until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When cool enough to handle, chop and set aside.

3. In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil and add the onion, garlic, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 10 minutes, until tender, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the broth, tomatoes, basil, thyme, and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.

5. Transfer the soup, the cooked beet, and the tofu to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. This may have to be done in batches. Return the soup to the pot, gently reheat, and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish each serving with a whole basil leaf and serve at once.

From The Candle Café Cookbook
by Joy Pierson and Bart Potenza with Barbara Scott-Goodman

Maple-Glazed Tofu on Pumpkin Seed Couscous

Maple-Glazed Tofu on Pumpkin Seed Couscous
Serves 6; Vegan

Sorry to be SO late on this, but we're just beginning to get settled from the drive. I'm not sure how this is going to taste, since I don't have anything in the kitchen yet. So, hopefully, this comes out yummy.... If not, one out of the many is not bad! ~_^

Maple-Glazed Tofu
2 10-oz. pkgs. extra-firm tofu
2 tsp. cracked black pepper
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup maple syrup

Pumpkin Seed Couscous
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat couscous
1/2 cup toasted unsalted pumpkin seeds


To make Maple-Glazed Tofu:

1. Place tofu between two plates and set heavy pot on top. Drain 10 minutes, and pat dry. Cut tofu into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Combine pepper, thyme, and salt in small bowl. Coat tofu slices with pepper mixture, and set aside.

To make Pumpkin Seed Couscous:

2. Bring broth, carrots, edamame, olive oil, and salt to a boil in covered saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and cover. Let steam 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.

3. Meanwhile, heat oil and maple syrup in large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling. Place tofu in pan, and cook 3 minutes. Turn, and cook 3 minutes more, spooning thickening sauce over tofu.

4. To serve: Stir pumpkin seeds into couscous. Spoon onto plates, and top with Maple-Glazed Tofu.

Per SERVING: Calories: 577, Protein: 26g, Total fat: 26g, Saturated fat: 3g, Carbs: 71g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 444mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugars: 27g

Found: Adapted from Vegetarian Times

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna
Vegan; Serves 6

When I made this, I added crushed red peppers to the puree-I just can't seem to remember how much I added. So, to be safe add what you like (maybe no more then 1 Tbs.)..... It was bland if you didn't add the crushed red pepper. With some modifications I've changed this recipe to be vegan. Adapted from Vegetarian Times April 2006. This is one of Bruce's favorites!

2 12-oz. pkg. frozen butternut squash purée, thawed, or 4 cups fresh butternut squash purée
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried rubbed sage
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 package of firm tofu, with the liquid pressed out
1/2 cup grated vegan Parmesan cheese, or nutritional yeast
1-2 Tbs. crushed red pepper
8 short no-cook lasagna noodles (about 7x4 inches)

Directions

To make Fresh Butternut Squash Purée:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 2 whole butternut squash (about 2 lb. each) on baking sheet, and bake, turning occasionally, about 1 hour, or until very tender when pierced with tip of paring knife. Let squash cool enough to handle.

2. Halve each squash lengthwise. Scoop out and discard seeds. Scrape flesh into food processor and purée until smooth.

To make Lasagna:

3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine squash purée, 1 tsp. salt, sage, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in medium bowl; mix well. Combine tofu, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper in second bowl, and mix well.

4. Coat 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place 2 noodles in bottom of dish, overlapping slightly. Spread half of squash mixture over noodles. Layer 2 more noodles on top, and spread with half of tofu mixture. Repeat layers—noodles, squash, noodles, tofu—then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.

5. Cover baking dish with foil. Bake 45 minutes, remove foil, and bake 20 to 25 minutes more, or until golden on top. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving: Calories: 265, Protein: 15g, Total fat: 8g, Saturated fat: 4g, Carbs: 34g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 774mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugars: 1g