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

Tatale (Ripe Plantain Pancakes)

Tatale (Ripe Plantain Pancakes)
Vegan; about 30 minutes

Since Bruce and I had a Saturday morning without having to make a mad dash out the door to football, I decided to make these for him. This recipe comes from Ghana, so I adapted it for what I had in the kitchen. If you want use rice flour for the corn meal and replace the whole wheat flour with cornmeal! I also served these with strawberry candied jalapenos....

3 or 4 large over-ripe plantains, about 1 1/2 lbs. after peeling), or about 3 cups when sliced
1/3 onion, or shallots, minced or finely chopped
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 t dried ground red cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
3 t fresh grated or ground ginger
about 1/4 cup of oil for pan frying
1/4-1/2 t salt (optional)
1 cup of water

1. Cut the ends off, slice them into slices about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Traditionally these would then be pounded in a mortar with a wooden pestle, however, I mashed mine with a fork (since my potato masher is still in storage). It should not be completely smooth.

2. Stir in the grated ginger, cayenne pepper and onions. Add the cornmeal and wheat flour. Add the water and stir again.

3. Over medium-high heat, heat a heavy frying pan or griddle as you would for regular pancakes (my cast iron skillet worked perfect). I used enough oil to coat the pan, then drop the batter onto the griddle (either small, like "silver dollar" pancakes, or somewhat larger, say using 1/3 to 1/2 cup batter).

4. As soon as the tatale is firm enough to turn without breaking, carefully turn it over with a pancake turner and press the turner down firmly on the pancake to flatten it. Continue doing this every few minutes while the pancakes cook.

5. Drain the pancakes on paper towels and add a little more oil to the pan for each batch of tatale. Avoid stacking them--spread them out to drain, and serve them on a large platter. The tatale can be made in the morning and kept warm in a low oven, but will become tough if heated too long. A better alternative is to zap them briefly in the microwave to heat them before serving them.

**NOTE**It's good to let the mixture sit for 20 - 30 minutes before you cook the pancakes. The batter can actually be made a day ahead and refrigerated until you're ready to cook the tatale.

Original Recipe Found: BetumiBlog

Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini Fritters
Vegan; Serves 4; 30 min. plus baking

I comprised this recipe from 3 different ones, taking the best out of each and then making the recipe vegan. I could have used 1 more grated zucchini, but they still came out tasty! Bruce told me that he would love to have these again, so I may even surprise him with a repeat! ~_^

2 cups grated zucchini squash
4 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely minced
1 egg replacer
2/3 cups tofu feta
1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper (depending on taste)
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place zucchini inside a tea towel or flour sack towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
In a bowl, add the ingredients adding the zucchini last. The mixture with be sticky and thick. Continue to stir, it will thin down. You want it to look like a thick cake batter.

3. On a parchment lined baking sheet, divide batter into 6 mounds on the parchment using a spoon or ice cream scoop. Then flatten each mound with a spoon or your hand to form 4 inch rounds.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or, until the fritters are deep golden brown on the bottom. Then turn to broil and place on the second highest rack in your oven. Broil on high for a few minutes, you want to crisp them up but watch carefully so they won't burn (I skipped this step). Served with cashew cream or marinara sauce.

Recipe adapted from The Yellow House.

The Natural Beauty Within....

While in San Antonio, TX last week, I got to rediscover a great city along with visiting friends. Bruce had never been to San Antonio and it goes without saying that his kids hadn't, either. Getting to be a tourist, we hit the farmers market (for me), and I got to see Christopher my vendor for vegan lotions and soaps.

Chris and I started talking about how there is SO much lead, animal by-products, not to mention the truly nastiness that some will add to "enhance" whatever you want enhanced. Getting back, I got to purchase my favorite product that he has. Organic Lavender Shea Butter, Bruce tried it and instantly loved as well.... For the air in Colorado being SO thin and dry, I find that I have to slather myself in this to stay moisturized...

When I ran out during the winter, I used my bottle of sweet almond oil (I still use it, just yesterday in fact)! The sweet almond oil is perfect for eye make-up remover that is NOT a petroleum base and not tested on animals. (Look at the label, if you are shopping outside of the cooking isle.)

These are just some of the products I use and LOVE!!!!

Organic Lavender Shea Butter ($20.00) for a 6.7 oz
(this will last me 3 months using it everyday)
Hempsense Organics 210-385-0720 info@hempsenseorganics.com

Sweet Almond Oil
Now Solutions
Can be found at most Whole Foods in the beauty isle.

Witch Hazel and I add a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil as my face astringent. You'll spend some money on the essential oil, however it will last you at least a year (maybe longer). I use mine in my laundry too, so I go through it faster.

My favorite exfoliate is corn meal and lavender buds. The steam releases the fragrance of the lavender buds and the cornmeal is all natural. (Make sure you buy from the bulk bin to get more for less, since you'll be able to use this in the kitchen and make sure you look for organic cornmeal.)

I know that lavender is my favorite sent, what is yours? Roses, make some rose water for a face astringent. If taking a relaxing bath add some petals to your bath water.

Be sure you have a brick and heat-safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl ready before you begin.

Ingredients:
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals
Water
Ice cubes or crushed ice

1. In the center of a large pot (the speckled blue canning pots are ideal) with an inverted lid (a rounded lid), place a fireplace brick. On top of the brick place the bowl. Put the roses in the pot; add enough flowers to reach the top of the brick. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. The water should be just above the top of the brick.

2. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss two or three trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid.

3. You’ve now created a home still! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. As it condenses it flows to the center of the lid and drops into the bowl. Every 20 minutes, quickly lift the lid and take out a tablespoon or two of the rose water. It’s time to stop when you have between a pint and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly like roses.

Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbs for Natural Beauty, by Rosemary Gladstar.
Rose Water recipe found through Care2.com

White Bean and Sage Patties

White Bean and Sage Patties
Vegan; Serves 6 to 8; Makes 12 patties

So, this is perfect for the Memorial Day Weekend! Serve this with a Fire Roasted Tomato-Chipotle sauce (the recipe will follow) for a nice kick....

1 19-oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed (reserve 2 Tbsp. liquid)
1/2 shallot, finely diced (I used 2 small green onions)
1 small carrot, finely grated
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. chopped fresh sage (I used dried sage)
Coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

1. Drain beans, reserving 2 Tbs. of liquid. Transfer to a bowl and mash. Stir in shallot, carrot, cornmeal, and sage. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1 Tbsp. of reserved liquid. If mixture is dry, add the other.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbsp. oil. Form mixture into 12 patties (about 2 1/2 inches diameter each) and saute in batches until golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining oil and patties. Season patties with salt and serve.

Per Serving: 214 cal.; 10 grams fat (1 gram sat. fat); 0 mg. chol.; 26 grams carbs.; 103 mg. sod.; 7 grams prot.; 5 grams fiber

Found: Whole Living June 2011