Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vegan; Soy Free; Gluten Free

This is a crowd pleaser. I make this for potlucks and everyone really devours this dip. Easy to make with 1 pie plate to take and 1 pie plate to enjoy later, this is the perfect dish.

I've made this for a few potlucks and every time this gets eaten where I only have the dish to take home. Vegans and non-vegans enjoy this dip with chips, crackers, or pita chips..... This is the winner! :)

1 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 cup of cashews (you can use almonds - however it won't be as creamy)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 pound of spinach
4 cups of artichokes (I use 1 jar of artichokes from Costco 33 ounces - drained)
1/2 cup of non-dairy milk (I use hemp)
3 cloves of garlic
1 can of cannellini (white) beans (drained and rinsed) (1 cup if made fresh)
1 Tbs. tapioca flour
1 tsp. basil (dried) or 1 Tbs. basil (fresh)
juice of 1 lemon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients, except non-dairy milk, until smooth.

3. In (2) 9" pie plates, scoop out and spread dip evenly. Drizzle non-dairy milk on top of the filled pie plates.

4. Bake until fully crusty on top (about 1 hour), serve warm from the baking dish/pie plates.

Roasted Buddha Bowl

Roasted Buddha Bowl
Vegan; Gluten Free; Soy Free

Ingredients
For roasting and serving
1 head broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp Oil, divided
Salt & Pepper
Cooked grains, for serving (optional)

For the dressing
1/2 cup cashews, soaked
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini
1 large garlic clove
1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
6 tbsp water, or as needed to thin out

Instructions
1. Soak cashews in a bowl of water overnight or for 8 hours. For a quick-soak method, pour boiling water over cashews and let sit in the bowl for at least 45 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 400F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. Place chopped broccoli and cauliflower onto one baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tsp oil and mix with hands until coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.

4. Place a couple paper towels on the other baking sheet and spread out the drained and rinsed chickpeas. Place 2 more paper towels on top and roll the chickpeas around until completely dry. Drizzle with 1 tsp oil and roll around the chickpeas with your hands until they are all coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. Roast the broccoli, cauliflower and chickpeas for 15 minutes at 400F. After 15 minutes, give the chickpea pan a gentle shake to roll them around in the pan. Roast both pans for another 10-15 minutes or until the broccoli and cauliflower are cooked through and the chickpeas are golden in color.

6. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing by adding all dressing ingredients into a blender and blending on high speed until smooth.

7. When the vegetables and chickpeas are ready, remove from oven and place into a large mixing bowl. Add your desired amount of dressing on top and toss until coated. Season to taste. Serve over a warm bed of grains with more dressing drizzled on top.

Notes: The leftover dressing will keep for 5-7 days in the fridge in a sealed container. The dressing will thicken as it stands (especially when chilled) so you can add more water to thin out as necessary.

Found: Oh She Glows

Beet Burgers

Beet Burgers
Makes 9 medium patties; Vegan; Can be made Gluten Free

Having fresh beets on hand that I was able to pick up at the farmers market, this is the perfect recipe to use. No need to chill patties and totally free of cruelty this recipe is perfect to share with your friends and family.

4 fresh beets, grated
1/2 cup of cooked lentils (I used canned)
1/2 cup bread crumbs (use gluten free bread crumbs if you prefer)
1/2 cup brown rice cooked (this is great for leftovers)
1/4 of red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 Tablespoon of parsley
1 teaspoon ground sage
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
couple grinds of pepper
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

1. Peel and grate beets and onion on a box grater or use a food processor with the grating blades attached.

2. Change blade to "S" blade and combine all of the ingredients and pulse several times continuing to scrape down the sides. You don’t want to pulse so many times it turns to mush, so just make sure you have some nice texture. If your burger dough is too wet, add more breadcrumbs, if it is too dry, add more lentils and beets. If you are brave and can handle putting what looks like raw ground beef in your mouth, do a taste test. If you can’t just trust the recipe and try later.

3. Lightly oil a medium skillet or use vegetable broth to keep the patties from sticking to the pan. Form into patties and cook over medium heat about 10-12 minutes on both sides. Serve warm and with your favorite burger toppings.... Tomatoes, Spinach, Mustard, Vegan Mayo, Peppers, Avocado, the sky is the limits!

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...

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....

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Vegan; 1 hour total; Can be made Gluten Free; Serves 4

Alright, I made these for the boys and added the cashew cream wrapped in the enchilada. The boys ate the dish all up, with corn tortillas and daiya cheese, this is a SUPER kid friendly dish. To make this easier, you can use taco seasoning or (like me) use a variety of seasonings. This recipe does require an extra set of hands. So get a friend or loved one to help and make it an extra special meal....

1 large sweet potato, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 (15 oz.) can of black beans
1 cup vegetable broth
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 sweet onion, minced
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
1 package "chicken" seitan (omit if making gluten free)
1 cup cashew cream
1 cup daiya cheese shreds (I used pepper jack)
1 package corn tortillas (organic)
2 small cans tomato sauce
Chili Powder to taste
Cayenne Pepper to taste
1 cup fresh salsa (be creative here, my favorite is either the one Bruce makes or apple chipotle salsa)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small, wide bowl combine tomato sauce and seasoning. (You'll be dipping the tortillas in it.)

2. Over medium heat; in a medium pan combine the vegetable broth, seitan, onion, garlic, chipotle pepper and sweet potato. Cook sweet potatoes and black bean mixture until broth has evaporated.

3. Cover the bottom of a 9-inch by 13-inch pan with a thin layer of tomato sauce.

4. Heat corn tortillas (this will help them from breaking). Place tortilla in spice/sauce mixture and fill with sweet potato and black bean mixture. Add cashew cream, salsa and pepper jack cheese. Roll and repeat till tortillas are gone. Sprinkle the remaining fillings (salsa, cashew cream, black beans and pepper jack cheese) on top. Cover with foil and bake for minutes. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

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

Mushroom, Radish, Persimmon Sweet Chutney

Mushroom, Radish, Persimmon Sweet Chutney
Vegan; 15 minutes; Serves 4

Bruce and I received a bottle of wine for Christmas. Like so many of our friends who know that we like our spirits, however, this one got us a sweet white. It tasted more like pure sugar, then a wine that we would pick. Well, since I refuse to waste anything I told Bruce that I can cook and bake with it. So, I'll be posting a few recipes and tips on how to use wine that has either turned vinegar or just not drinkable....

3 large button mushrooms, sliced thin
3 large radishes, sliced thin
1 persimmon, chopped into 1 inch cubes
2 small garlic cloves, minced (or 1 large one)
1/4 cup sweet white wine
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 dried Thai peppers (you need the heat to balance the sweetness)
black pepper to taste

1. Over medium heat, combine sweet white wine and olive oil. Add garlic and saute until fragrant.

2. Add radishes and saute for about 5 minutes, or until the oil and wine take on a pinkish hue. Add mushrooms and Thai peppers, for another 5 minutes.

Serve over tofu steaks, or toss into a salad.....

Marinated Portobellos With Cashew Cheese and Pesto

Marinated Portobellos With Cashew Cheese and Pesto
Vegan; Makes 3 servings; Gluten Free

This recipe takes a little bit of prep, but it's SO worth it! From the cashew cream (soaking the cashews), to making the pesto~ the prep is easy and the presentation is a beauty for any table.....

For the Mushrooms:
1/2 Tbsp./tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari (use gluten free)
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. dried basil
6 portobello mushrooms, stems removed

1. Combine all ingredients, except for the mushrooms, in a bowl and mix well.
Coat each portobello with the mixture, and then place on a plate. Pour the remaining mixture over the mushrooms. Set aside until ready to bake.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

3. Line a baking sheet with tin foil, place the mushrooms on the pan, and bake for 10 minutes. Flip and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

4. Remove mushrooms from the oven, fill with cashew cheese (recipe in blog), and top with pesto (recipe in blog). Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Serve immediately.

For the Cashew Cream~ See Recipe in Blog....

For the Basil Pesto~ See Recipe in Blog....

Found and modified from PETA

Twice Baked Butternut Squash

Twice Baked Butternut Squash
Vegan; Omit the breadcrumbs to make Gluten Free

During the feast over Christmas I made these.... Since I was sick and couldn't taste anything, I wasn't sure how these came out. However, now that I have my taste buds back-I LOVE these!!!! I top mine with a little Chipotle Cayenne Vegan Parmesan Cheese for the extra kick that we love in the house!

2-3 small or 1-2 large butternut squash
1/4 small onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup plain soy yogurt
2 teaspoons olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 Tablespoon thyme


1. Cut squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and membranes
place face down on a cookie sheet, add about 1/4 inch water and bake at 350 for 40-75 minutes (depending on the size of the squash), then remove from oven and allow to cool until they are comfortable to hold in your hand.

2. Scoop out the cooked squash into a mixing bowl and return the hollowed out skins to the baking sheet, hollow side up.

3. In a saute pan, cook the onions, garlic and pepper in the olive oil until softened (about 7-10 minutes) then add to the mixing bowl add cumin, mustard, and soy yogurt.

4. Fill the skins with the mixture, top with breadcrumbs and sprinkle with thyme
bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and breadcrumbs are toasted.