The Veggie-Full Kitchen

Morgan, from Little House of Veggies , and her family, recently met up with me and my family, to do some berry picking at a local farm.  I thought it would be fun to make something out of the berries for my blog.  Originally, I was thinking I would make something with the strawberries alone.  That is however, until I tried the blackberries straight off the bush.  They were amazing!  I think I ate 2 cups worth right then and there.  The flavor and texture were perfect.  I came up with this super easy, semi-homemade blackberry napoleon.  I didn't want to leave the strawberries out completely, I mean, they were good too.  So, I made this sweet strawberry reduction.  Just a little goes a long way.  I have a lot left over, so I think we will just put it on our toast for breakfast this week. Sweet Strawberry Reduction Ingredients 1 cup sugar 2 cups fresh strawberries 1/2 cup water 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest 4 tablespoons Earth Balance 'But...

I love the idea of stuffed veggies.  I just think it is a fun and flavorful way to serve a dish.  I drew from the flavors in a dish that I love from one of my favorite restaurants, Native Foods, and adapted them to fit nicely in a cabbage leaf.  I am going to be thinking of a dozen other ways to stuff a cabbage leaf because it was so fun to make and it turned out so great.  I could give my family a culinary world tour in a cabbage leaf...  Stay tuned... Prepping The Cabbage Ingredients Large head of green cabbage Large pot of boiling water Directions 1.  Remove the core from the cabbage. 2.  Place the cabbage in the boiling water. 3.  As the leaves soften and pull away from the head, pull them out of the water and set them aside. 4.  Repeat until all the leaves are removed. The Red Quinoa Ingredients 1 cup red quinoa 2 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice Directions 1...

Peanut sauce is something that my hubby, Dr J. and I are picky about.  I think that there are a lot of ways to make it, and there's a lot of personal preference involved.  Last Sunday night we set out to master our own perfect peanut sauce.  We threw out our first attempt... it was a little salty and the sesame oil was too overpowering.  The second go, we lessened the amount of soy and eliminated the sesame oil altogether.  The result was just what our taste buds were looking for... our very own perfect peanut sauce. Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredients 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons red curry paste 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced 2 tablespoons brown sugar salt to taste Directions 1.  Over medium heat combine oil, garlic and ginger until aromatic. 2.  Reduce heat to low and add remaining ingredients, stirring constantly. Cooked...

If you haven't ever had a scotcharoo, well, let me just say, they are yummy.  These treats do have a few downsides.  First, whenever I make them, I end up eating half the pan myself.  Second, because they are so sweet and I consume so many of them, my mouth hurts for a day or two after eating the last one.  This can't be good... and with all the corn syrup and refined sugar the original recipe calls for, they certainly aren't good for you. So, here is my attempt to make them better for you.  I used a lot less sugar than the recipe calls for, and I substituted blue agave nectar for the corn syrup.  Also, I used organic whole grain puffed rice instead of 'Rice Krispies' or similar cereals.  Now, because of these changes, the texture is not exactly the same... but the flavor profiles are.  Dr. J and the kiddos loved them, and I won't feel so bad about eating half the pan myself... Peanut Butter Puffed Rice Ingredients 5 cups organic whole grain r...

There was a restaurant where I grew up that served a salad similar to this.  Unfortunately, it closed a few years ago. Luckily, my mom had the recipe!  This is my version, with a few changes of course... And just to give you an idea of how yummy this is... My friends and family are usually more than willing taste testers.  I do have a 'meat & potatoes' brother-in-law who was over at our house the other day, who tends to shy away from trying my meatless recipes.  I did however, get him to try this... and... HE LOVED IT! Ingredients 8 oz. of your choice of vegan 'chik'n', prepared according to package, roughly chopped into bite sized pieces and cooled (I used the Morningstar Farms Mealstarters Chik'n Strips) 1 cup celery, diced 1/3 cup red onion, diced 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 1/2 cup red grapes 1 cup cashews, roughly chopped or left whole depending on your preference 2/3 cup Follow Your Heart Vegenaise 3/4 teaspoon curry powder 1/4 teaspoon white p...

After I had my first child, my mom came to stay with my husband and I to help out for a week.  She cooked and cleaned and held my new baby while I slept or showered.  She gave me advice with breastfeeding and caring for this new little life, of which I had no experience.  It is one of my favorite memories.  During that visit she expressed how important it was to of get good nutrition in order to keep my milk supply up.  Before she left, she wanted to make sure I had enough good food that was readily available to snack on.  She made me about 4 dozen banana nut cookies to keep in my freezer so I could pull a few out as I needed them.  Ever since, I have made it tradition to make some banana nut cookies to have in my freezer to snack on when I have a new baby.  Last April, when I had baby #3, I even took some with me to the hospital and my hubby and I could snack on them.  In my recipe, not only do they taste good, but they are good for you. ...

The first time I ever tried edamame was at a friend's house, when I was a teenager.  My dad and one of my sisters are allergic to soy, so we never ate any soy growing up.  Boy, am I glad I'm not allergic to it!  (Sorry, Sis.)  It's just such a great snack.  Not only does it taste good, but it's really good for you.  Soybeans are rich in carbs, protein, fiber and omega 3's.  I still think that just boiling the soybeans in salt is the best and easiest way to eat them... but I did want to get a little creative with this healthy snack food, so I made this hummus-like dip.  It turned out great and added a little variety to our snacking. Ingredients 2 tablespoons minced red onion 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon red curry paste 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons lime juice 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup raw cashews 1 cup edamame, cooked as directed on package, cooled and removed from pods Directions I could tell you tha...

I think it is safe to say that portobello mushrooms are one of my favorite foods.  Right up there with chocolate, believe it or not!  Not only do they have an amazing flavor, but they are hearty.  My meat-eating father-in-law's comment after eating this mushroom-filled sandwich, was that he didn't miss the meat at all.  I give the credit to the mushrooms.  I also have to give them credit for making my journey back to a meat-free lifestyle an absolute pleasure.  I have come across people who assume that not eating meat means you are depriving yourself.  I think that I deprived myself more when I did eat meat because I didn't take the time to taste the foods that the earth herself had grown for us and all of the exciting and diverse flavors that exist out there.  So here is one of my favorite recipes that always reminds me of why I prefer to eat the way I do. Lemon Basil Aioli Ingredients 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 3/4 cup vegan mayo (I use Fol...

My hubby loves granola.  While he was in dental school, he left our apartment every day before 5:00am and didn't return until late in the evening.  Because of his schedule, he found it hard to eat normal meals, and because we were living on such a tight budget, he rarely bought food at school.  This is where granola saved him.  He could easily take it with him and it gave him protein from the nuts and carbohydrates from the oats which helped to get him through the day.  Because he ate it so much, we had to mix it up.  Sometimes he even would make his own granola bars.  Usually he liked some form of chocolate in his granola, but I wanted to branch out a little with this recipe.  He does have a soft spot for dried pineapple, so I added that to satisfy his sweet tooth.  This is easy to make and the added bonus is it makes your house smell phenomenal for hours! Ingredients 3 cups rolled oats 1 cup raw almonds 1 cup raw cashews 1 cup shaved ...

If you were to ask my kids what they wanted to eat, no matter the time of day, 97% of the time, they would say, "Noodles".  Their love of noodles is borderline addiction.  And not just any noodle and sauce will do.  My sister made my 5 year old boxed mac and cheese once and my daughter told her it wasn't flavorful enough.  How rude!  I've spoiled them because I always make the sauces from scratch.  They just taste so much better that way, and they are usually just as easy to make. Ingredients 1/2 stick of Earth Balance Buttery Stick 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 teaspoons nutritional yeast 1 cup cashew cream (I used this recipe) Directions 1.  Over medium heat, melt 'butter'. 2.  Add garlic and cook until it starts to brown. 3.  Add cashew cream and stir in remaining ingredients. 4.  Cook over medium, stirring with a whisk until the sauce is combined and r...

The first time I cooked with beets, it was a disaster.  At the time, my husband and I were newly married, poor college students, and I was inspired by a cooking show I watched every Saturday morning, on one of the only channels that we got via out TV antenna.  It was an episode of New Scandinavian Cooking hosted by Andreas Viestad where he made an authentic borscht.  It was one of those dishes that just looked like it tasted amazing.  Well, I attempted to recreate it and it was not amazing.  It was so bad, I have not touched a beet since... that is until last weekend at our local farmer's market, when I decided to give this root another try.  I did, and this time it was amazing! Beet Puree Ingredients 4-5 beets, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes water Directions 1.  Place the beets in a pan and add just enough water to cover them. 2.  Bring to a boil and cook until beets are tender.  They should feel similar to a boiled potato when th...

One day when I was in a hurry, I managed to purchase a $12.00 jar of peanut butter.  I didn't realize it until I was checking out, and of course at that point my kids were losing it, so I just bought it anyway.  It was 'natural' and 'organic', which I know, can raise the price...but the taste wasn't anything to write home about.  Ever since this experience I have been meaning to try to make my own nut butter, in attempts to make it the best quality, best tasting and less expensive nut butter.  Mission accomplished!  My 5 year old picky eater practically licked out the remaining cashew butter in the food processor when I let her try it. I decided to use coconut oil in this recipe... mostly because I am in love with coconut oil at the moment.  Not only do I adore the taste of coconuts, but I've been researching all the amazing benefits of using coconut oil.  Read more about it here . Ingredients 2 1/2 cups raw, unsalted cashews 1 tablespoon blue agav...

You read it right... it's another mango inspired recipe.  I tend to use an ingredient once, and then I get a ton of ideas of how I could create other recipes with it.  Mango's are a perfect example of that!  So bear with me, on the mango front.  This salad just sounded so good to me, with all the fresh veggies and the sweet spice of the mango dressing.  I promise, after this i will give mangos a break. Spicy Mango Dressing Ingredients 10 oz mangos, cubed 3/4 teaspoon red curry paste 1/4 cup coconut oil 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons blue agave nectar 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper juice from 1/2 lime Directions Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth.  It is a thicker dressing, and I like it that way, but if you want it to be thinner you could add more almond milk at this point and blend it again.  You want to make it just before you eat becau...

I am very blessed to live in a place where citrus trees thrive.  I only have to walk out into my backyard to find lemons, oranges and grapefruit.  Our grapefruit tree is a bit of a phenomenon... it produces so much fruit we can't eat it fast enough.  We guessed that in a season, it produced well over a hundred grapefruits... and they are delicious.  I love eating them just as they are.  The other day, I did however want to mix it up a bit, and wanted to try them broiled.  They turned out really good, and it's super easy! Ingredients 1 grapefruit, halved pure maple syrup turbinado sugar Directions 1.  Set oven to broil. 2.  Brush the top of each grapefruit half with the maple syrup. 3.  Sprinkle with turbinado sugar. 4.  Place grapefruit halves on a cookie sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.

My hubby loves rice.  We joke that he would eat cardboard over rice and enjoy it.  He makes this yummy rice dessert for us every once in a while, and the kids and I devour it.  Who knew rice could be such a divine dessert! The Syrup Ingredients 1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 cups sugar Directions 1.  In a small pot, combine ingredients and boil until sugar is dissolved.  Set aside. Sticky Rice Ingredients 3 cups Botan Calrose Rice 3 cups unsweetened coconut milk 2 cups water Syrup (water sugar mixture) Directions 1.  Combine ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. 2.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is just below the level of the rice. 3.  Add the syrup and simmer until the liquid is below the level of the rice again.  Remove from heat and allow to cool. Coconut Sauce Ingredients 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water Directions 1. ...

Unfortunately, I am not one of those women who manage to make it through a pregnancy without experiencing morning sickness.  In fact, it hits me pretty hard, and trust me I tried everything and anything in attempts to lessen the nausea.  Nothing was the cure-all.  However, once I was past the worst of it, I did try to incorporate ginger into my diet.  It just seemed to settle my tummy.  Throughout my most recent pregnancy I made these ginger cookies a lot.  They are soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside and the ginger flavor really stands out.  So, if you are pregnant, or you just like ginger, give these cookies a try! Ingredients 2 1/4 cups whole grain pastry flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup vegan margarine 1 cup turbinado sugar 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce 1 tablespoon water 1/4 cup molasses 1/2 cup turbinado suga...

I am always on the lookout for good black licorice.  It's one of those things that I like to have in my cupboards for when I need a little something sweet.  I thought up this lemonade in attempts to use up the lemons on our tree and satisfy my love of licorice.  And with the temperature here pushing 110 degrees Fahrenheit, an ice cold glass of anything, really hits the spot! Lemonade Starter Ingredients 2 1/2 cups water 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest 1 cup fresh lemon juice Directions 1.  Mix water and sugar in a pot over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved and set aside to cool. 2.  Once the water/sugar mixture has cooled, add remaining ingredients, and stir. 3.  Store mixture, covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Licorice Lemonade Ingredients 5 cups water 3 licorice herbal tea bags(I use the Stash Licorice Spice) Lemonade Starter lemon slices ice Directions 1.  Boil 5 cups of water in a pot. 2.  Remove from heat a...

My family loves this meal.  It's sweet and spicy and just plain satisfying.  I love all the colors from the red onion, bell peppers and zucchini.  And just wait until you start cooking and all of the aromatics get going!  This dish is what my 91 year old grandmother would call, "Food for the Gods". (This recipe easily serves 6 people, with some leftovers.) Ingredients 1 large red onion, sliced 2 red bell peppers, sliced 2 yellow bell peppers, sliced 2 zucchini, sliced in rounds 1 cup cilantro, chopped juice from 1/2 lime 2 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon red curry paste, found in the Asian foods section of your grocery store (I like the Thai Kitchen brand) 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed to a paste with 2 tablespoons water 8 Quorn Naked Chik'n Breasts(or your brand of choice, plain meatless chicken), prepared as directed on package and sliced into strips 4 cups cooked Botan Calro...

My dad is a veterinarian, and when I was growing up, every year around Christmas we attended his clinic's Christmas Party.  It was at one of these potluck parties that I tried my first stuffed mushroom.  I remember the smell was what convinced me.  Ever since, they have remained my appetizer of choice.  In my recipe, the flavors in the stuffing are so rich and creamy, I decided adding a mini salad on top would lighten them up a bit, and create the perfect balance.  Not only does it taste great, but I think the colors in the baby greens and tomato make it look amazing, and not like your average stuffed mushroom. Ingredients 24 mushrooms, stems removed and hollowed out 1/2 cup Tofutti Plain 'Cream Cheese' 1/4 cup shallots, finely diced 1/4 cup mushroom stems, finely diced 2 cloves garlic 2 Tablespoons Earth Balance 'butter' 8 grape tomatoes, sliced 1 cup mixed baby greens, finely chopped Directions 1.  In a small pan, melt Earth Balance 'butter' over medium...

I think it's safe to say I'm on a muffin kick.  These were a hit with Picky Eater #1(my 5 year old).  Of course I just told her they were chocolate chip muffins.  I feel so sneaky that I got her to eat her carrots without her even knowing it... and before lunch! Ingredients 1 cup fresh carrot juice 3/4 cup almond milk 2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup walnut pieces 1 cup vegan chocolate chips 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ground flax seed meal 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions 1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  2.  In a bowl, combine carrot juice, almond milk, applesauce, vanilla extract, sugar, and ground flax seed meal. 3.  In a separate bowl combine whole wheat pastry flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 4.  Slowly add dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until combined. 5.  Spray a muff...

Being a mom to a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 2 month old, there are days I rely on the talents of others and the products they sell to make my family dinner.  On these particular days I make semi-homemade meals, and boy am I glad for the help!  My husband loves BBQ, so I came up with this easy, quick, semi-homemade version of a BBQ and coleslaw sandwich.  The best part?  The prep time is about 15 minutes! Coleslaw Ingredients 1 package shredded coleslaw and carrots 1 cup Follow Your Heart Vegenaise 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon almond milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon celery seed Directions 1.  Whisk all ingredients, except the coleslaw and carrots. 2.  In a large bowl top the coleslaw and carrots with the dressing and toss until well coated. 3.  Set aside. BBQ 'Beefless Tips' Ingredients 1 package of 'gardein home style beefless tips' Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce 2 tablespoons ...

I have been trying to create a vegan version of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  This is the closest I've gotten to the original.  The texture of these reminds me of a Chips Ahoy cookie.  Because they can handle the moisture, my favorite way to eat them is to dip them in almond milk.  Oh, and feel free to eat the dough! Ingredients 1 cup Earth Balance Buttery Sticks 1/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 eggs equivalent of Ener-G egg replacer 1 small package of instant vanilla pudding 2 1/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 package of vegan chocolate chips Nuts are optional Directions 1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2.  Cream the 'butter' and sugars.  Add the vanilla and egg substitute. 3.  In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients together, and then slowly add them to the wet mixture. 4.  Mix in chocolate chips and nuts(optional). 5.  Drop 1 tablespoon size balls onto a cookie sheet and bake for ...

Ten years ago, the thought of mixing fresh mint with fruit would not have appealed to me.  Today, this minty fruit salad is one of my favorites.  It is such a refreshing treat on a summer day, and I love that it isn't a fruit salad that anyone would expect. Ingredients 1 pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes 3 mangos, cut into 1 inch cubes 1/2 cup Flaked coconut (I like to use the sweetened coconut.  It is just the right amount of sweetness to go with the tartness of the pineapple and mango) 1 6 oz container PLAIN So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk (If you get another type of Plain 'Yogurt', you may want to add some pure maple syrup or honey to sweeten it.  The cultured coconut milk is already a little sweet) 4 mint leaves Directions 1.  In a large bowl, mix pineapple and mango. 2.  Mince the mint leaves. 3.  Top the fruit with coconut flakes and mint. 4.  Drizzle the Cultured Coconut Milk over the top.

Crepes are a staple in our home.  Be it for a meal or dessert, my husband seizes every opportunity to whip up a batch.  I think that crepe making takes a great amount of patience and a steady hand.  I do not posses these talents, but my husband does, so here is his recipe.  It's a vegan version of one of his favorite recipes from TV Chef, Alton Brown.  You can find Alton's recipe here . Vegan Crepes Ingredients 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup water 3 tablespoons vegan butter 3 tablespoons sugar 1 cup flour Directions 1.  Melt butter and put in a blender. 2.  Add all other ingredients except the flour and pulse in blender for 10 seconds. 3.  Add the flour and pulse for 10 seconds. 4.  Scrape the sides of the blender with a spatula and pulse for another 20 seconds. 5.  Put batter in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 6.  Heat a non-stick skillet over medium. 7.  Dip a paper towel in 2 tablespoons o...

When I was in high school, over 10 years ago(YIKES!), I started eating at Native Foods... In my opinion, the best vegan restaurant around!  Tanya, the chef made this amazing tempeh salad, that I would buy a la carte and eat on sandwiches during the school week, for lunch.  It's one of those foods and flavors that transport you back to another time in your life.  So good!  Here is my Mediterranean variation on her tempeh salad. Prepping The Tempeh Ingredients 3 tablespoons sunflower oil 1/4 cup water 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar 1/8 cup soy sauce 1 clove garlic 2 - 8 ounce tempeh patties cut into thirds, or 3 patties each Directions 1.  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. 2.  Place tempeh patties in the pan and saute until golden, or for about 1-2 minutes on each side. 3.  While tempeh is browning, quickly mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. 4.  After tempeh is browned on both sides, add the mixture to your pan.  It wi...