Vegan Alfredo Sauce

I started a vegan challenge a few weeks ago and have been enjoying learning all the ways to curb those cheesy cravings! Here is a simple recipe for a non-dairy Alfredo sauce that you will love.

Ingredients:

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 cup coconut milk from a can

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp sea salt

A pinch of black pepper

1. Put garlic into a food processor, chop

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until creamy

3. Be amazed.

Thin Crust Pizza

We love pizza! Since officially becoming vegetarians and lowering our gluten intake, we sure have missed those Friday night Delissio.  I have come up with a much healthier option, which is also much more delicious!! 

Ingredients for the crust:

2 1/2 cups flour (we use whole wheat here, stone ground is best, and bread flour also works well)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp fast-rising yeast

7 fl oz warm water

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1. Mix dry ingredients

2. Add the oil to the water, then pour that mixture over the flour mixture and mix quickly to form a sticky dough.

3. Let sit 10 minutes

4. Dust a work surface and your hands with flour. Roll and knead the dough for about 1 minute, until it is smooth and bouncy. 

5. Shape into a ball.  Rub some olive oil in a bowl and put the dough in the bowl to rise for 1 hour in a warm place (not hot!). Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap.

6. When dough has risen, preheat oven to 475 F.

7. Once dough has risen, scrape it back into a floured work surface and cut in half. You have 2 crusts ready to be stretched into pizzas.  Be patient as you stretch the dough; it will take some time to stay stretched out.

Ingredients for the sauce:

1/2 cup tomato purée 

1 tsp dried oregano

1 clove garlic, minced 

3 leaves fresh basil, chopped

1. Mix ingredients.  (You can also use store bought pizza sauce of course)

Pizza Assembly:

1. While the dough rises, chop as many veggies as you wish for your pizza. Also grate some cheese (we used marble and Parmesan.  Assemble as you like :) 

2. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 475 F. Enjoy!

                                  

                                  

                           

       

Witches Brew

This smoothie is delicious and full off healthy goodness.

                                    

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen blueberries

1-2 leaves of black kale

1/2 cup water or coconut water

1/4 scoop vega one protein powder (optional)

Blend! Enjoy! It is an amazing brew of black magic :) 

   

Wake Me Up Breakfast Smoothie

This morning's breakfast smoothie:

2 cups of water
3 cups of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
1 scoop Vega One (I use French Vanilla, but the Berry flavour would go very nicely with this)
1 tsp chia seeds to top it off.  Stir these in after the drink has been served.


We have adopted a mostly vegan diet as of late, and after almost a week, I am already noticing that I have more energy in the morning and throughout the day.  I am also loving the variety of fruits and vegetables out there!  There are so many to try!

Happy morning :)

Mango Avocado Quinoa Salad

Oh baby baby. We have taken on a mostly vegan diet as of late, and I am just so excited about what I have been eating.  I made this by accident, by throwing a bunch of stuff together.  It turned out to be a glorious party in my mouth, so I will share it with you.

                                     

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa, cook and cool (I cook mine in vegetable broth)

1 avocado, cut into bite size pieces 

1 mango, chopped into mini cubes

1/2 red onion, chopped finely

Fresh parsley, 1 tbsp (optional)

Fresh lime juice (I use half a lime squeezed)

Just add all the ingredients, fluff, and enjoy! 

   

Best Pancakes (I've finally found it!)

I have been on a quest to find delicious, perfectly textured pancakes, and I think I found it!!


1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups room temp milk
3 tbsp melted butter

1. Sift the flour and baking powder. Add sugar and salt.
2. Melt the butter and add the vanilla to the butter.
3. Add all the wet ingredients to the dry.
4. Heat a frying pan to medium heat, put a bit of butter in the pan to coat, and place approximately 1/2 cup for each pancake.

Enjoy your breakfast!!

Honeyed Carrot Soup

This soup is must in the fall. It is great just the way it is, but I often add a tsp of curry powder for a little extra kick :)

2 tbsp butter
2 small leeks
800g carrots, chopped

1 tbsp honey
A pinch of dried chilli flakes
1 bay leaf
2 L vegetable stock


1. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, cook for 3 minutes.

 

2. Add carrots, honey, chillies & bay leaf, cook for 3 minutes.

3. Pour in stock, bring to a boil, simmer for 30-40 minutes.

4. Blend soup with a hand blender

Enjoy!  Goes well with a dollop of sour cream, and fresh buns :)

Bacon Wrapped Dates

I tried these August long weekend, compliments of my cousin.  THEY WERE INCREDIBLE.  To be honest, I had never tried a date before and they look like giant raisins (and I am not a huge fan of raisins), so I was hesitant.  But, bacon makes everything better <3  We had these as an appetizer with dinner, but today...I am having them with eggs for breakfast!

Ingredients:

1 Package of dates

1 lb of sliced bacon

1. Preheat oven to 375F.

2. Pit your dates.  Split them from the top and you can just pull the pit out.  (or buy pitted dates)

3. Cut each bacon slice in 1/2.

4. Wrap each date in the 1/2 slice of bacon and place on a baking sheet.  I use stone and would recommend it ten times over.  Everything you cook or bake comes out just as brown on the bottom as it is on the top.  Stone is super easy to wash and naturally non-stick.  You can see the ones I use here.

5. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and to your liking.

Enjoy!

Asian Flare Salad

This is so super easy and delicious.  Nothing like a fresh salad in the heat of the summer.

Ingredients:
1 small box of arugula/spinach mixture
1 can mandarin oranges
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 cup edamame beans cooked and cooled
1/4 cucumber chopped
goat cheese crumbled
Asian Sesame dressing (I use Renee's)

Divide everything among 2 plates.  Drizzle with the dressing.  Enjoy!

Summer Rolls & Peanut Sauce

Oh the taste of summer.  Today my husband had a job interview and while he was gone I made these delicious rolls I like to call "summer rolls".

Ingredients
4 carrots julienne
1.5 tbsp fresh basil chopped
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 container alfalfa sprouts
1/4 of a cucumber sliced into strips
Rice paper
1/3 cup Hoisin Sauce
3 tbsp Peanut butter
2 tbsp water
2 tsp soy sauce

 1. Mix the first 4 ingredients in a bowl.
2. Soak the rice paper as it directs on the package.
3. Take your rice paper, lay it flat.  Put a bit of alfalfa sprouts in the middle, 4-5 strips of cucumber and a pile of your carrot mixture in the middle so it is in a line.
4.  Fold the rice paper in towards the bottom and top of your ingredients.  Roll it parallel to the mixture.
5. Mix the last 4 ingredients in a bowl and this is your dipping sauce.

You can add some chicken or shrimp if you want to add some protein :)

Enjoy :)

Soy-Ginger Panko Asparagus

This is such an easy recipe and goes well with any Asian inspired dish.  I am a lucky wife because my husband doesn't like the tops of his asparagus...so I get to eat them all :)

1/4 cup mayo (you can use sour cream if you prefer)
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp grated ginger
1 cup panko crumbs
1 lb asparagus

Whisk together the mayo, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger.  Toss asparagus in mayonnaise mixture to coat, then roll in panko mixture.  Transfer to a non-stick baking sheet and bake for about 15minutes at 425, turning once half way through.  Enjoy!

Sex on the Beach Triffle

Chocolate, strawberries, whipped cream and a tropical pineapple favour!  Delicious!

Ingredients:
1 brick of cream cheese softened
250mL whipping cream whipped (I used 500mL, but you do not need this much)
1 quart strawberries
1 can crushed pineapple
600g "Two-Bite Brownies" (you can use your own brownies if you please!)
2-3 Skor bars
A trifle bowl or something like it :)

1. Slice the strawberries, crush the Skor bars, cut the brownies into quarters
2. Whip the cream and add the softened cream cheese to it and mix until mostly smooth.  Add the crushed pineapple to the cream mixture.

3. Start to layer your trifle bowl. Brownies on the bottom, some cream mixture then strawberries.  Do this twice, making sure you can see the layers along the sides.  Top it with the remainder of the cream mixture and the crushed Skor pieces.

 

Tofu Parmasian

Tofu.  So many people I talk to are a bit scared to try it, or have and they have hated it because of the texture.  Always buy extra firm tofu and you can stay away from this problem!  Also, it takes the flavor of whatever you cook it with, so don't just eat it plain. :P

Ingredients:
1 brick of tofu cut into 4 "sheets"
1 cup tomato sause
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 cup parmasean
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese!
2 tbsp olive oil

1. Cut the tofu in 4 sheets. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp basil and 1/2 tsp oregano in a bowl.  Mix the tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp basil in another bowl.
3. Put oil in a large frying pan at medium/high heat.
4. Wet the tofu with water and cover in the bread crumb mixture.

5. Fry the breaded tofu in the pan until golden brown on both sides.

6.  Lightly grease a bread pan (or 9x9 pan if using extra tofu).  Layer the bottom with part of the tomato mixture.  Place 2 pieces of the fried tofu in the pan.  Top with some more tomato sauce and 1/2 the mozzarella cheese.  Layer again with the last two pieces, tomato sauce and cheese.  Sprinkle some extra Parmesan on top and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Let stand for a couple minutes before enjoying! Serves two :)

Smoked Salmon Apetizer

I have a cousin who loves smoked salmon or trout and is sure to get a kick out of these!

Ingredients:
3 oz smoked salmon
Crackers of your choice (we like Carr's cracked pepper)
Cream cheese
Green onion chopped
Fresh dill (optional)

1. Cut up the smoked salmon to fit the crackers.
2. Put a heap of cream cheese on the cracker and then a piece of the smoked salmon
3. Top with a few green onions and a small amount of fresh dill.

*We did not have any dill on hand, so did not use any.  But this adds a lovely fresh flavor if you have some!

Bruscetta

Bruscetta, a classic appetizer. This is my own recipie!!

1. Cut up a french baguette to about 1.5" thickness.
2. Mince some garlic.  Wipe baguette pieces with olive oil and sprinkle the minced garlic on each piece.
3. Chop up some tomatoes and red onion. Mix together and put a spoonful on each piece of baguette.
4. Put a small amount of pesto onto of the tomato/onion mixture
5. Top with thinkly sliced parmesean or asiago cheese.
6. Bake at 375 for 7 minutes. Serve immediately. 

These won't last long :)

Raw Chilled Mango Soup

If you are into only eating raw fruits and veggies, this is an amazing recipe for you.  It also does well as an appetizer in the summer and is so so easy!

Ingredients:
4 ripe mangos
3 chili peppers seeded and chopped
1, 1/2 cups cold water
1 small sweet onion chopped
juice from 3 limes
2 tsp fresh grated ginger
1/8 tsp curry powder
1 tsp salt
pinch black pepper
2 tsp brown sugar

Blend in a blender and chill for 2 hours.  Enjoy!!

Sleep Easy ...the freaky drink

It has been too long folks!  Here comes a long stream of postings for your viewing pleasure.

Tonight we decided to try a drink recipe that is suitable for right before you jump into bed :)

Ingredients:
1 large banana
3.5 ounces of iceberg lettuce
1, 1/3 cups chamomile tea
juice of 1/2 a lemon

1. Blend (in a food processor or blender) the banana and lettuce.  Add 1/4 of the lemon juice if you need to, until mixture is smooth.
2. Allow the chamomile tea to steep for 10 minutes before adding it to the blender and mix along with the rest of the lemon juice.
3. Pour into 2 cups and drink immediately.

*If you can't stand the texture, you can always pour the mixture through a strainer :)

Mac & Cheese ...and other goodies

This is an amazing version of the classic Macaroni and Cheese.  And this is our mac and cheese dinner last night.

 Ingredients:
1 onion
2 bay leaves
3 cups milk
15 oz macaroni pasta
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
7 oz sharp cheddar cheese
2 oz Parmesan cheese (we used Asiago)
2 tsp dijon mustard
1/4 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper

1. Bring a large pan of water to a boil for the pasta.  While it is heating, cut the onion into large chunks then put into a large pan with the milk and bay leaves.  Bring to a boil and immediately take off the heat.  Let infuse for at least 10 minutes.

For some reason, this picture flips sideways when I upload it...lol.  You get the idea though.

2.  Add the macaroni to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes.  Drain the macaroni.  It should be slightly undercooked. 
3.  Once the milk has infused, remove the onion and bay leaves.  Add the butter and sift in the flour.  Cook on medium-high heat with a whisk for about 5 minutes until the sauce is thickened and smooth.  Stir in the nutmeg, 2/3 of the cheddar and Parmesan into the sauce until it is melted.

4.  Pour pasta into a baking dish and the sauce over top of it and stir well.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake covered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

The salad I made was a mixture of spinach leaves, mandarin oranges, cashews and asiago cheese. I made a dressing out of red wine vinegar, olive oil, orange juice and a tsp of Dijon mustard.  Tasty!

The home fries were cut up potatoes tossed in olive oil, Italian spices and a bit of chili powder.

And what better to do than listen to some old records while cooking! 

What a lovely evening :)

Brent's Banana Bread

Tonight I came home to the smell of fresh banana bread.  Brent has now made banana bread twice and it is...dare I say it...better than any other I have tried. 

Ingredients:

4 ripe bananas
1, 3/4 cups flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter

1. Grease a loaf pan and heat the oven to 325 degrees. 
2. Mash the bananas into a lumpy pulp.  Add the butter, sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla, flour and baking soda and mix with an electric mixer or hand-held mixer until smooth. Pour into the pan.  Bake for 1 hour, 10 minutes.

3.  While it cools, make the frosting!  Put 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tbsp water into a small pan over gentle heat and wait until the sugar is dissolved.  Let it simmer until it looks like a silky caramel. 

4.  Put 1/2 cup cream cheese into a bowl and pour the caramel mixture over top and whisk together until you get a smooth frosting.  Once the loaf is cool, spread the frosting on top. Bet you eat more than 1 slice ;)

Incredible!  I have the best husband ever! 

Easy Pad Thai

Tonight we made Pad Thai for supper and it was delicious.  Slightly different than what I have had at various Thai restaurants, but nevertheless it was good.  We accidentally used double the amount of noodles, so...if you want some left overs...

Ingredients
14oz wide rice noodles
12 oz firm tofu
3 fat garlic cloves
1 bunch green onions
1 small bunch cilantro
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
3 tbsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce)
1.5 tbsp sugar
4 large eggs
1 handful crushed roasted peanuts
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes (or a bit more!)
2 limes
3.5 oz bean sprouts

1. Put noodles in a large bowl and pour boiling water  over them, stir gently and let soak.
2. Cut tofu into small cubes and cook over medium heat with 1 tbsp oil, until browned on all sides. Once cooked, move to a plate and soak up any excess oil with paper towel.

3.  Slice the green onions and pick the leaves from the cilantro.  Crack eggs into a bowl and loosely beat with a fork.

4.  Mix together the sweet chili sauce, fish sauce and sugar.
5.  In the same pan you used to cook the tofu, heat the garlic, chili flakes and half the green onions.  Remove to a plate.
6. Cook the eggs in the same pan, as you would an omlette.  Lift out of the pan and slice into strips.
7.  Add all ingredients to the pan now, still on medium low heat.  The noodles, the sauce, the garlic mixture, the last of the green onions and the tofu.  Toss until well mixed.
8.  Serve on a plate with the peanuts and sprouts on the side.

This was very fast to make with 2 people!  We have so much left over though! 

I should also add that this was a vegetarian (minus the fish sauce) pad thai, but you can easily add chicken or shrimp at step 5 :)

Hope everyone is eating well!