This bread recipe makes a rustic, sort of dense yeast bread. It’s simple to make and requires very little kneading, although if you like a less dense bread, you can make it the traditional way, kneading for 6-10 minutes. An hour of the prep time is simply waiting for it to rise. It is delicious – and I’m lucky I took the photo before the dog stole the entire loaf off of the table. He likes my bread and hopefully, so will you. And don’t mind the scratch on my table!
Continue readingMonth: January 2016
Black Bean Enchiladas
I think that if I had a favorite kind of cuisine, it would probably be Mexican. My mom used to make enchiladas much like these, except that she used real cheese and chicken or beef instead of beans. These hearty, “cheezy” enchiladas will satisfy even the most committed Mexican food-lover. I serve these with a green salad and a cold Mexican beer with a lime wedge.
Vegan Dog Food
When I first starting eating strictly plant-based foods, I still fed my dogs meat. For a time I switched to a vegetarian diet, giving them eggs and bits of cheese for treats. But then I started reading about the dairy and poultry industries, and I knew that I could not buy these products and support the industries that caused so much pain and suffering. So I decided to investigate vegan dog food and found that although there were many, they were all way too expensive for us. I decided I should make my own, and after doing a little research, I came up with this recipe for my dogs. You can vary the grain and the type of beans or peas you use, but don’t leave out the peanut butter – they love it!
Pizza Crust
This basic pizza crust recipe can be used for regular and thin crust, or for calzones. You can add herbs to the dough if you like.
Ingredients
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 cups of flour
- 1 t. salt
Black Bean Calzones
These calzones are hearty and satisfying. Even non-vegans will ask for seconds, so you may want to double the recipe! You can add any vegetables that you like. I’ve also made these with black olives and jalapenos and taco seasoning instead of Italian seasoning. As with any dish, you can make it yours with a little experimentation. Use your imagination!
Continue readingEasy Pizza Sauce
This is an easy, quick sauce that you can throw together in minutes. Vary the seasonings as you like – I prefer the traditional garlic, oregano and basil. Delicious and fat free!
The Best Vegan Food Blogs
It’s never been easier to be a vegan. There are so many recipe sites on the Internet that you could cook a different vegan dinner for the next ten years and barely scratch the surface. “Best” is entirely subjective, but these are the four best vegan food blogs in my opinion, especially for someone who is new to veganism and needs ideas and inspiration.
Hearty Mushroom Soup
This soup is earthy and full flavored, redolent with onions and garlic, and thick with baby bella mushrooms in a rich vegetable broth. I based this recipe on the mushroom soup recipe at The Kitchn. I left out the dried mushrooms (since our own veggie broth used in this recipe was made with oven-dried mushrooms) and the 4 tablespoons of butter, bringing the cost and the fat way down. This soup will warm and comfort you on the coldest day!
Vegetable Stock
This vegetable stock is a savory beginning to many soups, stews and sauces. It’s easy to make and it can be mega-cheap if you save odds and ends of vegetable scraps to use. You can use any combination of vegetables, but don’t use any of the cruciferous veggies, as you don’t want a sulfur taste to your stock. The measurements in this recipe are approximate; just be sure you use enough vegetables, keep the temperature low, and simmer for at least 1 1/2 hours.
Continue readingMy Top 5 “Must-Have” Ingredients
My favorites change as time goes on and I try new things, but these five are pretty much standard.
- Nutritional Yeast
- Onions
- Oatmeal
- Almond Milk
- Flax Seeds