Gluten Free – The Vegan Love Project

SIMPLE FERMENTED CASHEW CREAM CHEESE 2018

This is bomb. Leave out the onion powder and you have the base for a cheesecake, I know because I’ve made it. That recipe is coming soon. Try this. YUM. Perfect on crackers, bread, with raw fresh veggies like celery or carrots dipped into it…top it with olives, mix the olives in, chop up some chives…this shit is DOPE.

SIMPLE FERMENTED CASHEW CREAM CHEESE 2018

1c cashews, soaked for an hour then drained

vegan probiotics- 2 capsules (empty powder and dispose of the capsule) or 1t powder

1/2c-filtered water

—

1/2t pink salt

1/4t onion powder

2t lemon juice (omit if fresh is not available)

—

Step 1.

In a Vitamix or high-powered blender, add the cashews and water.

Blend this at a lower speed initially to well incorporate the contents, speed up the motor as it gets blended. You will need to process this for at least 4-5 minutes until the cashews are absolutely creamy. Scrape down the sides intermittently and be sure to get all possible ‘pieces’ of cashews blended into the mix. Add a T of water as needed if the mixture gets stuck. If you run this too fast, the contents will heat up- if this happens let it cool prior to adding the probiotics.

When totally creamy and smooth, add the probiotics and blend for 20-30 more seconds. Remove to a glass or stainless steel bowl and set in a safe, warm place- I place mine in the dehydrator at about 100 degrees and let it run overnight. In lieu of a dehydrator, place it in a warm spot in your kitchen, covered. Leave this overnight at minimum, taste for the sour, and let it sit until desired sourness up to 24hours.

Step 2.

Mix in the salt, onion powder and lemon juice. Transfer to a container and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours to set and flavors to meld.

Ellen’s Golden Milk

This is delicious as an energy boost, or a soothing night time night cap to calm nerves prior to going to bed. Lately I have been making this as a pick me up during the cold afternoons or taking it as a dessert a little bit after dinner time. Turmeric has so many amazing medicinal attributes, including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

1 heaping T Coconut Manna

2c boiling water

1/2″ piece fresh ginger

1/2t cinnamon

pinch pink salt

pinch black pepper

pinch nutmeg *optional

pinch cayenne *optional

1-3t agave or maple syrup

1 1/2t turmeric

___

Heat up 2 cups water in a kettle or on the stove. Pick your mug! I don’t put the turmeric in my blender as it discolors the container – a glass container should be okay!) See below.

In a high powered blender, add all the other ingredients- ginger, manna, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, sweetener, cinnamon etc. I measure the water by the mug I chose! Big mug, more water! I pour the boiling water into the mug, then into the blender then process everything for a minute or two. While that is blending, I add the turmeric into the empty mug. When its’ finished blending, pour the hot milk into the mug, Sprinkle with more cinnamon. SO TASTY!

I Totally Winged It Amazing Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli

Since opening the second studio- time has become even more precious and my commitment to eating beautiful foods has become even more a priority (NO MORE PALM OIL). I had a craving for Mac & Cheese and none of the ingredients that I had used to make the last recipe- I had no beans that were cooked in the house other than dal, no peppers, so I improvised with what I had- homemade hummus, and a beautiful local Butterkin Squash that I roasted. Instead of adding garlic and beans I added the hummus, I added my Fermented Hot Sauce instead of fresh red peppers. It came out spicy and perfectly paired with the sweetness of local broccoli. It was SO SO good- I made it after class and it literally took no more than the 15 minutes to boil the pasta before I was sitting down eating it. Hope you enjoy it!

I Totally Winged It Amazing Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli

1c prepared hummus or chickpeas or white beans

3T fermented Hot Sauce or sriracha (spicy)

2T mellow white miso paste

2T cooked squash- Butternut, kobocha or other orange-fleshed squash

1/4c raw cashews

1/4c nutritional yeast

2T tapioca starch

2t agave or maple syrup

2t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

2t chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

1c to 1-1/2c water (depending upon desired thickness)

1/2t pink salt

1T coconut oil or vegan NO PALM oil Butter *optional

—

2c-cooked broccoli, minced (see below- frozen broccoli would work well)

—

1 Pound of Gluten Free Pasta

6c water to boil

2t pink salt

Clean and trim the broccoli and keep in larger florets with stalks.

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, add the salt, toss in the broccoli and cook just until tender and bright green- about 3-4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, sweep the broccoli out into a strainer and set aside to cool.

Add the pasta into the boiling water and cook until tender- 10-12 minutes or according to package.

While the pasta is cooking, when the broccoli is cool, using a sharp knife, mince the broccoli. Lightly salt and pepper and set aside.

Place all of ingredients except the tapioca starch and broccoli, into a blender and process until smooth and creamy. Taste it and adjust for saltiness and seasoning. Add in the tapioca starch and blend well.

Drain the pasta and set aside. In the same pot add the cheese sauce and stir over medium heat until it starts to thicken- about 2-3 minutes. Add in the pasta and continue to cook over medium heat for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the entire mixture is heated through. Add in the coconut oil or butter. Add in the broccoli and stir until well incorporated.

Serve immediately. YUM.

AMAZING MACARONI & CHEESE

AMAZING MACARONI & CHEESE

This stuff is INCREDIBLE! Can be made completely gluten-free, nut-free, and or soy-free. I have been experimenting with tapioca flour lately and its delivering some pretty amazing results! I dare you to experiment with other beans, other peppers, other pastas- its completely amazing on the stove top or scroll down for a baked Mac&Cheese option. Let me know how it goes!

Cheese Sauce:

1c baby lima beans, cooked

½ red bell pepper OR 2 cherry bomb peppers (spicy)

2T mellow white miso paste

1/4c raw cashews OR 1/4c tofu (nut free) OR 1/4c coconut oil or Manna (soy free)

1/4c nutritional yeast

1 clove garlic

2T tapioca starch

2t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

2t chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1c to 1-1/2c water (depending upon desired thickness)

1/2t pink salt

—

1 Pound of Gluten Free Elbow Pasta or other pasta

6c water to boil

2t pink salt

In a large pot, bring the pasta water to a boil, add the salt, toss in the pasta and cook until tender- 10-12 minutes or according to package. Drain and set aside.

Place all of ingredients except the tapioca starch into a blender and process until smooth and creamy. Taste it and adjust for saltiness and seasoning. When it tastes how you like, blend in the tapioca.

In a large pot (I use the pasta pot), put the cooked pasta back in, drizzle some coconut or olive oil in and add the cheese sauce. Put back over medium heat and mix and stir well. The heat will make the mixture thicken and get creamy. When at desired creaminess, plate and indulge!!!

For Baked Mac&Cheese:

Leave the Mac&Cheese mixture on the wetter, creamier side- this is because it will be taking on additional cooking in the oven and you don’t want it to dry out.

Toast gluten free bread or bread of your choosing- enough to cover the portion you are baking. With a sharp knife, mince the bread into teeny pieces. Toss with coconut oil and salt and nutritional yeast. Scoop a single serving (or larger) and top with the breadcrumbs. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbling and hot.

Spicy Red Lentil Soup with Spinach & Ginger

Spicy Red Lentil Soup with Spinach & Ginger.jpg

Spicy Red Lentil Soup with Spinach & Ginger

1 onion, small dice

1” fresh ginger, grated

1 medium onion, minced

1/4t cayenne pepper or 1 pepperonicini

1/2t smoked chipotle powder

3T olive oil

1t turmeric powder

1/2t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

2c red lentils, cooked

2c fresh spinach, cleaned and trimmed

1 veggie boulion cube OR veg broth replacing or in addition to the water

4c water- boiled

In a large pot, heat up the onion in the olive oil and sauté just until golden. Add the spices and the lentils and cover with boiling water or veggie broth and add the bouillon. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes uncovered or until the lentils have completely broken down- adding more water if necessary. When at desired consistency, add the fresh ginger and spinach and mix in, cover for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasonings. Serve on its own or over white or brown basmati rice.

Ginger Turmeric Chai Spice Cashew Latte

ginger-turmeric-chai-spice-cashew-latte

My sister Jill came for a visit and around 8pm she was like…”I want something hot, rich and creamy, frothy and yum like sweet steamed milk but vegan”…in about 30 seconds flat, we had this major revelation in a mug….SO DELICIOUS….SO GOOD. I make this in my Vitamix and blend it for at least a couple of minutes giving it a nice heady froth. I haven’t missed coffee since! I actually woke up this morning and CHOSE this over my brew. SO spicy and warming- I love it. Turmeric is an amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial super root so ya, this is for your health. 😉

1/4c cashews

1″piece of ginger

1 1/4c boiling water

1/4t turmeric powder

Pinch vanilla powder or 1/2t vanilla

1/2t cinnamon

Pinch chai spice *opt

Pinch pink salt

Pinch nutmeg

2t agave or maple syrup

Combine all ingredients into a blender and process until well combined and frothy- about 2 minutes. Top with more cinnamon and nutmeg.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous.

Roasted Kobocha Squash Soup

Any squash can be used for this delicious creamy, and simple soup. Kobocha squash has got such a lovely, sweet but not too sweet taste that pairs perfectly with ginger. I picked a beauty up at the local farmer’s market this past weekend and roasted it and have been putting it in to many meals since. As a time saver, the squash can be roasted in advance. If the squash is already roasted, this soup literally takes 8 minutes start to finish. The roasting step may even be omitted and the squash simply peeled, cubed, and cooked along with the other vegetables. Roasting draws out the most flavors and brings the sweetness of the squash to life, but it is not a necessity.

roasted-kobocha-squash-soup

Roasted Kobocha Squash Soup

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2c roasted Kobocha squash*

1/4t chipotle powder *optional

1 fresh jalapeño or cherry bomb pepper, chopped

1t cinnamon

1/4t nutmeg

3T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 vege bouillon

1t salt or to taste

—

1/4-1/3c cashews

1″ piece of fresh ginger

1T raw agave

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

—

Roasting the Squash: Clean the outer shell of the squash with cold water and pat it dry well with a dishtowel or paper cloth. With a sharp knife, split the squash down the middle, creating two halves. Seed the squash using a large spoon, scraping the stringy flesh and seeds from the center. With the cleaned halves, rub with oil and salt. Place face down on a cookie sheet or roasting dish and place in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until the flesh of the squash is tender, yielding to the touch. Let cool. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the roasted squash.Place the cashews, ginger, agave and fresh hot pepper in a blender and set aside.

—

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and soft and aromatic. Add the yellow squash, the boullion (or powder) and the salt. Continue to sauté until the squash softens and turns bright yellow- about 3-4 minutes. Add the boiling water to cover. Bring to a rapid boil and reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 more minutes.

—

In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, transfer the soup pot contents into the blender and puree the soup with the contents in the blender. Adjust the seasonings if needed.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous. Fill the blender only half way and proceed in batches if necessary.

Ellen’s No Bake Energy Balls

My sister Jill sent me an energy bar recipe and my other sister Karen was like- “Ellen, it’s OK for you to just follow a recipe, you don’t have to make it your own“…Ya…no, I really do. I made these with and without the protein powder- both delicious. You could make them with more raw, super antioxidant ingredients, like using raw cacao nibs in place of the chocolate chips, using 1/4c raw cacao powder in the dough, raw nut butter in place of the peanut butter etc…they are simple, quick and easy to make and great to have in the fridge for a quick snack before or after a workout or to get you to your next meal.

ellens-no-bake-energy-balls

1c (dry) gluten free oatmeal, 2/3 buzzed in a dry blender, 1/3 whole

2/3c + 1T dried desiccated coconut- reserve the 1T for later

1/2c peanut butter, chunky

1T chia seeds

1T hemp seeds

2T sesame seeds

1 scoop Raw Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder *optional

1/4c sprouted pumpkin seeds

1/4c crisped brown rice cereal *optional

1/2c vegan chocolate chips, buzzed in (the same) dry blender to a coarse meal with small chunks OR 1/2 raw cacao nibs

1/3c raw agave nectar

3T coconut oil

1/4t pink salt

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Spread into a shallow square pan.Sprinkle with more coconut. Let chill in the refrigerator for at least one half hour before attempting to scoop and roll or cut.

Once chilled, using a small scoop or spoon, roll into balls OR cut into chunks. (Mine were about 1″ in diameter)

In a bowl, add the reserved coconut, toss the balls or chunks to coat.

Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 20-25 balls or chunks.

Gingered(end of)Summer Squash Soup

So tasty!!!….I am still fighting this crud! I needed something warm and soothing for my throat, spicy enough to kill whatever’s left, and delicious enough to keep me happy. Sick all week meant there was only what was left after 10 days in the fridge and that was one lonely little Summer Squash and some cherry bombs…this soup came together SO QUICK…. Easily a new favorite irregardless of summer OR sickness.

Delicious.

gingered-summer-squash-soup

Gingered (end of) Summer Squash Soup

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 large yellow summer squash

1/4t chipotle powder *optional

1 fresh jalapeño or cherry bomb pepper, chopped

1/2″ piece of fresh ginger

3T coconut oil

6c boiling water

2t raw agave

1 vege bouillon

1t salt or to taste

—

1/4c cashews

handful fresh parsley

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

—

Place the cashews, ginger, agave and parsley in a blender and set aside.

—

In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, transfer the soup pot contents into the blender and puree the soup with the contents in the blender. Adjust the seasonings if needed.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous. Fill the blender only half way and proceed in batches if necessary.

Simple Turmeric Broth

broth

Simple Turmeric Broth for Vegetable Noodle Soup 2016

6c water

½ onion, coarsely chopped

2” fresh ginger, grated

1t turmeric

1t sesame oil

1t pink salt

Put everything in a pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve into a large heatproof pitcher (I use my Vitamix container) or bowl. Discard the vegetables. Pour the broth back into the pot and then proceed to add fresh veggies, cooked rice noodles. This is the simplest, clear broth and it is just so easy and perfect for a pick me up or when you are not feeling full force to sip on.