Gluten Free – Page 4 – The Vegan Love Project

Perfect Gluten Free Crust

So I used an all purpose GF flour that usually has a bitter taste to it- I am telling you- you can not tell that this is a GF crust- it is certainly not the same as a crust made with traditional pastry flour HOWEVER…this shit is BOMB. I mean, the taste was yummy, it was crunchy, it didn’t get gummy…I LOVED IT! Because there is no gluten in the dough, you don’t have to be so precious with it, don’t man handle it for Christ’s sake but you don’t have to worry about your dough toughening up if you over work it.

Perfect Gluten Free Crust

3T cold vegan butter

3T cold coconut oil

1-1/4c Bobs Red Mill GF All Purpose Flour, or your favorite GF mix.

1/4t pink salt

3T maple sugar

4-6T ice cold water

Sift the GF flour, sugar, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the cold butter and oil in 1T scoops and cut the oil into the flour using two knives or a pastry cutter. The end result should look like a sandy crumb or meal. There should not be any large chunks of oil, you want smallish bead sized bits of fat encased in the flour.

Add the ice water, 1T at a time using a wooden spoon to mix it in, grabbing the flour as you go. Only add as much water as you need to help it come together to form a ball. Don’t smash the dough, think of it more as collecting it into a ball.

Once a loose ball of dough is formed, transfer it out onto a piece of plastic wrap and work it gently with your hands to form a 1/2 inch thick disc. Wrap and chill for 15-20 minutes. If not using right away you can store it for a couple of days tighlty wrapped in plastic wrap. Let it warm back up a little before using but not quite to room temp. You don’t want it too warm or it can get too soft to handle.

To roll out the crust, unwrap the disc and place it between two good size layers of wax paper (plastic wrap will work OK, but is a little more difficult to work with). Use a rolling pin to gently roll it into the shape of your pie pan. It will crack, don’t worry, you will mostly be pressing this into the pie plate with your hands- you just want to get the dough as even and thin as possible before hand. Any holes or cracks you can patch up with more dough with no problem.

To transfer the crust into your pie dish, remove the top layer of paper and gently lay it over the pie dish face down on top of the crust- use the support of the wax paper to quickly but carefully flip it as center as possible over the pie pan.

Once in the pan, it is mostly about evenly distributing the dough. Gently use your hands to form it into the pan, working the crust up along the sides. Try to get the pie up as uniformly as possible all around. You can leave a straight no fuss edge or I like to make a curve design by pressing my right knuckle in between the pie dough and my left pointer finger knuckle and thumb.

I uniformly press the hell out of it into the pie plate and then let it set for 10 minutes prior to filling.

For a pre-baked crust, put this into a 350 degree preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. If you are making a pie where the recipe calls to bake the crust and the filling together, pour the filling into pie crust and bake for anywhere from 30-40 minutes, depending on the filling.

Sautéed Lacinato Kale with Garlic & Fire Ball Peppers

Everything was local, purchased from the Greenfield Farmer’s market, the Lacinato Kale, the Fire Ball Pepper, the garlic…. This red pepper adds a low-heat kick, which is delicious, and not overbearing. I ate the whole bunch myself! Any kale will do, but there is something exceptional delicious about this particular variety.

Sautéed Lacinato Kale with Garlic & Fire Ball Peppers

1 bunch Lacinato kale, washed, trimmed, and torn into bite size pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

½ Fire Ball or Cherry Bomb pepper, thinly sliced

2T Extra virgin olive oil

1/4t salt

In a large skillet heat up the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the garlic just until golden brown. Add the salt, red pepper, and then add the kale. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the kale around the pan cooking the kale until wilted and tender. I like to place mine in a bowl with a plate over top so that it continues to steam slightly, makes it even more tender. Serve immediately. Also delicious at room temperature.

Broccoli Mushroom Onion Black Olive Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Lasagna with Red Sauce

I love lasagna. I love it. I have my Nana’s small and large lasagna pan. Usually by the fall I am ready for some serious food- This. Is. Serious. Food. I created a twist on my favorite tofu ricotta with some little local beauty peppers, including a cherry bomb, my favorite of all peppers. It makes for a subtly spicy kick that is perfect with the creaminess of the lasagna. In all lasagnas, its about the components. The sauce, the filling (tofu cheese), the veggies. I make it so each component has a ton of flavor so when put together, they all make this symphony of flavors. You can use this recipe as a guide but it is so easy to change out the components to suit your taste.

I have used the Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Filling and the basic Red Sauce recipe for two of the components. I will list the others in recipe below but feel free to create!!!

Components:

Sautéed Broccoli & Garlic
basic Red Sauce
1 box of lasagna noodles, cooked ( I used Gluten-Free)
Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Filling
Mushroom, Onion & Black Olive Filling
Vegan Cheese* optional ( I use Monteray Jack by Have a Heart, shredded)

Putting it together:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
ladle in about 1 cup of fresh sauce in the bottom of the baking dish
place down one layer of noodles
layer in the tofu filling
layer in broccoli
layer in noodles
layer in sauce- some vegan cheese if using
layer in mushroom filling
layer in noodles
layer in sauce
layer in tofu filling
layer in last layer of noodles
cover the top layer with fresh sauce
top with vegan cheese if using
Cover with tin foil and bake for 45-55 minutes.

Mushroom, Onion & Black Olive Filling

1 pound of Crimini or Button mushrooms, dry dusted, trimmed and cut into quarters or slices

1 medium onion, small dice

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can organic pitted black olives

2T mirin or white wine (mirin is sweet)

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/2t pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

1/4t red pepper flakes

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Heat up a large cast iron pan or skillet over medium heat. Add in the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and aromatic. Add in the mushrooms. Pan fry until the sear and get browned on all sides. Season with the salt and peppers. dd in the mirin and sauté off heat for a minute then resume back over the heat. Add in the olives, crushing them with your hand as you add them in. Cook until heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly.

Sautéed Broccoli with garlic

1 bunch broccoli, washed, trimmed, and cut into smaller size pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4t cayenne pepper flakes

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/4t salt

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In a large skillet (could be the same pan from above) heat up the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the garlic just until golden brown. Add the salt, red pepper, and then add the broccoli. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the broccoli around the pan cooking until bright green and tender. Remove from the heat. When cooled, coarsely chop the broccoli and set aside.

Creamy Roasted Squash Soup or Bisque

Roasted Squash Soup

The squash is the star of this sweet bisque as it should be. Hardly anything is needed to make this sweetie taste delicious. Ideal squashes would be Curri, Butternut, Acorn, Hubbard, or Delicata. The spices simply enhance and showcase the bright golden flesh. Fresh turmeric and ginger give it an added bonus of anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, digestion boosting benefits…Now is the time for this wonderfully satisfying soup.

Wheat-free, Gluten-free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

3c Hubbard or red Curry, roasted*

1 cloves garlic, minced

1/4t black pepper

1/4t cayenne pepper fresh or dried

3T coconut oil

1″ fresh ginger

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or 1T veggie broth powder)

1t cumin

2t ume vinegar or lemon juice

1t cinnamon

1/2t turmeric fresh or dried

2T maple syrup, sucanat, or palm (coconut) sugar

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4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Cashew heavy crème:

1/2c-roasted cashews

3/4c water

OR 1 can of full fat coconut milk.

As a time saver, the squash can be roasted in advance. The roasting step may even be omitted and the squash simply 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.

Bring 6c of water to a boil- in case you need more

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

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.

Making the Cashew Cream:

In a blender, grind the cashews to a powder. Add the water and blend at first at low speed and finally walking it up to full power. Let run for about 30 seconds. This should create a thick nut milk, likened to heavy crème.

Making the Soup:

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions, and garlic with the sweetener until golden and soft. Add the cumin, turmeric (if using dried), cinnamon, salt, black and red pepper. Add the roasted squash, the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, puree the soup adding in the fresh ginger and turmeric (if using fresh). At this point, the soup is delicious as is or add the crème or coconut milk to create a wonderfully elegant soup. Adjust the seasonings again after adding the crème.

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

Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with pan toasted seeds from the inside of the squash!

Raw Cherry Bomb Cashew Cheese

Raw Cherry Bomb Cashew Cheese- Savory

1/2c raw cashews

1/2c raw sauerkraut (not pasteurized)

2t Dulse flakes

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1 clove garlic

1/2t pink salt

2T water

2T of coconut oil

2 cherry bomb peppers- destemmed

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In a blender, add in all of the ingredients and blend until totally creamy and smooth. Pour into a jar with a locking lid (gasket, air sealed) and close it up. There should be at least 3 inches of space to give the cheese a chance to bloom. Label it, date it and place in a dark and warm place for 12-24 hours.

Transfer the jar into the refrigerator and leave it to set up and cure for at least a week.

This is a pro-biotic rich cheese!

Delicious as a base for savory dips and spreads
Amazing spread on toast, bagels, and crackers
Change the flavor by adding different peppers, herbs, olives, spices et

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

I made this sauce tonight after work- it doesn’t take long and it is SUPER delicious, hearty, and satisfying. The tempeh offers added protein- 14 grams per serving… For those who are not a fan of tempeh or are wary, it’s a good way to introduce it, for those who love it, you can’t go wrong with this sauce. This is also a good recipe to double and freeze to have on hand at a later time. Feel free to add fresh or dried herbs into the mix!

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

Da “Meat”

1 package/ 8oz tempeh (I use Lightlife), crumbled

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

2T Olive oil

1t chipotle powder

1/4t pink salt

Da Sauce

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

1 large can, jar or box (28oz) of diced or crushed tomatoes (I used Bionatura Jar)

1c water

1 large onion, medium dice

1/4t fresh black pepper

1/4t cayenne (opt) or one whole small chili

1/4c extra virgin olive oil

1T sucanat or another sweetener

1t salt or to taste

For Da “Meat”

In a heated skillet, add the olive oil, salt, pepper and chipotle powder and sauté just until aromatic and golden. Add in the tempeh and pan fry until browned and crispy- about 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently over medium high heat. Set aside.

For Da Sauce

In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic with the sweetener until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes, salt, black and red pepper. Add the water and allow the sauce to come to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, adjust the seasonings. Add in the tempeh.

Serve over any kind of pasta or grains. Super satisfying.

Simple Summer Broccoli, Potato & Corn Bowl

Everything is local, happening right now and absolutely fabulous tasting- so simple.

Simple Summer Broccoli, Potato & Corn Bowl

1 crown of broccoli, peeled, de-stemmed, cut into florets

1 medium size red or thin skinned potato, scrubbed, large dice

1/4 medium onion, small dice

1/2 ear fresh corn, shaved from the cob (niblets)

salt and peper to taste

1T olive oil

1/2 jalapeño or cherry bomb pepper

—

2c water

Bring water to a boil.

In a medium size soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the potatoes, salt, jalapeño and black pepper. Cover with about 1 1/2cups of water and then cover partially to steam the potatoes- about 10 minutes. Add in the broccoli and corn when the potatoes are tender. Steam just until the broccoli is bright green and tender.

Serve with just a little bit of the broth in a shallow bowl, drizzled with more olive oil, salt & pepper.

Summer Tofu Scramble

Another crazy hard crossfit workout this morning!!! Thrusters and GHD sit-ups – SO GOOD. Came home on a mission to eat and had two lovely heirloom tomatoes on the counter that were screaming to be used. I chopped them up and remembered I had both basil and arugala pesto in the fridge. Seeing as I used all of my miso paste up making the pesto, I used what I had left of the miso and supplemented with the arugala pesto AND OH MY GODDESS…..YUMNESSSSS!!!!

Summer Tofu Scramble

1 package (15oz) firm tofu, crumbled

2T coconut oil

1c fresh summer tomatoes- heirlooms are best- medium dice

½ medium onion, small dice

1/4c nutritional yeast- more if desired!

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2t ground turmeric

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

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2t miso

1T prepared arugala or basil pesto

2T water- more if needed

Mix the miso paste with the water and set aside.

In a heated skillet or fry pan over medium high heat, heat up the oil and add the onion, garlic, turmeric, salt, black pepper and sauté until aromatic and golden.

Add the diced tomatoes and the crumbled tofu and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes, coating the tofu with the onion mixture.

Mix the miso paste into the scramble, then add the pesto. Sprinkle in the nutritional yeast and mix until well incorporated.

Serve immediately with toast or in a breakfast tofu burrito, sprinkled with additional nutritional yeast.

Baby Lima Bean-Basil Spread

This is summer in a dip. Delicious- super easy especially if you have the pesto in your fridge!

Baby Lima Bean Basil Spread

1c cooked baby lima beans (white)

1t ground chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

2T prepared basil or arugala pesto

1 lemon, juiced

1/4t black pepper

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1t pink salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor.

Adjust seasoning to taste. Best if refrigerated first to help the spread/dip set.

Cream of Heirloom Tomato Soup

Cream of Heirloom Tomato Soup

This soup is so simple and so delicious. Simple ingredients = amazingness. For a delicious, delicate, light soup, keep it to just the tomatoes- for a more substantial protein fortified option, the addition of white beans fills it out perfectly.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3c fresh chopped heirloom tomatoes

1/4c fresh basil

1/2 fresh jalapeño, diced

2T olive

1T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 veggie bouillon

1t salt or to taste

1c cooked white beans; baby limas, cannelini, or great northern beans *optional

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Cashew heavy cream

1/4c cashews

1c water

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

For the cream:

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In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes, salt, jalapeño and black pepper. Continue to sauté until the tomatoes soften and begin to break down and the pepper turns bright green. Add in the beans if using. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

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In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, puree the tomato soup. At this point, the soup is delicious as is or the crème can be added to create a wonderfully elegant soup. Add the crème into the soup and stir with a ladle to incorporate. Adjust the seasonings again after adding the crème.

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