The Vegan Love Project

ChickNuts (Roasted Chickpeas)

IN DA OVEN…… These are such a great, high protein salty yummy snack….

Roasted Chickpeas

3c cooked chickpeas, rinsed and well drained

1/4c extra virgin olive oil

1/2t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees

In a bowl, toss everything together. In a shallow dish or baking sheet, spread the coated chickpeas out and space evenly. Roast for an hour to insure a proper roasting. Taste one or two, if they are at all soft, they are not done. You can lower the heat if longer roasting is neccesary. When they are done, using a slotted spoon, lay them out on a cooling plate or onto paper towels. While hot and the oil is present on the surface, SPRINKLE MORE SALT, the oil will help it stick. SUPER FRICKEN DELICIOUS. They will get crunchier as they cool so it is just as important to not overcook as it is to not undercook.

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Recovery Broth/ Noodle Soup Broth

I have been addicted to this broth the past several days. I have made it both with fresh turmeric and with powdered- the fresh offers a much more vibrant looking broth but both are equally healing. Perfect to make extra to have to sip on or make 1/2 the recipe and make the perfect amount for a bowl of buckwheat ramen & veggies.

Recovery Broth

6c water

½ onion, coarsely chopped

2” fresh ginger, grated

1” fresh turmeric, grated OR 1t turmeric powder

1t sesame oil

1t pink salt

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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 heatproof container. Discard the vegetables. Pour the broth back into the pot and then proceed to add the sesame oil. You can add fresh veggies, cooked rice noodles, buckwheat soba or ramen. This is the simplest, most gorgeous orange broth and it is just so easy and perfect for a pick-me-up or for when you are not feeling full force to just sip on.

PRE-ORDER your SIGNED copy of the Simple Treats Holiday Cookbook!!!

OKAY MY FRIENDS!!!! THE ORDER LINK IS UP —> https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws… <— AND READY FOR YOU TO PURCHASE YOUR SIGNED COPY (signed by both ME & illustrator Gayle Kabaker ) THEY WILL BE SHIPPED OUT PRIORITY MAIL TO INSURE YOU HAVE THEM PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAYS! 25 OF MY MOST FAVORITE HOLIDAY-VEGAN-LOVING RECIPES…. *MONIES FROM EACH BOOK WILL GO DIRECTLY TO Pitty Love Rescue, Inc. COST OF SHIPPING IS THE SAME FOR 1-3 BOOKS (4 IF WE CAN SMOOSH THEM INTO THE FLAT RATE ENVELOPE) ‪#‎VEGANLOVE‬!!!!!

Creamy Potato Leek & Kohlrabi Soup

My friend Kim handed me a kohlrabi today and said “HERE”. She had gotten it from her winter CSA and didn’t know what to do with it. I didn’t know what to do with it….What the F is a kohlrabi? A turnip? Cabbage? She challenged me to make something with it….She also handed off her leeks to me so I knew there was a soup waiting to happen, especially on such a cold and gray day…IT. IS. PHHHHEEENomenal…..MAKE it.

Creamy Potato Leek & Kohlrabi Soup

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

2 large russet or Idaho potatoes, peeled & quartered

1 small onion, medium dice

2 leeks, trimmed, rinsed and sliced

1 medium kohlrabi, peeled, & quartered

1/4c fresh parsley – *optional

1/4t black pepper

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

3T coconut oil

1t turmeric

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

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1 recipe cashew cream (1/4c cashews, 1 c filtered water blended until smooth)

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

In a large soup pot, add the coconut oil and sauté the onions with the turmeric until golden and soft. Add the leeks and continue to sauté until the leeks turn bright green. And have wilted. Add the potatoes, kohlrabi, salt, and black pepper. Mix them well until the onion/leek mixture and then add the boiling water, and the bouillon cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Add in cashew cream and blend in the Vitamix for a smooth soup or partially blend with an immersion blender. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the fresh parsley if using. Adjust the seasonings before serving. Serve with crusty bread and a salad or add GF pasta or grains of your choosing.

Baked Tofu Marinara Steaks

Baked Tofu Marinara Steaks

1-Pound tofu, rinsed, pressed, and drained- cut into thick, even slices

1c prepared Marinara (see recipe)

1T olive oil

1T shoyu or Tamari

2T maple syrup OR coconut sugar

Pink salt and pepper to taste

Pinch cayenne pepper *optional

2T nutritional yeast

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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the tofu.

In a shallow baking dish, spoon most of the marinara mixture over the bottom of the dish. In one layer, place the tofu on top of the sauce, then spoon the remaining sauce over the tofu. I turn the tofu over in the pan several times to get a good marinara covering prior to baking. Then spoon some over the top.

Top with additional nutritional yeast or Vegan cheese your choice.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Serve hot or cold. Delicious with gluten free pasta, Sprouted brown rice or quinoa.

Not So Basic Off-Da-Hook Mushroom Gravy

THANKSGIVING IS ALL ABOUT THE GRAVY!!! #CRUELTYFREE #VEGANLOVE

The Vegan Love Project

I can always make a basic gravy. I use the pan after pan frying tofu or tempeh in garlic, usually with a cornmeal coating so when I was challenged to make a vegan gravy that was of equal if not greater to taste than a traditional turkey based gravy….IT WAS ON. I can’t believe the way this gravy came out. The combination of mushrooms, including the super savory umami flavor of porcinis….this gravy is OFF DA HOOK. Gluten free, and really easy to make. This over smashed potatoes was I N S A NE. If you are not a cooking type of person, just sauté everything together and put it in the blender, otherwise add your kitchen finesse and flare…it really is awesome and fail proof. Everything is organic and local if possible.

Not So Basic Off Da Hook Mushroom Gravy

1 large shallot, small dice

1 clove…

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Coconut Curry Lentil Soup with Vegan Sour Cream

This soup is DELICIOUS! Just a perfect balance of savory, coconut curry love, and sweetness. The lentils provide a powerful punch of vegetable protein- I will be making this all the time from here on out. The sour cream offers a plain yogurt tang that completes the flavor profile- especially if you make it on the spicier side like I do! I used the beautiful little french lentils but any lentils will work magically.

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup with Vegan Sour Cream

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

2c brown, green or french *lentils, cooked

1 medium onion, small dice

1 stalk celery, small dice

1 large clove garlic, smashed, minced

1 tomato, medium dice

1” piece of fresh ginger- grated

1” piece fresh turmeric- grated

1c fresh spinach*optional

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes- more or less as desired

1T curry powder

1T agave, coconut sugar or other sweetener

3T coconut oil

5-6c boiling water

1/2 can blended coconut milk

1t salt or to taste

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Garnish

Cashew Sour Cream

Fresh Cilantro, chopped

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

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and soft. Add the celery, ginger, turmeric, salt, black and red pepper. Add the lentils, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water, and the chopped tomatoes. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the coconut milk and cook until brought up to temperature. Add the spinach just before serving. Adjust the seasonings if neccessary.

Ladle the soup into a serving bowl and place a dollop of the Sour Cream atop in the center and garnish with plenty of fresh, chopped, cilantro.

*To cook lentils ahead of time instead of using canned, take 3/4c dried green or brown lentils and wash, rinse, pick over and drain. In a large pot, place the lentils with 2 cups clean water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered for 15-20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and the lentils are tender. Let steam for an additional 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, soak the lentils overnight and rinse prior to cooking. This will reduce the cooking time by almost 1/2.

Plain Sour Cashew Cream

Ummmmmm. It’s Sour Cream. SOUR CREAM. Just made out of cashews…not animal milk.

This. Makes me. Happy.I just had my hands on junky store bought vegan sour cream that was filled with crap. THIS..is not.

Hello Onion Dip, baked potatoes, plain yogurt, you get where I’m going….. Oh. And its RAW and filled with pro-biotics.

Plain Sour Cashew Cream

1c cashews, soaked for an hour (this step can be skipped)

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

3/4 +up to 3T filtered water

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1/2t pink salt

1T lemon juice (omit if fresh is not available)

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Step 1.

In a Vitamix or high-powered blender, add the cashews (drained if soaked), the probiotic powder, 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 3-5 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 or if the mixture seems to thick. If you run this too fast, the contents will heat up, creating an oily mixture.

When totally creamy and smooth, 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. You could also in lieu of a dehydrator, place it in a warm spot in your kitchen, covered. Leave this overnight or for 24hours.

Step 2.

Mix in the salt and lemon juice. Transfer to a container and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours to set, best, overnight. If this set up thicker than desired, add a little bit of water to loosen it up to the desired consistency.

Scallion Cream Cheese!

There are no words for the amount of awesomeness this recipe creates. It is truly amazing. I dare anyone to taste this and know the difference between this and a real dairy cream cheese. You can find acidophilus powder but be sure that is a vegan sourced strain. You would sub 1t for the 5 capsules.

Scallion Cream Cheese!

2c cashews, soaked for an hour (this step can be skipped)

1T mellow white miso

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

1/2c +up to 3T filtered water

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2t onion powder

1/2t pink salt

1/4c coconut oil, soft

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

4 scallions, green & white minced

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Step 1.

In a Vitamix or high-powered blender, add the cashews (drained if soaked), the probiotic powder, miso and 1/2c of 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, creating an oily mixture.

When totally creamy and smooth, remove to a glass or stainless steel bowl and set in a safe, warm place- I place mine in the dehydrator uncovered at about 100 degrees and let it run overnight. You could also in lieu of a dehydrator, place it in a warm spot in your kitchen, loosley covered. Leave this overnight or for 24 hours.

Step 2.

Mix in the salt, onion powder, coconut oil (should be room temp and soft, not liquid), lemon juice, and minced scallions. Transfer to a container and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours to set, best, overnight. It becomes a beautiful, spreadable, creamy cheese like bit of awesomeness.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crack Cups

I can not get enough peanut butter lately so like any good vegan athlete, I have incorporated into my desserts! These are simple, and incredibly amazing.

Peanut Butter Crack Cups

Makes 5 super large cups, about 30 mini

Chocolate Shell Coating:

1c vegan chocolate chips

2T coconut oil

Pinch pink salt

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Peanut Butter Filling:

3/4c Organic natural, crunchy peanut butter

1/3c maple sugar- whizzed and powdered in the Vitamix

Pinch pink salt

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1/3c brown rice krispy cereal

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30 mini or 5-6 maxi cup cake liners

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Over a double boiler, heat up water and place the chocolate chips and the coconut oil above. If you don’t have a double boiler, a pot of boiling water covered with a heat resistant bowl works perfectly. Melt the chocolate slowly over medium high heat. While the chocolate is melting, prepare your filling.

In a medium bowl, add in the peanut butter. If you haven’t done so already- put your maple or coconut sugar in the Vitamix and run the motor until the contents look powdery. Add this powder to the peanut butter, add the salt and mix well, until all of the sugar is well incorporated. Taste and if more salt is needed, add it.

On a plate, arrange your mini or maxi cupcake liners. For the maxi, spoon 1T of melted chocolate. For the minis’ about 1heaping t. Gently tap the chocolate to cover the bottom of the liner and work up the sides.

***only with the Maxis….Place this in the fridge or freezer to set, about 10-15 minutes***

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After they are set, remove them from the fridge and spoon in the peanut butter filling (1T for maxi, 1t for minis’) Again, gently tap the filling to fill the liner.

***only with the Maxis….Place this in the fridge or freezer to set, about 10-15 minutes***

Repeat spooning the chocolate over the PB filling, same 1T or 1t, maxi, minis’.

Sprinkle in about 1T of rice cereal over the top of the cup, gently encouraging them to become a part of the chocolate topping, you can use a spoon if necessary but you want them to set up “in” the coating.

Let set for an hour at least, 2 is better.

THESE ARE INCREDIBLE.