dairy free – Page 2 – The Vegan Love Project

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.

Whipped Coconut Cream

Just in time for holiday treats…this is the perfect homemade topping.

Whipped Coconut Cream

1 c organic coconut, chilled over night

2-3T favorite sweetener, raw agave, palm sugar, maple syrup

Pinch pink salt

Pinch Vanilla powder

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In a large bowl, with a sturdy whisk (you could use an electric beater, I don’t have one), empty the solid contents of the coconut, reserving the liquid for something else (smoothies, nut milk etc). I actually used the remaining liquid, which was about a 1/2c to make a cashew nut milk for the Chocolate Moose I made the whipped topping for!!!

Break up the solid coconut with the whisk and begin to beat it as rapidly as you can. About mid way, add the sugar, salt and vanilla. I add the sugar incrementally- depending on how sweet I want the end cream to be. I was serving this with the Coconut Chocolate Moose so I didn’t want it to be too too sweet so I ended up adding 2 T of raw agave. Taste and adjust for sweetness. Transfer into a storage container. It will stiffen after being chilled and it will also soften at room temperature. AMAZING.

Savory Chickpea Pancakes

These are scrumptious little bits of amazing. I LOVE them. They are so easy to make and super satisfying. You could easily add in veggie combinations, spices and flavors of your own choosing, maybe even make them into a sweet variation. I love this particular combo dipped in Herbed Tamarind Sauce. S P E C T A C U L A R. Eat warm, hot or room temp.

Savory Chickpea Pancakes

1/2c garbanzo bean flour

2/3c water

1/2t baking soda

1/4t turmeric

1/2t cumin

1/4t chipotle powder

1/4t onion powder

1/4t pink salt or to taste

1 lemon, juiced

2/3c fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

1/3c fresh cilantro, minced

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Coconut oil for pan-frying.

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Preheat cast iron pan over medium heat.

In a medium size bowl, combine chickpea flour, water, baking soda, turmeric, cumin, onion powder and salt to taste. Mix well, being sure there are no clumps. Add in lemon, stir and you will notice the batter rise and foam. Add in spinach and cilantro and combine thoroughly.

In the hot pan, add in about 1T of coconut oil.

Using a preferred measure (I used a Tablespoon measure), spoon out the batter into medallions in the pan.

Let the pancakes cook for 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes, making sure the pancakes are cooked throughout.

Serve with tamarind dipping sauce.

Hearty Fall Vegetable Bean Soup with Greens

I broke into my stash of local corn I turned into frozen niblets this summer, mostly everything else is still available in abundance. SO MUCH YUM in a bowl. I used baby limas, I love their creamy mellow, nutty, flavor. You can use any kind of pasta you like or omit it completely- SO. GOOD. WITH.

Hearty Fall Bean Soup with Greens

Wheat-free * Gluten-free

1 medium onion, medium dice

1c tomato puree (I use the bottled glass tomato puree, not a fan of tomatoes in cans)

1 carrot, cut in moons

1 clove garlic, minced

2c baby Lima or cannelini beans, cooked and drained

1-1/2c potatoes, medium dice (about medium, or 4-5 small)

1c corn niblets

2c greens (kale, spinach, Swiss chard) torn into bite size pieces

2t turmeric, fresh or 1t dried

2t hot red pepper flakes

1/4t black pepper

3T extra virgin olive oil

1-2 vegetable bouillon cubes

1/4c fresh basil *optional

2c cooked gluten free pasta- your choice- elbows, ziti, penne, fusili (I used GF elbows)

1t pink salt

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, carrots, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper, and turmeric until golden and soft. . Add the potatoes and the tomato puree and then the boiling water, then the bouillon cube (or powder).

Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.

Add the cooked beans. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the greens, fresh frozen corn, cooked pasta and the basil. Garnish with fresh basil and nutritional yeast.

Chickpea Chana Masala

Chana Masala

You can make this as spicy hot or mild as you prefer, I LOVE a good kick so I put a whole hot pepper into it- whole, so I can fish it out after cooking so as not to mistake it for a cooked tomato. You can use canned or jar tomatoes with this but with local tomatoes still abundant, I made this using fresh. If you do use canned or jarred, you may need to add a little bit of sugar (maple syrup, sucanat, agave) to offset the bitterness.

3T coconut oil

2c-cooked chickpeas

1 onion, small dice

2 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1T ground cumin

2” fresh ginger, grated

1 hot pepper, sliced or chopped

2t mustard seeds

2t turmeric OR 1T Fresh grated

2t curry powder

2-3c fresh tomatoes, diced

2t pink salt

1t black pepper

2c water

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4c fresh baby spinach- reserve until serving.

1c fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped- reserve until serving.

In a large pot over medium high heat, add the coconut oil, onions, garlic and spices and sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes and the chickpeas. Cover with about 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and the let the mixture cook and mingle until the water has reduced and it looks more like a stew. Just before serving, add the spinach and the cilantro. Serve with Basmati or Jasmine rice.

Roasted Hot & Sweet Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Hot & Sweet Potatoes

2-3 small sweet Japanese potatoes, sliced on a diagonal or cubed

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

1/4″ fresh turmeric, grated *opt

1 clove garlic, minced or sliced

3T local grade B maple syrup

3-4T extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

1t cinnamon

1 hot red pepper, sliced

1/2t pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl; making sure everything is well coated. Place in a shallow baking dish or roasting pan and put in the oven for 30 minutes, then toss and baste the vegetables with the roasting juices and continue to roast for an additional 20-30 minutes. Delicious warm or cold.

Fresh Blueberry Summer Love

Fresh Blueberry Summer Squares

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

prepare the following:

Topping:

1/3c barley flour

1/3c oats, buzzed

2T sucanat

1/4t salt

1/4t cinnamon

3T coconut oil- slightly melted

Prepare the topping by mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl except the oil. Drizzle in the oil, mixing the contents with knife, trying to create clumps or balls of mixture. Set aside.

Filling:

3c fresh blueberries

1T tapioca

½ lemon, juiced

Pinch salt

1/2t vanilla

1T +2t maple syrup

Toss everything in a bowl and set aside.

Crust:

1/2c oats, buzzed

3/4c barley flour

1/4c sucanat

1/4t salt

1/4t baking soda

1/4t baking powder

1/2t cinnamon

1/4c+1T coconut oil

I put all ingredients except the oil in the vita-mixer until the oats were coarse. In a mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients and the oil – the mix should get compact when pressed between your fingers. Press this into your baking dish. Press the crust mix into the corners, keeping this layer of crust as uniform as possible.

Layer in the blueberry mix.

Top with the crumb topping, allowing some of the filling to poke through.

Bake for 30 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until golden.

Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Will set up further as it cools.

Serve with Vanilla Vegan Ice Cream or brilliant on its own.

#SummerLove

Cream of Zucchini Soup

Cream of Zucchini Soup

This is the perfect way to use them, showcasing their sweet summer flavor. Roasting the zucchini first enhances the entire flavor of the soup but it is also an additional step in the preparation and is not necessary for a delicious soup.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 large zucchini, chopped

1/4t chipotle powder *optional

3T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 veg bouillon

1t salt or to taste

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1/4c cashews

1/2-1 whole fresh jalapeño

large handful fresh parsley or basil *optional

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Bring 6c of water to a boil.

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In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the zucchini, salt, and black pepper. Continue to sauté until the zucchini softens and turns bright green. 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 a blender or vitamix, add the zucchini mix, the cashews, and the jalapeño. Blend first at low speed and finally walking it up to full power. Let run for about 30 seconds.

Adjust the seasonings again after blending.

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

Maca Chocolate Chip Power Smoothie

Maca Chocolate Chip Power Smoothie

1c almond or cashew nut milk

1T hemp seed

1t raw agave or raw local honey

2T raw cacao nibs

1T maca powder

2t lucuma powder

1T chia seeds

1t vanilla

1scoop protein powder

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1c ice

Blend all ingredients together except the ice and the cacao nibs and process until smooth- taste and adjust if needed

Add the ice and the nibs and blend just until smooth.

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

Pesto is a sure sign summer is here, with it’s fresh beautiful taste. Basil also has a whole host of healing properties including anti-bactieral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging as it is filled with antioxidants…..Good news for all of us, and as easy as Pesto! I picked this beautiful bag of basil up yesterday at the local farmer’s market and whipped up this fabulous easy pesto. I ate it over brown rice penne, and I honestly don’t know how it could have been improved upon. #nocheese #noneed

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

1-1/2-2c fresh basil, lightly packed

1/3c raw pine nuts, sprouted if possible

2T sweet mellow white miso

2T nutritional Yeast

1/2c extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ lemon, juiced

2t brown rice vinegar

Salt and pepper

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In a blender, add the basil, oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon and miso. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasoning adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice if needed. Pour out into an airtight container- keep in the fridge. Can easily be frozen.