eat clean – The Vegan Love Project

White Girl Gingered Cabbage & Corn Congee

This is an incredibly comforting and healing food. It is reminiscent of a Chinese egg drop soup, the broken rice lends a rich, starchy consistency to the soup that just feels amazing going down. I had squirreled away the most gorgeous corn this past summer and in lieu of BEING DONE WITH THIS WINTER and getting ready for the spring….I pulled it out of the freezer. Of course the ingredients can change but the combination was so satisfying plus the addition of the Beyond the Meat vegan chicken…it just a bowl of yum. I love this as a breakfast too!

White Girl Gingered Cabbage & Corn Congee

6 strips of Beyond Meat Vegan No Chicken, thawed, cut into small pieces

3/4c white broken rice or short-grain white rice

1 vegetable bouillon

1/2c yellow or red split dal

2-inch piece of ginger, minced or grated

2 stalks celery, medium dice or cut on the bias

1/4 small head of green cabbage, chopped

2 teaspoon salt + more to taste (I add ½ smoked salt, ½ pink)

½ large onion, minced

2 clove garlic, minced

1c corn niblets

2T coconut oil

1/2t smoked chipotle powder

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6 to 8 cups boiling water

In a large pot, heat up 2t of coconut oil. Add in a pinch of the minced ginger, a pinch of minced garlic and about 1T of the minced onion. Sauté the vegetables over medium high heat just until golden. Add in the chopped cabbage and continue to sauté over medium high heat, just until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside.

In the same pot, add the remaining coconut oil. Add the onions, ginger, garlic and celery and sauté over medium heat just until golden. Add in rice and the split peas and the vegetable bouillon. Cover with about 4-5 cups of boiling water and mix well. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Allow the mixture to cook partially covered for at least 45 minutes, stirring frequently, adding water if necessary- there should be plenty of water for the porridge to ‘grow’ into. After about 30 minutes, add in some of the salt and chipotle and check for seasonings. It should be thickening as the rice and the dal start to break down. Add water in as necessary to achieve the desired consistency- I prefer mine on the thicker side, but still very much soup like. Overall, it should be ready after about an hour of cooking but will only get softer over time.

In the last minutes of cooking, add in the corn, the vegan chicken, and the sautéed cabbage.

I like to also add in some fresh ginger at the end to give it a fresh kick.

Salt and pepper to taste…this IS comfort food.

The Best Bowl Of Oatmeal

The Best Sweet Oatmeal

This almost tastes like custard it is so creamy and delicious. For me it is all about the balance between sweet and salty. I like to cook a little bit of sweet and salt into the oats while they are cooking so any adjustments in the bowl are only for fine tuning. Taste your oats after they are done- before you steam them to the finish so you can adjust for your liking prior to serving- the add ins are just that.

I also like adding the sweet into the cooking oatmeal because I find it’s a bummer when the add ins brings the temperature of the oatmeal down- I like my oatmeal hot!

Oatmeal Prep

1c oatmeal

1 stick cinnamon* optional

3c water

1t lemon juice

1/2t pink salt

In a non reactive pot, add in the oats, salt, lemon juice and water and let stand overnight on the stove- no heat, just to soak or soak for at least 8 hours. The acid from the lemon helps to break down the phytic acid in the grain, making it easier to digest and absorb the nutrient content in the oats- this goes for all grains! You can cook in the soaking liquid. Soaking also substantially shortens cooking time for grains which is always a plus.

The Oatmeal

In addition to the ingredients already in the pot soaked, add:

1/4c coconut sugar or maple syrup or more to taste

2t cinnamon or more to taste

1T coconut oil

More water as needed during cooking.

Over medium heat, bring the contents of the pot to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and allow to slowly cook until the desired creaminess is achieved about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and add:

1/4c cashew or other nut milk

1T coconut oil

Let this steam on the stovetop off heat for 5 minutes- taste this then let steam. After 5 minutes or so mix well and taste again. In an individual bowl, you may add whatever mix ins you love, I add more coconut oil, and maple syrup with a sprinkling of more cinnamon, maybe a pinch of salt.

Steamed with nut milk, no heat — Steamed with nut milk, coconut oil, cinnamon- no heat

Other amazing add ins:

Fresh fruit, like bananas, berries of any kind
Dried fruit, could also be cooked in from the beginning, also added during the initial soak to soften up even more
Nuts for added protein, walnuts and pecans are particularly delicious.

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.

Chana Masala with Local Spinach

Chana Masala

3T coconut oil

2c-cooked chickpeas

1 onion, small dice

2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

1T ground cumin

2” fresh ginger, grated

1 hot pepper, sliced or chopped

2t mustard seeds

1t turmeric

2t curry powder

2-3 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 spiced 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 partially covered 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 or Quinoa.

Green Juice with Kimchee Brine

I can’t even express how much I love the taste of this juice. It is my go to alkalinizing recovery detox juice. The addition of Beet Kvass, Kimchee or Sauerkraut brine takes this juice to another level of deliciousness- in addition adding a whole slew of vitamins, minerals, and gut loving healthy pro-biotics. SO YUM.

Da Juice

If you are juicing for two, simply double the recipe. I use all organic veggies.

1/2 cucumber with the skin

1 stalk celery

1 small handful of cilantro

1 small handful of parsley

1 lemon, peeled

1″ piece of fresh ginger

1 stalk kale with the stem

10 oz. brine or kvass

Pass all of the vegetables through the juicer. Strain into a serving glass and add in the brine.

Drink immediately. On an empty stomach is best.

Buckwheat Soba with Ginger Sesame Bok Choy

Buckwheat is totally grain free, and gluten free, it’s a fruit seed that is in the rhubarb family! It is an excellent source of protein as well as many other important nutrients which help to regulate blood sugar and keep you feeling full at the same time. This dish is super delicious and fast to prepare- these noodles are good either hot or cold. Don’t over cook them! (taste them along their journey!)

1 pound of 100% buckwheat soba

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1-2 heads of baby bok choy, washed and thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1″ fresh ginger, grated or thinly sliced

1T coconut oil

2t hot sesame oil

fresh scallions and/or fresh jalapeño to taste

1-2T tamari

1T mirin

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the soba and cook until al dente. Rinse well with fresh water, then drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat up the coconut oil, sauté the garlic, ginger and hot pepper just until golden. Add the sliced bok choy and sauté just until bright green. Deglaze with mirin, sauté for an additional minute or so and then add in the tamari and hot sesame oil. Toss in the cooked noodles and stir through to combine everything well. Serve hot or cold.

Mint Julep Coconut Power Smoothie- Omega 3 Blast

Mint Julep Coconut Power Smoothie- Omega 3 Blast

1c almond milk

1T hemp seed

1T Golden flax seeds

2t raw agave or raw local honey

1/2c raw Coconut

1T chia seeds

1/2t peppermint extract

1 generous handful of fresh spinach

1t vanilla

1T coconut oil

1 scoop protein powder

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1c ice

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

Add the ice and blend just until smooth.