fricken yum – Page 3 – The Vegan Love Project

Strawberry Coconut LOVE Power Smoothie

June is STRAWBERRY MONTH!!! I can literally pound a quart back in the car before I even get them home so around this time I buy them every time I see them. I clean, trim, half and freeze them so I can have them all through the year. A good freezing tip is to place them on a cookie sheet or plate and place them in the freezer so that they are just frozen enough to handle. Remove them from a plate and into a storage container- this way you don’t have a giant block of strawberry ice to contend with. The local berries are just incredible. I am planning a pick your own trip to maximize my habit.

Strawberry Coconut LOVE Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T hemp seed

1t raw agave or raw local honey

2c strawberries

1T gold flax seeds

1T coconut manna

1t vanilla

1 scoop protein powder

—

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.

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

I used fresh local spinach and it could not have been more satisfying. You can strip this soups down to just the onions and garlic and it would still be delicious. The turmeric adds a boost of anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties that we could all use more of and the cumin just makes it taste good. Serve topped with nutritional yeast and cracked black pepper and gluten free crackers or bread. Super fricken yum

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1c brown lentils, washed and drained

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2c spinach, broccoli or other chopped leafy greens

1t turmeric

1/2t ground cumin

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes or 1/2 of a fresh chili or jalapeño

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

2-3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

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

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, spices, hot pepper and garlic until golden and soft. Add the lentils, mixing them into the onion mix. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder) tamari, and Ume. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the greens.

Adjust the seasonings before serving.

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

—

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.

Strawberry Cacao Power Smoothie

Strawberry Cacao Power Smoothie

1c almond or cashew nut milk

1T hemp seed

2t raw agave,or raw local honey

1t lucuma powder

2t Maqui berry powder

2T cacao powder

1T golden flax seeds

1t vanilla

1c scoop protein powder

Pinch salt

—

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.

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

Not all of the ingredients in this sauce are raw, however feel free to add in, subtract out what you need. Just the perfect amount of spicy heat. I sauced up some organic gluten free buckwheat noodles and sprinkled black sesames atop…nomnomnomnomnom

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

1/2c raw almond butter

1/2t toasted sesame oil

1T sriracha or hot sauce

2T tamari

2t maple syrup or sucanat

2t hot sesame oil

1/4c sesame seeds

2T mirin

1t brown rice vinegar

1” piece of fresh ginger

1 clove garlic

1/2c- 3/4c water

3T fresh cilantro* opt

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients except the water.

Slowly add the water in, starting out with a 1/2c and adding more depending on the thickness desired, up to 3/4of a cup.

Delicious served over buckwheat soba, or with fresh shredded cabbage to make zesty coleslaw.

**Sriracha hot chili sauce can be found in most specialty markets, Asian markets, and even in some health food stores.

Banana Vanilla Power Smoothie

Tastes more like a giant vanilla milkshake!!! Usually I am not a fan of bananas in my smoothies, this…is SO DELICIOUS.

Banana Vanilla Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T hemp seeds

1t raw agave or raw local honey

2c chopped, frozen bananas

1 heaping T tocos

1T gold flax seeds

1T coconut oil

1t vanilla powder

1 scoop protein powder

—

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.

ESCAROLE & BEANS

Served over whole grain toast, GF bread, Paleo bread or GF pasta, this is an all time favorite. Super delicious and simple. Even delicious cold. Serve with raw cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and nutritional yeast….I LOVE THIS DISH.

White Beans with Escarole (Scarole & Beans)

1 bunch escarole, washed, trimmed, and torn into bite size pieces

3 cloves garlic, minced

2c cooked white beans or 1 can (cannellini or baby lima beans)

1/4t cayenne pepper flakes

1/4t ground black pepper

3T extra virgin olive oil

1/2c water

1/2t salt or to taste

In a large sauté pan, add 2T of the olive oil and sauté ½ of the garlic until golden and soft. Add the 1/4t of the salt, black and red pepper, and then add the escarole. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the escarole around the pan cooking the escarole until wilted and tender, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the escarole from the pan, pouring any cooking juices into a small bowl and set both aside.

In the same pan, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the last of the garlic. Add the beans and sauté for a minute or so before adding the water. Stir the reserved liquid in, bring the beans to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 10-11 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the escarole and cook without a cover, stirring occasionally. Put the lid back on and turn off the heat, steaming for 1-2 minutes before serving

Adjust the seasonings before serving. Serve over rice, quinoa, pasta, or toast.

Cacao Maca Power Smoothie

LIKE THE BEST EVER. RAW. AWESOMENESS. Pre or post workout. Fricken phenomenal.

Cacao Maca Power Smoothie

1c almond or cashew nut milk

1T hemp seed

2t raw agave or raw local honey

1T raw coconut oil

1T Maca powder

1t lucuma powder

1T tocos

2T cacao powder

1T golden flax seeds

1t vanilla

1cscoop protein powder

Pinch salt

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.

Pickled Beets with Onions

Pickled Beets with Onions

These keep amazingly well in the fridge- even though they may not last as long as you would like because they are SO DELICIOUS! They are a great accompaniment to lunches and sandwich type meals.

2 pounds red beets, scrubbed and washed

1 small onion, sliced very thinly

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/4c apple cider vinegar

1T red wine or rice wine vinegar

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

1T maple syrup or raw agave or raw local honey

—

4c water

1/2t salt

Trim both ends of the beet off but leave the skin on. In a large pot, place the trimmed, whole beets and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, simmering for 30-40 minutes partially covered, until the beets are tender all the way into the center. Drain. The skin should slip off the beets, if not, using a peeler, remove the skins and set aside. Using a mandolin or a sharp knife, slice the beets in rounds, evenly and thin. In a large bowl, place the sliced beets, sliced red onion, salt, pepper, olive oil, sweetener, and vinegar. Gently toss with a large spoon. Adjust the seasonings. This can be eaten right away but it gets better as it sits- I recommend letting stand at least 6 hours before serving.

Serve cold or at room temperature.

Creamy Vegan Coleslaw

Creamy Vegan Coleslaw

1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded

1 medium carrot, shredded

1T maple syrup or raw agave or raw honey

1/2c veganaise or another type prepared vegan mayonnaise

2T olive oil

1/4c apple cider vinegar

1T salt

1/2t ground black pepper

Place the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Sprinkle 1T of salt over the cabbage/ carrot mixture. Place a plate over it and let stand for 20 minutes. or longer. You can actually let the cabbage stand overnight to initiate fermentation- which makes the cabbage easier to digest.

Remove the plate and rinse the cabbage and drain well. In a large bowl, add the cabbage and the remaining ingredients; the mayonnaise, sweetener, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and pepper, and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. You may or may not need to salt the mixture.

Adjust the seasoning before serving.