Gluten Free Green Falafel

*gluten free falafel

GLUTEN FREE GREEN FALFEL

Unbelievably delicious……this green, gluten free Falafel can be served as an appetizer with hummus,  lemon tahini sauce, and hot sauce or sriracha or eaten as a main course. Stuff a gluten free wrap with falafel, lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, lemon tahini sauce, salt and pepper. As an alternative, falafel can be formed into patties and eaten like a veggie burger. SO FRICKEN YUM.

Makes 6-8 patties, can be frozen.

1-1/2c fresh kale, de-stemmed, torn into small pieces

1-1/2c chickpeas, cooked, rinsed, drained (= 1 can)

1/2 onion, rough chopped

1 spring onions

2T tahini

2t cumin

1t pink salt

2 cloves garlic

1/2c cooked brown rice or quinoa

1/4c all purpose gluten free flour

1 lemon, juiced

Olive or grape seed oil for pan-frying.

Combine all ingredients except the flour in a food processor and process just until all is blended and mixture can be formed. Taste and adjust the seasonings; more salt, more cumin, more lemon juice etc to your liking.

Heat up a large cast iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat.

Transfer into a mixing bowl and add the flour and mix in until well incorporated.

Add the oil into the hot pan. With a cookie scoop, scoop out the chickpea mixture and place in the pan, not overcrowding. With a spatula, gently flatten the domes. Cook for 5-6 minutes per side or until they are golden brown crusted and then flip. Remove to a plate. Eat cold or hot! Serve with Lemon Tahini sauce. 

*green falafal

Lemon Tahini sauce

 

Juice of 1 lemon

½c tahini

pink salt to taste

black pepper

1/4c water

In a small bowl, add all of the ingredients and whisk until smooth and to the desired consistency. If a thicker sauce is preferred, use less water. Serve over cooked greens, salads, or falafel.

RAW Vegan “Egg” Nog / Cashew Love Drink

*RAW VEGAN EGG NOG

RAW Vegan “Egg” Nog

1/2c cashews soaked for an hour

2c water

10 deglet dates-more or less for desired sweetness (could be replaced with 1/4c raw agave or maple syrup)

1/4t nutmeg

1t vanilla

1/2T coconut oil

1t maca powder

1/2t cinnamon + additional for dusting

In a blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth.

Pour into serving glasses and dust with cinnamon. Can serve over ice or blended with ice for a thicker smoothie style beverage.

I have to say this spiked with a spiced rum is the OPPOSITE of not good.

SO. FRICKEN.FESTIVE.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

*gluten free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Ummmmmmmmmm…so these are INCREDIBLE….YUM! Peanut Butter, Chocolate….YUM-NESS.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 23 cookies

1c Gluten-Free flour
1c rolled oats
1/2c roasted peanuts, to be coarsely ground

1/2c peanut butter

3/4c dark chocolate chips

1/4t baking soda
1/4t baking powder
1/2t salt

1/2c maple syrup
1/2c coconut oil
1/2t vanilla

preheat oven to 350º

In a food processor, put the oats in and grind them until they become flour-like.

In the same processor, coarsely grind the peanuts.
In a bowl, mix all of dry ingredients together, the flour, ground oats, almonds, chocolate chips, cinnamon, salt and baking powder/soda.

Mix the wet ingredients together; the peanut butter, coconut oil and maple syrup in a blender if need be to get well incorporated before adding into the dry and mix with a spatula until everything is well mixed.

Scoop or spoon out onto baking sheet with space in between. Using a fork, create a criss cross pattern across the top applying with gentle pressure.
Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the pan (s) and continue to bake for another 5 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool for at least 5 minutes and then remove them to a cooling rack.

Gluten Free Nut Loaf

*gluten free nut loaf

This was DELICIOUS with the Basic Mushroom Gravy and some Smashed Potatoes. Would be equally delicious as a sandwich filling if there is any left over!

Gluten Free Nut Loaf

1c-cooked lentils or smashed chickpeas

1c pecans- to be ground

1 1/2c cooked brown rice

4-5 slices Gluten Free toast-completely cooled, to be made into breadcrumbs

or 1-1/2c loosely packed GF breadcrumbs

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1 medium onion, minced

1/4c nutritional yeast

1/4c ketchup

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/2c walnuts, chopped *opt

1/8t-1/4t-cayenne pepper or chipotle powder (I LOVE Chipotle Powder)

1/4t ground black pepper

1/2t salt

Up to 1/4c water

Topping:

3T ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a food processor, process the pecans- set aside.

In the same processor, process the bread into breadcrumbs…do not over process!

In a large bowl, combine the lentils or chickpeas, rice, breadcrumbs, onions, nutritional yeast, ketchup, oil, nuts*, salt, red and black pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon or clean hands until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Pour out the mixture into a lightly oiled loaf pan. With the back of a wooden spoon, fill out the pan. Top the loaf with the remaining ketchup.

Cover with foil and bake for 35-45 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

Serve with smashed potatoes and sautéed greens; broccoli or kale.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Almond Crunch Cookies

*GF chocolate chip almond crunch cookies

FRICKEN AWESOME. These cookies aren’t missing a thing. I think my most favorite cookie to date.Whipped them up in less than 25 minutes from start to finish—> #almostinstantgratification

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies
makes 23 cookies

1c Gluten-Free flour
1c rolled oats
1c roasted almonds, to be coarsely ground

1c dark chocolate chips

1t cinnamon

1/4t baking soda
1/4t baking powder
1/2t salt

1/2c maple syrup
1/2c coconut oil
1/2t vanilla

preheat oven to 350º

In a food processor, put the oats in and grind them until they become flour-like.

In the same processor, coarsely grind the almonds.
In a bowl, mix all of dry ingredients together, the flour, ground oats, almonds, chocolate chips, cinnamon, salt and baking powder/soda.

Pour the wet ingredients, the coconut oil and maple syrup into the dry and mix with a spatula until everything is well incorporated.

Scoop or spoon out onto baking sheet with space in between.
Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the pan (s) and continue to bake for another 5 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool for at least 5 minutes and then remove them to a cooling rack.

Not So Basic Off-Da-Hook Mushroom Gravy

*mushroom gravy

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 garlic, smashed, minced

1/4t chipotle powder

1/4c olive oil

2T GF tamari

1 1/2c mixed mushrooms, crimini, portobello, button, shitake, evenly and thinly sliced

2T dried porcini, – rehydrated for 10 minutes in 1c of hot water- reserve the soak water

3T cornmeal

3T nutritional yeast or more if needed

Herbs- optional; thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley, finely minced

Up to 1c of additional water or non-dairy milk for blending

1T mirin or 1/4c white wine

1/4t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

In a large, hot, skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil, shallots, garlic and chipotle powder and sauté just until golden. Add the fresh mushrooms and also add the rehydrated porcinis (squeezed of any excess water) and sauté until golden and brown, about 5-6 minutes. At this point, you can remove ½ of the mushroom mix if desired you will add them back in to your finished gravy at the end. For smooth gravy, skip this step and you will blend all of the mushrooms.

Add in the mirin or wine and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Add the cornmeal in and incorporate well into the mushroom mixture, about 2 minutes. From here, add in the porcini broth and about a 1/2c of water/nondairy milk.

Add in the nutritional yeast and stir well. If too thick, add water as needed.

Place the mix into a blender and process until totally smooth- adjusting if too thick. If in the event, too much liquid is added, make up for it with nutritional yeast.

Add in the fresh herbs, the reserved mushrooms if saved and serve immediately.

AAAA-MAZING. Easily re-heated.

CRAZYTOWNGOOD Chocolate Moose

chocolate moose

This dessert is OFF THE CHAIN……One of the very first dessert recipes that I created at the Natural Gourmet…they even asked for it to be included in their repertoire of vegan dessert recipes…It is CRAZY good on its’ own or paired with a vegan whipped cream, or a cashew nut cream and fresh berries. I have also used this to fill an extremely decadent chocolate layer cake…I promise you, this is FAIL proof and unbelievably AWESOME. It is light and airy just like a dairy, egg based mousse.

Chocolate Moose

2c cashew nut milk, or soy milk or other dairy free milk
1c chocolate chips
1T maple syrup
1/4t salt

1 1/2t agar

1t vanilla

Measure out all of the other ingredients and have them ready.

In a saucepan on the stove over a low to medium flame, combine the milk, chocolate chips, maple syrup, agar and salt, stirring frequently. Continue cooking over a low flame until the chocolate chips melt, about 10-15 minutes. The mixture should look like hot chocolate, creamy and full- bodied.
Place the contents of the saucepan into a blender. Caution, hot liquids in a blender can be extremely dangerous. Fill only half way to the top of the blender and proceed in batches if necessary. *
Add the vanilla and taste the mixture. Adjust the seasonings to your tastes. Make sure all of the adjustments happen before you pour it to set.

Pour the mixture out of the blender through a sieve, lined with cheesecloth, or through a very fine mesh strainer, into a large serving bowl. The straining will catch any lumps, clumps and/ or impurities (like uncooked agar).

To make individual servings, pour mixture directly into several, small, serving bowls
Allow this to cool and set for at least 5-6 hours, best overnight.

Serve with a nut crème and fresh berries.

RAW Lime Cashew Cheesecake with Local Blackberries (crustless)

*lime cheesecake with blackberries

I was just in the mood for the lime cheesy part so I chose to forgo the crust and pile fresh/ frozen blackberries from this summer on top instead. I have given the nut crust which really makes it SUPER awesome but is really not always necessary!

RAW Lime Cashew Cheesecake

1 1/2c raw cashews

1/4c raw honey or raw agave

1/4c coconut oil

1/4-1/3c water

2T cocoa butter

1/4t salt

Juice and zest of two limes

1t vanilla

Optional Nut crust

½c dehydrated raw almonds

2T raw agave

1T coconut oil

1/4t cinnamon

Prepare the Nut crust:

In a dry food processor or blender, whizz the nuts until a fine meal, turn out into a bowl and mix the other ingredients in. The mix should be moist, and hold it’s shape when pinched. In your serving dish, press the nut mix into the bottom and up the sides of the dish/pan. Set aside.

Prepare the filling:

In the same blender, add all of the ingredients for the filling and process until very smooth. Add 1/4c of water to start, more if you need to make it run smoothly. *If you’re mix is not entirely smooth, pass through a fine mesh sieve to remove any bits of nut.*optional

FRUIT TOPPING:

ANY fresh fruit slices!

Kiwi, Strawberries, Blueberries ETC

Pour the mixture into the prepared crust/dish/pan. If layering with fresh fruit, have the fruit ready to be arranged on top. Can also be served with fresh fruit at the time of serving.

Macerated berries- top the cake and swirl in before the set up.

Blackberries for Raw Cheesecake

1c frozen blackberries

1T Agave syrup

½ lemon, juiced

pinch salt

1/4t vanilla

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and let sit. Slightly mash with the back of a spoon.

Let stand and macerate for at least one 1/2 hour.

For a smoother finish, this can be placed in the blender or even partially blended.

Ellen’s AWESOME White Girl KimChee

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I FRICKEN LOVE KIMCHEE.….I’m not sure what I love about it most, making it or eating it. There is something about the process of making it that has culture, devotion and love wrapped in the creation of this amazing fermented food. It is said that whatever you send into the making of it will be in the end result… So like this morning, I was working LOVE into this latest batch, and to drive the point home, I labeled it on the glass to “feed” the ferment. This is so easy and seems like it would be much more complicated but it is so simple, and could easily be made in a small urban kitchen. You can vary the veggies, change the seasonings or could go straight up traditional. Below ismy take on the best fricken KimChee. I used local cabbage, carrots, onions, and garlic- but use what you have available to you!

Cabbage Prep

1 head Nappa Cabbage

water to cover the leaves

3T pink salt

Pull the leaves off whole from the base of the cabbage and wash well, trimming off any parts you wouldn’t want to consume (ends, dark spots).

In a LARGE non-reactive bowl like glass or true stainless steel (or plastic but I’m not a fan), line the leaves in and with each layer, sprinkle salt over them, then continue to layer the leaves, salting them, layering new leaves etc. Gently pour enough water over the top of the salted leaves then place a large plate (or two) to keep the leaves immersed. Leave this overnight. When ready to use them, drain the water off and rip the leaves into desired size

Ellen’s AWESOME KimChee

1 head prepared salted Nappa Cabbage leaves- torn up into small pieces

1/2 of one onion, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

1/2 of one red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 carrot, shredded

2″ piece of fresh ginger, grated

1t dried chili pepper ( more or less to suit your spice)

1-2T Pink salt ( I believe in going heavier in the salt, so taste your mix along the way to add more if necessary.

2t smoked chipotle powder

1T raw agave

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In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients together and massage the veggies and spices together for a good 5-6 minutes to break down the veggies- the juices will start to be released- you want this! This is where you massage into the mix whatever you want or desire, LOVEPEACE,HAPPINESSPOWER or all of them!! Mind your thoughts!!!  No one gonna want to eat your bad mood- including you!!!
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Have a clean bell jar or lock lid glass container ready to go, quart size. Start by putting some of the mix into the jar and pack it down firmly each time you add more with the top of your fingers. Add all of the remaining liquid the mix has created, this is the brine (filled with probitiotics and if you are lucky to have more, it is a great addition to savory green juices!!)

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Leave about an inch or 2 at the top of the jar/container and then close it up tightly. This is where I literally write on the jar what is “cooking”. You leave this gorgeous concoction on the counter at room temperature for 2-3 days (less if it’s super warm out).

After about 2-3 days it’s ready to eat! Put the mix into the fridge to slow down the ongoing fermentation- which will continue in the fridge, making it more sour and even more flavorful. The longer you let it ferment, the more beneficial bacteria there will be.

Because your KimChee is living, always use a clean utensil when dipping into it!

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Tofu Spinach Scramble

*tofu spinach scramble

Tofu Spinach Scramble

1/2 package (8oz) firm tofu, crumbled by hand

3t xvo

½ medium onion, diced

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1/4t dried turmeric

1/2t salt

1/2t ground chipotle powder

1/4t black pepper

3T nutritional yeast

3T water

¼ pound of baby spinach

¼ fresh red pepper, small dice

In a heated skillet or fry pan over medium high heat, heat up 1T  olive oil and add the garlic and sauté the spinach just until wilted. Remove from the pan, chop finer if desired and set aside.

In the same pan, add 2T olive oil and sauté onion, turmeric, Chipotle powder, salt, black and red pepper until aromatic and golden. Add the tofu and sauté over medium high heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes, coating the tofu with the spices. Stir in the nutritional yeast. Toss the cooked spinach back into the tofu. Season to taste before serving.

BREAKFAST BURRITO

Heat up a tortilla directly over a flame or on the electric burner- 15 seconds each side. Place the heated tortilla on a plate. On the lower third of the tortilla, spoon in a 1/2c of the tofu scramble, leaving about a ½ inch to an inch, free of filling. You can add slices of vegan cheese on top of the tofu if you wish. Now roll up the bottom, and then fold over the right and left sides of the tortilla. Roll the whole tortilla, creating a pocket of tofu scramble. Serve with hot sauce.

TEX-MEX SCRAMBLE

Add ½ diced green bell pepper and ½ diced tomato before adding the tofu + 1t chili powder for a delicious TEX-MEX scramble.

 PROTEIN SCRAMBLE

Add 1/2c cooked quinoa and 1 carrot grated for a delicious complete protein start

 BUON GIORNO SCRAMBLE

Add ½ diced tomato, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 3T fresh chopped basil for Italian tofu scramble that is DELICIOUS!