spin fuel – The Vegan Love Project

Roasted Kobocha Squash Soup

Any squash can be used for this delicious creamy, and simple soup. Kobocha squash has got such a lovely, sweet but not too sweet taste that pairs perfectly with ginger. I picked a beauty up at the local farmer’s market this past weekend and roasted it and have been putting it in to many meals since. As a time saver, the squash can be roasted in advance. If the squash is already roasted, this soup literally takes 8 minutes start to finish. The roasting step may even be omitted and the squash simply peeled, cubed, and cooked along with the other vegetables. Roasting draws out the most flavors and brings the sweetness of the squash to life, but it is not a necessity.

roasted-kobocha-squash-soup

Roasted Kobocha Squash Soup

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2c roasted Kobocha squash*

1/4t chipotle powder *optional

1 fresh jalapeño or cherry bomb pepper, chopped

1t cinnamon

1/4t nutmeg

3T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 vege bouillon

1t salt or to taste

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1/4-1/3c cashews

1″ piece of fresh ginger

1T raw agave

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

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Roasting the Squash: Clean the outer shell of the squash with cold water and pat it dry well with a dishtowel or paper cloth. With a sharp knife, split the squash down the middle, creating two halves. Seed the squash using a large spoon, scraping the stringy flesh and seeds from the center. With the cleaned halves, rub with oil and salt. Place face down on a cookie sheet or roasting dish and place in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until the flesh of the squash is tender, yielding to the touch. Let cool. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the roasted squash.Place the cashews, ginger, agave and fresh hot pepper in a blender and set aside.

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In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and soft and aromatic. Add the yellow squash, the boullion (or powder) and the salt. Continue to sauté until the squash softens and turns bright yellow- about 3-4 minutes. Add the boiling water to cover. Bring to a rapid boil and reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 more minutes.

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In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, transfer the soup pot contents into the blender and puree the soup with the contents in the blender. Adjust the seasonings if needed.

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

Chipotle Baked Tofu

chipotle-baked-tofu

Not feeling well and going through my fridge, I wanted something quick and delicious that I didn’t have to fuss over. This was so good I made it again today.In 35-40 minutes you have perfect yumminess that really does taste a lot like chicken. This is great to have on hand- in the fridge as a quick snack, to add to soups, sandwiches or to eat hot with veggies and quinoa or rice for a meal. I am cherry bomb everything right now but you could definitely use another pepper instead, hotter or more mild. The cherry bombs lend a sweetness that is incomparable, the chipotle adds a deep, mellow, spicy that is one of my favorite flavor profiles. I may or may not be having this tonight with smashed potatoes and kale… SIMPLE.

1 Pound tofu, thinly sliced in long cubes, about 1” thick, 2″ long

2-4T Olive oil

1/2t chipotle powder (more or less)

1/2t pink salt (more or less)

1 cherry bomb or jalapeño pepper, sliced, with or without seeds (seeds make it hotter)

2T nutritional yeast

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Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a roasting pan or dish, drizzle about 3T of olive oil on the bottom of the pan.

Place the tofu rectangle cubes in the oil. Sprinkle the top with the chipotle powder, then add the sliced peppers on top and then sprinkle the salt, then nutritional yeast. Drizzle the top with more olive oil.

Roast in the oven/ convection oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

This tofu is absolutely delicious, hot OR cold.

THIS SHIT TASTES LIKE SPICY CHICKEN

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.

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

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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.

Blood Orange Creamsicle Power Smoothie

This is an amazing recovery smoothie- reminiscent of an Orange Julius (remember those???) but filled with omega 3’s and healthy fats and proteins.

Blood Orange Creamsicle Power Smoothie

1c nut milk- cashew or almond

1T hemp seeds

2 small blood oranges, peeled and quartered

2t raw agave or raw local honey

1T coconut manna

1T flax seeds

1t vanilla

1 scoop protein powder

___

1c ice

Blend all ingredients and process until smooth- taste and adjust if needed.

Add the ice and blend just until smooth.

RAW Cacao Coconut Hemp Crunch Chips

These are an amazingly delicious crunchy sweet and satisfying snack. Everything is raw and it is SO easy to put together. The hemp adds protein and omega 3’s while the coconut and cacao add vitamins, minerals and energy. Y U M. So delicious.

RAW CACAO COCONUT HEMP POWER CRUNCH CHIPS

2-1/2c raw coconut chips or shreds

1/2c hemp seeds

1/4c raw cacao powder

1/4c coconut sugar

1T raw agave

Pinch pink salt

1/2t vanilla

1/2c filtered water

In a bowl, toss all of the ingredients together, being sure to coat the coconut-hemp mixture thoroughly.

On a dehydrating sheet, thinly spread the coconut love all over the sheet. Place in the dehydrator for 15-20 hours. Remove and let the chips come to room temp before storing in an air proof container. You can break into small or larger pieces as you wish.

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.

Red lentil Dal with Spinach

I made this tonight- SO delicious..I steamed white basmati rice with cumin seeds and it was a perfect whole, quick, satisfying meal. I had a 1/2 of a fresh tomato left over that needed to be used so I added it to the mix- could use more tomato for sure or omit entirely. Totally gluten free.

I highly recommend. XO

Red lentil Dal with Spinach

1 onion, small dice

1” fresh ginger, grated

2T fresh green curry paste

1t mustard seeds

1t cumin seeds

1t ground cumin

1/4t cayenne pepper or 1 pepperonicini

3T olive oil

1t turmeric powder

1/2t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

1c red lentils, uncooked

3T fresh cilantro, chopped *opt

1 fresh tomato, medium dice *opt

2c fresh spinach, cleaned and trimmed

4c water- boiled

In a large pot, heat up the spices; cumin, mustard, turmeric, dried pepper (red and black) until fragrant. Add the olive oil and sauté the onion with the ginger in the olive oil just until golden. Add the tomatoes and lentils and cover with the boiling water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes uncovered or until the lentils have softened. Add the spinach and mix in, cover for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasonings. Serve over white or brown basmati rice.

Coconut Cinnamon Cream Power Smoothie

Coconut Cinnamon Cream Power Smoothie

1c fresh coconut meat or 2T coconut manna

1T coconut oil

1t cinnamon

1T chia seeds

1T hemp seeds

1 scoop protein

2t coconut sugar or raw honey

1c nut milk

1t vanilla

1c ice

Blend all ingredients together except the ice until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness etc.

Add the ice and blend just until smooth.

Kichari (Lentil Rice DELICIOUSNESS)

Ellen’s Kichari (lentil & rice porridge)

Kichari means mixture, usually of two grains. “Kichari may well be the most perfect therapeutic recipe of all because it detoxifies the entire system, while kindling the body’s digestive fires called agni.” This recipe is nourishing and easy to digest, and can literally be paired down to just the rice and beans and still be utterly satisfying. It can be eaten more on the soupy side or as a thicker porridge. SO.SIMPLE.SO.GOOD.

Wheat-free, Gluten-Free

1c red lentils or yellow (dahl), washed and drained

1c white basmati rice

1 medium onion, diced

1t turmeric

1T fresh ginger, sliced or grated/ or 1t dried

1t mustard seeds

1t cumin seeds or 2t ground cumin

1/2t black pepper

1t pink salt

3T extra virgin olive oil

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, more if needed

In a large soup pot, toast the spices (cumin, mustard seeds, pepper, turmeric, salt and ginger- if using dried) until aromatic. Add the olive oil and sauté the onions, and fresh ginger until golden and soft. Add the rice and coat well in the spice mixture. Add in the lentils and cover with the hot water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, uncovered, adding additional water if needed and or desired, stirring occasionally. In the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Adjust the seasonings before serving. If there is excess water, cover the pot to allow it to be absorbed. Serve optionally with fresh cilantro.