vegan crossfitter – The Vegan Love Project

Simple Lemon Pepper Baked Tofu

This is a great way to serve tofu to the skeptic. Hot, it is best served with a side of white basmati rice and a simple salad. Cold, it is great in a sandwich or atop a bed of baby greens with a simple gorgeous vinaigrette. This is delicious both hot and cold, today I made it in cubes to have quick bite sized protein snacks on hand in the fridge for a busy weekend.

Lemon Pepper Baked Tofu

Wheat-free, Gluten-free

16oz tofu, (one package) – drained and pressed, sliced, cubed or cut into triangles

Juice of 2 lemons (1/4c)

1t ground black pepper- fresh is best

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

Pinch to 1/4t chipotle powder

3T Extra Virgin Olive oil

2T nutritional yeast

1t pink salt or to taste

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a bowl, mix the oil, lemon juice, pepper, and salt.

Add the tofu and toss until well coated. Pour into a baking dish.

Sprinkle with the nutritional yeast.

Bake for 35 minutes or until golden.

Creamy Roasted Squash Soup or Bisque

Roasted Squash Soup

The squash is the star of this sweet bisque as it should be. Hardly anything is needed to make this sweetie taste delicious. Ideal squashes would be Curri, Butternut, Acorn, Hubbard, or Delicata. The spices simply enhance and showcase the bright golden flesh. Fresh turmeric and ginger give it an added bonus of anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, digestion boosting benefits…Now is the time for this wonderfully satisfying soup.

Wheat-free, Gluten-free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

3c Hubbard or red Curry, roasted*

1 cloves garlic, minced

1/4t black pepper

1/4t cayenne pepper fresh or dried

3T coconut oil

1″ fresh ginger

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

1t cumin

2t ume vinegar or lemon juice

1t cinnamon

1/2t turmeric fresh or dried

2T maple syrup, sucanat, or palm (coconut) sugar

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4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Cashew heavy crème:

1/2c-roasted cashews

3/4c water

OR 1 can of full fat coconut milk.

As a time saver, the squash can be roasted in advance. The roasting step may even be omitted and the squash simply 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.

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

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

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.

Making the Cashew Cream:

In a blender, grind the cashews to a powder. Add the water and blend at first at low speed and finally walking it up to full power. Let run for about 30 seconds. This should create a thick nut milk, likened to heavy crème.

Making the Soup:

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions, and garlic with the sweetener until golden and soft. Add the cumin, turmeric (if using dried), cinnamon, salt, black and red pepper. Add the roasted squash, the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

In batches, in a blender or vitamix*, puree the soup adding in the fresh ginger and turmeric (if using fresh). At this point, the soup is delicious as is or add the crème or coconut milk to create a wonderfully elegant soup. Adjust the seasonings again after adding the crème.

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

Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with pan toasted seeds from the inside of the squash!

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.

Tofu Quinoa Broccoli Scramble

An incredible source of vegan protein, the combo of quinoa and tofu in a quick scramble makes it fast, easy, and satisfying. Perfect for after a bog workout- also the turmeric promotes healing and recovery- it is also an anti-inflammatory food.

Tofu Quinoa Broccoli Scramble

1/2 package (7.5 oz) firm tofu, crumbled

2T coconut oil

1c steamed quinoa

2c steamed or sautéed broccoli, small dice, stems and florets (you can quickly sauté the broccoli prior to the scramble in the same pan and remove and add later)

½ medium onion, small dice

1/4c nutritional yeast- more if desired!

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2t ground turmeric

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

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1T prepared arugala or basil pesto

In a heated skillet or fry pan over medium high heat, heat up the oil and add the onion, garlic, turmeric, salt, black pepper and sauté until aromatic and golden.

Add the crumbled tofu and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes, coating the tofu with the onion mixture.

Add the quinoa and work the mixture with a wooden spoon to incorporate it all.

Mix in the diced broccoli just until heated through then add the pesto. Sprinkle in the nutritional yeast and mix until well incorporated.

Serve immediately with toast or in a breakfast tofu burrito, sprinkled with additional nutritional yeast.

I like mine with fermented hot sauce!!

Raw Cherry Bomb Cashew Cheese

Raw Cherry Bomb Cashew Cheese- Savory

1/2c raw cashews

1/2c raw sauerkraut (not pasteurized)

2t Dulse flakes

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1 clove garlic

1/2t pink salt

2T water

2T of coconut oil

2 cherry bomb peppers- destemmed

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In a blender, add in all of the ingredients and blend until totally creamy and smooth. Pour into a jar with a locking lid (gasket, air sealed) and close it up. There should be at least 3 inches of space to give the cheese a chance to bloom. Label it, date it and place in a dark and warm place for 12-24 hours.

Transfer the jar into the refrigerator and leave it to set up and cure for at least a week.

This is a pro-biotic rich cheese!

Delicious as a base for savory dips and spreads
Amazing spread on toast, bagels, and crackers
Change the flavor by adding different peppers, herbs, olives, spices et

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

Summer Tofu Scramble

Another crazy hard crossfit workout this morning!!! Thrusters and GHD sit-ups – SO GOOD. Came home on a mission to eat and had two lovely heirloom tomatoes on the counter that were screaming to be used. I chopped them up and remembered I had both basil and arugala pesto in the fridge. Seeing as I used all of my miso paste up making the pesto, I used what I had left of the miso and supplemented with the arugala pesto AND OH MY GODDESS…..YUMNESSSSS!!!!

Summer Tofu Scramble

1 package (15oz) firm tofu, crumbled

2T coconut oil

1c fresh summer tomatoes- heirlooms are best- medium dice

½ medium onion, small dice

1/4c nutritional yeast- more if desired!

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2t ground turmeric

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

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2t miso

1T prepared arugala or basil pesto

2T water- more if needed

Mix the miso paste with the water and set aside.

In a heated skillet or fry pan over medium high heat, heat up the oil and add the onion, garlic, turmeric, salt, black pepper and sauté until aromatic and golden.

Add the diced tomatoes and the crumbled tofu and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes, coating the tofu with the onion mixture.

Mix the miso paste into the scramble, then add the pesto. Sprinkle in the nutritional yeast and mix until well incorporated.

Serve immediately with toast or in a breakfast tofu burrito, sprinkled with additional nutritional yeast.

Banana Walnut Bread

TO DIE FOR.

Banana Walnut Bread

wheat-free

1-1/2c barley flour

1/2c maple sugar

1/2c walnuts

1t baking soda

1t baking powder

1/2t salt

1T cinnamon

—

1T safflower oil

3T coconut oil

2 super ripe bananas, diced

3/4 nut milk

1t vanilla

1t brown rice vinegar

1t red wine vinegar

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Topping:

3T maple sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a loaf pan or 6 muffin tin/ containers.

Prepare the dry ingredients by sifting them into a large mixing bowl; the barley flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and maple sugar. Add in the chopped walnuts.

In another small bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients; the bananas, oils, nut milk, and the vinegars.

Mix the wet into the dry and pour into a well-oiled pan. Mix only until just incorporated- do not overmix.

Sprinkle the maple sugar over the entire surface of the loaf and bake for 35 minutes. Rotate the pan and continue to bake for another 8-10 minutes.

Let cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes and then remove the loaf entirely to the rack to let cool. Once cool, you can place it back into the loaf pan.

For the loaf, let it cool thoroughly before attempting to slice into it.

Cream of Heirloom Tomato Soup

Cream of Heirloom Tomato Soup

This soup is so simple and so delicious. Simple ingredients = amazingness. For a delicious, delicate, light soup, keep it to just the tomatoes- for a more substantial protein fortified option, the addition of white beans fills it out perfectly.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3c fresh chopped heirloom tomatoes

1/4c fresh basil

1/2 fresh jalapeño, diced

2T olive

1T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 veggie bouillon

1t salt or to taste

1c cooked white beans; baby limas, cannelini, or great northern beans *optional

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Cashew heavy cream

1/4c cashews

1c water

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

For the cream:

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In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes, salt, jalapeño and black pepper. Continue to sauté until the tomatoes soften and begin to break down and the pepper turns bright green. Add in the beans if using. 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 batches, in a blender or vitamix*, puree the tomato soup. At this point, the soup is delicious as is or the crème can be added to create a wonderfully elegant soup. Add the crème into the soup and stir with a ladle to incorporate. Adjust the seasonings again after adding the crème.

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

Chocolate Almond Power Smoothie

Chocolate Almond Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T hemp seed

2 Medjoul dates

2T Raw Almond Butter

1T Chia Seeds

2t maca powder

1T gold flax seeds

2T raw cacao powder

1T coconut sugar

1t vanilla

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.