Simple Lemon Pepper Baked Tofu

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

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.

Chickpea Chana Masala

*chana masala chickpea

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

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.

Tofu Quinoa Broccoli Scramble

*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

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

*cherrybomb 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

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

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

No meat sauce

I made this sauce tonight after work- it doesn’t take long and it is SUPER delicious, hearty, and satisfying.  The tempeh offers added protein- 14 grams per serving… For those who are not a fan of tempeh or are wary, it’s a good way to introduce it, for those who love it, you can’t go wrong with this sauce. This is also a good recipe to double and freeze to have on hand at a later time. Feel free to add fresh or dried herbs into the mix!

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

Da “Meat”

1 package/ 8oz tempeh (I use Lightlife), crumbled

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

2T Olive oil

1t chipotle powder

1/4t pink salt

Da Sauce

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

1 large can, jar or box (28oz) of diced or crushed tomatoes (I used Bionatura Jar)

1c water

1 large onion, medium dice

1/4t fresh black pepper

1/4t cayenne (opt) or one whole small chili

1/4c extra virgin olive oil

1T sucanat or another sweetener

1t salt or to taste

For Da “Meat”

In a heated skillet, add the olive oil, salt, pepper and chipotle powder and sauté just until aromatic and golden. Add in the tempeh and pan fry until browned and crispy- about 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently over medium high heat. Set aside.

For Da Sauce

In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic with the sweetener until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes, salt, black and red pepper. Add the water and allow the sauce to come to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, adjust the seasonings. Add in the tempeh.

Serve over any kind of pasta or grains. Super satisfying.

Summer Tofu Scramble

*summer scrambled tofu

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

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.

Baby Lima Bean-Basil Spread

*baby lima bean basil spread

This is summer in a dip. Delicious- super easy especially if you have the pesto in your fridge!

Baby Lima Bean Basil Spread 

1c cooked baby lima beans (white)

1t ground chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

2T prepared basil or arugala pesto

1 lemon, juiced

1/4t black pepper

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1t pink salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor.

Adjust seasoning to taste. Best if refrigerated first to help the spread/dip set.

Simple Tofu Scramble

*Simple Tofu Scramble

Super simple after an intense Crossfit workout: 300 double unders, 10 Cleans (#83 pounds), 50 front squats (#83 pounds), and 60 tricep dips….WOOOF! I finished and about 45 minutes after I WAS HUNGRY!!! I usually add lots of veggies into my scramble but today I was just feeling SIMPLE and it was SO delicious….the miso lends a “cheesiness” that was just yummy. I ate my greens on the side and had whole grain toast with coconut oil spread on top, and a side of my home made Kombucha and I did not want for anything…..FRICKEN YUM.

Simple Tofu Scramble

1 package (15oz) firm tofu, crumbled

2t xvo

1T coconut oil

½ medium onion, small diced

1/4c nutritional yeast- more if desired!

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2t ground turmeric

1/2t salt

1/4t black pepper

2t miso

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

Remove the lid and mix the miso paste into the scramble. 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 Acai Double Protein Power Smoothie

*Banana Acai Double Protein Power Smoothie

Banana Acai Double Protein Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

1T hemp seeds

1 banana, ripe

1 heaping T tocotreinols

1T gold flax seeds

1T acai powder

1T chia seeds

1T coconut oil

1t vanilla powder

2 scoops protein powder

Dash cinnamon

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.

Blueberry Maqui Maca Berry Power Smoothie- Recovery Fuel

*Blueberry Maqui Maca Berry Power Smoothie

Blueberry Maqui Maca Berry Power Smoothie

1c nut milk

2T hemp seed

1t raw agave or raw local honey

1T coconut oil

1c Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

2T Maqui Berry Powder

1T flax seeds

2t maca powder

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.