Gluten Free Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie Cookies

Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie Cookie

These are insane in the membrane…I am not even kidding, you would never know that they are vegan, let alone gluten-free…I think I could get rich on this cookie….maybe not, but I know if you make them you and yours will be very very happy.

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie Cookies
makes 18-20 small cookies

3/4c All Purpose Gluten Free lour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)

3/4c cocoa powder

3/4c oats- to be buzzed into flour
1/2c sucanat
3/4c chocolate chips
3/4c walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2t baking powder
1/2t salt
—-
1/2c maple syrup
¼c +2T coconut oil (melted)
1t vanilla

1t chocolate extract or another yummy flavored extract *optional
preheat oven to 350º

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and ready your pans.

Process the oats in a food processor until they are the consistency of coarse flour.

In a small bowl, mix all of the wet ingredients together, the maple syrup, oil, and vanilla, extract if using and set aside.

In a separate, larger bowl, place all of the dry ingredients, sucanat, chocolate chips, oats flour, and the nuts, and in the same bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. (Sifting isn’t absolutely necessary but it insures there won’t be clumps of flour or worse, chunks of salt, in the batter.)

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and with a spatula mix until everything is well incorporated.
With your desired size ice cream or cookie scoop, scoop out the cookies evenly spaced on the baking sheet. I gently flatten the cookies with the bottom of a cup measure. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the pan and continue to bake for another 2-3 minutes. Let cool for at least 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet and then remove them to a cooling rack. Store in a container only after completely cooled. I keep mine in the fridge- if they last that long!

Amazing Lentil Chili

Amazing lentil chili 

Amazing Lentil Chili

This simple bowl of yum is packed with protein, fiber, and flavor. With or without the Vegan ground beef, this chili is a winner. The vegan ground beef by Beyond Meat is gluten free and soy free! I topped this with Field Roasts’Chao Cheese and it is just awesome.

2c-cooked lentils, drained

1c-filtered water

1c tomato puree

½c chopped tomato, medium dice (about 1 medium tomato)

1 red bell pepper, medium dice

2t cumin

1-2t smoked chipotle powder (more or less for heat)

1t chili powder

1t turmeric

1t pink salt or to taste

2t coconut sugar

2-3T coconut or olive oil

1c gluten free, soy free vegan ground beef *optional

Fresh parsley, cilantro or both, minced

In a large pot, over medium-high heat, sauté the chopped onions in oil for about 5 to 7 minutes, or just until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so. Add the chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder, turmeric, coconut sugar and salt. Stir well to incorporate the spices into the vegetables and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Add the lentils, water and tomato puree. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, slowly reducing the liquid content and thickening up to a stew like consistency.

In the last 3 minutes of cooking add the vegan beef and any fresh herbs. Remove from the heat and cover. Let stand for 3-5 minutes prior to serving.  Adjust seasonings.

Serve topped with vegan cheese, nutritional yeast and a simple salad.

*chao chili pic
I used the Original flavor of Chao Cheese made by        FieldRoast…YUM!

Hearty Split Pea Soup with Brown Rice and Carrots

Split Pea Soup with Brown Rice and Carrots

Split Pea Soup with Brown Rice and Carrots

This is a meal in a bowl- SO hearty and satisfying. Amazing way to use up left over cooked rice also! You can find smoked salt in the bulk section of the market or it also available online at specialty purveyors- it gives it an earthy delicious flavor paired well with the chipotle. Add sautéed or cooked greens in at the end of cooking for added flavor, texture and nutrition. I eat this shit morning noon and night.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

2c green split peas, cooked

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1 large carrot, cut into rounds

1” piece of fresh turmeric, grated

2t chipotle powder

1/2t fresh ground black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper

1t smoked salt

1 1/2c cooked long grain brown rice

3T extra virgin olive oil

6c boiling water

1t pink salt to taste

 —

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

 —

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and soft. Add the peas, smoked salt, chipotle powder, black and red pepper. Add the peas, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water and the cooked rice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Th consistency is personal, for a heartier, stew like soup, cook longer with more water but let most of the water cook out. Be sure to adjust your seasonings. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the carrots rounds, partially cover the soup so that they will steam/cook in the soup but still hold their shape.

Spicy Corn Crusted Roasted Potatoes

Corn crusted potatoes

Spicy Corn Crusted Roasted Potatoes

2 pounds potatoes (2-3 medium size), cleaned and cut into wedges or large french fries

3-4T extra virgin olive oil

1t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

Coating:

3T cornmeal

1T brown rice flour or amaranth flour

1t pink salt

1t onion powder

1t chipotle powder

1t turmeric

1/2t black pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Pre-cook the potatoes

Bring 3c of water to a boil. Add in the cleaned, trimmed potatoes and cook partially covered for 8-10 minutes or just until tender. Remove, drain and set aside.

 

While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the coating

In a large bowl, mix the coating ingredients together, and blend well with a dry whisk or fork.

Prepare the potatoes for roasting

In a medium bowl, add the drained potatoes, the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss gently until well coated.

With a slotted spoon, add the potatoes into the large bowl of coating. Toss until the potatoes are well coated.

Pour the potatoes out onto a large baking dish, spread evenly in the around. Make sure all potatoes are covered well with the oil and coating.

Roast the potatoes in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until they are golden brown with crisp brown edges. Turn the potatoes mid way to ensure an even tan.

Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce; ketchup, vegan mayo, mustard etc.

Fresh Blueberry Summer Love

*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

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.

Cream of Zucchini Soup

*cream of zucchini soup

Cream of Zucchini Soup

This is the perfect way to use them, showcasing their sweet summer flavor. Roasting the zucchini first enhances the entire flavor of the soup but it is also an additional step in the preparation and is not necessary for a delicious soup.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 large zucchini, chopped

1/4t chipotle powder *optional

3T coconut oil

6c boiling water

1 veg bouillon

1t salt or to taste

1/4c cashews

1/2-1 whole fresh jalapeño

large handful fresh parsley or basil *optional

___

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions until golden and soft. Add the zucchini, salt, and black pepper. Continue to sauté until the zucchini softens and turns bright green.  Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

 —

In a blender or vitamix, add the zucchini mix, the cashews, and the jalapeño. Blend first at low speed and finally walking it up to full power. Let run for about 30 seconds.

Adjust the seasonings again after blending.

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

Hearty Summer Black Bean Soup with Greens

*Hearty Summer Black Bean Soup with Greens

Local greens, tomatoes, corn, onions and garlic- this soup is so satisfying and absolutely delicious.

Hearty Summer Black Bean Soup with Greens

Wheat-free * Gluten-free*

1 large onion, medium dice

2c fresh tomato medium dices or crushed tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced

3c black beans, cooked and drained or 2 cans

1 medium sweet potato, medium dice- I Japanese yams which are less sweet than orange

1 medium white potato, medium dice

2c fresh corn niblets

2c greens (kale, spinach, swiss chard)

2t smoked chipotle powder

2t cumin

1t turmeric

2t chili powder

1/4t black pepper

1/4t cayenne pepper

3T extra virgin olive oil

1-2 vegetable bouillon cubes

1/4c fresh parsley *optional

1t-smoked salt

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic with until golden and soft. Add in the cleaned greens and sauté until wilted. Remove just the greens from the pan and set aside, reserving for later. Add the beans, spices, salt, black and red pepper, and sautéing for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, and both the sweet and regular potatoes, then the boiling water, and the bullion cube (or powder). Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.

In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the sautéed greens and the fresh parsley. Garnish with fresh parsley and nutritional yeast.

Black & White Bean Soup with Greens

*Black & White Bean Soup with Greens

Black & White Bean Soup with Greens

This soup is wonderfully hearty and delicious. The rice can be substituted with gluten free pasta or another grain of your choosing. Adding in a mix of greens would be amazing but I am partial to kale.

Wheat-free Gluten-free

1 large onion, medium dice

1c tomato puree or crushed tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1c cannellini beans, cooked and drained

1c cooked brown rice

1c black beans

2c greens (kale, spinach, swiss chard)

2t smoked chipotle powder

1/4t black pepper

1/4t cayenne pepper

3T extra virgin olive oil

1-2 vegetable bouillon cubes

1/4c fresh basil *optional

1t-smoked salt

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil.

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic with until golden and soft. Add in the cleaned greens and sauté until wilted. Remove just the greens from the pan and set aside, reserving for later. Add the beans, rice, salt, black and red pepper, and sautéing for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes then the boiling water, the bullion cube (or powder), smoke flavor if using. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the sautéed greens and the fresh basil. Garnish with fresh basil and nutritional yeast.

Sundried Tomato & Scallion Tofu Spread (Surfer’s Spread)

*sun-dried-tomato-scallion-tofu-spread

I was at a local co-op here they have a spread called “Surfer Spread”. It. is. YUMMY. I was determined to replicate it, I have a ton of RAW unsulfered sun-dried tomatoes, and picked up some local fresh scallions at the Farm Stand down the road and VOILA….It took me two times to get it. I have to say, mine tastes a little bit more badass. Just sayin. Don’t over process the tofu or else you will have more of a paste than you might like but experiment with the consistency you prefer!

Sundried Tomato & Scallion Tofu Spread

¼ sundried tomatoes- rehydrated

1 pound tofu, blanched and drained well

3T Extra Virgin Olive oil

1 small bunch of scallions, trimmed and coarsely chopped

1/4c nutritional yeast

2 cloves garlic

2T shoyu or tamari

1t ume vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

In a food processer, mince the scallions and then remove to a medium size bowl.

In the same work bowl, add the sun dried tomatoes and the oil and process until desired size, I like mine finely minced. Remove 2/3rd of the mix to the scallion bowl. Add the tofu in the work bowl with the garlic, shoyu, ume, and nutritional yeast and process until smooth. Remove to the scallion tomato mix and mix until well incorporated. Season with the salt and pepper, to taste.Place in the refrigerator to chill. (SO much better cold- it firms up as well)Serve with crusty bread (FRICKEN YUM), as a sandwich filler, or as a vegetable dip.

SO YUM!