Month: September 2019

Velvety Roasted Carrot Soup

Velvety Roasted Carrot Soup

This luscious soup has hints of coriander, cinnamon and ginger and is the perfect soup to warm you on a chilly Fall day. My picky husband declares it “restaurant quality”, and little does he know that it’s completely vegan. While it tastes decadent, it’s actually quite healthy, with plenty of beta-carotene from the carrots, and antioxidants from the spices.

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Chocolate Coco Pots

Chocolate Coco Pots

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Coco Pots

Rich, chocolatey mousse-like little pots of yumminess --and no dairy involved. It gets its creaminess from coconut cream. Top with whipped coconut cream and shaved chocolate-- you will be in chocolate heaven!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Chocolate Mousse, Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Solid/thick part of chilled can of full fat cconut milk
  • 1/2 cup Almond or coconut milk Coconut milk adds more coconut flavor
  • 8 oz bar dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips Can use dairy-free
  • 3 tsp maple syrup More or less based on your sweetness level
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon optional

Instructions

  • Chill can of coconut milk for several hours. Use just thickened part of milk (coconut cream). Scoop into a blender.
  • Pour almond or coconut milk into a medium bowl. Add in broken up chocolate bar or chocolate chips. Microwave until chocolate is melted, stirring to combine.
  • Add chocolate/milk mixture, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon (optional) to blender. Blend to combine.
  • Pour into small ramekins and refrigerate until set, several hours or overnight.
  • Garnish with whipped coconut cream, raspberries, strawberries, shaved chocolate if desired. Enjoy!
Almond Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Almond Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

These are like delicious little bites of Autumn! Chock full of almonds, oats and cranberries, these scrumptious morsels contain healthy fats, fiber and just the right amount of sweetness!

Nourish Bowl with Creamy Peanut Sauce

Nourish Bowl with Creamy Peanut Sauce

Sauteed veggies over a bed of brown rice, dressed with a creamy peanut/coconut sauce — this Asian-inspired dish packs loads of fiber, protein and flavor!

Big Salad

Big Salad

Big Salad

This is my go-to staple for lunch almost every day. It's versatile and delicious, and ensures I get my daily dose of greens, beans and veggies. You can switch it up with whatever you like. It's a great meal-prep item-- takes about 45 minutes to prepare, then it's ready to eat four days out of the week. Elaine Benes would be proud!
Prep Time45 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Salad
Keyword: Big Salad, Huge Green Salad, Main Course Salad
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 head Romaine lettuce, sliced, chopped thinly
  • 1 bunch curly kale, sliced/chopped thinly
  • 1 bag baby arugula
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halves
  • 1/2 head small red cabbage, sliced thinly
  • 1 cucumber, peeled, diced
  • 2 carrots, organic, grated or sliced very thinly
  • 1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15.5 oz can white (Northern or Cannellini) or garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup sweet corn, fresh, canned or frozen
  • 2 red bell peppers, roughly chopped and seeded, roasted (see note)
  • 1/2 med/large red onion, sliced thin into slivers
  • 2 oz nuts, any kind, chopped
  • 2 oz seeds, any kind (pumpkin, sesame, hemp)
  • 1 large avocado, chopped

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in very large bowl. Toss to combine.
  • Enjoy with your favorite dressing. Some recipes below.

Notes

Be sure to massage the kale slightly (with a little olive oil) before tossing it into the salad.  This will break it down and make it easier to consume. 
I like my peppers roasted but you can always put them in the salad raw if that's your preference! 
Roasted Red Peppers:  Slice or roughly chop, toss in 1 tbsp olive oil with pinch of salt & pepper, roast in 375 degree oven for 15-20 min.  
Switch out my suggested ingredients for your favorites-- you can use almost any kind of salad greens, beans, tomatoes, nuts and seeds to vary the salad every week. 
DRESSINGS:
For all:  Whisk together in a small bowl, enjoy!  
Honey Mustard Dressing  
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp maple syrup
Salt and pepper, to taste
Asian Style Peanut Butter Dressing
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2-3 tbsp water
Lemon Vinaigrette
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 lemons, juiced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp maple syrup
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste
Curry Balsamic Dressing
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (try darker, richer ones for more flavor)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp sea or kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Watch here: 

Elaine and the Big Salad:

“It’s a salad, only bigger, with lots of stuff in it.”

-Elaine Benes

Cherry Almond Pie Overnight Oats

Cherry Almond Pie Overnight Oats

This is reminiscent of a delicious cherry pie. It’s quite filling, and contains healthy fats from the chia seeds, Vitamin E from the almond butter and fiber from the oats. You can switch out the cherries for fresh or frozen blueberries or strawberries, and the almond butter for peanut butter– delicious versions that are just as satisfying and delicious!

Breaking News August 2019

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Zesty Basil Eggplant with Dates

Zesty Basil Eggplant with Dates

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Zesty Basil Eggplant with Dates

Eggplant provides the "meaty" base for this dish, spiced up with ginger, cayenne and sweetened with juicy dates. Serve it over brown rice or pasta for a filling and delicious dinner!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Keyword: Spicy Eggplant, Eggplant & Basil, Spicy Meatless Pilaf
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 med/large eggplant
  • 1 medium red onion, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher or Himalayan salt
  • 6 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2" pieces
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos
  • 1/4 tsp ground cayenne, to taste
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, or 2 tbsp dried
  • 4-5 large Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews, chopped
  • Cooked brown rice or pasta

Instructions

  • Heat half the sesame oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.
  • Once hot, add the eggplant cubes, sprinkle with the salt and saute, stirring often, until the eggplant is slightly browned and tender, 5-10 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a bowl.
  • Heat the remaining oil in the same skillet over med-high heat. Stir in the onion, bell pepper, garlic and ginger, stirring frequently, until the onion and pepper soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Return the eggplant to the pan, along with the vinegar, soy sauce and cayenne, and saute for 3-5 minutes until all is melded. Add more soy sauce if needed.
  • Remove from the heat, stir in the basil, dates and cashews. Serve warm, over brown rice or pasta.
Sassy Sweet Potato Fries

Sassy Sweet Potato Fries

Using sweet potatoes instead of regular white potatoes is a real health boost, not to mention a flavor boost as well! These fries have great flavor with added spices and seasonings, and baking them is a healthier cooking method as well. I’ve tried repeatedly to get them crisp in the oven, which doesn’t always work. If you have an air fryer, it would work wonders! Either way, these fries taste great or as one of my students exclaimed, “I could eat these every day!”

Tuscan White Bean Dip

Tuscan White Bean Dip

Creamy and garlicky, perfect for scooping onto crackers, chips or pita bread. A great starter for an Italian-themed meal!

Zesty Salsa

Zesty Salsa

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Zesty Salsa

This recipe is a combination of tweaking various salsa recipes to come up with just the right blend of veggies, spices and herbs. It has a lot of ingredients but comes together quickly in a food processor. My husband loves it and requests I make it almost every weekend.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Zesty Salsa, Tomato Salsa
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 can Fire-Roasted Tomatoes- see Notes
  • 1 medium onion, cut into chunks
  • 1 scallion, cut in big pieces
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 small lime, juiced
  • 1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, or 1 1/2 tbsp dried
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cumin, ground
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste

Instructions

  • Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse a few times to chop and blend. Pulse as little or as much as desired, depending on the consistency you want your salsa. Enjoy!

Notes

BUY FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES here:  https://amzn.to/3ngYkDd
 
Perfect Tomato Soup

Perfect Tomato Soup

A wonderful soup to warm you up on a chilly Fall or Winter day! Chock full of carrots, tomatoes and other veggies, made creamy with coconut milk. Similar to Noodles & Company soup, it’s perfection!