Peanut Butter Blondies

This is my adaptation of a recipe I found in  Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar  by: Moskowitz and Romero.

 This dessert recipe is not only delicious, but really high in protein.  Peanuts are already a good provider and I added to the content by using garbanzo bean flour.  This flour adds only a slight nuttiness to the flavor and is great for desserts.  As a bonus, this flour is gluten free for anyone out there suffering that allergy. Top one of these off with a drizzle of my delicious chocolate sauce and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Blondies


Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
1/3 Cup Safflower Oil
1 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
1/4 Cup Almond or Soy Milk
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Garbanzo Bean Flour
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 recipe Chocolate Sauce (optional)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*Lightly grease a 9" round baking dish
*In a large bowl mix peanut butter, oil, and sugar vigorously with a fork.  
*Add milk and vanilla.
*With a large spoon, stir in flour, salt, and baking powder.
*Continue to stir until all combined.
*Transfer dough to baking dish and press into place.
*Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Edges should be slightly darkened.  
*Allow to cool completely before slicing.  
*Top with chocolate sauce or enjoy plain.  

Taco Bell Style Mexican Pizza

Ever have a craving for one of those really bad for you treats like a Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell?  Before I went vegan every now and then I would have a Mexican Pizza with all beans, no meat.  They are delicious but probably not very healthy.  Now you can make your very own Vegan version of this at home. Slightly more healthy than it's fast food counterpart.  This is made with seasoned beans, but if you have it on hand, add a layer of TVP "ground beef", or gimme lean crumbles to your beans. You can also use store bought tortillas.  In fact, we did for the one pictured, but there is also a link to my tortilla recipe if you want to make your own.

Mexican Pizza
(Makes 2 mini pizzas)

Ingredients:

4 Tortillas
1 Can Refried or Whole Pinto Beans
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Chili Powder
1 Cup Daiya Cheddar Cheese
1 Roma Tomato
1/8 Cup Green Onions, Chopped
1/8 tsp Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Safflower Oil
Tofutti Sour Cream (optional)
Shredded Lettuce (optional)

Directions:

*Drizzle thin layer of oil into frying pan.  
*Fry each tortilla for about 30-45 seconds on each side over med-high heat. If bubbles form during frying, pop the bubble and press flat.  Should be golden brown when ready.
*Heat beans up in a small pot.  
*(If using refried, skip this step) Drain beans and mash with a potato masher or fork.  Return to med heat, stirring continuously until all water is cooked out.  
*Add salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder to beans.
*Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
*Stack each pizza by first spreading beans onto the face of one tortilla, then top with second tortilla.  Sprinkle Daiya on top, then add sliced tomato and green onion.
*Repeat for second pizza.
*Place pizzas side by side on a cookie sheet and cook for about 10-12 minutes.  Cheese should be melted on top.  
*Remove and let cool slightly before topping with shredded lettuce and sour cream.  







Free to Breathe - Lung Cancer Awareness 5K


5K Run and Fundraiser: Free to Breathe - Lung Cancer Awareness





LAKE CHARLES, LA - MARCH 26, 2011
MFA All-star
When I was little I lost my father, John, to lung cancer. He was only 39 years old. No more families should have to suffer losses like this. William and I have decided to join some of our friends here in Lake Charles by participating in this 5K event.
Helping those affected by lung cancer is a high priority and we need your support to make a difference. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of American men and women; it kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers COMBINED. The Free to Breathe® event that we are participating in will raise awareness of the disease and funding for vital research. 
Please support our efforts by making a donation through our team fundraising page; it is simple, fast and totally secure. And, we also encourage you to join us on event day! 
Many thanks for your support! If you know of someone else who would like to donate or participate, please forward them this link!
Anything you can contribute helps!

Vegan Irish Cream

As a bartender I know so many delicious shots that require Irish Cream.  Because of the whole dairy thing (blech!) I can not have it anymore.  So I did some searching online and found where my fellow Vegan's had been working on recreating the recipe.  I tried my own hand at it and the results are amazingly similar.  So, next party at my house, bring on the shots!!!

Vegan Irish Cream

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Irish Whiskey
1 Pint Plain Silk Creamer 
1 1/2 tsp Almond Extract

Directions:

*Combine all ingredients together in medium bowl.
*Stir until combined or shake in a container.
*Store in refrigerator.  


Chocolate Sauce

7:25 AM by Missy Coppage 0 comments
You ever had a late night craving for some chocolate milk?  Or maybe just wanted some chocolate sauce to put on top of your almond ice cream or homemade cookies.  Well, have I got the quick solution to your problem.  I was actually working on making homemade Bailey's irish cream and I needed chocolate sauce to complete the recipe.  So here is what I made and then later I will post the Bailey's recipe to accompany it.

Vegan Chocolate Sauce
Makes about 1 Cup
Image borrowed from http://nutmegnotebook.com/?p=2898

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
3/4 Cup Raw Sugar
1 Pinch Sea Salt
3/4 Cup Water
1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions:

*Combine all together in medium saucepan
*Bring to boil. Continue to boil for about 3-5 minutes.  Sauce will thicken.
*Allow to cool then store in refrigerator.

New Website

Woo Hoo! As a Valentine's Day present William got me a brand new website.  So we will be upgrading and moving soon.  I will keep you posted as to the address and such once we get everything in place. 

Preserve Mixing Bowls Product Review

So I have decided to start adding product reviews to the page.  This first one is one of my most favorite items in my kitchen.

Preserve Mixing Bowl Set


These fabulous bowls, which come in a set of 3, are made entirely of recycled #5 plastics.  They are also completely recyclable themselves if for some crazy reason you ever needed to get rid of them.  They have an easy grip handle on the side and a pour spout on the other.  They are the EASIEST bowls to clean ever.  Nothing I have ever made in my kitchen including wheat gluten flour to make seitan has ever stuck to the bowl for very long.  I have never even had to soak them.  Everything washes off quickly and easily.  

The set comes with 3 bowls as I mentioned before.  There is a 2 quart, a 3 quart, and a 4 quart bowl.  They are dishwasher safe and are BPA and melamine free.  Since they are plastic, they will not break if dropped or if your children get their hands on them.  


For more information visit the Preserve Products website.

There are many places to purchase these bowls. 
 Here in Lake Charles, mine came from Target.  
If you wanted to purchase them online, they can be found in a variety of prices from around $16 to $27.  Here is a Google Products Website with links to many different places to purchase them.  

Vegan King Cake

In honor of the approaching Mardi Gras season, I decided I needed to veganize the traditional King Cake.  I see them all around me this time of year.  Every grocery store has them, and without fail someone always brings one to a party.  For myself and my fellow Vegans, it sucks that we can not take part in this tradition. So I took it upon myself to study up on how to make a King Cake and veganize the recipe.  For anyone not familiar with what a King Cake is and what it represents, you can read more about it here at holidays.net.  I also attempted to make the cake more healthy.  I mean there is only so much you can do considering how much sugar and butter is involved in something like this, but I did use raw sugar, sea salt, vegan butter(of course), whole wheat pastry flour instead of regular all-purpose, and the substitution of flax seed for egg adds a healthy dose of omega-3's to the mix.

The process of making it is a little time consuming, but mostly because of the 2 hours the dough needs to rest after is is mixed up so it can rise and then another 45 minutes of resting before baking.


Vegan King Cake 
(makes 1 ring shaped cake, approx. 4 hours to complete)



Ingredients:
PASTRY: 
1/2 Cup Soy Milk
2 Tbsp Vegan Butter
2 ¼ tsp or 1 package active dry yeast
1/3 Cup Warm Water (110 degrees F)
1/4 Cup Raw Sugar
1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seed/ 3 Tbsp Water
3/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
2 3/4 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1-2 Tbsp Safflower oil, (to coat bowl)


FILLING: 
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
1-1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/3 Cup Pecans, chopped
1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 Cup Raisins
1/4 Cup Vegan Butter, melted

FROSTING: 
1/2 Cup Confectioners Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Silk French Vanilla Creamer
1 tsp Water
Food Coloring (to make Green, Purple, and Gold)

Sprinkles (optional)
1 Plastic Baby (tiny)

Directions:
*Quickly bring Soymilk to a boil, remove from heat and stir in 2 Tbsp butter.  Cool to room temperature.

*In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with ½ Tbsp of sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. 

*In a small bowl, whisk together 1 Tbsp Flax with 3 Tbsp Water

*Next add the cooled milk mixture to bubbly yeast. Whisk in the flax mixture. Stir in the remaining sugar, salt and nutmeg. Beat the flour into the soymilk/flax mixture 1 cup at a time. Once combined,turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

*Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. Once risen, punch down dough.

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

*Make Filling while dough rests: Combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, flour and raisins. Pour melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly.

*Roll dough out into a large rectangle (approximately 10x16 in.). Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll up tightly like a jelly roll. Bring the end of roll together to form an oval shaped ring. Place ring on a prepared cookie sheet. With a sharp knife, make cuts 1/3 of the way through the ring at 1 inch intervals. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

*Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Push the doll into the bottom of the cake. 

*Mix frosting,(you can use all water here, about 2 tsp,  but I prefer the taste that the French Vanilla creamer adds) . Separate into 3 small bowls to make the colored frosting.  Drizzle over top while cake is still warm.  Add sprinkles (optional)

Cold Weather in SWLA

So, winter has finally arrived for us in South West Louisiana.  The schools are closed for 2 days and everyone is freaking out.  Coming from North Carolina (and originally Pennsylvania) snow and bad weather is not really a big deal for me.  I actually love snow.  It is no secret as everyone I know around here started asking me if I was excited about the possibility a week ago when it was first forecasted.  No frozen precipitation as of yet, but I don't think it is supposed to start until around 3pm.  Which happens to be right when I have to go to work.  So good times are ahead.  Trying to think of what to cook today on this cold day.  Maybe some soup, hmmm.  Will try to get something up before the end of the day.  

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