Strawberry Quinoa Muffins

Did you know that quinao is a complete protein which includes all 9 essential amino acids? It's well-endowed with the amino acid lysine which is essential for tissue growth and repair. There are different varieties of quinoa as in the whole seed, quinoa flour and quinoa pasta. You can use quinoa in so many different ways too!  Alright....on to the recipe.

Strawberry Quinoa Muffins

Makes 1 dozen

Dry ingredients

2 c. cooked quinoa

1 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1/3 c. turbinado sugar (can use brown sugar)

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. extra fine sea salt

1 tsp. lemon zest

Wet ingredients

1/3 c. soy milk (or any other non-diary milk)

1/4 c. apple sauce

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3/4 c. fresh strawberries, diced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with non stick cupcake papers or mist with a non-stick spray.

-In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar baking powder, salt and lemon zest. 

-Add the quinoa to the dry ingredients and combine.

-In a seperate bowl, whisk the soy milk, vanilla, and applesauce.

-Add the wet ingredients to the quinoa mixture.

-Fold in strawberries.

-Divide the batter into each muffin cup.

-Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

Mango Coconut Rice Bowl

I was pretty hungry this morning so I opened my refrigerator and threw this together! Left over brown rice, canned coconut milk and a mango! Sprinkle with a little cardamon and your set. You can swap the mango with another fresh fruit like banana, pineapple or blueberries.

Mango Coconut Rice Bowl

1/2 c. cooked brown rice
2 TBSP canned coconut milk
1 mango, diced
sprinkle of cardamon

In a bowl, layer your rice, coconut milk, dice mango and cardamon. Eat away!

Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter

Have you ever read the ingredient label on peanut butters?? What's this, what's that...and why hydrogenated oils? Who wants that stuff in their peanut butter.  There for a while, we were making our own  peanut butter with dry roasted peanuts. But this was costing a little more than anticipated. Then I came across Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter at Target. Ingredients: Peanuts, contains 1% or less of salt!  Made without hydrogenated oils, and it tells you right of the front..in the green -upper left on the jar. YIPEE   Our household enjoys this brand tremendously.  Try Natural! (I am not getting anything from Smucker's for the review)

Cinnamon Roll Smoothie

Do you want the cinnamon roll experience without going through all the work of making them. Here is a smoothie that will help satisfy your buds without all the extra calories and fat.

Cinnamon Roll Smoothie

1 cut up frozen banana
1 c. soy milk
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 c. old fashion oats

1 TBSP pure maple syrup
1-2 drops of butter rum oil (optional)

Mix all together in a blender until smooth. Pour into your favorite glass and enjoy!

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day to everyone!

Meat-LESS Ball Sub

"Who ever heard of a meat-less ball sub?"  I have....l made it.... kid approved!!  My little one wants these all the time now! Well next time I will make extra balls and store them!!  Very easy to make.

Meat-LESS Ball Sub
Makes 9 balls -3 subs

1 c. cooked brown rice
1/2 c. cooked lentils
1/2 c. onions finely diced
1 c.  white mushrooms finely diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. vegan worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. flour
1/4 tsp. extra fine sea salt
dash  of smoked paprika
hoagie buns
your favorite marinara sauce
fresh mushrooms
fresh basil leaves

-In a large bowl, combine the rice and lentils.
-In a non-stick skillet on medium heat, cook the onion and mushrooms for 3 minutes.
-Add the garlic to the mushroom/onion mixture for another minute.
-Turn off heat and add Italian seasoning and the oregano.
-Combine the mushroom/onion mixture to rice & lentils.
-Add remaining ingredients down to the paprika and combine.

Preheat oven 325. Foil a cookie sheet and spray with a non-stick cooking spray.

-Now, you can either use your hands to make the balls or you can use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop.  The scoop worked best for me. Pack your balls tight in the scoop and lay spaced on cookie sheet.
-Bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm to the touch.
-Remove the balls from the cookie sheet and keep warm.
-Using the same cookie sheet, heat up your hoagie buns in the oven for a minute or two.
-Pull the buns out of the oven and layer each one with marinara sauce on the bottom half of the hoagie buns, then 3 balls in a row on the sauce, more marinara sauce over the balls, and then a layer of mushrooms.
-Put back into the oven and bake for 3 minutes or until bread is slightly crispy.
-Remove from oven and top with fresh basil leaves.

CIAO!

No Bake Chocolate Drops

When I was a kid, my grandma use to make these cookies called 'Unbaked Chocolate Cookies' which contained butter, milk and white and/or brown sugar along with other ingredients. I loved them. But since switching over to a "healthier" lifestyle, I have not made them....until now. I "VEGANIZED" them.  Here is my version of the cookies. I call them----

No Bake Chocolate Drops
These make 9 cookies

1/2 c. turbinado sugar
1/4 c. soy milk
1 TBSP carob powder or cocoa
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. cherry oil (optional)
1 c. old fashion oatmeal
1/2 c. shredded coconut
pinch of extra fine sea salt

-Combine sugar, soy milk and carob powder in a sauce pan. Stir and bring to a boil for 2 minutes or until sugar is melted.
-Turn off heat and add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and drop onto wax paper 9 equal portions.
-Let the cookies cool and slightly harden. Can put into refrigerator to speed up the process.

Edamame Soup

Just a few simple ingredients and you dinner! It's so easy and simple...this could be a "emergency" meal.
Note: If you like, add more carrots or another potato.

Edamame Soup

1 leek greens removed, rinsed well and chopped
3 medium carrots peeled & sliced
1 medium potato scrubbed & diced
1 10 oz bag frozen shelled edamame
1 32 oz carton of veggie broth
salt & pepper to taste

In a medium sauce pan, line the bottom with a thin layer or water. Simmer the leeks for 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and turn down to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Turn off heat and take a potato masher and mash half the soup or blend half the soup in a blender. This will make the soup richer. Season with salt and pepper.

Soybean are very adaptable, so they can be processed in a variety of different ways. Edamame, tofu, tempeh, soynuts, soy flour, soymilk, miso, and dried ready to eat. 

Not a "B" a CLT with Avocado Spread

Came across this recipe for faux bacon. But get this...it's made out of coconut. That's right... wild but really good. I picked up a bag of coconut strips from Trader Joe's thinking I was going to make this coconut bacon. (originally for cupcakes) REMEMBER...read the whole recipe first. I needed  3 + cups but I only had about 1 cup. So instead, I compromised and divided the recipe by thirds. There was plenty. I think it was slightly over baked...but still good! Here is my version of the CLT (coconut, lettuce and tomato).
NOTE: You will want to make your coconut bacon first. This will take about 20 minutes. Link is below for the ingredients and recipe.


CLT with Avocado Spread

2 slices of your favorite bread, toasted
sliced tomato
lettuce & spinach


Avocado Spread

1/2 ripe avocado, pitted and scooped
2 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. lime juice

Mix all your ingredients in a bowl and smash with a fork or potato masher until creamy.


Coconut Bacon

http://www.fettlevegan.com/4/post/2012/07/coconut-bacon.html

-On both slices of bread, spread a nice thick layer of the Avocado Spread.
-Take the coconut bacon and gently push in the spread on one piece of bread.. Helps hold it in place.
-Top with tomato, lettuce & spinach.

ENJOY!!

Apple Peachy Pie Smoothie

There for awhile, I was drinking smoothies in the morning, exercising and eating a healthy delicious salad at lunch. I was toning up, feeling good and doing great. Somehow I have been slacking. I need to get back on track again! So starting this morning, I made myself a pretty good smoothie. I call it Apple Peachy Pie Smoothie.

Apple Peachy Pie Smoothie

1 1/4 c. apple juice

1 cut up frozen banana

1 c. frozen peaches

1/4 c. oatmeal

1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth!