Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Pumpkin Custard - Vegan & Sugar Free



Dessert is always a challenge for me on Thanksgiving. Most of the time I just sit around watching other people eat theirs. I was determined this year to add a little enjoyment to the day by making a homemade custard using pumpkin. This was an adventure since normal recipes call for not only eggs but milk and sugar as well. This is what I came up with.

Ingredients:
15 oz. pumpkin puree
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup almond milk
1/4 applesauce
1 Tbs honey
Egg replacer for 2 eggs (4 Tbs water + 4 Tbs cornstarch)

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined.
Pour into greased ramekins until ramekin is a little more than half full.
Place ramekins in a cake pan. Fill cake pan with water until water is half way up the outside of the ramekin. Be careful not to water in the inside of the ramekins.
Bake for 1 hour.
Remove from cake pan and cool.

Egg Substitutes


Here is some help in using replacements for eggs.

Replacement for

Replacement recommended

Instructions                

BrowniesSilken Tofu/ Tofu( 1/4 cup blended silken tofu = 1 egg )Process in a blender until completely smooth and creamy, leaving no graininess
or chunks. You will want to attach other wet ingredients to this mixture to
return with it to blend properly.
Applesauce(1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )If chocolate in the brownies overpowers the flavor of applesauce so it can be safely used, and is in fact, one of the
best egg substitute in brownie mix.
Soy Yogurt/Plain Yogurt( ¼ cup Yogurt= 1 EGG )If you are a vegan, you may opt for soy yogurt. Otherwise plain yogurt will do
the trick. Just beat it well and add it to the brownie mix.
Flax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds +3 tbsp Water =1 eggGrind the flax seeds in a coffee grinder, and mix with water. Allow it to rest till it becomes gelatinous, then use.
Bananas(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)Just mash it smooth, and use it but the addition of banana will alter the flavor of the brownies
Commercial Egg SubstituteUse
as per instructions on pack. Many people who have used this find it to leave behind a peculiar taste. However, there have been exceptions to this case.
BreadsBananas
(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Recipes: Banana Blueberry Bread
Soy yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1egg)Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer.Helps to make it moist
Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.Recipe:Vegan Banana Nut Bread
Flax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds +3 tbsp Water =1 eggAdding ground flax seeds to any recipe add Omega-3′s to the recipe! You can buy ground flax seeds in the health section of most grocery stores.
Recipe: Whole Wheat Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread
Check out all Eggless Bread Recipes
Cakes
(eggs mostly serve as leavening agents in cakes, helping to make the end product light and fluffy)
Applesauce
(1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )
Bananas
(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Recipe: Wholegrain Banana Cake
Soy yogurt/Yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1 egg)Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer. It makes things moist.
Recipes: Blueberry Boy Bait; Strawberry Yogurt Cake
Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.)
Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)Recipes: Banana Cupcake
ButtermilkButtermilk is one of the preferred egg substitute used for eggless cake recipes. What you need to do is add half a cup of buttermilk (instead of one egg) and follow the same directions as you did for baking regular cakes. The only thing is to add less amount of water for making the dough. With buttermilk, the resultant cake will be very soft and tasty.
Pureed Fruits(3 tablespoons of pureed fruit = one egg )In cases when you don’t like using eggs and buttermilk in cakes then a good egg substitute for baking cakes is, adding pureed fruits. Use 3 tablespoons of pureed banana (for one egg) and follow the same tips for baking cake. Even
without eggs, you will surely serve a soft and delicious cake with pureed fruits.
Gelatin (Non Vegetarian)(1 tablespoon gelatin + 3 tablespoons lukewarm water = 1 egg)Another popularly used egg substitute in baking is unsweetened and unflavored gelatin. Most vegetarians prefer adding Agar Agar instead of Gelatin as a substitute in cake, instead of the other options. For using gelatin in baking cake, mix together one tablespoon gelatin with three tablespoons lukewarm water. Add this mixture for making the cake dough.
Flaxseed(1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil+ 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg)Stir the flaxseed mixture well and allow it to thicken for a few minutes. Strain the seeds by using a muslin cloth and use the filtrate for baking cake.
Vinegar and Baking PowderUse this egg substitute in cake, only when you require more than one egg for baking. Mix one tablespoon each of white vinegar and water in a glass. To this, add one teaspoon of baking powder and stir well until
the mixture blends well. Now, use this egg substitute for your cake recipe.
Potato Starch(2 heaped tbsp potato starch = 1 egg)
Arrowroot Powder(2 heaped tbsp arrowroot powder  = 1 egg)
Soy flour(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1egg)
Soda PopA regular-sized (12 oz.) can of soda pop can be used as a substitution for 3 eggs in your baking recipes. Additionally, one regular-sized (12 oz.) can of soda pop can be substituted for the oil/egg combo
required by most boxed cake mixes.
Check out all Eggless Cake Recipes
Check out all Eggless Cupcakes Recipes
Cookies
(eggs mostly act as binding agents in cookies and adding moisture)
Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Cornstarch(1 tablespoon of Cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons of Water = 1 egg)
Soy flour(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
Ener-G Egg Replacer(follow package instructions)It seems to work best surrounded by cookies, or things that are supposed to be a little crispy.Otherwise, there have been complaints that it tends to add certain aftertaste noticeable more in other bakes like a chalky taste.
Check out all Eggless Cookies Recipes
Muffins
(eggs mostly act as binding agents in Muffins and adding moisture )
Applesauce(1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )
Pumpkin(1/3 cup of cooked pumpkin = 1 egg)This works almost for all baked goods but especially for muffins leaving a subtle Pumpkin flavor in the muffins (depending upon the eggs substituted)
Soy yogurt/Yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1 egg)Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer. It makes things moist
Recipes: Cranberry Walnut Muffins
Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.
Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Soy flour
(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
Banana(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)Recipe:Strawberry Banana Quinoa Muffins
Flaxseed(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds + 3 tbsp Water = 1 egg)Recipes: Vegan Pear Walnut Muffins
Check out all Eggless Muffins Recipes
PancakesFlax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds + 3 tbsp Water = 1 eggAdding ground flax seeds to any recipe add Omega-3′s to the recipe! You can buy ground flax seeds in the health section of most grocery stores.
Soy flour
(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
Banana(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Savory Dishes(as binders/ coating)Mashed PotatoesWhen a recipe in any savory dish like Vegetable Loaves or
Burgers calls for eggs as a binding agent, then any of these will work as an substitute for eggs. When used for Frying (as an coating of eggs and flour), you can use a mix of all purpose flour + water to form into a paste and apply that as coating instead of beaten eggs.
Bread Crumbs
Cooked Oatmeal
Cooked Rice
Tomato Paste
Chocolate pies, Quiches, pudding TofuTofu is great for egg substitutions in recipes that call for a lot of egg. To substitute for only one egg in a recipe, whip or blend 1/4 cup soft tofu and add to your cooking.
CornstarchThis especially works great for puddings. 1 egg = 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water
Recipes: Chocolate Tapioca Pudding
Salads/ Sandwiches/OmeletTofuDiced or mashed tofu can replace chopped hard-boiled eggs in some salad and sandwich recipes. Scrambled tofu makes a delicious alternative to scrambled eggs.

Savory Pumpkin Soup (vegan)

Every recipe for pumpkin soup I found was full of animal products. Luckily, being a vegan is all about replacement, replacement, replacement in order to obtain the same great taste but maintaining your standards.

  • Prep/Total Time: 20 min.
  • Yield: 6 Servings
10 20

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks of celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter (earth balance)
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 16 oz. vegetable broth (1/2 box of Pacific organic brand)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar or pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 3/4 cup frozen corn
In a large saucepan, melt better. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes on medium-high heat. Add carrots and celery. Sauté  until onions are beginning to brown. Stir in flour until vegetables are coated. Add broth and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat.
Add spices, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 - 10 minutes on medium heat.
Add milk and frozen corn. Cook until corn is warmed. Serve or store until later.
Top with Tofutti Sour cream, pistachios, and chives (optional).
 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Best Vegan Brownie Recipe

http://www.chooseveg.com/display_recipe.asp?recipe=126

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Blueberry Muffins Vegan-Style

Whole Wheat Vegan Blueberry Muffins

3 c whole wheat flour
3/4 c oats
1/2 c agave
1 T baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 c almond milk, unsweetened
1/2 c applesauce
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 c blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking soada, and salt.
In a different bowl combine milk, agave, applesauce, and vanilla.
Combine the flour mixture with the wet mixture. Fold in blueberries.
Grease and flour muffin tins. Pour batter into muffin tins and bake for 20 min.
Enjoy!

My Best Hummus Recipe

This recipe is great for quick lunches on the go!

Best Hummus Ever!
1 (15oz) can chickpeas
2 Tablespoons Miso (I prefer the red)
2 Tablespoons olive oil (cold pressed)
3 garlic cloves
1 lemon or lime
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 green onion
1 Tablespoon pine nuts
4 sundried tomatoes, soaked for 30 minutes

Put everything in the food processor and blend until smooth! Delicioso!
Best served with pita bread.
For added zest - add 1/4 tsp. chili paste

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Feeding the Chocolate Vice Without Sugar
The one thing I miss the most being a hypo-glycemic vegan is CHOCOLATE!!  Fortunately, I found RAW BROWNIES on the North Shore of Oahu.  They are made by a very skinny woman who sells them on Sunday mornings at the Haleiwa Farmer’s market .  The important thing to realize is that they contain no sugar and all organic ingredients.  The ingredients being only: dates, walnutes, cacao, and agave.  They are also deliciosos!  Yummy!
In order to justify this sinful habit I also found a supportive argument by Bill Hendrick as to the benefits of raw cocoa (cacao).
I tried a number of recipes in order to make my own.  Here is the final result of experimentation:

Shawna’s Raw Cacao Bars
By Shawna L. Millard
1 cup walnuts
1-1/2 cup dates, pitted
1/3 cup cacao powder (*not cocoa)
¼ tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp agave

Place in food processor one ingredient at a time and blend in between adding ingredients adding agave last, blend until well blended.  Press into lined 9x9 pan and refrigerate at least 1 to 2 hours until bars set up.


Bars will be good for 3 to 5 days.  Can be frozen.

Cocoa Rich in Health Benefits
Cocoa Consumption May Decrease Blood Pressure, Improve Cholesterol, Researchers Say
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
March 23, 2011 -- Cocoa, used throughout history as a folk medicine, may actually have significant health benefits, according to a new study by Harvard researchers.
Their analysis of 21 studies with 2,575 participants shows that cocoa consumption is associated with decreased blood pressure, improved blood vessel health, and improvement in cholesterol levels, among other benefits.
Eric L. Ding, PhD, of Harvard Medical School says the apparent health benefits come from polyphenolic flavonoids in cocoa that have the potential to prevent heart disease. Flavonoids are antioxidants that are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, tea, wine, and coffee.
Cocoa Flavonoids Good for Cholesterol
In addition to decreasing blood pressure and improving blood vessel health, consumption of flavonoid-rich cocoa decreased “bad” LDL cholesterol among people under age 50, and increased good HDL cholesterol, the analysis showed.
Flavonoid-rich cocoa consumption also was linked to reductions in risk factors for diabetes -- a major risk factor itself for cardiovascular disease.
Also, resistance to the hormone insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar, favorably dropped among people who consumed flavonoid-rich cocoa, compared to people in comparison groups.
Further, consumption of flavonoid-rich cocoa did not change triglyceride levels of study participants or make them obese. Triglycerides are a type of blood fat that have been linked to coronary artery disease when levels are elevated above normal.
More Research Needed to Nail Down Benefits of Cocoa
Most of the previous studies analyzed were short-term research projects using mostly sugar-free, dark chocolate.
Ding and his colleagues say in the new study that because most chocolate is high in added sugar and fat, more research is needed to determine the risk-benefit effect on the heart health of eating commercially available chocolate.
Though past studies by Ding and others have found that cocoa may reduce heart attack risk, the dosage necessary to produce this effect is not known, and further research is needed to shed more light on that question, as well as on cocoa’s direct benefits on preventing strokes and heart attacks, according to a news release.
The new research is being presented in Atlanta at the American Heart Association’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism/Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention 2011 Scientific Sessions.

* Cacao powder is much better for you, the main differences being that "cacao powder" specifically refers to raw, unsweetened powder. "Cocoa powder," on the other hand, may still have a very small amount of cocoa butter present to enhance the flavor subtly.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Meatless Monday Tacos

Usually we have Taco Tuesday but I decided this week that we will combine our Meatless Monday with our Tuesday Taco night.  I will have to figure out what to have tomorrow but later. . .

This just looked delicious on the KLG and Hoda show today.  Bob from The Biggest Loser was on there with some other wonderful whip-up recipes but this was definitely a favorite.

I looked on the website but found nothing about it so I came up with my own just by looking at the pic on the tv.

Meatless Monday Tacos

4 whole wheat tortillas
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 heirloom tomatoes, diced
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 walla walla onion, minced
10 sprigs cilantro, destemmed & chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn, microwaved for 3 minutes
1 avocado, skinned & cubed
tofu sour cream
salsa

Combine all except the sour cream, salsa, and tortillas.  Place filling into tortillas and top with salsa and sour cream.

Yum!!!!

The Carnivore's Dilemma

I found this wonderful article which again lumps together the benefits of eating vegan.

http://thegreenists.com/food/the-carnivores-dilemma/4028

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Vegan Backpacking Recipes

Spiced Zucchini and Potato Dinner


1 new potato, cubed

1 tsp garam masala

½ clove garlic

1/8 tsp turmeric

1 zucchini, cubed

¼ cup red pepper, diced

½ cup wild rice, cooked for 10 minutes

Olive oil



Combine all ingredients except wild rice in sauce pan and cook until potato cubes are tender. Cool. Pack in lightweight container with wild rice. To prepare on mountain just add ½ cup hot water and let sit for 10 minutes.



Saffron Rice with Almonds and Cashews

½ cup wild rice, cooked for 10 minutes

1 T vegetable oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 med onion, finely sliced

1 small stick cinnamon

1 cardamom pod

2 saffron strands

1/2 cup green peas

1 T almond slices

Salt to taste

8 to 10 cashews



Heat cumin seeds and onion in oil in saucepan. Saute 5 to 6 minutes. Put in cinnamon and cardamom. Add saffron, green peas, and half of the almond slices. Stir. Put in rice and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Cool. Pack in light weight container. To prepare on hike just add ¼ to ½ cup hot water and let sit for 10 minutes