Bryanna Clark Grogan’s Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 21st Century Table: The kitchen journal of a vegan food writer.. I'm on Facebook and Twitter (see links in sidebar at right).
Thursday, April 24, 2014
OUR ENERGY-SAVING EXPERIENCES; + ONE-POT CHEESEY FARFALLE (BOWTIE PASTA) WITH ASPARAGUS & SOY CURLS
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| One-pot Cheesy Farfalle (Bowtie Pasta) with Asparagus, Zucchini & Soy Curls, recipe below |
I must apologize for not posting much lately. I seem to be suffering from bouts of IFS. I was just thinking of it as "Internet fatigue", but, apparently, it has a name already-- Information Fatigue Syndrome. So, I've been curtailing some of my Internet activities and reading actual books.
But I have not been totally inactive. Actually, my husband and I have been (and still are) on a mission-- to use less energy in our home. And, in two weeks, we have lowered our energy consumption by 40%! (This is according to our BC Hydro website, our provincial electrical company, where we can see our monthly, weekly and daily electrical consumption.)
So far we have lowered our energy consumption by:
**Turning the water heater down to 120 degrees F
**Using only cold-water wash and rinse in our front-loader washing machine
**Hanging laundry to dry (outside, or inside on racks + one line) and only using the dryer on medium heat for short time to fluff up towels or get out the wrinkles
**Turning off the power bars for electronics at night and unplugging the laptops
**Putting the laptops in sleep mode between uses during the day
**Being very careful about not turning on so many lights in the house
**Taking short showers and not necessarily every day (bring back the old-fashioned "sponge bath" on some days)
**Turning the water heater down to 120 degrees F
**Using only cold-water wash and rinse in our front-loader washing machine
**Hanging laundry to dry (outside, or inside on racks + one line) and only using the dryer on medium heat for short time to fluff up towels or get out the wrinkles
**Turning off the power bars for electronics at night and unplugging the laptops
**Putting the laptops in sleep mode between uses during the day
**Being very careful about not turning on so many lights in the house
**Taking short showers and not necessarily every day (bring back the old-fashioned "sponge bath" on some days)
Note: we don't heat with gas or electricity-- only wood-- and our house is very tight, so we are lucky that heat is not wasted.
But we also discovered that many savings can be made in the kitchen. For instance:
**Not OVER-preheating the oven before use
**Using the "Eco-Wash" cycle on the dishwasher and turning off the heat-dry option
**Not running hot water without really thinking about it-- You can rinse dishes for the dishwasher in cold water, and wash out the sink and wash your hands with cold water and soap. When I do use hot tap water now, I'm very concious of it and don't waste it down the drain. I use the electric kettle to boil water for cooking.
**Not running hot water without really thinking about it-- You can rinse dishes for the dishwasher in cold water, and wash out the sink and wash your hands with cold water and soap. When I do use hot tap water now, I'm very concious of it and don't waste it down the drain. I use the electric kettle to boil water for cooking.
** Cooking several things in the stove oven at once, if we must use it; otherwise using the little counter-top oven.
**Using the microwave for making sauces, puddings, etc., and sweating vegetables for soup and other dishes; for steaming veggies in their own juices, with no added water; making risotto, and many other tasks.
**We found out that our electric stove burners use alot of energy. So, I'm now utilizing my small appliances more frequently (pressure cooker--mine is electric-- and slow-cooker; electric frying pan; electric kettle; microwave [which can save up to 80% of the energy used to heat in a stove]; and our small counter-top oven.)
When I do use the stove burners I turn the heat down as low as I possibly can while still completing my task properly, and I turn the burner off slightly before the dish is finished, utilizing the residual heat.
When I do use the stove burners I turn the heat down as low as I possibly can while still completing my task properly, and I turn the burner off slightly before the dish is finished, utilizing the residual heat.
**What more can we do in the kitchen? We plan to replace our ancient chest freezer as soon as we can afford to, and I'm
looking into getting an induction burner plate for stir-frying, etc.
I've also been experimenting with some different cooking methods, especially to avoid boiling pots of water. For instance, when we felt like having mashed carrots and potatoes (a favorite of DH) I cut the potatoes in chunks and the carrots in smaller pieces and pressure-cooked them together, using only 1/2 cup water, in 8 minutes. Perfect!
These days, our preferred method of cooking pasta is this: Bring a pot of water to a boil-- but not as much water as you might be used to. I use about 2 qts. for up to a pound of pasta, and I bring the water to a boil in an electric kettle, then pour it into the pot before turning on the heat. When it comes back to a boil, add your pasta, bring back to a boil, stirring a bit, turn the heat off, cover and let stand for 8-10 minutes or so. (Spaghettini will take 8 minutes, other pasta, such as rotini or other shapes will take 10.) Drain and serve as usual. Trust me-- this works beautifully! The pasta is tender but al dente and there is no stickiness.
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| Gemelli pasta cooked by the no-boil method in the paragraph above. |
Another energy-saving pasta-cooking method (can you tell that we like pasta?) is the self-saucing one-pot method. I first heard about this about a year ago and I was intrigued by Martha Stewart's recipe for a recipe from the province of Puglia inItaly, in which all of the ingredients, including the dry pasta, are cooked in a pot together with water for about 9-10 minutes (I used vegetarian broth in mine, of course) until the pasta is al dente and a creamy sauce results.I used tagliatelle nests instead of linguine. The dish was quite tasty-- we sprinkled it with Go Veggie! soy parmesan (which used to be Galaxy Vegan).
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| My version of Martha Stewart's One-Pan Pasta, before cooking. |
Anyway, I should get to bed-- work tomorrow! But I'd be interested to hear your energy-saving kitchen ideas and explorations.
BRYANNA'S ONE-POT CHEESY FARFALLE (BOWTIE
PASTA) WITH ASPARAGUS, ZUCCHINI & SOY CURLS
Serves 4
A quick,
self-saucing one-dish meal, and only one pot to clean!
1 tablespoon
olive oil
4 cloves
garlic, chopped
3 cups
"chicken-y" vegan broth (I like Better Than Bouillon Vegan “No-Chicken” base)
1/2 lb. (8
oz) farfalle (bowtie pasta)
2 cups reconstituted Butler Soy Curls (see this post for info) or other sliced vegan chicken sub
1 tsp dried basil (or some chopped fresh, if you have it)
2 cups reconstituted Butler Soy Curls (see this post for info) or other sliced vegan chicken sub
1 tsp dried basil (or some chopped fresh, if you have it)
8 stalks
asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-2” pieces
2 small zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick "coins"
12
red grape tomatoes, halved
3
green onions, thinly-sliced
1/2 cup
vegan mozza cheese shreds (I used Daiya)
1/4 cup
vegan parmesan sub (I used Go Veggie! soy parmesan)
freshly-ground black pepper
In a large
heavy pot or skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté briefly—do not brown
the garlic. Add the broth, pasta, Soy
Curls and basil. Increase heat and bring to a boil, then immediately reduce
heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 8 minutes. Add the asparagus and zucchini, cover
again and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, green onions and the vegan
cheeses. Toss gently, grind pepper over
the dish and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per
serving): 405.1 calories; 21% calories from fat; 9.8g total fat; 0.0mg
cholesterol; 1696.0mg sodium; 427.0mg potassium; 60.8g carbohydrates; 5.6g
fiber; 4.5g sugar; 55.2g net carbs; 19.3g protein.
Enjoy!
Labels:
asparagus,
bowtie pasta,
one-pot pasta,
pasta,
saving energy,
vegan cheese,
zucchini
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
FARINATA (ITALIAN CHICKPEA FLOUR "PANCAKE") WITH VEGETABLE TOPPING FOR DINNER
NOTE: Apologies for my lack of posting and this short post! I'm trying to get ready for Easter company and I have a knee that's acting up, so I'm not getting as much done as I would like. I'll post a proper post very soon!
HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER/PESACH!
Above is a photo of our dinner the other night-- Farinata (Italian chickpea flour "pancake") with a topping of lightly sautéed veggies and a bit of vegan cheese, accompanied by roasted cauliflower. This is one of my favorite dishes. The recipe for the basic Farinata (and some history, too) is at this post on my blog (and it's in my book "Nonna's Italian Kitchen"). It is far more delicious than the simple ingredients might suggest. The modern way to eat this very old peasant dish is to use toppings on the already-baked farinata, a bit like pizza (it doesn't taste like pizza, though). Personally, I like vegetable toppings, cooked ones in colder weather, raw or cooked ones at room temperature in warmer weather. You can let your imagination run wild, but I think less is more in terms of number of ingredients.
The topping in the photo (added AFTER the 10 minute baking and then pop it under the broiler or into a very hot oven to melt the cheese) was a combination of thinly-sliced onion, chopped brocolette, thinly sliced baby zucchini, and some organic oven-dried Roma tomatoes from a jar (they are from Costco, Kirkland brand, and contain herbs and oil-- I rinse much of the oil off them in a strainer before using), along with some basil and about 4 cloves of garlic, slivered. I added a bit of vegan parmesan and sprinkled a handful of Daiya mozza shreds on top (but you could use whatever type you prefer).
Honestly, it's such an easy, inexpensive meal and so very nutritious and delicious! DH is crazy about this!
PS: I usually make this in a 14" round pizza pan, but I this time made it in my little Cuisinart countertop oven (energy-saving!), so I used the 12" square pan that comes with the oven, lined with parchment.
Do give this a try!
Enjoy!
Monday, April 7, 2014
MOIST AND DELICIOUS WHOLEGRAIN PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA BRAN MUFFINS
This recipe is an old one in our house-- I developed it for my book "The Fiber for Life Cookbook", published back in 2002. Nothing fancy, but nutritious and delicious. My granddaughter has been enjoying them today, too. No need for butter on these-- just a little of your favorite jam!
Printable Copy
BRYANNA’S
PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA BRAN MUFFINS (can be soy-free)
Makes
12
All you need is a little jam or jelly on
these delicious and healful muffins.
ALLERGY NOTE: If you are allergic to peanuts, use any other
favorite nut butter instead. And I’m sure they would work well with a whole
grain GF flour mix, too.
DRY
MIX:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cups wheat bran
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
WET
MIX:
2 tablespoons flax seeds blended with 1/2
cup water until “gloppy”
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chunky natural peanut butter
(nothing added)
1/2 cup non-dairy milk
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Oil 12 muffin cups.
In a medium bowl, mix together the Dry Mix
ingredients.
After blending the water and flax seeds together until “gloppy” in your blender, add the remaining Wet Mix ingredients and blend again briefly.
After blending the water and flax seeds together until “gloppy” in your blender, add the remaining Wet Mix ingredients and blend again briefly.
Pour the Wet Mix into the Dry Mix and stir
briefly, just to mix. Spoon the batter
equally between the muffin cups. Bake for
about 20 minutes, or until they test done.
Loosen the muffins carefully with a table
knife and turn them on their sides.
Place the muffin tin on a rack, cover the muffins with a clean tea towel
and cool for a few minutes before serving.
Cool thoroughly before storing in a plastic bag or rigid plastic
container. These muffins freeze well.
Nutrition
per muffin: 192 calories; 6 g fat; 4.6 g fiber; 29
g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 179 mg sodium.
Enjoy!
Monday, March 31, 2014
MY VEGAN VERSION OF HUMMUS BIL “LAHME” (Hummus with Spicy “Meat” & Nut Mixture)
This is a dish that I brought to a casual dinner the other night. It's a hearty variation on plain ol' hummus, of Jordanian and Palestinian origin-- one that I've been planning to "veganize" for a while now. I've been researching this dish for some time. I have a sneaking suspicion that everyone's mother in that part of the globe has a different recipe for it! Some versions use ground meat (from lots to just a little), and some use cubes. Some decorate the dish with whole chickpeas and some don't. Yogurt or labeneh (yogurt cheese) may oor may not be dolloped on top. Some versions are hot-spicy and some not. (The other spices vary as well.) Some versions are served with crispy pita on the side, and others call for pieces of the pita to be the first layer of the dish, covered just before serving by the hummus and other ingredients. I even read one recipe that called for soaked pita bread pieces to be stirred into the hummus.
So, you see, you have a great deal of latitude with this delicious dish! Here's my version, and, I must say, it was good!
Printable Copy
BRYANNA’S VERSION OF
VEGAN HUMMUS BIL “LAHME” (Hummus with Spicy “Meat” and Nut Mixture)
Serves 8 to 10 as an appetizer (serve at room temperature, if possible)
Serves 8 to 10 as an appetizer (serve at room temperature, if possible)
Hummus (a recipe using 3 cups of chickpeas—I used 1 1/2 times our
favourite version, see recipe here)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon vegan butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed
12 ounces vegan hamburger crumbles (Tofurky now has an organic product)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (or pine nuts)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon (or more to taste) of red chile flakes
salt and freshly-ground pepper
Garnish:
about 3/4 cup cooked or canned chickpeas (rinsed and well-drained)
chopped fresh parsley, chives or green onions (green ends only)
Optional:
smoked paprika (hot or sweet)
about 1 cup tangy vegan yogurtOR Vegan Labaneh (Vegan “Yogurt Cheese”) OR Cashew “Sour Cream” or “Yogurt”
Serve with: pita bread (we like whole wheat)— preferably crisped in the oven a bit.
Spread the freshly-made hummus on a serving platter and set aside.
Heat the oil and butter in a 10 to 12-nch non-stick, cast iron or hard-anodized skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium-high heat until it softens. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute. Add the hamburger crumbles, almonds and spices. Sauté for several minutes. Taste for salt and pepper.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon vegan butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed
12 ounces vegan hamburger crumbles (Tofurky now has an organic product)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (or pine nuts)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon (or more to taste) of red chile flakes
salt and freshly-ground pepper
Garnish:
about 3/4 cup cooked or canned chickpeas (rinsed and well-drained)
chopped fresh parsley, chives or green onions (green ends only)
Optional:
smoked paprika (hot or sweet)
about 1 cup tangy vegan yogurtOR Vegan Labaneh (Vegan “Yogurt Cheese”) OR Cashew “Sour Cream” or “Yogurt”
Serve with: pita bread (we like whole wheat)— preferably crisped in the oven a bit.
Spread the freshly-made hummus on a serving platter and set aside.
Heat the oil and butter in a 10 to 12-nch non-stick, cast iron or hard-anodized skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium-high heat until it softens. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute. Add the hamburger crumbles, almonds and spices. Sauté for several minutes. Taste for salt and pepper.
Distribute the burger mixture over the hummus, but
leaving an edge of hummus all around the platter. If you choose to use the yogurt, drop
spoonfuls of it over the burger mixture.
Sprinkle the cooked chickpeas over the plate. Garnish with the chopped fresh parsley,
chives or green onions, and the optional smoked paprika, if you’re using it.
Serve with the crisped pita bread as an appetizer or part of
a buffet.
Nutrition (per serving): 294.5 calories; 34% calories from fat; 11.8g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 526.9mg sodium; 360.1mg potassium; 31.8g carbohydrates; 9.8g fiber; 2.8g sugar; 22.0g net carbs; 18.9g protein.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
SIMPLE SOUP AND A SALAD-- HEALTHFUL AND DELICIOUS
Since I've been limping around with what appears to be "water-on-the-knee" I haven't exactly been cooking up a storm. It's getting better, but I'm nervous about "2 steps forward, 1 step back", so I'm being careful.
I made two simple dishes on Monday, to have on hand for lunches and snacks. The soup is an old favorite, which I'm going to reproduce below, but the salad was a new one. I had purchased some frozen green garbanzo beans from Costco-- something new to me-- and decided to devise a nice hearty grain and veggie salad utilizing them. ( I had previously used them in place of frozen lima beans in my lowfat guacamole recipes and they worked well in that.) The salad was delicious and I'll definitely be making it again.
Whole Foods carries this brand:
*****
BRYANNA' S
FARRO AND GREEN GARBANZO (OR EDAMAME) SALAD WITH SPICY VINAIGRETTE
Servings: 8
This easy and tasty salad makes a full meal for a light lunch or supper.
Salad Ingredients:
1 cup farro (or use spelt or wheat kernels, which need to be soaked overnight and cooked for about an hour)-- read about farro here
2 cups frozen green garbanzo beans (OR shelled edamame/green soybeans) (see above)
2 cups fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels
2 cups halved red grape tomatoes or diced fresh red tomatoes
1 cup chopped red onions
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup dry-roasted (unsalted) peanuts (you could substitute roasted pumpkin seeds)
Spicy Vinaigrette:
2/3 cup aquafaba or Oil Substitute for Salad Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh (or bottled organic) lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon (or more to taste) Sriracha hot sauce
Garnish:
crisp lettuce leaves, olives and chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Servings: 8
This easy and tasty salad makes a full meal for a light lunch or supper.
Salad Ingredients:
1 cup farro (or use spelt or wheat kernels, which need to be soaked overnight and cooked for about an hour)-- read about farro here
2 cups frozen green garbanzo beans (OR shelled edamame/green soybeans) (see above)
2 cups fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels
2 cups halved red grape tomatoes or diced fresh red tomatoes
1 cup chopped red onions
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup dry-roasted (unsalted) peanuts (you could substitute roasted pumpkin seeds)
Spicy Vinaigrette:
2/3 cup aquafaba or Oil Substitute for Salad Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh (or bottled organic) lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon (or more to taste) Sriracha hot sauce
Garnish:
crisp lettuce leaves, olives and chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
To cook the farro, place in a medium pot with 3 cups of
water and a few pinches of salt. Bring to a boil and quickly turn down to low
heat. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until done to your taste, but not
mushy. Immediately drain thoroughly and then spread on a baking sheet and place
in the freezer or refrigerator to cool it off while you prepare the other
ingredients.
Make the Spicy Vinaigrette by combining all the
ingredients well and setting aside.
Combine all of the salad ingredients, including the
cooked, drained and cooled-down farro. Shake or whisk the dressing again and pour over
the salad. Mix well and chill until ready to serve. (This can be served at room
temperature or cold.)
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 292.3 calories; 47% calories from fat; 19.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 169.7mg sodium; 348.8mg potassium; 40.1g carbohydrates; 7.7g fiber; 4.0g sugar; 32.4g net carbs; 8.6g protein.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 292.3 calories; 47% calories from fat; 19.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 169.7mg sodium; 348.8mg potassium; 40.1g carbohydrates; 7.7g fiber; 4.0g sugar; 32.4g net carbs; 8.6g protein.
Printable Copy
BRYANNA'S
VERSION OF LEBANESE LENTIL-NOODLE SOUP WITH GREENS
Servings: 6
Servings: 6
1 cup dried brown/green lentils
8 cups tasty vegan broth (I like Better Than Bouillon No-Chicken Vegan Broth Base)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground dried coriander
2 cups broken egg-free flat noodles, such as tagliatelle, fettuccine or linguine
4 cups chopped greens, such as spinach, chard or kale (I was out of these this time and used chopped broccolette instead)
salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
lemon wedges to squeeze into the soup
8 cups tasty vegan broth (I like Better Than Bouillon No-Chicken Vegan Broth Base)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground dried coriander
2 cups broken egg-free flat noodles, such as tagliatelle, fettuccine or linguine
4 cups chopped greens, such as spinach, chard or kale (I was out of these this time and used chopped broccolette instead)
salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
lemon wedges to squeeze into the soup
Bring the lentils and broth to a
boil together in a large pot, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook for 30
minutes.
In the meantime, sauté the onions in
the olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium- high heat until they soften,
adding squirts of water as needed to keep from sticking. (Alternatively, you can cook the onions in the olive oil in a
microwave-safe bowl or casserole, covered for about 5 minutes on 100% power.)
Add the garlic and sauté a minute more (or microwave for 30 seconds). Add to
the pot (you don't have to wait until the
30 minutes are over) with the basil and coriander.
After the 30 minutes are up, add the
noodles and simmer for another 10 minutes or so, or until the noodles are
cooked. Add the greens and cook briefly, just until they are cooked to your
taste. Taste for salt and pepper.
Serve with lemon wedges and squeeze
a little lemon juice into each serving before eating.
Nutrition
Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 248.9 calories; 10% calories from fat; 3.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 977.3mg sodium; 462.8mg potassium; 44.3g carbohydrates; 11.1g fiber; 4.2g sugar; 33.2g net carbs; 14.7g protein.
Nutrition (per serving): 248.9 calories; 10% calories from fat; 3.1g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 977.3mg sodium; 462.8mg potassium; 44.3g carbohydrates; 11.1g fiber; 4.2g sugar; 33.2g net carbs; 14.7g protein.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
A HEARTY FULL-MEAL-DEAL: SWEET POTATO AND BLACKEYED PEA SALAD
I like combining traditional ingredients (Southern USA, in this case) in untraditional ways. This combo makes a delicious, fiber-and-nutrient-rich, colorful salad, which can serve as a hearty side dish or a meal in itself. It's a wonderful hot-weather dish, of course, but it's also hearty enough for a winter salad and utilizes staples you might have in your kitchen during cold-weather months. The zingy dressing is practically fat-free, too.
Printable Copy
BRYANNA'S SWEET
POTATO AND BLACKEYED PEA SALAD
Serves 6
Serves 6
Salad:
3 cups cooked or canned blackeyed peas, drained
1 lb. orange sweet potato, cooked until firm-tender, peeled, and cubed
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
6 large red radishes, cleaned and sliced
1 cup diced celery
3 green onions, chopped
Dressing:
1/2 cup aquafaba or Oil Substitute for Salad Dressing
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise (homemade or commercial)
1 tablespoon coarse-grained mustard
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups cooked or canned blackeyed peas, drained
1 lb. orange sweet potato, cooked until firm-tender, peeled, and cubed
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
6 large red radishes, cleaned and sliced
1 cup diced celery
3 green onions, chopped
Dressing:
1/2 cup aquafaba or Oil Substitute for Salad Dressing
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise (homemade or commercial)
1 tablespoon coarse-grained mustard
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
Whisk, blend or shake all of the Dressing ingredients
together. Mix the salad ingredients in a
large bowl. Add the dressing (you may
not need it all, but add more than you think you need because it soaks up some
of the dressing) and stir well. Refrigerate for several hours and serve with
crisp mixed greens.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 304.0 calories; 22% calories from fat; 7.7g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 327.1mg sodium; 715.0mg potassium; 51.6g carbohydrates; 10.6g fiber; 10.6g sugar; 9.6g protein, 5.9 points.
Nutrition (per serving): 304.0 calories; 22% calories from fat; 7.7g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 327.1mg sodium; 715.0mg potassium; 51.6g carbohydrates; 10.6g fiber; 10.6g sugar; 9.6g protein, 5.9 points.
Enjoy!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
PASTA AND RAPINI WITH SALSA DI NOCI (CREAMY ITALIAN WALNUT SAUCE)
| Farfalle (bowtie) pasta and rapini with Italian Walnut Sauce |
I love the description in Laura Schenone's wonderful book about Ligurian food, "The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family". (It's not just a cookbook-- it's a wonderful read!) The author writes:
"The story begins at Genoa's port, with its ancient layers, its grittiness, its eye towards the Mediterranean Sea. here we cross paths with Greek, ancient Roman and Arab worlds during much earlier eras of globalization. Olives, wine, and wheat traveled along these water routes. Migrations began and ended...But the story also begins in the mountains, with ancient Ligurian people who were here thousands of years agom allied not with the water but with wood and stone. It's a story of steepness and difficulty, of chestnuts and mushrooms and gathered greens..."
This recipe, though lightened up (no olive oil or pine nuts) and made vegan, I think retains the character of the original. It is delicious served over ravioli stuffed with greens, or a simple dish of cooked linguine or tagliatelle. This time I used farfalle (bowtie pasta) and added chopped cooked rapini (broccoli rabe), which adds a nice slightly bitter note to contrast with the creamy nut sauce, and reminds me of my fore-mothers gathering wild greens in the hills beyond Genoa. I hope you enjoy it!
Printable Copy
BRYANNA'S VEGAN SALSA DI NOCI (CREAMY ITALIAN WALNUT SAUCE)
(GF and can be soy-free)
Servings: 4
Yield: 2 cups sauce
This is enough sauce for about 12 oz. pasta, plus 1 1/2 to 2 cups of cooked, well-drained vegetables. It's a modern, lighter version of a very ancient Ligurian sauce to serve on pasta or stuffed pasta (pansotti, or "potbellied" ravioli). Very simple to make! This is a slightly updated version of the recipe in my vegan Italian cookbook "Nonna's Italian Kitchen".
NOTE: Traditionally, no pepper is used in this sauce.
3/4 cups chopped walnuts
2 cups plant-based milk
1 tsp vegan chicken-style broth powder or paste
1 small clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp freshly-ground nutmeg
2 Tbs vegan Parmesan substitute (Earth Island/Follow Your Heart Vegan Parmesan-Style Cheese Alternative, Go Veggie! Vegan Soy Free Parmesan Grated Topping, walnut-based Parma!, or homemade alternative of choice
salt to taste (about 1/2 tsp.)
OPTIONAL: 1 or 2 tsp. chopped fresh basil or marjoram
TO SERVE: More of the same vegan Parmesan sub of your preference to sprinkle on top of the pastaHeat an 8" cast iron skillet, or other heavy skillet, over high heat. Add the walnuts and reduce the heat to medium. Toast the walnuts, stirring frequently and watching them constantly, until they turn color a shade and smell toasty. Remove them from the pan.
Combine the milk, broth powder or paste, garlic, and walnuts in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a heavy 1 qt. or 1.5 qt saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and keep at a low boil until it has reduced somewhat and thickened to a sauce consistency. Remove from the heat and add the nutmeg, optional herbs, if using and the Parmesan alternative.
Taste for salt (pepper is not traditional in this sauce). Heat gently before serving with cooked, drained pasta (see text above), alone or with cooked vegetables, such as chopped cooked rapini (broccoli rabe).
Nutrition Facts (for the sauce only)
Nutrition (per serving): 212.6 calories; 65% calories from fat; 16.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 240.6mg sodium; 224.8mg potassium; 9.0g carbohydrates; 2.5g fiber; 2.8g sugar; 6.5g net carbs; 8.2g protein.
Enjoy!
Labels:
bowtie pasta,
creamy pasta sauce,
Italian,
Italian Walnut Sauce,
pasta,
Salsa di Noci,
sauce,
walnuts
Monday, February 17, 2014
MAPLE WALNUT MUFFINS (WITH LOW-GLYCEMIC OPTIONS)
Saturday we were expecting a big storm (which never really developed) and we had prepared accordingly. DH suggested that I bake something before we lost power (which we never did, this time). I decided on muffins, since I haven't made them in a long time. I had a bit of a craving for a maple/walnut treat, so here's what I came up with-- a light, moist whole grain muffin with just a little oil added to the batter. A great treat with tea or coffee.
UPDATE: For people dealing with high blood sugar, pre-diabetes, weight issues, or diabetes, I have added some notes to the recipe about replacing all or some of the sugar and maple syrup in the recipe with sweeteners (not artificial) that have are lower on the Glycemic index or have a lower Glycemic Load. (See http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm for a list of 750 foods.)
See also https://www.healthcentral.com/article/adding-substance-to-the-glycemic-index
Printable Copy
BRYANNA'S VEGAN MAPLE WALNUT MUFFINS
Yield: 12 , or 8 larger muffins
Nutrition facts calculated using the unbleached sugar and nuts.
For a lower glycemic recipe, use 1 cup oat flour and 1/2 cup chickpea or white bean flour instead of the wholewheat pastry flour.
Mix A:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat PASTRY flour (be sure to use pastry flour for a light muffin)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Addition:
3/4 cup chopped walnuts-- pecans would be good, too
Mix B:
7 Tbs UN-sweetened smooth applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup (the darker type-- Grade B)
1/4 cup unbleached organic granulated sugar OR your favorite granular sugar alcohol-based sweetener
OR use 4-6 T. Date Puree instead of sugar-- see NOTE below for Date Puree recipe-- and use only 5 Tbs. applesauce.
1/3 cup soy milk or nut milk or your favorite vegan creamer (one that is not sweet-- here's an easy, inexpensive nut-free homemade creamer recipe)
1/2 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbs oil
Additional, but optional:
a few tablespoons more maple syrup for brushing
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with oil from a pump sprayer, or grease with Cake Release (here's my homemade version).
In a medium bowl, mix together the Mix A ingredients. Stir in the walnuts. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the Mix B ingredients. Pour Mix B into Mix A and stir briefly. Divide the batter between the 12 prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 minutes. Test one of the muffins with a toothpick to make sure they are cooked through.
Brush the muffin tops lightly with the extra maple syrup. Loosen the muffins with a table knofe and turn them on their sides to cool until they can be handled.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per muffin): 170 calories, 62 calories from fat, 7.3g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 68mg sodium, 184.1mg potassium, 24.6g carbohydrates, 2.4g fiber, 10.8g sugar, 3.2g protein, 4.9 points.
NOTE: About using Date Puree instead of sugar (this is much cheaper than using date sugar)--
The Date Puree can replace sugar using a 1:1 ratio, or it can be used in combination with a reduced amount of sugar in a recipe.
To make date puree, see this easy recipe:http://nutritionstudies.org/recipes/sauce/two-minute-date-puree/
Are dates really better than sugar for diabetics or those with blood sugar issues?
"Dates are actually on the lower end of the GI. There are a variety of dates available and most of them have a GI of less than 55 (some with a significantly lower GI)." From: https://diabetickitchen.com/the-best-sugar-substitutes-for-people-with-diabetes/
(GI stands for Glycemic Index)
See this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3112406/
Another Note: Just because dates have a lower glycemic load doesn't mean that you should eat them or use them in baking and cooking with abandon!
Enjoy!
Labels:
maple syrup,
maple walnut muffins,
muffins,
walnuts
Monday, February 10, 2014
CRISPY MARINATED TOFU WITH APPLES & ONION IN CREAMY WHITE WINE SAUCE
Yesterday I was trying to use up some local apples that we've had stored. With some of them, I made this easy apple cake (minus the chocolate drizzle) for tea with a friend yesterday, but I really want to use up these lovely cooking apples before they go bad. So, I devised this quick and easy tofu saute to serve with a salad and some roasted nugget potatoes. Thumbs up on this one!
NOTE: If you don't want to use the tofu, you can substitute about 2 cups of reconstituted Soy Curls (see about this product here) or thin seitan cutlets, or your favorite commercial vegan "chikn" slices or cutlets. Dredge whatever you are using in Seasoned Flour (see below) and brown as for the "B of T" (see below).
Printable Recipe
BRYANNA'S CRISPY MARINATED TOFU WITH APPLES & ONION IN CREAMY WHITE WINE SAUCE
Servings: 2
NOTE: If you are using B of T/Breast of Tofu, you need to marinate the tofu slices at least 8 hours before cooking.
8 slices Breast of Tofu, Crispy Slices or Crispy Oven-Baked (see below)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium apple, thinly sliced (only peel if the skin is tough or doesn't look good)
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pinch dried crumbled sage (don't use powdered)
1 pinch dried thyme leaves (don't use powdered)
1/2 cup dry white wine (can be non-alcoholic)
1/2 cup vegan "chikn-y" broth (I like Better than Bouillon No-Chicken Vegan broth paste)
1/4 cup plain vegan creamer (I used So Delicious coconut milk creamer) mixed with
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
Heat the olive oil in a seasoned cast iron or carbon steel 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced apple, onion and garlic. Saute until the onions soften. Add the sage and thyme, the wine and broth. Bring to a boil, then slip in the crispy tofu. Raise the heat to high a reduce the liquid in the pan by about half. Pour in the creamer/mustard mixture and heat through.
Serve immediately with roasted nugget potatoes or mashed potatoes, polenta or steamed rice, quinoa or bulgur wheat.
Nutrition Facts (when made with Crispy B of T Slices)
Nutrition (per serving): 352.0 calories; 46% calories from fat; 19.2g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 539.2mg sodium; 415.8mg potassium; 25.2g carbohydrates; 4.5g fiber; 11.4g sugar; 20.8g net carbs; 12.9g protein.
Printable Recipe
BRYANNA'S BREAST OF TOFU (Known in our house as "B of T")
Servings: 8
Yield: 32/ 3-inch x 2-inch slices
This recipe has appeared in all of my books. It's a staple in our house-- I always have some extra-firm tofu slices marinating in the following mixture. They will keep refrigerated in the marinade for up to two weeks, ready for a quick and delicious meal. They can be pan-fried plain on a nonstick skillet, or coated with Seasoned Flour and shallow-fried to make a crispy "skin" that is delectable hot or cold. Serve them plain, in salads and sandwiches, or with any sauce that you would have used on chicken. Instead of slices, you can marinate chunks, for using in kebabs,etc.
1 1/2 lbs. firm, extra-firm or pressed tofu (NOT silken tofu!)
MARINADE:
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari
3 Tbs nutritional yeast flakes
2 tsp dried crumbled sage (not powdered)
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves (not powdered)
1/2 tsp onion powder
Seasoned Flour for dredging (see below)
OPTIONAL: olive oil
Prepare the marinade by mixing all of the ingredients together in a 5-cup rigid plastic container with a tight lid. Slice the tofu about 1/4" thick and place in the marinade so that it is fairly tightly-packed and covered with liquid. Cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks, shaking daily.
To pan-fry plain, low-fat:
Simply cook the tofu slices over medium heat in a seasoned cast iron or carbon steel skillet until golden brown on both sides.
To Crispy Oven-Fry: (This is the method in my "Almost No-Fat Cookbook"):
Coat the tofu slices in Seasoned Flour (below). Lay the slices in single layers on oiled DARK baking sheets (they brown better on dark baking sheets), not touching. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or til the bottoms are golden. Turn the slices over and bake about 15 minutes more, or until the other side is golden. Cool on racks if not eating immediately.
To make Crispy Slices, (my favorite way):
Coat the slices with Seasoned Flour (below). Heat about 1 T. of olive oil or neutral cooking oil in a seasoned cast iron or carbon steel skillet over medium heat (no hotter). When the oil is good and hot, add the slices and cook (watching carefully) until golden brown and crispy on the bottom. Turn the slices over and cook the other side until golden and crispy. The medium heat works really well when frying things crispy in less oil than usual.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per 4 Crispy Slices): 159.4 calories; 64% calories from fat; 12.0g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 291.5mg sodium; 204.9mg potassium; 5.2g carbohydrates; 1.6g fiber; 0.6g sugar; 3.6g net carbs; 10.8g protein.
BRYANNA’S SEASONED FLOUR
Keep some of this in a tightly-covered container-- you'll find many uses for it.
Mix together:
2 c. wholewheat, or other wholegrain, flour,
1/4 c. nutritional yeast flakes,
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion or garlic powder (or a combination), optional
freshly-ground black pepper to taste.
Optional: some Cajun Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
TAGLIATELLE WITH RAPINI, ONION, CHICKPEAS & CREAMY WHITE BEAN FLOUR-BASED VEGAN BECHAMEL
I have been miserably unproductive lately-- January blahs, I guess. But one thing I've been working on intermittently is cooking with bean flours. A few months ago I got a new WonderMill Electric Grain & Bean Mill, so I can now mill fresh bean flour in my new machine. It has a new Bean Adapter and also a Small Grain Adapter-- see photo below. (PS: The Bean Adapter is very new, so enquire about it via the WonderMill website. Here's what this mill will grind.) You can also line the canister that the flour goes into directly from this grinder with a bag, which makes it so easy to clean up. And you just twist-tie the bag and place it in the freezer (I keep bean flour in the freezer so it doesn't go rancid).
I've really been enjoying cooking with fresh chickpea flour and fresh white bean flour, as well as my own whole wheat flour. Here are some posts I've done so far on: wheat flour one, two, three, four ; chickpea flour one, two ; and white bean flour one. That was a white bean flour-based vegan Southern-style white biscuit gravy and it was delicious.
| Freshly-milled white bean flour-- you can use navy beans or Great Northern beans. This batch was made with navy beans. |
Today I was trying to figure out what to make for a quick lunch. I had rapini that needed using-up (rapini doesn't keep very long), so I decided a simple creamy pasta dish with rapini, onions and a few chickpeas would be a a good idea. I've been wanting to make a fat-free vegan white bean flour-basted bechamel sauce for a while, so this seemed like a good time to try it.
It turned out to be so easy and so good-- I don't know why I haven't tried it before this! This will be my go-to Bechamel from now on!
Printable Recipe
BRYANNA'S TAGLIATELLE WITH RAPINI, ONION, CHICKPEAS & CREAMY WHITE BEAN FLOUR-BASED VEGAN BÉCHAMEL
Can be gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free and/or fat-free if you wish.
4 servings
This is a simple whole-meal recipe, but it's very satisfying and nutritious with a little kick, if you use the chile flakes). Serve with some vegan parmesan sub to sprinkle on top (we like Go Veggie! soy parmesan).
Note: You can use more or less bean flour for other versions of this basic sauce, depending on the thickness you are going for.
Fat-Free, Creamy Vegan White Bean Flour-Based Béchamel:
2 cups non-dairy milk of choice (use Original type)
1 teaspoon vegan chicken-style broth powder or paste (I like Better Than Bouillon No-Chicken Vegan Broth Base)
1/4 cup white bean flour (or white urad dal flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch grated nutmeg
freshly-ground pepper to taste
Other Ingredients:
8 oz dry egg-free tagliatelle pasta (NOTE: Tagliatelle is a dry flat pasta, often sold rolled up in "nests"-- check labels, as it is often made with eggs.) OR use linguine or fettucine, or any GF flat pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil (see fat-free tip below)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup canned or cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional, but recommended)
2 cups chopped lightly-cooked rapini (or you could substitute mustard or turnip greens, or kale)
To make the Béchamel sauce, place all of the Béchamel ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth. I cook the sauce in the microwave, in a large ceramic or Pyrex batter bowl. I cook it on 100% power for three minutes, then whisk it then repeat for 3 minutes more. If you prefer, you can cook it in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens. Note: If you make it ahead of time, reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Place a large pot of salted water on the stove to come to a boil. When it boils, add the pasta and boil until just al dente-- 9 to 10 minutes. When it's ready, drain in a colander and leave it there.
While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a large heavy skillet (seasoned carbon steel, seasoned cast iron, or hard-anodized) over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until they start to wilt and maybe brown a bit. Add the chickpeas, garlic and chile flakes, and saute a bit more. Lower the heat and stir in the chopped rapini and sprinkle on a bit of salt. Stir the mixture until heated through.
Fat-Free Tip: If you prefer not to use any fat in this dish you can either steam-fry the onions in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, adding a squirt of water every now and then to keep it from sticking, and keeping it moving, until the onion starts to wilt-- then proceed as directed. OR you can place the onion in a covered microwave-safe casserole and cook on 100% power for about 4 minutes. OR you could broil them quickly on a baking sheet about 4" under your oven's broiler (watch carefully!) until they start to brown and get limp.
Then add the chickpeas, garlic and chile flakes, cover and cook for 1 more minute.
Rinse the cooked pasta with hot water, shake to drain well, and add the pasta to the skillet, along with the Béchamel. Using a large spoon and a pasta rake, mix the ingredients until well-distributed. Serve in heat pasta bowls along with the vegan parmesan.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 397.4 calories; 14% calories from fat; 6.6g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 658.4mg sodium; 592.3mg potassium; 69.1g carbohydrates; 7.0g fiber; 6.9g sugar; 62.1g net carbs; 17.1g protein.
With no olive oil, the Nutrition Stats are as follows: 367.6 calories; 7% calories from fat; 3.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 658.3mg sodium; 592.3mg potassium; 69.1g carbohydrates; 7.0g fiber; 6.9g sugar; 62.1g net carbs; 17.1g protein.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
PUMPKIN FOCACCIA-- A GREAT ACCOMPANIMENT TO WINTER SOUP MEALS
So sorry to have been AWOL from blogging for a while! On top of trying to get back to normal after the Holidays, I've had a deadline to meet and LOTS of computer trouble (which I hope is over now). I hope to be reinvigorated in the kitchen very soon! In the meantime, here is a recipe for one of our favorite bread recipes-- so good with a bean or vegetable soup!
BRYANNA’S PUMPKIN FOCACCIA
Makes one 11 x 15-inch focaccia
This is a delicious and nutritious version of focaccia, perfect for winter meals.
Makes one 11 x 15-inch focaccia
This is a delicious and nutritious version of focaccia, perfect for winter meals.
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (or use mashed cooked pumpkin or other orange winter squash, drained in
a cheesecloth bag for several hours-- the draining is important!)
1 1/2 tsp dry active yeast OR 1 tsp instant yeast
1 cup plus 2 Tbs. warm water (105-115°F)
4 cups unbleached white flour
1/4 cup ground
golden flax seed
1/4 cup wheat bran
1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp salt
TOPPING:
2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
IF YOU ARE MAKING THIS BY HAND, OR WITH A HEAVY-DUTY
MIXER, stir the yeast into the warm water in a large mixing bowl, or bowl
of your stand mixer. Let stand 5
minutes. Add the oil and pumpkin. Add the bran, flax, and salt, and then the
flour in two additions. Mix until the
dough comes together. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, either by hand on a
lightly floured surface, or with the dough hook of your heavy-duty mixer, until
the dough is velvety, firm and slightly sticky.
IF YOU USE
A FOOD PROCESSOR, mix the flour, salt, bran
and flax seed in the processor bowl.
While the machine is running, add the mixture of water, dissolved yeast,
oil and pumpkin until the dough forms a ball on top of the blade. If it's too dry to come to a ball, add water
a few DROPS at a time until it does.
Process for 30 seconds.
IF YOU USE AN AUTOMATIC BREAD MACHINE, choose the Dough Cycle, which will mix and rise the dough, but not bake it.
FIRST RISE: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover
tightly with plastic wrap, and leave to rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
SHAPING AND SECOND
RISE: Punch down the dough and roll it and pat
it into a rectangle to fit a well-oiled 11 by 15" cookie sheet, and
stretch the dough toward the edges. Cover with a damp towel, let sit for ten
minutes, and then stretch a bit farther to the edges. Cover again and leave
until doubled, about 45-60 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Just before you are ready to bake, dimple to dough with your
fingertips. Brush with the olive oil, and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds and salt over
the dough. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove from pans immediately and cut into 12 squares. Serve while warm and crispy, if possible.
Nutrition Facts:
Nutrition (per 1/12th ): 236.9 calories; 26% calories from fat; 7.3g total
fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 474.8mg sodium; 176.4mg potassium; 36.4g carbohydrates;
3.6g fiber; 0.9g sugar; 7.3g protein; 4.6 points.Enjoy!
Labels:
focaccia,
pumpkin,
pumpkin focaccia,
pumpkin seeds
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