Super Green Collard Wraps with Creamy Avocado Sauce

These wraps were so tasty I nearly ate them before I could take the picture!  With the kale and collard leaves, these little guys are also a double whammy for your greens quota. They are filling and delicious, and easily packed side by side for sharing with pals or taking as a super healthy meal on-the-fly.

You will need:

A bunch of whole collard green leaves, the bigger the better!

Sauce:

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp tamari

1 small organic avocado, ripe

1 small clove of garlic, minced

juice of half a lemon

salt and pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Filling:

cook 1 cup of brown shortgrain rice

3 green onions, chopped

3 big kale leaves, sliced thin

1/2 tomato

sprouts

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

Method:

Combine all the sauce ingredients together and mash well with a fork (it looks like pond sludge, but trust me).  Add the green onions and kale to the hot cooked rice, and cover, steaming for a few minutes. When the kale is bright green, add the tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and sauce, and mix well.  The mixture should form a paste-like texture. Add another small dose of tamari if it seems more moisture is needed.

Scoop about 1/3 cup of filling onto the middle of flat, dry collard leaves, and add some sprouts.  Tuck the bottom in and fold the sides to make a nice tight little bundle of yumminess!

~The Vegan Project

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Lemon-Berry Muffins – Sugar Free!

This is a standard muffin recipe that I like to play around with a lot.  I had no sugar in the house but did have two large squeeze bottles of agave from Costco (which by the way is the best deal in town for the stuff-2 x 480 ml bottles for $9!). These muffins are filled with sweet lemon flavour with bursts of tangy berries in every bite while hearty spelt flour gives them weight and packs them full of fibre.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups spelt flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk

1/2 cup agave nectar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sunflower oil

1 cup of berries (i used a frozen blend of blueberries, raspberries and marionberries)

Juice and zest of 2 lemons

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 F

Mix together all dry ingredients plus the lemon zest in a large mixing bowl.  In a smaller bowl, mix together non-dairy milk, lemon juice, agave, oil and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just to blend.  Add the berries and then spoon into a lightly greased muffin tin and bake for 22-25 minutes, depending on size of muffins.

Makes 6 extra large or 10 regular sized muffins.

~The Vegan Project

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Paper Bag Popcorn!

I love popcorn.  Sadly, my popping machine mysteriously disappeared last year, and I found myself in a popcorn void, as none of the supermarket options in my ‘hood are without milk products.  Last weekend, an old pal told me about this little trick, and I can’t believe I haven’t heard of it before!  Ideally, I try to avoid using microwaves, but in a pinch, this snack is cheap and easy…and you know how much we love cheap and easy!

Using a brown paper bag, cover the bottom with one layer of popcorn seeds and fold the top down twice, pressing firmly.  Place laying down in the microwave and put on high for two minutes.  Melt a tbsp of Earth Balance, pour on top of the popcorn, add some freshly cracked salt (pepper is also yummy), seal the bag and shake it up.

Estimated cost: .32 cents per bag.

Eat that Orville!

~The Vegan Project

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BLT w/ Creamy Mustard-Dill Sauce and Homemade Curly Fries

As far as the fake meat debate goes, I’m skeptical. The long list of suspicious ingredients in the super-processed wannabes makes me nervous.  So, you’re not going to find any ‘facon’ in this BLT!  It’s made with beets, which, when fried, take on a crispy/chewy balance that resembles bacon in a non-creepy fashion.

The curly fries, another superb product of the ‘Spirooli’ (the potato can be sliced if you don’t have a Spirooli), together with the BLT, make a casual and satisfying comfort meal that would rival your favourite café anyday!

Ingredients for two sandwiches:

1 large red beet

4 leaves of green leaf lettuce

4 slices of your favorite bread

1 large roma tomato, sliced

2 tbsp Vegenaise

4 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

1-2 potatoes

fresh cracked salt and pepper

Method:

Using a potato peeler, peel slices of beet the length of bacon strips and fry them in oil at medium heat with salt and pepper, turning often until slightly crispy on the outside.  In a separate small bowl, combine Veganaise, mustard and dill, and stir together.  Spread an ample amount of mustard sauce on both slices of bread (I warmed the bread first), and add the beet, lettuce and tomato.

Fry potatoes in oil for about 10-12 minutes at medium-high heat until desired crispiness is obtained.

Serve with sauce on the side for dipping, and your favorite vegan beer for that authentic comfort-food, warm belly feel.

~The Vegan Project

 

 

 

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Cajun Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed peppers are beautifully colourful and have such a great blend of flavours.  The sweet corn balances out the hot and smokey cajun spices perfectly. They are pretty filling on their own, but made with smaller peppers or cut in half, could be a lovely first course at a dinner party.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dry red quinoa

4 large peppers, similar in stature (cut off the tops and chop up to add to the filling. Scoop out the seeds and white lining to make a little bowl.)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 crimini mushrooms, finely diced

2 scallions, chopped

1/2 cup canned corn

1 cup black beans

2 teaspoons cajun spice mix

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350F

In a small pot mix 1/2 cup of dry red quinoa with 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking, saute the onion and garlic on medium heat with the olive oil.  Add the mushrooms, pepper tops and cajun spice mix and let cook for 10 minutes or so.  When the quinoa is done, fluff it up a bit and toss it in the pan and mix well.  If your pan will fit the black beans and corn, go for it and mix it all up.  If not, put everything in a large bowl (including cilantro) and mix well.  Place the peppers in a square baking dish (this helps to keep them close together to avoid falling over) and stuff the peppers right up to the top.  If there is any mixture left over, eat it! Bake for about 30 minutes, but of course times may vary according to pepper size.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle fresh cilantro on top.  You might want to let them sit for 5 minutes as they are really hot coming out of the oven.

Enjoy!

~The Vegan Project

 

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Open-faced Creamy Bacon and Tomato Mushroom Melt over Toasted Ancient Grain Bread

This hearty open faced sandwich is perfect for brunch or even a light supper. The creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce is savoury and comforting, and is a perfect counterpoint to the bright and fresh tomatoes and smoky tempeh bacon. Putting the salt and pepper directly on the tomatoes brings out their lovely, rich flavour.

Ingredients:

1 firm ripe organic roma tomato

1 cup sliced mushrooms

6 slices Turtle Island Foods Smokey Bacon Tempeh

Two thick slices organic Ancient Grain (whole grain) bread

1 heaving tablespoon Asano Miso

1 tbsp Earth Balance Vegan Buttery sticks (vegan butter)

Handful of Daiya cheddar shreds

1 tbsp minced garlic

A splash or two of almond milk

Salt and Pepper

Method:

Melt earth balance in a pan on high heat. Add chopped mushrooms and brown til golden.

Turn pan to medium heat and add garlic. Sweat garlic and mushrooms for 2 minutes.

Mix in miso and Daiya shreds. Add a splash of almond milk to bring the sauce together. Turn down to low heat let sauce thicken, stirring occasionally.

Toast bread in toaster.

Brown tempeh in non-stick pan.

Slice tomato and place on toast. Salt and pepper the tomato slices to taste.

Place tempeh on tomato slices.

Smother entire sandwich with the creamy mushroom sauce.

Enjoy!

*Courtesy of Jenny Duffy

~The Vegan Project

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Western Wrap- Low Carb!

There are these wraps that I came across at IGA that are low carb (made for the Atkin’s Diet) and are high in fibre and only 130 calories per wrap.  Pretty good stats by my standards.  They are the Smart and Delicious line made by La Tortilla, based in Santa Rosa, California.  I like smart and delicious things. How could I go wrong?  This particular flavour does contain wheat and soy however they also make a gluten-free strain as well.

In the wrap:

Three slices of veggie deli slices cut into strips

1/2 green pepper cut into strips

1-2 mushrooms sliced into strips (fresh or marinated)

Vegenaise

Hot sauce

Lettuce

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Cheater’s Kimchi

If you love kimchi, but don’t have the time to make it yourself this is a perfect shortcut recipe. Also, store bought kimchi can be somewhat expensive. It’s also a perfect quick snack or a condiment with noodles.

Ingredients:

One head Kissel Sour Cabbage

½ cup Sriracha Sauce

½ cup rice vinegar

4 tbsp. Sesame oil

Directions:

Cut cabbage in half, and then in quarters. Then slice each quarter into two inch cubes.

In small bowl mix sriracha, rice vinegar and sesame oil.

Place cabbage into a large mixing bowl and toss with sauce till cubes flake apart.

Place in a beautiful dish and serve with chopsticks!

*Courtesy of Jenny Duffy

~The Vegan Project

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Roasted Squash Soup

This soup will warm up your house and your belly.  I used delicata squash here but I’m sure any kind would do.  If you use a squash with a thicker skin, you might have to scrape the insides out after roasting and leave the tough outside behind.  Delicata is super soft, though, so throw it all in!

Ingredients:

1 zucchini

2 delicata squash

1 bunch of carrots

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

5 cloves of garlic, minced

2-3 inches of fresh ginger, minced

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1  boullion cube

Chili flakes to taste

Lots of cracked pepper

6 cups of water

To finish off once blended:

1 tablespoon of Earth Balance

10 fresh sage leaves

Pinch of ground ginger, cinnamon and sea salt

First prepare the squash, zucchini and carrots for roasting.  Slice the squash and zucchini in half and place in a roasting pan.  Roughly chop the carrots and also place in the roasting pan.  Drizzle with olive oil and a dusting of salt and bake, uncovered for about 30 minutes or so at 350F.

In the mean time, in a large pot saute the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, and spices (pepper and chili flakes too) in olive oil until onions are translucent.  Crumble in the boullion cube and add 6 cups of water.  When the roasted veggies are done, chop them up and add to the pot.  Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the chopped fresh sage.  Now take out your handy Emerson blender and blend away!  It’s a pretty chunky mixture so it takes a few minutes.  Finish of with a tablespoon of Earth Balance and a pinch of ginger, cinnamon and sea salt. Serve with warm homemade bread, like this Rosemary Focaccia….Enjoy!

~The Vegan Project

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Truffled Pea Shoots with a Duo of Balsamic

This salad is quick, fresh, and elegant. You can toss in a few hemp seeds or roasted pistachios on top for some added crunch and flavour.

Ingredients:

Fresh pea shoots (Micro greens, spring mix or arugula can be substituted)

Truffle infused olive oil, extra virgin olive oil mixed with a few drops of white truffle oil

White balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar

Half a lemon

Salt and pepper

Directions:

Place pea shoots in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with truffled olive oil, white balsamic, and regular balsamic. Squeeze fresh lemon over top, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss, and serve!

*Courtesy of Jenny Duffy

~The Vegan Project

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