Butternut Squash and Farro Stew

This is one of the best soup recipes I've made! The whole fam enjoyed it. Two side notes: I used the lemon zest. I didn't end up serving it with the yogurt or cilantro. Seemed to be just dandy but these 2 items might just make it that much better! ENJOY!

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp sumac or lemon zest
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 1/4 cups vegetable broth
1 3/4 lbs peeled, cubed butternut squash
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked farro
Plain Greek yogurt
Cilantro

1. In a large sauce pan heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often until soft, about 5 min. Stir in sumac or lemon zest, coriander, pepper, salt, vegetable broth, and squash. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender, about 15 min.

2. Carefully remove 1 cup of the stew from the pan and allow to cool slightly. Puree in blender until smooth; return to pan. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to partially puree the stew.) Add chickpeas and farro. Serve with yogurt, chopped cilantro, and extra sumac or lemon zest. 

Mini Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

I had some leftover pumpkin puree and decided to try out this recipe. It was worth it. They are good!

Ingredients
1 2/3 c. whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (Trader Joe's has a really good one)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 c. organic canned pumpkin puree
3/4 c. brown sugar or evaporated cane juice (I used coconut palm sugar)
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. coconut oil (in a liquid state)
1/4 c. unsweetened apple sauce
1 flax egg (1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed, or flax meal, + 3 Tbsp. water)

For an extra tasty treat add a few butterscotch chips to these! yum!

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare a mini muffin pan by spraying with cooking spray or lining with liners.
3. Whisk together ground flaxseed with water in a small bowl with a fork and let it sit for a few minutes    
    until a gel like consistency forms.
4. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, 
    pumpkin pie spice and salt). Combine the wet ingredients (pumpkin, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, oil, 
    apple sauce and flax egg) in a medium-sized mixing bowl and blend well. Add the liquid mixture to 
    the dry and stir well.
5. Place batter into the mini muffin pan by the spoonful and place on the center rack of oven. 
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a mini comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool before removing from pan.

Recipe from: http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/2012/11/mini-vegan-pumpkin-muffins/

The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

These are very delicious. Daniel likes his with dark chocolate chips (who doesn't??). This recipe was recommended to me by Letha. Thanks, Letha! 

The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Ingredients:

• 1 & 3/4 cups walnuts, toasted
• 2 cups regular oats, divided
• 3/4 cup white Kamut flour (other flours probably work!)
• 1/2 cup Sucanat (or brown sugar)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp almond milk
• 3.5 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup raisins

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking sheet. Place 1.75 cups of walnuts on the baking sheet. Toast walnuts in oven for about 10-12 minutes, until golden in colour. Watch carefully so as not to burn. When walnuts are toasted remove from oven and cool for a few minutes. Dump walnuts into food processor and process until just finely ground, no more. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, 1 cup oats, cinnamon, and Sucanat (or brown sugar). Now add the dry ingredients to the food processor and process for about 20-30 seconds until mixed. In a small bowl add the coconut oil and microwave for 20 seconds to soften (if necessary). In the same bowl, stir in the maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla, and pour into food processor. Process until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Remove bowl from processor and dump contents into a large bowl. Mix in the remaining 1 cup of oats by stirring or with hands. Fold in the 2/3 cup of raisins. Take about 2 tbsp of dough, make a ball, and then flatten with fingers. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat. Bake for 10 minutes at 350F and no longer. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes before placing onto a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Makes about 16 large cookies.

Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2010/09/11/the-ultimate-vegan-oatmeal-raisin-cookie/#ixzz2guT5auSt

All-Purpose Pancakes

I had a pancake recipe that looked but I made revisions to it to use what ingredients I had. They were delicious Isabella ate 2 of them! Baking and cooking have reminded me a lot of making music these. When you know the rules, there are a lot of variations and ways to "brake" them that improve on the original!

1 cup flour (whatever kind you have on hand, I used 3/4 ww pastry & 1/4 all-purpose white)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 milk or water (I used almond milk)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/3 cup blueberries

In a bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients. Add the liquid to the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not over mix; the batter should have some lumps. Gently fold in blueberries.

Heat a lightly grease a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour desired amount of batter into skillet and flip when bubbles begin to appear in the center of the pancake.

California Chipotle Chop with Agave-Lime Vinaigrette

Agave-Lime Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar

2 tablespoons agave (I used only 1 because I prefer my dressings less sweet and more tangy)

1/4 cup lime juice

Blend all ingredients in a blending device until smooth. Set aside.

Chipotle Chop

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, and sauté black beans, garlic, chipotle powder, and salt for 5 minutes. Let cool.

Salad 

1 head romaine lettuce, cut or torn into bite-sized pieces. (I used 2 heads because we like salad)

1 large tomato, finely chopped (cherry tomatoes work great too)

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

In a large bowl, combine romaine, tomatoes, onions, avocado, quinoa, black bean mixture, and cilantro. Toss with desired amount of Agave-Lime Vinaigrette.

Fabulous Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Believe me when I say that these were SO delicious!!! Very simple to make. You must try them.

Makes 6-8 servings

1/2 cup vegetable broth, divided
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
2 cups black beans, slightly mashed
4 tablespoons soy sauce
3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
Sea salt, to taste (I didn't end up adding any)
10 large tortillas
1 jar of your favorite salsa (I used a jar of red enchilada sauce instead)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable broth in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté until onion is translucent. Add coriander and cumin. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

3) Add remaining vegetable broth, spinach, black beans, soy sauce, and mashed potatoes. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt.

4) Place 1/4 - 1/2 cup  of mixture in center of tortilla. Roll into a burrito and place in a nonstick baking dish.

5) Once all the burritos are assembled, pour your favorite salsa (or enchilada sauce) on top and cover with aluminum foil.

6) Bake for 25 minutes.

This recipe came from the China Study Cookbook. 

Baked Doughnuts

Isabella saw these in a cookbook I had sitting around and asked to make them. It was quite fun!

Baked Sprinkled Doughnuts
Makes 12 Doughnuts

2 2/3 cups flour (I used part whole wheat part white; any combo would probably work)
2/3 cups sugar (again, probably any kind would work)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons nutmeg (unless you are a HUGE nutmeg fan, I would cut this down to at least half)
1 teaspoon salt

1 cup non-dairy milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup white or apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease two doughnut pans.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk together quickly until just combined. Don't overmix.

Using a pastry or plastic bag with the tip cut, pipe batter into the prepared pans and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let sit 5 minutes before unmolding.

Old-fashioned Glaze
whisk together...
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons non-dairy milk

Dip each doughnut into the glaze. Immediately sprinkle with topping such as sprinkles, nuts, coconut, etc.

ENJOY! (this is the only picture I took)