Thursday, September 10, 2009

Better than OG Minestrone soup.

WOW, It has been such a long time since I have updated! There hasn't been much time to cook or bake, since I have recently moved out of my home. It's been busy with my parents and brother moving everything and painting. Its gets pretty tiring watching people work, but since they did so much for me, I decided to make them a nice lunch! I searched all over for a vegan minestrone soup recipe and finally found one at Almost Vegan. It seemed simple enough so I thought I would try it out. The end result: TRES MAGNIFIQUE!!! The best soup I have ever experienced!



2 small onions
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash
2-3 cloves garlic
2 cans stewed tomatoes
4-5 Knorr Vegetarian Vegetable Bouillon
1 can kidney beans
1 can great northern beans
dried basil - 1 tablespoon
salt & pepper
olive oil
5 cups water
4oz. tomato sauce
1/2 box mini pasta shells

1.)Dice the onions, slice zucchini and squash, and mince garlic.

2.) Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into a large soup pot over med-high heat. Toss in the onion, zucchini and squash. Saute until onion becomes almost translucent. Add the basil, season with salt & pepper. Add the minced garlic and saute another few moments until before the garlic browns.

3.) Put the Knorr Vegetarian Vegetable Bouillon into the pot, smash it with a wooden spoon while the garlic is cooking and then pour in the 5 cups water.

4.) Add the stewed tomatoes and the tomato sauce and bring to a low boil, then turn it down right away to a simmer.

5.) Add the beans and let it cook on low to combine the ingredients. At least 10 minutes.

6.) While the soup is cooking, make the mini pasta shells. Instead of cooking the pasta with the soup, it keeps the shells from getting too mushy. So cook the pasta according to instructions on the box, then drain it in a strainer and rinse it in cold water to stop it from cooking.

7.) Place a handful of pasta in the bottom of a bowl, ladle the minestrone soup on top of it. And enjoy!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Dinner for one!

For a nice healthy meal, try this simple single serving dish: toss together pasta, onions, bell pepper, and tofu.



2 Slices of Tofu extra firm
1/2 tsp Olive Oil
1/2 cup Onions
1/2 cup Bell Pepper,all colors
1/2 cup Spaghetti-whole wheat,cooked
1 tsp basil or other spices


approx: calories:247.85, fat(gm):7.33, carbs(gm):33.02, protein(gm):18.14

Monday, August 24, 2009

Reeses?

I was hoping to make some cookies for the night, but there was no flour in the house (and I had no intention of running to the grocery store) so, instead I decided to do with what I had in the pantry: peanut butter and chocolate. YUM! One thing I knew I would miss as a vegan was Reeses Cups, but I enjoy these so much more!




Peanut Butter Cups

1 1/2 cups vegan chocolate chips (ghardelli semi-sweet works great)
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
cupcake liners


Microwave half of chocolate chips for about 2 minutes until stirred creamy.

Spread chocolate into cupcake liners for bottom layer so you fill the crevices as well. Put into freezer so the chocolate hardens.

In a bowl, mix 1 cup peanut butter and 1/4 tsp of salt and fold in 1/2 cup of sugar.

When chocolate has hardened, put peanut butter mix in microwave for 1 minute, let it cool a bit and then put as second layer over the chocolate.

Microwave the remaining chocolate chips and use as top layer over the peanut butter.

Place in freezer and eat once hardened!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies

I got this recipe from the Joy of Vegan Baking. This is one of my favorite cookie recipes! They are simple to make, and absolutely delicious. :)



1 egg replacer (I used Ener-G)
3/4 c vegan margarine
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugars together in a large bowl by hand or with electric mixer at high speed. Beat in the egg replacer as well as the vanilla and peppermint extracts.

In another bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture along with the chocolate chips. Stir well until mixed, but do not overmix.

Drop by teaspoons onto a nonstick cookie sheet, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Should make about 1 1/2 dozen cookies

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Be Italian!

My friend Roxann has been begging for me to make Bruschetta for quite some time now and since it was her last week in town I decided to make it for her.

This was the first time I have ever attempted bruschetta but it seemed like an easy enough dish to make. I sliced and toasted french bread then grilled some veggies such as: zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms and artichokes and added them on top of the bread along with marinara and basil. Then threw it all back into the oven to get an even toaster creation. It came out delicious!!





Last night my brother and his friend came home from guitar center starving and demanding a "hearty meal." Since there was left over marinara sauce and tofu in the fridge I decided to whip together some Tofu Parmesan. I even added some sliced portobello on top. :) This is a simple and fast recipe. Enjoy!




Tofu Parmesan

Ingredients:
1 block of Extra Firm Tofu, Drained and Pressed, cut into 1/2 inch slabs
Italian style Bread
Crumbs

Canola Oil

1/2 cup Water

2 tbsp Cornstarch

Marinara Sauce


Directions:

Pour oil into frying pan, begin to heat on medium-high.

Mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl. In separate bowl pour breadcrumbs.

Take a tofu slice and dip both sides in the cornstarch water mix, then in the breadcrumbs.

Place in the pan, and fry until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.


**make sure to drain and press tofu, otherwise the water will stick to the pan**

Monday, August 17, 2009

obento!

This morning I decided to make my big bro his lunch for work. He's in this phase where he thinks he can only get muscle building protein from animal, so I thought I would humor him and add turkey in his lunch. So please forgive this non vegan meal. It was just too cute to not add in the blog. ^-^
Tier one: turkey with hummus and veggies sandwich on pumpernickel bread
Tier two: watermelon with grapes, whole wheat apricot fig and raisins





When I was on my way to pick up a red box movie, I noticed how beautiful the sky looked and had to take a pic. The colors duke, the colors!!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Kirky

My trip to Albuquerque was a blast! Bob Dylan and his band played amazingly well, it was a great show. I realized how much I like it in new mexico, seems like people there are a lot more health conscious. There were cyclists, hikers and runners out everyday. I cant wait to make a trip back out there and this time take my bicycle!
So this weekend I made Stuffed Portabello mushrooms with pasta. It came out soo good! I was so hungry and excited I ate without taking a picture of it. I also made some pineapple coffee cake. It came out a little undercooked because I was rushed out in order to make the movie time for District 9, which is an awesome movie.

So instead of food here are some pictures from my trip to the Albuquerque Zoo.

squirrel stealing his food! he doesn't seem to mind much..



he looks rather happy lol





sleepy animals











naked mole rats seem to have a good diet.