Sunday, April 25, 2010

Banana Ice Cream

Public Confession Time....

Alright I give in and have to tell all of you that I am an ice cream addict. Some of my fondest memories are of my family and myself sitting around after dinner and having a bowl of ice cream.

Alas, ice cream is not vegan. True you can find some yummy ones that are but they too are stuffed with processed sugar. Purely Decadent is my favorite and a guilty pleasure. But Fear not health food lovers! I bring you a recipe for home made, non dairy, no artificial sugar, one ingredient ice cream just in time for summer!

Ingredients:
3 Bananas
Thats it.

Peal off the banana's and cut into pieces about 1 inch thick. Place them in the freezer for about 1-2 hours. You can also try adding foods like frozen mango and other fruits to alter tastes!

When frozen take them out and stick them into a food processor. Puree until creamy....freeze again if not cold enough for you. Thats it. You are done! I sprinkled some walnuts on top of mine cause I love them!



Friday, April 23, 2010

Chilled Soba, Sesame and Carrot Salad

I love this salad/ pasta dish. I don't know what it is like everywhere else in the world right now but in Texas it is nice and hot already. That means for a Northerner like myself trapped in cattle country, I need something to eat that will keep me cool. The chilled noodles and rice vinegar totally do that job! Yummy!

Keep in mind that this serves about 4 people
8 ounces soba (Buckwheat Noodles)
3 large carrots
1 bunch (about 6) scallions
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted or I like them raw.

Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain and toss with just a drizzle of cooking oil to keep them from sticking together. Put in the refrigerator to cool.
Peel the carrots and shave with a peeler. You should have about 2-3 cups of loose carrot shavings. Chop the green parts of the scallions and set the white parts aside for another recipe.

Whisk the sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce together and taste. Adjust for taste. Toss the carrots, scallions, chilled noodles and sesame seeds together and serve.

Health Note: Okay lets get real here....Some of the stuff that I talk about on here "normal eaters" don't know what it is or why I think its better for them. So I just want to out line that with Soba. Soba is made of buckwheat flour. Plain and simple. Buckwheat flour has a rich, nutty flavor that is to die for. Not to mention that it is high in since buckwheat is high in fiber, amino acids, protein, niacin, and vitamin B, among other things.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Because Its Earth Day

So I couldn't think of anything to cook today for earth day that I haven't posted yet. Not to mention that I don't have any cash right now so buying food today is just not happening. But it is earth day and that in itself deserves applause. So yay!

On that note I do have some things that I would like to mention. The first is a cookbook for anyone that has kids ages nothing to teenagers. I found this on a blog that I follow (Food practice) and I am in love with it. Its called "Organically Raised" and it is something that I want when I have kids. I do have friends that have children and I suggested it to a few of them and they love it! For a full description of it on Food Practice click Here.






Another thing that I would like to share for Earth day is the Buddhist Shrine I made...or started today. Its a work in progress...just like living a mindful Buddhist life. For those of you that do not know a Shrine in this case is not like an alter (Just so I don't freak my family out). It is a focal point for meditation and a reminder in your home of being kind and compassionate to the world every time you walk out the door. So here is mine!




I hope you have a great Earth day and do your best to make the world the perfect peaceful place that you want it to me.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Thai Iced Tea












I was looking for something different to drink. By this time last summer I had not cut out coffee yet, so a replacement for that iced latte, 4000 calorie Starbucks was just what I had a craving for. That's when I concocted this little darling.

This is a great summer drink. It is so refreshing and yummy. Its also a good replacement for coffee on a warm summer morning.

INGREDIENTS (For one cup)
3 tea bags (I use chai cause it has Cardamom in it)
1/4 tablespoon of cardamom or nutmeg
3 teaspoons sweetener (I use agave)
1 cup boiling water
Ice
1/4 cup soy or rice milk

Add tea bags to boiling water. Add cardamom and sweetener. Let steep for 3 minutes. Pour over ice and swirl. Add soy milk. Sometimes I add an almond flavoring for variety.

Agave Oat Bread


So I adapted this from my friend Destiny, who makes a killer Honey Oat Bread. I hope that one day I can be as good of a baker as she is but I am still learning with that. All that I really did was use agave syrup instead of honey. As a vegan option you can also use a maple syrup for a nice sweet breakfast bread.

Is is a nice doughy one that tastes a bit like a harder Hawaiian sweet bread.

Ingredients:

10 oz Water
1 - 1/2 teaspoons - Salt
2 tablespoons - Agave or maple syrup
1 - 1/2 tablespoons -Margarine
2/3 cup - Quick Cook Oats

3 - 1/4 cups - Bread Flour
2 teas - Active Dry Yeast

I like a crispier crust so I put it in my bread machine under the dark crust setting but you can do a light or medium depending on what you personally prefer.

On a note, when using a bread machine, always put your wet ingredients in first. Follow with the dry and then put in the yeast, making sure that it does not touch the water.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Taco Tofu Steaks by Will


So my boyfriend made this for me for lunch today and it was oh so good! Its quick and its easy

Ingredient:
Helen's Tofu Steaks
Refried Veggie beans or black beans
1/2 a cup of chopped veggies
1 thinly sliced avocado
Fresh Salsa
Olive oil


Follow the instructions on the Helen's packet in a skillet coated with olive oil and your veggies. Once it is done place on your plate. Take out the veggies and put them on a paper towel for later. Heat your refried beans in the microwave or in a pan. Place on-top of the tofu steak. Top with the slices of avocado and salsa. Remove the veggies from the towel and place on top of that.

See! Easy and quick! And you'll love it!

Oat Rolls and Bread



Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoon of yeast (or two packets)
1 cup of oats
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup soy milk
3 to 4 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Mix water and yeast together in a large bowl. Pour in the 3 cups of wheat flour and mix well. Cover the bowl with a towel and place in a dry place. Let it sit for a minimum of 20 minutes, up to a day! Yay!

Pour in , oil, soy milk and salt and half a cup of oats. Mix together. Begin adding white flour, a 1/2 cup at a time. After the third cup, it begins to get pretty dense. Knead it for 5 to 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

Cut the dough into the desired rolls (Remember that they will rise so make them about half of the size of the rolls that you want. You can also make two loaves out of this.

Cover pans with a towel in a warm place and let the dough double in size. This will take at least an hour to an hour and a half. Use a pastry brush and warm water to brush them. Sprinkle oats over the top.

Baking: Bake loaves at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes. Rolls should be baked at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes. For a crustier crust, place a baking pan on the bottom rack and let it preheat in the oven. When the oven is preheated toss a cup of water in with the rolls.