Archives for April 2011

Savory Asparagus Tart

April 28, 2011 by epicureanvegan

When I open my own vegan restaurant, this tart will be a signature item on the menu! And look, I’m sharing my secret recipe with all of you now! The Husband was on a conference call when I took this out of the oven and took a bite. You have no idea how difficult it was to not eat his portion; he would have never known. But of course, I couldn’t do that to him—it’s a recipe you’ll want to share and enjoy with others.

INGREDIENTS:
1 puff pastry dough, thawed
1 C Daiya or other vegan cheeze, shredded
1 bunch asparagus
2 Tbs olive oil
1-1/2 tsp truffle oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. Roll the pastry sheet out to about 11″x7″. Place onto a baking sheet. Using a fork, puncture the dough all over.

Bake for 5 minutes, or until it begins to brown. You may need to press down on the dough with a spoon if it puffed up in places.

Sprinkle the cheese onto the dough, then line the asparagus—close together—on top. I just cut the stalks in half (after cutting of the thick ends) and placed them like so:

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, truffle oil, salt, and pepper. Brush the mixture onto the asparagus , thoroughly coating the tops. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges of the tart begin to brown. Remove from the pan (I used two spatulas on either end) and transfer to a large cutting board. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Savory Asparagus Tart

When I open my own vegan restaurant, this tart will be a signature item on the menu! And look, I'm sharing my secret recipe with all of you now! The Husband was on a conference call when I took this out of the oven and took a bite. You have no idea how difficult it was to not eat his portion; he would have never known. But of course, I couldn't do that to him---it's a recipe you'll want to share and enjoy with others.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 puff pastry dough, thawed
1 C Daiya or other vegan cheeze, shredded
1 bunch asparagus
2 Tbs olive oil
1-1/2 tsp truffle oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400. Roll the pastry sheet out to about 11"x7". Place onto a baking sheet. Using a fork, puncture the dough all over.
Bake for 5 minutes, or until it begins to brown. You may need to press down on the dough with a spoon if it puffed up in places.
Sprinkle the cheese onto the dough, then line the asparagus---close together---on top. I just cut the stalks in half (after cutting of the thick ends) and placed them in rows on the puff pastry.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, truffle oil, salt, and pepper. Brush the mixture onto the asparagus , thoroughly coating the tops. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges of the tart begin to brown. Remove from the pan (I used two spatulas on either end) and transfer to a large cutting board. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Potato and Kale Enchiladas

April 28, 2011 by epicureanvegan

It’s a damn good thing these came out SO DELICIOUS because they were a bit labor-intensive (and that was after I simplified the recipe)! The Husband picked out this recipe from Veganomicon and even though they sounded amazing, after I read the instructions, I put off making these until I knew I’d have plenty of time to devote to them. Finally, last night I cracked open the cookbook and got to work. I made some alterations to simplify the recipe and to cut down on some of the time required to make this. I LOVE the enchilada sauce and frankly, that portion is pretty easy. I would definitely use this sauce recipe for all enchiladas I make, and even lasagna. I will list the original recipe and add my alterations. Overall, I’m so glad I made these—they’re wonderful!

INGREDIENTS:
Enchilada Chile Sauce:
2 Tbs grapeseed oil or olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 large green chilies (such as Anaheim or Italian-style long green peppers), roasted, seeded, peeled and coarsely chopped (Yeah, I used a 7-oz can)
2-3 tsp Ancho chili pepper
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp marjoram or Mexican oregano (epazote) I used regular oregano
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, roasted preferred
1 tsp sugar
1-1/2 tsp salt
Potato and Kale Filling:
1 lb waxy potatoes (Yukon gold or red) I used russet
1/2 lb kale, washed, trimmed and chopped finely (Use the food processor! It will save you. Plus, I added another 1/2 lb)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 C vegetable broth or water
3 Tbs lime juice
1/4 C toasted pumpkin seeds, chopped coarsely, plus extra for garnish. (First, I had no desire to grab a pan and toast these, especially since I didn’t notice they had to be toasted until it was time to add them. I didn’t bother chopping them, either).
1-1/2 tsp salt, or to taste (Seemed like a lot, so I just did a little)
12-14 corn tortillas (These are my favorite: a cross between a flour and corn tortilla. They roll up beautifully without having to steam them at all first) : La Tortilla Factory Hand Made Style

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Use a 11.5″x7.5″ casserole dish. To save yourself a headache: first, get the kale washed, trimmed and chopped, and peel and dice the potatoes.

To prepare the sauce, saute the onion and oil in a large skillet over medium heat, about 4-7 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients, bring to a simmer.

Remove from the heat, let cool, then taste it to adjust seasoning, if necessary. Puree in an immersion or regular blender until smooth. (I used the food processor.)

To prepare the filling, boil the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside. (This next step, I recommend doing while the potatoes are cooking) Cook the grapeseed oil and minced garlic in a sauce pot (I used the same skillet from the sauce–just washed it out) over medium heat until garlic just begins to brown. Add the kale, sprinkle with some salt and stir often. Partially cover the pot and steam the kale about 4-6 minutes. Then add the potatoes, broth (or water), lime juice, pumpkin seeds, and salt. Mash the potatoes a little bit with a spoon. Cook another 3-4 minutes.

To create these fabulous enchiladas . . . finally. . . the recipe says to ladle some sauce in a shallow dish and a heated griddle. Seriously?! My kitchen already looked like the Swedish Chef had made a 10-course meal in it and adding another pan to my already-crowded workspace just wasn’t going to happen. Plus, the tortillas I used are perfect for rolling—they’re soft enough already that they won’t crack. So if you wish to torture yourself, this is what the original recipe says: Ladle a bit of sauce onto the bottom of the casserole dish (ok, I did do that). Take a corn tortilla, place it on the heated griddle for 30 seconds, flip over and heat until soft and pliable. Drop the tortilla into the sauce and cover it completely with sauce. Place it in the casserole dish and layer it with another heat, sauce-covered tortilla (or use one. Or don’t do it that way at all). Seriously, too messy and labor-intensive. Fill with potato filling and roll up. Ok, I took the easy epicurean vegan way. After adding a layer of sauce on the bottom, I scooped some filling into my already soft and wonderfully pliable tortilla, rolled it up and placed it in the pan. That easy. Continue until the pan is filled.

After reserving about 1-1/2 cups of the sauce, pour the rest over the enchiladas. Now, I can’t imagine enchiladas without cheese, so I sprinkled some Daiya cheese shreds on top.

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes. Top individual servings with the extra sauce (that you’ve warmed up). You may not recognize your kitchen once these are in the oven, but at least while they bake, you’ll have time to reclaim your space! Enjoy!

Potato and Kale Enchiladas

It's a damn good thing these came out SO DELICIOUS because they were a bit labor-intensive (and that was after I simplified the recipe)! The Husband picked out this recipe from Veganomicon and even though they sounded amazing, after I read the instructions, I put off making these until I knew I'd have plenty of time to devote to them. Finally, last night I cracked open the cookbook and got to work. I made some alterations to simplify the recipe and to cut down on some of the time required to make this. I LOVE the enchilada sauce and frankly, that portion is pretty easy. I would definitely use this sauce recipe for all enchiladas I make, and even lasagna. I will list the original recipe and add my alterations. Overall, I'm so glad I made these---they're wonderful!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Enchilada Chile Sauce:
2 Tbs grapeseed oil or olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 large green chilies (such as Anaheim or Italian-style long green peppers), roasted, seeded, peeled and coarsely chopped (Yeah, I used a 7-oz can)
2-3 tsp Ancho chili pepper
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp marjoram or Mexican oregano (epazote) I used regular oregano
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, roasted preferred
1 tsp sugar
1-1/2 tsp salt
Potato and Kale Filling:
1 lb waxy potatoes (Yukon gold or red) I used russet
½ lb kale, washed, trimmed and chopped finely (Use the food processor! It will save you. Plus, I added another ½ lb)
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp cumin
¼ C vegetable broth or water
3 Tbs lime juice
¼ C toasted pumpkin seeds, chopped coarsely, plus extra for garnish. (First, I had no desire to grab a pan and toast these, especially since I didn't notice they had to be toasted until it was time to add them. I didn't bother chopping them, either).
1-1/2 tsp salt, or to taste (Seemed like a lot, so I just did a little)
12-14 corn tortillas (These are my favorite: a cross between a flour and corn tortilla. They roll up beautifully without having to steam them at all first) : La Tortilla Factory Hand Made Style

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Use a 11.5"x7.5" casserole dish. To save yourself a headache: first, get the kale washed, trimmed and chopped, and peel and dice the potatoes.
To prepare the sauce, saute the onion and oil in a large skillet over medium heat, about 4-7 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients, bring to a simmer.
Remove from the heat, let cool, then taste it to adjust seasoning, if necessary. Puree in an immersion or regular blender until smooth. (I used the food processor.)
To prepare the filling, boil the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside. (This next step, I recommend doing while the potatoes are cooking) Cook the grapeseed oil and minced garlic in a sauce pot (I used the same skillet from the sauce--just washed it out) over medium heat until garlic just begins to brown. Add the kale, sprinkle with some salt and stir often. Partially cover the pot and steam the kale about 4-6 minutes. Then add the potatoes, broth (or water), lime juice, pumpkin seeds, and salt. Mash the potatoes a little bit with a spoon. Cook another 3-4 minutes.
To create these fabulous enchiladas . . . finally. . . the recipe says to ladle some sauce in a shallow dish and a heated griddle. Seriously?! My kitchen already looked like the Swedish Chef had made a 10-course meal in it and adding another pan to my already-crowded workspace just wasn't going to happen. Plus, the tortillas I used are perfect for rolling---they're soft enough already that they won't crack. So if you wish to torture yourself, this is what the original recipe says: Ladle a bit of sauce onto the bottom of the casserole dish (ok, I did do that). Take a corn tortilla, place it on the heated griddle for 30 seconds, flip over and heat until soft and pliable. Drop the tortilla into the sauce and cover it completely with sauce. Place it in the casserole dish and layer it with another heat, sauce-covered tortilla (or use one. Or don't do it that way at all). Seriously, too messy and labor-intensive. Fill with potato filling and roll up. Ok, I took the easy epicurean vegan way. After adding a layer of sauce on the bottom, I scooped some filling into my already soft and wonderfully pliable tortilla, rolled it up and placed it in the pan. That easy.
After reserving about 1-1/2 cups of the sauce, pour the rest over the enchiladas. Now, I can't imagine enchiladas without cheese, so I sprinkled some Daiya cheese shreds on top.Continue until the pan is filled.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes. Top individual servings with the extra sauce (that you've warmed up). You may not recognize your kitchen once these are in the oven, but at least while they bake, you'll have time to reclaim your space! Enjoy!

Crispy “Chicken” Salad

April 25, 2011 by epicureanvegan

This salad is a staple around my house and each time I make it, I never learn. I eat way too much of it. It’s just so damn good. Not to mention, easy to make. Bake some meatless chicken nuggets and throw some fresh veggies together and you have a healthy meal in minutes.

INGREDIENTS:
1 bag Boca nuggets, baked and diced
Romaine lettuce, torn
Fresh spinach, torn
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 cucumber, sliced, then quartered
Vegan pepper jack cheese and/or cheddar, shredded
Green onions, sliced
Tortilla chips, broken up
Vegan Ranch dressing:
1 C Vegenaise
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
6 Tbs almond milk
1/2 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried dill
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
I tend to put everything in separate bowls and let everyone create their own salads. To make the dressing, just whisk everything together in a small bowl and transfer to a pourable container. Refrigerate the leftovers. Enjoy!

Crispy "Chicken" Salad

This salad is a staple around my house and each time I make it, I never learn. I eat way too much of it. It's just so damn good. Not to mention, easy to make. Bake some meatless chicken nuggets and throw some fresh veggies together and you have a healthy meal in minutes.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 bag Boca nuggets, baked and diced
Romaine lettuce, torn
Fresh spinach, torn
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 cucumber, sliced, then quartered
Vegan pepper jack cheese and/or cheddar, shredded
Green onions, sliced
Tortilla chips, broken up
Vegan Ranch dressing:
1 C Vegenaise
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
6 Tbs almond milk
½ tsp dried chives
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp dried dill
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
⅛ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper

Directions

I tend to put everything in separate bowls and let everyone create their own salads. To make the dressing, just whisk everything together in a small bowl and transfer to a pourable container. Refrigerate the leftovers. Enjoy!

Angela’s Vegan Quiche

April 23, 2011 by epicureanvegan

This wonderful recipe comes from Angela of Vegangela, one of my favorite vegan bloggers. Her recipes all look amazing—I’ve bookmarked so many of them. I had to try this one out—perfect for Easter, by the way. The Sixth Grader remarked, “It’s amazing,” and The Husband, who loved quiche before going vegan, couldn’t get enough of it. I made only one or two minor changes, otherwise, I followed Angela’s recipe as she posted it. Next time I make it (and believe me, it will be a regular thing at my house) I’ll add mushrooms. Angela also lists sun-dried tomatoes as another addition.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 bag fresh spinach or 1/2 package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained (I used 3 cups of fresh spinach)
1/2 cup cashews, soaked in water for an hour and drained
1/2 block firm tofu
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
4 Tbs soy milk (I used almond milk)
1/2 tsp tumeric
Salt & pepper
1 package defrosted phyllo dough, or 1 vegan pie crust
1/4 tsp paprika
1-2 tomatoes, sliced (optional)
1 C mushrooms, diced (optional)
1/2 C fresh basil, chopped (I added that to the spinach)
1/3 C Daiya cheese (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. If using the phyllo pastry sheet, be sure to thaw it according to the package instructions. I thought I was being so clever by placing it in a zip lock and placing it in warm water. Wrong. Since it’s folded in thirds, it will meld together. I’m such a dork. So I ended up shaping it into a ball and rolling it out. No biggie, but really not as easy. I ended up piecing the darn thing together to make it fit into a pie plate and it came out funky, but still worked!

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic. Add the onion and cook a few minutes—until they start to brown. Add the spinach (and basil, if using), along with some salt and pepper. Cook a few more minutes, or until the spinach starts to wilt; remove from heat.

Meanwhile in a food processor, grind the cashews up until fine. Add the tofu, nutritional yeast, milk, and turmeric. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to add a bit more milk.

In a medium bowl, combine the tofu mixture and spinach mixture. You can stir in some cheese if you’d like, too. Line a pie plate with the pastry sheet, just like a pie crust. Pour the tofu/spinach filling into the pie and spread around evenly.

Bake for 20 minutes. I then sprinkled the top with a mixture of Daiya cheddar and mozzarella and baked it another 10 minutes, or until the crust browned and the cheese is melted.

You will love this vegan quiche—a fabulous and easy breakfast. Thanks, Angela for sharing this winning recipe! 🙂

Angela's Vegan Quiche

This wonderful recipe comes from Angela of Vegangela, one of my favorite vegan bloggers. Her recipes all look amazing---I've bookmarked so many of them. I had to try this one out---perfect for Easter, by the way. The Sixth Grader remarked, "It's amazing," and The Husband, who loved quiche before going vegan, couldn't get enough of it. I made only one or two minor changes, otherwise, I followed Angela's recipe as she posted it. Next time I make it (and believe me, it will be a regular thing at my house) I'll add mushrooms. Angela also lists sun-dried tomatoes as another addition.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
½ bag fresh spinach or ½ package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained (I used 3 cups of fresh spinach)
½ cup cashews, soaked in water for an hour and drained
½ block firm tofu
¼ cup nutritional yeast
4 Tbs soy milk (I used almond milk)
½ tsp tumeric
Salt & pepper
1 package defrosted phyllo dough, or 1 vegan pie crust
¼ tsp paprika
1-2 tomatoes, sliced (optional)
1 C mushrooms, diced (optional)
½ C fresh basil, chopped (I added that to the spinach)
⅓ C Daiya cheese (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. If using the phyllo pastry sheet, be sure to thaw it according to the package instructions. I thought I was being so clever by placing it in a zip lock and placing it in warm water. Wrong. Since it's folded in thirds, it will meld together. I'm such a dork. So I ended up shaping it into a ball and rolling it out. No biggie, but really not as easy. I ended up piecing the darn thing together to make it fit into a pie plate and it came out funky, but still worked!
In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic. Add the onion and cook a few minutes---until they start to brown. Add the spinach (and basil, if using), along with some salt and pepper. Cook a few more minutes, or until the spinach starts to wilt; remove from heat.
Meanwhile in a food processor, grind the cashews up until fine. Add the tofu, nutritional yeast, milk, and turmeric. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to add a bit more milk.
In a medium bowl, combine the tofu mixture and spinach mixture. You can stir in some cheese if you'd like, too. Line a pie plate with the pastry sheet, just like a pie crust. Pour the tofu/spinach filling into the pie and spread around evenly.
Bake for 20 minutes. I then sprinkled the top with a mixture of Daiya cheddar and mozzarella and baked it another 10 minutes, or until the crust browned and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Vegetable-Barley Soup

April 21, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Yes, I am on a barley kick. Since I started using it (Vegetable-Barley Chili) I’ve been hooked. It has a lovely chewy texture that is ideal for soups and stews. In addition to the rainy weather, I needed to clean out the fridge of some veggies, so this soup worked out beautifully. Amazing flavor and ideal with some garlic toast or rolls.

INGREDIENTS:
4 C vegetable broth
3-4 C water
1/3 C pearled barley
1 zucchini, sliced then quartered
4 stalks celery, sliced
2 C mushrooms, sliced/quartered
3 medium carrots, sliced
4 large green onions, sliced
1/3 C light miso
1/3 C sherry
3 Tbs dried minced onion
2 Tbs dried chives
1 C fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp black pepper
3/4 C almond milk

DIRECTIONS:
Combine the broth, barley, zucchini, carrots, celery, minced onion, chives, and pepper in a large soup pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add 1-2 cups of water along with the mushrooms, green onions, miso, and sherry. Cook another 5-7 minutes. Add more water if you feel it’s too thick. Stir in the parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Vegetable-Barley Soup

Yes, I am on a barley kick. Since I started using it (Vegetable-Barley Chili) I've been hooked. It has a lovely chewy texture that is ideal for soups and stews. In addition to the rainy weather, I needed to clean out the fridge of some veggies, so this soup worked out beautifully. Amazing flavor and ideal with some garlic toast or rolls.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

4 C vegetable broth
3-4 C water
⅓ C pearled barley
1 zucchini, sliced then quartered
4 stalks celery, sliced
2 C mushrooms, sliced/quartered
3 medium carrots, sliced
4 large green onions, sliced
⅓ C light miso
⅓ C sherry
3 Tbs dried minced onion
2 Tbs dried chives
1 C fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp black pepper
¾ C almond milk

Directions

Combine the broth, barley, zucchini, carrots, celery, minced onion, chives, and pepper in a large soup pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add 1-2 cups of water along with the mushrooms, green onions, miso, and sherry. Cook another 5-7 minutes. Add more water if you feel it's too thick. Stir in the parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Grilled Vegetable Fajitas

April 20, 2011 by epicureanvegan

It’s that time of year to fire up the grill! For its 2011 inaugural grilling, we went with vegetable fajitas. Since I do most of the cooking, the Husband revels in the opportunity to be King of the Grill. I’ll gladly delegate that method of cooking to him. This is an easy, healthy meal to jump start your spring (as well as your grill)!

INGREDIENTS:
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 large onion, sliced into strips
1 medium zucchini, julienned
2 avocados, diced
1-1/2 C vegan cheese, shredded
Tofutti sour cream
Salsa
Fresh cilantro
6 flour tortillas
Marinade:
1/4 C olive oil
1/8 C red wine vinegar
1/8 C lime juice
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp Ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin

DIRECTIONS:
Using a large Zip-loc bag, or bowl, combine all of the vegetables.

In a small bowl, whisk together all of the marinade ingredients. Coat the veggies with the marinade and let sit for about an hour. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. We used a grill basket and while stirring often, we (I mean, the grill-master) cooked them for about 20 minutes.

On a warmed tortilla, add some Tofutti, veggie mix, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and salsa. Makes 6. Enjoy!

Grilled Vegetable Fajitas

It's that time of year to fire up the grill! For its 2011 inaugural grilling, we went with vegetable fajitas. Since I do most of the cooking, the Husband revels in the opportunity to be King of the Grill. I'll gladly delegate that method of cooking to him. This is an easy, healthy meal to jump start your spring (as well as your grill)!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

2 bell peppers, sliced
1 large onion, sliced into strips
1 medium zucchini, julienned
2 avocados, diced
1-1/2 C vegan cheese, shredded
Tofutti sour cream
Salsa
Fresh cilantro
6 flour tortillas
Marinade:
¼ C olive oil
⅛ C red wine vinegar
⅛ C lime juice
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp Ancho chili powder
½ tsp garlic salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin

Directions

Using a large Zip-loc bag, or bowl, combine all of the vegetables.
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the marinade ingredients. Coat the veggies with the marinade and let sit for about an hour. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. We used a grill basket and while stirring often, we (I mean, the grill-master) cooked them for about 20 minutes.
On a warmed tortilla, add some Tofutti, veggie mix, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and salsa. Makes 6. Enjoy!

Barley-Stuffed Bell Peppers

April 17, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Stuffed bell peppers are one of my favorite meals. They’re easy and versatile. This time, I decided to try something different: barley. In addition to being high in fiber, barley is also high in selenium, phosphorus, copper and manganese. And also because of its high B vitamin content, it has also shown to help lower cholesterol. Go barley!

INGREDIENTS:
1 C pearled barley
2-1/2 C water or vegetable broth
3 large peppers, or 4 medium ones
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 C pimentos, diced
6 large mushrooms, diced
1 Field Roast sausage, Apple Sage flavor (excellent source of protein)!
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 C vegan cheddar, shredded
1/3 C Tofutti sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Stir in the barley, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375. Cut the tops off the peppers, clean out the innards, wash, and set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic. Add the onion and Field Roast, which I just chopped up.

Add the mushrooms and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the barley, pimento, cheese, and sour cream. Combine well.

Stuff the peppers with the barley mixture. Press down with every scoop to maximize the full capacity of the pepper 🙂 Place into a baking dish.

Cover and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Barley-Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed bell peppers are one of my favorite meals. They're easy and versatile. This time, I decided to try something different: barley. In addition to being high in fiber, barley is also high in selenium, phosphorus, copper and manganese. And also because of its high B vitamin content, it has also shown to help lower cholesterol. Go barley!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 C pearled barley
2-1/2 C water or vegetable broth
3 large peppers, or 4 medium ones
½ red onion, diced
½ C pimentos, diced
6 large mushrooms, diced
1 Field Roast sausage, Apple Sage flavor (excellent source of protein)!
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp olive oil
¾ C vegan cheddar, shredded
⅓ C Tofutti sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Stir in the barley, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375. Cut the tops off the peppers, clean out the innards, wash, and set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic. Add the onion and Field Roast, which I just chopped up.
Add the mushrooms and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the barley, pimento, cheese, and sour cream. Combine well.
Stuff the peppers with the barley mixture. Press down with every scoop to maximize the full capacity of the pepper 🙂 Place into a baking dish.
Cover and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Baked Fries with Sea Salt and Truffle Oil

April 16, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Here I go again with the truffle oil . . . guarantee you’ll love these! Truffle oil on French fries just go together like PB&J. I brought these to a get together and they were gone in minutes! You can peel the potatoes if you’d like, but I’m not fond of the peeling process. If they don’t have to be peeled, you can bet I won’t do it. So it’s up to you.

INGREDIENTS:
6-7 small to medium russet potatoes
Truffle oil
Sea salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425. Scrub and/or peel the potatoes. Cut into fries and place in a bowl. Coat with the truffle oil. I didn’t measure it out—I used just enough to coat the fries, a little over a tablespoon. Sprinkle with salt—again, to taste and enough to coat the fries. I set the bowl aside for about an hour to let them marinate for a bit.

Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. After letting the fries sit for a while, the bowl had a lot of liquid from the potatoes. Use a slotted spoons or your hands to layer the fries on the baking sheet. I drizzled a bit more truffle on top and sprinkled a little more salt on them.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, then turn the fries as best you can. There’s no magic way to do this—just flip and move them around so that they don’t stick to the foil. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. For the last few minutes of baking, I switched to broil and browned them a tiny bit. I think they’re tasty on their own without any sauces, but either way, you’re sure to enjoy this decadent treat!

Baked Fries with Sea Salt and Truffle Oil

Here I go again with the truffle oil . . . guarantee you'll love these! Truffle oil on French fries just go together like PB&J. I brought these to a get together and they were gone in minutes! You can peel the potatoes if you'd like, but I'm not fond of the peeling process. If they don't have to be peeled, you can bet I won't do it. So it's up to you.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

6-7 small to medium russet potatoes
Truffle oil
Sea salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 425. Scrub and/or peel the potatoes. Cut into fries and place in a bowl. Coat with the truffle oil. I didn't measure it out---I used just enough to coat the fries, a little over a tablespoon. Sprinkle with salt---again, to taste and enough to coat the fries. I set the bowl aside for about an hour to let them marinate for a bit.
Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. After letting the fries sit for a while, the bowl had a lot of liquid from the potatoes. Use a slotted spoons or your hands to layer the fries on the baking sheet. I drizzled a bit more truffle on top and sprinkled a little more salt on them.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, then turn the fries as best you can. There's no magic way to do this---just flip and move them around so that they don't stick to the foil. Bake for another 15-20 minutes. For the last few minutes of baking, I switched to broil and browned them a tiny bit. I think they're tasty on their own without any sauces, but either way, you're sure to enjoy this decadent treat!

Vegetable-Barley Chili

April 14, 2011 by epicureanvegan

This morning, I awoke to this:

And this is how it is now . . . (same day, folks):

Living in Colorado my whole life, I should be used to this kind of schizophrenic weather, but it still amazes me when it happens. The good thing about this morning’s freak snow storm is that it kept me sequestered inside and busy writing. I planned on making just spaghetti for dinner, but like the weather, I switched it up and made this chili. I didn’t have all the ingredients I normally use, but I remember a friend telling me recently, that she uses barley in chili. I decided to give it a whirl. The family actually liked it better than my original chili recipe. If you’re not used to that much fiber (between the beans and the barley) I suggest easing up on the beans, perhaps.

INGREDIENTS:
2 14-oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
28-oz can diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
3/4 C pearled barley
1 Tbs olive oil
5-6 C water and/or vegetable broth
1 pkg chili seasoning or . . .
Homemade chili seasoning:
1 Tbs Ancho chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 Tbs dried minced onion
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbs ground dried chilies

DIRECTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot; saute the onions and bell pepper until slightly browned. Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and about 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then add the barley. Combine all the seasoning ingredients; add to the pot. Partially cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water (or broth) if needed in order to reach the consistency you want. Continue simmering for 10-15 minutes. Serve with some shredded vegan cheese and/or a dollop of Tofutti sour cream. Enjoy!

Vegetable-Barley Chili

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

2 14-oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
28-oz can diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
¾ C pearled barley
1 Tbs olive oil
5-6 C water and/or vegetable broth
1 pkg chili seasoning or . . .
Homemade chili seasoning:
1 Tbs Ancho chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 Tbs dried minced onion
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 Tbs ground dried chilies

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot; saute the onions and bell pepper until slightly browned. Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and about 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then add the barley. Combine all the seasoning ingredients; add to the pot. Partially cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water (or broth) if needed in order to reach the consistency you want. Continue simmering for 10-15 minutes. Serve with some shredded vegan cheese and/or a dollop of Tofutti sour cream. Enjoy!

Warm Pasta Salad

April 13, 2011 by epicureanvegan

I tend to make cold pasta salads in the spring and summer and I think I’ve been craving them, but I went with making it warm—just seemed like the thing to do. It came out delicious and I’m anxious to try the chilled leftovers!

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb bow-tie pasta
2 C fresh spinach, chopped
1 C parsley, chopped
1/2 C fresh basil, chopped
3 green onions, sliced
1 bell pepper (any variety), diced
2 tomatoes, chopped
Optional: vegan Parmesan
Dressing:
3 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp truffle oil
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
1/3 C Tofutti sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain. Return to the pan and add the spinach, basil, parsley, green onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes.

In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients; add to the pasta mixture and coat well and enjoy!

Warm Pasta Salad

I tend to make cold pasta salads in the spring and summer and I think I've been craving them, but I went with making it warm---just seemed like the thing to do. It came out delicious and I'm anxious to try the chilled leftovers!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 lb bow-tie pasta
2 C fresh spinach, chopped
1 C parsley, chopped
½ C fresh basil, chopped
3 green onions, sliced
1 bell pepper (any variety), diced
2 tomatoes, chopped
Optional: vegan Parmesan
Dressing:
3 Tbs balsamic vinegar
½ tsp truffle oil
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
⅓ C Tofutti sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain. Return to the pan and add the spinach, basil, parsley, green onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes.
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients; add to the pasta mixture and coat well and enjoy!

Savory Asparagus Tart

Potato and Kale Enchiladas

Crispy “Chicken” Salad

Angela’s Vegan Quiche

Vegetable-Barley Soup

Grilled Vegetable Fajitas

Barley-Stuffed Bell Peppers

Baked Fries with Sea Salt and Truffle Oil

Vegetable-Barley Chili

Warm Pasta Salad

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