Archives for February 2012

Paella Primavera

February 7, 2012 by epicureanvegan

Like many of you, I received the latest issue of Vegetarian Times yesterday . . . when I saw this recipe on the cover, I had to make it. I didn’t have all the same ingredients, so I improvised, plus I added some other seasonings. It came out delicious! Next time, I think I’ll try using barley instead of rice and maybe use zucchini instead of broccoli. It helps to have all of your ingredients chopped and ready to go first. Despite some prep work, this dish came together quickly and I liked that I only needed one pan.

Adapted from Vegetarian Times

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
2 C broccoli florets
1 red bell pepper, chopped
6 green onions, sliced
3 C vegetable broth
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 C white rice
1 C corn kernels
12 pitted green olives, halved
12 pitted black olives, halved
1/4 C fresh parsley, chopped
Salt, pepper, and cumin, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli, bell pepper, and green onion. Cook about 5-6 minutes.

Stir in the broth and garlic; bring to a boil. Stir in the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the corn and olives; cover and cook another 8 minutes.

Season with salt, pepper, and cumin and serve with a pinch or two of fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Paella Primavera

Like many of you, I received the latest issue of Vegetarian Times yesterday . . . when I saw this recipe on the cover, I had to make it. I didn't have all the same ingredients, so I improvised, plus I added some other seasonings. It came out delicious! Next time, I think I'll try using barley instead of rice and maybe use zucchini instead of broccoli. It helps to have all of your ingredients chopped and ready to go first. Despite some prep work, this dish came together quickly and I liked that I only needed one pan.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
2 C broccoli florets
1 red bell pepper, chopped
6 green onions, sliced
3 C vegetable broth
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 C white rice
1 C corn kernels
12 pitted green olives, halved
12 pitted black olives, halved
¼ C fresh parsley, chopped
Salt, pepper, and cumin, to taste

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli, bell pepper, and green onion. Cook about 5-6 minutes.
Stir in the broth and garlic; bring to a boil. Stir in the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in the corn and olives; cover and cook another 8 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, and cumin and serve with a pinch or two of fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Pay it Forward . . . Please

February 6, 2012 by epicureanvegan

I just returned from the grocery store and I wanted to share with all of you something that occurred. A young woman in line next me could not afford all of her groceries. Her cart held a few leftover items like produce, eggs, toiletries. It broke my heart. I edged over and offered to pay for the rest, but she refused to let me, saying, “It’s ok, really.” When the woman left, the customer who was in line behind her, said to me, “Maybe you shouldn’t have done that; it just embarrassed her.”

Ouch! Well of course that wasn’t my intention and I apologize if I did that, but is that the new excuse for not helping out a fellow human? “Oh, I might embarrass them.” If that’s true, what a depressing state of mankind. I told the woman this and she shrugged. If it wasn’t my turn in line, I would have found a box to stand on, grab the intercom and said, “Can I get a reality check at register 12?” I said I wouldn’t ever apologize for offering to help someone out and that perhaps by seeing me extend a hand, someone else will offer help to a person in need.

This woman had a small child with her and I found it sad that she’d rather teach her child to be apathetic, than show him the importance of paying it forward.

Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for what I have. I live a pretty comfortable life that allows me to stay at home, write, cook, buy my kid nice clothes, etc. I don’t offer to help people because I want a pat on the back. I do it because it’s the right thing to do. Plain and simple. When I was 21, I stood in the Medicaid/Welfare line carrying my newborn son in a car carrier. I was a single parent and I know how difficult, if not impossible it is to get ahead when you don’t have money. I was lucky that my parents could help, but if I didn’t have their support, I would hope someone would at least offer to help—whether I was willing to take it or not.

This incident reminds me of a documentary I saw a few weeks ago called “I Am.” It asks the questions, What is wrong with the world and how can we fix it?

It is a powerful movie with an incredible message that I think we all need to hear.

Maybe I overstepped my societal boundaries at the store today—I don’t know. I hope not. And I hope we haven’t come to that as a community, as a society, or as a race.

What do you think?

Lemony Pan-Fried Chickpeas with Chard

February 4, 2012 by epicureanvegan

This recipe is from Color Me Vegan and considering I love chickpeas, (a.k.a garbanzo beans) and chard, this is a new favorite. I would, however, make a few changes next time. Even though chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein, and have no saturated fat, they do sport 90 calories per half a cup. Given this, I would use just half a can and even double the chard. So what to do with the other half of beans? Make a small batch of hummus, perfect for a few sandwiches during the week. I could have eaten the entire pan of this, which would not have been wise, so reducing the amount of chickpeas and adding more chard, I think, is a smart way to go. Otherwise, share this dish with plenty of others! (The recipe below is sans my suggestions.)

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained
1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
1 small lemon
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
Black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add the chickpeas and cook 10 minutes, or until the beans begin to brown.

Stir in the chard and cook until it begins to wilt and cook down, about 5-7 minutes. Zest the lemon over the pan, then cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one half over the mixture. (Watch out for seeds). Stir well to combine. Add salt, pepper, and more lemon, if desired. (If you go with my suggestions, you can use the leftover lemon—if there is any— in the hummus). Serve immediately, or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Lemony Pan-Fried Chickpeas with Chard

This recipe is from Color Me Vegan and considering I love chickpeas, (a.k.a garbanzo beans) and chard, this is a new favorite. I would, however, make a few changes next time. Even though chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein, and have no saturated fat, they do sport 90 calories per half a cup. Given this, I would use just half a can and even double the chard. So what to do with the other half of beans? Make a small batch of hummus, perfect for a few sandwiches during the week. I could have eaten the entire pan of this, which would not have been wise, so reducing the amount of chickpeas and adding more chard, I think, is a smart way to go. Otherwise, share this dish with plenty of others! (The recipe below is sans my suggestions.)

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained
1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
1 small lemon
½ tsp salt, or to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add the chickpeas and cook 10 minutes, or until the beans begin to brown.
Stir in the chard and cook until it begins to wilt and cook down, about 5-7 minutes. Zest the lemon over the pan, then cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one half over the mixture. (Watch out for seeds). Stir well to combine. Add salt, pepper, and more lemon, if desired. (If you go with my suggestions, you can use the leftover lemon---if there is any--- in the hummus). Serve immediately, or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Granola Bars

February 3, 2012 by epicureanvegan

These are packed with nutty love! They’re also simple to make and grab while you’re on the go. You can sub in your favorite nuts, dried fruit, or even some chopped coconut. Go wild!

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 C quick oats
2 Tbs brown rice flour
2 Tbs quinoa flakes
1/2 C nuts, chopped (I used peanuts and pecans)
1/4 C sunflower seeds
1/4 Cchia seeds
2 Tbs flaxseeds
1/2 C dried fruit, chopped (I used Craisins)
1/2 C dark chocolate chips
3 Tbs almond butter
1 small avocado, peeled and pitted
2 Tbs brown rice syrup
3 Tbs almond milk
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, quinoa flakes, nuts, seeds, fruit, and chocolate chips.

Using a fork, mash up the avocado. Add the almond butter, almond milk, syrup, and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients and thoroughly combine. Lightly oil an 8″ baking pan and press the mixture evenly in the dish.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.

Cool the pan on a rack, then cut into squares. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Granola Bars

These are packed with nutty love! They're also simple to make and grab while you're on the go. You can sub in your favorite nuts, dried fruit, or even some chopped coconut. Go wild!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

¾ C quick oats
2 Tbs brown rice flour
2 Tbs quinoa flakes
½ C nuts, chopped (I used peanuts and pecans)
¼ C sunflower seeds
¼ Cchia seeds
2 Tbs flaxseeds
½ C dried fruit, chopped (I used Craisins)
½ C dark chocolate chips
3 Tbs almond butter
1 small avocado, peeled and pitted
2 Tbs brown rice syrup
3 Tbs almond milk
1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, quinoa flakes, nuts, seeds, fruit, and chocolate chips.
Using a fork, mash up the avocado. Add the almond butter, almond milk, syrup, and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients and thoroughly combine. Lightly oil an 8" baking pan and press the mixture evenly in the dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
Cool the pan on a rack, then cut into squares. Enjoy!

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

February 1, 2012 by epicureanvegan

This is a great salad to take to work for lunch, a mid-day snack, or even for a picnic. I typically steam kale, but if I’m not careful, it’s easy to deplete it of nutrients if I steam it too much. Raw kale can be awfully bitter, but chopped and served with other veggies and this tahini dressing, it tastes amazing. The dressing recipe is for 2 large bunches of kale, making at least 4 good-sized salad servings. Like any salad, you can throw in your favorite ingredients and actually be excited about lunch! (and be sure to read about kale’s super powers)!

INGREDIENTS:
Dressing:
1/2 C tahini
1 Tbs miso
1 Tbs tamari
1/2 tsp lime juice
1 tps agave
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbs garlic, minced
3/4 C water
Variation: You can use almond butter instead of tahini, in which case, I’d leave out the agave since almond butter is sweeter. I also sometimes add in a Tbs of chia seeds.
The rest:
2 large bunches of kale, chopped
I dice up cucumber, mushrooms, red onion, and green onions. I also threw in some Craisins and slivered almonds.

DIRECTIONS:
Put all the dressing ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth.

Combine the chopped kale with your other salad ingredients and toss well to combine.

(This is just one bunch of kale)

Pour the dressing over the salad and massage into the kale with your hands. Enjoy!

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

This is a great salad to take to work for lunch, a mid-day snack, or even for a picnic. I typically steam kale, but if I'm not careful, it's easy to deplete it of nutrients if I steam it too much. Raw kale can be awfully bitter, but chopped and served with other veggies and this tahini dressing, it tastes amazing. The dressing recipe is for 2 large bunches of kale, making at least 4 good-sized salad servings. Like any salad, you can throw in your favorite ingredients and actually be excited about lunch!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Dressing:
½ C tahini
1 Tbs miso
1 Tbs tamari
½ tsp lime juice
1 tps agave
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbs garlic, minced
¾ C water
Variation: You can use almond butter instead of tahini, in which case, I'd leave out the agave since almond butter is sweeter. I also sometimes add in a Tbs of chia seeds.
The rest:
2 large bunches of kale, chopped
I dice up cucumber, mushrooms, red onion, and green onions. I also threw in some Craisins and slivered almonds.

Directions

Put all the dressing ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth.
Combine the chopped kale with your other salad ingredients and toss well to combine.
Pour the dressing over the salad and massage into the kale with your hands. Enjoy!

Paella Primavera

Pay it Forward . . . Please

Lemony Pan-Fried Chickpeas with Chard

Gluten-Free Granola Bars

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

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