Epicurean Vegan, Author at Epicurean Vegan

BBQ Cauliflower Salad

June 28, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

I never used to like cauliflower, mostly because I never really knew a tasty way to prepare it. Then, I discovered it makes great “chicken wings.” So why not “chicken wing” salad? This is salad is no joke. It’s also easier than you might think to make. The cauliflower takes very little time to prepare and the rest is chop-chop.

I used OrganicVille BBQ sauce and Follow Your Heart Vegan Ranch Dressing
Pre-roasted cauliflower . . .

BBQ Cauliflower Salad

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

40 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower florets
6-7 oz BBQ sauce (I used half of a 13.5 oz bottle)
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
⅛ tsp cayenne
½ tsp cumin
1 tsp lime juice
6 C lettuce, chopped
1 C red onion, diced
2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
2 carrots, grated
1 tomato, diced
1 C green onion, sliced
Vegan ranch dressing
Optional ingredients: cilantro, vegan cheese, corn

Directions

To prepare the cauliflower, preheat oven to 350.
Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet. I tried to keep the cauliflower pieces around the same size so that they cook evenly. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
Pour the BBQ sauce over the cauliflower and stir well to coat. Bake another 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the black beans with the garlic powder, salt, pepper, cayenne, cumin and lime juice.
To assemble, start with a bed of lettuce, then add the beans. Top with the rest of the veggies and drizzle on some vegan ranch dressing. Enjoy!

A Spectacular Superfood Salad

June 26, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

So what’s a superfood, you might ask? Well, according to the online dictionary, it’s “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” That sounds about right. Chances are, your fridge and pantry are stocked with these very ingredients and a salad is a great way to make the most of them—all in one bite. You won’t find meat and dairy labeled as superfoods. Ever. (Okay, some people consider salmon a superfood, but it’s really the omegas they’re after, which are readily found in plant foods). I made a very light dressing to coat the salad, also packed with immune-boosting deliciousness, so dig in and feel super energized, super healthy, and super happy with this spectacular superfood salad!

The super benefits:

Kale: high in fiber, iron, Vitamin K, C, and A; an anti-inflammatory food, supports cardiovascular health and is full of antioxidants.
Spinach: high in Vitamin A, K, D and E; good source of omega-3 fatty acids, loaded with antioxidants (fights cancer & inflammation), rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as carotenoids for eye health.
Pepitas (pumpkin seeds): high in magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber and anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also high in tryptophan—you know, the “sleep hormone” found in turkey? Sprinkle some pepitas on your next Thanksgiving dish and enjoy the same post-meal nap without the dead bird.
Walnuts: cancer-fighting properties, heart health benefits, extremely high in antioxidants, as well as Vitamin E, folate, melatonin and omega-3 fatty acids.
Red onion: high in quercetin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Blueberries: said to help with memory decline, reduce heart attack risk, and are full of antioxidants. Also high in Vitamin K, manganese and fiber.
Chia seeds: high in protein, fiber, phosphorus, manganese, calcium and potassium. They also contain healthy antioxidants and are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas): high in fiber, protein, manganese, and iron. They can also stabilize blood sugar and help lower one’s cholesterol.

A Spectacular Superfood Salad

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

2 heads of kale, stems removed and discarded, leaves chopped small
3 C spinach, chopped small
2 C fresh or dried blueberries
1 C red onion, diced small
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
½ C pepitas
1 C walnuts, chopped
.
Dressing
.
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs yellow miso
1 Tbs tahini
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 T lemon juice
½ tsp chia seeds
¼ C water

Directions

Toss all of the salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Let the dressing sit about 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to thicken the dressing just a bit.
Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat thoroughly. Enjoy!

The Forty-Year-Old Vegan

June 25, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

Nope not me. Thank goodness. I still have a few more years before I hit the little eff. The Husband, however, gets the honor of hitting this milestone first. He took it all in stride and even had a whiskey flight to lessen the blow.

So for the big day, I asked him what he wanted to do: restaurant or eat at home. Petrified of singing waiters, he happily opted for dinner at home. He couldn’t decide what he wanted, so he chose two favorites that really don’t go together, but hey, it’s his day.

Yep. Tacos and Mac n’ Cheese. Two of his favorites. He thought he had died and gone to some vegan buffet. For dessert, I wanted to try making carrot cake and I found this excellent recipe from Love and Lemons.

The cake is delicious! I would certainly make this again, however, I’d probably go with a vegan cream cheese frosting rather than the macadamia nut frosting. It was still good, but I think we all preferred the traditional cream cheese kind.

So my present to myself (for his birthday) is I got a new site! (I sure hope you noticed). Isn’t it be-u-tee-ful?! I’m still playing around with some stuff, but I’m loving the new look. My friend Carolyn, who is starting her own design business created this much more user-friendly, easier-on-the-eye site. Email me via the fancy new contact page, if you’d like to get Carolyn’s info—she does great work!

I will be posting a new recipe in a day or two and thanks to the new layout, you’ll have the ability to print the recipe! (Yes, I know, I’m a so behind the times). See you soon!

Black Bean & Field Roast Enchiladas with Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce

June 9, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

Oh yes, this is as delicious as it sounds and simple to make as well. Technically, they’re not really enchiladas, but more of an enchilada casserole. You can certainly roll the corn tortillas, but sometimes I find that they fall apart so easily and I didn’t want to lose my mind making dinner. Anyhow, I love using Field Roast (aside from the great taste) because they’re not made from strange ingredients; it’s all wheat, veggies and seasonings. And our omnivore friends also like it because it’s a satisfying meat sub that even they like.

INGREDIENTS:
1 to 2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 C red onion, diced
1 Field Roast sausage link, Chipotle flavor, broken into small chunks
1 medium zucchini, quartered, then sliced
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 C corn kernels
18 6″ corn tortillas
1 16-oz jar salsa verde
1 C cilantro, chopped
3/4 C green onion, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce
1-1/2 C unsalted cashews
1 large clove of garlic
1 C water
2 Tbs lime juice
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 jarred roasted red pepper

DIRECTIONS:
To begin, place the cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them soak while you prepare the enchiladas. Preheat oven to 375. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic; add the red onion and cook until it begins to soften over medium heat. Add the Field Roast and cook about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and saute until it begins to soften a bit—not too much—it will cook more in the oven. Stir in the black beans and corn and cook until heated through, 3-4 minutes.

Pour half of the salsa verde into a 9×13″ baking pan and spread it evenly on the bottom. Lay 6 corn tortillas on the bottom, overlapping them, but covering the entire pan. Place half of the black bean mixture on top and add another 6 tortillas. Finish up by layering on the rest of the veggies, topping them with the remaining 6 tortillas.
Pour the rest of the salsa verde on top and spread it around evenly to coat the tortillas. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. While that cooks, make the sauce. Drain the cashews and add them to the food processor, along with the garlic. Puree for a minute, scraping the bowl if necessary. While the machine is running, add the water, lime juice, salt, and nutritional yeast; blend until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the roasted red pepper and puree until smooth.
Transfer to a medium sauce pan and heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring often until hot.
Pour the cashew sauce over the enchiladas (I didn’t use all of the sauce—leftovers would be great for nachos)! and top with the cilantro, green onion and tomatoes. Slice and enjoy!

Black Bean & Field Roast Enchiladas with Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce

Oh yes, this is as delicious as it sounds and simple to make as well. Technically, they're not really enchiladas, but more of an enchilada casserole. You can certainly roll the corn tortillas, but sometimes I find that they fall apart so easily and I didn't want to lose my mind making dinner. Anyhow, I love using Field Roast (aside from the great taste) because they're not made from strange ingredients; it's all wheat, veggies and seasonings. And our omnivore friends also like it because it's a satisfying meat sub that even they like.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 to 2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 C red onion, diced
1 Field Roast sausage link, Chipotle flavor, broken into small chunks
1 medium zucchini, quartered, then sliced
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
½ C corn kernels
18 6" corn tortillas
1 16-oz jar salsa verde
1 C cilantro, chopped
¾ C green onion, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce
1-1/2 C unsalted cashews
1 large clove of garlic
1 C water
2 Tbs lime juice
¾ tsp salt
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 jarred roasted red pepper

Directions

To begin, place the cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them soak while you prepare the enchiladas. Preheat oven to 375. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic; add the red onion and cook until it begins to soften over medium heat. Add the Field Roast and cook about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and saute until it begins to soften a bit---not too much---it will cook more in the oven. Stir in the black beans and corn and cook until heated through, 3-4 minutes.
Pour half of the salsa verde into a 9x13" baking pan and spread it evenly on the bottom. Lay 6 corn tortillas on the bottom, overlapping them, but covering the entire pan. Place half of the black bean mixture on top and add another 6 tortillas. Finish up by layering on the rest of the veggies, topping them with the remaining 6 tortillas.
Pour the rest of the salsa verde on top and spread it around evenly to coat the tortillas. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. While that cooks, make the sauce. Drain the cashews and add them to the food processor, along with the garlic. Puree for a minute, scraping the bowl if necessary. While the machine is running, add the water, lime juice, salt, and nutritional yeast; blend until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the roasted red pepper and puree until smooth.
Transfer to a medium sauce pan and heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring often until hot.
Pour the cashew sauce over the enchiladas (I didn't use all of the sauce---leftovers would be great for nachos)! and top with the cilantro, green onion and tomatoes. Slice and enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto & Sun-dried Tomatoes

June 7, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

I’d often see recipes using zucchini noodles and of course, they look delicious. I finally broke down and spent the $15 (minus 20% coupon from BB&B) and got the spiralizer.
This fancy little thing also works with carrots, potatoes, squash, etc. We planted zucchini this year, so I have a feeling this will come in handy this summer. We loved the noodles and even The Tenth Grader said he liked them more than pasta. It’s very easy to use and it gives you the option of making thin or thick noodles. We found that the thick noodles worked better. I had the teenager on it:
All I had to do was make the pesto and chop up the sun-dried tomatoes and dinner was ready in no time. Since there was only the two of us for this meal, we used just 2 zucchinis, but the pesto recipe makes enough for about 6 zucchinis. I also didn’t peel the zucchini, but you certainly may if you wish. The noodles can be pretty long, so you may want to cut them as you go for more manageable strands. Another thing, is that I slightly sauteed the noodles, but feel free to make this a raw meal by skipping that step.

INGREDIENTS:
2-6 medium zucchinis (depending on how many servings you’d like; about 1 zucchini per serving)
1/4 to 1/2 C sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
Optional: Vegan Parmesan
1-2 Tbs Earth Balance
Pesto:
2 C fresh basil leaves
1 C spinach
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1/2 C pine nuts or sunflower seeds

DIRECTIONS:
To make the pesto, combine all of the ingredients in a food processor, except for the pine nuts, and blend until smooth. Then add the pine nuts and process another minute.

In a large skillet, melt the Earth Balance and add the spiralized zucchini.
Saute for only 3-4 minutes–just enough to warm the noodles. Again, you can omit this step for a raw-licious version. Zucchini cooks down fast, so don’t overdo it. Serve with a scoop or two of pesto, a few sun-dried tomatoes, and vegan Parmesan (if you’d like). Enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto & Sun-dried Tomatoes

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

4 mins

Total time

19 mins

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

2-6 medium zucchinis (depending on how many servings you'd like; about 1 zucchini per serving)
¼ to ½ C sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
Optional: Vegan Parmesan
1-2 Tbs Earth Balance
Pesto:
2 C fresh basil leaves
1 C spinach
¼ C olive oil
¼ C lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
½ C pine nuts or sunflower seeds

Directions

To make the pesto, combine all of the ingredients in a food processor, except for the pine nuts, and blend until smooth. Then add the pine nuts and process another minute.
In a large skillet, melt the Earth Balance and add the spiralized zucchini. Saute for only 3-4 minutes--just enough to warm the noodles. Again, you can omit this step for a raw-licious version. Zucchini cooks down fast, so don't overdo it.
Serve with a scoop or two of pesto, a few sun-dried tomatoes, and vegan Parmesan (if you'd like). Enjoy!

Homemade Veggie Sushi Rolls

June 3, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

We love going out for veggie sushi rolls and after attempting to make them at home, we still love going out for sushi. It was certainly an experience and I’m sure those of you out there who can whip out a veggie roll and cleanly cut it into 8 beautiful pieces in ten seconds, are rolling your eyes right now, but I am happy to let you folks make my veggie sushi for now on. Here’s what I learned:

Sushi rice is called “sticky rice” for a reason; It. Sticks. To. Everything. (Including feet. Yes, you will find it between your toes)
Sharp knives are a must, not the ones we’ve had for nearly 12 years and have been sharpened once (Yes, I’m taking them in this week)
The Tenth-Grader has WAY more patience and optimism than I, thank goodness.
Contrary to popular belief, making sushi is not a zen-full experience.

What You’ll Need:

Sushi rice
Nori (seaweed wraps)
Veggies
Bamboo rolling mat (helpful, but not imperative)
Jarred ginger
Wasabi powder/paste
Soy sauce or tamari
Small bowl of water with a splash or two of rice vinegar.
Patience, a good attitude and perhaps some saki.

To begin with, the rice will take about 15 minutes. Going by package instructions, I combined 1-1/2 cups of water with 2 cups of rice to make 4 cups of rice (minus about 1/2 C that stuck to the bottom of the pan). This made about 5 rolls of a few good-looking and some very ugly rolls, varying in sizes. (As you may have guessed, this probably won’t be the most precise method of making sushi rolls). Transfer the rice to a wooden bowl (that is important, but I’m not sure why).

As far as veggies go, we went with avocado, carrot, cucumber, and mushrooms. They don’t have to all go on one roll; use whatever combo you’d like. I recommend using carrot peelings, unless you slice the carrot pretty thin, otherwise, it can be a pain in the butt to cut (especially if your knives are dull…) We found that the thinner things are sliced, the easier it is to pile the veggies in the roll.

To assemble . . .
Lay the bamboo mat out. To make small rolls, cut the nori sheet in half and place on the mat, shiny side down.Wet your hands with some of the water/rice vinegar and grab a large handful of the rice. The water helps keep the evil sticky rice from overtaking your hands. Press it onto the nori, leaving about an inch at the top; layer the veggies down the center.
(You can certainly add a lot more veggies).
Next, from the bottom, roll the bamboo mat up and squeeze the roll as you go. (That is such a terrible description, but I think you’ll figure it out). Very quickly, wet the top inch strip of nori, so that it will stick to the other end of the roll. This will all make sense when you try it. Hopefully, you’ll end up with a decent-looking roll:
When cutting, we found that wetting the knife also helped to keep the rice from sticking to the blade. The serrated knife worked well. We also made a nice fatty roll:
(We probably could have used less rice and more veggies). We also attempted the rice-on-the-outside rolls . . .
. . . but they were harder to cut.
Anyhow, we still ended up with some decent rolls. They weren’t pretty, but they still tasted great.
I love to mix about 1-1/2 tsp of wasabi paste with tamari or soy sauce, place a piece of ginger on the roll and dunk it all in the sauce. Delicious!! So I just might try this endeavor again (especially since I have half a bag of rice and several nori wrappers left). Any tip and tricks to making sushi is welcome, so let me know!

Dreamy, Creamy Pasta Salad

May 28, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

This is the perfect picnic pasta salad . . . okay, perfect for any time. Summer is around the corner and chances are, you’ve got some get togethers on the horizon (the Fourth of July will be here before you know it), so this is a flavor-packed, crowd-pleasing salad sure to be gone in minutes. Note: One thing I’ve noticed, is that if I make it ahead of time and refrigerate it, the consistency loses some of its creaminess. If you are making this ahead, I suggest refrigerating the sauce separately, then stirring it in before serving. You may find that the sauce may need a tiny bit more liquid, so I suggest adding some almond milk or water first.

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz of pasta
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 C green onion, sliced
2 carrots, shredded
Sauce:
2 cloves of garlic
12.3-oz pkg. Mori-Nu Silken tofu, firm or extra firm
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbs yellow miso
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dill
2 Tbs vegan sour cream

DIRECTIONS:
Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Meanwhile, chop up the garlic cloves in the food processor, then add the remaining sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth, 1-2 minutes.

Add the veggies to a large bowl . . .
. . . add the pasta and then fold in the sauce. (Again, I suggest chilling the sauce separately until ready to serve. See my note above). Combine thoroughly; serve immediately, or chill in the fridge. Enjoy!

Dreamy, Creamy Pasta Salad

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

This is the perfect picnic pasta salad . . . okay, perfect for any time. Summer is around the corner and chances are, you've got some get togethers on the horizon (the Fourth of July will be here before you know it), so this is a flavor-packed, crowd-pleasing salad sure to be gone in minutes. Note: One thing I've noticed, is that if I make it ahead of time and refrigerate it, the consistency loses some of its creaminess. If you are making this ahead, I suggest refrigerating the sauce separately, then stirring it in before serving. You may find that the sauce may need a tiny bit more liquid, so I suggest adding some almond milk or water first.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

16-oz of pasta
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 C green onion, sliced
2 carrots, shredded
Sauce:
2 cloves of garlic
12.3-oz pkg. Mori-Nu Silken tofu, firm or extra firm
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbs yellow miso
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp dill
2 Tbs vegan sour cream

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Meanwhile, chop up the garlic cloves in the food processor, then add the remaining sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth, 1-2 minutes.
Add the veggies to a large bowl.
Add the pasta and then fold in the sauce. (Again, I suggest chilling the sauce separately until ready to serve. See my note above). Combine thoroughly; serve immediately, or chill in the fridge. Enjoy!

Hummus & Tomato Tart

May 27, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

This is great for a last minute appetizer and is extremely versatile. Change up the veggies, spices, and herbs and you have another great appetizer. I used Pillsbury crescent rolls (yes, they’re vegan) and I actually like them as a crust a bit more than puff pastry (which is also vegan). The crescent rolls have a fluffy layer effect that’s light and tasty. I cut the tart into 9 squares, but feel free to slice and dice the way you’d like.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (8 to a package)
1/3 to 1/2 C prepared hummus
2 tomatoes, sliced thin (about 9 slices)
1/3 C chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 9×13 baking sheet. Unroll the crescent rolls on the baking sheet and press the perforated edges to seal them. Using your fingers, firmly press the dough in several directions in order to get it to fit the baking sheet.

Bake for 9 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let it cool completely, then spread on the hummus, add the tomatoes and sprinkle on the basil. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Hummus & Tomato Tart

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

This is great for a last minute appetizer and is extremely versatile. Change up the veggies, spices, and herbs and you have another great appetizer. I used Pillsbury crescent rolls (yes, they're vegan) and I actually like them as a crust a bit more than puff pastry (which is also vegan). The crescent rolls have a fluffy layer effect that's light and tasty. I cut the tart into 9 squares, but feel free to slice and dice the way you'd like.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 pkg. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (8 to a package)
⅓ to ½ C prepared hummus
2 tomatoes, sliced thin (about 9 slices)
⅓ C chopped fresh basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 9x13 baking sheet.
Unroll the crescent rolls on the baking sheet and press the perforated edges to seal them. Using your fingers, firmly press the dough in several directions in order to get it to fit the baking sheet.
Bake for 9 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let it cool completely, then spread on the hummus, add the tomatoes and sprinkle on the basil. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Creamy Kale & Mushroom Pasta

May 24, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

Kale and mushrooms. Two of my favorite veggies. Together with pasta: a new favorite meal! It’s incredibly easy to make and will be ready in no time.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C onion, minced
3 Tbs flour, divided
1 C vegetable broth
Salt and pepper
1 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
3/4 C unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp lemon juice
2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced, then cut in half
2 C kale, torn into bite-sized pieces
1/2 C green onions, sliced
Optional: 1/3 C Dairy-free sour cream
12-14 ounces pasta of your choice (I used rotini)

DIRECTIONS:
Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat; cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions, and cook another 6-8 minutes, or until the onions are softened. Add two tablespoons of the flour and coat the onions well; cook 1 minute. Little by little, add the broth and whisk until the mixture is thickened. While I prepare the sauce, I had the kale and mushrooms in my steamer pot. They only need about 5-7 minutes to steam, so keep an eye on the pot; I find that kale can get bitter-tasting if it gets over-steamed. Once it turns bright green, it’s perfect—remove from heat.

Stir the nutritional yeast into the sauce, along with the salt, pepper, thyme and nutmeg. In a small cup, whisk together the almond milk with the remaining tablespoon of flour. Again, little by little, whisk it into the sauce until it has thickened. Stir in the lemon juice. Combine the cooked pasta with the green onions and the steamed kale and mushrooms.
Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and combine well. If using, add the sour cream and mix thoroughly. Season with more salt and pepper if you’d like, serve and enjoy!

Creamy Kale & Mushroom Pasta

Kale and mushrooms. Two of my favorite veggies. Together with pasta: a new favorite meal! It's incredibly easy to make and will be ready in no time.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ C onion, minced
3 Tbs flour, divided
1 C vegetable broth
Salt and pepper
1 tsp thyme
⅛ tsp nutmeg
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
¾ C unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp lemon juice
2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced, then cut in half
2 C kale, torn into bite-sized pieces
½ C green onions, sliced
Optional: ⅓ C Dairy-free sour cream
12-14 ounces pasta of your choice (I used rotini)

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat; cook for 3 minutes.
Add the onions, and cook another 6-8 minutes, or until the onions are softened.
Add two tablespoons of the flour and coat the onions well; cook 1 minute.
Little by little, add the broth and whisk until the mixture is thickened.
While I prepare the sauce, I had the kale and mushrooms in my steamer pot. They only need about 5-7 minutes to steam, so keep an eye on the pot; I find that kale can get bitter-tasting if it gets over-steamed. Once it turns bright green, it's perfect---remove from heat.
Stir the nutritional yeast into the sauce, along with the salt, pepper, thyme and nutmeg.
In a small cup, whisk together the almond milk with the remaining tablespoon of flour. Again, little by little, whisk it into the sauce until it has thickened.
Stir in the lemon juice.
Combine the cooked pasta with the green onions and the steamed kale and mushrooms.
Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and combine well.
If using, add the sour cream and mix thoroughly.
Season with more salt and pepper if you'd like, serve and enjoy!

Lime n’ Bean Tacos with Field Roast & Bell Peppers

May 23, 2014 by Epicurean Vegan

It doesn’t get much easier than this! These tacos take so little time to prepare, but are packed with flavor. Feel free to use flour tortillas, if you prefer and load up on the toppings. I went with non dairy sour cream, veg cheese and tomatoes. Avocados would have been great, but until they’re less than $1.59 a piece, I’ll hold off. With or without the guac, these make a delicious meal in minutes.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin, then halved
1 Field Roast sausage link, Chipotle flavor, broken into chunks
1 15-oz can tri-bean blend (pinto, kidney, black), drained and rinsed
2 Tbs lime juice
1/2 C cilantro, chopped
Optional toppings: tomato, avocado, sour cream, cheese, salsa
Taco shells, warmed

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes, or until they soften.

Add the Field Roast and cook another 5 minutes, or until it is heated through. Stir in the beans and cook until they are heated through. Stir in the lime and cilantro.
Scoop into the taco shells, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Lime n' Bean Tacos with Field Roast & Bell Peppers

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

20 mins

It doesn't get much easier than this! These tacos take so little time to prepare, but are packed with flavor. Feel free to use flour tortillas, if you prefer and load up on the toppings. I went with non dairy sour cream, veg cheese and tomatoes. Avocados would have been great, but until they're less than $1.59 a piece, I'll hold off. With or without the guac, these make a delicious meal in minutes.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
½ yellow onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin, then halved
1 Field Roast sausage link, Chipotle flavor, broken into chunks
1 15-oz can tri-bean blend (pinto, kidney, black), drained and rinsed
2 Tbs lime juice
½ C cilantro, chopped
Optional toppings: tomato, avocado, sour cream, cheese, salsa
Taco shells, warmed

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Add the onions and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes, or until they soften.
Add the Field Roast and cook another 5 minutes, or until it is heated through.
Stir in the beans and cook until they are heated through.
Stir in the lime and cilantro.
Scoop into the taco shells, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

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