Epicurean Vegan, Author at Epicurean Vegan

Jalapeno Popcorn

February 4, 2016 by Epicurean Vegan

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to bring this to you. Our dear friends (and neighbors) came up with this recipe a few years ago and it has been a staple every time we get together–which is a lot. Sadly, they are moving out-of-state, but they couldn’t leave without sharing the famous Jalapeno Popcorn recipe. This is the perfect Super Bowl snack (GO BRONCOS!) The jalapenos and nutritional yeast are a fantastic combination and I guarantee it will become your go-to snack for get togethers. Make it spicy or keep it tame; either way, you’ll love it!

INGREDIENTS:
1 to 1-1/2 C sliced jalapenos (I use jarred)
3 Tbs coconut oil
3/4 C popcorn kernels
2-3 Tbs vegan margarine, melted
Salt
Nutritional yeast

DIRECTIONS:
Using a slotted spoon, scoop the jalapeno slices onto a couple of paper towels.

Roll them up in the paper towel to soak up some of the liquid. If you want the popcorn extra hot, skip this step. Next, start to melt the coconut oil over medium-high heat and lay the jalapenos flat in the pan. Cover and let cook 2-3 minutes, or until the bottoms of the jalapenos just start to brown.
Dump in the popcorn, cover, and shake the pan a little. This will get the kernels on the bottom of the pan and move the peppers up on top of the kernels.
Cover and hold the lid closed tight and shake every 10-15 seconds to keep everything from burning. The kernels will start to pop after about 1-2 minutes. You will definitely need to run the oven fan because the jalapenos will fill the air! (You may suffer from Jalapeno Lung.) Once you stop hearing the popping, remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. The jalapenos will be a little crispy–yum! Jessie recommends using a slightly curved rubber spatula to drizzle and fold in the butter.
Sprinkle with salt, stir, then sprinkle with nutritional yeast.
Fold everything together again and add more seasoning, if needed. It’s so easy and so delicious! Thank you, Jessie!

Jalapeno Popcorn

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to bring this to you. Our dear friends (and neighbors) came up with this recipe a few years ago and it has been a staple every time we get together--which is a lot. Sadly, they are moving out-of-state, but they couldn't leave without sharing the famous Jalapeno Popcorn recipe. This is the perfect Super Bowl snack (GO BRONCOS!) The jalapenos and nutritional yeast are a fantastic combination and I guarantee it will become your go-to snack for get togethers. Make it spicy or keep it tame; either way, you'll love it!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

1 to 1-1/2 C sliced jalapenos (I use jarred)
3 Tbs coconut oil
¾ C popcorn kernels
2-3 Tbs vegan margarine, melted
Salt
Nutritional yeast

Directions

Using a slotted spoon, scoop the jalapeno slices onto a couple of paper towels.
Roll them up in the paper towel to soak up some of the liquid. If you want the popcorn extra hot, skip this step. Next, start to melt the coconut oil over medium-high heat and lay the jalapenos flat in the pan. Cover and let cook 2-3 minutes, or until the bottoms of the jalapenos just start to brown.
Dump in the popcorn, cover, and shake the pan a little. This will get the kernels on the bottom of the pan and move the peppers up on top of the kernels.
Cover and hold the lid closed tight and shake every 10-15 seconds to keep everything from burning. The kernels will start to pop after about 1-2 minutes. You will definitely need to run the oven fan because the jalapenos will fill the air! (You may suffer from Jalapeno Lung.) Once you stop hearing the popping, remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. The jalapenos will be a little crispy--yum! Jessie recommends using a slightly curved rubber spatula to drizzle and fold in the butter.
Sprinkle with salt, stir, then sprinkle with nutritional yeast.
Fold everything together again and add more seasoning, if needed. It's so easy and so delicious! Thank you, Jessie!

Roasted Sweet Potato, Apple & Fennel Soup

January 13, 2016 by Epicurean Vegan

This flavorful, easy to prepare soup is ideal for a cold winter night. The hint of curry and apple is the perfect pairing for this delicious, filling soup. Roast, puree, heat . . . it’s that easy.

INGREDIENTS:
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 Gala apples, quartered
1 fennel bulb, quartered
4 medium leeks, (white parts) sliced
3-4 cloves of garlic (with their skins)
2-3 Tbs olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 C vegetable stock
½ tsp yellow curry powder
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ C green onion, sliced
½ C toasted cashews, chopped
Croutons

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425.

Lightly coat the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay them out on a large baking sheet. (You will need two baking sheets.) I added four apple quarters to this pan as well.
Coat the fennel and leeks with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place onto another baking sheet, along with the other apple quarters.

Place the garlic cloves in the middle of a small square of foil and drizzle with oil; close the foil around the cloves and place onto one of the baking sheets.

Roast for 35 minutes.

Next, transfer the vegetables and garlic (removed from the skins) to a blender or food processor. You may have to divide it all in half and do two batches. I was able to fit everything in my blender. Add about 2 cups of the vegetable stock and blend everything for a minute or so. Add about another 1-1/4 cups of stock and puree until there are no longer any large chunks of vegetables.

Transfer the puree to a soup pot and whisk in the remaining stock. Add the curry, salt, and pepper. Heat over low-medium heat, stirring often. Once hot all the way through, serve the soup with croutons, green onion, and toasted cashews. Enjoy!

Roasted Sweet Potato, Apple & Fennel Soup

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

55 mins

This flavorful, easy to prepare soup is ideal for a cold winter night. The hint of curry and apple is the perfect pairing for this delicious, filling soup. Roast, puree, heat . . . it's that easy.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 Gala apples, quartered
1 fennel bulb, quartered
4 medium leeks, (white parts) sliced
3-4 cloves of garlic (with their skins)
2-3 Tbs olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 C vegetable stock
½ tsp yellow curry powder
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ C green onion, sliced
½ C toasted cashews, chopped
Croutons

Directions

Preheat oven to 425.
Lightly coat the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay them out on a large baking sheet. (You will need two baking sheets.) I added four apple quarters to this pan as well.
Coat the fennel and leeks with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place onto another baking sheet, along with the other apple quarters.
Place the garlic cloves in the middle of a small square of foil and drizzle with oil; close the foil around the cloves and place onto one of the baking sheets.
Roast for 35 minutes.
Next, transfer the vegetables and garlic (removed from the skins) to a blender or food processor. You may have to divide it all in half and do two batches. I was able to fit everything in my blender. Add about 2 cups of the vegetable stock and blend everything for a minute or so. Add about another 1-1/4 cups of stock and puree until there are no longer any large chunks of vegetables.
Transfer the puree to a soup pot and whisk in the remaining stock.
Add the curry, salt, and pepper. Heat over low-medium heat, stirring often.
Once hot all the way through, serve the soup with croutons, green onion, and toasted cashews. Enjoy!

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

January 3, 2016 by Epicurean Vegan

Talk about a tasty international combination! And why not? Two cuisines, Mexican and Italian come together beautifully for this amazing dish that will wow any meat eater. Oh, and it’s gluten-free! Voila! I mean . . . ole! Hmmm…okay, how about yum!

INGREDIENTS:
Enchilada sauce
28-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 C vegetable broth
2-1/2 tsp Ancho chili powder
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
3 jarred roasted red peppers
3 cloves of garlic
Cilantro Ricotta
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
2-1/2 C fresh cilantro
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 Tbs lime juice
The rest
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
1 C corn kernels
2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
4 C fresh baby spinach
18 5-inch corn tortillas
Optional toppings
Guacamole
Pepita seeds
Green onion, sliced
Vegan sour cream
Salsa
Lettuce, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Begin making the sauce by combining the diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Simmer for 15 minutes. Toss the garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, and half of the sauce into a food processor. Process until smooth, then return to the pan with the rest of the sauce. Simmer on low.

To make the cilantro ricotta, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion and green pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add the corn and black beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
Pour about half of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Place 6 tortilla shells on the bottom of pan, letting them overlap each other.
Spread a third of the ricotta on top of the tortillas:
Next, add a third of the spinach leaves, then a third of the bean mixture:
Repeat layering two more times then top with remaining sauce:
Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes. Top individual servings with the (optional) toppings and enjoy!

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

Talk about a tasty international combination! And why not? Two cuisines, Mexican and Italian come together beautifully for this amazing dish that will wow any meat eater. Oh, and it's gluten-free! Voila! I mean . . . ole! Hmmm...okay, how about yum!

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Enchilada sauce
28-oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
½ C vegetable broth
2-1/2 tsp Ancho chili powder
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
3 jarred roasted red peppers
3 cloves of garlic
Cilantro Ricotta
14-oz extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
2-1/2 C fresh cilantro
⅓ C nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cumin
2 Tbs lime juice
The rest
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped or diced
1 C corn kernels
2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
4 C fresh baby spinach
18 5-inch corn tortillas
Optional toppings
Guacamole
Pepita seeds
Green onion, sliced
Vegan sour cream
Salsa
Lettuce, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.
Begin making the sauce by combining the diced tomatoes, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Simmer for 15 minutes. Toss the garlic cloves, roasted red peppers, and half of the sauce into a food processor. Process until smooth, then return to the pan with the rest of the sauce. Simmer on low.
To make the cilantro ricotta, place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion and green pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables soften. Add the corn and black beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
Pour about half of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Place 6 tortilla shells on the bottom of pan, letting them overlap each other.
Spread a third of the ricotta on top of the tortillas.
Next, add a third of the spinach leaves, then a third of the bean mixture.
Repeat layering two more times then top with remaining sauce.
Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes. Top individual servings with the (optional) toppings and enjoy!

Baked Hummus & Spinach Dip

December 27, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Hummus and spinach . . . two of my favorites. So when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to not only veganize it, but I had to put my own twist on it. And I’m so happy with how it turned out (and so were my guests who gobbled it up).

INGREDIENTS:
Hummus
2 15-oz cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3-4 cloves of garlic
2/3 C tahini
1/3 C lemon juice
1/2 C water
1/4 C olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cumin
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne
1 C parsley
The rest
4 C chopped spinach
1 7-oz can diced green chilies, drained
1/2 C vegan mozzarella shreds
1/2 C vegan cheddar shreds
Pita chips, veggies, crackers

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Start with making the hummus. Combine all of the hummus in a food processor and blend for several minutes until completely smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Combine the two cheeses and set aside.

I then washed out the processor bowl and tossed the spinach in. I used almost a full bunch of spinach leaves and chopped it up in the food processor and ended up with about 4 cups. Add it to the bowl with the hummus along with 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture, and the green chilies.

Combine well and transfer to a shallow baking dish. (Really, anything larger than an 8×8″ baking dish is great.) Top with remaining cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy with pita chips, veggies, and crackers!

Baked Hummus & Spinach Dip

Hummus and spinach . . . two of my favorites. So when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to not only veganize it, but I had to put my own twist on it. And I'm so happy with how it turned out (and so were my guests who gobbled it up).

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

Hummus
2 15-oz cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3-4 cloves of garlic
⅔ C tahini
⅓ C lemon juice
½ C water
¼ C olive oil
½ tsp salt
¾ tsp cumin
¼ to ½ tsp cayenne
1 C parsley
The rest
4 C chopped spinach
1 7-oz can diced green chilies, drained
½ C vegan mozzarella shreds
½ C vegan cheddar shreds
Pita chips, veggies, crackers

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.
Start with making the hummus. Combine all of the hummus in a food processor and blend for several minutes until completely smooth. Transfer to a large bowl.
Combine the two cheeses and set aside.
I then washed out the processor bowl and tossed the spinach in. I used almost a full bunch of spinach leaves and chopped it up in the food processor and ended up with about 4 cups.
Add it to the bowl with the hummus along with ½ cup of the cheese mixture, and the green chilies.
Combine well and transfer to a shallow baking dish. (Really, anything larger than an 8x8" baking dish is great.) Top with remaining cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy with pita chips, veggies, and crackers!

An Evening of Compassion & Fashion

December 21, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Vegan Outreach fundraiser hosted by Vickerey, an online vegan retailer based out of Boulder, Colorado. Vickerey was founded by Steve Knight and his wife, Sarah Keith fourteen years ago, and they recently moved into their new, beautiful offices at 5660 Valmont Road in Boulder.
And this kitchen . . .
Sarah and Steve are also offering this amazing space to rent for events. I could have a party here every week . . . If you’re interested in renting this space, call them at 303-468-2600.

Vickerey, a.k.a. earthy luxe, pretty much offers my fantasy closet. It is filled with high-quality clothing (for men and women); cosmetics; accessories; home & office wares; yoga gear; and so much more . . . and all 100% vegan.

“We started Vickerey because we wanted to live well, but live our values, too. We wanted to make it easier to find great products that also happened to be animal-friendly, without having to spend hours vetting items in every store or sacrificing quality or style. So, we created Vickerey to offer this all in one place, hopefully appealing to vegans and non-vegans alike. That’s what compassionate living means to us.”

~ Sarah Keith, co-founder of Vickerey

Because they believe so strongly in compassionate living and want to pay-it-forward, Steve and Sarah hosted a fundraiser for Vegan Outreach, a non-profit organization made up of over 500 volunteers who tirelessly campaign on behalf of animals. We had the pleasure of hearing Lori Stultz and Lisa Rimmert speak about their work and how important the organization’s mission is. They have so much love dedication for what they do.

This year, thanks to donations, they have distributed 1.1 million leaflets across the country. They also have a strong presence in Australia, Canada, and Mexico. They primarily focus on college campuses through their Adopt a College program that aims to educate America’s youth, whose voices are integral in making change. One of my favorite things they’ve started is The Compassionate Athlete booklet that helps student athletes see that they can actually be stronger and healthier without animal products.
They’re making big differences! Meat consumption is way down—last year, 400 million fewer animals were slaughtered. I think Vegan Outreach and the work they do, has a lot to do with it. But of course, they need help, so please consider donating. They also have some great products to buy that support their work as well. (I love these restaurant cards!)
These types of things help. It’s important to recognize and acknowledge the efforts that companies and restaurants do so that they continue to support vegans—and maybe even double or even triple their efforts.

We also had the amazing opportunity to hear from author and co-founder (with Jane Goodall) of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: Citizens for Responsible Animal Behavior Studies. (You must read his bio!) Marc is the author of 30+ books, most recently, Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence.
Bekoff explains that rewilding is about re-enchanting ourselves with nature again—because it is, after all, in our nature, what he calls biophilia; as humans, we are inherently attracted to nature. Among many endeavors, Marc is working to show that there is no difference between violence against another human and violence against an animal. It was really an honor to hear him speak. I encourage you to check out his books and read about his work.

The great thing about events like this, are the other attendees you get an opportunity to meet. We were thrilled to learn about Be Zero with founder, Andrea Sanders. You want to talk trash? Andrea’s your gal! What a delight she is! It was also an educational experience on trash and recycling. Even her business cards are on trash! Love it.
Be Zero is a non-profit that aims to educate and offer support on how to live simply and reduce trash. Andrea offers classes on how to do just that with the Trash Diet Workshop where she shows participants how to, among many things, eliminate household waste, toxic cleaning products, and processed foods. Her January 9th class is full, but I’m definitely going to sign up for a future class. Andrea pointed out that in Colorado alone, only 11% of recyclable trash is actually recycled! Many communities do not have any recycling options, and any recycling centers are closing down. This needs to change, which can only happen when communities demand it.

I was so inspired with Andrea’s passion and dedication to Be Zero and realized there is so much we need to learn about recycling, our abundance of household waste, and what we can do about it. She pointed out that we often forget to acknowledge companies when they are making an effort to reduce trash, such as Daiya. I’m loving their farmhouse block cheese. Until she said something, I hadn’t noticed:
See?! 65% less packaging! And she let Daiya know she appreciated that. Just like with letting restaurants know you appreciate them making efforts to offer vegan meals, let companies like Daiya know that they rock for coming up with ways to reduce trash.

Kudos can go a long way. It lets people know that what they are doing isn’t falling on deaf ears and that it’s appreciated. And they’ll likely keep it up.

These things make a difference. Support companies that are doing it right—and let them know you’ve noticed.

It was a fabulous evening that The Husband and I were thrilled to be a part of. Be sure to check out Vickerey’s amazing vegan wares, help Vegan Outreach spread the word, read Marc Bekoff’s book, and sign up for one of Andrea’s workshops!

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies with Lemon-Butter Sauce

December 14, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Oh my. Where to start? First, this meal comes together in less that 30 minutes, so it’s ideal for a busy weeknight. But you won’t care if it took hours—it’s that amazing. Creamy, lemony, truffle-y, decadent . . . Low in calorie? Uhhh . . . not so much. But you know what? That’s okay! For Pete’s sake, live a little! Even vegans indulge! (All right, enough exclamation points—I got carried away.) But seriously, this is divine. Pre-packaged gnocchi makes this a quick and easy meal and did I mention it’s truffle-fied?!

Truffle and lemon totally get it on in this dish. You will fall in love too. So pair it with a salad (so you don’t eat the entire thing) and spice up a regular, ol’ Tuesday night with this decadent dish.

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz pkg. truffle & porchini mushroom gnocchi (like this one from World Market)
1 small bundle asparagus, ends trimmed and stalks cut into thirds
8-10 large mushrooms, quartered
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lemon-Butter Sauce
3 Tbs vegan margarine
1 large garlic clove, minced
4 Tbs flour
1/8 C white wine
1/4 C lemon juice
1/2 C water
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
Zest from one lemon
1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. In a medium bowl, combine the asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle with a little olive oil—just enough to coat—and season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a large baking sheet. These will only take about 10-12 minutes to roast, so get the water boiling for your gnocchi which only needs about 5 minutes. The sauce will only take about that much time, so start the sauce once you toss the gnocchi in.

To make the sauce, melt the vegan margarine and add the garlic. Whisk in the flour. It will thicken up quickly. Whisk in the white wine; it will thicken even more and then add the lemon juice. Let it thicken, then slowly add a bit of water to thin it out. You may or may not need the full 1/2 cup of water, so add as much as you think you need to get a sauce that isn’t too thick. (Think Caesar dressing-like.) Finally, whisk in the nutritional yeast, lemon zest, and salt.

Once the gnocchi is drained, add it to the roasted veggies.
Add the sauce and coat thoroughly. Enjoy! Seriously. Enjoy.

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies withLemon-Butter Sauce

Oh my. Where to start? First, this meal comes together in less that 30 minutes, so it's idea for a busy weeknight. But you won't care if it took hours---it's that amazing. Creamy, lemony, truffle-y, decadent . . . Low in calorie? Uhhh . . . not so much. But you know what? That's okay! For Pete's sake, live a little! Even vegans indulge! (All right, enough exclamation points---I got carried away.) But seriously, this is divine. Pre-packaged gnocchi makes this a quick and easy meal and did I mention it's truffle-fied?! Truffle and lemon totally get it on in this dish. You will fall in love too. So pair it with a salad (so you don't eat the entire thing) and spice up a Tuesday night with this decadent dish.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

16-oz pkg. truffle & porchini mushroom gnocchi (like this one from World Market)
1 small bundle asparagus, ends trimmed and stalks cut into thirds
8-10 large mushrooms, quartered
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lemon-Butter Sauce
3 Tbs vegan margarine
1 large garlic clove, minced
4 Tbs flour
⅛ C white wine
¼ C lemon juice
½ C water
1 Tbs nutritional yeast
Zest from one lemon
½ tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.
In a medium bowl, combine the asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle with a little olive oil---just enough to coat---and season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a large baking sheet. These will only take about 10-12 minutes to roast, so get the water boiling for your gnocchi which only needs about 5 minutes. The sauce will only take about that much time, so start the sauce once you toss the gnocchi in.
To make the sauce, melt the vegan margarine and add the garlic. Whisk in the flour. It will thicken up quickly. Whisk in the white wine; it will thicken even more and then add the lemon juice. Let it thicken , then slowly add a bit of water to thin it out. You may or may not need the full ½ cup of water, so add as much as you think you need to get a sauce that isn't too thick. (Sorry to be vague!) Finally, whisk in the nutritional yeast and salt.
Once the gnocchi is drained, add it to the roasted veggies.
Add the sauce and coat thoroughly. Enjoy! Seriously. Enjoy.

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

December 11, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

I struggled with what to call this dish. I used canned coconut milk for the sauce, but it doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor. I could have called it Pasta with Creamy, Savory, Flavorful-Mushroom-Olive Sauce That You Will Absolutely Love. But that was too long. I basically made a roux with coconut milk that turned out pretty damn tasty–and in less than 30 minutes. So this dish is also known as Pretty Damn Tasty Pasta Dish. Simple as that.

INGREDIENTS:
16-oz farfalle pasta
1 Tbs olive oil
16-oz pkg. baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C green onion, sliced
2 Tbs vegan margarine
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbs flour
1/4 C white wine
3/4 C vegetable broth
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
13-oz can lite coconut milk
2.25-oz can sliced black olives

DIRECTIONS:
Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Once drained, return the pasta to the pot. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the mushrooms. Cook for about 4 minutes over medium-low heat, or until they begin to soften and brown. Stir in the green onion and cook another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit.
In a medium saucepan, heat the vegan margarine over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and combine well; whisk in the remaining flour. You’ll have a thick, paste-like consistency. Turn the heat down a little if it’s starting to stick. Next, whisk in the white wine.
Whisk in the vegetable broth a quarter cup at a time. Let it thicken each time before adding more.
Stir in the nutritional yeast, thyme, tarragon, chives, salt, and pepper. Whisk in about a 1/3 cup of the coconut milk, let it thicken, the add more coconut milk. Repeat until you’ve added all of the coconut milk.
Add the sauce to the skillet with the mushrooms and green onions. Add the black olives. Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and enjoy!

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

I actually struggled with what to call this dish. I used canned coconut milk for the sauce, but it doesn't have a strong coconut flavor. I could have called it Pasta with Creamy, Savory, Flavorful-Mushroom-Olive Sauce That You Will Absolutely Love. But that was too long. I basically made a roux with coconut milk that turned out pretty damn tasty--and in less than 30 minutes. So this dish is also known as Pretty Damn Tasty Pasta Dish. Simple as that.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

16-oz farfalle pasta
1 Tbs olive oil
16-oz pkg. baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
½ C green onion, sliced
2 Tbs vegan margarine
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbs flour
¼ C white wine
¾ C vegetable broth
2 Tbs nutritional yeast
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp dried chives
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
13-oz can lite coconut milk
2.25-oz can sliced black olives

Directions

Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Once drained, return the pasta to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the mushrooms. Cook for about 4 minutes over medium-low heat, or until they begin to soften and brown. Stir in the green onion and cook another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit.
In a medium saucepan, heat the vegan margarine over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and combine well; whisk in the remaining flour. You'll have a thick, paste-like consistency. Turn the heat down a little if it's starting to stick. Next, whisk in the white wine.
Whisk in the vegetable broth a quarter cup at a time. Let it thicken each time before adding more.
Stir in the nutritional yeast, thyme, tarragon, chives, salt, and pepper. Whisk in about a ⅓ cup of the coconut milk, let it thicken, the add more coconut milk. Repeat until you've added all of the coconut milk.
Add the sauce to the skillet with the mushrooms and green onions. Add the black olives. Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

December 7, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

This is a keeper. Creamy and savory, it’s a satisfying dish that everyone at the table is bound to enjoy. Potatoes and carrots make an ideal sauce for pasta, as we’ve seen with this dish, so why not butternut squash and sweet potatoes? Plus, I had some leftover coconut milk from these aww-mazing vegan peanut butter cup cheesecakes, which was perfect for this dish that was ready in about 45 minutes or less. And did I mention it was gluten-free?! Yes, you may dig in.

INGREDIENTS:
3 C cubed butternut squash, peeled (medium-sized)
2 C cubed sweet potato, peeled (medium sized)
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
Salt & pepper, to taste
8-oz gluten-free elbow macaroni
2 C chopped onion (medium-sized)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 C white wine
1-1/2 C vegetable broth (plus more for thinning out the sauce, if necessary)
3/4 C lite canned coconut milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1 Tbs tamari

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. In a medium bowl, combine the squash and sweet potato with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, along with some salt and pepper (to taste). Spread out evenly on a large baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes.

About ten minutes into roasting the veggies, start the water boiling for the pasta. Cook it according to package instructions. I used Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta:

Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet and add the onion. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, and once it starts to brown, add the garlic; cook another 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the squash, sweet potatoes and onions to a blender. Add the wine, broth, coconut milk, Dijon, lemon juice, paprika, salt, nutritional yeast, and tamari. Blend several minutes until completely smooth. You’ll probably need to scrapes the sides of the blender once or twice. If it’s too thick, thin it out with a little more broth. Once the pasta is done, return it to the pot and add the sauce. Heat over medium-low heat. Enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

This is a keeper. Creamy and savory, it's a satisfying dish that everyone at the table is bound to enjoy. Potatoes and carrots make an ideal sauce for pasta, as we've seen with this dish, so why not butternut squash and sweet potatoes? Plus, I had some leftover coconut milk from these aww-mazing vegan peanut butter cup cheesecakes, it was perfect for this dish, which is ready in about 45 minutes or less. And did I mention it was gluten-free?! Dig in.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

3 C cubed butternut squash, peeled (medium-sized)
2 C cubed sweet potato, peeled (medium sized)
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
Salt & pepper, to taste
8-oz gluten-free elbow macaroni
2 C chopped onion (medium-sized)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ C white wine
1-1/2 C vegetable broth (plus more for thinning out the sauce, if necessary)
¾ C lite canned coconut milk
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbs lemon juice
½ tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
⅓ C nutritional yeast
1 Tbs tamari

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.
In a medium bowl, combine the squash and sweet potato with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, along with some salt and pepper (to taste). Spread out evenly on a large baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes.
About ten minutes into roasting the veggies, start the water boiling for the pasta. Cook it according to package instructions. I used Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet and add the onion. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, and once it starts to brown, add the garlic; cook another 2-3 minutes.
Transfer the squash, sweet potatoes and onions to a blender. Add the wine, broth, coconut milk, Dijon, lemon juice, paprika, salt, nutritional yeast, and tamari. Blend several minutes until completely smooth. You'll probably need to scrapes the sides of the blender once or twice. If it's too thick, thin it out with a little more broth. Once the pasta is done, return it to the pot and add the sauce. Heat over medium-low heat. Enjoy!

Mexican-Style Risotto

November 28, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Mexican food is definitely a favorite around my house, but I don’t always take the time to make Mexican-style, or Spanish rice. I end up using the easy boxed or microwavable bagged kind. (I know, shameful.) The Husband, however, has no problem with it, even though it’s usually dry and tasteless. We recently had a taco night with friends and I was determined to make a creamy and delicious, Mexican-style rice. My first thought was risotto. And it really doesn’t get any easier because this bakes in the oven and there’s very little work involved. Say goodbye to dry, Mexican restaurant-style rice. This creamy risotto is full of flavor and is perfect for feeding a crowd.

INGREDIENTS:
5 C vegetable broth, divided
1-1/2 C Arborio rice
1 Tbs olive oil
1 C onion, diced
2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes (I like the fire-roasted kind)
1 7-oz can diced green chilies (pick your heat level)
1/4 C lime juice
2 Tbs vegan margarine
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbs cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional: fresh chopped cilantro, avocado slices (Not everyone loves cilantro, so I put it on the side. You can also mix it in at the end with the tomato mixture.)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. In a large Dutch oven, combine 4 cups of the broth with the rice; stir, cover, and bake for 45 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, salt, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and black pepper; set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion. Cook for 5-7 minutes over medium heat, then add the tomatoes and green chilies. Let simmer for 10 minutes.

Once the risotto is done, stir in the remaining cup of broth, the margarine, lime juice, and the bowl of seasonings; stir vigorously. Next, add the tomato mixture and combine well. Serve with cilantro and avocado. Enjoy!

Mexican-Style Risotto

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

1 hour

Mexican food is definitely a favorite around my house, but I don't always take the time to make Mexican-style, or Spanish rice. I end up using the easy boxed or microwavable bagged kind. (I know, shameful.) The Husband, however, has no problem with it, even though it's usually dry and tasteless. We recently had a taco night with friends and I was determined to make a creamy and delicious, Mexican-style rice. My first thought was risotto. And it really doesn't get any easier because this bakes in the oven and there's very little work involved. Say goodbye to dry, Mexican restaurant-style rice. This creamy risotto is full of flavor and is perfect for feeding a crowd.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 10

Ingredients

5 C vegetable broth, divided
1-1/2 C Arborio rice
1 Tbs olive oil
1 C onion, diced
2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes (I like the fire-roasted kind)
1 7-oz can diced green chilies (pick your heat level)
¼ C lime juice
2 Tbs vegan margarine
¼ C nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt
1 Tbs cumin
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
Optional: fresh chopped cilantro, avocado slices (Not everyone loves cilantro, so I put it on the side. You can also mix it in at the end with the tomato mixture.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large Dutch oven, combine 4 cups of the broth with the rice; stir, cover, and bake for 45 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, salt, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and black pepper; set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onion. Cook for 5-7 minutes over medium heat, then add the tomatoes and green chilies. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
Once the risotto is done, stir in the remaining cup of broth, the margarine, lime juice, and the bowl of seasonings; stir vigorously.
Next, add the tomato mixture and combine well. Serve with cilantro and avocado. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato-Black Bean Mole Stew

November 19, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Holy mole! Okay, that was cheezy, but seriously . . . holy mole! We all know sweet potatoes and black beans go together like peanut butter and jelly, so how about a stew? Oh, and kale? Yes, please. It is officially winter around here and this is the perfect stew for a cold night. And, it’s ready in 30 minutes. No joke. Plus, you can’t beat the immune-boosting powers of kale and mushrooms. Again . . . the perfect stew. You could dress it up with some cilantro, chives, maybe even some corn chips and vegan cheddar shreds, but why mess with a good thing? (But you can if you want to.) I’m loving this just the way it is. I planned to use different chili seasonings, but then I discovered this mole seasoning in my cabinet from Savory. An idea was born.
I love my mole sauce, but the ease of this seasoning won out. I made this stew a bit mild, so feel free to up the ante by adding more cumin and Ancho chili powder.

INGREDIENTS:
2 Tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 (heaping) Tbs Mexican Mole seasoning
1 (heaping) Tbs cumin
1 (heaping) Tbs Ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 C vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
3-4 C mushrooms, diced
1 bunch dinosaur kale, chopped small (about 4 cups)

DIRECTIONS:
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and sweet potato and cook over medium heat until the onions begin to soften. Add the mole seasoning, cumin, Ancho chili powder, and salt.
Pour in the broth and let simmer for 15 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and kale, and let simmer another 10 minutes. You may need to add a little more broth or water. Also, add more salt or other seasonings if you feel it needs it. Serve with corn chips and enjoy!

Sweet Potato-Black Bean Mole Stew

Holy mole! Okay, that was cheezy, but seriously . . . holy mole! We all know sweet potatoes and black beans go together like peanut butter and jelly, so how about a stew? Oh, and kale? Yes, please. It is officially winter around here and this is the perfect stew for a cold night. And, it's ready in 30 minutes. No joke. Plus, you can't beat the immune-boosting powers of kale and mushrooms. Again . . . the perfect stew. You could dress it up with some cilantro, chives, maybe even some corn chips and vegan cheddar shreds, but why mess with a good thing? (But you can if you want to.) I'm loving this just the way it is. I planned to use different chili seasonings, but then I discovered this mole seasoning in my cabinet from Savory. An idea was born. I love my mole sauce, but the ease of this seasoning won out. I made this stew a bit mild, so feel free to up the ante by adding more cumin and Ancho chili powder.

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Ingredients

2 Tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 (heaping) Tbs Mexican Mole seasoning
1 (heaping) Tbs cumin
1 (heaping) Tbs Ancho chili powder
½ tsp salt
4 C vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
3-4 C mushrooms, diced
1 bunch dinosaur kale, chopped small (about 4 cups)

Directions

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil.
Add the onion and sweet potato and cook over medium heat until the onions begin to soften.
dd the mole seasoning, cumin, Ancho chili powder, and salt.
Pour in the broth and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and kale, and let simmer another 10 minutes.
You may need to add a little more broth or water. Also, add more salt or other seasonings if you feel it needs it. Serve with corn chips and enjoy!

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Jalapeno Popcorn

Roasted Sweet Potato, Apple & Fennel Soup

Enchilada Lasagna with Cilantro Ricotta

Baked Hummus & Spinach Dip

An Evening of Compassion & Fashion

Truffle Gnocchi and Roasted Veggies with Lemon-Butter Sauce

Pasta with Creamy Coconut-Mushroom Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Pasta {Gluten-free}

Mexican-Style Risotto

Sweet Potato-Black Bean Mole Stew

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