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Cherry-Zucchini Bread

March 3, 2013 by epicureanvegan

Cherry Zucchini Bread -- Epicurean Vegan

Sorry for my absence. We were all hit with a pretty nasty cold and it’s taken a couple of weeks to return to normal. The break did, however, give me way too much time to veg out and thanks to Hulu and PBS, I watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey. (If they keep killing off beloved characters, I’m going to have to stop watching; my heart can’t take it.) Anyway, I’m back in the kitchen and it feels great. We spent the afternoon with our friends (both human and animal) at Beakon Hill Farm and Education Center. Their newest residents are a trio of adorable lambs. They took them in when they were just less than 24 hours old and have been bottle-feeding them for weeks. Randy and Teresa are such amazing people and are working toward making Beakon Hill a non-profit. It is home to some of the most wonderful animals: goats, horses, alpacas, hens, roosters, ducks, and many more.

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The Eighth Grader bottle-feeding one of the lambs

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Shiro’s just like a puppy, but with horns. His latest game is to push against you with his head.

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 Zee Man liked to follow us around as we shoveled poop from the pens . . .

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So I figured I’d bring along this amazing bread to share (with the humans) of Beakon Hill. The recipe is adapted from Hell Yeah it’s Vegan, because I made a few changes and added some ingredients. That’s the beauty of making two loaves; share the love!

INGREDIENTS: (Makes 2 loaves)
4-1/2 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer
1/2 C warm water
1-1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 C applesauce
1/2 C canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 C zucchini, grated
2 C flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbs cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 C dried cherries
1/8 C chia seeds (optional . . . I was out of them, but I would have definitely put them in if I had any)!

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 8x4x2″ loaf pans and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the egg replacer and warm water. Add the brown sugar, canola oil, vanilla and applesauce. I don’t usually keep applesauce on hand, but we definitely have plenty of apples, so I just pureed two apples in the food processor.

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Add the zucchini and blend until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and chia seeds (if using). Little by little, add the dry ingredients to the batter.

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Fold in the dried cherries. Divide the dough between the two loaf pans.

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Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until done in the middle (check using a toothpick or knife).

Cherry Zucchini Bread -- Epicurean Vegan

Let them cool on a rack and lay a piece of foil loosely over the top to keep in the moisture while they cool. Slice and enjoy!

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Me holding Worf, the rooster.

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Cherry-Zucchini Bread
 
Print
The recipe is adapted from Hell Yeah it's Vegan, because I made a few changes and added some ingredients. That's the beauty of making two loaves; share the love!
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • 4-1/2 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer
  • ½ C warm water
  • 1-1/4 C brown sugar
  • ½ C applesauce
  • ½ C canola oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 C zucchini, grated
  • 2 C flour
  • 1 C whole wheat flour
  • 1 Tbs baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 Tbs cinnamon
  • 2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 C dried cherries
  • ⅛ C chia seeds (optional . . . I was out of them, but I would have definitely put them in if I had any)!
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Grease two 8x4x2" loaf pans and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the egg replacer and warm water. Add the brown sugar, canola oil, vanilla and applesauce. I don't usually keep applesauce on hand, but we definitely have plenty of apples, so I just pureed two apples in the food processor.
  3. Add the zucchini and blend until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and chia seeds (if using). Little by little, add the dry ingredients to the batter.
  4. Fold in the dried cherries. Divide the dough between the two loaf pans.
  5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until done in the middle (check using a toothpick or knife).
  6. Let them cool on a rack and lay a piece of foil loosely over the top to keep in the moisture while they cool. Slice and enjoy!
3.4.3177

Filed Under: Breads Tagged With: animal rescue, animal sanctuary, Beakon Hill Farm and Education Center, bread, cherries, dried cherries, easy, zucchini, zucchini bread

Day 5 of Reboot, Plus More Recipes

July 22, 2011 by epicureanvegan

It’s the morning of day 5 of my Reboot and I feel great, especially since I’m even down 5 pounds! I definitely don’t feel as weak and tired as the last few days, not as hungry either. Mentally, I feel clearer and less foggy–able to concentrate longer. Last night we went and saw Harry Potter and we usually go for some popcorn . . . I know, terrible (btw, did you know (according to the latest VegNews mag) that a large movie popcorn–without butter–is 1,050 calories?!) Anyway, the boys finished a vat of popcorn before the movie even started, but I wasn’t tempted to eat any. Wow. That never happens! I’m determined to continue this reboot through Sunday and after that, I plan on making a lot of changes, such as no alcohol, little oil, little gluten, and very little processed foods. That’s the goal at least.

Yesterday, I had a class at the NCW and then worked in the studio for the afternoon, so I needed to come prepared. With salty snacks and soda in the fridge just ten feet from me, I had to arm myself with good food. I made a salad, packed some jicama, yellow bell peppers, and mushrooms and dipped them in dressing. The dressing recipes are from the JointheReboot site. Having both dressings changes things up—it’s great so that you don’t get sick of one.

Ginger-Honey (Agave)-Soy Dressing  and  Agave-Mustard Dressing

Ginger-Agave-Soy Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
2 Tbsp. Raw Honey (I used agave)
4 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Tamari
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Combine all ingredients in a shaker.

Mustard-Agave Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar
1 Tbsp. Honey (I used agave)
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1/4 Tbsp. Sea or Celtic salt
1/8 Tbsp. coarsely Ground Black Pepper

Combine all ingredients in a shaker.

For dinner, I made sweet potato “fries” also from the Reboot site. They were delicious!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries -- Epicurean Vegan

INGREDIENTS:

1 large sweet potato, peeled, cut into sticks or crescents
1 tsp olive oil
A couple pinches of sea salt
A couple pinches of black pepper
A couple pinches of cumin

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425. Combine the sweet potatoes with the rest of the ingredients and coat well.

Layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

I also made lettuce wraps:

Vegan Lettuce Wraps -- Epicurean Vegan

INGREDIENTS:

1 can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
5-6 mushrooms, diced
1 avocado, diced
1/2 a large tomato, diced
2 Tbs diced green chilies
3 scallions, sliced
Large lettuce leaves
Ginger-Agave-Soy Dressing
Optional: fresh mint, basil, or cilantro

Combine all the veggies and top the lettuce leaves with a couple of spoonfuls of them. Drizzle with the Ginger dressing. So good!

So this morning . . . I find that fruit smoothies are the easiest way to start the day. I blended up a mango, 1/2 a cup of fresh cherries (I removed the pits first) and about a cup of water. Awesome.

So, I’ll keep going and continue to try different recipes. I’ll keep you posted on my progress—thanks for traveling along with me!

Filed Under: Dressings/Condiments, My Vegan Life, Sides Tagged With: cherries, detox, juicing, mango, Reboot Your Life, smoothies, Sweet potatoes

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies = Redemption

March 23, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies -- Epicurean Vegan

I am so relieved and happy that these cookies turned out. I found myself in a funk today. And apparently, it’s catching ’cause Moe looks to have it:

He probably smelled these amazing cookies and knew he couldn’t have any. Sorry, Moe. Anyway, missed my workout this morning and struggled some more with an essay I’ve been trying to write for the last four years. Yes, that’s four years. Then, to add insult to injury, dinner turned out to be a disaster. Awful. By far the worst results of anything I’ve attempted since the ill-fated red velvet cake nearly a year ago. I could have easily called it a night, but instead, I picked myself up by my bra straps and dusted my vegan-self off because I’ll be damned to go nighty-night after today. These are my Redemption Cookies. I swaggered into the kitchen and started pulling stuff out of the pantry, grabbed a bowl and got to work. One bite and not only did I feel the fog lift, I felt redeemed after that horrendous dinner. Talk about cookies for the soul.

INGREDIENTS:
1 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 C rolled oats
1/2 C Earth Balance margarine
Egg Replacer (and water) for one egg
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
2 Tbs agave
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 C fresh blueberries
1/2 C dried cherries, chopped (I think I’ll call them “cheeries” for this recipe)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp fennel seeds

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars. Add the egg-replacer/water mix, agave, and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies -- Epicurean VeganLittle by little, add to the butter/sugar mixture. Fold in the blueberries and cherries.

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies -- Epicurean VeganDrop onto a baking sheet lined with foil. (For the first batch, I lightly sprayed the foil with cooking spray since I wasn’t sure if they’d stick, but just go with the foil.)

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies -- Epicurean VeganBake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Let them cool a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack, then thoroughly enjoy. And feel better. And redeem yourself from any minor infractions you committed during the day. They are guarantee to turn things around for you. 🙂 Makes 32-34 soul-good cookies.

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies -- Epicurean Vegan

Chai-Spiced Berry-Oatmeal Cookies = Redemption
 
Print
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • 1 C flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1-1/2 C rolled oats
  • ½ C Earth Balance margarine
  • Egg Replacer (and water) for one egg
  • ½ C sugar
  • ½ C brown sugar
  • 2 Tbs agave
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ C fresh blueberries
  • ½ C dried cherries, chopped (I think I'll call them "cheeries" for this recipe)
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars. Add the egg-replacer/water mix, agave, and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
  2. Little by little, add to the butter/sugar mixture. Fold in the blueberries and cherries.
  3. Drop onto a baking sheet lined with foil. (For the first batch, I lightly sprayed the foil with cooking spray since I wasn't sure if they'd stick, but just go with the foil.)
  4. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Let them cool a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack, then thoroughly enjoy.
3.5.3208

 

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: blueberries, chai, cherries, cookies, dairy-free, happy cookies, Vegan

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites

February 27, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites -- Epicurean VeganJess at Healthy Exposures posted these last week, and I knew right away I had to try them. I made a few changes, just based on what I had on hand and on my taste preferences, such as subbing brown rice syrup for the molasses, as I’m not big on molasses. You can see her original recipe here.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 C quick oats
2 Tbs brown rice flour
2 Tbs wheat germ
1/2 C peanuts, chopped
1/4 C sunflower seeds
1/4 C chia seeds
2 Tbs flax seeds
1/2 C dried cherries, chopped
1/2 C dark chocolate chips
1/2 a banana
2 Tbs brown rice syrup
3 Tbs almond milk
3 Tbs peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan (genius idea, Jess)! Set aside. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, wheat germ, peanuts, seeds, cherries, and chocolate chips.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites -- Epicurean VeganIn a smaller bowl, mash the banana with a fork add the syrup, almond milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. Whisk thoroughly and combine well with the dry ingredients.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites -- Epicurean VeganFill the muffin cups with the mixture, pressing down firmly with a spoon. I didn’t fill them quite to the top, but you can—they won’t overflow when they bake. Depending on the size of muffins cups you use, the number you get will be different; I got 15.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites -- Epicurean VeganBake 15 minutes, or until the tops turn a golden brown. These make such a great little snack and I imagine, a heck of a lot healthier than store-bought granola bars. As an alternative, you can use a 8″ baking pan and then cut them into squares after they bake. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy them, especially since they’re so simple to make.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites -- Epicurean Vegan

Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Cherry Granola Bites
 
Print
Jess at Healthy Exposures posted these last week, and I knew right away I had to try them. I made a few changes, just based on what I had on hand and on my taste preferences, such as subbing brown rice syrup for the molasses, as I'm not big on molasses.
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • ¾ C quick oats
  • 2 Tbs brown rice flour
  • 2 Tbs wheat germ
  • ½ C peanuts, chopped
  • ¼ C sunflower seeds
  • ¼ C chia seeds
  • 2 Tbs flax seeds
  • ½ C dried cherries, chopped
  • ½ C dark chocolate chips
  • ½ a banana
  • 2 Tbs brown rice syrup
  • 3 Tbs almond milk
  • 3 Tbs peanut butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan (genius idea, Jess)! Set aside. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, wheat germ, peanuts, seeds, cherries, and chocolate chips.
  2. In a smaller bowl, mash the banana with a fork add the syrup, almond milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. Whisk thoroughly and combine well with the dry ingredients.
  3. Fill the muffin cups with the mixture, pressing down firmly with a spoon. I didn't fill them quite to the top, but you can---they won't overflow when they bake. Depending on the size of muffins cups you use, the number you get will be different; I got 15.
  4. Bake 15 minutes, or until the tops turn a golden brown. These make such a great little snack and I imagine, a heck of a lot healthier than store-bought granola bars. As an alternative, you can use a 8" baking pan and then cut them into squares after they bake. Either way, you're sure to enjoy them, especially since they're so simple to make.
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Filed Under: Snacks Tagged With: cherries, dairy-free, egg-free, fast and easy, granola bars, Healthy Exposures, oats, oil-free, Vegan

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The Epicurean Vegan is devoted to those wanting to eat healthy, save animals, and reduce their carbon footprint. My decision to go vegan started out as a quest to get healthier, but the more I learned about veganism, the more I realized how damaging the meat and dairy industries are to the environment and, of course, the animals. And it is for these reasons, that I would never go back to eating or wearing animal products. Ever.
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