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Spicy Empanadas

January 1, 2013 by epicureanvegan

Spicy Empanadas -- Epicurean Vegan

Happy New Year!

We spent our New Year’s Eve with friends and I brought these empanadas. I’ve made similar ones before and I noticed that I had written 5-6 jalapenos for that recipe. Those must have been some pretty mild peppers, because I used one in this recipe and they were plenty zippy! I changed these up a little and they turned out great. I think adding a chipotle-flavored Field Roast sausage link would also be great for the filling. I’m going to have to figure out how to keep them from opening up during the baking process, but it didn’t seem to make a difference in taste—they were gone in minutes!

INGREDIENTS:
Dough:
3 C flour + some for kneading
3 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer + 4 Tbs water
12 Tbs Earth Balance (1-1/2 sticks)
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbs white vinegar
1/3 to 1/2 C water
Filling:
8-oz non-dairy cream cheese
2 Tbs lime juice
1 Tbs almond milk + some for brushing
1 tsp shallot salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 C vegan pepper jack, shredded
1 tsp cumin
1 jalapeno, chopped fine
1/3 C red bell pepper, chopped small
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped small
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tbs olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
To make the dough, combine the egg replacer with the water and process until foamy.

DSC07155

Add the flour, Earth Balance, salt, vinegar, and water. Process until well combine.

DSC07156

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 3 minutes. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic in a medium skillet. Add the onions, jalapeno, and bell pepper. Season with cumin and saute 5-7 minutes, then remove from the heat.

DSC07152

Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese, lime juice, almond milk, shallot salt, and garlic powder. Stir in the cilantro, cheese, and pepper mixture.

Spicy Empanadas -- Epicurean Vegan

Preheat oven to 400. Roll out the dough and using a disk, bowl or cup, cut out 4″ circles.

Spicy Empanadas -- Epicurean Vegan

Place about a tablespoon of the filling in the middle of dough circle. Fold over and you can either use a fork to seal the edges closed, or a pastry wheel cutter, then place onto a large baking sheet.

Spicy Empanadas -- Epicurean Vegan

Bake for 15 minutes, then brush the tops with almond milk. Bake another 5-7 minutes, or until the tops brown. Enjoy!

(Makes around 28)

Spicy Empanadas
 
Print
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • Dough:
  • 3 C flour + some for kneading
  • 3 tsp Ener-G Egg Replacer + 4 Tbs water
  • 12 Tbs Earth Balance (1-1/2 sticks)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 Tbs white vinegar
  • ⅓ to ½ C water
  • Filling:
  • 8-oz non-dairy cream cheese
  • 2 Tbs lime juice
  • 1 Tbs almond milk + some for brushing
  • 1 tsp shallot salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 C fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ½ C vegan pepper jack, shredded
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 jalapeno, chopped fine
  • ⅓ C red bell pepper, chopped small
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped small
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
Directions
  1. To make the dough, combine the egg replacer with the water and process until foamy.
  2. Add the flour, Earth Balance, salt, vinegar, and water. Process until well combine.
  3. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 3 minutes. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and garlic in a medium skillet. Add the onions, jalapeno, and bell pepper. Season with cumin and saute 5-7 minutes, then remove from the heat.
  5. Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese, lime juice, almond milk, shallot salt, and garlic powder. Stir in the cilantro, cheese, and pepper mixture.
  6. Preheat oven to 400.
  7. Roll out the dough and using a disk, bowl or cup, cut out 4" circles.
  8. Place about a tablespoon of the filling in the middle of dough circle. Fold over and you can either use a fork to seal the edges closed, or a pastry wheel cutter, then place onto a large baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 15 minutes, then brush the tops with almond milk.
  10. Bake another 5-7 minutes, or until the tops brown. Enjoy!
  11. Makes around 28.
3.3.3077

Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: cilantro, Earth Balance, easy, empanadas, Mexican, vegan empanadas

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes

July 12, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean VeganI used the same recipe for these, as the red velvet cake I made a couple of months ago. I wasn’t sure how making the batter into cupcakes would work out, but in the end, they  were delicious!! To begin with, it’s never easy to figure out how full to fill the muffin cups. I went with about 2/3 to 3/4 full, and I got 23 cupcakes. They puffed up a bit, so I recommend filling them halfway which will probably yield more than 24. These are certainly sinful and not something I recommend making on a weekly basis, but rather to enjoy as an occasional treat!

INGREDIENTS:
1 C gluten-free vanilla rice milk
1 tsp cider vinegar
2-1/2 C Betsy’s Baking Mix (recipe below)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp xanthan gum
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 C palm oil shortening
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1-oz red food coloring
1/4 C + 3 Tbs unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs distilled white vinegar
1 tsp baking soda
1 recipe butter cream frosting (below)
Betsy’s Making Mix: this makes 7-1/2 cups–remember, use just 2-1/2 cups of it.
3-3/4 C garbanzo bean  flour
2-1/4 C potato starch
1-1/2 C tapioca starch/flour
Buttercream Frosting:
1 C Earth Balance margarine
4 to 4-1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
Vanilla rice milk

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Make your baking mix first: Combine all the flours in a large zip-lock bag. Using a whisk, blend them well. Then seal tightly and shake it vigorously for 1 minute. This mix will stay good for up to 3 months. Place muffin liners into muffin pan and set aside.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the rice milk and cider vinegar to create “buttermilk” and set aside. In a small bowl, use a spoon to combine the cocoa powder and food coloring. (Keep in mind that 1 ounce is a full-sized bottle of food coloring). It will form a paste:

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

In a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups of the baking mix, salt, and xanthan gum. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and palm oil shortening. Add the applesauce and vanilla and cream everything together until mixture is light and creamy. Add the cocoa paste and mix well.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

Alternately, add the dry ingredients and the “buttermilk” mixture to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Pour the white vinegar into a small cup and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Immediately pour the fizzing combo into the cake batter and thoroughly mix it in.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

Fill each muffin cup about halfway with batter. I find that it’s easiest to hold the muffin cup in my hand and use a small spoon to drop filling in the cup. I then place it into the muffin pan. Works great and you can avoid getting batter on the pan.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

Bake for 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

Let cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting cream the vegan margarine until smooth. Little by little, add the confectioner’s sugar. Add the vanilla rice milk 1-2 tablespoons at a time until you reach a thick consistency. I beat this for several minutes to not only cream all the margarine, but to make it good and fluffy.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes --Epicurean Vegan

Layer the tops of the cupcakes with some frosting and enjoy!

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes
 
Print
I used the same recipe for these, as the red velvet cake I made a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure how making the batter into cupcakes would work out, but in the end, they were delicious!! To begin with, it's never easy to figure out how full to fill the muffin cups. I went with about ⅔ to ¾ full, and I got 23 cupcakes. They puffed up a bit, so I recommend filling them halfway which will probably yield more than 24. These are certainly sinful and not something I recommend making on a weekly basis, but rather to enjoy as an occasional treat!
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • 1 C gluten-free vanilla rice milk
  • 1 tsp cider vinegar
  • 2-1/2 C Betsy’s Baking Mix (recipe below)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • ½ C palm oil shortening
  • 2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1-oz red food coloring
  • ¼ C + 3 Tbs unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 Tbs distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 recipe butter cream frosting (below)
  • Betsy’s Making Mix: this makes 7-1/2 cups–remember, use just 2-1/2 cups of it.
  • 3-3/4 C garbanzo bean flour
  • 2-1/4 C potato starch
  • 1-1/2 C tapioca starch/flour
  • Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 C vegan margarine
  • 4 to 4-1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
  • Vanilla rice milk
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Make your baking mix first: Combine all the flours in a large zip-lock bag. Using a whisk, blend them well. Then seal tightly and shake it vigorously for 1 minute. This mix will stay good for up to 3 months. Place muffin liners into muffin pan and set aside.
  3. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the rice milk and cider vinegar to create “buttermilk” and set aside. In a small bowl, use a spoon to combine the cocoa powder and food coloring. (Keep in mind that 1 ounce is a full-sized bottle of food coloring). It will form a paste.
  4. In a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups of the baking mix, salt, and xanthan gum. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and palm oil shortening. Add the applesauce and vanilla and cream everything together until mixture is light and creamy. Add the cocoa paste and mix well.
  5. Alternately, add the dry ingredients and the “buttermilk” mixture to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Pour the white vinegar into a small cup and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Immediately pour the fizzing combo into the cake batter and thoroughly mix it in.
  6. Fill each muffin cup about halfway with batter. I find that it's easiest to hold the muffin cup in my hand and use a small spoon to drop filling in the cup. I then place it into the muffin pan. Works great and you can avoid getting batter on the pan.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Let cool completely before frosting.
  9. To make the frosting cream the vegan margarine until smooth. Little by little, add the confectioner’s sugar. Add the vanilla rice milk 1-2 tablespoons at a time until you reach a thick consistency. I beat this for several minutes to not only cream all the margarine, but to make it good and fluffy.
  10. Layer the tops of the cupcakes with some frosting and enjoy!
3.5.3208

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: cupcakes, Earth Balance, gluten-free, red velvet cupcakes, Vegan

Fruit ‘n’ Phyllo Pie

June 24, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Fruit 'n' Phyllo Pie -- Epicurean VeganOk, it may look a little boring, but there’s nothing boring about the taste!  This is also great with some non-dairy ice cream on top. I took a cue from the Mustard Greens & Filo (Phyllo) Pie recipe and used a mixture of different berries. A great summertime dessert!

INGREDIENTS:
16 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
6 large fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 C fresh raspberries
1/2 C fresh blueberries
4-oz Tofutti cream cheese
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
4 Tbs Earth Balance margarine

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375. Melt the Earth Balance in a small saucepan and keep it warm on the stove. Using a food processor, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice. In a medium bowl, combine the mixture with the fruit.

Using a pastry brush, brush the bottom and sides of an 8×8 (I used a 6×9, I think) baking dish. You’ll want to work quickly with the phyllo dough, but at least you don’t have to worry about making it look pretty–it won’t matter. Layer a phyllo sheet on the bottom of the pan and then brush the top with butter. Repeat this step with 7 more phyllo sheets. Pour the fruit mixture on top and spread it out evenly.

Do the same process with the remaining 8 sheets of phyllo dough on top, brushing butter onto each layer as you go.

I forgot to do this, but I recommend slicing this before you bake it—the phyllo doesn’t cut very clean after it’s been baked. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the top is a golden brown.

Enjoy!

By the way . . . I’m off to Boulder for the weekend and will bring you reviews of at least two veg-friendly restaurants—both of which I’ve never been to. Looking forward to it! Have a great weekend!

Beautiful Boulder

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: blueberries, Earth Balance, easy, filo, phyllo, raspberries, strawberries

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake

May 16, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganSome of you may recall when I made this cake about a year ago, I put in way, way too much of the flour mixture and a friend, who I had served it to, joked that I made him eat a brick. The cake was a disaster and apparently, it took me a year to get over it, but here it is. Wow, what a difference correctly following the recipe makes! 😉 This cake is outstanding! You’d never know it was gluten-free AND vegan! The cake was soft, moist, and not too sweet. (The icing will sure make up for that!) This is now going to be the family birthday cake for a while—it’s that good! Plus, I’ve completely redeemed myself and my friend told me he can no longer tease me about serving him a brick!

INGREDIENTS:
1 C gluten-free vanilla rice milk
1 tsp cider vinegar
2-1/2 C Betsy’s Baking Mix (recipe below)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp xanthan gum
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 C palm oil shortening
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1 oz red food coloring
1/4 C + 3 Tbs unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs distilled white vinegar
1 tsp baking soda
1 recipe butter cream frosting (below)
Betsy’s Making Mix: this makes 7-1/2 cups–remember, use just 2-1/2 cups of it.
3-3/4 C garbanzo bean  flour
2-1/4 C potato starch
1-1/2 C tapioca starch/flour
Buttercream Frosting:
1 C vegan margarine
4 to 4-1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
Vanilla rice milk

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350. Make your baking mix first: Combine all the flours in a large zip-lock bag. Using a whisk, blend them well. Then seal tightly and shake it vigorously for 1 minute. This mix will stay good for up to 3 months.

Grease 2 9″ cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper; set aside. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the rice milk and cider vinegar to create “buttermilk” and set aside. In a small bowl, use a spoon to combine the cocoa powder and food coloring. (Keep in mind that 1 ounce is a full-sized bottle of food coloring). It will form a paste:

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganIn a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups of the baking mix, salt, and xanthan gum. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and palm oil shortening. Add the applesauce and vanilla and cream everything together until mixture is light and creamy. Add the cocoa paste and mix well.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganAlternately, add the dry ingredients and the “buttermilk” mixture to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Pour the white vinegar into a small cup and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Immediately pour the fizzing combo into the cake batter and thoroughly mix it in. Evenly divide the batter into the two cake pans.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganBake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a rack before turning them out of the pans.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganOnce cooled, turn over the pans and remove the parchment paper. Take a large plate and place it upside down on the bottom of one of the cakes (that will be upside down on the rack). Flip over so the cake is face up on the plate.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganTo make the frosting cream the margarine until smooth. Little by little, add the confectioner’s sugar. Add the vanilla rice milk 1-2 tablespoons at a time until you reach a thick consistency.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean VeganFrost the top and sides of the cake that is on the plate. Lay it pretty thick, especially on the top. Carefully place the 2nd cake on top and frost that one.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean Vegan

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean Vegan

Slice and enjoy! Cover the leftovers and store in the refrigerator.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake -- Epicurean Vegan

Recipe source (cake only): Living Without

Vegan and Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake
 
Print
This cake from Living Without is outstanding! You'd never know it was gluten-free AND vegan! The cake was soft, moist, and not too sweet. (The icing will sure make up for that!) This is now going to be the family birthday cake for a while---it's that good!
Author: Epicurean Vegan
Ingredients
  • 1 C gluten-free vanilla rice milk
  • 1 tsp cider vinegar
  • 2-1/2 C Betsy's Baking Mix (recipe below)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • ½ C palm oil shortening
  • 2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 oz red food coloring
  • ¼ C + 3 Tbs unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 Tbs distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 recipe butter cream frosting (below)
  • Betsy's Making Mix: this makes 7-1/2 cups--remember, use just 2-1/2 cups of it.
  • 3-3/4 C garbanzo bean flour
  • 2-1/4 C potato starch
  • 1-1/2 C tapioca starch/flour
  • Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 C vegan margarine
  • 4 to 4-1/2 C confectioner's sugar
  • Vanilla rice milk
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Make your baking mix first: Combine all the flours in a large zip-lock bag. Using a whisk, blend them well. Then seal tightly and shake it vigorously for 1 minute. This mix will stay good for up to 3 months.
  2. Grease 2 9" cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper; set aside. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the rice milk and cider vinegar to create "buttermilk" and set aside. In a small bowl, use a spoon to combine the cocoa powder and food coloring. (Keep in mind that 1 ounce is a full-sized bottle of food coloring). It will form a paste.
  3. In a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups of the baking mix, salt, and xanthan gum. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and palm oil shortening. Add the applesauce and vanilla and cream everything together until mixture is light and creamy. Add the cocoa paste and mix well.
  4. Alternately, add the dry ingredients and the "buttermilk" mixture to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Pour the white vinegar into a small cup and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Immediately pour the fizzing combo into the cake batter and thoroughly mix it in. Evenly divide the batter into the two cake pans
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a rack before turning them out of the pans.
  6. Once cooled, turn over the pans and remove the parchment paper. Take a large plate and place it upside down on the bottom of one of the cakes (that will be upside down on the rack). Flip over so the cake is face up on the plate.
  7. To make the frosting cream the margarine until smooth. Little by little, add the confectioner's sugar. Add the vanilla rice milk 1-2 tablespoons at a time until you reach a thick consistency.
  8. Frost the top and sides of the cake that is on the plate. Lay it pretty thick, especially on the top. Carefully place the 2nd cake on top and frost that one.
  9. Slice and enjoy! Cover the leftovers and store in the refrigerator.
3.5.3208

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: buttercream, dairy-free, Earth Balance, easy, egg-free, gluten-free, Living Without, Red Velvet Cake, Vegan

Snickerdoodles

January 21, 2010 by epicureanvegan

Snickerdoodles -- Epicurean VeganThese cookies are not flat and crispy like your typical snickerdoodle, but more like scrumptious little bites–definitely something I love! These were a cinch to make and the aroma of these baking was divine!

INGREDIENTS:
1-2/3 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C butter, at room temp (I used Earth Balance sticks)
1/3 C plus 2 Tbs sugar
Ener-G egg replacer for 1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs cinnamon
Baking sheet lined with parchment, waxed paper or greased (waxed paper worked lovely)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat over to 350. Combine flour, nutmeg, baking powder and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter with 1/3 of the sugar until light in texture and pale in color, then beat in egg and vanilla.

Snickerdoodles -- Epicurean VeganStir in the dry ingredients until blended smooth.

Snickerdoodles -- Epicurean Vegan(Well, I couldn’t get mine smooth, and I was a bit worried, but it worked out just great…)
Spoon out rest of sugar and the cinnamon onto a plate and combine. Then, with your fingers, squeeze out pieces of dough and roll between the palms of your hands into walnut-sized balls. (Shaping with my fingers worked best–didn’t crack). Roll each ball in the sugar mixture and arranged on prepared baking sheet.

Snickerdoodles -- Epicurean VeganBake for 15 mins (13 1/2 mins was perfect for mine), by which time they will begin to brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Makes 32-34. Enjoy!
For a variation, replace 2 Tbs of the flour with cocoa to make chocodoodles. I haven’t tried this, but next time I certainly will!

Snickerdoodles -- Epicurean VeganRecipe source: Nigella Lawson

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: cinnamon, cookies, Earth Balance, snickerdoodles, 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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